Green Kitchen: Craft Blog, etc.

Pimientos de Padrón

2008-07-23T20:11:00.000-07:00

Yum! Yum! And, more Yum!

Fry in a little olive oil until the skin blisters. Serve on a brown paper bag with a generous amount of sea salt and large quantities of beer. Good company adds a nice touch. It's a social food, but can also turn into a bit of a frenzy. Keep on cooking. One basket is *not* enough.

Don't wash them first or they'll splatter like crazy. Eat whole. Well, not the stems, silly. Even my five-year-old likes them. The two-year-old just licks the salt.

My best Padrón year, ever, was when we got to house sit and tend a garden that had a row of Padróns just coming on. We ate and ate and ate that August.

Read more about them here, here, or here.

They're out of stock but you can get the seeds here. Or, here's a place that doesn't seem to be out of stock. Or, here. I haven't bought seeds from any of these places. If you really want to know the inside scoop on where to buy seeds, you could email my friend, Andy, who grew the peppers in this photo.

I also saw that you can buy the fresh peppers here. Or, why not invest in the future and talk a local farmer to grow some. Yum!

Thanks, Julia!

An old linen bed sheet.

2008-07-19T13:41:00.000-07:00

See the tiny, tiny seam where the two halves meet. The date looks to be 1815, perhaps the third month? I think the name is Jane Ewing — the last name is hard to determine.

From a friend of my father. It belonged to his mother who died in the 70s. It had been sitting in a house with black mold all over the walls and ceiling since her death. A treasure waiting to be found.

Embroidery as Camouflage

2008-07-16T15:23:00.000-07:00

Why I left a skirt that only needed a waistband and a hem as an unfinished object for more than a year is a mystery to me. Several times I took it out of storage, putting it in the things-to-do pile in my kitchen work area — so many times, that it eventually faded from exposure to the bright morning sunshine. The hem and waist band took about an hour. It only took a couple of evenings to run the band of flowers and squiggles around the hem to help camouflage the fading. Then, I read a little of the Alabama Stitch book and realized that I needed to tack down all those flower petals. The stitches are bigger than a quarter inch, which is the the longest stitch length recommended to avoid snagging. It took another couple nights just to do the tacking, which gives the once rounded petals a slightly weird geometric look. Now, I'd love to make one of those gorgeous skirts from the book, which at my rate could take about ten years.

Berry Pickin'

2008-07-15T15:28:00.000-07:00

It helps to have a professional photographer along with you when you go berry picking.

Thank you, jo ann! It was such a wonderful surprise.

Bitch'n Bobbins

2008-07-10T11:54:00.000-07:00

If sewing folk had their own local bitch'n groups, like the knitters, it would be a wonderful world. Beer, sewing tips, and industry anecdotes — while surrounded by fabric and yarn — is just about worth its weight in gold. There's another class tonight if you can make it.

Heather Ross Class Tonight!!!

2008-07-09T14:30:00.000-07:00

This just in:

Heather Ross will be teaching her summer dress class tonight — July 9th ~~and tomorrow, July 10th~~ from 6 to 8 pm — locally (my local, that is) at Luminous Threads in Felton, California. It's the same class that she taught at Purl Patchwork in March. You can see a beautiful version of the dress on their site.

Here's a link to the Luminous Threads class schedule (scroll down for July)

Here's the Luminous Threads phone number if you want to know more: (831) 335-2621.

~~I think it's $80 for the two part class, but you might be able to take just one for $40.~~ Not sure of the price for the one time class. Call for details.

Now if I could just find some childcare...

I'm feeling Lomoish

2008-07-06T10:37:00.000-07:00

I keep wanting to write up a blog post with more depth, but it just doesn't seem to happen. I think I remember the same thing last summer.

Anyhoo, today I finished this long-time (over a year) WIP — a skirt made from a flea market baby quilt. The photos were less than great, so I paid my $25 and signed up for picnik. I probably could have played around in Photoshop using the prescribed layer configuration for a Lomoish look, but sometimes it's just easier to use a Flash interface that helps you do the same thing, only easier.

Red, White, & Blue Clothes

2008-07-04T13:28:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th of July. We're just back from the World's Shortest Parade. I thought I saw Anahata Katkin, but was too shy to ask. I wouldn't mind if it was actually her, but, I have asked people before if they have a blog, and feel silly when they say no with a funny expression. Apparently it wasn't Anahata — looks like she went swimming.

The photos are of my sister modelling the shirt that I just made for her. Photos by Becktress.

Cleavage

2008-07-03T19:23:00.000-07:00

For my dressform, because I'm not an A-cup.

Found Object

2008-07-03T18:37:00.000-07:00

I was going through my box of vintage lace the other day, looking for some trim for my future embellished tunic dress, when I found this already-been-crocheted bodice. Somehow, I didn't even know I had it — probably didn't care about crocheted bodices before I went and made some. It fit my sister, so I paired it up with some nice vintage feedsack-ish fabric and sewed it up. I used the same pattern as previously. A couple of flat fell seams and a little seam binding and it was finished. Sweet. Did I mention how much easier this was than the ones that I had to crochet myself? I can't imagine using crochet thread. It was hard enough with the yarn.

One-piece Smock

2008-06-24T18:28:00.000-07:00

outsideback
Originally uploaded by Green Kitchen.

pattern
Originally uploaded by Green Kitchen.

A smock for the preschool based on one that they already had. I used a vintage sheet for the body, seam binding for the edges, and ribbing for the neck and cuffs. I posted a picture of the pattern that I drafted below so you can get an idea of the easy, one-piece construction. I was thinking that it would be even easier to buy a thrifted sweatshirt and cut off the bottom ribbing, some of the back, and add seam binding to the raw edge.

I've been doing some other sewing, but haven't had a lot of time to blog. That's all for now.

P.S. Ignore the weird black thread. Sometimes I revert to my lazy sewing habits and don't change the thread. Sorry, Sara. ;)

I Made It! Wardrobe (part 2): The T-shirt Replacement

2008-06-12T12:01:00.000-07:00

Part two in the series of posts documenting sewing my own clothes over the past year-and-a-half.

These shirts are soooooo much better than my yucky old t-shirts. I just want to make more and more. This way I get to hang out with my stash on a daily basis. I've written lots more about how much I love this pattern over here.

Go over to the flickr set to see them embiggened.

P.S. I wanted to point out that on the shirts and skirts (previous post) I used a clothes pin to make the clothes fit the form better.

I Made it! Wardrobe (part 1): The A-Line Skirt

2008-06-11T13:56:00.000-07:00

Part one in a photographic series documenting sewing my own garments over the last year-and-a-half.

I'm finally at a place where — when I look in the closet, or my dresser, or the dirty clothes — I see at least several garments that I made for myself. This makes me happy. Here is the garment that started it all: the A-line skirt. After reading on several blogs about the book, Sew What! Skirts, I bought it. The way the book is written appealed to my learning style. Yes, I did want to make garments that actually fit me. The book teaches you how to draft your own skirt patterns, including zippers. And, with a little extra encouragement from my mom, I finally got over my fear of the zipper. Once you can put in a zipper, you can make just about anything. I haven't gotten past the basic A-line, because it is such a perfectly simple skirt, but there are many more skirts to try in the future. So many things, so little time.

I'm trying to gather up names for the fabrics and will post them to my A-line flickr set as I find them. Leave a comment if you recognize any.

If you haven't seen my A-line skirt and zipper installation tutorial, it's over there, too.

Dress Love

2008-06-09T09:37:00.001-07:00

I did not make this dress—although, I wish I did—it's by Miss Selfridge.

I saw it on one of the five hundred and thirteen blogs that I read. I'm sorry, I can't remember which one. Thank you, whoever posted it. I *love* it.

I would buy the dress if they had my size, but, since they don't, I'd really like to make something similar. Now the hunt begins for a great border print: maybe a Marimekko, if I'm feeling indulgent; or, an Ikea curtain, if I'm feeling frugal; or, a hand-painted, screen-printed jobby, if I'm feeling insane.

Anyone know of a similar dress pattern? Thanks to Alison's suggestion, I found Simplicity 3535 (shown in the line drawing at left) and think it could be a good starting point. A flickr friend also suggested this Japanese book (ISBN 978-4-579-1149-7) by Yoshiko Tsukiori.

I love this feeling of being inspired.

Real and Imaginary Friends

2008-06-06T23:06:00.000-07:00

I have my first, actual, real-life knitting circle friends as of today. [Hi, new friends!] A mom from our preschool found me on Ravelry and invited me to her monthly group. We hadn't said more than hello all the school year — but, after she recognized my avatar in a local Ravelry group, she sent me a nice note. You know when you meet up with one of your ~~imaginary~~ online friends it's as if you've always known that person. Well, it was like that, but even better, because they live in my town!!!! The night had all the best things: good food, funny stories, sad stories, felting lessons, and best of all, good folk. I worked on my Vintage Vertical Stripe afghan — only thirty or forty more rows to go. See that copyright date on this old photo — 2006! It's been a long time coming.

If you haven't signed up for Ravelry, I apologize for all the linkage. Now go over there and sign up for an invite, so you can make some friends, be they real or imagined.

Tumbling After

2008-06-03T22:26:00.000-07:00

Sun, sunflowers, friends, farm animals, ice cream, and, an ivy-covered hill: the perfect end to a preschool graduation.

Visual Palate Cleanser

2008-05-30T18:53:00.000-07:00

Because I can't stand a post without a photo.

This is a little package I bought from ScissorsPaperGlue on Etsy. There's one left. Go get it.

Cleavage and Crafting Braless

2008-05-30T17:02:00.000-07:00

Son: What's that?
Me: Cleavage. It's like a valley, and, my boobs are like the mountains.
Son: Yeah. Except yours point down.

Doh!

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Latest keyword search that led someone to my blog:

"sewing, crafts, braless"

Huh? I guess that explains the upside down mountains.

What's your spy name?

2008-05-24T19:11:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time at a spy party my name was Ava Vescent. I wore a self-made gold spandex dress of my own design and many, many foundation garments. The drinks were blue and served in test tubes. There was a Bollywood actor who sang us a song. I met Harry Covert. She ate the green beans that were sticking out of her bib overalls. Somewhere a video exists of that night, which I'm sure would resurface if I were to run for political office. My foundation garments were returned through the mail slot in the door.

This is me doing my best Peter Petrelli. I've been staying up way too late watching on demand Heroes. They hook me really bad with those cliff hangers, so much that I have to watch one more, then another, until it's three or four in the morning. Did you know there's a direct correlation between sleep deprivation and super heroic powers. At this point I'm close to flying.

When I'm not using my breasts as weapons, or, saving the world one cheerleader at a time I've been known to hold sleepy babies, or, sew a garment or two. This shirt is my "muslin" of Simplicity 4077*. I have a beautiful Japanese double gauze that I want to use for my final version. I saw that Flint Knits used the same fabric (different colorway) for the 4077. Hers is sooooooooo cute that I have to copy her. Maybe Copy Cat is my next superpower?

* Did you notice that Niki/Jessica are modeling the 4077? Coincidence? I think not.

Purple, haven't worn that in 20 years

2008-05-17T16:42:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it seems like I don't have any time for sewing, but I can't figure out what is eating up my *me* time. Maybe it's the great weather we're having, the increased outdoor time. We've been gardening a lot. It's one of the few things that the boys and I can do in total harmony — no sharing issues, no hitting, no screaming. I'm still trying to figure out how to put that spoonful of sugar in the other jobs that must be done around here. Gardening is always sweet, and, without the added sugar. Maybe we have Stevia plant growing around here somewhere.

I ignored cooking a healthful dinner last night (gout's been rearing it's ugly toe/ankle/knee around here) to get some sewing in. Sausage, eggs, toast, and applesauce for the kids — foraging for the grown-ups. I made another A-line skirt for me — this time with Bird on a Ball, by Etsuko Furuya, for echino (can't find a link for this exact fabric). I bought the purple colorway, which was sort of a surprise. I don't think I've worn purple since the late 80s, when I had a bunch of purple stretchy clothes. Wha? Anyway, since the bird fabric is not knit, I had to increase my pattern by a couple inches to allow for my unchecked consumption of chocolate chips over the past winter. I really wanted to avoid going up a size. But, suffering all day in an ill-fitting skirt, replete with muffin top, is not fun. The new skirt feels great and looks better. Why suffer? Why punish myself until I loose weight?

My favorite flower: Papaver somniferum, the opium poppy. They always bloom close to Memorial Day around these parts. We saved the seed from a friend's neighbor many years ago and have been nurturing the volunteers ever since. The kid's garden developed around this particular set because I was trying to save them from being "hack, hack, hacked." There's a lot of hacking around here. Most of the tree dahlias met an early fate this year. My oldest might be a garden variety hacker, but he did correctly use the word "volunteer" while we were out in the garden the other day. Did you notice the peas are already past the center of the web? I've had a few inquiries on how to make a web, so I might do a how-to when I make a web-covered bean tepee.

This is a skirt I made for my littlest guy on his birthday. He likes to walk around draped in fabric, so I thought he might like a skirt. This was much too long and trippy, so, it will probably end up being a gift or something. If I'd had enough yardage I would have made myself a western shirt. I am now officially looking for the best floral, and/or, floral striped fabric to make into a western. Soft would be nice, too.

One of the flowers that has always grown in my mom's garden, Cinneraria. I'm not sure of the spelling. I did see it spelled this way when I googled, but it seemed like it could be a common misspelling. Anyone know anything about these flowers? They seem very old-fashioned to me. We usually have a few different purples every year.

It was a good year for Iris. Clusters of rhizomes, that haven't bloomed in a long while, were rich with flowers. Was it extra rain? This blossom was the last of the season. My little guy just had to pick it. Sorry, mom.

Wool-Ease Web and Random

2008-05-04T15:09:00.000-07:00

For the snap peas to grow up. I thought about Gudrun while I wove my tangled web. Now, I'm just trying to figure out how I can add it to Ravelry. It's almost crochet, sort of.

Thanks for the pants love. I can't wait to make another pair. Hopefully I'll be able to make a pattern of my alterations.

It was nice to see KnitSonya, Sadhita, BitterBetty, LittleLovelies, Melissa (I never got your blog) and a glimpse of the YarnHarlot, yesterday at the Maker Faire. I was wishing there was an organized craft blog get together. Maybe someone can organize one next year, Beth?

Fancy Pants

2008-05-01T12:29:00.000-07:00

My first real life, non-elastic pants with side zipper, sewn by me.

It all started with a vintage men's pajama pants pattern.

After altering the pj pattern a couple times to make it more fitted, I realized I could add a couple darts to the back, and a zipper to the side, and call it pants. I ended up adding a waist band instead of facing because I trimmed it down too low. Finally, I have pants with a waist band that fits me. It doesn't cut into my no-waist-having self.

I stay stitched the hem and let the fray stay.

These pants were made for my San Francisco trip. And, since I always feel like a country bumpkin when in the city, I thought I'd make it a theme — frayed hem and straw hat were worn with pride.

Do you see a uniform emerging? A style? Yokel couture, perhaps? I made my first French seams on these bad-boy bumpkins.

I'm feeling sassy with my made-by-me outfit.

The Usual Suspects

2008-04-22T11:48:00.000-07:00

As part of my extended 40th birthday celebration we got to stay in a vacant apartment in San Francisco. Maxine lived there from the late 1940s until she died some years ago — she was 97. She fancied "Oriental" decor and fancy stereo equipment. I think these headphones were hers. Thanks, Maxine.

Ta da!

2008-04-16T16:23:00.005-07:00

Thanks for all the birthday wishes. It was swell, especially the goblet-sized lemon drops that my brother-in-law made — explains the silly grin, huh? Missed the hangover after my 21st birthday, saved it for my 40th. The orange chiffon cake was fab, too.

Me 4.0 and Simplicity 3835

2008-04-15T19:32:00.000-07:00

It took me a year to finally make the Built By Wendy, Simplicity 3835 pattern. I watched as everyone made cute shirt/tunic/dress after cute shirt/tunic/dress. While thinking that it looked great on them, I wondered if it would look maternity-ish on someone my size. The pattern only goes up to bust size 40 inches and I'm 46. Fortunately I remembered that on of my vintage-but-sized-for-larger-folk patterns it explained that, if you are larger than a B-cup, it's better to measure above the breasts and around the back to get a better measurement — when I do that, I'm 42 inches. So, after holding the pattern up to my body, and getting mom's opinion, and comparing it to my other favorite home-sewn, I skipped the muslin and went straight to cute polkadot quilter's cotton.

The modifications I made were: not adding the elastic on the sleeves (too puffy); adding a little to the front fold (about a half inch); adding additional length (because I'm tall); and adding the darts in back (like the dress version).

Make sure to follow the directions for the length of the elastic for the neck opening, which seems long, but, will flatter with its peek at your collar bones.

This shirt is so much better than stained, Old Gravy T-shirts in XXL, but it serves the same purpose — it's a classic mom uniform from way back, but now you get to use all the cute fabrics. It's utilitarian. It's easy. It's stash busting. It's fast (1 1/2 to 2 hours)! It's my favorite pattern, ever!

Did I scream yet about how much I LOVE THIS PATTERN?

So, even if you have big b**bs, and even if your waist size is the same as your age*, and even if you still have that baby belly — TRY THIS PATTERN. It even looks good on skinny girls. It's all good.

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*It's my 40th birthday today!!!!!