Creative Homemaker

No, Bear hasn't given up becoming a full-time Lutheran pastor. No, we aren't moving and buying 50 acres. (Although that would be lovely!) I've sipped the tainted kool-aid, I've jumped off the deep end, I've begun something for which I should have my head examined. With all I have going on in my life; 5 kids in the midst of 5 grade levels of homeschooling, the numerous--like 25--projects already in UFO status, I've begun another. I'm participating in the Farmer's Wife Quilt Along, FWQAL. The flickr group currently has 962 members.  Sounds mildly cultish to me. It may take me years, but I'll plug along.  Following the winding path, walking toward the light, and stitching long hours into the night when I should be doing other things. My sister, Silver, made me this precious binder cover for which I shall store my secret stash of templates and instructions. Oh, and since these are all templates, I'll be working on this as a carry-alon...

Last year when my father-in-law, Pop died I knew I wanted to create something out of his shirts.  He was such an amazing influence on us as a married couple.  I lived with Pop and Nana while Bear was in basic training and Gadget boy was only 2.   I learned to love my in-laws very much during that time and respect who they became in my life. Pop was such a frugal man. He regularly shopped at yard sales, but brought home only what he knew he could use.  He regularly repurposed items--old wood, old tools, wooden handles, etc.  Tape, wire and staples were what held much of his surroundings together.  So when I thought about how I would recreate a quilt memorial in his honor, scrappy became the method. Nana, Bear and I stood near his closet as we pulled clothes out and scanned them all.  His shirts were plaids, beiges, yellows--homespun and earthy--just like he was.  I took a dozen shirts and about as many ties.  On the way home fr...

This has got to be the Easiest. Recipe. Ever. One 6 pound package of frozen chicken One jar of apricot, (I used peach) jam One package of onion soup mix, Knorr or Lipton, (I actually used a Tastefully Simple package of Onion, Onion mix from my friend Denise .) Dump the chicken in the crock pot, shake the soup mix over it all evenly, and warm up the jam and pour over the mixture.  Cook on low 4-5 hours.  I'm turning mine on high for an hour or so and then turning it down because my chicken is frozen. I'll announce the verdict later.... Dinnertime: I was curious to find that the jam did not stay gelatinous.  It completely liquefied as it cooked in, under and through the chicken. I lifted the chicken out carefully and poured the remaining sauce into a pan and thickened it with about 3 Tablespoons of cornstarch.  I poured just a bit of it over the chicken to glaze it. The verdict: Bear said nothing, which is typical.  Gadget boy loved it, true to fo...

I've been "occupying" my sewing room a lot these days and getting projects accomplished. I have an old mason jar full of slips of paper that I pull each time I finish up a UFO.  Each piece of paper has an unfinished project on it.  When I pull a paper, I must work on that project until it's finished.  Sometimes that is a joy, sometimes, it's a real pain, but discipline is good. I have to purchase a few things for the latest one I pulled, and there will be a post on that later, it's possibly the ugliest quilt EVER! But it will be loved, and worn, and drug around, and that's what quilting is all about.  Making something wonderful for someone you love.  Just a little hint about what's coming soon... Polyester and fur. Oh my!!

Barbara Mandrell and I have something in common. No, it isn't the perky blonde hair, it's not the flannels shirts, and it's not that we are both fans of Roy Rogers. The thing we have in common is that we've both been "something" when that "something" wasn't cool. There is a trend today on the blogs that I read to be "all vintage!" and "back to basics." I've done that for years, folks. I don't need Food in Jars or Creative Canning to tell me how to process and can our harvest. I don't need Passionate Homemaking to tell me the benefits of baby wearing. I just did it.  I made my own baby sling and wore my last five babies until I could no longer empty the dishwasher without fear of them toppling out of the sling and into the dishes. I did it because "hands free" is practical.  When I could set the baby down, believe me, I did.  I have always done homemade crafts for gifts. ...