Elemental Stitches

I Have Nothing To Write About

I haven't been a good blogger lately and I am feeling very guilty about it. I had convinced myself that because I didn't have any pictures to post and I haven't sewn much then there was nothing to write about. But of course, I am completely wrong. I can write about...

-the fabulous book I am currently reading... It is called Julie & Julia: 365 days, 524 recipes, 1 tiny apartment kitchen. It is about Julie, who is a married 29 year old secretary who lives in a "shit hole" apartment on Long Island and she decides that she is going to cook every recipe in Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child. This is the 1961 version too. While she does this she writes a blog about it. Which you can find here. I got it yesterday at the library and I am almost finished. It will be finished tonight because I have to start reading Priestesses by ... I cant remember but it is supposed to be great!

-My Partylite business... If anyone wants great candles email me. Or if you would like to know how to earn free candles email me!

-I have been cooking a lot more lately. Yesterday I made a terrific steak while learning the essentials of making the perfect marinade. This is what I came up with.

I marinated to beef steaks in:
Juice of one lemon
some ginger, salt, pepper, lemongrass, dried onion, and powdered garlic.

Coat each side of steak and cover in lemon juice. Marinate for 15-20 minutes.
Broil until done.

Then I made sweet potato fries. These were fantastic! I julienned the small sweet potatoes and fried them for about 10 minutes in vegetable oil. I dried them in paper towels covered in sugar and cinnamon. Then sprinkled more sugar and cinnamon. They were great.

See there are things to talk about!

Labels: Books, Cooking, Sewing

Sewing Hermitage

I have been hiding the last several days. I am sorry I haven't been blogging. There has been a lot going on and much of it is very stressful. There is also this freak deep freeze in southern California. The low in my city last night was 14 degrees. We have broken records every night the last week. It even snowed in Malibu! And people are acting crazy! Doing nutty things that are totally out of character. However, everything will be ok and to cope... I have been sewing.

I don't have any photos again, but I had about 3 or 4 yards of nubby woven fabric, that I hear, is very hard to sew with. Well I had several yards of it and as I unfolded it and let the fabric fall around me I thought that it would make a very nice blanket. So, I made 20 feet of patchwork bias binding and sewed most of it on. The fabric I used is very shabby chic. Natural muslin, a cream fabric with tiny roses and a whiter cream fabric with tiny bright blue flowers. Its an interesting contrast with the black fabric but I really like how it came out. I promise to take pics when its done and my computer is fixed.

The 2nd project I made today was a dishcloth apron. I really need one in the kitchen because while I cook, I was my hands and always wipe them on my pants. I cant help it. So I cut one of Pumpkin's old baby blankets in half and sewed on 2 in red bias binding with a Velcro closure. The apron fabric was baby jungle animals in primary colors. It looks really cute and useful. I think I am going to get a lot of use out of it.

I have been looking at a box full of scraps and contemplating some cuff bracelets. I think some of the teens I know might like them.

I also made a new pillow the other day. Its a red and cream paisley with a red wine colored backing. Its beautiful!

Labels: Sewing

Sunday Scribbling - Ideas

This week's prompt is: Ideas Have a great weekend! 1. Cooking Blog -possibility 2. budgeting 3. Flirting 4. what is my new place going to look like? 5. Partylite specials

Labels: Sunday Scribbling

Can we come out now?

Now that the holidays are officially over we are coming back to normal. Things have been so busy and stressed that I am just exhausted! We all are.

I have been thinking about my sewing machine lately. I think I am going to make some more stuff for me. I have been sewing a lot for others around the holidays and I want things that make me feel good now. I have to clean off a very messy table to get to sew though.

My partylite starter party is this Sat the 13th at 2. If you would like to order some excellent candles and accessories please leave me a comment.

I am so tired. I will write more tomorrow. And I am going to update the tutorials and I am going to talk about the decorating I have been doing and planning. Its all so exciting! Until Tomorrow!

Labels: Holidays, Personal, Sewing

Candles and Chocolate

Happy New Year everyone!

I hope everyones new years was as fun as mine. We stayed at home but several people in my complex had a get together. The girl upstairs told me that she has been wanting to cut my hair for a long time. My hair is like an unpainted canvas. Its long and plain with hardly a "cut" to it at all. I haven't had a professional cut since I was pregnant with Brae so I am pretty excited. She wants to give me lots of layers all over and keep the length (so Cowboy doesn't get upset). Personally I don't care what she does with my hair, anything is better then what I have.

I am starting my Partylite business. I hope to make some extra money to help us survive better. If anyone is interested in looking at a catalog I have one online that you can look at. Leave me a comment and I will get in touch with you. There are also opportunities to get free products from the catalog just by collecting orders. Its a really great company and their quality is terrific! Let me know if you are interested in ordering or getting free candles.

I am bad... I haven't sewed a thing in weeks. I made bunches of Christmas Decorations and I cooked bunches of cookies, brownies, and truffles (which were divine).
You know what... Those truffles were so easy and they were fabulous! Here is the recipe.

Chocolate Truffles

Ganache: For the ganache you want to use a double boiler. I filled a saucepan 1/2 way with water and put a metal bowl on top; it worked great.

10-12 oz of QUALITY Chocolate. Try to find the best quality chocolate. Hersheys is not quality. Try Ghiradelli or Vahlronna.

1/2 (with alcohol) or 3/4 (without alcohol) cup Heavy Cream

1/4 cup of rum, brandy, vodka, or some other alcohol (optional)

Warm the cream in a saucepan on med low heat. While it is warming pour the unmelted chocolate in the metal bowl on the double boiler. When the cream is just before simmering pour it over the chocolate and turn the burner on to med high heat. After 2 minutes stir the chocolate and cream slowly until the chocolate is completely melted and the cream is incorporated. Pour the ganache into a 8x8 pan and set in fridge to solidify.

The ganache takes at least 4 hours to cool. Over night is better. When it is cool spoon out a small amount and quickly roll into a ball and cover in your choice of topping or leave plain.
Refrigerate.

When you are rolling the ganache try to keep your hands cold and rinse them to keep them clean. It is much easier to work the ganache this way. It melts with the heat of your hands.

Good luck and let me know how they turn out!

Labels: Cooking