Hoo'ville

I'm not entirely sure when owls became the new cool thing. But I have to admit that I think they're cute. Not real owls. Just cute big eyed type cartoon owls.

So of course, since I seem to have a lot of extra time on my hands right now, I decided to sew a little stuffed owl. It was really easy, and used only scraps of fabrics I already had on hand. I even stuffed it with extra scraps of fleece (because fleece scraps are still soft and cuddly...I'm not sure other scraps would be as comfortable).

(No, the top of my head isn't sewn yet. Alina doesn't own any hand needles. woops)

On another note, we've been buying cookies from the bakery section at Whole Foods. They are surprisingly delicious, and not so surprisingly very expensive. In an effort to be more budget-savvy, I decided to try making our favorites: Almond Raspberry Thumbprints.

I used almond flour along with regular flour to get a nice nutty-marzipany taste in the cookie, and also used chopped up almonds to coat (salted...adds a nice salty-sweet combo). They did not turn out quite like the store-bought ones, but they are yummy enough that out of the dozen I bake last night there is only one left...

(Mmm...marzipan and raspberry....Mmmm)

They were surprisingly easy to make, I think the trick is just to use Almond flour.

Almond Raspberry Thumbprints

1 stick of butter (non-salted, softened)

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar

pinch of salt

1/2 tsp vanilla

1 egg separated

1/2 cup almond flour

1 1/4 cup AP flour

finely chopped almonds

raspberry jam (I used bonne maman raspberry jam because it's high quality and delicious)

In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugars until very light. Beat in the egg yolks, vanilla, and salt. Add the nut flour and the all-purpose flour, stirring until well blended. If the dough seems too sticky, add just enough additional flour to make it workable.

Cover and chill the dough for an hour. While the dough chills, cover the egg whites and leave them out of the refrigerator to warm up to room temperature.

Preheat oven to 350°F. In a small bowl, whip the egg whites until they're foamy. Break off pieces of dough and roll them between your palms to form 1-inch balls. Dip the balls into the egg whites, and roll them in the chopped nuts. Place the cookies about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.

Bake the cookies for 8 minutes, then remove them from the oven. Make a deep thumbprint in the center of each cookie (I was scared of burning my thumb so I just used the back of a teaspoon). Fill the thumbring with small amount of jam and return to the oven, and bake until they’re a light, golden brown, 6-8 minutes. Remove them from the oven, and transfer them to a rack to cool.

They will seem too soft and crumbly while hot, but they are completely baked. They harden once cooled.

Enjoy!

alina

update: jersey dress

Well, I still haven't finished the dress. I'm undecided about the piping along the bottom hem. But, I promised to put up pictures.

(Strap: notice the "skillful" pleating on the front which gives nice folds to the neckline)

I basically just made a little orange tube and then shoved the corners of my red fabric inside...folded and sewed. Is that cheating? I think it looks nice.

While putting off the decision about the bottom hem I took on another project (I figured I'm already on a roll...so why not?)

(look! it looks like a piece of paper but actually it's sewn!!)

Ideally I'd like to embroider a quote or something on the page, but I'm having a hard time coming up with something meaningful. Currently I'm considering a list of my five favorite foods. Or top five cities in the world. Or five places I'd like to visit before I die (in a completely not morbid way). Ideas?

Not to worry, I will most likely paint the frame before displaying the final product. (yay Ikea frames for cheap!)

Now to find a new project to take on for the afternoon...

alina

sneak peek: jersey dress

Yay! the jersey dress I've been slaving over for the past three days is nearly finished! Although it's not quite what I had imagined, I LOVE IT. Really. It is so cool. I had to do a lot of cutting and re-sewing, and more cutting and re-sewing, but I think it works now. (any suggestions from wiser more style savvy folks out there?)

(and no, I'm not sorry for the bed hair or frazzled overall appearance: I got out of bed and went straight to the sewing machine today)

Unfortunately, the picture does not really capture the pinkish shade of the jersey...so it looks just red. Which makes me look like a Hokie fan. Now, there's nothing wrong with being a Hokie, I'm just not. I simply have a slight obsession with the red-orange combo right now. Yes. My living room is also themed red... and orange. Don't tell UVA Housing.

I'm thinking about adding orange piping around the bottom hem, which is currently unfinished. My biggest concern being that it will change the way the dress sits. (and also that I'm scared of attaching piping in a not completely straight line: I'm a beginner. remember?)

So far though, I think it's not bad for someone who has never before sewn a dress, is going at it without a pattern, and only started playing on a sewing machine a month ago...The little orange sleeves even add some nice pleats for the cowl neck, and some interest so it's not all red. Maybe I should reconsider my future career.

I'll post pictures of the details in the dress later today...when it is done, which, hopefully, it will be by this afternoon.

alina

Doors

These are those doors I mentioned earlier (the ones hanging on my dining room wall)

All were taken on our month and a half bike trip from Barcelona to Paris. Sigh. Possibly the happiest month of my life. Tapas, croissants, fresh baguette...gallons of great wine...two bikes and a tent with my husband, perfection!

(I love the tiled courtyard in front of this home...)

(Only the french have stylish garage doors)

(ooh. studs work on doors too)

(you can't tell, but this door is midget size. tapas eaters only!)

(no, the vespa does NOT ruin the picture of my door. it adds a beautiful contrast color, d'uh)

Quiet Christmas

Well, I guess I had forgotten how sad Christmas is when you are Jewish here in the States.

Since we didn't have any presents to exchange, or any huge breakfasts to feast over, I took on a few projects!

Yesterday we finished re-upholstering our dining room chairs, I love this fabric. It reminds me of Spain, and tapas, and goes so well with our Spanish and French doors photography collection on the wall.

Ahh...Barcelona.

Then, I finally got to work on the jersey dress I've been planning for weeks. I only just started sewing about a month ago, so far I've made a skirt for myself, a skirt for my little sister, and a pillow! all of those projects were so easy that I thought I'd take on a challenge for myself: a cowl-neck jersey dress.

Now, I could have done the whole "get a pattern and cut the fabric accordingly" type things, but I figured, how hard can it be? I bought a gorgeous red/pink jersey at Les Fabriques, which is an awesome local fabric store, but it was soo pretty that I found it really difficult to cut it. (last night I finally took the plunge...) I also discovered that I had bought WAY too much fabric (I didn't want to have too little, oops).

My original plan for the dress included orange jersey on the inside of the cowl neck (see door picture above for the orange-red inspiration!), and possibly orange trim around the armholes, but after sewing the basic form, it doesn't really go.

Now, finally, it's mostly sewn, after many adjustments, and I just have to finish the hem, and around the armholes. There will be pictures once I'm done.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday, and a Merry Christmas to all those who celebrate!

Alina

the first post is the hardest...

I keep trying to start a blog.

I find myself spending an hour or two on designing the layout, typing up some inspirational words, possibly even posting a picture or two of my latest projects...and then fizzling. I'm pretty sure that's why all the titles I wanted to use for this blog were already taken. They are dead and buried remnants of my old attempts.

So then I thought to myself (this after hours of reading other people's blogs and thinking to myself that I, too, have SO much to say!) I should start a new one! This time I will not set goals for myself with regards to how crafty and DIY-y, and clever I need to be. I'll simply write what I want to write and share whatever great ideas come my way, with hopes that maybe other people will be able to gain (or at least be entertained) from my experiences.

Not to mention, I need a place to write, and it seems silly to write to myself in a journal when I could instead pretend that there are hundreds (yes, hundreds!) of people reading my words and checking to see if I've posted every single day. No, I'm not delusional. Just optimistic.

So welcome readers. I know you are out there.

I hope you enjoy my mostly random ramblings with the occasional touch of crafts, sewing, cooking, or other endeavors.

Oh, and because I'm starting this on December 23rd, I have PROOF that this is not part of some silly New Year's resolution. (those will come later...like in a week)

That's all!

Alina