Gather & Make

Alabama Chanin Fingerless gloves

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Alabama Chanin Fingerless gloves

These fun and funky fingerless gloves are light enough for an evening summer-to-fall transition, or serve as that extra layer you will need in winter. These are black on top of "faded" organic cotton jersey fabric, bloomers stencil. It's all hand sewn with black thread. I started with a kit, so they worked up in no time flat, just a couple of evenings' stitching. I'd love to make a pair in red! Or cream and white would be really sweet.

Here's the Alabama Chanin fingerless glove kit, domestic organic jersey cotton, all cut and stenciled, including thread.

I'll be teaching this class at the Stitchin' Post in Sisters, Oregon on November 18th, 10-3. You can choose between the fingerless gloves or a table runner for your class kit, or purchase both if you like. Check out their website for all the details and to register online. Stitchin' Post is also having a class preview party on September 6th, from 9-2; and they're having a special tea party on October 25th to introduce everyone to the beautiful, creative world of Alabama Chanin and hand sewing! (More details on that later.)

Fingerless glove in bloomers stencil.

Table runner in paisley stencil.

If you're in the area, or would like to visit the quaint little western town of Sisters, Oregon, I hope you can join me for my class, the preview and/or tea party. It's for beginning as well as experienced hand stitchers alike. It will be so much fun, and you'll learn all about hand sewing, different techniques and stitches, everything needed to finish your useful and beautiful kit, and the knowledge to make many more heirloom creations in the future.

"Kitchen sink"fruit crumble

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

"Kitchen sink" fruit crumble

So much fruit, so little time, thus some of that fruit was beginning to look a little past its prime. I decided a "kitchen sink" fruit crumble would be the perfect solution. No recipe, just this-n-that.

Lots of cut fruit with the zest of a lemon plus its juice .....

And the crumble is a mixture of what's in the picture, plus a little vanilla and garbanzo bean flour. Here's my best go at the crumble "recipe". About 2 cups raw old fashioned oats; half that amount of chia seeds; same for garbanzo bean flour. Two hand-fulls of walnuts, then chop; 1/4 cup slivered almonds; 3 tablespoons cinnamon; 1 tablespoon vanilla; and some chopped crystallized ginger; about 1/3 cup coconut oil and the same of honey; a couple dashes of salt.

Just mix crumble together and have a taste. Does it remind you of that yummy oatmeal cookie dough that you used to sneak as a kid? You're on the right track. Could you not resist going back for a second taste? Then you've got it!

A little coconut oil in a glass casserole dish (I love cooking in glass); layer fruit, then crumble, mixing the crumble into the fruit a bit; pop in a 350 degree oven for about 25 or so minutes.

There you go, a perfect use for all that leftover fruit, and a healthy dessert for all. No picture of the final dish. We've already eaten it all. Nothing more needs be said.

My Little Town, Bend, Oregon

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

My Little Town

Not a day goes by that I don't send a note of gratitude out for my little town. Natural beauty is everywhere you look; the people are really, really nice; there's always something to do; the tap water tastes better than any bottled water I've ever tried; and bad traffic is when a roundabout backs up about five cars, thus adding 30 seconds onto your seven minute cross-town commute.

Here's a glimpse at some goings-on around town.