Planning for Next Project

I already posted my sewing goals for 2013, and included this picture:

I have finished three of the eight proposed projects:

• Cute little purse project - done (click here)
• Big purse project (I totally missed the time frame for the purse contest at PatternReview)
• Tiramisu dress
• Knit top with twist at waist
• Knit top with mock twist

• Covers and liners for the cushion for DH's desk chair - done (click here)
• Crazy-print pillowcases - done (click here)
• Scarves for draping over clothes

My next project will be a knit top using Butterick 5495 and this printed knit fabric.  The plain fabric is a stretch woven twill which will become a skirt with just a little twirl:

I will get around to it soon!

Sewing Room Takeover

After I finished sewing the latest pillowcases, I turned over the cutting table my hubby so he could build his new computer.

Here are two pictures from Friday night:

Here are two pictures from Saturday night:

His new computer is super-fast, and he likes it!

I think I will get my cutting table back in a day or two.

New Pillowcase Tutorials

Look on my tutorials page for these new additions:

I have added the tutorial to learn how to make these pillowcases.  This tutorial makes king-sized pillowcases and uses a serger and a sewing machine:

This tutorial makes standard sized pillowcases, and uses a serger and a sewing machine:

Also look in the tutorials for how to dress a pillow so the pillowcase will not fall off:

Ironing, Sewing, and Shopping Therapy

Yep!  You read that correctly.  I have been doing some ironing.

I make my pillowcases with quilting cotton.  Some of my pillowcases are so old that I have to iron the hems after they are laundered.

Sometimes I drape the clean pillowcases over a chair until I get around to ironing them.

Here is the result of an ironing session:

Oh, look!  Under the stack is a pillowcase which has been folded and pinned!

Actually, there are two pillowcases which have had their hems pressed and are ready to be sewn:

By the way, I gave myself some post-tax-prep shopping therapy this afternoon.  I spent about $11 buying doo-hick-ees at Bed Bath & Beyond.  I didn't buy anything at JA's, but I did see some interesting fabrics.  I think this one is particularly happy:

These two fabrics seem well-suited for a purse - maybe?

I just really like madras weaves:

I love the pink and red stripe knit (hint: the middle one):

Do you do shopping therapy, and how do you define it for yourself?

Green Soup

Breathe in, breathe out.

I finished our tax preparation yesterday, so now I can breathe ... and so can everyone else at our house!

Green soup is one of the favorite side dishes at our house.  It's a whole lotta nutrition in one serving.

The original recipe is found here.  I have mentioned green soup (here), but now it's time to share our version of this soup.

The original recipe does not call for bacon, but we really love bacon!  It is now a required ingredient.

A vegan version would omit the bacon and replace chicken stock with vegetable broth, and it would still taste good!

Slowly saute four pieces of bacon until cooked.  Add two chopped onions.  Add a glop of olive oil and about the same amount of water (next time I will not use olive oil, since bacon gives plenty grease).  Cover and turn the heat down, stirring occasionally:

Add about an inch of water to a large soup pot.  Add a large bag of kale.  Cover and cook until kale is steamed:

Rinse the kale with cold water.  Drain and repeat until it is no longer hot:

Place the drained kale in a large blender.  Add two cups chicken broth, 1/4 cup rice flour, a few dashes of cayenne or red pepper, and the bacon/onion mixture:

Puree in blender and place in sauce pot.  Cover and simmer on low before serving:

Here's one way to serve it, although lately we've been serving the soup in the smaller-size bowl (on the right):

It also makes great leftovers (note the repurposed ice cream containers):

Do you have a veggie-intensive recipe?