Today I’ve been to my friend Nina’s workroom and we’ve spent the morning together. She has shown me some wonderful vintage brim blocks that she has gotten and perhaps next Monday we will give them a go.
I have given her one of my pin cushions which I’m sure has found a good home with her (it’s the yellow one with a green button), and some of her vintage buttons have found a good home with me!
Aren’t they just great?! Now I have to think of a deserving project to use them on. You can check more pictures on this link.
After the success of my first two pin cushions and due to public demand I’ve made a whole new bunch, here pictured (click on the image to see more pictures), some of which have already found a loving new home. Before I give up on pincushions I will try a cute square one following this detailed tutorial from the blog Stephanie sews.
18-february-2008: I’ve included this post under the “sewing projects” category.
I saw this wonderful tutorial on the internet for a super easy pin cushion and I could not resist. I’ve used a little scrap of vintage fabric that I found at my mom’s house which is nice and colorful.
I wish I had found nicer buttons, but even so the pin cushions look nice (probably not so if you look too closely!).
I also want to tell you about my cheap but chic woven labels that I’ve ordered for my little projects (these are not for the hats). I almost forgot to sew them in! They are actually “school labels” and cost below 8 euros (less than 12 USD) for 72 labels (includding shipping). I’ve always liked ladybugs and that being one of the drawings available I thought it would be fun. Check out the labels on the blog of my cousin, just perfect for her knitting projects.
18-february-2008: I’ve included this post under the “sewing projects” category.
I’ve been learning how to use my sewing machine (I’m really happy with it!).
For those who know how to sew it must seem ridiculous that I’m so excited about making a simple apron, but I’m awfully proud. To avoid complications I have made a simple thing without using a pattern, just a rectangle of brown corduroy, pink rick-rack edge and then pockets and tie made out of a thick cotton/linen fabric that I had stashed away.
Yesterday was “three wise men” day. In Spain that is the day when children (and adults) get their Christmas gifts. The three wise men come from the orient in ther camels loaded with gifts. My apron was a gift for Helena, my brother Jose Manuel’s girlfriend, and she liked it a lot and inmediately tried it on. My mom, said that she wanted one herself, so I’m working on that now (the Homburg, almost finished, is not forgotten!).
While looking at Amy Carol’s blog called angry chicken I saw that there’s a flickr group dedicated to old apron patterns. Will you believe that?!
There you will find hundreds of pictures and scans of old apron patterns. Should come as no surprise that there are lots of people out there who love and make aprons, but the truth is that it doesn’t cease to amaze me the amount of great things and great people you can meet on the internet.
This pattern comes from a Spanish mail order sewing course dating from the 1950’s.
By the way, Amy’s blog is beautiful and fun, lots of sewing projects but other stuff too. She has published a great little book called “bend-the-rules sewing” that I have and love and I’m sure it will be of great help with my new sewing machine (yes!!! my personal Santa left it under the tree a few days after Christmas!!)
Before I forget. If you are curious about my costume jewelry brooch collection you can get a glimpse at it next Sunday 21 October on BBC1. And shame on me… I’m not wearing a hat!
Arroz con leche is a traditional Spanish dessert, and it’s my mother’s favorite. It’s an easy dessert to make but very often it’s done badly in restaurants and at home. Done right it’s just heaven and it brings me back to my childhood.
These are the ingredients (you can halve the ingredients if you want to make less):
- 3 liters of fresh whole milk
- 230 grams of round rice (washed twice under the tap and drained)
- 250 grams of caster (white) sugar
- 2 sticks (aprox. 10 cm each) of cinnamon
- Strips of lemon peel from one lemon (use a tomato peeler to make thin strips)
- 50 grams of butter diced
- 2 egg yolks, lightly beaten and dissolved with 4 tablespoons of cold milk
- powdered cinnamon for serving
(more…)
While I’m down with the flu here I will let you take a peak at something else I love. Here are some of my vintage brooches dating from the thirties, forties and fifties. I bought my first one on Ebay while looking at new stuff to buy for a gift. Once you buy one you’re hooked. Price can range between as little las 1 dollar (plus shipping) to whatever you’re willing to pay, but for 10-20 dollars you can buy some really neat things! Shipping to Spain with Global Priority is usually less than 10 dollars.
I just love the exhuberance of these brooches, the craftsmanship, the attention to detail… and they look all the better if you’re also wearing a hat. (more…)
