SOUR DOUGH ENGLISH MUFFINS

OH....I think I'm re-domesticating myself! Now that I have a sour dough starter, which requires attention, I've been baking more than I have in years.

One of my favorite sour dough recipes came from Sunset Magazine....YEARRRRS ago. = English Muffins. Here my dough has risen to more than double and is ready for the next step.

It's rolled out and cut into rounds and placed to rise again on cornmeal covered baking sheets.

60+ minutes later....these too have doubled in size and are ready to bake.

English Muffins do not bake in the oven....rather, they are cooked on a hot griddle. And there's where I had my problem. I used my brand new Panini grill and griddle. Despite turning the heat up all the way.......it simply wasn't as hot enough. I used to cook English Muffins using a gas stove on a cast iron griddle.

Does anyone else notice that appliances do not get hot enough anymore? I can name: my coffee maker, our electric frying pan (used to cook fish outside when I don't want the smell in the house!), and this darn $$ new grill (there's no way it could cook hamburgers as stated in the owner's manual....it'd take all day!!)

Due to the low heat....they look paler then I'd like.

The nooks and crannys aren't as large as they should be either. That too comes from heat that is too low. If they bake too slowly.....the dough has a tendency to collapse....making the product denser than it should be. However.....the muffins were still flavorful and yummy.

EARLY VALENTINE'S WISHES

My friend Jackie has the magic touch in the greeting card department. I can't begin to tell you how many bovine related cards she's sent to me from Colorado Springs over the years..... She must be on a constant search.....each and every one has been precious!

So, of course I ADORE this one.......the greeting says "Got Love?" toooooo cute.....

Hope all of you will be with your sweeties on Monday....... Mine told me he was going to bring home a dog from the local shelter for me.......NOT!!! Dinner would be more like it!!

BEADING!

This doesn't seem like much to show for a days' work......but if your household is like mine......it's rare when I can devote the entire day to work in my studio!

The stone is now permanently attached with this bead cage. My overall goal was for simplicity. At this point, I'm still not sure if I'll add any other elements or go ahead and start the edge finishing process....which will in itself add more design.....

That's why we love creating isn't it? It's like a race...run, run, run.......and then the pay off is the finish line. I am NOT a sprinter......I prefer the marathon approach......what's the rush? The satisfaction for me is to finish with a piece I'm proud of......

Photographing bead work, esp. against matte fiber such as woolfelt usually doesn't provide accurate color renditions.....but perhaps you'll get the idea anyway.

SIMPLIFYING

Well....after an exciting Super Bowl.....my feet are just beginning to touch the ground....thank you all for cheering along with me..... We needed all that help! The Steeler's proved to be a difficult team to beat (as expected). One thing that really struck me was the overall good sportsman like conduct. Sure there were some 'oops', what was I thinking penalties on both teams, but the chippy, bad boy stuff was thankfully left on the school yard playground!

So.....onto what this blog is really all about....creating with fiber......

I posted about this new pieces a few days ago - here - and since have gone onto the next step. As I mentioned, simplifying, while many quilters are going the opposite direction via the mixed-media format, has become appealing to me.

This 8" x 8" will feature simple machine stitching........

..........and hopefully, one awesome major design element. It's made with 80/20 National Nonwovens Woolfelt. The background is stabilized in my usual manner using a lightweight non-fusible interfacing, while the pale lavender spot of color has been fused in position. The 'bead' is glued in place to hold it during the beading process.

Watch what happens....

YAHOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

THE PACK IS BACK!!!!

The Vince Lombardi Trophy is back where it belongs.......

TALL HOUSES

Even though I'm completely distracted with the upcoming Super Bowl, there has been time to stitch!

After completing embroidering the swirls on the background, it was time to add my backing and finish the edges..... This is where I got stalled....seriously, it was pathetic the amount of time I stood in front of the design wall trying out many, many ideas.

This piece is hand dyed 100% wool, which really felted during the dyeing process, making it very thick so my favorite edging finishes were not compatible. Here I'm auditioning wool thread colors for a simple blanket stitch finish.

The above approach didn't seem to frame the piece well enough..... Though I've never used traditional binding for these pieces, I thought maybe some colorful batik might work. Actually, it looks better coordinated in this photo than it did in person......the materials just didn't jive.

Then I pulled out some of the thick trim I used for the tree trunks and convinced myself I could attach that to the edge by couching it in place. What a MESS.....sorry I didn't even take a picture.....too embarrassing! So in the end, I went back to Aurfil wool thread, using two strands to blanket stitch the edge.....it was my first instinct.....and a lot of time was wasted dinking around before I got back to it!

TALL HOUSES 17 1/2" x 9"

$150 (with insured shipping)

payment via check or paypal - email me using link at top right

THE COUNTDOWN IS ON.....

It's now less then 2 days before the big game......Cheeseheads unite........

and chant.......GO PACKERS.....

And....here's the guy who will help orchestrate the win........our boy.....Aaron Rodgers.....

So....yes, my Super Bowl preparations are in the works......of course we will be serving Wisconsin Cheese and Johnsonville Summer Sausage......and another of Wisconsin's 4 food groups, 'bars'.... Bars, like in brownies and other such shallow pan desserts. (Wisconsin's 4 food groups are: cheese, beer, brats, and bars.)

BEGINNINGS

Besides the love affair I've been having with woolfelt, I've noticed a slight shift in the style of my work.

Rather than the overly embellished, detailed quilts that were my trademark, my leaning now seems to be cleaner, minimalist designs. That doesn't mean my beadwork doesn't have a huge impact. Hoever, I'm doing less and less patchwork and I've reduced the amount of mixed media I incorporate.

I don't know where this is going.....but for now....it's fun to explore a new direction.

Most of us are feeling spring will never come after this harsh winter.....but in an attempt to hurry it along....I did some spring cleaning by organizing some of my beads which had been overflowing from far too few containers.

.......and I came across these beauties.....

.....so I pulled some fabric, thread, beads to show them off. I'm anxious to start the design process.......

GO PACKERS!!!!!!!!!!

STILL BUILDING....

I'm still working on this little woolfelt house wall hanging.....all the motifs have now been hand appliqued using the buttonhole stitch. More definition was achieved by using black Aurifil wool thread and the outline stitch.

I decided to add more threadwork on the background to create additional texture. Initially, I tried machine stitching, ripped it out and then auditioned some hand embroidery, using a high contrast thread. Both approaches tended to distract from the overall small 8" x 17" format. The swirls are now stitched with a single strand of DMC embroidery floss. It's more than a little time consuming.....and isn't all that visible until you get up close...but it works for me.

COUNTDOWN......

SORRY......I must support my team.....I will get back to my project in a day or so...... In the meantime....GO PACKERS.....

Photo taken over Lambeau Field 11/7/10.....yes shot from above the fly over jets. Packers 45 - Cowboys 7