Samosas

Yesterday was the hottest day in the North East since 2008, I decided something curried was in order. These are my "pantry" samosas. FoodNetwork has some great samosa recipes from the fairly easy to the very complex that I have used in the past.

This is the method I came up with from what I happened to have in the house.



One 1 lb bag frozen soup vegetables(with potatoes, peas, onions, etc...)
One tbs yellow curry
One tsp ground ginger
One tsp chopped garlic (from a jar)
Two pkgs frozen pie crust

boil frozen veggies in 2 quarts of water until cooked al dente.
strain and let cool.
Add spices to veggies

unroll pie crusts and cut each in half
put about 1cup of seasoned veggies on each half of pie crust
fold each half over and pinch sides together
slice some holes on top of each turnover to vent
place on an ungreased non-stick cookie pan
Bake at 425 degrees for 40 minutes or until golden brown.

Will make 8 samosas
We used plum sauce from a jar for dipping
Cooling the vegetables before baking keeps them from overcooking in the oven.
While they aren't like the real thing these were super easy and the kids loved them.
The possibilities for substitutions are endless and I think these are going to be a kids cooking night staple at my house.

Lord of the Rings (or there's an Orc in my Backyard)

Nellie talked her brothers into playing Lord of the Rings with her, turning our backyard into Middle Earth

Gabe as an Orc


and as Gollum


"Sam" and "Frodo"


Looking more like an elven princess than a Hobbit


In true sisterly fashion Nellie spent the afternoon making sure they got their lines right and didn't miss any cues. I see some directing in her future.

Lord of the Rings Cloak

After watching the Lord of the Rings (skipping all the orc scenes upon request) my little girl wanted a cloak of her own.



The clasp is as elvish as I could make it using what I had in my stash.
It's an extra-large hook & eye and two necklace clasps (Blue Moon)





I used a pattern that I found on this site - with some modifications
http://www.alleycatscratch.com/lotr/Things/FCloak/FCloak_pattern.htm

The instructions were very easy to follow and didn't require a paper pattern.
I made the semi circle by laying the fabric out, marked the center, and used a thumbtack, string, and marking pencil compass to draw the circle.
I used a medium sized mixing bowl to trace the circle for the neck.
Nellie is learning to sew and did all of the straight seams with just a little help.
Then my sewing machine quit (lament) so I did the hem by hand.
One very easy, sturdy, and washable cloak that has already seen some outdoor playtime.
I think it will get even better with age

Lord of the Rings wrap - sketches

These are sketches for a Lord of the Rings inspired wrap
Alabama Chanin style



The tree, the horse, the swan, and the moon will be reverse applique.
The stars will be black/metallic knit material
The grass and the water are going to be embroidered.
The sun will be applique
and I think I am going to applique some blooms on the tree



The top layer will be blue cotton knit
the under layer is going to be white crushed velvet knit

at least that's the plan

Faeries and Flowers Grow in My Yard

Woodland Faeries in my backyard


Cherry Blossoms out front


Moonstone eggs in a copper nest, who knows what they will hatch?


Lilly of the Valley planted by nature, these showed up in my garden a few years ago and have spread profusely, this is the first time they have flowered!


Faeries under glass


Bugleweed, someone told me I should pull this up because it will ruin my lawn,
I said, "but they look so pretty next to the dandelions."

2nd Day at the Beach

First things first....lunch!


Joe gets ready to take flight, Nellie digs a new hole for the ocean to go in,


and Gabe builds a castle.


and I get in on the fun



by finally figuring out the camera timer...

The White Tree

I am re-reading the Lord of the Rings...again. And watching the movies with my children (first time for them). This is my wearable ode to Gondor.


It is made from two old t-shirts that had seen better days

-I used a bandanna folded in half on the diagonal as a pattern for the background material, the blue is just slightly smaller.

-the white t-shirt is cut with the hem still attatched and folded over to make the front edge

-stitch the two pieces of fabric together along the edges.

-The tree I drew freehand on a piece of pennant felt, then cut out to make a stencil. Cutting the pennant felt takes very sharp scissors and a lot of patience. This was the hardest part of the project.

-I used the stencil and silver fabric paint to paint the tree on the blue fabric, stitch around the outline and cut out the tree about 1/8" inside the stitch line.

-The spirals are all freehand. to make the fabric spirals cut out a circle, then cut from the edge to the middle in a spiral pattern, the jersey stretches out to make an open spiral. They are appliqued on using a straight stitch. The design on the left is three small spirals sewn together to meet at the center.

-the bead spirals are freehand, in retrospect I would draw the spiral then sew the beads over it but I couldn't find my disappearing ink fabric pen.

-the center medallion is two small circles of fabric and an old barrette.


This was a 2/3 trilogy project, including making the stencil, cutting the fabric, and sewing by hand. I'll wear it when we get to Gondor tomorrow, finishing up the movie weekend with the Return of the King.

I make these often, they are easy, endlessly adaptable, sometimes I use stencils that I buy, sometimes stencils that I make. They are close to instant gratification as you can get with hand sewing, and a great way to learn. My daughter is working on one (her first sewing project), made from two shirts that she has outgrown but still loves.

I have to acknowledge the Alabama Stitch Book by Natalie Chanin, all I learned about hand sewing I learned there.

American Beauty Rose, bud.

I've started my tunic. I have the back and fronts cut out, and the backs stenciled.
I'm going to alternate the arch on the stencil the whole way round.

I like the wave effect of the stencil so much I think after this I will try it on a six gore skirt.

Monday at the Beach with Kids

It was such a beautiful day we went down to the water.

This fishing boat has been around since I was a kid. It has my name.
I get as much of a kick out of that now as I did when I was 12.

mmmmmm Yummy!!!!! What's a trip to the beach without some seafood for lunch?

Last view of dry feet. :)

I'm guessing we will all sleep well tonight.

Nellie's Coat of Many Colors

This was one of my favorite sweaters, until it made an accidental trip through the washer and dryer. So I washed it again, on purpose this time.

I cut it up the center and added yoyos. They are sewn on individually by hand. There is an extra large hook and eye enclosure at the top.
The sleeves are folded back and stitched in place with a blanket stitch and with a yoyo on each one as an accent.

It's swingy and bright, and there is a small yoyo flower, along with some leaves courtesy of an old green t-shirt on the back. also sewn by hand.


Nellie wears it all winter for a sweater, and all spring for a jacket.
Despite all of the hand sewing this was a fast and easy project.

So if you accidentally shrink a sweater, it's not a disaster, it's potential.