What's cooking?

I decided to cook up a few more gathered clutches.  

I prepped to make five, 

but only had enough interfacing to finish three of them -- for now.

It's fun picking out the fabrics for the bands,

and linings.

and choosing fun colors for the zippers.

Zippers, as it turns out, are not that difficult after all.

The free tutorial for the gathered clutch pattern is here.

I also recently got to learn how to cook up some deliciousness in the kitchen.
Every year for a Father's Day gift, my sister and I treat our father to a cooking class.  The class can take place at any time of the year, we just all have to be available and interested in the menu.  It is always a very special evening, and Tuesday night's class was no exception.

Chef Dave Martin, Top Chef Season One

The class was End of Summer Entertaining, taught by Dave Martin, who graciously provided lots of interesting tips and techniques as he demonstrated the recipes.  The class was held at In Good Taste, a wonderful cooking store and cooking school.

In Good Taste (Pearl District location)

You may remember my class celebrating Julia Child back in March.  Well, Cindy (Live A Colorful Life) did and reminded me to show up at the right location this time and to enjoy wine after my "home invasion" Wednesday morning.  I can happily say I accomplished both of those tasks. and learned to make some tasty dishes.  I can't wait to try these myself.

White Bean, Poblano Chile and Artichoke Spread

served with homemade Crispy Pita Chips

Asian Chicken Salad with

Dave's Killer Ginger & Sesame Vinaigrette

Coconut Curry Chicken Skewers 

with Sweet Chili Sauce

Pan Roasted Shrimp wrapped with

Prosciutto, Basil and Gorgonzola

served with Sherry Cream Sauce

For a simple dessert Dave made fabulous shortbread cookies and some old-fashioned peanut butter cookies.  

Say what you will about the quality of the iPhone camera pictures, but the discreetness can't be beat -- photos to share without disrupting the flow of the demonstration.

And then there were wines....

Louis Perdrier Sparkling Wine

Arancio 2007 Grillo

Les Jamelle 2009 Cinsault Rose'

With wishes, true and kind -- Joan

Hexie swap

I have a new obsession: English paper piecing tiny hexagons!  I joined the Handsome Hexies Flickr group, which is a great place to go for a little hexie inspiration, and then joined a swap that is a spin-off from that group, Handsome Hexies - The Swap.  The swap involves basting 25 hexies for a swap partner, and I hope my partner likes these Anna Maria Horner Good Folks hexies.

If you look closely at the basting stitches, you can see that initially I took more and smaller stitches.  I really wanted them to be crisp and neat and not fall apart.  After making several and going back and looking at other photos online, I realized that I could take bigger stitches and still make sure my corners remained snug.  I made two stacks -- one for my partner and one for myself.  I think I have made at least 70 so far in all!  My little packet of 100 1" hexagon paper pieces from Fabric Depot seemed like so many at the time, but now I'm trying to figure out when I can make a trip back over for more, more, more.  Yes -- I definitely have a new obsession.

Coming attractions

Thank you so much for all the well wishes.  I am feeling better -- if not 100% -- and well enough to sew, which is always a good thing!  I am far from any finishes but keep plugging along on three quilts.  I finally have enough blocks today to spread them out randomly for sneak peeks into the quilt tops they will (hopefully) soon become.

Three very different quilts.  To me the hexagon quilt has lots of sass and energy, while the cross quilts are subtle and calm.  Who knows how they will evolve as I still have so many more blocks to add.

Be sure to stop by on Monday as I will be participating in Sew, Mama, Sew's May Giveaway Day!

A few days after that:

And in June I hope to have another giveaway to celebrate a pretty big month for me -- my birthday, my 25th wedding anniversary, and my one year blogiversary/one year Flickr anniversary.  I'm hoping to come up with something fabulous!

With wishes, true and kind -- Joan

Springing ahead

I spent some time on Sunday preparing packages to send: quilt blocks for bees and fabric for a swap.  It always feels good to tie up loose ends!  And that's why I knew I just had to join Jacquie's Spring to Finish Challenge 2010.  And I decided to set reasonable goals for myself (for a change).  I decided that I could probably handle one task per week for a total of 6 loose ends tied up.

* Finish this (very) mini quilt made with leftovers from cutting triangles for my hexagon quilt.

*  Finish this mini quilt with Jennifer Paganelli fabrics.

 * Finish this Dollies Online quilt top, perhaps making it into a pillow sham for my daughter.

* And prepare backs for at least three of the quilt tops that are piling up at my house and Karen's.

Of course, now it occurs to me that I have seven quilt backs to make -- so one per week, plus one more for good measure.  Maybe I should do these first and then have fun with my little projects without the pile of quilt tops hanging over me.  Opinions?