Reality Check

Happy Trails

Today I had to face facts, it was time to get back on track.

After weeks in Europe, eating sacher tortes, linzer torts, Mozart balls &

chocolate covered gingerbreads with candied ginger. That was

in addition to the 5 course dinners, after which I'd ask the

tall, dark and handsome Ned for the cheese course please.

Then I came home to the holidays ~ ugh.

I just refused to get on the scale, I was in denial.  But, today was

 the day when I had to face it.  And happily, I only gained 2 pounds.

Two pounds?  I guess hiking up those Alps and

walking from dawn til dusk must have taken care of things.

So today it was time to get back to the woods.  When I'm being

good, I hike every day.  An hour and fifteen minutes in the woods

does so much for me, it keeps my body healthy but more

importantly it keeps my mind healthy.

I am an outdoorsy sort of girl, I love nature.  I get to see the change

of seasons up close and personal and I see deer and owls

and piliated woodpeckers all the time.

This is a particularly scenic section of central Indiana

and I'm lucky to live near here.

My best friend, Mia the wonder dog, hikes with me.

She loves the deer and squirrels.

On our hike we pass an intact Indian Mound built

by the prehistoric Adena/Hopewell tribes

between 250 B.C. and A.D. 50.

We also pass a historic house built by a pioneer

family that came out West in a covered wagon.

Go explore nature!

Sweet Seasons ~ 2011 Redbud Block of the Month

January ~ Block #1

Fabric Requirements:

Fabric A: White

1 - 4 1/2" square

8 - 2 1/2" squares - Mark a diagonal line on the back.

4 - 2 1/2" squares

Fabric B:  Burgundy

8 - 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" rectangles

Fabric C:  Dark Green

4 - 2 1/2" squares

4 - 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" rectangles

Sew using a scant 1/4" seam.

Make Corner Units:

Sew 2 1/2" Fabric A square to 2 1/2" Fabric C square.

Sew 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" Fabric C rectangle to above unit.

Square to 4 1/2".

Make 4.

Make Outer Center Units:
Place a 2 1/2" Fabric A square right sides together on the left side
of a Fabric B 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" rectangle. 
Sew a thread width above drawn line. 

Press to the upper corner.

Cut away 2 pieces in back to 1/4".

Repeat above procedure to opposite side.

Sew above unit to Fabric B 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" rectangle.

Square to 4 1/2".

Make 4.

Assemble Block:

Layout units as shown.  Sew together in 3 rows.

Sew rows together.

Square to 12 1/2".

Feel free to tell your friends to quilt along with

the REDBUD QUILT GUILD in 2011.

Enjoy!  Ellen



Goodwill Hunting: Jewelry Box

Elena Maria Likes Old Stuff

Yesterday I was having a conversation with a group of people and

 Goodwill came up.  They all said they never find anything when they go

in there.  Katie and I looked at each other in amazement because we always

find things at Goodwill.

The jewelry chest above is an example of a recent find.  Yes, it has

some scratches and dings but I can overlook that and perhaps fix them

if I want to.

What first attracted me to this piece was the little brass pulls

but once I opened the door and saw the drawers I knew I had

to have it.

Then I opened the drawers and inside was blue velvet.

My Favorite.

Some drawers have dividers, some are for rings. 

It is perfect, old and unique.

And it will go well with the tall dresser with

the many drawers in my bedroom. 

That piece did not come from Goodwill but an

estate sale in Rahway, New Jersey, but that's another story...

Travel Tales: At Home in Paris

#8 Rue des Lombards

When we leave the American Homestead we still like to feel at home.

So, when we travel we try to rent apartments or condos.  We are not happy

in hotels where one must spend most of their time sitting on a bed.

In Paris, that home is located in the 4th arrondissement in the

 Marais District on the right bank.  It is on a quiet street in a very old

area of the city.  It is a section of the city with winding streets

and beautiful old architecture.

The small streets are safe enough that we would allow our kids,

 even when quite young, to go out alone to explore the neighborhood. 

 They would walk the few short blocks to the very modern Pompidou Centre

 and stroll through the shops or people watch near the fountain garden.

Notre Dame cathedral is a few blocks away and each day I

 would walk past it a few times on my way to and from the Metro. 

After a few days, I found myself not even noticing it and made

myself stop and appreciate it each time I went past.

The apartment had beautiful wood floors and wood beams

on the ceiling.  It had a big table that was the center of our experience, 

we made beautiful meals from the little kitchen.

To us, travel is not about always dining out but heading to the

local markets to see what is in season and carrying home a few baguettes

 under your arm.  We like to live like the locals do.

Life in France is so much about bread and sometimes it was so good

we would use it up before the end of our meal but we could send

Brennan out with a few Euros and in minutes he would be back

with warm baguettes.

Every morning my brother and I would sneak out quietly and explore

the deserted streets, taking photos in the early light,

popping into a bar for a cafe au lait and always going to our favorite

boulangerie to buy pain au chocolat, croissants and

of course, the morning baguettes.

Back at home we would open the windows and listen to the bells

ring from the Church of Saint Merry around the corner.

Au Revoir Paris

Civil War Remembered

150 Years

2011 marks the 150th anniversary of the start of the American Civil War.

Anyone who knows me knows I am not a fan of war, it repulses me.

I don't watch war movies or read books about war but I did see

a few episodes of Ken Burns Civil War series when it was rebroadcast

on PBS recently.  I found it terribly moving though still quite unbelievable that

this young, vibrant nation could rip itself apart.

When I read the other day that Barbara Brackman was starting a 52

block Civil War quilt in honor of the anniversary, I decided to join in.

You can read more about this at Barbara's new blog:

http://civilwarquilts.blogspot.com/

This is not just a blog for quilters, anyone interested in the Civil War would

find this site interesting.  There are photos and historical interest as well.

The above is Block #1, Catch Me If You Can.

I plan to make this topic an area of study for myself this year. 

What do you plan to learn this year?

Neat to Eat: Kurtoskalacs

Hungarian Street Food

In Hungary, Kurtoskalacs, or chimneys of flavored dough,

are a common street food.

Dough is rolled out and wrapped around large rolling pin shapes.

The rolls are brushed with butter and rolled in sugar.

The pins are rolled over the coals to cook

the dough and caramelize the sugar.

When the rolls come off the coals,

 you choose what you want the dough to be rolled in.

The choices are cocoa, vanilla sugar, cinnamon, sugar or nuts.

The prices are in Hungarian forints.

The rolls are wrapped in cellophane and as you stroll the Budapest

Christmas Market through Vorosmarty Ter you pull off pieces

of warm, flavored dough.  This looks like a chimney

with steam coming out of the top.

This is a treat you should share, it is a lot of dough and sugar.

The guys at this stand were especially popular,

 they really put on a show!

The Studio

My True Home

Welcome to my studio.

This is where I spend most of my time.  Travels and holiday festivities have kept me away recently but now with the New Year upon us, I'm ready to get back to work.

Let's take the tour...

Me & my machine.

Storage and cutting table.

An ironing table I made using a treadle machine base.

Design wall cabinet.

This is just felt stapled to the doors of an

armoire, design wall and storage in one.

A nice spot for a siesta.

Craft supply storage.

Buttons, beads and trims.

Desk that I never use.

Main cutting table.

Fabric storage.

Brushes, drafting supplies and art supplies.

Tools.

I LOVE old buttons and collect them whenever I can.

It has lovely views to the gardens and there is the tv

so I can watch all the classics from the BBC.

Creativity doesn't seem to happen on a 9 to 5 schedule.

So I can often be found here at 3 or 4am, when my brain just won't let me sleep

because I NEED to create.

Here's to a creative 2011!