what Astrid & I made {cozy rosie corduroy frock}...

Happy 1st Day of Fall, Y'all!

Yesterday afternoon & evening Astrid & I had fun making this frock! I had it cut out and ready to go since probably January or February, but once the weather turned warm it got shoved in the ufo pile. It felt good to pull it out of there & finally get it done.

It was my first time trying out Astrid & she worked like a charm! The only difficulty was trying to remember that the reverse thingy is on the left not the right like my old machine.  My hand waffled back and forth a couple times before my brain could remind it that we're using a new machine now. *wink*

I used Simplicity 1080 a Dottie Angel pattern. I love her style! I've made a few frocks from this pattern. So, I felt confident to make some changes this time. I swapped out the tucks in the front & ties 'round the back for a bit of elastic at the waist in front & back. So comfy!

Our family tradition for the 1st day of Autumn is to visit out favorite orchard. Such a perfect outing to try out my new frock. ^_^

I love my jellies from Sunjellies! Do you remember those jelly sandals we wore in the 80s & 90s? Do you remember the blisters? Yeah, well these are not like that at all! So soft & bendable. And they come in the best colors! I also have the pale yellow pair. They make me want a banana Laffy Taffy real bad. *wink* I want to get the peach & mint pairs as well. {swoon} It made me even more in love with these when I learned that these original French jelly sandals were first made in the 1940s! I can't wait to wear them with tights when the weather turns. {On a side note Sunjellies also offers darling jelly bags that are perfect for toting around current knit or crochet projects in utterly adorable & kitschy style. I want one in every color!}

Here's to Fall. One of my 4 favorite seasons. Enjoy these fleeting days of harvest and colorful & crunchy leaves, and evenings of cozy comforts while the wind whips through the trees.

Oh and...

That's just the way it is. Random. But true.

Happy Autumn, dear ones!

Love,

Miss Michelle

meet Astrid the aqua sewing machine! {+ what I've been up to lately}...

 

 Isn't she a beaut?

She's actually a bit darker colored in person.

(It's so hard to get a good pic indoors.)

My sweet parents made my day year by buying me this retro chic sewing machine in my favorite color.

She'll be perfect for stitching up more bedsheet dresses such as...

 

 

this one that I made this past week.

 

 

 ~*~

I've also been doing a bit of decorating.

 

 

These pink wall pocket baskets were a steal of a deal for 70 cents from a favorite antique mall that was {sadly} closing. The faux strawberry plants were dissected from a thrift store find for $3.50.
{Isn't faux such a much nicer way to say fake? *wink*}

 

 

This sweet planter from Target, reminiscent of a vintage head vase, was originally intended to have a succulent atop her head, but I think that this pink yarn bun fits my style even better! Doesn't she look like a giant egg cup though? *giggles*

 

 

This wire wastebasket was from the dollar section of Target for $3!

It makes such fun & cute storage for extra yarn leftover from previous projects.

 

 

The colors of this baby blankie I made for a friend's baby girl make me think of yummy saltwater taffy.

 

 

Though it may be in the 90s still outside in my neck of the woods,

inside our house it is decidedly Autumnal,

September 1st being our un-official first day of Fall.
Lovely 70s are forecast for next week though.
I can hardly wait for crisp air, colorful crunchy leaves, snuggly sweaters, & sturdy boots.

 

What have you been up to?

 

Much love,

Miss Michelle ^_^

Me Oh My Cherry Pie!

Without the red dye!

 



 

Ok, I'm done rhyming now. ;)

 



 

First things first you'll need some crust.

I make my Grandma Linda's Lard Pie Crust.

You can find the recipe on my old blog, birds of the air, here.

You'll need a couple lovely egg yolks such as these laid by my own dear Jemima Puddle Duck.

 



 

Now for the filling!

You need 3 cans of tart cherries in water.

I normally have to buy Oregon brand cherries,

but thankfully my beloved Aldi was offering their own canned cherries recently.

(For about 1/2 the price! Score!)

You'll drain the cherry "juice" into a pyrex measuring cup & use 1/2 of it in the filling.

 

 

Here are what the cherries look like before you cook them.

Rather pale, but never fear they'll turn a lovely ruby red before we're through!

 

 

After a few minutes of simmering they are beautiful!

 

Here is the recipe:

3 cans red tart cherries in water

4T cornstarch

1 1/4c sugar

1/8t salt

2 pie crusts

 

In a heavy bottomed saucepan combine cherries with 1 1/2 cans worth of their "juice", cornstarch, sugar, & salt. Bring to a simmer and cook over med-low heat for about 10 minutes, stirring regularly. Set aside to cool. Preheat oven to 425*F. Roll out crusts. Line pie plate with one. Pour in the filling. Make a lattice top. Brush with egg white. Bake on a foil lined baking sheet for 20 minutes. Lower temperature to 375*F, cover crust with a foil shield & bake for 30-40 minutes more. Let cool about 3 hours to allow pie to set properly.

(I found this great recipe via Pinterest.  Here is the original recipe source.)

I've always had trouble with cherry pies not setting up properly & not having that beautiful red without red dye #40. This recipe solved both problems. Yay!

 

 

All ready for tomorrow!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!

^_^

the cutest cowboys ever...

 As promised a while back, here are James & Jack in their cowboy sweaters.

I made them for their birthdays from a vintage pattern from the 50's.

These cute cousins are just two months apart in age,

 so most of their gifts from this Auntie will probably be matchy-matchy. ;)

 "Tough stuff" :P

 Naturally, getting a nice shot of the back of their sweaters was as easy as saying "RUN BOYS!"

 Admiring each others boots.

James

Jack

(The photo credit for this last pic goes to my sister Beth, Jack's mommy.)

I can not help but smile every time I look at these sweet faces.

***

I am considering making this sweater for custom orders.

 Feel free to contact me if you are interested.

Miss Potter for a day...

 

 I'm so inspired by Beatrix Potter-

Her lovely art & adorable stories,

her conservation of Lake District farms & sheep.

I thought it would be fun to dress up as her for Halloween.

My sister Kelsey's beautiful home fit the time period perfectly!

(Well apart from the T.V. in the background.)

 I made my skirt from some wonderful wool fabric that I bought 

on super duper clearance at Joanns a while back.

I think it will be much loved this winter if we have one similar to last year's!

***

I'm the "fun" (immature) Auntie who still likes to dress up with the kiddies.

I love these kiddos!

haha! My face is just hilarious in this one.

I was trying to keep Jack the Lumberjack from flying headfirst down the steps.

(That kid isn't afraid of anything!)

***

We have a joke in our family that November 1st is the official kickoff of the Holiday season.

So...

 

Happy 1st day of the Holiday season! ^_^

"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers..."

"It would be terrible if we just skipped from September to November, wouldn't it? 

Look at these maple branches. 

Don't they give you a thrill -- several thrills? I'm going to decorate my room with them." 

~Anne of Green Gables

***

The sunshine was so beautiful through the leaves this morning I had to try to capture the splendor.

Here are some of my favorites.

 

 These geraniums really should be replaced with mums, but they're putting on such a brave show I can't bear to put them away yet!

 The view from my window - better than any painting!

 

 Last night as I was working on this lace gown for my cousin's baby girl I thought how knitting lace is a good picture lesson of faith & obedience. While following the directions that may not seem to make sense at the time, you're really trusting the designer. An odd assortment of K2 Yo K2tog etc. may not make much sense at the time once you start to see the results you realize that the designer DID know what they were talking about. Just like when the Lord asks you to do something that doesn't seem to make sense in our finite minds. He knows the beginning from the end. You can trust the Creator.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight."
Proverbs 3:5+6

Enjoy this beautiful Autumnal weather!

land girl cabled cardigan...

 Cables were a technique that I had convinced myself I'd never be able to do for the longest time.

(I can be such a chicken at times.)

Once I finally worked up the courage just to give them a try 

I was surprised how simple they really were!

(Well, provided you already know how to knit.)

This sweater is from my very favorite Debbie Bliss booklet "Land Girl".

I just love the 1940s English farm setting & styles.

You may remember my Land Girl Fairisle Yoke Sweater &

Robin's Egg Tweed Sweater which are also from this pattern booklet.

The yarn is Knit Picks' Palette in Clarity.

Isn't it just the most beautiful shade of pale aqua?

I'm partial to blue & I'm now particularly partial to this shade of blue! :)

The sleeves are a little bit squarish at the top 

which makes them nicely structured and VERY 40s.

^_^