Awe Autumn… even though I really like an excuse to wear a good pair of boots, it always takes me awhile to wrap my mind around the idea of you. This year the gardens usual attention was directed towards Boss. No longer watering tomatoes is good news as that leaves more time for sewing, and something we’ve all hopefully become really good at, being homebodies.
Being a homebody aligns particularly well with laying under quilts.
Marin Hanson, Curator of International Collections at the International Quilt Museum, wrote me to say that they will be including my quilt, “Psychedelic Baby,” in their current exhibition, “Modern Meets Modern” (September 24, 2021 – March 12, 2022).
Marin added, “The exhibition will be looking at Modern Quilt Movement quilts in comparison with quilts made between 1870-1940 — an era we labeled the “Modern Age” in our book, “American Quilts in the Modern Age.” Quilts from that time period were affected by significant technological, economic, and social change, similar to the way in which 21st-century quiltmaking has been shaped by major shifts (in technology, communications, social awareness, etc.). Your quilt will be in a group we’re calling “Centrality,” and will be paired with these four antique quilts. — I love the way that there are distinct differences between your quilt and the antique quilts but that there are harmonies as well, in both coloring and a central focus.”
Here are the quilts that are hangin’ with mine as part of the Centrality section. So fun!
This flower one I want to steal. It’s so whimsical and friendly.
There’s a great virtual gallery here so you can view the whole exhibit. I’d love to explore the museum and will be teaching in Omaha come May, so
I might have to make the miles somehow to Lincoln.
I kept thinking I’d etch out some time in the studio between students to quilt a top, but after a dozen times of assembling my space and taking it down I set up shop in the dining room. I finished the quilting today and hope to get some binding on for some hand sewing. I’m so please with the finish, it went way better than I expected.
It was the perfect location for quilting a few lines here and there, looking at Halloween decor and the dust quilting and life produce.
My next post should probably be of all my quilt tops that are waiting patiently here in a pile.
I’ve also whipped up some zip pouches for holiday gifts and class samples. You could come make some yourselves in a weekend workshop, but this is also a technique we can get the hang of in Open Studios.
I made some more skivvy bags for travel as gifts. One for the clean and one for the dirty;)
I also added a few more designs to the samples for the studio’s November straight line quilting workshop.
Boss says, ” I don’t always use pillows, but when I do… I like them with invisible zippers.”
So I mass produced some last week after my workshop of teaching others how to install them. I’ve added another workshop to the calendar, but you can tackle it yourself with my tutorial as well.
I’m not going all out on my Halloween this year since I feel we have so many house projects in the works, but I’ve loved this Alexander Henry witch fabric forever and had to have it for its bright colors.
We’re still glamping in our non-existent kitchen, but I decided it needed a little Halloween decor so I went through some boxes. There’s only so much you can do when you remove 4 layers of wallpaper and you have plywood walls.
Outside the tomatoes are done, the poppies harvested, and the sunflowers seeding. I’ll start whittling away at the remaining beds for some clean up as I have time.
I gathered up all the “sickly” looking plants late summer and had a big repotting session. I’m researching some grow lights so that I can nurture some of my outdoor plants in the basement. It always feels too cluttery when I bring them all in, especially when you add the holiday stuff to the mix.
I’ve pretty much put on my give up suit when it comes to cooking, but I’ve got a few to recipes to share and most are on-line.
I have a few standby salads for each season. Every summer I look forward to the tomatoes ripening so I can make my version of Martha’s grilled tomato vinaigrette. If you’ve been to my house or studio then you know my signature salad is any lettuce/green with cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion and Kalamatas, plus a crumble of feta or goat cheese. The dressing however is always the variation. If there’s a leftover side or some other protein around I might throw that in.
The Messy Baker cookbook has a whole section on the different folding techniques of phyllo that I referred to for making the little spanakopita triangles above, but my family has some Greek roots through marriage and though I believe they were stuffed with spiced lamb I remember watching these little numbers be rolled as a child. Heather Christo’s Generous Table is where I pulled the recipe to fill them. If you’re not familiar with her, she’s a Seattle local that currently creates gluten free recipes. I always think of her pre-dairy free days when I make her au gratin potatoes at the holidays.
Same said salad, but I wanted to try Cookie and Kate’s baked crispy falafel. Don’t skimp out and not make the tahini dip especially if you have kids. I’d recommend making the falafel smaller though. I’ve told you before that I hoard Trader Joe’s frozen garlic naan, which makes the best croutons and was an essential here.
We had a rainy crappy weather week, which is only appropriate when you live in the PNW and it’s October. It totally puts you in the mood for soup. Gimme Some Oven has a few variations of chicken and wild rice soup that I adapt to what’s around. She pretty good at adding dairy or gluten free options too.
Watch yourself, there’s another teenage driver on the road. In celebration I made King Arthur’s yellow cake car shaped and later demolished them with the fudge frosting.
Um yeah. Every fall when the trees in the alleys are packed with plums you go a picking. Boss and I took a leisurely walk a few weeks ago and collected a few varieties.
I follow the New York Times Plum Torte recipe which is the most simple of cake recipes, but sub out a 1/3 of the flour with fine cornmeal and top with whip cream. Make it, you won’t be disappointed.
I dug around in the frig last Sunday for what could be used, and then through cookbooks to see if I could pair the ingredients for some baking. Janie Q’s Lemon Cake from Back in the Day Bakery was the winner-winner in all the ways, and I’d never say no to one of the savory hand pie recipes in this book either.
We took care of Fiona while my family left for vacation. She’s a cuddly delight to have around and a great sleeper at any time of the day. We call it Pug disease. Something Boss for sure doesn’t possess.
When they returned they picked up a new member for our family named Franco. We have yet to meet him, but I can’t wait to kiss his fury face. I’m sure you’ll see more.
Boss turned one in September. I look at his face now and try to soak in as much puppy as I can.
I don’t know much about his Rottweiler side, but he’s definitely got the field lab character. Always on the go, smart, causing trouble 1/3 of the time and inquisitive. Fifteen minute power nap and he’s ready for whatever you can throw at him next. I bloody love him.
You can’t be a homebody all the time… Jefe and I hit Santa Cruz for a wedding and re-explored Carmel and some other coast areas for the long weekend. It was refreshing to take in some beaches and not much of a challenge to find spectacular food and outside dining, but I can’t wait for a more relaxed travel again.
You can be a homebody in your home town too. We made a trip up in the Space Needle for the first time since just before they closed to do the remodel. It’s unbelievable how much Seattle’s grown in the 18 years I’ve been here. It’s such a beautiful place to live.
I hope life is currently giving you watermelons and cucumbers,
Cuz when you juice them you can make a delicious margarita. Happy fall peeps;)
xoxo, Katie