This may look like a quilt, but it’s really only like a quilt.  It’s two vintage sheets stitched together and bound it quilt-like.  Most of the summer my kids were using their winter duvet covers as light blankets and it was bothering me to no end. So the quilt-like idea came about.

After too many trips to the thrift store, I finally found two quilts that would work.  I cut them to fit the weird ikea bed we have and pinned them together. I knew I wanted to quilt it in long slightly uneven lines–actually just like this beautiful quilt. So I contacted the maker and grilled on her quilting techniques and thread choices.

Then I picked up two different spools of variegated thread (wow, that stuff is expensive): a blue, magenta, and purple one for the flowery side and a more rainbowy one for the purple side. After what seemed like 400 hours of sewing straight lines, I moved onto the binding. I found this awesome Japanese polka dot bias tape in Frances’ beautiful shop, miss matatabi.

I sewed the binding on at the beach (and got many weird looks) and ta! da! Quilt-like thing! Now to start the next like-a-quilt for my son…

This top is made from fabric botched in the dye pot, which was supposed to be beautiful ombre curtains for my dining room, which before that was a lovely soft sheet on our bed, which got horriblly ripped, so I thought it would make nice curtains until I screwed it up the dye job (and turned the bathtub blue) and now, it turns out, is perfect for this top.

The tank top pattern is from wiksten made. Sadly, she’s not selling them anymore, but I bet if you scoured the web, one would pop up for sale. (By the way, if anyone has a xs, s, m tova top pattern that they’d like to trade for the tank top pattern–and trade back–let me know!)

The pattern is incredibly simple and nicely done: french seams, all edges bias bound, nicely cut. Because I’m always scared I will make clothes too small, I cut out patterns too large. So with this one I just said fuck it and cut a small. The fit is okay, maybe a little close, but at least I don’t have to take the sucker in. I was a little on the edge about the contrasting pocket, but today I saw a lady with a freakin sequin pocket, so I think I’m good to go.

August just flew by and now we are barreling into September! Would you like to sponsor Elsie Marley for this lovely month? The spots are 125 pixels square and $25/month. I try to keep my rates low so little shops and blogs can afford sponsorship. And if you are nervous about getting into advertising, I’m super laid back about it all, so don’t worry. Just email me already! elsiemarleyblog@gmail.com

Happy September (almost)!

For a few summers now my favorite thing to make (and eat!) has been a watermelon, feta, tomato, and basil salad.  Goat cheese is pretty damn good in it too. This summer I thought I’d branch out and make other fruit and vegetable salads. Every single one of them was delicious.

The basic formula is fruit + veg + herb + olive oil + salt.  Here are a few that have been extra good (they all have a glug of olive oil and a sprinkling of good crunchy salt on top):

• purple cabbage, pluot, red pepper, and cilantro–this is more of a slaw than a salad

• tomato, peach, and tarragon (pictured)

• cucumber, mango, mint, basil, and maybe a fresh chili or two  (rice vinegar or lime juice is good on this one)

Got any good ones?

School starts up next week, so I’m trying to have as many slow, lingering breakfasts as I can before it’s all, where is my backpack; oh crap I forgot to make lunches; just get your shoes on already we’re going to be late! So waffles with yogurt and apricot peach compote it is for a few more lazy mornings.

I never had frozen waffles before and bought some in college to find out what all this leggo my eggo shit was all about. They were kind of a disapointment. Homemade waffles are so much better and, really,  dead easy to make.  So make a batch before it’s all cold cereal and yelling in the morning:

just your basic waffle

adapted from Betty Crocker

• 3 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups buttermilk
• 1 stick butter (1/2 cup) melted and cooled
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 2 cups flour
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 salt

Fire up your waffle iron. In a big bowl whisk first 4 ingredients together.  Sift in flour, soda, baking powder and salt.  Mix until most of the lumps are gone. That’s it. Bake in the hot waffle iron.  Makes about 8.

If you want to get fancy you can brown the butter first before adding it–makes the waffles a little extra delicious. Also, Betty Crocker has a fantastic footnote in the orginal recipe: “Fresh bacon fat is good in waffles.” Damn straight it is! he compote I made was 2 peaches, an apricot, and a couple Tbls. sugar cooked for a bit and smashed a little.

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and now for the winner of the Tea Collection giveaway: comment number #101

sarah says:

August 22, 2011 at 7:18 pm(Edit)

your kiddos are about the ding dang cutest things i’ve ever seen. (i mean, except for mine). and your talent is above amazing. thanks for this great giveaway.