Upcycled Depeche Mode Tee

Skirt for Andrea

This used to be a men’s XL shirt that my friend, Andrea, scored at a Naked Lady Party. I made it into a skirt, using Generation T’s example as inspiration, and scraps from other recycled shirts for the bottom inserts (fancy fashion term: godet). I decided to make a sweet waist-band from a doubled-over portion of another recycled t-shirt (cut-off hem, double over, and cut to match waist measurement + a bit for seam allowance) instead of the drawstring waistband (using the already there t-shirt hem), because otherwise, yo, the image would’ve been back-erds (fancy southern term). Pardon the run-on sentence. There was a hole in the shirt, which is conveniently covered up with a tie made from scraps. Happy, Happy, Happiness, and Andrea looks so hawt in it. Your Own Personal Jesus…can you hear it?

If you happen to be in to fish and cake…

I’ve had this recipe forever but it always seemed fairly intimidating because it has a lot of schmancy ingredients I typically don’t have around…BUT! I finally made one to test out for a potential holiday fare situation, since we are going to have a houseful of kin-folk this year and ya’ll, what can I say; it is super yum.

The only thing is, you really have to love salmon to get past the whole “this is weird tasting fish when I’m expecting cake” deal.

(I ripped this recipe from a magazine that seems like it would be Martha Stewart Living)

Smoked Salmon Cake
Serves 8-10

-(3) 8 oz packages cream cheese, softened
-1/2 cup finely chopped red onion
-2 TB capers, drained and chopped
-2TB fresh dill, finely chopped, plus more for garnish
-1tsp fresh squeezed lemon juice
-Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
-2 loaves pumpernickel bread, cut into 16 half-inch slices, with crusts
-1 lb smoked salmon, thinly sliced
-1 1/2 seedless cucumbers (English), thinly sliced into 1/8 slices, plus more for deco’ing
-1/2 cup creme fraiche (I used sour cream)
-2 1/2 oz salmon roe (I skipped this step..too $$$)
-1 oz black caviar (ditto this step)
-Lemon wedges for deco

1-In a small bowl, combine 8 oz cream cheese, onion, capers, dill and lemon; season w/Salt and Pepper and stir until smooth.
2- Lay 4 bread slices on work surface and trim 1/4 inch from all sides of slices. (Try and make even slices, this may not be easy, in the end, you will work with the ones that match up)
3-Procure fancy plate
4-Spread approx 1TB cream-cheese mixture on top of one slice, layer with smoked salmon and cucumber (don’t allow cucumbers overlap one another). Repeat w/two more bread slices (situate slices so that the long sides are touching one antoher) and lay these next to one another forming the bottom layer of the “cake” (I used the larger pieces for this)
5- Spread a thin layer of cream-cheese mixture on one side of the next 3 slices of bread, and assemble these on top of the bottom layer.
6-Repeat steps 4 and 5 until you have a decent-height cake (don’t want it to be too high!) I used maybe 4 layers…(top layer is bread)
7-Square up the layers and prepare to ice the cake
8-Combine remaining cream cheese and creme fraiche (sour cream) in a small bowl and stir until smooth.
9-Use a spatula and ice the cake w/the mixture in step 8
10-Refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight
11-Before serving, arrange cucumbers around base of cake and a few on top…place dill springs on top and salmon roe/caviar if you are fancy

Note: This can be tricky to slice, so use a serrated knife and make sure to refrigerate up until you decide to cut into it

I cannot like this shirt.

I made this shirt and thought it would turn out way more attractive but alas, not so much. But, that’s the thing about making reconstructions, you never know what you’re gonna get. I feel good that I continue to try though; I’m learning, it’s all swell. So what would I have done differently with this shirt…let’s see. I think I would’ve expanded the navy section down through the torso, and added the floral piece at the very bottom as an accent @ hemline. The floral piece is quite heavy, as it is quilted polyester, so it doesn’t like being merged with jersey knit so much. I also would’ve cut the armholes higher and tighter at the side seam. So yeah, more like a tunic and less like a top. That’s the ticket.

Here is another photo of the top in motion as I was running for Marley. I think it somehow looks better this way.

And last but not least, here are the ingredients for the shirt (minus the navy jersey, which was a remnant from another reconstruction t-shirt). I normally have a rule that I won’t cut into something unless it is messed up. But in a way, both of these items were pretty messed up if you catch my drift. I will do something with the remainder of the skirt…I’m feeling pillows:

And, that’s my new teeny tiny sewing corner, which used to be in a giant room. But hey! It’s organized.

Hasta Manana

on Ethiopia…and pity

I dream of returning to Ethiopia every single day. It is a most marvelous place filled with beautiful people, smiling faces, extraordinary food, gorgeous botanical and wildlife, perfect weather, simplicity, and relaxation. I miss this place.

The official language of Ethiopia is Amharic. Amharic is only spoken in Ethiopia. The oldest human remains were found in Ethiopia. The language is similar to Arabic only much lighter, and spoken in a higher pitched, almost playful tone. Written, it is much more delicate and loopy than Arabic. “Ish…ish” (translation: “yeah, yeah, right, ok”). Friends hold hands, male or female. People walk very fast in the city. Addis Ababa is the capital and is at high elevation so no mosquitoes and no malaria/yellow fever, although sunscreen is a must. The temperature is almost always 75 degrees. No one ever takes time seriously.

If you want a cup of espresso, you walk out your front door, pick the green beans from the coffee bush, roast them over fire until they pop (like popcorn), grind with mortar and pestle, and steam with water. Best espresso, ever. And popcorn makes a great accompaniment to espresso, turns out.

This is the Djibouti railroad, connecting Ethiopia to the sea.

To westerners who self validate via perpetuation of pity towards countries in Africa: visit. You will most likely return with envy, as opposed to pity. And if westerners want to help “Africa,” invest in Africa. Aid does very little other than fuel corruption. Adopting a baby from Ethiopia, Liberia, Ghana, does nothing for that country. It does something for YOU. If you want to help Africa, invest in HER.

More food because otherwise I’d have to write something…

I made this up one night last week and it was so yummy and easy and refreshing (kind of like me…ha!  just kidding)

I am naming this dish: CalMex Shrimp and Rice Especiales

Here are the lovely ingredients:

for Shrimp and Rice:

-1-2 cups long grain white rice, cooked (or brown would be fine too, if you have time to cook it)

-1 lb or so shrimp, peel and devein

-3 TB unsalted butter

-1 can black beans (or go old skool and soak dried beans overnight)

-shredded sharp cheddar cheese, handful for each serving (I shred from a block of cheese, for some reason that just tastes better)

-juice of 2 limes

-sea salt and fresh ground black pepper

-1 large garlic clove, minced

for Pico de Gallo:

-4 roma tomatoes, seeded and chopped (or 2 ripe slicing tomatoes)

-1 small onion (I usually go w/red), chopped fine

-2 handfuls organic cilantro, stems removed, chopped

-1 jalapeno pepper, diced

-1 large garlic clove, minced

-juice from 2 limes

Directions:

First, make Pico de Gallo as soon as possible, because this tastes much better the longer it marinates.  Combine all ingredients into a glass bowl and refrigerate.

Next, cook rice per package directions.  Melt butter in large skillet.  Peel and devein shrimp.  Saute garlic until light brown and add shrimp to pan.  Stir shrimp often and cook approx 3-4 mins until shrimp just turn pink.  Add lime juice, salt and pepper and remove from heat.  Heat black beans.

To assemble:  Dish rice on plate (note:  you don’t really need that much rice), top w/black beans, cheese, shrimp, and Pico de Gallo.  Avodcado would be rad w/this too, but I didn’t have any.

Chow!

Middle Eastern Style Chicken

This is one of my fave dishes;  I made this up a long time ago when John and I were first married.  A bit heavy for the summertime, but somedays you need a little heavy, right?

Ingredients:
-3 cloves garlic, sliced (use a little more if you love garlic, don’t be scared)
-1/2 chopped red onion
-Handful mushrooms, sliced
-2 inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and sliced thin
-3/4 cup kalamata olives
-1/4 cup capers
-juice of one lemon
-2 TB dried oregano
-1 can diced tomatoes
-1 cup chicken broth (or water)
-1 TB olive oil
-1 tsp curry
-1 TB tumeric
-1 1/2 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs

Directions:
1- Brown chicken in oil, turning twice at 5-7 min intervals, until cooked through. Remove from pan, and set aside
2- Saute garlic and onions in olive oil ~5-7 mins
3-Add mushrooms and cook until soft (add more oil if necessary)
4-Add ginger and spices, mixing well (will be thick)
5-Turn heat down to low and add lemon juice and chicken broth (or water) and deglaze the pan w/a wooden spoon
6- When heat is low, add can tomatoes and stir. Then add chicken back to pan.
7-Cover and simmer for approx 20-30 mins
8-Add olives and capers until heated through
9-Serve on top of couscous or brown rice

Wahlah!

I have lots of t-shirts, turns out.

OK, so overkill w/the t-shirt makeovers. However, THIS one I like. Maybe not to “wear around Portland” kinda like…but to wear around the house/pool and most certainly Reno. And if I still lived in the south, I would wear this all the damn time. Cause folks in the south actually require this sorta apparel.

Now, then.

This was 2 shirts. One XXL Mt Hood shirt (which I grabbed for free, somewhere, sometime, and I do believe this is an official Mt Hood Meadows Ski instructor shirt).  And also a referee (umpire?)  golf shirt w/various stains from Value Village (note that I DO require pre-wash). So, I cut the neckline in a giant “U” in front, then in back, cut straps to tie (don’t cut through both front and back for halter bodice reconstructions or you will have one sweet mess). I also made ties around mid-back. Then, sew fabulous stripey fabric to bodice (but not to mid-back ties). I cut the bottom half @ angle for added a-symmetrical-ness. But then it was too short, so I added more red at the bottom. And I’m 36 years old. So even short without the “too” is fairly radical.

That’s it. I mostly love the fact that I have a Mt Hood sundress.

DIY is where it’s at around here

John built this cool awning for our backyard deck…he also made that table…and he also made the kid play structure (not photog’d).  He’s a mighty good man.

these heroes of mine.

The two most influential women in my life both fell ill within the same week (in coincidentally, the week Michael Jackson departed).

My grandmother (aka “mamaw”) is…she is what all women should be:  strong, confident, sassy, effortlessly flirtateous, smart, stubborn, feminine, masculine, independent.  She’s comfortably feminine.  She is testament to the old proverb “the wise (WO)man restrains (HER)self.”  It pains me to think of her in an assisted living establishment, albeit this is apparently where she needs to be.  Although, I know she does not appreciate and/or understand this need to be taken care of, as she is the youngest of young in her mind.  Exactly where I always want mine to be.  A prayer for the wild at heart, kept in cages.

My mother-in-law is another woman I can only aspire to be.  She has a degree in physics from Cornell University.  She’s 84.  Not many women her age have a degree in physics.  Not many women her age have a degree from Cornell.  But yet, she does.  She questions everything.  She is relentless in her pursuit of selflessness.  She is the the smartest female I have ever known.  She is mother of 7, grandmother of 17.  She has her martini dry at 5:30 every evening.  She serves up a mean thanksgiving dinner to 30+ immediate family members.  She will set you straight and you will thank her for it.

Send warm positive vibes to my fabulous heroes.  I wish I could be closer.  But I’m not.  So words will have to do.

3 new things from old things

First, a new lamp-shade. This idea straight from the book, Tease, uses an old t-shirt to cover an old lamp shape. I embellished w/a found Oregon Love glittery vintage iron-on and sewed on in Orange to kinda-sorta match the lamp. I was lucky to find this sweet vintage lamp @ Red, White and Blue thrift in Milwaukee for $3. (PS, don’t look too close, it ain’t perfect, y’all)
Wowee! Lookie what else I made!

These ruffles conveniently cover up an old spit-up stain from baby #2. Aw, the good ‘ole days.  Anyway, this idea came from the book, T-shirt Makeovers. I *think* I like it. And I do love my Mr Bubble! And what fun it is, striking a pose like that (heh)…

Numero Tres

Kittie bed, idea taken from my eldest son, Abe He did all the cutting, I sewed the name and the pillow together, and he stuffed. It’s a little lumpy but maybe Sid will like that. So, this is a couple of ragged-out t-shirts sewn together and I added ties on the sides so it will stay sturdily in place (as if anything around here stays sturdily in place).