Only two more working days left until the baby gifts are due. As of tonight, the bloomers for the jumpers still remain elasticless. One of the jumpers is actually a dress and the other one is more of a top. The dress version would be fine without bloomers, but would it be bad to gift the top version without them? I'm not sure if I have time between now and Saturday to head to a store to measure waistbands and thighs, and I'm not so sure that stores will have bloomers in stock right now. It's the middle of winter! Are spring clothes out already?
As far as the quilt goes, the top is done and the sandwich is complete. Want to see something neat-o? Check out the seam allowances..
Is that cool looking or is that cool looking? I still need to decide on a final quilting pattern before I get down to it. That needs to get done tomorrow and binding needs to be finished by Friday night. Then I can breathe and hope that the parents squeal in joy when they see this quilt. Okay, maybe not squeal in joy, but at least be as stoked about the quilt as I am. If not, I'm taking it back and then vowing never to craft for others again. Maybe not NEVER, but definitely be more selective. But reading this today really made me mad. I deliberately picked fabrics and colors that suit my friends and what I think they'd like little Ami to have. And I'm pretty sure I'm dead on. If not, and I'm wrong, I'll be majorly embarrassed in front of 50+ people (yes, this is a very popular couple). If that's the case, I'll just hope that people will remember that I'm the woman that brought the kick ass cupcakes and not the one who made the lame ass quilt.
But on a happier note, I made my first pie last week! In honor of Nova's Piehole Wednesday, I proudly present to you my first pie ever!
Filling: Deep Dish Apple Pie, Cooks Illustrated
Crust: Fool Proof Pie Crust, Cooks Illustrated
Notes: It's not the most perfect looking pie or the best pie I ever tasted, but for a first try, I didn't do a bad job. Despite the fact that I misread one part the crust instructions, it still came out really buttery and flakey. I used half Granny Smith and half Pink Lady apples. The texture of the apples was great, soft with a slight crunch, but not mushy. But the filling was a bit dry for my taste. I took this to my BFF's holiday dinner and everyone loved it. My BFF actually really liked the filling the way it was. I think I just prefer it with a little more "juice." The CI recipe is for a filling that doesn't sog out the bottom crust or shrink away from the top crust. This filling did that exactly, except that in the process, you end up draining all the juices. I'll definitely keep making this crust but I want to play with the filling a bit.
Comments (15)
I am going to seriously stop reading your blog lol. That looks SO GOOD! Oh the quilt ain't half bad either lol
Posted by adrienne | January 2, 2008 9:50 PM
Those seam allowances are beautiful! I can't imagine your friends not being thrilled about this quilt, don't worry!
Oh and why do you keep taunting us with these magazine perfect baked beauties? I'm baking tomorrow, my waistline thanks you already!
Posted by Steph | January 2, 2008 11:35 PM
that quilt is just beautiful, the design looks so complicated, and your food always look so yummy, I hope your friend love the baby shower gift and I hope you get everything done on time
Posted by toya | January 3, 2008 3:05 AM
That quilt top looks amazing! And that pie - so yummy looking. I have sworn off baked goods after I made a brown sugar pound cake with caramel glaze last week and I think I gained 4 pounds by just baking it! I am so happy I can enjoy by looking at your beautiful photos. :)
Posted by mari | January 3, 2008 5:30 AM
The quilt looks amazing; I am totally in awe.
Posted by E to the M | January 3, 2008 6:37 AM
What an amazing picture of your quilt top! I love it. You should print and frame it, it's kinda abstract in an interesting way.
Posted by christina | January 3, 2008 7:06 AM
What a neat perspective of the quilt top!
Paula Dean recommends adding apple sauce to apple pie filling for moistness. I tried this and it worked great. It was a little juicy at first, but that is probably because I didn't wait long enough to cut into it (it smelled so good, how could I resist?).
Posted by Stephanie | January 3, 2008 7:27 AM
That quilt looks amazing! I'm sure they'll love it.
That pie looks yummy too :)
Posted by Risa | January 3, 2008 9:19 AM
I have to work on my pies -- I haven't made one in years, but I made two for Xmas and they were terrible. DH loves pies and we threw most of these out. Very disappointing, in mind this was categorized as something I knew how to do, and now it's not.
Posted by AuntieAnn | January 3, 2008 9:57 AM
That quilt looks amazing! Can't wait to see the other side. Oh, and that flower print looks lovely :)
Posted by Veronique | January 3, 2008 1:32 PM
Is that the recipe that uses Vodka? I've been dying to see it works.
Love the quilt! If the back looks that good, the front is going to wow their socks off.
Posted by Veronica | January 3, 2008 2:42 PM
I think you can do the elastic w/o measurements. I would just cut it slightly shorter than the openings and go with it. I think loose is better than tight in these things. But, I imagine spring clothes are out in SanFran at the department stores (and the baby stores too). The quilt will be a huge hit because it is perfect. The colors are great and you made it. That's all the matters. Pie is my favorite of all desserts to make - and I'm good at it. Although I think apple is tricky. Getting the filling just right takes a lot of experimentation.
Posted by Stephanie | January 3, 2008 4:38 PM
Frankly, the quilt top upside down is a work of art in itself. Might be an interesting spin to try something like that later.
Posted by tut-tut | January 4, 2008 11:53 AM
Yay!! Your first pie! I am glad someone made a pie for Wednesday, as I was making yucky cakes...sigh. I am so impressed with the back of your quilt top. Seriously, your pressed seam allowances look so neat and tidy. Perfection itself. I just got a shower invitation for shower in 2 weeks. Crap!
Posted by nova | January 4, 2008 1:27 PM
The quilt is going to be so cool! And I think I might just put that in my queue of to-sews!!
Posted by Siow Chin | January 4, 2008 7:20 PM