Create a Custom Mat

Gil had a layover in Paris a while back and he bought me two really nice prints. I found some frames I liked for them, but the only problem was that the prints were an odd size and they didn't fit into the frames perfectly (as you can see). I had some scrapbook paper that had the look and texture of leather and I decided to fashion a sort of free-form mat to give it a custom look.

The frame had a piece of cardboard in it and I glued the print to it with a glue stick:
I cut the scrapbook paper into long strips and glued them to the print:

Then I framed them and hung them in my study. Yes, the look of rich, Corinthian leather.

Forget custom matting and framing. Do it yourself.

Fried Green Tomatoes

Fried green tomatoes, like sweet tea, are a southern tradition. It is typically difficult to find green tomatoes in the grocery store, so I buy them from a farmer who sells fresh produce at a stand near my house.
First, slice the tomatoes. I like to slice them fairly thin because they end up being more crunchy after they are fried than the thickly-sliced ones.

Then let them sit for a few minutes in a mixture of buttermilk and beaten egg.

Dredge them in a cornmeal/flour mixture. I do about 3 parts meal to one part flour.

Fry in hot oil until golden brown.

Drain on paper towels.

I usually serve these as a side dish, but tonight I made bacon, lettuce, and fried green tomato sandwiches, with a few crumbles of feta cheese.

Uncommon Pillows

I had some cloth purses which Gil brought back from Thailand, and a couple of tunics from another source, and I wanted to use them in some way because I really liked the fabric and the embroidery. I decided to make pillows out of them for my back porch, which is where we spend most of our time during the spring and summer.

To make a pillow out of a purse, I first cut off the handle, leaving enough fabric to turn it and match the finished edge of the middle of the purse:


I pressed down the raw edges:

Then I stuffed it and pinned the top edge. For this pillow, I simply sewed the top together with a zigzag stitch.

I think that these purses make particularly fun and unusual pillows because of the fringe:

To make a pillow of out a tunic, I measured it out and marked it with a fabric marker. I decided to make it 15" wide. I chose the length to include all of the embroidery. Then I cut it out, using the back of the tunic for the back of the pillow.

To square off the neck, I placed a piece of leftover fabric behind the neckline and stitched it on along the embroidery:

I added rickrack to this pillow and then I sewed it together the traditional way, which is: right sides together, turn, stuff, and slipstitch the opening.

They added some nice splashes of color to the porch:

Pillows are really easy to make. Even if you don't have the odd, random items I used to make these pillows, maybe this will inspire you to use something you do already have.

Crafty Fun in Tulsa

I flew to Tulsa for Memorial Day weekend to see Amby and Nathan. I had a great time. I stayed in her study/guest room. It is her very own room with a day bed, her sewing machine, crafts, etc. She had these beautiful flowers in the room for me:


We did several projects while I was there. One was homemade candles. We went to her local Hobby Lobby, where traditions are started, and bought candle-making supplies. We bought containers, wax, essential oil for fragrance, and of course, Chocolate Riesens, which are a necessary component for any project, or really, just for life in general. We bought soy wax, which is supposed to burn more efficiently.

Amby used a disposable container and melted the wax for us in the microwave. I dipped the metal part of the wick into the wax so that it would adhere to my container:

The hot wax will cool fairly quickly, so you don't have to hold it in place for very long.

Once the wax was completely melted, I added the essential oil. I chose lavender. You could also add color or pieces of dried lavender to the wax.

Then I poured the wax into my container:

It helps to lay a pencil on top and wind the excess wick around it to secure it while the candle cools:

Amby's candle turned out prettier than mine. When it cooled, it was perfectly smooth on the top. Mine wasn't. Whatever. Hopefully she will post her technique. This is Amby's flawless, banana nut fragranced candle:

(Mine made it safely home. It smells wonderful and it became smooth on top once I burned it):

Isabell and Sherman are brilliant kitties and they did lots of tricks for me. One was their fancy diamond formation:

On Sunday, we had Nathan's family over for lunch. We did salads. Amby did chicken salad and pasta salad. I did shrimp couscous salad. It was fun.

Amby bought a new sewing machine and I helped her make a skirt. It turned out really cute. I don't know if she could have done it without Sherman's help:

The best part about the trip was being together. The worst part was having to say goodbye.

Coconut Chocolate Chip Muffins

These muffins are easy to make and incredibly moist and delicious. You could substitute macadamia nuts for the pecans and use milk chocolate or white chocolate morsels instead of semi-sweet.

Coconut Chocolate Chip Muffins

2 cups flour
1-1/2 cups sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1-6oz pkg frozen coconut, thawed
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 cup sour cream
1 stick butter, melted
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup chopped pecans

Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl. Add remaining ingredients and blend well. Spoon into a muffin tin lined with paper baking cups. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes or until lightly browned. Yield: About 20 muffins

Shrimp Couscous Salad

This is a Cooking Light recipe that I adjusted and changed a little. It is a unique and wonderful combination of ingredients. I am craving more now while I am posting this. I think it's mostly the sesame oil, vinegar, and fresh cilantro. Or maybe the couscous and the peanuts. Well, give it a try, and you be the judge.

Shrimp Couscous Salad

1 lb medium shrimp, peeled (and deveined if desired)
1 box Near East Parmesan Couscous
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp sesame oil
1- 1/2 cups romaine lettuce, torn into small pieces
3/4 cup chopped red bell pepper
1 cup frozen green peas, thawed
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/4 cup chopped peanuts

Bring 4 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add shrimp and cook, about 3 minutes, or until done. Drain and rinse with cold water. Cut shrimp in half. Prepare couscous according to package directions.
Combine vinegar, oils, soy sauce, pepper, peas, and cilantro. Add couscous and shrimp. Sprinkle with peanuts.
Yield: 4 servings