HELLOmynameisHeather

Frozen Bozo

This photo cracks me up.  Can anyone guess what my concept was here?  That's right, it's a dessert interpretation of a 70s clown.  You're not afraid of clowns are you?

My new ice cream recipe from Father's Day this year is Double-Chocolate Banana Split ice cream, newly coined "Frozen Bozo," presented with a waffle cone hat, a cherry nose and a doily ruff.  It's interpretative.

The ice cream isn't just chocolate either.  It has bananas, cherries and brownies in it.  A fool-proof mix <3:o)

Also, I've drawn up a list of tutorials I'm eager to post. Without revealing the specifics, where would you like me to start:  jewelry, paper craft, sewing project, home decor?  Lots of plans.  What are you in the mood for first?

Frozen Bozo - Chocolate Banana Split ice cream

Chocolate Ice Cream Base
6 C. heavy cream
2.25 C. sugar
3 T. pure vanilla extract
3 C. milk or half 'n' half
16 OZ. bittersweet chocolate

Mix Ins
1 C. sliced bananas
1 C. maraschino cherries
2 C. chocolate chip brownies (prepare in advance, then
       cut into bite-size pieces and chill)

Prepare Ice Cream Base

Heat cream, sugar, vanilla, and half 'n' half mixture to near boiling. Meanwhile, heat bittersweet chocolate in microwave-safe bowl at 50% power for approx. 3-4 minutes, or until the chocolate is mostly melted. Remove chocolate from microwave and stir till all chocolate is melted. Next, remove cream mixture from heat and fold in melted chocolate. Stir until combined. Refrigerate mixture until thoroughly chilled.  Transfer chilled mixture to an ice cream maker and process following manufacturer’s instructions.

After ice cream has reached soft-serve consistency, place ice cream cylinder in freezer, or leave in ice cream maker (if there is still sufficient ice) to harden for about an hour. Meanwhile, prepare mix-in ingredients as directed below.

Mix-in the Good Stuff

Chill a large bowl by placing it in an ice bath, or in freezer. When ice cream has chilled for about an hour, scoop it into chilled bowl. Immediately add all mix-in ingredients and stir till just combined. Return ice cream to cylinder or a prepared container of your choice*. Place ice cream back in freezer to harden overnight.

*Try a new, food-safe paint can from your home improvement store, cleaned with bleach-water.

Enjoy!

I'll Get You, My Pretty.

In the spirit of summer picnics, I've added three colors of gingham to the variety show, in long and standard lengths:

She's No Picnic - Red Gingham
My Pretty - Blue Gingham
Check Please - Pink Gingham

And a pack of Red, White & Blue ties with a bonus 6th tie. 

As far as patriotism goes, this new multi-pack not only covers the USA, but also Australia, Great Britain, France, Iceland, and a number of other countries;  (did you know there are at least 11 countries with red, white, & blue flags?)  A great pack for back-to-school as well, especially if your kids wear school uniforms and are limited in their color choices for hair doo-dahs.  The Red White Blue multi-pack is only available through Labor Day though (Sept. 7th). The ginghams are available while supplies last.

I'm almost done typing up a new ice cream recipe too -- just in time for the outrageously-hot weather that rolled in this week.  If you're suffering through summer, definitely get an ice-cream maker.  They're great.  Of course, you might have to exercise extra, which may not be the best way to stay cool. Hm.

Red, White, and Blue All Over

 

June has been beautiful this year.  Normally it's breath-suckingly hot in June in Arizona.  We've been camping and canoeing, working in the yard, and eating outside at every chance. Being outdoors with my family more than usual this month has put me in a good place for the Fourth of July.  Something about the lush cornfields that surround us, the well-groomed campsites we've visited, and driving along the Mogollon Rim has me feeling patriotic. 
 
In the last month, I've seen a bald eagle nesting on top of a dead pine tree, 200 feet up, I've picniced in a field of wild strawberries and I've watched hundreds of Great Blue Herons dive for fish to feed to their hatchlings. 

If you ever camp in Arizona, make a point to visit the movie-perfect Woods Canyon Lake.  It's looks almost fake, it's so beautiful.

We have a few more campouts planned for the summer.  In prep, I've been working on some fun camping crafts, recipes and whatnot.  We whipped up a perfect blackberry grunt in our dutch oven that turned our teeth black -- as though we didn't feel mucky enough without black teeth.  But it sure was delicious.

I'm almost to the crest of the mountain with my design work too.  That place where things begin to glide.  Several projects now have enough stored, potential energy to self-propel when released.  Like a stretched spring. 

First, a little more stretching to do.  Burn baby burn.

It's looking like a great summer.

Black, White, and Read All Over

I always forget to post these things, but not today.

Check out the big ol' cover story in today's Arizona Republic newspaper -- on me.  In the article photos, I'm talking it up in my studio, one of those mid-sentence shots.  They wanted pictures of me working in my authentic environment.  However, the studio was clean when they came.  Yes, I insisted on messing up my desk -- authentically.

Another big article I never mentioned was a feature on me and my mother over at Creating Keepsakes last month - for mother's day.  My mom is a funny writer.  You should at least read her interview if not both of ours.  Click the 'next' button to read through each page of the combined interviews (there are 5 pp. total).

Sending out the June newsletter momentarily.  Any minute now.  It's like 5 blog-posts worth of good stuff.  That's right.  Then back to the sewing pattern I'm designing -- and loving.

(Sign up for the newsletter here if you like.  But hurry.)

Scruff n Stuff

Bobbin is in heat. In the heat.  Not so fun. But, she has a fresh haircut and a bow in her hair, so that's something.  We can all relate.

I get regular requests for dog updates.  Pupdates.  Bobbin and Pixel are now 1 year old, and even more fun -- and surprisingly more cute than they were as puppies.  Like swans.  To the left is their photo from last July.  And here they are now, below.  Ya, what's that about?  Puppies are supposed to be cuter than grown dogs. 

I'm not complaining though.  Not only are these guys prettier now, but they've burrowed a soft spot for themselves in our family. 

That Bobbin has already earned her halo.  She will put up with anything.  I'll keep my camera ready for her next fashion show, boxy castle home, choo choo train ride, or ribbon parade. 

Pixel still wears his heart on his scruff.  He's just as floppy and eager as ever.  He manages to stay clear of Charlotte's narratives by virtue of his gender alone.

Some Other Stuff
• Woven.  You must see Laura's new fabric line, Lantern Bloom.  It was a huge hit at Market, with its own unique style and edgy approach.  I've been meaning to do a post, but am in the thick of pattern-writing and post-travel recovery.  Call this a pre-post blurb.  Watch for Laura Gunn prints at Crate & Barrel too.
• Curious.  It appears I've been written a public request to stop writing patterns, blogging & such.  All I have to say is, "An apple a day..."
• Experimental.  We just got a dutch oven.  We're taking it camping with us this summer.  I'll share recipes.  Or shall I call them experiments?
• Fattening.  We're working on a new Father's day ice cream recipe today.  I'll share that too.  Don't forget to try my Strawberry Pretzel Dessert ice cream.  It'll be a challenge to top that one.
• Fun.  We're sending out our second newsletter next week featuring a craft project how-to, new Trash Ties colors, an introduction to Emily & Lindsay, a newsletter-only store promotion -- and a giveaway.  Sign up for the newsletter here if you want to be included.

Shredded

I just counted and we own a total of 13 rolling office chairs.  That's a lot of office chairs.  Of course, the one I prefer at the moment is shredded and hideous.  It's the ugliest chair of the bunch.

My neck and arm are all out-of-whack from trotting all over NYC with two heavy bags.  This chair holds me together best.  It's a bit out-of-place in my studio though.  So, today, I'm slip-covering it. 

No big style-ambition this time.  I'll be glad to take it from hideous to mediocre.

Yep, that's exposed foam in the back there.

Plumpness

Have I mentioned it's great to be back home?  With an expanding roster of help around the studio, we're starting to get caught up, even ahead, on some projects.  Rachel and Lindsay spent a day or two just putting together a plump stock of Strawberry Pincushion Kits, after finishing up the Flutterby Flip-Book Kits.  Emily has kept everything else plugging along.  Being ahead is great.  I highly recommend it. 

So, back to The Giveaway.  What a variety of first sewing projects!  I've been reading comments all day. 

1.  Congratulations Lindsay Brown!  Random picked you for the big giveaway.  Lindsay won a Freshcut scrap bag, a HB sewing pattern of her choice, and a Flutterby Flip-Book Kit.  Here's what Lindsay wrote.

    "Hi Heather!!! Let me start out by saying I am an ENORMOUS fan!!  I just completed 2 projects for my girls.  I made a pillowcase dress with the Lime Paisley and I made my youngest daughter the matching capris.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE all of your fabrics!!  Thanks for posting this!!"

2.  Random also picked the lucky Shannon / lilyhaven who wrote,

    "Holy cow! 975 comments already! ... My first sewing project was a tiered skirt for my then 3-year-old daughter.  I was so proud of myself!  I wanted to sew for years and years and finally broke down and tried.  I've been addicted ever since.  I can't wait to see your new fabrics!!!" 

I'll be sending Shannon a Freshcut scrap bag, along with a pack of HB ribbons.

 3.  Then, for AndieBee, who apparently barely survived her first sewing experience, I'm sending a Strawberry Pincushion Kit, along with a copy of my Fresh Picked Pincushions sewing pattern.  AndieBee wins just for surviving -- and for calling me "cupcake."  Here's what AndieBee wrote.

    "Hi cupcake! My very first sewing project EVER in life: I was three and hangin' out with my Momma while she was making something-probably a dress or short set for me. She got up from her incredibly snazzy Singer machine in the wood cabinet to do "something", so I climbed up on her chair for a better view. Momma always held the pretty colorful straight pins in her mouth as she took them out to sew. I decided to help take them out while she was away...of COURSE I put them in my mouth just like her. And OF COURSE I swallowed one of those bad boys!! LOL

    "All I remember of the rest of that day was having to drink something icky and Momma monitoring my potties! Apparently it all came out okay, since I don't remember having to go to the hospital. ;O)  I picked sewing back up again when I was about 8 or 9, when Momma got tired of making Barbie clothes, and I've been sewing since."

Ladies, send me your addresses. 

Thanks everyone for participating -- and for the blogiversary hoopla.  I'm loving being back home and back to blogging, tweeting, etc.  Thanks for sticking around while I was away through May.

...which reminds me, there's something special posted for @TrashTies followers over on Twitter : )

And, speaking of plumpness, check out this blog, with it's cheeky background image.  Bacon-infused waffles?  I'll be taking my camera with me next we go out to the fair.

Giveaway, Oh Giveaway

I don't even know where to begin with all of the adventures I went on this month.  I may have to grant myself a Get-Out-of-Jail-Free card and skip immediately past Go -- at least till I'm caught up on some design projects.

This weekend I went through the first round of strike-offs for my next fabric collection.  Gah!  I normally wouldn't mention strike-offs because, really, it will be months before the fabrics are available.  But, gah!  They're gorgeous.  I'm ready to fly over to the mill and screen the prints myself if it will speed things up.  I'm dying to sew with this fabric. 

See, now I feel better, and you feel worse.  Which is why I normally don't say anything.  But, that's what I'm working on today. And that's where my brain is.

I'm also thinking about a giveaway to celebrate my blogiversary.  It's been 3 years now.  So, how does this sound for a prize?

• Freshcut Scrap Bag (in 1/4yd-1/2yd pieces)
• Sewing Pattern (your choice)
• Flutterby Flip-Book Kit

Leave a comment, telling us what your first sewing project was -- or if you don't sew, what your first sewing project might be -- or if you don't plan to sew, why not!?  Or your favorite remedy for puffy eyes.  I don't know, tell us something interesting.  Or just say, 'Hi.'  That works too. 

I'll let this go through Thursday night MST, then hand it over to the Random Number Generator for an edict. 

I may hand out a couple of extra giveaways too.  I tend to do that.

The photos?  Some shots from my weekend in Pittsburgh.  What a beautiful city!