GoofingOff Sewing New Listings The End of March

So, I am so inspired by the quilt show but no time to do much of anything. I did find a little time to list a few patterns in the shop...and there's some honeys in the bunch. 

Kwik Sew 2139 One Piece Bathing Suit Pattern UNCUT I just love this pattern!

McCall's 9494 Raggedy Ann and Andy Costume Pattern for size 2-4  UNCUT
How adorable! Imagine toddlers trick or treating in this costume. Too cute!

Simplicity 1953 Animal Hats UNCUT
Maybe not for this winter but winter will be back...and it's never too early to get started on holiday sewing.

Pearl Louise Designs #477 Flying High Quilting Pattern UNCUT
This pattern makes a banner...great for a little boy's room.

McCall's 8378 Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy Dolls UNCUT
When my daughter was born my dad made sure she had a Raggedy Ann to cuddle with...What a great gift. 

McCall's 2337 Misses' and Girls' Costume Patterns  Complete
This pattern includes all sizes. Good for reenactments. 

McCall's 4266 Jingle Bells Christmas UNCUT
A handmade Christmas stocking is an instant heirloom...

Hot Patterns 1121 Misses Riviera Cote D'Azur Knit Dress, Tunic, & Top UNCUT
This dress is incredible!

Simplicity 5835 Disney Princess Dress Size 3-8 UNCUT
Because little girls want to be princesses.

Sew-Knit-n-Stretch #156 Girls' Swimsuit Two Piece  Size 2-6 Complete
A vintage pattern that is still relevant.

Simplicity 9054 Doll Wardrobe...for 20-22-23 inch dolls UNCUT
There's lots of patterns for 11 1/2 inch and 18 inch dolls...this is for the bigger doll..hard to find.

Post by Eileen Patterson...who doesn't have time to goof off but is GoofingOff!

Peach Blossoms

The sight of beautiful flowers always gives me a feeling, a wonderfully giddy feeling. The peach trees are in bloom. I love seeing the pink flowers. 

The hubby takes care of these trees with loving hands. On the trees there are tiny peaches formed but until I get to enjoy the fruit I think I will enjoy the beauty of the blossoms.

Hope you enjoy them, too. 

Post by Eileen Patterson

The Rag Quilt is Done!

So here it is as promised....the rag quilt. 

Since it is for a little girl I made it in pink flannel with a layer of flannel on the back. No batting. 

It's soft and minky, cuddly soft for a little one. The rag edges soften the look even more. 

Hope the new mom likes it. 

Post by Eileen Patterson...aka GoofingOff

How to Make Broccoli Salad...A Gluten Free Recipe

I love broccoli....steamed, raw, chopped, in a soup...I love it. That being said, there are times fresh for dipping doesn't work and I want to do more than steam it. One of my favorite ways to fix broccoli is broccoli salad...and it wins raves from family and friends. 
This recipe makes about 1 1/2 - 2 pounds of salad. 

Ingredients: 
1-1 1/2 pounds fresh broccoli

1/2 cup of dried cranberries

1 cup mayonnaise

1/2 cup sliced almonds

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

1 teaspoon sugar (or 1 packet of stevia) 

bacon bits (about 4 slices worth), optional

I don't use broccoli slaw (I guess one could but I shop at a local flea market so I buy fresh. I see what's in it and chop it myself). 

Wash the broccoli and chop into small pieces (crowns and stems, as long as they are not woody). 

 Prepare the bacon. Add cooled bacon to the chopped broccoli. (Skip the bacon if the salad is to be kosher).

Add about dried cranberries.

Add the almonds.

Put mayonnaise in a separate bowl. Add the sugar or sweetener.

Add the apple cider vinegar to the mayonnaise mixture. 

Pour the mayonnaise dressing mixture over the broccoli salad and mix until everything is coated. Place in the refrigerator. It is best when made ahead and left in the fridge overnight.

This recipe is very forgiving. If you are out of bacon and are fortunate enough to have leftover Chinese Roast Pork, use it. Yummy! The bacon I use is bacon bits (real bacon but already made in a package). They last a long time in the refrigerator and handy. A big time saver and no pans to clean.
If almonds aren't in the pantry and walnuts or pecans are.....go for it.
As for the mayonnaise, whatever the preference. I use the mayo with olive oil but the recipe works well with low fat and fat free, too.

How many calories? No idea. I bring it to work and share so I can't eat too much of it.
It is gluten free for those gluten sensitive folks.
It's kosher, too, if it is made without bacon or the roast pork.

Anyway, it will be a welcome addition to the summer parties ahead.

Enjoy!

Post by Eileen Patterson...who is GoofingOff

A Quilt Finished....Loving That I Accomplished It Feeling

What a title.....like I won't use that one again. Back to work (yesterday,  too) after having an amazing weekend of getting things fixed, accomplished, and out of the UFO basket. It feels so good to get something up and running again or to put the final stitch in.
After months of staring at the walking foot (or even feed foot) for my machine I asked someone how to attach it. For as long as it took me to ask you would think I was a guy (no gender bashing, just the truth). When the woman told me I stood in amazement that it could be so easy and I missed it. After getting home I hooked it up and made my first rag quilt. I'll post pictures tomorrow. So cute I started another. Now I can finish the strip quilt I started.
The big Trenton Quilt Show will be here in a few days and I am excited to see all the beautiful work from around the area. If anyone's in North Florida take a trip to Trenton Saturday. It will be worth it. Hope to see you there!

Post by Eileen....who is anxiously waiting to Goof Off but has to work today.

New Listings

After a week plus of trying to get my printer working (not recognized by the computer after living together side by side for 2 years....like a marital dispute) I finally got it working. Hooray! I can get to work....here's some new listings in the GoofingOff shop. 

Simplicity 2303 Coats for Extra Large Dogs UNCUT

Simplicity 1953 Misses' and Child's Animal Hats UNCUT

Simplicity 3943 Flower Girl Dresses Sizes 3-4-5-6 UNCUT

Simplicity 1772 Misses' Costumes Steampunk Dresses UNCUT 

Simplicity 3629 Misses' Costumes UNCUT

Simplicity 1794 Babies' Dress, Bib, Hat, and Booties

Well that's it for now. There's more patterns coming but the hubby brought home a Popeye boat last night and I should help clean it up..... For real. It looks like Popeye or Brutus would be up there. A big, long crab boat with a wheelhouse....in my yard....I need a ladder to get in there....and strong arms to clean it up...I need spinach. 

Keeping the Bobbins Full

Yesterday I messed up....not a big one but a common one. I didn't use my own advice (isn't that the way) and ran the bobbin dry while working on my rag quilt. I ignored my advice to "fill two bobbins when you start a project" and ran out. Well, just as I was about to give in and unthread my machine so I could thread the bobbin I remembered the nifty little gift I bought myself...the Singer SideWinder. It threads the bobbin for you without the machine. It worked so fast and was so easy to use that I may never use my sewing machine again to fill my bobbins. 
It uses electric or AA batteries (so I can take it along to my sit and sews or there is no place to plug in). 

Sometimes it's good to buy yourself a gift. 
BTW, I don't get a dime from anyone about this nifty little device. It's just so darn wonderful that I have to shout about it....and if someone already knows about it...why didn't you tell me? 

Post by Eileen Patterson..who is GoofingOff...and keeping the bobbins full.

Green Beans With a Taste of Bacon

Like many other people who cook for a family I try to make nutritious food that tastes good. Easy....but I also like economical. Take green beans for instance.... nutritious and taste wonderful fresh from the garden but the price starts to climb if you buy them at the grocer or frozen.....and they don't look near as pretty from a can.....however, canned is cheap and if the liquid is saved it can be added to a vegetable soup....but they do taste kind of yuck compared to fresh. Here is a fix I got from a friend that I think is worth sharing. 

Green Beans with a Taste of Bacon

1 pound of green beans, washed and cut into small pieces
1 small onion, diced
4 slices bacon, diced
Salt, 1/2 tp
Pepper, dash
Sugar, 1/2 tp

Heat a skillet over a medium heat. Fry the bacon. With a slotted spoon remove the bacon bits and save. Add the onions to the grease and saute until clear and glossy. Add the green beans and stir coating the beans with the grease. Add the salt, pepper, and sugar. Stir. Add the bacon bits. 
Serve.

Diced Bacon in the Skllet

diced onions

Saute onions with bacon bits

Add green beans and season.

I used a beautiful, fresh Florida onion (part of one, really) but a regular Spanish onion can be used. I just couldn't resist the Florida one at the flea market. 
The green beans in the pictures are fresh. Canned green beans can be substituted but make sure they are well drained before adding them to the skillet.

To make this recipe a little healthier:
Saute the onions in olive oil. Add the green beans. Season. Add bacon bits (an uncured brand is preferable). Stir and serve. 

P.S. That's a cast iron skillet in the pics...not burnt black. Treated well and seasoned appropriately they last a lifetime or two without things sticking. Hard to use anything else after using these babies.

Post by Eileen Patterson.....who should be sewing but is GoofingOff....again. Ha ha.

T Shirt Recycle

The other day I took a trip to one of my favorite save-a-buck-or-two shops...the kind where they mark things to 25 cents when the items don't move fast enough. T-shirts....lots of t-shirts...were on the rack....which led me to...Something to Make from T-shirts.  Yarn is always a possibility...that leads to crocheting and knitting...but the yarn could be used for decorating packages or staking tomato plants. 

Here's a few more ideas...

An Infinity Scarf

T-shirt Shag Rug

T-Shirt Bracelets

Stuffed Bunny

Grocery bag

Summer Vest

T-Shirt Dress

Pom Poms

Post by Eileen Patterson....GoofingOff....who is committed to recycling.