dutch oven

  • A Worm Named Snowflake

    ByHeather Bailey

    FabricStack
    We
    just returned from the best campout with my two brothers and their
    families.  Isaac set up a kitchen to feed an army, complete with
    stovetop, grill, wash tubs, canopy & a tank of water for clean up. 
    Fortunately for the rest of us, he also set up a hammock with its own
    canopy, so we could leisurely ooo & ahh at him while he cooked all
    of our meals — almost.  Cooking is Isaac's favorite pastime on
    campouts.  I prefer laziness (fatigue-ziness really — I'm not the best
    tent-sleeper), so it works out well all around.

    Boots300 We cooked, we ate, we sat about and we fished.  Then we repeated.  I haven't done that much sitting about for years. 

    Best Fishing Tip: 
    If you're fishing to make memories for a pack of little kids, pick up a
    tub of live worms.  The worms will keep the younger kids engaged while
    the older kids have their turn at the poles.  By the time we left
    yesterday, all remaining worms were claimed & named.  Every child
    left happy as could be, fish or no fish.

    Nothing like a bit of
    grime & a hot tent to help you appreciate a warm shower & clean
    sheets.  Works every time.  Camping is great that way.

    Giveaway News:  Thank you to everyone who participated in my Store Giveaway Promotion from the June Newsletter. Congratulations to Jennifer Dessert
    for winning the stack of
    Freshcut fabrics & strawberry pincushion above. If you'd like to
    find out first about future giveaways, tutorials, products &
    company news, sign up for the Heather Bailey Newsletter here.

  • |

    Red, White, and Blue All Over

    ByHeather Bailey

    RedWhiteBlue-04 

    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. 
     
    RedWhiteBlueTrashTies310In
    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.

    Meadowside470

    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.

  • Scruff n Stuff

    ByHeather Bailey

    0906CharlotteBob

    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.

    0807_puppies2
    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.

    0906_Pups2

    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.