As our plane touched down from our Christmas trip to Texas, I turned on my phone and received a message from my Etsy shop that I had an order for 6 bags. The shop is off to a good start for the New Year! I worked with my new client to select fabrics in blues and greens (as mentioned in a previous post) and she landed on a series, Modern Meadows by Joel Dewberry. I enjoyed seeing these come together, and hope that their owners love them as much as I do.
I really didn’t think I’d be pulling out the paint bucket and tools this early in the year. However, our sad pale blue colorway that once went with our old office did not work for a repurposed guest room, and we were short one headboard. So, the KitchStitch crew got busy with painting and creating a custom headboard to set the palette. I’ve seen it time and time again on do-it-yourself shows on how to make your own headboard and it really was that easy. We picked up OSB board, a french cleat, 1” foam, staple gun and my favorite place to shop for canvas grade material…..IKEA, and got to work. We wrapped the board with foam and the canvas material and stapled away. 
I am very excited to start my second project of 2012, and that is an order of 6 bags in one of my favorite designer’s (Joel Dewberry) series, Modern Meadow. I will update once they are in production, but I’m thrilled about this combination and can’t wait to get started:
After moping and complaining of never going anywhere….my sweet husband surprised me in September with 2 tickets to NYC. I was ecstatic! I had never been to The City. We spent a solid month of planning, and also trying to account for non-planned events as well…which can sometimes be the most fun. Our dear friend joined us in the adventure from Dallas, and both my husband and I had friends in Brooklyn, who joined us for a few events.
We hit up Rockefeller Center for an NBC tour, and to our surprise the Christmas tree arrived that same morning and workers were busy separating all the limbs and “fluffing” the tree after it was set in place. We also toured the ‘Top of the Rock’ for incredible views of Manhattan. To see the island in person was so breathtaking. To other travel goers I would highly recommend Top of the Rock or Empire State Building observation deck tours at the beginning of your trip, if you are like me and need to get your bearings at the beginning of the trip. You can then gain perspective on the whereabouts of the different districts and park, to assist in navigation,
although having a ‘local’ with us was most beneficial for the subway system. I had been on many trains and subways in Europe, but none so intricate than this system. Some stations were so weathered and aged that they had true stalactites hanging from the ceiling. The subways also lends to a people watching haven (which I could do for hours).
Ah, Central Park. We spent most of our day just walking and only saw about half of the park. There were many artists and musicians tucked away off the main paths, spending their weekend showing their work or practicing their latest ballads. After, our trek we headed over to the Guggenheim for a quick tour of the lobby and gift shop. 
Fashion District & Times Square
The summation of the trip; when will I be back? It is definitely a city that every American needs to visit…..at least once.
Even though AC in Colorado is not a necessity, when it suddenly goes out….you definitely wonder how those survive without it. And as Murphy would have it, our AC went out during the two hottest weeks of the summer. This is nothing in comparison to my Texan counterparts enduring 100+ temps, but we all need to find way to cool off now and then. Thanks to a baby pool, mister fan and a blender…..we somehow managed. I also was a busy bee in the studio, creating a few birthday gifts for my favorite client, my mom. A few purses, aprons and pillows to share!
A what? So, this creation probably does not mean a whole lot for those outside the architectural and design industry….but I have finally created a belt for field verification! I was at a job site the other day fumbling around and switching back and forth between the measuring tape, camera, red/black pens….well, it’s time to get organized architects and designers, and keep everything at your fingertips. I think I’m borderline nerdy/handy, but who cares when your audience is the contractor (no offense, contractors….not that you would be reading a sewing blog anyway). I kept it simple, using a low key canvas fabric. I created pouches for pens & small scale, slim-line camera or smart phone, and of course a 25’ measuring tape. Grab your clip board and you’re set to go verify in the field!
A new diaper bag leaves the shop for it’s new mommy-to-be. The exterior fabric is from Amy Butler’s Midwest Modern Maze line, and a coordinating solid for the interior. I thought the interior was a bit too “solid” so I trimmed it with the beautiful exterior fabric to give it some depth. All parts and pieces are lined to give additional weight and stability for the new mom to pack in her necessities. I truly love this “sling” design, it’s just sew sweet:
Now I am not steering this blog into a beer critic site, but while the temperatures rise, and the outdoor projects are in full swing, I thought that I would tip my gardening hat to the frosty drink that I turn to, to top off my summer days…..Shiner Bock. Since moving out of Texas, and up to Colorado, beer has stiff competition against the local microbrews. I actually did not care for the stuff until moving to the mountains, but with beers that taste like coffee, malty caramels and even hot chili….I just had to jump on the bandwagon. I am quite a supporter of Colorado beers now, but all the while I still hold that little Texas town high on my list as well for a basic good beer, Shiner.
I have family just 20 miles from the little town, in fact my rehearsal dinner was just down the street from the brewery (in true Texas style). The area is a diverse make up of German and Czech immigrants, which can be seen throughout the stern work ethic of the town inhabitants, German fare at local markets, and old tongue which can still be heard to this day if you listen closely. The Germans in this area stem back to the ‘Verein’ campaign in the early 1840’s, and were promised beautiful Texas soil in efforts to colonize in America. What they did not plan on at the time, where the battles between the United States and Mexico, in which left many of the immigrants stranded and the Verein perished. Many settled in the areas of Texas referred to as the “German Belt” which includes (to name a few); Fredericksburg, Pflugerville, New Braunfels, Schulenburg, Weimar, and the little town of Shiner. Fast forward a few decades to 1909 when the Shiner Brewing Association was started and later hired their brew master, Kosmos Spoetzl, who brought the ‘Old World Bavarian’ beer to the great state.
Entertaining stories of Kosmos are told within Shine On: 100 Years of Shiner Beer from leaving beers on the fence posts for local farmers in the heat of the day, to keeping his beloved Belgium recipe in the brim of his hat. The brewery has branched out to light, wheat and even dark brews but I still have to claim that the bock is a constant favorite amongst our house hold.
My husband and I discovered in the April issue of Texas Monthly there is a mouth-watering recipe of chicken fried steak using Shiner. This is a must try, and of course, don’t count the calories on this one:
Chicken Fried Steak – by Grady Spears
Mix first 4 ingredients and set aside on a plate or wax paper. Whisk eggs in a large bowl, then add buttermilk and beer and whisk to blend. Set aside. In a deep, heavy skillet, heat oil to 350 degrees. While oil is heating, prepare the steaks by dredging them in flour mixture, coating evenly. Shake off any excess. Dip in egg batter, and then again in flour, evenly coating the batter so it is dry on the outside. When oil temperature reaches 350 gently slide one steak into the oil. Cook about 3 minutes, then turn it, taking care not to break the crust, and cook 3 more minutes, or until nicely browned. Drain on paper towels. Repeat with the other steaks. Hold cooked steaks in a 225 degree oven until all are done. Serve with Cracked-Pepper Gravy.
As they say in Shiner, TX “Prost!”
