To-Do

Something I inherited from my mother: the love of lists.  And for all its useful tools, the Internet has totally let me down in this department by simultaneously offering daily if not hourly inspiration and ideas, and no one good way to keep track of them all.  I've used Internet bookmarks, "faved" tweets and photos on Flickr, "starred" posts in Google reader...but it's still too scattered and I can't see it all at a glance. 

Hence the new category (and I have big plans to clean up my categories soon- what a mess), where I can keep all my ideas and inspirations and tutorials in one place, and also share them with you!

1.  Must finish the boys' quilts in January.  Tops are done, backs are done, all that remains is the scary basting/quilting/binding part.  It's plow-through-it work, but there's glory at the end.  It'll also get me that much closer to my overall goal of getting the house together, but that's for another post.

(Fricklet's 9-patch top.)

(Biscuit's modified (to fit a single bed) Little Bits quilt from Last Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson.)

2.  Get to work on a crochet cushion.  I love the idea found here on Attic 24 for using an old sweater for the back, especially as my trusty grey cashmere hoodie recently gave up the ghost (or, more accurately, the elbows).

3.  Make Julia Child's beef bourguignon with Mom, preferably while wearing aprons I sew myself.  I made one for my little sister for the holidays and I love it!  Used the pattern from Amy Karol's Bend-the-Rules Sewing.

(Jess doesn't cook much, but she does have tattoos, so I think it all evens out.  She's trying to figure out a way to wear it out to bars.)

Wouldn't this fabric be perfect for sporting while undertaking a little French cooking mastery?  I thought so.

4.  Make homemade marshmallows, because the marshmallows are the best part of the obligatory January hot cocoa.  Adrian says Martha's recipe works a charm.

5.  And speaking of Adrian, there's a project in the works for a swap with her, and a little gift I'm cooking up for Ms. Bestitched as well.  (Schmoley, they both have such beautiful projects the the tops of their blogs right now- go! Go!) So they go on the list as well, though I can't show photos yet, so they have to sit here at the bottom, even though they are first in my heart.

Keeping the lists to 5 Items Only will be hard, but is necessary.  Gotta have time to actually accomplish the list, and roam the Internet searching for more!  (That, of course, doesn't mean I won't be back tomorrow with another list.  Just keeping 'em bite-sized. Like caramels.  Delicious caramels made for me by Grey Moggie Melanie.  That await me in the kitchen.  Nom.  Bye!)

Comments

[whitney]

I love lists. I have notebooks full of lists. And you are so very right about the Internet and its lack of a good way of keeping track of all of the wonderful things it contains.

I think 5-item lists as blog posts is a fabulous idea.

[Heather]

I do not sew at all, so I cannot comment about all the sewing/quilting folderole. But I have made the JC boeuf bourgignon and it is so worth it, even though you feel like the oven is going to spontaneously combust.

[kmkat]

I made Julia Child's beef burgundy once -- it was delicious! The only reason I haven't made it again is that the cookbook is packed away somewhere.

[SpiderWomanKnits]

I made Julia's beef bourguignon for our Christmas dinner this year! It was fabulous, the best stew we ever had. It's actually super easy to make (or maybe I just really love to cook?). My husband found the original TV episode for me and I watched that, which really helped (although the recipe is different than her book one). My only advice is get a wonderful cut of beef but cut it yourself into large chunks, much bigger than 'stew meat'.

Those fabrics are perfect for a new apron! Love it!

[BethC]

I have made marshmallows, home made are totally the way to go and so yum!

[Kate]

I am SO making my own marshmallows when it's winter here. That's a fantastic idea.

I have an Amy Butler apron pattern that I need to make, but I'm scared! Sewing is still a bit new and scary. But I know I can do it - maybe that will be on my January list. Along with cleaning up some WIPs so that my previously very organised system of baskets can be functional again. Wouldn't that be dreamy!

Can't wait to see the fruits of your labours...

[sam]

apparently apron making is big right now, I've talked to several people that have been making aprons for xmas, etc. I love the spoon fabric!
I never heard of making marshmallows, though! that's interesting.

[margaux]

oh i heart lists. especially since i'm the out of sight out of mind type of person - if i don't write it down it just will float off with the other grand ideas/inspirations i have and see.

there once was a time i used google notebook... sigh, they discontinued it. if i find something i will so let you know.

[nod]

For your lists, have you tried Evernote? there's a free and paid service. I upgraded to paid after I started really using it to store knitting patterns, sewing patterns, recipes, links, voice memos, receipts, etc. And I can sync to all the computers I use, plus my iPhone so I can almost always get to the list. In the analog realm, a good ole Moleskin notebook is always handy and small enough to always have in my purse.