I stumbled on this adorable paper-pieced quilt block pattern, of the Liberty of London storefront, at the Liberty Craft Blog.
Definitely a cool likeness.
The block was designed by Joanna Wilczynska, of Shape Moth. It would be a great accent pillow. It also makes my imagination go wild with full-sized quilt possibilities.
On other activities, I’m still enjoying the benefits of the daily running streak. Today’s weather was sunny, warm, and generally superb for a quick run.
Sunday afternoon, while it was bitter cold outside, I tackled some indoor tasks:
First, I cleaned the rusted lid of my big cast iron dutch oven. The rust was pretty bad, so I ended up using two different methods to get it all. I had stored the pan in my shed, for use on the occasional camping trip. Then the shed ceiling sprung a leak, and guess what was sitting under the leak. Anyway, the two methods worked great. I loved the potato and salt method. For less severe rust, this would be ideal.
Some of the worst rust spots called for something more, so I then tried this baking soda paste scrub. That finished the job.
So then I needed to re-season the pan and lid, which meant I’d be using the oven most of the afternoon. It was a good day for a hot oven.
In the end the restored lid looked like this. Tada! I should have taken a ‘before’ shot. No, it’s better that I didn’t. Trust me, it was bad. 
While the dutch oven was seasoning, I made some homemade dishwasher detergent tablets, which I had been wanting to try for some time. They were easy to make, with four simple ingredients from the grocery store–epsom salt, borax, washing soda, and lemon juice. I now used the tablets on two loads of dishes, and can give the recipe a thumbs-up. The dishes look clean and bright, with no residue. I do have to put vinegar in the rinse dispenser, but that’s the case here regardless of what detergent I use. The tablets smell great, too.
My tablets look like this. The ones in the instructions looked smoother, which makes me think I should add a bit more lemon juice next time. 
Then I mixed up a batch of bread using the no-knead method. I love making bread. It rose the rest of the day, and then I baked it the following morning.
The dough looked like this in the morning, before I punched it down and shaped it into a ball.
Here is the finished loaf. It is bigger than it looks in the picture. 
Yes, that is the newly-restored dutch oven. I’d been using a smaller one for this recipe, but with the bigger one cleaned up, I wanted to test it out. I like the result.
The holiday running streak continues. We were treated to a warmer sunny day yesterday; great for a late-afternoon run.
The running streak continues, with quite a few quick one-milers. The distances are short, but I can feel the positive effects on my energy level. I’ve had to skip two days, due to work that left no opening in the schedule, but that hasn’t stopped me from picking back up with the streak the next day.
Last weekend the weather was sunny, warm and fantastic. This week we plunged into a deep freeze, with temps in the 20 to 2F range (-7 to -17c). Yesterday and today we have had ice to boot. The local media advised us to stay off the roads. As bad luck would have it, I was running low on milk yesterday. So, I did a grocery jog/hike, wearing my screw shoes, and my Bear Hands, which are the warmest mittens I’ve ever owned.
With all of that warm gear and shoes for good traction, it was a comfortable outing. Thankfully, there was no windchill to make it a trek in frozen misery.
Thanksgiving weekend is possibly my favorite holiday of the year. So much goodness and inspiration comes from these four days. And then there is the annual playing of this ballad from my little-kid years, now updated with a new hilarious story at the end.
Running streak is now up to 4 days in a row.
I finished my running streak daily mile just now, and came home to find a link to this cool list a friend posted in my Facebook feed. I do love my running community. 10 Lessons Running Teaches You About Life
Runner’s World magazine is promoting the ‘Running Streak’ again this year, so here I go again, trying to get out for a run every day from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day. I got a quick mile in yesterday morning, thinking that was all the time I would have that day to run. Turns out I would have had time for a longer run in the afternoon, and it was a lovely sunny day. Sigh. Today I waited until afternoon, and had a very nice, sunny mile. No photos; just the start of another daily run series.
Humbly giving thanks for an incredibly wonderful year with friends, experiences and good fortune. I’m reflecting back on my June trip to the UK, where I met up with beloved friends from faraway places.
Lovely to see you again, my friends.
London was my travel ‘hub’, meaning I passed through the city on my way to every other destination on my trip. This is a London recap.
First destination was a lunch gathering at this restaurant. I love how the menu resembles the album cover. Here I ate delicious food and enjoyed catching up with old and new friends. (This is where I learned that Apple Pie in the UK is not the same as in the US. In the UK, the fruit filling has more of an applesauce consistency, whereas in the US it is sliced apples baked in the crust. It is tasty both ways.) 
Then I rode the Thames Clipper to the O2 Arena, where I caught up with more friends I hadn’t seen in almost three years.
Then there was the quick trip to Bristol, and then back to London, where I spent a few more hours visiting places on my ‘London bucket list.’
I can now say, “I went to the Chelsea Drug Store.”
The drug store is a McDonald’s now, but they’ve adorned the downstairs dining area in a great retro style; I presume a nod to the building’s role in the Rolling Stones song.
I did a lot of walking; often past lovely rows of flats. 
Caught my first glimpse ever of the Battersea Power Station.
But saw no flying pigs.
I bought a pair of earrings at the Buckingham Palace shop. 
Hung out at Bag O’Nails.
(This is not the same Bag O’Nails that was the famous Rock and Roll hangout in the 60s, but this one met my other needs, as it was on my way back from the palace store, it had wifi, coffee and food. I had more UK apple pie ala mode. )
On my return from the Glastonbury Festival, I visited Harrods. But just hours after having camped three nights in a tent, the culture shock was immense. So, I didn’t stay long in the store. Even more surprising for me, I didn’t buy a thing.
I didn’t allow myself enough time at the Victoria and Albert museum. The collection and displays were beautiful and overwhelming. 
I need to explore the Kensington Palace grounds next time, too. This is as close as I got. 
Lovely sights were everywhere. 
Does anyone besides me still miss the 2012 London Olympics? It was the most enjoyable Games I’ve ever watched. 
I took a stroll through Carnaby Street. 
Then, I went to this other famous store, whose fabrics I adore. I can’t believe I didn’t allow time to do some serious shopping here. This is a definite do-over on my next trip to London.
Enjoyed a soup dinner at the Neal’s Yard cafe. 
The Tube is such a great way to get around. This is a lovely skylight somewhere in the London Underground. 
A musical duo playing for donations in the Tube. 
Miscellaneous memories:
This song and video set in London is only two years old, but immediately became one of my all-time favorite holiday songs. Until next time, my friends.
Yes it’s November. But this was an “October project,” so I’ve kept the name.
This dress has always been a little too tight and a little too low cut for me to actually wear out of the house.
Even in the month of Oktoberfest.
But I love the style and lines of the dress. So after letting it hang in my closet for the last two years, not getting worn, I decided the only solution is to get out the scissors and fabric and start experimenting.
I want to wear it with these boots. Not so “Octoberfest,” but very “home.” 
I had decided a calico with red and tan colors in it might be best. I found this fabric in another fave fabric shop yesterday. The fabric is from the “Kashmir” line by Sentimental Studios for Moda.
When I saw this Kashmir border print and color pallet, I thought it presented a seemingly endless number of possibilities.
And of course, it is the name of a great song.
I bought 2 yards of the Kashmir, to give myself plenty for experimenting and mistakes. But still, I was nervous when I started cutting strips.
First, to add some fabric up top. This piece is basted in place here, until I decide its final placement.
Then I worked in a strip on each side, for a little more breathing room.
The strip ran the entire length of the side seam and sleeve.
I’ve always wondered how a side insert like this would work. I was worried it would scream out, “She was too large for the dress,” which is true, of course; I am. In this case, I think the strip concept worked out okay.
I don’t think I chose the right colors for the side strips. I chose those colors because they went well with the boots, but I don’t think they tie in well enough with the rest of the dress. I am considering replacing the strips with one that has the red and/or blue color in it. But this version will do for a test wearing.
I love the bell sleeves, but they are not practical. They are long and can drag through food and other stuff.
So, I added a border strip that can function as a sleeve cuff when needed.
For now, instead of a buttoned cuff, I tried a piece of leather string tied around the wrist and knotted.
One last change was to use more of the leather string to lace up the bodice. The blue velvet string looked limp and wrinkled. The leather goes with the Kasmir print and the boots.
The final look.
The test wearing was to a concert. I received quite a few compliments on the dress and boots, so I’m pronouncing this project a success. Should have done it two years ago.
The string tied around the sleeve cuff works, but needs more ‘give’ for when I stretch my arm out. So back to the drawing board to tweak that design.
Gosh, that was a long time between posts. I got busy with various bits of life, and collected plenty of R-S-R ‘material’ along the way, but couldn’t get anything packaged up for a complete post. But hey, since my last post, I’ve tried out (and liked) blacklight Zumba, the Jayhawks have had a conference win, and the Wildcats are bowl-eligible. Yay!
And, I’ve run in a couple of 5k’s, one of which was with Girls On The Run–a cool organization that indoctrinates young girls into the running culture, and gives them all sorts of other reasons to feel good about themselves.
We’ve also had an awesome colorful Fall, that has generally made it a joy to get out and run.
The sun starts to set so early now. I’d change that if I could… 
And I’m thrilled to now say I’ve sung this song with the band, and an arena full of people also singing along; to every word and every note.
run | sew | read 