July: The month of making stuff.

I was busy learning new things this month. Maybe "busy" was code for "getting my mind off things"...and if so, it worked!

First, I'm late with my Daring Bakers post, which is sad because I've actually had this one done way in advance for a change. The July Daring Bakers' challenge was hosted by Nicole at Sweet Tooth. She chose Chocolate Covered Marshmallow Cookies and Milan Cookies from pastry chef Gale Gand of the Food Network.

I also wanted to do something a little different this month (see aforementioned "getting my mind off of things") so I decided to tackle a vegan version of the recipe (found online here at Vegan Cupcakes' site, and a thank you to The Peaceable Kingdom for posting a link to the recipe in The Daring Bakers forum). Many of you know that baking is a bit of a science, so consider vegan baking the organic chemistry (that deal-breaking pre-med class) of the baking sciences. It's hard to make stuff rise and shine without dairy!

My first batch of vegan milano cookies was good, but thet spread even less than I expected as they baked so as a sandwich cookie they were thick and maybe a bit too much cookie. (I never knew there could be too much cookie, but it's true!)

So for the next batch I decided not to make sandwiches, and I also subbed spelt flour for white flour, and mint extract for orange zest. And folks, we have a winner.

These were delicious. There was a constant stream of people at my office door the next day, and it wasn't to tell me what a bang-up job I did on the 340 piece mailing. Those cookies disappeared quicker than emails to a SPAM filter. That said, I just visited Lisa Michelle's blog Parsley, Sage, Desserts and Line Drives and literally had to pick my jaw up from the keyboard when I saw what she made. Please go visit her...on a full stomach.

I also started private sewing lessons this month (at M. Avery Design Studios), so I think I'll finally get my fear of the sewing machine under control.I've also been embracing my inner seamstress, thanks to M. Avery Designs, making a cushion cover from fabric scrap:

And just look at this...I can sew in a straight line finally. Most of the time.


I used an end piece scrap of fabric the studio had in case I screwed up, but it actually works well with the purple wing chair in our city apartment:


And I also made a skirt. A wearable skirt!

I believe the fabric is vintage barkcloth, typically found in places like...your grandma's curtains. Which means I've also embraced my inner Maria Von Trapp. I love it! I started private sewing lessons this month, so I think I'll finally get my fear of the sewing machine under control. I need to work on the new-to-me backstitch:

Ooops. At least it's in a tiny corner that no one can see.

I was supposed to take a jewelry making class last night but it was cancelled due to the weather (we have a bit of a floods and pestilence thing going on here again).

Another thing I made...was a lot less room at the shore house, thanks to oodles of things I've bought lately, and some that I've picked out of the trash (I'm not proud. Actually, scratch that -- I am pretty proud of the things I've plucked from the trash come to think of it!). But more on that later. To make room for these new/old items, the shore house will be having a yard sale this Saturday (August 1). If you're in the area, please come on by! (Click here to email me and I'll send you the details.) I'm teaming up with four tasteful friends, so there should be some good stuff in the mix.

Let's just hope I don't buy any of it myself.