Skillet Corn Bread

I'll admit, this is a far leap from traditional southern cornbread. It should really be classified as a cake, due to all the sugar and vanilla I've added. But I am a big fan of both corn and cake, so this is the type of cornbread I like to eat, er... make.

Cornbread

1 1/2 C coarse yellow cornmeal
1 1/2 C masa harina (finely ground cornmeal)
1 C unbleached white flour
2/3 C sugar
4 tsp baking powder
1 TB salt
1 C frozen corn kernels
1 1/2 C yogurt
1 1/4 C milk
1 TB vanilla
12 TB melted butter
2 eggs

Heat oven to 425. Place seasoned cast iron pan in oven to heat.
In a large bowl, whisk together first 6 ingredients. Set aside.
In food processor, puree corn kernels and yogurt. ad butter, milk and vanilla. Blend a few seconds to combine. Pour wet ingredients into dry, stir until combined. The batter will be quite thick, Carefully remove pan from oven, and add 1/2 of the mix. Bake 20 mins, or until top is golden and a toothpick comes out clean.

vintage fabrics

I have loads of vintage fabrics at home and have troubles bringing myself to cut into them. So when I find a way to incorporate a tiny bit of it with a new fabric, somehow it makes me a little less uptight. behold my compromise:

If you've never covered a button before, you should really try it. It's one of the few instant gratifications (read: easiest) things that can be done. And it looks perfect every time.
Bias trim, though, is another beast entirely. no fun at all. I am currently investigating a little bit of hardware called a 'bias maker'. I'm very skeptical anything can make all the measuring, cutting, ironing, pinning and careful sewing seem easy.

i sew for boys, too

Here is a chambray half-placket short sleeve shirt I made for my friend. I saw a similar one I really wanted to buy for him, but it was well over $100, and I just can't bring myself to pay so much for something I can make at home. So here's my verson. I added coconut buttons to try to make it a little interesting.

button trick

not much of a trick, really, but it took me a long time to think of doing this before tossing any extra buttons into my abyss, uh- button drawer...

Just thread a needle and string the like buttons together


Tie it into a knot to keep them happily together!

bits...

These buttons also came from Tokyo. It is completely amazing to me how serious the japanese take handmade goods. I have an idea of how I want to use these for a top. hopefully you will see them it soon.


I also recently stumbled upon some polka-dot fabric and really cute trims at an estate sale of sorts in a neighborhood nearby. There was a lot more there, I think the lady had been some sort of costume designer. But thankfully my limited space makes me choose carefully...

japanese fabric

I have quite a bit of fabric I bought last fall in Tokyo at Tomato Fabrics (which was amazing.... i wish i could have carried more) and have been stressing out over what to do with them.. I finally cut into it a few weeks ago and made up a nice springy dress for myself:




I hand stitched the top and used self fabric for the belt, but lined it in an-off white, with a few inches of hem showing.