It's dark and gloomy and wet, so we are hibernating around here this weekend. So there's not much to report, just soup, knitting, sleeping dogs, and Netflix Watch Instantly movies. I recommend I've Loved You So Long and The IT Crowd. The first is poignant and heart-wrenching, the other is bust-a-gut hilarious. 

I also made up a salad that was quite tasty. Mache (Lamb's lettuce), good bacon (I used apple-smoked bacon from Trader Joe's), avocado, grape tomatoes, and a vinegar-y honey mustard dressing. I also had some Almondina toasts from Trader Joe's, spread with Cambozola cheese (a soft, blue cheese). I highly recommend this combination.

If you're disappointed in my lack of creative projects, might I suggest you go see the quilt my sister just finished. You won't be sorry. 
 

 I don't think I need to say anything else.

I think I've almost worked out how to make some pincushions out of the little vintage jello molds that I have. 

 
 A little felt, and a little embroidery, and a little wool stuffing, that's all it took. I do still wish I could figure out how to make the edges smooth and not bunchy. Any ideas?

I also wanted to tell you about a book that you should get. I was super lucky, and the publisher sent me a copy of How to Sew a Button, by Erin Bried.  I pride myself on being pretty self-sufficient, and knowing how to do a lot of things, but this book is just full of great stuff. I will be referring to it often. 

Right now I'm trying to fix a slow drain with baking soda and vinegar, like one of the chapters suggests. 

The author interviewed a bunch of grandmothers, and shares their answers on how to do everything from roast a chicken to make strawberry jam to tying your husband's necktie. It's all written in a friendly, sassy way, as if you were talking to one of these ladies yourself. How to Sew a Button would make a great gift for newlyweds, recent graduates, and anyone just setting out on their own, and not just women, I think anyone would benefit from having this in their library to refer to when they're not sure just how to do something. 

It's also great, especially now when frugality is once again a necessary skill and self-sufficiency is something to be proud of. I can't recommend it enough! 

I don’t want you to think I’m going to neglect Hey Lucy, just because I have another blog. I made a lot of things in December, so I’ll tell you all about them this month. I decided to do a little quilting, and made a log cabin pillow with some of my favorite shades of pink & green.

It was part of my annual Christmas swap with Yvonne of Yvestown (I am a lucky duck, we’ve been doing this swap for four years now? or is it five?). Yvonne is a super good swapper, so I wanted to make sure I sent something worthy of her beautiful home.

I mentioned this in November, but now I'm serious. I've launched a blog for iPhone people that I think you'll like, if you are an iPhone user. If not, it may convince you that you should become an iPhone user. I aim to post lots of useful and sassy information. Anyway, it's fun and I would love it if you would visit. Oh, it's right here. I moved it from the original Typepad site, I like it much better this way. And there's even a matching twitter feed!