A new queen size quilt in the shop :)

Pear Jam

We have a pear tree. This year it was so laden with fruit that the branches were sagging and some even dragging on the ground. There are still about 6 gazillion pears out there on that tree and we've harvested one five gallon bucket full.

What to do with pears? Well, besides eating them straight away, we wanted to try pear jam, which I've never tasted in my entire life, but sounds good, right? My first attempt was made using the instructions found inside the SureJell powder pectin box. You get this long paper foldout instruction sheet with instructions for all kinds of jellies and jams. This version has you dice up the pears finely, add them to the pot with lemon juice and the pectin and heat it until it breaks down, liquifies (mostly), and comes finally to a rolling boil, at which point you add the sugar....lots and lots of sugar.

The first batch didn't set so well and hasn't completely jellified, but the chunkiness of the jam is really pleasing, almost a kind of marmalade version. It's really great on english muffins.

The second attempt, made yesterday, has produced a better set jelly, but the pear broke down so much that it's more like jelly than jam.

For the second batch I followed the instructions from the packet of liquid pectin (instead of the powder). I seem to always have a better result with the liquid pectin across the board, so maybe I have learned something here. Basically, it gave me an actual measurement for cut up fruit (4 cups as opposed to 3 lbs of pears in the first recipe....does that mean before peeling and coring them or what?) Anyway, you add the sugar first and the pectin after the boil.....seems the stirring with the granular sugar broke the pears down more, but the jam tastes more like pears than the first batch.

Note: After the jam episodes, I searched for more storage ideas and found Pear Butter over at Frugal living. Such an easy recipe and such delicious results. Honestly, I'd make the butter before making the jam again, hands down!

We've got a pretty good store of sweetness put up for the winter!

ArtHampton! Today October 1, 2011 from 10 - 3!

Come and see me!

Check out the ArtHampton map

Open publication - Free publishing - More arthampton

I will be showing a limited amount of paintings, but mostly my quilting items. You can also meet and see work by Jeff Derose at Latent Echo, who is showing in my studio as well.

Update: What a wet, rainy, yucky day. It definitely kept the crowds down for the 2nd Annual ArtHampton event. Better luck next year.

Friday Deal!

Today Only!

Start your Christmas shopping early! Get 15% off this set of nesting bowls by using "FRIDAY" in the coupon code box during checkout! (15% applies to bowls only). Thanks so much and Happy Friday :)

It's National Sewing Month

Did you know this? Me either. It was created in 1982 by Ronald Reagan to recognize the importance of home sewing in our country. Sweet! Funny I didn't hear about this till just a few days ago. I can't remember where I saw it or how I was tipped off about it, but it is indeed true. It is National Sewing Month, and I plan on celebrating it!
A treasury I created firstly about memories of sewing with my Mom, but then decided it was about this month as well.Part of the plan is to start creating table runners again. They were really popular. (see the detail of one above)
And over at Loft Full of Goodies you'll find this awesome needle book. I bought one recently, but it's blue, and I cannot sing its praises enough. If you hand sew, get one of these lovely little felt books to keep your needles in. I adore mine!

Check out the National Sewing Month website. They are holding a sewing contest through the end of September with three large baskets full of sewing supplies and notions as the prizes.

30 days of lists

After my huge success with The August Break 2011 (LOL) I've decided to participate in 30 Days of Lists (sept. 2011)! I signed up for this one a while ago and got caught up in the excitement and challenge of posting a list every day in September based on a given theme.

You can still sign up by clicking on the link above, it's only day 2 after all, and I haven't even made my first list! I'm thinking that my lists might happen once a week (all 7 of them), given that my time is in high demand these days. There is a tiny subscription fee, I think it was $5.95 or something like that, but well worth the fun and challenge it gives for the cost.

I still haven't really figured out if it is ok if it's a blog/digital list. They have a flickr page that people are using to place photographs of their journal entries of their lists! Not sure if that's my cup of tea....or if I actually have time for it right now. So, mine just might be a blog entry. We'll see.

It's still early, the day is just beginning. Enjoy it everyone!

And the Winner is.........

PoetessWug!!! Woooooo!

I'm sorry it's so late in the day, but my day was hijacked by errands, traffic, frustrating situations, and much more. I've just gotten home and managed to get to the drawing....it's 7:00 p.m.! I bet you were all wondering where the heck I was. Well, traffic with UMass move in day was a nightmare for one. Ok, I'll stop complaining.

Poetess, I will email you, or just come on over to your blog and let you know too! I'll be putting the bag in the mail to you tomorrow :) Yay!

Congratulations!