A Biscornu Pincushion from Darlene
Today, I found in my mailbox an Easter gift from my blogger friend, Darlene. She sent me a pretty card and a biscornu pincushion she had made. I was familiar with this type of work only because Darlene had blogged about it with this web site as reference:
http://www.prettyimpressivestuff.com/biscornu.htm
I learned from this web site that a biscornu is an interesting 8-sided little pincushion. The word “biscornu” (sometimes written “biscournu”) is derived from the French adjective meaning skewed, quirky or irregular.
Darlene’s tiny cross-stitch work is so beautiful. What a nice surprise!
Miniature Pyramid Easter Tree
An Early Easter Gift
Look what I found on the kitchen table when I got up this morning – an early Easter gift from my oldest daughter. She made a miniature pyramid Easter tree, constructing the shelves and arranging/gluing all the tiny figures. The piece stands just 9 inches tall with German metal figures about 1-1/2 inches tall. I love the rabbit ringing the bell on the top shelf.
The middle shelf holds some more German rabbits with colored eggs in a wheelbarrow, a basket and a backpack.
On the bottom shelf is an assortment of miniature Easter figures…chicks, rabbits, a lamb, an egg…
….a unique and beautiful treasure to enjoy for years to come.
An Easter Gift Bag from Scraps
I wanted to make up a small gift bag to hold Easter candy for the grandchildren and I’m always looking for ways to use up fabric scraps. This little bag fit the bill in both cases and ties securely to keep all the treats from falling out.
This is how I made the bag:
I used 1/4 inch seams throughout.
For the bottom of the bag A:
- Cut two pieces of fabric 6 inches wide x 6-1/2 inches long. I chose to use a cute vintage bunny print. Notice the direction of the print before cutting so that you have the look you want on the front and back of the bag.
- Draw a 3/4 inch square at the two corners at the bottom of bag A. This measurement will make the bag 2 inches deep.
- Cut out the squares
- Place the front and back of bag A right sides together and stitch along the sides and across the bottom.
- Spread the side of the bag and bring raw edges together at the corner, matching seams
- Stitch 1/4 inch straight across for corner
- Repeat with other corner. Turn and press.
For top of bag – B
- Cut 2 pieces of contrasting fabric 6 inches wide x 6-1/2 inches long. I wanted to use some blue and white scraps for this portion of the bag and cut 6 strips of white and 6 strips of blue, 1-1/2 x 6 inches. Sew 6 strips, alternating colors, to form two 6×6-1/2 pieces for the top of the bag.
- Join front and back of B together and stitch down sides.
- At the top of B, turn down 1/4 inch and then another 1/4 inch and stitch for the hem.
Joining top and bottom – A and B
- Place the top of the bag over the bottom, matching raw edges at the top and side seams. Stitch to join these pieces.
- Turn top A inside of bottom B and press. Measure down 1/2 inch from seam and pin on an 11-1/2 piece of trim which has been joined with a 1/4 inch seam.
- Stitch through the center of the trim, catching all 3 layers of trim, bottom and top of bag.
- Press and assemble bag so that top portion comes out of bottom of bag.
- Fill with Easter treats and tie with a pretty ribbon.
Bag measures about 5 x 8-1/2 inches x 2 inches deep – just the right size for a stash of jellybeans.
I also made a larger version, using a 6-1/2 inch unfinished quilt block and added borders to make the piece 8-1/2 inches wide x 9-1/2 inches long for the front bottom of the bag. I added 3 pieces of fabric the same size for the top and back bottom pieces. I cut 1-1/2 inch squares for the corners. On this one, I sewed a piece of lace with eyelets near the top and threaded the ribbon through the eyelets. You can adjust the fabric size to suit your purposes. The blocks cut out for the corners gives the depth for the bag. This bag measures 8 inches wide x 14 inches long x 3 inches deep.
Creamy Ham Tetrazzini
We had a delicious Honey Baked Spiral Ham for Easter and by the time I sent home slices with each family, I just had scraps to work with for tonight’s supper. I turned to one of my favorite dishes, Creamy Ham Tetrazzini – easy to make, very tasty and very satisfying.
CREAMY HAM TETRAZZINI
- 1 Tblsp. olive oil
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 1/2 cup chopped sweet pepper (green, red or yellow)
- 3 large cloves of garlic, minced
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 1-1/4 cups chicken broth
- 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup chopped cooked ham
- Grating of black pepper
- 1 oz. grated Parmesan cheese
- 6 oz. dry spaghetti or fettuccine
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
In a large oven–proof skillet, heat the olive oil. Add onion, sweet pepper and garlic – cook over medium low heat until vegetables are softened but not browned. Sprinkle with salt.
In a two-cup glass measure, place 1-1/4 cups chicken broth and the cream cheese, cut into small cubes. Heat in the microwave (or over low heat in a small saucepan) until broth is hot and cheese is melted. Whisk mixture until smooth and pour into the skillet with the vegetables. Add the chopped ham and grate black pepper over the top. Sprinkle top with Parmesan cheese.
Bake uncovered in a 350 degree F oven for 30 minutes.
While the ham mixture is baking, cook the pasta in boiling, salted water until al dente. Serve the ham mixture over the cooked, drained spaghetti or fettuccine. Makes 6 servings.
The better flavored the ham is, the better this dish will be.
Easter with the Grandkids
On this Easter Sunday, in addition to enjoying the grandkids and a ham dinner, I was presented with a brand-new computer. I’m trying out the “blog-writing” feature to see how it works.
