Creative in the Kitchen

During the week my DH makes dinner. (Yes I do realize how fortunate I am!)

But if we make plans with friends on the weekend I do the shopping and cooking. Last Saturday was such a day.

And since it is said that the only thing guests remember about a meal is the dessert, I decided to try something new with ingredients I had on hand.

This is the Apple Cake I made using a recipe from The New York Times (link below). I did not have apple brandy, but since only a 1/4 tsp was needed, I substituted rum flavoring.

Here is a link to the recipe:      Babette Friedman's Apple Cake 

You can also sign up for a free New York Times Recipe app and save your favorite recipes to your mobile device!

I hope you try it!

Live a Splendid Creative Life

~Mary

Follow me on Facebook:    Mary Lachman Design and Moth at the Window

Website http://www.MaryLachman.com

Author Website http://www.MothAtTheWindow.com

Link to order the book on Amazon: Moth at the Window: Poetry of Grover W. Clayton and Recollections of Indiana 

Quilting the Farmington River

This is my completed "Canal Pool - Section 2 of 25" for the Farmington River Quilt Project that will be on display this spring in Winchester, Connecticut. Along with 24 other quilted sections it will become the property of the Farmington River Coordination Committee to promote conservation.

Canal Pool by Mary Lachman
All Rights Reserved - Copyright 2016

You may remember I started this project during the summer. The project specified parameters for the width of the river at the left and right edges. The fabrics for the river were provided.

I developed my section as a fabric collage, using small sections of fabric that were initially glued in place and then stitched.

Beginning the river layout on muslin background.

Here it is as progress continued. 

All 25 pieces (made by 25 Connecticut fabric artists) will be on display for the first time at the

Winchester Center Congregation Church
9th Annual Quilt and Needle Arts Show
Winchester Center, Connecticut
Saturday, April 23, 2016  10:00-5:00
Sunday, April 24, 2016  12:00-5:00

All 25 pieces are being donated to the Farmington River Coordination Committee, the headquarters of which are the Squire's Tavern in Barkhamsted, CT. The RIVER will to be used to raise awareness for the environmental protection of the Farmington River.

Live a Splendid Creative Life

~Mary

Follow me on Facebook:    Mary Lachman Design

Website http://www.MaryLachman.com

Author Website http://www.MothAtTheWindow.com

Simplify Your Studio (and Life) in 2016

My creative urges go in many different directions. Anyone who has sat beside me a quilting retreat knows this because I typically wheel in several large bins of fabric strips and blocks to play with over a weekend. I enjoy this devil-may-care, wildly productive approach, but this year I want to focus on simplifying. I want more quality than quantity in my artwork and life.

My DH and I spent New Year’s Eve at the very large home of friends who chose to upsize rather than downsize as their children left home. I don’t want to do that, EVER.

I want to create a smaller carbon footprint. I want to use what I have, donate to others what I cannot use, and live with the mantra of reduce, reuse and recycle. To that end, on New Year’s Day I donated a trunk-load of clothes and shoes to a local thrift shop.  

By working on the MAED Project (Make Art Every Day) I am exploring (and discovering) just what I like to do and use in my art. I know I love vintage linens and wool, tags and ephemera of all types. Even so there are items I no longer have a use for. I will share those things with my art group over the next few months.

Candy Shop by Mary Lachman
All rights reserved. Copyright 2016.

And later this month I am going to a quilt retreat and my plan today is to just bring two projects. I’ll let you know how that goes.

Live a Splendid Creative Life

~Mary

Follow me on Facebook:    Mary Lachman Design

Website http://www.MaryLachman.com

Author Website http://www.MothAtTheWindow.com