Tiny Vignettes of Nature

All pictures are from The Pothole Gardner in London where he creates miniatures of natural delights.

Thank you, Steve, for bringing a smile to all the faces who view your exquisite work.

All pictures from The Pothole Gardner, a guerrilla gardener's blog

How to Sew a Quick and Easy Drawstring Bag

Making drawstring bags is easy.   If you can use a sewing machine, one can be made in half an hour.  This is a great sewing project for kids, too.  I am making several as project bags for knitting goods.

These bags have so many purposes: projects, jewelry holders, shoe bags, make up containers...you name it.

When traveling, stashing makeup and personal items keeps the clutter at bay, especially if you find yourself being a companion to another sharing a bathroom. One bag can hold lipsticks and eye makeup, another used for shower items, while a separate one can contain curling irons and gels.  Just remember the color of your bag for certain items, and you can dress and be ready for the day in a flash.

An easy pattern can be found for making these bags at the same site where the above picture was located.  Go here for complete instructions.

Here are my fabric choices and what I am sewing on today. One larger bag, the ladybug material, will make a large project bag with dimensions of 16" x 11".

Two smaller bags will be made from fat quarters purchased for $1.50 each.  How inexpensive is that?

The batty bats are my favorite!  Brown grosgrain ribbon will tie up this one.

Online Cookbook at No Cost

Thank you, Natalie, for sending this link.  It is a downloadable cookbook from Penzey's Spices.  Go here to see the entire cookbook online.

There are many great recipes in the book, and I thought it interesting to read about the spices Penzey's sells.  My first purchase will be "vindaloo seasoning" for chicken (page 22).  It says this about Vindaloo Seasoning:  

This hot and spicy blend comes from Goa, a small state nestled in the middle of the Malabar Coast of India. Though control of Goa was returned to India in 1961, the four and a half centuries of Portuguese rule left many lasting impressions. Pork Vindaloo is a favorite dish of the Catholics, who make up a third of the population of Goa. The Muslims and Hindus of India prefer Vindaloo lamb or duck. 

Mix 2-5 TB. spice in 2-5 TB. water, set aside. Heat 2 TB oil, brown 1 ¹/2 lb. pork
cubes, remove, then brown 1 large minced onion. Put browned pork back into pot, add Vindaloo paste, 1 cup water, 6 TB. vinegar and 1 tsp. salt, cook 30 min. Add 4-6 cups cubed potatoes, cook till tender (45 min. or so). For authentic fiery hot Vindaloo as served in beach
front restaurants in India, add an equal part cayenne pepper. Hand-mixed from: coriander, garlic, cumin, ginger, cinnamon, crushed brown mustard, cayenne, jalapeño pepper, cardamom, turmeric, black pepper, cloves. 

1⁄ 4 cup jar (net 1.0 oz.)   #12531   $ 3.65
1⁄ 2 cup jar (net 2.2 oz.)   #12557   $ 6.29
4 oz. bag   #12544   $ 6.89
8 oz. bag   #12586   $ 12.75
1 lb. bag   #12515   $ 24.40

This is just ONE of the recipes that looked good to me for Creamy Chicken Chowder: