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Playing Around

 


“Playing around is a way to learn what you really like and how to get it. A way to stretch your imagination and build your confidence in the kitchen.” 

Dorie Greenspan

It’s officially summer and time to play, I am a firm believer that play is NOT and should NOT be just for kids. Adults also need to keep playing. That can be in the form of sports, crafts, baking, gardening, and many other things. I am taking that quote above out of the kitchen and applying to my design work as well. I started playing around with a bit of visible mending and just let the areas that needed reinforcing guide where my stitches took me. Adding a bit of soft color in to the mix really made it fun. If you see me at the markets you might see the finished jeans, circles on one leg, lines on the other. The playing around made the job of mending a lot more fun and the jeans are definitely fun to wear.

I also took to playing around with what I would make and sell at the markets. Look for a few new items in August with some visible mending and sashiko type stitching added to items. As some of you know when I am not out in my little blue shed stitching and dyeing, I’m in the kitchen baking and again playing around.

I joined a group on Facebook called Playing Around. The group is organized by Dorie Greenspan a cookbook author, and were the above quote came from. The idea is she will give us a basic idea, recipe, or technique and we are to play around with it during the month. June was the first month and the thing to play with was choux pastry (cream puffs, eclairs, etc.). It was a so much fun just seeing what others did, and it was really fun tasting the things I decided to try.

On a couple of the cool days in June I played around a bit. You’ll have to check out my post on Instagram to see what I made. The photo in the center above are cream puffs with almond pastry cream and lingonberries topped with Swedish pearl sugar. They were very good.

Keep playing around, Patty

 

FIKA - Make time for yourself, or enjoy time with a friend.

I am headed to Denmark this summer, we should be on our way when you get this email. I am looking forward to some great Fika treats. Here’s a favorite for summer if you want to try it. Vanilla cake with strawberry filling, Swedish Midsummer Cake.

 

A few books I’m reading: 

Baking With Dorie: Sweet, Salty, & Simple  

French Like Moi  

A Trip of One’s Own 

A couple things to listen to: 

Summer Playlist  

Summer on the Porch Playlist

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