Wednesday, July 08, 2009

today I was Superwoman

I baked this morning. Having company for coffee tomorrow morning; a friend who will go home with a car full of fabric and books, if I have my way. Kate's Brownies Melt 2 sq. of baking chocolate + 1/4 lb butter Add 1 tsp vanilla, 1 c sugar (I add about 3/4 c) and mix. Add 2 eggs, mix. Add 1/4 c flour, 1/4 tsp salt & 1 c. either choc. chips or walnuts, or both. (I add choc chips). Bake in 8" pan at 325 for 40 min (unless you have a convection oven, in which case, check after 30 min). To die for. Ask anybody who has ever eaten my brownies. I went to the studio before lunch and mostly ironed/sorted (you know the routine). While I was at it, I decided to do something about all those dreadful things I dyed last night (and other nights) and throw them into Thiox. That's when I made my big discovery: you do not have to boil the mixture to have it work. Hoo ha! I threw some thiox and soda ash into a little plastic tub and added boiling water. Voilà -- discharge!! I use my electric tea kettle and this works fine if you aren't discharging a ton of fabric. It's late so I will cut to the chase. When I left the studio this afternoon, these works-in-progress were on my wall. I found the middle piece while I was sorting stuff at home and am thrilled! I could not for the life of me figure out where it has been for the last X years (you don't want to know how many).
Here is a closer look.
Then, after a gourmet dinner (hamburgers on the grill) I took some pictures of this pristine room of mine. I took down 1 section of design wall and it is in the garage, waiting for someone (ahem) to help me lash it to the roof so I can take it to my studio.
view from the door (2 hours ago)
Hi. this is where I am right now. I live in this corner and this is the blogging chair. My laptop is on my lap.
When I sit here, I can see the design wall right across from me.It didn't take long for the table to get back to its normal state. I got out a bag of strips and blocks I had pieced last year, when I was doing therapy sewing and threw them at the wall to see what would happen. This is the design wall right now: another work in progress. See you tomorrow!

8 comments:

Eva said...

This posting disproved the former one -- blogging about one's life doesn't have to be boring. On the contrary: Seeing where you work is inspiring! I imagine how you sit in this chair, legs on the ottoman, after a busy day. Or working at the design wall.
The piece that turned up after a long time is fascinating indeed.

Del said...

Do you ever get it all cleaned up and then not do any work because you don't want to get it messed up again? Because of that I always have to start small and work awhile before I start flinging fabric. Glad you are inspired again. The piece with the squares is fascinating. Love, Del

Sue Dennis said...

I'm going through a studio clean up too- it seems to be taking me long time. You are making great progres & turning up interesting fabric. Love your book.

Diane Wright said...

Okay, I did have the second cup of coffee yesterday which was just what I needed to work for the day in my studio without the compulsion to follow your example to clean.

I've had two cups today...so I should be good for another day in the studio...and your thiox discovery was serendipitous! I was waiting for the people I live with to be away (tell-tale fumes). Now I don't have to. I can take the tea kettle to my studio. Yipee! Thanks, Rayna.

Running with Scissors Studio - The Blog said...

The brownies look very yummy! I've been inspired with your cleanup but will have to put a hold on that and I think, shall do some baking instead! ha ha

Anonymous said...

Rayna.. oh my goodness that piece with the grids.. gimme gimme gimme... I claim it! LOL :) Now It looks like I need to clean my studio once again....

Judy said...

yikes: I'm exhausted, but it's nice to see where you sit (I don't believe YOU ever SIT!) and where you WORK....yes, you do work a LOT!!

xo

Unknown said...

I'd have stuff piled in that chair as well as everywhere else! Not an empty chair to be found in my studio space.
Oh my, but those brownies are delish!!
Thanks, though, my hips don't thank you. The recipe reminds me of the one my grandmother passed down, Daisy's Brownies, and that has been missing for a long time. No more brownie mixes for us!

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