Delish Magazine — LEARN Fall 2011 by TamaraMedia

delish magazine

DELISHMAG.COM

*Live like you mean it.

Learn No. 6

ISSUE

FALL 2011

Dear Delish readers,

It’s late on a Sunday night — a great time to do some soul searching. I’m in an introspective mood, so this letter to you might read partly like a blog post and partly like a confessional.

This issue is all about the theme Learn. That big word — something we do every single day from the day we are born. This issue was also supposed to be out onto your computer screens some six weeks ago. Well, it’s late and it’s light (the issue), and I’d like to explain exactly why, by way of sharing the lessons I have learned in those last six weeks, with you.

yy y

w PHOTOGRAPHY BY CATHY EMPEY

y yy

) Editor’s Letter

yyy

Family comes first. And when they’re sick, the world stops. This has been a wicked Fall season of sore throats, coughs and tummy troubles that last seven weeks. There’s nothing and no-one to get mad at when a little person just needs to be cuddled, all day long, and no writing or designing gets done. The lesson to learn here is to just go with the flow, and enjoy those sweet, tender moments, because even when your hair is dripping with vomit that is not your own, being needed so completely and loved so deeply is a rare and wonderful thing. If you want something to get done, ask a busy woman to do it. Have you ever taken a look at our masthead? Every one of those contributors, from our incredible photographer to our generous writers and our utterly wonderful Design Director Cynthia Merriman, is a busy woman with a rich life and family and hobbies… and she still manages to give her time to this magazine of ours. (It is ours.) A huge shout-out goes to our writer Kate Hume Lister, who had a baby on Friday and filed an awesome story on Tuesday. We turned that story into a blog, and you can read it here. We’re on the right track. We’ve been getting out and meeting our readers, and we’re so touched at the warm reception we’ve been getting. The recent Fieldstone Vintage Market and the Sewing Summit were events that were marked in black pen on our calendars for months. When they finally came up, we were delighted to meet women who were cut from the same cloth as us — Delish gals, one and all. We’ve had an incredible response (we’re talking a 4000% increase in readers) to posts on our new blog, and more people are finding us on Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter and our site. We want to thank you for the support, and for telling your friends about us — because word is spreading, somehow. It’s closer to Winter than Fall. We have cut some stories originally planned because it’s just too late for the subject matter, and postpone others until the Spring issue. And maybe there’s yet another lesson to learn in this admitting of a certain type of failure. Maybe we can’t do it all, after all. But like we say, we can do, what we can do… with love. And that is how I offer this Fall issue to you. And by the way, this issue is no slouch, either. We’ve got stories on Martha Stewart’s Crafts Department and Joel Dewberry, to name a few… so read on and enjoy!

Live like you mean it,

Tamara

delish* magazine

*Live like you mean it.

Learn

IN EVERY ISSUE 10 Delish Loves

Lovely things that make us squeal a little.

to Etsy 11 Heavens Haute Handmade.

of Mouse 12 Word What's on our current must-click lists.

13 Words of Wisdom

Written by: Cynthia Merriman Sage advice on how to get through this crazy thing called life.

fall 2011

delishmag.com

delish*

FALL 2011

24 FEATURES Sew and Tell Written by: Tamara Komuniecki A first-of-its-kind event brings modern sewists together, out from behind their sewing machines and computers.

page

LIVE MAKE By-the-Book DIY Written by: Tamara Komuniecki Crack (a book) before crafting…

DIY PROJECT: Mug Rug

Written by: Maggie Brereton You’ve seen them on crafting and sewing blogs for a while now — it’s the perfect season to make your own!

MAN OF THE CLOTH: Joel Dewberry Written by: Cheryl Arkison The world of textile design isn’t just for women. Joel Dewberry is a popular designer, backed by a strong family and design standard.

fall 2011

delishmag.com

30 BEHIND THE BLOG: Martha Stewart Crafts Department blog

Written by: Dawn Mori The Crafts Dept. Blog brings inspiration and fresh ideas to today’s tech-savvy home crafters.

TASTE RIFFIN' IN THE KITCHEN — Classic Apple Pie Written by: Kelsey Banfield Trying a new recipe is as easy as pie!

Learning to Make Pyrohy from Baba Written by: Cheryl Arkison Getting to stand next to your mother or grandmother as they pass down the ultimate recipe is amazing. No chance to do that? This is the next best thing.

34 SIP Wine 101 Written by: Alia Ledoux Simple answers to some common questions, and ten facts that will make you a wine expert.

page 40

fall 2011

delishmag.com

COMING UP IN WINTER DELISH HO HO HO! Let us do the work for you, with the Delish Gift Guide — prezzie ideas for everyone in your life, at price points to suit budgets big and small. We’re making like Santa and scouring sites and stores right now. Homemade gift ideas — links to some of the best DIY projects the web has to offer, and our suggestions to make them even better.

WHAT’S NEW

ON THE BLOG...

Since our web site face lift, we’ve been blogging more regularly and some of our posts have readers buzzing! Here’s what the FOD (Friends of Delish) are loving: WORDY WEDNESDAYS It’s more than just a book review — our writers actually try their hand at projects and recipes and you get to see how it turns out! PHOTO FRIDAYS A nod to SouleMama’s {this moment}, Fridays offer a glimpse into the lives of Delish Mag’s Editor-in-Chief and Design Director.

Our pallet round-up is the most visited read post we’ve done yet, and readers also loved our ode to socks and boots. We also reported on our recent visit to fantastic Tofino, BC-based fabric store Sew Tuff Quilting Co. in our regular Shop Talk post. MAKE SURE TO VISIT EVERY DAY FOR GREAT STORIES AND GIVEAWAYS!

TELL ME AND I FORGET. TEACH ME AND I REMEMBER. INVOLVE ME AND I LEARN. ~ BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

delish* magazine

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CO-FOUNDER Tamara Komuniecki DESIGN DIRECTOR/CO-FOUNDER Cynthia Merriman CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Cheryl Arkison Maggie Brereton Alia Ledoux Dawn

Kelsey Banfield Tamara Komuniecki Cynthia Merriman Mori

PHOTOGRAPHY Tracey Ayton WEB DESIGN S.Joy Studios

ADVERTISING 778.99MEDIA ads@delishmag.com E-mail: hello@delishmag.com Web site: delishmag.com Twitter: @DelishMag Facebook: facebook.com/delishmag

w PHOTOGRAPHY BY CATHY EMPEY

DELISH IS...

Tamara

KOMUNIECKI / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

A journalist since 1994, Tamara Komuniecki has taken on every kind of story imagineable. Her experiences as a broadcast and print/web journalist include attaching herself to Siberian Huskies while on cross-country skis, covering murders, wars, fires and floods, commandeering a jet, learning to surf, and writing about anti-cellulite running shoes. Media aside, she has also worked as a figure model, a clown at the zoo, a 911 operator, and a production assistant for U2. She considers herself a happy, if imperfect, homemaker and bakes, cooks and quilts with great passion. Her interests include design and architecture, sewing, and her family. Tamara’s personal motto is “Only boring people get bored”, and so she leads her three best guys (husband Konrad, son Finn, and pooch Duane) on all the adventures they can handle.

Cynthia

MERRIMAN / DESIGN DIRECTOR

A lover of all things pretty, Cynthia Merriman is a graphic designer and owner of My Girl Friday Design Company. She has been designing for web and print projects for more than ten years, taking inspiration from the oodles of vintage and retro goodies she loves to surround herself with. When she can squeeze it in, she enjoys baking, reading the occasional novel or sewing an item for a loved one. Mum to three little ones and wife to a wonderful husband, she includes two Rhodesian Ridgebacks and a cat named Zero in the menagerie. She is currently shopping for ‘the’ perfect superpower that will help her combine the pleasures of motherhood and the pressures of owning a flourishing business. For now, however, all she can hope for is that the kids play nicely while Momma gets some work done.

DELISH We’re looking for new contributors and their great ideas! We have a tutorials page to fill, books that need reviewing and products to test, and we need some help. You might even make it into the magazine!

WHAT WE CAN OFFER: An outlet and an audience for your writing! Write something for us for either the magazine or the blog, and you’ll be added to our list of contributors. A link to your web site, store, Facebook or Twitter will help bring readers to you, as our thank you for working with us.

A book or product to read and use. We get sent stuff to test out and books to cook and sew from, and they are fabulous, but we don’t have enough time to get through all of them! Make a couple of dishes or do a project and give us your review of the instructions and the finished product… along with a few photos, and we’ll gladly publish you.

WHAT ELSE ARE WE LOOKING FOR? New, unique and previously unpublished projects and recipes. We know there is a whole whack of talent out there making really amazing stuff, and we would love to help you get the word out.

Interested writers, get in touch! Please send at least two writing samples, and story/project ideas for consideration. Operators are standing by…

Thank you!

*Live like you mean it.

DELISH LOVES 1

Ts

Lovely things that make us squeal a little

PICKS

2 1. If Summer is all about vases full-to-overflowing with flowers, then Fall for me is the perfect season for making a lovely statement with one small blossom in a simple vase. The elegantly graceful Dots! mini vase by Melanie Mena of Mena Dragonfly is itself so much a work of art that it could make an Autumn dahlia even prettier! The organic shape, so comfortable in the hand, actually makes me want to drink sake out of it.

w menadragonfly.com

3. I have always yearned for a pair of Japanese Golden Crane scissors, but they didn’t exactly make it to the top of my necessity list. And then I found these adorable Kelmscott Designs Owl Scissors! At just 4" long, the long handle and short blade make it a breeze to cut hard-to-reach places. Now I can’t wait to get started on my next embroidery project!

w $11.50 at amazon.com

2. This summer the lovely Lorna from Bodacious wrote to recommend a product that she loved, and when I got my hands on one, I wanted more! In all colors! Flatter:Me No-Bump Belts are designed to complement (and compliment) almost any outfit. Undetectably smooth when worn under a t-shirt, comfortable and yet strong enough to pull in a gap in the back waistband, these are also pretty worn over top of a blouse or sweater.

w flattermebelts.com

Cs PICKS

4. Billed “The World’s Most Useful Tub”, Tubtrug's are flexible tubs in cool colors and an array of sizes, that offer almost endless household uses from gardening to laundry, from toy storage to pet beds. Made in Spain of lightweight polyethylene, Tubtrugs are 100% Phalate-free, Frost and UV proof, Food Grade plastic — you could even eat your cereal out of them! And hey, Martha loves them too!

w tubtrugs.com

HEAVENS TO ETSY Haute Handmade

NOTTUESDAY The necklaces from Australian Rachel Wightman are kind of like candy to me – colorful, sweet, and I don’t think I can stop at just one. Wightman made the move from working as a stylist for Australian interiors magazines into handmade jewelry, and media’s loss has turned out to be fashion’s gain. She makes the polymer clay beads herself and each piece is unique, lovely, lively and just the perfect touch for a fun outfit.

Ts

w etsy.com/shop/notTuesday

PICKS

ANGELAINGRAM

Potterymaker Angela Ingram solves those small problems that can turn into nuisances with her designs. The Tea Drinker’s Sidekick Cup eliminates the need for a separate plate or bowl for that pesky used teabag, and her Yarn Bowl is a must-have for any knitting or crocheting fan. These designs are as beautiful as they are helpful.

w etsy.com/shop/angelaingram

KINSHIPPRESS Inspired by the countryside and folk art, Kin Ship Press is a top notch print shop operated out of Louisville, Kentucky. Printing their own designs the ol’ fashioned way (by hand!), they make some pretty rad art prints, home goods and apparel, all ready to fancy up your house.

w etsy.com/shop/kinshippress

Cs PICKS

SUZYULTMAN

A self proclaimed artist, doodler, designer & crafty girl, the über creative Suzy Ultman creates such original and lovely prints that I have a hard time picking my favourites. She’s also created some darling fabrics, some of which I’m using for my next quilt project!

w etsy.com/shop/suzyultman

WORD OF MOUSE What’s on our current must-click lists Handjobs For The Home I recently discovered this slightly cheekily-named blog with projects and recipes for the home, kitchen and crafts, selfdescribed as, “urban homesteading from a man’s perspective”. Blogger AJ demystifies products and processes with informative and entertaining posts like making your own ricotta cheese and vanilla almond milk, and I look forward to his fantastic Thrifty Tip Tuesdays to help me in my quest to make what I have PICKS go further.

Ts

w handjobsforthehome.com

Pinterest This is an obvious site to share (perhaps too obvious), but if you’re not pinning yet, then let me ask you — what are you waiting for?! Use Pinterest for inspiration, use it as an online image and idea collection board, or use it to mark stuff you like the look of but don’t have time to get into now, so you can find it later. If you’re visually-inspired like me, it’s eye candy galore. Try it — and then try to get off it… good luck!

w pinterest.com w pinterest.com/delishmag Seamingly Created and maintained by a group of fantastic women, Seamingly is a sewing community, finding the best blogs on the web, with nothing but craftiness and stitching in mind. Search by specific projects, trendy topics or whatever your pretty heart desires. Jump on the bandwagon now and join the community!

w seamingly.com

Cs PICKS

Eclectic Mom Add a pinch of family-tested recipes and projects, a dash of know-how and a dollop of imaginative ideas and you get the talented blog of Amy Gropp Forbes at Eclectic Mom. A former food editor at Martha Stewart, she shares real-life adventures and experiences from her own family, making everything approachable, non-intimidating and quite frankly, delicious!

w eclecticmom.com 12

fall 2011

delishmag.com

w WRITTEN BY TAMARA KOMUNIECKI

FEATURE

THESE

The two brainstormed about what a perfect event would look like for attendees. A call for teachers was issued, with experienced instructors and interesting session topics making it onto the final list. Sponsors (like Delish Magazine and others including BurdaStyle, Moda fabric, Robert Kaufman fabric, Beebolt fabric, Fat Quarter Shop, ADORNit, and Baby Lock sewing machines) were recruited, and word and excitement started to spread across the sewing blogosphere. In late night email/computer chat and phone planning sessions between the two women, the Sewing Summit was born.

For some time, various sewing bloggers (or blogging sewers, however you look at it), had been talking to each other about how fun it would be to meet in person and learn from each other and the sewing mentors they admired. There were other conferences and markets for crafters, quilters and those working in the industry, but nothing quite just for the modern sewist, whether she was beginner, intermediate or advanced in her abilities. Like all things that start off with, “Wouldn’t it be great?”, it took someone responding with more than a “Yes, it would!”, but a “Yes… let’s do it!” to get the ball rolling.

Open to anyone interested in sewing, the weekend event was held this October in Salt Lake City. People came from across the United States and Canada, with the most far-flung attendee visiting from Germany, having planned her Sewing Summit experience to coincide with a month-long trip around California and Utah. PHOTO BY AMYLOUWHO

days there may not be as many women gathering to sew together as when our mothers or grandmothers were young, but groups of women are still finding a way to share their stories of stitching. The sewing circle of yesteryear has simply moved online, as many of today’s modern sewists divide their time between a sewing table and a computer desk — reporting on their successes and failures, and sharing lessons, tips and ideas on their blogs. The web is rich with tutorials, patterns, reviews and like-minded women who, using this tool, are reaching out and networking across the miles.

That was the way that Amy Ellis and Erin Singleton, both living in the Salt Lake City area but online acquaintances only, answered. They decided it was time to partner and put on an event that would invite women out from behind their keyboards, and into a space friendly to sewing enthusiasts of all skill levels. Erin remembers, “People had been talking about it and a bunch of people had been saying, ‘Wouldn’t it be fun?’ and ‘Isn’t it a good idea?’ For whatever reason we decided to step up and take the plunge. It was insane, and especially since neither of us was conference planners in the past!”

The Sewing Summit gals — Amy Ellis (left) and Erin Singleton (right)

PHOTO BY THEWOORKROOM PHOTO BY BETTYCROCKERASS

PHOTO BY ANN-MARIE S.

A ballroom full of sewing machines, waiting..

Sewing Summit friends!

Sessions included classes and panels such as Bag Making 101 with Bari J. Ackerman, Documenting Your Creativity: Blogging and Social Media with Dana Bolyard, Marvelous Minis: Packing Lots of Punch Into a Mini Quilt with Amanda Jennings, Letting Your Machine Work for You: Specialty Seams in Garments with Susan Petersen, and Aspiring Authors: A Panel Discussion with Published Authors.

The planning of Sewing Summit required intense effort for the two, both of whom are stay at home moms (Amy of four kids, Erin of two), and who spend their “free” time sewing, blogging about their sewing, and on creative business endeavors. Amy is a book author working on her second title (her first published book was Modern Basics, Easy Quilts to Fit Your Budget, Space and Style), and Amy sews and sells a line of capes for kids, at plumpearapple.com.

In addition to the classes, highlights of the weekend for attendees included the simple pleasure of friends who had only ever connected online getting to meet each other in person. Amy and Erin agree that this friendmatchmaking aspect of the Summit was one of the best things to come out of their efforts. “There were lots of people meeting each other for the first time and I kind of listened to their conversations,” says Erin. “You feel like you know these people so well but you’re missing that real life experience which is important, but sometimes it’s not important, because you become best friends with these people without ever having met them and that’s kind of an amazing thing. Because Amy and I were able to put in that missing piece and make people see each other in real life, that was really cool to watch.” Amy agrees, “I think that was probably my favorite part too, just watching everyone finally connect and realizing who each other is. A lot of times it would be the ‘So you are…’ and then figure out the name tag and it would be, ‘Oh! I know you!’ when people connected the dots all the way.”

After the success of this, the first Sewing Summit, women who attended as well as those who missed it were already planning to come to the follow-up event next year. After a quick breather, Amy and Erin indeed started planning for Sewing Summit 2012, with an open call for teachers announced recently on their web site. “We didn’t know how hard it was going to be but we also didn’t know how fulfilling it was going to be,” says Erin. “It was amazing to both of us that people were out there that would support the idea that we had. We could plan and dream and think of things to do, and sign the contracts for the hotel — we could do that… but it couldn’t have come together without all these other people that were out there to support us. We just say thank you to everyone again and again because we couldn’t have done it without the community.” FOR MORE INFORMATION web: sewingsummit.com twitter: @sewingsummit

SUSAN PETERSEN LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE: I am an advanced sewer and I sew for both pleasure and business. I specialize in sewing, crafting and tooling leather. SESSION NAME: Letting Your Machine Work For You – Specialty Seams in Garments WHY DID YOU GO TO SEWING SUMMIT/WHAT INITIALLY ATTRACTED YOU? I went to Sewing Summit to find my people. I think that it’s great that we get to connect every day online, however I believe there is so much value in looking someone in the eye and connecting in person. web: freshlypickedblog.com | twitter: @freshlypicked AMANDA JENNINGS LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE: advanced beginner, “I’ve been sewing for over 5 years but I’m constantly learning new things!” SESSION NAME: Marvelous Minis – Packing Lots of Punch into a Mini Quilt WHY DID YOU GO TO SEWING SUMMIT/WHAT INITIALLY ATTRACTED YOU? I went to Sewing Summit because Erin encouraged me to apply to teach. It was basically my dream event, I could share my knowledge in a class with like minded people and then learn from my peers. AS A TEACHER, HOW DID YOU LIKE LEADING A CLASS? WHAT WERE THE STUDENTS LIKE, AND WHAT WAS THE EXPERIENCE LIKE? My class was awesome. It was like watching light bulbs go off above their heads. Everyone left the class feeling very inspired and refreshed, that was my hugest goal. I wanted people to feel like ANYONE with ANY budget, time, space, etc could go home and create a mini quilt that they loved. Since then I’ve received so many emails and tweets saying that I’ve inspired them and they’ve made their first minis. That has been incredibly humbling and inspiring. It’s challenging me to create more, post more, inspire others. The students were all SO supportive and fantastic. It was seriously like having a conversation with my 60 closest friends and sharing this great quilt dialog with them. I expected to be really nervous but once I started talking, it just felt natural, these were people whose blogs I read, people whose photos on flickr I admire, people who I see tweet about their daily lives and it just felt RIGHT. WHAT SURPRISED YOU ABOUT SS? How smoothly everything ran! Amy & Erin are seriously ORGANIZED and ON THE BALL. It was PERFECT. web: msmcporkchopquilts.com | twitter: @heyporkchop MELISSA ESPLIN LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE: intermediate sewer, “I sew for fun. I write & develop a lot of tutorials for my blog, so I guess you could say I do it for business, too.” SESSION NAME: Refashioning Garments – Breathing New Life Into Old Pieces WHY DID YOU GO TO SEWING SUMMIT/WHAT INITIALLY ATTRACTED YOU? I was so excited to hear about a local conference (I’m from SLC) that was just for sewing. The fact that they had a more modern spin on sewing also attracted me. WHAT WAS THE BEST SESSION YOU TOOK PART IN, AND WHY? That’s so tough. It was all awesome. I think the Modern Home decor was fabulous, because it was a collective of everyone’s ideas & resources. I loved teaching the refashioning class. I think we had a great time picking apart ugly clothes. WHAT SURPRISED YOU ABOUT SS? It’s not your typical blogging conference. I loved how intimate it was & how there was enough down time to get stuff done & actually meet people. Really, I keep saying it was like one giant sleepover party with classes & sewing machines. web: I Still Love You | twitter: @Melissapher

Across the board, Sewing Summit attendees were impressed with the accommodations, the smooth running of the event, and the amazing goody bags! When asked, “Will you attend next year?”, responses were enthusiastic: “Yes!” “For sure!” “Absolutely!!!!” and the best: “Abso-freakin-lutely!”. Here’s some more of what Sewing Summiters had to say. SADIE FOX METTER and CHRISTINA PATZMAN SADIE FOX METTER web: sadiefox.com LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE: advanced intermediate sewer, sews for pleasure CHRISTINA PATZMAN Creator of Darling Ruth dresses LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE: expert sewer

I stayed there all day on Saturday! I was really inspired by Gertie’s “couture” tailoring techniques. And I love the idea of bringing back the beauty of hand sewing garments—it’s such a great connection to your creations. WHO WERE YOU GLAD TO MEET? SADIE I was absolutely star struck to meet two sewing bloggers that I have been following for several years. Gertie, from Gertie's New Blog for Better Sewing and Sunni, from A Fashionable Stitch. Both ladies are so talented, sweet and full of amazing knowledge to share. CHRISTINA I didn’t follow Gertie’s blog before coming to the Sewing Summit, but now I do. I heart her! KARYN VALINO

WHY DID YOU GO TO SEWING SUMMIT/WHAT INITIALLY ATTRACTED YOU? SADIE I was attracted to the idea of having a minivacation with my dear friend and fellow sewing teacher Christina, that involved talking and learning about two of my favorite subjects; sewing & blogging. As a stay-at-home mom it is hard for me to find the time and the space for personal sewing projects and visiting with friends. The Sewing Summit provided an opportunity to really get away, relax and enjoy the company of like minded sewers and bloggers. CHRISTINA I was attracted to the idea of getting out of town to hang with my sweet Sadie. Also to learn more about blogging, because I would like to start a blog about my sewing experiences/creations. But I am afraid of the computer! WHAT WAS THE BEST SESSION YOU TOOK PART IN, AND WHY? SADIE I loved all the sessions offered in the BurdaStyle room. I am a garment sewer at heart. Fabric and fashion are my passion and having the chance to hear Gretchen “Gertie” Hirsh speak about tailoring, fabric choices and writing a book were so inspirational and motivating. CHRISTINA I also loved the sessions in the Burda Style room.

Owner, the workroom, Toronto, Ontario LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE: very experienced sewist and teacher web: makesomething.ca twitter: @make_something WHY DID YOU GO TO SEWING SUMMIT/WHAT INITIALLY ATTRACTED YOU? I initially decided to go to the Sewing Summit to meet one of my best friends, Amanda Jennings, who I have never met in person! We’ve been friends for a few years, but she lives in California and I live in Toronto. It was so fun to hang out with her for five days in person. I also really wanted to take some of the other classes and meet other sewing/internet friends in real life. WHAT WAS THE MOST FUN THING THAT HAPPENED? ANECDOTES APPRECIATED! The most fun thing was group knitting! At night we would gather in our room or the hotel lobby and knit or stitch together. Many girls just learned to knit that weekend. I haven’t knit for years, but I was totally inspired by everyone around me to start knitting a cozy cowl with chunky yarn. WHAT SURPRISED YOU ABOUT SS? I was surprised at how everyone felt like old friends so quickly, like we had always hung out together. What a great community of such talented people.

Be sure to come back to this page in every issue of Delish for the MOST delish books on craft, decor and more..

LIVE: MAKE

By-the-book

DIY

Another Fall season is upon us and as the temperatures dip lower and lower each night, I’m tempted to warm up by a whirring sewing machine, or with a blanket on my lap and my knitting needles clicking away. My project list is already long but I can’t help myself, and I’m adding a few more “must-makes” from this batch of books. Won’t you join me?

w WRITTEN BY TAMARA KOMUNIECKI

Martha Stewart’s Handmade Holiday Crafts: 225 Inspired Projects for Year-Round Celebrations Written by The Editors of Martha Stewart magazine/Potter Craft It doesn’t actually take much to turn an event, a tabletop or a gift package from just fun to fun and fabulous, and don’t you yearn to be known as the person who takes it that extra step? I know I do. How do you start? Turn to Martha and her people… for eye candy inspiration, for beautiful ideas and for easy-to-follow instructions. This encyclopedic tome from the woman who has taught us so much about so much (and her amazing team), is a collection of some of the best projects I have seen in Martha Stewart magazine, and some new ones as well. The book is arranged in order of special occasions: starting with New Years and going through Valentine’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Fourth of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah and Christmas, all in one big hardcover book that you will consult all year long. Pick and choose things to do given your resources and time — even if you undertake just one of these projects for a special occasion, the results and the reactions will make you so pleased that you put in the effort. To get a behind-the-scenes look at the Martha Stewart Crafts Department, read Dawn Mori’s *Behind the Blog story on page 30!

$24.99 at randomhouse.com

$18.47 at chapters.indigo.ca

Vintage Craft Workshop: Fresh Takes on Twenty-Four Classic Projects from the ’60s and ’70s Written by Cathy Callahan/Chronicle Books If you’re more inclined to see “treasure” than “tacky” when looking at handicrafts made popular 40 to 50 years ago, and/or you’re a devotee of mid-century modern design and decor but don’t have hours to scour vintage shops or a budget to blow online, then you’re going to love this book. Brought to you by the Cathy of Cathy of California, Vintage Craft Workshop contains projects created by Cathy and also those curated by her but contributed from other well known and loved über-talented people. Stand-out projects for me are the Crocheted mobile, Flower wastepaper basket and, something that I’ve wanted to try my hand at for a long time, the Macramé hanger. This book will evoke memories of grandma and grandpa or mom and dad’s house, and will give you ideas to help you make your own home a bit more homey. $19.95 at chroniclebooks.com $17.44 at chapters.indigo.ca

MORE FROM the AUTHOR

$14.99 at amazon.com

$18.23 at chapters.indigo.ca

web: whodunnknit.com twitter: @deadlyknitshade

fall 2011

delishmag.com

Cherished Quilts for Babies and Kids: From Baby and Kid Projects to High School Graduation Gifts Written by Better Homes and Gardens/Wiley From the editors of one of our favorite magazines comes a book full of projects for kids of all ages, from babies to teens. In its pages are quilts of all kinds and other things to sew for the smalls, such as aprons, pillowcases, and bags. The Kidding Around quilt with its large-sized squares, is the perfect project for a beginner, and I’m interested in tackling the Hide & Seek throw. With its little squares of pictures of objects, it’s the perfect combination for a rainy day – something to keep a little one warm, and a lot of cute little images to keep him or her engaged. $24.99 at wiley.com

$19.79 at chapters.indigo.ca

safe water

The worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best preventative medicine Half of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hospital beds are occupied by patients suffering from a waterrelated disease.

More than 3.5 million people die each year from water-related disease. The majority of these deaths are children under age five. All are preventable. Just $25 can give one person access to safe water for life. Please help today.

LIVE: MAKE DIY

mug rugs w WRITTEN BY MAGGIE BRERETON

AS THE

seasons change

and the weather gets cooler, what could be better than to sit down with a warm cup of tea, coffee, or perhaps apple cider and a few sweet treats? This mug rug will help keep your morning, daytime or evening snack looking cute and cozyâ&#x20AC;Ś crumbs and all!

SUPPLIES CHECK-LIST 10 5 x 5 inch fabric squares from a charm pack or scraps of the same size 1 10 x 10 inch of cotton batting or felt 1 package of coordinating extra wide double fold bias tape coordinating thread sewing machine rotary cutter and mat straight needles iron and ironing board

Gather your ten pieces of coordinating charm squares and decide how you would like to have them situated on both the front and back of the mug rug.

Take the two 5 x 5 inch squares that will be on the front right side of the mug rug and place with right sides together.

3 Sew together using a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

4 On the wrong side, press the seam apart to keep excess fabric flat.

fall 2011

delishmag.com

Next, cut four of the charm squares in half into 2.5 x 5 inch pieces. You will only need to choose five of these pieces for the mug rug.

6 Sew two of these pieces of fabric, wrong sides together, along the longer 5 inch side using a 1/4 inch seam allowance. Continue to do this until all pieces of fabric are joined up.

With the wrong side, press each seam open.

8 Next take the strip of fabric you just finished and the first two squares you have sewn together and sew them to each other with right sides together along the longer side.

Now take the remaining four pieces of 5 x 5 inch charms squares and sew them like you did above, making sure to use a 1/4 inch seam allowance and pressing the seams open when done.

10 You should have the front and back pieces finished now!

11 Next take the piece of cotton batting and sandwich it between the front and back pieces, making sure their right sides are facing out.

12 Pin all around the outside edges to keep the batting from moving while sewing the next step.

13 Now we are going to quilt the mug rug together. Starting in the center of the mug rug, sew a straight line down from one edge to the opposite side. Then move your presser foot 1/2 inch from the beginning center line and continue sewing straight lines until you have quilted numerous lines on the mug rug.

14 Next, we are going to clean up the edges by cutting the mug rug down to a 9 x 8 inch square.

Take your extra wide double fold bias tape…

…and sew it around the mug rug making sure to catch all the raw edges as you sew.

17 Now enjoy a cup of hot tea and a little snack as you curl up with a good book!

... For more great DIY projects, festive crafts & yummy recipes, visit Maggie at Smashed Peas and Carrots! SMASHEDPEASANDCARROTS.BLOGSPOT.COM

째

BEHIND THE BLOG 째

MARTHA STEWART

the crafts dept.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MARTHA STEWART LIVING OMNIMEDIA

w WRITTEN BY DAWN MORI

LIVE: MAKE

It has been 20 years since Martha Stewart brought the hot glue gun out of the workshop and into our homes with television shows, magazines, and books that have inspired generations of crafters. “The Martha Stewart Show” on Hallmark Channel, Martha Stewart Living magazine, and publications that include the beautiful new crafting book, Martha Stewart’s Handmade Holiday Crafts: 225 Inspired Projects for Year-Round Celebrations, released in September, continue to teach and inspire home crafters to share the joy of making. Today’s crafters, however, also have a virtual presence, one that includes personal blogs, streaming video, and online pinboards. In the middle of this rapidly-growing community is the Martha Stewart Crafts Department blog, a friendly and informative resource that energizes online viewers with a centuries-old practice — teaching, learning, and creating handmade crafts that are personal and heartfelt. “We initially started the blog because we wanted to have more dialogue with our readers and that’s the one thing we really like about it,” says Marcie McGoldrick, Editorial Director, Holiday & Crafts, Martha Stewart Living.

The blog features the work of fourteen craft contributors from the television show, magazine and the Martha Stewart Crafts product line, along with occasional guest bloggers. The number of different contributors keeps the blog accessible and fresh, as each crafter brings their own style, talent, and expertise whether it is sewing, printmaking, or a love for the holidays. Online since February 2009, the blog showcases the magazine’s overflow of ideas, including projects that were not able to be included in a particular issue and those that did not receive as much coverage as the staff would have liked, as well as new versions of existing projects, and several original ideas. One of those ideas was posted last summer when a Crafts Dept. intern shared a paper gift topper she created for her father’s birthday gift. It immediately connected with readers. The project involved partially die cutting a birthday message into a strip of paper then pulling each letter forward, creating a 3-D greeting for the top of the package. Shared through social media and reposted on countless personal blogs, the idea went viral, registering nearly two million page views.

With the crafts room supplying the materials, each project is presented on the blog with easy-to-follow directions, welcoming crafters of all skill levels. Beginners are encouraged to take advantage of the clear directions to find a first craft project that excites or interests them, not just one that seems easy to do. While newcomers may follow directions to the letter, more seasoned crafters can use new project posts simply as starting blocks, using their own skills and personalities to create unique variations and themes.

Staffers also remain pleasantly surprised by the range and complexity of projects to which readers are drawn. “One of the girls from TV did a scrap felt rug that was this totally insane project to do but it was really, really popular—it’s nice to see that people aren’t afraid of something that was a daunting task,” says McGoldrick. The blog also gives readers access to the streaming video content created for Martha Stewart Living magazine’s iPad edition, including a recent behind-the-scenes glimpse into the company’s crafts room. The fun, intern-created video took readers on a tour of the 600 square foot crafts room, outfitted with big beautiful windows and stocked with nearly every craft supply imaginable. The video also provided a dose of reality as to how much planning and how many materials it really takes to support the magazine’s wide variety of craft ideas.

“We have projects that we are really excited about so getting people excited about them too is the greatest thing.”

With this wide range of ideas, the blog has an international reach that includes a strong Australian following. Readers across the globe respond enthusiastically to popular posts and provide valuable feedback for Crafts Dept. staff.

“We have projects that we are really excited about so getting people excited about them too is the greatBLAKE RAMSEY, est thing,” says Ramsey. “We learn a lot ASSOCIATE from our readers. Some people ask ques“People are surprised by the amount of CRAFTS EDITOR tions that are surprising or make observapinecones or shells that we have,” she says. tions or get an idea, so we love reading the “We tend to hoard things that are hard to find.” comments.” The magazine’s long lead time means the crafts room Ramsey, a sculptor and printmaker, has an art and destocks holiday items year-round. Pumpkins will be sign education background, as do many of her fellow carved eleven months late in preparation for the folbloggers. Their experience extends from industrial delowing year’s October issue. An additional stash sign and textile design to general fine arts and even of pumpkins is preserved in the off-chance they law. Editor McGoldrick, an industrial designer by edare needed for another project. It all adds to the ucation, started out with the Martha Stewart Crafts™ eclectic but organized mix of the crafts room. product line as a product developer before moving to the magazine eight years ago. “Certain things we arrange by color like candy and cupcake liners, and I think we have just under 400 Despite their differences in discipline, the Crafts Dept. different bins,” says Blake Ramsey, Associate Crafts staff share a common appreciation for handmade Editor, Martha Stewart Living. “There’s definitely glitter crafts that comes through in the blog. It is a respect everywhere! It is our most used supply.”

that was nurtured at an early age for both Ramsey, who continues to embrace her love of Halloween and making her own costumes, and McGoldrick, whose family still hangs the handmade ornaments they made when they were younger on their Christmas tree.

home with it or making a gift for somebody, they want [what they are making] to be heartfelt. There are so many different ways that making can impact your life and I think people are really starting to appreciate that a lot more.”

“I think it’s a passion for making things, the connections you have with the people you made them with or made them for, and the memories you love that came from making things — that is what we try to convey and try to put forward [in the blog],” says McGoldrick.

Ramsey echoes the openness, noting they hope that crafters who visit the blog share their enthusiasm and willingness to learn something new.

“There are so many different ways that “That’s the thing that I love about this the most is that it’s all about making can impact company teaching and that comes from Martha,” says McGoldrick. “It’s teaching your life and I think and learning and wanting to learn people are really starting — and that energy is infectious.” to appreciate that a lot more.”

While the blog’s inspiration is rooted in this traditional past, she credits the internet for the most exciting crafting trend she currently sees — a renewed interest for crafting itself. Aside from the trends of motif and materials that travel quickly through blogs and online magazines (“I always feel like it’s the owl year, the bird year, the deer year”), a generation of tech-savvy home crafters has championed a new appreciation for handmade crafts and the personal process of making.

thecraftsdept.marthastewart.com

MARCIE MCGOLDRICK, EDITORIAL DIRECTOR, HOLIDAY & CRAFTS, MARTHA STEWART LIVING MAGAZINE

McGoldrick observes people thinking about things in a different way — where things come from, whether it is our food, what we make, what we put in our home, or how we express our personal style. She feels crafts allow us to express things in a really personal way and people are excited by that. “Even if we give you the idea, you can make it blue or you can make it polka dot. I think that is a really liberating thing for people,” she says. “Whether readers incorporate this in a small way in their life as in a party they’re throwing, or whether they’re decorating their

Martha Stewart’s Handmade Holiday Crafts: 225 Inspired Projects for YearRound Celebrations

$24.99 at randomhouse.com $18.47 at chapters.indigo.ca

Read our review in By-the-Book DIY in this issue!

LIVE: MAKE - MAN OF THE CLOTH -

JOEL DEWBERRY w WRITTEN BY CHERYL ARKISON

Known for his gorgeous and in-demand fabric, Joel Dewberry is more than a one-man show in the textile industry. He is the man behind the brand, but there is more to the brand than Joel. Now working closely with his wife, Laurie, Joel Dewberry Eclectic Modern is a force of design in a crowded industry. They even launched the bird trend in fabric with the iconic sparrow on cherry blossom image. This ability to lead and stay on top of trends is a direct reflection of Joel’s background in the graphic design industry. A degree in graphic design from Brigham Young University and over ten years of experience in brand development means that he arrived in the textile industry with a clear picture of both beauty and sales. That continues today as his fabric lines are always best sellers, in addition to being stunning. Recently, Joel Dewberry has launched a lifestyle and sewing pattern branch of the business. Clothing for girls and women, as well as bags make up the first round of patterns from Joel and Laurie. This is in addition to expanding their textile designs to home décor weight fabric and laminated cottons. You can make practically anything from Joel Dewberry fabric! Joel and Laurie live in Utah with their four children. It’s a busy and beautiful world for this family, he took a few minutes out of his hectic schedule this summer to sit down with us for a chat. Q. YOU WORK WITH YOUR WIFE, HOW DOES THAT WORK FOR YOUR RELATIONSHIP OUTSIDE OF THE BUSINESS? WHAT ABOUT IN THE BUSINESS? A. Laurie and I had always wanted to find that “something” we could do together and share. From early in our marriage, we quickly recognized that we both

thrived and enjoyed decorating our home, landscaping, gardening, and most of all, hosting events. A child’s birthday, Mother’s Day or a holiday event became our elaborate opportunity to reflect a little of our personality and attention to detail. We love to embellish the otherwise ordinary into something memorable and have it reflect a bit of our sentiment for those we were doing it for. So for many years (we’ve been married 14 years), we brainstormed ideas of where our interest might lead us. While we are still brainstorming, we now have a start. Even though Laurie has always been a sounding board

ized how wonderful her creations were. I have to say it was a rare occasion where everything just seemed to come together perfectly. The fabric designs, the pattern designs, the setting, the lighting and our models were the perfect interpretation of our vision many months before. So to get back to your original question, I think we work brilliantly together and I think it has strengthened our relationship and respect for one another. It is quite the rewarding experience to share the creation process with the person you are most passionate about. Q. WHAT ABOUT WORKING FROM HOME? HOW IS THE BALANCE BETWEEN FAMILY AND WORK? A. With four children, working at home can sometimes be a challenge, sometimes an inspiration, and sometimes just impossible. I’m fortunate to have a dedicated studio in my home that is a great environment for me to work in and a place our children respect as “Dad’s office”. In terms of family and work balance, it affords me the privilege of being accessible to Laurie and the kids, gives me the chance to take meaningful breaks and gives me an escape when I hit a creative wall. More importantly, it helps to keep those things that mean most fresh in mind.

for my textile designs and a creative inspiration, she is now a much more significant part of our brand and product offering. She is the clever and genuine voice behind our blog postings and has a knack for keeping it real, our successes and stumbles as a business, as designers and as a family. In addition, she was also the catalyst for bringing our line of lifestyle and fashion sewing patterns to fruition. This is the process that really tested our ability to work together and tested her ability to keep sane as she immersed herself in learning the pattern creation process and earning a sewing education along the way. Many moments of frustration, doubt and stumbles have transformed into a significant accomplishment from my point of view. I love our pattern line and am impressed by what she has achieved. My favorite moments of the entire process occurred when we photographed all the samples with our daughters and good friend as the models (we run a small and tight little operation — we’re the designers, stylists, photographers, etc. and we turn to those we love and think are beautiful for our talent). It was in midst of the photo shoot that I think Laurie finally real-

fall 2011

delishmag.com

Q. QUILTING AND TEXTILES ARE DOMINATED BY WOMEN – AS DESIGNERS AND CUSTOMERS – WHAT IS IT LIKE WORKING AS A MAN IN THE INDUSTRY? A. It’s brilliant! I love it and I have felt completely accepted. I have found gender has been almost irrelevant for most of my customers and fellow designers. On the other hand, I feel my being a man in this industry offers me a point of distinction that helps me be memorable in the growing collection of textile designers that are quickly joining the industry. I honestly believe good design is no respecter of gender and I am delighted that my personal aesthetic and style have been so warmly welcomed by the customers in our industry. Q. WHAT IS ONE ESSENTIAL PART OF YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS? A. One essential part of my creative process is my predesign trend and market analysis. I am often asked how I come up with new color palettes, design themes and new styles. In addition to following pure inspiration, I also take inventory of the design trends in our industry as well as others including home interiors, fashion, and a host of others that reflect what is on people’s minds. I am able to quickly see styles that are particularly noteworthy at the time, color palettes that are cohesive across industries and unique topics that may become a design collection theme.

After conducting this review and taking it all in, I spend some quality time with myself interpreting what I have learned and what I have seen in my own unique way. I latch on to certain things and abandon others. I use information as a point of departure and then allow my own creativity to evolve a concept into something that is uniquely me. I also introduce my own preferences for what might be a trend moving forward or a color story that would be unexpected yet beautiful. I guess you could define it as Creative R&D. Q. IS THERE A CERTAIN PERSON YOU KEEP IN MIND WHEN YOU DESIGN? A. Absolutely. I form an image in my mind of the specific person I am designing a collection for. Most recently, the person didn’t have a name, but she was a midthirties creative mother with two girls who lived in an urban up-and-coming neighborhood near a lake that they could picnic by in the spring. She loved bold and beautiful, tactile things that she could mold into her own creations. She was sophisticated, but not stuffy, contemporary, but not cliché and committed to making her creations memorable. Being this specific about who my customer could be helps me to produce designs that are anything but generic and designs that have legitimate application. It also helps me better understand who my brand is for and how to mold my product and fabric designs to fit their needs.

PHOTO BY JESSICA SMITH

others. Our fashion and lifestyle sewing patterns are just another outlet for us to present that vision. We see it as an extension of our brand and another opportunity to define our tagline “Eclectic Modern”.

Q. WHAT COMES FIRST? COLOR OR CONCEPT? A. For me, it really depends on what inspiration arrives first. I have had design collections come to fruition in multiple ways, sometimes a color story will drive the creative, other times a signature design will evolve and then guide the way, still other times a particular design style or genre will be the catalyst for an entire collection. Q. FAVORITE COLOR? A. Aqua. You don’t have to look too closely to observe that I use aqua as a neutral and it has found its way into every one of my collections. I think it is a wonderful color that is fresh, modern, classic and simply irresistible. It will take great discipline for me to not include it in my next collection. Perhaps I will give that try? Or maybe not. Q. HOW DOES IT FEEL TO HAVE SOME OF YOUR FABRICS WITH CULT STATUS AMONG QUILTERS/ SEWISTS? A. Surprising, yet very rewarding. I appreciate the affirmation it offers to know that my design tastes and decisions resonate with others. I think most designers feel, at times, that they might see the world differently and not always in an understood way, so to have others “get it” makes the creative struggle worth it. Q. YOU ARE NOW DESIGNING CLOTHING AND BAG PATTERNS, IN ADDITION TO FABRIC AND QUILTS — TELL US MORE ABOUT THAT TRANSITION. A. I guess it goes back to Laurie’s and my personal mantra. We endeavor to embellish the world around us with good design, beautiful craftsmanship and a distinctive touch that reflects who we are. We literally find joy in creating and believe we have a unique style and a unique way to present to

Q. BE HONEST, HOW IS LIFE AS A FABRIC DESIGNER? CREATIVELY AND FINANCIALLY? A. Life is good as a fabric designer. Creatively, I have established myself with my manufacturer and a growing population of quilters and sewists. This is important to me because it has garnered me the confidence and trust of my manufacturer so that I have complete creative freedom. I am able to make design decisions that are completely accepted and unchallenged by them because of our proven success. This is so liberating as a designer and artist. To not be hampered down by the concerns of meeting a manufacturer’s or client’s expectations, but to enjoy the freedom of truly expressing myself. Of course my process, as described earlier, ensures a design product that resonates with a specific group. Was this always the case? Of course not. I had to fight my fair share of battles over designs and to be honest I didn’t win all of them either. One victory I enjoy going back to is my Sparrow victory. When designing my first collection, Aviary, back in 2006, I had many encourage me to steer clear of birds in my designs because of historical negative connotations, especially in some cultures. I thought really? Birds, negative? I don’t get it? Anyway, I pressed the issue and convinced them to acquiesce and trust me on this. My silhouetted sparrow and cherry blossom motif just happened to be my all time best seller and even received another reintroduction earlier this year in the Aviary 2 collection, not to mention, we were among the first leading the charge in establishing birds as a modern design motif. Financially, I feel very good about where we are at. Of course, it has taken quite some time to establish my design style and name within the industry. In the beginning, our design style was very bold and edgy relative to other fabric lines, but we entered at the right time and we have only seen growth since. My perspective on textile design is that it is a part of my design business. It, along with a number of other activities and endeavors, sustains and enables my business. For example, it was my stepping stone into the world of licensing. I began in the fabric industry and have since explored licensing designs for dishware, wallpaper, stationery and other office products.

Q. WOULD YOU RECOMMEND TEXTILE DESIGN AS A CAREER PATH? A. Not for the faint of heart. It can be very arduous at times and it does take time to arrive at a place where you feel confident and secure in your craft. However, for those that can see it through and those who are stubborn enough to work at it until they get it right, it is exquisite. To have your designs translated into an enduring tactile surface that is then embraced by other designers and creators in their own creations, the satisfaction is immeasurable. I love the path I have chosen and would highly recommend it as a part of a design career. Q. WHAT IS THE WORST JOB YOU’VE EVER HAD? A. Picking watermelons. At twelve years old, I tried my hand at agriculture and learned quickly that harvesting watermelons was backbreaking work and a thankless job. Q. WHAT DID YOU TAKE FROM YOUR PREVIOUS CAREER IN GRAPHIC DESIGN/BRANDING? A. I took everything. I have utilized my entire graphic design and branding skill set in establishing my textile business. It was a very natural evolution from cultivating other brands into cultivating my own. In fact, I began asking the question many years previous, “If I had a brand what would it be? Who would it be for? And what would it stand for?" Look where it led me. Q. DO YOU MISS YOUR OLD WORLD OF GRAPHIC DESIGN/BRANDING? A. Not particularly, because I haven’t left it entirely. I have an ongoing client “Joel Dewberry Eclectic Modern” who is a difficult taskmaster with an insatiable appetite for new marketing, new design, and always on the hunt for new opportunities. In addition, I continue to take on selective projects with clients from other industries seeking design, branding and marketing expertise. I have never been one to sit still for very long and I enjoy the diversity of work. Q. WHO WORKING IN TEXTILES/SURFACE DESIGN DO YOU ADMIRE? A. I admire so many in the world of textile and surface design. I was originally inspired by Queensland,

Australia native, Florence Broadhurst. Her brightly colored geometric and nature-inspired oversized wallpaper designs were all hand-printed, and were exquisitely simple yet bold reinterpretations of nature’s goodness. Her opulent and exotic aesthetic endear me to her and encourage me to explore the unexpected. More recently, I am moved by the prolific work of members of our own Westminster Fibers design family, including Amy Butler, Anna Maria Horner, and Kaffe Fassett. Each of these designers in their own unique way speak to me and have been more than kind in offering guidance and direction in my pursuits as a textile designer. Q. WHAT IS THE ONE PLACE YOU STILL WANT TO SEE YOUR DESIGNS? A. One place I would still like to see my designs is on a designer furniture line. I love furniture and its function for comfort, aesthetics and role in composing a space. I would love the opportunity to design a collection of furniture pieces that are a beautiful harmony of texture, fabric, color and grain. Maybe one day? Q. DO YOU EVER WORRY THAT THE CREATIVE WELL WILL DRY UP? A. Hardly. I feel like I have just barely begun to tap the creative inspiration that surrounds me. The little traveling I have done has been a rich source of creative inspiration and there are so many places I look forward to visiting yet. The way color affects our lives, the way nature reinvents itself and the way my perspective on life and design changes are all unending sources of inspiration that I am just beginning to understand. The only well going dry these days is that of time in a day to accomplish all I would like to. Q. COMPLETE THIS SENTENCE: I JUST WISH PEOPLE WOULD… A. I just wish people would be a bit more thoughtful and aware of those around them. Check out Joel's new patterns & visit his blog at joeldewberry.com.

LIVE: TASTE

cla�ic apple pie

R w WRITTEN BY KELSE

LD Y BANFIE

PHOTOS BY TRACEY AYTON PHOTOGRAPHY

RIFFIN' IN THE KITCHEN

O ne of the first things I learned to bake was apple pie. I assure you I was not some kind of baking prodigy; my mother made a lot of pies when we were little and I learned from watching her. My hometown of Cooperstown, New York, is in the heart of apple country and there were always more than enough apples to go around all season long. Applesauce, apple cookies, apple chutney — you name it, we made it. The thing about pie is that is it so very simple to make and everyone thinks it is so hard. I think that is because people straight up over-think the whole process. Making pie entails whipping up a delicious buttery crust, filling it with juicy fruit and baking it for ample time in the oven. That is all, nothing more to it.

recipe. We love serving it this way to our friends; they can’t get enough of the perfect individual portions. No matter which way you bake your pie, have fun doing it. Pie shouldn’t be difficult or tedious. It is, perhaps, one of the easiest desserts to pull together once you get used it. Once it is all baked and bubbly on the counter be sure to pat yourself on the back. Then serve up slice after slice with scoops of cold vanilla ice cream and enjoy! MORE of KELSEY web: thenaptimechef.com twitter: @TheNaptimeChef

Once you get comfortable with making basic pies, try your hand at adding some fun flavors into the mix. Chopped crystallized ginger, for instance, is a particularly yummy addition to apple pie. Some people like to add raisins or dried cranberries. Whatever your fancy, toss a little bit in and see how it turns out — you might be surprised with the new favorite flavor you develop. I’ve been teaching my daughter how to bake pies now that she is old enough. This season we decided to give our favorite apple pie a new twist by baking it in a jar. In our version we cut the crust into circles and place these in the jar — one for the top, one for the bottom — and fill the middle with the traditional apple filling. Bake as directed for a regular pie and you should get five or six mason jars of individual apple pies out of this

e pple pi a c i s clas

larger than the other, and wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Chill for at least 2 hours or up to overnight.

3 pounds cortland apples (about 6 to 7 medium) 2 tsp fresh lemon juice 2/3 cup packed light brown sugar 1/4 cup granulated sugar 3 tbsp cornstarch 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon; more to taste 1/4 tsp kosher salt 1 large egg white 1 tbsp cold unsalted butter cut into small cubes

2. When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 400°F.

FOR THE CRUST: 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more as needed for dusting 1/2 tsp salt 6 ounces (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small pieces 1/4 cup ice water

4. Roll out the chilled crusts to one inch wider than the 9-inch pie plate. Place one in the bottom of the pie dish. Brush the bottom and the sides with egg wash. Add in the apple cubes and arrange them evenly in the pie dish. Place the second piece of pie crust over the apples and crimp the sides together. Brush the top of the crust with with a little bit of the egg white/water mixture. Be sure to cut some holes in the top of the pie crust to allow steam to vent when baking.

1. For the crust: in a food processor fitted with a blade, combine the flour, salt, and butter pieces. Pulse until a coarse meal forms, about 15 pulses. Add the ice water one tablespoon at a time, pulsing a few times after each addition, until the dough forms. Use your hands to clump and divide the dough into two balls, one slightly

3. To make the filling: peel the apples, cut each in half and remove the cores. Cut the apples into 9-inch pieces, add them to a large bowl and toss with the lemon juice. Combine the brown sugar, the granulated sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, kosher salt, and toss it with the fruit. Set aside. Beat the egg white with 1 teaspoon water, set aside.

5. Bake the pie until the top and bottom crusts are golden brown and the juices are bubbling, about 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes (60 to 75 minutes). Allow the pie to cool completely before serving.

LIVE: TASTE

LEARNING TO MAKE

PYROHY FROM BABA w WRITTEN BY CHERYL ARKISON

It is a rite of passage for Ukrainian women and girls of a certain generation (that generation being our moms, not us)… when Baba takes you into the kitchen and shows you the ways of dough and potatoes. In the modern world of working moms, feminism, and soccer there isn’t a lot of time and inclination to get in the kitchen to make pyrohy. The knowledge isn’t going to die out, but the tradition may. Also known as pierogies or varenyky, pyrohy are the often potato filled dumplings associated with every Ukrainian Baba (grandma). Every family has a special dough recipe as well as favorite fillings. Growing up we lived on simple potato with cottage cheese or sauerkraut fillings. But my Baba also used to fill them with fruit like Saskatoon berries or even leftover rice. Buy pyrohy from the store or a deli and you can find potato and cheese, sauerkraut and mushroom, or even bacon added. These aren’t difficult to make, but they do take some time. The best way to make pyrohy is with friends or family. It makes the time pass with laughter and possibly cocktails, but it also means that you can easily make a huge batch of pyrohy to fill the freezer. I consider it part of my mission as a modern Ukrainian gal to pass on the pyrohy knowledge that my mom did teach me. Whether you are Ukrainian or not, everyone appreciates a good pyrohy. Once you learn how to make them you will never buy them again.

— THE DOUGH — 5 cups flour 1 tsp salt 1/2 cup canola or vegetable oil 1 egg, room temperature 2 cups recently boiled water 1. In a large bowl mix together the flour and salt. 2. Combine the oil and the egg, beat together lightly. Stir in to the flour and salt. It will not combine well, but keep stirring and working at it until you have a coarse meal, like biscuit dough would be before you added the liquid. 3. Pour your hot water in to the flour and egg mixture, all at once. Immediately start stirring. It won’t look like it is coming together, but keep stirring it. Don’t beat the crap out of it, but stir for a minute or two and it will come together into a somewhat lumpy, ugly dough. Cover with a damp tea towel or loosely cover with plastic wrap. Let it rest for at least 15 minutes, if not 30.

— MAKING PYROHY — While your dough is resting you can get your fillings together. Better yet, make it the day before. TYPICAL FILLINGS INCLUDE: Mashed potatoes by themselves or with the following additions: - cheddar cheese - cottage cheese - fried onions - bacon, fried and crumbled - leftover gravy Sauerkraut, cooked, with or without mushrooms For dessert options try filling with fresh Saskatoons or blueberries, stewed plums, or pears with ricotta cheese. You will need 3-4 cups filling per batch of dough. I believe the best way to make pyrohy is one at a time. First, cut a good hunk from the resting dough, re-covering the remainder. Then roll it out into a log, like we do with playdough. Make it about an inch around. Then cut off 1/2 inch chunks. Take those chunks and roll them into balls. You will have about 1-inch balls. Next, roll those balls flat with a rolling pin. Not too flat or your dumpling won’t stay together. Not too thick or you will have very thick pyrohy and the dough may not cook all the way through. I would say it’s about 1/8 to 3/16 of an inch. Now take a heaping teaspoonful of your filling and place it in the middle of your dough. Again, not too much, not too little. After you’ve made a few, you will be able to eyeball the perfect ratio for you. Fold over one side to create a semi-circle. I do this all in my hand. Finally, pinch the sides together. This is where personal style takes over. My mom, for example, does a solid pinch all the way around, once. I do a soft pinch for an initial seal, then a firmer crimp. It doesn’t matter how, as long as it is sealed and preferably without a big flange of thin dough. Repeat until you’ve gone through all the dough. Unless you live in a large family, or an average Ukrainian family, one batch of dough makes more than one meal or two. The best way to store py-

rohy is frozen. You need to freeze them individually first. I lay out tea towels on a cookie sheet, sprinkle them generously with flour, and place the pyrohy on them as I finish each one. Freeze, then store in plastic bags, containers, or even ice cream pails in the freezer until ready to use. Just remember to label them if you made more than one kind!

— COOKING — Whether you cook them fresh or frozen, the technique is the same. Bring a large pot of water to a full boil. Toss in your pyrohy, not crowding them too much. Keep at a boil and stir gently every now and then. The pyrohy are finished when they float at the top. If they are frozen and particularly thick you might poke them gently to make sure the filling is soft. Drain. You can eat them straight this way, generally served with fried onions and sour cream. A lot of people fry them with the onions to crisp up the outsides. Growing up we ate them boiled for dinner and the leftovers were fried for breakfast the next day.

MORE of CHERYL web: backseatgourmet.blogspot.com twitter: @cheryl_arkison

I K N A G M

PYROHY

—

101—

Wine 101 $

LIVE: SIP

w WRITTEN BY

ALIA LEDOUX

As a sommelier, I am frequently asked about anything to do with wine. This delights me as it can sometimes seem an elusive and overwhelming subject when it really shouldn’t. Here is a list of the most commonly asked questions. If you can understand these basics, you are well on your way to becoming the wine expert for all your friends! 1. WHY DO DIFFERENT STYLE WINES HAVE DIFFERENT SIZED GLASSES? Glass shapes are designed to emphasize a wine’s characteristics. m• White wine and Rosé use medium size glasses that allow the fresh fruit characteristics to gather and direct them toward the top of the glass. m• Red wine uses large size glasses which allow air to come into contact with an enlarged surface area that helps to develop the aromas and flavors. m• Sparkling wine uses flute glasses which enhance the effect of the bubbles, allowing them to travel through larger areas of wine before bursting at the top of the glass. m• Fortified wine uses small size glasses to emphasize fruit characteristics rather than alcohol.

o different wine gla es

2. DO ALL WINES IMPROVE WITH AGE? No, most do not! A wine must have certain qualities from the beginning that will allow it to improve, such as great fruit character and high tannin. Some classic wines that will benefit from time in your cellar are: m• For white wines: Vintage Champagne, German Riesling, White Burgundy and Australian Semillon.

m• For red wines: Bordeaux, Barolo and Brunello, Northern Rhone, Red Burgundy, Rioja, and vintage Port (typically, these red wines will only taste good after 8-10 years). 3. WHY DO SOME WINES NEED DECANTING? Decanters are used to remove deposits and aerate the wine, thus allowing the flavors to mellow and taste their best. In most cases red wines are decanted but some white wines may also benefit. When decanting a bottle of young wine, try to splash the wine as you pour and avoid disturbing any sediment that may have settled at the bottom of the bottle. TIP: removing the cork from the bottle and letting the wine sit to aerate has no benefit! 4. WHAT TEMPERATURE SHOULD I SERVE RED AND WHITE WINE? m• Red wine should be served at room temperature (1718 degrees Celsius/62-64 degrees Fahrenheit). m• White wine should be served slightly chilled (10 degrees Celsius/50 degrees Fahrenheit). m• Sparkling and sweet wines should be served wellchilled (6-8 degrees Celsius/42-46 degrees Fahrenheit). TIP: Put your red wine in the fridge ten minutes before serving and pull your white wine out ten minutes before! 5. IS ROSÉ MADE BY MIXING TOGETHER RED AND WHITE WINE? One would think that the color of rosé wine was derived from simply mixing together red and white wine. However, rosé is made from black grapes only and the difference in color is due to a shorter period of time that the juice is in contact with the grape skin. It is this

skin contact time that determines the wine’s color (and many aspects of its taste). 6. GENERALLY, WHICH FOODS PAIR WELL WITH RED WINE AND WHICH WITH WHITE WINE? When pairing food and wine one must take into account a number of variables. The goal is to balance the elements of both the dish and the wine so that neither one overpowers the other. The rule of thumb is that red wine is a better fit with heavier meaty dishes and white wine enhances vegetable and seafood dishes. 7. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SPARKLING WINE AND CHAMPAGNE? To be labeled “Champagne”, a wine must be made in the region of Champagne in France using an intricate production method known as the traditional method. Sparkling wine refers to any other fizzy version of a still wine and can be made from anywhere else in the world using one of many production methods. 8. WHY IS WINE STORED ON ITS SIDE? It is important to store a bottle of wine on its side to ensure that the cork remains in contact with the wine. If the cork dries out it can let air into the bottle, which will make the wine taste old and stale. 9. WHAT DOES IT MEAN WHEN IT SAYS “OAKED” ON THE LABEL? When you see the word “oak” on a label it is referring to the style and production method of the wine. At some point during the winemaking process, the wine was in contact with wood. Oak adds flavor and depth to wine. The use of American oak will add a sweet coconut and vanilla flavor, while the more expensive French oak will add a subtle toasty and nutty flavor.

10. WHAT DOES IT MEAN WHEN SOMEONE SAYS A WINE HAS LEGS? In France there is an expression that the wine is crying because it has “tears”. In North America we like to say that the wine has “nice legs” because it leaves traces on the glass once it has been swirled. These marks indicate the viscosity of the wine which is a result of the alcohol content or residual sugar. Sweet wines often appear oily and have very nice legs! MORE of ALIA web: winebyalia.com twitter: @WineByAlia

LOOK OUT FOR THESE WORDS: m Oak-aged: aged in a vessel (usually a barrel) made of new or old oak. m Oaked: staves, chips or planks have been used to add flavor.

fall 2011

delishmag.com

Find your Friend for Life

ADOPT! www.spcaLA.com 1-888-spcaLA-1

CARE: BE

Words

Wisdom

w WRITTEN BY CYNTHIA MERRIMAN

Daisy, what do you want to be when you grow up? An adult.

DAISY MERRIMAN, AGE 3

Have any Words of Wisdom you'd like to share? We want to hear from you!

'TIL NEXT TIME... l our next issue l

WINTER

CHERISH