food – Chatty Crafties

I think it’s a reminder to spend time with myself and do something that makes me happy and gives me joy. It’s like my separate space where I don’t have talk to anybody, I don’t have to be on like I am at my job. Because it’s the guest room; my dog hangs out on the bed, and the sun is very beautiful comes through my room. I think it’s just my check out space where I just dive in. My hands have to be busy; I can’t not be busy…

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That’s Jen Grudza. Project Coordinator for Moontower, quilter, bag-maker, dog parent to Mr. Winston, and wife. She is my new crafty inspiration and muse. I’m drawn to her because I relate to her need to make soft or yummy things to give away, like hugs. Recently she has been exploring a functional style with durable materials like canvas, leather, and cork, and upcycling old jeans. Her beautiful handmade items involve slicing intricate patterns and following complicated directions – that I’m anxious to get a lesson on now that I bought my first paper-piecing quilt pattern.

Names mentioned in the episode:

Niku Arabai taught a quilt class at Stitch Lab

Jen made Denyse Schmidt’s Single Girl Quilt Pattern and took it to Gina Pina at Canopy to quilt it.

Chawnie Kimber teaches math in the NE; Jen took her class through the Quilt Guild and is inspired by her tiny mathematical pieces

Flash tattoo at Quiltcon by Stacy Martin Smith in Austin.

Some links of things mentioned in the episode:

Helm boot for outer wax, Tandy leather + photo of waxed canvas bag

Paper piecing – there are two kinds: english and foundation; The example she brought in is of a tattoo quilt pattern

Labels for handmade works by Wunderlabel

Carolyn Friedlander fabric with architecture and botanical designs – I already made my Christmas wish list of her re-released lines

Quiltcon is coming to Austin Feb 20 – 23, 2020

Hawthorne Threads – environmentally friendly fabric printing

**Note: Gunner was mentioned in the episode and as passed away just before the episode posted. My heart goes out to his family and friends.**

hand applique

My birthday bag from Jen with Wunderlabel

Denyse Schmidt’s Single Girl Quilt patter, Quilted by Gina Pina

Cross-stitch of a Winston-alike

Paper Piecing of tattoo quilt patter

Mr. Winston in the sewing/guest room

Jen Grudza’s sewing room

It’s just such a nice feeling when you’ve made something – you know, you’ve created an edible piece of art. And you know, when others try it and they’re enjoying it, I don’t know, it’s just a really nice feeling. It’s like I accomplished something and everybody likes it and is raving about it.

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That’s Lisa. Over-achieving baker, busy commercial real estate attorney, and my best friend slash cousin. There’s no cake too crazy for her kitchen and she’s passing on her love of making excruciatingly beautiful baked goods to her six year old daughter – from scratch—with a few tweaks until it’s just right.

She talked about the sugar substitute, Swerve. She’s saved so many recipes on www.allrecipes.com but is going to send me recipes for egg bites, lemon meringue pie, and chocolate pie when she gets a moment free from work. *look for an update soon*

Photos of the amazing cakes, cookies, and pies mentioned in the episode are included below. You can find Lisa preparing a delicious Thanksgiving dinner for her whole family every year, pies in hand. Don’t ask her for your own pie because she’ll probably say yes and my girl needs someone to help keep that list short.

What’s your favorite pastry to bake? I get a kick out of strawberry bread and oatmeal cookies myself, but I do delight in a good pie because they turn out so pretty when they’re crispy and glazed. Let us know on Instagram or Twitter using the hashtag #chattycrafties.

Thanks for understanding about my 2-month hiatus from recording these sweet podcasts. I had a couple of baby blankets that needed to be quilted on the nights I record, and I had to pick my poison.