Tomato Gravy...Soup

Do you like making gravy? Want a quick gravy...than can become soup in a few seconds? Well that is what tomato gravy is. If you have never been to the southern United States...tomato gravy might not be a dish you have tried...but it is wonderful! And, once you have made it...just add milk and it becomes a wonderful tomato soup as well!You will need simple ingredients: Bacon grease (or Vegetable Shortening), flour, crushed tomatoes, salt, and pepper.

 Start with the shortening. (I like to save all the grease drippings when I cook bacon; and I pour them up into a ceramic mug I have...which then gets put into the refrigerator. So, I spooned up my shortening from there) just a spoon full about 1/8 cup I'm guessing. The heat is medium...not too hot.

Once the shortening is completely melted...add the flour. 

 I used about 1/2 cup (I didn't measure). There is a full quart of tomatoes going in...and some milk...so a fair amount of flour is needed. If you do a smaller pan of gravy...adjust your amounts down of course. Stir until the flour starts to change colors. Make sure your heat is not too high, or you will scorch the flour.

 Pour in about 1/4 of your tomatoes.

 Here you can see the amount of tomatoes I've poured from the quart size jar. 

 These were canned this year from the garden, but 2 large cans of crushed tomatoes from the grocery store would work just as well. Pour in the remaining tomatoes and continue to stir. As the mixture gets hot, it will begin to thicken. 

Continual stirring will prevent any lumps....and keep your heat to a medium temperature. Add salt and pepper to suit your taste. Viola! You have tomato gravy! Now, if you want soup...

 add some milk and/or heavy cream.I like to ladle my soup into a bowl, and add a doll-up of sour cream and some graded cheese. Yum! I ate two bowls!
 

Forgive me...

I love to blog about what I stitch...(okay, or about my darlin Aidan)...but, I don't like to blog much about my Studio. However, this past few weeks...I just keep doing that more and more!! But, seriously...I have just this past month added a lot of different things to the shoppe; and I finally got off my be-hind and beaded some more cabochons...so HAD to show you those. And, I found a great wholesaler for the darling types of clay flower beads that I use myself...sparingly!! And, anytime I can get cute little charms...like the ones I showed you just Tuesday...I mean, who wouldn't want to know about those!

 So, here I go again...tooting my Studio's horn (so to speak)...cause I have landed a great supplier for HAND TATTED LACE TRIMS! Now, I use these already...if you check out the photo of the "Queen" above in the Blog Name...you'll see that her 'fence' is actually made of tatted trims. 

 But, I had to get them retail then, and at a pretty penny!...so I was just flabbergasted to find this supplier! I hope to get several more types...but for starts (cause you know I'm on a 'retired' budget now!)...here are three darling little trims to drool over!!One is in-stock and the other two are scheduled to arrive the first of next week!!

And, I added one more color of roses...SALMON!

And, I added acrylic beads...perfect for seams!! 

Especially if you do purses...as these won't break like the glass or crystal might.

(Of course, you know my heart is still with my Swarovski!!! Can't ever get enough of the BLING!!) So, hope you enjoy checking out the new items...and I promise not to post about the Studio again for a little while...cause I just CRAMMED all the new items into this post!! Ha! How clever is that!!

Wednesday Wine Country Monograms-M

I'm posting this a little early...

New Charms...

 Just added three more charms to the Studio. The first is a frame. I thought that a pair would be great to use with a silkie...on opposite corners...and then surround the entire image with silk flowers!

This basket would be so nice if painted with fingernail polish or inked! Tie a little bow at the top and it would be all that is needed to fill a little space...or add to a button cluster!

And lastly...this pretty little heart. I see it hanging from the large hand charm...by a ribbon...with a loopy bow above it and couched down with beads. Here's the large hand charm so you can see what I mean...

 What are your ideas?

Marvelous Monday Motifs - 8/8/2011

You can read all about my idea for Marvelous Monday Motifs here. Today we have pages 27-28 of the J. F. Ingalls Company, 1886 Catalog of Perforated Parchment Stamping Patterns. 

Please NOTE: This catalog is not under copyright any longer; but the scanned version released to the public domain on 17 July 2007 (the source of my information) does come with restrictions. None of these designs can be sold. They are for your individual use.

Colleen's Purse to Me!

A few days ago...I shared the organizer that I had made and sent to Colleen. Just this week, I received my wonderful gift from her! This gorgeous purse!

I love everything about it. The size is perfect, the colors are just right, and I adore the beading! 

Thanks again Colleen!

French Script Saturday - H

 

Flashback Friday - 8/5/2011

Here is a photo of a vintage hatbox...and just the magnolia could be used as an embroidery applique too!

Etsy!

I've decided to jump in...and start a page on Etsy! So far, I'm only listing a few select cabochons...to test the water. Etsy charges 20cents per item listed (quantity of five of a single item is $1 for instance).  And, considering the number of charms, lace motifs, dragon fly bead kits,  roses, etc-etc-etc that I have in the Studio...I'd go broke listing everything on Etsy. But, I'm trying to reach more customers...so perhaps some items listed will be a good thing.
Also, I think Etsy might be a better venue for any hand made items I care to finish up...
Do you have an Etsy page? I welcome you thoughts....
Oh, here is the link to my pagehttp://www.etsy.com/shop/Shawkl

First Thursday Thimbles - Fall Leaves

Wednesday Wine Country Monograms - K

 

Cabochons, cabochons, cabochons! Yummy!

The past several days have been spent largely...beading cabochons. 

 Time consuming...but the Studio now has a great stock! And they are all gorgeous! Can you tell I'm trying to get things around here in order...so I can dedicate a large chunk of time this month to sewing lace trim to my niece's wedding gown.

Here is a group photo...and close-ups are in the Studio site of course! Just click on the "CQ Motifs" button...than navigate to the "Cabochons".

Marvelous Monday Motifs - 8/1/2011

You can read all about my idea for Marvelous Monday Motifs here. Today we have pages 25-26 of the J. F. Ingalls Company, 1886 Catalog of Perforated Parchment Stamping Patterns. 

Please NOTE: This catalog is not under copyright any longer; but the scanned version released to the public domain on 17 July 2007 (the source of my information) does come with restrictions. None of these designs can be sold. They are for your individual use.