sewing books+scones

with the cooler november air, i have been heating up the oven and eyeing the sewing machine.
when i came across these groovy books at my local used bookstore, i had to make them mine. these first two books are really sweet, with advice for busy mothers on how to find time to sew. advice that i truly want to heed.

this one was irresistible despite it being mainly girl clothes.

look at that red dress with the pinafore. i am lucky that i have friends with little girls so i can make it.

this book on smocks is great because not only does it have some crazy smocks but it also contains a rather exhaustive history on the smock. it also explains how to properly do smocking without that scary multi-needled spool.

now, you can understand why i used the adjective groovy before. this guy is far-out. there is also a low-cut smocked bathing suit in the chapter entitled modern smocks, but this guy really took the cake. i mean, look how happy he is buying his citrus at the market in his completely awesome outfit and fro. i think we would all achieve such heights of happiness if we too could wear our pants tucked into boots under an handmade smock, don't you agree?

and lastly, i leave you with a glimpse of one of the products of my short-lived domesticity. i'd thought i would share my recipe for gluten-free chocolate cinnamon scones with you for being such good sports during all my belly-aching recently (like, a whole year). i'll post another scone recipe that is vegan next week. hope you enjoy.


2 cups of flour (i used a sifted combination of 1 C rice, 1/2 C chickpea, and 1/2 C tapioca flours but you can use an all purpose flour instead)
1/4 C sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon (or more if you wish)
1/3 C unsalted butter, cold
1 large egg, beaten
1 T vanilla
1/2 C milk or cream
1 C of chocolate chips

Preheat oven at 375 degrees F. Line pan with parchment paper. Whisk dry ingredients together then cut in butter (you can use that fancy pastry mixer or two butter knives like I do). Mix until it looks like crumbs. In a separate bowl, mix all the wet ingredients. Slowly add to "crumbs" until just mixed. Add chocolate chips. Put dough on floured surface. It should be rather unsticky, if not you will want to add more flour. Knead dough then roll out. Cut into triangles or shape with your hands. Place them on the baking sheets, add a little cinnamon-brown sugar to the top if you like. Bake for 15-18 minutes.