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I think I'm going through sewing growing pains. At least that is what I tell myself to stay positive about the recent rash of sewing mishaps chez belle epoque.

Today:

Same black crinkle fabric as my most recent dress (the last of it, thankfully). Now, I should have known better than to just "wing it" when making up my own pattern for a pleated skirt! The math will get me every time. This looked at first like it would be teeny, but it turned out too big, which I think is really all that is wrong with it. I finished it in a nice way, and the waistband is this lovely, soft, stretchy, stripey trim from Britex:

The fabric is nice and breezy, and I think it will be a comfy skirt for the right girl! I'm not making any promises about it being the chicest thing ever, but if any of you would like it, the measurements are:
Waist: 32"
Hip: 42"(it poufs out from pleats at the waist, so won't look weird if your hips are smaller than that)
Length:30"ish (still have to hem it)
If that sounds like you, drop me a line at belleepoquewhimsy [!at]gmail [dot]com. First one gets the skirt!

Because sewing is a bit frustrating lately, I've branched out into my other favorite crafty pursuits. Some earrings for my dear Toast'n'Candy's birthday

And a little culinary experiment in progress too. Back when I was blood orange obsessed, I zested a few before juicing them for cocktails. Then I followed the directions in this book to make blood orange infused vodka. It called for allowing the zest to sit in the vodka for up to 3 weeks. Its time was up just recently, so I took it from the closet (dark, cool place) to strain it and add sugar syrup before letting it rest for another month.

Isn't it a lovely orange color? It has a strong orange flavor and smell as well. I used a metal strainer with a paper towel in it to strain out the zest, then put it in a big canning jar and poured in one cup of sugar syrup, to make a liqueur out of my infused alcohol.

Hopefully after another month in the dark and cool it will still be lovely and orangey, and not grow mold or anything awful. I'll have to get a funnel and find the right sized bottle to decant it into, as unfortunately some zest remained trapped in the original bottle and won't come out.

If you're wondering, no, I didn't buy Ketel 1 just to flavor it and add sugar-- we are a beer and wine house in general, and I bought the vodka over a year ago for dinner party with vodka tonic drinkers! Didn't want it just to dry up in there, so I put it to use. The book actually says that mid-grade vodkas are better for infusing because they have less distinct tastes and take the flavor of the infused substance better. So if this works out, I'll get a handle of something in plastic and try infusing again.

Perhaps tomorrow I'll be brave enough to have another go at a pleaty skit!

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