Cabin in the City

Books, cats and midwestern charm.

Lisa

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I’m So Proud of My Mom (and Proud to Be Her Daughter)

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My mom has always been a good sport. She’s ready for anything and happily takes on a challenge. Oh, you want proof? She’s taken lengthy detours for me just to see this lighthouse, she’s biked down a volcano, she’s visited psychics with me, gone to drag shows, walked through creepy cemeteries at my behest, helped me clean my basement (the biggest challenge) and generally and genuinely has taken life by the horns.

And I can add one more thing to the list: She did a great job baking live on Instagram with me. Yeah, live without any rehearsals. And she did an amazing job.

 

 
 
 
 
 
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My mom jumps in with both feet and I love her for it. I’m happy that I get to be her daughter. My siblings and I are truly lucky to have a fun, smart, ready-for-anything mom like you, Mom.

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Currant Scones // AKA How to Use WTF Ingredients from the Pantry

Filed Under: Make Tagged With: ,

I’d consider myself a regular home baker. I always have baking essentials in the pantry and the fridge. Sometimes I have things that go beyond essentials—which is why I have a big bag of dried currants hanging out in my baking basket.

Currants are definitely not a baking staple for me, but they ended up in my cupboard during my annual dried fruit shopping spree (I always buy too many fruits for fruitcake). Sheltering in place, though, has me baking like everyone else and looking into the recesses of the pantry like everyone else.

I decided the best way to use these dried zante currants (which are actually a kind of grape not real currants which frustrates me to no end) was to toss them in a scone. My favorite scone from Colectivo has dried blueberries, so this is a good way to approximate them with what I have on hand.

My Recipe for Currant Scones

Making scones is pretty simple business. You don’t need any fancy equipment, just a bowl, a spatula and a pastry blender (you can use a fork if you don’t have one of those). This recipe takes about 15 minutes to prep and then it’s about 40 minutes of hands-off time. And if you don’t have currants—and why would you?—use dried cranberries or even fresh blueberries.

  • 2¾ cups flour
  • ⅓ cup sugar
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ cup dried currants
  • Zest of half an orange (or lemon or lime)
  • ½ cup cold butter, cubed
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon milk + 2 tablespoons coarse sugar to top, optional

Yield: 6-8 scones, depending on how you slice.

Step 1: Mix the Dry Ingredients

First up, whisk together the dry ingredients—thats flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and the zest.

The zest here is optional, but I think it makes the scone taste a bit fresher and gives it a touch more personality. Use whatever citrus you have on hand.

Step 2: Cut in the Butter

Next, grab your cold butter and cut it into cubes. Make sure it’s good and cold—not oh it sat on the counter for 15 minutes while I measured cold.

Use a pastry blender or a fork and cut the cubed butter into the dry ingredients. Keep cutting in until the butter is about pea-sized. If you make homemade biscuits, this is all standard procedure.

Step 3: Add Milk + Currants

After cutting in the butter, add your buttermilk and vanilla along with your currants. Give them a quick toss in a few teaspoons of flour. This will prevent them from sinking to the bottom of the scone.

Stir until just combined. Don’t overwork the dough, just get everyone in the bowl introduced.

If you don’t have buttermilk, milk or half and half is fine. You can make your own buttermilk substitute, too.

Also, use good vanilla always. Yeah, the good stuff is pricey, but it’s worth every penny if you ask me. I used Nielsen-Massey Indonesian vanilla extract here. I typically prefer the Mexican kind, but the Indonesian vanilla goes well with fruit (also I’m out of the Mexican variety right now).

Step 4: Give It a Few Turns + Chill

With your scone dough made, turn it out onto a clean countertop and pat it flat. Then fold it over itself. Repeat three or four times and shape the dough into a round on the final fold (or turn). The round should be about ¾-inch thick.

Then using a knife or a bench scraper, slice the round into wedges. I opted for six which yields pretty generous scones. Cutting this batch into eight would also work (I’d actually recommend that).

When your done cutting, you can pop the scones into the fridge or freezer for 20 minutes. This will let the butter solidify a bit so you get flakier, more tender scones.

Step 5: Brush + Bake

After hanging out in the ol’ chill chest, you can prep the scones for baking. They can go in the oven as-is or you can give them a quick brush with milk or cream and then a quick sprinkle of coarse sugar. This part is totally optional, but I like the crunch that the coarse sugar gives the scones. Also, I’ve got a full bag of demerara sugar hanging out in my pantry that also needs to be put to use.

From there, pop the scones into a 400ºF oven for 15-20 minutes—or until golden brown. Let them cool on a wire rack and eat them within a few days. You can always freeze any extras.

As far as back-of-the-pantry bakes go, this one’s pretty good. It helps me rid myself of why did I buy that? ingredients and now I’ve got a tasty breakfast that makes quarantine a little less glum.

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My First #stayhomeandsew Make

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I feel like I go in waves with my hobbies. Embroidery has been my main squeeze for a while, but back in college, I spent almost all my free time sewing. Really. After school on Fridays, I’d take the bus to Hancock Fabrics (RIP) for supplies. I’m sure I drove everyone in my dorm and apartment building nuts with my machine going all the time.

But I kind of fell off the sewing wagon a few years back. I’d hop on now and then for a simple piece of clothing—like this skirt—or a quick gift (I’ve made so many pillowcases over the years).

Now that I’m inside with more free time, I’ve been sitting at my sewing machine more than ever. Making all those masks (103 and counting!) reminded me of how satisfying spending a day at the machine feels.

So I decided to break out one of my favorite sewing books and get going on a project I’ve been eyeing for a while: the Chemise Dress from Gertie Sews Jiffy Dresses. This project also gives me the chance to join in on Gertie’s #stayhomeandsew challenge.

One of the joys and curses of being a sewist is having a huge hoard of fabrics on hand from years gone by. Some of those fabrics have lost their appeal with time, but luckily this zebra print hadn’t.

The print is a bit wild, but I think the color is pretty for spring and summer and will only become more flattering with a tan (I’m definitely at my most ghostly right now).

The dress itself was a pretty easy make. I cut it out and sewed it over a weekend (though it could have been easily done in a long afternoon). And I had plenty of scraps perfect for a matching mask.

I’m a fan because there’s no zippers or buttons—you just pull this one over your head. The dress gets all its shape from a bit of elastic sewn into the waist. It looks just fine as-is, but I find a lot of uses for this $4 Forever 21 belt from 2009. I think it makes the outfit a bit more finished.

As quarantine makes go, this one was fun and easy. I don’t think I’ll be making another Chemise Dress (I’d prefer a bit more of an A-line shape and a neckline that doesn’t make me look so busty), but I’ll be happy to pull this one out now and again.

And if anything, this project got me excited to get moving on more sewing projects. I ordered some more material from Z Fabrics in some stupidly cute patterns. One is destined to be a skirt and the other a Popover Dress from Gertie Sews Jiffy Dresses. Stay tuned!

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The Best Fabric Stores to Shop While Sheltering in Place (and Always)

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We’re 39 days into our sheltering in place at our cabin. It’s been OK. Michael and I are both staying occupied. For the past few weeks, I’ve been staying especially busy making masks.

I’m lucky enough to have a good amount of fabric right at home so I could get started on masks right away. However, I did need to get in touch with a few of my favorite fabric shops for some extras (I’ve gone through two whole spools of black thread alone!).

If you’re looking to make some masks or just work on a sewing project to stay busy, here are my favorite destinations for fabric:

Ben Franklin // Oconomowoc, Wisconsin

I’ve mentioned Ben Franklin stores a few times on this blog. I’ve got a soft spot for these shops—my first job was at Banner Crafts (a successor of Ben Franklin), and they are just really great crafting destinations.

If you’re in the Milwaukee or Waukesha area, I absolutely recommend the Ben Franklin in Oconomowoc. While the store is closed, they are offering curbside pickup. Just fill out a quick form and they’ll get in contact with you with photos and prices of all the things you could ever want. When you’re ready, just pull up and they pop it in your trunk. It couldn’t be easier or safer.

I snagged plenty of thread and tiger print fabric to make Tiger King masks a few weeks back. It was super easy and the staff was exceptionally kind as always.

Z Fabrics // Portland, Maine

My mom and I visited Z Fabrics back in October and we were both really charmed by this small shop. We both brought home a few yards of fabric with us from our trip.

A few weeks ago, when I was on the hunt for bias tape, Z Fabrics came to mind. I placed an online order for bias tape (and some cute fabric) and it was on my doorstep in no time. Seriously. In three days my supplies were here.

Of course, one order was not enough. My mom and I made a joint order last week for some just-for-fun fabrics and we’re already working on projects using them.

I can’t recommend this place enough. The owner stocks so much adorable fabric, great crafting kits and plenty of great notions. If you need fabric that’s a bit out of the ordinary and high-quality, don’t hesitate. You’ll be so happy with it.

If you’ve got any small fabric shops that you love, share them with me! I love finding new sources for cute fabric.

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What I’ve Read During Quarantine [So Far]

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Sheltering in place is getting old (it’s day 33 right now), but staying in is allowing me to get a lot of reading done. I’ve gone through five books in the last month—and I’ve got plenty more to turn through yet.

Here’s what I’ve been reading (in my messy living room):

The Stranger in Our Home by Sophie Draper • ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I felt like I read this ages ago already, though it was just last month.

Whatever the case may be, I found The Stranger in Our Home to be a satisfying read. There’s a good amount of intrigue, familial secrets that were constantly unfolding and some weird folklore elements I really loved. Also any book that uses a hurdy-gurdy as a motif is a good one as far as I’m concerned.

The Captives by Debra Jo Immergut • ⭐️⭐️

I’ll let Goodreads do the summarizing here: The riveting story of a woman convicted of a brutal crime, the prison psychologist who recognizes her as his high-school crush and the charged reunion that sets off an astonishing chain of events with dangerous consequences for both.

You can see why I’d want to read this. But in the end, I just didn’t really grasp why this psychologist was so into this girl. I found the book to be lackluster.

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell • ⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’m a sucker for any book that’s about someone inheriting a mansion from an unknown relative. It’s just the perfect setup for me. Secrets, wealth, the promise of ghosts…

The Family Upstairs starts with Libby inheriting a large London home on her 25th birthday. She finds out that the home was the site of a murder-suicide by what many thought was a cult years earlier. Sounds so good, right?!

It wasn’t quite as intriguing as it should have been and one element really didn’t sit with me (it made no sense and it was never resolved), but it was entertaining.

How to Find Love in a Book Shop by Veronica Henry • ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’ve been loving these cozy kinds of books more and more. Especially when they’re as charming and well written as this one.

How to Find Love in a Book Shop centers on Emilia as she takes over her late father’s bookstore, but also folds in plenty of other characters—all with their own personalities and quirks.

This is exactly the kind of book to read during these stressful times.

The Stillwater Girls by Minka Kent • ⭐️

I had really high hopes for this book. The setup was super intriguing: Two girls are left alone in their shack in the woods—they’ve never ventured beyond their homestead. One day, they have to leave to survive.

But I found myself just rolling my eyes through most of this. The characters were bland. The plot to absurd to be believed. Skip it.

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Makers You Can Support While You Chill in Your Jammies

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OK, I am seeing the benefits of wearing real clothes occasionally. But let’s be real, I’m spending a lot of time in my jammies. If you’re living the lazy life like me, you can still support independent makers and artists—just like you can still support some awesome small businesses!

Treat yourself or someone you’re thinking about to something new from my favorite creatives.

Fern & Nettle // Milwaukee, Wisconsin

via @fern_and_nettle

If ever there was a time to buy extra soap, this is it. And you cannot do better than Fern & Nettle—it’s truly the only bath soap I buy.

Every scent is 👌—though I’m particularly fond of the mojito and lavender-juniper bars. And if you can snag it, get the lemon poppy seed soap! It’s fresh, exfoliating and smells like spring.

The Earth and All Stars // Milwaukee, Wisconsin

via @theearthandallstars

I’ve been craft fair neighbors with The Earth and All Stars a few times now, and it’s always a total joy.

Designer Stacy makes gorgeous leather jewelry and has started making pretty acrylic baubles, too. I wear my green tortoiseshell earrings all the time (or did before I sat in my house all day).

Half-Caff Designs // Lubbock, Texas

via @halfcaffdesigns

I stumbled across Half-Caff Designs at the Lubbock Farmers Market and just fell in love. Maybe it was the Trixie Mattel stickers or all The Office references.

Whatever it was, I can tell you that illustrator Mary Elizabeth Burt is a treasure. Her work is funny, detailed and pretty to look at. I recommend snagging these Schitt’s Creek-meets-social distancing cards to send to people you love.

Charm Patterns // Beacon, New York

via Gretchen “Gertie” Hirsch

Gretchen Hirsch (AKA Gertie) and her Charm Patterns label might be a bit larger scale than some of these makers, but she’s still worth checking out because she makes gorgeous patterns and fabrics and produces great sewing tutorials.

For anyone that loves to sew, I can’t recommend Gertie Sews Jiffy Dresses enough. And if you can’t bear the wait (or want a different pattern), she’s offering a discount on all PDF patterns right now. And be sure to check out #stayhomeandsew on Instagram. It’s fun to see what other sewists are up to.

Justine Gilbuena // New York, New York

via @justine.gilbuena

I’ve got a small enamel pin collection and half of those pins came from Justine Gilbuena. Her pins are sweet and touch on so many of my favorite things: sewing, cats, Martha Stewart, pretzels… I could go on.

And let’s face it: It’s almost jean jacket season. Time to dress those babies up with some new pins! I just snagged this cute little badger.

MBMB // Minneapolis, Minnesota

via MBMB on Etsy

I’ve been a fan of Michelle Brusegaard for a long time now. She creates that retro-meets-Midwest kind of stuff I love. (Right now I’m really into this Midwest sweatshirt from her Etsy shop).

Her work is homey and fun and lighthearted and I think those are all things we could use right now!

Gypsy Adornment // Madison, Wisconsin

via @gypsyadornment

I’ve got Sarah of Gypsy Adornment to thank for my love of labradorite. I’ve got a handful of pieces fitted with this stone in my jewelry box and love them.

All her work is really enchanting. Some pieces are minimal, others are sparkly, others a bit more rustic, but they all have the same handmade charm that makes them special. I totally recommend checking out her work. Something will call to you (or will scream someone you know).

Baby Tribe Co. // Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin

via @babytribeco

This has to be the most challenging time to have a baby (or one on the way). Treat your little (or your BFF’s bebe) to the most adorable baby clothes of all time.

The owner and maker, Lisa, does such a spectacular job on these baby pieces. They’re so soft, so well made and the fabrics are just mind meltingly cute. Anyone who gets one of these outfits will squeal with joy.

• • •

Got any favorite makers? Share them with me and how you’re supporting them through the chaos.

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Stay Home and Sew [Lots and Lots of Masks]

Filed Under: Make Tagged With: ,

I’m not sure what sheltering in place looks like for everyone else, but for me it’s a lot of reading, putting together puzzles, FaceTiming with my mom and sending friends too many Tiger King memes.

All these things are good since they’re keeping me inside and keeping me grounded. They aren’t, however, particularly helpful to anyone. Surely with all this extra time, I could be doing something more useful.

And that’s when it clicked: I should make masks.

I’m a pretty good seamstress, I’ve got a decent fabric supply and my friends are all looking for reusable fabric masks right now—including some in the medical field.

So I started making as many masks as I could (I made 16 yesterday alone) and offering them to people who need them. This is the best way I can help right now, and I’m happy to keep making them as long as people are asking for them.

Seamstresses and sewists out there, I encourage you to dive into your fabric hoards and start stitching. These masks are easy to make and people are very relieved and grateful to have them right now.

If you need a pattern, I recommend this one that’s approved by Milwaukee’s Froedtert Hospital. (You can make it easy on yourself and use bias tape instead of making your own ties.)

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Small Businesses to Support from the Couch

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via @anthology230

What I wouldn’t give for a good cold brew and a chocolate croissant right about now! Staying home is for the best, but it’s hard when you’re craving creature comforts. It’s harder still when you see your favorite businesses in a lurch.

But just because you’re staying in (if you’re not, you should be!), doesn’t mean you have to stop supporting your favorite places. A lot of my favorite destinations are amping up online storefronts that make it easier to support them while we’re all stuck inside.

Here are my favorite local (and local-adjacent) small businesses to check out now.

Stone Creek Coffee // Milwaukee, Wisconsin

via @stonecreekcoffee

Stone Creek Coffee is one of my favorite stops. Their cold brew is the best. Their cafes are a joy to be in. And their business ethics are top-notch. Proof: their workers are getting paid their normal wage while they’ve shut down cafe operations.

You can continue to support Stone Creek by buying their beans online. The shipping is free! While you’re at it, tip your barista.

Plume // Milwaukee, Wisconsin

via @plume_mke

Everyone needs a good vintage shop like Plume. Their pieces are wonderfully curated, unpretentious and come in a good array of sizes (anyone else tired of vintage shops stocking everything with 25″ waists?).

While the shop is closed, their Instagram stories are poppin’. They post great finds, inspiration and updates regularly. I just snagged a red floral skort. Here’s hoping it looks as awesome as I hope it will!

Studio Ric-Rak // Wauwautosa, Wisconsin

via @studio_ric_rak

This is truly my favorite shop. Studio Ric-Rak is the sweetest vintage shop filled with all the goodies I love.

The owner is a doll and she makes handmade decorations from vintage ephemera for each holiday (and I’ve got so many wonderful Christmas goodies from her). She’s got a handful of Easter trinkets available and ready to ship. If you need a pick-me-up for the holiday, snag one now!

And be sure to check out Instagram for more finds. The owner is posting new stuff periodically and I’m doing my best not to want it all.

Anthology // Madison, Wisconsin

via Anthology

Anthology is a shop I stumbled upon years ago (back when I was in college). The second I stepped inside their State Street store, I was in love. So many cute things by small brands and local makers. It’s just the perfect shop.

And while their store is closed now, they are still going strong online selling small care packages stuffed full of fun stickers and small goodies. Right now these tiny treasures are the perfect pick-me-up for a friend (or yourself —I really want most of these).

Zip-Dang // Madison, Wisconsin

via Zip-Dang

This is a must-stop destination whenever I’m in Madison—either at their Monroe Street shop or their stand at the Dane County Farmers Market.

Zip-Dang just sells some really awesome stuff. I got a Baba Yaga print from them ages ago and it’s one of my prized possessions. They also have a great original art series based on Wisconsin folklore. I’ve also snagged some amazing vintage clothing finds, too. There’s just a lot to love about this place.

If that’s not reason enough to shop, they’re offering free shipping right now, so snag those prints or an adorable animal pillow. Waiting on the cat to be restocked!

Urban General Store // Chicago, Illinois

via Urban General Store

I am a puzzle fanatic normally. Staying at home has made me want to do even more puzzles.

And guess what: Everyone else wants to do more puzzles than ever, too. That means the typical destinations are all sold out (looking at you, Target). Lucky for me, I found Urban General Store.

This place has so many cute puzzles. I snagged three right off the bat and got a very sweet note from the owner. Truth be told: I could have bought many, many more.

If you’re looking for a puzzle (or honestly a lot of other fun things), check this place out. I’m so happy I found them!

• • •

I hope this list inspires you to check out some of my favorite shops but also look into your favorite local haunts and see if you can support them right now.

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What to Do When You Want to Get Out (But Are Social Distancing)

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via @celestamke

The first few days of social distancing went fine, right? I feel like most of us can handle a few days laying low. But I know some folks are starting to go stir crazy and want to get out. Here’s what you can do instead:

DON’T DO IT.

I mean this. Don’t do it! Unless your pantry is bare, you should just stay home. Don’t go see a friend. Don’t snag some food just to get out or because your favorite spot is still doing curbside pickup. Just stay home. Please for the love all good things.

And I know how much it totally blows to be cooped up when all you want to do is get a good coffee and a scone or visit your mom (that’s me). But there are some things you can do in the meantime that’ll help you combat cabin fever and get you through this social distancing phase.

  • Go for a walk: I’ve been doing this daily, and it’s just what I need. Spending 45 minutes walking through the neighborhood makes me feel less cooped up. Plus, I get to see some cool homes, listen to a podcast and wave to people from a safe distance. This is the number one thing I can recommend to prevent stir-crazy feelings.
  • Support a local business (from the couch): It’s a huge bummer to see all your favorite spots shuttered and hurting for business. To keep yourself looking forward to better days and business in good shape, keep buying from them! Snag a gift card now that you can use later. Shop their Instagram sales, DM them about a product you love, pay them now and grab it later.
  • Treat yourself to all the digital goods: Being grounded sucks. Buoy yourself with some new goodies from the internet. Upgrade to Spotify Premium so you can have a commercial-free soundtrack to your workday. Try Luminary for some great podcasts (I recommend Frontier Tween and Spooked). Buy some new audio or ebooks and get serious about a new story or series. BookBub sends out daily emails with great deals on both. Better yet, try Kobo—you’ll get the digital books you want while supporting small businesses.
  • Reach out: Everyone is craving connection right now. It’s a great time to pick up the phone and call someone. I’ve been setting up virtual happy hours and crafterhours with friends and it’s good to see some faces and shoot the breeze. Maintaining human connections is important right now, even for us introverts. And no one cares what you look like on the video chat.
  • Move around in your house: Sitting on the couch all day to work and then relaxing on the couch all night feels indulgent at first, but spending all day in one spot starts to make me feel crazy. Change your location throughout the day. It’ll make you feel less tethered and can help you differentiate work time from hobby time from relaxing time. It’s small but this helps me immensely.
  • Open a window: This is so simple, but it also does wonders. Part of feeling cooped up is literally sealing yourself in. Open a window for a bit, let the fresh air in. It’ll boost your mood, freshen up the house and might even relieve some of those indoor allergies.

I know it’s rough right now. I know it’s going to be tough for a while, but please, stay home. We’ll all be better for it.

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How I’m Practicing Social Distancing (and Staying Sane)

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Like many of you, I’m hunkered down at home for the next while due to the COVID-19 outbreak. I’m honestly so relieved that I can do my job from home. It’s a major blessing and a big weight off my shoulders (I’ve got a lot of loved ones I need to protect).

But as relieved as I am, I know that facing a week or more of unstructured time in a small space isn’t as easy as it sounds. That’s why I’ve put together an outline of how I’m going to manage. You might benefit from these ideas, too.

  • Create a routine: Routines and rituals help propel us forward in uncertain times. If you don’t have a work from home routine established, outline one now. For me, I set my alarm, take a shower, change clothes and make a cup of tea before getting on the computer. I take a lunch break, IM my coworkers—all the stuff I would do in the office. It helps keep the momentum of the day going.
  • Keep things clean: It’s a good time to reevaluate your cleaning protocol at home. Wipe down your phone, computer and surfaces. And throw in some extra laundry if you’re home all day. We just washed all our linens and throws and it feels good to have a fresh start.
  • Read: When I’m stressed, I need activities that force me to slow down. Reading is my go-to. Plus, sitting down with a book and a cup of tea for a whole Sunday morning feels like a treat.
  • All the hobbies: I’m a woman of many hobbies. Now’s the time to embrace them all! All my works in progress are coming out: latch hook, sewing, cross-stitch. Now’s the time to settle in with the projects you never have enough time for.
  • Get outside: Social distancing doesn’t mean staying indoors. I’ve started to take daily walks so I can get some fresh air, move around and not feel so cooped up.
  • Keep in touch: Since staying in, I’ve found that I’m calling my family a lot more. It’s a good way to feel connected. And sending my coworkers memes and gifs all day helps too.
  • Be mindful of the news I’m consuming: During this time, it’s definitely important to stay on top of virus updates, but it’s also easy to fall down a wormhole of information fast. To keep the balance, I limit how many articles I read a day, ensure that the information comes from a trusted source and stay updated with CDC recommendations.

Everyone, stay safe, stay home and stay well!