Happy Birthday to my Grandfather...

if he were still alive we would be celebrating his 90th birthday!Hard ot believe he has been gone for 10 years!

My little man Leo played the trumpet in honor of his great grandfather whose father had played the coronet in John Philips Sousa's band during WWI ...

happy birthday gramps!

Sharing some new designs....

I recently had the good luck of working with Carrie Daly of Daly Moments Photography in photographing some of my new spring designs....

she specializes in natural light photography (my favorite) and the weather in Michigan finally cooperated for her to get some great shots outdoors...

enjoy and pop over to etsy if you are interested in purchasing any of these!

Read All About it!

In honor of creative mothers our local paper ran an article on mothers day that featured 3 local creative moms and their kids and gock's frocks was one of the moms featured! The kids were thrilled to see themselves in the paper!



Here is an excerpt of my part of the story...

Finding time to engage in creative endeavors in the midst of diaper changes, soccer practices and carpools can be a constant challenge. But some local artists have found ways to nourish their creativity by building businesses around their talents.

“I’ve always loved creating,” says local children’s clothing designer Kristen Hallagan. “I needed an outlet for all I wanted to do.”

Kristen Hallagan’s grandmother taught her to sew when she was 8 years old.

The 41-year-old has had a passion for creating things since. When she was in college, she sewed hand-crafted hair holders and designed T-shirts for a Regatta team.

Yet she decided to become a teacher. When her third child was born, she chose to stay home with her children.

And she was still sewing. In 2003, Hallagan decided to sell some of her children’s clothing designs at the Rochester Public Market during the Christmas season. She initially called her business “Crazy Mama,” because “I (was) crazy for trying to do this with three young kids.”

She eventually renamed her business, Gock’s Frocks, in honor of her grandmother, Betty Gocker. She started selling on eBay and then Etsy. Her business was an “outlet” for her.

She’s always had the art of design, now she learned the art of pricing and marketing her children’s and women’s clothing.

She has gradually increased her output, and had outgrown the basement, spilling her colorful skirts and dresses into the children’s playroom. She now rents a studio in the Hungerford Building by the Public Market and works there while her children — Klem, 13, Eily, 10, and Leo, 8 — are in school.

“How do I do it and give it 100 percent and everything I want to do?” she would often ask of her art business. “That’s the challenge for any mom.”

But, as with any artist, “the creative part would have come out at some point — you can’t suppress it,” Hallagan says.

Yikes!!

I didn't realize I had become so lax in my blog posting - I am having too much fun at the studio and I have no internet down there that I have sufficiently neglected my updates.

I have been busy working on lots of new goodies - new skirts for women, a small collection for the girls and celebrating birthdays here at home. I have even managed to try out some new recipes that I will share with you later this week.

Today I would love to show off my new skirts for women - I love photographing at the studio - great light, simple background... these can be found in my etsy shop

sour cherry


Deb


chocolate breeze


spring berries

You're Invited....

to the grand opening of my new studio space! It is rather hard to believe that I have moved out of my cave in the basement into such a light airy space.




I have teamed up with a local jewelry designer to share almost 800sq ft in an old fruit factory....we patiently waited about 6 weeks for them to renovate the space

this was about 2 weeks into the renovation work

and we thought it looked pretty good then until we saw this....


now it is a bit more filled up but we are slowly making it our home away from home...



some of my favorite fabrics in embroidery hoops



prints I use at shows



my trusty machines



and maazing cutting table my dad helped me with! the baskets have felted wool sweater parts sorted by color and bolts of fabric waiting to be cut are in the lower cubes. It is all mounted on a solid wood base on heavy duty casters so I can move it around the studio. My dad is the best!

So...if you have made it this far and are still reading I am extending an invitation to stop by our open house tomorrow night from 5-9pm ... email me for more details!

A budding fashion designer...



This morning, about 25 minutes before the bus was expected, Eily asked if I could make her a pink skirt to wear for school - you see, yesterday I managed to pull off a skirt and a pair of pants before the bus as we had no green to wear to school so now E thinks I am a miracle worker, speedy seamstress.

Not wanting to disappoint I sent her to get ready after she picked her fabrics...she also had definite ideas about the style - high waisted and poufy ... I made my yoga style waist and added elastic to the hem to give it the full look she wanted - the result, in my humble opinion was pretty cute!

I think I will offer these on etsy for the tween crowd...what do you think??

Some Bunny Loves Me.....

for easter I am offering one of a kind felted wool bunnies made from recycled wool sweaters in my etsy shop





as well as a couple of new skirts made with Patty Young's Flora&Fauna collection that would brighten even the grayest easter Sunday!

We have another winner!

Lentil Barley Burgers from Cooking Light



Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 2 patties and 1/4 cup salsa)
Ingredients

* Salsa:
* 1/4 cup finely chopped pineapple
* 1/4 cup finely chopped mango
* 1/4 cup finely chopped tomatillo - I skipped this and the grape tomatoes
* 1/4 cup halved grape tomatoes
* 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
* 1 serrano chile, minced - I used a jalapeno


Burgers:
* 1 1/2 cups water
* 1/2 cup dried lentils
* Cooking spray
* 1 cup chopped onion
* 1/4 cup grated carrot
* 2 teaspoons minced garlic
* 2 tablespoons tomato paste
* 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
* 3/4 teaspoon dried oregano
* 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
* 3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
* 3/4 cup cooked pearl barley
* 1/2 cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)
* 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
* 1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
* 2 large egg whites
* 1 large egg
* 3 tablespoons canola oil, divided

Preparation

1. To prepare salsa, combine first 6 ingredients; cover and refrigerate.

2. To prepare burgers, combine 1 1/2 cups water and lentils in a saucepan; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 25 minutes or until lentils are tender. Drain. Place half of lentils in a large bowl. Place remaining lentils in a food processor; process until smooth. Add processed lentils to whole lentils in bowl.

3. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add onion and carrot; sauté 6 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Add garlic; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add tomato paste, cumin, oregano, chili powder, and 1/4 teaspoon salt; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add onion mixture to lentils. Add remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, barley, and next 5 ingredients (through egg); stir well. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour or until firm.

4. Divide mixture into 8 portions, shaping each into a 1/2-inch-thick patty. Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 4 patties; cook 3 minutes on each side or until browned. Repeat procedure with remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons oil and 4 patties. Serve with salsa.


I made these almost bite sized - they would be a great hors d'oeurve with a bit of th esalsa sprinkled on top!

something new from the kitchen and on etsy....

thought I would share a yummy little soup idea using these tasty ingredients



tofu shirataki noodles
minute miso
fresh grated ginger and vegetables - I used carrots, oyster & shitake mushrooms and scallion

follow directions for making the miso, add the noodles, grate fresh ginger and sliced veggies - bring to a boil reduce heat and simmer ....

I also listed a new goodie in my etsy store




this is a custom order - pick your color and approximate size ... can be made in any quantity

I Hate Mornings....but I love these strangers

my latest treasury on etsy



click on the link above to go to the treasury and from there you can click through to each individual shop - but hurry - only lasts a couple of days!

Chickpea Sliders and bulghur salad ... mmmmmm

A couple more Cooking Light recipes I test drove last week included delicious mini chickpea sliders and a lemony bulghur salad...any substitutions I tried are noted next to the original recipe

Chickpea Sliders...

Serve each burger on a whole-grain slider bun or we used mini pita bread with lettuce, crisp radish slices, roasted red bell pepper, and canola-based mayonnaise. Two burgers per person!

Yield: 3 servings (serving size: 2 patties)
Ingredients

* 1 (8-ounce) red potato
* 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
* 1 teaspoon minced garlic
* 1 (15.5-ounce) can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), rinsed, drained, and divided
* 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley - I used OREGANO
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon rind
* 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
* 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
* 2 large egg whites, lightly beaten

Preparation

1. Place potato in a saucepan; cover with water. Bring to a boil; cook 20 minutes or until very tender. Drain. Cool slightly. Coarsely chop, and place in medium bowl. Add 1 tablespoon oil and garlic to bowl; mash potato mixture with a potato masher until slightly chunky. Remove 3 tablespoons chickpeas; place in a small bowl. Add remaining chickpeas to potato mixture; mash until well blended. Stir in remaining 3 tablespoons whole chickpeas, parsley, and remaining ingredients. With moistened hands, divide mixture into 6 equal portions (about 1/3 cup mixture per portion), shaping each into a 3-inch patty.

2. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 3 patties to pan; reduce heat to medium, and cook 4 minutes or until bottoms are golden. Carefully turn patties over; cook 3 minutes or until bottoms are golden and patties are set. Repeat procedure with remaining 1 tablespoon oil and 3 patties.

Bulgur with dried carnberries



Serve this lemony bulgur—an American interpretation of Middle Eastern tabbouleh—instead of the more familiar and expected stuffing.

Yield: 8 servings (serving size: 1 cup)
Ingredients

* 1 cup coarse-ground bulgur
* 2 cups (1/4-inch) cubed peeled English cucumber
* 1 cup dried cranberries
* 1/3 cup thinly sliced green onion
* 1 cup finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley - I used 1 large bunch - can't get enough fresh parsley!
* 1 teaspoon grated lemon rind
* 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
* 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil - I used less than 1/4c
* 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
* 3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Preparation

1. Place bulgur in a large bowl; cover with 2 cups boiling water. Cover; let stand 30 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Fluff with a fork. Add cucumber and remaining ingredients; toss gently to combine.

both were a huge hit!

Fishy fun...

just listed some new recycled wool sweater softies! Fish Pillows!! made from wool sweaters and dupioni silk - one of a kind creations....add some color and cheer to your winter days.

Available at gock's frocks on etsy!






and a custom top for spring!

Some Customer Appreciation....

I wanted to take a post to thank my fabulous customers without whom there would be no gock's frocks! I love getting photos from you so please... send them my way and you too may find yourself gracing my blog!


this little Tula Pink skirt went all the way to Eastern Europe!


matching doll dress!


coordinating cousins!




the little girls can't have all the fun! Happy customers of my womens yoga waist skirts!




sweet Eden who has been a customer since her 1st birthday!

What is a Quinzhee you ask.....

well, I will let my 7 year old answer that!



he built his very own show hut or quinzhee while home on february vacation! I know how I am taking with me in the winter wilderness!!



we have also been busy ski racing and training with our regular season wrapping up this Sunday


my 12 yo racing a giant slalom race


my 7yo skiing a slalom race


my 10yo skiing a slalom race

and while the kids were busy skiing I undertook my first successful quilted project - no wavy edges!



I made this little table topper for my husband for valentines day - I thought it was time he had his own gock's frocks!

I used mostly scraps from previous projects and realized I have quite a few scraps still so I am offering them by the pound at Betty's Closet on etsy



pop over and pick some up for your next project!