Hello sweet friends!
SUNDAY! Gosh what a week. I made hundreds of cookies, booked some future travel, did five days of yoga, took a lot of dog walks, almost put all of my laundry away, and focused very hard on anti-inflammatory meals . In a rare move, I’m going to pat myself on the back and I would encourage you to do the same. I’m sure you tackled this week as dang best you could and honestly? Your best is super great. Well. Done.
We’ve reached the middle of March and the start of spring and these days have me re-evaluating the goals I set at the beginning of the year. It’s also time for a little Spring refresh (that will probably focus my bathroom and in the garden) and time for a refocus on a few bigger works projects because day to day email can clog the big dream pipes, ya know? It’s all good, just time to look up and look around.
Would you believe that 7 years ago this little book came out? The Joy The Baker Cookbook. Wow it’s very cheap. I think maybe they stopped printing it.
The offering this week is below. Some heavy things, lots of talk about beans, and pie. As always, take what you need.
Enjoy this fine day!
• Ramsey Orta filmed the killing of Eric Garner. Here’s what happened: Fearing For His Life. (The Verge)
• Homecoming: Go Home To Your ‘Dying’ Hometown (NYT)
• What does it mean to be self-made? Consider Sarah Breedlove later known as Madam C.J. Walker, born in Louisiana two years after the end of slavery, the first free child born to her family. “For Madam C.J. Walker… being “self-made” meant even more than using her own resources—it meant creating a society in which black women had the power to create themselves, too.” In the Age of Kylie Jenner’s Fame, Madam C.J. Walker Reminds Us What Being Self-Made Truly Means. (The Glowup via Ann Friedman)
• I remember being a kid whining this phrase to my mom, “But MOOOOOM that’s not fair!!” Her response was cool and consistent: “Who said life was fair?” Does it matter where you go to college? (NPR)
• So you’re telling me the future is full of my favorite bean? I’m not mad at it. In the future everything will be made from chickpeas. (The Atlantic)
• Two of my very favorite chickpea things: Olive Oil Braised Chickpeas and Socca (a very simple bread made from chickpea flour). (Joy the Baker and The Kitchn)
• A Plea To Make Fiber Cool, but like… all of us are already down, right? (NYMag)
• The Most Popular Pie In Every State. It appears I get to choose between Crawfish Pie and Mud Pie and yes, I’ll take both. (Chowhound)
• In other pie news, my favorite pie making book is Sister Pie. (Penguin Random House)
• Get a dog – for your health! How Your Dog Knows When You’re Sick. (The Atlantic)
• One of my commitments this Lent is to NOT sleep with my phone right next to my bed. That means I need an alarm clock and I dunno… why not wake up to some daylight (even at 5:30am). I’m trying this light. (Amazon)
• One of my goals this year is to learn how to sew. How many sleeves am I going to futz up before I make anything remotely wearable. Many. Can you sew? Do you have any online recourses you can suggest?
• I’m trying very hard to stretch out a pair of vintage demin that I know will be absolutely perfect once I can breathe in them. All signs point to me wearing them in the bathtub. How To Stretch Tight Denim. (Eat Sleep Denim)
• Jam-making, pie, and vegan gumbo! We’ve got some great workshops coming up at the Bakehouse this spring! Here’s the list! (Eventbrite)
I’m so glad you’re here.
My love to you.
xo Joy
Anupama Chopra
Amazing! Thanks for sharing such a delicious recipe.
Lauren O
Hooray for sewing! Start with square things, like pajama pants. You almost can’t screw them up. I also like Purl Soho and have this apron on my to-do list: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2015/11/20/cross-back-apron/
Lauren
Get that light. I did and it has changed my life!
Lisa
Yay for sewing! There are so many great resources on the web. I know Mimi G has Sew It Academy, which many people have found useful. I began by following a sew along on someone’s blog going through a book I had years ago. It helped me dive in. If it fits your style, I found Megan Nielsen’s pattern really easy for beginners. I also like the 1970’s edition of the Reader’s Digest Complete Guide to Sewing as a reference. Having sewing as a creative practice has been life changing. I hope you enjoy it.
Karen
Joy,
For sewing: http://www.madeeveryday.com. Dana Willard is the bomb. I learned how to sew by reading her blog and watching her videos. Truly the very best. Can’t recommend her enough.
stefanie
Sister Pie… made one pie of theirs from a magazine article and must get the book.
Sewing – it’s like yoga for the mind. So many resources…. Bluprint is great for step by step. Forgiving patterns help you learn. The boxy shirts are easy. Always started with pajamas too for low risk trys. Pillowcases, pj pants, tote bags… all good first projects. You will move up quickly once you get the basics.
cat
dear joy, i hope this is not rude, but i just found this page http://amandalaird.ca/the-heavy-flow-podcast/
and it is so reasourceful, maybe for you too?
take good care
cat
Harriet
Sew U by Built by Wendy is a great book for beginner sewers who want to make their own clothes. The patterns are great, advice is terrific and this is how I started!
Chris
I went straight home last night and made Socca. What a simple delight it was, too. I loved how it was crispy on the outside and creamy in the middle. I didn’t actually use the recipe you suggested because I wanted something printable but the method was identical. The version I chose included caramelised onions and rosemary which worked really well. We loved it and it’s borderline healthy too!
Kristy
Love at First Stitch by Tilly Walnes is a great book for a beginner. It comes with super cute patterns and easy instructions. Her blog, Tilly and the Buttons, is also great!
Akanshu Jamwal
wow its yummy i love it i want to try it thanks dude for sharing
Amy G.
I just bought the light and Sister Pie! My Alexa can no longer be trusted to wake me up! See you in New Orleans (maybe) on April 23!!!!! I can’t wait!
Amy
I just bought the light and Sister Pie!!!!! My Alexa is no longer to be trusted to wake me up! See you in New Orleans April 23!!!!!!!!
courtney
Pies! The other day, my British boss mentioned “banoffee pie” in passing. I had no idea what this was, but gathered that it was delicious. She thought it came from the U.S., but turns out it’s just a British classic that I’m determined to make. It’s a graham cracker crust with a layer of toffee pudding and then a layer of whipped cream and bananas. I’m quite excited to make this.
mj
My mom always said the same thing to me complaining about something not being fair: “Life is not fair!”
I made your red beans and rice last week and I’m in love. Thanks for an excellent recipe!
Shanon
I’m a yoga teacher, and taught myself to sew! YouTube, and Singer in particular are great. However, check out your local fabric stores, including Joanne’s, for beginner workshops! You’ll get the hang of it! Get yourself a good iron too – you’ll need it. Most of sewing is measuring and ironing.
Shanon
Oh, and have you found Deb’s “great pot of chickpeas” recipe? O.M.G. So good and ez.
Sunny
Oh! So exciting that you are going to try sewing. Beware: it’s as addictive as cooking! My biggest recommendation: learn to draft your own patterns NOW, as you’re starting out! It’s far easier than you might think, and your clothes will fit so much better. There’s a lot of help to be had on YouTube, for this and much else.
For techniques and tutorials:
With Wendy https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPnSaAAVVo0q1tfWY5S3j7g
Evelyn Wood https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ59owAiWL2IgaANbG-jm0Q
Also, for sheer vintage inspiration, I love Angela Clayton:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChyWv5fy8utAWVhRPVV85XQ
There’s also Bluprint https://www.youtube.com/user/becraftsy. They have a subscription service for their in-depth tutorials that have been well worth the investment for me in terms of upping my tailoring game (among many other things).
Have fun!
Leah Franqui
I’ve been sewing for years, and there are so many resources out there! Tilly and the Buttons has a few great introduction to sewing classes on her blog, and her patterns are really beginner friendly. Seamwork, an offshoot of Colette Patterns, has some great resources too. Sew In Style is great, as is Closet Case Patterns, and I think you might really like the aesthetic that Closet Case works in.
Sal
Regarding sewing: This woman is awesome.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVctLksHkzQ
her name us Mimi G.
Learning to sew is fun and she makes amazing clothes!
Good Luck!
Rachel
Your olive oil braised chickpeas is one my all-time favorite JTB recipes. I sing its praises to friends regularly. It tastes so luxurious and fancy with the most humble of ingredients. So glad to see it get a mention in a Let It Be Sunday post.
Ryan
Soak the denim for about 20 minutes in warm water and then wear for as long as you can handle it for it to stretch perfectly! Also check out Raleigh Denim for some AMAZING handmade jeans. I got mine on eBay as I’m a broke grad student. They are amazing.
(All info from my friend who is a TOTAL denim nerd and sells vintage clothing).
C
I’m fascinated by the fiber article. For some reason I’m skeptical of a lot of diet trends, but fiber just seems reasonable.
Hannah Z
Thank you for sharing the article about Ramsey Orta. It is a powerful and horrifying piece, and so so important to read. For years I have relied on you for recipes but these days your Sunday posts – especially the links to longer, heavier pieces – are my favorite. Thank you for using your platform to help us keep our fingers on the pulse of important issues. Thank you for reminding us to be uncomfortable so that we may think about how we must change.
Linda
Sewing – YES! Another vote for Craftsy.
Liz
I second the vote for smaller “indie” pattern companies like Grainline and Closet Case Patterns. They usually include great tutorials with photos or offer online classes. Craftsy and Threads Magazine are great resources for learning the fundamentals and basic techniques. One book that’s great for beginners is Love at First Stitch by Tilly Walnes. She also has a website with great tutorials at http://www.tillyandthebuttons.com. And sleeves are a real pain at first. Don’t let them get you down. Have fun!
Antonia
I recently took the Startup Library: Sewing class on My Bluprint (formerly Craftsy). It’s starts at the beginning with the basics, like talking about fabrics, your machine, threads, how to cut a pattern, etc. Your first project is a sewing a tote bag to ease you into it and then you work your way to a dress. It was very comprehensive and I found it to be quite helpful as I learned.
Adriene
I have a daylight clock and it was the best decision I ever made. It’s such a gentle way to wake up. No more blaring alarms for me!
Kathryn
For sewing, I would recommend an in person class for beginners. There are often cute sewing studios in many cities. A Google search led me to Chateau Sew in New Orleans, https://chateausew.com/collections/classes. Good luck & enjoy!
Anna Robinson
When I was in jr high, we had a home economics class. I really loved learning how to sew and cook. I still have my sewing kit and since I am short, will be hemming for the rest of my life.
Suzanne C
My favorite resource for sewing (besides my mom!) is Bluprint, which used to be know as Craftsy. They have a basic learn-to-sew class and then so many classes on more specific topics. They have classes on a lot of other crafts, too, so it’s an amazing investment. I can’t believe they don’t have you teaching a baking class.
Jen
You’ve been busy! Can you share your non-inflammatory menus? It sounds like a good idea.
Camilla
A great sewing blog with lots of great tips, links etc is http://sunnygalstudio.blogspot.com – while her clothing may not be your style, Beth is such a pro – and she holds workshops too (in the San Francisco area, but still).
Another great resource (videos on youtube too, plus she runs a sewing magazine) is Mimi at https://mimigstyle.com. Lots of free tutorials for various garments.
I got started sewing basics for my kids: t-shirts, sweatpants, hoodies etc. Then I made similar simple things for myself: t-shirts, simple wrap dresses, simple everyday pants.
For a completely different style + knitting and crocheting inspiration, I like https://luckylucille.com.
I also like https://sewingtidbits.com
Lots of tutorials at http://sewaholic.net
Have fun sewing!
Ann
Back in my day, the county Agricultural Extension would let you gather a few friends, maybe 6 or so, and would send an agricultural extension agent out to teach your group to sew. It was great! That’s where I learned to set sleeves, gather a skirt, lay out a pattern, make button holes, etc. If they still do that, it would be a good thing for you and your friends to set up a series of sessions.
Addie
Please keep us updated on your sewing. I’m trying to get more into it. The pattern suggestions in the comments are very appreciated.
Nikki
First, I just want to say that I look forward to reading Let it Be Sunday more than any other blog post. Sundays are my Saturdays and this post goes perfectly with my morning coffee and my day off. Thank you.
Secondly,https://sew-it-academy.thinkific.com/ is where you need to go for online sewing education. It’s education by @mimigstyle Check her out on insta. I think you’ll dig her.
Have a wonderful week!
Ryann
After years and years of reading your words and cooking your recipes, it suddenly seemed incredibly lame that I’ve never said hello. Thanks for all of it, and much love. You’re a delight.
Lauren
I highly recommend sewing patterns from smaller pattern designers. They often have great sewalong tutorials on their websites. Cashmerette, Grainline Studio, Colette all have some good beginner-friendly patterns (some even free), You can usually find pictures online of other people’s finished garments which I find really helpful when choosing what will look good on my body type. Have fun!
Emily M.
On sewing: use a good pattern and You Tube videos for any terminology you aren’t familiar with. Are you familiar with the Indie pattern company Sew Liberated by Meg McElwee? I just used one of her patterns for the very first time (Arenite Pants!) and it was probably the most well written pattern I’ve ever used. And if you’re looking for good fabric? Stonemountain and Daughter in CA is wonderful.
nancy k
Oh yes…learn to sew. It can take you to so many places…customized things for your home, quilts, personal clothing. Start slow and easy…sleeves might be a stretch but some home decorating project can give you a sense of accomplishment along with creativity. I learned the basics as a young teen and continues to learn to support a desire for ready made clothing my parents would not purchase. So I learned to make things that reflected my style and that were easily affordable.
I am interested in reading the article about self made woman. Kaylie Jenner is so NOT a self made “woman” .
Have a great first week of spring!
Mary Ann
I love my sunrise clock. It’s such a gentler way to wake up. Don’t we all need that? Enjoy making so many sleeves wrong – that’s part of the process. Trust me, I’ve sewn all my life and still am never far from a seam ripper. Enjoy!
Not Just Straight Seams
Sewing = Craftsy. Really lifted my game in technique and design.
Cindy
two things…
I must second Brenda’s thoughts regarding Michigan cherry pies… absolutely delicious…
And, regarding excellent sewing sites, be sure to check out Made-by-Rae… Rae is also a product of MI… she offers wonderful patterns and many tutorials
nancyabc
Kentucky would be a pie with apples or pecans not peanut butter.
Jenn
I have a sun rise alarm clock and find it has SO changed my ability to wake up when it’s dark. (A lot up here during the winter!). I hope it helps you too!
karen
Sewing! Yes! Check out the Love to Sew podcast. It is brilliant, and you will love Helen and Caroline. They are altogether inspiring in every way. The online sewing community is huge, supportive and inclusive, and there are some amazing indie pattern companies offering lovely and unique things for you to make. The podcast and their show-notes will lead you in the right direction for all things sewing.
Brenda
Can we talk about pie? Because i have spent 1/2 century in Michigan and have never eaten cheeseburger pie. A true Michigander waits for the first week of July when the marvelous tart cherries are finally ready to pick. Then we find the nearest u-pick, with a cherry pitting machine, pick until we’ve filled several buckets, and then go home and make the most fabulous cherry pie you’ve ever eaten. Leftover cherries are frozen in the perfect pie-filling amounts for more fabulous cherry pies. Take a break from the July heat and come visit me. I’ll show you how it’s done.
In other news, saying adieu to the ‘hood today. Hope to see y’all around next winter.
Karen Armstrong
Wow—seven years since The Joy the Baker Cookbook! I came to your book-signing at Brooklyn Kitchen. It was a great event and my copy is well-loved and well-worn. You’ve been a part of many family celebrations, Joy. Thanks for everything!
Rachael
It’s not an online resource but I learned to sew using the Heather Ross book Weekend Sewing. I think you would like some of her projects.
Susan
Love your updates
Your cookies look great
What kind are they?
Have a blessed week
Rena
Wow, you did really a lot the last week!!Enjoy your Sunday!
xx from Bavaria/Germany, Rena
http://www.dressedwithsoul.com
Suzanne
57,000 thumbs up for Sister Pie! Dang, that’s a great book. Like yourself, I just started a healthier eating thing/lifestyle? to manage my weirdo perimenopausal/hypothyroid body and live better and longer. But I don’t care what the nutritionists say about sugar.. pie gives joy and pie is staying. Also, if you can’t eat pie, why do you want to torture yourself by living an extra long life?
cat
It is so amazing how eating affects the hormones. I am glad you are doing good now!