For Our Soldiers

I hope everyone will remember why we are celebrating today. Memorial Day means a lot more than a mattress sale, a barbecue and a day off of work. I was very moved by the video in the previous post and I hope you will be, as well. You may want to go down to the bottom of the blog and mute the "Jazz to Quilt By" so you can fully enjoy the music in the video. Over the weekend I heard about a website called http://bakinggals.com. These are people from all over the country who send home baked goodies to soldiers overseas. I just signed up and now I am awaiting more info. I can't wait to start baking!

Freedom Isn't Free - Memorial Day 2010

Zsa Zsa Pincushion

Here's a new item for Johnson City, the Zsa Zsa Pincushion! These are very useful while doing handwork and can be worn anywhere on your index finger. I have to wear mine toward the end of my finger because my fingers are big! I call it the "Zsa Zsa" because it is about the size of a diamond that she would wear! Dahling!!

More Quilting Designs

Here are 2 more designs that I have been working on. These are both faves of mine because they are unique and fun to quilt. Last year, I was loading a Texas-themed quilt on the machine ( I get a lot of these!) and I had a "light bulb moment" and came up with the barbed wire design. This is the first time that I did the wire on the whole quilt, it had previously been a border design. I have a lot of leaf pantographs, so free handing a leafy vine was pretty natural. I am really happy with it, but it uses a lot of thread!

I Love Me Some New Thread!

Love, love, love getting an order of thread! Looks like someone is ready for fall!

Gumdrop Footstool

Here it is, as promised! As soon as I saw Amy Butler's Gumdrop Footstool pattern, I knew I had to make one. Since my selvage stash is quickly taking on a life of it's own, I decided to attempt to use up a few. I did, but the stash seems to still be at least the same size as it was! If you give this project a try, know this, it takes WAY more stuffing than the pattern says. At the end I was stuffing old t-shirts, batting scraps and whatever I could get my hands on down in the middle! That being said, I can't wait to make another one!

Chili Cheese Frito Salad

I got this awesome recipe from Charlene at Blanco Settlement. So simple, so sinful, so worth it!

Chili Cheese Frito Salad

2 cups whole kernel corn
1 diced red onion
1 diced bell pepper or 1 small can diced green chilies, drained
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup mayo
1-9 oz. bag Chili Cheese Fritos, crushed

Combine first 5 ingredients, chill at least 1 hour. Add Fritos just before serving.

Sweatshirt Jacket Class

Last week, my friend Barbara (the one with the beauty queen wave!) had some of us over to make this project. Another friend, Janie, taught us the technique and away we went. The pattern we used is called, "I Can't Believe It's A Sweatshirt", by Back Porch Press. I went a little overboard applying my fabric patches. The pattern said that we would have leftovers-not me! I even had to get into the ends I had cut off the fat quarters! I am really happy with the result. Now, how long until I can comfortably wear it in Central Texas?!

Thanks Barbara, Janie, Donna, Carol & Margaret for a very fun day!

http://backporchpress.com

Quilts For Kids

Well, they are finally finished and in the mail-Whew! Yes, the Quilts for Kids quilts are on their way to kiddos in Anywhere, U.S.A. It was really fun and the fabrics were great. When I read that the fabric was donated I had visions of double knit and Holly Hobby calicoes (insert shudder here!). I could not have been more wrong! Here's the link again, if you are interested:
http://quiltsforkids.org/volunteer/

Really Cool Story

The following is a story about my friend Gabriele's son. I believe that Jack is hope personified.
http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2010/may/12/er_methodist_day_school051310_96139/?features

Denim Crumb Catcher

Okay, enough celebrating, back to sewing!!! Here is a new project that I whipped up over the weekend. My fabulous friend Ardis follows many sewing blogs and sends me lots of fantastic ideas. Thanks, Ardis, please keep them coming! It is EXTREMELY rare that I have everything I need to make any one of them! I actually had 2 blue jean legs in my scrap bin so these are the result of that serendipity. These "Crumb Catchers" are larger than most and super simple. I cut the bottom 6" off the leg and squared off the bottom. It was kind of wonky because of the thickness, so I trimmed the points and inserted a piece of foam core covered with yet another scrap. Now, to acquire more blue jeans....

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all! I hope you all have a blessed day! The following is a slide show of some of the moms in my family. Thanks to each and every one of you for all you do and have done!

Kathy and the Selvage Blog

My friend Kathy is featured on Karen Griska's Selvage Blog today. Kathy is the president of our quilt guild and an amazingly talented quilter. She is one of the most prolific quilters that I have ever met and she also keeps up with what's current by following many blogs. Congrats, Kathy, your Blue Zinger is gorgeous!

http://selvageblog.blogspot.com/

Happy Birthday to my Mom!

Happy Birthday to my Hubby!

Here we are on our after dinner drive in the country. Happy birthday, babe!

Quote of the Week

"Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and discover they were the big things."
-Unknown

Birthday Cake Recommendation

If you are in need of an old school, out-of-this world birthday cake recipe or simply a chocoholic in need of a fix, this one's for you! I am performing my annual birthday baking ritual for my hubby. This cake is so chocolatey (is that a word?) that it is almost black. When topped with Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream, it is birthday cake perfection!http//www.hersheys.com/recipes/recipes/detail.asp?id=184&page=1&per=25&keyword=perfectly%20chocolate%20cake&omnituresearch=true&rectypecat=