Catching Up.... On Quilts!

HURRAH, HURRAY!  

I've sewn the top together for the Jan Patek Miami Valley Album Quilt!

It'll look better after it's quilted, which, BTW, I have no clue how to

quilt this, but will come up with something. 

I LOVE IT!  It just warms my heart!

Another Must Have quilt kit arrived this week from Fig Tree Quilts!

I love this line of fabric!

The Fig Tree Fabric is called "California Girl".  It's so pastel

and wonderful, it makes ME feel like a California Girl!

See the Blue colorway?  It's pretty too-- looks like the beach. 

I think that's why they called it "Boardwalk"!

Look here, Honeydews, you can buy directly from

Fig Tree Quilt Company-- Click on the word HERE

to get to their website.  They are the SWEETEST

People to work with.

Now here's what I had to cut this week.  A quilt kit that was on the

backburner.  The pattern is from Cotton Way, called "Slice of Charm".

The white background squares are only 5 inches!  Oh Man!

So guess how big the pieces are???

Tiny.  And I had to cut them by hand using a template- WHEW!

Haven't done that in a LOOOOOONNNNGGGG TIME!

Actually had to use my scissors too!

Had to cut 64 of these shapes, then cut them into four pieces,

which makes:    256 small pieces (for the pies!)

This will be the final result!  I just could not

resist this kit, which was purchased about two years

ago, from Connecting Threads.  This fabric line is

called "Canning Day", which they have a few prints

left on clearance at their website.

This is American-made cotton and I really like it.

They sell it for 4.96 a yard, but it has a nice feel to it. 

It's not as high a thread count as some other quilting fabric,

but it reminds me of stuff my Granny Lil had.

I like it!  Don't be afraid to buy some.

Also at their website, you can use their "Kit Builder",

and you can plug in fabrics into a custom quilt kit,

using their fabrics.  Go and have some fun!

~

That catches me up on the quilt front for now!

XXOO,    BB

New Ironing Board Cover and Spring

I Finally stopped sewing long enough to re-cover my ironing board! 

Sewing things I actually NEED sometimes gets on

my nerves, because they take time.

I had to take time to do this project though, as my old

cover was torn.

It was easier than I thought it would be!

I followed Joanna Figueroa's instructions in her

Fresh Vintage (TM), FTQ#FV550, Issue #19

which you can get HERE.

Oh, and by the way- it's SPRING here!  The trees are

a'bloomin' and the robins are out in force!

But it's a blustery, humid day and we are

probably in for some storms today....

I love how the cover turned out!  It only took me about 30 minutes total!!

Which only took a little time out of my day!!

The fabric is by Joel Dewberry for Westminister Fabrics, Buttercup. 

LOVE IT!!

Did I mention it's Spring here?!!  These hyacinths

are from a single bulb I planted here

two years ago.  They're multiplying!

Happy Spring!!

OO- La La! - Beignets!!

I sort of fell in love with New Orleans, back in 1978 to be exact.

The plane I was on had a layover at the New Orleans airport.

I had time on my hands.

I decided to venture into the Big Easy- by myself.

This was back when a young person could do this by themselves,

and really not have to worry about much danger, as long

as you were aware of your surroundings.

I got a cab - I went.

I walked the cobbled narrow sidewalks,

walked past the baudy music,

heard the sights and sounds.

It was fascinating.

I ate at a little French restaurant on a side street.

I could only afford a salad, and it had anchovies in it. 

I didn't even know what they were, so I bit into one and oh

it was awful.

But in those few hours, I was enamored of the city, in all

its sinfulness.

Since then, I've visited the city, never for Mardi Gras, and seem more of what it had to offer.

The raised crypts in the graveyards, the Hurricanes (drink),

the wonderful food, and the river delta.  So much fun!

And I fell in love with Beignets.

Since I can't visit there, I can at least love what I ate there,

and even make it myself.  I made them for the first time over this

past cold weekend.  OH MAN-- they were SOOOO GOOOD!

and so so easy to make.

I kept saying to myself, if people knew how easy they are to make,

they'd make them!!

I tried someone else's recipe, so I have to tweak it and make it mine, and

once I have my own recipe,

I'll share it with you.

By the Way, I am watching my weight.  I've lost a pound so far and

have been able to keep it off for two weeks.  And I've still been able to

eat Beignets and drink my Chicory coffee!

Love ya- will write again soon, hopefully with the recipe and

instructions for you!

I Think I'm Cracking Up.......

 Who Can Resist These Impish Little Faces??

~

I know I can't.

~

Well, we've recently gotten through the latest round of severe weather.  Tornados struck far south of here last night, but I was no less prepared for the worst.

~

When getting warning of a line of severe weather coming my way, I take it very seriously, always have.  Ever since I was nearly in a tornado on Palm Sunday 1965.

~

I have an underground shelter where I live now, and I have my "plans" in place.

My plans are what to take with down into the HOLE.
~

It makes me feel like Alice (in Wonderland) in some ways.

By the way, if you like Alice, you can't miss watching Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland" movie.  It is FANTASTIC.  Believe it or not, it made me Cry.

Well, I'll try to make this long story short. 

~

What would you take with you if you had to survive a disaster?

Here's what I take with me into the HOLE:

Matches, water, flashlights, my purse, computer passwords and USB sticks with

my irreplaceable files, car keys.

AND  MY DOLLS.

~

Thats' why I think I'm cracking up.

I can't resist these little faces.

I can't bear the thought of them being lost

in a storm.

I almost think they each have a little soul,

and I would hate to lose them.

So I pack them, and their patterns,

into my

"tornado boxes"

and go down into the

HOLE

when the alarm sounds.

I have to agree with the Mad Hatter when he says,

"We're all a little Mad......"