2015?

Really? 2015. That's the last time I posted? Where has the time gone?

After taking years off from quilting, I'm back!! And the fact that I am aging faster than I want, I really needed to start whittling away at the "stash". My daughter reminds me on a regular basis that she DOES NOT WANT TO HAVE TO CLEAR OUT THE SEWING ROOM after I pass. It will all go into the trash! Horrors!!

I have been quilting off and on, but my heart just wasn't in to it. Was busy at our local Moose Lodge, the Salvation Army and running our business. I have decided to step back from volunteering and now we help out at the Courage to Call Food Distribution, in San Diego, twice a month. They hand out food to Active Duty and Veterans. It is heart warming to be able to lend a helping hand.

Where to start? Over the years, I have been following several quilters and various Facebook "Quilter's" pages. So many beautiful projects out there. So I decided to start with a new project - Enchanted Garden by Jason Yenter. When it comes to applique, I prefer the freezer paper method. Yikes. When I got the first block of the month, I thought, I can't do this with freezer paper. Too many small pieces. So got on You Tube and learned how to do raw edge applique.

Got the block ready, now I had to decide how to finish off the raw edges. I decided to go with a straight stitch. I found it to be so relaxing. Anxious to do the next two blocks (before the 3rd on arrives in the mail). The colors are so pretty!

UFO's. We all have them. Again, applique, but with the freezer paper method. This is from the Checkerboard Flowers BOM. I won't tell you how long this has been sitting around. . . 

Lots more to share, but it will have to wait. 

Until later,
Heide

April Showers Mug Rug Hop

Note: This was a previous post - was deleting pictures no longer available and it updated with today's day. Oops! Hope to get back to quilting real soon!

Today is my day to participate in the April Showers Blog Hop. Mug Rugs are one of my favorite things to make. There is no limit as to what you can make. I think they are a great way to try a new technique before you commit to a full sized quilt. How many of us started a quilt to find out we didn't like it or got bored? Hence a lovely collection of UFO's!

Thought this lovely guy would be great to wake up to.

Rise & Shine!

 Recently, I met Nina at the San Diego VA Hospital. We had both entered their yearly Veterans Fine Arts, Applied Arts and Crafts Competition. She is quite the artist and not only entered three quilts but also entered other art categories. She placed first in her quilting category and I also placed first in another quilting category. Our quilts are on their way to the next level of competition. If you win at the National Level, the prize is an all expense paid trip to Reno for a week. Once there, you not only attend various art classes, but you also get to go on tours throughout the area. I am so hoping I win! What an opportunity. 

Back to Nina. She is in her 80's and what a nice lady. Wish I could remember what branch of service she was in. It was either the Navy or Air Force. (I was in Army) She shared one of her patterns with me and I thought it would be a nice to surprise her and send her the "Thank You" in the form of a mug rug. I don't know about you, but I really appreciate receiving a mug rug or a miniature quilt from a fellow quilter. We all know the time and cost involved in a quilt or hand sewn creation. 

Thank You!

I thought it would be fun to share one of our favorite cookie recipes. I got it from a friend back in PA in the 80's. I usually make this every couple of months. 

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
1 cup (2 sticks) margarine or butter, softened
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
3 cups uncooked oats (quick or old fashioned)
1 cup raisins

• Heat Oven to 350 degrees.
• Beat together butter and sugars until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well.
• Add the combined flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Mix well.
• Stir in oats and raisins; mix well.
• Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto an ungreased cookie sheet. 
• Bake 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheet. Remove to wire rack. 

Makes about 4 dozen. 

Enjoy!

Go over to Madame Samm's Pinterest page Pinterest

You will be so inspired! 

Thanks to Madame Samm at Sew We Quilt for her

time and effort to bring us together to

showcase our projects and talent.

And last, but not least,

 my heartfelt thanks to 

our Cheerleader

Erin

at  Sew at Home Mummy

Be sure to visit the other participants today. I can't wait to see what they all came up with!

Cathi @ Quilt Obsession

Jane @ Jane's Fabrics and Quilts

Heide @ Nutz4Redwork

Cherry @ Cherry'sPrairiePrimatives

Christine @ Quilt Monster in my Closet

Vickie @ More Stars in Comanche

Pauline @ Stekje

Jan @ Jan's Art Friendzy

Nissa @ Nissa Made Stuff

Robin @ As Sweet As Peaches

Lyndsey @ Sew Many Yarns

Eleni @ That Other Blog

Paul Revere Finally Got It Right!

Time to Shake Your Pom Poms!

Let me introduce my favorite little baker, Bentley. 

She is busy getting tea ready for her Grandma. 

When visiting recently, she found a scrap of material with "Lightening McQueen" on it in my sewing room. She got so excited. I was really struggling with what to make for the "Shake Your Pom Poms" and all of sudden Lightening struck!

I just wish Bentley was here to model her apron! Can't wait to see her expression when she opens her present. She'll have her own "Lightening McQueen". 

 If you are interested in making an apron for that special child in your life, go here.

Here's our new "favorite" dessert. 
I saw this on Facebook recently and if it has pineapple in it, I've got to try it!

Two Minute Hawaiian Pie
This pie actually does just take a few minutes to prepare.

1 20-oz can crushed pineapple, undrained

1 box instant vanilla pudding mix (3.4 oz)

8 oz sour creme

1 9-inch graham cracker crust

8 Maraschino Cherries

1/2 cup sweetened flaked coconut

1 small container of Cool Whip for piping

In a large bowl, combine crushed pineapple with its syrup, dry pudding mix and sour creme. Mix well until well combined. Spoon into pie crust and decorate top with pineapple slices and cherries, sprinkle with coconut. 

Pipe with Cool Whip if so desired. Cover and chill for at least 2 hours before serving. 

I made my own graham cracker crust.  This is how I did it. 

Pre-Heat oven to 375 degrees. 

1 1/2 cups crushed graham crackers

1/3 cup sugar

6 tbsp butter, softened

1/2 tsp cinnamon

Mix ingredients and pat into pie pan.  Bake for 7 minutes. Cool before adding your pie ingredients. (After I tried this yesterday, I don't think I'll ever buy another graham cracker crust. It was that good!) 

Thanks to Madame Samm at Sew We Quilt 

for her time and effort to help us showcase our projects and talent. 

And to

Thearica at

 PigtalesandQuilts.com

An Awesome Cheerleader!  
Look at what I won!

I won this neat Clover Pom Pom Maker from Thearica! 
Woot Woot

Here's my first attempt. 

All I have is this pink yarn, so anxious to get over to the craft store to buy other colors. 
And practice on making better Pom Poms. The one above is a little on the thin side!

The Clover Pom Pom Maker makes short work in making Pom Poms
and sure beats using cardboard!

Be sure to visit everyone in the Blog Hop today, 

so you can get inspired to 

Shake Your Pom Poms!    

April 24

Pig Tales and Quilts

in stitches and seams

CherrysPrairiePrimitives

Blooming Where I am Planted

Needled Mom

Sew Many Yarns

Moosestash Quilting

Nutz4Redwork

Thanks for stopping by!

My List of Things To Do Flew Out the Window Today

Every morning I get up, do a quick run though of my emails and surf the net looking at blogs mentioned that relate to quilting. Much to my dismay (really to my delight -- do I really need another project?), I found a new Quilt Along at Beaquilter. This one caught my attention and my list of things to do today were thrown out the window! I love star blocks. This is what I whipped up this morning. 

Block One --- Quilt Along At Beaquilter

Block two has already been posted at Bea's blog. This block involves paper piecing. Always takes me a minute or two to figure out the first two pieces, but after that I'm good to go and enjoy how crisp and sharp the points turn out. Can't wait to sew block two, but I need to go and find where the wind blew that list of things to do. Be sure to visit Beaquilter's blog today and check out the other star blocks and Bea's giveaway. You have three chances to win:

1. Be a participant and link up.
2. Goes to linky with most votes (non-participants, you need to vote)
3. Goes to a Non- Participant. Just comment on post and say you voted.

The deadline is 3/11/13.

DH Saves The Day!

Once again, my husband had to help me out of trouble! I get all these bright ideas, jump in with both feet and then he has to bail me out because I get stuck.

But the tide was turned yesterday, when he got arrested at the Moose Lodge's Annual Western Days. He was accused of bad cooking and a public nuisance. He needed my help to bail him out of jail!

Glad I bailed him out after all, as I ended up needing his handy, dandy assistance to help me finish  the Hope Stitchery project today.

Adding the Borders

 Wrapping the fabric around the frame was easy. It was getting the design centered, now that was a challenge. Thank goodness for the internet. Was able to find the directions on how to place and pull the fabric on the corners so that it laid  flat.  Trimming the batting from the corners helped reduce the bulk.

Ta Da!

And the lucky recipient is of the giveaway is

Gina

 

"Your dresden's are beautiful! The mug rug is my favorite with the stitched butterflies! Gorgeous! Thanks for participating in the blog hop and inspiring us! I'm from Alexander, Arkansas".

Gina, please email me with your mailing address,

 so I can mail your prize to you early next week.

Believe me, all your wonderful comments inspired me to clean the sewing room

and start sewing again.The creative juices are flowing again. 

You have no idea how much I appreciate it!

 

Stay tuned for the spring flower tutorial.

It will include applique and embroidery.

 I may even add a Dresden flower or two!