Summer keeps getting in the way

I have every intention of blogging often, but it seems summer keeps getting in the way. I am not going to complain though because it took so long to get here. Soon the dark winter months will be upon us and there will be plenty of time to catch up.

Last week was the wedding week. My granddaughter Devon was married on Saturday. A beautiful bride, a outdoor wedding, a lot of last minute details to take care of. This also involved making her own bouquets, flower arrangements. She had the flowers deliver to my house on Wed.the shelves came out of the fridge and the flowers went in.




Friday we took over the club house for flower arranging, it was a family affair.

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Brides bouquet, a toss bouquet, 3 brides maids bouquets, 3 corsages, and 8 boutonnieres were made in 3 hours for a bunch of novices we did OK.

Now back to quilting..

I did get a chance yesterday to do some Crop Circles, http://idahoquilter.blogspot.com/2010/07/rusty-crop-circles.html yesterday. Hopefully I can finish up today with the quilting and get the binding on. I am anxious to say I have accomplished something, a UFO out of the way.

Happy Quilting!

Featured quilt, Where did the quilt go?

This quilt/cat photo was featured today at http://www.sewpictureperfect.com/ Thanks Jodi.
Jump on over mention that I sent you, she is having a " jelly roll "give away.

Okay now if I could only remember what I did with it or who I gave it to.

I obviously quilted it


I blogged about it January of 09

I know I finished it this photo shows borders and binding.

But where is it, who did I give it to?

Something to be said for keeping a log of your quilts, if for no other reason but for your own sanity.

I did in the past prior to blogging,

I better start again,

I wonder what I did with the log book I used humm.

Happy Quilting!

Rusty Crop Circles

In between summer chores, I am making Rusty Crop Circles. I am a little rusty at free motion.
As you can see I decided not to use sashing.

Feels good to be back at the sewing machine.

I have been away since I moved from Idaho, with the exception of a couple little commissioned kids quilts at Christmas.

Happy Quilting!

Hot Fudge Pudding Cake yummy

There must be something wrong with me,lol. So far this is going to be the hottest day of the year and I decide to bake something.
I am so hungry for something chocolate, something yummy and gooey. I was browsing through an old "Taste of Home" magazine and ran across this recipe, I just had to get up and make it right then.

1 cup flour
1 cup sugar divided
3 T plus 1/4 cup cocoa, divided
2 t baking powder
1/4 t salt
1/2 cup fat free milk
1/3 cup prune baby food
(No baby around here so I sauteed few dried prunes)
1 1/2 t vanilla
1/4 cup plus 2 T packed brown sugar
1 1/4 cup boiling water

1.In a large bowl combine flour, 3/4 cup sugar, 3 T cocoa, baking powder & salt
In another bowl combine milk,prunes, & vanilla.
Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened.
Spread into a 8" baking dish sprayed with cooking spray.
2. Combine brown sugar,with remaining sugar& cocoa; sprinkle over the batter.
Carefully pour water over the top (do not stir).
bake at 350 for 28-32 minutes or until top is set and pulls away from side of dish. Serve warm.


1 serving = 196 calories, great for such a yummy dish.

Happy Quilting!

Sewing room disorder and quilting block question

I have never been happy with my sewing room set up since I moved in. I liked it in front of the window so I could see out, but it all felt cramped.

I have shoved, tugged, and pulled the sewing table and desk all over the room.


My goal was to be able to see out the windows, have the desk up against the sewing table to make more quilting space, while working on larger quilts. I hate it when they slide off the table.

My solution was pull it all out in the center of the room, back to back, and now I can see out both windows and have a large work space.

I now have enough quilt blocks to finish the "mile a minute" quilt top. (I don't have them all on the wall) I had originally thought I would be using sashing.


But after trying it on I'm not sure I like it.

I like it better without, what do think.

I hope everyone had a wonderful 4th.

Happy Quilting!

Have a Fire Cracker of a 4th

Happy Birthday America!

Happy Quilting!

Before and After

The picture below is of the previous owners decor on the front porch, or should I say lack of it. Their style was overcrowded Southwest, not my taste at all.



Theirs:



Mine:

My next project is the side yard, I am getting rid of the red rock.

Not much quilting going on this week, I am taking advantage of the sunny days and working outside before the heat hits.

Have a Happy 4th and celebrate our Independence!

Happy Quilting!

Oh quit bitchin, it's sunny in Portland

At last we have had a full week of sunshine, do I dare hope it is going to stick around awhile?

Yesterday found me on my old stomping grounds. I took a short road trip to Carson Wa. in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge, where I once lived. My former neighbor a dear friend Marilyn, she still lives in her wonderful Victorian cottage. Marilyn was and is my quilting mentor, all I have to do is visit and the quilting bug bites again. Just being in wonderful quilting room with a wall of fabric on one side and a view of the Gorge on another is enough to brighten anyones day.

Next time I visit I will take my camera. the scenery on the way is wonderful.

(I do have a photo of Multnomah Falls from last fall, just a small sample of the scenery.

I dug out a neglected hand quilting project to take with me.

We sat and chatted for hours while I quilted and she cut out binding for her latest project.

We went to lunch at the Bungalow Tavern, a great place for a hamburger and a glass of cold beer. After lunch we toured her beautiful flowers and pulled weeds together for an hour or so.
When her former husband was alive they always had a huge garden, and a berry patch, with raspberries, and blueberries. (Marilyn took out the raspberries after her husband died, they are a lot of work) the blueberries remain and they are loaded with soon to be luscious dark blueberries. I see another visit in my future.. lol

Seems I never leave Marilyns' empty handed, or without a full belly, it may be a fat quarter, a quilt pattern, or the latest book. This time it was frozen blueberries, Walla Walla sweet onions, and a dress made from mud cloth she had purchased while in Africa.
Thanks Marilyn for sharing a wonderful lazy summer day with me.

Until next time,
Happy Quilting!

Where is the sun?

Well here it is a couple weeks have gone by without blogging.

I am now living in Portland where the wettest spring on record has just ran it's course.

Now we are moving in to more of the same for summer, according to the "National Weather Service".

I read that on-line yesterday and it actually took the wind right out of me.

Depression is setting in fast.

I kept saying this summer I am going to paint the kitchen cabinets, install crown molding, paint the master bath, finish the closet, and sit on the porch and have a cold drink. None of that is happening.

The flowers I planted a month ago are trying hard to bloom, that ain't happening either.

I feel guilty for complaining when so many others have it worse than this, but how does a person survive with out sun? We have had 4 full days of sun since April 1, unbelievable huh.

I have managed to dig out an UFO to work on, a "mile a minute" scrap bag project.

Happy Quilting!

Coming soon

It has been over a year since I blogged, where does the time go?

I will be updated my new adventures real soon.

I have moved to a new state, I am making new friends and missing the old ones.

Sadly quilting has taken a back seat to redo-ing my new living quarters. I thought maybe if I started blogging again, I could get back in the grove.

Happy Quilting!

Taking a break

I have had several inquiries about my absence. I am taking a short break from blogging while I prepare to move.

I have decided to move to Portland to be closer to my family, so there is much to do.

The sewing machine has been put away for awhile, I am still following what others are doing and can't wait to get re settled so I can start a new project.

In the mean time I will leave you with a few photos of my lastest quilt.

Rosebud Lane.

And a top topper I recently finished. This is a Thimbleberries pattern.