Free postage for Cyber Monday!

Take advantage, yes, it's free postage, even to Australia or Germany or anywhere else. Now is the time to stuff those envelopes ladies, and gentlemen! I have added some fun new charm packs and coated fabrics...they will be posted in the morning...lots of French General, new Grunge fabrics and some fun new little bitty charms!

I am having the free postage for cyber monday until December 1st. Thank you for supporting my little shop on etsy! Now, back to my never ending Christmas gift list~~Elaine

Christmas countdown

4 boys flannel Christmas quilts
    something special for the boys mommy who is not married to their daddy any longer. She has raised the boys into sweet decent children who kick butt playing football!

boy and girl flannel Christmas quilts
    dinner certificate for mom and dad

2 girl flannel Christmas quilts
    dinner certificate for mom and dad

queen size quilt, disappearing 4 patch using Momo fabrics for daughter and son in law, she went gaga over             Momo...good choice!

I already have a huge wee head start on most a few of the projects I listed. Wish me luck and stop laughing! I have a carrot dangling. My Christmas present just for me! Not pricey until you add the shipping! Half as much as the new Princess but what the heck. Sometimes you just gotta do what makes you happy. She makes me happy.

What kind of projects do you have going for Christmas?
                                                  

Hello, Pinterest...?

2 tea towels from Ikea, 49 cents each

                                                                                  Assorted buttons from the button tin, pennies each.

                                                                           










A neon flamingo kitchen nightlight, priceless.

Just another Pinterest moment in an unfinished remodel. I love it! Now back to my binding, just wanted to share!

The girls

The earth family came to visit over the labor day weekend. This is the original earthbaby "riding" Billy the Kid, our stud horse. She even has the proper head gear on. He has never been broke to ride so daddy and peepaw assisted her.

                                                                                                                                      

 Ok, I'm famished now, by peepaw, by Billy and daddy. I'm going to see what grams has for me.

Love watching this baby eat watermelon! I think it's a timeline for Alex, eating the melon! Next year will be both happy girls mooshing down melon!

     This our latest addition to earthfamily. Alex's little sister, Tatiana, who always looks like the happiest baby in the world.                                                                            

                                                                                  Alex and Tatiana had a great time, so did the grands! What did you do for Labor Day?

                                                                              






***update: on the last giveaway winner, Jen, who was on vacation, wrote to say she was home and was it too late, nah, never! She has sewn for 20 years but has no stash...yet. Congrats Jen, we'll hope to see some quilty pics from you soon.***

                                                                      

UFO no more!

 I straight line machine quilted this top. You may remember from several months ago, I made 2 of these tops, so one to go.

 I used Gulliver's Travels backing, 54" wide. The quilt is finishing in at 42" square.

I put a quirky binding on, French fold, originally 2.5" wide. I do most of my bindings at 2.5" wide, then toss the excess into a bin, only if it's a fair length. I like to make pieced bindings for baby quilts and  piece several lengths together. Do you ever do that with your leftovers?










I might be a wee bit more creative on the next top, who knows....take care~~have a great Labor Day.

not much going on...

...just sewing a binding down on an auction quilt for my grandsons parochial school,  and dreaming. I can't help but laugh when I am deep into the process of a quilt.

                                                      



I would pick up a vintage quilt at an antique shop or flea market and wonder what SHE was thinking while making this, I have no idea, but now I feel connected.

                                                                        



I guess we all have our dreams and secret thoughts.

I would have liked to drink a cup of tea with her.

I have liked to have traded a scrap or two so I could finish my quilt top.

In case you were wondering, this is the quilt my friend chose. She did however, wish to purchase the other quilt. They are off to the long arm lady to work her magic, can't wait to get them back. Have a great day, Elaine
                                                                                          
                                                                            
                                                                             

Jen is the 1st winner!

Jen is the layer cake winner, whooot, whooot!! Now if you other 3 sweet ladies would like a "package" in the mail, I would so like that, pop your snail mails to me via email:
echristian851@gmail.com
and I will happily pop it off to you. Thanks for reading, Elaine

Hmmm, maybe a charm pack of sew stitchy....

                                         
or maybe a sampling of Little Black Dress, aren't they gorgeous? If you do have a preference, Janet, Lizzie and BeeBee, please let me know before Monday when I send the packages out. Thanks for playing along,
have a great evening, Elaine

I messed up!

My friend at work was telling me a few months ago that she needed some "umph" in her bedroom, that maybe she needed to do "something" to make it more conducive to sleep. She works 3rd shift and needs to sleep during the day.

I volunteered to whip up a runner for her dresser. You know, 2 blocks wide, maybe 5 blocks long....










And like any good persistent quilter, it quickly went crazy on me and ended up growing into a king sized quilt top.....what was I thinking?

                                                                                            









It was a lot of fun!

                                                                                              I love making this string type of quilt, such freedom! Then it had to have a border of zebras, oh, and a lime green border on that.


It's finished. The top.

   King sized.










Now, for the backing, I thought about doing a pieced back.

                                                                                   You know where this is going, right? It grew on it's own. I took them to my long armed magician and she told me it wouldn't work, it would become wavy and I should make them into 2 quilts.

         I asked my friend which she would like, the first one or the second one.










So, here's the deal. Tell me which quilt top she chose. I'll pick a winner on Friday and pop a surprise in the mail for you. It could be a layer cake or...?  Enter more then once. Just let me know your email in your entry so I don't have to dig around for it.                                                                            

A little cooking please!

One of my favorite blogs is by a lady in Australia. I have followed her and loved reading her posts about cleaning house with non-chemicals, using natural ingredients; cooking with down home honest foods, nothing super expensive; she makes her own bread and soaps; knits dishcloths, sweaters, etc. She makes her own vinegars and ginger beer! Check it out when you have a bit of time, http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/
One of her latest posts was about making a hearty soup. Off to the farmers market for some root veggies. I found

                                                                    












new potatoes, , onions, , then to the grocery store  for carrots, a turnip, rutabaga (called a Swede by Rhonda~~who knew?) and flat leaf Italian parsley. Mine dried up in the heat/drought we had this summer. I wanted a parsnip but It's too early in the season, it's more of a fall veggie here in the US. So is the rutabaga but I found one. Guess what? It's imported from Canada and is coated in wax! WT....? That's ok, most of the veggies I saw in Canada are imported from the US! Now I'm laughing. Ok, on to cooking.

                                                                                  I followed Rhonda's recipe as much as possible. I made the meat balls from hamburger, I also used ground pork, she didn't, and was going to use that little package of ground turkey, but popped it in the freezer instead, maybe next time.

                                                                               I have never used barley before, strange, I guess I never thought about it. I love the flavor. Rhonda rinsed hers, I just used it out of the box. Was I supposed to wash it first? I cook with Quinoa. Oh dear. The Quaker made it, it must be ready to eat, right?

I popped 1/2 cup in the soup. Yummo!




I first cooked soup bones down with salt, pepper, water and a bay leaf, removed the bones and fed the meat to the Ferrel cats who eat snakes. I love them for that.

                                                                                I cut carrots, potatoes, rutabaga, onions, turnip and fresh parsley, put them into the new stock along with the barley, and simmered for a few hours.

Then I mixed the meats together with salt, pepper, fresh parsley, onions, minced garlic, bread crumbs and 2 eggs. I also grated up a small package of parmasean cheese and a healthy pinch of dried Italian herbs. (I had picked up on close out. It goes bad? Weird, but it was 1/2 price.)  I mixed very well and made meatballs about walnut size, per Rhonda, then added some to the soup and let them simmer gently for about 1/2 hour.

  I formed 2 cookie sheets full of meatballs and popped them in the freezer. I'll separate them into several baggies in the morning and will have them on hand for different dishes.   





This is the soup. It tastes so good. This recipe is a keeper! Let me know if you try this.

Then go see Rhonda and her awesome tutorials of a simple life lived frugally.                                                              

No difference

I was a bit disappointed with the colors showing in my quilt tops, kinda muddy and dark. So I tried another pic indoors....still looks muddy, hm?

Back to the drawing board....

                                                                                 

My days off

On my days off I had decided to tackle a few UFO's. I ended up with 3 tops, watched the cooking channel and stayed indoors. It's 105 F today. My lawn is suffering because we don't water. Our drought continues on. It didn's stop Billy the Kid from rolling in the sand to cool off. Now, to get them quilted...have a great week, Elaine

66"x82" or 9 patches with 8" squares

Christmas quilting

I am literally melting here...105 F today at one point. Then I just quit looking at the thermometer. I am trying to finish some long awaited UFO's, so dig them out, lay them out and jump right in.

I uncovered a substantial amount of 9" squares....what was I doing with those? They are now turning into disappearing 9 patch blocks.

It's so hot...I better get back to it. I'm in the beebalm virtual quilting bee and can hardly wait to start up again. These ladies are so talented and fun.





I have some 5" squares, well......a large shoebox full! I would like to make some disappearing 4 patches, but who knows when I'll get to that.

Are you working on UFO's too? Do you have any pointers to REALLY get them done? Let me know please. Have a great week...Elaine

June was NOT my month!

I am totally humbled. Beyond belief.

The first 2 weeks of June, I was home, on my couch, with pneumonia, back to work for a few days, then developed an earache to end all, doctor had no openings, off to the doc in the box*, finally "fixed myself" with Sudafed . Then I developed a strange rash....what the heck? I had spent an hour in the back yard with my buddy who was trying desperately to"go live with God", laying in the backyard with him for over an hour after work. I imagined chiggers, or fire ants....omg, it hurt, burned and was very unsightly. Off to work, one look and my nursing supervisor sent me home. Off to my doc the next day...shingles? I thought it happened around your trunk, in a half moon to circle spread, not on your shoulder, down and going to my back up into my hairline. Geez, starting week 3 of it now and finally beginning to subside.

Please, please if you have had chicken pox, go get the shingles shot! Don't even stop or put it off, GET THE SHOT!!!!

I want to go back to work, dig dirt in my garden and stop this damn whining! GO GET THE SHOT!

 She, or he, lives a few blocks away from us. Who knew? It's cute, kinda in a piggy sort of way. I need to do something besides watch the Food network channel. Hmm, pork? lol.

Let me know what you have been doing lately and do check out my dear friend and her yellow pinwheel quilt. I so covet that quilt! Awesome quilt. I hope Joanne reads this....hey Joanne, my birthday is coming up! Ok, fine, 7+ months from now. But it is so stinking cool!

Now, don't forget to get that shot...I just heard of a lady who was only 24 who got this horrid thing going. Yuck.

I am going to ignore and dig my quilt out that I am working on as a surprise gift for a dear sweet lady friend. Go sew something....
Elaine

My mini Moda bolts

It all started when I had small amounts, less then 5 yards, of Aneela Hoey Little Apples left, limited room to store them. I cut the cardboard bolt holders in half, folded the fabric, and rewound it! Just stinkin cute!
                                                                            

                                                                                 Same width as a big bolt, just folded over...fun, fun, fun! They are in my shop for $7.99 a yard, good sale, stock while you can.

Do you pinterest?

Of course you do, unless you never go to a computer. It is very addictive, much more then facebok or blogger. Who knew a box of something dipped in chocolate and or a cup, glass or mug of something, then go straight to The red button on the bottom.

                                                                       in case you need something else to lighten you day, check this one out: It's June, lets get married!!



     

another look at Decoration Day

BeeBee from Lousiana wrote:

Memorial Day is a special day that all Americans should observe.
I visited Normandy, France a few years ago. Standing in that cemetery was a very moving experience. In all directions for as far as you could see there were white crosses with our American boys who gave their lives to help make our world a safe place. Each cross had the name and state of each one. I cried as I walked through all those crosses. I thought about all the families of most of the men buried there that never got to see their head stones. Such a great sacrifice that everyone needs to remember!
God Bless America and those that keep it free!

                                                                                   Couldn't have said it better.

Memorial Day

When I was growing up, as a little girl, I have little memories that peek through, MY visions from the past. I have memories from my early years, of going to the cemetery to put flowers on graves. Where I grew up, in the Pacific Northwest, we took local flowers, fresh cut from the garden, put into a coffee can, wrapped in aluminum foil and placed on the floor of the car between my feet. Then off we went to find the graves....so disrespectfully running through the cemetery, to find the Great-Grandparents, cousins, uncles and my sister. Grandma would take over the flower "vase" and walk to the graves. She would pull weeds, whack stubborn grass and make things nice. She didn't talk much during these poignant moments, paying respect and grieving her way silently. I would love to hear her stores on the way home.  Slowly grandma would drive through the cemetery, out of respect for those left there, and go back home. Off to the one side were the little American Flags for our veterans. We have a small cemetery about 2 city blocks near our house and is decorated nicely for this day of Remembrance.

I also popped, literally, a pork roast in the oven. I should never watch Pioneer Woman on the food network! pop pulled pork roast with a can of Chipolte peppers in adobo sauce, 2 cans of Dr.Pepper, brown sugar....oh my. Cole slaw with green and red cabbage and fresh cilantro, topped off with home made au gratin potatoes. I wished you could be here for dinner...

                                                                               
               What kind of Memorial Day memories do you have?                                                               

Babysitting the girls

I'm so excited...babysitting tomorrow so mom and day can get some work done, packing and moving. They are so much fun to be with. I better take my camera. Hope your day is as fun as mine...Elaine

Yep, earthbaby is now a big sister!

For all my friends and family who have mothers, are mothers or wanna be's,
              Have a very Happy Mothers Day
                              I miss my mother and grandmothers today. But the memories are there. My son sent me this, on facebook, it's great.

                                                                             mom

I'm up to my eyeballs in a kitchen remodel and trying to help my earthfamily pack up and move. It's going to be challenging this month. My little girl has a birthday today...and she is more beautiful each year, happy Birthday Princess, mommy loves you! Am I the only one whining about not quilting? I hope so. Take care and celebrate,
Elaine

Block 1 of the next 12....almost finished.

Helen's quilt is going to take 12 more blocks and this is the first of them. I will add some buttons to her dress, the collar, white "tabs" on the dress shoulders and waist, tails for the kite, bubble bottle and wand. Hmm, seems like a lot of work but it has been enjoyable and it does go quicklty. I only wish my fingers would co operate with me.

Our pear trees are beginning to bloom and then it snow/sleeted a wee bit tonight! It didn't last, whew! Back to stitching, wish me luck, Elaine

Finally....the center blocks are done!

I think this has taken nearly a year, but is such a labor of love. Helen has her 84th birthday on Sunday and I am going to take it over to her. She gets to see it, then back home with me to finish up. I have 12 blocks around the these blocks and have the first of them nearly done. I really struggled over the embellishments on the doll block, and finally settled on what you see.

                                                                             

A lot of the embellishments are from Helen's sewing room...hope she likes it. Happy Birthday girlfriend!

Some new pics of the paperdoll quilt for my bff, Helen, who reminded me she will  be 84 very soon...

                                                                                                                                                                             Just a little progress. Now, go sew something Elaine...lol!