I really wasn't abducted....

maybe hijacked...but not abducted.  We have been so busy these last few weeks.  I don't think I've ever had such a busy spring.  Day after day and evening after evening.  Today I think the roller coaster is slowing. 

We had a college graduation (summa cum laude...not to brag or anything but I'm sure thrilled), a board of education election (me...yup...took the plunge), and the middle child got a fabulous summer internship that takes him back to his college campus for the summer.  I miss that kid every day.  We are so proud of his accomplishments that I wouldn't dream of holding him back. 

My girls will be working away from home for the summer.  My plan is to sew, sew, sew.  I should be cranking out finishes at an alarming rate.  (Cross my fingers and knock on wood that something else doesn't dominate my days.)

In the mean time...I finished all 4 Silhouette pieces according to plan.  Sort of.  I stitched all 4 at the rate of one a month like I'd hoped but didn't finish-finish the last two until this month.  It's all good, though.  Nobody is keeping track...right? 

They are so cute but not so cute that I actually want to stitch any more.  The spring/Easter patterns are really cute but I passed on adding them to my stash.  At some point I have to decide I have enough of something.  Lord knows, I have enough* stash! 

 

*I know...'enough' is relative.  I have 'enough' for now. 

 

Can't wait to see what everyone else is stitching and sewing this summer. 

An inspired post.

I am killing time this morning until it's time to leave for some errands.  So, instead of making good use of my time, I am blog hopping.  (I visit my favorite blogs and check out the blogs they list as their favorites.)  I came across this post that inspired me to head to the basement and find my camera and take a few pictures of this book......

My well worn copy of Betty Crocker's Cookbook. 

 

Kelli writes about finding an old edition of this cookbook.  Somehow, from the picture, I doubt it's as well loved as mine.  She remembers her mother using this book and comments about what a good cook her mother is. 

 

Look at the binding of mine! 

 

The pages with the most spots and bends are a hint as to which pages I use the most.  This page has the recipe for apple crisp. 

 

I got my edition as a wedding present along with a cute apron.  Inside the front cover it says that it's the 3rd printing and published in 1987.  Not exactly a vintage book, but boy is it useful. 

Unlike Kelli, my mother was not a good cook.  I didn't learn much of anything about cooking while growing up so I needed a book with the basics.  Despite my love of cookbooks and the small collection I've managed to build over the years, Betty Crocker still comes out every Thanksgiving for tips on cooking a turkey. It has my favorite mac and cheese recipe and all the basic pie recipes you'll ever need. 

I'd say my second favorite cookbook is anything by Gooseberry Patch.  There are some great recipes in those books.  Hint...the little mini versions are often free or only $.99 on Amazon for download onto your Kindle or ipad with Kindle app. 

I'd love to hear about your 'go to' cookbook.  What do you like about it and what are your favorite recipes? 

Happy stitching (and cooking)! 

Chicks rule.

 

My newest  block of the month is Chick Jubilee.  I've ordered it from Shabby Fabrics.  It should be a fun one.  I got my first kit the other day but I didn't open it so I don't know which block it is.  They're all cute so it doesn't matter. 

Happy Stitching.

Progress.

I continue to make progress on my Sam/Sarah Advent pieces. 

 

I even stitched one extra this month.  I lost count of what's been stitched and they're so quick and easy to pick up that I just started another without counting. 

The exciting project is this quilt......The Great Pumpkin.  I mentioned this one last fall as trying to kill me.  No exaggeration, either.  That top band....huge.  The pattern was a nightmare, too.  I finally just tackled it step by step.  There is also a block in there that I had to create myself.  I don't know what ever happened to my July monthly block.  I either never got it or lost it.  It's hard to believe I lost it because I'm pretty darn organized.  It happened when I got home from Costa Rica and things were chaotic.  However I didn't discover there was a missing block until I was sewing the top together.  I simply let too much time go by to figure out what might have happened.  The store denied not sending one and I wasn't going to pay for another. 

 

 Anyhow, the quilting is amazing. 

 

Look at the echo around those stars. 

Enough time has gone by since I dropped the dreaded thing off at my quilters to make me happy about it.  Absense makes the heart grow fonder and all that. 

I am anxiously watching my mailbox for the newest block of the month I signed up for.  Suspense.....I'll track down a photo of the project for my next post.

Happy Stitching. 

As March winds down

with fresh snow on the ground I'm heading for points south today...woot.  Before going I finished my last* 2 Advent pieces....

 

Sorry about the shadow but I guess that's the way it goes some days.  No time to redo it, either.   I love that snowman.  He's not your average stationary snowman.  He looks like he's ready to come celebrate Advent with us. 

 

I have packed a long-neglected embroidery project.  Although, it's hard to say if I'll really have much stitching time. 

 

Happy stitching and happy spring...

 

*By 'last' I mean the two I needed to finish to satisfy this month's allotment of four. I still have 12 to go. 

 

 

Merry, Merry Snowmen

This was such a fun block of the month project by Bunny Hill Designs.

I finally got all the buttons attached.  Phew.  What a job.  I think that took longer than any of the blocks by them self.

This picture is after I'd been attaching buttons for a couple hours.  I was about half way done.

 

 One snowman with features, another without. 

 

 They are all so darn cute. 

 

Everywhere you look there are quilting designs that just 'make' the scenes.  Like this swirling snow.

It's hard to get an 'altogether' shot of the quilt.  As I was scrutinizing it, I noticed that one of my little corner snowmen was facing the wrong way.  It's not the one above.  I won't point it out plus there is no real rhyme or reason to how they face.  Nobody will ever know.

 

You can see why I love block of the month projects.  I'd never tackle this otherwise.

Off to run Monday morning errands. 

The half way mark.

We are at the half way point of the longest month of the year.  Technically, not so.  It just FEELS like it's one looooong month.  We're all itching for spring, mud season is still to come, and it's cold out with flakes in the air. 

I am at the half way mark with my Advent calendar project plus I've already finished my silhouette for this month.  Good thing, too, because I have some real demands on my time over the next 2 weeks plus a trip to Florida for spring break.  (I know, poor me....not.)

 

Girl with Teddy and the Advent pieces are titled 'bulb' and 'doll'.  Not real original but who needs it?  I've already started 'candle'. 

This is the month I'm doing 4 Advent pieces since it's such a long month. 

My house is settling back to normal now that the painters are gone.  We still have some re-assembly to do but that will come. 

No signs of spring in my neck of the woods either.  Well, that's probably not entirely true...wildlife is starting to wake up but no robins yet.  Last year we saw them in February.  I have set my sights on our return from Florida as a turning point in the season. 

Keep watching for a picture heavy post where I flaunt show you my latest quilt project.  It's one of the 2 block of the month projects from last year.  I just need to finish all the little details. There are a lot of little details!

Happy Stitching.