SPRING STORMS

We had a very nice weekend and celebrated our 5th anniversary with a steak dinner in a nice restaurant in Rolla.  They kept the homemade rolls and honey butter coming and we were beyond full when we left. 

Yesterday I took a drive to our little fabric shop here in town and they were unpacking a new shipment of fabric and I got first go at it!  I was shopping primarily for backing for small quilts, but I caved and bought some shamrock prints because I always intend to make a special quilt or runner for St Patrick's Day. 

The white fabric on the right is white-on-white shamrocks.  I'm thinking a table runner would be nice.  Normally I don't do quilts specific to any holiday, but table runners are a nice way to add some interest to the table and they are not a long commitment of time to make. 

I had a major computer crash yesterday and I'm using Jeff's computer today while I shop for a replacement.  It looks like all the new computers are loaded with Windows 8 and I understand it's a nightmare to learn.  I may look for something on the back shelf that has Windows 7!

Wishing you blessings and a day filled with Peace & Plenty!!    Barb



 

ON A ROLL!

It feels so good to be sewing again!  Last time I posted a picture of a small quilt made from Sweet Tooth charm squares.  I had the striped fabric for the borders in my stash but couldn't quite come up with the right backing fabric.  Backings are important to me because if they look nice enough I will flip a bed quilt over for a few days for a change of color and design.  I made a quick trip yesterday to the small fabric store in our little town that's morphing into a real quilt shop and the top picture will be the backing.

Balloon fabric for backing

A few blocks and the striped border

I think this will make for a happy quilt regardless of which side is up.  I will make the backing and binding today and start  on my next small quilt, a Disappearing 9-Patch.  More on this later.

Our 5th anniversary is tomorrow.  The years with Jeff are flying by.  I am a woman most blessed.

I wish you a day filled with blessings.....Barb

SWEET TOOTH

It's been a slow week for me so far.  After too much physical work over the 3-day weekend, I'm feeling more like myself today.

There's nothing like bright fabrics to make me smile and feel good about things again.  I love making small quilts for kids, but our family has no little ones until great-grandbabies come along.

Here's a little quilt I'm working on for a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit in St Louis.  

This is simply 5" squares framed with 2" strips of solid cotton.  The centers are from the Sweet Tooth fabric line.  I think the fabric is cute for a young boy or girl.  I had the border fabric and the solid strips in my stash.  Once I decide on a backing it will be ready to be quilted.  I'm thinking of making a matching pillowcase to go along with the quilt.

I recently picked up the first issue of Quilting Quickly and got so much inspiration from the beautiful projects I feel like a new quilter again!  I

Wishing you a wonderful day of quilting....  Barb

                          

ANOTHER OLDIE

The past two weeks have been so crammed with appointments and short trips out of town I've hardly had time to catch my breath.  Things should begin to settle a little now.

It's only 8 degrees here this morning.  I think a hot bowl of oatmeal would be perfect today. 

Somehow I have managed to sneak in a few quick sewing sessions lately.  I'm currently working on a child's quilt for an intensive care unit in St Louis.  I love sewing for kids, whether it's clothes or quilts!  I will post pictures later on this one.

Last week I put an old family quilt on our bed for the winter.  I love how the colors blend.  Normally I like the fabrics in my quilts to have a lot of contrast, but this particular quilt looks perfect with the colors melting into each other.

The colors are cream, teal, shades of rose/burgundy and gold.  It is hand pieced and hand quilted and it's one of our favorites.  The bed always looks dressed up with this quilt gracing the top!!   It's a dream to sleep under.  

The morning is calling me to get moving.  Until next time I wish you a day filled with Peace & Plenty!!

ICY MONDAY

Today is the coldest day of the winter so far.  It's almost noon and our temperature is still in the teens.  I just made a trip to retrieve our mail and it was hit and miss on our icy gravel road.  Luckily I made it back home safe and sound.  It would have ben a real shame to slide off the road with only junk mail in the box waiting for me!

This is the time of the year when everyone everywhere seems to have the 'bug'.  Whether they are sneezing, blowing or coughing, everyone seems to have something or are getting over it.  I try to limit my exposure to the public at large at this time of year, but today we have to take Hubby to the doctor for a scan, because of his 'bug' he's had for far too long!  Whoever invented Kleenex tissues did a good thing!  I am taking along a new quilting magazine to keep my nose in while I'm waiting.  Without fail I always end up with someones child on my lap everywhere I go and today will be no exception.  Who can say no to a child, even one with a drippy nose and cough.  My daughter tells me this happens because I exude a grandma vibe! 

This is definitely the season for big pots of hot soup and if they are homemade so much the better!  Lately I've been loving homemade potato soup.  Here's my recipe:

1 bag (32 ounces) frozen southern style hash browns (cubes), semi defrosted (about 6 cups of diced fresh potatoes can be used instead)
1 cup chopped onion
I medium carrot, grated
1 cup minced celery, with a little bit of leaves if you have them
3 cups water
1/4 cup butter
2 teaspoons seasoned salt
pepper to taste
3 cups whole milk or half & half, or a mixture of both.  Even 2% milk works!

Bring the water to a boil in a large pot and add the minced celery and cook about 5 minutes.  Add onion, carrot, potatoes and salt and pepper and cook until the potatoes are tender (about 15 minutes).  Add milk or cream and cook until slightly thickened over low heat.  Puree about half of the soup using a blender (regular or immersion type).  NOTE:  The frozen hash browns I used are just cubes of potatoes, no peppers or seasonings).

Serve with crisp bacon crumbles and shredded cheese if desired.  YUM!

This sounds almost good enough to eat, so I am heading for the kitchen to make us a batch!  I always keep the frozen potatoes on hand just for this recipe.

Stay warm, stay well, and eat lots of soup! 

Until next time I wish your bushels of Peace & Plenty!

OLD MAN WINTER

Miss Molly (our 14 yo Scotty) and I are up extra early this morning (4 am).  We went outdoors and within a few seconds I felt like a popsicle.  The thermometer on the porch read 16 degrees and it's sleeting and very windy.  Needless to say, Miss Molly didn't want to linger outdoors either.

I rather enjoy days like this when I don't have to work outdoors or drive anywhere.  This is a good morning for a hot breakfast of bacon or sausage, eggs and pancakes, all washed down with a pot of coffee.  Cinnamon rolls would smell great baking on a day like this.  Later today I plan to cook a large roast with potatoes, onions and carrots.  This will feed us today and at least one more meal plus sandwiches for Hubby's work lunches this week.  Let's not forget a few bites for Molly.

On days like this I love to lock myself in my sewing room and work on my latest project.  I haven't done much of this in 2013, but I'm getting motivated to sew again.  I'm excited about making a few quilts for the PICU at Cardinal Glennon in St Louis.  I love to make quilts for children because there are so many happy and colorful prints to choose from.  Here are a few I recently bought ~~

From Scooby-Doo, to crayons, bugs and pinatas, the prints are so much fun!!

Whatever your Sunday brings you, stay safe and enjoy the day!

THINKING OUT LOUD

I would like to extend a warm welcome to several new followers.  Make yourself comfortable here and leave a comment when you can.  I love hearing what you have to say!

I have written here about setting personal and quilting goals for 2013. All of that is well and good, but can someone give me a shot of ambition so I can get going!  Sometimes I think I just have too much of a good thing that it becomes difficult to focus and get started.  Oh, I'm certainly not complaining ~~ just thinking out loud.  When you get to a certain age you have be careful about thinking (or talking to yourself) out loud!!

Have you started working on your 2013 projects or are you finishing up some of your 2012 (or before) projects that are haunting you?  I wish I was the type of sewer that can begin and finish a project before even thinking about the next one.  I thought giving my sewing space a good clean and putting everything in order would be what I need to get sewing, but all I've done so far this year is to buy more fabric for more projects.

It has been about a week since I have been able to post pictures here due to a glitch with Internet Explorer and Blogger.  My wonderful daughter found a way for me to work around that glitch until it is resolved.    

I'm tickled to show you a picture of one of my upcoming quilts using the gorgeous Kaffe Fassett prints sent to me by a dear friend whose blog is Mylifeasaquilter.blogspot.com.  Be sure to check out her blog.

The name of this pattern is Feathers and it uses strip and template piecing.  The fabrics are glorious and I can't wait to see what kind of feathers they make!

Some quilters are afraid of bold prints, but when prints are cut into small segments they take on a whole new look.  Maybe next week I can get started.  Until then I'll be rattling around here thinking out loud!

Wishing you a wonderful weekend filled with fun, peace & plenty!    Barb 

PAYING IT FORWARD

There has been a lot on TV and on quilting forums lately about doing random acts of kindness, also known as 'paying it forward'.  I know that there were many times in my life when I was the recipient of random and not-so-random acts of kindness that I could not repay at that time.  I always vowed to myself that when I was able I would repay the good that was done for me. 

If you have been a follower of my blog for a while you will most likely remember the giveaway in November when we drew names and 18 followers received a table runner.  This was a tiny 'payback' of the huge debt of kindness I owe others. 

One of the most valuable things I was taught as a child is to always give with an open hand ~~ in other words, give without expecting to receive anything back.  Since I did the table runner drawing I have been blessed repeatedly with beautiful fabrics sent from a follower who has become a special friend.  You will remember a week or so ago I posted pictures of a fabulous Fall quilt kit that I won in a drawing (see Winner Winner chicken Dinner!).  It's a glorious kit with loads of fabulous fabrics and I LOVE it!!  Thank You!

Yesterday my mailperson delivered a mysterious looking package to my door and inside was the MOST INCREDIBLE Kaffe Fassett fabric collection from a dear friend, Jeanne, from Oregon...thank you Jeanne.  You will never know how much this thrills me...very generous of you!!!  

Thanks to all of you for being patient while I sorted out my problem with posting pictures.  With the help of my smarter-than-her-Mom daughter we found an alternate way for me to post them!

Wishing you a New Year filled with Peace & Plenty  ~~   Barb

A CLEAN SLATE

Doesn't it feel like the calender turned to 2000 just yesterday?  It's officially 2013 and with that we have a clean slate of a new year to fill up with love, creativity, hard work and caring for each other.

For myself, I plan to begin working on a long-term UFO that's been pushed aside because one of the border strips was lost ~ I have no idea how this happened.  Rather than rip off the three borders already attached, I've decided to apply an orphan fabric as the fourth border in true 'make-do' fashion.

I love small quilts and I also love Log Cabin quilts.  When this one is done it will measure 25" square.  The tiny corner blocks measure 3 inches finished...I like a challenge from time to time!  It's made from scraps and will be used as a table topper. 

UFO's are going to play an important role in my quilting agenda in 2013.  Let's see how this goes.....!

Wishing you a highly creative and fun 2013!

                                            Peace & Plenty
                                                     Barb