Summer Sunshine

Quilt for Abuela

2011-12-23T23:29:00.000-08:00

Last summer my husband started making plans to go visit his Grandmother. When he started making his plans, he requested that I make her a quilt. The only information he gave me is he wanted it to be her favorite colors: pink and purple. I picked up this fabric at a local quilt shop that was having a moving sale. It is Eden by Lila Tueller for Moda. The pattern is Diamond Diva by Heather Mulder Peterson. I love her patterns. I originally picked up this pattern to make a quilt for my family room (which I haven't done yet). This pattern was so easy to piece and went together nicely. While this quilt isn't done in colors I would choose for myself, I am very happy with the results. I will be using this pattern for my family room quilt.

In other news, I picked up some beautiful Christmas fabric today that will match my family room perfectly.

Ready, Set, Snow Stocking

2011-12-11T16:37:00.000-08:00

I was out shopping for fabric one day, and I saw the Ready, Set, Snow fabric by Me & My Sister. I loved the colors and whimsy of it! Immediately, stockings for my kids came to mind. I bought a jelly roll and a few yards of some of the different fabrics. I finished this up, and decided I wasn't in love with it. It is just a little too small, and I'm not sure I love the diamonds, either. So I ended up giving this away. My daughter was so disappointed that I gave it away. So this week, I will be making stockings that look a lot like this, only longer.

I am hoping to have enough fabric left to make a little Christmas quilt for the kids to snuggle under.

Last Minute Skirt & Headband

2011-12-11T16:06:00.000-08:00

I think this skirt is adorable and will likely make this again in the future. The story behind why I made it, not so adorable. My husband was getting ready to go out of the country on business several weeks ago. I knew this. What I did not know, and what he did not tell me is that he would likely be seeing his cousin and her daughter while he was there. They live in a different country, thus, I didn't think he would be seeing them.

We had gone out shopping that day, for several hours and several different stores.

At about 8:30pm, the kids were in bed, and he is packing his suitcase. My husband comes to me and says, "I am going to see M & A. Do we have any presents for A?"

Me: "No. When I asked you about this a month ago, you said you weren't going to see her. Why didn't you mention this when we were shopping today?"

Husband: "Do you think you could make something for her before I leave in the morning?"

This is the result of digging through my fabric stash and pinterest. It's a good thing we have pinterest.

I know it isn't a great photo, but I didn't have the option of waiting for daylight to take a good photo.

The fabric is Sultry by Basic Grey. I wish you could see the true colors of this fabric, so pretty. The skirt tutorial is from The Crafty Cupboard and is her Lovey-Dovey Skirt. This skirt was a breeze to make. I followed the tutorial exactly, no time to reinvent the wheel. The not fun part was fighting with my old-and-worn-out-machine.

Less is More Silhouette Challenge - Week 42

2011-11-20T07:59:00.000-08:00

I recently came across the Less is More challenge blog and was immediately smitten with the beautiful and simple cards I saw. I didn't have time to complete the challenge last week, so this is my first attempt at the Less is More challenge. The theme this week is "Silhouettes". I love the idea, but this was much harder than I thought it would be.

The flower silhouette is from a CTMH stamp set "Treasure Life" and the sentiment is from a CTMH stamp set "You're Invited". The black ink is CTMH black. The cardstock for the card is a DCWV textured white cardstock. The cardstock with stamped image is Bazzill Basics Coconut Swirl. The black is from my stash and have had it forever.

Finished! - 2 x4 Christmas trees

2011-11-14T11:19:00.000-08:00

Sorry it took so long to get this posted, but I did finish it on Thursday! These are just the first two I made. Ya know, to make sure it was going to work out OK. I am making a whole slew of these trees to give as neighbor gifts this Christmas (along with some yummy treat). I am considering putting a little garland of red berries. Now, I just have to find a tiny garland of red berries.

I loved the wood block trees I saw on The Wood Connection blog, but I don't live anywhere near there. And, I recently got a double bevel compound miter saw, so I thought a wood block tree with angled edges would be more fun to make. These were easy and fun!
The only hard part was getting the stars right. I started out buying some pre-cut wood stars and they didn't work for a variety of reasons. In the end, my good friend, Kathy, cut the stars for me with her scroll saw. So much better.

A little bit of everything and a whole lot of nothing

2011-11-10T07:20:00.000-08:00

I find that I am starting a lot and finishing nothing lately. Not good. Must prioritize and focus.

I will finish at least one project today. Come back tomorrow to find out what it is! I wonder what it will be.

Mini Quilt Challenge

2011-11-03T17:50:00.000-07:00

As I was browsing through the Bloggers' Quilt Festival, enjoying all the quilty goodness, I came across Amylouwho and her Mini Quilt Challenge. I totally relate to the not quilting as often as I would like because it takes too long to complete a big quilt. I now have to figure out what I am going to make!

What are you making?

Patriotic Table Topper

2011-11-03T17:23:00.000-07:00

I love the Bloggers' Quilt Festival! It's so fun to see what everyone is making.

This year, my favorite quilt is actually a table topper. I love this block and thought it would make a fun patriotic table topper. It turned out so much better than I thought would! I made a few mistakes when calculating the border, and I am OK with that. It is a lesson I won't forget any time soon!

I machine quilted this topper. I don't love machine quilting on my machine, but I like to hand quilt even less. There are a variety of fabrics in this quilt, some from my stash and some fat quarters I picked up over the summer. Overall, I am happy with the results, and I definitely learned something in the process.

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T05:28:00.000-07:00

This wreath is one of my favorite projects I have completed lately. It's hard to get a good picture because the entry is dark and the wreath is dark. Hope you have a fun day planned!

Quilting on the Rim - Quilt Retreat

2011-08-28T20:15:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I spent a delightful weekend at Quilting on the Rim in Linden, AZ. Pictured below is the charming house we stayed in. Barbara is a delightful hostess and an excellent cook. All of the food was absolutely delicious! Fortunately, she is working on a cookbook. I can't wait to get my hands on that!

Here are a couple of projects that some of the other ladies were working on. There were six people in our group and I failed to get a group photo. Boo!

This was one of Sue's many projects. She is a speed demon on her machine. I think she probably accomplished more than anyone at this retreat!

Kathy is another speedy one. She put together 29 blocks from a Block of the Week program she signed up for! This quilt top is for her guest room, and absolutely perfect for the space. Can't wait to see this one finished and in its new room!

This is my daughter's Christmas quilt. At least it will be, once I get it quilted. I precut all of my fabric and sewed the entire top at the retreat. This quilt will go on her bed at Christmas time. The fabrics are The Caroler by Mary Engelbreit for Moda. I bought the fabric a couple of years ago, and life got in the way. Now that the top is done, I am sure my daughter will be getting this for Christmas this year.

It really was a great weekend, productive and fun! And to top it all off, we booked our weekend for next year while we were there!

Jefferson's final words to America on her Jubilee

2011-07-04T15:56:00.000-07:00

SALT LAKE CITY -- In 1824, President James Monroe extended an invitation to the Marquis de Lafayette, a Revolutionary War hero, inviting him to come to America for an extended tour of the nation he helped liberate. Monroe’s hope was that this visit would launch Jubilee festivities and help instill the spirit of 1776 in a rising generation.

From the moment he arrived at Staten Island, America rolled out the red carpet to the French “adopted son” of her beloved George Washington. As he toured all 24 states, he discovered the extent of America’s gratitude. Children, colleges and cities had been named for him, and monuments to him were found across the nation’s expanse.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

Most poignant was the attention Lafayette paid to Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington, and to the family of his deceased but adored friend. He spent time at Monticello as well, visiting Thomas Jefferson in his home, and for a few days, two lions of liberty were again assembled.

The mayor of Washington established a Jubilee Committee to plan a 50th celebration for the nation's capital. Similar celebrations were planned for cities throughout the 24 states, but the mayor of the nation’s capital had the clout and distinction to request the attendance of a special set of guests. The three surviving signers of the Declaration of Independence — Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and Charles Carroll — were invited, as were the surviving past presidents of the United States, which included Jefferson and Adams as well as James Madison and James Monroe. None were able to attend that day, but the request for their attendance reminds us that they remained larger than life, a nation’s last physical connection to its past.

Each wrote letters of regret that ran in Washington’s newspaper, The National Intelligencer, on the day of the Jubilee, July 4, 1826. It is in reading Thomas Jefferson’s letter that we capture the final mindset of the author of the Declaration of Independence and his charge to a nation he would soon leave behind.

Ill and bed-bound, his words did not flow easily, as his heavily edited first draft reveals, but he persevered until the passion and spirit that consumed him in 1776 again revitalized his mind. The final version, written and sent on June 24, 1826, is below.

Declaration of Independence

Respected Sir: The kind invitation I received from you, on the part of the citizens of the city of Washington, to be present with them at their celebration of the Fiftieth Anniversary of American Independence, as one of the surviving signers of an instru-ment, pregnant with our own and the fate of the world, is most flattering to myself, and heightened by the honorable accompaniment proposed for the comfort of such a journey. It adds sensibly to the sufferings of sickness, to be deprived by it of a personal participation in the rejoicings of that day; but acquiescence is a duty under circumstances not placed among those we are permitted to control. I should, indeed, with peculiar delight, have met and exchanged there congratulations, personally, with the small band, the remnant of that host of worthies who joined with us on that day, in the bold and doubtful election we were to make, for our country, between sub-mission and the sword; and to have enjoyed with them the consolatory fact that our fellow citizens, after half a century of experience and prosperity, continue to approve the choice we made. May it be to the world, what I believe it will be, (to some parts sooner, to others later, but finally to all,) the signal of arousing men to burst the chains, under which monkish ignorance and superstition had persuaded them to bind them-selves, and to assume the blessings and security of self-government. The form which we have substituted restores the free right to the unbounded exercise of reason and freedom of opinion. All eyes are opened or opening to the rights of man. The general spread of the light of science has already laid open to every view the palpable truth, that the mass of mankind has not been born with saddles on their backs, nor a favored few, booted and spurred, ready to ride them legitimately, by the grace of God. These are grounds of hope for others; for ourselves, let the annual return of this day forever refresh our recollections of these rights, and an undiminished devotion to them.

Nine days later, this brilliant, questioning mind took its final rest, leaving behind counsel that remains timeless and timely. May we all reflect and remember.

- Laura (LC) Lewis for ksl.com

Family Fun!

2011-06-16T09:14:00.000-07:00

For the last 10 days, my family has been here visiting. We had such a good time! We spent a lot of time at the pool, ate really good food, and had a birthday party for my sister. I made this birthday banner for her using purple cardstock (her favorite color), zebra print glitter paper, white cardstock, ribbon and vinyl lettering from Cinderella Suzy's. She has a lot of really cute things on her blog. Check her out!

Table for the Entry

2011-05-08T20:17:00.000-07:00

We bought a house a year ago. A big house. A house that is way bigger than anywhere we have ever lived before. And, we need furniture. A lot of it. In all my searching, I came across the most wonderful website with free furniture plans! I am sure many of you know about it, but it was news to me. I found Ana White and her wonderful plans.

The plans for this console table can be found HERE. Please go check out Ana White and her plans at http://ana-white.com/

The only change I made, or rather, omission is the shelf on the bottom. The directions were clear and easy to follow. It was a good beginner project. I will definitely be building more things for our home in the future.

What I'm Working On

2011-03-17T12:44:00.000-07:00

This is the second block I am working on for the Winter Wonderland quilt by Crabapple Hill. I saw this quilt and decided to learn embroider. I'm not great at it, but I enjoy it. Plus, it's a great project for hanging out with the hubby in the evening after the kiddos are in bed. I don't have much time for crafty anything these days, but that's OK.

I have been busy having fun with my little guy.

Pardon my dust

2011-03-06T18:13:00.000-08:00

It appears it is time for me to really get my act together and make this blog look the way I want it to look. This will take some time, so bear with me during this construction phase.

Girly Car Seat Canopy

2011-02-24T21:15:00.000-08:00

A while back I made a car seat canopy for my little guy. My daughter's Kindergarten teacher saw it, and immediately wanted one for her upcoming arrival, so I made her one. This one is my favorite! It's so girly and fun! I think I need another girl.

Of course my husband freaked out a little when he saw this canopy on our little guy's car seat, mostly because I told him I made it for our little guy. :-)

Pay It Forward Challenge

2011-01-22T16:14:00.000-08:00

My friend over at Katherine's Chronicles is having a Homemade Pay It Forward Giveaway. I thought it sounded like fun, so here we go:

I promise to send something handmade to the first 4 people who leave a comment here.
To be eligible, you must also post this on your blog, offering the same thing to 4 other people.

The rules:
It must be handmade by you (me)
It must be sent to your 4 people (you!) sometime in 2011

I promise to send you something fun! Leave your email address and a link to your blog in the comments.

Snowman Quilt - Finished!

2011-01-08T21:10:00.001-08:00

I loved this quilt when I finished piecing it, but life got in the way (new house, new baby) before I could get it quilted. I finished the top over a year ago and just got it quilted a few weeks before Christmas. I got to quilt this myself at my friend's house. It was so much fun!

The back didn't come out quite like I planned, but I still like it. I had planned for the pieced part to end in colors other than red, but I didn't do the math quite right. At least I learned something for the future.

The pattern is "Done in a Jiff" by Heartspun Quilts. The fabric is Holly Jolly Snowmen by Kathy Schmitz for Moda. You really must check out Kathy Schmitz's blog! Her chalkboard doodles are so fun! I think I need a chalkboard...

Ice cube soap

2010-12-18T10:18:00.000-08:00

I saw these ice cube soaps on marthastewart.com a while back and wanted to make them, but didn't really want to do it for the guest bathroom in our rental house. Mostly because of the weird colors. Now that we have our own house with a bathroom just for guests and a color scheme I like... This turned out way better than I thought it would! And it only took an hour from start to finish.

Julia Skirt - Finished!

2010-12-13T06:38:00.000-08:00

I love this skirt! The pattern was simple and the directions were clear. This is an excellent beginner project. Unfortunately, this picture does not do it justice. (My daughter thought this was a waste of her time and only let me take a couple of pictures.) I used taffeta and satin to make it a little dressier for her Christmas concert.

I can't wait to try another pattern from Modkid. I think I will try Penny...

or maybe Maddie...

Julia Skirt

2010-11-30T08:00:00.000-08:00

This is what I am working on:

Isn't it adorable? I can't wait to show my version to you! I originally bought this pattern with the intention of making it for my daughter's first day of school, but then we decided to send her to a different school. This school has horribly masculine uniforms. Just before Thanksgiving break, the school sent home a letter telling us there is to be a Christmas concert and the kids will NOT be wearing uniforms! I am so excited! Silly, I know, but I just love cute little girl clothes.

This, I am sure, will be an adventure, as I have never made a skirt from a pattern before. I have made skirts, just never with a pattern.

I better get busy!

Velvet Grape Socks

2010-11-29T11:52:00.000-08:00

Did you have a good Thanksgiving? I did. It was so much fun to be with family and friends.

I have been wanting to show you these socks for a while now. I made them for my sister and finally gave them to her. They are made with Malabrigo Sock in Velvet Grape. The colors in this yarn are stunning. The picture doesn't even begin to show all the beautiful hues. Plus the yarn is so soft. This is my current favorite sock yarn for adult socks. I can't wait to make more socks with this yarn!

The pattern is Adirondack Socks. It was in the Fall 2009 issue of Interweave Crochet. I have never crocheted socks before, and I was very happy with the outcome. The pattern was easy to follow, which is the key to success in any project.

If you ever decide to knit or crochet a pair of socks, make sure you use a good quality yarn. It really does make a difference!

Cosmetic Bags

2010-11-16T20:04:00.000-08:00

OK, I admit it. These are not exclusively cosmetic bags. They would be great for storing any small stuff that you want to carry around. Like chocolate. The blue one is going to be filled with legos and given to an adorable little boy. The girly ones are going to be filled with girly stuff. I knocked these out in just a few hours. It would have been quicker if I hadn't been constantly interupted... I love these little bags and now I need to make a few for myself.

A picture - finally!

2010-11-16T19:58:00.000-08:00

I finally got it together and took a picture of my finished wrap. Unfortunately, this is as good as it gets since the only help I was getting was from my dogs.

Lacy Wrap - Finished!

2010-10-20T08:14:00.000-07:00

I finally finished the wrap pictured above. It took me nearly a year to knit it, because every time I made a mistake I ended up ripping the whole thing out and starting over. Believe me, I tried to fix the mistakes without starting over, but I just couldn't do it. I literally started this thing over 12 times! So a year and a few months later it is finished (blocked and button sewn on, too!)And today is the perfect day to wear it!

I tried taking a picture of me wearing it, but the lighting is no good today (totally overcast). And I'm too excited to wait another day and try again.
The pattern is SAVOY Lacy Wrap. The yarn I used was ZARA in Midnight Blue.

Broken

2010-10-11T21:30:00.001-07:00

Last year, I saw this super cute wreath on Ducks in a Row. (This is her picture, I did not get a good one of my own.) :(

I loved it so much I made my own. It looked terrible in our rental house, so it was hung in the laundry room. In the post about my wreath, I hoped for a better place to display my wreath this year. Well, I have a better place, lots of them, actually. I hung it up and it looked all cute, for about 20 minutes. Then it crashed to the floor and the styrofoam base broke into a bunch of pieces and the candy corns went flying. That was the end of my wreath.

I am undecided as to whether or not I will make another.

For a Birthday Girl

2010-09-05T16:54:00.000-07:00

Our family was invited to a birthday party for a little girl in our neighborhood, and I don't know the family that well. What I do know is the little girl is always dressed in very cute girly outfits, so this is what I came up with for her gift:

Do you ever second guess yourself when making a gift for someone? I do. Every. Single. Time.

I don't remember what line this fabric came from, because I've had it so long and only have scraps left. I wish I had purchased more of the cherry fabric as I do love it so very much and have used it for several projects. Maybe this should be a lesson to me when buying a fabric I love: Buy a few yards.

I made the fabric flower based on this tutorial from Wise Craft.

I am linking up to this link party:

Banned Books Week, Sept 25 - Oct 2

2010-09-04T11:15:00.001-07:00

I just read a post on a friend's blog about her commitment to writing. She is also going to read all of Ernest Hemingway's works, which got me thinking, "How many of his works have I read?"

So I started looking for a list of his works, when I was reminded that later this month is Banned Books Week. (Ernest Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms and The Sun Also Rises have been challenged or banned, as have some of his other works.) I had seen something at the library advertising this earlier this week, and thought, "I should read some of the books on the list they have." Instead of allowing this to be a passing thought, I have made a list of banned/challenged classics I would like to read.

Banning books is a slippery slope. It seems to me that most people try to have books banned in order to protect children. Instead of attempting to ban books, have an open and honest discussion with your children about why you think a book is inappropriate for them to read. It is the job of the parents to teach them. Dictating what a child can and can't do doesn't work anyway.

To learn more about banned/challenged books go HERE. If you want to read one of the most frequently challenged books of 2009, most of you will be able to find it on your very own bookshelf. The Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer was #5 on the list.

If you don't like to read, get an audio book. I love audio books and frequently listen to them in the car or on my iPod.

I am going to try to read classics that I haven't read before. I am going to start with Ulysses by James Joyce. What are you going to read? Leave a comment.

What to do when it's too quiet?

2010-08-30T12:37:00.000-07:00

This is the first week of school. I don't like it. With my little-girl-who-isn't-so-little-anymore in Kindergarten, I have found myself counting down the hours until I can go pick her up. This also makes me realize, I like my house full of people and noise (even though the noise part makes me crazy sometimes). At least I have my new little man who will eventually start filling the house with noise and activity. But until then...

I have a few sewing projects I am working on. I am only going to show you one today. The others will make appearances as they are completed.

I am particularly pleased with this BOM I am doing. It's Tonga Nature by Wing and a Prayer Design. This is the first month and I waited to start my block because I was worried that it was way beyond my skill level. To my surprise, this block came together nicely. Future blocks may be more challenging. And the fabrics are bold, beautiful batiks.

Matching PJ's - Sort of

2010-08-04T15:35:00.000-07:00

OK, so this is only 1/2 of the matching PJ's. Since I am going to be away from home for a few days having a baby, I made matching PJ's for my daughter and I. I thought it would be fun for us to wear matching PJ's while I am in the hospital.

Mine just aren't as cute due to the fact they aren't little like my daughter's, so you only get a picture of her PJ's. You may or may not have noticed I make my daughter a lot of PJ's. They're fun, easy and best of all she loves them and tells me so.

Car Seat Canopy

2010-07-20T12:49:00.000-07:00

I love the car seat canopies that everyone seems to have these days. I decided our new little one will need one when he arrives.

I read through a quick online tutorial and then adjusted it to fit our car seat. Super easy.

The best part is, I don't have to buy a new sun shade!

Explosion Box

2010-07-12T15:05:00.000-07:00

I love explosion boxes. They are time consuming to make, but I think they make really fun gift boxes for small items. The one I made this weekend for my husband might be my all time favorite. It didn't turn out quite as masculine as I hoped (I know, too many hearts and flowers for that.) I love it anyway.

All paper is from Close to My Heart.

From Ratty Jeans to a Cute Skirt

2010-06-08T17:58:00.000-07:00

I have been so tired from the many goings on in our lives that I haven't been able to finish a project in ages. I am hoping that will change now that things are settling down a little.

My daughter loved these jeans and was not about to let them go. So, I got online and got busy. They went from this:

To this:

Much better.

But don't ask her to hold still for a photo.

This is a project that can easily be completed in an evening. There are plenty of tutorials online that will show you how to make a skirt from a pair of jeans. Go find one and have fun!

Birthday Girl

2010-01-05T17:59:00.001-08:00

Every girl needs a new outfit to wear on her birthday, right? I thought so.

This year I got this crazy idea to make my daughter's outfit, complete with a matching purse. She loved it. The fabric is Clementine by Me & My Sister Designs for Moda. This is one of my favorite fabric lines for little girls. My daughter has a pair of pajamas from this and I still have a layer cake of this fabric! Sorry, there is no pattern for the skirt.

This is the matching bag. She loves purses and has many. The best part is she uses them all. By the time I got around to taking a picture, she already had her bag filled with the essentials: chap stick, lotion, coloring book, a box with her Polly Pockets and toy ninjas.

The pattern is Quilts Illustrated Deli Desk Tote.

Christmas PJ's

2009-12-25T21:50:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! I know we did. It was of the nice, quiet, stay at home variety - my favorite kind.

Every year the kids get new pajamas on Christmas Eve. Last year was the first time I made pj's for my daughter. After making these pajamas, I realized I DO NOT like making pajama tops. Even though these lavender flannel pj's are among my favorites, pj tops take too long and she grows too fast!

So this year (and several pair of PJ's before this) I made pants and appliqued a t-shirt. I think the applique is so much more fun, to make and to look at. It wasn't until this morning that I realized the gingerbread man has no mouth, and my daughter wants him to have a bow around his neck. I will have to fix that ASAP.

The fabric for the pants is from Northcott and may be a year or two old. I don't know for sure as it came from my mom's stash. I don't remember the name of the line. The t-shirt is from Target and the gingerbread man applique is a scrap from a friend's stash.

As my other kiddos outgrow the need for pajamas with feet, they will start getting the really cute stuff, too.

Holly Jolly Snowmen Quilt

2009-12-05T19:21:00.000-08:00

I just finished this quilt top tonight, and I love it! I love the fabric, Holly Jolly Snowmen by Kathy Schmitz for Moda. The colors are absolutely beautiful and the designs are so fun and happy. This photo doesn't do justice to the beautiful fabric. If you don't already have some of this fabric in your stash, get it while you can!

The quilt pattern is Done in a Jiff by Heartspun Quilts. It wasn't too difficult, and I love the results. I made some mistakes in making this quilt, but I learned some new things that would have made the final result much better. Just new knowledge for the next quilt.

Rag Quilt

2009-12-01T23:20:00.000-08:00

No, there's nothing wrong with your computer screen. The blue flannel bled all over everything else. I used color catchers and Retayne. I bought this fabric 8+ years ago at a quilt shop and just never got the blanket finished. Because I bought the fabric at a good quilt shop, I thought everything would be just great when I washed it. Well, I was wrong. Oh well. I'm sure my little guy will use and love it just the same.

Molasses-Ginger Cookies

2009-11-30T15:25:00.000-08:00

Kim over at NewlyWoodwards is having a Dare to DIY blog party/cookie recipe swap. I love baking cookies, thus making this an ideal bloggy event. Go check it out!

Molasses-Ginger Cookies...Mmmmmm. These are the kind of cookies that even if you don't eat a single one, you will thoroughly enjoy the smell of these while they are baking. They fill your house with the most wonderful smell, the kind that makes you want to breathe deeply and say, "Ahhhhhh, yeah. This is home."

I got this recipe from this blog. She uses only 2 cups of flour, but I couldn't get it to work with 2 cups of flour.

Molasses-Ginger Cookies

3 cups all purpose flour

2 teaspoons ground ginger

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon cloves

2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup finely chopped *crystallized ginger

1 cup (packed) dark brown sugar (preferably muscovado)

1/2 cup vegetable shortening, room temperature

1/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

1 large egg

1/3 cup molasses

demerrara sugar for rolling

1. Combine the flour, spices, baking soda, and salt in medium bowl; whisk to blend. Mix in crystallized ginger. In a large bowl using an electric mixer beat shortening and butter to combine, add brown sugar and beat until well-combined and fluffy. Add egg and molasses and beat until blended. Add flour mixture and mix just until blended. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour.

2. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease/line 2 baking sheets. Spoon sugar in thick layer onto small plate. Using wet hands, form dough into 2-inch balls; roll in sugar to coat completely. Place balls on prepared sheets, spacing 2 inches apart, flatten slightly.

3. Bake cookies until cracked on top but still soft to touch and moist inside, about 10-12 minutes (do not overbake). Cool on sheets 1 minute. Carefully transfer to racks and cool.

*It is much cheaper to make crystallized ginger in your own kitchen. It is also very simple. Just make it at least a day before you want to make the cookies.

Christmas Table Topper

2009-11-30T08:12:00.001-08:00

Have I ever told you how much I love finishing a project? I love finishing a project, even if it is small.

I made this table topper for my sister and brother-in-law who just bought their first house. I really like the way the top came out. The quilting is OK. I just need to practice more.

I made it from a charm pack that a local quilt shop put together from the different Christmas fabrics they had in their store this year.

The outer border was a bit of a trial. This was the third or fourth border I tried. I just couldn't seem to get it right, but I finally got it right with the red pieced border.

Sorry the picture is a little blurry, but this is no longer in my possession so I can't take a better picture.

Gratitude Book

2009-11-22T20:19:00.000-08:00

I finally finished the Gratitude Book. I am really happy with the way it came out. My mom and I decided this book would be fun to have and look back on what was written over the years. We decided this was the year to start it, since this was the first time our entire family has been together in something like 8 years. This book will live at my mom's house as long as the big family Thanksgiving is held at her house. Everyone who goes to her house for Thanksgiving is required to write in the book what they are thankful for. It doesn't have to be long or detailed. Just something.

My First Foray Into Free Motion Quilting

2009-10-29T20:25:00.000-07:00

This was my first foray into free motion quilting. The best thing I can say about it is IT'S DONE! I practiced A LOT before doing it, and I was terrified of doing it. So terrified that I came up with an alternate plan. I was going to quilt a grid pattern, and I did. But I didn't like it. So, I unpicked it and practiced free motion a bit more. I finally got brave enough to just do it. And now it's done. It's not great, but it's not horrible either considering how bad I was when I started practicing.
This is another Moda Bake Shop project. The braid fabric is Gobble Gobble by Sandy Gervais for Moda and the main fabric is Harvest by Timeless Treasures (I previously posted the main fabric was by Northcott. Sorry for the confusion.)

Fall Topiary

2009-10-17T15:55:00.000-07:00

It's finished! Don't you just love finishing a project?

It didn't actually take that long, but it felt like it did. I bought three craft pumpkins and the largest one was not even close to the same color as the two smaller, so I spray painted them all, and didn't like the flatness of the color. So I had to antique them. Then I had to put a sealer on them. Then there was the cutting the holes to put the dowel through. I broke a knife trying to cut the holes! But it's finally finished and I love it!

Machine Quilting

2009-10-12T15:40:00.000-07:00

My friend Kathy is amazingly talented and I admire so much about her (not just her crafting style, but today's post is about quilting). She is a great decorator, and has the cutest house. She is so creative and is always making the cutest stuff. Just today she showed me the most ADORABLE tote bag she made. The last week has been a real eye opener as to how talented she really is.

This last week I have been trying to teach myself to machine quilt. It is not easy! I ended up buying THIS BOOK and it has been very helpful. It's still not easy. I am making progress, but not as quickly as I would like. It is an understatement to say that I am not patient, but this learning process has highlighted how truly impatient I am.

Kathy on the other hand is so good at machine quilting! I wish I had some pictures of stuff she has quilted so you could see it. I will see if I can get some pictures of her quilting next time I see her.

Quilt Festival - Fall 2009

2009-10-09T14:03:00.000-07:00

I am participating in Park City Girl's Fall 2009 Quilt Festival. I love looking at all the beautiful quilts. It's fun to see all the different ways people express their creativity.

I know I already posted about this quilt, but I love it. This is only the second quilt I have made, and I made it for a wedding. I'm still a little sad that I gave it away, but my sister-in-law loves it. And that makes me happy, because she has done something for me that I won't ever be able to repay. She is the one who took care of my only child when I had to return to work after my daughter was born. Not only did she care for her, she loved her. This quilt was beyond my skill level and could not have been completed without the guidance my mother provided. It was quilted by my friend, Kathy.

The quilt pattern is Making History from the magazine Quilt Sampler. The fabric is Gallery in Red by Marcus Brothers.

Candy Corn Wreath

2009-10-08T20:02:00.000-07:00

I saw this:

HERE, and decided to make one of my own. It turned out just great, except it clashes with the walls in my living room, and the landlord won't let us repaint. So, to remedy this problem, it's hanging in the laundry room. At least the laundry room is festive...better luck next year.

Gift Bags

2009-10-06T16:08:00.001-07:00

I had planned to make these gift bags from Christmas fabric, but an opportunity presented itself which requires the use of a cute gift bag. These were so fun to make! I can't wait to make the Christmas gift bags. I think I may try different sizes. They turned out cuter than I thought possible. I think it would be really hard to ruin these. You can find the tutorial HERE on Moda Bakeshop.

The fabric is from the Zippity Doo Dah line by Sandy Gervais for Moda. I had some scraps left so I covered some little notebooks to match that I will give with whatever else ends up in the bag.

Halloween PJ's

2009-10-03T21:51:00.001-07:00

My daughter loves fun pajamas, and I'm such a pushover that I make them for her. Also, she is so grateful whenever I make anything for her, it makes it even harder to say no. I intended to have these done before the start of October, but considering I was only in town for 6 days in September, I think I'm excused. I don't like sewing clothing with stripes, but this fabric was so much fun and the pants pattern so simple that it didn't bother me at all.

The t-shirt is from Target, and I machine appliqued the jack-o-lantern. All the fabrics on the t-shirt are from scraps, so I can't tell you what they are. The face on the jack-o-lantern turned out scary instead of happy when I tried to sketch it by myself, so I got out a quilt pattern with a cute jack-o-lantern, Halloween Fun by Angie Stevenson. The fabric for the pants is from Scary Night by Laurie Godin for Northcott.

I made a list of all the projects I need to complete, and there are 20 that need to be completed before Christmas. There will be more to come in the days ahead.

Fabric & Retail

2009-09-23T21:06:00.001-07:00

I was catching up on one of my favorite blogs and reading a debate via the comments about whether or not you should buy only fabric from local quilt shops or if it's OK to buy fabric from Walmart or Joann's.

I definitely think you should buy from your local quilt shop whenever you can. It's not because I'm a fabric snob. I firmly believe in supporting local independent retailers. One of my biggest complaints/disappointments when I travel the country is how everywhere looks the same. The local Macy's is just the same as the one in Manhattan. There is nothing special about going to the Macy's in Manhattan anymore. I think it's sad that America has become so homogenized. I like to support local fabric shops, bead shops, bakeries, restaurants, etc. whenever possible. Plus, do the large corporate chains really need more money?

Finished Quilt

2009-08-29T21:04:00.000-07:00

I love this quilt! I am a little sad to be giving it away, but at least it's for someone I adore. I wanted to make a queen size version of this quilt for my bedroom, but after this experience, I'm glad I didn't. It was a lot of hard work and way beyond my skill level (this is only my 2nd quilt). I learned a ton and am grateful for the experience and the help. I couldn't have finished it without my mom, who was instrumental in piecing the top (I did all the cutting and sewing and Mom did all the pinning), and Kathy, who quilted it for me.

The quilt pattern is called Making History and is from the magazine Quilt Sampler Fall/Winter 2008. The fabric is Gallery in Red by Marcus Brothers.

THANKS, MOM!

THANKS, KATHY!

And it only took 45 days start to finish.