Decoration Day...Memorial Day

Thank you just doesn't seem enough when I ponder what are service men have done and are doing to protect us.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart...may we never forget.

I am crazy...

last night i was making stir fry and decided to throw in some spinach.  so i grabbed the bag and slit open the top before i realized there was this really handy zip lock opening in the side of the bag. 

this my friends is exactly how i do tasks...backwards!...sometimes i wonder how do i ever get anything done at all when i do them backwards...i just have to shake my head.  am i crazy or was it the genes that i was given - actually i do see that this trait is hereditary and it comes from my father (sorry dad) BUT in our defense...

we may jump right in without reading the instruction, but we get lots of things done.  we don't let the fine print stand in our way of accomplishing a task that seems too big or too hard.

anyway...my stir fry was fabulous and a rubber band closed that bag right up :)

Love You, Dad



my new patterns

I am so excited to show you my new patterns.  Last week I finished them up and they went to printing.  They have been a hit so far at the quilt shop in town...especially the Flag Quilt. it's made with raw edges that frizzle after you wash the quilt. the Supersized Satchel is a BIG bag...large enough to carry a sewing machine!  It can also be used for a diaper bag or overnight bag. 

The patterns are in my Etsy shop to purchase and will soon be on my website.

How to Square a Quilt Block

I've been a busy beaver playing around with the video camera.  I have to say that doing these little "how to" videos are much harder than I thought.  I understand now why it takes many takes to make a movie or commercial.

Anyway...I'm having fun and learning lots.

How to find a quarter inch seam for sewing...

Coffee...Mmmm, mmm!

Greeting from my sewing studio. There's nothing like a hot, steamy cup of fresh coffee...and a new Ipod.  I'm a bit picture happy with my new device.  It's so fun to snap photos so easily.  Anyhoo...do you love my mug?  I love it because Starbucks was EST. the year I was born...oops, maybe I shouldn't disclose my age, but oh, well, now you know. :)  I'm also loving "French Cafe" on Pandora!  It's the best sewing music.  It's romantic and a bit of the movie "Ratatouille" mixed together...Love it.

Portland State Univ. Market

Last Saturday I had the opportunity to visit the Portland State University's Saturday Market (once again, gotta love Volleyball tournaments...they take me place I wouldn't normally trek).  When my daughter wasn't playing a game, I would step right out the gym door into the beautiful outdoor market that was set up.

The flowers were gorgeous...the vegetables were beautiful and very big. 

The califlower was as big as a basketball. 

I only wonder..."we've had no sun around here...these farmers must have a secret".

I cannot wait to go back to purchase more strawberries, vegys, flowers, and homemade pasta.

New Hat!

A really sweet gal I know stopped in at Greenbaum's Quilted Forest and gave me some decorator weight fabric, a brand new curtain panel, and some silk that she didn't want. 

When I get free 'unwanted' fabric it sparks something in me that wants to get right to work making something from the 'throw away' material. I love a challenge.

I got to work and made this hat.  ALL the material was free. The only thing I purchased was the button.

The one size hat fits an adult perfectly, but my daughter has decided it's hers...I think it looks good on her.

I cut all pieces on the bias so it made the hat much for comfortable to wear.

The inside of the hat was made from the curtain panel...it worked perfectly.

The pattern I used was The Chloe Hat from the book Tangled up in Thread

 

It is a wonderful book...it has some really good quilt patterns as well as the hat.

I'm also still on a Tumbling Block making spree.  Here are a couple blocks I made yesterday just to see what solids would look.  I really like them. 

I've decided I need a Go Baby Cutter to cut my tumbling blocks out faster.

Now there's a good bday idea...