Friendship & Scrap Happy

This wonderfully scrappy quilt is a great way to get rid of....that is to say..... use some of your scraps.  It's named Friendship Scrap Quilt because obviously, signatures can be recorded in the lighter strips.

This was made from a retreat swap a few years back.

Click on this LINK for details.

Yummy Veggie Recipe

I'd love to share one of my favorite "veggie" recipes with you.  I love this particular one because you can eat it with a hot slice of cornbread or your favorite crackers.

1 small bag of frozen blackeyed peas

1 small bag frozen okra

1 small onion, diced

2 tablespoons chopped garlic

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

3 tablespoons bacon bits (optional)

1 large can of Stewed Tomatoes

5 cups water in large sauce pan

Sea salt & pepper

Pour all ingredients into water. Bring to a rolling boil then allow to simmer for 2 to 3 hours.  The aroma will make your mouth water, believe me!  By the time the Veggies are ready, everyone will be waiting around the table.

Quilts, Quilts, Quilts

As promised, here are some pics, just a snippet of the beautiful quilts from the Azalea Quilt Show. I wish I could have gotten close enough to show off all the fab-tasticly wonderful quilting.

Goodies From ......

Lookie what I got while ogling the quilts I'll show in my next post from the Azalea Quilt Show in Tyler, Texas.

I decided to look for hand embroidery needles and wool.  Of course I did get slightly side-tracked and wound up with some "skin cream" made from beeswax, a thimble, threader, spool of thread, 2 packets of "Evening Mist" by MODA (lovely) and a great backing for a quilt.  Not bad, if I must say so myself.

Me and my "wacky" sisters

My Quilt is "Singing The Blues"

This wonderful quilt was a challenge because..........can't you see it???...........If you know anything about me, you'll know what I'm talking about!!!........This quilt is............on the diagonal........Eeeeek!.........It took me a couple of months from start to finish...........I was supposed to trim the edges but I really like the way it looks now......I named the quilt "Singing The Blues" because I had to use quite a bit of blue fabrics (which I have a limited amount of), I had to read instructions (I don't like to) and keep the diagram right in front of me at all times (because it silly quilt in on the diagonal...Eeeeek).........which made this project complicatedly simply........did that make sense?

Scrappy Star Burst Layout

As promised, here's my original layout for the Scrappy Star Burst.  I would love it you would make one, post about the experience, link back to me and let me know what you thought!

Chicken & Dumplings Anyone?

In desperation last month (a load of company showed up unannounced).....I made what I call a "dump" menu.....whatever I could pull together, I dumped in the pot.  It happened to be 8 chicken breasts, 5 cups chicken broth, chopped onions & garlic, sea salt/pepper. Bring that to a boil then let simmer for a couple of hours (makes the chicken super tender & falling apart) before adding a large can of Cream of Chicken  or Mushroom soup to thicken everything.
 
You might be wondering what the company was doing while I was slaving away in the kitchen.......playing cards, Taboo, on the Internet....etc., etc., etc.!!!!!  These were not my little princesses and their mommies & poppies......I would have loved that visit........

After about 20 minutes, I added strips of one of my favorites.......Pillsbury Pie Crust........simmer for another 30 minutes and serve with hush-puppies or cornbread and a great big green salad.  For dessert.....peach cobbler......... Yum!!!!!

I have to tell you, their mouths were salivating by the time we ate.

Scrappy Star Burst

This quilt is a quick way to get rid of some of your stash, practice making half square triangles and turn out a great looking quilt with little fuss!
I drafted this, believe it or not, a few years ago and have made it several times as quick gifts of tables and throws.  Using the quick method of making half squares and using a package of nickel squares or fabric from your stash, this quilt can be made in a day or two.
Each block is this quilt measures 3 inches.
Note the "Halving It" diagram to make 8 half square triangles in a jiffy!

Quick Post

Sorry the photo is so fuzzy but Ayden is so quick nowadays, it's hard to get a picture........here she is with her newest little niece, Elie.  Note the Binky in her mouth which ensures little to no harm to the new baby......LOL

Band Quilt Blocks Done

These are the last blocks for the band quilt.....next I'll be going to the school so that the kids can decide what goes where!  One of the "band boosters" has asked that the students be able to sign the quilt somewhere.......do not panic.....I'm thinking.........lol........I mind seized on an idea.........on the backing............don't laugh.....this is a great idea.........I will provide a 4" by 80" stirp of muslin (which will run the length of the quilt) for the kids to sign in Pigma Pen!

My Good Friend...Jerri

Miss Me, But Let Me Go

When I come to the end of the road,
and the sun has set for me...
I want no rites in a gloom-filled room...
Why cry for a soul set free...
Miss me a little - but not too long,
and not with your head bowed low.
Remember the love that was once shared....
Miss me, but let me go.

For this is a journey we all must take,
and each must go alone....
It's all a part of the Master's plan,
a step on the road to home....
When you are lonely and sick of heart,
go to the friends we know.....
Bear your sorrow in good deeds....
Miss me, but let me go.

Author Unknown

In The Meantime.......Flowery Florals

Taking a break from the "Band" quilt because all the students are on Spring Break, I decided to do a little cleaning and clears out of my stash..........when I found the above............oh dear!

This is one of those long term projects.....you know what I mean.....one that's been in a box for years...months.....you run across it, open it up.......oh yea, I remember that.....better start working on it.......again.............that's the one I'll refering to. Two of the bottom blocks you may recognize from the book I'm featuring on my sidebar ( Shadow Applique` ). I'm planning on making several more blocks..........more of the horizonal design.....I really don't have a specific size for the quilt which is kind of exciting. And I hope that I can make some headway towards finishing this baby before it finds it's way back into that box.

The Band Part 4

The band quilt is coming along.......with just a few more block before I'm satisfied that it's big enough.........my good friend, Pat had some great suggestions about adding school sports blocks and Cindy, another wonderful blogger friend said go for it.......so, of course.....I did!!!   I'm going to place strips of some color when sewing the quilt together but that's a surprise on the fabric.

Here's a thought....since this quilt will be raffled off or tickets purchased, maybe I should get the Homemaking department at the school to help with final placement of the blocks.....that way the kids would have a part in the making of the quilt and maybe generate more interest.......what do you think???

Let's Hear It for the Band Part 3

More blocks for the band quilt.........I'm trying not to get carried away at this point but it's so much fun.

Again, here's what I have so far.........I'm thinking this needs to be about 64" by 84ish".....something a college student might use on his/her bed..........what are your thoughts?????...........Hopefully I can get more blocks done by Friday night then post on Saturday sometime to start the placement.........if I voice it.....maybe it will happen.......LOL!

Let's Hear It for the Band.... Part2

As you can see, I've added two more blocks to the "Band" quilt.......drums and the front panel of our school band uniform.  I am very excited about the uniform because up until the moment I cut into it, I had no idea of what I wanted to do........all of a sudden ......something just popped into my tinny, tiny, pea brain and I went with it.....and, yes, I think it looks great.  I placed the uniform on a dark brown background which definitely brings out the orange/white.

So far.......this is how much I've gotten done.....the blocks are in no certain order.........in other words...blocks are going to be changed around, I'll be needing everyones' help with that, then there's the ......what am I going to strip the quilt with and of course....what's the backing going to be.....but I'm getting ahead of myself.......stay tuned.

BTW......no new fabric has been purchased in the making of this project....and believe me....

I was tempted!

Let's Hear It for the Band

Here are the next three blocks that will be added to the lions.  The trumpet, I thought was a nice touch since the quilt is about the high school band. I plan on more instruments and musical notes.  I, also, have several old uniforms to take apart to use some of the parts.  This is starting to come together, thank goodness.  You know how you worry about a project, especially one that will be given away.

The Lions Den

The other day I was asked to make a quilt for my old Alma Mater.  We are the Lions so this is going to be easy.......right???   I decided to make a male, female and cub....it's important to let the lower grades know that they are Lions, too......the whole team spirit thing......you know what I mean.  These blocks are easily done and seem to come to life on the fabric.  I've used Steam-a-Seam Lite2 but haven't sewn anything down yet.  As you've probably picked up my now, I love this technique and am providing a tutorial link on how to do this method from a previous post I did with a cow here. 
The next few blocks are going to be related to the band....maybe some musical notes, an instrument or two.....I'm not sure..........something will pop into my fuzzy little brain sooner or later....LOL.