Sunday, June 26, 2011

John Lennon once said “Life happens when you are making other plans”. That’s sort of the way my life is. Again, I’m a day late and a dollar short. Well, actually I’m much more than a dollar short. Anyway….. here’s my selection of wonders for you for this week. Hope you enjoy!

RECYCLING OLD SHEETS, CLOTHES, WHATEVER

http://www.craftpassion.com/2010/03/recycle-tutorial-woven-rag-rug.html

This is a great idea to re-use those things you would have thrown out.

SIMPLE SIX-POCKET BAG

http://www.bhg.com/crafts/sewing/accessories/six-pocket-bag/?page=1

None of us ever has enough bags!

GATHERED CLUTCH TUTORIAL

http://www.noodle-head.com/2010/04/gathered-clutch-tutorial.html

Easy, peasy and sew cute!

WILD WEST GIRLS

http://www.rileyblakedesigns.com/cutting-corners/

This is the perfect quilt for a little cowgirl in your life.

WHO IS YOUR FAIRY QUILT GODMOTHER?

http://www.paperpanache.com/MBs/MB61/mysblk61.php

This is SEW darn cute! I may just have to sew ‘er up!

FLOWERING SNOWBALL TUTORIAL

http://mollyflanders.blogspot.com/2011/06/flowering-snowball_20.html

This is a super looking block and would make a great scrappy quilt.

QUIRKY CELEBRATIONS

Monday, June 27, 2011

Sun Glasses Day

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Paul Bunyan Day

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Camera Day

Hug Holiday

Waffle Iron Day

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Meteor Day

Friday, July 1, 2011

Creative Ice Cream Flavors Day

International Joke Day

Saturday, July 2, 2011

I Forgot Day

(That could be Every day for me!)

World UFO Day

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Build A Scarecrow Day

Compliment Your Mirror Day

(Mirror, Mirror on the Wall –

You are the Fairest of them All!)

Stay out of the Sun Day

WHAT’S FOR DINNER

PMS COOKIES (I LOVE THE NAME!)

This is a little bit chocolate, a little bit salt, a little bit peanut butter and then there’s the fluff – everything you need to combat PMS!

Prep Time: 40 minutes

Servings: 68 cookies

Ingredients:

1 box (1 lb.)  Ritz crackers

1 jar peanut butter

1 jar marshmallow cream

1 box (2.5 lb. tray) chocolate bark

1 box white chocolate bark, optional

Directions:

1.    Spread about 1 teaspoon peanut butter, then about 1 teaspoon marshmallow cream onto each Ritz cracker. (You could substitute jam for the marshmallow cream.)

2.   Sandwich together.

3.   Melt chocolate bark (Ghirardelli was stated to be the favorite) in microwave or double boiler.

4.   Dip sandwiched cookies into chocolate, covering both sides.

5.   Place cookies on waxed paper and allow to harden.  (The cookies will harden faster if you put the paper on a cookie sheet and place in the freezer for 5 minutes.) You could dribble melted white chocolate across the tops just to pretty them up.

6.   Store in airtight container – Enjoy!

June 19, 2011

I have to put up a fish-related Father’s Day greeting to honor my Hunny, Mr. Fisherman Extraordinaire. He is not only a wonderful husband, but a great father and grandfather. Happy Father’s Day to all the great men in your life.

QUILT SHOPS OF THE CENTRAL COAST (CALIFORNIA)

http://quiltshopsofthecentralcoast.com/node/28

These shops have free patterns for 2011. Be sure to check out each one.

USEFUL PAPER PRODUCTS FOR QUILTERS

http://www.quiltedparadise.com/n/magazine-54.jsp?utm_source=articlenewsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=articlenewsletter

This is a very good article on using various papers found in most kitchens in our quilting.

VERY CUTE SPIDER WEB BLOCK

http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/2010/04/spiderweb-block-sew-along/

I really like the look of this and SEW easy to make.

CAR CADDY TUTORIAL

http://sew4home.com/projects/storage-solutions/894-kick-off-to-summer-travels-car-caddy

I wish I’d found this a couple of weeks ago. I just bought a commercial pattern to make one.

TOTALLY NOT QUILT RELATED – EGG TIPS

http://www.ourbestbites.com/2010/06/kitchen-tip-eggs/

I thought I’d share this site about eggs with you. It has some very good information.

THE GREAT COVER UP

http://www.freequiltpatterns.info/

This is a very cute quilt-as-you-go and uses giant rickrack.

This site has lots of free patterns and I don’t always post when they have a new one, so you might want to browse through it.

QUIRKY CELEBRATIONS

Monday, June 20, 2011

Ice Cream Soda Day

(Yummy!)

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Finally Summer Day

(Summer Solstice)

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

National Chocolate Éclair Day

(Another Yummy!)

Thursday, June 23, 2011

National Pink Day

(Maybe we should all make a pink quilt today!)

Friday, June 24, 2011

Take Your Dog to Work Day

(Why!?)

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Log Cabin Day

Sunday, June 26, 2011

 National Catfish Day

WHAT’S FOR DINNER

Warming Shepherd’s Pie

This is easy to prepare and it’s a great way to use up any leftovers. If you’ve got mashed potatoes or any kind of vegetable medley left from last night’s dinner, the only thing you’ll have to prepare tonight is the ground beef.

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 15 minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients

1-1/3 cups instant mashed potato buds

1-2/3 cups milk

2 tablespoons butter

1 teaspoon salt, divided

1 pound ground beef

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1 (12-oz.) jar beef gravy

1 (10-oz.) package frozen mixed vegetables, thawed and drained

3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1-2/3 cups milk

Directions

1.    Preheat broiler. Prepare 4 servings of mashed potatoes according to package directions using milk, butter and ½ teaspoon salt; set aside.

2.    Cook ground beef in medium broiler-proof skillet over medium-high heat, stirring to separate meat, until browned and crumbly. Drain skillet drippings.

3.   Sprinkle ground beef with remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and the black pepper. Add beef gravy and mixed vegetables to meat; stir well. Cook meat mixture over medium-low heat until hot, about 5 minutes.

4.   Spoon the mashed potatoes in a ring around the outside edge of skillet, leaving 3-inch circle in center. Sprinkle grated Parmesan evenly over mashed potatoes.

5.   Broil 4 to 5 inches from heat until Parmesan is golden, about 3 minutes.

Enjoy your week!

When life goes to pieces…. QUILT!

June 12, 2011

June 5, 2011

I hope everyone is enjoying all the heat we’re having in Georgia. I, for one, do not enjoy it. Give me colder temps anyday… without humidity, please.

WARM WISHES QUILT

http://www.quiltmaker.com/content_downloads/QMWarmWishes_DoubleSize.pdf

This is another fast, easy quilt. Yardages are included for long full-size and twin.  Crib size is here:

http://www.quiltmaker.com/content_downloads/Warm_Wishes-crib_size.pdf

LINUS CONNECTION

http://www.linusconnection.org/links.html

If you sew, knit or crochet, this site has a listing of all kinds of patterns for the Linus project. Of course, you don’t have to give them away.

JAPANESE X AND + SCRAPPY QUILT

http://badskirt.blogspot.com/2011/04/japanese-x-and-scrappy-quilt-tutorial.html

This is one of the scrappiest quilts I have ever seen.

QUICK STRIPPIE QUILT

http://www.maryquilts.com/quick-strippie/

As this blog says, one novelty print and two coordinating fabrics is all you need. This makes a great charity quilt.

LOTS AND LOTS OF FREE PATTERNS

http://www.fabricfreedom.co.uk/QuiltsAndProjects.html

Oh my…. Where to start!!! 

FOR THE KIDS – OLD McDONALD PUPPETS

http://zitzmanfam.blogspot.com/2010/09/old-macdonald-puppet-tutorial-and.html

Sew cute! The song is now stuck in my head.

ENDING DOUBLE FOLD BINDING

http://pir8.freeservers.com/quilting/ending-double-fold-binding/index.htm

This isn’t exactly how I do it, but similar. I’ll try this way soon.

FRENCH FLORAL FREE PATTERN

http://www.freequiltpatterns.info/

I love this one. This is a great table topper or wall hanging.

QUIRKY CELEBRATIONS

Monday, June 6, 2011

National Applesauce Cake Day

National Yo-Yo Day

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

VCR Day

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Upsy Daisy Day

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Donald Duck’s Birthday (1934)

Friday, June 10, 2011

Ball Point Pen Day

Iced Tea Day

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Corn on the Cob Day

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Raggedy Ann & Andy Day

WHAT’S FOR DINNER

Rhubarb Crisp
1 cup packed brown sugar 1 cup flour ¾ cup quick-cooking oats ½ cup (1 stick) margarine, melted 3 cups finely chopped rhubarb	1 cup sugar 2 tablespoons cornstarch 1 cup water 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 4 drops red food coloring (optional)

 Mix the brown sugar, flour and oats in a bowl. Stir in the margarine. Press about 2/3 of the mixture over the bottom of an 8-inch baking pan. Spread the rhubarb in the prepared pan. Cook the sugar, cornstarch and water in a saucepan over medium heat until thickened, stirring constantly. Add the vanilla and food coloring and pour over the rhubarb. Top with the remaining oats mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Serve warm or cold.

Yield: 9 servings

Enjoy your week!

Old quilters never die, they just go to pieces.