LaVieEnRosie

At the car wash...

Does it make you crazy when your car is really, really dirty? 

When you can write messages in the dust?

I don't mind a little bit of dust or road dirt but when it gets really bad, Lil' Blue gets a "spa day".  And while she's getting buffed and shined and pampered, I get to do one of my favorite things.  I love to check out the greeting card racks.  Why is it that some of the best birthday cards are found at the car wash?

Like this one...

It's not that being young is so great... It's just that your skin fits better!

I had to have this card.  It's now on the little clippy-thing in my sewing room. 

Along with this one...

The older you get, the more you like to do things just because you can!

Okay, I would have bought this one just for the picture of the Golden Retriever. 

That's all for today.  I haven't gotten to sew since Monday.  We had pizza for dinner last night so no cooking either.  And the only cooking I'll do tomorrow is the stew I make for Rosie.  Yes, I cook for Rosie.  I make this stew-concoction to go with her kibble.  The lovely woman I got Rosie from makes it for all her dogs and puppies, and Rosie's been eating it all her life.  It's got tomatoes, veggies, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, hamburger, rice... she loves it.  But then, Rosie is like Mikey... she'll eat anything. 

Adios muchachas! 

Saturday...

It's such a lovely word. 

No matter what I have to do on any given Saturday, there is just something about the word that makes me relax and enjoy the day. 

I do have to work today but I did get to do some fun work last night...

This picture makes me laugh because as soon as I see it, all sorts of things pop into my head... geez, Carrie, how many rulers does it take to cut a couple of strips?  I seem to have more than I need.  And yikes!  That strawberry still needs a top!  Oh, and... errr, Carrie, when you're done with this project, make a note to clean that cutting mat.  Aster Manor... wait for me... I'm coming... you're almost next, I promise. 

Since I know you'll ask, the bundle behind the strawberries... that's the new Blackbird Designs collection, Old Primrose Inn.  It's really pretty... yeah, like you're surprised by that.  I don't have a clue what I'm going to do with it but I'm thinking on it.

Messy table... isn't it? 

Did you know that Albert Einstein had a super messy desk?  And that he kept it that way on purpose?  It helped him be brilliant...

I have to head off to work in a little bit but I did want to share one of my favorite summer recipes.  It works for lunch or dinner and it is good at room temperature or chilled. 

Tart Tuna and Orzo Salad

Serves about 8.

 

1 - 1/2 cups orzo pasta, dry

2 - 7 ounce cans of white tuna packed in water, drained and broken up

1 small red onion, thinly sliced or diced

1 to 1 1/2 cups chopped tomatoes ~ I love using the grape/cherub tomatoes and cutting them in half

1 cup black olives, pitted and sliced ~ I love Kalamatas

1 cup chopped cucumbers ~ if you have them, use the Persian cucumbers with the skin on and cut them into small chunks

1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley ~ the flat-leaf Italian parsley is perfect

1/2 to 1 cup feta cheese, crumbled

 

Iceberg lettuce, chopped or sliced ~ optional

 

Dressing

1/2 cup olive oil

1/3 cup lemon juice

1/4 cup red or white wine vinegar

1/2 to 1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

 

Cook the pasta until it is al dente, then drain and rinse with cold water.  Drain again.

 

Mix the dressing ingredients in a small bowl or whatever.

 

While the pasta is cooking, drain the tuna and put it in a large bowl ~ a really big bowl.  Add red onions, olives, cucumbers, parsley and cheese to bowl and mix.  Add cooked, drained and slightly cooled orzo to the bowl.  Pour on half the dressing and mix well.  Taste and add more dressing/salt/pepper as needed or desired. 

 

You can make a bed of chopped or sliced lettuce on a big platter and drizzle it with some of the remaining dressing.  Then mound the pasta salad in the center.  Serve any remaining dressing on the side.

 

Or you can skip the lettuce and just serve it like this. 

 

This was last night's dinner ~ and probably tonight's too. 

It's too hot to cook and after working all afternoon, I'm sure I won't feel like cooking.  And I can't just have leftover cake for dinner... or can I?

Another day late...

I meant to post the recipe for the Gateau des Fraises yesterday but I got sort of sidetracked... in a good way.

But I'll get to this in a moment...

My Wednesday turned out to be one of those "best laid plans" kind of days.  I took my Mom to the grocery store ~ she prefers Wednesdays because that way she can check the grocery ads and pull the coupons to get a double-deal on those things she wants that are on special.  And she can get her lottery tickets.  Mom likes routine.  Those of you with elderly parents ~ does this sound familiar?  Is that a Taurus-thing or a senior-thing?

Then a couple of other errands I had to take care of before meeting up with Mary Andra Holmes and Brenda Riddle of Acorn Quilt & Gift fame for lunch!  Guess what?  I called ahead to say I was running a little late... and then I was even later than that. 

I've known Mary Andra for years ~ I won't say how many because that makes both of us seem much older than we really are.  She is the source of the e-mail that inspired Cracked Pots!  Mary is also a wonderful quilter and she does the most amazing applique.  She was down from Prescott at Olde World Quilt Shoppe where she's going to be teaching some classes.  She's also going to be doing quilt patterns soon ~ and will probably be a new exhibitor in Minneapolis!

And you already know Brenda.  Did you know that she's doing a line of fabric ~ Celebration! ~ for Lecien?  I got to see the real thing yesterday ~ it's gorgeous!  If you haven't already seen it, I'll wait while you go take a peek.  It's even better in person.  And so that you'll be able to correctly pronounce the name of the fabric company when you pester your local quilt store about it ~ Brenda says the correct pronunciation is "loo-shen".  I think it is Japanese for "oh-my-gosh-I-think-I'm-going-to-need-some-of-that."

While at a wonderful lunch at Babbo's, I had to call in to Williams-Sonoma since I was on call yesterday evening.  I wound up going in since we had received a huge list of sale items that being marked down even further.  (FYI ~ There are some awesome prices on tablecloths, linens, towels and other stuff right now ~ as much as 90% off the original price.)

Now about that cake ~ Gateau des Fraises au Double Creme. 

I know... that's a mouthful ~ in more ways than one!  But it really does sound so much prettier than Strawberry Cake with Almonds and Cream Cheese. 

My Mom cut this recipe out of Family Circle magazine in December, 1967.  It came from The White House Chef Cookbook, and this recipe was by Rene Verdon, a chef at the White House during the Kennedy Adminstration.  (Mom also cut out a recipe for a Chocolate Souffle that is also to-die-for.  I'll save that for another time.)

We make this a couple of times a year because it's easy to make and it's really, really good.  And, yes, you can use light sour cream and light cream cheese if you like.  I have made this both ways ~ the light version is good though if you're going to make something like this... shouldn't you just go all the way?

WARNING!  I am not The Pioneer Woman. 

I do not take awesome  food pictures.  I try and I know that practice will make better.  In the meantime... you'll get a better idea of how it should look when you make it yourself.    

The recipe...

Gateau Des Fraises au Double Creme

Serves 6

1 graham cracker crust 

 

11 ounces cream cheese

2 eggs

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

 

2 cups sour cream

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup toasted whole almonds ~ I substitute sliced almonds

 

2 quarts whole strawberries

4 tablespoons red currant jelly

1 tablespoon water

 

1.    Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2.    Prepare graham cracker crust and bake.  (Recipe does not provide recipe for crust, just that you need a baked graham cracker crust in a 9" pie pan.)

 

 

3.    Place cream cheese in a large mixing bowl and blend slowly with an electric mixer.  When quite smooth, add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Gradually add the 1/2 cup sugar and vanilla extract.  Pour into prepared crust and bake at 350 degrees for 24 minutes.  (The recipe specifies 20 minutes but I find the cake sets up a little bit better with the longer baking time.  Just make sure the center is not still jiggly.)

 

 

4.    Blend the sour cream with the 1/4 cup sugar and the almonds.  Spread over the top of the warm cake ~ right out of the oven.

 

 

5.    Turn off the oven heat.  Return the cake to the hot oven for 5 minutes. 

6.    Cool the cake slightly ~ at least 15 minutes.

7.    Chill until set ~ at least 4 hours but overnight will work.

8.    Before serving, garnish the top of the cake with whole strawberries that have been hulled and washed. 

9.    Mix currant jelly and water and heat until the jelly melts.  (The microwave works fine.)  Pour over the strawberries to glaze.  (The top of the cake shouldn't be swimming in glaze, use just enough to lightly coat the berries.)

 

 

See?  Told you I needed some help with the pictures. 

Au revoir! 

 

Told you so...

Friday... Sunday... Thursday... Tuesday...

They're all the same.  They're just days.  

And, yes, I run a little late for most of them.  Except work... I've only been late to work one time and that was because of a huge traffic jam that I didn't know of until it was too late to avoid.  :::knocking wood:::

Although, actually, I wasn't really late at all.  Sweet Tea was on the website last week ~ Tuesday!  So I wasn't late at all... I was early!  Except that was there and this is here... can I be early and late at the same time?

Hmmm... sort of explains how I'm always running behind schedule, doesn't it?

As for catching up in general, I'm almost there.  Quilts have been shipped ~ three boxes worth.  Polly's pincushions finished and sent.  Wiscasset blocks made ~ and gosh, are they pretty!  I might need to make a whole Sweet Tea jelly roll quilt instead of just a couple of blocks. 

I really like this fabric!

This is the big finished quilt...

Yes, it's very pink but I think that's what I like best about it. 

I'm off to bake a cake... Gateau Des Fraises Au Double Creme. 

Strawberry Cake with Almonds and Cream Cheese.

And, yes, it's pretty good. 

Almost...

As in... I'm almost caught up.

It isn't that my life is any busier than anyone else's ~ in fact, it's probably less so since I dont' have kids, a husband, any remaining friends... just kidding on the last one.  :)

I am just one of those people that seems to always run just a little bit behind schedule.  Just ask my friends... First call ~ I'll be there at 9:00 am tomorrow morning... see you then.

8:45 am the next morning... ring, ring... Hi!  It's me... I'm running late.  I just got on the highway and I'll be there by 9:25... 9:30 at the latest... I promise.

The thing is, I used to be really good with deadlines.  Awesomely good!  But I was younger then... do you think that's what it is?

[Please say yes.]

The point of all this is that I should be able to show you Sweet Tea by Friday.  I wanted to wait until I could also show you the couple of blocks I've done using a Jelly Roll at the same time.  That did turn out to be one of the delays in getting the pattern finished up, I decided to include a Jelly Roll version of the same quilt.  I'm going to make a few blocks with Wiscasset but I've got something else to finish up first.

So in the meantime I wanted to share something with you that I saw a few weeks ago.  I was going to post about it then but a parade got in the way... 

How amazing is this?

It is made entirely of paper ~ and it was made by an art student in Tokyo.

The story and the link have been mentioned several places online, including on a few blogs, but just in case you hadn't seen it ~ Paper Castle on the Ocean.

It was too cool to miss...

 

I'm off to go get caught up... and I'm already late for where I was supposed to be.   

I love a parade...

Hey Camille ~ have you heard the news?  You've been named the Princess of First Quilt Flashers!

It wasn't me.  I'm just passing along the good news.

Pat is the one who decided you were royalty.  She slid in under the wire with a post about her first quilt ~ it's pretty funny too ~ and she's named you a Princess of the realm.  Or a flasher... one of those. 

Did you think this little parade would turn out to be so big?

I admit it, I thought ten, maybe twelve, people would take the time to dig out their first and most recent quilts, take a couple of pictures and post about them on their blogs.  Fifteen, tops. 

But never did I think it would be this many.  I lost count.  I might have kept track but I don't have that many fingers and toes.

I saw your post about the parade and I love that you posted all those awesome quilt pictures in with the links ... wish I'd thought of that.  But you're better with pictures so it's probably best that you handled that anyway.    

So since I'm a talker ~ yeah, like that's a news flash! ~ I'll just post random comments about how amazingly cool this whole parade of quilts turned out to be.   

Live A Colorful Life

Amanda ~ Busy Little Quilter

Mary P ~ quiltygoodness

Amanda ~ Matt & Amanda

Julia ~ Serendipity

Corey ~ Little Miss Shabby

Lori ~ Love Hazel 

Becky ~ Whosies written whatnots 

Lollydo 

Evelyn ~ Use the Loot

 

I loved all the awesome lessons that everybody's learned over the years.  Some of them were "life lesson" kind of things and some were just really good  quilting lessons. 

Can you believe that quilters actually made quilts without rotary cutters?  Cardboard templates?  As if?!?

Amy ~ Diary of a Quilter

Quiltnut ~ QuiltnutCreations 

Catherine ~ The Sewing Attic

Alyson ~ Alyson's Petals 

Dotti White ~ Apples, Quilts and more

Deborah ~ Stitched Together

 Eileen ~ Eileen's Attic

Edee ~ Eddeenut 

Diane ~ Percales Quilts

Vickie ~ Mid-Ohio Quilter

How funny was that fabric from the late 1970s and early 1980s?

Do you think someday we'll refer to time as B.M. and A.M.?  Before Moda... After Moda.

Robyn ~ The HobbyHolic

Laura ~ Laura's Birdnest

Sarah ~ Sarah's Prim Treasures

Robyn ~ Robyn's Nest

Teresa ~ MamaT Keeps You You In Stitches 

Leisel ~Sugar'n Spice Creations 

Tiffany ~ Tigglegiggles

Molly ~ Molly's Cottage 

Anina ~ Twiddletails 

Emily ~ So Much for my Plans

I love that there are so many new quilters!  Can you believe how many there are?  And all the young women who are quilting!  Well, that probably doesn't surprise you, but we do have that image of quilters being grandmas. 

I've always thought that I was on the "young side" of quilters since I'm still many years away from being "the average age" but, thanks to all the new quilters who posted, I now feel really, really old... ancient.  Vintage.

And not like a fine wine...

It is kind of funny to see fabric that I bought new being referred to as vintage though... funny in a "if I don't laugh, I'm going to cry" sort of way...

Maria ~ Passing Down Crazy

Kim ~ Magnolia Bay Quilts 

Jane ~ Too Good To Be Through 

Megan ~ Megan's Corner 

Astrid ~ Grandma's Red Needle 

Heather ~ Fresh Poppy Design 

Margaret ~ Days of a Sampler Lover 

Cathy ~ Quilting on Main Street

Heather ~ Quilt or Stitch? 

Janet ~ What comes next?

I enjoyed reading how so many of us have learned the same lessons ~ and how often we had to learn those lessons for ourselves even if we had the opportunity to benefit from someone else's experience. 

It seems that we quilters are a stubborn lot in that regard.  We have to learn some lessons the hard way... or the lumpy, poufy way.

Kate ~ In Stitches 

Abby ~ Crafts by Abby 

Elizabeth ~ Silver Scissors

Toby ~ RLS Home 

Natalie ~ Cinderberry Stitches 

Ranette ~ Ranette's Daily Stitch 

MegJill ~ Baked Asia 

Sandi ~ Piecemeal Quilts 

Melody ~ Quiltymama 

Lynda ~ LyndaHill

Did you tell everyone about the prizes?  I'm doing two and you're doing twelve... did I get that right?

Just kidding.  Two each.

Lucy ~ Here's Lucy 

Mary ~ Simple Happy Home 

Helen ~ Endlessly Diverted 

V ~ V and Co. 

Karen ~ Quilts Etc. 

Carol ~ Carol's Crafty Creations 

Cindy ~ Just Another Day In Paradise Sewing

Wendy ~ Wendy's Quilting 

Deb ~ Works in Progress  

Stephanie ~ Loft Creations

How cool is it that so many of us are still hand-quilting their quilts... well, not me, but other quilters? 

I loved reading that.  I hand-quilted a few small projects way back when I was younger, and I recently took a hand-quilting class to get back to doing it.  Don't tell anyone but my fingers are still sore!  When people talk about "no pain, no gain", it never occurred to me they were talking about quilting!

I also love that so many quilters are machine-quilting their own quilts ~ even big quilts!  Did you know that Harriet Hargrave calls machine quilting "hand quilting with an electric needle?" 

Dianne ~ Suburban Stitcher 

Sara Vee ~ Sew Joy 

Stacey Michals ~ Sweet Nothings 

Beth Ann ~ Needles, Threads & Crafts 

Allison ~ Cluck Cluck Sew 

Barbara ~ WilliamGeorge 

Sherri ~ A Quilting Life 

Mary ~ Mary on Lake Pulaski 

Lisa D. ~ Stashmaster 

Julie/Jaybird ~ Jaybird 

I also loved reading how proud everyone is of their first quilt.  No matter how icky they thought it was, they still loved that first quilt and cherished it.  

It is kind of like those "ugliest dog" contests, the quilts with the ickiest fabric, the highest polyester content, and the worst piecing were deemed the "most wonderful quilt".

Jonelle ~ Four O'Clock Quilt Company 

Laila ~ Time for Tea 

Laurie ~ Minick & Simpson 

Chris ~ Cats on my Quilt

Renee ~ Treasures of Joy

Michelle ~ Where do I find the time 

Lisa ~ Banana Cherie 

Wendy P ~ First Quilt 

Wendy P ~ Most Recent 

Joan ~ Projects of an Acadian 

And while I can't speak from experience on this one, I love that so many quilters mentioned how supportive and encouraging their husbands and boyfriends are.  And how proud they are of the quilts!

If I had a husband, do you think he would have found something nice to say about my "green thing"?  And would he have been like Bill and rescued it before I could give it away?

Sinta ~ Pink Pincushion

Alma Allen ~ Blackbird Designs ~ One Stitch At A Time

Vicki ~ Sew Inspired 

Amber ~ Sugie Cookers 

Zarina ~ Concerning Zarina

Andi ~ PatchAndi 

Jane ~ sew create it 

Katie ~ Katie's Korner 

Nadine ~ Dream Weaver's Quilts 

Stacey ~ Luv2knit n Sew 

And all the wonderful stories behind the quilts ~ I think that was my favorite part of this parade.

Angela ~ My Three Sons 

Lindsey ~ Five Healthy Hearts 

Nichole ~ Nichole in Real Life  

Nicole ~ Sister's Choice Quilts

Cari ~ CariMichelleScott 

Tiffany ~ Peanut Blossom 

Jessica ~ Jessica's Quilting Corner 

Karla ~ Sweetwater 

Bren ~ Little Acorns 

Lissa ~ ModaLissa 

Cindy ~ HyacinthDesigns  

Anne ~ Bunny Tales

Pat ~ Pat Sloan's Corner

Janet ~ Quiltcrazy

Gretchen ~ StellaBella Quilts  

Rafael's Mum ~ Adventures in Quilting...

Nicolette ~ Dutch Comfort

Whew!  That's everybody that posted their link here. 

That's quite a parade...

 

I stole your picture... no, wait, you sent it to me!  Then it's okay to use it.  By the way, I really love that chair.  Did I ever mention that?

There is one last thing to do before I head to bed ~ it's quite late!  I have these two packages that are all ready to go.  They've got names on them but they're missing addresses.  So if you see your name below, would you post a comment to this so that I can e-mail you and get your mailing address? 

Lisa ~ the Banana Cherie Lisa

Lucy ~ the Here's Lucy Lucy

To everyone who posted, shared, blogged, quilted and participated ~ thank you!  

This has been more fun than I could possibly have imagined.  

So Camille, what's next? 

Is that a cornet?

You've already seen my first quilt ~ or couple of quilts!  I wrote about them in April! 

What's the fuss? 

There's nothing to see here... go away! 

Come back later.  Next week will do. 

:

:

:

Still here? 

Okay, since you're not leaving, I suppose I've put this off long enough.  And since I'm not going to find any cute kids to distract you, I'll tell you about my green quilt. 

It isn't that the quilt is so awful, I think it's more funny-looking than anything.

Except that it's gotten a little bit embarassing... and not in the way I would have guessed.  But more on that in a moment... 

These are the swatches from my quilt.

This doesn't look so bad.  Actually, it might have potential.  That's the green way over there on the left.

In this proportion to the others, it actually looks pretty good.

These were in the quilt journal I used to keep ~ before I made too many quilts and got really far behind.

My "green thing" was supposed to be something called a Japanese Log Cabin but I have no idea where the "japanese" part came in.  Though I suppose the green I used might be similar to the color of wasabi except that the teacher had used red. 

The design of the quilt was actually pretty cool.  The entire quilt was made with log cabin blocks pieced to create a card-trick sort of effect in the center of the quilt. 

So far so good, right?

This is what the teacher's sample looked like.

 

I'm wondering if that picture is upside down...

And I am sorry about the picture quality ~ it is a glossy photo that I had in my journal and had to scan. 

This is what I should have done ~ used red.  But, no, I wanted to be original!  Different!  So I used green.

In the defense of green, it really is/was a beautiful color.  The problem is that my quilt used 5 yards of it.  There are a whole bunch of log cabin blocks made using just the green fabric.  Even the border was green.  As I wrote the other day, it really did look like a vat of pea-soup exploded.

So here you go... my green thing.

 

  

It actually looks better in the picture than it did in person.

Now... this is the most embarassing part of this whole thing.

This is all I have left of my quilt.

  

The page in my journal. 

When I went looking for it yesterday to take a picture, I couldn't find it.  Two hours and three closets later, no green quilt.  I found a whole bunch of other things but no green quilt.  I started to worry ~ seriously, suddenly this became as near-and-dear to my heart as... heartburn?  Then it dawned on me... I gave the top away to a quilt group that makes/quilts/donates quilts to charity.

Where was Bill when I needed him?

While cleaning out a closet last year, I found and donated a couple of quilt tops I'd made for one thing or another over the years and never finished.  I knew I would never finish them or use them so I passed them on to someone who would.   

But my time rummaging through the closet wasn't wasted.  I found several other things, some of which I had been looking for and a couple of which I had forgotten about.  So sit back, here's a mini parade of quilts and quilt tops that I made back in the "olden days".

One of my friends thinks this is the ugliest quilt ever made.  I made this during my Red Wagon plaid phase...

 

It has been quilted but it still isn't bound.  I had misplaced the binding fabric until yesterday ~ I found it in one of the other closets.  And I'm not sure what it is about this quilt, but I really like it.  It isn't pretty by any stretch of the imagination, and I admit to having pulled it out a few times before it was quilted with the intention of taking it apart.  But every time I pulled it out, I didn't have the heart to change it. 

I also found this top, also from my Red Wagon phase.

 

Rosie likes this one too.  (Actually, she wound up on every quilt I put down except the one above.  No Sandy, it isn't a sign.)

I'm going to get this one quilted so I can use it.  Lucky me, I found the binding fabric for this one too.

While it wasn't the one I was looking for, I did find a "green thing"... a Baker's Dozen Doubled, a Mary Ellen Hopkins design from before the millenium.

 

I used up my leftovers for the back.

 

I found a Stack 'n Whack I did for a class sample ~ I'm giving this to a friend for her "little people" to use.

 

And one of my favorite quilts that gets used every Fall...

 

It's one of Rosie's favorites...

 

And a Schoolhouse quilt...

 

And a quilt I made using a pattern from one of my favorite designers, Ginger Cookie Company...

 

This one isn't bound yet... bet you can't guess why.  I need to find the binding for this one so I can finish it and use it! 

Tomorrow ~ the list of all the wonderful quilters who have particpated in this impromptu parade.  And I think Camille said something about a prize.  Or two.

And make sure you head over there to see her rather wonderful first quilt ~ clearly, she's learned everything she knows from her Mom!  (And thank you for the pictures of Aiden and Canon, those boys are just too stinkin' cute!)

I'm off ~ it's' 2:30 in the morning and I think I'm finally getting sleepy enough to fall asleep. 

Nightie night. 

Where are the ickies?

You're killing me!

I can't speak for Camille, but I'm getting a little worried here.  After seeing so many beautiful "first" quilts and reading all the wonderful "first quilt" stories... you're expecting me to show you my "green thing"? 

And Laurie thought showing her first quilt was "shame and degradation"?  I don't think so!  Her quilt doesn't look like a vat of pea-soup exploded!  (On a side note, how funny is it that Laurie tagged her post that way?)

Oh well... at least my "green thing" will give you something to laugh about.  At.  About.  AT!

The worst part about all this is that I don't even have the "excuse" of it being my first quilt!  I really should have known better... 5 yards of "sage green" fabric.  What did I think it was going to look like?  I suppose I can take solace in having learned something from the experience... yeah, right, sure.

Do you want to know the absolute worst part of all this is?  Even if Camille's quilt is an "icky" ~ and we already know it isn't going to be ~ she's going to take such a fabulous picture of it that it will look amazing!  Even if it were bad, all she'll have to do is put Aiden or Canon in the front of the picture and nobody will even notice the quilt! 

Does anyone have a really cute child I can borrow for the day?

Maybe I should put Rosie on my quilt... except that she won't go near it.  She won't even look at it.  It hurts her eyes... I think it gives her gas.

In all seriousness ~ okay, in some seriousness as I'm never that serious! ~ I really do want to thank everyone who has posted about their first and most recent quilts.  I have loved seeing every one of them and the stories behind them are the best! 

Really.  I've enjoyed it.  Even though it's killing me.  Even though I am dreading Monday. 

I do have one thing to show you before Monday's "green thing"...

Do you remember this picture from last November?

 

Those squares became half-triangle squares ~ 600 of them, to be exact ~ in this quilt.

 

It's a Christmas quilt that isn't really a Christmas quilt... if that makes sense.  It's red and green but there isn't any Christmas fabric in it, no holly leaves or holly berries.  The main fabric is the little rosebud on the tan background from Portobello Market.

The quilt ~ titled Good Tidings ~ is in the Christmas Issue of Australian Homespun magazine, Issue 74, coming soon to an Australian newstand near you. 

I even made a little pincushion to go with the quilt.  The pattern for it will be on the Homespun website soon ~ it wasn't up yet or I would have included the link.

 

You know... this would be really cute made with that Simple Abundance fabric.  Maybe red pinwheels with one of the aqua prints in place of the tan fabric.  What do you think?

Just as long as it isn't "sage green"... anything but that.

See you in a bit... I'm off to borrow a cute child for Monday.

The green thing...

I'll get to that in a moment... I promise. 

I did want to give you a heads-up on something though... you know the word "abundance"?  You know how it means a great or plentiful amount, profusion, copious supply, etc. 

Well, it's simple... you're going to need lots and lots ~ an abundance ~ of this fabric.

 

Simple Abundance by Cotton Blossoms ~ Bonnie and Camille.

This is a pincushion ~ yes, a Tuffet ~ that my friend Judy made with the scraps/leftovers of a quilt she's made for something I'm working on.  This fabric is absolutely yummy... as pretty as you think it is when you see it, it's even more wonderful when it's sewn up.

Camille has already made lots and lots of fabulous quilts with it, but seriously, even if you make everything she's made... you're still going to want more of this fabric.  A lot isn't going to be enough.

To show you how awful I am, when I saw Judy's quilt and this little pincushion top, she offered to give me the remaining scraps.  When I whined about wanting the Tuffet ~ yeah, it was definitely whining... can't lie to you about that ~ she said I could have the scraps or the pincushion. 

"But, Judy... I want both"... more whining... seriously, I have no shame at all. 

How crummy did I feel when she said I could have both?  Not much.  Which I have to say is even more embarassing than the whining.  But since I have a lot to make up to Judy for ~ I have a bad habit of scaring Judy when I drive ~ I let her keep her Tuffet.  (But shhh... don't tell Judy, but I'm thinking I may have to "appropriate" that pincushion one day soon since she's going to get to keep the quilt.)

Now about the "green thing"... while at Market, Camille and I spoke about getting several bloggy-types to go digging in their closets to pull out their very first quilts.  You might remember that I've already shown a couple of mine. 

Camille's suggestion ~ and it's a really good one... like that's a surprise ~ is to show a picture of our first quilt.  Then show a picture of the project you just finished.  It doesn't matter what it is ~ big quilt, small quilt, tote bag, apron, whatever! ~ it just has to be the very last thing you finished before you posted.

That's where my "green thing" comes in.  Since I've already shown you my first couple of quilts, I will show you a quilt top that hasn't seen the light of day in about 10 years.  And, trust me, I'm not sure the light of day is ready for it... and neither are you.

It's pea-soup green. 

If you want to see it, you're going to have to pester Camille to show you her first quilt. 

Thank you Tommy...

As in Thomas Jefferson ~ thank you for those papers you wrote about independence, freedom and so on.

 

Happy 4th of July to everyone ~ near and far!

I'm swamped with work and still way behind schedule but everyone is good so no complaints.

Thank you very much for all the kind comments and support regarding that eBay thing.  As far as that goes -- so far, so good.  Ebay is doing what they can and they've pulled some of her listings involving my patterns and those of others.   

The biggest and most important thing I've learned is that stopping this kind of thing is up to us!  If you see something you believe may be fraudulent, report it.  On the page with the listing, go to the very bottom of the page and look for the link to Report this item.  Click the link and then use these steps >> Reason for Report - Counterfeits and Copyright Violations.  >> Detailed Reason - Potential trademark infringement.  >> Additional Information - Other replica or counterfeit items.  Then click Continue.  In the Brief Description box, give the reason why you think the item is violating whatever. 

I hope Tommy would approve.

I know I said I would have a picture of Sweet Tea by the end of this week but I'm late with that too.  Next week, I promise.

But while I'm on the subject of tea... have you ever had an "Arnold Palmer"?  It's equal parts lemonade and iced tea and it's currently my favorite drink.  It's perfect for summer ~ especially a hot one!

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend wherever they are. 

And if you're in the good old US of A... have a very safe 4th of July!