Quilting Bee off and running

I joined an online virtual Quilting Bee. I'm very exciting about this - I've never participated in one before and am looking forward to the next 12 months.

I received the fabric for September's square from Meagan.

I love the challenge!! She sent a note with some basic guidelines but there is still a lot of freedom to create! I have a couple ideas and am finally ready to put them together - but NOT THIS WEEKEND!!! We've got family plans.

Now that school has started - I have my mornings to sew again before I go to work each day. I love this time of day. School doesn't start until 9 - and I'm an early riser. So I have at least 1 1/2 - 2 hours each morning to myself (and the dog). LOVE IT!!!

One last note.. I was going to baste and quilt the Christmas Table Topper from previous post and ran into an issue. The pattern says 2 yards for backing - but it's not enough. The finished quilt is 58 x 58. And do the math.. 2 yards is 44 x 72. So since I have some piecing to do, I'm going to spice it up a bit. Can't wait to show you.

Christmas in August

I'm half way there! I purchased the Christmas Table Topper kit from The Quilt Shoppe. I love it! I started the squares this past weekend and finished the sashing this morning while the house is super quiet (except from the frequent bark from the dog - but that's a post for another day).

Pretty good sized huh? I might hang it up instead of laying it on the table.

Had one near disaster on Sunday with the WHITE fabric. I was getting ready to cut the sashing.. and I broke rule #1.. I had a drink on the cutting table.. yeah, you know what's next. And if it couldn't get worse - it was a homemade iced COFFEE!! Yeah.. coffee and white fabric.. not a good combination. But after a few not so nice words.. a run to the laundry room - and a scoop of oxy clean for good measure.. it all came out fine.

Now I just need to quilt and bind it. I will post the completed pics when I'm done.

The Bib Apron - so CUTE!!!

Do you have some bib overall shorts in the closet that you don't wear anymore? (Please tell me you no longer wear them!!)

I have created a fun tutorial showing you how to turn them into a super cute apron like this.

I got the idea from my Cousin - and since I had an old pair of bib shorts in the closet, I decided to have some fun with them.

Click Bib Apron Tutorial for the pdf file with all the instructions.

If you decide to make these - let me know what you think.

Best Chocolate Cake EVER!!!

I haven't been sewing this week - just wasn't feeling it. But it's coming this weekend - trust me. I have alot of organizing planned for my sewing room and that always get's me going.

Anyway - since I haven't shared much lately, I decided to share my top secret from scratch Chocolate Cake recipe. If you are like me and you love a moist, dense cake then you have to try this. It is THE BEST chocolate cake EVER!!! Don't believe me? Then try it and you will see.

I don't have a photo - because it doesn't last long.

But here it is..

Preheat oven to 350
2 cups Flour
1/2 cup Cocoa
2 tsp Baking Soda
1 tsp salt (optional)

Combine in bowl and set aside.

In a new bowl, cream together
2 tsp Vanilla
1/2 cup Butter (softened)
2 cups Sugar
Add 2 cups Boiling Water
Mix until well blended
Add 2 eggs
Then gradually add the dry ingredients.

Pour into 9x13 in pan and bake for 30 mins or until center done.

While on cooling rack - make the Frosting

Frosting
In sauce pan combine
1 cup Sugar
5 Tbsp Butter
1/4 cup milk or half n half

Bring to boil - boil 1 minute stirring constantly.
Remove from heat and add 1 cup Chocolate Chips

Beat until starts to set. Pour/Spread hot frosting over warm cake.

This chocolate frosting recipe is from my uncle - he uses it on his brownies. But it's equally good on this cake.

If you are having a chocolate craving.. you must try this cake. You won't be disappointed. And you will never make cake from a box again!!!

Great Giveaway

I have been so busy (today was the first day of school) and have some projects to show you in the coming days. I shouldn't have gone this long without a post!

But for now I want to tell you about a great giveaway at one of my favorite blogs.. and also one of my new favorite online fabric stores.

They are celebrating their 2 year anniversary and trust me.. they have some super cute kits. I recently purchased one and will be starting it this week. For their B'day celebration - they are offering 25% off the entire store!! Whahoo!!!

Anyway - go over there.. check it out.. enter the giveaway.. and don't forget to check out the online store.

A busy little bee...

Somehow between 20 loads of laundry (ok, maybe not 20), lots of cooking, cleaning, the whole family bowling, swimming.. and things I can't even remember - I managed to get all this done this weekend.

First - I made this for my Mom. It's a "Couch Caddy".. it doesn't fit on the arm of my couch - so I had to display it here on my machine. It was super simple to make. Found the pattern here.

I hope she likes it.
Second - I made this cute zipper pouch. I had to get creative and mix it up a little bit since I only had 2 fat quarters to work with. I had to piece the back and it turned out really cute.

Front...
Back....

Third - Made this flax filled bag for my Mom. You can freeze to use as a cold pack, or microwave and use as a heat back. She wants it to warm her feet at night.

Fourth - here is a self binding receiving blanket for my Sisters new grandchild. Sending this back with my niece along with the couch caddie and flax bag for my Mother.

And lastly - I finished this new bag. It was very time consuming - more than most of the bags that I'm used to making. Not sure if I'll do another one anytime soon. If I do, I'll make some adjustments to it. But I do like how it turned out.

That's it for now.. I have some more things I need to make this week before my niece leaves on Saturday.

Time for an Intervention?

What is it that they say.. to over come an addiction, you first have to admit it??

Who are "they" anyway?? What do "they" know!! And what if I don't want to give up my addiction?

My addiction is.. fabric.. there, I said it. I buy it at quilt stores, online fabric stores, ebay.. you name it.. I've been there.

Here is a picture of my recent purchases...
Trust me, this is just a sample of what I have. My sewing room has a walk-in closet that I can't even show you because you'd gasp at my lack of organization right now. I'm working on it.. I swear.

I want to build a bookcase type fabric case.. with cubbies.. to store fabric in. But I need to learn how to use the saw in the garage first. LOL.. And I may just do that this winter!

Now if I could just find the time to turn these into the beautiful things they want to become!!!

Why is it never enough?

Dinosaurs and Underwear.. yes, in the same post.

I've been wanting to make simple boxers for my boys for awhile - I've had the pattern for quite some time. Well, I finally made them a couple weeks ago.

The hard part was getting both kids in them at the same time and then getting them in the same room for a picture. I've finally given up on that dream.

So here are separate pictures of them. First my oldest..

He says they are the most comfortable jammies ever!! Followed by "Thanks Mom, you're the best". It was all worth it right there.

And I couldn't get my youngest to sit still long enough for a picture.. until he fell asleep.
I also made him a tank top and he wanted "those eye things to make you sleep". So I used some scraps and a strip of the elastic and made him those "eye things".. and they work as you can see. Couldn't get him out of those jammies for the entire weekend by the way.

And here are the girly ones that I was able to make for my niece. It's fun to sew girl stuff!

I need to make some for myself next!

Ok, now that the underwear is out of the way - her is a Dinosaur quilt I made a while back but never finished. I finally quilted it and here it is. So cute.

It's her first purse!!

If you have been following my blog - you will know that my niece is here from out of State. She's staying with us and playing with the boys until school starts and helping us out with summer activities. She's 16 and the boys adore her. She's is one of only 2 girls in a sea of boy grandchildren. And the only other girl is almost 2 years old.. so she's been the only girl for many years.

Well, tonight she made her very own purse. She's a pretty good sewer.. some potential there! If she only lived closer - I could share my addiction with her. But being 16 - I'm sure I'm not her first choice to hang out with. LOL.. Even though I am pretty fun!

She's going to make another purse for her BFF before she leaves to go home in a few weeks. Along with a baby blanket for her new little nephew.

My first Swap!

This weekend I joined the Friendship Bag Swap.. I'm so excited!

If you are interested in joining.. and I hope you are.. registration closes August 20th. Partner information will be sent by August 25th. The deadline to mail your friendship bag is October 6th.
Go here to register. You will also find a tuturial for a bag that you can make as your Friendship Bag - or just to make for yourself (cuz it's that cute!) if you don't want to participate.

Thelma and Louise would have hit the BRAKES for this..

Well, maybe not - but they would have looked twice for sure. (that little joke goes out to my sewing buddy.. Thelma.. aka Bobbi).

So I went and picked up my Bountiful Basket this morning.. The produce truck was late - so we had to wait a little bit in the sun. It was hot. But I actually think that I got a little high from watching them unload all our fruit and veggies - I had no idea what we were going to get and the anticipation was making me feel like a kid at Christmas. It was almost the same little high I feel when I go into fabric stores.. almost.. (I know.. I have issues)

Here are the volunteers unloading..

Here are all the baskets.. everyone gets two..

and here it is all laid out at home..
Anyway - if you don't know about this program - it's a produce co-op in Arizona and Utah. (sorry everyone else) and the contribution is $15. I added on a "picnic pack" this week for an additional $7.50. It included 2 pints of strawberries, a pint a blueberries and a nice juicy watermelon.

Now I need some help though - I have never bought fresh artichokes..
What do I do with them? Seriously.. help me! I have 3 of them. I love them - but have never had them fresh like this before.