So Cool!!

Have you ever seen the website We All Sew? You all need to head over there and check it out!!

I am one of the lucky bloggers to be featured as one of their favorite sewing blogs this week! How cool is that!!?? I'm thrilled and honored.

They have an awesome section on their blog called "Sew and Serve" - if you are looking for a way to make a difference, you need to check it out! And they also have a section for "Free Stuff".. who doesn't love free ideas and patterns?

Seriously.. head over there and soak up all the inspirations!

From T-Shirt to Tote

Some of you probably already know how much I appreciate the teachers that spend their days with my boys.

I know how much work my boys can be - and I want to make sure their teachers know how much we appreciate them!

Next week is Teacher Appreciation week and the PTA is doing something everyday. From breakfast to lunch.. and a raffle next Friday.

I made this tote and donated it for the raffle.

I used a t-shirt with the school mascot and some navy canvas.

It turned out pretty cute. And when I dropped it off in the office this morning - the elementary secretary couldn't take her hands off it. Hopefully a teacher will be able to use this to carry papers and books to and from school for years to come.

If you have old t-shirts with your school mascot on them - you could turn them into tote bags, or maybe a wall hanging for the classroom?? Get creative and show those teachers how much they mean to us.. and our kids!

Easter Baskets

I wanted to do something different for my boys Easter Baskets this year. In the past - I've normally just purchased the Easter themed ice cream pail. But not this year!!

I found these plain wicker baskets in the craft department at Walmart. Not the Easter isle.. but way in the back by all the sewing/craft items. They were $3.99 each.

Then I dug in my stash for some "boy" fabric and made simple liners with elastic around the edges.

My plan is that when Easter is over - these baskets will go in their bedrooms. They will serve as a "dumping" place for items that I find around the house that the boys need to put away.

Hopefully - the plan will work.

Grandma's Kitchen

What does it mean when people say "Comfort Food"? Comfort food can be many things.. it can fill you up and make you all fat warm inside. Or it can take you back to your childhood.. times when you felt like all was good with the world and you were one lucky kid!!

That's what this recipe that I'm about to share does for me. It takes me back to my Grandma's kitchen at the lake. We would spend weekends there in the summer and in the morning Grandma would make us pancakes with her (family) famous Buttermilk Pancake Recipe. I clearly remember sitting at the circa 1960 kitchen table with metal table legs (remember those?) while Grandma stood at the stove cooking pancakes in her cast iron skillet.

I recently made these for my boys and they loved them! They are truly the BEST pancakes EVER!!! I'm not kidding.. they melt in your mouth and they are so fluffy!

Anyway.. on to the recipe. It's super easy to remember.. it's all "2's"

Ingredients:
2 cups Buttermilk
2 Eggs
2 tsp sugar
2 cups Flour
2 tsp baking soda
2 Tbsp Oil (I use vegetable)
dash of salt

It makes quite a bit of batter - So I typically split it. My kids ask for them almost every single day!

And today.. I thought I would get creative and try something new. I made the batter.. and poured it into the waffle maker

Let me just say... OH.MY.GOODNESS!!! It made the best waffles ever. They were crispy on the outside.. and so soft on the inside. Why did I wait this long to make waffles with this recipe??

Sorry about the focus on this picture - but I had drool coming down my chin and couldn't wait to shove that entire waffle in my mouth! There wasn't time to focus the camera!!

Now trust me on this.. they are worth making. Even if you already think you have a favorite pancake recipe.. give this one a try and see what you think. You won't be disappointed.

I have some fun posts for you later this week. I'm working on a "Thread Guide" for you.. along with a fun bag that would make a great teacher or student book bag!

Now go make pancakes for dinner!

My FNSI Results

I had a very productive Friday Night. But I do think I had attention issues. I was all over the place!

I made some progress on a quilt that I'm trying to finish...

These mini pinwheels are the last blocks before I can put my quilt top together. The small ones are only 3 inches.

I used a new (to me) method to make these pinwheels - AND I'M HOOKED!! It was a super easy way to make half square triangles. Some of you may have seen this already - but it's from the Missouri Quilt Co. It's a video tutorial on Youtube - Click HERE to check it out. You must take a look! Trust me, you'll want to give it a try after you see this. 

Then I finished this quilt - it's been on my to do list for A YEAR!!! It's made with Minky squares.. chenille sashing.. and flannel backing/binding. So soft.

 I didn't have much left on this quilt - just the binding. But I'm so happy to have it done!

And finally I made this little basket from Sweetwater. I'm a member of their Label Crew and this was our March project. Quick and easy Easter basket.

 If you have ever thought about joining the Sweetwater Label Crew - you should really consider it now. They have a SUPER cute project planned for May. It's a sewing organizer. You can see it HERE on their blog.

Now I'm off to finish dinner - and after our house settles down for the night, I will be surfing your blogs to see what you worked on. I can't wait!

On the Fence?

Are you signed up for the Friday Night Sew-in?

If not - Click HERE to get your name on the list, silly!

And for all of you that are signed up and planning to join in tomorrow.. it's just hours away. 

I'm very excited and ready to sew sew sew. And as I sit down in front of my sewing machine tomorrow night.. I will be thinking of all of you around the World sewing along with us. 

Bobbi will be making something special for the giveaway this month. Can't wait to see what she comes up with. And I'm excited to surf through your blogs to see what you all accomplish too!

Let's do this!

Minnesota "Nice"

Have you ever heard the term "Minnesota Nice"??

I did not grow up in Minnesota but my husband did. And he's always been proud to be a Minnesota boy. In fact, when we first moved to Arizona - people would say "Where are you from?" and naturally I would say "North Dakota".. and without fail, my husband would lean over and in my ear he'd say "Can't you just say you are from Minnesota?"  Too funny!

Anyway - during all our AZ years whenever I'd call someone "nice".. he'd say "Nice?.. or Minnesota nice?"

Minnesota nice is a whole different level of nice. And now that I live in Minnesota, I was lucky enough to experience "Minnesota nice" one day last week.

I drive by a house on my way to take the kids to school each day. The little couple (easily in their 70's) that lives in this house has a GIGANTIC garden! It's obvious that they take their gardening serious - it's surrounded by an 8 foot tall electric fence.

So one day last week - I decided to stop and introduce myself... and ask a few gardening questions from the experts.

They were funny and sweet - we had a few good laughs. He gave me quite a few tips on keeping the wildlife out of my garden.. and then they offered me some of their Cherry Tomato plants. Just like that... without asking.. he offered them to me along with some pots for some replanting of my own tomato plants he told me I would need to do soon.

And look - his plants are so much bigger than my pitiful little tomato plants.They told me to plant these on my patio in pots when the weather gets warmer.

I promised I would stop in later this summer and let them know how it's going for me. I could sit and talk with them for hours. Soaking up their years of gardening and canning knowledge.

And that my friends.. is Minnesota NICE!!

Apron's are FUN

Like many of you - I've been on an apron kick lately. They are fun to make!

I made this one for someone I know.. but I won't say her name because she reads my blog and I don't want her to know. But I will be seeing her at Easter - I can deliver it then.

The color in the picture didn't turn out very good. It is more "Brown" in person - not so plum.

I found this pattern at a quilt store near me. But now I'm ready to move on to a different pattern. Do you know of any easy/fun apron patterns??

April Friday Night Sew-In Signups are HERE!!

It's that time again! Time to join Bobbi and I for the monthly FNSI! Let's commit to some sewing time.

1. Enter your blog info below. **If you don't have a blog - you can enter the Flickr group link as your URL.

2. Make a post on your blog - letting all your readers know about the sew-in. Spread the word.. we could all use the virtual sewing support and encouragement.

3. On Friday – 4/15/11- Get your house settled, put on your comfy jammies.. maybe make a cup of tea or pour a glass of wine.. and sit down to work on some of those projects.

4. Then, sometime on Saturday - publish a post about what you worked on.. show us a picture or two on Flickr. There is a FNSI group on Flickr if you haven't already joined. Totally optional.

And finally - on Sunday 4/17/11, we will enter all participants into a drawing for the GIVEAWAY!!

NEW Friday Night Sew-In Blog Button!

Get it while it's HOT HOT HOT!!!

We have updated the Blog Button for the Friday Night Sew-In. What do you think?

You can add to your blog - or update the one you already have! It's up to you.  The code to add to your blog is at the top of my sidebar!

How to for Blogger:
Copy the code in the text box on my sidebar (Ctrl C)
Click design
Select Add Gadget
Select HTML/Javascript
Paste code (Ctrl V)
Save


** The signup for the upcoming FNSI will be posted tomorrow!

Garden Update

I thought I would give you a little update on the garden and show you something I received in the mail today.

So far our seeds are sprouting like crazy.

And Kristen from Las Vegas sent me this sweet little package with some seeds for lettuce, melons and adorable flowers.

She also sent this sweet fabric! I fell in love with it instantly. I want to make something with it - I'm leaning towards a pillow of some kind. Or something to hang on the wall.

It's a beautiful Spring day here - I have windows open letting the fresh air in. Now I'm off to plant some more seeds in these little containers.

This garden of ours might be a bit big.. but I'm hopeful and motivated. It helps that my husband is excited about the garden too. And he has always taken pride his his lawn and spends alot of time outside when the weather is nice. I sometimes tease that he loves his grass more than me. Ok.. probably not - but it's a close race.

I love Spring!

Fabric Shopping

So I found some great fabrics for the iSpy Swap that I joined.

These little bikes happen to be my favorite! I love the little basket of flowers.

Now I'd better get cutting so I can get this bundle in the mail.

Winner.... Winner... We have two Winners!!

I woke bright eyed this morning eager to draw two winners for my recent celebration giveaway. I was anxious to see who random.org would select. Are you ready??

The winner of the Soiree Layer Cake is...

#38 Maria - from Life on the Block Congrats Maria!

And the winner of the journal and Kaffe fat quarters...

#116 Kelly - from Adventures in Quilting Congrats Kelly!

Ok winners - send me your mailing address and I will package these up for you and get them on their way!!

Now - I have quite a few things to share with you guys - BUT I have some computer issues that we are working on. And if I can't get it working and back to normal by the weekend.. my laptop will be spending the weekend as an inpatient at the PC Dr. Wish me luck!!

Gone to the Birds!

I recently received a newsletter in the mail from one of the quilt stores here in town. They had this little tidbit in there and I love the idea so much - I wanted to share with all of you!

Keep a container (Mason Jar works well) next to your sewing machine/work space. Toss thread scraps and bits of batting in there. Then add them to your bird suet-feeder.

The birds will use your scraps of thread and batting to build their nests. Hows that for RECYCLING!!!

Let's Celebrate!!

First let me say THANK YOU! Thank you to all of you for being here, reading and leaving comments. I read each and every comment and appreciate them all. Sharing with all of you is what keeps me motivated!

To celebrate reaching 500 followers along with my 2 year blogiversary - I am having a giveaway!

I will be selecting 2 winners.. yes.. TWO!!

Winner #1 will receive this awesome layer cake of "Soiree" by Lila Tueller for Moda.

Winner #2 will receive these 3 Fat Quarters of Kaffe Fassett fabric along with an "idea" journal.

How to enter

For 1 Entry: Just leave a comment.

If you want a 2nd entry - you can blog about it. Then come back and leave me a second comment telling me that you are spreading the word!

I will leave open until Tuesday morning at 7am Central Time.

Good Luck!

iPOD Cover - The Tutorial

Do you have an iPod Touch? I love mine and the cover that I made last year needed some improvements. So I revamped and made a new one. I love this new pattern so much - I had to share so you can make one too!

These would also make a great Christmas gift - and now is the time to start making those gifts!! 

Supplies needed:

2 Fat Quarters of fabric. (1 for interior and 1 for exterior)

Fusible Interfacing. (I used Pellon 987 fusible fleece)

3/8 inch wide Black elastic

Closure - Either snap or velcro would work.

Step 1: Cut a rectangle 11 1/2 x 7 inches from EACH fabric and the fusible interfacing.

Step 2: Fuse the interfacing to your exterior fabric.



Step 3: Mark your corners as follows

Bottom corners: 2 inches in by 2 1/4 inches up

Top corners: 2 inches in by 4 1/4 inches down

Mark both the interior and exterior fabrics



Step 4: Cut out the corners



Step 5: Next you will create the notch for the headphones. You will measure in 3/4 of an inch and 1/2 in wide.

To make sure you mark the appropriate place on each piece - put them RST (right sides together). 

Step 6: Place your fabrics RST and sew all around with 1/4 seam allowance. Make sure to leave an opening for turning.

Step 7: Before you turn, you will need to trim the outer corners and snip the inner angles. Both shown in the picture below. Make sure not to accidently cut the stitching.

Step 8: Turn right sides out and press. Next you will stitch all around the outside using 1/8 in seam allowance. You will be closing your opening at this time.

Step 9: Take the elastic and cut 2 pieces to 3 1/4 inches each. To ensure proper placement - it's a good idea to put the iTouch there if you have it. If you are making as a gift and don't have the iTouch handy - you can get a good idea of placement from picture below. Pin in place.

Step 10: Stitch in place. Stitching through all layers. I backed up once to reinforce the stitching.

Step 11: This next step can get a little tricky. You will fold over the elastic to stitch the other side. You need to get creative to keep it in place as you try to get under the needle.

Step 12: Next you will install the closure. I used a snap. I bought these at Walmart. They are very easy to install. Follow package instructions for installation.

You can also use velcro for this step. Either would work just fine.

Step 13: Sit back and enjoy your new iTouch cover!!

As always - if you have questions, don't hesitate to email me and ask. And if you make one - I'd love to see it!!