Project Destash: 36 Pillowcases

December 23rd: The day designated to pick up the Momma from her apartment to have her join us for our Christmas celebrations. Almost four hours driving as it was the Eve before Christmas Eve...the Friday starting the holiday weekend...even the normal shortcut didn't work this time.

December 23rd: The Momma's birthday...and no, I can't tell you how old she is, as it's not polite to tell a ladies age (and she'd probably smack me for doing so)!
- We had Chinese food delivered for dinner (her choice...I managed to choke down a few bites so I didn't appear rude)
- We celebrated with a Chocolate Chocolate-Chip bundt cake, but only one candle!

December 23rd: I delivered 32 pillowcases to the senior apartment complex for distribution....pirates, ducks, cats, dogs, flowers, chickens...all were a big hit!  They definitely were worth all the effort...the smiles were priceless!

And the big surprise?  There was a tug-of-war over the garlic pillowcase!

Recipe...Christmas Jello Salad

It goes by many different names...Pistachio Jello Salad, Pistachio Ambrosia, or Pineapple-Pistachio Delight.

In our house, however, it is the Momma's Christmas Jello Salad...a delight at any time of year, but it joins our table every year for Christmas Dinner. The Momma doesn't know where this recipe originated from...but her best guess is from one of their military friends.

Ingredients
1 box instant Pistachio Pudding mix
1 large can Crushed Pineapple in juice, undrained
1 small tub of Cool Whip
1 small can Mandarin Oranges, drained
1/2 bag Miniature Marshmallows
1 cup Maraschino Cherries, drained and halved (Optional)
1 cup Walnut Pieces (Optional)

Important Note
This salad will only set in a glass dish/bowl.

Procedures
1. Mix together Pistachio Pudding mix and Cool Whip until mixture turns green.
2. Stir in all other ingredients.
3. Place into glass serving bowl...sprinkling the top with nuts.
4. Lightly cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator overnight.

My Daughter Bakes....

The dear daughter has been back from college since last Friday evening.

Today she decided to bake cookies to share with the family on Christmas Day.

Today I left the house to run errands.

Today I received a phone call while out running my errands..Mom, you might want to pick up some butter while your out.

Today I went to the market to pick up more butter. Thinking to myself...why in the world would we need more butter at the house?  There were two pounds in the refrigerator.  


Today I came home after running errands....to a scene very similar to the one pictured above.

How can one person manage to use every dish and appliance in the house to make four batches of cookie dough, not even the cookies themselves, and create such a clutter?

Seriously, can you tell me?

And, NO...I am not cleaning it up.

Recipe...Peanut Butter Blossoms

Christmas is coming...house is being decorated...and the cookie jars are out.

Cookie JARS? Yes, I have four cookie jars that are sitting out on a table that simply must be filled for all to enjoy.  The penguin jar has Oh Fudge; the Santa jar has sugar cookies. The Christmas tree and snowman jars need something still..

Last night I started going through recipes thinking of what should go in the Christmas tree jar and cam up with the ever famous Peanut Butter Blossom cookie...my favorite because it mixes chocolate and peanut butter together. What could be better than that?

PEANUT BUTTER BLOSSOMS


Ingredients
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup white sugar
48 Hershey Kisses

Toni's Process
1. Unwrap all Hershey Kisses.
2. Place the first nine ingredients in the bowl of your mixer and mix until creamed. Remove bowl from mixer, cover and place in the refrigerator for a minimum of 30 minutes.
3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
4. Remove bowl from refrigerator and shape into 1-inch balls.
5. Roll balls in the 1/2 cup white sugar and place on cookie sheet (ungreased) approximately 2 inches apart.
6. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until very light golden brown.  Immediately remove from oven and press one Hershey Kiss into the center of each cookie.
7. Remove from cookie sheets onto rack for cooling.

Note: Although I love the flavor of these cookies, I would love to tried these cookies with Peanut Butter & Co's Dark Chocolate Dreams peanut butter...more chocolate is always better, right?

Recipe...Oh Fudge

Fudge...that magical treat...how I love thee!

I used to use the recipe on the back of the Marshmallow Creme jar....boiling and stirring for TEN minutes to allow the mixture to get to the proper temperature.

But not any more!

One of my canyon friends shared a recipe a while back that was super easy...and not overly sugary...just the way I like!

Ingredients
- One can condensed milk
- One bag semi-sweet chocolate chips
- One cup milk chocolate chips
- One half stick butter
- One teaspoon vanilla extract

Process
Official directions: Put all ingredients in your favorite saucepan and heat slowly just until combined.  Pour into a greased 8X8 pan and place in the refrigerator for two hours.

Toni's directions: Put all ingredients into a glass dish and microwave in minute intervals until just combined.  Pour into a greased 8X8 pan and place in the refrigerator for two hours.

Cut and enjoy!

PS: If you prefer a more sugary taste, just switch the proportions on the semi-sweet and milk chocolate chips...same process.

PPS: If you're one of those nutty people, go ahead and throw in a handful of nuts.

Christmas Tree Rag Quilt

One less UFO in the cabinet...one fabric bin empty...

Presenting the Christmas tree rag quilt...

OK...the picture's  not so great...sorry about that. I'm electronically-impaired this week.

But at least it's finished, washed, and hanging up for Christmas...that is until the Dear Daughter comes home for Winter break and takes control of it.

Naddafinger!

The Christmas Story leg lamp stocking....

I shall hang it proudly this year.

Recipe....Hummingbird Cake

I have to confess...often there is a banana or two that doesn't get eaten quick enough in our home.

We don't throw them out...we make Hummingbird Cake with them.

Hummingbird Cake? I thought that was the absolute funniest name for a cake when my friend gave me the recipe.

But I made it at home...

My husband and daughter were there....

I put it out on the counter to cool before adding the cream cheese frosting and went out to run some errands...

Got back home and the cake was over half gone....hmmm, wonder how that happened.

HUMMINGBIRD CAKE

Ingredients
- 1 package  plain yellow cake mix
           (basically any plain mix...this time I used a white cake mix as it's what I had)
- 1 can (8 ounces) crushed pineapple packaged in juice, undrained
- 2 medium or 3 small ripe bananas, peeled and mashed
           (I usually skip the mashing part, as my mixer will do that for me)
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
          (canola, corn, safflower, soybean or sunflower will work if you don't have vegetable oil)
- 3 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Process
 (Note: there are actual formal steps to use; however, I'm choosing to give you the abbreviated
  version I use...LOL)
1. Heat your oven to 350 degrees.
2. Spray/grease your pan...traditionally it will be two 9-inch round cake pans, but I use a 9X12 pan.
3. Place all ingredients in your mixer.  Beat until combined. Pour everything into your pan.
4. Bake until you can't stand it any more, as the smells filling your house are so yummy...usually around 30 minutes for the cake pans and a bit longer for the 9X12 pan.
5. Remove from oven and place in a safe, secure place to cool...remember, your husband and family will want to eat it immediately.
6. Once cooled, smother the whole thing in cream cheese frosting...and then throw a handful of nuts on for decoration.
7. Enjoy!

Windy Here...

Living in Southern California has its good points...the sun usually shining, both the mountains and the beach no further than an hour drive, and awesome fresh food...

Even living in the sunshine has it's occasional drawbacks...earthquakes, fire, rattlesnakes, and winds.

The past two days we've had winds..and not just an ordinary breeze.  These winds were measured up to 65 mph.

We are lucky this time..no structure damage to the house.  However, they did leave a few reminders of their power..

We'll be busy cleaning up this weekend....

Reverse Sewing

You'll know those itty-bitty little blocks I've been sewing and finished?

Well, guess what?

I put all of them together backwards...all XXX hundred of them.

Normally I would tell myself it's OK....I've made up a new pattern and continue assembling the quilt top.

This top won't let me do this...it wants me to sit and reverse sew all these blocks.

Needless to say, my Clover seam ripper is my best friend right now.....

Chinese Food Rant

My husband and daughter would eat Chinese food each and every meal if you let them.  Needless to say, I've eaten a lot of Chinese food...and personally come to detest the stuff.

However, as my daughter is home for the Thanksgiving weekend from college in Indiana, I knew the weekend would have at least one meal of the dreaded stuff....little did I know it would be more than one.

Our holiday weekend dinners went something like this:
 - Wednesday: Sushi...luckily I could beg off as I was cooking for everyone the next day.
 - Thursday: Thanksgiving dinner...no Chinese food involved.
 - Friday: Thai...isn't that a close relative of Chinese food?

And the all important Saturday...the last night before she goes back to college.  What does she want?

Chinese food....the real stuff...nothing else will do.

Dear Husband suggested a trying a new place, as he's always on the lookout for a better Chinese meal.

First impressions:
 - Beautifully decorated.
 - Attentive staff.

What we got (at least in my opinion)....
 - A restaurant that reeked of body odor.
 - Two older ladies enjoying a meal, one trying to explain the difference of Skype and Facebook to someone who was obviously not computer-literate.  (Note I said "older"...no disrespect intended.)
 -  Luke-warm food.

But the worst thing about the restaurant? They used MINUTE RICE...not even the real stuff.

Needless to say, I won't go back there again...and have prohibited my family from even bringing up "Chinese food" for the next year.  Don't you think I've suffered enough?

Easy Turkey Recipe

For those who don't cook and want to impress their family....

For those who cook but never seem to get that perfect turkey brown...

For those who just want to play jokes on their family (yes, I would fall into this category)...

May I present the Inflatable Turkey...found in a cute little store in Orange last year...it was the hit of our Thanksgiving...giving us many, many chuckles...

Warning...don't carve into it...doesn't taste too good!

The Blocks Are Together!

Loving how these blocks are going together...the colors are just fabulous!  Every time I work with these blocks  I'm reminded of going into the candy store and seeing all the colors.

Recipe...Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie

I know....I know...it's pretty quick to be posting another recipe.

But I didn't know the difference between Grade A and Grade B maple syrup...much less the supreme syrup of Vermont...my FaceBook friends quickly educated me.

I learned:
 - Grade A: to be used for flavor....great for pancakes or waffles.
 - Grade B: to be used for baking...stronger, unprocessed flavor.
 - Vermont: use anything labeled Vermont maple syrup...it's supreme!

What does this have to do with the Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie, you ask? Ummm...I don't know, but somehow our conversation got to the point where I promised to post this recipe.

It's easy-peasey.....

It's a crowd pleaser....

And it's one of our "have-to-have on the holiday menu" items.

Ingredients
1/2 (15 ounce) package refrigerated pie crust (or you can make your own if you prefer...but I cheat)
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
4 large eggs
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 cup dark corn syrup
2 tablespoons bourbon (dark rum preferred in my family)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups coarsely chopped pecans

Process
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2. Fit piecrust into a 9-inch deep-dish pie plate according to package directions; fold edges under and crimp any excess.

3. Sprinkle pecans and chocolate evenly onto the bottom of the piecrust; set aside.

4. Mix together the eggs, sugar, butter, corn syrup, bourbon, and vanilla in a bowl and stir to thoroughly combine all the ingredients.

5. Pour the pie filling into the prepare pie shell..

6. Bake 50 minutes to 1 hour, until the pie is firm around the edges and slightly loose in the center.

7. Cool the pie completely on a baking rack before slicing.

Recipe...ApplePie Cheesecake

The only cheesecake that never fails me....

The only cheesecake I never worry about having an ugly crack on the top....

The only cheesecake I bake for holidays...

And....the only cheesecake that's healthy for you, as it has a bunch of apples in the recipe (yeah, that's a reach, but it's what my uncle keeps on telling my aunt so he can have a piece each morning for breakfast after Thanksgiving).

APPLE PIE CHEESECAKE

Crust
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 tablespoons melted unsalted butter

Filling
3 (8 ounce) blocks cream cheese, not whipped (and please don't use the Less Fat variety)
1/2 cup sugar
3 large eggs
1 cup heavy cream
juice of 1/2 lemon
1 cup applesauce
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon unsalted butter

Topping
1 (21-ounce) can apple pie filling
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon butter

Process
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Spray a 9 1/2-inch springform pan with a non-stick cooking spray.  Set aside.
3. In a medium bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, vanilla, and melted butter.  Press into the pan.  Set aside.
4. Prepare the cheesecake filling.  With an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese and sugar until very smooth.  Add in the eggs and beat to combine.  Beat in the cream and lemon juice. Fold in the applesauce and cinnamon.  Mix until well blended (no lumps). Pour into prepared crust.
5.  Place the brown sugar and butter into a small saucepan or skillet.  Heat over medium until the sugar is just melted, stirring often.  Drizzle on top of the filling in a swirl pattern.
6. Bake 1 hour and 20 minutes until the top feels firm to the touch.  Remove from the oven to cool.
7. Raise oven temperature to 400 degrees.
8. Spread the apple pie filling evenly over the baked cheesecake, starting at the center, leaving a tiney border of cheesecake visible.  Sift the cinnamon over the top.  Place the brown sugar and butter into a small saucepan or skillet.  Heat over medium until the sugar is just melted, stirring often.  Drizzle over the apples.
9. Return to oven and bake 15 minutes.
10. Cool completely and refrigerate at least overnight (like this would ever happen in my household...).

Trimming Blocks....

I have this incredible desire to piece blocks to the required size in the pattern.  However, sometimes this doesn't happen, as quite often my seam is "not quite straight".

I've been told I should practice more....maybe by using a sheet of lined paper without thread. I think I should just continue to put things together...and work around my "issues".

So I've learned to how to get the perfect size...cut your initial two blocks a bit larger and then trim down to size.  This seems to work really well when the IPod is blaring out some Annie Lennox.

What you see is the remnants from my current project...all the blocks (and a few more for back-art) have been squared up to the appropriate size...

Quite a beautiful pile of scraps....which I've learned to throw over the ground near the large oak tree at the studio so the birds will have a warmer nest.  Sometimes I even see bits about in our trees...

Bunny Slippers

It's cold today for California...low 50's.

My feet are freezing...not literally. But they are cold.

While rummaging around for a warm pair of socks, a question....why don't I have any bunny slippers?

Couldn't find any cute pink ones, but these are pretty cute...right?  They'll be nice and toasty on my toes...next week.  I just have to figure out what to tell DH once he notices them flopping around next week...

It could have been worse...I think I would have severe nightmares every time I wore them....

Recipe...Pumpkin Spice Cake

Fall is here...time to make the Pumpkin Spice Cake...

This is my go-to recipe, as it is versatile and adaptable.  You can bake it as a jelly roll, using pumpkin cream cheese as the filling; you can bake it as a snack cake for those kids of yours who want something sweet, but yet you want to sneak in a little of those veggies; or you can bake up a sheet cake, frost with cream cheese frosting, and have something that is awesome for any occassion.

PUMPKIN SPICE CAKE

Step #1: Preheat over to 350 degrees.

Step #2: Spray baking pan so nothing sticks.

Step #3: Bring out your large mixing bowl.  Whisk together your dry ingredients:
- 2 cups All-Purpose Flour
- 2 cups Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
- 2 teaspoons Baking Powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Salt
- 2 teaspoons Cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon Powdered Ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon Ground Cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon Ground Nutmeg

Step #4: Make a hole in the center of your dry ingredients.  Carefully add in your wet ingredients, whisking together just enough to combine:
- 4 Large Eggs
- 1 cup Vegetable or Canola Oil
- 1 can (15 oz) Solid Packed Pumpkin (do not use Pumpkin Pie Mix)

Step #5: Pour the batter into your pan and bake 30-35 minutes...or until a toothpick inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean (time dependent on the baking pan you use and the heat of your oven).

Step #6: Let cool on a wire rack, trying to keep your husband/kids away from it so you can frost it (if needed)...I have not always succeeded in the last part of this step.
***Variation:  Through in a handful of mini chocolate chips...you kids will thank you for it!

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

In your mixing bowl, beat together:
- 8 oz Cream Cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup UnSalted Butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon pure Vanilla Extract
- 1 tablespoon Milk

Once combined, slowly add:
- 4 cups Powdered Sugar
It's best if you don't add all the Powdered Sugar at once...I usually do about one cup at a time, making sure to blend completely between additions.  Add more milk if necessary.
***Variation would be to use Orange Juice instead of the milk...complements the flavor of the cake.

Beautiful Day!

Thought I might share a picture from the front deck as it is so beautiful outside today....

It's Cut!

I saw this fabric in a jelly roll at a local quilt store and immediately dismissed it as "way too dark".

I went back to that same jelly roll time and time again when visiting that store...immediately drawn to it as if it were a huge Cadbury chocolate bar, but I continually kept putting it back.

Surely not a quilt of mine...these colors are so totally not me. They're not shabby chic or happy bright.

Yet it was an intriguing color scheme...no white prints in the entire line.Whatever would I use these fabrics for?

Enter the secret project quilt...I can't tell you anything about it at this point, except that it works perfectly for this fabric...and I cut all necessary pieces yesterday while listening to a movie (In The Heat of The Night), enjoying a Diet Dr. Pepper, and munching on a few Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups.

Project Destashing - Making Pillowcases

Once I decided to clear out my stash by making pillowcases, I got started this weekend...and found I had a great variety of fabrics available....

These match my postage stamp quilt:

Getting a head start on the holidays: the pillowcase fabric is the same on all three pillowcases...just the cuffs and contrasting fabric is different on each.

Modern fabric..and way cute: dancing toasters and hoot owls.

Pinup Men: what girl could resist!

Does sleeping with fruits and veggies count as a daily serving? Garlic...

Junk food basics...

And finally one more Hello Kitty!

Wondering what else is hiding in my stash....

Hello Kitty Pillowcases

I'm the first to admit I have quite a bit of fabric, otherwise known as "The Stash".

It continually grows as new designers give us beautiful fabric that I just can't resist, so much so that my husband notices it every time I he enters the studio.

And, of course, my computer's not working right now...he simply must come down and fix it so I can communicate with the world.

But what to do about it?

Today I actually used my Hello Kitty Stash to make pillowcases...six total. 

- One will have a home locally with Ms. Kaitlyn, who love all things pink...especially those with Hello Kitty. 

- One will go to Kentucky to live with another friend join her Hello Kitty collection. 

- Another might just make it to Kuwait for a FB friend's little girl...maybe, just maybe, if her mommy will let it come.

That leaves three...anyone need a pillowcase?

Only 74 Days Until...

You are so wrong! 

I am not one of those people who count the days until Christmas.

It is only the most amazing event of the year...that is besides my Anniversary and daughter's birthday.

The 24-Hour Marathon of The Christmas Story movie begins on December 24th every year...please create an appointment in your calendar to begin at 12:00 Noon so you can enjoy each and every moment of the movie!



Smile!

Love me some Halloween Peeps...don't they just make you feel happy?

Flunking Basic Math

Sewing Last Night = One Movie (The Cadillac Lawyer) + One Diet Dr. Pepper + One Piece Turkey Jerky

This morning when I was comparing the pattern to the partially assembled rows from last night I found an ISSUE.

Basic Math....

Pattern shows EIGHT (8) blocks per row...somehow I have only SEVEN (7) blocks per row put together...and I have NINE(9) out of TEN (10) rows put together.

Let's count....1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10...isn't that the way it goes?

So how did I skip adding an eighth block?

Perhaps my basic equation for the night was off...maybe it should have included some chocolate?

Potato Chips with Chocolate?

Yes, you did read that correctly...potato chips with chocolate...see?

Oh, excuse me!  They're Milk Chocolate Covered Potato Chips...

I know what you're thinking...ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwww! Does that accurately describe it?

Honestly, that's what I thought when I saw the bag..but then again I've tasted some pretty funky stuff:

- Chocolate Garlic Ice Cream (YUCK!)

- Garlic Iced Tea (YUCK!)

- Chocolate Covered Bacon (YUCK!)

- Bacon Cupcakes (YUCK!)

- 50% Bacon/50% Beef Hamburgers (WAY YUM!)

All I can say...these are WAY YUM!!!! Think thick rippled potato chips with salt covered in Milk Chocolate! 

I'll be stashing these in the studio...along with the Smashing S'mores....so the DH doesn't get them!

A Visit to Orange Quilt Bee

Today I needed a break..no laundry, no dirty dishes, and no cooking.

Can you say "ROAD TRIP"?

Not that I went far...just up to see a quilt store that I've never visited. Yeah, I know...bad me! And it's even in Orange County!

Orange Quilt Bee...located in Orange, California...down the road from the Stadium.

First Impressions: 

 - Welcoming, fun, cheery, and bright!

 - Plenty of fabric variety to choose from!

 - Fabrics grouped together by color, making color coordination easy!

Lasting Memories:

 - Overwelming quantity of fat quarters available...even the new stuff!

 - Riley Blake in stock..totally amazing!

Needless to say, I came home with a few fat quarters that I "needed" to have for the new string quilt I'm doing...don't laugh!  I really "needed" them.

Chocolate in a Jar?

I'm a very lucky girl living in Southern California with a variety of grocery stores to choose from.  Not only do we have the usual large grocery chains, but we have the availability of several smaller chains specializing in Persian, Hispanic, Asian and, my favorite, Indian products.

Today I wanted something different for dinner and thought of the Indian market.  Down the hill I went to Indian market to pick up spices, veggies and chicken to make Butter Chicken.

Of course, on my way out I had to puruse the chocolate aisle...Nikki's is unique in the fact as they stock chocolate from England. I usually get a small bar of the Cadbury Milk Chocolate, as it is my favorite chocolate bar. 

But today...next to the Nutella...Cadbury Milk Chocolate spread! Who knew?

Needless to say, it came home with me...and is very, very scrumptious on homemade pumpkin bread, rating right up there with the Dark Chocolate Dreams peanut butter. 

Candy Corn....

It's a good day....

Candy corn is on my kitchen counter...

Love those colors!

Four New Tires?

A leaking tire...nothing new, right?  You just take it to your local shop, and they fix it free because (a) you have a personal relationship with the shop, and (b) they've done it so many times for you before (trust me, my tires seem to attract nails).

Not this time, though...

Did you know they can't patch a tire if the previous patches are leaking and are, in fact, the cause of the leak?

And did you know tire tread doesn't regenerate itself and live forever like fabric?

And did you know at a certain point your car battery dies and you have to replace it?

And do you know how much four new tires and a new battery cost?

And, of course, I couldn't have the tires that are on special...of course not.

My car is very special....it takes bigger tires....the big tires cost so much more.

So much for my wishlist at Fat Quarter Shop....



A Visit to Sew Modern

Some would call it happiness...

Some would call it bright...

Some would call it color....

Some might call it overwelming in its parade of bright beautiful color, but to me it was perfection.

Whatever you may call it, my visit to Sew Modern was definitely worth the drive.

Plenty of fabric...

Plenty of thread...

Beautiful quilts hanging on the wall...

Plenty of inspiration...

And I definitely took advantage of the sales rack (but don't tell the hubby)...

Wonderful...pure wonderful! I will definitely be back!

DUH! Did I Really Do That?

Went down to the studio today to start the petals for my Got a Feeling quilt....

Where's the pattern?

Where's the fabric for the lining?

Uh oh....

I copied the pattern at work...

Put it in the Target bag to bring home...

Oh No! Oh No!

I cleaned out my car on Thursday afternoon...

Threw out the trash, including the Target bag...

And, of course, the trash truck came early Friday morning...

I threw away my pattern and backing fabric...DUH!

What do I do now?

Late Night Ebay Shopping Again....

That little habit I have....

The one when I can't sleep....

LNES...Late Night Ebay Shopping....

And I scored again....

A original tan featherweight case for my beauty.  She came with a reproduction black case, which I'd hoped to find an original eventually.

Well, eventuallly is here....and it's MINE!

Don't you think my featherweight will be glad?

She Sews a Straight Stitch....

My main sewing machine is in the shop for a "scheduled" maintenance....

My travel machine is traveling with a friend....

I've pulled out my featherweight to sew with....

She was built in 1962 and is tan....

And she sews the straightest stitch ever....

Love it!

FOUR Years???

Today I had two objectives:

- Find a chair for the desk.

- Take my sewing machine in for a service since it's been awhile.

I thought finding the chair with my hubby would be the worst part.  However, we both found a chair we could agree on within six stores...a record for us!

Then a drive to Long Beach to SewVac, Ltd....and yes, I am well aware there are many shops closer to home, but not one that I trust.  SewVac has earned my business time and time again...

My machine has an automatic feature that tells you to take it for a service...but I've been ignoring it for a while.

I walk into the store thinking it had only been two years since the last service...and yes, I am aware that I should have it serviced every year.

Well, as you can guess, it wasn't two years...

It wasn't three years...

It had been FOUR YEARS since my last service....

BAD ME!

And then to make the situation even worse, she told me that my second machine (the traveler) had never been serviced in the THREE YEARS I've had it.

I suggested they send me out cards like the dentist does to remind you about cleanings....at least then I might keep things on schedule.

What do you think?

The Heat Is On...

Way to hot to quilt...

Yesterday it was 118 degrees around 11:00 AM....

Today it was a bit cooler...only 113 degrees at the same time...

I can take the 90's....maybe the lower 100's...but definite don't do well when it hits 110 degrees or more...

But the peppers seem to love it....

I love to get it up in the morning to see all the different colors....

Doggy Day Care

He stayed at our house for a week...

My DH made a trip to the store to get him his favorite rope toy....

He learned to like apples, so much that he was pulling them directly from the tree....

He got lost, played in traffic, and was rescued by the neighbors down the hill...

He learned Saturdays and Sundays mean car rides down the windy canyon roads to get breakfast for Mom, including a large diet coke....

He went home so tired that he slept for two days.....

Now I've been told he wants to come back because he's lonely and doesn't have any other dogs to play with....

Ummm...maybe next year?