Change of Venue

Okay, so I have a tendency to get distracted midway through a project, but this is ridiculous! Just a few days into this blogging thing and I’m already making a change. I am going to keep my quilty, crafty, foodie stuff in a different blog – Piecemeal Quilts.
So please check there, just in case anyone [...]

Design-o-Rama

I’ve been helping out a local quilt shop owner with her website (since I’m sitting around the house until I find a job). I also offered to write up pattern instructions for her, since she just doesn’t have the time (and I have nothing but), and since I just LOOOVE to tell people what to [...]

Git ‘er done, part 1

I have so many projects that just need to be completed! I’m making a page with photos of them all, and I’ll blog about them individually as I have time. here’s the first one:

This is the second quilt I’ve ever made, for my aunt and uncle who are both retired from education. I started quilting [...]

Setting myself up for success

I just joined a Summer Stash Challenge hosted by Eileen’s Attic (and first spotted on crazy mom quilts), and even though I’m a little late getting started, I figure my string quilt qualifies for the challenge. I started it in July, it’s all from my stash, and maybe by joining the challenge I’ll actually finish [...]

The motherlode of quilting references

There is so much information available in cyberspace for the quilter, but where do you find it? And how do you find the really good stuff? For every really good site, there are a few dozen crappy ones. The kind that are overloaded with advertising, have only one or two actual projects, or have poor [...]

Local celebrity

One of my favorite quilt shops, Life’s A Stitch Quilt Shoppe, is a featured shop in Better Homes & Gardens Quilt Sampler Magazine! Okay, so this is somewhat old news, but hey, it’s a new blog. And it’s important stuff! Pat Riley taught me to quilt, and she’s one of those people – you know, [...]

Fabric addiction

I’ve been quilting for about five years, although I’ve been addicted to fabric for as long as I can remember. As a child, I followed my mom down the aisles at JoAnn Fabrics, arms extended, hands trailing through the assorted textures. Every once in a while I’d squinch up my face and shake and rub [...]

Strings Attached

My most recent quilting project is a string quilt, using 8″ finished blocks pieced on muslin foundation. The blocks will be combined into diamonds consisting of four blocks, set on point, joined with white sashing. I may include red cornerstones or I may just stick with the sashing.

This is a scrappy project, using a variety [...]

Pressure Cooker Beef Stew

I thought a stew made in a pressure cooker was particularly appropriate, considering the pressure I’ve been under lately. Don’t be afraid of pressure cookers – they’re a fantastic way to get food on the table quickly, with minimal effort. If you have a newer cooker you won’t have as much noise to deal with, [...]

The saga begins…

So, quick summary of the past month and a half:
Office manager for an electrical contractor for six years, overwhelmed, under supported, struggling with undiagnosed depression and bad financial decisions by the owners, makes a bad decision herself and is summarily fired. Bye bye, don’t let the door hit you on the way out. Here’s your [...]