Happy Birthday, Meghan

Today there was a family dinner for my husband's niece, Meghan.  Tomorrow she will be eighteen.  We didn't decide to go until this morning.  So, I had no gift.  I have to go to "town" tomorrow. Figured I would pick something up then.

Not wanting to go empty handed, I made this this morning.

I would change a few things on the next one but I thought it was cute. I wish I had taken more pictures but I forgot in my rush.  I have since added buttons on both sides in the center of the yellow.  They are pink flowers with yellow centers.  The zipper doesn't show up well but it is lavender/purple and I had a heart charm I put on the pull tab.  It is lined in green.  I know the picture gives no perspective but those are 2" squares and a 12" zipper.

I think it turned out kind of cute and she seemed happy.  I also made her card since I didn't have one!  For some reason she really liked it.  So, it was a good day.  Even better is I spent no money.  Everything I used was from my stash AND all of this had been bought on sale!

Now I really need to work on the blocks for my BOM meeting tomorrow night.  Nothing like procrastination!

Keep Stitchin'!

Mary

Simmering Saturday - Lots of Pots!

I thought about this post all day.  I was just too busy to make it!  Today I canned two loads of green beans.   That was kind of iffy for a while.  I had a stove in my basement for canning.  My husband took it to the shop last month to use as a powder coat oven.  This morning he brought home a used one. I had to help move it in but I now have a stove in the basement, again.

Nothing special but it does the job.

While doing that I also did the laundry, including the bedding and hung it out to dry.  Since my quilting machine is in the basement I also quilted a quilt for my aunt.  She told me to use it to try new things.  So, I did.  Some turned out okay and others not so okay.  Nothing spectacular.  Still trying to develop those skills.

I made homemade pizza for supper.  I was and still am in a bit of snit.  I am not talking and that worries the men in my life.  That's because they are smart.  Sometimes they are smart asses.  Today might have been one of those days.  We will see what tomorrow brings.

After working all day I decided I was going to sew whether or no.  I am in such a mood that I knew piecing wasn't going to cut it.  I needed to SEW!  So, I made my nieces pillow case dresses.

The larger one may be a little long but that will be fine.  I used some decorative stitches on some bias tape I had and added rickrack.  Both of those packages were labeled as fifteen cents.  I can't imagine how old they were but they are still good.

I used fun ribbon I had to hand from another project and added a button to the front of each.  I bought those buttons off the clearance rack for fifty cents a package.  So, each button cost more - a quarter - than the rickrack!  

All the fabric is scraps from other projects, too. 

These are actually for my grand nieces.  I am making one for my niece and stopped this post so I could take pictures of the lace I am working on but forgot!  Guess that means I should stop.

So, what is simmering in your world?  You?  Sewing?  Quilting?  Cooking? Canning?

Keep stirrin' and stitchin'!

Mary

Apple Cheesecake

I am posting a recipe but I am cheating and using one I already had typed up.  Everyone that likes apple pie loves this.  I served it last Thursday night when we had friends visiting from New York.  Their sons loved it as do mine.  I failed to take a picture before it disappeared but it is worth the work.

Apple Cheesecake from Mary

Bake at 350°F

2 cup flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) softened butter
2 8oz pck cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup  + 2 tbsn sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
dash of cloves, if you desire...I desire!
3 Granny Smith apples, peeled & finely chopped


Combine flour & brown sugar.  Cut in butter w/ a
pastry blender until mixture is crumbly.  Press
evenly into a 9x13 pan lined w/ heavy duty foil.
Bake 15 minutes or until light brown.

Beat cream cheese until smooth.  Beat in 1/2 cup sugar,
eggs and vanilla.  Pour over warm crust.

In a small bowl stir together chopped apples, 2 T sugar,
cinnamon and nutmeg to taste.  Spoon over cream cheese. 
Sprinkle with streusal topping (see recipe at end).

Bake 30 minutes or until set.  Drizzle with caramel topping,
if desired.

Streusal Topping
1 cup brown sugar
2 cup flour
1/2 cup quick oats
1/2 cup soft butter

Combine all dry ingredients and cut in butter.


Linking up with Cole for Tuesday at the Table.  Be sure to check out everyone's tasty ideas!

Keep stirrin'!

Mary

Blondes Have More Fun

Hello, all!  Warm enough for you?  My aunt lives in San Antonio.  It has actually been hotter here the past two weeks than there.  Today was 107°F with a heat index reaching 130° in places.  One of the local state parks caught on fire today.

I went to the beauty shop - sorrry - hair salon today.  One of the women there had a jar and if you mentioned the heat she wanted you to contribute a dollar to her vacation fund.  I didn't have to contribute.  I had goose bumps.  Should have realized what that was a sign of.  I finally told my hair dresser, "You just have to reach a stopping point as quickly as you can no matter the results.  I HAVE to leave as soon as possible!"  So, thanks to Mr. Migraine (I assume mine are male because it takes a man to cause me this much pain), I currently have blonde hair instead of my normal brown with blonde high lights.  We will see if I have more fun.  This afternoon, not so much!

I did work on a teeny tiny bit of sewing this afternoon.  I made new bags for the corn hole game.  We are going SOUTH to our son's tomorrow and he wants to play.  Fool....

In preparation for leaving the dogs home we have buckets in the freezer making ice blocks for the dogs' bowls.  It is toasty here!

Last weekend (Sunday I think) I finished these clothespin aprons for my sisters. (You would think that someone that sews, has multiple machines set up at all times and more fabric than a lot of stores would actually have curtains on those rods.  This is my "temporary" sewing room.  I don't want to commit that much!)

The fabric is from Connecting Threads and called Canning Day.  The embroidery designs are from Embroidery Library.  The pattern is self-designed.  I have three more to make and am working on a tutorial/pattern if anyone is interested.  Only one has been delivered (actually picked up) and she seemed to like it.  I really like mine.  I came home the other day and hubby had it hanging on the line with the hanger.   So, it worked just like I intended.

I crocheted some this week, too.  I was trying (unsuccessfully) a new pattern.  I like to try something small like a dishcloth first.  Dishcloths wear out so fast that you always need more.

Even if I didn't get the pattern just right, it is pretty.  I will give it to my DIL tomorrow when we go there.

The garden is producing.  It is a struggle with the drought.  But we have beans to pick tomorrow evening or Sunday morning.  We are also eating squash, zucchini, broccoli, peppers and cukes.

I am continuing on the baby items quest.  Right now I have three crocheted caps, a half dozen wash cloths, two hooded towels and ten burp cloths.  I have the yarn to start a sweater and the fabric for one of the quilts I am making.  I just have to pick the design.  Very happy to have a use for all the pinks and browns I collected!

I am linking up  with Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict and Richard and Tanya today.  Please go check everyone out.

Have a great weekend and try to stay cool!

Mary

Night shift...again

I want to blog.  I really do.  I also want sew and eat normal.  Instead I am working and now going to bed.

I have done something.

This is a collection of burp cloths and baby wash cloths made from scraps of flannel.

Off to bed.  Another night shift tonight.

Sweet dreams.........

WIP Wednesday: Repurposed Egg Crate

I should have something to show for this.  Shouldn't I?  I swear I have been busy this week.  Mostly all that stuff that HAS to be done and catching up on my sleep.  Working nights really messes with me.

Some how I have gotten "decorating" my porch into my head.  I am not a decorator.  Someone should be slapped for getting me on to Pinterest.  I see stuff and remember plans I had for some day.  I guess today is some day.  My porch is my WIP.

Isn't this pretty?  This is the third or fourth year I have used this and I love it every year.

It started out like this.

A few years ago I decided it would work as a planter and side table for my porch swing.  I made a fabric liner for the base.  It lasted through three seasons but needed replaced this spring.

I had used leftover ticking for it the first time.  I admit, it may have lasted better if I had emptied it and stored it during the winter.  I did not.  Probably won't this time either.  Obviously, I need a new liner.  I looked for more of the ticking (I am sure I have) for about 5 minutes and then pulled down the green.  It is from the clearance rack.  I remember I paid $3/yard for it.  I was going to make porch cushions but fortunately my MIL gave me something brighter/better.

This is VERY easy to make if  you find something similar you want to make a flower pot from.  Measure the bottom of your item.  Mine is 11.5" square.  The first time I made it I only had 2" sides.  I went deeper this time.  Add 8" to 10" (4 to 5 for each side) to your measurement and cut out a square.

From each corner cut out the 4 or 5" you added minus a half inch.  If you cut 8" bigger, cut out 3 1/2" squares.  If you cut 10" bigger, cut out 4 1/2" squares.

I really didn't care what it looked like, so I left the selvage on.   It is NOT necessary to hem the edges but I took this opportunity to try out a new foot on my Featherweight.

This the foot and the hem on the first one I did.  Then I remembered I wanted it deeper this time (like I already told you!).  So, I made a second one.

 Match the cut edges at each corner and sew a half inch seam.  Like shown below.

This seam forms the corners.

 Sew all four corners the same way.  Don't worry if your fit isn't perfect.

Cut a piece of heavy plastic to put in the  bottom and fit the liner with the plastic inside into the basket or other item.  I have been known to use grocery sacks but prefer heavy plastic.  I use what comes around the peat moss I buy every year.

Get some plants you like.

I broke these up and shoved them into the four corners and filled around them with potting soil.

 This does dry out quicker than a box. I might try adding the plastic higher.  See those two blue boards on the right?  In previous years they went on top and this served as a table.  The zinnias are too big for that but I have other table plans.  Stay tuned!

Some more pictures of plants I re-potted today. 

So....this is my WIP.  I have great plans for my porch and I think my friend, Dana, over at My Simple Gifts  
might help me out with some of them.  She is a super talented lady - a true artist - and you should check her out.

I have some quilty things to post about but I am going to stop here and hope I make another post tomorrow..

I am going to link up with Sew Many Ways and Sew Much Ado We Did it Wednesday, My RePurposed Life Be sure to check everyone out.

Mary

p.s.  This is what I ate while I typed this.

I call it The Ugly Cobbler.  I am trying to use up last year's blackberries.  It is a sacrifice, I tell you.  I may have a second piece and call it supper!

I recently found a new blog to follow, Boo's Basket.  Today she linked up with Lauren for High Five on Friday.  So, I am following suit with my new blog buddy.

My five favorite things from this week:

1.  My oldest son asked me to go with him and a buddy to see Willie Nelson.

That is a good thing because my son is 28, married, has two brothers he gets along well with and multiple friends but he asked ME to accompany him.  As a mom, that is pretty cool.

2.  I found a tremendous deal on quilting stuff that I posted about here.

3. My husband decided that watering the garden is acceptable.  We have had this ongoing argument the past few years.  He maintained (as an Indiana grain farmer) that it was survival of the fittest and if it couldn't make it on what fell from the sky it was too bad.  He finally caved and started watering the garden. It was astounding what one watering did for it.  He is a believer now.

4.

He just makes me grin.

5.  My final item is my neuro.  He is a great guy and he doesn't treat me like a moron.  So, he is taking my new symptoms seriously and now I am having more tests (not too happy about that but...).