Just Let Me Quilt: March 2014

Thursday, March 27, 2014

My Day To Put A Flag On A Stick

There's been some seriously cute flags blowing around this week thanks to

Madame Samm's Flags on a Stick blog hop and cheerleader Thearica from Pigtales and Quilts!

I'm loving the heart flag pole I was so lucky to receive from

FLAG OUTLET

It is beautiful and thanks to them I have a place to hang my new flags.

I wasn't sure what flag to make that would "say something" about me. I came up short with ideas

at first, especially ones that I could hang outside and not cause trouble with the neighbors!

With winter hanging on FOREVER, this flag says something about me...I want warm weather!

It's Spring!

I played around with felt using my embroidery machine to make this one.

This flag (it's two-sided) says something about my younger days...

I was always hosting or being the prime suspect at a baby shower.

It's A Girl!

From Amy Bradley's "babies" patterns

It's A Boy!

From Amy Bradley's "babies" patterns

This flag says something about my favorite kind of party to host...

I love birthday parties!

It's Somebody's Birthday!

I just love this kid's face from Amy Bradley's "Peek-a-Boo" patterns

Of course, the flag that really is all about me says something about my Monkey Boys.

Beware! Monkeyboys Ahead!

This adorable monkey can be found over at Craftsy...Jungle Babies by Mad Creek Designs.

I've had so much fun thinking of flags to hang on my pole...thank you again Flag Outlet!

Check out the other flags being shown off today:

March 28th
How arT you?
Just Let Me Quilt
Robin's Fabric Nest
Patchouli Moon Studio
CeLynn's Sunflower Patch

Ravelly1

In Stitches and Seams

Thanks to these sponsors for helping make this a fabulous blog hop:

Flags on a Stick

Flag Outlet

I'm so glad you stopped by to visit!

Monday, March 24, 2014

Flags On A Stick Start Waving Today

Madame Samm created this fun hop and Thearica is cheering us on...

THANKS TO BOTH OF THEM!

Check out who'll be showing off their flags:

Ravelly1

In Stitches and Seams

March 31st
Grandmama's Stories
More Stars in Comanche
MooseStashQuilting
Pampered Pettit
ShirleyC
Farm Gate Creations

April 1st
Sew Incredibly Crazy
Quilt Doodle Designs
Buzzing and Bumbling
Why Knot Kwilt?
Creatin' in the Sticks

Meadowbrook

April 2nd
Thimblemouse & Spouse
Stitchin' By The Lake
Just One More Stitch
The Quilting Queen Online
Selina quilts
Whims And Fancies

April 3rd
DachsiesWithMoxie
Just Keep Swimming
The House on the Side of the Hill
Texas Quilting Gal
Pig Tales and Quilts
Madame Samm

Thanks to the fabulous sponsors, too!

Sunday, March 23, 2014

The One-Eyed Bird In My Yard

That Other Lady keeps posting photos of pretty birds on her blog and though you all know I'm not competitive, I thought I'd show off a photo of one of the birds from my yard. I was able to get within inches of this little baby before it totally freaked out when it finally noticed me with its good eye. It looks like it was in a pretty bad fight to have lost that eye.

Okay, so That Other Lady wins with her pretty bird photo posts. LOL

Six Years And Counting Plus A Winner

I've made it through six years of blogging, so hopefully I'll make it to "infinite and beyond"

(maybe I've watched a little too much Buzz Lightyear in "Toy Story" with the Monkey Boys!)

Thanks for all the sweet comments...I loved them all!

There's a winner of my 6 year giveaway...

I almost hate to be the first one to leave a comment on a giveaway because #1 never seems to win.

Well, that changed today!

Congratulations, Terry!

(I've sent her an email)

Oh, and just a REMINDER: It's only a few more days until

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Six Years Of Wordiness And A Giveaway

I started my quilt blog almost six years ago (March 23, 2008) and if

you've been here since the beginning or just since yesterday...

THANK YOU!

For enduring my wordiness, I'll pick a winner on March 23rd (my blogaversary) and send him/her
SIX (one for each year) of those cute little mini charm packs by MODA and a pattern book.

The rules...

Leave a comment...short and sweet works for me!
It can be mailed anywhere...yes, even to the other side of the world.
You don't have to be a follower to play along.
Giveaway ends at 5 p.m. PST on March 23rd. Entries after 5 p.m. PST on March 23rd will not be included in the giveaway.
THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT: If you aren't sure whether or not you are a no reply blogger, LEAVE ME AN EMAIL ADDRESS...pretty please! You can't win if I can't contact you!

Some Days Just Call For A Swig Cookie

I went on a short outing by myself today that included a quick stop at my favorite store, Quilted Works. It's a happy place to visit and today was no exception because the conversation went from fabric to SWIG cookies. SWIG is a cookie place near me that's pretty popular for their sugar cookies. People line up just to buy their pink frosted cookies...one or dozens...and "dirty" soda drinks ("dirty" means different things added to them like coconut water, etc.)

It was too much for me to just TALK about the cookies with those Quilted Works ladies, so after a quick trip to the SWIG store right around the corner from them, we all got to enjoy a special treat...green frosted SWIG cookies! Another day to celebrate St. Patrick's Day! Whoohoo and yummy!

I love that purple straw in my Dr. Pepper! Maybe that's the real reason I love that place!

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Seriously, I Missed St. Patrick's Day?

I can't believe I dressed my logo lady in green and then yesterday just slipped by without even a leprechaun or a pinch to blog about. What's with that! My Irish Gr-Gr-Gr-Great Grandma and Grandpa Armstrong would be so disappointed in me for not celebrating with some corned beef and cabbage or Irish stew. I've been a little bit distracted and busy moving my daughter, babysitting those amazing Monkey Boys, and doing a little sewing.

So...Happy St. Patrick's Day a day late!

Several weeks ago I attended a cooking class taught by Chef Brad who's like the king of grains. During the class he showed us how to pressure cook a quick dinner using a variety of grains and pasta. I ended up buying a new Fagor electric pressure cooker and I'm loving it! I use it almost every day and my brain keeps thinking up new things to cook in it. It's definitely not my mother's pressure cooker! I was terrified of her pressure cooker and knew it would blow up someday. I'm not scared of this one at all! Yesterday I made chunky applesauce in four minutes. It was so fast! Too bad I didn't add some green to it to make it look more Irish.

6 apples, peeled, cored, and cut in chunks

1/4 cup sugar (more or less to taste)

1 cup water or apple juice

1 Tablespoon lemon juice

1 teaspoon cinnamon

Pressure cook on high for 4 minutes.

Easy!

Thursday, March 6, 2014

I'm A Little Ruffled Today

I LOVE RUFFLES!

Madame Samm at Sew We Quilt was in a ruffly kind of mood and got a lot of us thinking about what we could make with ruffles. She brought on Amy from Sew Incredibly Crazy to cheer us on and keep us all in line. Thanks to both of them this is another amazing hop just full of ruffles, ruffles, ruffles!

While thinking and looking for ruffle ideas, I saw this adorable embroidery pattern over at the Nana Company called Sleepy Time Animal Pals and just loved it...had to have it, of course. With a little pink and beige fabric strips I made it into a quilt-as-you go baby quilt with brown and beige polka dots for the binding.

A Little Ruffled Sleep

Last year I bought a book by Helen Scott called the Bonnet Girls and it had been sitting there just waiting for me to make something out of it. This seemed like as good a time as ever, so with fabric by Red Rooster, ruffles, rhinestones, and a 22.5" x 28" frame...tada! She looks great hanging in my sewing room!

Blowing In The Wind