'Tis the Season

For Potato Salad!

Tomorrow, Memorial Day, is the official start of the outdoor season. Picnics, patios, decks, beach houses, campgrounds, country concerts, tailgating~it's all fun. It's a wonderful time for family and friends to gather together and enjoy each other's company.

I make mine with tons of fingerling potatoes, fresh rosemary, garlic, olive oil, kosher salt and amazingly potent pepper blend from Williams-Sonoma. Room temperature the first day and then cold if there are any leftovers:)

Let's us not forget the reason for our remembrance of Memorial Day. I did a little research and wanted to share this wonderful website with ya'll. It's full of facts, speeches, poems & prayers, online activities, e-cards and so many other things to numerous to list. Please check it out.

U.S. Memorial Day History

Every year, my husband (a former Marine) and I go to the Raleigh National Cemetery. We don't know anyone buried there. We just go. We walk quietly holding hands. Looking at all the grave sites of those who have served our country. Many are from the civil war era. We think and reflect on our lives and know that we are so fortunate to live where we live and LIVE. I never leave without tons of tears.

Take a few minutes just to reflect on how fortunate we all are to be where we are today.

Rumble of the UPS Truck

You know that sound when you're expecting a package.

The UPS Truck Rumble.

I heard it coming up our street yesterday.

Finished the binding on this last night and already have it in my porch.

My daughter and I have a thing about taking a picture of our toes whenever we are on vacation, on a hammock, chillin' at our friend's lakehouse. Anywhere fun.

Opps! I need a pedicure :)

Snowball Kit can be found Here

The Bees are buzzing today. Can't wait to see the show & tell at my quilting bee meeting today. We've got some super talented quilters.

I have nothing for show & tell except my small lemonade table runner. I have been working on new pillows for my porch. Red & White & Blue. I snagged these new chairs at Tuesday Morning. Yes!!!

This is not my porch ~ If I lived in a super old house, wouldn't this be the place? Just sitting back and watching my neighbors go about their day, waving and stopping to say "hey" and catch up with each other. Well, ya'll I think that's how it used to be.

When I first moved to the South, our family would take a nice summer evening drive just a bit out of town and look at some of these really old houses. You only have to go about three miles and you are out of the city and into rural life. Such a change from Los Angeles. You see, coming from LA, Wow, old houses like the wooden ones would only be in magazines.

oh yeah, this is for my husband. Guess what? I saw fireflies last night.

{He's traveling this week, but I know he'll take a peek here}

Running with Scissors

Your mom told you not to. Right?

I couldn't help myself.

I just had to have this bottle of wine. I got it at Total Wine the other day. I told all my peeps (kids & husband) over 21 around here. "Do not take my bottle. It's mine and I'm saving it." I don't know what for yet, but I am. Maybe I should bring it to my

"Bee Meeting"

One day I may even tackle a big McKenna Ryan applique quilt. Humm.

Nope, I won't. Not my style.

{I'm a scrappy girl by the way}

Okay Ya'll It's Sweet Tea Time

Once on a trip to the DC area in a restaurant, I ordered an iced tea. I said "sweet" please. The waiter kindly told me "You are not in the South here honey, we don't have sweet tea." Well I was definitely put in my place. I think I suffered with some Splenda.

I love the South. Back home here they would of said "Yes Ma'am, I'll git yer drinks and be right back. (Please insert your own southern accent).

Which brings me to the subject of this post. My absolutely ultimately favorite place in the world is sitting comfy in my big ol' screened in porch sipping a sweet tea or lemonade. Listening to the birds, frogs, watching fireflies, or the ultimate summer thunder storm roll through.

We don't have a regular table and chairs in there, but an awesome white iron daybed and with lots adirondack chairs and a bench. Full of fluffed up pillows and quilts.

I remember all of us squeezed on top of that bed just watching those storms pass through. I think those were the best times with my kids, watching all that lightening. They'd ohh and ahh and take comfort with their momma. Now they're growing up, and sometimes scattered in all directions. Now I enjoy it with my husband. Thunderstorm season is just about here!

My friend Fiona calls my screened-in-porch "My Campground". I so want to make it a little bit more cutesy. Maybe paint my adirondack chairs white. Every year I dream up new decorating ideas, but I just can't take the bed out of there.

{pssst. Don't tell my neighbors, but I'm gonna sleep out there this year before it gets to hot}

There is not a day that I don't go out there. I have my morning cup of coffee, switch out the quilts on the bed, or sometimes just chill and read some quilting magazines or my favorite shabby cottage book. There's nothing finer in Carolina.

I made this table runner called The Big Easy with fabrics from the Elsie's Kitchen collection.

Which Day is Laundry Day?

Sunbonnet Sue, I am not.

I love my laundry. {Basket of quilts that is}

This pile keeps growing.

and that's good. Right?

On Thanksgiving this year, or was it last? Hmmm, I made a challenge to myself that I would only make quilts for donation. I probably have finished about 12 of them. This basket is full of about 24 tops. Many are string quilts for my String Thing Challenge and many others are from this wonderful book

Quilts from the Heart

by Karen Renaud

Here is a review from Amazon:

"I fell in love with the cover quilt, but have found so many others inside that I like as well. I have dozens of quilting books, but this is one I reach for often for inspiration.

The patterns are especially well suited for scrap quilts although most of the examples in this book are made with "bright" fabrics.

This is a great book for beginners / children learning to quilt. It is also good for quilters with experience to use as charity / gift quilts. They are interesting patterns, but quick to do.

Simple illustrations and instructions with easy, satisfying projects."

I couldn't agree more with this wonderful review.

I did sneak in a quilt or two last week for myself from Cluck Cluck Sew's

Double Hourglass Tutorial

Sorry Sunbonnet Sue, you'll just have to do your own laundry :)

Must Do's For May

Throw a Picnic in the Porch or Patio Party w/ games
Buy a new bathing suit
Get a spray tan
Tailgate and watch the moon rise
Wear some metallic summer sandals
Make a Kahlua Milk Shake












House-sit for a pool owner
Float on a float
Befriend the owner of a gardenia plant

Scatter some sunflower seeds
Paint your nails Pink
Make your own gazpacho
Learn to like jalapeno peppers
Get some fresh new summer-colored sheets

"If you never did you should. These things are fun and fun is good." Dr. Seuss

I'd rather use my AccuQuilt, Thank you!

A Dritz Special

"Cuts cutting time ~ Helps eliminate hand and wrist fatigue"

Really?

A sweet neighbor posted a thread in our neighborhood online-newsletter about a huge trunk full of quilting fabric. I got so excited. I was the first to call and they were MINE. I zoomed right over to pick up my new goodies. It was full of drapery fabrics, lining, and a few smocking patterns. Rummaging through everything, I found this old electric scissors. How many of ya'll have or had one of these? Do you use it? Just for fun, I plugged it in at it didn't cut a darn thing.

I'll stick to what I know works.

My AccuQuilt Go! Cutter and good ol' rotary cutter.

WHo LoVes YoU? Double Hour Glass Quilt

I am hooked on Cluck Cluck Sew's Double Hourglass Quilt.

I am getting into this whole owl thing too. Gonna whip up one tonight using these cuties

HOOO would have thought?

I can't seem to make enough of them. Every sweet fabric line I have, I can imagine a quilt made into a Double Hourglass.

If you want to make a super easy peasy fun quilt, check out the tutorial.

I am also a sponsor on her site and joined the new Flickr group. Oh what fun!

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Day ~ Today

Really... It is

Let's just say that I can make a pineapple quilt block better than the real thing. Mine didn't turn out so good. But this one does look quite "delish"

Here is a real sweet treat for anyone who needs to satisfy their sweet tooth or maybe your prefer the other cotton option below.

Makes 8 servings

1/2 cup butter (8 tablespoons)
1 cup brown sugar
1 (20-ounce) can sliced pineapple
6 maraschino cherries
a few whole pecans
1 cup flour, sifted*
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
3 eggs, separated
1 cup granulated sugar
5 tablespoons pineapple juice
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Position a rack in the center of the oven, and preheat to 350 degrees F.

Add butter to a 9-inch-round baking pan, and place inside of a warm oven until melted, about 5 minutes. Remove from oven, and sprinkle brown sugar evenly over the butter. Add 6 pineapple slices and place a cherry inside of each one. Fill in the nooks and crannies with whole pecans.

In a medium bowl, combine sifted flour, baking powder and salt, and stir.

Using a hand mixer, in a metal or glass bowl, beat egg whites at high speed until fluffy. Set aside.

In a separate bowl beat egg yolks with sugar at medium speed until creamy. Add pineapple juice, and vanilla extract, and beat well. Add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture, and beat until well combined. Fold in the egg whites with a rubber spatula. Pour cake mixture evenly over the fruit, and smooth with the spatula.

Bake for 40 minutes, or until cake is golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Place on a wire rack to cool for 10 minutes. Run a blunt knife around the edges of the pan to loosen the cake. Invert carefully onto a plate. Serve warm or at room temperature.

I found these over at Quilter's Cache

I Think I like this option better

Definitely not as fattening

Here are two terrific ones from Quiltville.blogspot.com

Dots and Stars, I Love 'em

I got the best of both worlds Dots and Stars in the same project.

Need a Bright Spring Project?

Gather up a nice variety of polka dots like I did.

I found this terrific bright cheery spring quilt over at

allpeoplequilt.com

We also have a terrific selection of polka dot fat quarter bundles in the store now.

Tell me. Are these perfect or what?

What a wonderful weekend for the Flea Market.

After a good dose of rain, the pollen is gone and everyone headed out to our local flea market this weekend.

My friend likes me.
She bought me this pincushion.
I like her too.

Our store is participating in the April 2010 FabShop Hop.
In celebration of Spring and Make a Quilt Day, April 18, this FabShop Hop brings a special challenge to hoppers.

Collect these 12 quilt blocks that will be circulating throughout each participating shop’s and make this awesome quilt.

I am starting mine today and hope to make one block a day.

Blocks found "Sew Far"
1. Bachelor Buttons

Just for Celebrating Spring

I won this terrific fabric

It's so "tweet"

Thanks Char I love it.

Visit her blog at Cloth Stitched

How adorable are these?

Do some us of have a soft spot for pincushions?

I do and I bought patterns for these sweeties at the Mid-Atlantic Quilt Show

These two friends were having so much fun!! They couldn't decide on which one to buy. I think they ended up buying them all!

This one is my favorite. How unique is this?

A primitive chair.

Yummy!! Martha Stewart Yummy!!

Yummy Cupcakes and Give-Away!

Sometimes I can't decide whether I want to sew and make a quilt or spend time with my Happy Voyager embroidery machine.

I think these bunny cupcakes are just adorable. I am now on the hunt for a machine embroidery design to compliment these cupcakes.

I did find this cute rubber duckie and stitched out a bunch of them. Of course, I am giving one of them away. Leave me a comment and how to get in touch with you if you are my winner and it's yours!! Check out my store for a sweet Debbie Mumm Fat quarter bundle that actually comes with one of these sweeties. I would love to see a bright pink baby girl quilt using this sweet duck. So how about it?

Happy Cottage Quilter is my Winner!!

Happy Quilting!!

Memories of a Lifetime

I love old vintage linens.

They wash fantastically. They iron perfectly. They smell so sweet when you can let them hang out in the afternoon sun. Mmmmm. I would love a nice spring sunny day right now. Sitting in my screen-in-porch with my pretty pillows and a good shabby cottage book or magazine to look it. Dreaming of ways to incorporate the shabby look into my house.

I have ton of vintage linens from my mom. When she passed away, I got a treasure. Her huge boxes full of wonderful duvet covers, tablecloths, embroidered table scarves, doilies and more. Ohhh the hand work on some of those duvets is fantastic!

I took some of the duvet covers that were a bit stubborn to get crispy clean and I made this redwork block of the month quilt with them.

Just a few days before valentine's day, I bring it out. Iron it. Display it. Remembering all of the sweet things my mother did for my brothers and I as we were growing up.

I remember how fun it was in school to pass out my valentine cards. I would come home with a handmade goody bag from school. Filled with cards from all of my clasmates. Now I look for those valentine cards in antique stores and flea markets.

Technology is terrific too!! You can get your vintage images on-line. I am not this vintage, but I do love this old look!!

Cyber Commitments Almost All Done

One more commitment to finish.

"The Winter Time Mini Quilt Swap"

I just don't know what to make this time. I am learning toward a sweet valentine block of the month pattern that I have always wanted to do. But that doesn't really say winter time to me. Maybe there is sometime cute on Quilter's Cache. Or maybe better yet, take a block from a stack of "Love Note" blocks that a friend gave me and turn one of them into something super cute.

One of my finished group swap projects was to make 22 stretched star blocks. They are all done and ready to be mailed. Every waste triangle was used to make this sweet banner hanging from a tree in my backyard.

Which turned into these pinwheels

Where are they?

Somewhere under my sweet yellow and green string quilt are the tips of my daffodils. I stayed home all weekend retreating with myself. LOL!

Here is a peek at my street!

I live on a nice sweet gradual hill. Perfect for kids to sled down to the end of the cul-de-sac. Boy did they all have fun today! Through my camera looking up the street here's a guy who thought he could go make it down our street. He chickened out and turned around.

My Winter "Snow Day" Weekend Retreat