Rushed June Wedding....

Oh, about a month ago or so my niece tells me her wonderful news, she's getting married.  She's a military gal; I am so proud of her!  Well she is being deployed in October :( ,so she wants to get married before her deployment!.  June 15th!  She's done a great job preparing for her wedding.  She will be getting married in Texas.  We own a home there, it's a golf course gated community on the lake.  They have a chapel and pavilion as well as some other nice amenities.  She lives in North Carolina, (she hates it there, very liberal  state.)  So here we are planning a wedding long distance.  It's going to be a small, mostly a family event but we are going big Texas style with the reception...a pig roast is in order!  She loves Texas and considers it home...a good ole Texas BBQ is definitely a Texas thing.
She's decided on a carrot cake for her wedding cake so I'll bake up the layers in the next couple days and freeze them.  We (including the groom) will be decorating it...she loves bows so we will be having fun with that.  I'll post a picture of our hard work once it's completed.   Even her wedding ring is a bow.  She has  managed to find so many bow accessories, it is amazing.
It's a bit of a mad rush now but we are managing very well.  I think we will pull this off beautifully, even though we've not had much time.
Here is my project.  Rose rice throwers...a bit time consuming to make and I'm not at all great at floral arranging but she loves it...so I'm over the top.
Rose Rice Throwers Basket:

Black Bean Hummus

So if you love hummus as much as I do you are going to love the fact that you can use all kinds of things to make it.  Any bean, roasted egg plant and I'm sure you can think of other ways to make hummus.  My favorite way to make hummus is with cannellini beans, but then I tried black beans and well now I'm not sure which bean is my favorite.  I start always with organic supplies so I do get organic black beans for this recipe.  You must try making it yourself.  So much better than store bought I promise you.  Now when you are using your food processor to mix this us and make it creamy, if you find that it is lumping and the mixture isn't freely going around and around in the processor then by all means add a little more olive oil...just a little more at a time...you can always add more but trying to take it out once you've added it, well that is impossible.  So here's the recipe:

1 regular size can of organic black beans (no flavors added) rinsed well!
1/4 cup a good olive oil
1/4 cup Tahini (this is a must for the best flavor)
3 cloves of garlic chopped or minced well
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp thyme (not ground) fresh is best if you have it use 3/4 tsp for fresh
Pita chips, pretzel chips, pita bread or whatever turns you on!

Put all the ingredients into a food processor starting with the beans.  Process by pulsing your processor on and off for about 3-5 minutes.  If it looks dry or isn't going round and round add a little more oil.  The mixer should be thick but not dry.
Enjoy!

Portable Potting Bench

As you might know (or not) that I love to work with wood.  I've been making the raised gardens now for almost 2 years for others because I loved mine so so so much!
I have been wanting a potting bench so bad.  I purchased one and well it lasted about a year before it fell apart. I was so sad about this.  I paid a lot for it and it was so small and I couldn't move it around.  Well yesterday I decided to make my own potting bench.  I decided that I wanted to move it around so I made it like a wheel barrel I guess you might say.  Anyway I put wheels on one end.  I also put sides on the bottom shelf so that stuff wouldn't fall out if I decided to move it closer to my raised gardens.
I am so over the top about my portable potting bench.  I still have to stain it but haven't decided on a color yet.  I was thinking of doing it in red and yellow, what do you think????
Here are some pictures of my price possession:

If you'd like one...call me.  :)

Karen Kay Buckley and the sewing organizer.

Karen Kay Buckley did a workshop at Quilters Crossing for her Fiesta Texas Quilt.  You can see all the blocks here:  http://www.karenkaybuckley.com/weblog/?p=4618
My friend Linda Love talked me into the class and I agreed even though I felt that hand applique would be more than this girl could handle.  I was wrong, I'm not too bad at it.  So I've been working on my block when it's my TV sit down and relax time.  Here is what I have done so far on the block she demonstrated:

The class was large with many participants but we had plenty of room and the class was loads of fun.

While taking this class Karen told us about the items she sells of course and one of those items is a thread carrier....  Looking at this thread carrier I noticed it was the exact same size as our May's boutique project, the sewing organizer.  We got the pattern off the Pfaff website for free and altered it so it only had three zippered sections to save time and money on this project....  the thread bag was also altered but much less than our alteration.  She made the bag with 4 thread pockets and two larger pockets for sewing supplies.  Anyway, I loved the idea but didn't like her selection of fabric or the generic way it was put together so I decided since I already have the pattern I would just make one for myself!  And of course I did.  Now I am not the worlds best with zippers but I'm pleased with the results.  If you look closely at the picture of the thread in the pouch you will see the each spool was threaded with a needle and run threw the wool I placed along the zipper and the tail left hanging.  This is so you do not have to take the thread out of the pocket.  All you have to do is pull on the tail, cut off what you need and leave a tail for the next time you need that color...  I've seen this before and meant to make one for myself but didn't have a pattern for that one...but I do have this pattern!  You can find the pattern for the sewing organizer on the Pfaff website under free patterns.  You would not even have to alter the pattern except to add wool or some other thick material on the plastic right below the zipper to run your thread through.
http://www.pfaffusa.com/images/content/us/SewingOrganizer_Pfaff.pdf
Here is my thread organizer:

Here it is with all my new thread in the pockets!

Support the SOS

Fabric Yarn Kit Shop on Ebay, I'm always saddened by dishonesty.

I'm not sure why I get so shocked when someone is dishonest....but I am.  I seem to continue to expect people to be honest and kind.
I am part of a wonderful Quilt Guild, we work very hard all year to raise money for some wonderful Children's charities and charities for our Vets.

This year I am the chair for the boutique.  We work like dogs all year making things to sell at our quilt show. All the profits are used for these charities.  We are making so many wonderful items this year.  Our theme is the sewing room, so all our items will be related to helpful items for your sewing room.  I sure hope you can make it to our 2014 Quilt show and support our Guild.
Anyway, one of our projects is a design wall.  I designed this wall for my self and have had several ladies want me to make one for them...so I thought wow this might be something that would sell at the boutique.  I set out to get the best possible price for 54 inch wide flannel, in two yard cuts.  I found this shop on Ebay:  http://stores.ebay.com/fabricyarnkit "the owner is Katharine Keller" through people from our guild.

In January I ordered 40 yards of this flannel in 2 yard pieces....so I would have 20 design boards.  The cost was amazing...so I thought.  Stupid me didn't open the 18x14x18 inch box when I got it.  This workshop to make these design walls isn't till June so I was in no rush to open the box.  Yes I know that was a big mistake...however it wouldn't have mattered if I opened the box right away.  In my opinion this Ebay seller set out to short me fabric.

When I finally opened the completely full box and found only 20 yards of fabric I thought to myself  "I thought I bought 40 yards" but figured I was mistaken so I contacted the seller for 20 more yards.  She made a listing for me and told me that my last order was for 40 yards...(I guess trying to get me to order 40 more yards so she could cheat me again)  So I ran upstairs took all the fabric out of the box, counted the 2 yard sections, found the receipt still at the bottom of the box.  So I messaged her back and told her she was correct I did order 40 yards of fabric but only received 20.  I told her I wished she would have informed me there were two boxes because now it is probably too late to contact the post office to find out what happen but if she could forward that tracking number (since I only received a tracking number from one box) I would try to find out what happened.

She messaged me back and said that only one box had shipped.  So I took a picture of the label the box and the contents to show her not another piece of fabric would fit into this size box.  She messaged me back and said that the label stated the box was 27 pounds....  and that that was how much 40 yards of this thick double brushed 54 inch wide fabric would weight.   So I weighed the box...I also with a friend tried to place 40 yards (nearly two bolts) of this same fabric into this same box...it was of course impossible.  So I messaged her back and told her the box did not weigh 27 pounds, it weight 12lb 14 oz and that she had made a mistakes.  I explained it was for charity and that if she would be so kind as to send me the missing 20 yards I'd appreciate it.

Well of course she would not, I now believe she set out to cheat me in the first place.  Had I opened the box the day I received it with the erroneous weight on the box we would have had the same conversation.  "The box label states it weighs 27 lbs so you received 40 yards of fabric and you must have forgotten and used the 20 extra yards someplace else"  Yeah, I forgot using 20 yards of fabric and the box didn't come close to 27 pounds.
I asked her to please test and see if 40 yards of the same fabric would fit into the same box...she said she did test and it fit fine...then in the same message she said she was sorry she didn't have any more of this fabric to sell me 20 more yards....  So....she is a liar, she never tested it, she never intended to test it.  How can you test if you don't even have the fabric....  Each yard of this fabric would be equivalent to one pair of average size blue jeans....if you can fit 40 pairs of blue jeans in a 18x14x18 inch box...then you are a miracle worker...

So the lesson was learned, there are people that would cheat charities out of money.
I would suggest you do not make a purchase from this seller or any dishonest seller and I would suggest that you make it know if you have a similar experience with an Ebay seller.  It would have been helpful if I had know she was going to be dishonest.  If you absolutely have to make a purchase from her I suggest that when the box arrives you look at the weight listed on the box and decide if it is correct before you accept that shipment, then open the box and be sure you have received what you paid for.

It really is sad....I have found another resource I am happy to say, and if you would like that information just let me know.
Update:  I have a friend in the post office that did some more research for me.  She said that when the box was scanned in it was also weighed, it actually weighed 12 pound 7 ounces.  Well I already new it didn't weigh the 27 pound this dishonest seller put on the box...am I going to write her again and let her know there is proof of her deceit, no, it wouldn't matter anyway.  People like this are just out to rip anyone off and they seem to pray on anyone they can.

Travel Iron Bag

I went to the Newbie's class on Wednesday and I am so glad I did.  Nancy had this cute little zippered pouch it was quilted and she used it to hold her thread.  Looking at the bag I though...wow that would make an awesome shape for a hot iron bag.  I went into the quilt shop and purchase the grey hot iron fabric and the heat resistant batting and some colorful fabric and of course a zipper that matched.
The bag is made using a  rectangles of fabric (mine 12x16 ) and the grey heat resistant fabric as the inside of the bag and the heat resistant batting sandwiched between the outside rectangle and inside rectangle of fabric.  I cut all these pieces the same size. I did free motion quilting with the layers all together, i.e top fabric, batting and lining fabric.  I then added the zipper to the 12 inch side using these instruction on how to make a bag, just for the zipper insertion:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAn_lwlqmnU
instead of sewing the bag together as mentioned in this video I copied Nancy's bag and I sewed one end together one way and the other end together in the opposite direction.  Not really sure  how to explain that but here are the pictures:


I am so over the top happy with this project.  We will be making this one at a workshop for the  boutique!

and I love this little bag so much...I made one to carry my thread to workshops!

Winging it workshop given by Nova Montgomery

Another workshop YES...
Me and my friend Linda took the winging it workshop at Quilters Crossing.  Much like the peddle pushers workshop this was a fun project.  (even though my peddle pushers quilt is not even close to being complete) The dimensional quilts are so over the top.  I sure hope that I get that grand baby I have been hoping for.  He/she has so many quilts among many other things I've made...  fingers are crossed!
Here is a picture of the project that Nova brought for us to view.  I will post pictures of mine soon :).

My Cold Frame

I like to start my own plants from seed.  Here in Texas you really don't need a cold frame unless you are trying to start seeds in the winter months and even then it's probably not necessary.   But when you need a place to put all those starter pots this seems to fit the bill.  I found the plans (not very good ones but plans no matter) on the internet here:  http://gardenplansfree.com/furniture/cold-frame-building-plans/ and here:http://onestrawrob.com/?p=1769 and here: http://www.wrcla.org/pdf/coldfr.pdf and again here:  http://www.howtospecialist.com/garden/greenhouse/how-to-build-a-propagation-bench/

All these plans really leave you to your own imagination on most of the construction so this project challenged my wood working skills a tad bit.
At this point I have the project complete except for the window pane lid and the hinge that will hold the lid up in different positions (I have to figure that one out still).
I thought I'd show you my project so you can see that you too can build it.  I didn't even require any help hold things together at any point.  This is a great thing because hubby really isn't into working with wood.   I will post finished pictures soon so you can see this little beauty in action.

Ribbon Embroidery Boutique Project

Our monthly boutique project was a success! Load of wonderful women showed up to give support for the guilds boutique project this month.  I totally forgot my phone so I did not get pictures of everyone working on the project.  Connie at Quilt Works taught us all how to do some really cute roses using hand dyed silk ribbons.  I think I am hooked!  Look how fantastic my project turned out.  I am so pleased.  It wasn't hard at all and it's so quick to make something so pretty.  So I found some more fabric that matches the hand painted mason Jars I made.  I painted them to remind me of old times when jars were a light blue color.  You just paint the glass cook it in your oven for 40 minutes and wallah you have blue (or any color you choose) jars that the color is permanent!

Massive Raised Gardens

Each time I decided I would like another raised garden I post the other "two" on Facebook to sell.  The reason is.  It only cost a couple more dollars to make three as it does to make one.  I currently have six gardens and I wanted another one, so I posted that I was making gardens again for those that missed out last time....
To my surprise I got orders for 19 raised gardens, can you believe it.  Well as soon as I took the orders and decided what the heck I'll make them no problem, low and behold some sort of virus jumped on me like flies to poop!  Sick as a dog...but I make the journey to my garage and for two days I build gardens in between blowing my nose and coughing my head off.  My husband and son so graciously helped me, neither are particularly garage pro's but nor am I so between all the words of love we got the job done! Thank you God for getting me through this!
Here's how they stack up...<S>  well that's one corner of the garage anyway.

Clever plant markers

Aren't these the cutest little plant markers!  I was searching the web for ideas and maybe even to make a purchase for some plant markers for a friend who purchased one of these raised flower bed from me.  She had posted on facebook a picture of her newly planted garden and gave a list of all the plants she planted into her new raised beds.  Since she is such a sweetie, and I really like her I thought I'd surprise her with some markers for each of her new plants.  I found some really cute ones made from vintage silverware that were stamped with a metal stamping tool.  Very cool, so I purchased them.  Then I just kept looking because there were so many cute one.  Ones that were made of clay and fired.  I thought I could make some of clay and fire them because I do have few kilns but then I found these.  Little tiny flower pots with copper hangers.  They were very expensive about 3.50 each and well I needed about 30...so I decided I could make these easily myself and I already had the copper wire.  I first tried to use the stained glass paint that you use in the oven but I didn't like the sheen...kind of dull, then I thought I could paint them with pottery paint and fire them and they would surely be water proof.  Well, in the end I just painted them with acrylics and sprayed a sealer on them.  I decided they were so cheap to make I can always remake or repaint these if they need it.

I used a black sharpie to write the herb name rather than hand painting the name on each one.  I think they are adorable!  The little pots were 1.99 for 6 at Hobby Lobby, I do not remember how much the copper wire was but I would guess about 6.99 and it took one roll and a small part of another.

This picture above is 3 of my now 7 gardens, but the reason for this picture is the little generator house.  It is right next to the shed.  I built that and it is now 4 years old and is still standing.  I never made a roof before and while this one is VERY steep...it is still a roof!  I might have to make some plans up for people.  I sure didn't want that big ole thing taking up room in my garage, I mean a girl needs all the room she can get in her workshop!

Another tweet?

Have you ever heard of "Secret Sisters"  I had never heard of this before until I joined a group a wonderful ladies.   We all for the most part met on line...strange isn't it.  Or at least it is to me.  It's quite entertaining we chit chat on Facebook, sometime we complain about life in general and sometimes we just have a good laugh.  We gather via Facebook everyday, it's our coffee shop of sorts.  Each month we send out a gift or a card and we keep our identity a secret.  We all know each other well so we know what to send.  After about 6 months we trade in our SS for a new model and start the whole thing over again.  Its' quite fun, you should consider doing this.  Getting a little something in the mail each month is like having Christmas 12 months of the year.  Anyway here is the prezzi I was surprised with this month.  I love anything that makes my home smell fresh...since we have pets one being a large Macaw that is dusty and needs lots of baths..:).  Anyway here is a picture

My SS is having a baby, I don't have a clue if it's a boy or a girl yet...(I'm hoping for a girl)  so for the last two days I've been working on a baby quilt for her.  No, I haven't been given a theme and I do not know the color of the nursery yet, mostly because I don't want to ask and give my self away.  Anyway here is the quilt so far.  I have all the appliques completed, and on this quilt it is the most time consuming part.  I actually have all the blocks completed as well.  Today, I'll sew them all together so I can try to figure out what size goose chase boarder I'll need.  This is the part that worries me, I do not have a clue how to figure that out so that the goose chase's fit perfectly around the quilt.  I'll show you when I've added that, wish me luck because I'm going to need it.

I do hope that she loves it, I also hope that it is appropriated for a girl or a boy.  As you can probably tell if you've looked though older posts, I love little birdies....we can hope she does too.

Here are some pictures of the "Baby Quilt In Progress"

   

    

 

  

Slab Pie....

I'm in the process of making a slab pie for my wonderful husband.... raspberry rhubarb. He's been asking for a rhubarb pie for sometime now.

I had never heard of a slab pie before and then I found this recipe for one in an old magazine I had laying around.  It is a cross between a cake and a pie if that makes any sense to you at all.

Looking at the pictures for some reason took me back in time to when I was a little girl (really it wasn't THAT long ago).  Back then it always seemed that someone was serving pie or cake or even cookies.  I loved the sweet comfort food of those days when I didn't have to think to myself "should I eat this...the calories".  I sure miss those unpretentious days, not that I worry too much about it today because if I did I'd certainly not be over weight.

Anyway, I'll post the recipe and a picture later today if all goes as planned.  
UPDATE:  The slab pie was a beautiful combination of sweet and tart.  I did add a couple tablespoons of fresh lemon juice to this recipe.

Raspberry Rhubarb Slab Pie
3 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp. salt
1 cup unsalted butter
3/4 cup 2% milk
1 egg yolk
2 cups sugar
1/3 cup cornstarch
5 cups fresh or frozen unsweetened raspberries thawed and drained (I got them at kroger)
3 cups fresh or frozen rhubarb, thawed and drained

Vanilla Icing
1 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
5 to 6 tsp 2% milk

1. In a large bowl, combine flour and salt; cut in butter until crumbly. (I used a food processor for the crust)
Whisk 3/4 cup milk and egg yolk; gradually add to flour mixture, tossing with fork until dough forms a ball. Add additional milk 1 tbsp. at a time if necessary.
2. Divide dough in half so that one portion is slightly larger than the other; wrap each in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 1 hour or until easy to handle.
3. Roll out larger portion of dough between two large sheets of lightly floured waxed paper (cut paper the size of your pan so that you get the perfect fit) into the size of your pan. Press onto the bottom and up the sides of your pan; trim pastry to 1/2 inch above edges of pan.
4. In a large bowl, combine sugar and cornstarch. Add raspberries and rhubarb; toss together to coat. Spoon onto pastry.
5. Roll out remaining dough, place over filling. Fold bottom pastry over edge of top pastry; seal with a fork. Prick top with a fork.
6. Bake at 375 degrees for 45-55 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely on wire rack.
7. For icing, combine confectioners' sugar, vanilla and enough milk to achieve a drizzling consistency; drizzle over pie. Cut pie into squares.
Note: If using frozen rhubarb and raspberries measure them while still frozen, then thaw completely. Drain in a colander, but do not press liquid out.

This picture doesn't have the vanilla icing yet cause the pie is too hot but you get the idea I think.

Challah (Egg Bread)

Time: about 1 hour, plus 2 1/2 hours’ rising
Yield: 2 loaves

1 1/2 packages active dry yeast (1 1/2 tablespoons or 3/8 ounces or 11 grams)
1 tablespoon (13 grams) plus 1/2 cup (100 grams) sugar
1/2 cup (118 ml) olive or vegetable oil, plus more for greasing the bowl
5 large eggs
1 tablespoon (14 grams) table salt
8 to 8 1/2 cups (1000 to 1063 grams) all-purpose flour
1/2 cup raisins (about 70 grams) per challah, if using, plumped in hot water and drained
Poppy or sesame seeds for sprinkling.

1. In a large bowl, dissolve yeast and 1 tablespoon (13 grams) sugar in 1 3/4 cups lukewarm water.

2. Whisk oil into yeast, then beat in 4 eggs, one at a time, with remaining sugar and salt. Gradually add flour. When dough holds together, it is ready for kneading. (You can also use a mixer with a dough hook for both mixing and kneading, but be careful if using a standard size KitchenAid–it’s a bit much for it, though it can be done.)

3. Turn dough onto a floured surface and knead until smooth. Clean out bowl and grease it, then return dough to bowl. Cover with plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour, until almost doubled in size. Dough may also rise in an oven that has been warmed to 150 degrees then turned off. Punch down dough, cover and let rise again in a warm place for another half-hour.

4. At this point, you can knead the raisins into the challah, if you’re using them, before forming the loaves. To make a 6-braid challah, either straight or circular, take half the dough and form it into 6 balls. With your hands, roll each ball into a strand about 12 inches long and 1 1/2 inches wide. Place the 6 in a row, parallel to one another. Pinch the tops of the strands together. Move the outside right strand over 2 strands. Then take the second strand from the left and move it to the far right. Take the outside left strand and move it over 2. Move second strand from the right over to the far left. Start over with the outside right strand. Continue this until all strands are braided. For a straight loaf, tuck ends underneath. For a circular loaf, twist into a circle, pinching ends together. Make a second loaf the same way. Place braided loaves on a greased cookie sheet with at least 2 inches in between.

5. Beat remaining egg and brush it on loaves. Either freeze breads or let rise another hour.

6. If baking immediately, preheat oven to 375 degrees and brush loaves again. Sprinkle bread with seeds, if using. If freezing, remove from freezer 5 hours before baking.

7. Bake in middle of oven for 30 to 40 minutes, or until golden. (If you have an instant read thermometer, you can take it out when it hits an internal temperature of 190 degrees.) Cool loaves on a rack.

Note: Any of the three risings can be done in the fridge for a few hours, for more deeply-developed flavor. When you’re ready to work with it again, bring it back to room temperature before moving onto the next step.