Been busy, two tops complete and working on another quilt tomorrow!

It's so exciting, I've had time the last two days to finish some quilts I've started....I decided to finish the two tweets!  They are so adorable.  One is a kit from Connecting threads I bought...oh...about 3 years or so ago.  You know how time gets away from you sometimes.  The other one is one I made up myself.  I found these cute tweetie birds on a site that sell machine embroidery patterns and designed this quilt around those cute little peepers!  I used foundation border factory to make the flying geese border.  I sure wish I had more of the fabric I used for this one.  I'd love to have the back match one of the fabrics I used, but that fabric will be no where to be found because I purchased it probably 10 years ago.  It was a huge charm pack, I think there were 90 charms and I think it was Moda, some sort of mock homespun.  Oh well I'm sure I'll find a suitable fabric for the back.  With the Connecting Threads top I did purchase backing fabric...wow I get smarter as I get older! :)
Anyway I did share these before when they were barely started but I'll share them again.  Not sure if I'll quilt them or have them done on a long arm.  Can't wait to have them completed and ready to tuck into my grand baby to be's hope chest!

The Free Motion Quilting Project

I found this blog a couple years ago.  I was looking for instruction on how to free motion quilt.  I had tried so many times to do my own quilting that was not "quilting in the ditch" because that is so boring!  My machine no mater what I did would not do a good job.  The front of the quilt always looked okay but the back always looked like a bunch of chicken scratch!  I could not get the tension right no mater what I did.  Then I found this blog and it told me to leave the feed dogs up and to change the stitch length to zero!  Everyone I talked to tried to talk me out of this and said I just need to figure out my tension on my machine.  Well I tried it anyway and what do you think happened?????  I was free motion quilting and the back side looked as good as the front!  I was so over the top excited, I told people about it and some still insisted what I was doing was not correct.  You know what...I don't care.  I am free motion quilting like a champ!
So I wanted to share this blog with you all so that if you are having the same issue I did you will now be able to free motion quilt like a champ too.
Here is where to get started http://freemotionquilting.blogspot.com/p/start-here.html
Here is a video on how to set up your machine etc....

Here is the page where you will find 365 free motion quilting designs to practice with:

http://freemotionquilting.blogspot.com/p/365-designs.html Here is a video on one of the 365 free motion quilting design tutorials...these are all free these are all awesome!:

How to hide quilting threads inside your quilt:

Enjoy!

So many flies it's brutal!

Sitting out on the porch and watching the birds and squirrels and ducks, well that's just how we hang!  The unfortunate thing is the flies like to dive bomb us while we are trying to just relax and watch the world go by while sipping coffee or sweet tea.  The flies are so bad that when I open the door to go into or out of the house they zoom past me and into the house so they can bother me more.  They have even laid eggs in my coffee machine...OH THAT WAS SO GROSS!  thank God I clean the insides daily.  Anyway so a while back someone told me to hang a ziplock baggy full of water from a hook out on the porch.  I thought, how stupid does that sound and how could that possible even do a darn thing?  I mean really, I'm going to look like a total idiot with bags of water hanging from hooks on my porch.  People will think I'm trying to ward off aliens or something crazy like that....
Well about a month ago the flies were so brutal I though what the heck I'll give it a try, if it doesn't work I'll just take the bag down and no one would be the wiser of my foolish plans.  Guess what....this stupid trick works, I mean really really works.  I haven't seen a single fly since I hung that bag.  We've had many discussions on how this thing could possible work but have not come up with the answer.  I'd sure like to know the scientific answer to this!
So if you have flies on your porch and can't enjoy the day because of them...hang a ziplock baggy full of water up and your problem will be solved.

Here are some neat pictures of woodpeckers:

and some flowers:

I finally made the Mocha Chocolate Icebox Cake

Mocha Chocolate Icebox Cake
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/mocha-chocolate-icebox-cake-recipe/index.html

INGREDIENTS
2 cups cold heavy cream
12 ounces Italian mascarpone cheese
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup coffee liqueur, such as Kahlua
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, such as Pernigotti
1 teaspoon instant espresso powder
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3 (8-ounce) packages chocolate chip cookies, such as Tate's Bake Shop  (Get the no chip kind)
http://www.eggshellskitchencompany.com/products/tates-bake-shop-chipless-wonder-cookies?gclid=CL6j0_ql3LgCFSlo7AodVSMAnwfor  HEB carries them for $4.50
Shaved semisweet chocolate, for garnish
DIRECTIONS
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, combine the heavy cream, mascarpone, sugar, coffee liqueur, cocoa powder, espresso powder, and vanilla. Mix on low speed to combine and then slowly raise the speed, until it forms firm peaks.
To assemble the cake, arrange chocolate chip cookies flat in an 8-inch springform pan, covering the bottom as much as possible. (I break some cookies to fill in the spaces.) Spread a fifth of the mocha whipped cream evenly over the cookies. Place another layer of cookies on top, lying flat and touching, followed by another fifth of the cream. Continue layering cookies and cream until there are 5 layers of each, ending with a layer of cream. Smooth the top, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight.
Run a small sharp knife around the outside of the cake and remove the sides of the pan. Sprinkle the top with the chocolate, cut in wedges, and serve cold.
The verdict...Hubby say's...this was the best desert he ever has eaten...wow that's something for him I tell you! We did both agree though that next time, when I make the cookies (I used the ghirardelli milk chocolate cookie recipe) I will leave the chocolate chips out. Since it is a refrigerated cake, the chips get really hard and to us it just ruined the consistency of the cake. Oh it was so good though, it's kind of like a very creamy tiramisu cheese cake. This one is supper easy and quick to make, you do have to refrigerate over night which means you have to plan for it. I have seen gourmet chipless cookies at HEB (http://www.eggshellskitchencompany.com/products/tates-bake-shop-chipless-wonder-cookies?gclid=CL6j0_ql3LgCFSlo7AodVSMAnwfor 4.50) so that would make this even faster to make. This is definitely a must try cake.

Is it wasting time or is it fun?

I don't know about you but I seem to collect software that lets me be creative.  I also enjoy making my own software!  I do have a few programs that I sell.  Anyway, I have software to assist in:  Stained Glass, Cross Stitch, Quilting, Paper piecing, machine embroidery designing, and the list goes on and on and on....
I seem to spend more time designing than actually creating....so am I wasting my time?  Should I make a pack with myself to create everything I design, one design at a time?  I bet you understand.  I have made things I've designed and I have designed things I hope to make, so maybe it's okay and maybe it's just part of the process.
I'm going to show off the Ruler Bag again (It's one of the boutique workshops we did) so I can show you that I did use one of my many programs to create something and then actually used it to enhance something.
I digitized the 2014 Quilt Show logo using Embird.  I love that program, paid a fraction of the price that the quilt stores charge for their over priced digitizing software.  I purchased it a few years back and the day I loaded it on my machine I digitized a design for a tea towel.  To me, well that's an accomplishment considering all the nightmares I heard about that "over priced" program!  If you want to digitize designs, I suggest looking at Embird, is is awesome and easy (most important)!
Anyway here is the bag I made and placed my newly digitized quilt show logo on! I also got a little fancy and made prairie points using a technique from a book I purchased a while back.  "Lined Prairie Points"

Make a purchase and you might win a beautiful handmade Quilt!

During the Peace Love and Sew Tri-County Quilt Show the boutique will have drawings throughout each day and a final drawing for an awesome handmade quilt!  To enter the daily drawings and the final drawing come by the boutique booth and make a purchase.  Each purchase of 10.00 gets you entered in the next drawing.  If you spend 20.00 dollars you get two entries and so on!  Then there will be a final drawing where all entries from the daily drawings will be entered into the final drawing for the Quilt.  5 of us are making the quilt and here is my row to give you a sneak peek!
Some other drawings we will have:
A couple baskets full of sewing goodies
A CD that includes all the original patterns we will be selling at the quilt show
A few different sewing bags
A light box
And much much more!
So be sure to mark your calendar for the Peace Love and Sew Tri-County Quilt Show in 2014.

Light Box Raffle for the 2014 Quilt Show Boutique

So we decided to do a raffle to raise some money for the 2014 Quilt Show Boutique.  We are hoping to raise 200.00 to go toward supplies for the boutique projects that we have been busy making in our workshops.  We have been working on "Sewing Room" themed items and we hope we will have good luck selling all things sewing room related.  We do have a couple things that are not sewing room, the ladies had to twist my arm to get me to agree though :) .

So I searched high and low at all the hardware store that I knew about for the opaque plastic for the top of the light box and well I ended up having to custom order it on line.  Then I purchased a florescent light fixture that didn't include the cord (for crying out loud) so I had to wire the darn thing.  This ended up being okay because the cord needed to run through the box anyway.

I had fun making this and I'm at this very second putting the clear finish on it.  2 more coats to go before I can post a picture with the white opaque plastic in place.  But for now here is the box....it is complete...I hope we get some interest so we can raise some cash!  This thing is a dream for anyone that needs to trace.  It is a full 21x27 1/2 inches....I WANT ONE!

Raffle tickets are $1.00 if anyone is interested.  We will have a couple places in the greater Houston area where tickets can be purchased.  Let me know if you are interested and I'll tell you where you can get some raffle tickets for this beauty!

Update:  No raffle for the Guild :(....  We didn't bother asking about doing a raffle, we never even thought about asking....and well, the guild is only allowed 2 raffles a year because of their tax status.  They don't want to waste one of them for this and I don't blame them.  But the great news is Quilt Works is going to either sell it for us or have their own raffle for us.  Can you believe it?  Wow the ladies at Quilt Works are so awesome.  We sure couldn't be so productive without them!  THANK YOU Quilt Works !!!

The 4th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America

Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

That is the law and anyone who does not follow the law should be imprisoned.....

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tiffiniy-cheng/restore-the-fourth-amendment_b_3544740.html

So nice to have a garden!

Our garden boxes are doing so well this year.  We are getting so many vegetables I'm having to find ways to use all the produce.  Tomatoes, wow they are going crazy and even with all the birds pecking at them we still have more than enough.
I made pasta and meatballs last night and the sauce was completely made from produce from my garden.  It's a great way to use up all those tomatoes close to going bad.
I stewed about 15 tomatoes with garlic and salt and pepper then ran them through a sieve.  I then added a shredded carrot, one stock of fennel, one onion, more garlic and herbs, basil, thyme, oregano, rosemary, parsley,  and cooked most of the day.  Then I put it all in a food processor and processed till smooth...oh how tasty was this.  The meatballs, well I used the 1170 meatloaf recipe (halved) and just made them into meatballs instead...oh so yummy too!  Here is the result:

After eating this delicious creation I sat out on the porch and enjoyed the rest of the day.  It was another scorcher today but it was cooler by this time.  With a big glass of homemade lemonade and the beautiful wild flowers right in front of my view, who could ask for more!

June's Boutique Project

Here is what we organized for June's Peace Love and Sew Quilt show Boutique workshop.  This month we did the ruler bag that Connie from Quilt Works designed.  They made this bag last year too and it sold really well at the quilt show so we thought we'd give it a go again.  We had a large turn out to the workshop as usual.  I am so over the top that we are getting so much participation.  Otherwise me and Mary would be having to make all the merchandise for the quilt show boutique.  Thank God for all the help!

It's a boy so had to scrap the girly quilt

I was nearing finishing the little tweet bird quilt for my Secret Sister who is pregnant....but then decided it was too girly.  I was hoping for a girl but IT"S A BOY!  She is excited and that is all that matters.  So I just finished this one up that I started a while back.  I think it's more appropriate don't you?  Anyway, I finished it a few days later than our mailings are suppose to go out but I got it out.  Can't wait for it to arrive to see if she loves it.  Of course I sent her some other items that are just for her but here are pictures of the quilt I sent.

From useless to useful

I love a good find and I am always on the lookout for ways to store my ever growing fabric stash.  I call myself the organized hoarder.  As long as I am able to organize this growing beast then I'll not end up on the TV show Hoarders!  Pray for me I need it.  :)
I got a bug in my bonnet on Monday and decided to move my office into the room my craft room was in (wall to wall and not inspiring at all) and my craft room into where my office was (the game room)  We never used the game room, I would go up there to do some work on my PC but other than that, we did nothing else in that room and it is so much bigger than the room I dedicated to creativity.  I felt so claustrophobic in that room!  As I said before I am a organized hoarder and I was running out of room to organize all the "good" stuff.  I'm all moved in to the game room...I was hoping I'd have tons more room but the game room is now packed full.  I can however open my cutting table all the way up, I can have my huge ironing board up all the time and I have a table I can sit at and put things together so all is good in the world of my imagination!
So I find this dresser, it was a DIY project gone seriously bad.  I think the woman used it as a practice piece with the intention of someday restoring furniture to sell.  She has a long way to go...
Well I didn't take a before picture and I asked the woman if she'd send me the picture she had posted but so far she hasn't.  If she does I will post it.  The dresser I believe had two doors on the top at one time and someone took them off which didn't bother me cause I thought the dresser had great bones and could imagine some of my fabric hanging out of it.  It was painted a weird color of blue and it was sponged or something, really can't explain it other than it was in my opinion the ugliest paint job I had ever seen.  Because she did not sand the piece before she did her paint technique I was able to sand all the blue off for the most part.  I was so pleased and so covered with blue dust....
Here is the finished piece along with some photos of my new craft room (remember, I am a hoarder so please don't judge me).

I hand painted "Fabric Stash" on the top drawer....time consuming but oh so worth it!

I also had to do something with the insides of the drawers, they were so sticky and I couldn't get the sticky off.  So I decoupaged the insides.  I used wrapping paper, and yes I got wrinkles!  Oh well it's not too bad and still is better than sticky.

Here is a picture of my baby...I love this machine!