Red, White and Blue Mini Quilt

Here's my red, white and blue mini quilt!

About a month ago I was rearranging my books in

 my sewing room and came across one of many favorites 

books I own, "Little Quilts All Through The House," 

by Alice Berg, Mary Ellen Von Holt and 

Sylvia Johnson.  It's a cute book filled with 

lots of photos and you can use your scraps too!   

Flipping the pages, I came across this quilt.

Well, I just had to make it!  Forth of July was 

coming up and I've always wanted to have a 

quilt for every holiday!  I gathered up my 

materials, fabric I already owned.  Yeah!!!  

Cut and sewed my strips together.

Instead of sewing individual blocks and hearts

 on my mini quilt as directed on the pattern, 

I decided to just cut the size of the finished

  block with my star fabric.  I sandwiched 

the batting with the front and back fabric.  

I then used a decorative wave stitch just on 

the star area of the quilt. 

I then used a straight stitched on the rows of 

red and white strips.  I used the width of 

my walking foot to determine the 

width between stitches. 

Here's a look at the back of my mini quilt.

This post was linked up to: 

Glory Be Quilter 33

who is hosting

and

Crazy Mom Quilts
          

Check it out!

He Has Made Everything Beautiful In Its Time.  
Ecclesiastes 3:11  

I Love To Quilt

Add caption

I'm so excited to share this mini quilt,  I've had the pleasure to be a tester for  Lorna McMahon @ Sew Fresh Quilts newest pattern!  

Here's a picture of just the top I sewed before realizing I had sewn the letter (I) upsized down! I did fix it!  I also changed the blue on the iron!  I decided to use gray as you will notice on the finished quilt below.

It's so adorable and you have the option of making it horizontal or vertical.  I choose to make the horizontal mini quilt because it best fits my wall space.  I'll be making this quilt again and again for a few of my friends. This mini quilt really makes a great gift for either a birthday, Christmas, or a just because gift for yourself! 

Lorna includes full color photos and diagrams with easy to follow instructions.  Her list of materials, fabric requirements  and sewing directions makes this quilt fun to sew! This mini quilt measures about 17" x 32".

Here's my finished quilt!!  

Here's a picture of the backing and the binding I used!

Thank you Lorna for allowing me to be a tester! 

Don't forget to visit Lorna's site to see both mini quilt options!

Sew Fresh Quilts

Do To Some Emergencies

Here's a post to inform all my readers that I have not posted
 anything lately, due to some emergencies we've had in the family.

I  tried to continue with the 
6-for-4-Mindful-Consumption Challenge, 
but due to  the unexpected,  I have not!


Please continue to following Eden Hensley @
The Road To The Good Life 

I will soon be back on track!

Thank you!

He Has Made Everything Beautiful In Its Time.  

                                                    

Ecclesiastes 3:11

The 6 for 4 Mindful Consumption Challenge Week 1

Sorry folks I'm a couple days behind this challenge, but I have selected 6 pieces from my closet to wear for an entire month!  I have been only wearing these clothes I've chosen so far.

What is this you say?  I was reading Eden's blog over at The Road To The Good Life and she presented a challenge. Choosing 6 items from your closet to wear  for four weeks.  Sunday May 4th through Saturday May 31st.  Now work uniforms don't count, neither do jackets, under garments nor shoes!  Also, any exercise clothes. 
Thank goodness, because I wouldn't be able to take part in this challenge! 

Eden does ask us to refrain from purchasing any clothes during the month of May. So, if any of you want to take part in the challenge then just jump right in!   I'm interested in tackling my closet and learning how to make smart shopping choices.   

Week 1: Take Inventory of Your Wardrobe

Week 2: Stretching Your Fashion Budget Dollars

Week 3: Getting to Know Your Brands

Week 4: Making Smart Shopping Choices

Here are my 6 garments I have selected! 

A pair of boot leg jeans.

I can dress these up with boots, heels, or just sandals.

I have a memorial service I'll be 

attending, so this 

is the dress I've chosen.  

Also, I can wear this dress for 

Mother's Day or church.

The long sleeve white shirt.  I can mix and match with different 

jackets or accessories to change

 the look.  This shirt can be worn different ways.

I decided on a gray and a black t-shirt!  I'm a more casual girl so 

these are great for playing 

with my grandson, Ben or just hanging out! 

I've also decided on capri jeans.  These can be dressed up or down 

and are great for warmer weather!

Choosing my six garments was very difficult.  I have a closet full of clothes and dresser shirts, dresses and pants but, my main activities will be around the house.  Maybe, to the park with Ben 

and some BBQ's turing the Mother's Day and or Memorial Day! 

I have no need to dress up other then Mother's Day, the Memorial Service and church!

This may be a great time to clean out your closets!!!

Thank you for visiting!!!

He Has Made Everything Beautiful In Its Time.  

                                                    

Ecclesiastes 3:11

Hollywood Sewalong Challenge - The Notebook Part 3 - The Big Reveal

Here's the finally reveal!  I wish you could 

hear the drum playing ta da!

I just love my new red polka dot dress inspired by the movie, 

" The Notebook." 

Because it was really hard to take pictures of 

me wearing the dress,    

 I had to take the dress off to capture 

some of the details of the dress!  You won't 

be getting any of those pictures... 

just kidding!  I didn't take any!

I used a cotton fabric with a low count of polyester!  

This keeps the dress casual and I felt like I could 

wear it more often. Even dress it up if I wanted too!

This dress has details from the 1940's. 

The pattern I used was 

McCall's 8181

View A

Please click on the links below to catch 

the girls that put this challenge together

and check out their finished project!  I can't 

wait to check them out myself!!!

Hollywood Sewalong The Notebook-Part 1

Hollywood Sewalong The Notebook-Part 2

Please leave me some comments!  

I would love to hear from you all!!

Thank you for visiting!!!

He Has Made Everything Beautiful In Its Time.  

                                                    

Ecclesiastes 3:11

Walk on the Wild Side or ?

Today I kept hearing  it was National Sibling Day!  

But actually that was yesterdays news.

 I went on line and discovered I could download 

an app on my phone (checkiday).   I was curious 

to see what I could celebrate tomorrow,  

April 12, 2014! This is what I found.

     Big Wind Day  -  On April 12, 1934, it was recorded 

to be the highest wind speed in the whole

world.  Mount Washington Observatory 

 made this recording of 231 miles per

   hour.  Pretty crazy!!!

        

      Drop Everything and Read Day  - best know as D.E.A.R! 

                  This   day was created to honor Beverly 

               Cleary's birthday who wrote, Ramona Quimby, 

Age 8. You can read more about it 

here Read!

      National Grilled Cheese  Sandwich Day  -  I love 

grilled cheese sandwiches!! I can honestly say

 I'll be making and eating myself a

 Grilled Cheese Sandwich!  Check out 

      Beverly's Blog at A Night Owl  she has 25 

amazing recipes for grill cheese!

      National Licorice Day -  From what I've been

 reading on line, true licorice is black.  Red and 

     any other color is not true licorice! 

      Russian Cosmonaut Day  -  This day celebrates 

the first human in space made in 1961 by

       Russian Yuri Gagarin.  Read more 

here-Nasa Mission

         

                          

      Walk on Your Wild Side Day -  I don't know how 

this day came to be but I like it! I'll have to 

   sleep on this one!  Have any ideas, please share!

What's your favorite grilled cheese?  How will

you celebrate your wild side? 

Slow Cooking Glazed Ham Recipe

I'm making this again this year!!

Umm, umm!!

This recipe is the best for cooking your ham in a slow cooker! If you haven't cooked your ham in a crockpot before, you should try it at least once.  

This is a great recipe to try for any occasion.

Your ham will turn out very moist!!

Ingredients

Ham  -  I used a Kirkland Signature Spiral Ham

1 Can of Ginger Ale or Coke

Package of glaze (comes with ham)

Can of sliced pineapple

Maraschino cherries

tooth pics

Cloves (optional) 

Remove ham from packaging and place ham flat side down in crockpot.   Pour can of ginger ale or coke on top of ham.  Prepare glaze as directed on package and spoon over ham.  Place pineapple slices and one cherry in center of each pineapple slice onto ham with a tooth pic.  Press cloves in to ham (optional).  My family doesn't like to much clove so I leave them out.  Cover and  slow cook for about 4 hours, until fully warmed/cooked. 

 Your ham will be so moist.

If your ham doesn't come with a glaze here are a few recipes. 

Brown Sugar Glaze

Ginger Ale or Coke

1/2-3/4 c  brown sugar

1/2 tsp mustard (prepared or dry)

3 T cider vinegar

1/8 tsp cinnamon

4 T water

3 T flour or corn  starch 

Pour ginger ale or coke over ham. 

Mix together remaining ingredients and spread over ham. 

*

Preserve Glaze

Ginger Ale or Coke

1/2 c peach preserves

1/4 c mustard

1/4 c packed brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

Pour ginger ale or coke over ham. 

Mix together remaining ingredients and spread over ham. 

*

Pineapple Glaze

1/2 c brown sugar

1/4 c pineapple juice from can or water

1/8 tsp cinnamon

Mix together and spread over ham.

He Has Made Everything Beautiful In Its Time

Ecclesiastes 3:11

  

   

DIY Stenciled Bunny Placemats

Here you have my cute stenciled bunny placemats.  Just in time for Easter. You should give these a try.  They are super easy!!!

  I found these colorful placemats at my local Dollar Store

To make these cute placements all you need: 

ready made placemats, acrylic paint,  a paper plate, a sponge brush, a stencil (I made the one you see by drawing a bunny free hand on thick stock paper.  You can find images on line. Also, a pair of scissors if you need to cut your stencil out and a pencil to draw your image! Don't forget to cover your surface with paper so it doesn't steep through to your counter.  

Draw and cut out your stencil.

Here's my cut out stencil!  Position your stencil on your placemat

Squeeze some paint onto your paper plate!  Dip your sponge brush into the paint.  Holding the stencil with one hand and lightly moving your brush up and down to paint in the stencil with you other hand.  You can tape your stencil down, but I didn't find it necessary!

Here you go a painted bunny!

Use different colors to paint your bunnies!  Super easy craft!!

While looking on the web for  ideas, I came a cross a blog,   Katie from View From the Fridge!  She inspire me to stencil something.  So I made some stenciled bunny placemats.  Thanks Katie!

Start Your Garden From Seeds

A few weeks ago, it was time to get the garden in order by selecting our seeds for the season.  Instead of buying our plants at our local nursery, my husband and I chose to grow them from seed.  We picked a variety of seeds that we knew the family would like, and even some new things we'd like to try this year.

Save your egg cartons, and your plastic berry 

containers!!  Fill them up 

with dirt and follow the directions

 on each seed packet!

I used Organic Plus Patio Plus Premium 

Outdoor Potting Mix.

Once the seeds were planted, water them and 

cover them with plastic wrap.  This helps them 

to germinate.   Don't pack down the 

dirt.  Once the seeds germinate, you can 

remove the plastic wrap and keep watering.  

(Sorry, I have no pictures for this step!)  

I grew them inside next to a window!  

Once they grow (like the pictures above),   

transplant them into bigger pots (red plastic cups).  

The cups are deeper and can help the roots of the 

plants grow.  We would have planted them 

directly to the ground, but the weather in

 the morning is still to cold and the sun is way to hot 

for these tender plants.

My husband drilled holes on the bottom of these 

red plastic cups.   Don't forget to water once 

you've moved your plants to their new home!!!

It's not to late in the season to start preparing your seeds. 

This is a great project for the kids to take part in. 

What will you grow? 

Happy gardening!

He Has Made Everything Beautiful In Its Time.  

                                                     Ecclesiastes 3:11  

Hollywood Sewalong - The Notebook Part 2

 

After watching the movie several times and wiping away my tears, I had to concentrate on the fashion of the 1940's from this great movie, #The Notebook.   I'm taking part on this Sewalong and I was inspired my the pretty colors of blues, bright greens, purples, and great reds!  Even the black and white popped out at me!

When I went shopping for fabric, I wasn't exactly sure what I was going to make.  Only that it was either going to be a skirt and blouse or a dress.  As I walked down the rows of fabric, I came across some beautiful fabric.  It was so hard to decide, I became confused and decided just to go home with nothing in my hands.

That night I watched the movie again and I just fell in 

love with this scene.

So the next day I went out to shop for fabric.  

This time I knew what I was looking for!   

Red and white polkadot

 fabric and I found it!!!! My goal is to 

finish the dress

 by May 2nd, my birthday,  

that way I can wear it on 

the 3rd of May (date night)!

 Please come visit me again for the 

The Big Reveal, May 5th, 2014!

Thank You for visiting!

Click on the link below to visit the original five members who put this challenge together! 

Hollywood Sewalong - The Notebook Part 1

 Remember, it's not to late to take part on this #Sewalong!!!!  You can still watch the movie and come up with something beautiful before May 5th, 2014.  Come join the fun!!

He Has Made Everything Beautiful In Its Time.  
Ecclesiastes 3:11