Putting it out there...

So, I'm looking thru my stash...getting some swap pinwheel blocks started, pulling out strips for a fun mystery that coming up in December...and low & behold I find a bunch of charm packs.

Yup, charm packs I didn't remember I had.

Charm packs that would be perfect for this little pattern for a quilt that I've been puttering with the past few weeks.

Now I have no excuse.

I have the charms, plenty of them.

I have the new original pattern.

I have to try to whip up my own quilt top with my own pattern. This is super new for me.

I'm putting it out there so I don't chicken out and hide under the bed!

Stayed tuned...

"Where oh where did my Monday go?"

Oh where oh where can it be?

All of a sudden it's 4:11 in the afternoon....and I feel I haven't gotten much done.

Altho'....

I did machine quilt a holiday gift quilt.

I did help my daughter with her homework and spelling words.

I did take excellent care of my toddler all day, even tho' he didn't nap.

Did I eat lunch? Oops! That's why I'm a bit hungry.

I even managed a shower, cool.

Looking back, I did pretty good all in all.

That's where my Monday went, and that's okay.

How is your Monday?

Window to the world

Well, at least one to a beautiful scene.

I made this page in a matter of minutes using StoryBook Creator Plus 3.0 for the PC and a tutorial from the Pixels2Pages blog. The tute was super easy to follow and the results are stunning. (It had to be easy - I did it with my 2 adorable kids RUNNING around the house!)

I actually used a paper fill on the "Cape Cod 2008" lettering. The paper used is Paper 8 from Nature's Whisper Digital Kit (which sadly isn't available any longer). The ABC lettering is the Sophisticate Alphabet Letter Set. I had to type each letter individually, arrange them how I like them and then I grouped and flattened them together, under the Arrange tab. Once flattened, you can apply any paper and/or surface effect to them.

Oh, and for the background (the area surrounding the window pane) I simply filled it with the same photo, just cropped it to only show the water portion. By using the same photo I was certain it would match and no tweeking would be needed.

Pixels2Pages has a TON of Blueprints and tues to help you create the best digital pages you can. And they are always coming up with new ideas, challenges and freebies!

Cool Way to Do Flying Geese

Today I was reminded of the BEST way to piece flying geese units. Through the Hazel Ilene Quilt Along this year, I learned this very cool method. Find it HERE.

{Silly for me to re-write what Shelly already wrote so beautifully, right?}

I did fall a weee bit behind on this quilt along (before I knew it, months had gone by....) and I just started back on it today. With neat piecing tips like this, I am boud to catch up quickly.

Here are a few of the blocks I have already finished:

The neat thing about this quilt along is that everyday we read a day in the life of Hazel (from her own diary). Then we get to quilt!

Can't wait to really get going on it again!


P.S. The fabrics I'm using are Alliance by Howard Marcus for Moda.

Bee...Improvisational!

The online quilting bee that I am in is a ton of fun - we improvise on every block! This month is Elaine's and she sent us all oodles of batik scraps and Kona Solid in Ash to use for her blocks. She wanted springtime houses.

Here are my two that mailed off to her today!

Not my usual piecing, but oh, what fun! Enjoy them Elaine {smile}

Mmm, I've got to get to work putting my blocks together into a quilt top. That would make a nice series of posts, wouldn't it?

Blessings

As you sit down with your family and friends today,

revel joyfully in the many blessing that surround you.

Happiest of Thanksgivings,

Layer cake!

Did ya think I was talking about a yummy chocolate layer cake?

Gotcha!

Nope, finished block #2 in the Layer Cake Quilt Along hosted by Konda over at Moose on the Porch Quilts. This block was designed by Vickie Eapen at Sugar Spun Quilts.

Here is my pictorial account of my sewing early yesterday morning (couldn't sleep!)

  

oops - made a wee mistake here!

Finished Block #2!

Recap - Blocks #1 and #2

Go here to start your own top with Konda's Layer Cake Quilt Along. Not only is she and the designers giving away cool prizes, but you'll end up with an awesome quilt top!

~Carrie

P.S. I am using Fandango by Kate Spain for Moda. Isn't it wonderful?

Round Robin Border #3

I found some extra time late last night and silly early this morning to work on my Patchwork Posse round robin top. The 3rd border just came out on yesterday - and it was a fun one! Reeze of Morning Glory Designs came up with this really neat border for the left and right sides of our tops.

If you haven't read the earlier post here, I am doing this round robin from my stash - NO NEW FABRIC! Here is how border #3 went...

 I pieced my strip sets....

Cut them apart into segments...

Pinned them together in staggered pairs..

Impressive pile, huh?

Then I was so on a roll last night, I forgot to stop and take photos! Here are my borders trimmed and ready to be put on my quilt top this morning.

Ta-da!

My borders are a wee large in comparison to the rest of the quilt. I did my center square smaller than the pattern and have made adjustments from there. Isn't this coming out darling?

And now I have yummy fabric and block scraps for another project! Woo hoo!

~Carrie

How much did I get done?

Well, I was so busy clearing things off my to do list...that I almost forgot to blog about it!

So, here is my updated list:

My “work” list (as of 11/22):

ë  Clean studio for 11/27 open house

ë  Prep for 11/27 Creative Memories Holiday Open House

ë  Place CM order to arrive in time for 11/27

ë  Send out promo email for open house

ë  Finish scrappy weekend paperwork

ë  Place SU orders (after following up with 2 more guests)

ë  Plan 12/15 SU club meeting and add to SU order

ë  Bee Improv blocks due 11/30. Make and mail.

ë  Special blocks due 12/1, 1 done, 1 done, but needs to be redone, and one not done yet

ë  Mail 3 blocks to recipient

ë  SBS Round Robin pinwheel border (altho’ not due 12/1, I need to get started on it)

ë  Blog post for 11/23 J

Whew! Busy, busy busy!!!!

Tune in tomorrow...

~Carrie

Deadlines

Deadlines.
Ugh.

However, I thrive on meeting deadlines, and trying to a better job than expected.

I have A LOT due December 1st. Some due before.

My “work” list:

 Clean studio for 11/27 open house

 Prep for 11/27 Creative Memories Holiday Open House

 Place CM order to arrive in time for 11/27

 Finish scrappy weekend paperwork

 Place SU orders (after following up with 3 guests)

 Plan 12/15 SU club meeting and add to SU order

 Bee Improv blocks due 11/30

 Special blocks due 12/1, 1 done, 1 done, but needs to be redone, and one not done yet

 SBS Round Robin pinwheel border (altho’ not due 12/1, I need to get started on it)

Will I get it all done? And my holiday and household projects aren’t even included in there….good thing I thrive under pressure, huh?

Are you getting things crossed off your list? Hope so!

~Carrie
P.S. And I just saw that I've gotten over 13,000 looksies to my blog - thank you all! Keep coming back to see if I get things checked off my "work" list!

Winnings

arrived on Saturday. I wasn't home, and JUST NOW opened my backlog of mail.

5 fat quarters of Bliss from CaliQuilter Joan Lucchese.
Thx so much Joan!

Don'tcha just love prizes?

Keep in touch to see what I do with them :)

(While you're blog surfing, check out Joan's very cool blog. I love it!)

Have a happy day!

~Carrie

Using up the leftovers!

Leftovers.

No really my favorite thing, unless we're talking about fabric {grin}.

I'm talking about food stuff leftovers. Specifically, pasta and veggies from last night's dinner. Even my little ones don't care to eat warmed up buttered pasta. What does my son say, even at 2 years old?

Oh yeah, "Yucky Mom. Just yucky." Kinda says it all.

So, this is one thingI do to save a bit of time and money, and USE those "yucky" leftovers.

 Last night we had buttered elbow macaroni, corn and broccoli. The corn was vanquished, but I was left with gobs of mac and broc. What to do? Whip up Cheesy Mac & Broc!

Today, I made up a basic cheese sauce (eek, you say, CHEESE?) No worries, you make it as healthy or not as you'd like. I'm all about easy (and isn't broccoli healthy?)

So, take your leftovers out of the fridge so they come to room temp. While that's happening, whip this up:

Basic Yummy Cheese Sauce

6 tbsp. butter (use the kind you like best)

4 tbsp. flour

1-1/4 cup milk (I used skim)

1-2 cups shredded cheese. I like low-fat half cheddar, half mozzerella

1 tsp.dry mustard

In a medium saucepan, melt the butter on low heat. Whisk in the flour and cook a couple minutes (to get rid of that icky flour taste). Slowly whisk in the milk. Warm through. Increase heat to medium and add the cheese and mustard. I wisk every 2-3 minutes and then switch to a plastic, heatproof spatula. I have so learned that cheese is sticky! Best to use plastic, non-stick pans, utensils and serving dishes whenever gooey cheese is involved. Yield: well, I forgot to measure, sorry. But I think it's about 2 cups, maybe a bit more.

Now, add this to whatever you have hanging out in the fridge! This cheese sauce I had enough for an entire dinner for tonight. It is great over any veggies because it's light and creamy. Note: if you need to reheat the cheese sauce, add a touch of milk to make it creamy again.

This picture tells the story - it is THAT yummy!

~Carrie

No nap!

That's what my 2-year old boy is saying right now. "No nap, Mom!"

And he so isn't.

Soooo, this is the extent of my posting today.

Think my boy and I will go play in the leaves now.

Enjoy your "no nap" day!

~Carrie

Turkey boys

While watching Ry today, I had the boys do a fun Thanksgiving Day craft I found on themailbox.com.

First, they had to try on the new smocks I made them - easy peasy kind, too. Big t-shirts with simple iron-on letters. I have the boys color coded - Robert is green and Ryan is blue for everything, plates, cups, now smocks! Helps them share, and know what's what around here. Also gives them a huge step toward independence.

Next, we colored. Turkey printouts from themailbox.com and half a paper plate.

Next, glue stick on some feathers to the paper plate along the top edge. With two year olds, I put the glue on for them and let them go wild with the feathers. While they did this, I cut out the turkeys (and took photos {grin}).

Stick the turkey to the feathered paper plate. Attach all to a constuction paper headband measured to fit each boy's cute head and viola!

I present to you TURKEY BOYS!

Aren't they just too cute?

They spent the rest of the morning running around gobbling.

Enjoy your day! I'm running off to find some earplugs :)

~Carrie

It went fast!

You know how when you're not expecting it, you realize just how much time has passed?

Well, when I returned home from my scrapbooking weekend away, I cleaned out my daughter's school mail folder and there it was.

My daughter's 1st grade school portrait.

Whoa.

When did she grow up?

Take a look for yourself...

Preschool 3-years old

Preschool - 4 years old

Kindergarten

1st grade

The maturity in my daughter's face in her 1st grade photo made my heart ache for the baby she once was. With that said, I am so super proud of the young lady she's becoming.

I love the changes, and can't wait to see what comes next.

~Carrie

Burgundy Buttons Giveaway!

Do you love fabric and all things quilty?

Head over to Burgundy Buttons - they are celebrating their 2nd anniversary and having a giveaway for a $25 gift certificate (plus a special discount on purchases now thru 11/21).

Head on over their blog to see all the details and how to enter the giveaway.

Good luck!
~Carrie

Yummy banana crepes

Made my favorite breakfast this morning. Yummy warm and filling banana chocolate crepes.

I am lucky enough to have my stepmom's recipe for her swedish pancakes. I cook them really thin and crepe-like.

After the first flip in the pan, I spread a thin layer of hazelnut pread down the center. Add some sliced bananas and then it's ready to fold. Fold one side over the bananas, then the other side. If I can, I flip the folded filled crepe over to brown a bit more.

Flop it out on my plate ("flop" is a technical term) and sprinkle with powered sugar.

Close your eyes and sniff - my home smells yummy right now.

Pair it with a tall glass of cold milk and dig in!

(Where are the photos you say? This is the veru funny part. Me, the avid almost obsessed picture taker, has a dead battery in her camera. I know. Shame on me. The upside to this? I get to make my favorite breakfast AGAIN soon to take pictures to show you all!)

Here's the recipe for the crepes:

AJ's Swedish Pancakes

3 eggs, room temperature
1 cup flour
2 cups milk, divided
6 tablespoons butter, melted
1 teaspoon salt

Beat eggs with 1/2 cup of milk with whisk. Add the flour slowly and beat smooth. Beat in remaining milk, add butter and salt. Heat pan over medium heat. Here is where I make them crepes - I use a small fry or crepe pan and drop just enough to barely cover the base of the pan in. Swirl around pan until bottom is covered. Cook until edges are lightly browned and carefully flip over. Batter may be refridgerated a day or two at most. Can be served as noted above, or with your fave jelly or jams. My dad likes to mix different jams on the crepe and roll up to eat.


Thanks bunches for enjoying breakfast with me.
~Carrie

sunday...Sunday...SUNDAY!

Sunday is a day usually reserved for family time. Making cookies, big family dinner...you know, the good stuff.

This Sunday I am scrapbooking, and have been ALL WEEKEND! You see, I organize a weekend scrapbooking getaway twice a year, in April & November. It's November. Even tho' I am "working", it's the best kind of work and I get to sit and scrapbook, too.

I'm in heaven.

I am scrapping with the best bunch of friends. Ever.

I am so silly lucky.

So, I am telling my family's stories in the midst of my closest friends (and BTW, eating fabulous food). Actually, I WAS doing that. I am home now snuggled with that family that I tell stories about.

It's a happy Sunday.