Private Concert

I had the opportunity on Friday night of attending a private concert at someone's home of a violinist/fiddler, Taylor Morris.  It was very quaint and I really enjoyed it.  He is a very talented artist.

He is a 2008 graduate of ASU and over the last 4 years he has toured with Barrage, a violin "rock" group out of Canada, I believe.  He is now back in the Valley and trying to establish some relationships and also teaching violin.  It was a very nice setting, and he will do private concerts for you and your friends.  If you are interested, you can follow his blog www.takingnotes.com.  I googled him and found several videos on youtube.  Try it.  I think you'll like what you hear.

Reading and Haystacks

My book club this month read "Chinese Cinderella" and we really enjoyed it.  It was my night to bring treats and I usually try to tie it into the book theme.  This time I was kind of stumped.  I could not think of a Chinese dessert that I could make, or was discussed, in the book.  So at the suggestion of a couple of friends, I made Haystack cookies!  The ingredients are few but it does include CHOW MEIN NOODLES!

Making headway...

I am plugging away on my rag quilt.  I am amazed at the fact that I don't spend much time on it, but I seem to make measurable headway.  I am still sewing my squares together to make rows.  Last night I started with this stack (actually more because I didn't take the photo before I started sewing)...

 Okay, more sewing...

 The "finished stack" (hanging on the back of the chair) is growing...

Here's what's left - 3 rows!  I placed one row across my bed last night and decided I am going to need to make a border so that it will hang down the sides of my bed.  Another thought?  I could get a smaller bed.  :)

Still working on July's cards...

I am still working on July's cards for the card exchange at Paper Vineyard.  I spent Friday night with Cindy working on them...
I used a Dreamweaver metal stencil and using a finger dauber, I inked the bicycle image on each card front.

You can see it was a messy job and a little time consuming, but I like the end result.

The paper is a pink print, but here it looks rather "orangey."  I didn't have enough black flowers, so after trying different methods (Glimmer Mist and inking), I ended up painting white flowers with black paint.  They turned out really nice and would do it again.  I still have a little bit more to do to finish these cards.  I have to say they have definitely been a work in progress.  I will show you more when I finish the cards.

Altered Cigar Boxes

I got together with my longtime friend, Loretta, to alter cigar boxes.  We spent a lot of time catching up, which I loved.  My girls came over to see her.  Back when we first met, which I believe must have been 1982, we used to be (almost) inseparable.  We spent a lot of time together with our families and we did a lot of sewing.  We attended the same church.  Our families were close.  My girls call her "Aunt."  It is always a pleasure to spend time with her.

On with my story... Loretta wasn't sure what to do with some cigar boxes she had at home, but then thought of me and knew I would love them!  So we decided to spend a day together making these boxes.

This is the top of Loretta's box - she was able to use some flower embellishments that her mother gave her and I think that was special to her.  Loretta also really liked using Diamond Glaze which she covered with glitter.  It gave her box that little extra kick.

This is the inside of the box - she loved the dark turquoise/polka dot paper. The paper used by Loretta  came from a Recollections paper pad/collection.

This is the top of my box.  The box is really more of a square, and is rather deep.  I used Wild Saffron, an older line by K&Company.  It has always been one of my favorites.

On the front of the box, I placed these square jewels on the lower, right corner.  Kept it simple but added a little glitz.

... now the inside of my box.  I still need to figure out the knob on the top - how I am going to attach it so that it doesn't pop off - and I need to put feet on the box.  

Hmmmm - now what to put in it?  Any suggestions?

More Quilting

I needed to add 8 more squares to make 8 squares by 10 squares.  So I purchased this material...

It really has more color than what shows up in the photo.  

I pushed the furniture aside and laid all of the squares out on the floor to see if I could come up with a design...

I like it.  A lot.  And was pleased when I realized I counted correctly!  Yeah!

I then stacked up each row, after marking them, and soon - this weekend - I will be sewing them together.  I am excited to get to that point.  Stay tuned...

Crock pot potatoes augratin

I found this recipe on the internet and want to share it with you, because it really was tasty.

 Ingredients:

4 cups chopped potatoes

1 cup chopped onions

2 cups chopped ham

 Mix these items and put in the crock pot.

Important: Use a crock pot liner - you definitely need it for this recipe.

Cover with 3/4 cup of shredded cheese.  

(Okay, I used more - 3/4 cup?  Really?)

 Cover with 1 can of cream of chicken soup (mixed with 1/8 tsp pepper, 1 tsp yellow mustard, and 1 tsp. parsley flakes)

Cook on low for 8 hours.  

My thought?  I think it could cook a little less time - maybe 6 hours.

It was good and extremely easy.  Give it a try.

Ever been to Zinburger?

I had never been before.  Kate, and her roommates, Katie, and Kelsey... took me to dinner at Zinburger  at the Biltmore Shopping Mall.

Something on the menu caught all of our eyes - a salted caramel shake!  They are normally much bigger, but I split one with Katie, which made it the perfect size.  We got it at the beginning of our meal and it felt like we were eating our dessert before dinner.  It was so-o-o-o good!

My dinner partners - from left - Kelsey, Katie, and (my) Katie.

Thank you, girls, it was an excellent dinner, and really fun company!

Bowling with Myah

Yesterday we (Kimmy and I) spent an afternoon with Myah.  We started off with lunch at Babbo Italian Eatery at 16th Street and Glendale.  After lunch we headed to Let it Roll bowling alley near Dunlap and 12th Street. Here's a sample of our afternoon:

 Bowling shoes are the best, right?

 We enjoyed watching Myah's style of bowling...

at one point I reminded her to keep the ball below her head.

 One happy bowler...

After bowling, we ended up at a cupcake shop.  Then back home.  We had a really fun afternoon - a little short - but a great time nonetheless.

How was your Friday the 13th?

I am not superstitious and have always felt Friday, the 13th is just any other day.  Nothing unusual, nothing sinister, nothing spooky.  But last night, as Cindy and I ate dinner and spent the night making cards, here's some of the unusual things that happened:

Sophie was barking on and off longer than usual...

We saw headlights on the back wall (hence, the barking)...

My front door bell rang (never happens)...

The lights in my house flickered...

Police were in my complex...

Cars were being towed...

What is normally a quiet evening, turned out to offer something out of the norm.

How was your Friday the 13th?

Today is my mother's 87th birthday...

I saw this card and couldn't resist....

 Front - isn't that a precious picture of a baby?

"Say it with me..."

"...oooooooold!"

I laughed out loud.  I am  hoping she does, too.

Even though you won't see this, mom, I wish you a very happy birthday!

Would you believe these are

Nilla Vanilla Wafers?

I believe they also used coconut, mint patties, frosting and not sure what else.  They are cute.  These particular ones were made by Val, Cindy's friend who lives in Minneapolis.  She made them with her daughter.  I am not sure I could actually eat them, but they are definitely fun and would be great for parties!

More quilt info...

Now that I have 72 blocks ready, I placed them out on my bed just to see what I thought...

I had 6 blocks across and 8 blocks down which is only 48 blocks.  I bought extra fabric and I may need to add a few more blocks.  I am still trying to decide.  I do think it needs darker colors.  I do think I am really going to like it, though.

Jack agrees.

Jean's endorsement...

You know that commercial on TV about the Orgreenic non-stick fry pan?  This one...

The commercial makes it look like a miracle pan.  Surprisingly, during my last visit with my parents, I noticed that they bought one of these pans.  The real story is that my dad had started doing the cooking, he saw the commercial, and wanted the pan.  I have to say I liked using it. 

When I got back home, I decided I needed one of those pans.  I ordered it from Signatures Catalog.  When I got it, I almost immediately fried an egg in it (and yes, I very lightly sprayed the pan).  Nothing stuck - nothing!  The egg actually slid out of the pan!  You might consider purchasing this pan - I'm glad I did.

Quilt Time

A few years ago, I wanted to make a rag quilt and bought all the fabric, but never got around to doing it.  I finally made an "appointment" with my good friend, Diana V., and went out to her house this weekend to start it.  She showed me how to cut the fabric and then - with her help - started sewing the blocks (front, backing, and back).  

I started with 10" x 10" squares of six different prints of flannel.  My color scheme is mainly green (my FAVORITE color!) and white with a little bit of lavender.

We also cut the batting and back pieces - thank goodness for Diana's circular cutter.  It was a life saver!  JoAnn's had them on sale for 55% off, so I made sure I purchased one.

I finished sewing my squares together - 72 total.  Next I am going to lay them out on my bed and see how big the comforter will be.  I may need to add some more squares, we'll see.  I am so excited to finish this quilt!