Do you remember this quilt?

It was actually the first jelly roll quilt I made.  I love this fabric.  It is "Flirt" by Moda fabrics and I think it turned out so well and the colors really grab me.  I bought the fabric before I even knew who it would be for.  It got placed on the back burner so I could finish other quilts and projects.  I made it for my sister, Gail, who lives in Florida.  I will be meeting them in North Carolina in a week, so I definitely wanted to get this off my plate and in her hands.

The only thing I needed to finish was to sew on the binding.  You know me, right?  I HATE doing that  by hand, so I decided to do a very small zig zag on the seam line.

I am actually happy with how the stitching looks.  I think it's non-obtrusive.   And it was much faster than doing it by hand.  Light years faster.

Completely. Finished. Product.

The Fractured Prune

You should really check this place out - a donut shop on Ray Road, near 48th Street in Chandler.  The name?  The Fractured Prune.  The donuts are a cake donut, and you pick the icing and topping.  Or they have some of their own invention.
Nicole and her two girls, Myah and Kylee, called to see if I was interested in going - of course!   Who turns down fresh, warm donuts!  My daughter, Kimberly, took the girls (Myah and Kylee) when she was home visiting.  So they knew what to expect.

This is Nicole's box - you can probably tell which ones are the girls - well, some are gone, but the marshmallows are a dead giveaway, right?

Here's Kylee eating her bacon and mini M&M doughnut.

 

Myah is eating one with bacon and... something else... I can't remember.  But both of the girls enjoyed the bacon on their donuts.

Nicole, Myah, and Kylee.  Please note Kylee's talent - balancing an M&M on her upper lip.

I didn't take photos of mine, but I ordered a salted caramel and a key lime icing with coconut.

Fun times!

Wow! That was some storm on Thursday night!

Since I got a smart phone, I will occasionally get weather warnings.  Most of them I ignore, just like the one I received on Thursday evening.  I was out running errands and took these shots:

Just walking a few feet to my car - and I had grit in my teeth!  It has been a while since I've been out in a storm like that!

I endorse this product!

I sometimes go to Dutch Bros. for coffee - it is the best, right up there with Caribou Coffee.  I especially love the way they  make an iced, dirty chai.  A couple of years ago, I bought one of their insulated cups.  Let me tell you, it works so well!

I filled it before going to bed and when I woke up in the morning, it still was half filled with ice.  (It doesn't look half full, but this picture is not a good representation.)  When I ran errands on Saturday, I left it in my car from 7:30 a.m. to about 1:00.  There was still ice in the cup when I got home!

This is what they look like.   They are a little spendy - I think $17 but well worth it!  I know several of my friends bought them and all have been happy.

More Flannel Baby Blankets

One of my friends is having twins - yep, twins!  She already has two at home, so she is going to be really busy.  I wanted to make her flannel receiving blankets and I finally finished them this weekend.  I hope she shows up at work on Monday - everyday is a guess as to whether she will be there.

I love the little green lizards and chevron background.  So boyish!

And then I fell in love with this little girl line - pink clothes hanging out on the line.  I found out it was on clearance for $2.00 a yard, so I bought an extra yard, just because.  I can't wait to give them to her.  

Peanut butter cookies!

I have been having a "hankering" for some peanut butter cookies for about 3 months.  It was a friend's birthday at work, which made it a perfect opportunity to bake them.  So I made a batch.  Many, they hit the spot.

I mixed the batter the night before, then got up a little early and baked the cookies.  I always forget how many cookies a batch of peanut butter dough will make.  

They turned out so good!  But there is one thing... I like my PB cookies really dark, I mean really dark.  Not burnt, but dark.  I love the crunch.  So I have to bake one cookie sheet really dark - just for me.  I don't know anyone else who likes them that way - again, just me.  I was going to take a picture of the dark ones, but ended up eating them all first.  Sorry!  :(

A "Comical" Pillow Case

I found this fabric while out shopping one day and just couldn't resist buying it.  And I knew just the person to make it for - Lois!  My friend, Lois, who I met through Paper Vineyard, now Grapevine Designs, LOVES Betty Boop.

It went together so easily - I made it before picking up Lois this morning for a movie and lunch.  

Yep - she loved it.

Loretta's Bags

One of my dearest and oldest friends, Loretta, has been making some bags - all sorts.  Here's a photo of a tote bag and cosmetic bag...

 I just think it is absolutely beautiful!

Love it!

Remember Beer Bread?

I can't even remember how long it has been since I made beer bread.  It was really a popular item to bake because it was so easy, just a few ingredients.  Well, I had a "hankering" for beer bread so a couple of weeks ago, I bought a can of beer - yes, just one can.  I didn't get around to it, and my daughters were questioning me about the one can of beer in the fridge.  You can guess, I do not drink beer.

Since I had to buy a 24 oz. can of beer, I made a double batch of beer bread.  

I gave some away, but still have more than I need.  

It went great with the homemade vegetable beef soup I made.  

It is really good toasted, melted butter, and jelly.  Mmmm.  Mmmm.  

Kimmy's Home

for just a few days before and after a trip to Costa Rica.  When she arrived, she was picked up by Ashley and her family.  Brothers Brody and Keaton greeted her Kimmy with signs at the airport.  Kimmy has never met Keaton, the baby.  If you can't read the sign, it says "I have waited my whole life to meet you, Auntie Kimmy!"  Brody also has a sign for her, and it was in his own handwriting, so a little tough to read but still very meaningful.

 After they picked her up, they came over to our house for a little bit.  

 Brody loves "puppies" and it was so much fun watching him giggle 

while trying to pet Jack and Sophie.

 Sophie just wanted to lick his hands - I am sure they smelled like pizza.

I just love this picture.  He actually cupped Jackie's face in his hands.

So, so precious!

Erin's Card Class

While I was visiting Kimmy in Virginia, I also visited my cousin, Lantz and his wife, Erin.  Shortly before my visit, we determined that both Erin and I LOVE  to make cards.  I was fortunate enough to be there and attend one of her classes.  These are the cards Erin designed...

 We used a lot of die cuts - this flower is so gorgeous!

 We used adhesive cork on this card.  So cute!

Erin makes beautiful cards!  I was so happy to be a part of one of her classes.

My friend's retirement

My friend, Pat, recently retired from my office and in preparation of that, I wanted to make her a book that would represent part of the reason she is retiring.  Her plan is to spend more time with her grandchildren - her little people, as she calls them.  So I made a Starbucks altered mini book of a trip she took last year to take care of her twin grandsons.  Here's the start/bare bones of the book

 I covered the front and back of each Starbucks sleeve

and stitched the bottom and sides.

 I punched holes using my Cinch.

 Here's the book before any embellishments or photos:

 I put photos in each pocket.

 And did some light embellishing.

So my gift to her was a "reminder" of why she wants to retire and be near family.

I wanted to make her a card ...

 ... and a matching envelope.

 We also had a firm-wide potluck so that everyone could say their goodbyes.  

Last but not least, I made a candy bar card regarding her "parting."

 Her last day was fun and [I hope] memorable for her.

Happy Father's Day!

My dad is in Florida, but I talk with him a couple of times a week.  I thought I would make a card for him that was a little out of the ordinary:

 This year I created a booklet of some of the things he always said to us as we were growing up.  

 On some of the pages, I drew stick figures and attached my dad's photo.

I really thought he would get a kick out of the card.

 These were a few of the most memorable things my father said.

 I thought he might be interested to know what stuck with me.

 This was my favorite - "I swam with alligators."  

I believe he probably did since he grew up in Florida and swam in the ponds.

Of course, there were more than these, 

but these were some of the most memorable.

Happy Father's Day, Dad!