Latest Obsession

Okay, I admit it, I drank the Kool-Aid!

I am totally obsessed with Farm Girl Vintage by Lori Holt.

I just can't get enough.

I have been working out of this book for weeks now, I love her patterns and her creativity.

I meet with a group of Ladies called the Farm Girl Chick and we work on blocks for Lori's book.

Here is a sampling of just a few of the blocks I have made.

Aren't they just adorable?

The book has the patterns for both a 12" block and a 6" block.

The blocks above are 12", but I am working on several of the 6" blocks to use in between these rows.

Here are a few I have done so far.

I have taken the Strawberry block and made a table runner.

This is also from Lori's book, I have taken two of the blocks, the 12" Simple Star block and the 6" Postage Stamp block and combined them to create this quilt. It is still a work in progress but I will post it again when it is complete.

I will be heading to Logan Utah next week to attend a Farm Girl Vintage Retreat with Lori Holt herself! To say I am excited it a understatement. 

I will be sure to share all the fun things we did at that retreat, until then I have some more Farm Girl blocks to make.

Most be something in the paint!

I would like to share my latest addiction, transforming objects into treasures with the help of Annie Sloan paint.

Annie Sloan paint is my new best friend, it so easy to use even Amanda has started transforming old to new with this paint.

The first project I did was transforming an old TV cabinet  into a quilt hutch.

With the help of my wonderful husband, we added Wainscot panel in the back and sides of the opening.

Painted Emperor Silk Red with a dark wax coating, added new knobs  and Wa-La !
My next project was painting my hutch.

This was a custom made hutch for my collection of Bone China Mugs, I loved the original blue but like I said, there must be something in that  paint because I just had to paint it.

Here it is transformed with Duck Egg Blue and Old Ochre with dark wax.

Next I found this old nasty beat up Milk Jug

 Got out my favorite Emperor Silk Red

Pick up a few Stencils at Hobby Lobby and used Arles and dark wax.

My next project is really fun!
We decided to take a section of our yard and fence it off for our chickens. I wanted something different so I created a gate from an old frame I was going to use for a quilt display.

Again, I used Duck Egg Blue and a coat of clear wax followed by a coat of dark wax.

I showed in a early post of the wooden tool box that is now a succulent planter.

 I have a few smaller projects that I forgot to take a before and after picture but as you can see I have really had fun with Annie Sloan paint.
Amanda painted her desk in her room, I was a little nervous about the two colors she picked out but I have to say it looks great and fits with her room decor perfect.
Wally and I found an old Hoosier cabinet that was in pretty bad shape. The frame and the original hardware are still in great shape but some of the wood inside and the backing were water damaged. Wally has replaced most of the wood and is almost finished putting it back together. That will be my next Annie Sloan project, I just can't decide what color to paint it.
I have been given two great pieces of furniture from my friend Susan, I can't wait to start transforming those  pieces as well. 
Nothing is safe now, I want to transform everything. We will be painting our kitchen cabinets with Anne Sloan paint in the very near future. I just keep changing my mind of what color to use. 
So many ideas, so little time.  Like I said in the title of this post, there must be something in that paint, because I think I need a fix today. 

Succulent Lover

So it's no secret I love to garden. I love having fresh flowers, herbs and vegetables.

It's also no secret I love Pinetrest......

I think Pinetrest is the greatest thing out there, it gives so many wonderful recipes and ideas.  I swear it's crack for crafters!

My friend Kathy started posting Succulent gardens, at first I didn't see the excitement. They are just plants, no flowers or fruit right???  Well then she started showing me the cool containers people were posting on Pinetrest. Now this really peaked my creative juices. Old things re-purposed into Succulent planters, now that's cool!

Soon I was pinning Succulents on Pinetrest and my love and passion bloomed, I couldn't get enough. 

My friends started bringing me plants, and I started looking at things I could                    re-purpose into succulent pots.

This copper container was a old hanging wall clock that no longer worked, so it became home to these beauties.

This container Amanda picked out at Hobby Lobby.

 This is galvanized tub I poked some holes in the bottom and turned into a planter.

  This is Wally's old wooden tool box.

This is an old metal ladle Kathy found when we were up in PIne for our quilt retreat. It was an ugly brown and orange color and I painted it with Anne Sloan paint for it's beautiful transformation.

 This is a perfect area on my patio for all my planters. It gets just a little of the morning sun and they are happy here. 

The only problem now it I want more!!!!

Few more hours in my day.

I know it has been way too long since I posted on my blog. Truth be told I just didn't have time. 

 What's changed??? My husband work schedule. Because he works outside in this  incredible, insane,  hot weather they have decided to start their work day at 6 am verse 8 am.  You ask what does this have to do with me posting again. Well, my husband is like a bull in a china shop, he means well and tries to be quite but the harder he tries the more noise he makes. So I am up most morning at 4:30.

It's not bad, I do get a lot more done in the morning but the down side is I am falling asleep at 9 pm.  I hate to admit it but this makes me feel old, if we start having dinner at 4:30 I made need some intervention!

So because I have a little more time on my hands in the wee hours of the am I am going to work on keeping my blog current.

Here are just a few things I have been up too!

I have started a love affair with Annie Sloan paint, anything I can get my hands on gets new life with a coat of paint. 

My husband had this old tool box he made back in the 80's.

So here it was when he so generously gave it up to me.

And now a new planter for my succulents. Oh yeah, now hooked on succulents but that a whole other post for another day.

I have many other projects I have transformed that I will share on other post, but just know I an not above picking through someones garbage to find my next project.....

Next thing I have been working on is a quilt I am designing. Yes, didn't start out wanting to design a pattern, just fell in love with the block and kept making them. 

The block is from Lori Holt's book Farm Girl Vintage, which I am obsessed with! It is Simple Star block with a Postage Stamp block in the center. Yes those tiny squares are a 1 1/2! I had a charm pack of a fabric that we will be getting in the shop and I begged Kathy to order it. So the deal was she would order it if I made the shop sample. I did make one more color way with this block but I guess I didn't take a picture of that.

Here is the quilt in progress.

The fabric in the Postage Stamp block is call Farm Girl by Fig Tree which we should have in the store in early September. I did get 8 block centers out of one charm pack.

I will post more pictures as I progress on the quilt. 

Last but certainly not least, 

 Buckas, yes I finally caved and let Wally and Amanda get a dog. Long story how Buckas came into our lives, lets just keep it short and say we rescue him. 

We were told he is a 1 1/2 but we think he may be a bit younger. Full of energy and likes to get into mischief. 

He has such a cute face and the saddest eyes I can't stay mad at him too long. 

He does like to terrorize the chickens but so far the gate has kept him for them.

Lot more to share in future blogs.

New way of thinking!

I have always loved cooking and baking, I have shared many recipes on my blog in the past. After a recent trip to my Dr. I found I have several medical conditions that could become dangerous if I don't make some drastic changes. What I love about my Dr. is that she believes in taking the natural path verses drugs. She has put me on a very limited diet in hopes it will help my issues.

When she gave me the list of foods to avoid, I will be honest, I freaked.

No dairy, no sugar, no wheat, no fruit, no corn, no rice, no salt, no vinegar, no alcohol. I thought to myself, What the heck can I eat?

The first couple of weeks were very hard, not just on me but my poor family as well. I was irritable to say the least!

Some time has passed and my blood pressure is getting better, I have lost some weight and I am getting used to this diet.

Last night I made Quinoa and Kale Cakes and I have to be honest, they were good. My family really enjoyed them and after I posted a picture on Facebook several people have asked for the recipe. 

So first I started with the Kale, I got frozen Kale from Trader Joe's but you can also use fresh. I took half the bag and sauteed it with a little olive oil and garlic.

I added 1 teaspoon of ground ginger, 1 teaspoon of ground cumin, and one teaspoon of turmeric.

While that was sauteing I took 3 cups organic chicken broth and 1 1/2 cups Organic White Quinoa and brought it to a boil.

I place the Kale and Quinoa in a bowl and let cool.

Once cooled I added one egg and a little less than 1/4 cup of Gluten Free All Purpose Flour but you can use regular flour if Gluten isn't an issue.  

I formed them into patties used a small amount of coconut oil  and brown them.

Next I  finely chopped cucumbers, tomatoes, red onion and just a few small silvers of jalpenho. I removed the seeds and the stems so there was very little heat.  I drizzled a small amount of red wine vinegar because I was out of fresh citrus. I than drizzled olive oil and fresh chopped cilantro. 

Since I am not allowed salt I didn't add any but my family did right at the end.

It was very good and satisfying.

 Next I am going to try baking, I will post if the recipes are a success!

Gone to long!

I know I have been gone way to long! 

We  got a new computer and I am hoping that whatever issues I was having with my older computer is now resolved.

Life sure has been busy lately,  I can't believe July is almost gone.
It sure has been hot here, not much is growing in our garden right now, we are looking forward to planting our winter garden  in late September. 
My cousins daughter made us this great sign for our backyard garden.

We love it.

Our chickens seem to be surviving this crazy heat, we bought them a small galvanized bath and they just love standing in it and cooling off.  They love Wally, he is the chicken whisper, they follow him all over the yard and when he comes into the house they stand at the back door looking in for him.

I have been asked to blog more about my great foodie adventures, so I will be posting more about the great places I find in the valley and some great recipes. 

My quilting projects seemed to have multiplied over the summer so I will be posting those WIP (work in progress) as well.
TaTa  for now.

Having technical issues.

I know I promised to be better about posting but I have been having some technical issues with my blog. For some reason it won't let me post pictures.

Now I have e-mail their support team and have not received a reply.
I decided I would post all the finished projects as I go this year, but without a picture it just isn't that fun.
Hopefully I can figure out what the problem is and get back to posting.
Until then, happy quilting.



Out with the old.

New goals for 2014!

 

This coming year I am going to be better about writing on my blog.

I am going to sew more, and get some of my UFO's finished.

I would like to become more confident  in my free motion quilting and grow my long arm business.

There it is I have said it, it's out there in the universe and I can't take it back.

 

2013 was a very good year, I have so much to be thankful for.

My children bring me great joy! I have been blessed with two wonderful kids.

 

I am also blessed to have this great guy as my husband. He is always encouraging me, helping me with all my projects and always supporting everything I do.

I have lost two friends to Cancer this year and have rekindled a few old friendships, I went back to work part time and back to teaching a few classes.

I may have a few more pounds, a few more wrinkles and even a few more gray hairs but grateful for all I have.

I wish all of you a very blessed 2014





Blessed Life

My life has become very busy but everyday I thank the Lord for all I have, I am truly blessed.

 

With that being said, I have gone back to work a few days a week at the original quilt shop I worked at many years ago. I love it and love seeing all the wonderful creative customers. I will be teaching a few classes in the coming months. The first class is called Fun with Dresdens. I will teach three different Dresden techniques.

Here is a picture of the shop sample for this class.

 

The second class is a Scrappy Trip, these quilts are so fun to make, you would be surprised at all the variation you have for laying out these blocks. The technique I will be teaching is fast and fun. I will teach you a fun and easy trick to putting these blocks together fast and easy.

 

I have an update on our chickens (the girls) we now have three producing eggs.

Two brown and one white egg a day.

They really are beautiful eggs.

 

Yesterday was the perfect fall day to stay home and sew and bake.

A pumpkin recipe was in order so I made these yummy Pumpkin Cream Cheese Cookies.



In a separate bowl add,

2 1/2 cups flour

1 Tsp. baking powder

1 Tsp. baking soda

2 Tsp. Cinnamon

1/2 Tsp. Nutmeg

1/2 Tsp. Clove

1/2 Tsp. Salt

 

In a mixer add,

 1/2 cup soften butter

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 cup can Pumpkin

1 egg

1 Tsp. Vanilla

Blend until combined. Add one cup at a time of flour mixture until all is incorporated.

Scoop onto a lightly greased pan and cook in a 350 degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes.

Once the cookies are cooled you can frost them with this yummy cream cheese frosting.

 

Cream Cheese frosting.

1 stick soften butter

6 oz. soften Cream Cheese

2 cups powder sugar

1 Tsp. Vanilla.

 

I also added raisins to the last batch of cookies, my husband liked the raisins ones the best so next time I make these raisins will go into the whole batch. You could even add chocolate chips.

 

Enjoy.

 





 

 

 







Absent

 

Absent doesn't even describe my lack of post.

 

I have been busy but that is no excuse for not taking a few moments to write a post.
 

I first want to say how excited I am to announce I have gone back to work a few days a week. Back where my first obsession for everything quilting first started. Yes, I am back to work at A Quilters Oasis, the first quilt shop I worked in many years ago. It has been great fun and I love seeing all the wonderful customers. One of the things I am trying to do is help Kathy get information out via social media. So please follow us on Instagram @aquiltersoasis  and like us  Facebook at A Quilter's Oasis.

 I am busy sewing up two class samples that I will be teaching in the next few months. I will post pictures and class dates in the next week.

 

In other great news, we have gotten our first egg!!!!

 

Isn't it a beauty! 

We think Luna might be the one giving our first eggs.

 

 

I posted a picture of some cookies I made the other day on Facebook and several people asked me for the recipe. I think the original recipe came from one of my brothers girlfriends in high school. They were a favorite bar cookie that my Mom made. So easy to make and a crowd favorite.

Scotch a Roo's

Take on cup light corn syrup and one cup sugar and cook over medium heat until it comes to a light boil and all sugar is dissolved.

Remove from heat and add one cup of peanut butter.

Once combined add 6 cups of Rice Krispys.

(or any Chex cereal)

Next take 6 oz. of Chocolate chips and 6 oz. of Butterscotch chips and melt in a double broiler. Once melted spread on top bars.

*warning* These cookies are highly addicting.

 

I will try and be better about posting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 



 



Who needs cupcakes, just give me a bowl of this frosting!

Well it is no secret that I love to make cupcakes, I have played around with lots of different frostings and yesterday I found a new favorite.

 

 

I have the best chocolate cake recipe that I also use for my cupcakes.

and if asked I will share it but for now it's all about the frosting.

 

I am not sure where I found this frosting recipe, I like to give credit whenever I find something that turns out so good.  I follow so many great blogs, I am not sure which one I found this on because I copied it on a pink birthday envelope. I don't even have the proper name so I am just re-naming it the best fluffy frosting.

 

2 jars of Marshmallow Fluff

3 Sticks of Butter

1 cup powder sugar

1/2 teaspoon Vanilla

 

Whip Marshmallow Fluff  until it is nice and creamy, add soften butter 1 tablespoon at a time, mix until nice and fluffy.

Add one cup powder sugar and Vanilla.

That's it, so simple! The hardest part is getting the Fluff out of the jars, I immersed them in hot water for a few minutes and that seemed to help.

You can add food coloring and even another flavor extract.
I feel it is my duty to warn you, this frosting is so yummy you could skip the cupcake and eat it right out of the mixing bowl! 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Looking forward to fall!

Fall is my most favorite time of year, I love the cooler weather, the changing of the season and most of all the colors.

Right now we are getting ready to plant our fall garden. I have really missed being able to walk out into my yard and pick fresh vegetables. Here in Arizona it is hard to grow much when it is 115 degrees outside. The only thing that survived the extreme heat was our eggplant, peppers, okra and cantaloupe.

 

 We are planting a section just for our chickens

I think they are going to be very happy!

We joined this great seed of the month club, every month we get 3 to 4 seed packets in the mail.  They are from Mike the Gardener and what I like most about them is the are GMO free!

 

The girls are getting so big and we are hoping they are going to be laying eggs very soon.

This is Luna, she seems to be the boss lady, she loves Wally and follows him around.  All you have to do is shake the treat bag and she comes running.

This is Mable,  we refer to her as the annoying little sister.  She is always making the other girls mad!

 

Pepper is the black and white chick, she seems to be the cautious one, but when she is out in the yard she is the protector, she chases all the birds out of her backyard.

 

Matilda is the Red chick, she is the quite one, just kinda goes with the flow.

Our girls are a great source of entertainment. We love to sit on the patio in the morning drinking our coffee and watching our chicks run around the yard.

 

I see  lots of frittatas in our future, fresh eggs and fresh veggies.

 

 

 

 



Please help!

Reaching out to the Quilting Community.

 

My friends son has gone missing in Oregon.

He was traveling alone and was heading back to Arizona after visiting a friend in Settle WA. His car was found in the small town of Riddle Oregon.
Below is the Facebook link with his picture and more information.
Please share this link so we can get this information out, the more people who see this the better chances someone will have seen or know something.
Please keep Monica and her son Johnathan in your prayers.
Monica is a quilter and has a long arm quilting business , we need to come together and help anyway we can.  Thank You!
 

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=644455742241430&set=a.293336600686681.71900.212865135400495&type=1&theater



Family Favorite

Many of you have asked me for this recipe, so I thought it would be easier to share it on my blog.

 

Easy Chicken Enchilada's

 

 

Ingredients you will need.

2 cups cooked chicken breast

( I bake a whole and half of breast in oven with a little olive oil and seasoning and when it cools down I chop it up.)

 

10 soft shell tortillas

2 cups Monterey Jack Cheese

3 tbs butter

3 tbs of flour

2 cups chicken broth

1 cup sour cream

  4oz can of diced green chilies

Recipe didn't call for Cilantro but I love it and I think it cuts the richness of the sauce.

 

Pre heat oven to 350

Mix chicken, 1 cup cheese and some chopped cilantro in a bowl. I add the juice from the chicken into the mixture as well. It add more flavor and keeps the mixture moist.

Here is where I eyeball the amount of mixture I add to a tortilla. I usually use my hands and use a fist full. Lay it on one edge of the tortilla and roll it, place it in a baking pan. I use a 9 by 13 and also an 8 by 8. You don't want to smash them all into one pan.

Next melt 3 tbs of butter in a pan, add flour and cook for one minutes whisking as it cooks. Add broth and continue whisking until mixture thickens and is bubbly. Remove from heat and add the sour cream and green chilies.

Pour mixture of enchiladas, sprinkle with remaining cheese and bake for 22 minutes or until cheese is slightly brown on top.

Serve with a sprinkle of chopped cilantro.

Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

MIA

Yes, I have been MIA from my blog!

Every time I have thought about posting a blog I think to myself I don't really have anything that interesting to say. Okay, so some of you are thinking when has that ever stopped me before!

 

Lets see, I finished the dreaded tie quilt. I really didn't enjoy this project so I didn't take any final pictures. I did post one on Instagram.

 

I have been obsessed with Instagram lately, you can check out all my pictures there. Follow me at Sewbella50

 

We sent Amanda off to Jr High, can you believe it, Jr High already..... where did all that time go?

 

 

 I am also going back to work a few days a week, I will be back at A Quilters Oasis. That's right back where my obsession for quilting and fabric first started.

I will also be teaching some classes there in a few months, I will be sure to post those classes.

 

Where did our summer go?

 

 

 



No Excuse!

I have no excuse for not blogging in way over a month...except maybe....

 

Okay, I will share with you some of the things that have kept me busy during this past month and maybe you will forgive me for being absent.

Our little backyard farm which we have now named Dill-Licous Farm has kept us very busy, no complaints we are loving it.

 

 

    

There is nothing better than picking fresh vegetables from your own yard.

 

 

 

I made these carrot cake cupcakes from the carrots we grew in our garden.

 

We have also added a few new members to our family (Amanda's not to pleased) but we are loving these girls.

 

 

 

I helped Wally construct the addition to the coop as well.

 

They are so fun to watch and they really have started to develop their own personalities. Yes, they really do have personalities.....

 

My quilt room has been a little neglected this summer. I did make Amanda a duffle bag to use when she goes to Boulder to visit Aunt Barb, I will post a picture of it in the next few days. I am also working on a quilt made with silk ties and a baby quilt for our neighbor Bo and Jessica, who are expecting their first child in a few months.

 

I finally got Wally to help me recover my kitchen chairs. He had 4 days off of work so I chipped away at some of my honey do list.



Before



After



I have also enjoyed some girl time, some shopping, having lunch and lots of laughs.

 

So I guess I have been rather busy this past month, I guess it is true what they say, Time does fly when you are having fun!