The 32lb fish..You know the one that got away..

I have a favorite antique-type haunt. It is a big, huge place with tons of vendors and lots of fun stuff. I rarely run into something that is outrageously priced. A few months back we were browsing about the place and I found the greatest quilt. It was different then any I have ever seen before.

It was like it was pieced together with bits of other quilts but in no particular order. If a crazy quilt left its fancy stitching at home and married a quilt of the the month. Well, that is close to what this quilt was like. It had blocks and then just pieces, top-stitched down in places. No batting, maybe flannel in between. The back was bigger pieces pieced. It was the truest 'use what you have' quilt and don't let anything go to waste.

I really wanted it but it just wasn't the time to spend $25. Yes I know $25. I was really filled with regret, after, because the fabrics and textures were so amazing and so filled with history. I went back 3 days later, I had to have it. Oh you already guessed? Yeah, it was gone. Swoosh. Just like that. I was so so sad.

A few days ago, 'the quilt' was swimming around in my brain. I have a few odds and end blocks. Most are vintage. Some are from my mother in law....

Some I made, but never did finish that quilt of the month...


Some more from my mother-in-law. The hexagons are all hand pieced...

Not to mention a ton of single hexagons...

And a few that I have purchased...




I also have feed sacks and vintage fabric hanging out...

So I decided ,that in the spirit of the beautiful piece of patchwork that is now only a memory, why not put together my own . Use what I have, rescue a few blocks here and there and put a few together. Then I could actually keep that 32lb fish...you know the one that got away.

What a Guy

My sweet 12 year old has been gone for 12 days fishing with our neighbors (surrogate grandparents). He brought everyone home a gift and the above was for me. How sweet and how truly well he knows his mother!!! Now I just have to figure out what to use the little pot for? Any Ideas?

Charmed

I'm sure!! I LOVE :: love charm packs because well frankly, they charm my pants off. They are cute and square and bound by a simple wrap. I know, I am easy, but really what is not to love. There is little cutting involved. True, true I did cute these. But in defense of Charms it was really quick.

This little quilt is lap or a cuddle size. Big enough to take off the chill! The back is mostly the flowers- a print I adore- with a section of pieced fabrics, because I never do a solid back, never have, I like the element of surprise in it.

The borders are a cozy chenille that really brings the whole thing together. I think anyway. I also think these pictures are a little blurry. {shrug} My camera's flash went kaputz so I do what I can.

What I did do with this little lovely that I don't usually do, or have only done once before, was tie it. The quilting part of quilting has a tendency to bug me. I admire those who love it and therefore, feel it is my duty to support their craft. But with the man of the house layed off and me not working this summer, I had to take matters into my own, capable hands. So I tied and I tied- oh my God did I tie.

Sorry I digressed into 90's music. I do that. Now I have it playing in the background and that is not helping my train of thought at all.

To make a long story short. I like how it turned out and I think now, that the sassy little pink ties only add to the charm of this little number.

Last Weekends Festivities Posted a Week Later

We had a blast last weekend at the lake. The food was fantastic. The show of fireworks was unbelievable- apparently if you live or weekend on my mother's lake (well it's not hers technically, but she lives there) it is imperative that you try to out do your neighbors with your fireworks display. This is great for those of visiting although you may experience whiplash from trying to look all over the place and right in front of you at the same time. The fireworks incidentally, lasted about an hour and a half between our own and everyone else's!!

There were also games to play, such as Egyptian Rat slap a game that should not be played while anyone is trying to sleep within a 5 mile radius! The laughter is too fantastic.



And of course more creatures brought to me for inspection. How cute are these little guys. We also found a plethora of tadpoles and poly wogs.

In light of yesterdays post, I thought I would also share today's discovery of all things gross smuggled into my house by my own little naturalist. I was cleaning the downstairs and noticed an inordinate number of fruit flies, this is odd because not food is allowed in the lower level. (she laughs to herself) I investigate the boys bathroom further- yes my first mistake- boys, I have found are HORRIBLE about their bathroom!! Low and behold the sink held a huge- dead- stinky- (colossally stinky) fresh water clam! smuggled home from our weekend at the lake! Said child was explicitly told to return the large clam back to it's habitat to live its life and make pearls or beads or whatever- but do not bring that home! It came home anyway. A zoo I tell you. A zoo.

Wild

(Lilli had nothing to do with the capture of the following creatures and no creatures were harmed in the pursuit of emulating the discovery channel.)
Things brought into my house over the course of two days::

Day 1

Enter baby bunny gently caught, admired, petted, and released. Hands washed.

Day 2

Things went progressivly

down

hill::

-Enter bird again gently caught - I don't know how, but it is true- and released. More hand washing.
-Then came the grey colored tree frog leaping out of hands and across the floor.
-And last....this is were I had to draw the line...seriously, what do these boys think this is, a zoo? Okay don't answer that. They presented me with a snake. Great. Deep breath. A couple of WOW's and with as much control as I could muster, a Please take that back out to its rightful habitat because that is were it belongs, As do all the other creatures outside so let's leave them there!!! And again wash your hands.

Its Been a Long Time...

...since I sat at my machine. I borrowed a little time over the weekend to revisit the old girl and came up with this. I LOVE LOVE it. I had purchased the fabric as a charm pack- it is FLutterby- By Tula Pink- I wasn't sure what to do with them- so they sat patiently for 6 months or so.

Then one day I was visiting my sister, who had patterns for charm packs and after confiscating it and making a run for it, she chased me down but alas I am younger and faster- though she may have better insurance- came up with this. It still needs its borders-coming soon.

It felt great to hear the roar of my machine again and I think I am going to brave the unknown territories of machine quilting all by my self.

Other than that life seems to just keep moving. I am taking an art class right now and so far really like it. I have concluded that if what came out on paper even closely resembled what is in my head, well, I would be really good. That not being the case I am learning and enjoying that process. My husband is still layed off, but the optimism has not totally dissipated from our lives. Have a lovely Monday!!!

What's all the Goo about?

This is my laundry soap which, at first glance may appear to be just another science experiment but in reality is a money saving, Eco, bit of wonderful. My first experience with the this particular type of slop was when the twins were mere babes. Why I went back to commercial is beyond me. Do you want the know how-to know how to make your own? Well, I will share but there is a gazillion recipes and variations on the great World Wide Web.

Here is the one I use:

But before we get into that lets have a frank discussion about soap...K.... The first time I made my own soap I used good old Ivory bar soap. It was fine and I liked it. This time I used Fels Naptha (can be purchased here) it is harder to find but I LOVE it. It works well and smells great plus the 1/4 part of the bar you don't use it a great pre-treater.

I also read that you you could save up your shower bar soap bits and use those..Good idea too!

All you need to be on your way to your own batch is:

1 Cup Borax, 1 Cup Washing Soda and a bar of soap of your choice!

The recipe or the method:

Take 4 cups of water and bring it to an almost boil or a nice simmer, meanwhile (back at the Hall of Justice) grate 3/4 bar of soap into your pot-o-water and melt it. I use a whisk to help this happen faster.

In a rather large container or bucket pour 1 cup each of Borax and Washing Soda (not to be confused with baking soda)

Once you have melted your soap :::add it to your borax/Washing soda mixture, stir until dissolved. Then you may add two gallons of water. I use warm right smack out of the tap. Stir stir stir and stir again. Walk away. Ignore for a while then stir again.

You want to give it a quick twirl often as it cools and it will congeal better. Be forewarned though it is nowhere near as pretty as the packaged soap but the container can be used again and again and again and you will not be adding anymore ginormous plastic bottles to the landfill. There you have it!

Let me know if you try it or have tried a different recipe.