Things I Like Jun 29

Greetings!

I've been doing chores already this morning so I'm  a little later than usual for posting. Sorry.
Here's my "likes" list for this week:

1. My new Dream Catcher I made for the living room. As is usual for me, I was sitting in my rocking chair and decided that part of the room"needed" something. I knew it needed something "fun". So, I purchased a hoop for a couple dollars and some inexpensive yarn ($5 total). Then, I took colorful ribbon and wrapped it around the hoop (oh, I only used one part of a wood 12 inch embroidery hoop, so I could make another one I suppose but I would recommend a one piece metal hoop instead).  Anyway, I then took the yarn and sorta made a design in the middle. I gathered a few jelly roll strips, some of the yarn, a few scrap pieces of ribbon and finally some selvage strips I saved. Wrapping them individually around the hoop with a loop knot, the project only took an hour!

I LOVE IT!

It's so fun to just drop everything and express myself. Someday soon I'll make a macrame hanging for the other side of the room to get more retro. (hee hee)

2. Cold Brew Coffee.  I like cold coffee in the summer and I also use half decaffinated so I have to make my own.  But, I don't like the watered down by ice version.  Sooooo I went online and found many recipes for cold brewed coffee.

It was so easy I wish I had tried it earlier.  You can purchase fancy machines or a french press ( which I have and never use) but it all "boils" down to this: Using a 1:8 ratio of coarse ground coffee to cold water, place the grounds in a large jar, add water, brew in the fridge (or on the counter) for 8 hours. Pass the mixture over a cheesecloth on a large bowl to remove the grounds-twice. Pour back in jar and refrigerate for a week. I used that ratio the first time but today changed it to 1 to 4 to get a more concentrated result where I can add creams, etc. You can use this brew to make a cup of hot coffee-just add hot water to your cup. The best part of this type of brewing is the much lower acidity and a better flavor in general. Plus, I don't have to brew coffee every morning! I am so lazy first thing.
If you want further ideas for cold brew, visit jamieoliver.com.
I label the jar so my brother doesn't confuse it for tea.

3.The day after the Summer Solstice (longest day of the year) here in the Northern Hemisphere. This year it was June 21st.  This means we are getting closer to Christmas and cooler weather. Just sayin.

I hope everyone is healthy and happy.  Please check out my favorite blog with Lee Anna at Not Afraid of Color for a lot more "likes".
mary

Things I like Jun 22

Greetings!

Well  I'm feeling a little better this week about the news from the government, but not much.  Of course, stabbings, shootings, vans being used as weapons seems to be increasing world wide so that's not good news.  But, I was able to focus more on the things I like this week than last week. Having other bloggers encouraging positive thoughts is priceless.
So, without further ado, here is my like list for this week.

1. Having breakfast for the first time at Panera Bread.  Oh .my. goodness.  I had an individual ham and cheese quiche , passion tea and saved a mandarin orange muffin for the next day.  I highly recommend all of them.  Of course they were not gluten free so it was my treat day. There was no time for photos, people.

2. My new project on the design wall this week -Christmas Garden quilt. I combined three charm packs plus some  extra scrap charms to make these blocks.  I did not use all the charms so the others will probably be put together in another quilt or runners. I love how the jewel tone prints I did choose are offset by lighter charm edges:

THERE'S A DEER IN THERE. The blocks were made from Pine Fresh by Sandy Gervais for Moda, Basically Holiday by Benartex and Turning Leaves by Holly Taylor for Moda.  I've had these charm packs for years and just need to get them put together! On some of the blocks I used prints for the triangles and others I used solids. Not sure what kind of borders I'll add yet. It will hopefully be a throw size.

3.The Tokyo Train Ride top I put together this week also. The charm pack from the same name is from Cotton and Steel by Sarah Watts. I used an olive green Bella Solid jelly roll for the sashing. It's a baby size to throw size right now:

I wish the prints were more visible. They are of Japanese hillsides, cartoon characters etc.

4. My most fun project started this week: A Tea Cake quilt with tutorial from MSQC,  Layer Cakes  used were from Quilting Treasures=Notting Hill by Kensington,  plus using the Cake Mix Recipe book #2 Block 5 from Moda :

I saw Jenny's tute and just had to try this.  Designed by Miss Rosie's Quilt Co, the book  contains these papers you pin to a layer cake and sew on the dotted lines (in a specific easy order) and then cut on the solid lines.

I don't do paper piecing per se , but this was simple and accurate.  One sheet made enough pieces for 2 blocks at one time. I think there's 45 sheets in the book.

Here is one block:

How sweet!  I enjoyed this and like the idea I can sit even for a few minutes and make a block easily but appears intricate. Yes.  And, the above block is just one pattern made from these cut pieces.  I think there are 5 different patterns on this recipe card.

Thanks for stopping by and hope you enjoyed the post. Please go on over to Lee Anna at Not Afraid of Color to see more "likes".

Have a wonderful day.
mary

Things I like Jun 15

Greetings!


I hope and pray everyone is healthy and happy. I appreciate visitors to this site!  In these uncertain times (am I the only one who feels this way?) it's a good thing to focus on things I like .  Here is my list for today:

1. Crock pot beef stroganoff.  I like to use the crock pot as much as I can.  Since I started quilting 5 years ago, I don't enjoy cooking as much as I used to and definitely don't bake as much.  Standing at the stove or oven is no fun in the summer so I like to try new ways to use the crock pot.

The recipe is at Eazy Peazy Mealz.  It. is. so. good. Took about 4 hours on high.  The secret ingredient is cream cheese!! I know!

2. COOL WEATHER!!!  This is not that:

I just pulled this up on my phone. We are setting heat records again. I've lived here over 60 years and cannot handle the heat. I love going to colder climates in the summer, but with family obligations and just life in general I don't get a chance to.  So, I will be sewing a lot the next week if the air conditioner holds out. If not, on to a hotel. My grandson is on vacation to the beach so I won't be seeing him for at least a week.  Thank God for sewing!

3. A new Christmas quilt project.  Maybe this will feel cooler. (hee hee).  I have a ridiculous   large stash of charms and thought I would combine 3 packages for a quilt, There are 2 different lines from Moda and one from Benartex. I haven't decided for sure which blocks to use yet for a pattern.

4. My "Just One Tree" quilt. I saw a similar quilt pattern on MSQC but changed the pattern to one I liked. All of the fabric was stash or leftovers except the green.  I found the green higher- end cotton at Joanns on sale and then used a 50% off total purchase coupon. Score.  It's a baby quilt I will donate. The cream corners seemed so plain, so I sewed a green tree in one corner. Can't believe I did that AFTER it was quilted  This little quilt  just needs binding which will probably happen this weekend.

Well, need to get outside and water the plants before it gets too hot (at 7 AM). Please join us at Lee Anna's "Likes" post at NOT AFRAID OF COLOR .

Keep cool and carry on!
mary

THINGS I LIKE JUN 8

Greetings!

Hope everyone is keeping cool.We will be 109 today so our fun days are here.(hee hee) I usually hibernate and sew in the summer because I can't handle the heat but it seems I have lots of errands this week, so I'll be careful.  Thanks to Lee Anna at Not Afraid of Color for encouraging our "likes" posts. Here are my Likes  for this week:

1. Strangers  coming to the aid of Londoners and Manchester residents this last week in the midst of their attacks. It is heart warming to see the good in people especially in traumatic times.  Also, I watched the Ariana Grande benefit concert and was touched by the artists and audience members' response to these attacks.

2. My new Fabric Back splash. So, here's the deal. I don't like the paint used over the sink back splash so I decided to make a table runner and hang it there!

Isn't it cute? It blends well  with my dark cupboards. And, if it gets dirty, just place it in the wash!

3.  How my mind wanders when I see quilt patterns in everyday designs.

While waiting in my car line for the ATM, I noticed the wall design on my bank. Pretty fancy.

And this is my napkin while eating lunch. Check out the fancy borders.  Someone went to a lot of trouble to make these pretty. And, I bought them at Walmart. Score.

4. Passion tea with orange juice.  I made some decaf passion tea but wanted it cold.  I added ice cubes and about a third match of orange juice. I was pleasantly surprised. Hope you try it.

Enjoy your day and don't forget to read the likes posts at Lee Anna's site.  Thanks for joining mine.
mary

CLIMATE CHANGE

thankfully, there are mayors, governors and businesses with a conscience on climate change

THINGS I LIKE JUNE 1

Greetings!

Hope everyone had a pleasant May. I can't believe it's June. This is normally our worst month of the year-110+ days and monsoon season starts. Ugh! I will be hibernating except for necessary trips to store or to grandson's house. There are priorities. Thanks to Lee Anna's weekly "like" hookups we get to focus on good things.  Here are mine this week:

1. My new glasses.  I know, it's a small thing but an important one.

Aren't they pretty? They're pink!

Here's the deal. My brother and I got our eye exams done at the same time at the eye doctor. Then, I took my brother to the insurance company's facility.  Those glasses cost $183 using the existing frames! it will take 3 weeks. Nothing special, just line- in bifocals.

Later that day, I went to Walmart Vision center and got a complete set of glasses for myself for  $153.  Mine took 4 days. Just sayin. And, they fit perfectly with the correct prescription. That was the first time I used Walmart. I'm very glad I did.

2. My new Rainy Day baby quilt. The top was made with a $5 grab bag of scraps from my local quilt shop! I added some scraps of white to various strips of these prints. to make 10 inch squares. Love the fabric line from Me and My Sister. It measures 40 x 40.  The backing was in the stash from Joann's MA Ditsy Bouquet and the binding was made with Robin's Egg Blue.

3. Cloud Bread. I saw this on Facebook and had to try it.  No flour or water. Just eggs, sugar, cream cheese and cream of tartar. Weird but very tasty and light. (Not too good 3 days later- too moist).

4.  Mini carnations in this heat!  Can't believe these are not only surviving but doing well. Makes me smile;

I hope you enjoy these thoughts and pics! Check out Lee Anna's post for more at Not Afraid of Color.
Thanks for dropping by!
mary