Let There Be Light

I was prepping my tea towel and thought I would share my "technique" for transferring a pattern. I was given really thin tissue paper type "stuff" and a pink leaded pencil from my mom in a bag of embroidery patterns. I thought it was not connected and I think I may have thrown it out. Joni later told me that was transfer paper and pencil to transfer the designs. Too late. I had planned to order more and Joni gave me the website, but I keep forgetting. Soooo, what to do when you have a pattern that is not an iron on? The web is full of free patterns (just google free embroidery patterns) and I just love the vintage ones. Who can resist vegetables dancing with each other?? A light box would work wonderfully, but I do not own one and can not bring myself to put out the money...so I made my own. Everyone has a window and daylight, and these make a good "lightbox" unless you are Gudrun! She has no daylight. Well you can still make a light box. I use my florescent desk lamp. You can purchase a florescent light from Wal Mart for 5 or 6 bucks. Then you just need a clear rubbermaid plastic type container of some sort. It has to big enough to fit over the light. I use one of the drawers from the school bins. Just put the light under the bin, bulb up, and place your pattern on the bin. Then put your tea towel (or other fabric to be marked) over the pattern being careful of placement... Here is a picture of the tea towel over the pattern without the lightbox.

Now here it is with the lightbox.

Now you would flip the pattern upside down so the lettering was right, but I really wanted the green pepper to the right of the tomato, so I flipped it after tracing the veggies. Viola!!! Done in a matter of minutes. I use the blue marker that washes out with water.

I also ran to the fabric store today and picked my fabrics for the 4 Season Swap piece. This wallhanging is to represent winter, without giving a holiday/Christmas feel. I chose colors COMPLETELY out of my box. Fall was so easy for me. This was difficult. I hope my swap partner likes it. It feels cold/wintery to me. Here is a closer look at the navy. It actually has bits of the same color blue in it. I have the pattern picked out and I will tell you it contains 9 patches, fence rails, and 1/2 square triangles along with some embroidery. I plan to get the top done this weekend and maybe even the stitchery (there is not much). I will then hand quilt it and send it to it's new home.

Well I am off to put the fabric in the washer and the towel in the hoop.

Oh, and pop over to Copperswife to tell her happy birthday. She has no internet as she was hit by that terrible California storm. Her daughter hacked her blog and when she gets back up, she will have some birthday wishes!!!

Me, Liberal???

This week, Sweet Hubby and I had a discussion. That did not sound bad did it? It is the same discussion we have every week. Money. Primarily, grocery money. Sweet Hubby is a tightwad frugal. I, on the other hand was raised to believe if there is a check in the checkbook, there is money to be spent. Now I have over the years matured in this area. I am not nearly the spendthrift I use to be. Groceries, however, have been an area of contention between us. We have tried everything. He gives me cash..I get 1/2 the groceries needed. He gives me my own account and more money...I get 3/4 the groceries needed. I try doing the Grocery store shop hop...finding all the sale items. I do well dollar wise, but it is way too stressful. I immensely dislike to grocery shop, so doing it 3 or 4 times is not appealing. Super Wal Mart is the way to go, I hear. I go and spend MORE because I wander in to the DVD's, crafts, or clothing departments. I generally shop at our Hilander store..a Kroger store. I really like the people and I LOVE it when they scan my card and it says I saved $42.36 on my weekly bill. Still my bill is well over the budget every week. Hence the weekly "discussions". While reading Coppers Wife this morning, she gave a link to a USDA site that shows a schedule which gives you an idea of where you fit in the grocery shopping category. There is Thrifty, Low Cost, and Liberal. I was pretty excited as I could show Sweet Hubby that I am doing well. I was sure I would be in the Low Cost. Cheryl and Niki were both in the Thrifty category and they eat very well!!! Better than we do here. I was SHOCKED that I was $100 a week OVER liberal. I have some work to do!! How about some help here! I need a personal shopper. I bet if I hired Cheryl or Niki to do my shopping for me AND paid them to do it, I could still save quite a bit of money! I expect my comment box and e-mail to be filled with tips to help me bring down my grocery cost. I do not have a freezer (other than the one in my side by side) as I gave it to my kids. I have no room to store lots of bulk items, though if it was a priority I could find it. I think I could save enough on my grocery bill to buy another freezer also...no excuses.Here is a recipe the kids and I are going to try. They don't sound as good as a Tollhouse, but it would be fun for them to make.

Scripture Cookies

In a bowl, combine:

1 cup ___________ (2 Kings 4:41)

1/2 cup dry powdered ______ (Leviticus 20:24)

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

2 Tablespoons cocoa powder

In another bowl, combine

1/4 cup_____ (Exodus 29:7)

1 Tablespoon_____ (Psalm 119:103)

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1_______ (Luke 11:12)

1 Tablespoon_______ (Isaiah 12:3)

Add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients. Mix thoroughly; the batter will be very stiff.

Drop teaspoons of batter onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes. Be careful not to over bake, or they will come out hard. (yields approx. 24 cookies)

Sounds like fun!! I will let you know how that turns out. I know what you are thinking, Niki!

I have mentioned this book at least once, if not more and it is now released. There is a contest where the authors are giving away 10 autographed copies.

Here is the Link to the Book and the Information on the Book.http://www.visionforum.com/booksandmedia/productdetail.aspx?productid=84332&categoryid=168productdetail.aspx?productid=84332&categoryid=168

I did make some headway on my embroidery project last night. I could have gotten more done had I not sewn it to my night gown! My list of sewing projects is stressing me out. For this month alone, actually before Thanksgiving, I need 24 napkins and a matching table runner made, and 2 aprons. That does not include Christmas projects. I better get busy! Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!

Happy Weekend

If you have nothing of your own to show, then show something that belongs to someone else!!! These are Rachel's. They are part of a set of tea towels she is making for her Grandmother for Christmas. I know her Grandma, and she will like them very much. Rachel's Grandma just fought and won a battle with breast cancer. She is a wonderful woman whom I greatly admire. I am still working on my pink and brown (I have a feeling I will be saying that for a while). I did however find a new project to start. Joni sent me some patterns and I plan to begin those this weekend. I need to have something portable.
I found a couple of new blogs that I think are just wonderful. They are pretty new so check them out. Both ladies are very talented. First is Marilyn. You will find her at Piece by Piece. She has a beautiful "monster in the livingroom" and is a hand and machine quilter. Lots of fun!! Also, I found Christine through Margaret. Isn't it fun how we all lead each other to others like us! Christine's blog is The Little World Of Christine. She has actually been around for a while so her archives are there for the browse! Christine sent me a wonderful mug rug, just for commenting. I was actually 6th and the first 5 got one, but she was so sweet!! I got one too. I will use it next to my computer. Here is a view of the front and the back. The pup in the middle looks like Carly.

Thank you Christine!! Christine posted about new embroidery patterns recently so I am anxious to see what she is going to do.

I have been tagged to do a meme by both SuBee and Lily, but I already did it. You can go back and look at it, but it is quite boring. SuBee also awarded me the "You Make Me Smile Award". Thank you so much SuBee!!! You make me smile too! I would like to pass this on to the 2 new blogs I just picked up, Marilyn and Christine. Please play the Meme also, ladies. Just go to Lily or SuBee's blogs and get the info. It is late here and I do not have the energy to type it all out. Does that sound like whining? Well it was. Speaking of late...here is what my son gets like when he is over tired. (for some reason you have to let it buffer...the play line fills in gray..it takes a minute, sorry)

Tackle It Tuesday & Stuff

Today's tackle is something I can not really share completely. It has to do with my 100th post g!veaway. I am using this Tackle It Tuesday to complete the 2 prizes. I am giving myself today and tomorrow....this is post #97 so I better hurry or take a blogging break. Here is a "peek" at a portion of one of the prizes....
To see other tackles just visit 5 Minutes For Mom.

Speaking of tackles...there is another quilter who does Tackle It Tuesday, A commitment To Loveliness, AND she is putting a Home Management Binder together!!! Yes....I am not a lone freak! (Sorry Tamara). Her blog is Quilting n Stuff and her name is Tamara. I won a fat quarter on her blog last night!! I am very happy that her cutie pie, Samantha pulled my name. If you have never been over there, stop by and see her.

A GREAT BIG thank you from my Mom (and me) for all the birthday wishes! She was very touched. Her party was fun and my sister made a wonderful Lasagna dinner. She also made sugar free chocolate cream pies. My sister and Casey, her granddaughter, thought it would be fun to put 65 candles on one of the pies....it became an inferno and melted the top of the pie that Casey had decorated with sprinkles....I can see where cool whip and 65 burning candles would not mix! It still tasted good! Everyone had fun and my mother enjoyed her gift of a shoe box filled with embroidery floss, cards to wind them on, and handmade snowflakes and letters from her grandkids and great grandkids. My sister, aunt, and I gave her funds to purchase a "Blue Tooth". Too funny...she is a modern granny!!

I supplied a couple of loaves of homemade bread to go with my sisters wonderful dinner. I found that if I use olive oil instead of butter in the recipe it turns out nicer. I also added some garlic powder and Italian seasonings to one of the dough recipes...it makes a nice garlic loaf.

Update on the skirt....my friend Coleen, who is a gifted seamstress (she made an heirloom dress for her granddaughter!) came yesterday to help Rachel finish her skirt. They are not quite done, but I will show you the finished product after Coleen's next visit. I guess I messed up on my own skirt and pattern...not a biggie, but a lesson well learned. Evidently it tells you on the back of a pattern exactly what type of fabrics will work well with the pattern. Hmmmm, great concept. I should have gotten that denim was not the best choice for a skirt requiring 6 yards of fabric!!! Can you imagine wearing 6 yards of denim around your waist?? Easy remedy. New fabric for the pattern and a new pattern for the denim. Live and learn...in the meantime, I bought a denim skirt!!!!! It was cheaper than the materials to make one. How come???

Well, I am off to teach school and then to finish the stitching on the last of the 2 prizes. Tomorrow I will make the finished products. I hope you will be pleased.

More New, Old Things

Several weeks ago, when I was helping my mom de-clutter, I was given several boxes of "stuff". This was back when I showed the stereo and girl scout sash, remember? Well a box got left in the van and I found it today. In it were more fun things. Lots of red glass, a 25th wedding anniversary picture of my parents, a milk glass split tray, and this...Pretty cute, huh? The part that appears white, is actually sheer. The pink gingham was used to do cross stitch designs on the apron..very clever. I love aprons, though I do not wear them. I have a couple of my grandmothers aprons and a pretty sunflower one my mom bought me. I do wear that one on holidays to protect my "fancy duds".
This was also in the box. I don't know why I like this so much. I just really do. I am going to use it to set my iron on in my sewing room. It looks "quilty" to me instead of "kitcheny". It is like plaster of paris with smooth stones set in it.

With fall just around the corner, I am thrilled to have this table runner. With my new love of stitchery, I am very happy to display someones talents. I do not know the people who made these things, but my mother does.

(I left it sideways so that way so you could get the effect.) Here is a close up of the leaves. The stitching is exquisite!

Finally, here is something that looks like it is custom made for my table. They are my colors and I really love it.

My mom thinks an old neighbor's mother in law made it. Beautiful workmanship and I know the effort that went into it and will treat it as such!

Well those are my new, old treasures. Thanks for taking a peek!!

Tying Up Loose Ends

School starts here on Monday, and I am spending the weekend tying up loose ends in the lesson plan. Our home school blog will be more active now with lots of pictures and information about our days and what we are learning.

Other ends got tied up this weekend too. I tied the charm quilt for Kyle's teacher and now need to get the binding on. Have you ever tied a quilt? I did, once, 16 years ago. Now I remember why I don't do it more often!

Yes, those are pliers. Sweet Hubby's contribution to helping me tie it! It was an arduous task, but it got done.Once I get the binding on, Kyle will present it to his teacher (she had him for 5 years) and I will post a picture of the two of them.

Toni, my swap partner in the Stitchery swap, received my mini wall quilt. She seemed pleased and so now I can show you the full view.

We are paying for the beautiful weather we had yesterday! Today it is cold and rainy! Very dark and dreary outside. One of those days where you want to sleep. I think I better get up and move around before I go do that!!!

Shopping & Swapping

As promised, the charm square top for Kyle's teacher is done. I did not finish it yesterday, but did get it done this evening. At least it is done. I actually became fond of it as I was sewing the last of the rows on. All put together I can see a piece of pretty much every quilt I have ever made. I see my mom's quilt, my dad's quilt, Kyle's quilt, my aunt's quilt, quilts from babies, TJ's quilt, Bud & Rachel's wedding quilt, my brother-in-law's memory quilt, my beloved pink & brown, Zach & Charlotte's quilts...it goes on and on. I would truly like to keep it. Kyle is thrilled and asked if I would tie it tonight. It is 9:30 pm and I told him "not likely". The picture is not great because it is so dark outside...no natural light, but you can see it enough to get the idea.
I spent some time with my sister today. We took a little shopping trip and ended up at Hobby Lobby. I found some great "stuff"! They had floss organizers for a dollar! I took the last 3. More freezer paper was needed. I also bought some variegated floss, a larger hoop, and 2 yards of Kona snow. I needed this for several projects.
I found feed sack tea towels.
And a cool little light to clip onto my hoop. Sue had one that was great! Now I don't have to flip the lampshade up and blind Sweet Hubby at the other end of the couch!!
So that was a lot of fun, but I have saved the best for last! Let's talk swaps! Remember this?
(It's not blurred on purpose) I still can't show the whole thing, as it was whisked away by the mailman yesterday to head to it's owner. As soon as she receives it, I will post a picture of the whole thing. For a beginning stitcher, I was pretty pleased with it and hope she will be too.

I picked my project for the 4 seasons swap and feel relief where that is concerned. Some of the new fall fabrics I showed the other day will be in it, along with the Kona snow. Before I can start that I need to finish the Masterpiece block.

OK! Here's the best and the last! Drum roll please...........I received my stitchery from my partner in the swap today! All the way from Margaret in Spain. They are exquisite!

I know, I know. The picture is bad, but just hold on, I have a better close up. She made me this beautiful little bag, a tissue holder, and the cherry thread catcher, and sent a beautiful bookmark. The bag is wonderful and I love cherries and am forever sticking my needle in the arm of the couch and throwing my threads on the end table, so the thread catcher is needed. Here is some detail. Her work is wonderful. I will treasure them always, especially as I was blessed that a friend got my name! Thank You so much Margaret! You are a treasure!