Weekend Challenge – Oct. 30

Wow! That week went FAST! Probably because I spent some of it in bed sick. What did you get done on your Weekend Challenges this week?

I said I was going to finish cutting out the kit I won. Here it is, all cut out and settled into one of my new baskets, waiting to be pieced. The next step is to draw diagonal lines on the back sides of all those little squares, so now I’m back to procrastinating!

I also said I was going to finish the little shamrock table mat that my best friend gave me a kit for. I did, but it was a battle from start to finish, let me tell you. This little kit — PRE-CUT, I might add — was a QQB gift from my best friend, Rose Marie, back in March when she was the QQB‘s monthly hostess. At the time, I thought it would be quick and easy to put together and I’d have it done in no time, just like she did. NOT to be . . .

First, when I got it out to work on it (and I have no idea how long it had lain before I actually did this step) some of the pieces were missing. NO IDEA where they might have gone  . . . still haven’t found them, probably never will. So I cut out more. I then proceeded to put it together every incorrect way imaginable. I honestly believe I spent more time UN-sewing than I did sewing. I spent no time at all making the decision to NOT put a border on it. Hard telling what new challenges that attempt might have presented!

I managed to find a scrap of batting to use with my little top and chosen backing, got my machine all set up and ready to go, and the darn thing decided to throw a major tantrum and refused to machine quilt! Drat! I finally managed to wrestle it through, taking 3 times longer than it should have, and I’ll never show the back side to anyone. I hurriedly slapped on some binding, and am now glad to call it finished . . . whew! Why was something seemingly so simple so difficult? Baffles me . . . 

At least it’s done, and I can move on . . . so what will I do this weekend for my challenge? I’ll be spending all day Saturday at the AQS Show in Des Moines, which will cut down on stitching time. I have a quilt on my workbench partially cut out, and in order to get it out of my way so I can work on other things, I think my Weekend Challenge will be to finish cutting it out and get it put in a bin to work on later. I’m also going to not procrastinate any longer, and go ahead and draw the lines on the backs of all those little squares. I could also challenge myself to get my island workspace cleaned off, but that might be too big a project to take on in one weekend. I might give it a shot anyway and let you know how it goes . . .

What do YOU intend to do for YOUR Weekend Challenge this time? Come on, get brave . . .

Witches Night Out

Boy, did we have fun! Witches were everywhere . . . 

Here’s me and my sister in our best witch attire. She actually won Best Witch of the evening for her be-witching costume. And it is fantastic! That hat! You can’t see it in the picture, but somewhere in all the feathers and tulle netting, there’s actually a big black bird sitting in the brim of it, and her cape is awesome. She made it herself from a black bed sheet and silver glitter glue! What a talent — yes, I’m jealous . . .

Miss Lauren was on hand to tell fortunes by gazing into her crystal ball. She told me that I will be having lots of quilting projects. I told her that wasn’t the future, it’s the here and NOW!

We had games, stories, scary movies and music, silent auctions, food and drinks, and all sorts of spooky fun. It was a great evening. If you weren’t there, you really missed out! Oh, and yes, I bought fabric, too . . .

Getting Ready

Here’s what The Crew did while I was down and out. When I wasn’t in my recliner, they were.

They look innocent enough, don’t they? I really do wonder what they do when I’m not home!

Despite being busy napping and tormenting the girls, Big Dan has found time to get in the Halloween spirit. He TP’ed the house, then set to choosing his Halloween costume.

After auditioning several choices, he has finally chosen to go dressed as a case of Coke.

Miss Kitty, being such a Queenly cat, sees no need to do anything different for this holiday — she is, after all, a black cat — what more can you ask?

And poor Gidget? — she doesn’t even know it’s a holiday, poor thing. She spends most of her time oblivious . . . 

I mentioned yesterday that I am going to Witches Night Out as a Cowgirl Witch. I’m all ready and excited — it’s going to be a good time. Saturday, I’m headed to the AQS Show in Des Moines — woohoo!

National Chocolate Day

Another one of those obscure holidays . . .

But one that almost every quilter NEEDS!

National Chocolate Day

So make something chocolate-y (or at least EAT something chocolate-y) to help celebrate this important national holiday. I’m doing my part by offering up my best chocolate cake recipe. I swear I could eat a whole one of these all by myself! I like it with the pecans in the frosting, but if you don’t like nuts, or are allergic, you can leave them out, and it’s still just as delicious. And so easy to make . . . so without further ado . . .

This recipe came from my grandmother, and I can tell it’s old by the way it was written. It just has that “passed-down-through-the-generations” way about it, can you tell? 

Chocolate Sheet Cake

Melt 2 sticks oleo (margarine). Add 4 tbsps. cocoa powder and 1 cup water. Bring to a boil and pour over 2 cups flour, 2 cups sugar, 1 tsp. baking soda, and 1/2 tsp. salt. Add 1/2 cup buttermilk, 2 beaten eggs, and 1 tsp. vanilla.

Grease and flour a baking sheet pan (like a jelly roll pan). Pour the batter in and bake 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees.

Icing

Melt 1 stick oleo (margarine). Add 6 tbsps. buttermilk and 4 tbsps. cocoa powder. Bring to a boil. Add 1 pound powdered sugar and 1 cup nuts. Spread over warm cake.

Pretty easy, huh? And the best part is, you don’t have to wait until the cake cools completely down before you can frost it. That way you can eat it warm . . . and immediately! Enjoy!

A Fitting Illness

What else would I end up with but “bronc”-itis? Whew, have I been sick! My Poor Cowboy has been, too. We make quite the pair, sitting in our matching old-folks recliners, coughing and shivering . . . trying to remember if we took our medicine or not . . . 

I missed out on Design Wall Monday, my Procrastination Challenge Update, and I’m sure all kinds of other stuff. But I’m back in the Land of the Living just in time for Witches Night Out at the quilt shop where I work part time. I have to finish getting my costume ready tonight. I’m going as a Cowgirl Witch! I’ll try to get some pictures. There should be lots of other witches in attendance. If you’re anywhere near the Mexico, MO, area, hop on your broomstick and fly on in to Sticky Wicket this Thursday night from 6:00 – 9:00 pm. All witches will get special discounts, and there’s going to be all kinds of fun and games . . . I’m excited!

Weekend Challenge – Oct. 23

How did you all do last week with your Weekend Challenges?

I said I was going to do more blanket stitch, and I did . . . I now have at least 2 blocks done, and another almost finished — guess I need to count to be sure, but it is moving along. Here’s another sneak peek as proof.

This weekend for my Weekend Challenge, I intend to finish cutting out my kit I won, and finish the little shamrock table mat that my best friend gave me a kit for. We’ll see what happens. Here’s the kit I won. I have it partially cut out, so finishing the cutting shouldn’t be no thang! The table mat is another story that I’ll tell later!

What will you be doing for your Weekend Challenge this time? What progress did you make last week? I’m anxious to see . . .

The Correct Number Is . . .

You all guessed really low . . . just proof that looks really can be deceiving. At least you were all pretty much in the same range . . . proof that great minds really do think alike!

However, the correct number of buttons in the jar is . . .

I know, I know . . . it doesn’t look like it, but I counted them twice! And that means that the winner is . . . 

Sarah Vee

Congratulations! You’ll be getting the jar of buttons in the mail soon!

Thanks to everyone who played along . . . click here to see the original post: Count Your Buttons

Show and Tell

Last night was our guild meeting. I always have such a blast! This meeting was tinged with a hint of sadness. One of our members that passed away last spring left all her quilting supplies to the guild, and last night we held a silent auction of the items, with the proceeds going to benefit the Hospice that aided her through her final days.

On a happier note, however, the final arrangements have been made for our guild’s bus trip to the AQS Show in Des Moines. I’m very excited about that. 

And there was some interesting Show & Tell. I managed to remember to take a few pictures, although I don’t know why my pictures from guild are always tinted a bit green . . . glad I’m a quilter and not a photographer!

Here’s Kay with her Over the River and Through the Woods embroidery and patchwork quilt. This was made from a pattern by Crabapple Hill. They have THE MOST awesome embroidery-mixed-with-patchwork patterns. I haven’t seen a single one I don’t like.

This next shot is of Diane with her Stripper’s Delight baby quilt. Instead of making just one quilt from her jelly roll, she made 2 baby quilts, then used the scraps to make the little tiny quilt she’s also holding. Great idea! She claims that there’s been a “population explosion” at her place of employment, so we all advised her at the very least to “not drink the water”!

And finally, here is Rose Marie (hiding behind her quilt) with her Stripper’s Delight quilt made from a Honey Bun instead of a jelly roll . . . another great idea! Love those fabrics, too! You can get the Stripper’s Delight pattern here for free: Free Patterns.

Count Your Buttons

I don’t know who thinks these things up, but today, October 21st, is Count Your Buttons Day. Since I’m better at celebrating obscure holidays than big ones, I’m celebrating Count Your Buttons Day with a giveaway.

I’m giving away this cute-as-a-button little jar full of — what else but — BUTTONS! Simply leave a comment with your guess as to how many buttons are in the jar. I’ll collect guesses until noon (CST) tomorrow, October 22nd, and the person who guesses closest to the correct number will get the jar of buttons. If there’s a tie, I’ll have to come up with a solution to that, but I’ll only cross that bridge if I come to it.

Here’s a shot of the back side of the jar, so you can get a closer look, if it helps your guess any. Let me also tell you that the jar is little. It is only 3 1/2″ tall and 2″ in diameter. Maybe that info will help some, too. So get at it, give me your best guess, and help me celebrate Count Your Buttons Day!

Basket Bonanza

My youngest daughter is a professional shopper. She does NOT get that gene from me! I abhor shopping for anything except quilting supplies and fabric. I even hate grocery shopping. 

Wessal, however, prefers to spend most of her free time shopping — for anything and everything — anywhere and everywhere she can. Luckily for her, she’s rich, which makes it easier for her to shop in such a fashion. And speaking of fashion, she’s up to the minute on every aspect of it at all times. More often than not, I hear: “Mother, you are NOT leaving the house in THAT!” Isn’t that supposed to be MY line? After all, I’M the mother here!

I’m also constantly being instructed on which necklace to wear with which outfit, how to properly wear a belt or a scarf (such useful items when working on a farm), and how to match my purse to my shoes (I wear mainly boots, and try never to even carry a purse!). Imagine what a hopeless case she thinks I am — but I’m also a good “project” for her, too — she “practices” on me, trying to whip me into shape. When I can’t flummox her with my wardrobe choices, I resort to using words like “tarnation” and “innards”, or phrases such as “down yonder”. What else are mothers for?

Wessal’s apartment is impeccably decorated, and how she keeps it so organized, I can’t understand. I mean, I SAW her room when she lived at home, and this is NOT the same girl! How does that happen? Everything has a place, everything is in its place, everything matches and coordinates, and it’s all top quality, right down to the goose-down comforter on her queen-sized bed. (I’m using a blanket with the end bindings raveling off, and an old quilt I made that’s darn near threadbare from being overused. Oh, and none of it matches, either.)

She tries to fix me up in that area, too — I guess it gives her something to do when the malls are closed. To that end, she recently bought me a whole slew of handmade baskets. I do love baskets — actually, I love containers of all sorts: boxes, baskets, bowls, etc. . . . My theory is that if it has to sit around and be dusted, it might as well be functional, too; otherwise, I have no use for it. (Imagine my decorating scheme, if you will — luckily, I live in a shack, so it doesn’t much matter!)

Just let me show you the basket booty I now have . . . Here’s the tissue box holder . . . 

The pen/pencil holder . . .

The gathering basket with swivel handle . . .

The pie carrier (which I’m sure will never meet a pie — I’m using it for quilting stuff) . . .

The picnic tote . . . with dividers . . . this is my favorite one . . .

The magazine basket . . . LOVE the horseshoe on it!

And . . . The doorknob hanger . . . isn’t this adorable?

Can you believe all that? When I protest about her spending her money on me, all she has to say is: “They were cheaper than Longabergers, they were handmade, and they were so YOU, and besides, if I didn’t spend the money on you, all I would have done is go spend it on another designer handbag I don’t need.” How do you argue with that?