Dance the Dance

Not everyone wants to be embraced.... but who cares? Hug them anyway! People do not always know or do the things that are good for them.... they resist help. That's why girlfriends are so important. A good girlfriend will rush in where no man wants to tread....lol!

Girlfriends will feed you when you're sad, clean your house when the rug is pulled out from under you, keep your kids while you get away, shoosh you when you need it, cut you slack when you don't deserve it, & take you where you want to go. They are priceless treasures!

Women with friends are rich... so how do you cultivate these jewels?

You have to be one to have one, or something like that... !

Grab someone by the hand & if you don't dance well with them, swing your partner & go a turn with someone else. If that works well, then try one dance to your tune, one dance to theirs & one more to a tune that neither of you have heard before. If you are both still stepping high after all that, you have yourself a friend!

Glamour Gloves

Who says that housework has to be dull? Make these quick Rubber Gloves & put some pizzazz in your kitchen! Buy a pair of rubber gloves.... I have seen them in white, pink, blue & of course the standard yellow.

Pick a perky fabric. Cut a 6-inch strip WOF (approx. 44-inches). Fold this strip in half lengthwise with WST. Press.

Run the long, raw edge through your serger. Then cut the serged strip in half giving you 2 strips that are approx. 22-inches each. (A FQ works well for this....just cut (2) 6-inch wide strips instead of 1 long.)

Join the 2 ends of each strip by running them through the sergers. Then gather each ring to the size of the arm opening by basting along the serged edge & pulling the end threads to form a ruffle. (Some sergers can be used for gathering as well.)

Pin this ruffle in place with the folded, pressed edge pointed away from the hand. Stitch with the latex facing up with a non-slip foot or by placing a strip of paper over the latex as you run this through the machine... just tear the paper away when finished. You can also use a piece of rick rack instead of paper & it leaves you with a nice trim. Do not be too concerned if the stitch threads are not perfect & even on the inside... sewing through the latex can be a small hassle... no one will notice but you!

These make great gifts, stocking stuffers, door prizes, etc.

(FQ...Fat Quarter, WOF...Width of Fabric, WST...Wrong Sides Together)

Country Cooking Recipe

Easy & Delicious Sugar Cookies

2 3/4 cups flour, 1 tsp. baking soda, 1/2 tsp. baking powder, 1 cup butter, 1 1/2 cups sugar, 1 egg, 1 tsp. vanilla

Combine flour, baking soda, & baking powder. Set aside.
Cream butter & sugar until smooth. Beat in egg & vanilla. Gradually blend in dry ingredients.

Roll rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into balls, and put on ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake 8 to 10 minutes at 375' until golden.

Make It Simple

Lynda
A quick & easy fabric basket for Easter eggs or anything else. Lynda has a blog at http://whimsicalprims.blogspot.com/
Cut 2 contrasting pieces of fabric, 30cm x 15cm. Stitch RST along the length of the rectangle on both sides forming a tube... turn inside out. Stitch together, defining the outside/inside of the bag. (A French Seam could be used to hide the raw edges.)
Turn the body of the bag inside out... pin the bottom straight across... stitch closed & miter the corners to form a base. Turn bag right side out. Fold over a top lip showing a border of the lining on the outside of the bag. Add a handle made with a strip of fabric with 4 buttons... one on inside & one outside on both ends. Add yo yos or other embellishments as desired.

Jana (These bags were made basically the same way, but with placemats. One placemat makes one bag... an extra placemat can be cut to make 3 handles. Appliqued eggs & rick rack were used as embellishments.)

Birthing Without Drugs!

I never thought I would say this, but, "Birthing is a breeze!"
When I first started quilting, I thought that I had to bind every project or I really wasn't quilting. I could not have been more wrong!
In my inexperience, I had no idea that a new quilt can have a painless, no fuss, vaginal birth with no doctor present or insurance needed. Of course, an older woman (a mentor), set me straight on the joys of birthing. She soon had me comfortingly birthing without drugs ...lol! As you can see in the above example pic, it makes a quick, clean, finished edge on any quilt project, large or small. Now, I find myself as the older woman passing this ageless quilting technique down to fresh generations of quilters.
In a few words, simply sandwich your pieces front-to-back including batting & backing (or just a backing for lighter blanket-type projects). Stitch around project, leaving a small opening only large enough for turning....

think of this opening as the vagina of the quilt world!
Now, just turn inside out, punching corners from the inside to make them crisp. At this point, press &/or stitch close to edge making the outside of the quilt even & straight all the way around. Heal the opening neatly, then tack or quilt to finish your work for presentation.

What would a birthingroom be without a video camera these days?

Here is an actual birthing that I found on You Tube with the midwives standing around... there is an air of anticipation & then the joy audibly heard as once again a new quilt is naturally born!

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Country Cooking Recipe

Peanut Butter Sheet Cake It snowed off & on all day..... I kept thinking about this cake recipe... finally, my will power was broken, & I whipped one up for supper...... mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm! My dh ate so much that he made himself sick.... my silly boy!

2 cups flour 2 cups sugar 1tsp. baking soda 1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 cup oil 1 1/2 sticks butter 1/2 cup peanut butter 1 cup water

2 eggs 1 tsp. vanilla 1/2 cup buttermilk

Mix dry ingred. in large bowl & set aside. Bring oil, butter, peanut butter & water to a boil. Pour immediately over dry ingred. & mix well. Add eggs, vanilla & buttermilk, blending well.

Pour batter into a prepared sheet cake pan. & bake at 350' for approx. 18-20 min. or until done in center.

Frost warm cake with a mixture of 2 cups powdered sugar, 1/4 cup cocoa, 1/4 cup peanut butter, & a small amount of milk.

To leave the cocoa out, adjust your ingred. to get a desired consistency.

Hey! Hey! Hey!

St. Paddy Bears Laurel

Free Crossword Puzzle

Everyone likes a puzzle!

Here is a crossword just for you!

Print it out & enjoy.

If you need help, reread posts prior to today...........

Puzzle: http://documents.scribd.com/docs/2gf10iz9fdww7gf6js9c.pdf

Answers: http://www.scribd.com/full/2209423?access_key=key-2aoj5gqh42senp5ixmsq

Green with Hope

When asked what my favorite color is, I answer, "All colors." I sincerely mean that, but I must confess that green has never been at the top of my list, even though it is the color of & I would be poor without it!!!
On the pro side, it is in the rainbow, Grandma's jello, frogs, grass, leafy veggies, shamrocks, eyes, beans, blue/yellow mixed together, & it means, "Go." On the con side, it is the color of envy which is not the prettiest shade of people, inexperience which is useless, & the color of a sick fish which is said to be green around the gills!
Some of my friends are making March potholders ( Barb, Trudie, Nina, Dorcas) , & I must say that while black may be the universal color of despair, white of purity, yellow of cowardness & red of danger... green is striking. It looks fresh, crisp, springy, & bright... after rethinking green, I believe that the saying should be, "Green with Hope!" I believe that hope should be colored green with the ideas of new, young, rebirth..... HOPE!

Aunt Martha's Towels

I worked a full-time job for 28 years, had dh, 3 kiddos, church, cooking, washing, shopping, cleaning, & I made everyone's clothes including dh's shirts. Somehow, everything got done, & I don't even remember if it was tiresome... surely, I was tired, but why can't I remember that part? What has happened to me....... I no longer leave the house for work, the kids are raised, the housework is much less, ... but I can't get anything done!
Lately, (when I am not too tired to think), I wonder about Aunt Martha... did she actually have a day of the week set aside for each chore?
Monday: Wash Day Tuesday: Ironing Day Wednesday: Sewing Day Thursday: Market Day Friday: Cleaning Day Saturday: Baking Day Sunday: Day of Rest
She was one smart cookie when she started that DOW Towel brainwashing campaign. Overnight, it turned every cookstove into a notice board & instilled a sense of order & responsibility into American homes!
That settles it.... I am going to stitch a set of those vintage towels & post one everyday of the week like a chore notice.... I am going to start today while I watch, "Days of Our Lives" on TV & sip a Coca Cola!

Rosie Goes Pink!

Rosie from Alberta Canadasays, "If you ever want to be lifted up just slap on a pink wig... your spirits soar and you GLOW...hahahaha!"

From Pillow Sham to Tote

Here is a tote made out of a pillow sham......it is so easy!Most of the finish work has been done by the manufacturer of the pillow sham. I stay on the lookout for these shams at reasonable prices...find them at $ Stores, flea markets, department stores, & quilty shops. The quilty shops usually sell a matching quilt & pillow sham seperately, but sometimes the quilts get sold first, & the shams are discounted for clearance...... the sham used for the tote pictured was $2.50.... you cannot beat that for a bargain!

Take the pillow sham & cut 3 or less inches (depending on the design of the sham) off of the two long sides... these 2 stips will be used for the handles... Serge the raw edges of the strips & what is remaining of the pillow sham. Turn the serged edges of the strips to the wrong sides & fasten down by machine stitching or hand stitching....if you like, blanket stitch the turned edges with embroidery floss for a nice finished look.
Take the remaining piece of the sham & fold it RST (right-sides-together) long sides together & stitch the sides closed... pinch the bottom corners flat (seam to middle of bag bottom) & stitch straight across.... the triangle formed should = approx. 1 1/2-inch from point to stitching line... I call this mitering.....it will give the tote a slightly-defined bottom.
Attach handles to outside of bag using buttons... I use the nicest buttons on the outside & small plain buttons on the inside to make the attachment points stronger, & it makes a nice finish too. Then use velcro or a snap for closure... again, I use buttons on the outside for decoration & strength, especially if you are using a snap.

Lasagna Cook & Sew

Cook It...

Sew It...(Mary_America)

This quilt, by Mary, looks like a pan of the real stuff!

( Mary, if you are reading, let me know, & I will give you specific credit.)

Lasagna is good any way you want it... there are 100's of recipes... traditional... quick & easy... on the box... secret ingredients... just like Mom's, or choose your on way! It is such a versatile dish... make ahead, freeze, cook later. What a great thing to have laid back in case of unexpected company!
It even has a quilt technique named after it...... The Lasagna Quilt... just by name, it sounds interesting. When I first heard about it, I knew that I am destined to make one, so I searched for a pattern. Come to find out, just like the casserole, there are lots of formulas. It's basically various 2 1/2-inch to 3 1/2-inch strips, sewn together & joined horizontally with a couple of borders sewn vertically. Any color scheme or scrap-hodge-podge will do. There are no hard & fast rules for construction.... just do your own thing.

Flamingo Attributes

What do Flamingos have that we all need? Could it be ....... strength to stand on one leg in case a foot is knocked out from under us ......patience to stand still as a lawn ornament in the face of adversity... a voice to be reckoned with, but the sense to sit down when it's time to be quiet... the ability to keep our heads above water, the desire to be monogamous, an inner-fire that continues to burn when lights have gone out around us.... & enough courage to be flamboyant in an uptight world.
In reality, flamingos are very social birds living in groups, called pats. They make nasal honking, grunting, a growling sounds, & their eyes are actually larger than their brains! They are also defenseless. Having noted these facts, the flamingo is the Greta Garbo of the bird world with legs longer than its body...it is their beauty & wild color that screams, "Bold!"
Perhaps it is their total package & their ability to stick together, giving them the fortitude to beat the odds . We could all do with a little of their collective, charming humility & a lot of their confidence....whether it is in tones, presentations, approaches, or demeanors.... are any shrinking violets in the flamingo world... not that can be noticed!

Yes, it's me.......I wear wigs all the time when I am away from home because my hair, over a period of many years, has become very thin.........the pink hair belongs to me & it is just a creative phase I am going through right now......HAaaaaaa! I am just a wild teenager at heart....my sister-in-law, whom I loved dearly, had cancer & lost part of her face..........this experience taught me that thin hair is nothing but a minor inconvenience........if a wig could have solved her problems, she would have been sailing through........ bless her heart!
I am expressive in my wigs......I have a doz. different ones & wear whichever suits me when I go out.....my dh, family & friends love this about me, & I hope that I am a positive role model for others who have physical shortcomings...I have no time in my life for worrying about negatives........what is the old saying, "If life gives you lemons....make lemonade!" That's me..........Jana

Happy Campers are generally happy!

Someone on the SGF List reminded me of how important it is to get along with others.....Being a happy camper takes humility. Often, it is putting the ideas of others before your own. Happy camping is more than just giving in....the feeling that someone has infringed upon rights must be replaced with, "This is what has been decided as a group." If you can't roll with the punches, then you need to move on. Working & playing well with others is something all babies must learn.... it does not come naturally... sometimes, adults are babies too...lol.

Rick Rack Challenge

Lynda

Washcloth Baby Bib

Warning: You can't make just 1!

What an easy, instant success pattern!

1 washcloth + 1 cup + binding = bib

Go to http://www.patternbee.com/MENU.html & look at all of their patterns. This one is under Free Stuff at http://www.patternbee.com/FREE6.html .

Did you know this?

Comparing Brown & White Eggs

The following info & so much more can be found at http://www.publix.com/wellness/notes/Display.do?id=Food_Guide&childId=Eggs

"The color of the egg’s shell is a reflection of the breed of hen. Breeds with white feathers and ear lobes, such as White Leghorns, lay white eggs. Those with red feathers or ear lobes lay brown eggs. White eggs are in high demand among most American buyers, but in certain parts of the country, particularly New England, brown shells are preferred. Breeds that lay brown eggs include the Rhode Island Red, New Hampshire, and Plymouth Rock varieties."

Live Your Life in Color

I have always flown by the seat of my pants when it comes to using color......even though an artist (or maybe because), I have never liked to talk about the color wheel..."it just seems too round." I have always done my own thing. Yes, I understand that red, yellow, & blue are the primary colors. I know that purple, green, & orange are secondary colors, & that all hues & shades in between come from these basics, but I never give color theory a thought when painting or sewing. I just PLAY!

If I like it, I use it ....if it looks good together, it's in ......if it needs a perk, I go wild ......you get the picture. I paint like this, I sew like this, & I certainly live like this. I am one fast chick when it comes to color! Color is simple. "Live your life in color....don't labor over color... and, of course, avoid round....HAaaaaaaaa!"