chickenfoot

squeeeeeeeeeeeeee

tonight mr. chickenfoot surprised daughter and me by taking us to the mall to buy us new shoes!! ok, he drove to the mall and he went his way and we went ours, but hey, he gave us the money for the shoes!!! dont you just love my new shoes?? bought them at tjmaxx for $20 and then went to shoe carnival and saw them for $35. so i saved him money, right??? its kind of hard to tell but they are flat and cloggish (meaning they have no backs). i just adore these shoes. hence the squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

now that i have mailed off my dqs3, i can turn to some projects i have had sitting, waiting for me. this is that little circle that i made after i got the book by jan mullen. i decided since its small (about 10") that i am going to embellish it. with all those bright colors i figure it was calling out for it. i have the binding almost sewn on and have done a little bit of embroidery on it, hopefully i will have a little time to finish it tomorrow.

i was over at jills blog and saw a recipe for biscotti that looks really yummy (and i am not a biscotti girl).  then i saw this recipe at cupcake project for greek birds nest cupcake toppers that looks sooooo sinful, i think i may have to make these soon. i almost died when i saw this post on bakerella for cupcakes made with the characters from garfield. when daughter use to go with me to the flea markets she collected garfieldanalia. she actually has quite the collection. but these were so sweet. go check them out! oh, one last recipe, for lemon bars over at campfollowerbags. yum!! geez i just got over my period so i dont know whats up with all the sweets???

oh yeah! i almost forgot, simplify is having a give away, of the most gorgeous quilt. you need to go over there and leave a comment. if you think of it, could you tell her i sent you? i get extra entries if you do, but if you dont want to, thats ok too....but geez why are you so petty???

i mailed off my quilt for dqs3.  this is just a peek of it finished. i wanted to wait until my partner got it, to show you, because i wanted it to be somewhat of a surprise.  this one turned out really nice, if i do say so myself. the block was roman stripes. i vaguely followed the directions given by mary johnson. there are a lot of nice tutes over there, you should go check it out. i will wait. while im waiting i will just tell you that i did have a couple changes to her directions. once i had my foundation block, i ironed, then sewed down 1/4" to the right of the ironed line. then i laid my strip on top of the foundation block with the right side of the strip lined up with the sewn line. clear as mud? i also cut my strips 1.25"wide and cut their length after i had sewn them down, im not sure if she says to do this or not, but i find you waste less (same with log cabins, i dont cut until after i have sewn the strip down).

i am thinking this will be my last doll quilt swap, except for maybe an occasional one on one swap. while i was quilting this quilt and the one before it, i realized how much time i was spending on this, not to mention materials. the biggest thing for me was that i was progressing with my quilting/sewing skills but you couldnt tell, because everything i was making was being sent off. tracy and i also started a flickr group for swapping 6" mini quilts. i think this will be much better for me, as it should take less time and materials and it just seems like fun! and to be frightfully honest my quilt wall is starting to get full, so i can start another small wall of little 6" quilts!

i think i am beginning to see a pattern here( ok, i really am not BEGINNING to see, i have known all along!) this week my spendy purchase was....you guessed it! a book!!! this book to be exact. i love it and i think not only will i be able to make oodles of pot holders with it, it will serve as inspiration for my 6" quilts. go, scoot, run and get yourself a copy! while i was at the bookstore spending my evening alone, i decided to pick up one of our favorite childrens books (scroll down for "in the night kitchen") for my great nephew that is getting baptised this weekend. we love any book by maurice sendak, but this was a special favorite. i would pause on certain pages and she would "read" what was on the page. ah memories! all told for the two books i spent $21. not bad....

i stopped off at a great little restaurant owned by a sweet jordanian after hanging out at barnes and noble. i felt the need for falafel. i also got some yolangee (stuffed grape leaves). these are super yummy. you know they are good when they taste just like the ones you make!! these are the first ones i have tasted in ages that actually taste like someones mother made them, not like they used a can opener!! so if youre in vernon hills, il anytime soon, stop off at the pita grill....

gifties, the other woman and piggies

im ashamed to say i got these two little gifties a number of days ago and i have yet to blog about them.

arent they gorgeous? the lovely lucinda sent them to me, just because i admired her little circles of joy!! she made them especially for me. =) gotta love that! thanks again lucinda, you really are a sweetie!

women worry about their man finding another woman. meet my hubbys other woman. oh if he would treat me as good as he treats his baby!! he cleans every speck of her after every ride, but apparently picking up his  dirty socks is beneath him. sad i know, but what can a girl do??

i figured you ladies had been waiting long enough for another shot of my ugly toes! so here they are, purple piggies!!!  this is my first toe nail polish of the season, yeah!  today it was so lovely here, weather wise that i pulled out the summer clothes. it was so much fun wearing my capris and flipflops again. yippee for warm weather.

this is my latest quilty for dqs3. i say latest, because there has been three incarnations of quilts for dws3. i am hoping this will be finished and actually sent to its new home, but i am not holding my breath. i dont know why this swap is being so difficult for me.  the border fabric is my favorite color. this was my first time doing this block and i really like it, it wasnt anxiety causing, if you know what i mean. i had a little trouble with a couple of my blocks not lining up, but all in all i was pleased. it is taking forever to quilt it tho!!

it has been getting warmer here every day, yippee!! did you hear we had an earthquake here in illinois yesterday??? i couldnt believe it either!! hehe

before i forget, because you know im forgetful!!! go check out itching2bstitching she is having a contest to name her dress form, and the best part is she is giving away a craft apron. its doubly fun because she is giving away another craft apron if you post about her contest on your blog. so i have doubled my chances of a fat chance in hell!!! haha

ok, so my extra spendy this week went to this lovely little book. it was only $16 dollars with my

teachers discount, that along with a skein of turquoise sugar' n cream yarn and a size G crochet hook brought me to a grand total of $20! beat that ladies!!

a fellow blogger friend jillytacy just posted a fabo tutorial on a sweet little bag, pop over and see it here. i know youre going to feel the need to make one right away. she even has a little flickr group set up so you can show off your talents. now get moving!

spring has sprung

today was the day. i was able to put a load of wash out on the clothesline. sad i know, but it makes me giddy.

i also took a picture of a robin, but it was so tiny in the picture i decided to spare you having to find him in it.  it was also a happy day because hubby put up a shelf for me. and if you knew hubby, you would know how much he hates to put up shelves for moi.

if hubby knew i was putting this up, he would not be happy, but luckily he doesnt read my blog, so neh.

here is the actual shelf after being put up.

we need to move the chandelier to above the table, but i will hold off asking that one for another day!!

oh and you get a three for one with this shot, as it is most of my cake stands. which are another of my collections! thought i forgot about them didnt you??? the other thing is a collection of fake desserts. its kind of hard to see, but i have two cakes made out of vintage chenille, some donuts, and cinnamon buns. the edge of the shelf is just pages from an old book and i cut them into a curve at the bottom. i like it, and it saves me from having to paint the board!

i took a picture of peaches on the windowsill next to me(he loves the sunshine), as i was messing about on my puter and it turned out so cute i had to show you.

a wip, i know i am supposed to be working on my doll quilt swap, but i just got this book, and was so excited, i had to play. the last bit of sunlight

bad things come in threes, right?

ok, so continuing with the theme. last nite i took teenager to a concert, then went to visit with my mom.  two separate stories here. after a long evening with said mom, i went to pick up teenager. while waiting in the parking lot, the car decided it no longer felt like running, so  it died.  just to make this more fun, i had to wait another 45 minutes or teenager to get out. My phone was just about dead, and my hubby has just gotten a new cell and hadnt given me the number yet. when i finally managed to track down my daughter, her phone died as she was looking for his number. fun! end of that story is we hitched (not really hitched) a ride home with her friend, and left the car there.

the other story involves my mom. i dont know how many of you know that my mom has dementia/alz. she is a bundle of fun(she says with much sarcasm). she has only had it for about 2- 2 1/2 years, but there have definately been some personality changes. for instance, throwing temper tantrums in public.  i have run the gamit of emotions in trying to handle the situation. well right now i am firmly entrenched in denial, and i like it here very much thank you. but least you think i am a horrible daughter, know that my mom lived with us for awhile and i at one point was managing her finances and affairs. (before i entered the bliss that is denial). anyhoo,the reason for this long drawn out tale it to tell you about last nite with my mom.

when i got to my moms house she asked me to go downstairs and get some lamp oil. WHAT??? i say? she tells me that the lights dont work but the tv does. hmmm. so i go downstairs and check the fuses, nope all fine there. so then i call my sister and ask her what i should do. she says run upstairs to the landlords daughter. nope, not home. so i call the landlord and leave a message explaining everything. then i ask her if all the lights are out? yes she tells me, all are out. so i go room to room checking. and what do you know? they work. so now i ask her, did you check the bulbs? yes i tried this one. so i check, it doesnt work, then i go check its cord. there were no less than three extension cords in a mass at the back of the lamp. and guess what, the lamp wasnt plugged in!!! so next i check the other lamp in the living room and the bulb needed to be changed. at this point i am thinking i need to call the landlord back and hope that he doesnt think i am a nut!!! aghhhhhhhhhh.

so what is the moral of this story?? do not trust a person with dementia to tell you what is in going on. always, always check for yourself first!!!  thank you, thank you very much 

my first blue heron sighting of spring

ugh, im going to bed

goodness ladies, i have had a horrible nite.the hubby and i left with the teenager to take her to a conferance for the weekend. after we had been driving for 10 minutes, said teenager remembered she didnt bring her medicine(ok, it was really me), so back home we went. we live on a very busy corner and its hard to get into our driveway when its busy, so i thought i would be the good mommy/wife and jump out of the car at the intersection and let hubby drive around the corner and pick me up on the way back out. well i tore off out of the car and ran toward our house, down the hill.......in 2 1/2" chunky heels......in wet grass........ and fell flat on my, um, hip. i got totally wet but no outside damage it appeared. so i went on my merry way.

now here is where in this story i tell you that there are two kinds of families. one kind that commiserates with you and sympathizes with your plight and would NEVER  laugh at you. me? i have the other kind. the kind that laugh their butts off at you when you get back in the car. nice. 

then on our way home, hubby pulled up at the same light he pulled up to earlier and bam! an accident right in front of our car! apparently this guy couldnt wait to get thru the light and the young girl turning, figured naively that this guy would stop at a yellow light. not in illinois my friend! it ended up being a four car smash up.luckily tho we werent involved.

well, all this was to say that it is now 9:30 and my body is aching all over, and i am going to bed! tomorrow is a big day and i am hoping not to be a big lump of soreness during THE INTERNATIONAL QUILT FESTIVAL

Bean salad and the Germans

i know you wont believe this but.......

i only had one small slice! geez my family loves their sweets! i was kind of surprised i didnt have a bigger hand in devouring this, seeing as its my favorite, yellow cake with chocolate frosting.  i ended up throwing this last bit out because i figured they didnt need anymore, and my butt is already too big.

isnt she the sweetest? now i know i shouldnt be out spending money, but it has been ages since ive been to the antique mall, and hubby and i had words tonight. i needed to get out of the house, and of course what else could i do but spend some money. i was good tho and spent around $15. i will show you my other sweet find tomorrow. i have to have something to tease you with! i am thinking she will become a pin cushion. i just adore these little german figurines. before i forget,i am going to post a recipe for the recipe box swap.....its what i had for dinner tonight

bean salad
2 cans (15 oz) red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
2 cans (15oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
1 bag frozen corn...16oz size
one large green pepper, chopped
4 or 5 green onions, chopped
as much cilantro as you want, chopped
mix all the above, in a salad bowl. i put the corn in frozen, to save time.  it will thaw just fine
dressing
1/3 c. red wine vinegar
1 clove garlic
1 1/2 t. chili powder
3/4 t. salt
1/4 t. black pepper
1/2 t. crushed red pepper flakes (more of less to taste)
2/3 c. olive oil
combine all of the above and pour over beans
this is good by itself, or with torilla chips or as a taco filler, or....you get the idea. i did make a couple changes. i didnt put in crushed red pepper flakes, because dangit, i dont like them. i use powdered garlic, as i didnt have any fresh, and i used sweet red pepper. i like them so much better than green ones and it added a little sweetness to it.

let them eat cake~

hello my bloggy readers! today has been a little on the crazy side. i went out to dinner tonight with some friends, but i am waiting on the ok from corporate to tell you about it, so that will have to wait until tomorrow......ooooooo mysterious.

i did finish the bath mat i was working on for my etsy shop... i havent put it in there yet tho, because i just finished it after i got back from dinner.  i am pretty happy with how it turned out, and i got the seal of approval from the teenager, who doesnt necessarily like everything i make. so thats good, right? i didnt realize until i was cutting the fabric that the one on the bottom left is japanese fabric. now where did i get that??? that stuff is pricey and i am a self confessed cheapskate. hmmm?? i love it tho and i had to use it in this mat, it just called out for it. the floral, and the print in the upper left are repro 30's fabrics. then of course you got yerself them solids there. i dont know why i spontaneously break into accents online. i never do that weirdness at home. which reminds me of a story! when i was in third grade, my favorite teacher, mrs. goodwin assigned us an essay to write. so i thought i was being really clever and i wrote a story like i was from way down south up in the mountains, if you catch my drift. well imagine my astonishment when i got my paper back thinking there was going to be all sorts of praise happening here......and she corrected my grammar!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ugh. i have to tell you she fell a notch in my book after that. i mean how could she not know that i was a great speller and would never write like that, unless it was intentionally??? pheew, that felt good to get off my chest!

the lovely teenager that lives in my house decided she needed to bake something today. notice the scotty dog jammies. hehe. i teased her today and told her i was going to steal them and cut them up and use them in my sewing projects.

wip

it has taken me the better part of the day, but this is what i ended up with. after sewing all the 1" strips together, i found the black strips were just too dark. so i ripped them out and made a couple more "blocks" of colored strips and then cut them into weird triangle shapes. i originally sewed them to some green fabric but i hated how that looked, so i tore that out. then i sewed the white strips on. i liked them, but of course didnt have enough of this thicker white to finish the border so i used this white circle patterned one. after all that i dont even know if i will use this one. i am not sure i am loving it. i am going to quilt it then start on another one. i will see which one i like best when they are both done, and send that one out.

i couldnt remember if i showed you these pot holders i made???? i made two of the same. i put them in my etsy shop, but there is just the pot holders and a set of coasters in there so far. i am working on it tho!! i have made a few other things, but need to find out shipping prices on them.

i was talking with someone else tracy in the dqs3 and we are cooking up something fun to do, but it will be in about a month or so, so for now i will just tease you!!!

ok, so i burned them a bit, ( i was a little busy trying to post on my blog before my teenager steals my laptop again) but these are so good. they are new from morning star farms, veggie cakes.

they come in two flavors, southwestern or ginger teriyaki. the ones i am chowing on are the ginger teriyaki. that there is soy sauce they are swimming in. mm mm good