THE BIRTH OF A QUILT

The quilt pictured is the one I just finished and shipped off to a repeat customer.

She bought one of my ready-made ones I had listed on etsy and commented that it could have been larger. In my plucky marketing mind, I offered to make her one in the size that she would like and Daisy Doo, she took me up on it.

As she (and so many others) is an admirer of the popular fabric designer, Anna Maria Horner, I asked her to search the net and find a collection she liked. She found just the assortment at an etsy site hosted by "I Craft". (Post below.)

I ordered the group of fabrics and then I sat there and wondered how to combine them in a pattern that hopefully would please the customer. The collection consisted of 6 "Fat Quarters." For those of you who don't quilt, a fat quarter is a piece of fabric 18" x 22", so as you can see, that wasn't enough to make an entire quilt. Then decisions have to be made as to what other fabrics must be chosen that will coordinate, but not detract, to fill out the area of 50" x 60".

This is where the design work comes in. After these decisions are made and the top is completed, one still has to select a backing that will match. You get the picture--a lot of work goes into the design and construction of a simple, little quilt.

During this time, I often wonder why I'm taking a bunch of perfectly good fabric; cut it into little pieces; and then sew them back together again. It's a sickness, I tell 'ya.

To make a long story short (and when that's said, it's already too late) what came out from under the undulating needle is pictured above. I hope you all enjoy looking and maybe refer my work to your friends when they're in the market for a gift.

I Craft: Good Folks quilt.

I Craft: Good Folks quilt.

It's all about me.

Seems like the cyber-gremlins let me down again and didn't seem to want to post a photo of my new quilt on facebook. So I'm trying to do it manually--Jeez. If you go to your right and click on the second one down in the left column, you'll get the full treatment of desicription, other views, price, etc.

I'd love it if anyone who views it would leave a comment--makes me feel special. And remember, if you buy any of my etsy items and mention "etsy" in the buyer comments, you will receive a 25% discount, just for reading my blog.

Thank you for your very kind attention. (I remember that line from when I was in a play in grade school.)

This Sunny Weekend:

This might be the last really warm weekend we have before the cool fall weather sets in. I'm thinking I should honor it and celebrate it appropriately by enjoying some fresh, ripe, juicy peaches.

Does every one know how to peel peaches? Plop them in boiling water for about one minute, plunge into cold water and Wah Lah, off come the peelings. Then slice against the pit until it's all sliced. Dump a bunch of sugar on them, stir and let sit in the fridge for a while to get juicy.

Then serve them over vanilla ice cream and what on earth could be better? Great way to usher out summer.

Or, you could just come to my house and I'll fix some for you. You're welcome anytime.

To Do List for Tomorrow

I think Random Acts of Kindness are essential; not just nice. Join me in taking one whole day and see if you can give a compliment to everyone you see or meet tomorrow. If they're too far away from you, give them a wave or a smile.

You never know who's life you might brighten with just that little bit of effort.

Oh, yes, and if you tell anybody you did it, it doesn't count.

This simple little act will improve your day more than the recipient.

Weekly Featured Artist

As promised, I'd like to introduce to my loyal followers some of my favorite talents whom I've discovered on etsy. This week I'm featuring MatteArt. Everything he does is so original and interesting. I hope you'll check out many more of his art at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/matteart/ or check into the mystical mind of the artist at his blog at: http://www.matteart.blogspot.com/

And if you decide you'd like to purchase some of his amazing art, you can go to his shop at: http://www.matteart.etsy.com/

Enjoy.

Today's Rant

OK, folks, how many of you have seen the little ladies in WalMart with their stinkin' little dogs in their grocery carts? Ewwwww! I think we need to take some action against these nasty people.

If you're anything like me, I don't want some dog's crappy butts sitting on the same surface where I'm going to be putting my produce. Or even a new set of towels or a new garment.

And to make matters worse, the little freaks are usually dressed up in the most embarrassing, tasteless outfits. All you dog lovers, let me say, I know it's not the dog's fault. I like a good, old German Shephard as well as the next person. But those yappy, overgrown rodent-lookalikes, have no place in a shopping cart--or even in the freakin's store, for that matter.

"But, Muffy is a Service Animal," says the proud owner. Bull Pucky, I say! And I'm Queen of the May. I'm the Sugar Plum Fairy, for God's sake.

Here's the deal, friends and neighbors: next time I see one of these vulgar woman with her ugly little cur in the cart, I think I'll pick my nose and wipe it on her dog. Even though I'm not rich, I'm old and I plead eccentricity. So, it's not a very mature way of dealing with the annoyance, but diplomacy and tact has never gotten me very far in the past, assuming I ever tried it.

This is my new mission in life. Ain't nothin' wrong with acting like a Redneck. That's my opinion and I'm stickin' to it.

Have a nice day!!! Or, not.

A Future Quilt

Valorie Wells is one of my favorite designers who lives in Eastern Oregon. Pictured is a group of Flannel fabric that I think would make a stunning and cozy quilt. I'm always looking ahead.

AND, since management of my apartment complex just bestowed a spare storeroom on me which I plan to turn into my studio, I'll be expanding my horizons. My generous niece, Lanni from Bellingham, is bringing me a long arm quilting machine on Friday so I'll now be able to finish my quilts professionally--and raise my prices

So if you see something on my etsy site, you like, jump in there, kids, before I price myself out of business.

BTW, if you do buy something from me on etsy, where is asks for buyer comments, mention Linda's Blog and get 25% off anything in the shop. Such a deal--just for reading.

Keep reading as I'm getting all prepared to do a How-To article.

Another discovery!

I've been wondering which tech wizard I can summon to teach me how to include photos in my blog and Wah Lah, I'm looking at an adorable little button up on this toolbar that looks for the world like a photo inserter button. Who knew? So I'm just going to try that little puppy by posting a photo of the quilt I finished yesterday and listed for sale on etsy. Here goes...

Well, Daisy Doo--it worked. Now you all can be just as easily bored by photos as you can by text.

Weekly Recipe--Chocolate Chip Cookies

OK, so you say you can buy them in the store. Or being the little Martha Homemaker that you are, you use the recipe on the back of the Chip package. Oh, please, are you really happy with the results? Do people rave and ask you for the recipe? Do you drool attractively just thinking about them?

I didn't think so. After many, many years of product development and research, I have finally found and perfected the ultimate recipe. One that you will never forsake. These cookies are so soft and chewy and jammed with chocolate. One of my dirty little secrets is to add a crumbled "Cookies and Cream" candy bar to the dough. Can't hurt, I'm saying.

So, follows is the deal. (I do confess that I found it on AllRecipes.com, but I take credit for finding it--that counts!)

BEST BIG, FAT, CHEWY CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE

2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup (1-1/2 sticks) butter or margerine, melted
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 Tablespoon Vanilla
1 whole egg
1 egg yolk
2 cups chocolate chips
Optional: nuts, candy bar crumbled or whatever

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.*

Mix the flour, soda and salt.

Cream together the butter and sugars. Beat in the egg and egg yolk and vanilla. Add the goodies and stir in.

Drop by 1/4 cupfuls onto the baking sheet and bake no longer than 15 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheet.

*Tips: The parchment paper helps keep the cookies from browning too much on the bottom.

Don't cheat with the eggs. You gotta separate that one.

If you want them chewy, DON'T BAKE THEM TOO LONG! It will look like they're still wet and runny, but 15 minutes is enough. They'll fall after taking them out of the oven and that, kiddies, is what makes them moist and yummy.

Not removing them to a cooling rack also helps with the chewiness.

I use a quarter cup measuring cup, spray it with Pam and scoop the dough out with it. The cookies will be big (I'm talking BIG) and only 6 will fit on the cookie sheet but that's OK.

If you don't love, love, love these, I'll happily refund your money. Baking these will make you rich and famous and a handsome prince will marry you and you'll live happily in splendor forever. NOT.

Bon Appetit, guys.

Future Posts

I'm excited about by new blog. I always assumed that personal blogs were only to report that the kiddies started school, or that we just got back from our vacation and that's why I originally titled my blog, "Who Cares?"

But in the future, I plan to feature subjects such as:
1. Recipe of the week--anyone who knows me that I'm passionate not only about quilting but cooking. I'll be sharing some of my personal favorites that people have begged me for and tips on how to make them perfect.
2. How-to's--tutorials on some of the decorating I've done which were innovative, attractive and economical. One of the first will be how to change the color of a formica countertop for less than $10. It's amazing how simple it is.
3. Etsy item of the week--the etsy site features categories such as "geekery," "art," "everything else," and "vintage." One of the new waves is "Steampunk" which is a new take on the old Punk Rockers, Goth, and just, plain weird. (I'll hear from someone on that one!)
4. E-mail of the week--just like everyone else, I get many interesting forwards in my mail box and there are some that are actually worth passing along.
5. Personal profundities--(is that even a word?) the nice thing about a blog is we can editorialize with no penalty. So I will exercise my right to express my outspoken opinion on various and sundry (what is sundry) subjects. Be comforted that it will not include politics, religion, sex or money. All of the former I have no expertise on.

I hope I'll continue to attract more followers and for those of you who have signed up, thank you. I'll try never to bore and hope you'll suggest me to your friends, family and neighbors.

Linda

This blog design

Check it out, people--assuming I get people to become followers. This was done for my by a fellow etsian (others who belong to the etsy community) and if you want to get as uptown as me with your blog, go to her site: www.lilybeandesigns.etsy.com or her fabulous blog of her own: http://lilybeandesigns.blogspot.com.

Now I'm not afraid for people to follow me. She's not done yet, so I'll be back when it's complete.

Blogger :: Who cares? :: Configure Header

Blogger :: Who cares? :: Configure Header: "From your computer:




From the web"

I'm needing help with this site

My erudite niece, Connie suggested that I go to squidsthe best for help with this site. I'm going to do that so maybe I can find it again when I want to and be able to post photos, etc. Stay tuned.