My Yellow Farmhouse

Today the post is a little bit about this and a little bit about that.  So I worked a little bit more on the project for my quilt designer friend Kari.  This is something like I said that I'm designing myself with the hope that she will make a pattern out of it for her company.  This is going to be one of those bolster type pillows, you know that kind that are around 30" long and can be placed on a bench.  I am much more of a sew it and figure it out as I go (with a little drawing before hand) kind of creator and when I got to this point I decided that it just seems a little big for what I have in mind.  So off I went to the copier and reduced down the flowers and the pot and that's as far as I've gotten.  Here's a little peek

There are many more elements to this that include buttons and stitchery and that yummy Snow Blooms fabric.  I will have the proto type done by the end of next week.

I showed you the blocks and signs that I got from my sweet friend Shauna for the store and a few of you have asked me where they came from.  Here is her ebay link
http://stores.ebay.com/SiMpLeSaYinGs_W0QQssPageNameZstrkQ3amefsQ3amesstQQtZkm
Check out her stuff, it's wonderful and she is a sweetie to work with and can do custom as well.  Anyway when I ordered my stuff I had to get something for me, right?  This hangs in the sewing cave now

Let's see what else, oh ya - yo Anna - http://thimbleanna.com/ - here is another tote that I got done at the sewing retreat

look it me, getting to big for my britches by adding a stripe, wow, where will it stop, LOL.  This one came out kind of furry, so it needed a little haircut to get rid off the extra fuzz.  So 2 down a few more to go.

Speaking of thimbleanna she wanted the S'more dessert I showed a few posts ago, so here you go Anna.  Bring on that loose shirt you showed the other day,  I can feel my pants get tight just reading the recipe LOL.

S'more Dessert

Graham Crackers
1 quart of coffee or chocolate ice cream
1 quart of vanilla ice cream
2 jars of really good hot fudge
mini marshmallows
1st layer
Using a 9x13 line the bottom of it with graham crackers, cutting them to fit the pan.

2nd layer
spread on top of the crackers the chocolate or coffee ice cream.  it helps to let it sit out for a few minutes to soften a bit.

3rd layer
graham crackers again

4th layer
hot fudge - it spreads easier if you warm it just a bit - use the whole jar for goodness sakes

5th layer
vanilla ice cream - again soften a bit

6th layer
that last wonderful jar of hot fudge- safe a spoon of it to eat and spread the rest covering all of the ice cream.
now freeze it.
Just before serving it put marshmallows on top and put under the broiler - close to the broiler elements until they have that roasted look.  watch closely because this will happen fast and you don't want them burnt.

my friend Kari who first made this hip padding recipe made them in individual ramekins for all of us.  I wasn't that nice I just made it in the 9x13.  Anyway enjoy and have a slice for me :)  If you want a looky at the dessert, just go down a few posts and you will see it, it's not the best picture, but believe me sisters, it's wonderful

This is the weekend we always close the lake cottage.  We just never seem to get there in the fall for some reason.  So tonight we were going to have a fish fry  and bonfire out there with a bunch of friends.  Went out there last night to drop off somethings and make the load lighter today when we head out to go back there (we only live 25 minutes from the cottage).  Well we get there, hubs goes in first and I hear "OH NO" - turns out the water heater blew a leak and there was water all over the bathroom, hallway and into our bedroom.  Well now wasn't that pleasant.  So after much cleaning up, we got  back
into the car, came home, unpacked everything - by now it's 10:30 and hit the sack.  Mr Plumber is there fixing or replacing the water heater, haven't heard yet what he did and the party will be here at the house.  So I told hubs - the frying of the fish will be in the garage or on the deck, NO frying in the house.  Lordy I would be smelling that all weekend.  So hopefully we will have hot water out at the cabin this weekend to clean and close it for the season. 

Well as you can see Ms Cami is on patrol

for all those wiley chipmunks and rabbits, I wanted to make sure she could do it in comfort and moved her little bed there for her.  How sad is that I ask.

So it's that time of year where summer is just about done and fall is fast approaching.  The final long weekend of the summer is here and I hope you have a safe and wonderful time doing whatever it is you have planned.  As they use to say on Hill Street Blues (remember that show) "Hey, be careful out there"

See you next week

Frustration

You know I've been waiting for those dang red chairs for over 6 weeks - well here's one

As you can see Ms Cami thinks its a great perch for looking out into the backyard.  The other chair is here, but came with a great line of grease on it, how wonderful.  So they say they will put a rush on getting a new back piece for the chair.  I've been waiting to get these chairs before I did anything else, so that everything fits in the room nicely.  Guess I will be waiting a bit more.  I do like the one chair tho and it looks great in the room and comfy to.

Today was my monthly scrapbook get together with Lib and we had it at my house.

I ordered my pictures on line last week and the packaged arrived yesterday, a very thin package.  I thought wow that's pretty thin for 35 pictures, oh ya they forgot to pack the pictures.  So I call the number they have for customer service and I guess they will try and hit the package this time and send me another batch.  Without my pictures for the last 2 months I was limited to what I could do.  She's cruising along and even getting some other pages done.  You go girl.  She's a very creative chick :)  I  made us Hawaiian Pizza for lunch

and a slice of bakery pecan pie warm with vanilla ice cream for dessert.  Lord how many calories are in a piece of that pie.  I don't think I'll count those today. 

Wonderful Rainy Day

Today is one of those dreary rainy, hide in your sewing room days.  At least that's where I was until the doorbell rang and Mr. Brown had a BIG box for me.

  Yahoo - I've been waiting for these darling little block sets and signs.  Thought I would share a few with you

These are just a few of the designs I ordered, I can't share them all it would take you forever to read this post.  These are made by a sweet lady that I started buying from on ebay.  She has graciously made up a wholesale order for me a couple of times.

So now I'm heading back to the sewing cave where I've started working on a project for my quilt designer friend - if it turns out and she likes it, it will become a pattern - here's a little peek - the fabric is Snow Blooms (I think that's what it's called without running upstairs to see) by Kansas Troubles and of course this project would have to include wool

This is just a trial run to make sure we like the overall design, before I move on.  I didn't have any green yarn, so I used a double strand of pearl cotton.  Not the right color, need yarn.  Anyway there is more to the design than just a flower, but it's a start and I'm working Kari, I really am.  Love love love that fabric.

So back to the cave (hey wasn't that in Batman) to sew some more, than it's pricing tonight on the fall goodies.

Blogland

This wonderful world of blogland has been a joy to join and I've met so many kind, wonderful and creative people.  Sweet Anna over at http://thimbleanna.com/ nominated me for this "Nice Matters" award and I thank her with a BIG hug.  Your suppose to nominate others so consider yourself nominated if you haven't been already.  Thanks Anna - make sure to pop over and visit her blog.  That gal is amazing with her sewing, embroidery machine, knitting,  and just plain a hoot to read.  We think we are long lost sisters - we have that much in common. 

Well I had a major treat today - a facial - lordy lordy lordy that was pure heaven sisters.  It took an hour and besides cleansing, steaming, massaging, while I was having a masking treatment she gave me a massage on my shoulders, arms, hands, legs - well up to my knee legs - feet and head.  I told her they should offer rides home after that because I wasn't sure I could drive.  Never have I had one of those before, but believe me I'm going back.

So this afternoon I had my sweet painting friends Lib and her daughter Shel (hi Shel if your reading this) over for lunch for a little thank you for the painting of that porch.  I know they painted out there on the hottest days of the summer and as Lib said "it sucked" because of all of that bead board and the grooves.  But she is a true blue friend and I Luv Ya Lib :).  So anyway I got home about 20 minutes before they came over and there was no time for a shower to wash my hair which was every which way and on the greasy side from the head massage. I looked a little on the rough side, probably a little scary - but oh baby so relaxed.  Anyway we had lunch in the porch and a nice visit. 

So I really have nothing new to show so I decided to take a picture of some little pillows that I stitched using some flower patterns from Liberty Homestead and I put them in a little wooden container that sits in my 1/2 bath on the main floor

I love her patterns and think I own all of her books.  Here's a couple of other spots in the bathroom.  Love my wallpaper, but it can make the room a little dark

Somebody loves to spend time looking out the front door to see if she can spy a chipmunk or rabbit

Quiet Day

I must say that today is a quiet day and for some reason I am lacking any energy to accomplish much.  I did start exercising again today, walking with a friend - maybe that's why I'm pooped, LOL, my poor body is saying "what the heck sister is going on here".

Today my wonderful friend Lib and her daughter Shel came over to paint the dining room.  Now your probably saying, hey paint your own dining room.  Well first off I'm not a good painter, yes I can do it, but from start to finish it took them 1 hour today.  Yes I said 1 hour.  They both have such a steady hand for cutting in around woodwork and against the ceiling that no taping off is needed.  Now I would have to tape off the entire room, which would take me a day to do just that.  Than another entire day to paint.  I guess years of experience have given them that gift.  So first coat went on today and 2nd coat will go on tomorrow.  I'm painting it the same color as the porch.  LOVE LOVE LOVE it.  It makes this totally useless room at least warm and inviting if anyone ever sat in it.

We have a really big eating area in our kitchen/family room area which serves us so much better when we have any company over.  Next go around of building, no formal dining room.

Here is a project that I completed at the sewing retreat

This little quilt is meant to have a series of different pumpkins that go around the outside border.  After looking at it I decided not to put those on and I'm just going to have it quilted like it is.  Since I'm not decorating for fall this year because I will be decorating for Christmas the first week in November I wouldn't be able to enjoy this little sweetie until next year. 

I also worked on a bunch of little wool projects

Everything is cut and applied and all I have to do is sit down and stitch them on.  There's a couple that need to be mounted on foam board and then put into frames.

This little guy is a mini quilt that will be hung from an old wooden clothes hanger once I finish stitching down the binding.  You might recognize this from the little wool project for the peeps

You know it's a rather humid, dreary day.  The kind of day that's just begging me to sit my rear end in a recliner and do some stitching on those little wool projects.

Where Did Last Week Go

Wowzers last week sure went by in a hurry, and now the weekend is just about over.  It's been a dreary rainy, cool weekend here and it's been all right by me.  Reminds me so much of fall, which is just around the corner and I'm excited for that.  Hubs and I decided not to go to the lake this weekend.  With the weather being such as it was, I had a bunch of things I wanted to accomplish here at home and so we stayed put.   I've spent the weekend, doing inventory, pricing and sorting the rest of the merchandise I got in for the store.  So now tomorrow I can head there and do a little rearranging and put out more new things.  I think just about everything is here for fall, except an order of a bunch of block sets.  I'll show you those when they come.

The weekend with the sewing peeps was wonderful.  Again a little on the hot side, but we got through it.  There such troopers, right peeps? Thursday night we went out to dinner at a wonderful spot near the lake and started the retreat out on the right note

Lots of sewing was accomplished and one of the peeps got a quilt done for her son who just came home from Iraq

Of course we had our little wool project that I put together

This little scissors case was last years project

There was burning of the midnight oil to get projects finished

Time out for hand quilting and a little afternoon "kuniper" which is a peeps name for beverage

Plenty of piecing

lots of cutting and trimming

and just plain laughing and chilling

This room fits 6 of us and the other 2 that came a day later sewed in the kitchen and porch. 

We celebrated one of the peeps birthday on the first night with a sinful dessert.  Holy smokes it's rich, but YUMMO - this picture doesn't do it justice, but it's layers of graham crackers, chocolate and vanilla ice cream, hot fudge and then just before you serve it, mini marshmallows are put on top and then quick under the broiler to get that browned look.  Lordy lordy - one of the peeps said she still can't quit thinking about the Smore Dessert

It was a wonderful weekend of friendship, laughter, memories (like a visit very early in the morning from a BIG skunk, beds that deflated and charm packs) and creativity

Cheers Peeps

 

Lunch and Quilts

Went on a quick little road trip today with a couple of quilting peeps.  One of the peeps had never been to the quilt store we set out to visit, so she was excited to see what it was all about.  The day was be-au-ti-ful with a light breeze and lots of sun.  We decided to find a spot to eat lunch where we could eat outside and enjoy a view of the lake - pretty huh

Lordy I received several new boxes of merchandise that I need to open and price.  Guess what I'm doing tomorrow.

I'm Back

Well last week sure flew by in a hurry.  Thursday I left for the lake to meet the sewing peeps for our annual sewing retreat.  It was a wonderful and relaxing time.  A little on the hot side, but we managed and much sewing was done and a lot accomplished.  I will post pics tomorrow. 

Tuesday and Wednesday I spent at the store I'm renting space at arranging my fall treasures in what I hope is a pleasing look.  Told you that I would share pics and here's a few for you. 

I need to go back tomorrow and doing some tweaking and a little rearranging.  Hey maybe I had BIG sales and will really have to rearrange, LOL - that would be really sweet.  I do have some more treasures that should be here in the next week or so and I'm working on a few handmades that I would like to get there this week.  Today I was so tired from my weekend with the peeps that I only did what I had to, which wasn't much.  I did get a picture of Ms Cami today.  She went to the puptel to have her spa day and came home smelling sweet and purty.  Hubs loves it when she does this on the stairs and she managed to stay there while I went for my camera which was fortunately close by to take a shot.  She looks like she's in jail

The Finish Line

is just ahead.  Mr Floor guy is finishing up today on the floor, look at this match YAHOO

it turned out AWESOME and this is where it came from

the floor will stay unstained until we move out in a couple of years and then will re-stain the whole floor.  Because there is a big rug that goes on top, no one will know except you and I, LOL.  It just seems easier at this point to do it that way.  Because I came up with this idea during one of those nights when sleep was eluding me, my friend said yesterday, "see sometimes those sleepness nights pay off" she was right on that.

So those wonderful girlfriends came over yesterday and helped me price. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU.  Not sure the pics really show just how much stuff was down there.  I think one of them said, "oh my" when they walked in the door. 

So now I'm going to load the car with some of this stuff and head over to the store and try and do some displaying magic.  Then I'm not going to think about the rest until next week.  I've got to get ready for Kamp and get hubs ready for his little vaca that he's going on.  I'll try and take a pic at the store.

Have a great day :)

Bit and Pieces

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend.  Hubs and I spent the weekend at the lake and the weather was wonderful, and by that I mean not HOT like it has been.  We even had on sweatshirts for awhile yesterday - heaven I tell ya.  I'm a fall weather kind of gal and look forward to pleasant days  with sweatshirt nights.  Amen sisters :)

So the floor situation remedy has been started this morning.  This was my dining room last night as I was emptying most of everything out of there where the floor will be taken from

This room will have new paint and a new rug and part new floor, lol.  We've lived in this house for 7 years and I think we have eaten in there 3 times, huge waste of space, but it's the first thing you see when you walk in the house.  One of the things that's going to be packed away for awhile is my collection of snow babies, I'm a little tired of them and a friend suggested that I pack them away rather than get rid of them and see how I feel down the road.

I'm going to sell the cabinet that they are sitting in.  It's a beautiful piece of furniture, but just not my style anymore and it's time to move it out and let someone else enjoy it.  I have a great black chimney cabinet that I will be putting there instead.  I'm trying to shuffle things around and use for the most part what I already have, another AMEN hubs would say

I mentioned in an earlier post about possibly renting some space in a store here in town for my fall merchandise rather than having a boutique here in my home.  Last week the ladies and I came to an agreement and I'm moving a lot of stuff there tomorrow.  With the home tour looming in November and wanting to "freshen" up the house for that, plus a couple of other things happening before then, this just seemed easier and less stressful on poor old me.  This stores primary business is custom framing with a gift section within this store.  Cute cute place.  There gift business had been slow and is starting to pick up.  There looking for some new things that they don't have to purchase, which makes for better cash flow for them.  So we are going to try this on a trial basis and see how it goes.  If it goes well I will continue to do this, if the traffic just isn't there I will go back to having the boutiques in my home.  Is that confusing enough out there for everyone, LOL.  Anyway I have a couple of friends coming over this afternoon to help me price and get things ready to go there tomorrow.  Aren't girlfriends wonderful - they always come through for you.  Thanks chicks - you know who you are :)

Thursday it's the start of the annual Kamp Karen (gag me you say) at the lake.  I think this is like the 7th or 8th year I've done this with the sewing peeps.  We move out there for the weekend and sew and sew and sew some more.  Everyone takes one meal to prepare and that's the only time that person cooks or cleans up all weekend.  If they allow me I will take some pics.  One of us (no names mentioned) has been known to sew all day in her jammies.  So last year I put together little sewing kits for scissor holders that we made the first night.  This weekend I made the example for what we will be making this time around (it of course involves wool).  No pics until after the retreat because those peeps read the blog, don't ya chicks :).  For kamp  I'm going to be working on items that I will sell at the store, after all that's pure profit, well sort of, minus of course the price of the materials, LOL, and I could use some fast cash for that Visa bill with all of the merchandise on it, GULP that I paid last week.  Check back tomorrow for some pics of that ginormous amount of stuff that  we are pricing and you will know what I'm talking about sisters.  It made me tired and anxious when I looked at it last night.  The one benefit of having it for one day here at home, fast cash for paying for it all.  Having it in the store, it's one check a month, minus a very small commission and small rent space.  So we will see

tootles until tomorrow, I'm off to organize for the pricing flurry this afternoon.