Stitcher's Journal

I bought 2 of these journals last year, gave one to a friend and kept one for myself.  There are pages inside to record your quilt projects, fabrics used, etc.

They have them for sale here on amazon.com.

It's so pretty I had to have it but I wasn't sure exactly how I'd use it. I decided it would be too much work to re-record all of my quilts since most of them are recorded in my books anyway. So I thought I'd just use it as a inspiration journal and post photos of quilts I'd love to make someday.

You remember this quilt I just posted last week or so. Except I want to make a small version of it.

I love baskets and this one has been flitting around in my head ever since I saw it on eBay a few years ago. I have to make it someday. Maybe it will make its way into a book in the future??

Anyway, I like keeping track of projects I want to make someday and putting them on paper in a  book is one of the ways I stay organized. I usually just use spiral notebooks for that. Maybe I should also keep track of my unfinished quilts/tops and have a "reminder" list of the ones I want to finish first.

Having photos of them handy in a book like this should be helpful. I'm not promising anything here but you have to admit it's a good idea. We'll see if it works.

Breakfast Recipe

I'm trying to eat more heathy and always have a hard time coming up with breakfast ideas. Especially FAST ones and I get so tired of cereal or oatmeal. I posted this one on the blog a long time ago but it bears repeating and so here's a a great recipe for a very quick CRISPY BAKED OATMEAL I think you'll love. My kids love when I make my Apple Crisp with oatmeal topping and always ask me to make the crispy topping alone. This recipe is for the oatmeal part only - if you add apples it takes a little longer but if I have time I like it better. This week I added blueberries and fresh strawberries on top with a dollop of vanilla yogurt. Yum. Oats are good for your heart and supposedly help lower your cholesterol.

I make it in the microwave and then put it in the toaster oven to CRISP up.

Here are the approximate directions for one serving. Keep in mind--I'm a quilt designer, not a recipe czar:

Ingredients:

1/4 cup dry oatmeal

dash of salt

1 t  brown sugar

Sprinkle of cinnamon

1 T melted butter or margarine

fruit or yogurt for topping

1.  Mix oatmeal with a dash of salt and about 3 or 4 tablespoons of water to moisten in a microwaveable bowl.

2.  Microwave on high for 1 minute. You don't have to fully cook it. It tastes better if the oats are sort of uncooked and not soggy so that they crunch up nicely.

3.  Pre-heat toaster oven to high or broil. Sprinkle a little cinnamon and brown sugar into half-cooked oatmeal; stir. Place mixture into a greased small, individual size glass baking dish. Drizzle a little melted butter over the oatmeal to get it crispy.

4.  Bake oatmeal on high or broil for 5-6 minutes until crispy. Let it cool and, if you prefer, add a little milk to enjoy your apple crisp topping without the apples. A nice change from soggy oatmeal.

I prefer the apples in mine and have sometimes made the quick version of Apple Crisp this way in the microwave but it still takes a little longer to cook the apples. First, cook the  chopped or sliced apples in a small amount of apple juice or water. You can do this in the microwave. Add the oatmeal on top of the apples and follow the rest of the directions above. You can also sprinkle a low calorie sweetener instead of sugar on top AFTER it's baked if you need to cut out some of the sugar. Or, be creative--sometimes I add raisins or dried cranberries plus walnuts to the oatmeal AFTER I microwave it. And, like I said, it's great warm with fruit or yogurt.

Kitchen Inspiration

My kitchen has been looking blah lately. We remodelled it a few years ago and never quite finished everything either because we became busy, ran out of money or energy and then became busy again.

I have always loved big old houses and farmhouse kitchens but, alas, we had to make do with what we had, i.e., a small house and small kitchen. Other than painting the cabinets and replacing the formica countertops, the old kitchen hadn't been touched since 1961, if you can imagine. The kitchen is small but I wanted a farmhouse look that we could afford and insisted on having an island even though our contractor said it wouldn't work in such a small space. It works just fine and we use it a lot. The room gets a lot of light but we still choose vanilla-colored cabinets to make it look even brighter. I actually love my kitchen despite the size.

The walls are painted that Martha Stewart blue/green.

I've been puttering around a lot, trying to catch up with organizing things at home. I can't remember the last time I cleaned out some of the cabinets. Oh my.  I went to a Home Goods store yesterday looking for a gift. Well, guess what? I came home with some pretty new dishes! My old everyday dishes were looking pretty sad and I've wanted new dishes for a long, long time. I did not want to keep using my other pretty English Garden plates that I bought last year for every day. So, as I told my husband when I got home (Surprise! New dishes!) , we really, really needed them. Right.

I bought this pretty floral china last year but only use them for  special dinners, not for everyday dining. At least not while the kids are still home, LOL.

The colors in the new plates are very similar but they're much more casual. Perfect for every day!

Buying new dishes was just the thing to get me inspired and motivated to clean up the kitchen and possibly think about finishing up some of the things we never finished, sewing some valances for the windows, cleaning those blinds, yuck, organizing the Tupperware, pantry, etc.

The floral pattern is so cute and almost reminds me of applique.

Look, the dishes sort of match my rugs too!

They already match all of my other kitchen accessories so it was destiny - they were just sitting there waiting for me to come along and give them a nice, new home.

It's funny how something like this can really motivate you to clean things up. The kitchen is looking better I think and it makes me feel so good now that it's cleaner and more organized. Can't have pretty new dishes sitting on cluttered counters, LOL. Plus, it looks like they will also inspire me to cook some healthy dinners. Someone asked about recipes in the comments for the last post and I think I will add some of my favorites soon. A bonus to these plates and one good reason I chose them - the center area is smaller than my other ones so perhaps that will help me with portion control as I try to eat healthier and lose a few pounds.

More Inspiration

I'm getting inpsired from all sides. I love to see photos of quilts that quilters make from my designs. Kathie has been working feverishly as usual and although I will never, ever be able to keep up with her, it's fun to see her make some of my quilts that are just a tiny bit different than mine. I have a list of some of her designs I want to make someday too. One of my favorites is in the 2011 American Patchwork & Quilting calendar. I was reminded of this when I saw my friend Julia's Ancient Stars quilt.  I cannot believe that I have never made an Ohio Star quilt. I love this block. Isn't this a beauty??

This calendar is hard to find but there are some great quilts in it. My calendar is still stuck on MAY for some odd reason. I have not changed the page yet, LOL, because it's the first time one of my quilts has been in a calendar and I'm savoring the experience. Who cares if it's July? The picture is fun to look at and when people come over and tell me the calendar is on the wrong page I tell them to look closer. No, it's definitely the right page - I'm showing off!

I will have to change it by Fall though to enjoy Kathie's quilt. There's also a lovely photo of a small quilt made by Ann in the same calendar -

It's similar to that one I want to make that's in the latest Fons & Porter Love of Quilting magazine but Ann used 4-patch blocks in hers. This one is just the right size and design and I think I'll make one like it with pink and indigo, using some of my tiny nine-patches I have stashed away. Here, another one that's going right on the list!

The list is getting long. I got a little bit of quilting done this weekend but not much because we were so busy. But you'll be happy to know that I have finished half of the blocks for my daughter's X quilt. This quilt takes priority and if I'm lucky I can get it done this month and then to the machine quilter in August. Why is it taking me forever?

I have so much catching up to do in other areas of my life, quilting is still taking a back seat for a little while. In addition to honing my Scrabble skills so I can beat my husband the Scrabble Master one day soon (!), I'm also focusing on my health and diet, continuing my walking and trying to get and stay well and feel good. Not making any money this way, LOL, but I'm slowing down, experimenting with some new, healthy recipes, sitting in my back garden in the sun a little every day, reading a bit, listening to the birds. Speaking of which, I'm reading a wonderful novel -

I fell in love with the title and cover right away. Here's an excerpt.

Today my priority is running  a couple of errands - going to Whole Foods for some organic Oat Bran so I can make these muffins. I can start adding a little fiber to my diet now and oat bran seems to be the way to go for me - I tolerate it better than wheat bran and not only will it keep the diverticulitis from coming back but it will help my cholesterol too. One muffin a day. Oh, the fun of getting old . . . .

I'll have to buy some blueberries too and possibly add them someday.

Happy Independence Day!

It's almost the 4th of July and I was looking for a quilt or two to display this weekend for a barbeque we're having. I did not realize I had made so many small quilts in a red, off-white and blue theme. I'll bet many of you also have some if you look hard enough.

Celebrate Freedom!

“Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves” 

~ Abraham Lincoln

My daughter was watching me while I took these photos of my quilts and said "Mom, you have so many other patriotic pictures and things around the house too. They all have flags or stars in them." I do not - oh, you're right, I guess I do -

 

While you're celebrating the holiday, step back and think about all of the freedoms we Americans enjoy and sometimes take for granted. Education is a big one for me. I think of schoolhouses - and how hard the early Americans worked to establish schools in America so their children could have the best opportunities.

"I believe in America because we have great dreams - and because we have the opportunity to make those dreams come true."

~ Wendell Wilkie

"If you take advantage of everything America has to offer, there’s nothing you can't accomplish."

~Geraldine Ferraro

"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, oppose any foe, to ensure the survival and success of liberty."

~ John F. Kennedy

"The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself.”

 ~ Benjamin Franklin

And here's another quote from Ben Franklin, even if if isn't exactly patriotic. Fitting for me to remember and for a weekend of celebrating perhaps. It's been 2 months since my surgery and the doctor said I do not have to stay on a low-fiber diet anymore. Yippee! I can eat almost anything I want. Believe it or not, I've been craving salad for a long, long time. I'll try to go easy on the desserts too though, LOL.

"To lengthen thy life, lessen thy meals."

One more reason for us to celebrate here - it's the littlest girl's birthday! Ophelia (Princess Lia) turned 3 today! Freedom to play and be cute all day . . .

Inspired by Magazines

I always get inspired when the quilting magazines come in the mail, don't you? There are some really pretty ones in the August 2011 issue of American Patchwork & Quilting now on newsstands. Don't you love this magazine?? 

(Quilt designed by Anne Marie Yohnk)

(Quilt designed by Kathie Holland)

(Quilt designed by Becky Goldssmith and Linda Jenkins)

See more quilts that appear in this issue from the magazine website - All People Quilt. There are lots of free patterns for small quilts in the archives too. Also, check out the how-to videos! I need some time to go through some of them.

I am also totally inspired to make a small version of this simple quilt I saw in the latest Fons & Porter Love of Quilting magazine. Don't you just love the scrappy antique look?

I think I might even be able to use some of my scrappy nine-patch blocks I have stored away in a drawer that were made with 1 1/2 inch squares. And I know I have the right pink and indigo for the background and sashing.

The latest edition of Quiltmania has a nice review of my new book and their usual inspiring photos of terrific quilts. Speaking of French magazines, Delphine from France sent me an issue of one of her favorite magazines.

Is this not one of the cutest scissors holders you've ever seen? I can't read the directions (French!) but it looks easy enough to make from the pictures.

Well, I certainly can't say I'm not getting enough inspiration. Now I just have to figure out a way to make time for everything.

Back to Work

I went  back to work recently, giving a few presentations to a couple of quilt guilds.  It's fun to show my quilts because they look so much nicer in person than they do in the books.  I usually start off with the small ones and work up to the larger ones - that always surprises those who think I only make little doll quilts. I guess I have a reputation for that, LOL. (Note to myself: I need to scale back and bring LESS quilts next time! Takes a long time to show all of them.) When I see the guild members' Show & Tell I'm always amazed to see how large their quilts are. Wow, some of you people make HUGE quilts.

At Prairie Star Quilters in St Charles, IL

Here's my Calico Comfort quilt from Remembering Adelia.

My old friend Mary Z was there and it was so nice to see a familiar face. She's actually not that old, LOL. You know what I meant, Mary. She and I met in Jo Morton's very first Little Women Club in 2003. Funny, but I didn't realize it had been that long ago until she reminded me. She commented that she visited my blog recently and was shocked to see that my daughter had grown up and wasn't a little girl anymore. I had forgotten that Mary had met her  - she was about 10 then and I used to drag her along with me to some of the Club meetings at a local quilt shop if my husband was working late and I couldn't leave her home alone. I was trying to expose her to quilting early. Guess what? It didn't work!

Here's Mary's latest beauty - she told me that the blocks were from swaps and she put them together using a design created by Wenche Martinsen. I believe she's still attending Jo's Club this many years later and the fabrics are all Jo's prints. I'm a sucker for that light blue border! Don't you love it together with all the scrappy blocks?

Elaine "Truffle Queen" the Blogger was there too - it's fun to meet people face to face after you get to know them from comments on blogs and I love it when they introduce themselves to me. We talked about how therapeutic and addicting blogging is for us. I'm always surprised people read mine. Sure, technically, I know people read my blog, but usually when I'm typing away I'm often not aware that anyone will remember something I wrote. Someone else approached me yesterday and said "What kind of dog do you have? She's so cute!" How did  she know I have a dog?? And a CUTE one at that! Oh, yeah, the BLOG. It's beginning to follow me around like a puppy.

Favorite blankie and favorite toy bunny

When life gets busy my husband will read my blog to catch up on what I'm thinking about (in my OTHER life) and on occasion will say to me "Are you sure you want to tell that to a bunch of strangers??" Oh, don't worry, I don't think anyone actually reads it . . .

But, just in case, here's another cute dog shot - Yes, I have TWO dogs. This one is waiting patiently for some food to drop.

And TWO kids. But they're growing up fast. See that foot in the upper left-hand corner? It belongs to my son. I didn't realize until now that I was recording a somewhat historical moment with my camera. Oh my. He's WASHING dishes . . . . At least I think it's my son.