Kalee's first quilt....

The day has finally arrived that I have waited for since the first day I had a daughter.. I have 2 now but my youngest daughter called me last week and asked me to help her make some quilts.. umm.. YEAH!  She is getting married in May and she wants to make 3 quilts.. one for her sister the maid of honor and one for each of the mothers.  Since she's never sewn before this will be an experience but I'm so excited to be making it with her.. she is going to start with the grooms mothers quilt...  we decided to make it as easy as possible and I don't want to burn her out or get her so frustrated that she never wants to quilt again so we decided on a snowball quilt..  she has always liked the one I made (pictured below) so it's a great start.. Super easy... as far as quilts go.

  So last night she came over.. I made Chicken Tortilla Soup and we got to cutting.  She got all the center squares cut as we laughed, chatted and ate Hostess cupcakes...  I hear the company may be going bankrupt so we had to do our part to help them out  :)  haha...  I forgot to get a picture of her working on her first quilt but I will amend that when she comes back tomorrow to cut some more..  so far she's not having fun.. lol.. she is her mothers daughter.. I hate cutting out quilt pieces too but once that's done the magic begins.  The one for me she isn't sure what she is going to do because she doesn't want me to see... I guess we can figure that out after she completes the first two.  I really can't tell you how excited I am... I wish my oldest daughter lived closer because I know she would love to be working on this with us but she is so busy being a wife, mother, working full time plus going to nursing school full time..  she is always so tired.  One day hopefully we can all 3 be quilting together...  a mother can dream :)

I'm off to clean and start working on my new sewing room..  I have a whole new motivation now to make a space workable for multiple sewing sessions...  The only issue is that it is across the street in a condo we own that currently is in a condemned building because the top two floors were burned in a fire in September.  The insurance companies are still squabbling over who is paying for the repairs since it started in an individual unit so as of yet not a thing is being done.  The power has been cut until the building can be rewired since they were soaked by the water used to put out the fire, but nothing can be done until the insurance companies figure it out and then the city has to approve the building as habitable before anyone can live in the building..  such a mess.  In the meantime by the light of day I am going to set up my sewing room so when it is finally done..  so am I!

Have a great day my friends!
Stella

Overwhelmed for absolutely no reason...

What a day.. what a day.  I feel overwhelmed but yet I don't really have anything I HAVE to do.  That's pretty sad.. lol.  I do want to share with you a SUPER find I got yesterday off Craigslist.. I am so excited!  I found a Horn sewing cabinet.. I found one new on sale for $1598 and I bought mine for $100  woohoo!  I don't think the girl really knew what she had... her grandmother gave her her "old" sewing cabinet when she quit quilting and she just didn't have room for it.  WHAT???  I would get rid of the couch before I'd get rid of this.. haha..  well.. maybe not but it sure would be a battle!

Here it is in white.. but mine is oak.  It has a few scratches on the top.. but for me.. it's just character lines!  

Have a great day my friends.. I'm off to clean.. blah.. 

Stella

Change of plans.....

Ever have a day totally planned and then the last second it all changes?  That was my day yesterday.  I have been preparing and almost salivating over spending a lazy Sunday sitting behind my sewing machine watching every sappy chick flick I could find.  I had my fabric pressed and folded.. petted it a few times during the week knowing that soon I was going to cut into it and turn it into a new creation.  My husband's brother was coming to town and they were leaving early in the morning to go the Washington Redskins game.. I just couldn't wait for those precious hours of bliss.  And then Saturday happened.. I got the call from my daughter and her sitter is sick.... dun dun dun.....   Well of course I am going to trade my day.. my one Sunday.. the day I had planned for for the last 10 days... for a day with my grandson.  :)  I am trying to not make the mistakes my mother in law did...  when my children were little she never.. ever.. ever.. ever getting back together.....  oh wait... sorry, that's a Taylor Swift song.. hahaha..   she never babysat my children.. not once.  She lived a mile away but she was so busy with her own life that she only saw her grandchildren on their birthdays.. a holiday.. or if a relative was visiting.  Now mind you.. I wasn't looking for a babysitter.. I was a stay at home mom, I couldn't afford daycare for three kids ages 2, 3, and 4.  I just wanted her to spend a little time with them getting to know them.. I remember one time getting into a "discussion" with her about it...  I told her that the kids are little now and they have nothing but time... a day will come when the tables will turn and you will want to spend time with them but they will be too busy.  My neighbors knew more about my kids they she did.  Totally sad.. but the day did come... she would want to visit when they were in high school and I would have to force them to be here to see her... they didn't want to.   They love their grandmother because she's Grandma.. but they know nothing about her.. she has never shared her life with them..  they don't know any old family stories.. not even a family recipe.  I'm not going to fault her.. she is who she is... and that ship has sailed..  but I know that I want my grandchildren to KNOW me and have memories of the days we spent together.. to know about my family... and yes, I'll even give them a family recipe.. hahaha.  Enjoy your family.. and give them memories.. it's all we have to leave when we are gone.

Your friend,
Stella

Hello Again!

Well, here I am again.  I keep thinking I'm back to stay but then life gets in the way.  This has been a really rough year for us...  although compared to some I really shouldn't  complain.  As the holidays approach and it becomes time for new resolutions keeping up my blog is one of mine.. I miss the friends I have made here.. I miss hearing about your life and seeing the latest craft or the way you redecorated your house...  it really is a sisterhood here in our little land of blogs.  

Since we moved to the condo I haven't touched a thing crafty in months..  Oh how I miss the sound of my sewing machine.. or the smell of melting wax waiting for something to dip.  A paintbrush in my hand..  or a can of spray paint staining my fingertips...  Everything I own has been divided between 4 places for the past year but now I am gathering everything in one place and I can be free to create again.  I know this sounds silly but I feel almost giddy with the thought of knowing that I will have everything together in one room soon.  Every time I've tried to make something I have to stop and try to figure out if the scissors are at the main farmhouse?.. or is the ruler at the old farmhouse?.. did I bring it to the condo or better yet.. is it in storage? :(  It's just a mess.  But now I have a sewing room again!  Woohoo!  This is so exciting!  Everything but the stuff in storage is now in my room waiting to be unpacked.  I did find some little things I could make last weekend because I couldn't wait anymore ..

First I made this casserole carrier.. I LOOOVE it.. it's big enough to carry a 9x13 pan or a cupcake carrier..   perfect for get togethers....

It's hard to see but that is a 9x13 pan in the bottom.

I also made a cozy for my iced coffee while I'm busy sewing so the condensation won't get my fabrics wet.. lol.  I actually like it and use it daily.  It says to put a button and elastic to hold it together but I'm just using a safety pin.. lazy :)

I saw this sewing pedal Stay Put on Pinterest and knew I had to have one... I'm tired of chasing my pedal across the floor when I'm sewing..

I also made a diaper bag for my youngest grandson but I forgot to get a pic before I gave it to his mother.  

Hopefully I'm back and back to crafting.. I know it makes me happy :)

Enjoy life my friends..
It's the only life we have!

Your friend,
Stella

Pinterest lately?...

I admit.. I'm addicted to Pinterest.  The problem is that I spend so much time clicking and repinning that I barely have time to make anything.  I did find the most amazing tub cleaner that truly does what it says..  I now live in a condo.. oh wait.. y'all don't know.. I don't live on the farm anymore, we are now living full time in the city.. woohoo!  I am no longer spending my days alone wondering what the rest of the world is up to.  I loooove the farm but it was in the middle of nowhere and I had to drive an hour each way to do anything!  With the price of gas as it is today it just wasn't feasible so we are cleaning it out and putting it up for sale.. cross your fingers for me that some hermit will come along and WANT to be alone.. haha.. that's just not me.  Aaaanyway.. back to my original post...  I found the most amazing tub and tile cleaner.. as I'm sure I don't need to say but I've been cleaning a tub for more years than I care to count.. but never.. ever.. have I had my tub shine like it does with this product.. it looks brand new!  It's so simple and I don't get the grit on the bottom of the tub like I do with scrubs.. here's all you need if you want to give it a try.... what I did in blue...

Tub and Shower Magic

o by

·  12 ounces white vinegar    (I used 8 oz)

·  12 ounces liquid, blue dawn detergent      (I used 8 oz) 

  Directions:

Heat vinegar in microwave until hot and pour into squirt bottle  (don't do this.. let it cool or better yet do it in a microwave safe bowl, mix in your Dawn and let it cool a bit before you put it in the squirt bottle.. the heat will make the spray bottle swell like it's about to explode.. as me how I know  :)   I was scared.. haha)

Add the Dawn soap. Put the lid on and gently shake to incorporate.

You now have a powerful cleaning product that will melt soap scum and tub and shower buildup, clean sinks, appliances and just about anything. Just spray it on, scrub, rinse and be amazed. For tough soap scum build-up, spray the mixture on and allow it to sit as long as overnight. Then, scrub and rinse.

Omg.. this stuff is amazing.. I spray it on.. let it sit for 30 minutes or so and scrub.. when the tub dries it is so shiny I need shades.  It does have a vinegary smell.. but to me that means clean.. my momma always cleaned with vinegar and I guess I got commercial thinking if it was on tv it has to be better.. but no.. momma was right.

Actually.. I now make all my own cleaning products.. for DIY soft scrub and awesome all purpose cleaner I found this site on Pinterest..    http://makeitgiveit.blogspot.com/2011/07/sensational-soft-scrubhomemade.html    I make both and wow.. I will never be in the cleaning aisle again. I already have all the basics.. just EO's and I'm set to go.  

For DIY window cleaner that ROCKS!  I have no idea who I got this from but I've been using it for a couple years so if you posted this on your blog a couple years ago.. THANK YOU!

Window Cleaner Ingredients:
2 cups Rubbing Alcohol
1 tsp. of Prell Shampoo (y'all remember that stuff, right?)
Water


Directions:
Pour rubbing alcohol and shampoo into a 1 gallon jug, then fill the rest of the way with water. Give it a good shake. 
Pour into spray bottles.


That's it, you're done. So easy!

Great for your pocketbook and you'll have a wonderfully clean home.. no lugging around 10 different cleaners..  LOVE!!

Hope y'all have a great day!  I'm off to blog hop on this wet rainy day.

Hugs,

Heavenly Bean Dip...

Hello hello!  I know it's been forever since I've posted but have I got something to share with you........  I have a bag of Fritos left over from my daughters graduation so I wanted to find something to make to go with them.. well, naturally I thought of bean dip.  Being the lazy person I am I didn't want to have to run to the store for one item so I searched the net and came across the bessssst bean dip recipe and I wanted to share.  It's so simple and easy I can't believe I've never made it before!  Just 3 simple items and this stuff is beanie heaven in a bowl!

The blog I got it from was http://www.cheap-bastid-cooks.com/homemade-bean-dip/ while you are there check out his site, he has a ton of recipes I want to try and the pizza looks like I want to dive in and swim in it's cheesy gooeyness!  Ha.. ok.. here's the recipe....

Ready?.....

• 1 16 oz can refried beans
• 2 tbs mayonaise or “salad dressing”
• 1 tbs chopped “jarred” jalapenos

That's it!  Just put all the above in a food processor or blender.. whirl away and then you are left with the most wonderful bean dip made.  I use Hellman's and I didn't have jalapenos so I used jarred banana peppers.  Try it!  You won't be disappointed!

I have a few things in the works I want to share so I'll be back again soon! 

 

Hugs,