What I've been up to

Planning a get-together for Mom's Day....lots of birthdays this month and the list goes on. March, April & May are extra busy months around here. I hope to get back in the blog of things very soon. I have so much to share! The pastel pretty fabric above is Martha Pullen's heirloom batistes. I want to get a bit of each, to make sweet sachet bags for my sisters. I like to give a little pretty thing to them & Mom...for me its just a sweet day. I'll be sharing some sews real soon....I am pretty much done with the gardening 'open season'....as i call it.

Weeks have just wooshed right by me...where'd they go...?
I was busy in the garden and wore holes right through the finger tips of my gloves. March begins 'Open Season' around here. We have a lot of garden to spruce up and weed. OMG the weeds...for every one i pull, i know another is sneaking back in. Open season...I get all the stored patio stuff, clay & ceramic pots out...you know..Open the door to the shed...and say Oh oh...(because i see another project in my near future). I really do love this part though, everything feels sorta new. The things that don't look so good, are fair game for crafty projects. Luv that part!
So, once my gloves wore out...I declared it break time & the shed can wait until fall. Unless, the Mr wants to install air in there. haha!
In other outsy projects...I finally got one coat of paint on the porch. The porch that took 3 years to make. I swear! (I tore the ceiling out all by myself one day & i'll tell you more about that, another day) The weather messed up plans for a second, so I'll have to sneak that in, when mother nature isn't looking. Crazy Spring weather!

I also, changed some things here on this blog. A new banner and some buttons, not sure how I like it just yet. I need an afternoon, to just sit & draw up some things, with no interruptions. It may be changing again...hehe. I have an insatiable crave with blog design, in case you didn't know. Subject for change at any time...that's me :)

Have a great day...i'll see you soon with some sewing...i can't wait to get back to my machine!

planting carrots....maybe



Spring has arrived and with it has come lots of rain. I did manage to get some yard work done, earlier in the week. I believe it is raining weed seeds! Where I just pulled is showing signs of life already....I have much work ahead of me! I do love gardening and playing in the dirt but will need a few weeks before planting. Its a little early here just yet. A friend was planting herbs in pots and I cannot wait to get them going! She has a very nice post about her herbs & planting. It got me to thinking about what exactly, I want to sow. I came across these awesome carrots and think I may give them a try. So, many seed varieties and choices can be found on this site. It helps me to decide early on what to get into. I'll plant my usual herbs, basil, chives & parsley but I'm in the mood for trying something new. These carrots would make colorful salads!

If you get a chance check out all the seed varieties and stop over and see wendy.

i'll be seeing you soon...................susie

strawberry spring cake

There's definately a combination of spring in the air. The bluejays are flittering restlessly and are so beautiful to watch, going from tree to tree. I've been doing some yard work and enjoying their company. I want to paint & paper some bird houses and might get to that later this afternoon. Also, I have some spring baking on my mind. With all the beautiful baked, pins I see on pinterest....I could stay in the kitchen like forever! I've pinned my fair share for sure! Love pinterest...it gets me inspired and motivates..that's a good thing.

So, I wanted to share my Strawberry Spring Cake...I make it quite a bit...because it's easy, not too bad in the calorie dept. and it's very refreshing!

Strawberries are everywhere right now and I try to make all sorts of delights from them. To make this cake, I sliced some berries and saved a Big Huge one for the center. Pick out the biggest and prettiest one you have and set it aside. And don't be like me and eat it, declaring it wasn't the biggest. haha! I don't add sugar or make a simple syrup with the berries, for this cake, but I have used it for different versions of this cake recipe. I'll share them later with you...for now...a really simple spring fridge cake.

Just love strawberries and I tend to eat a pint for every 2 pints I slice, so I get plenty. Can never have enough...fruit...I'm popping them like popcorn..hehe.

Then, I whip up some cream...Ooo..I cannot lie, I do plop & pop a berry or two. I love this cream mixture, my Mom always made it for special cakes. I think my strawberry cake is special, so I'm filling it up with cream. I use real whipping cream and add just a little confectioner's sugar and whip it, until it becomes almost butter...yum. Who doesn't like butter....aww it's ok now n then...really! After slicing the berries and making the cream, I sit it all back in the fridge to stay cold. I then mix the cake batter and when it's baked & cooled I slice it in half. You could use two layer pans...but this is way more fun and you have the hole in the middle to fill with cream, because I need lots of cream....



I layer with berries and cream and then add the top layer and add more cream and place berries around the edges. That big huge berry, I told you too put aside...plop it right in the center and call it done. Who wants cake? They all eat it over here until it's gone. It's the perfect Spring fridge cake ever.....hope you enjoy!

Now, I am off to get those baskets done and I'll hopefully have a thing or two to share soon. I love Spring, it is so rejuvenating and gives me so much energy. I'll see you real soon.

Adapted from the Good Housekeeping Illustrated CookbookPrepare: Whip up 8oz of Heavy Cream with 1/2c of confectioner's sugar and put in the
fridge. Slice up a good amount of berries keeping the most perfect for the top separate.

Cake Recipe:
2 1/4 c of Flour
2 1/2tsp of Baking Powder
1 tsp Salt
1 1/2c Sugar
3/4c of butter or margarine
3/4c Milk
3 Eggs
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
1/2tsp of Almond Extract

Mix butter, sugar and eggs adding extracts, until creamy. Add dry ingredients a little at a time alternating with milk measure. Mix until incorporated.
Pour into greased fluted pan and Bake 350 for 40-60mins.
After cooled, slice across the middle and layer berries and cream.
Add cream to the top and decorate with the sliced berries. Plop a BIG berry in the center. Serve chilled



an eggy hello

& a happy hello...I've been busy...how's 'bout you?

Are you getting ready for Easter? I found a few things that I will be making. Thought I'd share a few with you. I always take one good sized basket to my Mother's, we all still gather there for the Holidays. Both of these are so darn cute and Delia Creates' Blog, is a new find...for me....Love finding new creativity.  

source

V & Co.  fabric easter basket tutorial featured on  ModaBakeShop

Vanessa also, has a cute egg tutorial on the site, you may want to try...all just too cute in my book! Another great way to sew little things! Little things that make big hearts.

I hope you're having a great Day!

til next time,

susie

Tea & warm socks

A little stitching this weekend.

This is so appropriate for the weather here. Cold & windy.

I have my stay-at-home socks on and a hot cup of coffee. I know it's suppose to be tea...but I like coffee too....good dark roast with vanilla creamer. yum!

I found this saying and liked it & the scriptive font...I have just the place for it.

I'm doing some decorating and still working on some sewing things.

I wanted to just get comfy in my big chair, so this fits my mood just fine.

Hope you're having a great weekend...

til next time,

susie

start to begin

So, I wanted to get back into quilting again.....

I started with a small 50" square lap quilt last week. My thoughts were to make this for my grandson. He frequently has his nose buried in a book. He's a cuddler, liking pillows and comfy spots to curl up & read. A lap quilt, would be the perfect thing for him and a good quilt start for me. I selected several patterns but all I needed to do, was to just begin somewhere. I pulled fabric out, sketched, looked at more patterns, thought some more....I began to cut.

I cut 125, 4.5" squares and stacked them. Having some fun writing his name on a square or two, I'm still playing with ideas. This is a quilt as you go, if ever there was. A square of cross stitch is going in, at some point & more fun stitches.
I was going along,  just fine and then it became slightly off. Man, I hate that....really. It's just a bit and I can let it go, but I normally would be ripping it out & starting over. I need to get this shipped out real soon, so I'm just lettin' it go...let it go...I did.

And then 'ruby' arrived. The postman brought her here. I opened and touched the fabric and got so happy. So happy, that I tossed stacks down upon the crooked little corners I just sewed and said...'self...it will just get better & better, just keep going'

So, I am.

til next time,

susie

fnsi....key fob

Happy Saturday! I sewed into the wee hours again. Got those scraps out and made some key fobs. When I say some, I mean two. I have a bowl on my sewing table for threads and a general catch-all. What goes in, is really going out. My 'rachael ray' sewing version, of her trash bowl....So, I emptied it and wanted to fill it with fobs. Hmmm...just two happened but I started & finished, so I'm counting it as an accomplishment.

I love these things, when I'm shopping, especially in food stores. I always have my arms full of bags, so having this on my wrist, is super, duper handy. I know fobs are everywhere, it has been done & done again. Can I say..."These are my first ones". They were one of those little things, on my list to do. They kept getting bumped to the bottom & I just now got to them. I love FNSI...I'm getting little stuff done....Yay...because that little stuff drives me crazy!

I've seen many a version but here, is what I did.

1. Cut 2 strips 2.5" x 12".......Cut 2 strips 1" x 12.....Cut 1 strip of stabilizer 2"x12"
2. One 'D' ring

I pressed the 2.5" strips under 1/4" on both sides & both strips. Then I pressed the 1" strips in half, for my piping. Sandwiched it together & sewed down both sides. Slid the 'D' ring on, sewed the two raw edges together & then top stitched near the ring. On the turquoise fob, I did it a little different, folding the ends over the ring. Don't think it matters much, as long as no raw edges show & it's neatly hidden. That's my take on it anyway. They were fun to make....I could go crazy with colors here...I mean nutso. This will definately be a small sew, to do throughout the year. Nifty Gifties ;)

Now, I must go see, what crazy-wild...boootiful things, everyone else did.

Enjoy the weekend...we have snow headed our way tomorrow....i smell cookies.

til next time,

susie

sew...it's friday again

Eeek! Friday is here already...this week went by as fast, as the one before. I've been so busy, that I almost forgot about the Friday Night Sew-In. It's tonight and I am ready to begin another project. I love doing this because, I get small cuts & scraps out of the way. It cleans up my area really well too. I can actually see my table....at least in one area.  Sign up tonight and visit everyone tomorrow for their reveals...

  Sign Up here for FNSI over at Handmade by Heidi

See you tomorrow,

susie

A little Paris

Getting back to my Paris Lady and making her into a bag. I don't have all the specifics just yet, because I simply can't decide. I keep changing my mind, on this one and she is still waiting. Decisions on size, purpose and then colors & fabric, completely escape my mind. I suppose it will come to me soon enough. I do have a few sketches to go on, because I'm not following any particular pattern. What is probably the biggest problem..is that this one is mine. The other two were for others. Do you do that too? Easy to make for others but not for yourself?

While I wait for that to speak to me, I have decided to start a quilt. Yep. My first in about a hundred years. tee hee... It's been a good while, since I did one. I've been looking around to find a design, to get me back into it and narrowed it down to three. I'll share when I begin cutting and get at least one block finished.

Pam over at 'A Little Off Quilter ' sortof made me do it. She inspired me to get back into it again. She just got lucky and caught me on a good day, is all :) One of my 3 picks is from her choice...The Tube Quilt. I'm really considering this one first. Hope she doesn't mind but I figure we can share our mishaps together....fun. The other two are  Urban Nine Patch and Swoon. And I have to tell you..I may even start all three because I'm not sure about sizes just yet. I may, make a cover for an old table I have been staring at and I've been wanting a quilt for my bed...like forever! I'm seeing pretty shades of yellows & creams for some reason. Hmm..

And before I go...I just have to share these little cookies with you...I think they're so darn cute. Can you stand it? Cutie Patootie!

I found  on Sweetopia and she has a video to learn how to make them.
She's sooo creative. I love Paris!


til next time,
susie

Monday Already?

Gonna be a Busy Week!

I have three sisters and I am truly blessed and thankful for that. They are the best...each one, unique to themselves and fun to be with. A riot...at times!
We're all grand moms too and while I was sewing up these hearts, I began scheming...as I often do. I made up these little tags and stacked two hearts together, put the tag on top and tied with a scrap piece of fabric. I made a set for my daughter too, she has my only grand daughter. Her tag reads  {Mommies have warm hearts}
I'm shipping them off tomorrow, along with some valentines. Later, I'll be working on some baked goodies to send. And then back to my studio to complete some more projects. Whatcha' got going on? You may want to do this.....

......I was visiting a friend's blog and read about this and thought 'What a Wonderful Idea!' I know, I love to get cards and little things from friends & family. Just think how nice it would be to send a little note or postcard. Maybe to someone you haven't seen in a while. I'm thinking about making some fun little paper projects on my cricut. This could be way too much fun! You can visit Lavender Dreams and get the scoop. All you're committing to, is to mail something each day of the month, to someone you know.
How nice is that?




Hope you're having a great start to a great week! It's freezin' cold here again...or maybe finally. It actually feels like Winter now. I do have my warm hearts... hehe :)
til next time,
susie