Food for shopping

When my sister and I set out on our quilt store shopping marathon last weekend, I knew we were not going to have  take time for eating because both of us think fabric shopping is life sustaining........who needs food when you're fabric shopping?  

          Don't these look delicious?--------->

 SO,  I loaded the car with water and this recipe for Chocolate Almond Granola I had been drooling over...I found it at Lauren's Latest ....she has some VERY...no, I mean VERY delicious recipes and she's funny to read! 


Of course, mine didn't look quite as delicious as hers...she shows it all sexy in a pretty bowl with some strawberries.












  
  Mine was just in a ziploc baggy....not quite the same effect, but I can tell you it is just as delicious as she describes...especially when we had it the next morning as a cereal! OMG! And the best part....the milk gets all chocolaty like when you eat Cocoa Krispies or Cocoa Puffs....YUM! 
Slurp! Slurp! 






I was just about to put together another batch because we managed to consume that first one shamefully fast.  Thought I would share it with you....not the granola, silly, that's mine....I mean the recipe...here's the link again in case you missed it up at the top there... Chocolate Almond Granola  and Lauren calls it "healthy" which I suppose it is as long as you don't eat it ALL in one day!!

Sisters...addictions...and WOYWW

My sister, Marcy, came to visit me....it's her fault I am addicted to quilting. I have always had an addiction to fabric and then she introduced me to quilt stores. THAT was the first mistake. Then, she introduced me to quilt store "runs"...THAT was the second mistake. It's not that we need an excuse to go visit ALL of the quilt stores in a given area BUT when there are prizes and free patterns involved...well, how can you NOT participate? Besides, it's fun to spend the day with a sister...and okay, so we shopped for TWO days...it was lots of fun and we also were able to convince another sister to tag along with us.

I secretly told Marcy that I was going to convert Marie to fabric...she's a paper addict, I think some of you at WOYWW know what I am talking about. I'm pretty sure the seed was planted ......as we stood in front of a new line of fabulous fabric she uttered this with a sigh..."All this cute fabric reminds me of paper, I love it!" I don't think Marie will ever stop card crafting but I say there is always room at the work desk for another addiction...isn't there? ....Ok...maybe not..........

I don't really think I could fit another thing in this space...I know it looks VERY busy, like I have been just creating like crazy! But honestly...I haven't been. I had to shuffle things around to set up the bed for my sis. I figured she might appreciate a bed instead of the floor and I guess giving up the sewing room for a sister is a fair trade for a couple of days. So.....lots of little piles in a small corner creates the illusion that I have been just ripping up the crafting world. I seriously need to get this mess straightened up..TODAY...Mother's Day is in a couple of days and I brilliantly picked up a project on our shopping spree and it needs to be completed by Sunday for my mother in law......brilliant.

So the question is...What's on YOUR workdesk? Over at Julia's blog, we share our crafting places whether they be shameful or glorious or somewhere in between. Mine always tends to be closer to the shameful side. I'm on the way over there now because it's an addiction that doesn't take up any space :)

                                 Happy WOYWW #153 everybody....thanks for visiting!

Keep it simple...WOYWW

Yep, that's what Aidan says. Nothing fancy, just a regular "A" and of course I want a dot on the "i"!

I tried to make it "cool" (in a Grandma's way of thinking)

 I even embroidered a sample letter for him to review....







Nope...nothin' doin'



On Wednesday's, a whole lot of crafty people get together and share their messes  ...er....projects with each other over at Julia's blog . So, on my work desk this week is a catcher's bag, screaming out to me to make it special! Do something "fancy" for Aidan. Make his name REALLY cool!

 But alas, all I have to share for WOYWW is the simple lettering requested by Aidan....nothing fancy....

I decided I better keep it simple as requested......

Cause this ain't nobody this 
Grandma wants to tangle with!





















Happy WOYWW #152 !

Best invention EVER nomination

Have you ever noticed how perfect the "camping chair" is?  It is simply the best invention EVER when it comes to being in the great outdoors....

It comes with everything you need to work

and it still has room on the other side for enjoying the great outdoors........

Isn't it PERFECT ? 

That's what I did this weekend...visited our favorite local campground and

worked on crafty things while fishing...napping...napping...fishing....

I think the "camping chair" should win some sort of "BEST INVENTION EVER" award, don't you?

Blocks of procrastination

Dang it! Is it really May next week ALREADY? I guess that'll put another X in the FAIL column of the Craftsy Block of the Month  I've been working on ***sigh*** there ARE still a few more days of April so I guess there might be hope...don't hold your breath though....there are lots of things in the procrastination pile ahead of April's blocks...gosh! how did that pile get so high?.....I might have to re-prioritize...pfffff...later.

In the meantime I wanted to share with you the March blocks I completed in April :)


 
I have said before that Quilting is an amazing process of tricks and shortcuts that in the end fool the eye into believing it must have taken years.

These block are definitely in that "fool the eye" category. I love this block...my favorite so far.

This was my first experience with foundation piecing. I think I may have found yet another thing to love about quilting.


Isn't it amazing how you can begin with a couple of lines on a foundation piece of fabric....

 Sew multiple strips onto that foundation piece...any width your heart desires...mix it up...don't be afraid!





Keep adding strips....






and adding strips....














Before long you have what looks like a mess...but the seams are all so perfectly straight!













Trim it up.....makes me look pretty good doesn't it? Wow! That's a nice square!

Now make three more...all different...sewn without care of matching colors or strip widths......

and then when you put them all together..... they become one beautiful block! (Now I look REALLY good...shhhhh.... forget I said that quilting can "fool the eye")

I could see a whole entire quilt made from this block...bet I could get a quilt top done in one afternoon with this method....hmmmm....can you hear the "procrastination pile" screaming?  

And how I got from this.....

To this......

  is another mystery you can solve by joining in with me at the Craftsy Block of the Month..... It's NEVER too late to start, after all I'm pretty sure there's a procrastinator out there who hasn't started yet either!

Therapy and WOYWW

I wasn't going to go there today. I wasn't. But when I walked into my sewing room this morning and saw this....

and this....

I knew I needed some therapy... WOYWW therapy. So, I popped on over to Julia's and what do you know...SHE needs some therapy too, you should see her desk, it puts my mess to shame!

My excuse? I was working late last night finishing some totes that were a special request from my sis. I needed to deliver them today so...after much procrastination (because no job can be truly completed unless there is procrastination first)  I finished them on time to be delivered today but I was too tired last night to pick up...ok, so yes, those are finished FooFoo Bunnies waiting for their picture and to be listed in my store and yes, they have been sitting there since last week BUT they ARE finished! And yes, those are my  Craftsy Block of the Month pieces and parts underneath the bunnies.....I guess you might have to call all of that my "procrastination pile" ....sounds kind of permanent doesn't it? 

Seeing all of this in pictures really makes me....well...I don't know what it makes me...uh, maybe a really great  "what's on you workdesk wednesday"  therapy patient? 

I DO feel better....so, thank you Julia for that!

Strike up the band...we have a winner!

Can I just say....I love my readers! I loved reading your responses to my question about music in your lives. Thank you for making my very first giveaway so successful!

Alright...that's enough of that mushy stuff...... let's find out who won!

Drum roll please!!

I filled the marching band hat with all of your entries.....

 It was pretty full....thank you so much!!

Aidan was so excited to pick the winner, he reached in and pulled out a name.....

And that name is.........

Terrie Lee R

She wrote:

Terrie Lee RApr 18, 2012 06:26 AM

Music has always been a part of my life but I guess the best part would be listening to my baby play his music in his band. He is grown and out on his own now so I don't get to hear it as much. I framed one of his pieces of music that he created as a reminder. He has a gig coming up so I'm really excited to see him perform again. Thanks for the opportunity to win your lovely tote!

PS - I am already a follower.

Congratulations Terrie Lee !!!

You have 24 hours to contact me and let me know which tote you would like to have as your prize.

Thank you again to all of you who entered....I know it's a bummer when it's not your name in big red letters, it's not ever my name either.  I do hope you will try again on my next giveaway...cause you just never know!