Spring 2026

 Lots of activity going on around here.  So much going on in the world I am trying to count my blessings, stay busy, and just live for the Lord as best I can.  Recently I've recycled several pairs of jeans, by updating the skinny legs to panel jeans. Using other scrap jeans or quilt pieces leftover from my last few jackets/vests for the panels.  These are so fun!

I saw a pic on Instagram similar to the last ones with denim patches. The pic was my inspiration.

Also made a vest from the same quilt as the last jacket.  It might go to my granddaughter if she likes it.

Doing some other fun things like making homemade gummies.  This recipe is so easy. I used grass-fed bovine gelatin, which is basically pure protein made from collagen. It does have some other benefits such as amino acids and other things good for you. 1 cup fruit juice, 2 T. gelatin, 1-2 T honey. Warm juice, dissolve gelatin and honey and put in molds.  The molds I used were from Amazon in a simple round shape.  I thought I might also use them to make some homemade chocolates.

I'm thinking the grandkids will like them.  Need to experiment with some other flavors.

Working on getting a good sourdough loaf using fresh milled flour.  So far, I've not been able to do that.  All have been so very dense and just didn't taste good.  I'm now trying to do it without a recipe and "learn" the sourdough.  Fingers crossed this loaf might be a better.

Made a strawberry cobbler using fresh milled flour yesterday.  it was so delicious!  Just used a simple recipe of 1 stick of butter, 1 cup milk, 1 cup FMF (I used 1/3 Kamut, 1/3 soft white, 1/3 hard white), 1 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt, and about 4 cups of sliced berries. Baked about an hour at 350.

Guess that's all for this update!

February 2026

 It didn't take me too long to get used to retirement. I'm loving having the time to do all the things.  And I've been very busy. Built and installed some new narrow shelves in the pantry. Made two quilt of valor quilts for two local veterans. I've almost finished my second quilted jacket, made a quilted vest, made panel jeans with quilted panels, and have a baby quilt ready to quilt. Enjoy the pictures!

     The Before:

The After:

Quilts of Valor:

Quilted Jackets

This quilt had not been washed or used in ten years.  It did make the cover of a magazine but I'd rather have it as a jacket than to not use it.  It wasn't a great size for a twin bed and my granddaughter has..so..many...quilts....

Still working on this one.  Have inset pockets to make and I plan to replace the zipper with a reversible one to make the jacket reversible!  I had to do a lot to this jacket. The fit was too big, so I took it up on the side seams then the back stuck out, so I had to take it apart and adjust the side seams of the back piece also. I added a mandarin collar, which I love, and a zipper, neither was in the Tamarack Jacket Pattern.  But the seller had lots of videos to go with the pattern so that helped a lot.  I still have to put in the inset pocets, which I dread. I am waiting on some fabric that hopefully will match the polka dot lining.

Little quilted vest

Quilt Panel Jeans - these were made from some old thrifted skinny jeans.

I do think I want to make some more of these. I have old skinny jeans to use. I may even make some in barter for eggs from a friend who has chickens.  I love to barter skills.

I also did a little genius idea to hang art in the kitchen.

The art is one of my own I painted a few years ago.

And i finally got a baby quilt ready to quilt.  Need to make another. Two friends have new grandbabies. I'm really trying to use what I have in most of my projects these days.  I feel the need to downsize a bit. To me this quilt looks very vintage, although most of the fabrics are modern; I think it's because they are mostly pastels.