Pizza Perfection

I've been on a kick lately (before I got sick) trying to find the best recipe for homemade pizza. I've found it!

The crust turned out just like I like it. Thick on the edges and a little chewy.

I used a no bake tomato sauce that is really yummy, added all the normal toppings of peppers, onions, pepperoni, tomatoes, and cheese. Perfection! I'll get this recipe up on the recipe tab soon.

So thankful the meds are working and I am feeling better.

 

Sick and Tired

I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired. Left work early last Wednesday and have basically bed in bed for six days. The viral thing turned into a sinus infection, bronchitis, and I think, a bit of pneumonia.

I am hoping the Z pack and steroids will get me on the road to recovery. Going to try to go back to work tomorrow. So, obviously, there hasn't been any sewing or crafting going on here.....

On a brighter note, I can be thankful for doctors and medicine, and a hubby who did the grocery shopping, the cooking, and all the other daily chores.

 

Scrappy Star Progress

I am getting there, but whew!

All scraps. Leftover shirt pieces from my sons's shirts, some goodwill shirts, and several remembrance quilt scraps.

Since I had so many of these scraps I decided to make it a queen size. As you can see I am making it in sections. I thought I had cut and sewn all the little rectangle pieces, but no, I need to make 30 more; that's cutting 120 more 1 1/2 inch squares, to go with the 30 more rectangle pieces and 15 big squares and 20 2 1/2 inch squares. See why I started with "whew!" And after I get the main section made, I still need to make some smaller side pieces and the border to finish the top. Thankful to have this day off work to sew.

At least I have my little furry friend close by to encourage me......

His favorite place to nap these days is on top of my Gammill table.

 

New hobby?

Maybe. Not too shabby for the first time.

 

 

Blog Book

I used Blog2Print to make my blog posts into a book. I've made two books and I have been very happy with both. You can pick the outside color, pictures for the front and back, and text for the spine and introduction.

I enjoy flipping through it and reading my posts and seeing the photographs.

I selected the compact method, which didn't always keep the photos and their text on the same page, but did save some pages. Overall it is a high quality product, a keepsake. One I hope some distant relative somewhere down the road will enjoy perusing.

 

My Quilting Methods

I've said before that I am self taught. That is a good thing because if I had taken a class where the instructor insisted on exact 1/4 inch seams and perfect cuts, I never would have taken up the hobby. I think you have to decide what is important to you. For me, what is important, is making a quilt that will be loved. Not making one to win awards at quilt shows. Not making one that is so perfect, the recipient won't use it. If it isn't used, it will never be loved. Finishing a quilt is important to me.

So, to keep things real I want to show you my methods.....realizing that many quilters will cringe at this sight....

I will press to make the seams join, most of the time, but I do not take the time to make sure the back looks perfectly pressed, meaning the joined seams lay flat. I press from the front. As long as it is fairly flat I know it will quilt out fine.

I am just not good enough in cutting and seaming that all my cut pieces go together nicely. So, I use the 1/4 inch seam to *adjust*. If I see that one side is barely picking up the fabric, I'll go over it again.

I often make my quilts in sections because I am so anxious to see what it is going to look like. Maybe that is because I have to have some reassurance that it will look good despite all my mistakes.

I realize that I will never be making custom quilts for customers. I am not good enough. However, I do know that when I make a Remembrance quilt, my "customer" is usually overcome with appreciation and really loves and uses the quilt. That is where I get satisfaction.

I wanted to post this because I surely don't want anyone to think I've got it all together in my quilting. I also want to encourage others who, like me, just can't do things with perfection. I have been making my blog posts every year or so into a book (I use Blog2Print). I hope that if I have a grand-daughter or great-grand-daughter who, one day, wants to take up the hobby of quilting, she can read from my blog book that her work doesn't have to be perfect. Imperfections are not necessarily indicative of carelessness or sloppiness, but just an indication that my goal may be different from others. Finishing is much more important to me than making quilts where every seam is free of puckers and every point matched.

We each have to decide our goals and that will direct what is good enough.

One last thought. Please don't think I am being critical of those whose work is nearly perfect. I wish my work could be more like that! It just isn't the way I roll. I probably need to do more paper piecing. My one paper pieced quilt was the closest I've ever come to having perfect work....but that method is so slow!

So, sorry for the long post. Are you shocked at my methods? What are your methods? Any advice for me?

 

Not like Pinterest!

I've always wanted to make my own noodles. Found a recipe online. Looked easy enough. They just don't look like the perfect noodles on Pinterest.....

...and what a mess. The dough stuck to the counter even though I dusted it well. So I had to ball up the dough again and then try using waxed paper. That worked better. I am making chicken noodle soup.

I think it is going to be fine, maybe even yummy.