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.

 

Family

Today we met Jim's twin sister and her husband in Cookeville for lunch. They live in Nashville so it was about an hour drive for each of us. Had an awesome meal at Outback and enjoyed our visit very much. It has been months since we've seen each other.

By the way, I am currently reading the Mark of the Lion series by Francine Rivers. Awesome. Historical fiction about a family and their road to Christianity. I found myself checking the Internet and confirming many actual historical events, practices, and even architecture. If you can stay with it at the first through all the Roman names and places, it becomes hard to put down as the story unfolds.

 

2012 Quilts in Review

 

Five Remembrance quilts, three baby quilts, a kit quilt, and two scrap leftover quilts.

 

 

 

Sewing, cleaning, and cooking

My favorite kind of day.  A day spent doing some sewing, some cleaning, and some cooking.

I only have about a gazillion more of these little blocks to make before I can then put the million squares together in rows.......

 I've spent several hours today working on the grout.  I hate tile...because of the grout.  I tried oxygen bleach, homemade from baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and hot water.  It is still wet in some places, but I am anxious to see if all my hard work paid off.

I am doubting it.  I researched steam cleaners online today.  I may have to invest in a good one just for the grout.

Making leftover ham casserole for supper.  Found this recipe a few years ago.  We really like it.  I love being off the week after Christmas.  I've already cleaned out three dresser drawers, pulled lots of stuff out of the closet for the thrift shop, finished up entering all our data for our 2012 budget (yeah- we were under by ~$300), put the Christmas decorations away, washed rugs, steam cleaned the floors (the little steamer died this morning), and got a lot read on a very intriguing book by Francine Rivers, "Mark of the Lion".  It was free on the kindle a few weeks ago.

Hope all of you are having a great holiday as well!

Scrappy Star

Decided to try to get back into sewing and I think I have figured out one of the reasons why I haven't been as ambitious about sewing lately. Tools. You have to have good tools. My little Janome bit the dust weeks ago. She needed a new motor. I ended up getting a replacement, a Janome DC1050. It isn't a bad machine, but just not as smooth as the little Janome Jem Platinum 760 I've had for five years and have used to made over 100 quilts. I got it fixed and today is the first time I have used it. Wow. This little machine is my favorite. Smooth. Quiet. Even.

So, I might just try to get this scrappy star finished over my holiday vacation.

It is made from my stash of shirt scraps I've collected over the past couple of years, making memory quilts.

Now, one question for quilters out there. What is the best iron for piecing? I am using a black and decker classic, and it gets very not, but is horrible, because it constantly grabs the fabric and irons wrinkles in when I am trying to iron the pieces.

Got a gift card and some cash that is wanting to be used for my hobby. Please give me your iron opinions. Thanks!

Merry Christmas!

From our family to yours!

Hope all of you enjoy the day and reflect on the love God showed to us by sending his son, Jesus, as a babe, who would ultimately pay the price for our sins. Thank you Lord, for the gift of your son, and the unmerited blessings you bestow on us day after day!

Watching Christmas movies

Watching The Family Man with Nicolas Cage and Tea Leoni. Modern day It's a Wonderful Life.

And by the way, I found a home for the little doggie...but I can't help but be kind of sad. :(

Even though I know she is going to a great home. She has already had a bath, medicine for her boo-boo, and was snugged up in the bed with her new daddy last I heard........I hope when we do get a dog it will be as sweet as she was.

Christmas baking

Two batches of chocolate chip cookies with Christmas M&Ms. Two loaves of English muffin bread.

Some to the neighbors. Some for our guests tonight. But now,....

I'm going to put this baby in my car and ride around in a neighborhood subdivision and see if I can find her family.

Lost dog

We are calling her Sadie. She just walked up on our deck a couple of days ago. Sweet as can be.

I called the shelter to see if anyone called them looking for her. I also put an ad in the local paper. She is kind of chubby, her nails are a bit long, and she whines to come inside, so we think she has been someone's house dog. Sweet as can be. Did I say that already? Lol.

I've been wanting a dog, a small one, but the hubby has plans on getting a golden retriever when he retires next year. He isn't that thrilled with her, but his tender heart made him fix a lamp outside shining on her bed to help her stay warm tonight in our screened porch. The bed -- courtesy of two friends. One was here visiting and had an old blanket in her car. I told another small dog lovin' friend about her and she brought over a bed for her.

Maybe a beagle dachshund mix?