Pickled Beets ~ A Recipe

Homemade pickled beets - hard to beet beat!  Here's the recipe:

Remove green stems from beets, wash and cover with water and boil.  They should be cooked through but not mushy.  To the firm side is best.  Slip skins off and slice into quarter-inch rounds.

Pack into a jar.

Heat one cup white or cider vinegar, one cup water and a quarter cup sugar and pour over beets.

Seal jar and cool at room temperature then refrigerate. 

Will keep for several months; however, mine don't last that long! 

Photography from Italy

Weathered Gate




Field of Poppies

   



Storm Brewing



Grazing Sheep

One Step Closer to Heaven



images out of italy

Passing time on the streets of Orvieto

 In Rome

In Tuscany countryside 

10 days of wonderful....and I'm seeing red!

I'm in Rome now - arrived this morning from Orvieto - and what a madness of people.  We opted for the open air tour bus rather than hoof it and it was well worth the 12 Euro....and we opted not to hop off - fear ya know.  Probably would have never found the right bus line to get back to the hotel.  My bravery diminishes when everyone is talking and I can't understand a word they are saying. 

I have worn my camera out these past few days and only have a few ready to show....I'm seeing red!

 Love the coffee in Italy...very strong so I  added lots of latte!  Every coffee cup in every coffee shop was different.  This is just a sampling.

 And the fields of poppies, oh my!  Here are some self-sown in the cracks of a stone building. 

Vintage shoes anyone?  New, but a view of the past in a storefront window. 

Let the Journey Begin - a journal quilt

The journey begins this morning - but not before I linked to Three Creative Studios Flickr Gallery.  This little mini quilt is only 8" x 10" but it speaks volumes - geese language, of course.  My columns of flying geese were created with my (seldom used) EQ4 software then printed on a fabric sheet.  Free-motion quilted in a random leaf pattern.  I'll be in Italy for the next few days and hope to post on the road....we'll see! 

Downunder Quilts Digital arrived today

And what a delight it was - I subscribed and love that my downunder quilts come digitally!

Since I'm a purse fanatic, the saffron yellow purse on page 54 was the first pattern and set of instructions that zipped out of my printer this morning.  Can't wait to try designing with embroidery thread and hooking twine! 

And what a great free pattern to incorporate my Kaffe Fassett fabrics - a pattern by Brenda Smith on page 66 - she calls it Kaffe Squared.  Her description "The simplicity and scale of a 12" square-in-a-square block provides the perfect way to showcase a collection of Kaffe Fassett prints." 

It was a fun way to browse - a digital magazine!  Sorry, no pictures....you'll have to go get your own from DownUnder Digital!

Flowers from the garden ~ for the quilt meeting

We install new chapter officers today and will serve refreshments.....I cut flowers from my garden to adorn the table.  Day lilies, hydrangea and common yarrow....just to name a few....come back year after year.  They, therefore, are my favorites!

I came home with pictures!

It's okay to tear pages from old discarded magazines!  I like to tear pages to put in my "things to do" folder!  As if I need more things to do.  I'm obsessed -

Here's my asterisk quilt while it was still a work-in-progress.  It's at the quilters' shop now and I can't wait to see it finished. 

But just look at this picture!  That big pillow!  Now couldn't that be an inspiration to make more asterisks to put into a pillow!!!  Love the cozy feel of this room...is it the pillow, the fireplace or the chair?  Or, all of the above? 

And here is my big baby blocks quilt.  But......

.....just look at this picture!  When I saw this picture - well sure, I saw the beauty of the china and the simplicity of the charger - but wait:  what's that?  No, it's not a gift - it's a baby block quilt design!  I've only done baby blocks in three color, but I think I would really, really like the dark, solid, bold color fabric on the top of the block and the white solid on the other two sides.  I'm out of here.....off to hit the streets for more Kaufman Kona solids!   

Sew a Zippered Pouch Tutorial!

Good things are meant to be shared - the best zippered pouch tutorial by SplitYarn!

Enjoy ~

Donated for Charity Auction ~

It's a Freddy Moran house pattern and was a joy to make, but now it's time for these houses to move on and out to make more room in this house.   Going, going gone to the charity auction. 

What I love about smart phones, e-mails and sisters.....

Ain't she sweet? 

See her walking down that street.

Now, I ask you very confidentially,

Ain't she sweet? 

My email woke me this morning with this little beauty in her Easter finery.  A great niece and she is a sweety.

What I love about spring.....sunshine in the garden

On A Warm Day

Smile for the Camera

If this isn't the cutest smile....and I'm smiling too.  You see, I fly out to Italy in 4 days time.  I've done a dry run packing my bags and have had to re-think!  I couldn't even pick the suitcase up so have down-sized.  How did I do that.....you might ask.  Well, as I explained to the HuMAn last night, I plan to pack my oldest, most worn-out panties and as I make a change, then I'll just trash the take-offs.  I thought that was a great idea.  He liked his idea better - that is - don't wear any!!!  I'm not that minimalist....yet! 

May Quilter's Calendar

Well, of course I wish this was my quilt.....but it isn't!  Here's the scoop - Mary Canterbury says she cut the bricks 4 1/2" x 2 1/2" and the white spacers 2 1/2" square.  Make as many as your size requires....Mary used 7 bricks per row for this child's quilt.  Start with a brick, then a spacer, etc on the first row then start with a spacer, then add the brick, etc on the second row.  Use this alternate pattern until your desired length  is reached.   This pattern would also work beautifully with 6 1/2" x 3 1/2" bricks and 3 1/2" square spacers for a larger quilt...don't you think?  I love the green dot Mary is auditioning for the back of her quilt. 

To download the May calendar for your desktop screen saver, go here.  By the end of the merry month of May, you'll have Mary's quilt completed for the next child on your gift list! 

I have my permission!

I gave myself permission - a very long time ago - to put the clippers and shovel down once the wheelbarrow had a full load.   It's worked wonders on  my attitude toward working on weeds.  I don't always stop after one load full, but today I did.  Yes, you are right, the wheelbarrow is not really at a full load.  Oh, Well!!!

Life's too short not to be able to take pictures and blog so

I'm off to make my May Quilter's Calendar

Forever Green - A Journal Quilt



Forever Green



My first journal quilt in several weeks  - raw edge applique on a felt background.  A whimsical design with frayed edges.....I think that aptly describes me! 

~ some folks wouldn't recognize me with combed hair and lipstick ~

linked to Three Creative Studios Flickr Gallery

Polka Dot Patchwork wall hanging (or table runner)

I'm not bored anymore!  The other day I mentioned that I had been bored with my work....well, that day passed when I pulled these pieces from my Kaffe Fassett fabric bin.  What started out to be a table runner very quickly became a wall hanging.  Oh, it could be either - it's 17" x 50" - so as soon as I finish the handwork on the binding, I'll try it on the table and on the wall to see where it should land.  To be honest, it will probably go on the market for sale!  Oh! It's 'Polka Dot Patchwork'.....does the name fit?

Cardinal Nesting

We had a huge storm last night - as did a major part of the country - but the mother cardinal protected her nest against the wind and the rain.....

   as she proudly displayed for me this morning ~

Love Kim Klassen's new texture ~ luminous ~ used on both pictures

Three Creative Studios April Color Palette Challenge

And my response to the challenge - using all four shades of blue - free motion quilting in tanish/taupe.  It's often times so difficult to come up with an original name for a quilt that will aptly describe it - but this one was easy 'cause it's "Just Between Me and Blue"

Linked - Three Creative Studios - Flickr Photo Gallery

Practice (may) make perfect! Free Motion Quilting



my free motion quilting practice - flame flower a design by Leah Day



Flame Flower - in my April color palette challenge quilt

Back of  April color palette challenge quilt

I've been bored with my work these past couple of days.....but will continue to press on to find a path that pleases me.  I'm finding that large pieces of fabric is hampering my style.....what I really like to work with are those little scraps and snippets of fabric - those that are cut or torn  into non-sensical shapes that have no meaning to anyone but me.  More thoughts later - but for now I must get on with my day!