Still Freezing Cold

Freezing Cold. 











Where is Spring?

Look at that sky and you know it's gonna be another very cold night.

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Treadle Table ~ almost done

We've moved the Treadle Table that Derin has been working on into the house to help the finish dry.  The shop is heated to 62 degrees but even in the tent it is taking a very long time for each coat of the Tongue Oil to finish drying. 

He'll do some more work on it in the summer when our weather is warmer and dryer.










I can still smell a little of the Tongue Oil but I think that will go away in a few days.









It looks pretty darn good.

I'm so lucky to be married to such wonderful man.

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Cold and Wet March

March is still cold and wet this year.  I don't think it is going to go out like a lamb.     We've not had really any nice pre-spring days.  It still feels like winter.



The garden is not looking like much is going on yet but the various varieties of garlic seem to be doing well.   Do you think we planted enough garlic last fall?

The little plum tree is really early with it's blossoms.  We're afraid that it won't get pollinated because it is so early.  But wait - Surprise, Surprise - Derin did see some bees this morning. 







Our rhubarb is looking good.  I think rhubarb is something you either like or don't.  This rhubarb is the pretty "red" kind that keeps it's red color when cooked.







Looking through the vine maple towards the house.  Look at all of the moss that has been growing on it. 

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March 27th ~ 15 Minute Challenge

I knew this week would be busy, but then I caught the "bug" that has been going around and it knocked me down.  I didn't work on Thursday, Friday or Saturday as planned.  Just as well, they didn't need me to pass my "bug" on.

Tuesday - Sew and exercise
Wednesday - Work
Thursday -  nothing
Friday -  nada
Saturday -  nope
Sunday -  no
Monday - nope

Go on over to Kate's "Life in Pieces" and see how everyone else has been doing last week with their "15 Minute Challenge".  

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Stash Report 2012 - Week 13

Not much to report.  No changes. 


Stash Busting - Week 13

Added this Week:   0 yards
Added Year to Date:  48.5 yards
Used this Week: 0 yards
Used year to Date:  3.5 yards
Net Added for 2012:  45.0 yards

To see more stash reports, head on over to Judy’s Patchwork Times.

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The Winner of St. Patrick's Day Blog Hop Party is . . .

St. Patrick's Day Blog Hop Party

Thank you to everyone who visited my blog for the St. Patrick's Day Blog Hop Party.  WOW!  I had 212 people left comments to win the Moda Layer Cake  "Collection for the Cause - Faith".  Almost everyone said they had more than one project that they were working on at the same time.  I know that I always have more than one thing in the works.

Now for the sad part, of the 212 entries there were 16 entries that were No-Reply Bloggers and the first number generated was a No-Reply Blogger.  I could not send you a message.  I'm sorry you didn't win and I generated another number.  I replied to everyone who entered, so if you did not get a message from me then you are a No-Reply Blogger and probably don't know it.  Of the 16 entries that were No-Reply Bloggers I was able to figure out who 3 of you were because you had a blog and I was able to leave you a message there.

Layer Cake by Moda the "Collection for the Cause - Faith" 

My Winner is #7 - Karen

Cheltenham, England

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Show 'n Tell ~ March 2012

These are pictures from the Bernina Software Sampler and Embroidery Club that I teach at Bernina Northwest in Seattle.

Back of Bag

Front of Bag

Virginia S. made this bag at our DIY - Sew 'n Go Tote event using the new B~580 embroidery and sewing machines.  They had fun making these lined tote bags.

Software Sampler - Embroidered Texture

Maxine E. made this fabric on the left from the February Software Sampler "Embroidered Texture" class.  To create the fabric we used the embroidered needle punch, embroidered couching with yarn and dimensional ribbon embroidery using the embroidery unit.  Great techniques and lots of fun.

Pink Lemonade Quilt

Maxine E. also made the beautiful "Pink Lemonade" Quilt to the right.  It is from the book Pink Lemonade and Other Delights by Linda Johnson.

Miranda H.

Miranda H.

Miranda H.  made up the night skyline of Seattle for the front of a card.  Very pretty.  And she made up a Medical Supplies fob Meds Bag.  Clever idea.

Donna D.

Donna D.

Donna D.  made these bright red, white and black blocks for a lap quilt.  Donna also made the cute and blue bird applique block.

Carol F.

Carol F. made this beautiful applique butterfly quilt.
The appliques were made using her embroidery machine.

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Vintage Thimble Basket

This is a antique hand woven thimble basket, probably from a Shaker Community in New Hampshire.  It is in perfect condition.   As you can see it is very small.  It measures 1 inch in length, 1/2 inch across the bottom and 3/4 inch across the top.  The top fits nicely and comes off easily.

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March 20th ~ 15 Minute Challenge

I had hoped to get more done but we took a wonderful shopping trip on Friday, and I walked my feet off at a huge warehouse sale for a couple hours.

Tuesday - Sew
Wednesday - Work
Thursday - Sew
Friday -  exercise
Saturday - Sew
Sunday - Sew and exercise
Monday - Sew and exercise

Normally I'd have you go on over to Kate's "Life in Pieces" and see how everyone else has been doing last week with their "15 Minute Challenge", but she is taking a this week off for Spring Break.

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Stash Report 2012 - Week 12

And I was so good ar Sew Expo and the weeks leading up to it.  I didn't buy any fabrics.  It sure looks like I fell off the wagon this past week.  I'm busted, the fabrics were so pretty, they were on sale.  What can I say?

Stash Busting - Week  12

Added this Week:   14.5 yards
Added Year to Date:  48.5 yards
Used this Week:   0 yards
Used year to Date:  3.5 yards
Net Added for 2012:  45.0 yards

To see more stash reports, head on over to Judy’s Patchwork Times.

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Happy Saint Patrick's Day

Happy Saint Patrick's Day

Celebrate St. Patrick's Day

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Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day Blog Hop Party

I'm joining in the St. Patrick's Day Blog Hop Party to celebrate the  "Wearin' of the Green".   I think  Blog Hop Parties with Give-Aways are so much fun, don't you?  I hope that you will take a few minutes and look around my blog by clicking on the Home tab and return in the future to see what's going on.   Click on the link starting Saturday, March 17th and you can hop around to different blogs and register to win prizes. To win, please leave me one comment about the project or projects you are currently working on.  Good Luck!

Blog Hop Party Closed

St. Patrick's Day Blog Hop Party

My prize is a Layer Cake by Moda the "Collection for Cause -  Faith". 

My Rules:
1. To win, please leave me a comment about the project or projects you are currently working on.
2. Please, only one comment per person.
3. Please leave me a way to contact you.  If you are a No-Reply blogger, then please leave your email address in your comment.   If I can't contact you, you will not and can not win ever.  That would be so very sad, don't you think?   If you do not know if you are No-Reply blogger then read the No-Reply Blogger Tab above and how to fix your No-Reply settings.
4. This giveaway is open to everyone, including international blog hoppers.
5. This giveaway will start on Saturday, March 17th shortly after midnight PST and end Friday, March 23th at midnight PST.
6. The winners will be announced on Sunday, March 25th by 6:00 PM PST.
7. I will use a Random Number Generator to select the winner.

After you have entered my giveaway, remember to click on the link above or click on Michele's Quilting Gallery to take you to all of the other linked giveaways.  The list of links will be available Saturday morning - shortly after midnight.  Have Fun, Good Luck and Happy Blog Hopping!

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March 13th ~ 15 Minute Challenge

I'm fighting off a little cold I probably picked up at Puyallup, so I've been tired and moving rather slowly.  I spent Tuesday reading and sleeping.  I did get a little sewing/embroidery done, but not much, I kept jumping from one project to another. 

Tuesday -  Nada
Wednesday - Work
Thursday - Sew
Friday -  Sew
Saturday - Sew and exercise
Sunday -  Nada
Monday - Sew and exercise

Go on over to Kate's "Life in Pieces" and see how everyone else has been doing last week with their "15 Minute Challenge".  

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Stash Report 2012 - Week 11

The week after Sew Expo you would think I'd get some sewing done, but Nope, I didn't.  I was enthused, I wanted to, I even dreamed of it, but No it didn't happen.  I did get caught up around the house, and rested.  I added to my stash on Sunday some fabrics that should make good background fabrics.

Stash Busting - Week  11

Added this Week:   4.75 yards
Added Year to Date: 34.0 yards
Used this Week: 0 yards
Used year to Date:  3.5 yards
Net Added for 2012: 30.5 yards

To see more stash reports, head on over to Judy’s Patchwork Times.

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Design Wall Monday - March 12, 2012

I've been getting ready to start working on Libby Lehmans Pinata Quilt.   I found some more had dyed fabrics in my stash that I can use.   I need to get some blocks embroidered for my Holly Jolly Quilt.  It is going to be so very cute.  I've finally decided to keep it all red-work rather than multi-colored work for the embroidered blocks.  Sigh, I'll have to redo this block.

Pinata Quilt Blocks

Holly Jolly Quilt Block Multi-Color

What are you working on?

Go on over to Judy's Patchwork Times and see what is new on every one's design walls this week.

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Workin' on the Table Top

With the cold, rainy and snowy winter weather we have been having, it is taking the table top a long time to dry in between coats of tongue oil and sanding.  The shop is heated to a balmy 61-62 degrees but is so big that we don't heat it any more than that.  So Derin made a tent for the treadle table top to dry in.  Still it is taking longer with each coat of the oil.   It is really looking nice.

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Bakin' Cookies

Derin was in the kitchen making his own special Triple Threat Chocolate Chip Cookies.   He makes a soft, yet crisp cookie.  I keep asking him to write down the recipe, and he did!   I got him a set of cookie dough scoops from King Arthur Flour (and some other fun, maybe silly cooking gifts for his Birthday.)  He said these cookies scoops  worked very well.

Triple Threat Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 1/2 Cups All Purpose Flour
1/4  Cup Oat Flour
1 Cup Baker's Extra Fine Sugar
1 Cup Sugar
1 lb. of soft Butter (salted)
2 Eggs
1 Tablespoon Double Strength Vanilla
1 teaspoon of Baking Soda
4 Cups Milk Chocolate Chips
9 oz (approx 1 1/2 bars) Semi-Sweet Chocolate grated
1 Cup Golden Raisins
1 Cup  Coconut
1 Cup  toasted Pecans, chopped*
1 1/2 teaspoons salt

*Roast pecans in oven at 350 degrees for 8 minutes.

Mix all the ingredients together. 

Bake at 375 degrees on coolie sheet lined with parchment paper for 10 to 11 minutes, turning cookie sheet after 6 minutes.

Note:  For softer cookies add one extra egg.

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Unsettled weather

Today it snowed in the morning. 

Then the sun came out for awhile, and the snow was gone.


And it was a full moon.

I just know Spring will be here soon.

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March 6th ~ 15 Minute Challenge

I knew this week would not be a good sewing week.  Spending four days at Sew Expo and DH's Birthday not as much time spent in my sewing studio at all.  But I did get to sew, quilt and embroider in classes at Sew Exp and that was lots of fun.  I'm counting that time as part of my sewing time.  Just walking around the Puyallup Fairgounds is exercise and I'm counting that too.

Tuesday - Sew and exercise
Wednesday - Sew and exercise
Thursday - Sew and exercise
Friday -  Nada - tired out
Saturday -  Sew and exercise
Sunday -  Sew
Monday - Sew

Go on over to Kate's "Life in Pieces" and see how everyone else has been doing last week with their "15 Minute Challenge".   Ooops - was I still tired?  I forgot to put myself on her linky and I did that on one other site too.

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Design Wall Monday - March 5, 2012

I'm now working on Libby Lehmans Pinata Quilt.  I'm also going back and forth on my Holly Jolly Quilt.   I didn't make any deadlines this week for posting.  I hope to do better next week.

Pinata Quilt

What are you working on?

Go on over to Judy's Patchwork Times and see what is new on every one's design walls this week.

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Stash Report 2012 - Week 10

VBS -  I missed getting a connecting posting done last week.  I went to Sew Expo starting on Wednesday, February 29th, Thursday, March 1st - also DH's Birthday.  Nothing was scheduled on Friday, March 2nd but I was so tired I did just the minimum.  Back to Expo for more classes and some shopping on Saturday, March 3rd and attend early morning classes Sunday, March 4th.  I was whooped out Sunday and Monday.  But the good news is with all that wonderful fabric at Sew Expo I only bought the kits for classes, and a finishing kit for the Libby Lehman Pinata Quilt Class, and the new Jenny Haskins book.  I'm not counting any of the kits since we finished most of the projects in class or the projects just need a few things done to complete them.

Stash Busting - Week  10

Added this Week:   0 yards
Added Year to Date:  29.25 yards
Used this Week: 0 yards
Used year to Date: 3.5 yards
Net Added for 2012:  25.75 yards

To see more stash reports, head on over to Judy’s Patchwork Times.

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Sew Expo ~ Day 4

This day four of Sew Expo and sometimes I wonder why I go to the four days.  Today we need to be seated in the classroom by 8:00 AM - I'm tired out, what was I thinking, it takes about 45 minutes to an hour to drive to Puyallup, so we were up again really early for us.  Have some coffee and I'm a slow ready to go.  This morning I'm taking another class from Simon Haskins in the Brother classroom the Heart Applique Techniques Tablerunner.  In this class Simon presented some of the new techniques that he and Jenny have developed.  The techniques included traditional applique, layered applique, shadow applique and trapunto applique.  We were busy in this class and had lots of fun.  This was and intermediate to advanced class and they had good helpers in the class room.

My ribbon applique

My Shadow and textured applique

Embroidering the ribbon applique

Sample Applique

Sample Applique

Sample Applique

Sample Applique

Save the dates for Sew Expo 2013!

February 28 and March 1 - 3, 2013

I can't wait!

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