Size Matters

Good morning bloggy reading people! It's the Amy-Monica-Pam day on the famous Pat Sloan ruler hopping tour... so are you AMP'd up? Be sure and leave a comment on everyone's blog on their special blog hop day so that you can be entered to win that big pile of rulers!

Quilting in the Garden at Alden Lane

The theme for the hop is not only these great Edge rulers, but also our first time.. quilting that is. I have written about my first quilt before, and you can catch up on that story here. I even scanned in a picture of the very first quilt I made.

Livermore Valley Winery Map

I think for so many people, rulers, mats and rotary cutters really revolutionized quilting. I had always had quilt envy.. the pages of Country Home and Country Living were strewn with quilts and there was no way I could acquire vintage quilts, you know back in the dark days before ebay.

Castroville Giant Artichoke courtesy of Frankie

Of course after seeing that you could make a quilt without using templates, well I was all over that. No looking back.

Livermore totem pole

Accurate measuring has always always been a challenge for me. Of course over the years I've learned how to properly use my rulers as the guide, not my mat.

Livermore High Cowboys Mascot

Of course having a sharp rotary blade makes all the difference in the world. And that brings us right back to these Sullivan's Edge Rulers.

We have verdant fields of marshmallows too, not just Monica.

I'd like to pass along 'my' great recipe for fudge. I think everyone has this recipe by now, but it really is the best fudge around.

Fantasy Fudge

2 c. sugar

3/4 c. butter

2/3 c. (5 1/3 oz.) can evaporated milk

1 (12 oz.) pkg. semi-sweet chocolate pieces

1 (7 oz.) jar Kraft marshmallow creme

1 c. chopped nuts

1 tsp. vanilla

Combine sugar, butter and milk in saucepan. Bring to full rolling boil, stirring constantly. Continue boiling for 5 minutes over medium heat, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, stir in chocolate pieces until melted. Add marshmallow creme, nuts and vanilla. Beat until well blended. Pour into greased 13 x 9 inch pan. Cool at room temperature. Cut into squares.

Remember to leave your comment on all the blogs on their special day. And today, be sure and see what Monica and Amy have cooked up for you. Here's a little instructional video on the proper use of rulers.

Yesterday

It's very possible that yesterday you noticed a disturbance in the Force. I somehow allowed myself to run out of coffee. All. Out. As in none. That situation was rectified immediately. Now that the crisis is adverted, hop on over to see Julie and Amanda today.. and comment to enter yourself into the drawing for those rulers!

Wouldn't it be nice...

if it actually felt like fall? I was out at my secret Starbucks meeting up with my friend Famous Deb Silva last week and it was almost ninety degrees out. But the leaves are changing albeit slowly. The past few days have been hot hot hot. Today travel to see Amy and Jackie on the blog hop. Remember to leave a comment on each blog on the blog stop highway to be entered to win that big pile of rulers everybody!

Weekend

Good morning my very special bloggy peeps, how was the weekend? Big doings in Livermore this weekend with Quilting in the Garden. Here a few scenes from the show...

Elizabeth, here with her son Eric, was one of the featured artists of the show!

Glad I got a chance to visit with Miss Jean.

I think you know me and Alex!

Our friend Denise was also a featured artist at the show.

It was such a hot sunny couple of days. If you are blogging the show leave your link in the comments and we can go enjoy your photos too.

Now hop on over to Pat's and Kelly's for a chance to win that big pile of Edge rulers!

Measure Up

So what do I have in common with all these wonderful bloggers?

Pat
Kelly
Amy
Jackie
Julie
Amanda
Monica
Amy
Carrie
Polly and Laurie

Cheryl

Michele

We're all hopping with Pat next week to celebrate the new ruler's she's developed with Sullivan's.

And what's so great about it? You might win a bunch of rulers just for playing along.

Stay tuned next week people!

Perfect

It is perfect right? Becky found this while out treasure hunting and I LOVE IT. It is a little wall pocket, so sweet. I can't wait to find a pretty pink and red ribbon to hang it off my wall. Now to just decide which wall that might be! Thanks again Becky. It couldn't be more perfect!

A Friday Outing

It's always great to swing by Elizabeth's house, grab her up and head out for adventure , particularly when it involves some sweet friends like Miss Jean and Becky. We had a delicious lunch and then headed around the corner to a wonderful antique store. We found plenty of treasures, but I'll show those off later. Becky brought me something so cute I have to get a really perfect photo of it for you to see. Maybe by tomorrow I will have accomplished that.
Becky is having a Monica Moment here...

Scroll through Monica's post here, and you'll see what she's so excited about!

From now on when I think about my coffee and swing time I'll think about Miss Jean's wonderful patio. It's not called In the Garden with Miss Jean for nothing, her back yard is heaven on earth.

Here's her little garden helper caught in the act. Maggie can be a naughty little girl. But oh so sweet anyway.

SO yes, totally wonderful day. We didn't get home till after 5pm which is always kind of a shock to us, we're like homing pigeons around 3pm, probably left over from the school days. I chained Elizabeth back to her sewing machine and went on my merry way.

Hope you guys had a wonderful weekend.. tell me all about it. xo

At last.

This week I finally got my rear in gear and headed up to Wooden Gate Quilts to check it out. It's great, Marby and the crew have worked very hard to get the shop all spiffed up and chock full of fabulous new fabric. Cyndi Rymer made this wonderful new logo quilt for the shop. Cyndy is just one of the famous people who hang out at Wooden Gate Quilts. We're lucky to have a lot of great talent in our area, of course it's awfully intimidating as well!

As usual I think I'm taking a slew of pictures.. but I wasn't! I WAS GAWKING at the new fabrics and the threads and talking. Here's Marby hanging up my Sugar Stars quilt. They carry a lot of Flower Sugar there, and they have a nice selection of Lecien fabrics in general. I needed to pick up some backing for this years Flower Sugar quilt, Sugar Shop. I think it's a fun quilt to make, you can ask Elizabeth... she liked it so much she made one herself!

Anyhooo.... I must doodle along this morning, Elizabeth and I are taking an afternoon off to go have lunch with Becky and Miss Jean. We might even hit a couple of antique shops! Plus I need more fusible fleece people.. bags are waiting to be made.

I hope you all have a super great weekend! xo

Marking

I've been working on my quilt for the Lecien booth, and I'm really happy about it. Flower Sugar is so cheery this time, it's happy to sew with. In this quilt I use connector squares, those sew and flip units that I love so much. I like to mark mine.. what about you? I have used tape on my sewing machine bed, the eyeball-ball it method and also The Angler. (Nicole does a nice review of the Angler 2 here.) But I keep going back to pencil and ruler. It just works for me.

Elizabeth really liked the design, and she is working on one for her booth as well. Yesterday I worked on the units for her, she packed up a nice kit for me. I love it when she does this, the kit is like a little present.

Nice and tidy. It was a sit and sew kind of morning.. and when it was over, I packed it up and brought it back to her. It's a quick quilt to make.

Have you been over to Elizabeth's blog? She's showing off one of my latest bag patterns all made up in Red Rose Farm. It's super cute, even if I do say so myself.

Ok you peeps have a good day. It's back to the sewing machine for me. xo

Friends in High Places

I'm not going to lie to you people, it's great to have some pretty cool friends. Witness my delicious pile of Charlevoix.. pretty nice, right?

Laurie packed that up and sent it to me last week. I haven't stopped admiring it since I got it. Charlevoix has everything.. cherries, wonderful florals and look at that plaid!!! Every time I pick it up I have a new favorite. Thanks Laurie!

So nice weekend? Good weekend here. Lots of name taking and a... well you know what kicking. Today is a good sewing day. Lots of crime tv to watch while I finish up some machine quilting on a table runner and then move on to some blocks for Elizabeth. Its a sweet romance with Red Rose Farm and Flower Sugar with a little bit of Sweet Broderie thrown in.

More coffee.. then back to it! Gave a happy day everyone! xo

Control

Good morning everybody. I hope you all had a wonderful long weekend. (normally I'd put an exclamation point here but I've noticed I've gotten out of control with those lately.. trying to cut back) We had a great time here.

The picture doesn't have much to do with anything. It's some trim on an old apartment building downtown. Have you noticed all the lattice screens lately on TV and in magazines? I really love the look.

I spent all yesterday afternoon sewing. Market season you know. Last night I finally quit around 8 when I had a block that just wouldn't come together. Everything measures up. I DON'T GET IT. Hopefully this morning I'll go in there, lay my ruler on it and see right off. Thank goodness the rest have gone together correctly. I thank Mary Ellen Hopkins every time I make one of those connector blocks, you know, a sew and flip square.

On a side note.. have you seen the new Charlevoix by Minnick and Simpson? Cherries people.

P.S. I remade that block out of the same pieces and today it works. WHAT THE HECK PEOPLE.

Long Weekend

Hello Day!!! That's what we used to say in the morning when Frankie was little. We'd open the blinds and greet the day. Sounds cornball right? Still, when I open those blinds out front I always say it in my head. I am a closet-cornball.

The weekend will be fun, I'm doing a teeny bit of fun sewing, working on my little kit from Jenny. Then it's back to work on some of Elizabeth's projects. I finished the blanket stitching yesterday morning, so now I'm back to work on my table runner.

I hope you all have a happy and safe long weekend! You guys are the greatest! xo

Panic Season

Happy September peoples! I can't believe it. This summer has flown by, I think it's all the lovely weather we had this year. Although we're headed into a couple of days of hot weather, overall it has been so pleasant there hasn't been a lot of complaining to do. Of course September brings with it the usual panic of getting stuff ready for market. I don't feel it myself, but I know there are plenty of people kicking it into high gear with market preparations. Myself, I'll just keep plugging along on my blanket stitching. All that's left is the green and I can bring this back to Elizabeth.

Today is the day for drawing names! I pulled this one out of the hat..LisaMariesmom said "What do you mean? You ARE a celebrity!" This cracks me up as Linda lives nearby and I often see her at the market.. so she knows I really am not a celebrity! Linda, email me your address and I'll leave this magazine on your porch! I really really really appreciate all the wonderful comments people left about my mention in the magazine. Believe me, I am far from a celebrity but you guys make me feel like one!!! I'm lucky to work with so many talented people doing something that I like so much.

Ok! I need to get to work! I hope you guys have a wonderful day! xo