Saturday, April 30, 2011

May Day

The beginning of May was a very popular feast time for the Romans. It was devoted primarily to the worship of Flora, the goddess of flowers. By the Middle Ages every English village had its Maypole. But the tradition of celebrating May Day by dancing and singing around a maypole, tied with colorful streamers or ribbons, survived as a part of the English tradition carried to America. More current is choosing of a May queen, and hanging of May baskets on the doorknobs of folks -- are all the leftovers of the old European traditions.


SOME EYE CANDY TO THINK ABOUT



selected by Christine - 2nd week
Moda - Basic Grey Jelly Roll



Selected by Sallie - 4th week
Moda - Holly Taylor Classics Jelly Roll




selected by Shannon - 1st week
Moda - Prayer Flag Jelly Roll



Selected by Roma - 3rd week
Moda - Migrations Desert Roll (5" roll of 10 strips)



RJR Crazy for Dots Desert Roll -



RJR Crazy for Dots Desert Roll



Selected by Cheryll - 4th week
Alexander Henry - Pocket Pixies - 1yrd. of each



selected by Char - 2nd week
Hoffman Bali Pops - Cotton Candy (Batiks jelly roll)



Selected by Sarah - 3rd week
Moda ButterCup - 8 FQ's in yellow



selected by SunnyBec - 1st week
Moda ButterCup - 8 FQ's in Blue




Selected by Linda - 4th week
Kathy Schmidt - Full Circle - 2 panels and 3 FQs - tan




Selected by Colleen - 4th week
Kathy Schmidt - Full Circle - 2 panels and 3 FQs - red
















You will have to come back Monday to find out about the eye candy. I am 'un-plugging' for Sunday as part of May For Me.

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

Friday, April 29, 2011

May for Me Celebration Starts Sunday May 1st !


WHAT IS IT?
It is for you!
Take time for you this month!
Take a break...
Enjoy quiet moments, Smell the roses...
Sew stuff you want to sew, Craft new stuff...
Cook new recipes, Do stuff you want to do...
Take time for yourself

Check out Marcia's page - blogger listing
http://marciascraftysewing.blogspot.com/p/may-for-me.html

Check out Tonya's page - blogger listing
http://hillbillyhandiworks.blogspot.com/p/may-for-me.html


AND


Help me to celebrate my birthday all month with May For Me!! There will be lots of gifts to share thru the month, so stop on by all the wonderful bloggers participating, come share some cake, and remember - you are special!!

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Be Kind To Yourself


I am so glad to see many bloggers following the May for Me and treating themselves. I even bought myself some flowers today. They reminded me of our 'button' flowers as well as the colors in the Hands2Help button, so I just had to have them. My SIL and I , also, treated ourselves to some girl time and went for a soft ice cream cone.



I'm joining in Tonya's May for Me Mystery and did up the tulip block. I want to experiment with the fabric color pencils on this one and like how they bring out the tulips in more depth.


I've been neglecting my cross stitch, so this is a good time to re-visit this piece and get the little bit of stitching completed. I have my fabrics picked and waiting for the fabric framing.



SQUARED UP


This is my second H2H quilt - fabrics from Paulette. The pattern is 'Charming Baby Stars' from www.moosequilts.com (free pattern). It uses charms, of course I had to cut them from the fabrics sent to me, but that went quickly. I love how the star blocks are made to 'float'. A white border will be added and I have the backing ready to go and hope to have this quilted and bound this weekend.




MAY FOR ME



I hope you are popping in on the button and joining in on some of our bloggers who are participating in the May for Me. Cooking tips, small projects, cleaning tips, organization, and managing time. As well as some nice give aways. I will be sharing my birthday the whole month.


MAC N CHEESE
I don't have a recipe as this is such an easy thing to make and I will be honest - I love the boxed kind. But it needs dressing up for an adult meal. Chopped ham, chicken, or turkey - vegies, I love broccoli flowerettes and shredded carrots and even a chopped tomato or two. Put in a 9" x13" greased baking dish/pan and top with buttered bread crumbs and bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes. Can't be simpler. **fussy kids - use your cup cake pan - grease cups and coat with bread crumbs, put mac-n-cheese in cups and top with buttered bread crumbs. Bake the same - fun mac-n-cheese cupcakes served with carrot stix**


Friday is Arbor Day - rather sentimental for me as this was a special day for my Dad. We always planted trees together. We had a small live tree for our 1st Christmas without him and tomorrow we will take it up on the mountain and plant it near his Cabin. Love and miss you Dad.


CLOSING THOUGHT

Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else. ~Judy Garland

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

A Storm is Brewing

Storm - definition: A storm is any disturbed state of body affecting its surface. Storms generally lead to significant negative impacts. I know there are a lot of severe storms of the weather kind right now - and blessings of safety to all. BUT this is about another storm that is sweeping the internet - give aways that are not being completed and what do we do?


I have been lucky to receive many wonderful winnings, but lately have been 'scammed' by give aways. And it has left a negative impact on my blogging enjoyment. Some may be insulted by what I am about to say and others may be helped.



I have sought advise from other bloggers, Attorney General's office and a lawyer - yes I am that concerned being someone who has had identity theft in the past. An individual offering a give away is considered a gift - unless you can prove they are using your information. I had an individual who never followed thru with a give away and their blog is now defunct so end of line.



If a shop or company is offering a give away and took your personal information, you can file with their area Chamber of Commerce and Better Business Bureau to file a complaint. If it was a pre-paid gift from another party, that party should be informed so they can recoup their monies. The Attorney General's Office does have an internet office for these policies and these are the beginning steps. And told that the best way to gain awareness was to put it to the source - you bloggers and the internet.


I have had a 'stormy' experience with a give away by the The Material Girls Quilts - give away on March 13th with 3 winners announce on the 16th. None of us received winnings and started contacting each other with correspondence sent to the patron. Each of us getting different replies (or none) - I was told 5 times it was being put in the mail.


Two of us have finally received our 'winnings' but not what it was suppose to be - see those Fat Quarter Bundles, that was what was posted on the give away site? This is what I got in a plain manila envelope rather beat up with the WRONG NAME and no return address. The third person has not received anything nor is getting response back. I feel like a dog who was thrown a bone.


I really wanted to return everything , but it wouldn't make me feel better. Instead, I took the fabric to a local center that has free quilting classes and has a free fabric, notions, patterns wall. Now someone who is without can enjoy and I feel like I have a better ending.



So if you have been scammed, keep copies of all correspondence, follow thru, and blog about it so someone else can avoid some heartache. We need to stand strong for ourselves and each other.

**I am following the chain on another giveaway that has not materialized and if that needs to, it will be aired also** ****This has been resolved****
**update** The third party just notified me they just got their package**

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Listen To The Rain


National Turn Off TV Week -an annual event where children, families, schools and communities are encourage to turn off screens and "turn on life". Instead of relying on screens for entertainment, participants read, daydream, explore, enjoy nature, and spend time with family and friends - or listen to the rain.


I managed to grab the morning sun before the rain came again. I finished my last monthly goal - the geranium quilt. Scrappy Roman Stripe blocks bordered with a vintage geranium print sheet. This will be added to the donation for my quilt guild charity collection.



SQUARED UP


I sorted my 'mini' charm pack from Moda (Just One Star thank you) into lights and darks and pulled some left over Moda Jelly strips - Moda lines play so nice together.



I kept the Jellies folded and cut two 2.5" and two 6.5" pieces - you get two blocks from one strip.



I'm sure many of you have made the 'boxed boxes' blocks. Very quick blocks to make up a quilt in a day.



A pile of pretties ready to be laid out into rows. I only switched a few blocks around from the initial pile just laid out on the floor.


6.5" blocks pieced 6 blocks across and 7 blocks down (used those 42 mini squares) and then just used a Jelly strip for borders. A cute, easy donation quilt 40" x 48". This will be going to the Hands 2 Help Quilt Challenge. I should be able to get it sandwiched, quilted, and bound this week.




MAY FOR ME



With no TV time - instill some ideas of things to do while you grab your May time. Making puzzles, doing a craft, reading a book, playing some board games.


Mediterranean Chicken Wrap
For the yogurt sauce:
1 cup plain yogurt
2 tsp fresh lemon juice
1 large garlic clove, minced
2 Tbsp chopped fresh dill
1 medium cucumber, peeled, seeded, and finely chopped
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste


For the wraps:
3 1/2 to 4 cups shredded cooked chicken
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 tsp dried oregano
1 medium sweet onion, thinly sliced
1 medium tomato, chopped
4 large pocketless pitas, warmed if possible
Combine sauce ingredients in a mixing bowl; season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
Place the chicken in another mixing bowl. Toss with olive oil and oregano.
Arrange pitas on sheets of wax paper or foil. Top with the chicken mixture, sliced onions, and tomatoes. Spoon some yogurt sauce on top, fold each pita in half, then wrap up tightly or use a toothpick to hold everything together.
Ideas for picky eaters: If your kid won't eat the assembled wrap, allow them to dip pieces of chicken and veggies in the creamy yogurt sauce.

WINNER


My daughter loved going thru your postings - I didn't read a one as I wanted her to not be influenzed in any way. She made her own list and then compared it to all of yours. She chose the person who most replicated her list - stating "I think this person knows you better than me!" Congratulations KATIE Q - I will need your mailing address. I thank all of you who braved the task. There will be more fun and gifts during the month of May.



APRIL IS POETRY MONTH
Listen to the rain,
the whisper of the rain,
the slow soft sprinkle,
the drip-drop tinkle,
the first wet whisper of the rain.
Listen to the rain,
the singing of the rain,
the tiptoe pitter-patter,
the splish and splash and splatter,
the steady sound of the rain.
Listen to the rain,
the roaring pouring rain,
the hurly-burly topsy-turvy
lashing gnashing teeth of rain,
the lightning-flashing
thunder-crashing
sounding pounding roaring rain,
leaving all outdoors a muddle,
a mishy mushy muddle puddle.
Listen to the quietude,
the silence and the solitude of after-rain,
the dripping, dripping, dropping,
the slowly, slowly stopping,
the fresh wet silent after-time of rain.
*Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Hands to Help


I received my lovely fabrics from Paulette - thewayisewit.blogspot.com
Lovely romantic colours. I had 2 patterns in my mind - must have been telepathy as one of these is perfect. I will start cutting this week as all my other projects are finished.



I already have most of the blocks done using the little 2.5" charm pack I got from Moda for 'Just One Star'. I mixed them with some other left over Moda Jelly strips - they all play together so nicely. This quilt will also go to H2H.

Random Fact: Well, some already know this - was selected for the US Olympic Equestrian Team, but a freak fall during a practice I broke my leg badly and could not compete. However, if this hadn't happened I would not have settled down and had my 3 children.

Looking forward to seeing everyones lovely fabrics and progress.
Sewingly Yours
Sharon

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Fickleness of an April Day


How often does Earth Day and Good Friday happen on the same day? Good Friday concerns the infinite, while Earth Day addresses the finite. Let us pause to reflect on all that has been entrusted to us, and all that we are called to do. On both fronts, the environmental and the spiritual, we still have a lot of work to do.







!!Oh - someone heard I was over at Sew We Quilt - Stash Manicure today!!



I finished my piece for the Moda Bake Shop April - Accessories project. The sewing machine cover was rather a 'small' project for me, so I added a machine pad with pockets, and pincushion with detachable snippet bag. A bright and cheery addition with this cute American Jane line.


And I finished my zippy bag swap. I used a fabric with NYC scene and made a tissue cover (types of scissors). And included a FQ that has a map of NYC subway system. I live 4 hrs north of NYC, but everyone associates New York State with the Big Apple. It's all on it's way to a new home.

** Since so many have asked where this fabric could be found - here is the store: http://www.cityquilter.com/ **



We'll we've covered planning and gathering our projects. And getting some peronal pampering time. And keeping the kids happy. Now it's saving time in the kitchen. We all have to stop to feed someone, if not ourselves. So I will be posting some quick fix, fast meals that hopefully will save you time and keep the brood happy. And with it simple and planned out, maybe someone else can do the meals?


TACO PIE
Ingredients:
1 (8 ounce) package refrigerated crescent rolls
1 pound ground beef
1 (1 ounce) package taco seasoning mix
1 (16 ounce) container sour cream
8 ounces shredded Mexican-style cheese blend
1 (14 ounce) bag tortilla chips, crushed

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
Lay crescent dough flat on the bottom of a square cake pan and bake according to package directions.
Meanwhile, brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the taco seasoning and stir together well. When dough is done, remove from oven and place meat mixture on top, then layer with sour cream and cheese, and then top off with the crushed nacho chips.
Return to oven and bake at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes, or until cheese has melted. Serves 8
Little sides of shredded lettuce, sliced black olives, salsa or hot sauce, sour cream - oh any of those yummies you like to add to your taco. Makes it fun for the kids.

SQUARED UP

I am working on a project with my mini charm pack and will share next post. Wrapping up my last UFO finish for the month, too. All my goals for Charming Girls for March and April will have been met - clearing my plate so I can enjoy May For Me.

APRIL IS POETRY MONTH

We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.
~ Native American Proverb

Sewingly Yours
Sharon

Monday, April 18, 2011

Tomorrow



'Tomorrow is only a day away' - I was happy to hear from my followers that they were safe - just one yet to check in and I will breathe a sigh of relief. But I still send prayers to those who need them in this aftermath.



MAY FOR ME
I would like to keep on track with the May For Me project. Some of us need a little de-stressing now. But this week I wanted to give some tips for the young mother or maybe grandma who does the babysitting. How to get some Me time when you have little ones around.



How about setting up a little crafting corner and basket for those little ones. Select age appropiate crafting supplies (so glad they make washable crayons and markers). Here is a list of some crafting sites that may help: www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts
familycrafts.about.com
www.dltk-kids.com
www.crayola.com/crafts
familyfun.go.com/crafts

They can do their crafting while you do yours.



And I almost forgot about this! I had a number of bloggers approach me and I really had to think on it as I really wasn't sure I wanted to be a 'tagged' site. I accepted from my first approach - Flo from Butterfly Quilting. I wasn't sure what I was suppose to do until I saw what some others have been putting on their blogs.

I hate to leave anyone out and just pick a blogger - you all mean too much - I don't know what to say about myself - so... I decided rather than listing 7 things about myself that I would have a give away as a thank you. You get to list 7 things you think you know about me. When my daughter is here on Easter I will have her read all your comments and select the person who has the list that best represents me. She won't know you, but she really knows me. These FQ's will be given on Monday April 25.

APRIL IS POETRY MONTH

Tomorrow is another day
Tomorrow you will feel okay
Whatever the day brings
Remember tomorrow is another day.
Everyday is a new day
Though some things don’t change
And whatever yesterday brings
Tomorrow is another day.
-anon-

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon