Mystery Meat Monday

It was interesting deciding which recipe I would review for today's post.  I personally love quick meals as much as those meals involving hours of preparation.  Although I intend to do reviews on both types of recipes I decided to start with something I created myself (and because I was sick in bed this week so I didn't get to throw some pots around).  The last recipe I tried was actually an easy 'make it up on the spot as you go' recipe I did for a potluck event at church.  It's so easy that I'll even throw in our favorite treat recipe to round out the meal.  

Now, as procrastinators tend to do, I waited until the last minute to figure out what to cook for this event.  I searched on line and through our shelves of recipe books.  But everything I found either had too long for cooking time, was too involved with prep work for such a late start or we didn't have all the ingredients already on hand.  It was 4 hours before the event (yeah I know, I told you already I procrastinated).  I needed something that could cook and travel in our large crockpot. I didn't really care what, since my dishes always had leftovers (oh, except my cornbread, info on that further down). That is until this dish hit the table, finally I got an empty pot back from a potluck.  'Yeah me!' (hey, it's the simple pleasures in life that get you through).  This was awesome because this pot was twice as big as what I would normally take to such an event. It felt great that everyone enjoyed the dish.  

So what was this super easy yummy dish I made up on the spot.  We'll I dubbed it 'Steph's Canned Soup Mix', of course there's a little extra not from a can.  Like what?  I'm glad you asked, here's the recipe:

'Steph's Canned Soup Mix' 

1 can of each:

    Black beans

    White beans

    Red beans

    Corn

    Creme style corn

    Tomato paste

    Stewed Tomatoes

    Creme of Mushroom soup

    Diced Potatoes

    Canned chicken, shredded, reserve liquid 

    Canned roast beef, shredded, reserve liquid

Other Ingredients:

    1 Smoked Hamhock

    

Pour a nice size lump of each in palm of your hand (the one time I don't use measure cups, zeesh):

    Season Salt, do this twice actually

    Garlic Salt, I also ended up doing this twice

    1/4 stick on butter (not margarine)

    1 teaspoon of Minced Garlic

    Handful of real BACON bits (oooohhhhhhh, yummmmmm, bacon) 

    

And my new favorite secret ingredient for everything new to me in cooking and when I'm not sure of what something will taste like, lol, hold you horses, are you ready?!  Steph's secret ingredient of the year is 'Mexican Vanilla'!  Yep, that's my go to make it taste good secret!  Shhhhhhhh, we don't want the word to get out it would create a shortage of the stuff, lol.  Okay, add about 1 tablespoon of the secret ingredient, Mexican Vanilla (I suppose any will do).

Take this opportunity to mix the reserved liquids (from canned chicken and roast beef) together into one container, mix.

1.  Mix all canned items in the crockpot and mix well.

2.  Add small amount of the reserved liquids, and stir, eh, use your own judgement on this one.

3.  Add the seasonings, butter, and secret ingredient, :-) teehee, then stir.

4.  Lastly, add the smoked Hamhock, stir.  I made sure to leave it right in the middle of our oblong shaped crockpot and sitting on the bottom floor of the pot.  In my mind the flavor would rise and wow, POW! (too over the top?)

5.  Cover with lid and cook normally on low for 8 hours OR if your in procrastinator who waited until the last minute mode on high for 4 hours.

This was yummy and I'm not bias, if something does not taste good to me I can not hide it!  I took homemade buttermilk cornbread with it, which was also a last minute rush.  It was eatable but not my best, I think I forgot something.  Anyway, I can't give you that family recipe.  You'd freak out about the fat content volume, lol, I don't make it often but when I do man oh man, yum yummmm! 

But, I will give you a little quick treat recipe I got from my co-worker Barbara (before I became stay at home mom to homeschool our 15 year old knucklehead, son).  It has now become a family favorite and a tradition in our home.  My son and I make them for almost everyone we know and deliver them for Christmas or any large gathering. Last year he said, "Mom, I'm going to do this with my children and continue the tradition.  Then we'll all talk about how Grandma Steph started it all." Sniff sniff, love that kid.

'Cake Cookies'

    Cake mix (any flavor you like - Devil Foods Cake is best, my favorite is actually Red Velvet cake                          mix)

    8 oz. Creme Cheese, soften

    1 stick of butter

    1 egg

    1 teaspoon Vanilla :-) {no I did not add that to the recipe, lol it came that way}

    Powdered Sugar

1.  Blend together the creme cheese and butter first.  I left them both out on the counter several hours before hand to soften them, makes the process easier.

2.  Then add the cake mix, egg, and vanilla.

3.  Mix we'll and refrigerate mix until it is firm (approximately 2 hours). [or again if you are in procrastinator mode with a really good freezer you can get by with putting in freezer uncovered for 10 minutes, not ideal but it'll most definitely do the job enough!]

4.  Form into balls and roll in powdered sugar (like making meatballs, that's a nice).

5.  Bake on top shelf of oven @ 350 for approximately 10 minutes.

I let then sit a minute on the baking sheet on the counter, then immediately removed them and put them on a cooling rack for a few minutes (usually until the next pan is ready to come out and i'll be needing that rack again).

These are delicious!! Personally I'm done with them in about 2 days, that's if any are left.  That's because I feel they start to dry out after that, no matter how good I wrap them or put them in an airtight container.  The guys however do not seem to mind them several days later.  Eh, to each his own!

So there you go hon, my first Mystery Meat Monday review.  I was a little hesitant on that name because it won't always be meat in the review.  But every time I thought of recipe review I giggled thinking about mystery meat school lunches, so the title stuck with me, I hope you will to!

Love and shimmies,
Next month's review will be an awesome and delicious Pinterest dish involving......, oops, almost told ya, you'll just have to come back again!

P.S. {I apologize for not having pictures, but at the time I had not decided on these reviews.  For future reference I do intend to have pictures with each step of the reviews and finished product!}

Quiltography App!

This is with my new Quiltography app for the IPad!  Since I'm sick in bed and can't play with my beloved CindyLoo (my main sewing machine) and fabric this is  the next best thing. Of course, it would be greater if I had taken the time to actually load all my stash into the program. Heavy sigh, at the moment I only have 5 to 7 fat quarters loaded into the app.  This quilt design still has a way to go but It was just something to play around with for now. 

Oh well, tomorrow I'll try again to get around only much slower and no heaters!

Maybe at some point this weekend I'll get the rest of my stash into the app.  I've created a block, at least I think I created, I don't recall seeing it on any other site or any books I have (but it probably is, quilting has been around for so long and the shapes they had were pretty common). Oh well, it's my creation in my mind for now, 'Yeah me!'

Love and shimmies, Steph!

(I love technology, to be able to blog from my bed with my cool blogger smartphone app, awesome sauce !!) 

P.S. I Do Have A Valentines Make-It, But Unfortunately I Won't Be Able To Make It For My Guys Since I Was Sick Half Of this Week. But I Will Still Do It Later And Maybe You Can Find It On Pinterst For Next Year's V-Day Special Gift. 

Make-It-Monday's V-Day - late

I've decided to make this Monday a Valentines day make it project. However, today I've been ill and in bed all day.  My apologies, but I will place the step by step with pictures project up as soon as I'm feeling better, or at least the room stops spinning every time I sit up.

Thank for your patience!

Love and Shimmies,
Steph

Monday Madness - The End and The Beginning

The End...

Sometimes in life things we love come to an end.  That's just the way it is sometimes.  It's okay, the world will not end, just that part of your life.

There are many things in life that we put out hearts and energy into.  We set our hearts on a specific goal and when opportunity presents itself we jump at it.  We plan and plan on what we need to make it work, then we take those steps to bring those thoughts, passions, and dreams to a reality.  Then we work to make it a positive experience not only for ourselves but for all those we share it with.

So what happens when interest doesn't pan out, when all the promises don't stand, when other things prevent would be supporters, or others just don't know about the opportunity at hand.  Do you blame yourself, do you think you fail, do you think you suck? Well heck, of course you do, at first.  I mean we are only human.

But, then we have to come to realize that the answer is no (well, sometimes, yes you make actually suck, but that's where good and honest self evaluation comes in, along with evaluations of those you hold in high regard).  Everything that happens to you is an opportunity to bring you one step closer to who you are meant to be.  In my case I like to think everything that has happened to me, good or bad, brings me one step closer to the daughter my father in Heaven wants me to be.  Because something you tried failed doesn't make YOU a failure.  What makes you a failure is not seeing the value in stepping out there and facing your fears.  Going after something that brings joy into your life and taking the opportunity to share it with others is all the better.

Let me explain, after spending 20 something years afraid of my own shadow I have learned the biggest failure is NOT trying for fear of failure.  If you have the opportunity to do something you love by all means take it.  Of course, you want to research it, make a plan, pray about it, but most of all DO something with it!!  So many times I have not done something because I was afraid I would fail.  Worried about what people would say, how would it look?  Frankly my dear, who gives a rats butt what people think of you taking the opportunities that life has presented to you.  People who want to look down on you will always find a reason to do so,  you don't live your life to make them happy.  If you're not breaking the law or the moral codes by which you live, and not infringing on the rights of others, honey press forward.  My happiness will not be placed in the hands of the very negative people who wish me ill will. 

In my 30 somethings I learned whenever an idea poped into my mind, I'd say, "Ohhhh, I like it so I'm going to go do it".  Was I still in fear, lol, yes most of the time.  But I pressed forward anyway and man oh man what a grand time I have had.  Have I been a great success in all of them?  Heck YEAH!  You know why, because the fear didn't keep me from doing something I wanted to do and most times I was decent to pretty good at whatever is was.  When I was not good at it I still learned so much about the task at hand that I still walked away a better person for it.  It gave me a better understanding the task if not for myself then to be used later to help someone else.  

So I stepped out there and did a very scary thing, forcing me out of my comfort zone and now I am more than I thought I could be because of this great experience.  How?  Well, let's see, I grew, l learned, I put myself in front of people (terrified), I shared what I loved, met new people,  I found out "Oh, honey, yes you can do this or that, even with shaking hands and knees!".   It was a nerve reckoning experience and I had blast every step of the way.  I know I am a better person for this experience.

But it is now time to say goodbye to that experience, well actually part of that experience.  Do I feel sadness, yes, am I depressed, no.  Will I miss it, yes of course.  It was a vital part of my life and at a much needed time in my life.  I hate change, but I know it is necessary in order to grow.  So as one chapter of my life ends so many more chapters have already begun. 

I feel so blessed to be at a point in my life where I now know these things.  So blessed for the amazing husband that I have, my own personal paparazzi, and to have a wonderful family who loves,  supports, and encourages me!  I love them all so very much!!   Now we have...

The Beginning...

Love and Shimmies, 

                            

Oops, did I miss Monday already?!

I said I would post every Monday, wellllllllllllll today is Tuesday.  Sigh.  At least it is within 24 hours.

The weather here is bad, it's cold, wet, icy, did I mention cold, and I fell crappy.  I think the cold weather is sucking the energy out of me.  However, to train myself to stay on schedule ('cause you know, where would a girl be if she didn't have a schedule to keep) I am going to make this post (yes, I know it's a day late, give me a break here).  

I have a lot of things I want to share so I decided to come up with a plan of how, when and what to post about.  So below is the schedule I am going to follow in this year of blogging.

Each month I am set to blog on Monday's.  The first Monday of the month will be 'Monday Madness' (random, sometimes insane ramblings or poetic ramblings, or just whatever is on my wacky mind); the second Monday of the month will be 'Mystery Meat Monday' (recipe reviews that I have actually tried from Pinterest, Allrecipes, Taste of Town, etc.); the third Monday of the month will be 'Make-It Monday' (again things from Pinterest, DIY's of my own, etc); the fourth Monday of the month will be 'Marvelous Monday' (commercial sewing pattern reviews, DIY sewing patterns, quilts, blocks, The 350 Blocks Project, 2014, ect.); and those few months where we have five Monday's, ummm, well these will just be up for grabs, maybe even some natural hair care/technique/styles.  Or  belly dance information, or maybe even some time with 'Mormon Monday'.  Who knows where we will go, but I want the ride to be joyful and useful!!

So I'm off the set up the Monday's for February.  Due to Valentines Day on the 14th, I may swap the Monday's for something DIY for Valentines Day!  

Love and Shimmies, 

Steph!

Goodbye 2013, hello 2014

 Okay, sooooooo, last year was interesting.

My favorite dress I made from a pattern!

I made a baby quilt for my nephew by heart.  It was used to wrap him in after he was born.  That was awesome.  My wonderful sister and brother by heart, Venita and James, invited me to be a part of their birthing experience again, this time for number 10 [yeah, wow].  Although I've been in the birthing room with them on the last few births this was still quite a new experience for us, each time has been something new.  Ahhh, the joys of childbirth.  In my opinion (and I do love all my children) it's better watched than experienced, hahaha.  Well, except those moments when you're holding hands with the mom (who was set on doing this naturally) gets a labor pain and she's holding your hand.  Ouch, sharp nails hon, sharp nails!  I made my nephew a colorful baby animal quilt using pinwheels.  The backing was a nice fleece in a different color than the prints.  I have no idea what that fleece color was, but it was just a nice dark but bold color.  I loved that color as soon as I saw it and it was so soft.  Instead of binding I folded the fleece around to the front and did a pretty (in most spots) stitch with little hearts.  Obviously it was my first time using that stitch.  But it was truly stitched in love and I felt the hearts were appropriate.

My first lap quilt is still half stippled [hey, don't judge me, life went into many directions].  I got a new sewing machine for my birthday and a serger for Christmas.  But I could not stipple on my new machine, just couldn't figure it all out.  So I set up my little Janome to be my stippling sewing machine, I will finish and close that little project this year.  I also stared a quilt with a Jacob's Ladder block, rain out of charm squares and could not find the print anywhere.  Ebay had some of the line but I need the whole line to have the flow of the pattern continue and look nice.  Alas, the 10 blocks I have are still in my handy dandy DIY portable UFO (unfinished objects) holder.  Maybe i'll just put them together as a lap quilt  or add some really wide borders to make a bigger quilt and give to someone in a nursing home.  Yes, that's a great idea, see typing this stuff out is bringing new ideas into my mind.  Awesome!!

I joined the 350 Block Project again this year, although last year was a wash because I started learning to sew clothes.  But I am back on track this year to divide my time equally between sewing clothes, belly dance wear, quilting and some other sewing projects.  I absolutely LOVE to sew.  My name is Steph and I'm a sewaholic!!!

My natural hair journey is still going.  Almost 20 years now.  But it's these last few years that I have been learning to make my own hair products and use different techniques to do some really cool styles (in my best Landon voice, 'Yeah Me!').  I have lots of wonderful, kind and sharing instructors at that fine institution of youtube.edu, he-he.  I've enjoyed making all my yummy hair products.  Also in knowing that only good stuff is going on my wonderfully textured unique and awesome hair.  It was a love hate relationship for a while there but we (by we I mean my hair) have decided that she (my hair) will do whatever she wants to and I will work with it has best I can. hahaha.  I got plenty of new growth, when I was consistent with my new skills and knowledge in creating a good hair care regiment.  But none, dare I say even lost some, when I was inconsistent (in other words when I was too lazy to take all the necessary steps to ensure healthy hair, sigh).  I was tickled pink to see length in places which I had not been able to get it before, ahem,  like in the back!!!

I look forward to having a great new year with lots of new experiences.  Some other things I started doing last year and expect new heights in this year:  Toastmasters International - speech contest chair person for local and area contests, officer roles - secretary and Vice President of Education; Unit Commissioner in Boy Scouts of America; created AfroCentric Hips Bellydance Troupe (and had live performances); Team Leader for Shimmy Mob 2014; another garden; practicing and performing more with my auto harp and psalter while my wonderful hubby sings and/or play other instruments; get a few more Zumba certifications; and Relief Society 2nd Counselor, just to name a few!

Although I did not blog much this year, I did not better than previous years.  Soooooo, this year let's simply aim for posting once a week, ummm, every Monday!! Yep, when I get really good at that I may start breaking the topics up for certain days.  But right now let's just focus on every Monday!!

Here's to great new year, these are some of my favorite pics from 2013!!

For a Fall Challenge to design you line I had to create a Inspiration Board, LOVE this board!!



These are some of my Fall Line pieces (the wrap is from a pattern)!

This is reconstruct, evening dress to belly dance bra/hip scarf!

Pencil skirt I made using my own measurements!

Afrocentric Hips Belly Dance Troupe performance!

Made this dress out of remnant piece!!

  

                         Dateless prom for youth, we chaperoned.

    

            

     

       The baby pinwheel quilt I made and cute little nephew Timmy!

 

       

  Portable DIY UFO holder.

Self drafted dress.

A GREAT hair day, twist out!

From this stack of supplies to.....

To these batches of yummy hair products!!!!

My favorite dress I made from a pattern!

The coat was not made, at least by hand.

The garden produce lots of veggies.  of course, some didn't make it, lol.

The half stippled lap quilt!

I thought this went wrong, heh.

Zumba time baby, guest instructor as an event!

My Zumba and troupe partner at an event!

Museum visit with out son in Dayton, Ohio!

There you have it, that's a wrap!

Love and Shimmies, Steph!!

AfroCentric Hips Bellydance Troupe Holiday Market 2014 performance

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppD_9GwXpPg&feature=youtube_gdata_player

My sewing room friends!

Whipped these up up to keep me company in my sewing room.

Supplies:

Crystal candle stick holder from the dollar tree

Ribbon on hand, mine was 1 1/4 inches wide

Hot glue gun

Small mason jars, also from the dollar store, but you can get them from the grocery store or a yard sale.

First I cutoff a 9 1/2 inch piece of ribbon, then a 3 1/2 inch piece.  Put them aside.

I cut an additional 3 pieces of ribbon at about 3 inches each.  Then I took the top out to the mason jar lid and carefully glued those three pieces to the lid with the hot glue gun (just a lip drop), overlaying each on top of the previous piece.  If your ribbon has lines you may want to match those up, or not.

Carefully using the hot glue gun place a line all around the mason jar ring.  Take the 9 1/2 inch piece of ribbon and wrap it around the mason jar ring (do not add the lid to the top until after this step).  Make sure there are no holes between the ribbon and the ring (remember you are going to be refilling your little treats over and over again so you want a good seal).  Be careful NOT to put any hot glue on the inside of the ring (you won't be able to close the jar if there is glue in the way).  Also make sure that you completely glue the ribbon closed on the ring.

Take the 3 1/2 inch piece of ribbon and hot glue it to the bottom (or wherever you like) part of the crystal candle stick the same way you glued it to the ring (but with less stress on you because this one can't mess up you lid, yeah)!

Now, fill you special treat jar with M&M, Dove, taffy, caramels, or if you like dried pineapple, carrot chips, whatever floats your boat.  Then place your lid, with the ribbon side facing down, into your ring.  Careful not to ruffle your nice glue job on the ring (it was really quite easy and no stress, they are not that tight, so just plop it in).

Finally, place your lid on you jar, yeah.  Oh, but wait...

One more step.  Take the hot glue gun and place a strip of glue in the top circle of your crystal candle stick.  Center your mason jar bottom (actually I've done these with upside down votive holders, so whatever container you have handy will work) on the glue ring on the top of the candle stick.  Then quickly squeeze on a little more hot glue before it starts to dry.  Press down and hold for 30 sections or so.

Now, stand back and check out just how crafty you are!  Enjoy!

Until next time...

Love and Stitches, 

Steph!

Recycle and put to use!

Okay I found a great way to help me be a better blogger, ummmm.  I have it on my IPad now so I can sit and blog all my craft, sewing and redesign sewing room crap, I mean stuff, while I am in my sewing room working on projects.  I have also done some of the many things I have pinned on Pinterest that I will be doing reviews on.  

Here's today's recycled project.  Super easy.

I found this rack in one of our storage units.  It's the kind that you would generally hang in the shower or outside the shower for towels. Well I decided I needed it someplace else since it was not needed in our shower.

I also had these over the door hooks and lots of clear shower hooks.  The rack is hung on the over the door hooks we got from somewhere but could not use for the purpose we got them.  I used some shower hooks to attach the rack to the over the door hooks since the rack itself was also designed to hang over something.  The rack's hooks were too narrow to go over the door, even if it could it would not have allowed the door to close. 

 I took all my crafty design scissors and placed a hook on each pair and hung them from the rack. 

Oops, I also had plenty of a maroon plastic half curved typed shower rings, that is actually what all the design type scissors are hung on.  The other stuff is on the clear ring hooks. (Thank goodness for pictures or I'd never get the story right, lol.)

After that I took all my quilting rulers and rotary cutter and hung each of them from a clear ring hook and placed them on the rack as well. 

I am super happy with this quick and easy recycled project for my sewing room, which beleive it or not is still a work in progress, redesigning it. (Sigh)

Until next time...

Love and stitches, 

Steph!

Awesome rendition of 'I Need Thee'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zG_pnDWle0I&feature=youtube_gdata_player

I made a dress in one evening!!

i found a remnant on the clearance rack for $2.25! I thought 'oh how cool - this ruffle fabric will make a cute purse'. got it home and opened. WOW, it was way bigger than i thought. so i thought um, a skirt would be cute and only one seam. sooooo, yeah, ended up with a little piece left over. i thought if only i could make some type of sleeves with it. So i did, completely made up, would probably make an experienced seamtress cringe at some of the stuff i made up, lol. but it's done and I wore it to church today and it didn't fall off. i even made a little slip to go under it. Love that ruffle material!

Staying Hydrated | Hydration and Exercise | Hydration During Exercise

Staying Hydrated | Hydration and Exercise | Hydration During Exercise

Why is Nutrition Important? | Nutrition Basics from EAS Academy

Why is Nutrition Important? | Nutrition Basics from EAS Academy

MiMi G's Olisa Smart Iron Review and GIVEAWAY!!

How to make leggings- DIY Tutorial

Sewing Queen, woohoo!!

I finally started sewing!  Yeah,  clothes that is (already sewing quilts).

My first article of clothing in umphteen years.  I made a blouse in high school home economics class back in the 80's.  I wore that poor blouse until it literally fell apart.  Of course it was RED, duh.  I never made another piece of clothing again, never had the resources to do so or to continue learning.  Before I got married a sewing machine came into my possession (freecycle, lol) but, that did not quite spark my interest in sewing as I had hoped it would.  I was too far gone into belly dancing and being Stake Single Adult Representative, so I had a pretty busy plate.

Once I got married, I came into possession of nice little Janome sewing machine.  At the same time I found our local quilt shop.  Only to find out month's later but before my beginners quilting class, that the store would be closing.  Bummer, but if you know me (or you'll come to know) once I set my mind to learn to do something there is no stopping me.  So I hit one the greatest resources for information I know, YOUTUBE!!  Gotta love YouTube!!  I found many willing to help me learn to quilt.  Now, learn to sew.  YouTube is almost better than college, lol (don't get you panties in a ruffle, it's an exaggeration of course.  I'm not telling your children not to go to college.)  Also as great as YouTube are bloggers who are willing to share all their great knowledge on a daily basis, and even greater still, VLoggers, because I can read it and then go to their YouTube channel and watch it!  BAM!!  I love it.  I'm a visual learner myself, you can tell me until you are blue in the face.  Until I see it, and put my own hands on it, I may not fully understand it.  Then I got a Brother's 75000 for my birthday and baby, lookout, here is becoming a sewing queen, with a new machine, you got the sewing queen, la la la.....  (in my head I heard the music to 'Dancing Queen', in case you were wondering, how the la la la fit in at the end of that statment, lol).

Ooohhh, we got our square foot gardening done and seeds are growing.  Oh, wait, I was talking about sewing, right?  Okay I'll write about our Square Foot Gardening on another post.  It is awesome.

Okay back to sewing queen.  So having my wonderful new machine inspired me to want to sew, not to mention the sad state that clothing has taken these days, (whatever, you may feel differently and that's great for you, but for me, it's ack).  So I was inspired once again to make the types of clothes I want to to wear so I don't have to spend time going through racks to find nothing I want.  Did I mention I HATE, no LOATHE, shopping.  How strange for a women, I think it's because I can't find what I want or either in my size or that will fit properly.  Of course, a girl is loosing a few pounds and toning up.  I LOVE teaching Zumba and Zumba Toning.  The changes to my body are awesome!!  Oh, right, sewing.

So I know have a half way complete sewing room slash craft room.  Still painting book shelves and making dry erase board.  But it's coming along.  I already have my sewing/craft table set up and my sewing machine cabinet set in place to work from.  I'll post pics of the before and after when it's all done.  Because it is one big ol' DIY project.

I completed my first projects last week.

I made this cute (to me anyway) little drawstring backpack:

Then this sweet little mismatch maxi skirt that I got from a blogger, check it out and tell me what you think:

I must say that I am so enjoying this sewing journey that I have begun.  You know I live to be creative and so this is just another outlet that allows me to do so.  If I couldn't be creative and even better bring that creativeness to reality it would truly be a sad world for me.

Well, off to work on my Toastmasters' speech for tomorrow, the title is "Square It Up!".  Can you guess what that is going to be about, lol.

Later updates and pictures on my quilting projects to come.  So much fun with that as well!!

Love and Shimmies, Steph!

p.s. someone wanna tell this newbie how to put badges from other sites on this site.  I have a few I'd like to add but have been unsuccessful at doing so.   ooh, I wonder if I can find it on YouTube!  LOL.

 350 Blocks Project: 2013 Update!!

April has come and gone!  How many wonderful blocks do you think I have made this month.  Well, brace yourself, a whole whopping 2 Churndash blocks.  Yes, I know, I hold my head down in shame.  The month started so bright and hopeful.  Then, 1 churndash, a few days later another one.  And then, n-o-t-h-i-n-g, nothing.  I am not doing so good on my block project for this year.

But I can do better, I must do better.  May's goal is 31 blocks.  Ummm, okay.  I have some Betty Boop material that I want to use in a Block of the Month, and needless to say I am behind on this as well.  I want to make some hourglass blocks for another project, yes, that's behind.  Oh, did I mention all the cool maxi dresses I'm planning to make.  Yeah, May is going to be MY month!!!  Oh, wait, I gotta get all my seeds planted in our garden as well.  [sigh], umm, yep, May is going to be my? month.

Love and Shimmies [and out of breath], Steph!!

Crafty Gemini: Turban Inspired Headband-DIY Tutorial

Crafty Gemini: Turban Inspired Headband-DIY Tutorial: If you need a quickie hair accessory this is the project for you!  Super easy to make and a great beginner project! Even kids can m...

I love this and plan to make some for class!!

Steph!

RobbyGurl's Creations: Mini Menu Board Giveaway!!!

I would LOVE to have one of these!!

RobbyGurl's Creations: Mini Menu Board Giveaway!!!: On April 26th, 2013, the Menu Board will be celebrating it's 2nd birthday here in blogville! As a special gift from me to you, for all y...

350 Block Project: UPDATE - Jacob’s Ladder

I am soooo excited.  I bought this little charm pack on sale from our local quilt shop at their going out of business sale (right after I just found them, bwaaa).  I simply LOVE it, had no idea what I was going to do with that one charm packet, but the colors just popped and I had to have it.  After all, it was on SALE!  So I took it home to my little growing stash of charms and fat quarters. 

While scouting my favorite ‘go to’ site, come on, you know it, YOUTUBE!!  Can I just say I love Jenny from Missouri Star Quilt Company  (I’m going to do a YouTube video soon on all the cool projects I have done from Jenny’s tutorials, just my way of saying ‘Thank You Jenny’).  Well one day while going through the list, there it was.  The perfect quilt for my little charm packet.  I couldn’t wait to try it.  This would be the first time I’d be making big blocks like this and I was a bit worried (although each block consists of five 4-patches and 4-half square triangle units, which I’ve made plenty of before).   I had to make many, many trips to the store to find the perfect green and brown to make my 4-patch units.  Finally I settle on a fat quarter each at the local Wally’s World.  To add even more pressure they (the individual units) had to be laid out in a certain order or there would be no ladder to follow.  Ask me how quickly I came to realize that…

As I made the blocks I laid them out in my portable UFO tote that I made, super cute (pictures and details to come next week, using supplies on hand or from the local fabric store bargain bin).  I did not consider how to put them together.  I was just so excited to be starting another project.  Not to mention having blocks to count for the 365 Day Block Project .  So the first time I laid them out on the design wall DS (darling son) and I only saw 4-patches turn into 16 squares.  L, After feeling a bit let down, thankfully I realized that I had not lined them up in the correct directions.  I was simply going by which design I wanted on the top on each block.  Ah, amateurs, you gotta love us (because once you were us J).  Once all the blocks were turned in the appropriate directions. There it was my very own little Jacob’s Ladder. 

o_O  , ummmm, yes I see the ladder, but… something still is not right.  Oh for pete’s sake.  I only have half of it.  I could only see 2 diamonds in the center, there were 4 in the example.  YIKES!  Quilt store officially closed and Wally of course does not carry these wonderful lines of charm packets.  OH NO, panic sets in.  What am I going to do, I need another charm packet?  Okay, went to Moda site, nothing, gone, no longer, I think they discontinued it.  [Thump!!  Head hitting desk in pool of tears.] Okay, breath, hit Amazon, ugh, nothing.  Okay, Ebay, nothing.  2 days later I refuse to believe I can’t find this on Ebay, so I go back.  No [sniff sniff] I did not find the charm packet but I did find someone selling the whole line in fat quarters.  Um, is it worth it to me to pay $40.00 plus s/h?  Let me think on that one for a bit (yes, I’m cheap, so what of it! Rather frugal!!)

I have the blocks on the wall in our bedroom behind the door (you just gotta love those little cheap 3 for $10.00 lap blankets.  I tape them to the walls and hang my quilt pattern on them, and until I made my UFO totes I’d rolled those up with quilt pattern laid out) because I already had a quilt laid out on the one in my sewing/craft room for another project I was working on.  So sitting with DH at our desk, he looks over and says, “I marvel at you (tee-hee J), you have to find the fabric and finish that.”  To which I look over and fall in love (with the quilt layout that is, you know I LOVE DH already).  He is right I have to finish it.  Hey I had to buy more green fat quarters and yardage of brown for the 4-patches so what’s a few more fat quarters of the whole line of fabric.  Besides, if had more of the fabric design I could go ahead and make it big enough to fit out bed or family couch cover while watching movies together, yeah…  Looks like it’s off to Ebay I go.

For the Month of March my little Jacob’s Ladder has helped me in my 350 block project count with 10 blocks plus 2 blocks from another project equals 12 blocks for the month.  Not a lot, but it is progress and it means I worked on some blocks last month.  So, that would be February’s 20 plus March’s 12 equals 32 for the year so far.  Yeah Me!!  Of course the count was for 28 in February which is when I found the project and started.  For March the goal was 31 and for this month, April it’s 30.  I have to play catch up, not to mention the 17 for January (which I was not a participant in the project at that time).  WOW, I’d better get busy. 

Jacob’s Ladder inside one of the new portable UFO totes I just made.

My finished yet unfinished Jacob’s Ladder on the design wall!

Love and Shimmies, Steph!!