A Whole Lotta Cuttin' Goin' On!

I got most of Cameron's quilt cut out today. Even made the (34) 9-patches! I have a long way to go but I have to get all these 2 1/2" squares marked on the diagonal before I can go any further. All 350+ of them! Maybe I'll get to work on it tomorrow if I can ignore the quilt top on my design board.

I made a cutting mistake, of course. Three of the 10 1/2" blocks are pieced. Yuck! Maybe I could buy more fabric but it seems vain. The kit was a clearance item so the fabric may not even be available. It bothers me a wee bit but I will get over it. I'll just sew them into the quilt and call them my humility blocks!

Did you pick out fabric or put the border on the row quilt by any chance?

Vanessa

And A Special Thanks Goes To...

Terry! Your idea for an alternate block for the ColorBook block quilt was GREAT! I love how it looks. I have plenty of 2 1/2" blocks left over so I will probably use them in a border.

I have some solids left over from that tablecloth I made for the kid's shower that I thought would look good. I don't think I have enough of the medium tones to use for the mini sashings and the darker tones are too dark! Any suggestions? Do you think I should use the same color I used for the alternate blocks? I thought a different fabric would be MORE interesting. I may have to buy a piece of the perfect color. I had a piece of pumpkin color (on the left) that is perfect but don't have enough. I am glad Ginger's is down the road because now I can't keep my hands off this quilt.

Of course, I still want your opinions.

Au Revoir,
Vanessa

Goat's Milk Soap! Yeah!

Today we made soap! But not just any soap. Goat's Milk Soap! I was afraid. Very afraid to try this. I have a friend who used to make soap all the time and sell it but she was never successful with making goat's milk soap so I figured if she couldn't do it than I shouldn't even try it. BUT, I'm trying to cut out all the "Should not's" in my life or at least some of them so herewe went. My daughter was here to help. I bought goat's milk in a can because I have no source for fresh raw milk.

Half the batch I left with no scent so I could maybe make hand milled soap with it later or incase there are some that can't have fragrance, like my grandson. In the other half I added Ylang Ylang and vanilla. Love those two together. Hope it smells good because the goat's milk didn't smell too good while mixing together. This was expected according to the sources on the internet.

Used a hand blender to bring it to trace. That's when it thickens up and gets like pudding.

This is half the batch. I'm stirring in the essential oils.

This is half poured into one mold. This one is not scented. Sorry didn't get a picture of the second mold. I will take more pics when I unmold it and cut it up. It wasn't as hard as I thought and I WILL MAKE THIS AGAIN! So glad I did it.

Til we meet again,
Terry

100% Whole Wheat fresh ground Bread!

Yesterday I made homemade bread using wheat berries that I ground up myself to make flour. It was delicious! Now I need to decide if I want to spend the money on a grain mill and to order the wheat berries! Expensive initial investment.

Til we meet again,
Terry

Cabin Fever

I am going a little stir crazy. It's one thing when you just want to stay home and hiberate because you are tired and want some quiet time. It's another when you are forced to stay home. Eww wee! I can't wait to venture out into civilation. Grateful for modern technology and being about to see what the REST of the world is up to.

I am not complaining...just bored. I am grateful that the water is in the road and not in my house like many of my neighbors. Please keep Carencro in your prayers. Many homes and business sustained damage from the flood Monday and are cleaning up and trying to put their lives back in order.

So, when you can't leave your neighborhood, you baste and quilt.

Ugly as Homemade Soap

I now understand that saying. You will too when you see some of these soap bars. Your soap making inspired me, T. Well, you legitimately make soap. I do not. I just melt small bars and make bigger ones. Does that count?

Here are all the hotel soaps that we ground and turned into bigger bars. Much. Bigger. Bars. You can see that Scotty's method worked much quicker than the old-fashioned way. We had all the soaps ground to a dust in about 10 minutes. Next time we will do this outside as there was white dust everywhere. Our sinuses were going crazy! I thought for sure he would break the blender but he didn't. His method was better for sure!

The second batch is prettier, I mean less ugly. We smoothed out the second batch after we poured it into the dish. We didn't even bother with the first batch. I think we were so excited it was actually working.

I am sure we broke all the rules of soap melting, but it worked. And that's what counts. It's ugly soap, but it will do its job. I was gonna trash all those little bars anyway. What did I have to lose?

You are the real deal my friend. I can only walk in your shadow! Thanks for the inspiration!

Au revoir,
Vanessa

Not Much Productivity Here

...and certainly not anything near what you've been up to!

I had a package from Connecting Threads on my porch when I got back home from school today. I was very happy with what I bought. The colors were just like what I could see online and I was glad I liked everything as much as I did when I ordered it. First, I will quilt the "Lavender" quilt and then work on Cameron's. It's daunting looking at yardage to be cut. I usually work with Fat Quarters so this is some big-girl cutting!

Here is a little pillow I made for the bed. It is raw edge petals cut from fabric that I used in the quilt. They are basted down at the points and secured with a French knot at the opposite end. What is it? I don't know. Just started cutting and working. I think it's kinda cute.

With all the rain this weekend I may get a quilt basted and quilted. Hopefully.

Til We Meet Again,
Vanessa

Yesterday!

15 qts of carrots for the freezer. 5 lbs in fridge for use now. 10 lbs to give away to family. So tired after doing all of this but it felt good to get it done. Now what to do with the VERY LARGE turnips still left in the garden?? Good question!!

Til we meet again,
Terry

Easy Like Sunday Mornin'

I slept until 9:45am. Nine forty-five!! It was glorious. I feel incredible! Sleep. Such a natural thing, yet it doesn't happen naturally for me.

Having a great day. The weather is beautiful. Scotty and the boys are working outside. That means that I got to dip out and do some shopping. It was nice to go alone for a change. I got so much done without the distractions.

In the quiet of the trip home from shopping, I was thinking about that little quilt I am working on without the borders. All your talkin' 'bout piano key borders Friday gave me the envie to make them for this little quilt. Also, I will delve into my scraps!

What do you think about piano key borders? Any other ideas?

Have a Super Sunday!
Vanessa

Next on the agenda:
1) Baste, quilt and bind the "Lavender" sashed quilt. Ha!
2) Get started on Cameron's quilt.
3) Make foundation pieces for string quilt. This is for my imaginary Saturdays that I will get to go to Sew Bee It. Hopefully, soon!

Handmilled Soap

Made soap balls and cakes yesterday. I had some BIG BARS of basic goat's milk soap that I had bought from Pennsylvania years ago. The soap was really hard so April helped me grate it and we added hot water and essential oils to it then squeezed it together to make soap balls and cakes. They need to dry out for a few days then we can use them. We have Peppermint, Citrus (which was a blend of Tangerine and Orange essential oils) and Jasmine (which is our favorite).

Funny thing, the Jasmine smells like honeysuckle. I had a perfume in high school that smelled just like it. Brought back memories of drivers ed and high school days just smelling it!



Til we meet again,
Terry