2011 Winter Quilt done in 2012

Ah what a productive morning. I had to finish stitching in the ditch before I quilted it. This is the part of quilting I find monotonous, stitching along your seams before you begin. However, it is an exercise that is well worth it, as it prevents puckers while quilting your design.

So, it is completed. I would like to note that I have not free-motioned in a minute and I didn't practice. By it's my quilt and I didn't care. So here it is.

Detox/CLEAN Program and Pizza

So I am on Day 14 of my CLEAN program. Boy did my digestive system need this. So in addition to supplements, etc there is also no sugar, gluten, dairy, red meat, caffeine, alcohol, soy, Processed foods. Vegetable oil, canola oil, night shade vegetables (I.e. tomatoes eggplant - they cause inflammation), and no other allergy causing foods like peanuts bananas orange grapefruit strawberries and corn.

Yea I know some are asking, well E what can you eat?... Everything else. Almond, coconut, rice, nut milks; all sorts of
Veggies, brown rice, Quinoa. Amaranth, millet and a host of other gluten free grains, poultry fish, fruits...

So I discovered a simple quinoa pizza crust recipe. Www.tastelikehome.com or google simple quinoa pizza and the recipe will pop up.

Anyway real simple. Soak quinoa in water for 8 hours. When done drain and rinse, season with Italian seasoning and garlic. Throw in a blender with water and blend to create a batter the consistency of pancake batter.

Have a 12 inch skillet brushed with olive oil heating up in the oven at 450 degrees, pour into skillet, smooth out and bake till brown. Flip and continue. You add your toppings and pop back in for another 5-10 min or till done. And yum...

Mine has pinto and lentil beans as a sauce since no tomatoes, topped with ground turkey and kale. Yummy.

I would probably go a bit thinner for my crust the next time. But oh so delicious.

New York Beauty NYC Mod Bee

Okay so June flew by oh so fast. I guess that's why happens when you are away 3 out 4 weeks. So better late than never, June Queen Bee's Block. Happy fourth Kim.

I have to say this block helped me to see that curves are not as bad as they can be, and paper piecing is a breeze. Thanks for the challenge Kim. I hope you like. Can't wait to see the finishes product.

Only 1 thing could keep me away...

Yes, I missed a NYC MOd Meeting. It is so heart wrenching to miss the laughter, the feel of fabric and all the quilty eye candy. I missed the oooos and aaaaahhhs as people marvel over each others work.

But there is "currently" only one thing that could keep me away. Caveat/ of course barring the obvious family etc.

Celebrating the upcoming 40th celebration of my two BFFs that share the same birthday as me. (I am a year older).

So off to the vineyard the we went, for a wonderful girls weekend pre-birthday celebration. Complete with gift bags and T-shirts made by me. Food drinks and fun. I even found a local quilt shop called the Heath Hen Yarn and Quilt Shop. And yes I bought fabric. Smiles

All in a days work..

I had to stay home yesterday to let go of NY1 and get faster services for less $$$. Anyway, I decided to make something new. (like I had no other projects that could be worked on or needed finishing, rlol)

So this came to mind. It is for a gift and I had people sign the fabric with best wishes. After freely piecing and Chopping, this is why I ended up with. The colors are not truly representative of it.

But on a process note. I actually focused on ironing my top and back. Yes, I know shocked, yeah I hate to iron after every stitch. More on things I don't like to do....

I taped all the pieces down, and painstakingly pin basted. I then stitched in the ditch, all over, and now I will quilt it.

I see why you are suppose to do those things. Question is, will I make it a habit? Lol.

Dear Jane...I Must Be Crazy...

Yes, I must be certifiable. I have had this deep need to torture myself, apparently. The woman that does not like following patterns, the woman that took 12 years to Complete her first quilt. What would possess me to tackle Jane Stickle's 5,603 piece magilla?

It is akin to running a marathon in my mind. If I can follow a pattern, cut and sew tiny pieces within a 4.5 inch block, I would have achieved the unthinkable. So I bravely signed up to Judy and Dianne class and began last week.

About a week later, I have completed my first block. Yeah me.. "inner child squeals with delight" and I have traced about 7 more blocks and am ready to start tackling them with the swiftness. After all. Even if I finish it. I would still have to quilt it. Lmao.

My goal is to complete it by the end of this year. So....

Dear Jane:

You have caused, yet another quilter to lose their mind as they enter your OCD world of pieces. My name is cocktailsandthread and I think I am a Janiac.

Nimbly yours,

Happy Mothers Day... Everyone

Whew. What a lovely day. Was a bit under the weather the past couple of days and had many things that I had to do. Fortunately, I cut out the pieces for my mothers day gift.

As she met me at home late this morning for our journey, I was putting the final touches on her new bag. (because of course her Christmas gift was too dressy for everyday wear. Rlol) so here she is with her gift, and surprisingly in a Walmart. (She had to get a few things with my uncle. Lol)

Happy Mothers Day to everyone.