This mama moose and her two teenagers have been spending quite a bit of time in our yard lately, so fun!

For those of us who can no longer read the teeny numbers on sewing machine needles, this is a lifesaver! The bands of color are for different sizes of machine needles that have been used but not used up... The yellow head pin is a placeholder for the needle that is currently in my machine. If I get a different needle either from the pincushion or from a package, I put the pin in that size's spot. You can make as many stripes/categories as you'd like. Mine are, from left to right, size 70/10 needles, size 80/12, size 90/14, size 100/16, hand needles, and beading needles. This is adapted from an idea in a Quilting Arts publication, not sure which one...



Directions:
I cut my strips 1 3/4 inches by 5 inches, 6 of them. Stitch them together in the order you'd like. Lay on a piece of batting and quilt. Square it up, then fold it in half, right sides together, and stitch the long side. Stitch across one end, with the previous seam in the middle of the end one, so the long seam ends up on the bottom. Turn right side out, fill with sand, handstitch the other end.
If you use different types of needles, as well as different sizes, you could divide each section into sections going the other direction as well.
A 30 minute project that will save you hours of aggrivation! :-)

I bought a new package of Hoffman Bali Crackers fabric recently, (10 inch squares) and asked my facebook friends to tell me what they saw in it, since I wasn't getting an idea for what to do with it. Many of them said owls, so after a little more effort than I anticipated, I made this mini quilt. (9 x 12 inches)

This recipe came about one day when I was craving a falafel salad, but too lazy to make the falafel:-) I just threw all the parts in a bowl and called it a salad, and it turned out to be delicious!
The measurements are all approximate, due to the fact that I don't measure anything. Actually, I cook the same way I sew, I try stuff and see if it works:-)
Please let me know if you think of anything else that is good in it too!

 



Faux Falafel Salad

White beans or garbanzos-1 can, drained

Chopped cucumber-1/2 cup

Sliced radishes-2

Chopped or sliced onion-2 T

Sliced pepperoncini– 1-2 T

Chopped mint, parsley, and/or cilantro-about 1 T of each

Probably some thinly shredded cabbage would be good too!

Dressing:

Olive oil-1-2 T

Vinegar-1-2 t

Sugar 1-2 t

I just created a gallery page with pictures of some of my quilts. If I knew how to make a link to it, I would, but for now you can just click "Gallery" at the top of this page:-)

Some of the cards for bazaar season... I love the Peanuts fabric I found at Keepsake Quilting! The blueberries are silk screened, and my son makes the flies for the fish cards.
Now I'm on to mini quilts!