One Thing Always Leads to Another...

The other day, while looking for tea kettles, we visited our local Sur la Table and William Sonoma.  WS (or Billy S as my husband refers to it) was always the go-to shop for cooking items and kitchenware.  A few months ago our neighborhood acquired a new Sur la Table and my, oh my, what a fantastic place for all things gadget-y.  Now, granted, we didn't come home with a tea kettle from either of those places but that doesn't mean that we came home empty handed.

From Sur la Table I scored these cute little cookie presses.  I make a sugar cookie that you roll into a ball and smash with the bottom of a buttered/sugared glass to make it cookie shaped. I thought these would be much nicer than a plain cookie!  I especially like the honey bee motif.  When I was a child my mother told me that my name means "honey bee" or "sweetener, sweet" so I have always gravitated to "bee" inspired things.

From WS I picked up these two spoons.  I really don't like wooden spoons so I buy silicone.  My daughter has had these for years and they have held up beautifully so I decided to gift myself with them.

I think it would be better if I didn't mention these little goodies....

I didn't come home with those because....well, just because.  It will be a great gift idea when "some-husband" can't think of anything to buy me!






In other news, it is spring here for all practical purposes.  We have had a couple of gray and rainy days here over the weekend but the fact of the matter is, it is going to be 80 here today and no way that can still be considered winter. I have proof...

Look at the redbud!  The crabapple is looking much the same but the pears are lagging a bit behind.

We have five yaupon hollies across the back fence and they were still heavy with berries.  They are usually stripped clean by the waxwings but they seemed a bit late this year.  Then, yesterday, there was a flurry in the trees and the trees were so full of wax-wings they looked like a bird tree! In no time those berries were stripped off those trees and the birds were gone. It happened so fast that I didn't have time to find the camera and snap a pic.  I wish I had though -- it probably would have been better if it was a video -- but it was quite the sight to see.  Maybe next year I can get a photo.

Not much went on this weekend.  We are now looking for a new television.  Ours isn't quite gone yet so we have some time to research and shop which is my husband's favorite thing to do.  The television was mounted on the wall so we managed to take it down and put it on the stand.  I need to lift weights -- that thing was heavy and, while I used to be quite strong in my upper body, I am not strong anymore so lifting the televison was a bit of a stretch for me but we got it down and all is ready for a new set when the time is right.  I  am not one to replace things before their time (like they really have to just give up the ghost for me to replace) or if I get a good deal and know that it is just a matter of time.  So, whenever it happens we are ready and we will no longer put a television on the wall.  Way too much trouble.

So, here is wishing you a fabulous week! See you on the blog-side!

Spring Has Sprung!

It is a beautiful day in the neighborhood -- for sure! First off, I can hear -- praise the Lord! Secondly, it is sunny and dry (trying not to jinx things here)! And, I got my hair cut -- a little wonky but cut nonetheless.

So, I have energy and I am rip roaring and ready to go to work finishing up some projects. One I can't show you because it is a gift but just suffice it to say that it will be lovely.

The second I can't tell you about either because of the same reason. However, here are some of the fabrics involved in the creation.




The third I can tell you about. It is a baby quilt for Bean! DD picked out the fabrics -- all colors taken from a set of pictures they are using in the baby room. She chose 22 fabrics as seen below and, if my math is correct (which is always suspect) it will take 7- 4.5 inch squares of each to make up the top. It is going to be true patchwork -- just a mishmash of fabrics and wonderfully soft Quilters Dream Batting. I want it to be cozy and cuddly and just the right size for the baby.


The design decision that has me a bit perplexed is the finishing. I am thinking about prairie points but then, I see a solid binding as well to sort of frame all those prints. I was going to make the squares smaller but have decided on the 4.5 in. because enough of the print will be visible -- any smaller and I think they would mostly turn into "solids" or just "textures". Since there will be no borders or anything I think I am going with either a plain, solid binding or maybe plain, solid prairie points. I dont know but that decision is a way down the road, I will deal with it then.

I am thinking I am going to use my new accuquilt cutter for this. After all the deliberating over buying the thing, I have yet to remove it from the box. This might be the perfect time to try it but......on scraps first. I generally have a huge learning curve on things of this nature.

So, that is what is taking up my time right now. Lots and lots of sewing and planning and cutting and designing and not a lot of confidence even though I have been doing this for almost thirty years! I guess I will always be a novice. Hmm..