Trying again to be a BLOGGER...

Okay -- the NEW BLOGGER INTERFACE is back. And working every minute of the day to make my life miserable. I can't easily upload pictures, the text comes and goes, the breaks between pictures and text is hard to figure out -- I could whine about it for a week. (and I HAVE!)... But, because I received so many emails from people complaining about my "blogger break"-- I got up early this morning to give myself YET ANOTHER LESSON. It just isn't going good for me...

After a lot of effort -- I did manage to upload two random pictures. The first one is how the back seat of my car looked after my "treasure-hunting-drive-up-to-Madison"...Rhonda Pierce came out to the hotel parking lot to snap a picture.  There was a $3 car seat for the new baby (in excellent condition) -- and a $5 ball toss game that Cash got for his 6th birthday.  (when I got to his party, he asked me if I had a gift for him -- and I told him he could do a treasure hunt in my car...)

AND -- then -- I have been intending to write a blog post about my recent class reunion. Mostly, I wanted to brag about the "banner" I sewed for the event. Believe me -- it was a LOT OF WORK -- and not actually appreciated by anybody who attended. lol. Just like making a quilt, eh?? And one of these days -- I might actually take some pictures of the darn thing to put up here -- because it was pretty cool. But, as it turns out -- I only have THIS ONE PICTURE of the banner hanging at the actual party. So here's my best picture of the banner -- with me standing in front of it. Yes, I know -- I look great since I went back to Weight Watchers and lost another 80 pounds. I've never felt better...

 

No, OF COURSE THAT IS NOT ME. As a matter of fact -- I have no idea why the previous paragraph is all indented and I have no idea who the woman is...but if she graduated with me -- I am officially suicidal.

Quilt Expo Restaurant

I just spent the better part of two days IN THE CAR...coming back from Pennsylvania. John is from Pottsville, Pennsylvania -- and once a year we drive from Iowa to Pennsylania.  It is a challenge...and it's going to take a few days for me to get the car unpacked and get caught up.  Isn't that always the way after a vacation?
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You know what a big fan I am of a good ROAD TRIP...and I'm not done talking about my recent trip to Madison, Wisconsin for Quilt Expo. One of the  reasons for that trip was to meet with Rhonda Pierce of Schmetz Needles.

Rhonda lives and works in the Chicago area -- and we often try to meet somewhere in the middle. Remember our fabulous meeting in Dixon, Iowa??

Well -- this time -- we agreed on Madison, Wisconsin. She was excited about actually TAKING SOME CLASSES...and I was delighted to have an excuse to visit with Nancy Zieman and see how she was doing...(after breaking her leg!).

Rhonda and I both agree that it is easier to be creative if you are eating DELICIOUS FOOD...lol...

And -- on this day -- after some research -- Rhonda decided Quivey's Grove was the place. OH MY GOODNESS....Click on this link to see their actual menu
Many of the rooms are named after the quilts that are hanging on the walls...

AND there is a cave/tunnel from one building to another. Of course, we HAD to go down there...it was AWESOME...

This is the side view of the building. And the meal we ate was some of the most delicious food I ever tasted...

THIS is a picture of Rhonda, taking a class...I'm still looking for my favorite picture -- which was of us eating dessert, in a private little room.. Gheesh...this post is all goofed up because THE NEW BLOGGER INTERFACE is back...it makes writing this blog very painful... So I'm taking a few days off....

Project Runway

This challenge started off at one of my FAVORITE PLACES in the world -- Rockefeller Plaza in New York City. To be more specific -- Radio City Music Hall!! Yeahhh... If you ever get to New York City -- TAKE THE TOUR. You will actually get to MEET a Rockette. It's an amazing place...all that Art Deco architecture.

Anyway -- Heidi looked great in the Rockette line-up. And I like this challenge. They were given $250 to spend at Mood -- to create their version of a 2012 Rockette costume. From the first moment -- I thought Boris (I mean, Dmetry) was going to take home the win. For crying out loud -- HE WAS A BALLROOM DANCER..!! He seemed confident, he knew exactly what kind of fabric he needed, and he understood how the costume should MOVE.

But I found myself rooting for Christopher. I loved the idea of using the New York City skyline. Although I didn't think it was 100% original -- I mean -- don't the judges remember Jay McCarroll's inspired-by-the-Chrysler-building dress?

After his evaluation -- where Tim was completely underwhelmed -- he gave them a chance to go back to Mood and spend another $100...

There were TWO kind gestures during this challenge. During the second visit to Mood -- Christopher offered $50 of his money to Melissa... And, as they were getting ready to go on the runway -- Vin offered to hand-sew the trim onto Melissa's unfinished dress. I don't know if the interesting thing is that both Chris and Vin were capable of doing a good deed...or that, in both cases -- Melissa was the one who needed the help...

Christopher and Dmetry were the top two designers -- and I thought it could have gone either way. The truth is, Christopher's garment didn't have much movement in the skirt -- and I thought that was a big miss. But the judges picked him as the winner and he was delighted.

However -- Dmetry gave him the evil eye. Christopher should not eat anything prepared by his Russian roommate...

Elena saved herself by sobbing on the Runway -- about how hard she's trying to listen to the judges and give them what they want. I think she is a WAY BETTER actress than she is a designer. She should have gone home...

Instead -- Vin went home for his boring blue dress. It's like he thought the challenge was: "let's pretend Queen Elizabeth wants to be a Rockette". The only thing missing was the handbag -- and maybe some white gloves...(which she would have been wearing, if they'd been on the Lord and Taylor accessory wall

However -- that said -- my biggest shock is that the judges GAVE THE FEATHERS A PASS.....that was such an obvious bad choice -- all the way around.  Uninspired, boring, impractical.  I like Sonji -- but she never had a plan and it showed.  She deserved to be sent packing.

Labor Day Traditions

These are my people. At least -- some of them. Elliott and Emily -- CAN YOU SEE SHE IS PREGNANT?? We are sooo delighted...Toby and Brenda, Andy and Kelcy and Chad...

We all ended up in McCausland, Iowa for Labor Day and I took this picture right before the parade started. The little kids were all in position already -- waiting with their bags for the candy that might get thrown their way. Today, it seems like every little town has a celebration of some kind. But when I was growing up, McCausland OWNED the summer with Labor Day.

Dorla and Norm Schroder are buying their tickets for the Methodist Church basket fund-raiser. There's a cake walk, and lots of kids games (where everybody is a winner), and a lunch at the church...
And a 5K race -- also many kids races...Here, Chad with his daughter, Avery -- who WON HER DIVISION -- even against kids who were two years older than her...
Every street in town is lined up with the vintage car show. There were 400+ cars in McCausland Iowa on this day...people came from miles around to see the fabulous display of refurbished cars...every one a masterpiece...



Deborah came up from Nashville...Deena is selling tickets for the baskets...and I'm mostly trying NOT to get sunburned...
Deborah and I did a little impromptu "sew-n-tell" -- and of course -- YOU WILL NOT BELIEVE HER LATEST PROJECT...

Somewhere, someplace, there might be somebody who is having a better time than we are in McCausland, Iowa.

But I don't know who and I can't imagine where...

Pampered Chef Potato Chips

My niece Nicole invited me to a Pampered Chef party. I'm about five years past being an appreciative Pampered Chef customer. (John and I sometimes enjoy cereal for supper)...

I went because I always enjoy the company of young people -- and -- HEY -- Nicole is a GREAT cook! (they ALWAYS have food at these things...)

Well -- imagine my delight and surprise when I discovered MY NEW FAVORITE FOOD THING...

A way to make potato chips!! I mean -- really, really delicious potato chips that are NOT FRIED.

I made a big batch for the lunch with Amy and Nicole...



The first step is to slice the potatoes REALLY thin. Then, soak them in salt water for at least 30 minutes...dry on paper towels...I used popcorn salt and some BBQ seasoning (before I put them in the microwave)...


Then -- these magic little rubbery racks that go right into the microwave. Do the first 3 minutes on HIGH....
Then -- switch them around. Put the bottom rack under and vice versa...do another 3 miutes on HIGH. (depends on your microwave, of course)...


AND THIS IS THE END RESULT. Delicious, really, really CRISP potato chips!! I am in heaven. a

Yes, it is time-consuming. But the truth is -- I find myself enjoying the process. I am trying to avoid unconscious eating -- and MAKING MY OWN potato chips is a step in the right direction. (I wonder how long it would take me to make a Snickers...)

Day with my young friend

It is ALWAYS FUN FOR ME to spend time with a much, much, younger adult woman. I especially enjoy their take on the world...

My young friend Anne lives in Cedar Rapids -- a two hour drive. Recently, we "met in the middle". Our visits usually involve lunch and a little treasure hunting...

Whenever Anne and I get together -- we start with the "sew and tell". She understands my current obsession with t-shirts -- so on this lunch date -- she started with a t-shirt dress she made for her daughter Sarah...

Do you get it?

My picture sucks -- but IT IS A CANDY CORN dress!! Duh. Perfect to wear to school on Halloween Day eh?

After lunch -- we went to the local Goodwill store to walk off Mondo's (our favorite restaurant in Iowa City)...

AND I found this -- the best T-shirt of the day...
I çan't believe I didn't buy it. Except that it was full price ($2.38) -- and I have approximately 500 t-shirts already in my basement, awaiting their creative turn...

This one was pretty good, too...

I think my new strategy is that I'm going to TAKE PICTURES of the t-shirts so I can post them here on this blog...

And my new mission will be to NOT BUY EVERY SINGLE T-SHIRT that makes me laugh.

But I have very little resistance...

Thanks, Anne, for taking the time and for being my young friend. No matter what happens in your life -- your kids will grow, maybe you'll retire and become a grandmother....no matter what -- you always get to be that.

My young friend...

Auction Finds

If my life is going right -- I spend Saturday with my friend Bert. The most important part of the day is doing our mutual "download". She tells me about her week and I tell her about my week...it's what we do to stay sane...it's how we put things in perspective.

Our #1 favorite activity is to go to a country auction...and the best auctioneers in this part of the world are the GMB boys...you can see Tom and LeRoy and Darwin up on the hayrack...Norm is the auctioneer and Merle is doing the clerk job...

On this day -- there were TWO SINGER FEATHERWEIGHT sewing machines. Wow. I can't remember ever seeing two of them at the same auction. They were both in working condition -- the machine on the right is in near-new condition.


Working as the "ringmen"-- Judy and Ruby. I bought the large glass jar on the front table...I thought it would be a good place to keep peanuts...but then I gained 5 pounds...

And I am ALWAYS a sucker for those old-fashioned sewing machine needles with the colorful foil packages.
I also bought some iron skillets -- one is a "Ferden pan"-- do you know what I mean? Some people all them Äbelskeever pans...more about that later...

And YOU WON'T BELIEVE THE RING I BOUGHT...

How to Separate an Egg

OF COURSE you have seen this done on Pinterest. How to separate an egg, using an empty plastic bottle. All the videos on the internet have a Chinese man (or woman) doing this. One of Lilly's favorite things is cooking...and I thought this might be a little trick she'd be able to do.

Since this initial lesson, she has demonstrated this new skill many times -- and her audience is always delighted. I'm not saying she's ready for America's Got Talent -- but it really is a fun little act. She LOVES doing this...

It's a good thing we have chickens...

Project Runway Design Challenge

SPOILER ALERT...

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This week, on Project Runway -- the designers are told they get to "design their own fabric". This cannot possibly be a surprise...

This particular challenge has been a part of the show for a long time. And it seems to me that if you were a designer, trying out for the show, you would have been watching past seasons -- and thinking about how you would handle the "make your own " challenge.

Designing your own fabric is a huge creative opportunity for any designer -- and because they all knew this was coming -- my expectations are really up there...

SOMEBODY -- PLEASE STEP UP AND HIT IT OUT OF THE PARK...

But -- nope -- not today, anyway...

First of all -- when they heard the challenge -- their reaction was universal shock and awe....like this couldn't possibly be happening. 'WHAT'S THAT YOU SAY?? DESIGN MY OWN FABRIC?? WHATEVER SHALL I DO?? I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN...

Oh, yeah. That was a bad start.

And it only got worse. Elena's fabric was a weird print, on navy with pea green accents..and then she made a shapeless jacket and a random gray straight skirt.

Vin made one large pink flower on white fabric. I was hopeful because John LOVES his hibiscus...and there cannot be a more beautiful flower in the world...

However -- when he got his fabric, he decided to fold the flower so it didn't look so much like a flower -- and during Tim's critique, he called it a "homage to a menstral cycle". I was horrified...but, hey -- GREAT LINE, TIM...it really was funny. Especially since Vin thinks he's all that and a bag of change...

So Vin started all over -- and his new dress had his signature -- a folded rose in the front. He just cannot stop himself. That mess landed him in the bottom two for this challenge. Well deserved...

Trying to bring a new twist to this challenge, the designers were told that their inspiration was supposed to come from their "heritage"...and then, each designer was surprised by a visit from a loved one.

I didn't think the ïnspiration note brought much to the challenge. The prints were very disappointing. Sonji used black background for her fabric because she is black?? Gunnar was inspired by the fact that he was bullied as a child. It was pretty clear he was trying to compete with the Mondo moment -- when he admitted on the runway that he was HIV positive...but it really felt flat. He used one color -- black -- to depict skeleton hands and a bird flying away??

OMG...

Melissa also used one color - red. Tim could have made the same menstral cycle comment to her....and then Fabio did some line sketching of a penis meeting a vagina...

THAT actually seemed like the theme. Christopher's print (inspired by his Grandmother's lady bug fetish) looked like a red vagina. He knew it was terrible, so he put a layer of tulle on top to tone it down...

Boris (I mean Dymetri) deserved to win. Although his print was not memorable -- what he did with the jacket was very clever -- and his fit was right on the mark.

So Gunnar went home -- and I won't miss him. As I'm writing this, I cannot remember a single thing he made this season...



I'm sorry you were bullied as a child, Gunnar -- but, really -- that is NOT your heritage and it doesn't make you a designer. But here's a tip.... In the future -- if you don't want to be the object of ridicule -- maybe you should stop bleaching the hair on just one side of your head...

Marci's t-shirt dress

I am making three maxi-dresses for our Pennsylvania vacation. John's sister Maureen and her two daughters -- Marci and Marissa.

Marci is a petite young woman...so is my nephew's wife -- Brenda. Here she is, all size 4 of her, modeling the dress in progress...

I TRIED EVERYTHING to get the picture to rotate. Sorry -- no luck. Can you see baby Oliver in the corner? He is the HAPPIEST little guy I ever met...and I didn't even realize how adoringly he was looking at his mommy...

I give up. You'll just have to turn your computer sideways to see the dress...lol...AND I have added another "word" panel in the back. It's from a Dr. Pepper shirt -- and since Marci has delivered her thesis, I thought it was perfect. The words say, "Trust me, I'm a Dr."...

Here's my favorite "t-shirt of the week"....and I'm saving it for a dress for ME...

Toilet Bowl Cleaner ART

Of course -- the BEST thing about attending a sewing or quilt show is all the inspiration you'll get. You will see things you never saw, and want to do things you never thought about doing.

I was trying to take a secret picture of this woman...but she turned around and caught me in the act.


So I had no choice but to ask her if I could do a little video!! There we were, in beautiful Madison Wisconin. She was from Tucson, Arizona -- and I was from Princeton, Iowa -- and -- well -- you'll see what a charming lesson she gave me...




AND I CAN HARDLY WAIT to try this for myself. Don't you think this will be a wonderful technique to incorporate in my t-shirt dresses??

I AM LOVING IT...

Rita's latest t-shirt dress

The large words say, "JUMP FROM THE CLIFF -- TO FLY NOT TO FALL" No Fear

Of course, there HAD to be some t-shirt fringe...

The small words say, "Let me drop everything and work on YOUR problem"...yes -- more fringe...three different colors, as a matter of fact...

So -- who did I make the fabulous dress for??

Rhonda Pierce! Marketing Director for Schmetz Sewing Machine needles -- she and I had a meeting scheduled in Madison, Wisconsin and I decided she needed a t-shirt dress...

I just happened to have the PERFECT T-shirts just waiting for this PERFECT moment in time...

Even if I do say so myself -- I'M GETTING PRETTY GOOD AT THIS!! She looked HOT

THANKS WISCONSIN

Maybe I wouldn't still be blogging about this -- if I hadn't received so many emails telling me you NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT DOING A ROAD TRIP ON YOUR OWN. Really??

I've always loved road trips!! And I am looking forward to taking one in upstate New York with my friend Marion this fall. A "girlfriend road trip" is the absolute best vacation a woman can take. You don't have to worry about pleasing anybody else -- your children or your man. You get out of bed when you want to, you eat what you want when you want and somebody else makes your bed and does the dishes. You get to meander, talk, visit, relax, eat, laugh...there is no better way to spend your time.

But -- hey -- the second best thing to do is GO BY YOURSELF...Instead of a girlfriend, I pop in a good "book on CD" from the library (or you can rent one at Cracker Barrel)...and I'm OFF...

On the day I was leaving Iowa -- I hadn't spent a single minute online doing any kind of research -- and I didn't have a GPS or a map of Wisconsin.

It was a STUNNING late summer day....and I deliberately chose a road that would take me through many small towns...


I've always loved the scenery of the midwest....this is a very beautiful part of the world...

And so many of the little towns look like time stood still...there are small shops and cafes and hardware stores...

A little art gallery in Mineral Point recommended I visit the old mill on the outskirts of town...and I AM SO GLAD I DID...


50 artists display their work here -- and I loved so much of it! The space was incredible...
The artist-potter-woman who was working in the gallery told me she lives in the tower (on the right hand side). There were SO MANY beautiful things to see inside this building!

It reminded me of my day on Vashon Island last spring. In Mineral Point, there is a park with restored pioneer buildings -- called Pendarvis. They give daily tours and tell the story of the Cornish miners who came to America and worked the iron mines here...


At the Red Rooster Cafe, they feature a daiy ""Pasty" special. That's the hand-pie that the workers used to carry with them down into the mines. Mary Mulari told me about Pastys -- and in her part of the world, they always use rutabaga..


Thanks, Wisconsin. For the beautiful scenery and a great quilt show. I enjoyed Culver's ice cream cones -- and some wonderful restaurant meals. What a great time I had -- meeting nice people, enjoying some intriguing art, shopping for thrift store bargains.

And no matter WHERE you live -- I'll bet that within a 3 hour radius -- you have some wonderful small towns you could explore.

IF YOU DON'T TAKE IT FROM ME -- listen to the people at NIKE...

JUST DO IT...!!

Young Women in my life...

I just want to say this -- God Bless the person who came up with the idea for the VOICE. It's the best talent show on television right now. No sucky singers or terrible acts...every singer is good -- and some of them are incredible. I love, love, love Blake Shelton and I personally think if he turns his chair -- the singer MUST pick him. He's a great coach, and he takes them to tour with him...he seems like the real deal. Last night he picked Gratia -- the blonde girl who YODELED...really. You had to see it to believe it.... BUT then, the last singer of the show -- 18 year old Trevon Hunt -- totally blew me away...it's a GREAT, GREAT show...

BUT -- hey -- the thing I wanted to blog about today is what is the point of having so much stuff?

This isn't a very good picture -- but it's the only one I have of the "stuff" I decided to pass along...some dishes from my Grandmother...some jewelry from my mother...

Many of the things in our homes have stories that go with them. Who were the women who bought the dishes or embroidered the linens? My Grandma Dodds bought her own engagement ring -- and it dawned on me that I was the only person in the world who knew the story behind that odd purchase....





But -- the problem is -- I have two boys. And they are not the least bit interested in these stories. Fortunately -- I have wonderful NIECES. As soon as they started getting places of their own -- I started giving them some of the family treasure...while telling them the stories that go with them.

When Kelcy got married, I gave her the tablecloth my mother made for me -- the one we used for dozens of big turkey dinners... and I hope when Kelcy sets her table for a special occasion -- she will remember her Aunt Rita and her Grandma Little..

So, last week, I'm thinking the kids are back in school -- and Nicole is off on Tuesday. IT MUST BE TIME FOR A GIRLS LUNCH!!

Monday night -- I invited Ronda's girls to lunch. Amy and Nicole (mothers of Cale, Garrett, Cash, Parker, Landon and Memphis)...


I DO HAVE Emily and Lillian now -- I was delighted they could come, too!! I love, love, love having them ten minutes up the road.

John thinks it's very clever of me to invite people over for lunch and make them go home with a BIG BAG 'Ó CRAP...

Ronda came, too -- but this is the only picture she actually got in!!


It is my experience that the most memorable occasions often happen on the spur of the moment. I am a big fan of being spontaneous. Don't wait for a special occasion. Just do it. Call somebody you love. Invite them to lunch. Give them an unexpected gift...