The Story within the story...

Every time I got an email or a shout out on Facebook from a Sew Expo friend last week, I found myself LOOKING FOR THEIR PICTURE...

Linda Boothman -- you are my sister from another mother.  You have the BEST sense of humor...

And Sharon -- who has turned sewing pillowcases for the children of Mary Bridge into a FULL TIME JOB...

Liz is going to be featured soon in a WONDERFUL ADVENTURE STORY...stay tuned...

Claire -- I wear this scarf all the time -- and I wonder how college is going of you?? (lol)

I have a LOT OF SHOE SHOTS...do you own the zebra sneakers??

Janet and Ann -- snacking on some delicious beef jerky.  (I did miss the snack bar, girls)

Jan and Bonne -- the original "birthers" of the Hey Rita Tote!! -- STAY TUNED, GIRLS...

Laura and her Mom -- who are EVERYWHERE...

Marilyn and her Mom...thanks for the note -- I MISSED YOU, TOO...

Me and Ann with Suede.  I wonder what he's doing now?

This bundle of pillowcases was sewed with animal print trims -- to honor our shared love for zebra!!

Barbara, who is one of the joyful CTA's who keep the show moving!  I am still looking for a great picture I have of Rhianna...

There is a hint to a mystery within this blog post...which will be revealed on FRIDAY...or maybe Saturday.  Be sure to check back...

IT IS SEW MUCH FUN -- I AM NOT KIDDING -- YOU WILL NEVER GUESS!!.

Simon Haskins

Last week, I had a lot of emails from Puyallup -- along with questions about Simon Haskins. He will be glad to know he was missed at this year's Sew Expo!

After last year's Sew Expo, Simon went home and was diagnosed with cancer. This is from his website -- Sunshine 4 All

What is Sunshine 4 ALL?

My name is Simon Haskins and I was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia in June of 2013. This is a very rare blood cancer that has a very long and difficult road to recovery. As part of my journey I would like to try and do something to raise awareness about blood cancers and money for The Leukaemia Foundation to support those with this horrible disease and hopefully we will one day have a cure.

My idea is for the Jenny Haskins, quilting and machine embroidery communities to help me with this project by making an 8″ x 8″ quilt block that will be used to make quilts which will then be auctioned to raise money or given to a child who has ALL. The response that I have had so far has been overwhelming. So many people have jumped on board to make a quilt block, most people have made more than one block with some people making 20 blocks or more!

The awareness colour for Leukaemia is orange. So with that in mind I would like quilt blocks made in orange, with a splash of pink and yellow for good measure.

Anyone can be involved with Sunshine 4 ALL. I will be undergoing treatment for the next two to three years so we will have heaps of time to get this done and I am hoping that by end of my treatment we all will be able to celebrate my cure with an exhibition of all the finished quilts and raise money to find a cure for ALL.

Sunshine 4 All.

There is also a Facebook page - and Simon's Mum, Jenny, is starting to put the quilts together. They will be auctioned off, and the proceeds will help people with blood cancers. The blocks have been coming in from all over the world -- and the quilts will be beautiful.
This is a video Simon made for my sister Deborah...who is one of his biggest fans...


Simon just celebrated his birthday -- and he has completed the course of chemo. CONGRATULATIONS, Simon, and Happy Birthday...we all miss you and look forward to your life getting back to normal REAL SOON...

Made from Scratch vs. Not So Much

I have posted dozens of pictures of Lillian cooking and baking. Making cupcakes is her #1 favorite thing to do. The other day, I got an email from a woman who reads this blog who wanted to know my frosting recipe. I USE CANNED FROSTING. DUH.

I don't know when they invented this stuff -- but it is GENIUS. Really...until Lilly was born, I didn't even know it was available. BUT IT IS AWESOME...

It has a shelf life of about 20 years -- and costs $1....

Of course, after the frosting comes the SPRINKLES...

It's not possible to actually "sprinkle" these things on. Best pour them in a saucer (or the frosting lid) and then ROLL the frosted cupcakes. The whole point of sprinkles is full COVERAGE...

Another "NOT FROM SCRATCH" favorite is personal pizzas, using refrigerator biscuits for the crust. Then, some Prego, cheese, sliced olives...pepperoni...whatever they like!!

Hey -- everybody is busy!! And as much as I love cooking and baking with Lillian -- she is four years old. That means a very short attention span. By starting with canned frosting or refrigerator biscuits -- our projects come together quickly and she gets a real feeling of accomplishment.

Also, many times, we are making something for Lilly to give as a gift. Cupcakes for her other grandparents, or cookies (yes, from a refrigerator tube) to take to Aunt Ada's house. So, the actual lesson isn't so much about creaming the butter, y'know??

The Bettendorf Library

Books have always been an important part of my life. I read when I am happy, and I read when I am sad. I listen to books on tape whenever I am driving in my car -- or working in my kitchen -- or walking on my treadmill (okay, full disclosure -- THAT book is getting pretty dusty!)

I am hoping that a love of reading is something I will be able to pass on to Lillian and Warren.

But the truth is -- YOU NEVER KNOW. Even though I read a book every single night to Ross and Elliott when they were small -- neither one of them grew up to be a reader. They loved Tom Sawyer, and Huckleberry Finn, and The Wizard of Oz...hey -- I GAVE IT REALLY GOOD EFFORT.

But, even then, they were more annoyed with me than entertained...

One of my favorite libraries is in Bettendorf, Iowa. They do a TERRIFIC job -- and I feel like my family should be renting a room there. I always have three books on tape checked out at one time...and Ross goes there to study four afternoons a week...and they have remodeled their Children's section -- so I often take Lillian there...

After a Tuesday breakfast, she is helping cousin Linda find a book...

When you meet somebody for the first time, and realize you love the same book -- you have a friend...

SOOO MANY CHOICES!!

We also picked up some movies "we would both enjoy"

Lilly loves to scan the books and videos all by herself...

If you're looking for a good movie to watch WITH a child -- get Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events.

I can't imagine a day without books...Lillian and I listened to "Little Women" a couple of months ago -- then I got the movie from the library. We watched it together and we both loved it. Right now, we are listening to "A Tree Grows In Brooklyn"...and she is falling in love with Francie...just like I did when I was a girl...

Sew Expo Thanks -- Part II

It seemed like maybe 60 pictures was too much for ONE blog post....so I decided the old Sew Expo pictures were worth TWO actual posts. And, boy o boy o -- did I stumble on some oldies but goodies...keep scrolling down, you'll see what I mean...I was looking for a particular picture of me and Pat -- Barbara sitting at the table with Joanne -- that crazy shot of Martha, wearing my cape -- and I could not, for the life of me, find the great picture of Carol giving me her zebra gifts....or me and Sharon with her bags of pillowcases... I KNOW I had one of the whole team riding on a golf cart...But, alas -- I'll keep looking...in the meantime -- here are a few more of my favorite people and moments, eh?

You will see I found some oldies, but goodies. Remember when we had the first Tea for the victims of Hurricane Katrina? How about the year we were "Fons and Portered" for our Quilter's Night Out? And Kaye Wood saved the day? That was the first time I met Libby Lehman...

I'm feeling better already...and as soon as I get a chance to get the new pictures off my camera -- I'll show you what I did last week while you were doing Sew Expo...!!