Fiber Arts

I am SO LUCKY to have a wonderful fiber arts group in town. They meet once a month (TODAY IS THE DAY).

There is usually a short demonstration (so many topics you cannot imagine!) But the VERY BEST part is when every single person stands up in front of the group and talks about what they are working on.

The show and tell is always SO INSPIRATIONAL!!

This was SO MUCH FUN!!

A semi-disposable apron made out of plastic food packages.  LOVE IT..

The room ALWAYS FILLS UP...

Beautiful vintage crazy quilt

Everybody gets to take a close look...the smaller samples are passed around...

There are some incredible artists in this group.

One of the BEST THINGS ABOUT THIS FIBER ARTS GROUP is their annual event -- every May -- they do FIBER FUN ON THE FARM....

For a whole week, Dianna opens her farm -- and a large building -- to all kinds of fiber arts...

I learned to paint on leather...you can make jewelry, do quilting, sew anything, bead something...

Outside, somebody will help you learn tie-dying techniques, or ice dying, sun dying...

YES, YES, YES -- I KNOW HOW LUCKY I AM!!

President's Day Pie!!

I consider cooking to be the ultimate act of homemaking.  Food is love...just the simple act of sitting down together at a table.  Setting the table, preparing the food.  It's all part of being a family.  Cooking with Lillian is one of the joys of my life. She has been standing on a stool since she was three years old....making cakes and licking the beaters.

For me, food, family and tradition all goes together.  It goes way beyond a Thanksgiving turkey.  We always have fresh pork and sauerkraut for New Year's Day; THE Farro family birthday cake is chocolate cake with peanut butter icing;  Easter is a big ham with pineapple; Elliott has crab legs and the first pesto of the year for his birthday...well, you get the picture!!

Lilly actually has FOUR aprons hanging in the kitchen.  And whenever we start to cook, she runs to the wall and says, "we need to put our aprons on, Grandma!". 

This apron has a picture of a PIE.  So, of course, it is her special PIE APRON...

We have heart shaped pie pans....HEY -- IT'S FEBRUARY!!

And, to honor President's Day -- a CHERRY PIE

And guess what?? WE HAVE A NEW THREE YEAR OLD helping us in the kitchen...

So, it's time for Lilly to be the teacher

Make A Wish Black and White GALA

In February, the Quad Cities Chapter of the Make A Wish Foundation had their big fundraiser dinner at the Waterfront Convention Center. It was a beautiful formal affair -- a Black and White GALA of mega proportion...

Last year, I wrote about Dylan's fight with cancer. THE VERY BEST NEWS -- Here he is -- RECOVERED -- with his family at the Gala. This handsome young man was a guest of honor at this year's Make A Wish event. Last year after his surgery, chemo, and treatments -- his Make A Wish was a trip to Hawaii.

My dearest Carrie, wonderful young Mom to Dylan and Elizabeth...Lucky husband, Steve, in the back.

I sat at the same table with Dylan's two Grandma's.  My cousin Kim, and Steve's Mom, Peg.

The venue was beautiful -- and the place was packed.

Even the appetizer table was FANCY

But the tables in the ballroom were SPECTACULAR...

Check out the chairs...

Carrie and Kim....

My fancy ring!!

Dylan's family, at the table of honor...

The room was jam-packed...and, of course, the money all went to this very good cause. But really big money that night got made at the silent auction. And THAT WAS A NEW EXPERIENCE...

Water Bottle Humidifier

The first time I ever saw a water bottle humidifier was in a hotel room with Mary Mulari. You know our Mary....She is ALWAYS AN EARLY ADAPTER...

It was several years ago -- and at the time, I couldn't find one in my local Walgreen's. I ordered my first one from Amazon. It was about $40.  This winter, I found a different brand (but same principle) at the local Menard's big box store -- for $10.  I bought five of them...(Deena wanted two)

It's so simple. Just place a bottle of drinking water in position -- and turn it on.

It will mist away about 12 ounces of water overnight...

The great thing about the water bottle humidifier is that it TRAVELS so easily....all you have to pack is the little gizmo...obviously, you can get a bottle of water ANYWHERE... AND you can easily position it so the mist goes RIGHT TO THE SPOT you need it.

When Warren and/or Lilly is spending the night, I put it on a high shelf so the mist drifts down.

For myself -- I put it on my nightstand -- and it makes a HUGE difference in how I sleep at night...

Really -- IT IS AMAZING.

Thanks, Mary.  Again...

Mary's Church Lady Apron Fabric

The Splendid Sampler™ really is an EPIC sew along...and an EXCELLENT way to use up your stash. My friend Judy sent me this picture of her butterfly block. Judy is an experienced quilter, and has a WONDERFUL FABRIC STASH...

This one gave me trouble...I'm thinking of going to her house for a tutorial.

On the other hand, I am NOT A QUILTER -- so have no stash to work with. Which is why I decided to use Mary Mulari's fabric line, Chruch Ladie's Aprons!! IT IS SO BEAUTIFUL...

When Mary's fabric arrived, I debated about whether or not to prewash it...

I decided to JUST DO IT.

Based on some advice from Mary Fons, I cut off the corners....

Into the washing machine.

After the wash, I thought cutting the corners would keep the fraying edges minimal

But -- actually...????

Although it was quite a mess, I am glad I prewashed it. But now I think for best results, I should iron everything, using some spray starch. Because, honestly, MY BLOCKS ARE PITIFUL...

The Splendid Sampler™

The Splendid Sampler™ Wednesday

The Splendid Sampler™ is an internet sew-a-long created by Pat Sloan and Jane Davidson. It is an EPIC sew along...

• 83 fabric designers have created specific blocks that feature different quilting techniques. (paper piecing, fused applique, etc.).
• The blocks will be released each week, and are FREE to participants until March 2017. (at that time, they'll use the designs to publish a book).
• You can use whatever fabric you like.
• There will be pictures on their Facebook page, etc.

The Splendid Sampler™ launched on February 14.   Me and my crew were a little late to the party...but I was never worried...

BOOM!! Linda P. did the first three squares.

Design #1, Pat Sloan

Block #2: Jane Davidson

Block #3: Melissa Corry

WOW...great job, Linda P. Will the rest of us ever able to catch up with her??

Sandy said....BRING IT ON...Her Block #1

Block #2

s

Sandy's Block#3...

Me?  Well -- I found this clock at the Goodwill store...

Linda is having some machine issues...

And, hey, since I was in town already... I got my spring pedicure...

WE ARE LOVING THE CHALLENGE AND THE DESIGNS...The truth is, I also made some blocks this week. And we are all learning sooo much. But I AM TOO EMBARRASSED TO PUT THEM in the same post with Linda P. and Sandy. It's like comparing a Rolex with a Timex. No...a Rolls Royce with a Tricycle...

Cheese Souffle

THERE WILL ALWAYS BE COOKING...

I am a big fan of cooking for many reasons.

First of all -- I love to eat!! (excuse Dr. Obvious)...

Secondly,  it's fun. I enjoy trying new things., and its always rewarding when something TURNS OUT BEAUTIFUL...

But the biggest reason? Like many people, I associate cooking with giving and receiving love...it's just that simple.

Which is why Lilly cooks with me. Often. And she enjoys setting the table, and picking out the napkins and napkin holders for everybody. We have our favorites, but like to try new things, too.

Recently, because John's 30 chickens are laying a lot of eggs (and his egg customers are in FLORIDA for the winter) -- and I found a souffle pan at a thrift store -- I told Lilly we were going to make our first cheese souffle.

She love cheese AND eggs...this is a solid plan, right??

I went online to find a recipe -- and settled on Ina Garten's version...it all seemed simple enough.
 

Lilly is eating bacon while Grandpa folds the egg whites into the cheese sauce mixture.

But the recipe I was using was not big enough for this large pan.

The aluminum foil collar ended up being unnecessary..and WAY TOO optimistic

Lilly sprinkled bacon on top.

The taste was okay. None of us were in love with the texture, tho...

Making a souffle is like making popovers -- once you master the TECHNIQUE, you would have a spectacular, impressive dish to serve company.

But we're not quite there yet...(hey, we have time.  She's only six...)