i have to say...

cutting into the fresh cottons

I got started on cutting my fabric for a pinwheel quilt.  That layout will show off this collection perfectly, if you ask me.  At this point I am undecided as to whether I will keep each pinwheel one print, or if I will place the prints randomly for a more scrappy look.  Time will tell.....

Already I have made my first "oops".  I bought my cream-colored fabric for the squares and I didn't measure before buying, so I am short 40 squares. I thought for sure there would be enough.  Unfortunately I bought the last piece of the fabric, so I had to go pick another one and this time I bought more.  Now all I have to do is find a use for 160 4" cream-colored squares. 

Another quilt perhaps?

***In case anyone is interested, I am using the same method that I used when I put this tutorial together a few years ago on my old blog.  The only difference is that I am enlarging the quilt by 250% since I want a nice sized throw instead of a wall-hanging.  My completed quilt for that tutorial is at the bottom of this post.

links i like...

...and want to share with you!

***Make It Perfect's Peek-a-Boo Toy Sack tutorial is great!  These would be perfect for so many uses!

***Hurraic's Corn Salad recipe is copied off and all I need it a trip to the grocery before it's made.  Hopefully fresh corn is on sale.

***Betz's Pinwheel Brooches would be adorable as 4th of July party favors and they look simple to make.

***I just couldn't help buying some fabric from A Little Sweetness.  Her designs are simply perfect.  She also has a lovely blog.

I hope your day is filled with smiles!

how does my garden grow?

Apparently not very well.

I had a notion that my plants were still a bit small, but that was confirmed on a visit to a friend's garden.  Her zucchini plants are about 10 times bigger than mine and her tomato and pepper plants are at least double.   We do have some ripening salad tomatoes and lots of buds on the plants, and the zucchini plants have one flower, but they should be farther along by now.  Much farther along.

Hmmm....problem solving mode.

I went to Ace this weekend and bought some mushroom compost and a drip irrigation system along with a metal trash can to contain my brand-new compost pile.  The mushroom compost is in, the compost pile is started and the irrigation system is on my list of things to do.

My hubs set up 3 valves into the garden and all I have to do is set up the hoses.

This is a challenge for me, but I am excited to start it. I feel capable and incapable at the same time, probably because it's a new thing.  All I have to do is tackle the laundry, pay the bills, and the irrigation system will be top of the list.

Yesterday afternoon while we were working outside my kids asked me what was for lunch.  I told them to figure it out themselves.  This is what they came up with:

Smoothies and wraps.  So great.  They even cooperated and got along while they made all of it.  That's even greater than the meal itself.

I have cut off my favorite pair of jeans to make gardening shorts.  The jeans were years old, they fit really well, but the fabric was thinning and they had huge holes in the knees.  Now they accompany me to the garden and I love how they feel.  The perfect pair of jeans is so hard to find and it feels wrong to let them die.  So glad to find a new use for them.

Happy gardening!

I made this delightful little bag using Toni's zippered pouch tutorial.  And she is right when she says that at one point you need to just follow the directions and the photos because it doesn't seem like it's going to work, but it does.  Making a purse for the first time was the same way.

I used fabrics from my stash to create this pouch.  Patchwork always stresses me out a bit since I can never tell if I am combining the right fabrics.  The green with the red seems to work without being Christmas-y.  

Oh, did I mention the zipper?  This is a big step for me since I am completely intimidated by zippers.  It was quite simple with Toni's directions:

Let's not pay attention to the fact the green-girl is upside down.  That is an "ooops", but I love it anyway. 

I think a few more of these need to be made before I move on to something else. 

A great project always has to be mass-produced, don't you think?

a couple things we are looking forward to...

First up, Beverly Cleary's Ramona is coming to the big screen on July 23rd. 

Aubry is just about over the moon on this one.  She went through a Ramona stage a while ago where the library's books on CD lived at our house, and I am pretty sure she got those stories memorized.

Ms. Cleary has such a way of bringing a kid to life on a books pages.  All I can say is that this movie needs to stay true to the feel of these classic stories. I will be crossing my fingers on that!

Also, a Jack-in-the-Box is coming to our little town.  My hubs and I have lived for too many years without those wonderful deep-fried tacos.  I am serious when I say that we are really excited about this.  We will be there on opening day, I am sure of it.  :)

my name is randi and i am addicted to fabric

I know this because although I am surrounded by 400+ bolts of lovely fabric, I still frequent other shops to buy what I don't carry in my own. 

Fresh Cottons by Fig Tree and Company is absolutely beautiful and the only reason that I don't stock these on my shelves is that I don't have the room.  Joanna's upcoming line, Breakfast at Tiffany's is already on order and will arrive later this summer.

I am thinking that a pinwheel quilt from this lovely stack of Fresh Cottons is in my future?  What do you think of that?

I bought this lovely fat quarter set from Emily @ Brody and Ma.  Aren't these florals just beautiful?:

And these medallions.  I am dying over these lovelies:

Oh, and did I mention my own sweet Emily?  Yesterday was her first day at work and it was great!  Her attention to detail is great and she cut tons of fabric quite quickly.  Plus it is nice to have her around.

I adore this girl!

Happy sewing!

welcome, summer!

Things I love about summer:

***Lemonade

***Tie-dying t-shirts with the kids

***Getting a suntan

***Flip-flips (am I the only person that has tons of these in different colors?)

***4th of July

***Living like everyday is a vacation

***Gardening

***Pool parties

***BBQ-ing

***Fresh produce

***Long, relaxing evenings

***Homemade ice cream

***More time with friends

***Kids playing outside

***Going barefoot

***Kids catching bugs with nets.  Does anyone not love that?

What about you?  What do you love about summer?

shop notes: lots of new goodies!

My shop is full of new goods!  I have been busy, busy with listing everything and I must say that these lines are fantastic!

Tufted Tweets

Holiday Happy

Castle Peeps

Early Bird

On Monday my daughter starts working with me so I will be back to blogging on a more regular basis. 

Can't wait!  :)

sometimes a little loveliness just makes my day!

I was so excited to open my package from Emily @ Ravenhill.  The goodies are just as lovely in real life as they are on the screen.  The attention to detail is perfect!

Check out the inside of this adorable bag.  It is now parked comfortably inside my purse to tote my lipstick, powder, advil bottle etc.  Maybe it's too cute for that?:

The little miss is hanging out right next to my computer so I can admire her loveliness often.

Isn't it great when a box of sunshine arrives on your doorstep?

The little things are simply the best, don't you think?

homemade is better

I don't know what I am going to do when all of my kids move out, because I won't have anyone to make popsicles with.  Popsicle making is simply fun and it yields a much healthier version than store bought.  Plus we can create the flavors we like.

I found this recipe in Martha's Everyday Food magazine.  In case you are wondering, the recipes in this mini-magazine are much better than the ones in her Living magazine (in my opinion) because she uses regular ingredients and the recipes are for familiar food items.

To make the popsicles, mix the following items in separate bowls:

1-1/2 cups smashed strawberries + 1 TB sugar

1-1/2 cups smashed blueberries + 1 TB sugar

1-1/4 cups plain yogurt + 2 TB sugar

Pour the 3 mixtures--alternating 3 to 6 layers--in popsicle molds.  Gently tamp the molds on the counter to get rid of air bubbles.  You can also use a skewer to swirl the colors and flavors a bit.  Freeze until firm and then enjoy!

Next time (this afternoon) we will be using mangos and raspberries.  Really, you can use whatever fruit you have on hand.

Have a lovely spring-y day!