i have to say...

shop notes: new goodies!

Metro Market pears and apples have arrived in my shop!  I simply love this line.  Don't you just love these colors?

Also, I am happy to say that the Uptown Girl jacket now comes in a "big" version for girls ages 6-10 years.  I can guarantee that Aubry will be wearing one of these in the fall. 

Also, I started a Facebook page for the shop.  I will use it to let you know of new items, special sales and great crafty links.  Click here to "like" it!  ***Could someone let me know if the "my etsy" tab is showing up on the page?  I can see it if I extend the tabs, but it goes away if I refresh the page.  Would love to know what you see.  :)

Have a great weekend!

just say no...

...to zucchini.

I've reached that point where I have way too much zucchini.  My hubs has brought some home the last few days from customers who wanted to share their garden bounty, but my own garden is producing like crazy too. I am convinced that no one needs more than one zucchini plant each summer.

That said, I wish you all a wonderful weekend!  :)

are you serious?

I can't help but hear the title in my friend's voice since she always uses that phrase so dramatically and she always repeats it, like this: "are you serious?  ARE YOU SERIOUS?" 

The second time around it's more profoundly stated, as you can see.

But really, are you seriously telling me it's time to start thinking about school?

It must be since a large part of this stack arrived on my doorstep a few days ago.  No one in my family was excited.  The kids turned up their nose at my request to come check out the new goodies.  Not even Aubry could be persuaded.  That's how you know all of your kids are growing up: no one is innocent enough to be excited about new school books anymore.  They can't see the promise, the adventure, the togetherness.  All they can see is the work.

Oh boy...

Well, these books are going to be my companions for while as I prepare for the school year.  We are starting in about 10 days and then I will take a bit of time off a couple of weeks after that for the harvest when I will be canning and freezing like crazy.  I will pretty much become a preserving maniac.

Gosh, I really love this time of the year.

Maybe I'm weird?

how to make a chimichanga

OK, I will admit that chimichangas aren't the height of good-for-you food, but sometimes you have to toss out that diet and eat something really good and tasty.  I never order these in Mexican restaurants because this version is so much better.  My whole family is crazy about these!

Here is what you will need:

1 pound chicken, cubed, 1 cup chopped onion, one 4-oz can green chilies, 2-3 cloves garlic, one medium potato, chopped, 1 tsp. oregano, 1 tsp. salt, twelve 10" flour tortillas, oil for frying

guacamole, salsa and sour cream for serving

***THIS RECIPE MAKES 8-12 CHIMICHANGAS, DEPENDING ON THE AMOUNT OF FILLING YOU USE IN EACH ONE

In a large pan, combine the chicken, onion, chilies, garlic, potato, oregano and salt:

Just barely cover these ingredients with water.  Bring to a boil and simmer until meat is very tender, 1-2 hours.

Heat about 2" of oil in a frying pan.

Put about 3-4 tablespoons of the meat mixture on top of a tortilla:

Fold one side of the tortilla over the filling:

Fold the two adjacent sides over that:

Fold the 4th side over the others and secure with a toothpick:

Fry the filled tortillas in the hot oil until they are golden brown and drain on paper towels:

Serve with the guacamole, salsa and sour cream:

My family eats these for breakfast, lunch and dinner after I make these. I always double the recipe for this reason.  These also freeze and reheat well, so make plenty.

Enjoy!

fat quarterly

Fat Quarterly's 2nd issue is out and it looks like a great one!  It includes 10 original project plans, including quilts, pillows and placemats.  Lots of sewing inspiration is contained in this little magazine.

You can purchase the issue here.

Happy sewing!

every girl needs a cute bag to carry her phone in, right?

I think so anyway!

Inspired by Toni's new phone pouch, I set out to make myself one. 

Her's is stunningly cute, don't you think?

I wasn't energetic enough to shoot for the adorable ruffle, but I still happy with my creation.  I took me about 45 minutes to make, and don't you know that I love quick crafts.

I used a couple of Flower Sugar prints and a red Ta Dot! from my shop, and I found the button in my button jar.  I actually sewed the ribbon around the button once I hung it from my purse, just in case the pouch decided to fall.  Buying a new phone isn't something I want to be doing any time soon.

Later this week I want to make a camera strap cover using Cluck, Cluck Sew's tutorial.

I think my camera needs some cuteness too!

shop feature: little pretties

Little Pretties is a wonderful little shop full of adorable girl's clothes.  The shop was was created from a love of things little and things pretty.

You will find eclectic, fun clothes in a variety of fabrics and colors.

Check out Sara's shop here.

 

shop notes: meadowsweet 2

Meadowsweet 2 is now gracing my shop shelves!  It is oh-so-pretty, as are all of Sandi Henderson's lines.  I have it listed by yard, and by fat quarter set, 1/2 yard set, and full yard set.  Bundles coming soon...:)

Have a great weekend!

that darn cereal aisle

Thanks for the layout input! 

I figured out a couple of other things I could do too, including hourglasses which end up like scrappy pinwheels, depending on how you look at the quilt. 

Too many choices!

It reminds me of the cereal aisle at the grocery store where I always get the same things: Grape-Nuts, Honey Bunches of Oats, Frosted Mini Wheats, Life, or Raisin Bran.   As you can imagine, my kids are disappointed each and every week as we leave the Cap'n Crunch and Reeses Puffs behind.

Not only do I get stuck on the sugar content, but I feel completely overwhelmed by the choices. I mean, how many types and flavors of cereal do we really need?  And do we really need 6 different types/brands of just Raisin Bran?

I know I don't!  It gives me a headache and keeps me stuck in the same cereal rut each week.

Typing this out makes me realize that I need to expand my horizons at the grocery store today and buy something new.  I mean, if life isn't a daring adventure, then it's nothing at all, right?

That darn cereal aisle.  I will be spending a bit more time in it today.

Any suggestions?

on the design floor

I wish I were one of those crafters with a design wall, but I am one of the nerdy ones with a design floor.  Works just about the same, but the name really separates the cool kids from, well, me.

With 400 little squares ready to be made into a quilt, I tossed it all down to figure out what direction I am going to take.  Do I want to be scrappy, or should I stick with a design?:

1--pinwheels

2--scrappy triangles

3--scrappy pinwheels

Which one do you like? 

Right now I like the scrappy triangles, but a little bit ago I was stuck on the pinwheels.  The scrappy pinwheels are not callin' my name at all.

Decisions, decisions.  

I would love your input!