Layer Cake Project

I've been looking for just the right project for the Hemming House Layer Cake. So far, layer cake patterns have proven to be a bit tricky, because they require a certain number of dark squares and light squares. The Hemming House layer cake happens to have about 10 lights and 30 darks, so projects that call for more than 10 lights are difficult to adjust for. Finally, though, I think I've found it. It's a new pattern from This & That, and if all goes well I'm starting on it tomorrow.
The pattern is called Sweet Sunshine.

Ya Gotta Shop Around

In the past 5 years, I have seen a big jump in the number of quilt shops. Quilting has continued to gain in popularity, and many quilters have decided to jump on the band wagon and join the ranks of business owners. This means that as quilters you have more selection and more options than ever before. With the addition of Internet shopping, this is especially true.
This means that just like groceries, clothing, and other necessities, it is now possible to price shop for quilting supplies. Where before there was only 1 or 2 choices in one geographical area for quilting, now there may be 4 or 5 or more. And just like groceries and clothing, some shops are generally less expensive than others. This could mean that you are paying too much for your quilting supplies!

At a recent quilt show, I experienced this first hand as a shop owner. One particular quilt kit I offered was also offered from another vendor, for $50 more! We're talking identical fabrics and patterns, no discernible difference whatsoever. This is not an isolated incident. In general fabric, there are often shops in my area that carry the identical fabrics I have. Prices often range a $1.00 or more per yard, which can add up to big savings if you find the lowest price!
In this world of rising food and gasoline prices, quilting becomes even more of a luxury. So, don't forget to shop around a little. You might be surprised at the savings.

Pictures, Pictures!

Here are some pictures I was finally able to upload from my camera. It seems my computer is in a good mood tonight!

These are pics from the Clarkston Quilt Show last weekend:
This was my booth at the quilt show. My mom (you know, the senile one) and I worked long and hard last weekend and had a rewarding show. I am still recovering, but I have managed to get some quilting done the past couple of days, so maybe there's hope for me yet!
Have you prepared for the I Sew So I Hop Shop Hop, coming May 9 & 10? Yeah, neither have I, yet.

So, What's so CRAZY about you?

Well, you asked, and I'm answering. Here are the Top 10 answers to the question "So, What's so CRAZY about you?

10. What? Aren't all quilter's crazy?
9. I live in Northern Idaho. You'd be crazy from Vitamin D deficiency too.
8. If you were born with this hair, you'd understand.
7. Have you met my husband?
6. How about my 3 kids?
5. I work 80 hours a week at my own quilt shop not because it makes me rich, but because I love it.
4. The year I opened my store I was living with my "poor old senile mother." That would make you crazy too.
3. The year after that, my even more senile old grandmother moved to town. Let's just say that this town's not big enough for the 3 of us.
2. Well, I was released from the asylum just 1 week before I decided to open my store.
1. I'm not really crazy. I just thought it would be fun to have people asking me this silly question all the time!

Clarkston Quilt Show

This weekend is the Seaport Quilters' Guild quilt show in Clarkston, Washington. I am a vendor there for the first time, and my "poor old senile mother" and I are having a good time.
We usually try to wear matching shirts at the quilt shows, so that people can easily identify us as working at the booth. However, this doesn't come in so handy at other places. For example, when ordering our Iced Grade xtra ice no whip mochas this morning. Why, you're wondering? Well, picture two adult women in matching out fits, ordering identically particular drinks, who give rhyming names when asked for them. Now you know why the guy behind the counter did a double take and waiting for us to start laughing when we gave "Mindi" and "Wendy" as our names. He continued to look at us strangely, waiting for the punch line, as he took our money.
Every quilt show seems to have it's own unique theme question. These are questions that everybody seems to ask. They don't know that the last 50 people asked the same thing, they can't help it, it's the theme! This weekends theme happens to be "So, why are you the CRAZY quilter?" Another version on this theme is "So, what's so CRAZY about you?" This has inspired me to write a top 10 list. Watch for "The Top 10 Answers to "What's so crazy about you?" coming soon.

My Poor Old Senile Mother

My mom helps me at my quilt shop more than I could ever ask for. I often tell her that I'd love to double her salary, but afterall, $0 doubled is still $0. I also try to use her as an excuse for everything that does and could go wrong. My "poor old senile mother" is the answer to all questions. For example:

Question: My kit was a yard short and now I'm unable to finish my quilt. Answer: I'm so sorry, my poor old senile mother put that kit together.

Question: I called the shop and you said you would hold that fabric for me. Now you're sold out. Answer: I'm so sorry. My poor old senile mother must have forgotten to hold that for you.

Question: Has that book I asked you to order for me come in? Answer: I'm sorry, my poor old senile mother must have forgotten to order that for you.

Question: I haven't received my order yet. Answer: I'm sorry, my poor old senile mother shipped that to the wrong address.

I guess you know that my mother is neither old nor senile. But still, makes a convenient excuse, don't you think?

A Glutton for Punishment

Well, maybe just a glutton. Last night for dinner I made enchiladas. They're Monte's favorite, and I haven't made them in forever! But then I had to go and really over-do it by making Easy Oreo Cheesecake. That darn Kraft Foods Magazine is always getting me into trouble!

Suffice it to say that I ate my fair share of the cheesecake! Also, here is how I make my enchiladas super fast and easy (I made this up a long time ago):

Brown 1-2 pounds of ground beef, add 1 small onion chopped when the beef is almost done. You can also add a can of re fried beans to add flavor, and to make the meat go farther.
Open a 16oz can of Enchilada Sauce and pour enough into a 9x13 glass pan to cover the bottom.
Chop a can of olives.
Fill tortilla shells with ground beef mixture, sprinkle lightly with cheese, and roll up. Line these up in the glass pan. My pan usually can hold about 8-10 of these.
You may have left over meat that you can use to make a smaller pan the same way and freeze it for a quick meal later.
Top with remaining enchilada sauce. Cover with shredded cheddar cheese. I like a lot of cheese, but you can use however much you like. Then sprinkle with olives. Bake on 350 until hot and bubbly, about 20 minutes.
Serve with salsa and sour cream and enjoy! (Remember to leave room for cheese cake!)