Fancy Fox

I am working on my very first quilt. I am making the Fancy Fox pattern by Elizabeth Hartman. 

I have all my blocks cut out and now I have to finish sewing the blocks, then figure out how to sew all the blocks together to form the front. 

Then comes the REALLY tricky part of the actual quilting. I have my cotton batting, 505 adhesive and my basting pins ready to go! 

I think I will stick with an easy straight line quilting (since this is my first) just to get the feel for it. 

Then comes the binding...that will be fun! At least I'm starting with the baby size quilt. 

The middle fabric is for the backing and the stripe at the back is for the binding. I think I will cut a block or two from this Hello Bear fabric up front to put on the back of the quilt. Which animals should go back there? Raccoon, bear, deer, fox, oh my!

New Endeavors

I have the crafting bug right now. I want to craft all the things. As you know, I love to knit. 

I also like to crochet and tat. 

My 'cousin' in Canada is an avid and experienced quilter and she has now given me the quilting bug. I have bought some of her bags for my knitting projects and they are so wonderful! It got me to thinking maybe I could make my own. 

Sure enough I can but she makes it look easy. I sewed my very first zipper and now I'm doing it like there's no tomorrow! 

I also made some pincushions filled with crushed walnuts. 

Anyway, I have found the first 2 patterns for quilts that I want to try:

1) Fancy Fox by Elizabeth Hartman (this particular one made by my 'cousin')

2) Feather Bed Quilt by Anna Maria Horner

Or perhaps I will do a combination of the two? Let's just say I need a holiday to craft!! (Also, any quilting tips appreciated!)

Dirty Diet Coke

Yeah. It's Monday. Time for some dirty diet coke.
I was searching for a new drink to order and found this on the Our Best Bites site.
Sounds pretty delicious to me.  You could even add a splash of half n half and have dessert.
You're welcome. 

Dirty Diet Coke
Recipe adapted by Our Best Bites

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons coconut syrup
crushed ice
1/2 lime (cut the lime into quarters and use 2 quarters)
12 ounces Diet Coke
1-2 tablespoons half and half (optional)
Instructions:
Pour the coconut syrup into the bottom of a 24-ounce glass. Fill it about halfway full with crushed ice. Squeeze the lime quarters over the ice and drop them into the glass so the rind is touching the ice. Pour the Diet Coke over the spent limes. If desired, add a splash of half and half. Add a straw to stir and serve. Makes 1 serving.

 

recipe and photo courtesy of Our Best Bites.

The great shawl escapade

I love knitting shawls, especially mystery shawls. It is so satisfying to get a new clue each week to work on and see the pattern emerge. These are my latest 2 shawls. The first is a MKAL called Rock the Kasbah from Wild Prairie Knits. The second is called Pendulum by Amy Miller.