Bachelorette Party

'nuf said!

Hot Weather Recipes to the Rescue

I promise to return to sewing next week - this week is just too busy to think of starting (or finishing) a project. I did however find time to purchase some fabric on etsy.com yesterday - - -


My, oh, my - - - toile - who - - - me??? Certainly not my standard fabric selection - - - and they are definitely not destined for a standard "Lisa" sewing project - - - nothing quilty!

The East Coast is centered under Mother Nature's blow torch again this week - - - aggggrrrhhh!!! Not to worry --- I've got 2 recipes to help you beat the heat - yummy, light, easy, healthy, low in calories - - - feel good food, despite the heat!!!

Cold Chicken and Rice Salad from this month's Cooking Light - followed the recipe exactly plus added an apple for some crunch and sweetness! So delicious!!!

And, Cuban Papaya Salad from the current issue of Clean Eating --- as a dietitian I simply I love the premise of this magazine - responsible, honest eating and cooking. This recipe was to be served warm but I opted to make it a cold salad - i did not saute the spinach and beans - just chilled everything after sauteing and then tossed it all together - so nourishing! Sorry - the recipe isn't on-line yet - - - you're gonna have to buy the current issue - - - don't fret - there's plenty of great recipes in this issue to try!!!

Meg Cox Visit

Meg Cox, author of The Quilter's Catalog, was speaker at my guild today - - - what a motivating speaker! In addition to her professional achievements in the world of journalism, Meg is also the current president for the Alliance for American Quilts - an organization that I learned a lot about today. Meg is one busy and passionate woman!
A few interesting tidbits that ended up on my notepad:
1. The red and white quilt show that was on display in NYC for a little over a week - the one I missed - it's going on tour - we're going to get another chance to see it - hopefully it will be hung in the same setting. As soon as I get the info I promise to share it!
2. Quilters SOS - Save Our Stories - is nearing the launch of their upcoming challenge - a 16 inch square quilt challenge - if I'm not mistaken, and I could be, they are to be in the shape of a house - details pending - get on the mailing list!
3. August 5th and 6th of 2011 the Alliance for American Quilts will be hosting a fund raiser at the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC, followed by a cocktail reception at City Quilter - that might just work with my schedule.
4. The demand for quilt patterns is declining while the sales of accessory type items is increasing - interesting!
5. The Folk Art Museum in NYC is closing - this is not news to me - just terribly sad. I find it fitting that the quilt exhibit, now in it's second installation, will be the last show in the current location. The Lincoln Center branch of the Folk Art Museum will remain open.
6. Ami Simms is one of the funniest speaker - well, with that info I came home an blasted off an e-mail to Ami to see if I could book her for the guild - working on the date now!

A Squirrel Got Into The House!!!

Actually, I invited him in - - - isn't he adorable!!! It was love at first sight!!!
Who could resist such a cute face?

I picked him up in Boston this past weekend at the SoWa Market in South Boston - it takes place every Sunday offering up an eclectic collection of arts, crafts and foods - what fun!!! I'm so lucky to have a daughter living in Boston - I just love visiting Beantown!


The back of the pillow is made of a sturdy twill, complete with the label - - -

It was created by Erin Flett of Maine - visit her website and her etsy shop - - - she has beautiful designs!

Take a close look at Nutley - he needed a name - he's screen printed on barkcloth!!! And, who loves barkcloth - - - ME! Erin found a source for solid barkcloth - Full Swing Textiles - - - guess who is going to be ordering her own solid barkcloth to play with - - - ME! Can't wait to see how it takes to paint and dye!!!

She uses her out-of-date calendar pages as her calling card - aren't they beautiful? If you're planning a trip to Boston on a weekend I highly recommend visiting SoWa - take in a lovely outdoor brunch while you're in South Boston. Oh, and yes - there is a quilt shop close by - Grey's Fabric and Notions on Harrison Street - a great selection of patterns for non-quilty projects!!!

My Eyes Were Bigger Than My Stomach!

West Chester Farmers' Market yesterday - and as usual - I over did it! I simply cannot say no to gorgeous produce - look at my cache - 5 different kinds of salad greens, broccoli, baby beets and their beautiful greens, Swiss Chard, radishes and local tomatoes!
And my favorite vegetable - spring's candy - sugar snap peas!!!
From Highland Farms - lovely sheep's milk feta, Camembert and fresh yogurt.
It will take careful menu planning this week to be certain I use all of my produce. Tonight - grilled salad pizza. I made my own pizza crust with organic flour - my husband manned the grill topping it with spring onion slices and Camembert while on the grill. After it came off of the grill I topped it with salad greens and flavorful tomato slices - and dressed it with a simple shallot vinaigrette - - - CRAZY DELICIOUS!!!
To accompany our pizza I made a quick saute of sugar snap peas, radishes and carrots - tossed with lemon zest and lemon juice - so refreshing!

Have a look at the flowers I picked up at the market - peonies, and - - -
a beautiful mixed bouquet - - - thank you to all of the amazing farmers who work so hard to put this amazing food on our table!

What Did I Do To My Serger Now???

Had to head out to Hinkletown today - - -
I tried to change my serger to a flatlock position - - -
But I got the cutting knife stuck - - - drat!

Then it happened - - - I found the first strawberries of the season - - - real strawberries, locally grown - - - not those styrofoam berries sprayed with strawberry smell that they sell in the grocery - - - real, honest berries - - - perfect!

I love this little tool to clean the berries - it makes such quick work of it.
Oh - - - and yes I got my Bernina fixed! Perfect!

Bathing Babes

Yes - I am using a doll as my model today - all of the neighborhood babes were napping when I wanted to snap my photos! Spring brings a flock of new babies - time for one of my favorite baby gifts - a homemade hooded towel. Back when I had my babies a neighbor gave one of these little gems - I actually still have it! They are perfect - all you need is a wash cloth and a bath towel - make sure it's super soft for the baby!
It just couldn't be simpler - fold the washcloth in half, right sides together. See the pins on the right end - that is my back seam of the hood - just sew a quick seam, making certain you back-tack.
Now, create a cuff on the front of the hood and secure with pins.
Find the center of the bath towel along one of the long sides. Position the seam of the hood at the center point - right sides together as shown.Now pin the hood to the towel - your towel will not lie flat at this point - don't worry. Sew the hood to the towel - back tacking to secure the ends of the seam
There you have it - a great hooded towel. I will typically add the name of the baby using my embroidery machine along one end of the towel, but the name of this yet to be born baby boy has not yet been made public.
I always include a nice collection of my favorite baby bath products - Burt's Bees - just smelling these products make me remember bath time with my babies!
Here's another pic of the towel on my doll - I always leave the tags on the towels.