WGO (What's Going On)

I've been playing catch-up since I finished the flimsy for the Chicken quilt. I've got the worktables in the studio more or less clean, but that room needs a lot of attention. I've got stuff stacked everywhere.

The rest of the house is in better condition. I've got all the laundry caught up (translation: all folded and put away), the dining room table is mostly clear and the kitchen counters are clear of dirty dishes and clutter.  I've caught up with the checkbook and only have some reconciling to do.

I've got some other loose ends to tie up.  Last year Sharon told us how to make our own vanilla extract. I thought it was a great idea, so I made some. Naturally I got curious and had to look around on the internet for more information about it.  I found a great website to buy good quality vanilla beans, Beanilla. By the time I got around to really looking into it, it was time for Christmas shopping.  Beanilla sells some homemade vanilla extract  infusion kits.

I bought three, two to give as gifts, and one to keep for myself. I also bought some extra vanilla beans.   The beans are beautiful, plump and fragrant (unlike the dried out ones I'd get from the supermarket).  It's a month after Christmas and I finally made it to the liquor store to buy some vodka to make my own vanilla.

I'm preparing another class to teach, and I'll be getting back to editing the book I wrote last year. There are some other projects brewing, and then of course, there is The Wedding. I'm not going anywhere, but I won't be posting quite as often for the next few weeks.

WGO (What's Going On)

I view cooking as simply another creative act, so I consider this:

an achievement.

 It's my bread (very like a Challah bread) with the addition of fontina cheese and finely chopped chives, Instead of sprinkling the loaves with sesame seeds, here I've used grated Parmesan cheese.  As you can see I've helped myself already. I made my favorite sandwich, a BLT with this bread for lunch. I did, however, go the luxury route and added slices of fresh avocado.  Yum.

Then I went into the sewing studio and sewed up some of these:

How are you keeping yourself occupied this weekend?

WGO

I took a drive up to my favorite quilt shop, Quilted Threads, over the weekend and bought these awesome fabrics.  The ones in the top row are every bit as bright and vivid in real life as they are in this photo.

The Houses and Trees class I'll be teaching on Saturday May 5th is full!  Woo hoo!




It's my son's birthday today.  Happy Birthday Sweetie!

WGO - What's Going On

There hasn't been much going on in my studio lately, but that doesn't mean I've been sitting around doing nothing.

I have been sitting around, but I've been busy.  I've been having problems with my computer for some time, so after I got back from my vacation, I ordered a new one, and spent about a week setting it up. Instead of a desktop machine, I bought a laptop.  I also bought a docking station, so I could use it with the big monitor and the standard keyboard and mouse.  My old printer wouldn't connect, so that was replaced too.  You all know how time-consuming it is to set up a new computer and  move the files and programs from one to the other!

I finished the Red Sticks quilt and sent that to Chris for quilting.  Now I've got to clean the studio.  I've promised to make a few small items for family and friends, so I want to make those. I'm going to make a little case for my sister's Kindle, and I want to make another dress for Sweetbean.

The biggest To-Do on my list is preparing the House and Trees Class I'll be teaching at Quilted Threads on May 5th.  I have been sitting on the couch, with the laptop on my lap and Millie curled up nearby working on this. I've got the slideshow of house quilts ready. I've prepared the supply list and the work schedule for the day.  I've created the tree tutorial handout, and now I am working on the one for the houses.

And, um, I went clothes shopping.