Surprise Visit

Yesterday I had the greatest time. On the spur of the moment, I just jumped in the car to go visit Frankie. We both were at loose ends for the day and decided gee, lets have some lunch.

After a tasty lunch at California Pizza Kitchen she suggested checking out some cute boutiques in Salinas. I hadn't been to old downtown in ages and let me tell you there were quite a few cute little shops there. But OHMYGOSH I was just blown away with this shop, La Belle Epoque. The shop window was amazing, I don't know if you guys ever get Somerset Magazines, but they did a whole publication on Marie Antionette that was wonderful. I just couldn't stop looking at the window.

Magnolia Pearl has been in quite a few publications as of late, and La Belle Epoque is one of two stores in California to carry their clothing.

I love the color of the shop, the wonderful trim around the ceiling and the fact that its crammed with wonderful treasures. Even looking at the pictures I can't believe I missed things.

Things like this, cleverly twisting a strand of vintage rhinestones around a shell, are so beautiful.

This window.. it just gets me.

So yes, Pamela's store is one of the prettiest stores I've seen in ages. You can catch a peek at her here in the rear of the store. Really a lovely gracious person. She's just a delight to visit with and I'm so glad she let me share photos of her beautiful store here.

So, if you're in the neighborhood, take a walk through her lovely shop. I caught Marie there on her last day in the window, its Rodeo time in Salinas so there will be a western theme window in, probably by today, and I know it will be a beautiful romantic look.

Alrighty peeps, hope you have a wonderful day! Happy Holiday Weekend, be safe, have fun! xo

Super Fun Day

Wow we had a great day yesterday. It stayed nice and cool till right at the end, but that's what car air conditioners are for, right? The antiquing portion of the day was somewhat of a bust, but lunch at the Black Bear was really good. I had the Gobbler. Mostly I always have the Gobbler. It's like Thanksgiving on sandwich. I think Elizabeth was a bit doubtful when she saw all the bears everywhere. Now she's a convert.

Anyway Prairie Queen's didn't disappoint at all. We've been there a few times and really enjoyed it. The store was hopping yesterday, lots of ladies in the classroom sewing. Some appeared to be working on the same technique Nicole and Sara learned in the class they just took.

You can see, PQ has a lot of things we love.

Here's my loot! I've always loved that Eiffel Tower fabric. I bet very few people know that's a faithful reproduction of a vintage fabric.

Anyway its a fun pile of fabric, isn't it? Kind of a departure for me, but I wanted something different for maybe a bag. Who knows. Its pretty, do I really need a reason?

Ok peeps, I'm late off the mark today. Bret has tomorrow off, so I might just make it a three day weekend. But before I close, head on over to the bake shop to check out the magic that is Julie's Coupon Clutch. Julie is also working on a Summer Swing Skirt, hopefully she'll share that soon! Have a happy and safe Fourth of July!

Cherry Cupcake

Time just flies by sometimes. We don't recognize how fast until something crazy happens, for instance, one of the "kids" we know is having a baby. She's my friend's daughter, older sister of a school mate of Frankie's but still, one of the kids. How can she be having a baby? It wasn't that long ago she was stealing her mother's makeup in middle school. See just saying something like that puts me in old-lady-country.

I'm still in love with bow tie quilts and this baby has been nicknamed Cherry Cupcake so I knew that the Susan Branch Cupcake fabric I had squirreled away was the perfect backdrop. I pulled out all my Lakehouse Doll Dresses and got cutting yesterday. I can't decide if I should start sewing or save that project up for my next sew day, which is coming up pretty fast. I just haven't settled on a bigger project yet. And I'm kind of wishing I had more of that Doll Dress Fabric. As far as I'm concerned Holly designed this whole line knowing I would go off my gourd over it, and really, I still am hording it. Because people, if you use it IT WILL BE GONE.

In other news, it was lovely out yesterday morning, cool and breezy. I sat outside and read my magazine and drank some coffee and watched this fellow working on getting a drink.

Thanks for all the Moda Bake Shop comments. We had so much fun making that skirt and then driving around the countryside here looking for the perfect backdrop. And then just being silly. We have an image to maintain.. and that image is we're crazy fun and we don't care who knows it!

Hope you had a good day peoples. I'm off with Elizabeth today, antiques, fabric and yarn. And maybe even a little lunch?

Fresh From the Oven

Be careful, don't burn yourself.. our Moda Bake Shop entry is up! I think the Summer Swing Skirt is a great project for any line of fabric, but we chose a wonderful line by Lila Tueller, for Moda. Like most projects, we get totally caught up in the drama of it. Come September Santorini will be available so you can too, but why wait, there are wondeful jelly rolls and layer cakes in the shops just waiting to be cut up!

Speaking of drama, this is what I found yesterday when I went over to see Elizabeth. I thought we might celebrate our post with a little lunch out, but it looks like she already had plans.

Sometimes you just have to live in the moment! Maybe another day.

Hop on over to the Bake Shop and let me know what you think about our project! Hope you like it!

And Peeps, thanks so much for all your kind comments yesterday. As usual, you guys made my day.

Pie Me

After last weeks pie eating over at Elizabeth's, that pie has been on my mind. A lot. So I figured with my portion problems, I could easily make the pie in tiny little shells, get my pie fix and farm out the rest of the mini-pies on my neighbors. Well that recipe makes a lot more filling than the 6 mini-pie shells I got. Now my question is, can I freeze that filling?
I hope the neighbors enjoy their pie. It was yummy. I used pink lemonade in my pie and then a drop or three of red food coloring. Very pretty. Pink. Yummy.


Famous Deb Silva has tagged me for 10 things people don't know about me.. man are there 10 things left worth sharing? I don't know. I've posted almost 650 times.. that's a lot of info.

So people, why don't I tag you to comment something you know about me? That sounds a little scary because you never know what people will say. So be kind.

And tomorrow, finally, the Moda Bake Shop Post. Really.

Under the Influence

So yeah, we're all reading the same books it seems like. I've had these all on my footstool pile for months now.. periodically reading, looking at the pictures, forgetting, remembering, needing another look. I kept meaning to post the pictures of them but every time I'd think about it, someone else is talking about them. That Material Obsession Two is straight from Sarah by the way, hand carried by Alex. I know that both Amy and Nanette (and others) recommended the Sugar Sack Quilts and Fool Proof Machine Quilting.

Nanette also recommended the "Pink Book" as I call it. I had it on my ebay watch list for ages, because the cover is so divine, but didn't want to spend the money till I'd seen some inside pages. Nanette showed some here. We need to remember to ask where she gets her Japanese books. I know she's told us, but I'm too lazy to look. I already had the other book when she showed off her copy. I get a lot of mine from my ebay, although I picked up this one at Kinokuniya.

Sometimes Nanette and I are reading or thinking about the same things at the same time. Its a little spooky. JenDuncan showed a lot of wonderful photos of the "Pink Book" today, she's on our same wave length when it comes to most everything. Well I like to think I'm on the wave length, lets face it, I'm trying to catch that wave, they're so clever.

These are all from the not-pink-book, which is lovely. I can hardly narrow down my purchases and still always spend around $100 at Kinokuniya each time. (who am I kidding, $120-$140, its nuts! Thank goodness it's not in the neighborhood!)

I always fall for the pretty vignettes. Like that chair and that.. lets assume skirt. Who doesn't want to see something like that at their house. I would.

And all that cutting and stitching.. I love it. And the lace. It reminds me of the quilt that our friend Anne the Pixie Girl did on a quilt in the Lecien booth. Lovely.

And this gem is on my nightstand. I love a nice cozy English mystery and the Fethering Mysteries fill the bill. Like most books, its part of a series, and I love series don't you? I get all caught up in the lives of my literary friends. I just finished this book and while I'm still mad at the author for killing off a favorite character in a previous book, I'm glad that my series will continue.

So Bret worked late again last night and I had time to read and imagine. I hope you all have a lovely weekend. Next week... Moda Bake Shop.

Summer Morning

Yesterday morning I went outside with my coffee to enjoy some cool summer morning air. You can't beat living in the valley area here for that, nice cool coastal influences. I had my camera with me hoping to catch a glimpse of the juvenile Mockingbird. The Mockingbird family has been around a lot this week. Unfortunately, my camera was set to the wrong setting for an outdoor shot, but it didn't prevent me from getting a little movie of a surprise garden guest, a small woodpecker. We have them once or twice a year and it's always a treat. This one has a little purple house finch as a traveling companion, although you can't see it in the video, I think you can hear it in the background. The birds have been enjoying the bounty of apricots my poor half dead tree has produced this year. This woodpecker is no exception. He spent about 15 minutes eating away. I loved every minute of it.

Grumbling with a side of pie

I'm not going to lie to you, the internet hasn't been my friend lately. Well lets rephrase that, my internet connection. Yesterday we were fighting a lot, and I still can't get to my Yahoo mail and believe me, its not because Yahoo isn't available, I'm sure. My Sidekick can get to it, but you really can't get heavily into email on a Sidekick, especially when sku's are involved. And I am so not blogging from my Sidekick.

So in other words.. whine whine whine.

Since I didn't have a pie connection, I was left to my own devices. I can't go around eating pie all the time, but after a frustrating day, I deserved a treat right? To go with my Lean Cuisine? (no dinner to cook when Bret works even later!) This is a yummy treat and I highly recommend it. I think they used to have Key Lime Pie in a funny disc shape, but this new improved recipe is delightful. Ok sure, not as good as that creamy goodness Elizabeth served up, but still mighty tasty.

As for accomplishments, I got my part of the sewing done, and even most of the instructions written, photographs edited and resized.. so its just a matter of time before we finish the last little bit and get it ready for the bake shop.

So go forth and have a fine day peoples. I hope its full of as much internet as you desire. xo

Bossy

I spent the majority of yesterday bossing Elizabeth around. It was a super fun day.

With pie.

New Kid on the Block

Boring, that' s what I am today. I'm featuring my new neighbor, a juvenile mockingbird. He and his folks have been hanging out in the backyard for a few days, learning the mockingbird life ropes I guess. They live in a neighbors palm tree and swoop in for trips to our bird bath.

First rain lily of the season. I love these and am hoping for many more.

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend. I couldn't have asked for better weather here. Today I'm going to get going and head over to Elizabeth's... we're working on a new bake shop item. Jelly roll and a layer cake just in case you're wondering! The rest is a surprise!

Ok, happy Monday peeps. xo

Copy Catting

So peeps the weekend is upon us. The week seemed to alternately drag and fly by, what's with that? And now that it has been 90 and the a/c has come on, I feel like its the onset of actual summer, and so I say... let the complaining begin. I know I don't have it as bad as the peoples I know in Arizona or Nevada, but still. Whine I must. Sorry you have to to hear it. ( I know there are more people, I'm to hot to think of them right now. )

I super loved Jen Duncan's Moda Bake Shop project this week. Like SUPER.LOVED.IT. ( And in my mind when I refer to Jen Duncan I always say JenDuncan like its all one word.) So here I am working away on mine. I didn't have any fusible, so I had to rely on pins. Not as good. And I had to cut my own strips. Will it never end?? But it will make a nice poofy pillow for Bret. I'd get him something 'electronical' as Frankie would say, but I don't make the electronical decisions around here. He enjoys the home made gift so he will be pleased to get this. (or else. I TOLD YOU ITS HOT. I'm not myself.)

So whatever your plans this weekend, I hope you have an awesome time peoples. I'll be complaining back here again on Monday.

Finally

How many days has it been? Yeah, right, too many. I just spend too much time over thinking things. Instead of doing. Of course this is my bathroom photo studio, but this towel will eventually land in my kitchen. Where no hands should ever touch it.

I think you know what I mean.

Mail Call

Yesterday's mail brought a nice package from my friend Sarah. You know Sarah, she's famous! In fact, Down Under Quilts says Get Inspired with Sarah Fielke! I say, who wouldn't want to get inspired with Sarah????
Of course all I had hoped for was a copy of Frankie magazine, for who else, but Frankie. But I got a lot of goodies to go with that, including candy! and a koala pencil. I don't know how she could have known that I have a little bit of a love affair with little koalas like that.

Well, and with candy.

See, happy happy!

Thanks Sarah. I'll be getting inspired with you later today!

Food Day

Well really it was Sew Day but seriously, Food Day would have been a better name for it. Deb, Debbie and Deanna and I had a great sewing day at Debbie's house again. The day began and ended with yummy sweet things. As you faithful readers know, my snacks all come with the 100 Calorie label so when unleashed among items like tiny bear claws... I'm out of control.

Debbie had a bit of a frustrating day, lots of machine issues, and you know how that can be. But she powered through it and will get it worked out. She got her pear towel done and it looked good.

Deanna spent the day cutting and prepping her blocks from The Quilt Show Block of the Month. She has hers all organized in a binder. I'd like to be like that. Organized.

Debbie getting ready to document her completed towel. She made the best taco salad I've eaten in ages as well, it was yummy.

My problem was lack of projects laying around to work on, so I used the cute nosegay block from Elizabeth's pattern and worked on my own towel. Now I just want to make a whole quilt with these darling blocks.

But I 'll finish up the towel first. I have the ruffle made so all I need to do is sew it all together. Photos later. Like later this week I hope.


In my last Fabritopia order Jona had included some of the Oh Cherry Oh panel so I decided to work on a couple of pot holders. I don't know why I didn't think of this sooner. Just need to add binding now.


Deanna was in charge of dessert. Holy. Cow. Recipe here, if you dare. I didn't have any first hand knowledge of the butter content till after eating... I'll be treadmilling extra time this week.



But it will be totally worth it. TOTALLY.


Ok, that was sew day in a nutshell. Hope you guys are having a good week. Thanks for all the Moda Bake Shop love! I appreciate your support!

Moda Bake Shop

Today's my day over at the MBS.. so hop on over and check out my project, Sweet Secret Stars!

Its a good sized lap quilt just perfect for those cool mornings on the swing out back, before the day gets scorching!

Hope you all had a good weekend! Happy Monday!

Sew Saturday

Man it has been a week and a half people! Crammed in just one week it seems like. I had a great time with Frankie but didn't get a chance to tell you all about it because NO INTERNET AT ALL YESTERDAY. I know, I can't freaking believe it either. And today I don't have time because its SEW SATURDAY with my 3 D's, Deb, Debbie and Deanna. I'm putting together a little tutorial for machine blanket stitching using Elizabeth's Tea Towel tutorial. Did you see that yet, because really, you need to see how cute that turns out. She has a handy dandy pdf you can download.

I finished up my Moda Bake Shop quilt, and that's set for Monday I believe. I'll remind you, believe me. I still can't believe how lucky I am to be a part of that whole thing!

Ok, better get busy. I only have one small project I threw together for myself, a tea towel using Elizabeth's cute nosegay pattern. I wish I had time to get more stuff ready, I wanted to shrink down this pattern and make a little piece to put in a frame. How cute would that be? I thought in an old vintage frame or even a fake vintage frame it would be wonderful. Maybe not even shrunk if I had a big frame!

So seriously, I need to get cracking. I can't go in my pj's. OR CAN I??? (The answer is no, I can't.)Happy weekend sweet peoples. xo

Coffee

I'm out of here early today, but just had to show you this picture of Binnie. She has a love of cardboard, and I have a love of coffee.. you can see we are a match made in heaven.
Have a good day peeps! I'm off to see Frankie for the day, so stay out of trouble till I get back! xo