It must be fall - I have knitting needles in my hands!

There are a couple of things that happen at our house signifying fall is close at hand.  Suddenly I begin to hunt for my knitting needles, crochet hooks, yarn and funky, easy patterns.  The next clue that fall is just around the corner is that my cat, Norma Jean, is usually found sitting on my lap.  The chill is in the air and its my favorite time of the year!

My knitting needles were calling me the other day so I set out to find them.  I have a bizillion baskets and tote bags filled with projects at various stages.  I like to be somewhat organized so I have projects in some kind of container with all the ingredients for that project.  Anyway I found my roll of bamboo needles in a small tote bag in my quilting room with an unfinished something that I began last winter I guess.  I love the bamboo needles as my hands age - something about the warmth of the bamboo instead of the cold metal.

With cooler weather coming quickly, I decided to make some wrist warmers that I found in the Chicks with Sticks knitting book.  They might come in handy when we take our trip up the fjords on the ferry being the temperatures in Norway have been similar to ours of late.  So I found some 100% worsted wool yarn and began my simple pattern.

Wrist Warmers:

Just cast on 32 stitches, then knit two, purl two, knitting in the knit stitches and purling in the purl stitches of each row for 7".  Cast off in knit and purl stitches.  To form the warmers sew the long side 4", then skip  1" - 1 1/2" for your thumb opening and then sew the remaining 2". 

Can't you see these in multiple colors? They would make great gifts for men/women/boys/girls.  Pretty easy to adjust the size smaller and larger I think.  I love projects that go fast and are serviceable for everyone of any age!

I love my old fashioned flower gardens...messy ones actually.  Other years I have done a better job of cutting flowers and bringing them in to arrange in my many, many flower vases.  I always bring in lilacs in the spring even if they don't last very long in the house.  I wonder what is different now than when I was young and we went to Aunt Dorothy's house in Cottage Grove to pick lilacs by the armfuls?  The bushes were so old and tall that we had to get the ladder out to cut some to bring home because all the flowers were at the top.  It seems like they would last for quite a while after they were cut.  Is there another smell so sweet and lovely as lilacs?  Maybe because we've been in the house for 6 months of winter that those first flowers are just heaven sent. 

Anyway, yesterday I picked some Rudbeckia (Brown-eyed Susan), some pink, cream and red zinnias with Queen Anne's Lace for accents.  It is so easy to do and looks so wonderful to have fresh, home grown flowers in different places in the house.  Next year I will remember to fill the house with my garden lovelies more often.

Off to make supper - meatloaf, baked potatoes, buttered corn, and coleslaw!  All I have to do is heat stuff and walla!  Then to begin the second warmer.  Oh! And then to make brownie cookies with chocolate chips and pecans. 

Brownie Cookie:

Mix together - One Brownie mix    1/3 oil   2 eggs    

Add 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips and I added 3/4 cup pecans.  Drop by tablespoon.  Bake for 11 - 14 min.  Cool and frost bottom of one cookie with whatever frosting you like and top with another cookie!  YUM!

Take care - its time to begin a project for yourself - something funky!  Let me know what you decide to make!

Bonnie

Fall gives me energy!!!

How refreshing to have cool temps, light breezes, and very low dew point.  When its like this I could create things all day...if I was disciplined enough, that is!

Tomorrow will be the day when I send out gifts I have finally completed!  Graduation was more than 3 months ago...and the baby is also more than 3 months old.  It seems to take me longer and longer to complete things lately.  It's so much more fun to begin new projects!  Don't you think?

I think part of the problem is that I want it to be an appropriate gift...not just a gift.  Also I think I'm making gift giving more difficult than I should.  The process is the journey for me and the destination isn't always high priority I guess.  Or could this be rationalizing???  Yup..and so goes my life!

Hunter's "Just Ducky" Quilt

Valedictorian Samantha's Handmades 

My best friend (Hubby) and I are getting ready for our first trip abroad in twelve years.  There are lots more rules now and it's making me kind of unsettled.  Holding up the security line is not on my favorites list...so I am checking and rechecking bag sizes, weight restrictions (if only I would have lost the weight I wanted to), liquid rules, etc.  Two weeks worth of clothes, shoes, prescriptions, books, shoes, and on and on into a suitcase that is the size of an overnight case.  Found a small bottle of Febreeze so we should be fine!?!  Now to make an address list so I can send postcards! 

Yesterday I cooked tomato sauce with Roma tomatoes and froze about six quarts.  Usually I bake them in the oven with olive oil, garlic, a little sugar, salt and pepper at 250 degrees for a couple hours.  Then I put them in a blender and pour into freezer containers.  This year I put them in the food processor, then added them to onions, garlic, sugar, salt, pepper, and celery salt that I had cooked to transparent.  Then I cooked them for a couple of hours, cooled the mixture and poured into freezer bags.  I have another colander full of regular tomatoes on the stove waiting for me to decide what to do with them.  I'd love to have BLT's every day - tonight we had a large slice on a bacon cheeseburger ...yum!  Tomorrow is the last day to get them off my to do list and processed. 

While on vacation I started working on a bedroll quilt for my 2nd grade grandson, John.  I tried not to bring 1/2 of my sewing room when we went to the lake and forgot one of my most important tools...my ruler.

Forest Fun Nap Mat

Borrowed Vintage Wooden Ruler

Yarn Needle Card I used for marking 2 1/2" squares

So where there is a will - there is a way!  Using a rotary cutter and an old wooden ruler made creative memories at our August vacation at the lake.

The meatloaf baking is so aromatic - might have to have a meatloaf sandwich for a treat tonight! 

Take care!

Bonnie

 


  

Up at the Lake Again!

It's always a good day at the lake - I don't let the weather determine how I'm enjoying my time - usually.  This visit we've run the gamut...almost 90 degrees with dew point in the 70's when we arrived and today it began in the 50's and dew point/humidity way low.  So I have a sweatshirt and my winter vest on and I'm still cold and its afternoon!  However, I would rather put on clothes than take them off so I'm not really complaining!?!

I'm getting better at relaxing on vacation.   Our first year at the resort, I finished many projects of the quilting variety.  This year I haven't completed very many projects at all.  I think I'm okay with scaling back.  I tried to bring a reasonable amount this time.  Car was still full.  So far I have finished tying the quilt for our new great grandson.  Oh yes - I hemmed a pair of shorts today.

At the little store at the resort are many books by authors that I love and follow faithfully so that is a project deterrent.  I started one yesterday by Lee Child with Reacher as the main character.  I'm half done with the book so I'm not just staring out the window or at the TV - I'm staring at a book.  Oh well - I have to finish it and bring it back before I leave so the race is on. 

Here's our little store that makes pizzas for us, stocks ice cream, groceries, sweatshirts and t-shirts.  There's always a friendly face behind the counter in the store.

Here is a picture of my home away from home craft/sewing room:

My computer room/kitchen where I'm adding to my blog!

Our little deck and entrance to our wonderful screened porch.

The view while I sew.

I've always wanted a cabin...this is the best of both worlds.  We feel like its ours but don't have the year round responsibility of another property.  We come up in the spring and the fall to help open and then close the resort.  Another one week or two is spent just relaxing and not working.  We've met such nice people - we feel blessed.

Hope you are enjoying your summer - not much left in MN!

Take care!

Bonnie

Pretty Good Pie, Fresh Salsa Recipe and Unique Necklace!

Pie is one of my favorite foods.  Some people love the filling but I love a good crust and lots of it.  I don't happen to make good crust so I rely on Pillsbury to roll it out and put it in a box for me so I can unroll it and put it in the pie pan!

In our garden we have old raspberry bushes and each year we plan to cut them back and compost them so that the next year the berries will be big and juicy and wonderful.  So far we haven't gotten that far...so every year we pick a bizillion little raspberries and eat some and freeze the rest.  I have a couple of years of raspberries in the freezer right now.  At this point I guess I can make raspberry jam.  We only picked two times this year.  Hmmm...

One night about 8 p.m., I decided to make a pie using blueberries from the store and my home grown raspberries.  I found a recipe online at Pillsbury from whence my crust came and made the best blueberry-raspberry pie.  It looked pretty good too - don't you think?  As you can see - I was so anxious to taste it that I forgot to take a picture until it was 1/3 gone.  So we were eating pie right before bed...warm with real whipped cream!  So good!

As long as I'm on the subject of food, I thought I would share my fresh salsa recipe.  The tomatoes have been ripening at record pace.  There are two colanders filled with ripe and almost ripe tomatoes on the counter. 

I'm not much of a canning person...so each year I make fresh salsa and oven/freezer tomato sauce.  Usually most of the ingredients in my salsa are grown in my garden...this year the tomatoes, onions and green pepper were home grown.  Here's part of my first batch:

This recipe makes about 1 1/2 quarts.  I cut about 12 tomatoes in slices and then cut up pretty small, followed by 3/4 of a green pepper, 1/2 large onion or a bizillion small ones, 2 small cloves garlic, about 3/4 inch of jalapeno pepper chopped tiny, and a generous squirt of olive oil.  Then I sprinkle with salt, pepper, and celery salt.  It keeps a week or so in a jar in the refrigerator but usually doesn't last that long.  Any of the ingredients can be more or less depending on what you and your family enjoy.  I will be making my tomato sauce and will share how I do it in the oven and then freeze.  So easy!

I love jewelry because usually it fits!  I saw this idea in one of the great Somerset books and decided I needed to make a few.  I made three and sold two at our last sale.  On her crown it reads - "Be Bold".  And that's who and what I am - usually.

As you can see its made on a brass hinge, jewelry pieces are attached, and cording is threaded through small decorative beads along the cord and secured with cords running through a bead at the top.  It's a unique piece so it gets attention when I wear it!  It would look better if I had taken a picture of it on black velvet but the mosquitoes are so bad tonight I didn't want to go back out!!!  Yikes!!!  Too much rain and now too many 'squitoes!

Take care and talk to you soon!!!

Bonnie

Lazy Days of Summer?

Well - maybe the last few days have been lazy but not before then!  August 6 & 7 were very busy days - our Farmgirls Country Sale brought lots of people to the country. 

The weather turned out to be beautiful although the set-up days were so hot and humid it was a wonder we lived through them.  Minnesota weather this summer has been extreme.  The last week has brought us more than 5 inches of rain.  It's amazing that there isn't water sitting in the fields because it certainly was yesterday.  By tomorrow the humidity is supposed to be reasonable - yay!!!

Enough of the weather - the sale was successful and now to get everything left packed away until our spring sale.  Hubby is a magician when it comes to storing stuff so we can get our truck/car into the pole barn/garage.

I have to show you a project that I completed for the sale.  It was made out of these things:

This is a baby changing table with a teacup shelf sitting on top.  I painted both items and then Hubby put a nice new wood piece on the top of the changing table and screwed the shelf on to the top.  Now it can be used for a cupboard, mini bar or plant potting station.  Here it is repurposed, recycled and reused!

It's so much fun when something goes together and fits.  I'm always on the lookout for fun pieces that can be used together to build something useful and interesting.

I'm still working on organizing my little studio/workroom. We rearranged the living room so Hubby can use the large school teacher's desk to do his stamp organizing for his stamp collection. I bought a cool piece at our sale to continue to organize my mixed media stuff. I will update that project tomorrow if I get a chance.

                                              
  Take care!

Getting projects done - one by one!

Today was a great day spending time with my youngest daughter, Jen, and two of my grand kids, John and Addy.  We love to go to garage sales so that was our plan.  The kids found lots of fun stuff - Jen and I - not too many!  At least lunch at the DQ was successful!  Those new Pecan Pie Blizzards are too good...

I showed you pictures of my workroom/studio where things have just piled up and up.  Well - yesterday I spruced up one of my cupboards so I can begin to organize my stuff!

Here's the before picture:

The finish on this cupboard was bad...could hardly sand it smooth.  It kept clogging up the sandpaper so I did the best I could and then primed it.

I'm so happy with the results although it is a little whiter than the upper cupboard.  I might use a little raw umber in water and wash it so it looks more aged/shabby.  Tomorrow I will begin to fill it up with stuff.  I found that the wire baskets (like mail baskets) fit three across so on one shelf I will see what they will hold.  I might get those Rubbermaid shelves and stack the baskets on them.  We'll see.  I painted the inside a wonderful aqua green...one of my favorite colors.

A while ago I made a couple little dress clothespin keepers.  They were lots of work but I decided to make more to sell...I couldn't find my pattern!!!  So I made a pattern from an old clothespin keeper I found at a wonderful sale.  And then I did a bizillion other things.  So instead of making a cute little dress to hold clothespins, I bought little baby dresses and closed up the sleeves, bottom of dress or matching panties.  I do love the hunt!!!

Here are the pretty little clothespin keepers all in a row!

I played with the necklines a little - some I turned the dress around and rearranged buttons, etc.  I think they are so cute and now I've used up those little dresses that have been stored in my sewing room for over a year!  Yeah!!!

Tomorrow I will work on the mini-bar I'm making out of a shelf and baby changing table.  I've almost finished painting the top part (shelf) so I hope to complete the bottom part (changing table) and soon show you my next completed project!

It feels so good to get projects completed.  Usually I do inside stuff when its hot and humid outside but there has been just enough of a breeze the last couple of days so I've actually accomplished a couple of painting projects out by the pole barn.

You can see I'm using my blog to encourage myself to start and finish lots of projects.  Our trash to treasure sale is only two weeks away so I plan on showing you lots of recycled, renewed and repurposed farmhouse and cabin furnishings!

Take care,

Bonnie 

Creating new stuff with old stuff!!!

Today was quilting day with quilting friends.  It continues to amaze me that I have met so many like-minded women in our small town.  To be able to laugh and to share with friends is one of the great joys of my life.  Our lives are unique but so similar in so many ways!

I finally finished a couple of Pocket Pillows.  On both of the pillows, I ran muslin thru my computer copying the pictures and then I sealed them with Modge Podge.  Much cheaper than buying the photo fabric.

"There is only one queen ... and its me!"

"Dance with me!"

My cousin and I were born on the same day so when I found a couple of pictures of us I thought it would be fun to use them in my projects.  In the top pillow we are sitting on a blanket on my Aunt and Uncle's farm.  I used the faded lining of a red wool jacket I felted to make the flower where I added a dangling pearl or two.  I copied old button cards attaching old buttons and stuck them in the pocket.

The bottom pillow I used an old label on the pocket, made the hanger out of an old paper tape measure adding old buttons for embellishments and another button card in the pocket.  I know I will be adding things to both of these pillows.  For sure I will be adding a crown to my cousin's head as soon as they come in the mail...the ones I have are too big.

I love the hunt for supplies so I thought I better use a one of the purses I found at our local thrift store.  My husband hands me his old jeans and I cut them apart reusing the zippers and pockets and whatever else might be left of them.  He doesn't give them up easily!

"I didn't just say that!"

So I used one of his pockets, added a picture of the cousins, added a little lace, old buttons and its now awaiting a lacy hanky!  The hunt goes on!

I finally got to the fun project that I purchased at the quilt show we had in May.  This purse is really easy and fun to make.  The ends of the handles come off and the body of the purse just slides on!  I've already chosen dark blue batiks with chickens for my next purse change!

I love the funky large prints that are back.  I used the same fabric line for the purse I made with the flower pin and showed you on my last post.  That fabric had a black background where this one is red.

Well, I think my summer will slow down now somewhat.  Although we have another Farmgirls Country Sale August 6 & 7.  I will be selling some Pocket Pillows and Picture Purses.  So I better go to my room...sewing room that is and get something done. 

I have taken some before pictures of some projects like another potting bench that can double for a mini-bar where I'm combining an old cup and saucer shelf with an old wood baby changing table.  So tomorrow I am going to paint and then take an after picture for you to see. 

Can you see Norma Jean in the window??? She watches and/or follows me most of the time - sometimes so close she almost gets stepped on!

"Pretty Kitty!"

And whenever I call Norma Jean, Honey gets up and comes to me like I'm calling her...there is some jealousy between the two of them.  Many times Norma pummels Honey by sitting up on her hind legs and boxing Honey as she walks by.  Good thing she has no front claws!!!  We were so lucky to find them at the Northwoods Humane Society!

"Our one-eyed Aussie beauty!"

Hope you have good friends to share laughs and thoughts with - it is so good for the soul.

Take care,

Bonnie

Happy Birthday America!!!

The land of the free and the home of the brave!  How lucky we are to live in such a grand country!  We get together each year with picnics and fireworks to peacefully, however, noisily  celebrate our Declaration of Independence!  Our flag is so beautiful - doesn't it look good with my bee balm?

It is very hot and humid so I have been sewing in between picking raspberries and clearing some small trees that have popped up in my garden along the pole barn.  I can see part of the area from my computer but don't get out there much until the raspberries are ready...and much to my surprise - lots of willows, roaming raspberries, and some other healthy volunteers.  So yesterday in this tropical weather, Hubby and I began our taking down of trees!  We got the easy part done and now maybe tomorrow we'll tackle the last half of the garden of lovely plants - hostas and other shrub types planted by previous owners in rock!  I hate gardens planted in rock!  I'll show you a picture when its done and pretty.

Completing projects has got to be one of my favorite past times!  I have  completed three Victoria Knitting and Sewing Totes by Sue Spargo.  This one is a surprise for someone who had a birthday in June so I'm not very late!

 

This may not look like a lot of work but let me tell you - IT IS!  I had some sample books of decorator and upholstery fabric.  So on each side of the center panel are 16 2 1/2" squares - each hand picked to coordinate with the other fabrics and panel.  I barely got the panel of the tropical bird out of the sample book but it worked.  The buttons are all old and large - 11 in all!  So when you multiply that by 3 bags...it adds up and I thank my friends for their donations!

While at the lake last month, I made this purse by Heather Bailey, her Marlo Bloom Handbag.  It sure was fun picking out the fabric at Country Fabrics, Quilts & Collectibles in Brainerd.  The fabric is Oz by Moda.  The purse is reversible and has a fun fabric flower pin.  The inside is the same as the handle for those days when you want to be more subtle.  I will be making more of these with matching makeup bags!

 

I'm working on organizing my sewing room and my studio where I hope to be making more mixed media projects.  In order to get myself motivated, I am going to show you my sewing room before so I can show you my sewing room after.  So don't get scared - its messy!!!

And this is my future studio!  I have been collecting treasures and stacking them up.  It's time to be accountable and organize so you are my organizational police.  I will be updating these two pictures as I get busy.

                                               

I hope you are having a great time celebrating America's great birthday and if you are out driving - be safe!

                                  

Take care!

Farmgirl Bonnie

The Hazy, Lazy Days of Summer?

I can understand the hazy part of summer (fires in Canada and heat) but not the lazy part of summer.  Seems like there is more than enough to do what with gardening - weeding  especially! 

My little potting table with a long metal box on the back where I've planted begonias.  The white ones are looking good but the dark leaf ones haven't established themselves yet.  Oh well - the green leaf ones will be taking over as the summer goes on!  They do love the heat.

After our week at the lake, we came home to tomatoes that had grown at least 8 inches and filled out with blossoms  all over!  Just got the cages on so the branches won't break off.  Last year we waited too long and we went cage-less because to cage them would have broken their branches.

My peppers in the wheelbarrow are doing great but the ones in the ground - not so much!  Something is eating the whole lower leaves off right to the main stalk.  So in another wheelbarrow they go!

The mesclun is growing and so are the onions so I think by next week we will be able to make a salad of sorts.

  

In May I took this picture of the resort from the water...not the best shot but when we go back in August I will take a couple to show some of the rest of the area including our cabin.  A very neat place with great owners!

Doesn't that water look inviting???  I planted some perennials along our cabin last fall and almost everything is up.  I noticed a weed whip or something wild was eating at the Stella's but they are filling out again.  It will be fun to see how good they look in August.  The tiny peony I planted looks healthy also...maybe next year or the year after it might bloom.  I'll have to bring some fertilizer and give it a shot when we return.

These are a couple of my souvenirs from this trip...absent is the fabric and patterns I bought.  The purse is almost done and I'll post when I get the flower pin completed.  The silhouette plate is unique in my collection and will hang with my red transferware somewhere in my kitchen.  The little doggie planter is pretty rare where I shop so I feel I really got a find!!!

Here is my corner cupboard - my cupboard is hardly bare...needs some weedin' I think but the planter brings a little red to another shelf.  I love art pottery and collect a little Red Wing and McCoy along with no-name stuff.

Tomorrow is a day in St. Paul with my Hubby and Dad visiting my Aunt Millie.  It's been too long between visits - it will be fun!

Take care - talk soon!

Farmgirl Bonnie