Quilting is one of my favorite crafts.
I have been quite obsessed lately with the beautiful images I've found all across Flickr, and have been busy creating bits and pieces for the girls' bedroom based on some of that wonderful inspiration!
Here's a quick peek at a quilting piece (or is that pieces!) that I'm working on for some extra girly decor... Completed photos will appear later this week!! :) I'm also working on putting together some kits (not all girly), along with in-depth tutorials for everyone from advanced to beginners. :) Lots of fun ahead!
As a part of this quilting binge I've been on, I decided to visit our local quilt shop, The Quilting Bee. I got some GORGEOUS quilting thread. I know... you're thinking "its thread. get over it..." but seriously!!! Its gorgeous :) I cant wait to have an excuse to use it. If I could get this thread anywhere else in town, I would... but for now, its my only source.
I also came away with a LOVELY bunch of fabric scraps. The Quilting Bee offers a huge bin of fabric scraps that patrons can browse through and fill a plastic baggie as full as they can for the whopping cost of $5. While that may not be the best deal as far as yardage is concerned, it is PERFECT for small quilts, accents, trims, etc. Its the virtual Whitman's Sampler of the fabric world. Swoon!
After leaving The Quilting Bee, I decided to go to JoAnn's for the bulk of my fabric shopping. I am on a "stash diet" (*ahem* scraps don't count), except for items that are for other people. I am making a quilt for my dear friend Debra, and needed to get some fabrics to make it work exactly the way I'm hoping.... These were what spoke to me as I waded through the aisles and aisles of beautiful fabrics...
Outside of the crafty part of my world, and back into the real-life homemaking part of my world, I thought I'd share one of my tips/tricks that helps me out a LOT day-to-day. I try to make our own "fast food" so that we don't go out to eat very much. I focus on easy items unless I'm feeling particularly creative and happen to have a chunk of time on my hands. Tonight, I decided to whip up a classic that my mom used to make for my brother and I when we were kids. Sandwich-in-a-bowl. YUP!
I know, I know... not the most appetizing photo on the planet. But trust me. YUM! I snapped this straight out of the fridge in a rush to get back to blogging (I'm on a roll tonight!).
Basically, I just made chicken salad sandwiches. You can use any type of sandwich you like - ham and cheese, PB&J, Tuna, whatever strikes your fancy. Then you just slice it into little finger-sandwiches and layer them in a Tupperware container or bowl. When you get the hungries, just reach in and grab a couple! They make a much healthier snack than potato chips, are easy to pack for a snack-on-the-road, and even work in a pinch for a rushed dinner if you throw in a piece of fruit or a salad. Instant hit!
I also like to sneak in some fruits & veggies in these sandwiches since my kids LOVE to eat sammies but dont like their produce quite as much. For this particular sandwich I included finely chopped apples. I also like to include chopped up grapes, but didn't have any this time around! They add just a bit of a crunch (but have the same color as the chicken, so it doesn't stand out) and add just a hint of sweet, which works wonderfully with the salty chicken & mayo! Yum!
If you want to try out this recipe, be sure to leave a comment & let me know what you think!!
Chicken Salad:
~1 Lg. can of chicken
~2 Tbs. light mayonaise
~2 Tbs. dijon mustard
~1 Tbs sweet pickle relish
~1/2 apple, chopped finely
~1/2 cup chopped grapes (optional - and yes - its VERY good!!)
Mix well and you're done :) yummy!
I think we may have crushes on the same colors right now, which means we're fantastic!! I love the idea of scraps at the store, it seems like such a great idea and a really good way to encourage not being wasteful. It's unfortunate that people can be so unpleasant in stores like that. I remember before we moved here I wanted to start quilting, I had got a magazine at the thrift store that had the most lovely pattern. I was so excited to go to the "good" fabric store. They were SO rude I never went back, they opened a new one in town before we moved. I checked that one out, so much better. Maybe you can find another shop somewhere. Even if it's a little bit further away, it could be a much better experience.
Whoa that's a long comment.
Posted by: hunnybunny | January 21, 2008 at 09:37 AM
You've got some might pretty scraps there :)
Posted by: Felicia | January 22, 2008 at 05:04 AM
I hear you about the attitudes of some quilt shop owners--but don't let it stop you from joining a group. Quilters are such wonderful people! I've been in many quilt guilds and I always ignore the loud "mean girls" and the "know-it-alls" and try to find the quiet ladies who smile a lot. I've met such wonderful people this way!
Just wanted to give you a little pep talk. Don't let the mean girls get you down...
Posted by: Lisa Boyer | January 22, 2008 at 11:55 PM