Birdhouse Quilt Progress

Remember in my UFO list from here http://missyscakesandaprons.blogspot.com/2011/12/ufo-2012-list.html the birdhouse quilt I am working on?  It is a surprise for a friend at church for her 50th birthday.  All the ladies in my church are helping.  Some have donated money, some material and a few are helping with the sewing.  I could not find a pattern, so I am making it up as we go and praying that it looks the same way quilted that it looks in my head.  Remember that I had my first (and only) class in October and have only made a wall hanging from a clear pattern.  This has been a learning process for me and several of my friends.
It is going to be a bird house quilt.  Here are a few of the finished birdhouses.

We are going to sew buttons on for the doors (holes) as part of the quilting process. 
Here are some unfinished ones I need to sew.

We also have 5 sets of two blocks with three different sized birdhouses.

Here is Chrystal measuring the tall one she sewed together, is is 20 in tall.  The rest of the blocks are 8 1/2 inches.  Once I add the sashing it will be 10 inches.  I think!  LOL
We are also making 4 patch blocks.

If I counted correctly, we have 40 birdhouse blocks and 60 4 patch blocks and 10 separate different sized birdhouses.
We are going to put sashing between all of the blocks.  This is the color I chose.

I have not done much sewing, I have ten blocks to sew together.  Most of my time has been cutting, sorting, and delegating.  I will get mine sewn this weekend though.
We also will have appliqued birds and a block of embroidery done by my friend Cara.
I can't wait to show you the finished quilt!  Please pray that everything turns out great!
Happy Quilting,
Missy

Updates

I just spent hours updating my pages from the right side tabs.  What a lot of work, and I still have a lot more cake pictures to add!  I also realized that I do not have pictures of all the skirts and jumpers I have sewn!  I need to take some pictures and add them to the things I've sewn page.  Be sure to take a minute and check them out!  Here is a corny poem I wrote about aprons that I thought I would share.

APRONS
Some are very long,
others can be quite short,
there's not a right or a wrong!

Some cover only your skirt,
with or without pockets,
others even cover your shirt!

Aprons are a must for the cook,
housekeeper, mother and teacher,
some are worn for a stylish look!

Something to protect your clothes,
some are light or heavy,
some are made with lots of bows!

A piece of cloth with a string,
that is an apron,
a very useful thing!

Quilting/Sewing Supplies I like

As ya'll know, I took a quilting class back in October.  Let me go back a couple of months though.  In August, for my Anniversary, I told my husband I wanted a rotary cutter and mat.

This is the rotary cutter I bought.  I really liked the handle.  It would be great if I had a tall cutting table which is recommended to keep from getting back aches.  I do not have one though, instead I use my dining room table as I am sure many people do.  With this cutter, the blade only comes out on one side.  Next time we have some extra money I am going to get one with a straight handle so that when I am leaning over I can cut from the top of the blade, which I cannot do with this one.  Next time I will buy one with a straight handle like this one:

Of course everyone will have their own opinion on what to get.  For your first one, I would recommend a 45 mm blade.  They have smaller and larger ones, but this is the most common size.  It is what I have.  I use it for cutting out patterns and quilt blocks.  It is so quick and you don't have to worry about your material shifting around.

You need a self-healing cutting mat to use with your rotary cutter.  If you get a hard kind it will dull your blade.  But if you don't buy a mat it will ruin your table.  I have 2 mats.  The 18 x 24 is a great size to carry to sewing circle and classes.  As you can see in the above picture I also bought the biggest mat I could afford to keep at home.  The bigger mat gives you plenty of room to cut your material without having to worry about accidentally cutting off the mat.
If you are quilting, I highly recommend that you buy a quilting ruler.  The rest of the post are things my quilting teacher recommended to me.

You need a ruler that is at least 6 inches by 24 inches.  The cheapest place I found these is at Wal-Mart or at Michaels with a coupon.  They were very expensive at Joanns and Hobby Lobby.  This ruler will help you cut strips, blocks and everything else.  If you aren't able to buy anything else, these are the first three things I recommend.  The mat, rotary cutter and big ruler.
I also have the tiny ruler to help me get that quarter inch seam on my quilting projects.
The other ruler is a Bias ruler.  It is 2 1/2 inches wide which is perfect for apron ties, ruffles, and strips for quilts.

When I went looking for a fabric marker, I was not sure what to get.  I found this disappearing ink marker pen, and I love it!  The ink disappears after a while so you don't have to wash your item again to get the marks off.  I recommend that every seamstress gets one.  I hate the chalk because it is always breaking.
Did you know you can use a washable glue stick to baste your items on without pinning?  Cool huh?

If you are quilting, you NEED quilting needles so that you don't have big holes in your project.

My little scissors are great to keep by machine for snipping threads and stuff.

I also recommend these curved safety pins for quilting.  My husband saw them and asked my why all my safety pins were broken - LOL.  The curves make it easier to baste your quilts.  You will need several packages to start with.
This is just a short list of things to get you started.  You can most of it at Wal-Mart or your local fabric/craft supply store.  Don't forget coupons!  Of course you need several different colors of thread, black, white, brown, blue, red to name a few.  I keep thread in stock at all times, there is nothing worse than a great outfit that has been sewn with the wrong color of thread.  After all it is the little things that count!
Have fun sewing, I know I will!
Missy

Quick Cake Decorating

My friend Clarrisa's birthday was last week.  I wanted to make her, her favorite cake but I did not have very much time this weekend.  I told you what my Friday was like in my last post, http://missyscakesandaprons.blogspot.com/2012/01/whoops.html .  Saturday was pretty busy too, payday weekends are always like this!  She wanted my honey whole-wheat pound cake http://missyscakesandaprons.blogspot.com/2010/05/honey-whole-wheat-pound-cake.html with real buttercream made with palm sugar.
I baked the cake late Saturday night and let it cool overnight.  Sunday before church I grabbed the buttercream I had leftover from her twins' cake http://missyscakesandaprons.blogspot.com/2011/12/twins-birthday-cake.html to decorate the cake with.  I had about 30 minutes to get this cake decorated!
I grabbed the "white" buttercream(it is tan from the thot not powdered sugar I used) and added a tad (it glopped in there and made it way too soft)bit of milk to thin it out.
First I put the blue frosting in the middle.

I admit that I was in a hurry and did not level the cake.  That has always been a bad shortcut of mine.

I used a tip 3 and piped squiggles on the edge of the cake.

I added another layer of squiggles and did this all the way to the center.  Do you see the crater from the icing sagging because it was too soft?  Lesson learned, next time put the milk in another container BEFORE pouring it in your icing!

This will give you a quick, simple, pretty cake.  Notice I put a towel down on the table before decorating?  The reason is two-fold.  First it makes clean up a lot easier, I just throw the towel in the wash.  2. I did not have to pick up my cutting mat and quilting rulers before I started.
If you like this concept but want to make it fancier.  Use two different colors and put roses on top.  Here are some I made years ago when I was still new to this.

It looks like I used a tip 5 here instead of a tip 3 here.

I miss making roses, the next birthday cake I make will have roses!
Go make yourself a an easy cake!
Missy

Whoops

Remember how I was using my baker's rack as my desk in my dining room.  I had a "duh" moment.  I moved it out and put my desk in here.  I have it all set up now to do my blogging, writing my Sunday School material, facebooking, bill paying and everything else I need to do.  Last year I found my green chair on clearance at Target for $10!  You can even see my xylophone set up at the edge of my desk in my dining room reminding me to practice.  I'm not very good yet!  I had the bulletin board and grabbed some nail polish and painted the edge orange and used some colored paper I had for the background.  My kitchen is yellow and green with splashes of orange.  I used orange because that is what I have.













Here are the curtains and tablecloth I made last year for my dining room.  I still have not made my chair cushions though, they are going to be yellow.  Maybe after I finish this birdhouse quilt.  I picked up my mouse pad and arm rest at a yard sale for $1 and they match perfect!  To read more about my curtains and tablecloth go here:  http://missyscakesandaprons.blogspot.com/2011/02/my-life.html
Yesterday was a busy day for me.  I left at 7 to take my husband to work.  He works 30 minutes away and since we only have one car, I will stay in town to do all my grocery shopping.  I had a hamburger at lunch.  Whoops, should have had a salad - I had gone four days doing totally raw.  I'll continue with my raw for at least two meals though. 
We got home after five and went to church at 6:30 to sew.  I cut 23 more birdhouse blocks, taught my sewing teacher and a two tweens how to properly iron, sew and cut for quilting.  We had an assembly line going and got all 23 rooftops sewn!  This quilt is for a friend and a few friends are helping me sew it.  Today I need to "square up" (make even) the quilt blocks that are finished and cut the frames for 100 blocks!  I'll get a few done at least so people can start sewing them on.
I can't wait to show you the quilt when it is done,  I hope it turns out the way I am "seeing" it in my head. 
Have a great weekend everyone, I am going to chop up an apple and sprinkle some cinnamon on it for breakfast.  Did you know that cinnamon is very good you?
God bless,
Missy

Drinking Water

I do not have a real recipe to share with you today.  I tried a recipe for cauliflower mash last night, it was so gross I could not eat it.  I HATE wasting food and will usually finish eating stuff, even if I don't like it - but I could not eat that!  So I ate half a cucumber for supper instead!  LOL  It's still in my fridge because I don't want to throw all that food away!  (OK, I admit I'm a little obsessive about waste not want not).
Let's talk about water.  Every morning when I get up I have a glass of water before eating breakfast.  I've always had cold water but have recently learned that room temperature water is actually better.
Here is an article I found on that.
http://www.ehow.com/facts_5606231_drink-warm-water-morning_.html
I also recommend putting a slice of lemon in your water to help detoxify your system.  The lemon and water helps to cleanse out your system.  Here is an excellent article I found on why lemon water.
http://lajollamom.com/2011/01/drink-warm-lemon-water-in-the-morning/
I often joke that this is my morning cup of coffee, although I have never liked coffee, this is definitely a lot healthier than jolting your body with caffeine first thing in the morning.  I never have trouble waking up in the morning either, so be sure to try it out!
Whatever you do, please do NOT drink your tap water!  I fill glass jugs with filtered water from the store and several of my friends use a Berkey.  You would not believe what all is added in your tap water, including recycled urine.  SO gross!  I can't wait to move to the country and have well water, I'll buy me a Berkey, but at least the water will be fresh.  They add fluoride to the water which is poisonous http://www.naturalnews.com/030952_CDC_fluoride.html  It actually causes deaths!  Here are several articles that tell about all the stuff they add to our drinking water.  http://www.naturalnews.com/drinking_water.html  If you care about your health, check it out.  They add psych drugs like Prozac in your water too. 
Be sure to get you some filtered water or spring water and have a glass with lemon every morning before you start your day.  You'll feel a lot better if you do!

Raw Avocado Soup

I really wanted something Mexican for supper last night but I am still eating raw foods, 2 days down and 8 to go! 
I put a whole avocado (minus the peel of course) in my blender with one garlic clove (I could have even used 2), a sliver of fresh red pepper, (It was almost too hot to handle), a dash of taco seasoning or chili powder and a dash of cumin and salt.  I also squeezed half a lemon in it.  I blended this with 3/4 cup of water until soupy.  (Is that a word?)
I added a whole plum tomato (any kind will work), and about 1/4 of an onion and threw it into the blender just to chop and blend a little.

It was delicious, it would be great with some cilantro if I had some, you can even use it as a salad dressing!
I ate it dipping celery stalks in it.  3 celery stalks dipped in my soup filled me up for supper last night.  For dessert I had one of my raw carob peanut butter balls.  (Just one!  LOL)  http://missyscakesandaprons.blogspot.com/2012/01/raw-carob-peanut-butter-balls.html

Are you still getting hungry?  Raw nuts are great for filling you up, don't eat more than a handful at a time though because they are full of fat, which is what makes you feel full.  I also have a snack twice a day of either an apple, pear, orange, carrots, nuts, etc.  Be careful if you are juicing your fruits instead of eating them, because they have "more carbs" that way.  I read in the South Beach Diet book once that when you eat your fruit your digestive system has to work harder to digest the carbs, therefore you do not retain as many carbs, whereas if you juice it, your digestive system does not have to do as much work and more carbs are retained.  I'm not cutting out carbs, but too many carbs are not good for you either.
Here is a quote I found "Fruit juices are in general a sugar-rich product. The manufacturers take the fiber rich fruit, leave behind all the fiber, and all you get are the fruit sugars and colors.
Sad to say, the carb counts on many fruit juices are similar to that of regular Coke, which has 30g carbs per 8oz glass! In addition, the acids are known to eat away at your teeth, causing them to decay more quickly.
All in all, it's far better to eat the raw fruit, to get its full fiber and nutrition."
Think about all the pulp that is left behind when you juice, I bet that is a lot of vitamins and fiber that your body needs!  Now don't get me wrong, I love juice and it is a quick way to get the vitamins you need, I'm saying just don't give up eating your fruits and veggies too.
Today for lunch, I am going to chop up another plum tomato and add some frozen corn, thawed to room temperature and cover liberally with my avocado soup and maybe add another garlic clove since garlic is so good for you!
For a true raw food fast, you have to eliminate all dairy products (sour cream, cheese, milk, mayonnaise, etc.) for your body to detox.  I am doing only raw fruits, vegetables, and nuts.  The only sweeteners I am allowing myself is a tiny bit of honey or agave nectar.  No palm sugar even!  I am drinking lots of herbal teas and water also.  Payday, I am going to get some grape juice also.

I hope this information helps, I'll give you another recipe and some more tips tomorrow!
Missy

Raw, Carob Peanut Butter Balls

I know this is a terrible picture, but I was being lazy and did not want to dirty another plate after rolling the balls in the carob powder.  Why did I make these you ask?  As I told ya'll yesterday http://missyscakesandaprons.blogspot.com/2012/01/raw-food-fast.html  I am on a raw food fast for ten days.  Well, yesterday all I could think about was the fruitcake in my cabinet and how badly I wanted a piece, so I knew I needed something sweet to eat - but it had to be raw!

To be honest, I really didn't measure, because like I said, I was having a lazy day and did not want to wash more dishes!  LOL
About 2 cups of nut butter (I used peanut butter)
2 tablespoons of carob powder
2 tablespoons of currants or raisins (I am still out of raisins)
4 tablespoons or more of chopped dates
two handfuls of roughly chopped (big pieces) pecans or any nut
big spoonful of honey (over a tablespoon)
a teaspoon of vanilla (optional)
Mix thoroughly with spoon.
Of course you can pick and choose what ingredients to add according to what you have in your cabinets.  The dates are great for adding sweetness and the nuts are for crunch.  My philosophy is that everything is better with with nuts!  LOL
Roll in a ball and then roll in carob powder.  If I had some cinnamon I would have mixed the carob and cinnamon together to roll the balls in.  I love carob and cinnamon together!  I plopped my balls on the carob before rolling into balls so they would not stick as bad.  These would also be awesome rolled in coconut!
Enjoy because it is a lot healthier to eat these when you get a sugar craving than that piece of fruitcake!  Just make sure you only eat a couple because they are full of calories and fat, so you will have to hide the plate away in the fridge before you eat them all.  At least that is what I had to do!
Hope you enjoy!
Missy

Raw Food Fast

I am doing a ten day raw food fast.  Several ladies in my church does this every new year.  It is a great way to cleanse your body and your soul. 
2Ch 20:3 "And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah."
Es 4:16 "Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish."
I am going to eat nothing but raw food for ten days, no dairy or meat.  I will be taking this time to pray also.    I know some of you are probably saying "this should be a private matter".  As you can tell from these verses, it is common in the Bible for several people to fast as a group.
Mt 6:16 "Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward."
Mt 6:18 "That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly."
I beleive these apply to people who are talking about it to "show off", which I am not.  I am just sharing my testimony.
A fast does not have to be giving up all food, you can fast from anything.  It can be a certain food, all sugar, it can even be a fast from blogging!  LOL
Here is a great article on why to eat raw food.  http://jillshomeremedies.blogspot.com/2012/01/new-years-resolutions-raw-foods.html
I am also going to start exercising tomorrow and I need to lose 20 pounds.  I am at 158 right now and want to be down to 135/140.
I'll be sharing recipes that I find also.  Here is my first recipe, I got the base recipe from the link above.

Raw Carrot Salad
Grate about 4-5 carrots
throw in a handful of currants (they were cheaper than the raisins)
A handful of raw sunflower seeds
Chop up about 4 florets of broccoli
throw in some poppy seeds
a dollop of agave nectar
Unfortunately I was out of cinnamon, I would highly recommend some
Instead I sprinkled on ground ginger, ground cloves and ground nutmeg
The juice of one lemon
Olive oil

Tomorrow, I will be sharing a recipe for raw carob peanut butter balls.  Do ya'll have any good raw recipes to share?

Enjoy!
Missy

Laundry Tip

I just wanted to jump in and give ya'll a great laundry tip!  I was babysitting a kitten (the orange cat) about a month older than my Pippi (the calico)who is 8 months old.  When Mac wasn't trying to climb my tree, Mac and Pippi had been playing pretty rough this week and Friday night Pippi got him across his eye.  Scared us half to death because his eye was just full of blood!  He was calmer than my husband and I - LOL.
I grabbed a towel and poured some collodial silver on it and held it over his eye to stop the bleeding while my husband held him.  He meowed so pitifully at me!  Turns out it was just his eyelid she got (did I mention there was something bloody hanging from his eye?)  He's fine now and at home, I have since trimmed all of my cats nails, just in case.
Well, Saturday I found blood spots on a white curtain - right before we were leaving to go to church for our New Year's Eve service.  I grabbed peroxide and poured it on the spot, rinsed it off and poured more peroxide on it and then left.  When I got home I grabbed it to throw in the wash before the stain could set in more, but all of the blood was gone! So the next time you have blood just pour peroxide on it!
Wanna know how to easily trim your cat's paws?  I don't declaw my cats anymore because did you know that they amputate the entire toe and some cats have trouble walking afterward?  My vet told me just to use regular nail clippers, that they work better than the fancy ones for cats.  Hold your cats paws often to get them used to you holding their paws.  When they are asleep (Pippi is so hyper, that is the only time she is still enough), gently get a paw and extend the claw out, only clip the tip, making sure you do not go up too far and get the quick.  They are usually too impatient for me to do the front and back paws at the same time, so it is usually a two day process.
I hope these tips help,
Happy New Year!
Missy