Rayen

My guy and I often go walking down by the lake, and back in March we got there in time to watch a peaceful, beautiful sunset. To see it for yourself, go to my pic album here .

I'm presently two months ahead on writing posts for the blog, so I'm wondering if I should schedule two posts per day during summer rather than end up three months ahead of myself. Probably maybe might. :) After experimenting for six months I have figured out how to make a large NY style pepperoni pizza (including the sauce) at home using common ingredients that cost about $5.00. My guy absolutely loves it and wants me to make it all the time. Given that most large pizzas are three times what my homemade one costs I might share my recipe on the blog next time I make one. I've never published a from-scratch recipe online so I'm a bit nervous. I'm seeing a lot of outdated info and maps on the different places we've been visiting, and I love these towns, so I'm considering writing a free e-book on places to visit and walk through, and some of the loveliest features. Along with my planned art quilt, my 2025 mini-quilt project and everything else I have ...

Let's see how much trouble I can get into today with this charm pack I bought at the weekend junk shop marketplace. There were 42 5" charm squares in the pack, so I arranged 40 of them to make a coffee table topper for spring. Sewing blocks helps me practice seam matching, too, at which I frankly suck. But this time I did good, with only one row noticeably out of whack (yes, that's good for me.) I decided to go with this cream and white textural print for the backing, and batted and pinned it all together. To keep this a one-day project I machine quilted the topper. I need to practice this, too, as someday soon I won't be able to hand-stitch anymore. I've had this bright yellow quilt binding forever -- someone gave it to me, but I'm not a fan of this color -- and this seemed like the perfect project for it. The final result. I'm pretty pleased that I was able to make this in one day without any trouble at all. :)

I've heard so much about crochet patterns that are AI generated (and basically useless) that my curiosity got the better of me, so I went and asked ChatGPT this: Can you show me a simple crochet pattern to make a throw blanket? In return I got this detailed pattern to make a granny square design. I know how to make granny squares, and it looked right to me, but of course to be sure I needed to test out the instructions. Granny squares are about the simplest crochet design out there, and they're very beginner friendly, too. I made lots of big granny square throws when I was a teenager, before I taught myself to read patterns. I followed the pattern, went with seven rounds and ended up with this. It needs blocking, but otherwise, yep, it's a granny square. I can make as many as I like and stitch them together to make a throw. Thanks, ChatGPT.

My first mini-quilt of April was this little salute to bunnies. I finished my third crocheted throw of the year. I completed the baby quilt I made from thrifted fabric on National Quilting Day. After buying an emotional support chicken from a lovely yarn shop in Dunellon, I decided to learn how to make one (mine is the brown one with a bit of a pompadour in the back.) I crocketed a trivet (the right round one) to replace one that is twenty years old and falling apart (the shaggy rectangle on the left.) Finally I have something to make from that thick ribbonish sashay yarn! I crocheted another chicken because you can never have enough emotional support, right? My second mini-quilt for April was this stitch practice piece using an embroidery stitch I invented. My favorite person liked my emotional support chickens, so I made her one in the color that she chose. Very pretty! My third mini-quilt for April was all about the farm. I hand quilted, painted an...

Finding a Moda charm pack for just $4.95 (they retail for twice that) let me get a little newish fabric at the junk shop marketplace. I love giraffes, so finding this little fabric bundle was a joy (I've also since used it to make a baby quilt, as you'll see in the look back post.) I have been looking for a non-glasss cake stand for some time, as my hands are becoming unsteadier and I'm worried I'll drop the two I have (one is glass, the other is pottery.) This wooden food-safe stand is perfect. On our way home we stopped to walk through town, and I found an unbreakable aluminum cake cover in an antique shop. Perfect end to my day of neat finds. :)