Grammy's Wordless Wednesday

What's on My Design Wall?

What's on my design wall? I've been making these 9" string blocks for quite some time, beginning in August before I left for my Minnesota jaunt. I had made 70 of them and last week I began to put them together in a 7 across and 10 down setting. They are 100% scraps excepting the black. I've also made a ton of 6 inch "crumb" blocks that I'll use on each side of the quilt. Working on how that will set now. Show you next week.You find the cutest things on FaceBook! Beka posted a picture tonight of Anastacia sitting in her Bumbo chair (super supportive foam chair that supports an infant in this position) while she go dinner. Isn't she darling? Just starting to smile. I thought I wouldn't see her in person until April or May but maybe much sooner......I might have some news tomorrow.And last here's a photo of my dinner.Yup! Mr. Dungeness Crab came to dinner. Thanks to a friend who gave us a bag of two huge cooked crabs after church. Yum, yum. I ate him on a small bed of brown rice noodles with garlic and sharp cheddar.

Make and Takes and more

First, I'll take a step back before I show you the Make and Takes from Redwood Sewing Center. Last week our good friend, Karen Snyder of Anna Lena's came to visit. Karen likes all things 30's....as in Vintage 1930's fabrics. And butterflies and orange and aqua and....well, Karen is just fantastic. We have known each other for about 11 years, met at a Trade Show for Quilt Shop Owners and belong to a sort of secret sisterhood of quilt shop owners. A bunch of us went on a cruise to Eastern Mexico and she and I were roomies. Such fun!

Karen and Bob her delightful husband came to Eureka, explored some of the redwood coast, Ferndale and she fit in a trunk show and book signing for us. We still have a few copies of her 4 books. Bundles of Fun, Fat Quarter Fun, Big Print Quilts and Quilts From My Garden and all of them are autographed . Here's Carolyn getting her book signed. Ok, back to today.............Redwood Sewing Center celebrated Small Business Saturday with the first of our three Make & Take Saturdays before Christmas. They are great. You sign up, pay your $10 and come to the store. You don't have to bring anything. Really. Nothing. And you leave with a really cool gift you can give...or keep! It's up to you. Today the gals made Little Wallets with a Valori Wells pattern. Just perfect to give a gift card.Then they made a cute tote bag, Christmas Tree Napkins and Chicken Pincushions.
Here's Terri ironing her tote bag handles.Here's Liz explaining the next step.Over the next two Saturdays some of these projects will be repeated and new ones are on the calendar. One gal said, "So I just bring my machine and I can make this." No, you don't have to bring your machine. "So how much fabric do I bring for clutch bag?" No, you don't have to bring fabric. "So I bring my pins and my scissors and rotary cutter." No, you don't have to bring a thing! There is still room in most of the classes, but call Redwood Sewing Center to register. Just $10 per class.

A few weeks ago I had two eager students in a sewing class. My Daughter Beka had a birthday on Nov. 18 and Jakob and Mercedes asked if I would teach them to use the sewing machine. We made hot pads for Mama's birthday. They chose the fabrics and Grammy cut them out and some padding. They layered and ironed the squares and pinned them. They sat on my lap and guided their fabrics through the machine. Each was quite particular and careful about sewing. They turned their pot holders right side out and then we top stitched and quilted the squares. Then they posed with their holders.Jakob stitched a spiderweb design on his.Sades tried the abstract approach.Here they are showing the opposite sides of their pads. We wrapped them in paper with bows and they made cards for Mama's Birthday. I have it on good authority that Beka used them on Thanksgiving!

Lots of "making" going on! What are YOU making this holiday season?

Thanksgiving at the Scotts

If you are an American, chances are that yesterday you gathered with friends and family for a turkey dinner. In between chopping celery and apples for the bread dressing (stuffing) and peeling sweet potatoes I SKYPED our daughter Beka's household. Jason's mom, Nana, was there as well as the Krause family I love so much. I got a kick out of their sons who yelled to my grandson Jakob..."Grammy's on the TV! Come quick, Grammy's on TV." When Elijah figured out I was in California (a long stretch from Minnesota) I had to turn the camera to the front yard so he could see some redwood trees just outside my window. The morning had dawned absolutely beautiful. I had made a Pumpkin Pie Cake the night before (recipe below). I also made some delightful little pumpkin favors a friend had posted the day before on FaceBook. Jellied Orange sliced candies, a little twig, some ribbon and plastic wrap.The turkey went into the oven as we went to the movie theatre, met Liz, Steve & Sydney and watched the new Muppet Movie. Cute and enough to keep adults interested too. Lots of humor that went right over the kids' heads and the adults thought was hilarious. Sydney wanted to sit by me and about halfway through the film she leaned over and said, "Gamma, I want to say Grace tonight." Of course she could! She had told me she wanted to make the rolls. And she did!Our table abounded with good things to eat.I tried out something new I'd heard about this year on the Internet. Take 1 Cup mayonnaise (I used Kraft Olive Oil Mayonnaise) and mix in 1/4 assorted minced herbs. (I used rosemary from the garden, black pepper, tarragon, flat leaf parsley and savory). Loosen the skin from the breast of the turkey and slather 2/3 cup of the mixture under the skin. Then slather the rest all over the outside of the turkey. I used a cooking bag to cook the turkey. The bird was beautiful and I've never, ever, gotten so many compliments on a turkey before. How moist it was, how wonderful the meat tasted! I guess I'll try it again. Sydney thanked the Lord for her family and all the good things He gives us.Then Mr. Scottie Dog carved the bird. Yum, yum.
One last shot....hasn't every kid done this with olives!!!!!!!

Thanksgiving is a time we set aside to thank our God and Creator for our many blessings. I have so many....my wonderful husband, two beautiful daughters and the amazing son-in-laws they brought me, my adorable grandchildren (all 5 of them!), my brothers and their wives and children...we share so many wonderful memories of phenomenal parents and childhoods, a warm and snugly home in the redwoods (such a beautiful place to live). I'm grateful for good friends, new and old, and for our two kitties. I have a job I love, a passion for creativity, good health and so much more.

I thank the Lord for YOU!


Recipe for Pumpkin Pie Cake

Take 1 Large can of pumpkin and prepare just as you would for 2 pies (recipe is on label). Pour into sprayed 9" X 13" pan.
Sprinkle 1 yellow or white cake mix evenly over the pumpkin mixture.
Drizzle top with 2/3 cup melted butter, making sure to include corners.
Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or when knife inserted in center comes clean.
Enjoy hot or cold, with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream

wordless wednesday

Home again, Home again...Jiggity Jig

I'm home from Minnesota. Six weeks of playing with the grandbabies, hugging my newest grand: Anastacia Hope and helping out Beka & Jason. I got to go to Classical Converstions each week with Jakob. He is home schooled but once a week he joins a large group of kids for Classical Instruction. Then for the rest of the week he learns with Mom at home. At 5 he's learning science, reading (he reads EVERYTHING!), art, Latin, English grammar, history and math. I was highly impressed with Classical Conversations as well as how Beka teaches at home. They also join a group twice a month for a PE class and another Science class.

We went to Emma Krumbees Apple Orchard when Anastacia was a week old.

For five days in the middle of my visit I met Liz in Houston for Quilt Market. We took classes, checked out the trends in fabrics and mingled with the famous. Liz didn't know who Ty Pennington was, but I did!He was quite charming! Then walking down the aisle was someone even more famous than Ty!My grands were more impressed with the cat! But I brought home something from Quilt Market this time Just For Me. I haven't really done that before, but Blue Hill had fat quarter bundles of their Civil War prints. Ten (yes, 10!) bundles came home with me.

And I'm now home and Mr. Scottie Dog is glad I am!