American Idol in Salt Lake

Did you see American Idol last nite? I thought it was fun to watch, because the auditions were held in Salt Lake. I actually know two people that auditioned for the show last July.

One of them was a mom that I tend for. I didn't think she would get past the initial audition- her voice is pretty good, she just doesn't have the "American Idol" look. The other one was Austin Sisineros, one of Kimball's best friends in grade school and Jr. high. Interesting boy. I wasn't surprised to hear last summer that he received a golden ticket to Hollywood. It was fun to watch the clip of him on last night's show.



Kimball helped Austin make a movie when he was running for Student Body President last spring, and he posted it to you-tube. Yesterday the video had about 400 hits. Today it has over 10,200 hits.

Hail to the Chief

The above scene was 16 years ago. Time does fly.

This morning, I'm sitting here watching another inauguration. A great day for America! It's Interesting to see all the guests & former Presidents arrive. No matter what, it makes me proud to be an American as I watch the peaceful transaction of power.

Quilt Block of the Month

My fondness for quilting began several years ago when I signed up for a BOM (block of the month) at a LQS (local quilt shop). Back then, they did 2 blocks each month, so I completed 24 blocks each year. Enough for 2 quilt tops. For the past two years, they have only done one block per month, which I like a lot more. If you are interested in quilting, I would recommend finding a BOM that is beginning and sign up for it. Some of them charge per month, but the one I do is per year and only costs around $20-$25 for the the entire year. This includes the book and all the fabric for each month's block.

This has also been a good way to slowly but surely add to my plethora of quilting tools. At first I purchased what I needed as I went along. I was buying a new ruler nearly every month, but now I find I have what I need to accomplish each task. Now I buy mainly fun things, that help in fine-tuning. I Always take advantage of the 50% off coupons to Joann's, Roberts & Michaels. I NEVER pay full price for anything, except ((*sigh*)) fabric.

Anyway---here's the point to this blog... I was surfing yesterday and came across a random blog (I do that a lot) where the blogger listed a bunch of online BOM's that are just starting up. I'm going to paste her list on my blog, so this is her talking now, not me:

The start of the new year is normally also the start of new BOM's (Block of the Month series) online. Each month a new block is posted by the designer, and you complete that block before the next month's block is posted. This is a wonderful way to introduce yourself to new techniques, without the pressure of an entire quilt in front of you all at once. If you choose a BOM you want to do, don't forget to write down the web address so you can find it again! (Don't laugh -- this happened to me!)
Here is a list of free BOMs for you to consider:

I always admire the symmetry and simplicity of Amish quilts. Here's an Amish inspired BOM that just started this month:
http://floridacabinfever.com/

Do you love applique? Here's a beautiful BOM done all in red, lots of applique (so far). She may have taken down Block 1. Each BOM is available only until the 15th of the month.
http://estheraliu.blogspot.com/

A little more challenging, but wow - what a beautiful quilt! Called "A Study of Stars" and brought to you by The Quilt and Needle. This is a 2008 BOM, but it's still being posted and gives no date that they're taking it down.
http://www.thequiltandneedle.com/block.asp

Another applique BOM -- and beautiful! This one comes from the Netherlands, and it is in Dutch but hey - you can download the blocks and figure out basic applique for yourself!
http://tinyurl.com/7kc4cp

Here's a 2008 Block of the Month Sampler Quilt - what a great way for a beginner or advanced beginner to learn new skills!
http://delawarequilts.com/BOMs/08Sampler/

And while you're at Delaware Quilts, do check out her tutorial on String Blocks and great variations of putting a string block quilt together:
http://tinyurl.com/8p7zwe

Fat Cat Patterns if offering a free Bird House BOM. Block patterns will be available for two months only, and January is up now.
http://www.fatcatpatterns.com/bird_houses.htm

Here's a BOM that starts in Febuary '09 - Called a 9-patch Spool Sampler. Before the first block is posted, she gives you fabric requirements (though this would be a pretty scrap quilt too!)
http://lynbrown.com/?p=555#more-555

Ooooo...I may have to do this one. I've never done a Row Quilt before and this one looks interesting. Another good way to use up scraps, one row at a time! Row 1 for January is posted.
http://www.ucquilts.com/bomjanuary2009.htm

"Country Cups" is the name of this 2009 BOM. Might be for the more advanced appliquer, but it sure is pretty! New block posted the first week of each month. Only the current month's block will be offered for free.
http://ajpadilla.com/patterns/bom/country-cups

Block Central has a new BOM for 2009 called "Memory Lane". Very traditional quilt blocks and a quilt I'm sure you will be proud of upon completion. January's block is posted.
http://tinyurl.com/87d7do

Debbie Mumm is offering a 2009 BOM called "Natural Wonders". You'll make 9.5" square sampler blocks each month using a variety of piecing and applique techniques. Blocks will stay up throughout the year.
http://tinyurl.com/8deu43

BOM Quilts is offering a good sampler quilt for beginners that gives you a nice variety of easy traditional blocks. Instructions for both baby and twin size quilts. January is posted.
http://tinyurl.com/8hnnva

The Quilter's Guild of Plano TX is offering a Basket block BOM. Some very pretty baskets here! This BOM started in mid-2008, but all blocks are still available.
http://tinyurl.com/9w4z2f

Do we have any hand-embroider'ers in our membership? Join me (yes, I do hand embroidery) in this very sweet BOM from the Netherlands (though she also posts in English). The series is called "Once Upon a Time". I love the first one - you embroider a tower, then add braided yarn for Rapunzel's hair hanging out the window! January's block is posted.
http://capricornquilts.blogspot.com/

And another BOM for the hand embroider-ers -- very simple, very sweet. The first block is posted.
http://tinyurl.com/7ag6xy

Nancy Rink Designs is offering a beautiful, traditional block BOM. The series began in July '08, but all blocks are up and active.
http://www.nancyrinkdesigns.com/free.html

Enjoy!

Holiday Projects

I had a grand time during the holidays, nearly two weeks without the constant pitter-patter of little feet. I mainly just stayed home and enjoyed the peace & quiet, taking advantage of all that uninterrupted time, to create!

I've been buying fabric when I see it on clearance, so I can practice my machine quilting. I wanted to try my hand at a pantograph, this quilt is my first attempt. It turned out pretty good, I still need to fine tune the arm the laser light rests on, because right now it vibrates too much and the laser light jumps making it hard to follow the pantograph line.


I also found a cute print that I used for the backing and binding:


I just finished sewing the binding on yesterday. I've taken a couple of binding classes and learned some pretty cool tricks. Binding is my favorite part after piecing the top together.


I'm going to donate all these little practice quilts to the Humanitarian Center, or the highest bidder on my blog. (Just kidding, they really will be donated).

This next project I purchased at 'Mormon' Handicraft, located inside Deseret Book at the University Mall. This place may become one of my new favorite places to shop. Great selection of fabrics, and even better sale prices. This kit was 50% off and the fabric for the backing and binding was included! This table runner was fun to make.


Next, I blogged several weeks ago about the mystery quilt that I was going to make, and I also posted my fabric selections. Mystery quilt day was on December 31st, I sewed most of the day. Here is what my mystery quilt turned out to be:


I want to put a couple of borders on my quilt, today I went in search of a red fabric to use for the first border (also called the stop border) I'm really happy with the way it is turning out. Now I need another wider border - hmmmm, what color should use for the second border:

The Sweet 100

Recently, a website called Very Good Taste started something of an internet fire with a list called "The Omnivore's Hundred", which listed 100 foods which "every good omnivore should have tried at least once in their life." Like the original, this list includes "fine food, strange food, everyday food and even some pretty bad food"--but in our universe, it's all sweet! (In case any of them are foreign to you, links to pictures and recipes are included. How many have you tried?


1) Copy this list into your site, including the instructions!
2) Bold all of the sweets you've eaten--or make them a different type color.
3) Cross out any of them that you'd never ever eat.
4) Consider anything that is not bold or crossed out your "To Do" List.
5) Optional: Post a comment here linking to your results--or just post a comment letting us know how many you've tried, or what you're going to try next!

1. Red Velvet Cake- Yes. Actually pretty gross when you think about how much red food coloring is in it.
   
2. Princess TorteNever had.
   
3. Whoopie Pie-Oh Yes! Tasty.
   
4. Apple Pie either topped or baked with sharp cheddar-Don't think so. I'll stick with vanilla ice cream.
   
5. Beignet-Yes. Had a neighbor that went to New Orleans, and she brought us back a box to make our own.
   
6. Baklava-Love them!
   
7. Black and white cookie-Saw a TV show were they spotlighted a shop in NYC that makes them, but I've never had one.
   
8. Seven Layer Bar (also known as the Magic Bar or Hello Dolly bars)-Oh yes. I remember when we were first married, I made some, and Terrell gave one to the guy who delivered our new mattress.
   
9. Fried Fruit pie (sometimes called hand pies)-Nope.
   
10. Kringle-Nope
    
11. Just-fried (still hot) doughnut-I remember my first Krispy Kreme in Las Vegas!
    
12. Scone with clotted cream-Delightful. Had it at the Protea Cottage.
    
13. Betty, Grunt, Slump, Buckle or Pandowdy-Oh yes! Tasty
    
14. Halvah-Nope.
    
15. Macarons-BYU bakery makes a good one, don't know how it compares to the real thing.
    
16. Banana pudding with nilla wafers-Probably never together.
    
17. Bubble tea (with tapioca "pearls")-YES! Protea Cottage once again. I liked it, Em thought it was too wierd.
    
18. Dixie Cup-I remember having one at a birthday party for Darrell Flamm when I was knee high to a grasshopper, Darrell's mom gave me a real spoon so I wouldn't have to eat it with the little wooden spoon.
    
19. Rice Krispie treats-Who hasn't had one of these?
    
20. Alfajores-Nope
    
21. Blondies-Yes, but I prefer chocolate flavor
    
22. Croquembouche-Nope
    
23. Girl Scout cookies-YES!!! Love them all!
    
24. Moon cake-No
    
25. Candy Apple-Yep! I prefer a Caramel apple now days.
    
26. Baked Alaska-Seems like I made (or tried to make) this once.
    
27. Brooklyn Egg Cream-No
    
28. Nanaimo bar-No
    
29. Baba au rhum-No
    
30. King Cake-No
    
31. Sachertorte-No
    
32. Pavlova-No
    
33. Tres Leches Cake-Yes...3 milk cake.
    
34. Trifle-Oh yes. 1st time it was made by Marlene Wilson, a real English gal.
    
35. Shoofly Pie-No.
    
36. Key Lime Pie (made with real key lime)-Yes, if real key lime juice counts.
    
37. Panna Cotta-No
    
38. New York Cheesecake-I don't think I like New York style cheesecake.
    
39. Napoleon / mille-fueille-No
    
40. Russian Tea Cake / Mexican Wedding Cake-I like Mexican Wedding cake cookies
    
41. Anzac biscuits-No
    
42. Pizzelle-My friend Annette Morton Bracken used to make these for us.
    
43. Kolache-No
    
44. Buckeyes-Oh yes. I like these, but one recipe makes way too many, so I don't often make them.
    
45. Malasadas-No
    
46. Moon Pie-They are ok. Used to be able to buy them at 'Po Folks, they were hanging on a tree, you would take one off & buy it.
    
47. Dutch baby-Yes, got my recipe from a lady I used to work with, Sharon Marlor.
    
48. Boston Cream Pie-I remember buying a Boston Cream Pie mix & making it in our camper, while on a vacation back east (we were in Boston, MA)
    
49. Homemade chocolate chip cookiesGood heavens, what planet would you be from if you haven't had one of these?
    
50. Pralines-Does it count it you've had them in ice cream?
    
51. Gooey butter cake-No
    
52. Rusks-No
    
53. Daifuku-No
    
54. Green tea cake or cookies-Bleck!
    
55. Cupcakes from a cupcake shop-I've eaten may cupcakes, but never a fancy one from a cupcake shoppe.
    
56. Crème brûlée-Sadly, no.
    
57. Some sort of deep fried fair food (twinkie, candy bar, cupcake)-Had a deep fried Twinkie in Las Vegas, hated it. I like deep fried Oreo's.
    
58. Yellow cake with chocolate frostingOh yes! Although my favorite cake is chocolate with white frosting.
    
59. Jelly Roll-Yes.
    
60. Pop Tarts-Yes, but I'm not a real fan of the Pop Tart.
    
61. Charlotte Russe-No
    
62. An "upside down" dessert (Pineapple upside down cake or Tarte Tatin)-Yes! Best when baked in a Dutch oven.
    
63. Hummingbird Cake-No
    
64. Jell-O from a mold-I live in Utah, remember?
    
65. Black forest cake-Hmmmm, I think I have probably had this.
    
66. Mock Apple Pie (Ritz Cracker Pie)-Oh yes! I dated a guy once (Gary King from Denver) he gave me the recipe & wanted me to make him one. It was strange, but it really did kinda taste like apple pie.
    
67. Kulfi-Well, I've had Spumoni ice cream.
    
68. Linzer torte-Torte's are yummy!
    
69. Churro-Used to have them every time we went to see a play at the Scera Shell in the summer.
    
70. Stollen-I've had the American version of fruit cake. I like it. There's some in my refrigerator right now.
    
71. Angel Food Cake-Hey! two for two. There's a piece in my kitchen - left over from the New Year's fondue party.
    
72. Mincemeat pie-Never had the real mincemeat with meat, but I like mincemeat pie. Only get a piece every other year at the Ashcraft family Thanksgiving.
    
73. Concha-Our favorite mexican restaurant gave us some once, I think they are yucky.
    
74. Opera Cake-No
    
75. Sfogliatelle / Lobster tail-No
    
76. Pain au chocolat-My mouth waters just thinking about one of these little taste treats. Usually bring a baggie of them home every time I visit Las Vegas.
    
77. A piece of Gingerbread House-Yep. Recently, in fact.
    
78. Cassata-No
    
79. Cannoli-Yes! Very good.
    
80. Rainbow cookies-No
    
81. Religieuse-No
    
82. Petits fours-Only had a box of them from the Swiss Colony that some neighbors gave us once. I've always wanted to make them. They look so tasty!
    
83. Chocolate Souffle-Yep! Used to make it once in awhile.
    
84. Bienenstich (Bee Sting Cake)-Yes. I had a taste of it a couple months ago at the Lion House Pantry. Cheryl had it & she offered me some. It's very rich.
    
85. Rugelach-No
    
86. Hamenstashen-No
    
87. Homemade marshmallows-Yes. So much better than store bought marshmallows.
    
88. Rigo Janci-No
    
89. Pie or cake made with candy bar flavors (Snickers pie, Reeses pie, etc)-Yes.
    
90. Divinity-Not for a long time. I don't like it.
    
91. Coke or Cola cake-Blech! Sounds awful!
    
92. Gateau Basque-No
    
93. S'mores-Yes. I like to make them with a toasted marshmallow inside two Keebler chocolate stripe cookies.
    
94. Figgy Pudding-No
    
95. Bananas foster or other flaming dessert-No, I hate cooked banana's
    
96. Joe Froggers-No
    
97. Sables-No
    
98. Millionaires' Shortbread-No
    
99. Animal crackers-I grew up on them. My favorite are the ones coated in pink & white frosting. I don't buy them, because I would eat the whole bag.
    
100. Basbousa

-No