Three

Birthday girl -- Miss Abby is 3 years old

~Piecefully, Stephanie

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MOO

Daughter Creations updated my business logo and created new business cards.  She ordered them from Moo and my order arrived today.  I love everything about them, including the packaging.  I got address labels and round stickers too.

Nice quality paper, clear printing, and no extra charge for rounded corners.

No extra charge for double sided printing either.  This is the back --  if you really wanted to call me I'm listed in the phone book but I just didn't feel right showing my phone number for some reason.  The paw prints are not actually printed on the card.  

~Piecefully, Stephanie

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Pretty Little Things

Feed sack love! An unusual but wonderful color palette.

Tea cup love!

Pink feed sack love!  I soak the feed sacks overnight in cold water and Oxy Clean.  A great method for removing  most stains.  Then I wash and dry them as usual.

Tea cup happiness!  I have had a good month at my favorite antique mall.  Useable and pretty things all for under $20 -- total.

Mr. Creations and I spent many hours this weekend starting the Big Basement Clean-Out!  14 years worth of stuff--it's going to take lots of weekends.  My reward was to play with my vintage fabric.  They had that old attic smell and it was a bit offensive to play with them so I decided to throw them in my washer with some detergent, Oxy Clean, and a Shout Color Catcher.  They washed beautifully and then I threw them all in the dryer.  Very little fraying as you can see.  I don't think I would have thrown them in my washer if I had a normal agitator.  I fear the little pieces may get caught under the agitator.  My machine is agitator free. Otherwise I would have put them in a big lingerie bag before washing.

I find it relaxing and enjoyable to iron pretty fabric.  Still thinkin' on a project.

~Piecefully, Stephanie

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Blogger BOM

(kona solids and aboriginal fabric)

Block #5 can be found HERE.  For more information on the Blogger BOM and links to the various block designers, please click on over to Jackie's blog.  Jackie is the hostess with the mostess.

~Piecefully, Stephanie

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West Linn PiPs

The West Linn PiPs are singing in 3-part harmony.  Once upon a time I was supposed to teach this bag but it never happened.  I like to be prepared and I'm a visual person so I had the pattern in various stages of construction.  Knowing that I didn't really want to finish 3 bags I decided to finish the one most complete and give the other two to a friend.

This bag is now singing solo and no longer a Pip! It's been a very productive month.  How are your PiPs coming along?

~Piecefully, Stephanie

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A Velveteen Bean

Lovely Anna Maria Horner velveteen waiting in my stash.  I finally had an idea--I wanted to make a String Bean block from my newest quilt pattern using the velveteen.  Before working with this luscious velveteen I hopped on over to Anna Maria's  blog for some tips.  What I've learned:

*It washes beautifully -- there is some shrinkage and fraying

*Anna Maria mentions "snow" -- yes, indeed little bitty balls of stuff everywhere.  I recommend you wash it alone and not with clothes, especially dark ones

*A 90/14 needle works well when sewing through the double layers

*Cotton thread is what I sew with all of the time and it worked well with the velveteen

*The velveteen "walks" a wee bit when you sew on it--pin well

*There is some fraying after it's cut so be a bit careful when handling it

*Pressing with steam works fine
 

*Not sure I'd do lots of small cutting and sewing like when making quilt blocks -- bigger is better

*It's luxurious and lovely and I'd love an entire quilt made from it -- since it's a heavier weight fabric there would be no need for batting

*I totally want a velveteen bag

Now what to do with the lone Velveteen String Bean...

~Piecefully, Stephanie

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Sing for Your Supper

Confused by the post title?  Stay with me.  Candace and I read the foodie blog Octoberfarm.  Recently she made Sauerkraut Soup from the Octoberfarm blog.  If you like to cook or just like to look at food, I highly recommend visiting Octoberfarm.

Forgot to show the Worcestershire sauce in the previous photo so it got a close-up.  Any who...Candace was the guinea pig on this recipe and since she declared it delicious I decided to make a pot.

This is Sage, Rosemary and Thyme by Simon and Garfunkel.  Hum where parsley is supposed to be.  Are you starting to sing along now?

The Rolling Stones are singing this odd soup ingredient -- Brown Sugar.  I feel a dance move about to happen!

There should be a song about bacon  -- bacon and sauteeing onions -- this is how Julie Andrews starts her soup from the very beginning...a very good place to start.

Be sure you don't substitute mint dental floss for kitchen twine if you tie your herbs together.

Just add a dollop of sour cream and a cheesy biscuit or two because Three Dog Night says one is the loneliest number that you'll ever do, two can be as bad as one (just ask my hips).  This is Soupercalifragilistic!  

Some days you just need to sing, dance, and make soup.

 s

~Piecefully, Stephanie

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