Scored!

I didn't make this quilt (like I even could) but it was so cute I had to post it. I bought it as a charity auction last night! EVERYTHING is hand sewn!

It has a few stains but if you were that old you'd have stains too!

So sweet and it will look great folded up on a shelf, until it finds a better place to shine. Diana

Bee Happy Cookies

Could these little cookies be any cuter? And the bees are so tiny (that's a luncheon plate in the picture) at less than 2 inches wing to wing. Everything has been outlined in black and then flooded with really thin glace. It is hard to see but all the stripes (on the hive and on the bee) were done in wet on wet. I hadn't really tried that before (successfully anyway) and really like how the stripes melt into the other icing with no dimension.

We lost all but two of our hives this last winter so these may be the only bees we will see until the new shipment comes in. Diana

Mod Flower Garment Bag

I finally replaced my old garment bag! The old one was made of vinyl (which I had tried to iron....come on, it had a lot of wrinkles! Now it just has some funky melted spots). Ugly. I had been wanting to make a new one but the cost of the quilted fabric kept giving me pause. Eventually the ugliness of the old vinyl one beat out the expensiveness of the new fabric. My next issue was the granny like choices of quilted fabric at Joanns. Sooooo icky. But the back side of a patchwork looking one had this simple floral pattern. It would have to do. And using lime green as my accent fabric helped a lot.

I put my first initial inside this cool flower. I think doing it in black is a fun.

This loop on the back allows me to fold up the bottom and hook it over the hanger. Easier to carry that way.

And there is a LARGE hidden pocket at the bottom for all the little things I need. I also made a shoe bag to match so I am all set for my next trip! NO more embarrassing vinyl! Diana

Cowboy Boot Speciment Art

Specimen art is so classy! Especially all those cool insects and other scholarly items! So what do I do? Cowboy boots! Yep.
Set against the background of route 66 fabric, this kitschy art piece is so much fun and very tongue in cheek. Just right for a little boy"s room or country cabin.

I used GG Embroidery Designs funny little boot. Done on felt they are too cute. The background is a sheet of scrapbook paper. The frame was left unstained but received a coat of gloss finish. This just cracks me up....I can't help it. Diana

Fresh Asparagus Quiche

I used today's asparagus harvest in a beautiful quiche. I have a favorite quiche recipe that I use all the time and it always turns out great. The fresh asparagus makes a nice addition.Heat oven to 400

Crust

1 1/4 cups of flour

1/4 tsp salt

1/3 cup chilled shortening

cold water

Mix flour and salt in bowl. Cut in shortening with pastry cutter until it forms crumbs about the size of peas. Add enough ice water, one tablespoon at a time, until pastry will hold it shape when pressed into a ball. Roll out on floured surface and place in pie pan. Set aside.

Filling

10 slices bacon, cut into small pieces

1/2 cup onion, chopped

about 15-20 stalks asparagus

1 1/2 cups grated Monterrey jack cheese

1 tablespoon flour

1/4 tsp salt

1/8 tsp pepper

3 eggs

1/2 cup cream

Fry bacon until crisp. Drain on paper towel. Saute onion in bacon grease until tender. Drain on paper towel. Discard grease. Cut 8 pieces of asparagus down to 4 inch sections. Chop remaining asparagus into one inch pieces. Cook all the asparagus in a small amount of water in a saucepan until barely tender. Drain. Mix bacon, onion, cheese, chopped asparagus, flour, salt and pepper in bowl and arrange in unbaked pie shell. Beat eggs and cream together and pour over the bacon mixture in the pie shell. Now arrange the 8 pieces of asparagus in a wheel spoke pattern on top of quiche. Bake at 400 for 30 to 35 minutes or until set. Let stand for about 10 to 15 minutes. This serves about 8 people. (Or 4 if they are big eaters!!!) Diana

Itouch Case

Guess what I got from my husband? An Itouch! I guess I have taken another step into the 21 century! That meant I HAD TO make a cute case for it! This is what I ended up with and I made a tutorial so you can make one too. I made my opening on the side, instead of the top, because it will be easier to access from my purse this way.

Cut two 5 1/2 by 7 1/2 inch rectangles (this will be very snug if you have a one of those protective cases on your Itouch so you might want to add 1/2 inch!) from each fabric you have chosen. Now cut a piece of felt the same size. Layer with the felt on the bottom, and the two pieces of fabric with right sides together on top. Cut a piece of 1/8 wide elastic about 2 inches long.

Pin the elastic between the two pieces of fabric, on one short side, in the shape of a loop.

Pin all the layers together.

Sew a scant 1/4 inch seam allowance all the way around the rectangle, leaving a two inch opening on the short end opposite the elastic. The fabric will want to creep so make sure you have pinned it well or use a walking foot.

Trim the corners and turn right side out.

Iron, making sure to get the corners nice and crisp. (cut the felt back a bit at the opening and turn the fabric there to match the finished edge)

Edge stitch the short end with the opening closed.

Fold the short edge without the elastic up (use your I touch as a guide) and pin. Edge stitch along both sides as shown above.

Attach a button or other embellishment for the elastic to loop over. I used GG Embroider Designs stackable flower. I frayed the edges and used felt as the backing so it would be substantial. Then, using a button. I hand stitched the two layer flower on. Now I have a pretty case for my new toy. So much better than the ones you buy at the store! Diana

Creamy Mac and Cheese

This is the best mac and cheese ever! So creamy and it doesn't curdle in the oven at all. Be careful not to increase the blue cheese (like I did) or it will be too strong! This is from the cookbook America's Favorite Recipes that I use all the time!

Mac and Cheese

1 TBS minced onion

4 TBS butter

¼ cup flour

2 cups milk

4 ounces American cheese

¼ cup blue cheese

¼ cup cheddar cheese

1 tsp salt

pinch of pepper

¼ tsp dry mustard

4 ounces cooked pasta (al dente!!!)

Preheat oven to 4oo. Saute onion in butter until translucent. Stir in flour and cook for 2 minutes. Slowly stir in milk. Stir in cheeses, salt, pepper and mustard. Continue to cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened.

Stir in cooked pasta. It will look real soupy but don’t worry; the moisture will cook out in the oven. Lightly butter a casserole dish and pour pasta mixture into the dish. Bake uncovered for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and let sit for 5-10 minutes so it will thicken up. Hope you like this! Diana