The Electronics Bag

I feels like I have more electronics than clothing

when I travel these days.  I was looking for a travel 

bag that would hold all of my electronic equipment.

I had no luck.  So, I did what any creative person

would do, I made one myself.

There are side pockets for my laptop, kindle,

pocket camera, ipod and mini recorder.  On

the bottom is storage for all the cords and chargers.

On the left in the spot with the plastic bag is where

I put my Nikon and there is still room to slip in

my travel purse.  Perfect!

On this trip I have packed for 18 days in Europe

in one carry-on bag.  This is not due to baggage

fees.  On International flights you are generally

allowed at least one checked bag.  My problem 

was I didn't want to have to lug a large bag on all

the trains, ferries and trams we will be traveling

on for the first week and a half of our trip.  Mr.

Wonderful is checking a large bag but we have

planned it so he can fit his carry on inside that for

the first part of the trip.  The large bag is really

for bringing home the treasures I hope we will 

find.  And if I find LOTS of treasures, I'll buy 

another large piece of luggage for the trip home.

The journey begins this afternoon.  Stay tuned...

Honoring Women's Rights ~ Week 35

Granny's Choice

 

We are quilting along with Barbara Brackman's

Block of the Week, Grandmother's Choice.

http://grandmotherschoice.blogspot.com

This is how I made my block.  It may differ

a bit from the original.

Fabric Requirements:

Fabric A: Light Floral

1 - 7  3/16'' square - cut on

diagonal twice.

Fabric B: Stripe

4 - 1  15/16'' x 5 1/4'' rectangles

Fabric C: Red

2 - 1  15/16'' squares

Fabric D: Blue

2 - 1  15/16'' squares

Layout the squares and rectangles as

shown and sew together.  Press seams

to the rectangles.

Layout the above units and triangles as

shown and sew together.  Press seams

to the triangles.  Make 2 of each.

Layout units as shown and sew together. 

 Press seams to the Fabric C squares.

Sew units together as shown.

Trim block to 8 12/''.

Check out everyone's work on Dustin's Flickr site:

http:www.flickr.com/groups/grandmotherschoice/

American Homestead is

now on Facebook.  Please

"like" my page!

http:www.facebook.com/americanhomesteaddesign/

Coffee, Tea or Me?

 

On Sunday mornings I usually post a quilt

tutorial as I follow along with Barbara Brackman's

Block of the Week, Grandmother's Choice.

 

I'm a bit late to the party, but I finally have the

"crud"  that everyone else has been suffering

with throughout this long winter.  Chills, fever,

body aches, etc.  All I can think about is I am

leaving for the big European vacation in 9 days

and I HAVE to get better...  So, this is as close to

a coffee cup (this week's quilt block) as I will get

today. 

 

Oh well, I have never had a cup of coffee anyway...

 

~ Ellen

 

 

A Fun Discovery!

 

Today my sister & I were looking through

old photos.  I showed her this one and said

I always wondered what building was in the

distance.  She said, "Isn't that Rome?"  I asked,

"Could it be the Vatican?"  So, we googled Domes

of the Vatican and yes, it is the dome of St. Peter's.

What fun!

Oh, by the way, my Dad is in the back of this group

sitting on the ledge.

Me Time ~ April 16, 2013

 

After spending a few hours running around

town doing errands, I finally made it to Me Time.

I was pleasantly surprised to find Jen there, she

has had a very difficult year but things are now

looking bright and it was great to spend some time

with her again.

 

 

All I did at Me Time today was talk and

restock my patterns in the shop.  Luckily

others have been busy at work and I can

show you their lovely pieces.

Of all days to forget my camera!  I grabbed

my little point & shoot that I keep in my

purse and that lost power as soon as I turned

it on, so these photos were taken with my ipod.

Sadly, the photo does not do this justice,

it is beautiful.

 

 

Here is a little poll we were conducting in the

shop today ~ do you like this piece with the wider

sashing or the thinner sashing?

I first saw this with the wider sashing and thought

it was so cute, then I saw the example with the

thinner sashing and was asked which I like better?

I really had to think about that, they are both very

nice, but in the end I think I prefer the thinner sashing

just because I feel you can see the black and red

fabric better.  What do you think?

 

 

 

 

Happy Birthday Mum!

 

Today is my Mum's 90th Birthday!

 

Always easy to remember since it is tax

day in the United States. 

 

 

She enjoyed a salmon dinner and then

we had cake & ice cream.  She received

cards and flowers and notes from friends

and family.  A nice day!

 

Honoring Women's Rights ~ Week 33

Contrary Husband

We are quilting along with Barbara Brackman's

Block of the Week, Grandmother's Choice.

http://grandmotherschoice.blogspot.com

This is how I made my block, it differs from 

the original.  Many of you may know I have 

an aversion to Y-seams, so this gives you the 

same look without them.  You will not be able 

to easily fussy cut on the light outer pieces with

this method but you have a great large center

square which would be perfect for fussy cutting.

It is best to use blendable fabrics for the Fabric A

and Fabric B.

Fabric Requirements:

Fabric A: Light Print

4 - 2 1/2'' squares

4 - 3 1/4'' squares - Mark 

a diagonal line on back.

Fabric B: Red

4 - 3 1/4'' squares

Fabric C: Green 

1 - 4 1/2'' square

Make Half Square Triangles:

Pair Fabric A and Fabric B 3 1/4'' squares

with right sides together.  Sew 1/4'' away from

each side of drawn line.  Cut on drawn line and

press seams to the darker fabric. 

 Square to 2 1/2''.

Assemble Center Side Units:

Layout units as shown and sew together.

Press these seams open to reduce bulk.

Layout units as shown and sew together

in 3 rows.  Press seams in row s 1 & 3 to 

the right and seams in row 2 to the left.

Sew rows together and square to 8 1/2''.

Checkout everyone's work on Dustin's Flickr site:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/grandmotherschoice/

American Homestead can now

be found on Facebook.  Please

"like" my page!

https://www.facebook.com/americanhomesteaddesign?ref=hl

 

See you next Sunday!

~Ellen

 

 

 



Dixie Diary ~ April

Asylum

We are quilting along with Barbara Brackman's

Block of the Month, Dixie Diary.

The Fabric ID and Fabric Requirements only 

show what is needed to make the block.  I notice

many people are not adding borders or applique

yet, so I have left them out of the instructions but

I have included them on my finished block.

Fabric Requirements:

 

Fabric A: Blue

2 - 4 1/2'' x 12 1/2'' rectangles

 

Fabric B: Beige

2 - 4 1/2'' squares

 

Fabric C: White Print

1 - 4 1/2'' square

 

Layout units as shown and sew together.

 

Sew a large rectangle to each side of

center unit as shown.  Press seams to

the outside.  Square to 12 1/2''.

I added the heart applique to mine.

 

I also added the small border to my finished block.

 

Check out everyone's work on Dustin's Flickr site:

 

http://www.flickr.com/groups/civilwarquilts2011

 

 

American Homestead can now

be found on Facebook.

Please "like" my page.

 

https://www.facebook.com/americanhomesteaddesign?ref=hl



Founders Scholars

 

This weekend we traveled down to Indiana

University in Bloomington.  I think IU has

such a beautiful campus.

 

 

We were attending the Honors Convocation.

This is a ceremony where many awards are

given to the top students.  Including the

Founders Scholar award which goes to students

with a 3.8 GPA (on a 4.0 scale).  There were

3,600 students honored.

 

 

I love smarties.

I don't just mean people who attend universities

though.  I love people who have a quest for knowledge

and want to learn about the world. 

 

 

My guys, in front of the Lilly Library.

Oh, and congrats to our guy from

Bloomington, he had a 4.0!

 

 

 

Oh Joyous Spring!

I was in Bloomington, Indiana yesterday in the 

more southern part of the state and was thrilled

to see all the daffodils in bloom.  I guess my daffs

loved the warm weather of the weekend because

this is what I woke up to today!  Finally ~ color~

it has been such a cold, grey winter.  By this 

evening, many of these blooms will be beside my

 bed so I can wake up and see them first thing in

the morning.

Even though it was windy and overcast today,

I was loving the warm weather so I headed out

to do some pruning.  As often happens, that lead

to other chores...

In the perennial beds I have been having

trouble with invasive grasses.  I weed a few

times a season to make the beds presentable

but that is not solving the problem.

So today I started tackling this problem.

I dig out the soil in large clumps and then

screen it, trying to get all the grasses with

their roots.

Sadly, I will lose my grape hyacinth bulbs

that have been in these beds for probably

15 years...  There are also other bulbs of

something in the onion family and they have

to go!  I do plan to replace the grape hyacinths

next fall because I love their scent!

Now back to work!

Honoring Women's Rights ~ Week 32

Mr. Roosevelt's Necktie

We are quilting along with Barbara Brackman's

Block of the Week, Grandmother's Choice.

 

http://grandmotherschoice.blogspot.com/

This is how I made my block, it may

differ a bit from the original.

Fabric Requirements:

Fabric A: Blue

2 - 3 1/4'' squares - mark 

a diagonal line on the back.

Fabric B: Red

4 - 2 1/2'' squares

1 - 3 1/4'' square

Fabric C: White

8 - 2 1/2'' squares

1 - 3 1/4'' square

Make Half Square Triangles:

Pair the 3 1/4'' squares with right sides

together in the following combinations:

1 - A/B     1 - A/C

Sew 1/4'' away from each side of the 

drawn line, cut on drawn line.  Press

the A/C to the Fabric A and press the

A/B to the Fabric B.  Square to 2 1/2''.

Make Quarter Unit #1:

Layout units as shown and sew together in

2 rows.  Press seam in row 1 to the left and

seam in row 2 to the right.  Sew rows together.

Press seam to the top.  Square to 4 1/2''.

Make 2.

Make Quarter Unit #2:

Layout units as shown and sew together in

2 rows.  Press seam in row 1 to the left and 

seam in row 2 to the right.  Sew rows together.

Press seam to the bottom.  Square to 4 1/2''.

Make 2.

Assemble Block:

Layout quarter units in 2 rows as shown,

 just remember to keep the Fabric A triangle 

in the center ( in this case, it is the blue).  

Press seam in row 1 to the left and seam in 

row 2 to the right.

Sew rows together and press final seam

open to reduce bulk.  Square to 8 1/2''.

Check out everyone's work on Dustin's Flickr site:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/grandmotherschoice/

American Homestead is now

on Facebook.  Please "like"

my page.

 

https://www.facebook.com/americanhomesteaddesign?ref=hl

See you next Sunday!

~ Ellen