Macaroni Salad

I had a craving for macaroni salad. It's not something I usually make, so I don't have a recipe. I made it up as I went, and oh my, it was good.

Before I forget how I made it, here is the recipe:

3 cups cooked macaroni, well drained

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1 T apple cider vinegar

1 T dijon mustard

1/4 red onion, finely chopped (it's not much onion, but it gets more pronounced as it sits in the refrigerator.

2 dill pickles, finely chopped

2 T dried parsley flakes

1-1/2 tsp. black pepper (I like black pepper, if you don't, you can use less)

1-1/2 tsp. paprika

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

2 packets splenda

Mix everything except the the macaroni in a bowl. Mix well to blend the ingredients. Pour the dressing over the drained macaroni and mix gently. 

New Project

I got so bored with the curvy log cabin blocks last weekend, I broke down and started a new project. I had a Villa Rosa pattern and a couple of charm packs, so it was an easy choice.

I managed to find 1+ yards of a neutral fabric so I was good to go. The first row is done, and everything else is cut. 

The background is maybe not what I would have chosen had I been willing to but something, but I had it on hand. This pattern doesn't make a very big top, around 40 x 50, I think, so I will need to think about a border. I believe I have something here that I can use so that's another bonus.

Weekend Update

No volleyball this past weekend, but I did get to see a football game.

Nothing like watching a bunch of seven year-old kids play football. I was wondering how they could possibly learn all the rules involved in football at that age, but after a few minutes of watching, I realized they really don't know the rules.....they just play. Pretty entertaining to watch. My grandson is the center....

Just too cute! At the end of the game, he didn't even know who won or what the score was. Neither did any of us. 

I worked a little on the curvy log cabin. I got enough blocks done to start sewing some together.

It seems like I've been working on this one forever, but really, it is just some random weekends, so not many total hours. I still need to finish about 20 blocks, and then I can get it assembled.

Free Pattern - Falling Rain

 Wow! I love the simplicity of this:

The free pattern is called Falling Rain. I love the soft colors with the pops of bright turquoise and lime green. This is one I will definitely want to make.

UFO's

I found a UFO I think I sort of forgot about, and I laid it out on the bed to see what it needed. 

The blocks are from a swap I did during the quarantine last year, and I got as far as putting them together. I really got stalled on the border though. I found some red fabric I had folded up with it, and I don't know if it shows in the picture or not, but the two reds don't quite match. 

They are really close, but in good light, even the textures look a little different. I have just enough of the one that matches the sashing to do a narrow border.

There's just over 20", so I could get enough 2.5" strips to do something, but then I would have to figure out binding. I am inclined right now to just get it put on and quilted, and then see if I can find maybe a red and white stripe for the binding. I probably have some. Suggestions are welcome!

Decisions, Decisions

 I'm still figuring out what I want to work on next. I have plenty of UFO's, but nothing is inspiring me right now. I recently bought a couple of jelly rolls, and I got those out and started thinking about something new.

I was thinking of combining them with the honey bun strips and doing one of the circular-type log cabins. Then I remembered I already have in Victoria I started. It is a kit I bought last time I went to Quilt Festival.

So I don't know what I want to do. It's an indecisive day. I was planning to get rid of all the old cookware I have and buy myself something nice. I have a gift card for Macy's, and I have been waiting on a sale. Well, the sale is on now, and I can't decide what brand I want. I am overwhelmed with all the choices. If you have cookware you love, please leave a comment and tell me what you have and why you like it. 

Now What?

I got the motor brushes I ordered for the featherweight.

I was so excited to get them changed out. I got the machine out and found a screw driver, but when I removed the top screw and pulled the spring out, the little piece of carbon stayed in the hole. What? Why me?

I can see the little carbon piece inside the hole, but I can't get it out. 

This is above my pay grade. I have it boxed up and ready to go to Victoria. If Bill doesn't want to do it, I will have to take it in for repair. The only problem with that is the backlog of several months at the repair shop. 

It's not doing me any good like this so I might as well see what it will take to fix it.

Nothing New

I haven't done much that is interesting enough to post here. I am in the slump that happens when you finish one project and don't know what to work on next. I also lost some sewing time due to The Voice being on Mondays and Tuesdays. Soon it will go to Monday only, and I can spend some time in the sewing room. I used to have a tv in there, but Bill took it to Victoria to put in his shop. His reasoning: "You don't watch that much tv anyway." Okay. 

When I watch tv, I generally crochet. I am totally unable to sit still and not be doing Something. I now have a pile of dishcloths.

These are some of the new ones I've made. The cool weather has gone away and we are back to warmer temperatures. Here is Rosie lying outside in the sun.

Her ears are back; I think she heard me standing inside the door, or maybe smelled me. 

 

Panel Plaid

 Here it is: 

I like it--it's bright and happy. It might need a border, but I haven't decided yet. With all the seams, it is a little heavy, and I don't want to weigh it down too much. When I was sewing it, I noticed the machine was making a clacking noise. Not one of the machines I've been working on (repairing). This one: 

As much as I love vintages machines, if I could only keep one machine, this would be the one. It can pretty much do it all. It is the most expensive sewing machine I own. At one time, I couldn't afford a top-of-the-line machine, and that is when I learned to work on the old machines. I am grateful I learned how to work on them, but I am also grateful to have this one. Anyway, this is what I found in the bobbin case. 

I generally clean out the bobbin case every other bobbin, but all those pieced and re-pieced seams caused a lot of lint build up. I cleaned it all out and put a drop of oil on that wick in the center of the circle. Also put in a new needle and re-threaded everything. It is quiet again.

Weekend Update

It was a totally low-key weekend, and I have no complaints about that. I did end up working all day Friday, but I tried a new recipe: Chicken meatballs with spaghetti.

It was good, but next time, I will cut way back on the garlic. Recipe here. We had it with a green salad, garlic bread, and Pinot Grigio. 

Saturday we went to Brazoria to eat lunch, and we also visited the quilt shop and a couple of antique stores. I picked up a couple of fat quarters and a couple of 1/3 yard cuts to add to a layer cake I want to use for something. I was planning to use it for the crazy patch class I didn't get to take, but I want to be prepared in case I get to take it next month. I also went to Goodwill and picked up a couple of shell-shaped baskets for $1.99 and some gift boxes for 99 cents.   

Not too sure what I will use the baskets for; I was thinking I could put fruit in the bigger one, but I don't know about the little one. I'll have to think about it. 

The weather was quite a bit cooler, and the dogs were wild! Too wild. They spent part of the weekend crated because they were so crazy. I didn't do a lot of sewing, but I did finish the panel plaid quilt. I will post some pictures tomorrow.

No Class

 

I got my Singer 404 sewing like a champ. I never did find the motor brushes for the featherweight, although I have ordered some from the Quilters Connection. They should be here soon, and then I will have a little more work to do.

Unfortunately, the crazy quilt class had filled up quickly, and I couldn't get a spot. I am on the waiting list for November, but that is a busy month so I will have to see. 

I did use the 404 to sew one of the bags I cut out.

No need to guess which one I started on first. LOL. I just love this fabric, and I am happy with the way the bag turned out. I am continuing to tweak the pattern, so each version makes me a little happier.

Love the bright colors with the black contrast.

Bag Plans

I am ready to make a couple more bags. I went through my stash and pulled a couple of large prints that have been hanging around too long and that I think will work for the bags.

Those peacocks are just too pretty to cut. I had plans for an apron, but it didn't happen as there's less than a yard of it. The green dot will work for the bottom, and that's another one that's been here too long. I will need to get a little more of the fusible foam, but I can get it at Walmart so I don't have to order it.
 

Crazy Quilt Class

 I saw this on Facebook. 

There is a crazy patch quilt class on Friday at the local quilt shop. Oh my, I want to take this class. I haven't taken a quilt class in several years. I know Millie, the owner, likes the Lori Holt papers for the crazy patches, and that is what is listed on the supply list. It will be on Friday, and I don't have to work that day. 

I am going to try and do it, but I don't want to take my big machine. It is not exactly portable. I have a couple of old Singers here, but they are in various states of repair. I know the Featherweight needs motor brushes. I will have figure out what I did with the brushes I ordered. If I can't find them, I'll have to see what I need to do to the 404. It's a little heavier, so it is not my preference, but it does sew a beautiful stitch.

Looks like I have some work to do tonight.

Bohemia

I made some good progress on Bohemia once I got all the strips cut. I think the cutting took as long as the sewing. I cut one day, and the next evening I started sewing. About a third done at this point.

By the next evening I was done. 

The sun washed it out a little, but in person it looks nicer. I like the green, but I still wish I would have maybe tried a pink or a lavender. Next time I will try it and see what happens.

Weekend Update

 Not much progress on anything. The grandkids had football and volleyball games Saturday, so that pretty much excluded everything else. I came home at 3pm and took a nap!

I didn't actually take any pictures; this one is from a couple of weeks ago. 

I made some more sashing for the panel plaid quilt.

It's boring, so I made enough to finish (I hope) while I had the motivation to get it done. 

I was able to go by the quilt shop before the volleyball game, and I bought this panel.

Not sure what I will do with it, but I am a sucker for anything with a sewing machine on it. There is a facebook group for panel quilts; maybe I will post the picture on there and ask for suggestions. At a minimum, I can go through the pictures and see what others have done with similar panels.

New Bag

 This one has been gifted so I am posting the pics now.

The outside is batik, and I lined it with a solid cotton. I used the fusible foam as an interfacing, so it has pretty good stability. I like for the bags to be able to stand and stay open on their own. I'm not satisfied with the way the lining fits.

I didn't interface the lining since the outer fabric already had the stability of the foam, but I will need to re-think that for the next one. This one just looks limp and wrinkly. I will try it with a lightweight interfacing on the lining the next time I make it. I have been making bags for a long time, and it is always a matter of tweaking the patterns until I get it like I want it. It is always a learning process.

Good to Know

I find so much good information on Youtube. And, I see so many questions being asked in various quilting groups about sewing machines. I think a lot of people jump into sewing and/or quilting without really learning about their machine, and then they are frustrated when it doesn't perform the way it should. 

Many machines have two different options for spool pins.

Do you know which one to use for the thread you are using? Here's a great video. Just click the link. Great info here.

Panel Plaid Progress

 I am plodding along on this one. I was prepared not to like it, but a pieced black and white sashing makes everything better. I've got two rows assembled so far.

In places, it looks like the intersections don't match, but they do. It is where the white sashing meets a patch of white in the print. Oh well.... no fix for that.

I had to stop putting blocks together and make some more sashing. It's not made yet; just cut out. 

It takes a minute for me to see any progress. For one thing, my work schedule is demanding, and sometimes I don't have spare time to sew. Another thing, I am a crazy multi-tasker. I seldom sew on one thing at a time. I usually sew on three or four quilts simultaneously. The good thing is that one I do get near the finish line, I have more than one done. The challenge is to keep plodding along and resist the temptation to start more projects. I'm not always good at that.

Something to Try

 I saw this pattern on Quilting Daily. 

I made a quilt like this many years ago.....I am not sure what happened to it. I really don't remember finishing it, so it either got donated as a UFO or it's still in a bag somewhere and will turn up one of these days. The pattern is for sale (less than $5), but after looking at the video, I don't think I would need a pattern. I'm pretty sure I didn't have a pattern when I first made this, probably just a picture. 

This is jelly roll friendly which is a bonus. I know I have a Kaffe jelly roll that would look nice with a light gray background. Something to think about.

Bohemia

 I bought this Villa Rosa pattern at one of the quilt shows, but I haven't been able to find an ombre fabric which is what it requires.

I ended up doing an online fabric order, which is always a little risky when it comes to knowing what colors you are getting. I found a succulent fabric I really liked for the focus fabric, and I dithered over colors to coordinate with it. I ended up with the green, which was probably the safe choice.

I would have liked to try a pink or a lavender, but I wasn't confident about how well I could choose a good match. So, green it is. Here's a picture of it out of the bag.

I really like the succulent print, and I am excited to start this one. It is made of just strips of varying lengths, so it won't be hard.