This week's project

Finally, a Marmalade layer cake showed up at a local fabric store.  I had been waiting for months!  Earlier this year I began a quilt for granddaughter Ruby using a Ruby layer cake from Bonnie & Camille.  When I learned that Marmalade was in the works also by Bonnie & Camille, I decided to do another for Ruby's sister Sadie using Marmalade.  They share a room so it could be the same but different with both quilts fitting into their bedroom's current color scheme.

I must admit that about the time I learned of Marmalade, I also saw a picture of a flower quilt made from that line and designed by Camille.  It inspired me as a great way to use the layer cake with all the fabric line included.

I set down with graph paper and my colored pencils and came up with my own version for Ruby's quilt and now for Sadie's using a layer cake and additional fabric left over from Ruby's for corner triangles, corner squares, and sashing but in reverse, aqua dots for sashing and white with red dots for corner blocks.  Each block takes:

1 center 5 1/2 inch square
8 "flower petal" 3 inch squares
4 "leaf" 3 inch squares
8 "center fabric" 1 1/2 squares for half triangles
16 "sashing colored" 1 1/2 squares for half triangles between leaves and petals

I divided up my layer cake into three piles before starting to cut.  Pile one - good prints for centers, Pile 2 - good prints for contrasting petals, Pile 3 - good prints for leaves (used mostly greens and aquas.)  You can easily get the 5 1/2 inch square and 8 small squares from your 10 inch layer slice with fabric to spare.  One layer slice cut in 3 inch squares provides 8 petals with one left over. I also cut 9 of the 3 inch leaves from a layer slice which made enough for two blocks with one square left over.  The layer cake makes 15 blocks of  10 1/2 inches. The finished top will be 3 x 5 blocks sashed and with an stop border and outer border (additional fabric needed.)

Yesterday I went to use my 20% of coupon for backing fabric.  There was a pattern for the flower quilt sitting next to the fabric line.  I opened it up to see the dimensions.  Much larger blocks then my version and not easily cut from a layer cake.  Even with mine, I dipped into leftover bits of Ruby to make Marmalade work with two more sets of petal blocks.  I didn't use five slices of the layer cake.  They were super large flower prints and I thought they might be too much a focal point.

The sweet helper at the quilt store always asks what I am working on.  I told her about Ruby and wanting her to have a piece of every fabric in the Ruby line, thus the adventure with the layer cake.  She thought that Sadie and Marmalade went well together, too, and then asked if Sadie liked jam.  I admitted that she loves sweets so I guess it was meant to be!

A little rehab

A part of renting to students is the decision of what to do with what is left behind.  Most often it is sent on to the DI, but occasionally there is a keeper.  I must admit that I checked out bloggers who paint furniture and then post before and after pictures as well as painting tips before tackling this rehab project.  And now I give you my before. . .

. . . and after.  I knew it was a keeper because of the good construction, dove tail joints, dust covers for each drawer, and good proportions.  I was out about $50 for really good paint, sanding block, brush, and new door pulls.  I think it was worth it and the dresser looks great in the "brown" bedroom in Provo.

I did a major clean out of the townhouse this summer.  Items first went to the Ranes family garage sale and then those leftovers went to DI.  I now have two refurbished guest rooms available for visitors.

A traveling two weeks

I've been away from home the last two weeks which meant no sewing machine. I can't be without a project so I hand appliqued the handles for my flower basket blocks while away.

And I also prepared Julianna's bishop style smocked birthday dress with its coordinating jacket so I could do the smocking and embroidery work while away. I finished all the needlework except for three embroidered roses on the jacket front before returning home. Now on to the sewing machine! I can't wait to show you the finished project. It's colorful, just like Julianna's personality.

I realized on the way to Utah that I would be able to hear Senator Joe Lieberman speak at a Forum at BYU the next day. I was up early to hit the BYU Bookstore for a copy of his new book before heading to the Hinckley Center for the book signing then the Marriott Center for his presentation.

(And yes, there were secret service agents with ear pieces accompanying the Senator.)

His new book is titled "The Gift of Rest." While explaining the tradition of the Jews weekly Shabbat, he also challenges everyone to honor the Sabbath as a day of rest and renewal and a way to a better quality of life and strengthening of moral values. I very much enjoyed reading "The Gift of Rest" and found much to ponder and to think about in relation to the way I keep the Sabbath Day.

You can read a review of Senator Lieberman's book in The Washington Times here.

Because I was early, I made my way down to the floor of the Marriott Center.

Senator Lieberman's remarks had much to do with politics and religion and the current presidential election. He will be retiring after 20 + years in the Senate. That is the current president of BYU in the corner of the picture. President Cecil Samuelson and the Senator must have some kind of personal relationship as President Samuelson's review is one of those included in the front of the new book. Elders Quentin R. Cook and L. Tom Perry were also in attendance.

For the text of Senator Lieberman's remarks entitled "Faith in the Public Square" go here.

Provo was in the midst of autumn splendor and as I walked back to the townhouse from campus, I snapped away. I'll share those pictures tomorrow.

This week's fabrics

I've been using these fabrics to make table toppers for a special yearly event to be held on Saturday.

The women who are members of my church from around the world will gather in their respective church buildings to listen by satellite to messages prepared just for them by church leaders. After they are spiritually fed, we will feed our local sisters (about 325) a simple bread and butter dinner partly in honor of the emphasis currently being placed on the History of Relief Society, thus the picture on the invitation of Emma Smith who was the first Relief Society president in 1842.

A book detailing the history of Relief Society was announced at the annual Relief Society Broadcast a year ago and was recently made available to all members. I am honored to be a part of this women's organization to which my great-great grandmothers, great-grandmothers, grandmothers, and mother all participated. I feel it has enriched the lives of generations.

The UPS man just dropped off this box and I am so excited. Once this busy week is over I can start my "Aunt Grace's Garden Party" quilt. It is a block of the month quilt (really row of the month so it looks like a garden) which I will receive a month at a time through next February. All those primary colors are making me feel a bit giddy!

Little kitchen remodel, or if you give a mouse a cookie

Birthday Bear arrived at my door the night before my birthday bearing goodies from Mrs. Fields via Glen Jay who had something very nice printed on the card.

(It's on my bulletin board if you want to check it out on your next visit.)

My birthday came this year right in the middle of a kitchen in disarray for two weeks so that it might shed some of it's old age. My friend told me that any remodel is a bit like the book, "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie." She was right! Mouse joined Birthday Bear for a cookie so . . .

If you find the perfect sink at Ikea, that means that you will have to reconfigure the cabinet so the sink will fit. It will also need two sheets of underlayment to make it work out.

But that's okay because the counter was a bit low for all the tall people when you put in the wood floor 8 years ago.

If you add two layers of underlayment, then you will have to stain some molding to cover the gap where the bull nose edge on the new counter top will not cover.

It will take a careful mixing of two different stain colors to get just the right match and you will need to borrow a miter saw and your daughter's husband to install the molding.

If you find the perfect Silestone counter top, also at Ikea, price check because it might be $11 less per square foot at Home Depot. They will special order a sample so that you can make sure it is indeed the one that will make you very happy. BUT when you walk down the tile row at Home Depot you just might see the perfect glass tile trim to match your sample which will look fabulous with the amazing sink.

Of course, you can not paint over old wallpaper, so that will require an afternoon of peeling and spraying diluted vinegar water until the old wallpaper is all gone.

You must then go shopping for the perfect paint to go with the wonderful glass tile which you will finally find at Lowe's. Of course, it takes two coats, a base and a glaze to get the wanted effect.

You will also realize that the old switches and switch plates will just not do with new counter tops.

If you are getting new switch plates, they should be brushed nickel so that they look fabulous with the new kitchen faucet which also looks fabulous with the amazing sink that you found at Ikea.

A little and a big teaser . . .

Here is a glimpse of what I have been working on. Any guesses as to what is going on? I'm not sure I want any one's opinion because the order has already been placed :)

Here is my big teaser. He left this picture of himself on my camera.

Silly boy!!!

This is not an April's Fool!

I really finally did it! The laundry room has been cleaned, painted, and revamped. The thing that I have been threatening to do for years has finally come to pass. It was the only room (besides the insides of closets) to have the original over 20 years old Navajo white paint. There are not any befores just afters. Befores would have simply been too embarrassing!

When I went to Target to get an organizer for the brooms and mops, I happened across the red boxes with black chalkboard paint. I could not pass them up. A perfect match for the cupboard door insets I had painted.
I still have the old white shelf from Janae's bedroom that I want to put over the washer and dryer. Dave, could you help me find the studs as that would definitely be the best way to mount it. Thanks to Ryan for putting the dryer back in place. I guarantee that neither Dad or I could have climbed out from behind up and over the washer. Remember how the plumber left a mess when he replaced the plumbing behind the washer. My solution to cover up the gap was a broken picture frame which I sticky tacked around the inset box.
Notice that there is still a hole in the wall. The original owners had planned to put an ironing board cabinet in. We couldn't find one to fit, so attached a fold down ironing board to the wall over the hole. I took it down and I'm taking it to DI. Can anyone out there help me out with a solution? Maybe some little shelves with molding. I'm open to all ideas. Please plan to see my new laundry room in person soon!

Latest project - Relief Society Aprons

I am in the process of making four of these aprons for stake enrichment meeting on Saturday. Some thoughts on my new calling. Planning is so different. It is more like planning for a wedding reception or other big event. Make 1200 invitations, plan and buy food for 300, centerpieces for 30 tables, etc., you get the idea. The women I work with are amazing and I am learning so much. It is good to be "anxiously engaged."