Tuesday, March 20, 2012

The reason I missed my 6:00 a.m. exercise

I shot this photo on the morning this calf was born.  I think it has been raining non-stop since then.  Where is Noah and his ark?
I hope you are all having a good day.  My husband John and I had the pleasure of walking around in the pouring rain and mud last night at midnight to bring up a cow so that we could pull her calf.  My boot got stuck and I fell down in total muck and poo and all I could do was laugh because John was saying "No, not that way...go the other way."    I could barely walk in that stuff and hold on to my cell phone at the same time so that he could give me directions.  It was pretty comical.  I now know why cow men get married.  They need a full time assistant for calving season!   It was the latest I have taken a bath in a long time.   I also spent four hours on Friday afternoon watching a cow in labor.  We had to pull that calf too.  We usually only have to pull 2 or 3.  I hope this means we are done pulling calves for this season.

Also last night....
I look forward with anticipation for "Dancing with the Stars".    http://www.mlive.com/tv/index.ssf/2012/03/dancing_with_the_stars_2012_pr.html   The season premier was so good last night!  There will be so many fun ones to watch.  I love Monday night TV.... "Dancing with the Stars" and "Castle". 

Friday, March 16, 2012

Girls Weekend Fun and Give-a-way

The winner for last week's St. Patrick's Day kit give-a-way is Joann.  
Thanks for sharing all your favorite green things!


We had so much fun this last weekend at my house!  We probably kept you all up laughing and playing cards.  Saturday night we played Hand and Foot (a card game) until 3:30 a.m..  We did NOT want to stop but we had to start thinking sensible at some point in the weekend. We definitely didn't eat anything sensible on our diets.  The diet plan flew out the window as soon as they stepped foot in my house!  My family is the best!  I know you are all saying ...no mine is the best...but we can all have our own opinions!   We even caught ourselves arguing over who was going to clean up the dishes.  Now that is a good family!


My sister, mom and I each bought one of these buttons. We then put them on and when my husband came home we stood in a line.  We introduced ourselves with " Hi my name is ...... and I'm a loud talker."  He cracked up because this side of the family are very loud talkers.  It is embarrassing.  We are working on this affliction that causes non-family members to hold phone receivers at arms length and find our voices easily in any store.


Friday morning we got facials and bought lots of new make-up because my niece Katie is selling Mary Kay now.  Apparently we made her month...I mean quarter.  We love Katie and we love our new make-up.  A side note: The concealer is the best I have ever tried and I love, love the eye primer so that my eye shadow will stay on all day.  We then sat our behinds down at my dining room table and played Liverpool Rummy and Skip-Bo the rest of the day. (both card games.)  Did I mention we are a game playing family?  Below, my future daughter-in-law Megan (in the black t-shirt) is probably wondering what kind of family she is getting herself into!


Saturday we went into Kansas City to my distant cousin Jane's new store.  Her store is called "Junque Drawer Studio." http://junquedrawerstudio.com   It is FABULOUS and you could see new and different stuff every time you walked around it. My sister-in-law Devra kept pointing to everything and saying ...come see this...come see this!  We just followed each other around laughing at all the sayings on signs, magnets, notepad.... We quickly found all sorts of treasures to buy.  Four of Jane's family members were there that day.  They all love hanging out together too.  It's really not working when you have so much fun together!


Our give-a-way this week is a necklace from Jane's store.  Comment to this post on something high calorie that you have eaten this week to make me feel better to enter our give-a-way.  I am trying to be good now so don't describe it too deliciously!!!  We will choose the winner next Friday March 23rd.


Saturday morning my niece Lisa made us banana stuffed french toast.  This is a photo before I drenched it with syrup.  It has cream cheese in it too.  Can you spell FATTENING with all caps!  It was so good and remember no diets were to be found on this weekend!  I have other recipes and photos that I will give out in later posts from this calorie laden weekend.


Banana Stuffed French Toast
Source: Down Home With the Neelys


4 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup light brown sugar
Pinch ground cinnamon
3 ripe bananas, peeled, cut into 1/2-inch-thick rounds
4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
1 large unsliced loaf French bread, bread cut into 8 slices that are about 2 inches thick (I like the suggestion that Heather mentioned. She said croissants are amazing in this recipe.)
4 large eggs
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 1/2 cups whole milk
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon rum extract
Nonstick cooking spray
Confectioners' sugar, for garnish
Maple syrup, for garnish

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Melt butter in a heavy bottomed skillet over medium heat. Once butter is melted add the brown sugar and pinch of cinnamon. Stir with a wooden spoon until the sugar melts into the butter and becomes a sauce. Add bananas and toss together. Let cook until the bananas are soft and incorporated into the sauce. Remove to a bowl and let cool completely. Once cool, add cream cheese and mash lightly with a wooden spoon.
Using a paring knife, cut a 2-inch-long slits in 1 side of each bread slice (or croissant), cutting 3/4 of way through bread and creating pocket that leaves 3 sides of bread intact. Divide banana mixture equally among the bread pockets.
In a large bowl, add eggs, heavy cream, milk, cinnamon and rum and whisk to combine. Pour mixture into a 13 by 9-inch casserole dish. Put the bread into the egg mixture and let soak for 3 minutes, turning occasionally. Remove the bread from egg mixture, using a spatula, letting the excess drain off.
Spray a wire rack with nonstick spray and put the rack on a baking sheet. Put the bread on the rack and transfer to the oven.
Bake the French toast until it is golden brown and filling is hot, about 25 minutes. Transfer the toast on a serving platter and garnish with confectioners' sugar and maple syrup.




That's it from Lawrence, Kansas.  Have a great week and don't forget to leave your sewing long enough to enjoy the sunshine.  It's time to open the windows!

Friday, March 9, 2012

Girls Weekend and St. Patricks Day Give-a-way

The winner of the Quilt Diva fat quarter give-a-way from last Friday is Deb G in VA
Thanks for all your Diva comments, I so enjoy reading what everyone is working on!
Mom and Princess Rowan putting together a puzzle
Mom turned 75 last July.  I asked her what she wanted for a party and she said another girl's weekend like I had for my 50th.  Due to scheduling difficulties of 7 busy women and one retired birthday girl we just now are getting together this weekend!  The party is on!  We loved when we got together before for my birthday .  We laughed, cried and shared.



Whenever we need all the guest rooms.  My daughter Ashley and I go into folding mode in the room where all the quilts are stacked.  I am so glad that a bunch of quilts are traveling around in trunk shows or there would be more folding!!!   No one is ever going to be cold in the home of a quilter!


In honor of St. Patrick's Day coming up we are giving away a kit and pattern to make this small wall-hanging next Friday.  Remember "Pat" in the old Saturday Night Live" episodes.  That's what I think when I look at this character that I designed.  Is it a she....or a he?????   Tell me something green that you own that you really like a lot, and then post to this entry before next Friday March 16th to be entered in the giveaway.  Spinach would not be a thing I would write about!!!
Have a great week!  Amy

Friday, March 2, 2012

Quilt Diva Quilt by Julie plus another Give-a-way

Happy Friday!  The winner of last week's Happy Howlidays give-a-way is: Sharon B
Thank you for all your comments.  This week I want to share an amazing quilt emailed to me by Julie.  Julie named this her Alter Ego quilt and used my Quilt Diva fabrics.  I love it!

   

Each border she did something different.  Super Creative!




The back of the quilt is amazing too! Not only did she not have to buy a backing fabric but she used up her left over blocks!  This is so much more interesting then a plain backing.

You can read more about Julie's quilt on her blog here:
http://quiltdivajulie.blogspot.com/2012/02/alter-ego-quilt.html

The original Quilt Diva pattern below. It is still one of my best selling patterns.  I have had ladies do this pattern with leopard skin, fake fur, real charms and real spools around her neck to name just a few things.  I have had ladies pin all their pin collections in the borders of the quilt.  One lady said it will be her coffin quilt....oh my goodness!  One lady hung it up in her hospital room and all the nurses and doctors thought she must be a fun patient.  Shops have had Diva Days.  One quilt show had a Diva Alley because there were so many made up.  I just love hearing all the stories!

http://www.amybradleydesigns.com/abd170.html


In honor of Julie's Alter Ego quilt, I want to give-a-way a fat quarter pack of Quilt Diva fabrics this week.  Anyone that posts to this entry by next Friday March 9th will be entered to win the Quilt Diva fat quarters.  Let's share any projects you have made lately that make you a Quilt Diva (or anything else you want to post).  We will announce the winner on Friday March 9th as well as our next Friday give-a-way. 
Happy Quilting!!  Amy


Monday, February 27, 2012

Keys and More Keys

My new keys
Twice a year I get the postcard in the mail advertising the Pilots Antique Sale here in Lawrence Kansas.  I start saving my money.  This year I was very good though and didn't spend much.  I did just get back from Hawaii a week ago.  I just bought five little things.  One of the things I bought were these skeleton keys on a ring.  I love multiples.  They also sell lunch with homemade pie at the sale.  I get the antiques and my husband John gets pie.  He told me to buy him just one piece.  I bought him three.  They looked soooo good.  I told you I have a problem with multiples!  I also met up with Nan, Terry and Kathe for lunch at the sale.  We are all quilters/antique nuts and it made for a fun morning!


My jailhouse keys. The biggest one measures 10" long.


My car keys
I told you I have a problem with multiples! 

Happy Monday!  I hope you all have a great start to your week!

Friday, February 24, 2012

Happy Howliday Show & Tell Plus Friday Give-a-way!


I wanted to share a quilt made by Lori using my Happy Howlidays fabric.  Lori is a veterinarian (just like my husband).  Here is Lori's blog: http://quiltingunleashed.wordpress.com 
I love how crisp and clean it looks with the white.  It makes me want to go get into my stash and make one!  The Happy Howlidays fabric came out in winter of 2008.  What a cool way to use fabric from your stash.






Please keep emailing me photos of your finished quilts, it really makes me happy!  In honor of Lori's quilt, I'm going to give-a-way a stack of Happy Howlidays fat quarters.  I will choose one person at random from anyone who posts to this entry about fabric stashes or ufo's or anything you want to share.  We will pick next Friday March 2nd.  We are going to try to do a give-a-way every Friday for the rest of this year so keep checking back.  Thanks to everyone for reading and happy quilting!  Amy

Monday, February 20, 2012

Teaching in Hawaii

The pineapple pin cushion and name tag that we each received for attending the retreat.
I just got back from teaching at the "Quilting on the Beach Retreat" in Kona Hawaii. The retreat participants and all the teachers had a WONDERFUL time!!!  It was put on by Pat Yamin from Come Quilt With Me and Quilt Passion Quilt & Needlework Shop. They did a great job from planning classes, a shop hop tour of eight local quilt shops, designer trunk shows, a big island tour and a luau. They also had lots of free time to work on all the projects. It will be hard to replace the GLORIOUS conditions that we had looking out our classrooms.
One of the ironing stations on the patio just right outside the classrooms.

This is a photo of Pat Yamin teaching a snowball quilt using only 2 templates.  We had a hard time getting these girls to stop for lunch.  They were definitely in the "Quilting Zone".  Below is the quilt they were working on.


Below is the atrium right outside the classrooms.  So we had this view going into the classrooms and  floor to ceiling views of the ocean and a walkout patio from our classrooms.


After teaching I added on three extra days for fun!


One day I took the 12 hour bus tour around the big island.  One of our stops was Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park and I took this photo of the Kilauea Volcano.  It is the worlds most active volcano.


I went snorkeling besides Captain Cook's monument.   This was fun since I left 14 degree weather in Kansas and it was 82 degrees when I was jumping in the ocean.


This is me getting ready to zip line for the first time.  Wow, was it exhilarating.  You all have to do it!  I was with eight others and two guides and we bonded high above the tree!


I was so excited to see this sea turtle coming out of the ocean very sloooooooooooowly on Punalu'u Black Sand Beach.  This is how I am feeling today...very jet lagged....


My husband John gave me an orchid for Valentines Day before I left and he sent these to my room on Valentines Day.  Needless to say I felt missed and loved!!!! 


This is the view from my hotel room balcony that I left to come back to Kansas.  Sigh....

This was the first year for the Quilting on the Beach Retreat.  They will be repeating it because it was a huge success!  I hope everyone can schedule to come next February 1 - 14.  What a nice way to quilt, learn new techniques, meet new friends and escape the cold!!!!  You will have memories for a lifetime!