Elkhorn Flea Market

Sunday was a perfect summer day.

Perfect.

To walk around the flea market.

If you live within driving distance of

Elkhorn WI

you really shouldn't miss it.

I'm always able to find beautiful treasures at low prices.

A perfect reason to go.

Here's the website for more information

and future dates.

Check out this fabulous quilt top I bought.

Measures 70" x 85"

That's 1488 2" squares!

For $25.00!!

Hello pink kitty.

Excellent Perfect condition.
No rips, stains or holes.

Polka Dots 

Of course!

And this tablecloth was a steal.

Mint Perfect condition.

No stains, holes, fade spots.

$5.00!

Red checks and daisies.

Doesn't it just scream summer?

 

OOOO, and look at this beautiful dish towel.

Perfect condition.

 

Perfect stitches.
The back is as lovely as the front.
$2.00!

I wish my embroidery backs looked that nice.

Our friend, Peggy Sue, (from Sacramento) came to

visit for a few days and went with us.

She was thrilled with the treasure hunt.

Now just to fit her purchases in her suitcase.

Here are a couple new recipes I made.

Click on the recipe to enlarge and print.

Mike put the pork roast in the crock pot

Sunday morning at 5:30 (we left at 6 a.m.).

It smelled heavenly when we walked back in the house

 after a long 6 hour day of treasure hunting. 

 I made the dessert.

Layered Strawberry Chocolate Cheesecake.

To

 die

 for.

Served the pulled pork sandwiches

with Oriental coleslaw.

Yummm.......

More company coming this week.

My Dad from Las Vegas

and baby brother & SIL from CA.

Aunts, Uncles & cousins from MI.

A houseful!

Planning a BIG old fashion

family picnic Sunday.

 Great Grandpa has 4 new grandbabies to meet.

Six altogether.

Can't wait.

Happy 4th of July!!!!

Connecting Threads

I just received my order from Connecting Threads

and couldn't be happier!

The fabric quality is excellent, has a nice soft silky feel.

And the price can't be beat! 

Just let me say, no affiliation, no paid commercial.

These fabrics are from their Firecracker line. 

A real country red and bright royal blue.

I purchased enough of the red prints for backings.

At $3.00 a yard, how could I not!

Love the blue "friendship star" print.

Going to be borders on my BOM guild quilt.

I also ordered their thread for the first time.

White in the middle, with natural on the left and antique on the right.

The antique is a perfect match for muslin fabric. 

A real bargain at $2.49 a spool.

100% Egyptian cotton #50.

I will give it a test run this weekend at retreat.
Have you tried it yet?

These 2 fabrics, are labeled as "seconds".

Seconds meaning the print is wavy.

I looked closely and was unable to see any major waves or distortion.

An affordable backing, priced at $2.28 a yard.

Don't get me wrong.

I love the major manufacturers "designer fabric" lines.

But at $9.95 a yard and up .........

I need to find a few alternatives to make my hobby affordable.

I ordered 2 spools of their Essential PRO thread.
Thought I'd give it a try.

I love to have a variety of threads available for customer quilts.

Remember my thread wall?

 

 Freehand roses and rosettes.

With a paisley background.

 This is the customer quilt I was working on for last 2 weeks.

King size plus.

Love the pieced back.

 Well, I'm off to gather my treasures for the weekend.

Leaving bright & early tomorrow morning.

 Shop Hopping all the way there!

 

Free Pattern & A Bargain!

Happy Heart Day!!

Lookey here.
Isn't this just the cutest dang tea towel pattern!
And it's free from....
Debbie at Busy As Can Be

Debbie suggest using a lightweight interfacing or pellon
on the back of the embroidery.
Something I've never tried before.
Makes for smooth stitches.
And no thread shadows.
I'll definitely be using her technique again.

And now for my bargain.

Carpet cutting blades from Freight Harbor.
They fit my Olfa 45 mm rotary cutter
and cut cotton fabric like butter.
The cost....drumroll please....
$1.99 a pack.
In fact, I picked mine up yesterday at the store
and they were on sale for $1.49 per pack.
Sew, let's see $6.99 OR $1.00 per blade.
I can change blades 7 times for the same cost.
Give them a try and
let me know what you think....
I see no draw backs.
Yet.

Oh, and I celebrated a birthday last week.
Lordy, don't make me say which one.

Here is my NO CALORIES birthday cake.
Just Beautiful.
Thank you Peggy Sue.

And now I need to rant a little.
Yesterday, hubby and I went to the movies.
Saw The Fighter,
with Christian Bale & Mark Walburg.
Great movie. Mark is such a hunk.
But I digress.....
It's the COST of admission and snacks!
Afternoon senior price $7.50 each.
We splurged and shared one
soda and popcorn for $12.50.
Shared, being the key word here.
Total $27.50.
That's a lot of Red Box movies
and pop corn let me tell ya.
I know some movies need to be seen on the BIG screen.
Avatar, being one.
But really.
Who will be able to afford to go to the movies before long?
Forget families.

Okay, I'm over it.

Hugs and Valentine Kisses.

Recipes & Bargains

Remember when I posted the link to the Quilter's Daily Deal?

Have you checked it out yet?

Well, here is the best deal of all.......FREE!

Yep, just the $5.00 postage.

Friday's Deal.

There are 80 triangles in this pack.

Cute 1930-40 reproduction looking prints.

I couldn't believe FREE!

I purchased 3 Mary Engelbriet's "The Caroler"

charm packs for $3.99 each. Such deals!

I was in a cooking mood this weekend!

And when I'm "in the mood" I have to take advantage.

The house smelled wonderful all weekend.

Friends came for dinner and almost had to take a nap before they left.
All of these recipes came from the

Sugar Pie Farm House recipe forum.

You have to check it out......those ladies can cook!
The Pecan Pie Bars taste just like Pecan Pie.

Only easier to make.

It's a Paula Deen recipe so you know it's gotta be good.

Don't ya just LOVE the recipe cards?

They're by scrapbook designers Orchard & Broome

from the Jessica Sprague website.

If your wanting to learn digi-scrapbooking

Jessica is one of the best.

She has tons of FREE (there's that word again)

tutorials with step by step instructions.

There are 4 cute-cute designs in the

Bleecker St. collection.
This style may be a little light for the blog.

If your looking for bargains check out your local

Hobby Lobby.
All of the Fall merchandise is 80% off.
And it's not even Thanksgiving yet!
Most of the Christmas treasures were 50% off.
I picked up some beautiful gift wrap & matching tags.

I bought these 2 plates for $2.00 each.
Will look great filled with cookies for hostess gifts.

Hubby and I are going to St. Louis for Thanksgiving.
To visit family and friends.
I have so much to be thankful for this year.
Mainly, that it's almost over! Ha-ha.
We're going to stop at 2 Quilt Shops on the way down.
Both are in the latest edition of the "Quilt Sampler" magazine.
My camera will be smokin.

This darling fabric is from JoAnn's.
Aren't the cupcakes just the cutest?
I made 2 "Tie One On Day" aprons out of it.
One with pink, the other brown, polka dot waist band & ties.
I also added a small pocket with white rick rack trim.

This print is my new favorite.
So bright and cheery.
Have you made your apron yet?

I can't wait till Thursday.
Girlfriends day out.
We're going to the Holiday Sale at the
"Apple Butter House" a large barn filled with treasures.

I can always seem to find something
I can't live without there.

Sorry I'm so long winded.
Didn't realize I had so much to share.

Gobble-Gobble
Hugs

A SPECIAL OFFER that's hard to refuse!

The publisher of EllynAnne Geisel's " The Apron Book",

Andrews McMeel, is offering a 35% off coupon

plus free shipping!

Click on the link above and read all about it.

The offer ends tomorrow, the 19th, so hurry.

I ordered mine on line Monday

and they arrived UPS today.

If one is good

Two must be better......right?

What am I going to do with 2 books??

Give one away of course!

My 100th post is fast approching.

Watch for details.

Speaking of aprons.....

I made this one for my granddaughter for Christmas.

I love the fabric, don't you?

It's a printed panel apron from JoAnns.

By Daisy Kingdom.

I used my 50% off coupon which made it

very reasonable.

Not that my granddaughter

isn't worth full price mind you!!

There was suppose to be a ruffle on the bottom.

But I choose to use red rick rack instead.

The black dots below are just to

show you the contrast.

We're expecting a ton of snow today.

The weather man said 8-12 inches.

Then another storm is heading our way on Saturday.

Just as well, I want to read my new book!

Stay safe and warm everyone.

Retreat Results

Look! Here are the two tops I finished this weekend.

I bought this kit at Expo. The fabric line is called

Merry & Bright

and the pattern is Boxed Blessings.

Isn't this fabric fun?

Ribbon candy, peppermint stripes and red polka dots!

The pattern is quick and easy with clear instructions.

I can't wait to make another, maybe in fall colors?

Or wouldn't it be cute in 1930 reproduction prints?

Now just to get it quilted before Christmas!

The colors look washed out in the photo. But trust me.

The lavender & sweet baby print is perfect for the new room.

The pattern Dream Baby is a super easy 4 patch.

The border fabric makes the quilt! So sweet.

This is the backing fabric included with the kit. Paper doll clothes!

The weekend was such fun. The four other gals were a joy to be around.

We laughed so much! And the food was delicious.

Oh, and my Oak Leaves & Reel quilt needs one border sewn on to be finished!

Retreats are the greatest!