Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Tomato Galore


tomato wagon, originally uploaded by hmsohly.

My father has an amazing garden. He loves to grow things and has instilled that love in his children and grandchildren. Last year, I finally talked him into sharing his garden at the local farmer's markets. He had always had so much and some went to waste when he couldn't find friends who would take more produce. If you're in Frederic or Siren, Wisconsin on Saturdays, you'll find my dad at the market. My mother is canning like crazy and I was so lucky to have some of these yummy tomatos for my birthday. They are truly the middle of heaven.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Pre-cut squares. . . Please, don't call me lazy, but pre-cut charms are perectly delightful. Moda puts together yummy collections of their various lines. Here are the 5" charms from the Figgy Pudding line. If you're a sewer who hasn't quilted, charms are a great way to go. You can get an easy start by doing four-patch or nine-patch and suddenly, you've become a quilter. If the Moda prints don't strike your fancy, you'll find other collections on e-bay or at your local quilt shop. I was always amazed by traditional quilting, but never thought I'd want to try--too detailed, too tedious for my attention span. With pre-cut charms, I have enjoyed it--projects come together fast. . . for even faster projects--try Layer Cakes--10" pre-cut squares. You can make something cozy and beautiful for your loved ones. I hear my sister-in-law and brother have been fighting over her quilt made with Hello Betty 10" pre-cuts. That kind of love is the middle of heaven!