Recent Sewing

You might ask, how come my blog is named "Sam Quilts" and I dont' show too many QUILTS on my blog......well, I been busy!
I AM sewing right now, just not for myself. And since it's not for me (or my family) I just don't care to post all the photos until the quilts are completely finished.

I am making a TN Volunteers Quilt (commissioned by my neighbor) that is a lap size for her son. It's BRIGHT. It's turning out really nice too. I have it on the rails right now.

The 2nd quilt that I am making is a king size. I am using the "Antique Checks" pattern from the "9 Patch Reunion" Book by Atkinson Designs. The commission comes from someone I work with. It's intended as a gift for his wife for Christmas. He requested FALL colors, so this quilt is not hard for me to make. I like the pattern & I like the colors. He wants orange & burgundy borders. I have the border fabric (got it last weekend) but I bought 2 different bugundies & 2 different oranges. Soon as I have the body of the quilt finished, I will make him choose which 2 colors he likes best. Since it's King Size, I don't feel like I am ever making any headway on all the blocks!!! Well, today I have all the blocks 75% completed. it's going to be a very nice quilt.

So ? Just so my readers don't think I DON'T any make quilts, I DO !! Once I get these 2 done for Christmas, I have about 6 that I have started & are in various stages of completion & once I get BACK to them, You'll think I can crank them out quicker than Bonnie Hunter....I'm only good for about one every 6 or 8 weeks!

Oh, yeh, if anyone needs "TITANS" fabric, I have about 9 yards.

See Ya ! The sewing machine beckons!

Sam

Making the Bed

I didn't make the bed today because I got up to have a cup of coffee with Prince Charming and then when I went back to the bedroom to jump in the shower & make the bed, the CAT had jumped up there & looked really cozy in my quilts.
I went back twice later in the morning to amke it up & he was still there.
He must have been cold....I gave up after about 1 PM.
Oh, yeh, the cat is turning 14 soon & his name is Smelly.
He's named after a song off a Sit Com.

Sam

Thanksgiving Cupcakes

These are my rendition of "Pumpkin cupcakes".

The idea is from the book I got earlier this month : "Hello Cupcake"

Thiers look nicer, I don't have as much experience in decorating as they do...

I think they came out really cute! And they are super sweet. I "made" the orange sugar. I couldn't find any & I didn't want to order any - so I put 2 cups of sugar (much more than I needed, as it turns out) into a zip-lock bag & then added the gel frosting tint & mashed it until the color was uniform. Worked like a charm.

The cake part of the cupcakes is a French Vanilla box mix with a can of pumpkin added & pumpkin pie spice too. I am anxious to EAT THEM.

Whatcha Think?

Sam

Christmas Customer Quilt

This is a Christmas Quilt that belongs to a customer. It is showing more yellow than it really is, but that's because my walls in my studio are yellow... This is the 2nd one I did this weekend. Both of them were busy Christmas Themed prints so I chose a very simple pantograph for them both. I used "Tannenbaum" by "Willowleaf Studios". I quilted the one in the photos (here) in dark green thread & the other one in red thread. I think my customer will be pleased. She had asked me to do something super simple.

Gotta go - I hear my pillow calling me & I have to fold 4 loads of laundry before I can sleep!!

Sam

Hutch / Curio Cabinet / Knick Knack Shelf

It's finished! Finally. This cabinet is a replica that Prince Charming & I saw at an antique store over 12 years ago. The original was painted black and they wanted over $350. Well my Prince started this cabinet when we lived in Fayetteville (TN) and that was before we moved to Cedar Bluff (AL). That, my readers, was in 1998. it sat in our "shop" in Cedar Bluff for 10 years. We moved back to TN 6 months ago and my Prince finished it today. It turned out beautifully. I am going to put all my Fitz & Floyd Rabbits/Bunnies in it. So I guess I could call it my bunny Hutch ???
I asked him to stain it dark. It's solid oak. And I simply love it.

Sam

Biggest Pot

Prince Charming requested clam chowder today. Well, I wanted to make a bunch, so while I was at Wally World last night I bought a 16 quart pot. I would have bought the 22 quart pot, but thought that since the microwave is over the stove, the 22 quart would be too tall....I tripled my recipe (probably quadrupled the clams) and this pot is 75% full. Yum, Yum.

Sam

Win, Lose, or Compromise?

I was cooking this afternoon. Special request from Prince Charming. He wanted Clam Chowder. Well - the favorite Fat Dog will not stay out of the kitchen while I cook. Ever. She will , however, stay on a rug if there is one. Well there ISN'T one. So I got "her" blanket from the bedroom & laid it on the floor . She plunked herself down on it & there she stayed all afternoon, while I cooked. She was probably waiting for me to drop something...I did, some potatoes....
That's my baby!

Took the big dogs for rabies & booster shots yesterday. WOW ! I am now $80 less wealthy. They behaved so well. Bourbon only growled once & that's because one of the doctors came out & hollered someone's name...he growled big time. Some lady grabbed up her kid & made him stay close to her. Good thing, Bourbon doesn't appreciate children. Briscoe cried when the doctor stabbed him with his first shot. Since they were both so well behaved, I took them through the drive through @ Mickey D's & got them chicken nuts. They loved them!

Sam

Hello Cupcake!

I bought the cutest book at Books A Million on Saturday while shopping w/ both DD's....it's called "Hello Cucake".
It has the most creative, custest decorating desings for CUPCAKES. I LOVE cupcakes. They are the perfect portion & a portable snack.
I amso excited about some of these designs.
If you go to amazon.com , you can see pages from the book.
I want to make PANDA cupcakes, SUNFLOWER cupcakes, BUTTERFLY cupcakes, CIRCUS cupcakes, BUNNY BUTT cupcakes, you really need to see this book. It opens up a whole new realm of decorating cupcakes!!!

Sam

Table Decorations

DD#2 was home from college this weekend. I didn't tell you all, but she had a car accident on Sept 29th. her car was totalled. This is accident #3 in 14 months. Anyway, this accident was not her fault (as was NOT the first one a year ago...) DD#1 & I have badgered her to come home for longer than 24 hours. It was a nice visit & she got to see the car that we got for her. she is still driving my station wagon & had to drive it back to college. i could not allow her the *new* car because I still lack getting tags on it. Oh ! She wasn't hurt in her accident either.
Anyway - both DD's & I went to lunch in West Nashville @ Red Robin (over rated...) and then we went to "World Market" I bought the table runner & the candle sticks. I am ashamed to say I spent 1/2 of what I normally spend on groceries in a week...just on those 5 candle sticks & the table runner. Ashamed! I am ! they better last YEARS....then we went to Target. DD#2 needed a blowdryer. got a really nice one for $20. that blowdryer was the whole purpose of the whole trip.
Sunday, the DH took us all to breakfast. I like Cracker Barrel. I got vetoed, and the DD's wanted this new place that is called "Farmer's" it's a buffett place. No lack of food, but definately a loack of ambience, service & style. BUT ! The food was very good & they had lots of fruit too. I still want Cracker Barrel. maybe I'll order CRACKERS the next time I'm there.
Later on Sunday, DD#1 & I went to K-Mart & I bought the berry/pinecone garland & candles there. It all turned out very pretty. Even the DH likes it a lot.
As you can tell, I still can not decide what color curtains to hang in the dining table room. Yes, you read it right. "The Dining Table Room" - why? Well, because that's all the room has, a ding table. We have YET to eat in there. Thanksgiving will be the first meal in there. I like the red walls. More than I thought I would, and the old gold seat covers have GOT to go. I need to find a place that has drapery fabric. I really need to recover the seats, but I know for sure I'll have to do them again WHEN I find what I want for the window. I don't want anything heavy or dark because I really LIKE all the light that window affords in the afternoon.

How do like the table decorations?

Sam

This is ME ! (And my Fat Dog)

That's me in red. You all don't get to see many photos of me. Sort of hard to take your own picture. i know it can be done, but I can't figure it out on my digital camera & I am too lazy to take the time to read the instructions.

The Fat Dog looks like she's barely tolerating my request to reamin still until DD#1 can snap our photo.

For those of you wanting to see "ME", here I am.

I don't have a bunch of counter space - so 'squooze the mess. the house is no show place - we LIVE in it!

Sam

My Fat Dog

Nooooo...ooooo, she's NOT dead. she's sunning herself in the yard.
That's my baby!
Fat Dog is having a lot of separation anxiety lately. Soon as I leave for work, she fusses, cries & today even howled.
when DD#1 works from home, she gets very upset with my Fat Dog. poor chelsea - her misses her momma!

Sam

Oct 31 st

I thought that we'd get a bunch of trick-or-treaters. We didn't. The door bell rang twice. They were all so cute. Nothing gorrie this year! Princesses & Fairies and boxers...they were SO cute! I made up little gift baggies. the kids were happy to get them.

Here are the "little boys". They are DD#1's dogs. In costume!

Sam