Laura Gunn and Mini Mike - an Unlikely Pair!

 Monday - Monday  -  and hats off to a very sunny day!!

I am not the best photographer but I really do try!!

These two quilts feature the new range of Laura Gunn solids for Michael Miller Fabrics.
They are an extension of her earlier line this year - Magnolia Lane.

Almost all of the colors are in this quilt and this accents the dark tones with the lighter shades available.  I think this maybe a free downloadable pattern soon at www.michaelmillerfabrics.com

This quilt is machine quilted by Cami Cress.

This quilt has even a more modern flair with random pieces in the center forming a large block.

Cami Cress has quilted a large magnolia design in the large white outer border.

I really like the look and feel of this one!



And now for the quilt debut of Mini Mikes........


Drum roll...........


Welcome to Mini Mike's Neighborhood!

This a street that everyone wants to love on and take a closer look as Mini Mike himself is looking out the window at his house!!  I did the quilting on this one and added a variety of buttons for the doorknobs.  A little bit of embroidery for flowers would also be a nice touch.

And here is Mini Mike in the window!

What fun you will have when these great prints arrive at your favorite quilt shop!!

Free Spirit Fabric Designer Essentials

    This is a great day to show you some small quilts I have made for Free Spirit Fabrics using their Designer Essentials.

    Each quilt features a group from the collections including - Twine, Fresco, Houndstooth, Dapples, Beads, Pinwheels, Instincts and solids.

    Take a look at them at www.freespiritfabrics.com

    I used my Sizzix machine on the top quilt in the photo.  I can cut 6 layers of fabric and these also had a fusible ironed on.  I used a decorative zig zag stitch on the edges.

    So much fun and so much fabric!!!

A Trip to Fair Oaks Dairy Farm!

Yes, indeed, fun was had by all who made an adventure trip to Fair Oaks Dairy Farm yesterday.  My sister, Nola and her granddaughter, Ella, rode on the Megabus from DesMoines to Chicago to visit for a few days.

Here is Ella and one of the cows with a newborn in the lobby of the birthing barn.  We did see a live birth and the first time mother had quite a struggle.  It took two birthing technicians to pull the baby calf out.  It was a boy!!

We enjoyed a great bus tour out on one of the working farms and saw 72 cows bring milked at one time on a big milking machine.

30,000 head of cows and a lot of pregnant ones!!  It is definitely a women's world.

We enjoyed a great grilled cheese sandwich for lunch, an ice cream cone and a few cheeses to take home.

 Here is my sister, Nola with Ella, by aged cheddar mountain.

This was really a great adventure.  Mondays if you are over 55 the admission is only $4 instead of $10.  Yes, we both qualified!

On Sunday, we met Alison and Natalie in Chicago and hung out for a few hours together.

A couple of fun photos here - including Alison's dog, Webster.

Sewing with Laminates

   Wow!  Take a look at this!  My friend, Elyse, has an article published in the current edition of Sew News magazine.  April/May 2011

   The article is full of tips on working with the new laminated fabrics from Westminster Fibers.  The raincoat featured in the photos is an Amy Butler pattern - and as you can see - it's reversible!!

   Follow Elyse on her blog - elysesusan.blogspot.com

Happy St.Patrick's Day!

 

An old dog and an old quilt!  Which one is older?

Lucy is 13 and the quilt maybe 20 years old.  But the message is still the same.

Hope you are wearing green today!  Enjoy!

Where Becki Homecki Creates

 




 Hey, Hey, Hey - I promised you additional photos of my sewing room and here they are!!  This great witch is on the door as you enter at your own risk.  Messy sewing rooms are really best as that means a whole lot of sewing is going on!!

  I received more fabric from Michael Miller Fabrics yesterday called "mini mikes".  So great - with so many sewing possibilities.  And speaking of sewing, I just finished a grouping of small quilts for Free Spirit Fabrics featuring their Designer Essentials.  They are so darn much fun.  Bigger is not always better.

 This is my Clip It Up spinner rack that has me so organized I forget that everything is right here.  Top row is sewing notions, middle row is patterns and the bottom row is zippers, elastic, and other assorted much needed items.  The good news is that I can add 2 more rows as needed.  So many things on one convenient spinner.

  And, yes, here is one of my sewing machines.  It is the newest one - the Janome Horizon.  I love it for free motion quilting .  The next best part is the sewing table - custom made by my husband - a perfect companion for this machine.  I have never had a Janome before - but so far so good!

  Please note the great pin cushion on the right - a free anna maria horner pattern.  The little stool was my grandmother's and she did the needlepoint cushion.  She did sewing for a living - taking in alterations.  I also have her sewing machine!

  Lots of fun and special memories in this corner.  Photos and special quilts from quilt challenges held in my quilt shop several years ago.  These are a "must see" when you come to visit me!














 Oh boy! Look at all the fabric!  This piece of furniture is on old postal sorting station.  And now it is filled with fat quarters and other assorted fun things!

  Just to point out a few things -the oscar from a red carpet Moda party one fall in Houston; a Sizzix machine on the little ledge from Westminster Fibers for cutting multiple layers of fabric in shapes (the purple thing); and baskets of some of my favorite fabric scraps.  All of those designer essentials I just mentioned - you are lookin' at 'em!

  So there you have it - a tour of where I create.  Later I will have to show you my other sewing room.......yes, there is another one!

Tex-Mex Snack Mix

Yes, it's time to share a recipe with all of you from the Flat Belly Diet Cookbook.  I have to say this diet is REALLY working for me.  The dinners I have been cooking are so delicious and nutritious.

My husband loves Chex Mix and I have been trying to make a more healthy version, plus I made this one in my crock pot!!!

1/2 cup canola oil
1 T. chili powder
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. dried oregano
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp.ground red pepper
3 cups multigrain square cereal
2 1/4 cups unsalted whole cashews
2 cups oat or multigrain cereal
2 cups multigrain pretzels

Combine oil and seasonings in a small measuring cup.

Combine remaining ingredients in a 3 1/2 - 5 quart slow cooker.  Drizzle with oil mixture, tossing to coat well.  Cover and cook on low 2 to 3 hours, stirring twice during cooking time. Be sure to check the mixture after 2 hours.  For me, that was enough time.  Remove the lid during the last half hour to allow mix to dry.

16 (1/2 cup servings) - 265 calories per serving

Bag it up for the perfect afternoon snack!

March Madness!!

Good Morning -
  
 Hopefully you have filled out your brackets and made some lucky picks!  My bracket is all filled out for the Maxwell Family Challenge so wish me luck!
  

 I received these great "solids" from Michael Miller Fabrics on Friday and I already have TWO modern quilt tops ready to take to my long arm quilter!  These are designed by Laura Gunn to coordinate with her new spring line - Magnolia Lane.  These "solids" reflect the texture of brushed canvas.  Aren't the colors yummy??  Stay tuned for the finished quilts before I send them off to New York.

Sweet Ella!

Meet Sweet Ella - my sister's granddaughter!!

Yes, she is FIVE and this is the doll I gave her for Christmas.  I was challenged knitting the matching sweaters - but very pleased with the outcome.

Can you tell she is a pro at posing for pictures?

Stay tuned, as she is coming for a visit next Sunday with my sister!  Hip Hip Hooray!!  It will be their first trip on the Megabus.

Let the fun begin!

Got Knits?

  You heard it here!!  Michael Miller Fabrics has come out with some awesome single knit fabrics in a wide range of bright solids and prints!!!

   I have had the opportunity to make quilts with them - YES QUILTS!!

   Take a look at the 24 baby size quilts I made so each sales person could carry a knit quilt sample!!
The backing fabrics are also knits - as well as the bindings.

   Watch for this twin size knit quilt in a future Fons & Porter Quilt Magazine.  The bigger knit quilt is definitely a challenge - just ask my long arm quilter, Cami!!  Fortunately this quilt has a coordinating flannel for backing.

   Go on an adventure - make your next baby quilt from Michael Miller knits!!

Ballroom Dancing??? You Bet!!

  Yes, my husband and I have just started a major ballroom dance program at Duneland Ballroom.

  We are pictured here with our dance instructor, Danielle, and the youngest ballroom dancer at the studio, Lexie.  She won in a recent competition and has a trophy to show for it!!

Let the FUN begin!!!  Yes!

Look out - here we come!  Foxtrot, swing, waltz, rhumba and cha cha cha!!!!

Hump Day

Every where I go people want to know what my sewing room is like!  So yesterday I cleaned a few things up and shot a few pictures to share!

Wow you say - is this the closet?  Yes, indeed, it is!  This closet features many finished baby quilts and wall hangings on the bottom rack and assorted bags on the top rack.

This is one wall in the sewing room and it shows off my Wear Red Shoes quilt.  Yes, I do love red shoes and this was a block of the month project in the quilt shop I owned for 7 years.  A few fabrics here as well as a very clean desk!  Very special things embellish the walls - including a collage picture made by my daughter Natalie - a Mother's Day gift - featuring photos of me with Alison and Natalie - through the years - with BIG college graduation pictures of each daughter!!  Sorry about the glare.

Look how clean the cutting table is!!!  Fortunately you can't see all of the things under the table very well.  Please note that all of my rulers are organized on a Clip It swinging arm.

This is a better picture of the fantastic quilt above the cutting table.  This quilt is "A Day at Crazy Eighths".  It features all batiks on black and white backgrounds.  Each block is based on words that described a typical day in my quilt shop - including fabric, friendship, fun, bloom, bee charmed, quilt pink, joy, sing, shop and dance!  This quilt is custom quilted by Cami Cress and Louise Moon at All about Quilting and Design.  These words are actually qulted into the borders and many details are stitched throughout the quilt.  It is definitely one  of my prized possessions.



I am sure you are wondering - where is the sewing machine?  There are 2 sides of this sewing room yet to come!!  Hope you are enjoying this fun!!

It's FAT Tuesday and a great day to continue on THE FAT BELLY DIET!!

The only cupcakes I am enjoying today are these on a recent quilt I made for Michael Miller Fabrics.  This is a FREE downloadable pattern at www.michaelmillerfabrics.com.

This quilt is especially fun because there are 5 cupcakes and my sister's granddaughter was 5 just last month.  Happy Birthday Ella!!

Monday Monday

Welcome to my new blog!  I am excited to share many of my creative thoughts and ideas!  I am a married mother of two grown-up girls and a pug named Lucy!  My first love is fabric and quilting but I also have many knitting projects and enjoy healthy cooking.

I look forward to share this fun with everyone!