Postage stamp projects

Lana is an online friend in TN and she asked how my postage stamp projects were coming along, well, I thought I had already blogged them but guess I never did. So, here they are......
Sometimes if I think about doing something, then in my mind I start thinking I really did it or it really happened, even though I only just thought it, anyone else do that?
Back in the summer I cut out lots of 2 inch squares from assorted fabric I already had.


Once I started sewing, I made these 5 pillows for Christmas gifts.
I also made 6 pillows for our home.




all the pillows are made like a sham with an envelope back so the patchwork cover can be taken off and laundered.

I made one sofa-sized quilt for a gift.

even after making all those projects, I still have postage stamps to sew up for more pillows and quilts!

Minky Boppy

I went to the biannual rummage sale at the Christian church last week. One of the things I bought was a Boppy pillow. The cover was a little faded but the price was very right - $1.
First I machine washed and dried the pillow per its tags instructions - the trick to machine washing pillows is to wash 2 at a time so the tub stays balanced.
Then I cut apart the original cover that zipped on and off and used it for the pattern to make a new cover.
I used some that really soft Minky fabric in pink. I got the Minky at Hobby Lobby, just needed 2/3 of a yard and I used a 40% off coupon so I think it cost about $5 for the fabric. This project also used a 22 inch zipper.
It was nice to sew with but I don't really know what it would be good for except baby blankets and simple pillows or upholstering projects.


My tip, if you do sew with Minky, is don't wear a black blouse while you cut Minky, it's thick pile leaves lots of lint.

for more frugal baby projects, visit The Herber Family




here's a new picture of little Gavin. He is 14 months old, walking all over and his favorite thing to say is uh-oh whenever he drops or throws something.

what kind of tree do we have?

This tree and flower bed is in our front yard. I planted the jonquil and tulip bulbs in the fall and am glad they survived our unusually cold winter. There are also iris bulbs that will bloom soon and 3 hydrangea bushes with lots of green leaves.

This tree has red leaves and is blooming with little pink flowers. It is really pretty and I have not seen one anywhere else in my neighborhood or town.
We did not plant it, it was planted by the first family that lived in this house, around 2000.

I hope someone out there knows what kind of tree this is.
I would really like to know its name.

Thank you all for your help. You left so many helpful comments, and after reading them and doing some intenet research, I am pretty sure that my tree is a
flowering plum tree - even though it does not ever have fruit.

Friday night supper

We had a great supper last night
Roast beef with carrots, potatoes and asparagus.
After watching films like King Corn and Food Inc and reading books like The New American Diet, we have been shopping for meat carefully.
The roast last night was bought at a local grocery store, IGA, and is from The Premium Natural Beef company. I am not sure if their way of growing beef fits every health experts criteria but I think it's pretty good. And it is sure better than not knowing at all where your food came from.
I am not a big meat fan, I could be a vegetarian very easy, but Jeff and Theo would not be happy if every meal was meatless. I really did enjoy last nights roast.
The beef was tender and smelled good from it's raw state all through the cooking.
I also bought some of their ground beef and cube steaks and am looking forward to trying them. That is really saying something for me.

Black and White Easter

Poetikat is not hosting Sepia Saturday this week but I wanted to share this fun Easter snapshot.
From left to right
the silly boy on the clothesline pole is my brother, he is now a very successful writer and professor, hard to believe from this picture, huh?
I am second
then my friends Sissy and Rebecca
My other brother is on the right - the one eating an egg - he is an electrician and the guy you want to wire your new home if you want it done right.
This picture would of been Easter afternoon while we outside in our little neighborhood hunting eggs.
First on Easter morning, the Easter Bunny would of filled our baskets with candy and hid them around the house. Then we would get dressed in our new Easter clothes and go to Sunday School and Church.
Mom would cook a wonderful Easter lunch, and then we kids would play outside.

Wishing you all a special Easter tomorrow!