Mrs. Schmenkman Quilts

Dear daughter thought it would be fun if she and I shared a (not so) secret Santa swap this year. She put a mailbox outside her room. When the flag is up, someone has a secret Santa message or gift. I have gotten some delightful treasures and some Christmas poems that will be cherished. My gifts to her have been fun — the Five Crowns card game (inspired by Bumblebeans), some fun new erasers and a Shinzi Katoh pen, etc. These are all things I was planning to give her for Christmas anyway but it has been even more fun to dole them out slowly kind of like an uplanned advent calendar. Had she gotten them on Christmas, they would have been mixed up in the jumble of the day’s gifts. This way, we can take the time to enjoy each one individually.

One thing that arrived in the secret Santa mailbox last week was a single cloth napkin (inspired by Lily). I’ve been meaning to do this. I even bought a rolled hem foot (apparently I need a class to use this thing).  But I saw this great narrow rolled hem tutorial last week and said, bah, I don’t need no stinkin’ rolled hem foot! Zip, zip, zip, narrow hems on napkins. I made some more today:

The cloth napkin made dear daughter SO happy — not just the cute fabric but that I was trying to be “greener.”  I also picked up some more re-usable snack and lunch box containers today so I can stop using so many loathsome plastic bags. I’m getting there.

Did you see Jan’s post about Keiko Goke? And, yes, the rumors of her fabric availability are true! GORGEOUS!

Get out your Mod Podge and your scraps. Right now!

We had the best time after seeing this idea over on Syko’s blog:

I got a little carried away with it and didn’t want to stop.

Cut out a shape, cut out a scrap of fabric and let the Mod Podge work its magic! I haven’t put away the ornament supply bins just yet. I don’t see time in the schedule to make more of these anytime soon, but we live in hope. Forget eating, I’m taking over the dining room table with fabric and empty cereal boxes and Mod Podge!

Oh, I just came away from a look-see/gander over at Glorious Color. You know, to see what’s new. You might want to wander over and take a look at the “What’s New” section. The new Kaffe/Liberty fabric is there (along with a new color of shot cotton called Galvanized — need it!) and a very intriguing button entitled “Keiko Goke’s New Fabric” (which then led me here and then here). I’m listening…

Someone in the house desperately needs a new apron for Christmas.

It’s a little hard to find apron dimensions for a tween sized person. I adapted the wonderful directions from JCaroline Creative.

I also, ahem, had to cannibalize someone’s much smaller apron for its D-rings. I bought D-rings last week AND PUT THEM IN A SAFE PLACE. They are still very safe. Wherever they may be. Sheesh.

Here’s the apron I made dear daughter wear yesterday when we were making some disastrous tri-level brownies (number 45 in the 2009 100 Best Cookies magazine, if anyone wants to avoid the recipe):

As we say around here, that apron is a little squeeze-y. And now it is hidden away because it has no D-rings. I’m sure it is completely safe from me.

We had a quick weekend getaway. Maybe it doesn’t qualify as a getaway if you’re actually going home?

I managed to snap one quick picture on the world’s shortest Ferris wheel ride. Sheesh, give a girl a chance to take some pictures, would ya?

Some advice. Be careful of what happens when you’re trying to take artful photos of colorful fish bowls.

While you’re not paying attention, you may end up with one of these:

This is Gilligan. Yes, I overfed him this morning. We haven’t had a goldfish for quite a while. I didn’t miss cleaning the fish bowl. I’ll pay more attention at the goldfish booth next time.

I also visited the hometown quilt shop. Twice. Same number of elephant ears I ate (correction: SHARED). On the first visit, I bought a small amount of Avlyn’s Nature’s Palette distressed solids in black. The second time I bought the rest of the bolt. It’s lovely aged-looking stuff dyed with natural dyes. I may have the last bit in captivity because it’s old (well, 2006) and isn’t made any longer. I thought it would look fantastic with acid-y greens and golds. If the sun returns, I’ll try to take a photo. But it’s, well, distressed dark grey. Not really at its best without something on it. That may take some time. But I have it. For posterity. Interesting! I washed the largest part this morning and left the small portion unwashed. The WASHED fabric is now darker than the unwashed fabric.