Did you say Janome?

Some time this week a new sewing machine will be delivered to my door. Only on a test basis so I'm trying not to get too overly excited. Too consumed and fixated. And I'm trying hard not to watch out the window for the delivery driver every minute of the day.

After all, I love my old sewing machine.




It helped me whip up this little tabletop quilt for the top of my dresser. Out of nothing but scraps and in no time flat.




And I know all of it's quirks.





And I know how to fix it when it stops working correctly.





Sewing on the new machine will be . . . um . . . well . . . all new.




I hope there is not a huge learning curve. I hope I can plug it in and start sewing like a pro.

Considering the machine, I think my chances are good.

What?

Oh, yea. You would ask that.

It is the Janome Memory Craft 6600P.

Excuse me while I go look out the front windows . . .

-dana

Free long arm quilting??!@!?

Who wouldn't want this?? The Back Porch Quilters are giving away a free long arm quilting service.



-dana

This block was tricky

Another block for one of my virtual quilting bees.

Betty wanted triangles on a gray background. I didn't have quite enough gray . . . hence the funky sideways triangle up top.

Dude, triangles are harder than they look.

-dana

Substituting

For the past two days I've been a substitute teacher. For a kindergarten class of 16. Whew. They about wore me out.

Each time I do fill in for a sick teacher for any length of time I am struck by several things that I see. Some parents do all that they can to help their child succeed. And their efforts are obvious.

Other parents don't do much. Even for their kindergartner. And that is painfully obvious too.




So couple the kindergarten teaching with wrapping up my duties as cookie mom of the Girl Scout troop cookie sales last night and I'm beat.




And Jezebel is glad I'm back home. Even if she is rolling her eyes at me.

-dana

Artisans

A simple patchwork of collected vintage chenille.




And, dude, the most amazing bread ever. I made it. Yes me. So good and so easy that I made three loaves this weekend. It is the master recipe from the book Artisan Bread Making in Five Minutes a Day.




I'm gonna have to buy flour in bulk. Seriously.







The girls were baking too. Only, outside on the concrete pavers.


And, I . . . well, let's see . . . I was laying on the grass feeling the cool breeze on my face . . . SCREECH! HALT! WHAT??!!**??




Er. Um. I mean I went to see what Razor was up to. Building a few raised beds for a fresh planting of strawberries, onions, and carrots. I love strawberries, onions and carrots. Not together of course.

I love Razor too.






Now where was I? Oh yes . . .

. . . dreaming of crystal blue waters, white sandy beaches, fruity, frosty sensations with an umbrella . . .







A good weekend indeed.

-dana

Managing the scraps

Back in January I decided to go through all of my scraps and start organizing. I cut 5 inch squares out of every bit that was large enough. Since then when I'm working on a quilt and have left over pieces, I immediately cut them into 5 inch squares.



Quite a sizable stack has accumulated.

I've also collected a stack of strips. And smaller, usable bits too. I see a Chinese coin quilt in my future with those.






Any guesses on what I'll be doing this weekend?

-dana

How about a giveaway?

Contest is over. Congratulations comment number 17 Jodie that said, "Oooh... thank you for the new blog to keep an eye on. Fun! I'd love to win the old camera borders. Here's hopin'..."

Yea Jodie! You lucky girl. Email me at dana@oldredbarnco.com and I'll make sure you get your prize.

So, Razor and I have been working behind-the-scenes to pull together a big whopper of a giveaway. And when I say big whopper I mean something that will really knock your socks off.

But in the meantime I am thrilled beyond words to offer up an uber-cool digital set from my new friend Amy from Swiss Miss Design Haus!




You see, Amy is an amazing photographer and has some mad Photoshop skills too. And when I asked her if she might consider giving away one of her fantastical border sets here on my blog, she enthusiastically agreed. I love enthusiastic agreement.



The winner will get to choose one of the two sets pictured above. Either the old camera borders or the vintage paper borders. I don't know how you'll be able to narrow it down to just one but I'm not going to concern myself with that. I trust you will find your way.

So go visit Swiss Miss Design Haus and visit Amy's blog and let her know what an amazing talent she is. Then scurry back here and leave a comment telling me which border set you would choose. I'll pick a winner by random draw Friday, March 20, 2009 sometime after 8:00pm.

You should know that these digital borders only work with Photoshop 7 or newer. Won't work with Photoshop Elements. But don't let that stop you from entering . . . cause I'm sure you know someone that has PS7 or greater and then maybe they could trick out some of your photos for you.

Off with you all. Go see Amy. Go spread the news to your photography friends. They'll be sure to love you for it.

-dana

P.S. There is another great giveaway going on here. Check it out. And if you win it, please forward it to me. Thanks.

No pinching

Happy St. Patrick's Day.

-dana

P.S. If you are visiting from Tara Whitney's fabulous photography blog, welcome! Come on in and stay awhile, won't you?

Time Travel

We have a thing for Little House on the Prairie at our house. And by we I mean, me, Boo, Licious and Razor. We've read all the books and watched every episode. Some more than once. It might be more than just a thing. Some people might call it an obsession.




Is there ever a greater character in all of television history than Charles Ingalls? I think not. I love Pa.



Last week we got to travel back in time and experience life on the prairie.





And we visited an authentic homestead from 1894. And we got to do the coolest things there.




No running water. No electricity. None of life's modern conveniences.

Water was heated over an open hearth. Hands were washed in large wash basins.




Because the kids got to make sugar cookies.

I seriously couldn't wipe the grin off my face.








The cookies baked in cast iron dutch ovens . . . in the open hearth in the kitchen.


Then they headed to the blacksmith shop. To actually try their hand at blacksmithing. Seriously. Not just a demonstration. No siree. They got to do it themselves. We've got two dinner bells to prove it.








I asked if we could live there. I vowed to care for the chickens and hogs. And I told them I can make a mean applesauce come apple harvest time. I could easily become their resident soap maker. Surely I could find room to include some goats. Right?

Then my cell phone rang.

Hmpf.

And they politely shooed me on my way.

Dude. I was so born in the wrong era.

-dana

Breakfast

Today's breakfast. Pre-icing of course.




I don't know why I don't make these more often. They aren't that hard.

One thing I do know is that I ordered a baking stone. It is high time I start making bread.

Dude. Like I need another excuse to eat bread.

Seriously.

-dana

Renewal

When I see these photos of Razor plowing and tilling the garden I think of that old doughnut commercial. You know the one where the guy shuffles out of the house with his eyelids half open saying, "Time to make the doughnuts."

Time to plant the potatoes.

I love the smell of freshly turned earth.

-dana

My weekend in red

The warm sunny weekend was heaven on earth. Though as I passed through my days I was struck with the contrast of the season. Warm days that feel like spring. But blasts of cold that remind me it is still officially winter.



The poinsettia's red glare = winter





Small, sweet strawberries = spring




Cherry tomatoes = longing for summer




Hot tea = yep, still winter.

-dana