A Bag Gadget!

I stumbled across this handy little gadget in the garden section of "The Columbus Dispatch", of all places.  Invented as a kitchen helper, I see lots of other uses for this handy little devise ... especially for quilters and crafters.

The Bagwell is a plastic gadget that opens into four "arms".  You take a 1-gallon storage baggie, make a cuff at the top, fold the cuff over the "arms" and voila!  You have a stable wide-mouth container that is easy to fill.

The Bagwell folds flat, and I think it's a must-have addition to my portable sewing "kit".  I can see using this for scraps, threads and other bits of trash (using a plastic grocery bag).  Or -- even better -- a holding tank of sorts for itty bitty squares of fabric.  You could cut your scraps as you go, put them in this baggie, seal it up and take them home for sorting into your home stash!

I'm considering adding this as a notion on my website.  What other uses can you envision for this handy little gadget?

Pumpkin Pie - Gluten-Free, Sugar-Free!

Are you familiar with PinkSuedeShoe's blog?  The writer is a young woman in Utah and I love following her blog.  She's way off into thrifting and finds the most amazing treasures (particularly vintage Pyrex bowls, which I dearly love).  She's got an adorable little daughter and makes the cutest clothes for her.  She quilts and works part time at her local quilt shop.  And she cooks, too.  Especially PIES.  Besides the quilting, that's something she & I have in common.  We both LOVE pie.

So today she posted her recipe for sugar-free pumpkin pie in an almond flour crust.  Guess what I'll be making one day soon?  We have to test it for Thanksgiving, you know.  Before Thanksgiving.  :-)

Do You Shop Hop?

I used to faithfully do the Fab Shops Shop Hop (an online shopping spree!), but kind of lost interest in it a couple of years ago.  This year, however, for the month of September, I'll be "hopping" again!  I want to collect the blocks for their "Chocolate Sampler" quilt.  I love pink & brown together.  :-)

You should be able to click on this icon to check out the hop, if you're inspired to do so.  Have fun -- and be sure to share any spectacular deals you might find, okay?  :-)



No, I'm not affiliated in any way, and I don't earn any "referral" fees for sharing this information.  In case you were wondering.  :-D

Let's all Quilt-Along with KyleAnn!

My friend KyleAnn has just launched "KyleAnn's Quilt Book Club" and I believe it's gonna be a LOT of fun!  She's looking for followers and participants, and giving away some darling charm packs to three lucky winners, so head on over to her blog (http://kyleannsquiltbookclub.blogspot.com/) and see what's going on.  Even better, join the club while you're there!  Here's a hint as to what the first project will be, customized by you of course:

Thanks, KyleAnn, for coming up with this fun idea and sharing it with the rest of us!

Are you ready to hop?

The quilt fanatics world-wide-web shop hop is officially ON!  I'm not affiliated in anyway ... just wanted to share the fun with you.  Great prizes, great sales, free pattern downloads ... what's not to like?  Click on the FabShopHop icon below to get started.  Have fun, and if you find anything spectacular, share it with the rest of us, won't you?

Valentine Bites!

I totally want to try this!  I stumbled on this adorable idea on Facebook, and it's totally do-able:

http://www.crazydomestic.com/2011/02/every-holiday-my-mom-sends-my-kids.html

What do you think?  Let me know if you give this one a try.

(And what were you expecting?  A vampire link?  A rant about the evils of Valentine's Day?  HA!  You should know me better than that .... ;->  )

And while we're on the subject of Valentine's Day, are you celebrating it?  What are you doing to make it special for your loved ones?

Hugs & Kisses!

Cutting Edge

I have a new favorite ruler! 

Sullivans recently came out with "cutting edge rulers", designed by Pat Sloan (one fun quilter, let me tell you!).  I was intrigued from the moment I saw them, so of course I had to try one.  I got this one:  The Cutting EDGE Frosted Ruler-6-1/2X12-1/2.

I've been using it for a couple of months now, and I do indeed love it.  It has a 650 grit Diamond Cabide edge that purports to sharpen your rotary cutter blade as you use it, and by golly, I believe it's working!  I've got a regular blade in my cutter right now, and I've been using it -- daily -- since I bought this ruler and it's still cutting like a new blade.  Now *that's* something to brag about!

Do I think these rulers will prevent me from ever having to buy new blades?  Of course not.  But I'm happy to extend the lives of the ones I do buy -- like my mama always said, "a penny saved is a penny earned".

Sullivans has a complete line of "The Edge" rotary cutting tools in addition to the rulers:  cutters, blades and mats.  My next "test" will probably be a mat; I'm in the market for a new one.  Next time you're in the market for a new quilting or scrapbooking ruler, give one of these a try.  I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.