When you flip through a quilt book and you see the “how-to” photos, have you ever thought about what goes into setting up those photos? There’s more to it than I ever would have believed before we started Piece O’ Cake.

It is important to think about the photos as you write a book. We make a note of where photos need to be placed in the text and what those photos need to illustrate. After the quilts are made and the text is complete we go back and put together the “props” for each and every photo that you see in our books. 

Sometimes it’s important to show a progression of steps. For example, it takes several steps to make a 9-patch. On photo shoot day there isn’t time to cut strips, sew strips, cut some more, sew some more, etc, while the photographer waits. It’s just like a cooking show – each step has to be prepared individually, in advance. 

The baggied-up bits in the plastic bags in this box will be turned into wonderful how-to photos in our next book. I’m always amazed at how little space they take up. Of course, the quilts will be shipped in other boxes :-).

In addition to working on the photo samples I had my 5 year-old granddaughter, Elanor, for a couple of days this week. Steve and I took her to the pool yesterday afternoon – to wear her out a little. It ended up wearing us out too! We all slept well last night. 

Elanor and I made some tasty and easy candy today (see instructions below). We played with rubber stamps and pretty paper. And we went shopping! For Barbies and pretty ponies!

I have to admit that I was never a fan of Barbie. Elanor, however, is all girl and Barbie makes her very, very happy. Especially the bridal Barbie we got today. Ken is still at the store so I don’t know if Barbie will ever be Mrs. Barbie.

Rocky Road Candy

1-2 cups of chocolate suitable for candy making. In a pinch Baker’s Semi-Sweet bakers chocolate will work. Chocolate chips might work, but your candy will be prone to melting easily.

1-2 cups of salted, roasted peanuts

1-2 cups of mini-marsh mellows

Elanor added 1/2 cups of red hots and they’re pretty good.

We added 1/2 cup of pecans because my husband likes them.

Add other ingredients to taste.

Melt the chocolate in a double boiler over very low heat.

Stir in all ingredients.

Spoon out in mounds on waxed paper.

Put them in the refrigerator to make them solid quicker.

We put the candy in baggies for her favorite people after it got hard enough to handle. Elanor made cards to go with each bag. She was very pleased with the gifts she made.

If you have never made chocolate candy before, know that almost anything tastes better with a chocolate coating. Oreos, cornflakes, nuts, graham crackers… you get the idea. There is some really fine chocolate made especially for candy making. Google “chocolate for making candy” and you’ll get lots of information.

My husband has always liked this photo of me. He took it when we were both 22 in 1978. It’s funny that this old photo is so similar to the new picture that I posted on May 28 showing the new hairdo. Steve says I still look the same. Isn’t he sweet! I, however, can see the difference time has made. 

I got a haircut today! That in itself is not unusual because I get my hair cut every 4 weeks like clockwork. But today I got lots of hair cut off! Henri, who has cut my hair for more than 13 years, agreed that it was time for a new look. Little did he know that this is, in fact, an old look for me. This is what my hair looked like when I was in my 20s. 

I keep forgetting to share this news. When I was teaching in Sarasota, FL, the ladies there shared with me a sample of a peanut butter that has 75% less fat. It was pretty tasty! Not as wonderful as full-fat peanut butter, but close. It’s called PB2 and you can find it online at Bell Plantation.

Granola.doc

My very good friend, Laurie, is in charge of the garage sale at her church every June. The money they raise goes to mission work. Spring is an excellent time to organize so I usually have things to give Laurie. I always have clothes and sometimes I have fabric. The local quilters love it!

I spent 3 hours this morning weeding out my fabric. I know that sounds horrible to some of you but I want every fabric in my stash to be something I can actually use. I don’t want fabric that I loved years ago but no longer can get excited about. Linda taught me the virtue of a clean stash years ago and I’m so glad she did.

Laurie got 5 big bags of prewashed, folded 100% cotton, good-quality cotton. I hope she sells it all and raises lots of money. I didn’t have the least bit of remorse seeing it go. 

My fabric stash is much happier. FYI – the top of the top shelf is about 6′ off the ground and the shelves are 5′ wide. I still have LOTS of fabric in my stash :-).

I am continually surprised at the size of the USA! It is hot summer in north Texas right now but it is spring in Hartford, Connecticut. I’ve been in Connecticut since last Wednesday, lecturing and teaching. Quilting is alive and well here! Isn’t it nice that quilters are the same no matter where you are?