A Very Nice Surprise!

I got home late today and as I pulled in the driveway I saw a box sitting on the swing on the porch!!!! OK ladies we love getting boxes right????!!! I could hardly get in the house fast enough. So here's what was waiting for me. It was a box of Pay It Forward wonderfulness from Jackie of Canton Village Quilt Works. Such perfect gifties, from the wrapping....polka dot fabric and yellow rick rac, to the wonderful egg ornament and yummy, yummy box of chocolate (OK I already ate them so I know they were yummy), and the most wonderful topper. My camera is misbehaving badly, but if you enlarge the mosaic you can see there is rick rack tucked all the way around the inside edge of the binding...so cute, and so precise. The fabric is so cute and what a great design (and quilting of course). I have it proudly sitting on my Singer table in the entry. The label is perfect and will always be a reminder to me of my wonderful Pay It Forward Angel!!! Then to top things off the prettiest pin that I have been wearing all evening on my denim jacket. Again, apologies for the pictures...bad, bad camera!!! OK, it's probably the operator, but I just couldn't wait to post my goodies! Thank you Jackie .... you definitely spoiled me rotten and I love it!!!

Time to start thinking about the next raffle quilt for the zoo. When I saw this kit in Fons and Porter before Xmas I knew it was the one. The kit had been back ordered but came this week. It will be fun and easy to make. The fabrics could not be more perfect and I hope it will bring in some money for the zoo.

This coming week is a busy one in Polka Dot land and I probably won't be blogging much, but I will have tons to share eventually!!! Hoping that the weekend is filled with fun and family and maybe some quilty/sewing fun tossed in here and there!! Happy, happy everyone :-)!!!

Howdy Doody!!

Sometimes I just can't come up with a good title, so Howdy Doody it is!!! Possibly it could be it was late Tuesday evening when I started writing this and my brain was pretty well gone...yep, that's probably it:-)!!

Tuesday evening I became possessed...I just had to get my Dutch Treat done. The rows were all together, all I needed to do was add the corner triangles, the inner and outer border. I put the corners on...loved it. Then I went to put the small inner border on...didn't love it. The background in the kit was a checked kind of fabric, and as it is the setting triangles are headed in a different direction. Then I went to put on the inner border and it was all cocky wobble. So I opted for no inner and just the outer and here is the pieced top all done!!!!! I am a big fan of Best Press but have been out for a while. Our market carries this new Niagara non-aerosol spray starch that I really like and used on this quilt....it has a very nice scent and is a very light starch,

plus it's a great price.

My plan was to swear off jelly rolls, honey buns and all the gooey stuff for a while....that was until I saw this quilt made up in a ME Jelly Roll......so this is my next victim!!! I just couldn't help myself. There surely is a Jelly Roll/Honey Bun anonymous group somewhere??? Another pattern I have been obsessed with is All Dressed Up. This is a pattern from Fredas Hive. I ordered the download from Nanette and she also directed me to Susan's blog who has a WONDERFUL technique for getting bonus blocks out of snowball blocks Check out her 3/22 post. Not only that but what a great blog she has!!!!

A whirly thingy pattern update. I have had a lot of comments and emails about the quilt in my previous post. The very nice lady that made the pattern is seeing if it's possible to have some more templates made, if so I will let you know. Keep your fingers crossed!!!

Spring is definitely in the air. You see it all around the blogs and I see it in my garden. The leaves on the roses are filling out and the Liquid Amber's are starting to bud. I think a trip to the nursery might be on the list today. I'm thinkin' some petunias would be dandy!!! Happy Wednesday everyone.

The Reveal And Looser Monday Check In

From this.................................. to this!What a fun class and what a cool way to turn charm squares in to whirly thingies. Fast, easy and tons of fun! My friend Evelyn made a oh so cute cherry topper, and my friend Carol got creative and added a wonderful red border to her pretty charms. Another person in class used her stash of pinks and browns, and then there was a finished sample for us to drool over!! Ten people in all, and each and every one pretty darn snazzy!!!

Looooooser Monday report.....same old same old. No loss no gain, again I had that coming :-)!!! My two great friends informed me on our Sunday class day that points didn't count, so it was a free for all with food!!! I am sure I will pay for that no point day on my Thursday weigh in, but boy we sure did have fun including the McFlurry I had on the way home!!! General Geranium wanted us to post a recipe with fruit, so here goes my entry.

Bananarama Wafer Puddin' (This is from the Hungry Girl Recipe book)
2 cups fat free milk at fridge temp
2 medium bananas, sliced
24 Reduced Fat Nilla Wafters
1 small (4 serving) package sugar-free fat-free instant vanilla pudding mix
Optional: fat-free whipped topping

Combine pudding mix and milk in a bowl. Beat with a whisk for 2 minutes or until thoroughly blended. Set aside. In a medium bowl or casserole dish, arrange a layer of wafers, and then top with a layer of banana slices. Continue alternating layers until all wafers and banana slices are in the dish. Top dish with the pudding and let it seep down in between the wafer and banana layers. Refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours. If desired, add whipped topping before serving. Makes 6, 1/2 cup servings. 3 points per serving.

Thought for the week.....beware of friends telling you that there are no point days :-)!!! Happy week everyone.

All Play And No Work!!!

There has been way too much playing going on around here so not much quilty production, but YIPEEE SKIPEE for all the playing. I have squeezed in some bindings here and there including this one that just about did me in. The binding was easy, it was cutting off the border part that I struggled with. The customer just was not happy with the quilt with the border on it (mind you it was already quilted). Have to say I agreed with her, but cutting it off after the fact (that's the border laying on the left) and hoping against hope that the binding would go on nicely had me a bit worried.....no problem it went on like butter and the quilt is a beauty.

The playing part........Tuesday was a full on quilty day spent with friends: a breakfast, a sew and visit with several friends (more visiting and eating then sewing), and followed up by a group of us quilty peeps having dinner. Thursday I was invited to dinner and to see Mamma Mia with my girl and a bunch of her friends. So much fun, and I still have that music stuck in my head. It was an amazing production and the staging made you feel like you were right there! Our girl came home Friday and we had to squeeze in some time for shopping---OF COURSE, and then today all the kiddos are here to celebrate dad's birthday. And our favorite, a couple days of our quality time with our grandbaby, who I am now naming Mr. Wiggles!!!!!!! Whewwwwwwww, I need to take a rest!!!!!!

Tomorrow will be a day filled full of quilting fun with some quilting buddies, where we will be turning this into........................???? You will have to stay tuned for the reveal on this!!!

Times up here, and I need to get back to getting the birthday festivities ready. Hope you all have a great weekend.........Mamma Mia, here I go again, my my how can I resist you? Bye from Auntie and Mr. Wiggles :-)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Some Quick Quilts and Looser Monday Update

Last week when I had breakfast with my girl she asked me if I could make a baby quilt for a friend ...correction, two baby quilts for a friend who is having twins...and the shower is April 4th. I knew I had a kit for Brown Bear, Brown Bear and I have been hording bits of this and that for The Very Hungry Caterpillar, so that's what I decided to go with. Both very fast and very easy and she will get the books to go along with each quilt. The Brown Bear quilt was going to be for our sweet baby that will be a year old in August, so a quick call to where I got it and I'll have another kit for you know who. Speaking of.....his mommy took this picture the other day. Just trying out a new hair do!! We were lucky enough to have a grandma sleepover Saturday night and what fun we had. He is such a happy boy and a good sleeper too! It was so fun to wake up to those happy cooing baby noises. Boy he looks more and more like his daddy every day....mommy even says so!!!

I have about half of the rows pieced for The Dutch Treat Quilt. This quilt is taking a bit longer than I thought, but I am hoping by the weekend to have it finished. Have any of you visited Abbey Lane Quilts? They have really, really cute patterns and one of my new favorite quilts, Glad All Over.....LOVE IT!! Look at that giant rick rack. You know I can't resist that :-)! Check them out.... and they also have a great blog. Just when you think you have all the wonderful patterns you need along comes a whole truckload of MORE!!!!!!!

Now on to the Looooooser Monday Report. First off thanks to General Geranium for keeping us all on track and keeping us motivated. If I wasn't checking in each week I would surely have gained so I am very grateful! My status for this week- I stayed exactly the same--what, the same are you kidding?? Geeeeeeez!!! Time to reflect---so there was the Japanese four course dinner, then there was breakfast with Katie where I had some wonderful cinnamon french toast and sausage...and then there was the part where I wasn't keeping track of what I was eating (actually that was pretty much the whole week). So in short, YIPEEEEEEEEEEE, boy am I lucky I didn't gain anything. It's all in your perspective :-)! Here's my new breakfast that I am hooked on. Wheat waffles -3 points for two waffles, and l/4 cup of syrup for 1 point. Last week I missed the part about sharing a soup recipe so here's one of my favorites.

Weight Watcher Taco Soup

1- 16 ounce can fat free chili

1- 16 ounce can black beans, drained & rinsed

1- 16 ounce can pinto beans, drained & rinsed

1 can diced Rotel tomatoes

2 Tablespoons taco seasoning

1 49 ounce can fat free chicken broth

3 large zucchinis (leave skin on) sliced thick

2 large yellow squash (leave skin on) sliced thick

1 cup carrots, sliced

1- 4 ounce can diced green chilies

1 large onion, chopped

Put the broth in a large pan, stir in the fat free chili & taco seasoning and let simmer 10 minutes. Add rest of ingredients and simmer until veggies are tender, approximately 30 minutes. 1 cup = 1 point. I have found this is better if you make it the day before you plan to serve it. The flavors are better. I also freeze it. I put 2 cups in 8 plastic containers.....so 8-2 point portions.

I have been over the top blabby today-opps!!! Wishing you all the luck of the Irish this week and take some time to get crafty!♥♥♥

I Just Couldn't Help Myself!!

Block #10 came today from the Fat Quarter Quilt Shop and I spent most of the day trying to ignore the envelope...I finally broke down and just had to get it done. Another great block. I think I am going to have to give in and sign up for their 2009 BOM!!! Then that lead to another BOM that I started in January. I got two of the three






done........these things are kind of like M & M's....very addictive!!! I did get 5 rows of the Dutch Treat Quilt together. You definitely have to pay attention on this one because each row feeds in to the previous fabric and on and on!

There will be no sewing happening tomorrow....seems like I need to finish up some things around the house!! Happy Thursday everyone.

Not So Much.......Looser Check In

Not so much quilting going on. I laid out my Dutch Treat quilt pieces, and labeled all the rows for sewing, but that as far as I got. Our cold (we both got it back) whipped back around and got us again, but happy to report we are much, much better.

There is some wonderful excitement in blogland. Monica, The Happy Zombie, is going to have her craft space featured in this magazine. I am so excited. I have stalked, I mean enjoyed looking at Monica's crafting space over the last couple years!! I have pre ordered my magazine so I can continue to stalk, I mean continue to enjoy her wonderful space!!!! There is info on her blog to pre order a copy. She also is going to have a project featured in the Spring 2009 edition of Quilts & More. We are so, so proud of you Monica! Then I came across Kristin's blog. Wow, she makes the most wonderful cakes. Scroll all the way down her blog to see all the pictures. They are something to see! Thanks to the Looser Challenge I am really wanting CAKE, CAKE, CAKE, CAKE, CAKE, so these cakes looked exceptionally wonderful to me!

On to my Looser Monday check in.........drum roll pleasssssssse------.6 (yes point 6), but it is a loss and I am taking it. My weigh in days are Thursday and I am sayin' right now this hasn't been the best week for me!!!! We went to a dinner party Saturday night a this wonderful Japanese restaurant with a group of friends...the kind that cooks the meal right in the middle of your party. Well it would have been extremely rude if I didn't eat everything that was put in front of me!!!

So there you have it!!!! Tomorrow I plan to work on the Dutch Treat, finish up my February Calendar Quilt strip and start keeping track of what I am eating again! Happy week everybodee!!!!

Slow and Steady......

That's the pace I'm at...slow and steady!!! I had a few rush binding jobs that had to get out, but then back to my slow and steady pace. The log cabin blocks have only two logs on each block to go (20 blocks), and then I got the rails cut for the Dutch Treat quilt....I am lovin' this quilt even before it's together. Then while digging through the quilt closet I found these tiny paper pieced star blocks all pieced and with all the bits to get er done!! So got it together, did some very simple cross hatching, bound, washed and dried...only 16 inches square but pretty cute!!

We had two wonderful days with baby Polka Dot, nothing better than that, well except for tomorrow I will be out visiting my girl for the day! The slate is clear this weekend, so I am planning on revving up the speed on the old Bernina!! Maybe I need to focus on one thing at a time...........nah, it's just not in me :-)!!! Happy, happy weekend to everyone, and don't forget to SPRING forward ♥♥♥

A Good Thing and Looser Monday Report

My friend Pat has started a Quilts Of Valor group. This is a national group dedicated to making quilts for all wounded and injured servicemembers. She had us so organized. Various stations were set up with all the blocks precut, bagged with instructions ready to go. Some volunteers were cutting and some piecing. We met in a local public library and the day was filled with many, many blocks being pieced by those of us there. Throughout the day people visiting the library were popping in and out and it was amazing the number of quilters visiting the library who will probably be joining us in the future. Starting a chapter is very easy, and this website gives you all the info and tips you need to get going. The two younger helpers in the corner of the mosaic picture happened in, and Pat showed them how to mark squares for making snowball corners. There is something for everyone to do even if you aren't a quilter. What a fun and rewarding day and for such a great cause. Of course I had to forget my camera but luckily Pat had hers. The quilt above was what I worked on with a friend of mine. We pieced all the blocks, Pat took them home and put it all together. Such a wonderful and rewarding project and hats off to Pat for getting this going!!!

Strike up the band...the bumpers are DONE!!!! Think this will have to count for one of my March finishes. It's one of those projects that I have to wondered why in the heck I didn't get it done before, but at least they are done and will be delivered today. The strips are all pieced on my Zippity Doo Dah quilt (Dutch Treat) and I am hoping to etch out some time today to sub cut all the blocks. What a happy easy quilt!

Now the LOOSER report.....5.2 lbs. This is a two week loss since I had missed a weigh in.... but I have to say since my Thursday weigh in the week has been disastrous (in the looser department that is). Could someone please tell me why you can go along with your head in a good place and then all of a sudden just fall apart?? Well that's what has happened to me!!! I am hoping to start today with a new attitude and get back on track. And a really big shout out to all the LOOSERS for all the support. It's nice to know we are all in this together with our fearless leader Miss Red Geranium at the lead!!Happy first week of March everyone!

PS .....there's this great honey bun giveaway over at

V and Co.!!!!