Graduation Day!

Congratulations Autumn Rose! What a beautiful day it was to see my 5 year old daughter Autumn graduate at the top of her preschool class. I have had the pleasure of being one of her teachers for the past 3 years and it has been a wonderful experience. Autumn is truly ready for Kindergarten. Good luck sweetie!
~thyme2sow

My favorites from the show

I can't get a slideshow to run so I decided to just post the pics of my favorite quilts from the quilt show. My all time favorite is the hand-pieced, hand quilted traditional design wall quilt 'A Trellised Arbor' pictured in the previous post with maker Dawn S. Hayes, a very nice woman indeed!

Be sure to click on these images for more detail!
~thyme2sow

A World of Quilts

Welcome to the Northern Star Quilters' Guild XXX Quilt Show in Somers, NY

What a fabulous show! Lots of beautiful quilts, many vendors and some really amazing speakers. What talent. I was so amazed at the level of creativity. Fiber art has come such a long way. Quilts are not just for the bed ladies... They are on the walls and on the floor! Made with recycled materials and sewn by hand and machine alike. The ladies in my family are hand quilters. I am the first generation of machine quilters, and I absolutely see the value of both endeavors. I LOVE QUILTS!!! I would have LOVED to touch them all, but I had to keep my hands to myself. Those were the rules...

I fell in love with so many of the quilts I saw today. I tried to win one, but I did not succeed. I did go home with a few fun things, though. We stopped at Pinwheels Quilt Shop at 2006 Albany Post Road, Croaton-On-Hudson, NY on the way there. I purchased a couple kits, but wanted to save myself for the Big Show. More pics to follow when I can figure out what is wrong with my slideshow!

~thyme2sow

Recipe: Honey Apple Cake

You're gonna LOVE this one! This is a recipe I love to share with family and friends. I found this recipe in an Old Fashioned Apple Recipes book while vacationing at our country house in Windham, NY a few years ago. I've tried a handful of the apple recipes, but keep coming back to this one. It's a hit and everyone always asks me for the recipe. Now I will share it with you! Enjoy!

Honey Apple Cake
3 eggs, beaten
2 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup honey
1 tsp. vanilla, OR 1/2 tsp. almond extract
3 cups sifted flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
3 cups chopped apples

In a large bowl beat together the first five ingredients. In another bowl sift together the dry ingredients and stir into liquid mixture. Beat well. Fold in nuts and apples. Lightly grease a 9 X 13 X 2-inch pan. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Bake 45 minutes.

optional topping...I just sprinkle powdered sugar on top and enjoy it warm.

~thyme2sow

Spring in my yard

What a beautiful Spring day on Long Island. The trees are all abloom and this mornings rain has left everything very green. I've started many different vegetable and flower seeds indoors in my sunny front window. This year my Autumn garden will include Heirloom Pumpkins, Chinese Pumpkins, Gooseneck Gourds, and mini pumpkins. I've started 3 different types of Sunflowers, some for cut flower bouquets and some just for their immense size. I love watching birds and butterflies dance up high while trying to get some of that lovely sweet seed.

I've already tilled the ground in my Autumn garden and have to get the "Old Monster" tiller going to get the new vegetable bed ripped up. Fortunately we here on LI have a great resource for composted material at no charge. All you have to do is drive up and fill your truck. My poor Durango has seen lots of filthy trip there. P.S. Don't look under the seats! I'm surprised I don't have plants growing INSIDE my car! Just kidding, well... no not really.

So the vegetables we will grow this year are as follows.
Sugar Snap Peas, Green Beans, Cherry and Beef Steak Tomatoes. Zucchini, cucumber, and mixed peppers. This year I am attempting to grow Luffa gourd. Did you know that it is a vegetable? Only to be eaten while young, green and tender! The older plants can be harvested and used in your spa bath! Don't forget the homemade lavender bath soap. Oh yeah, Eggplant too. I will make a trip to The Peconic River Herb Farm with friends soon. I intend to pick up some herbs there. I love this place! Visit www.prherbfarm.com for a great source of specialty plants and herbs!

~thyme2sow

Getting ready for the Somers, NY Quilt Show

How Exciting! I'm going to a Quilt Show in Somers, Ny this weekend! Woo Hoo! Look out fabric, here I come! Time to admire some of the most creative Quilts around. I'm hoping, of course, to win a Quilt...Wish me luck!

I was told that they also have a section for Cross Stitch! I would love to find some linen and maybe some hand dyed floss..

Click on the title of this post to learn more about the Somers, NY Quilt show!

~thyme2sow

Getting Organized!

Alright, it's a beautiful Spring day. The crocus in the garden are blooming and I have the itch to go outside and putter. Autumn has a friend over and the hubby is out working. Perfect opportunity to get some work done! I have sooooo many things I would like to tackle...

My grandmother gave me a half finished latch hook rug project I would like to teach Autumn to do. It's a beautiful rose design, all done in different shades of pink. Perfect for Autumn's room!

I found the perfect size box for my almost finished San-Man project... would like to finish it today...

I would LOVE to put a coat of paint on the Salt Box doll house, but I need to do some prep work first...

I just got a book from the library on miniature embroidery projects for the doll house. Sooooo cute! More to come on that...

One more thing. I would really like to make a few nice Spring dresses for Autumn. I have such pretty fabric and just need the inspiration to start.

Well, the sewing table is clear and I have organized a bunch of fabrics and have gone through my chart stash and decided to get busy. Wish me luck!

~thyme2sow