linen spray

I made my own linen spray this week.

 

 

Lemon & Lavender Linen Spray

 

30 drops essential oils - 15 drops lemon and 15 drops lavender

3 oz. rubbing alcohol

1.5 cups distilled water

 

Mix together. Put in spray bottle.

Shake bottle before each use.

 

Of course you can use whatever scents you prefer.

There is a lot of recipes for this on pinterest.

 

I saw an online shop that is selling the spray at

$12 for 24 ounces. YES! Same ingredients.

 

Now go make your own...

 

~b is for bargain

 

 

 



huh?

Can you spot what's different in this picture...

 

 

in one minute or less?

 

~b is for bovine



junk

I call these "Junkyard Animals"

made by Dakota Man.

 

 

LuLu the cow

 

 

Henny the hen

 

 

Dolly the sheep

 

 

And that's Ali Cat in the back.

 

~b is for barnyard



bras and blossoms

I'm taking a break today from the quilts I've been making for weeks now.

I discovered this piece of fabric tucked in

 amongst the hundreds of novelty prints I have.

 

 

 I decided it would make cute zipper pouches.

 

Polka dot lining...

 polka dots go with everything.

 

 

I put together this sample of juvenile prints

 for pillowcase kits that my sister and I will be making.

Presentation will be important

so I'm looking for ideas.

 

 

I can never walk by a display of fresh cut flowers

without coming home with a bundle.

What a great idea someone had there...

and affordable.

 

 

~b is for blossoms and brassieres

 

 

 

 

 

yikes!

Weekend traffic jam...

 

 

crazy

I've discovered a new use for my old scraps.

 

 

One I am pretty passionate about.

 

 

Making crazy quilt squares

 which will eventually be sewn together for a quilt.

 

 

Dakota Man has been picking through his scraps also.

I love his little scrappy cat and dog.

 

 

Together our scraps look pretty good together.

 

Have a good weekend!

I'm sure I'll be doing crazy.

 

~b is for bits and pieces

 

 

 



cast iron baking

Life is sweet...

and so are my cherry sweet rolls.

 

 

From the 2016 Cast Iron Baking book.

 

My bread making skills are a work in progress.

I wonder if I will conquer bread baking before I hit 80?

 

 

You use a cup of cherry preserves

 with a little lemon zest for the filling.

Mr b gave them a thumbs up.

 

 

Don't they look good in my black cast iron skillet?

 

It's a good thing I don't have a figure to maintain...

what fun would that be?

 

~b is for basic

 

 

 

 



spring again

WOW... We made it

 

 

Happy Spring!

 

 

How are you celebrating?

 

 

~b is for beginnings

 

 



Irish

Everyone's Irish on March 17...

so true.

 

 

 

 

The day has to involve a wee bit of Irish food,

corned beef hash for lunch.

 

 

Green squares for a lap quilt.

 

~b is for brogue

 



dealing with scraps

I've been playing scrap man this week.

 

 

I dug out novelty cottons for a quilt...

and boy do I have a lot of them!

I had no trouble coming up with over a 100 different prints.

 

 

I thought this quilt was the perfect project

to DEstash my little sewing sweatshop.

 

But then I saw the quilt shop up the road

was selling juvenile prints for $3 a yard.

I guess she had the same idea I was having.

 

 

Mr. b put a shelf above my sewing table years ago

so our cat Birdie could watch me sew and the birds at the same time.

Is it mean of me that I enjoy confusing children

with a cat named Birdie?

There is a little Maxine in all of us.

 

~b is for birdie

 

 

 

 

 



So long

Winters in the Dakotas are long...

VERY long.

 

 

I am thankful we both have hobbies to get us by.

Dakota Man works out in his woodshop

 until he needs to come in and warm up his toes.

 

 

He works between the garage, basement and woodshop.

 

 

 

Farmers will be glad to get in their fields too.

 

 

I love his newest projects here.

 

 

We are so ready for a little road trip...

maybe look for some cute quilt shops?

 

~b is for bump

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Mother Goose

I've been savoring these two pieces of flannel for a long time...

 

 

I finally got them out and crocheted a lace edge around it.

 

 

The back flannel is stripes in the same color way

 

 

with a knit hat to match.

 

 

What is a sweet baby post without a sweet baby?

 

 

~b is for baby

 

 

 

 



farm girl

More stash busting...

 

I am really getting a lot of mileage

 out of my Farm Girl Vintage book.

 

 

What's your favorite block?

 

 

I love the chicken!

or maybe the cream can...or the canning jars?

oh dear, the bowls are pretty cute too.

 

 

~b is for bewildered

 

 



brrr

It's looking like another snowy weekend

here in South Dakota.

 

We are a hardy breed and can take it...

with coffee and a good book that is.

 

~b is for being brave

baby

While I had the flannel pieces out

I decided it would be a good time to clean up some of the ends.

 

 

There is always a seven inch edge left over

 from the many receiving blankets I make

and I like to make them into quick burp rags for baby's.

 

 

Nothing fancy...

just two different flannel pieces sewed together and top stitched.

 

 

I sell them at a bargain price.

 

 

While I had my circular and double point knitting needles out...

 

 

I expanded my mind with a new beanie pattern.

Wrap and turn was a new stitch for me.

 

~b is for beanie