iSleeve

My friend Leah is super crafty and a bit of a techie. She had a birthday recently, and I made her an iPad cover using John's tutorial on Moda Bake Shop.


I picked out fabrics in colors that remind me of Leah. I free-motion quilted it and lined it with a soft flannel.



Sadly, I don't own an iPad myself, so I didn't have one to model the sleeve for the photo. The closest I could come was a copy of Pigs Love Potatoes. Sigh.

Backseat Saints: Winner!

And the winner is...

Wendy P! Wendy actually lists Between, Georgia, as one of her favorite books in her Blogger profile, so I'm glad this book will be enjoyed in its new home.

I'm glad I introduced some of you to a new author! I hope you pick up some of Joshilyn's books. They're great summer reads.


Wendy P said... 12
I love her books too! Thanks for tipping me off to her blog. Signing up there too!

I wanted to get this book for my birthday, but winning it a month early would be super! Fingers crossed!
June 22, 2010 4:56 PM

Read it: Backseat Saints (A Giveaway!)

So it's no secret that Joshilyn Jackson is my favorite author. I love all of her books: gods in Alabama; Between, Georgia; and The Girl Who Stopped Swimming. Between, Georgia, is my favorite, but they're all awesome. I tell everyone I know to read her books. (Seriously, read them. You won't be disappointed.) I'm a loyal reader of her blog (read it too, it's hilarious) and consider myself her close, personal friend stalker.


Here we are at her last book signing in March 2008 with my son and Stephanie. Don't we look chummy?

Anyway. Her new book, Backseat Saints, just came out (and it's already on the NYT Best-Sellers list!). I missed her book signing last week when I was on vacation, but my friends report she was awesome. I ordered a signed copy and picked it up today.




Here's the part where Katie gets pushy.

I haven't started reading Backseat Saints yet, but I'm so convinced of its inevitable awesomeness that I got an extra signed copy to give to one of you.

Just leave a comment on this post (any comment will do, but make sure I have a way to reach you), and I'll pick a winner at random on Saturday morning.

I understand this is a companion book to gods in Alabama, so you might want to (re)read that before picking up this one.

(Did you notice how many times I used the word "awesome"? That's how you know I'm serious!)

Pinwheels in progress...

So I fell a little behind on Rachel's quiltalong. But I'm getting caught up! I have all of the blocks made and sewn together.



Rachel's pattern suggests adding a thin cream sashing around the whole quilt, but I've been seeing some really cool borders in the Flickr group. (Like this one. And this one. And this one!) I feel like this quilt has a lot going on already, but I love the look of these borders. What do you think? Add a scrappy border or leave it alone?

Fabric sale this Saturday

Remember the fabric sale I went to? I scored the great designer fabric at $4 a yard? Well Hollywood Baby is having another sale this Saturday (June 12). If you're in the Birmingham area, you should consider stopping by. The details are on their Facebook page.

Hollywood Baby Fabric & Sample Sale
Where: 280 Snow Drive, Suite 3, Homewood, AL 35209
When: Saturday, June 12 from 8:00 am to 11:00 am

FABRIC & SAMPLE SALE...this SATURDAY, JUNE 12th. 8AM-11AM. Fabric-$4/yd. Samples-70% off. GREAT SELECTION & GREAT DEALS!! Spend $100 & you will be registered in a drawing to WIN a $50 GIFT CERTIFICATE to use at a Fall/Winter 2010 Hollywood Baby trunk show!!! MORE SELECTION this time! We're making a run to our manufacturer and will bring back bolts of fabric from this past season to sell! Don't miss out!

It's probably a good thing I won't be able to go this time...

A few good recipes

aka See? Sometimes I cook!

Justin has been lamenting the inferior quality of store-bought salsa. I came across this recipe for Restaurant-Style Salsa from The Pioneer Woman and figured it was worth a try. It's delicious. Definitely the best salsa I've made (wait...have I made salsa before?). Possibly the best I've eated. It's definitely spicy enough to make your nose run a little. If that's not your thing, you might cut back on the jalapeno or use mild Rotel. Oh, and this makes A LOT of salsa. Plenty for a party.

Tonight I made Tequila-Lime Chicken (sans tequila cause I'm not about to buy a bottle of alcohol for a recipe), and it was really good. This is another recipe from The Pioneer Woman. Seriously, if you need dinnertime inspiration, check out her blog. We grilled the chicken breasts and then sliced them up and ate them on tortillas. Very good. Super easy.

And for dessert...
I've been thinking about these Pudding-wiches for a while. My mom used to make them for our family reunions in the summer. They're kid-friendly and couldn't be easier. I have a batch in the freezer and Luke and I have been snacking on them this week. I used sugar-free pudding and skim milk, so I imagine they're not too horrible for you.

Pudding-wiches
1 1/2 cups cold milk
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1 pkg (4 serving size) instant pudding and pie filling
24 graham crackers, broken in half

Add milk gradually to peanut butter in a deep narrow bottom bowl, blending till smooth.

Add pudding mix

Beat slowly on low speed of electric mixer till well blended, about 2 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes.

Spread filling on 12 cracker halves, top with remaining crackers.

Freeze until firm.


Mmm. Frozen peanut buttery goodness. I think I'll have one now...

Book sling project (yes, more robots)

I love this project from Penny Carnival. It's very easy and super useful. Plus it looks cute! I know I've sworn off of buying robot fabric, but I saw this new Beep Bots fabric and thought it would be perfect for a book sling. Resistance was futile.

I appliqued Luke's name on the sling using the double dots fabric from the same line. In hindsight, I wish I'd used a solid fabric so his name would show up better. Alas.


You just slide 4-foot-long dowels into the little pockets, then attach them to the wall using these cool double curtain rod brackets. I got the dowels at Lowe's. I picked up the brackets at JoAnn's because they were on sale for $4 for the pair.


Luke always ends up with a pile of books on his bed. Now he can keep them in a place he can reach.


Hmm. Looks like I've just about run out of things to cover with robot fabric....


I know my son looks like a studious little model here, but in the spirit of keeping it real...

Most of the pictures turned out like this.

Check out more finished projects on Amy's blog.

Read it: The Help

I realize I'm quite possibly the last person in the known universe to read this book, so I'll just pile on to what you've probably know already. It's a great book. Incredibly well written, with characters who will stay with me for a while. I loved reading the accounts of all of the different women, with Celia being my favorite.

Now, if I can just give an open memo to Hollywood: Please don't make the movie suck. I looked at the IMDB page. Reportedly Emma Stone has signed on as Skeeter (you may know her from Zombieland) and Viola Davis will play Aibileen. Bryce Dallas Howard will play Hilly, and Octavia Spencer will be Minny. Someone on the IMDB message board recommended Kristin Chenoweth for Celia, to which I reply, "Yes, please!"

Hey, if you like reading books, you should check out my sister's friend's Web site, Girls Gone Reading. She has lots of book reviews and an online book club, where you can discuss books like The Help.