April favorites, 2018 including baby pics
Happy Monday! I have some April favorites to share with you today. It’s been a while since I’ve done a monthly favorite blog post, and to refresh your memory, these are random things worth sharing with my friends that can be about quilting, gardening, home decor, crafting, or cooking. And I have some baby pictures to show you from our recent trip to see our newest granddaughter, so keep reading!
Let me start with a new ruler that I just used on a recent BOM block, the Cats Cradle Tool
by Creative Grids.
This ruler makes it so quick and easy to create the corner units you see in my block below. Plus they come out perfect because they’re slightly oversized and then trimmed to the perfect measurement. Love!
I am in love with Corey Yoder’s latest fabric line, Pepper and Flax. The sunny yellows and grassy greens remind me of a field full of summer dandelions. You can find pre-cuts, petite bundles and yardage at Fat Quarter Shop or your local quilt shop. Corey has also designed some beautiful patterns to go with this fabric collection.
After seeing this Home, Love, Dreams embroidery project in progress on Instagram, I decided to order a kit for myself. You’ll love everything you see on this Etsy shop from Lolli & Grace. The kit comes with everything you need to start stitching, so it’s a great project for those summer vacation trips.
It’s time to start planting in the vegetable garden here in Northern California. I just finished that task yesterday. Two of my favorite tomato plants are Early Girl and Sun Gold. Early Girl produces sweet, medium sized, red tomatoes much earlier than many varieties and it keeps cranking the whole season. Sun Gold is my favorite cherry tomato; it produces golden yellow and orange fruit that is perfect for snacking on. Do you have a favorite tomato variety? I’m looking for a few more to add to my list.
I made this Ramen Noodles with Marinated Steak and Broccoli last month and it was delish! The recipe comes from Heidi at Foodie Crush, and it’s a good one for adults and kids, too. I think I’ll keep this one in my monthly rotation.
My last (but definitely not least) monthly favorite is my two granddaughters. Baby Clara will be 4 weeks old tomorrow and it was a slice of heaven being able to hold her for hours and hours. I love seeing the expressions on her face change as she sleeps and the sounds a baby makes – pure delight!
Big sister, Amelia, is at such a fun age where the world revolves around her family, including her grandparents. I am appreciating this stage of her little life because I know it is fleeting! Amelia loved being able to change her doll’s diapers, along with wiping up with her doll wipes that Grandma made. I see doll dresses, hats and diaper bags in my sewing future.
Since I returned from Austin, I’ve been busy trying to keep up with all of the BOM’s and QAL’s that I’m following. I’ll show you my latest blocks on Wednesday. Plus I’ve been designing a Summer wall hanging that is so bright and cheery. What do you think of a Summer Fun quilt along for June? I’ll check my schedule, but I think it should work out just right!
That ruler looks pretty nifty. May have to think about getting one. That dish you made looks pretty tasty. I’m not a fan of ramen noodles but it looked good and those baby’s are adorable. Thanks for sharing
What beautiful granddaughters and what fun, love them that little.. I have two, one nine & one who just turned 13, can’t believe where the time went, we have so loved every minute with them, lucky for us we live near them..
Great blog, always look forward to reading it & seeing everything you post ..
~sigh~
Beautiful grandbabies!
Little Clara is just beautiful and so alert.
Looking forward to a fun June quilt along! !
The “Royals” aren’t the only ones with a precious new baby! Congratulations to all. Amelia is really growing. So glad you had this time together.
Your TN friend
Diane
I love LolliandGrace! Her kits were my life saver last summer. I am glad you got one for yourself. You are going to enjoy every bit of it. Your new grandchild is adorable! It is so fun to see pictures of you and your family.
What sweet girls! I am in for a sew along!!
Thanks for the review of the ruler and other great links! And, especially, glad to see that new grand and big sister!
Thanks for sharing the beautiful pictures of your granddaughters. Adorable ! A summer quilt a long would be wonderful. I need a new project and something new to hang in my sewing room.
Love all your post !
Oh my, what wonderful family pictures, the girls are gorgeous, thank you for sharing. It is so difficult living a distance away from your grandchildren, mine are 350 miles away, they are the jewels in my life my treasure. Those baby cuddles are so precious, you have to savour the moment and feast on the memories. We grow Italian tomatoes in our glasshouse. San Marzano for cooking and salad, they make the best sauce and freeze well. Also Principe Borgese a cherry tomato, delicious and cute as they have a little pixie point at the bottom! Thanks as always for all your inspiration.
Love your pictures, such pretty girls. You might try Sew Sweetness web sight. She makes the most wonderful bags, all kinds excellent instructions. Sara Lawson is her name. She has a free pattern called the Oslo bag which is great. I have five of them. One for a friend, three for my grandchildren, and finally one for me.
I love all your ideas and Quilting projects. BUT, Clara and Amelia stole the show‼️
Oh, Julie!!! Thanks for sharing those precious little girls with us, those of us whose time with our little girls is long gone!!! I am so glad for you to have had that time with your little family. God bless, and keep the Son shining in your life!
All of this email is bright and cheery. The babies are little loves. You are a blest family. KIsses to both. Thanx for sharing!!!! Mari Thomas xo
I think Im in for a BOM at the moment I have one on board “Gnome for the Holidays” and its great Im loving it, I usually only do one a year but Im always ready for something else to either….. look at, do or put up on my computer and keep for later.
Yes your grandchildren are lovely, enjoy them as we all know they grow up so very quickly. We are going to see our grandson (along with his school) march in the Anzac day March this year, a first for him.
Happy days to you and yours
Hugs from Queensland Australian
GayleFZ
Enjoy those babies! They sure don’t stay little long….. my favorite cherry tomato is sweet success 100. They are very sweet and grow branches with tomatoes opposing each other. One year they grew to 7 foot tall. They are delicious and when I have more than I can eat, I cut them in half and roast them with olive oil and garlic. Really tasty over pasta!
What a sweet family! Congrats to all! Thanks for sharing your love! Love your new ruler gotta try it , my points don’t point!♀️
I too have a Clara granddaughter, and she is a gem! Got her sewing at 4 years of age and at 9 she made herself a single bed size quilt. Trust your Clars and Amelia (my mother!) will be gems as well. Blessings to all.
Hello Julie; I just loved seeing the pictures of your granddaughters. I still need to finish my Grand Nieces baby doll basket. It got pushed aside for something else. LOL. I always enjoy your posts they are full of good things. Thank you for sharing all that you do and have a great day!
Amelia is growing up so fast and is so tuned in to her baby doll and new quilt. Baby Clara can’t be 4 weeks already! Grampa must be telling her a great story Such beautiful granddaughters, Julie.
And a June quilt along sounds like just what I need after this horrible northeast Ohio winter
Your grand daughters are just beautiful, thank you for sharing pictures of your sweet family.
Beautiful grand babies, Clara was definitely enjoying whatever Grandpa was telling her.