Quilts in a to-do stack (and a crisis)

Here are the 4 quilts I have been working on this week (besides the spiderweb one and Mimi's quilt)... Two of them (the red/white and green/white ones) are only awaiting bindings.
The red and cream ones are tormenting me right now. I love their French fabrics and I enjoyed making up my own patterns for them, but the stippling in the red thread irks me and I'm in the process of ripping it ALL out to try again and start over with a different style. (1 hour to sew, 3+ to remove)...
I'm thinking this one may want diagonal stripes for quilting? Or maybe some rectangles that echo the shapes? I dunno. Got suggestions?

Art organization - your input...

I was asked recently by two different friends for my input on how to organize kids craft supplies. (I laughed out loud upon receiving the requests)... 2 days later, Mimi pulled out our art drawer in the hall (it's a 100 year old drawer, heavy and hard to navigate) - and i realized it was time for some new organization.
I've since redone the drawer (and the one below it as well) - though it never lasts long since the kids have free access to it and it's supplies.
I once heard a professional organizer talk on organizing kids' supplies and the woman said, "those rolling carts are just great! You can just roll them right into a closet or guest room when they are not in use" (I laughed and said, "um, what about those of us who live in small, old houses with no closets or extra rooms?") She looked at me sweetly and said, "so put it in the garage..." (we don't have a garage... We have a tiny guest house that a friend lives in)
Haha.
My point is that not all of us live in houses with lots of room. Many of us live in big cities with small condos and cramped apartments. Old houses aren't the easiest to navigate organizing... That said, I'd love to hear about what you have done to organize. Any tips? Send a link to a pic and I'd love to compile some (corporate speak) "best practices" for a post.

And don't forget to fill out the survey, it's been amazing to read your answers! I'm getting good ideas for things to do and am letting go of some insecurities I had about the blog as it is... You readers rock!

Link to the Survey post: http://ow.ly/2zLOy

First three quilts

Sonja posted the most lovely pics of my first three quilts over on her blog. 

I'd almost forgotten she had taken these....

I'm currently in the process of finishing up 5 more quilts. I've been on a roll lately. Pics to come.

Please help me improve my blog....

Hi friends!
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I'm hoping to add some more to the blog and want to know where I should focus my efforts. Thanks so much!

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libby

Mimi sews a quilt

This is something I didn't imagine happening for a while, but Mimi and I finished her very first quilt last night. She picked the fabrics, helped me cut them out...

She took the cute picture of the squares lined up on the floor in her design layout - and we used that as a tool to refer to for layout as she (with NO help other than a watchful eye) sewed the entire quilt top.
I appliqued the owl she requested, and I also did the binding (with her breathing down my neck)... But she even helped tie the quilt by hand sewing.
I'm seriously impressed that she can say she made a quilt almost entirely with her own skills before she was even six years old.

To understand the process though, you have to know that we literally made this in 10 and 15 minute increments over about 6 weeks. She sewed only one square to another as an evening's activity. When you think of it that way, it's not too inconceivable.
Still, mad props to the crazy little Design Director. Not a bad summer project!

Marcel the Shell with Shoes on

This little video of happiness has launched a whole new series of bedtime stories and short films around here... but none of them are as unbelievably cute as the original.
You needed this today.

We LOVE Zucchini. (even my picky picky kids)

I've had this conversation with so many friends and neighbors lately that it merits a blog post to share with everyone. I have two very picky eaters and zucchini is a tough veggie to get into them. This time of year it seems to be something that everyone is looking for recipes to use it in... so here's my zucchini post.

Recipe #1 - PASTA SAUCE
I literally take store-bought pasta sauce (my faves are the Classico brand) and I blend in zucchini and parmesan cheese. I prep the zucchini by cutting it into chunks, microwaving it in a covered dish for 3 minutes and then add it to the sauce.  I make sure it's pureed really well and my kids eat it even faster than they normally eat pasta. And mommy seems to smile bigger when serving it, too.

Recipe #2 - ZUCCHINI CUPCAKES
I can't take credit for these, nor would I try, but I will tell you that we are on our third batch of these this summer. My kids beg for them. I actually make them without the frosting that is recommended - instead we warm them in the microwave and butter them up as muffins.  The picture is not mine (as we don't use the frosting)... but it's super pretty and they're really easy to make... you can find the recipe by clicking here.

Recipe # 3 - ZUCCHINI SOUP
My kids won't touch soup. I tell them they are crazy in the head, because this is so good. When we make it here, we often make double batches because my hubby and I love it so much.
It's my mother-in-law's recipe, but J says I do a pretty good job of it on my own. (duh, it's a little hard to mess up, but that's okay, I'll take the compliment) - you can serve this cold or hot with sour cream garnish.

1/2 c. onion
3 Tbs butter
6 c. chicken broth
1/2 c. brown rice
5 med zucchini, sliced (approx. 8 cups)
salt and pepper
1 1/2 tsp wine vinegar
1/2 tsp dill weed
sour cream
Brown onion in butter. Add broth, rice, zucchini, and cool till done.  Salt and pepper to taste. Add vinegar and dill weed. Puree in blender. Serve with a dollop of sour cream.
(may be frozen)

Recipe #4 - ORZO, TOMATO AND ZUCCHINI TOSS
This one is from my mom and I love how fresh it tastes. It is the perfect pasta salad to serve to guests or to take on a picnic.  It also goes well as a side to grilled or breaded chicken. (Plus it's pretty)

3 cups cooked orzo
1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
1 cup chopped zucchini
2 minced garlic cloves
1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1/4 tsp salt

Heat 1 tsp olive oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat.  Add tomatoes, zucchini and garlic. Saute 2 minutes. Stir in Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes.  Saute 1 minute or  until zucchini is crisp-tender. Combine tomato mixture, 3 cups hot cooked orzo and 1/4 tsp salt. Toss well.

Colored pencils

I don't know about everyone else's kiddos, but mine are at the edge of sanity. It seems to be an end of summer thing. They've been so challenging these past few weeks that I've had to lay down the law today. We cancelled today's trip to Disneyland and even had to turn down two impromptu superfun playdates. It was a hard morning. The afternoon got better though and when I pulled out a set of colored pencils to sketch out some quilt ideas I had, the kids ran over and started drawing too. Not sure why snails were the order of the day, but we definitely got some cute art out of the inspiration...

3 hour quilt top

I wanted to see if I improvised with some favorite leftovers and a large block size if I might be able to make a quilt top on a sunday afternoon. (it's possible) very simple. Good fabric choices make it even easier.

Mimi sewing by hand

Mimi, aka the Design Director, is a very busy little girl. She has her momma's energy level, which isn't hyper at all, but it never ever stops.
She also has a brain that does well with tasks that help her organize her thoughts, as they can be scattered, also like Momma.
The problem when you are five is that fine motor skills aren't fully fired up yet and since she's so much like me, she tends to excel in activities that are more artistic than athletic. (read: I am horrible at sports. It's hideous. I feel bad for passing any portion of that on)
So keeping busy can be frustrating for a busy soul without an outlet. Today, Mimi struggled through the afternoon, unable to do what she wanted to do creatively, until we stumbled onto this inspiration.. She saw a sewn beaded crystal heart my friend gave me this summer and decided she wanted to make one.. It was her first time using a sharp needle or beading anything, but after I showed her - she picked it up pretty quickly. Much faster and better than I'd expected. We even brought the project with us to our concert picnic this evening. I'm very impressed.