Living Vicariously through my friends...

Many of you know my good friend Susan Typpi who works as a flight attendant for Alaska as did her husband Esko (the pilot) until he retired. Susan is in New York every week which I love because we often share our love of NY and the Big Apple and our favorite restaurants and place to buy cool stuff when we are together at Lopez Island in the summer.

This week Susan went to dinner at Lester's Holts House. He is the brother of her friend Mike and so she was invited to go to Lester's (he is the Today show host.) She said he was just as gracious and lovely in person as he is on TV. Susan is at the right. The lady on the far left has been my flight attendant on many Alaskan flights I have been on. Susan has fabulous blond hair that we all love, she is very funny and very nice to everyone as well as being great at her job and an awesome friend.

It was fun to see just a bit of his apartment. :-) Don't you love it?

I feel like I was "almost" there. That cake looks good too doesn't it?

This is NOT Susan's first brush with someone famous. She has always said her first husband was Darth Vader.

I thought this would be fun to share with YOU. Please comment.

ANNOUNCEMENT-MARY LOU ON PODCAST!

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE PHOTOS AND HEAR A PODCAST OF MARY LOU, HERE IS THE LINK.
http://www.simplearts.com/blogs/index.php
Please comment after you hear it. It was fun to do and Annie is great!

More Adventures at Asilomar

This is Molly who is proud to have these two bolts of fabric as they had just come in that day and this was all that was left of them. This is what is so great about this shop...you realize if you snooze, you lose!

Above is Molly shopping and Jeanne Mills my friend who works at back porch and also takes groups to France to see the textiles, embellishments, markets, good food and a fabulous time (Jeanne lived in France and knows the language and all of the good places to go and see)
She is on my links on my website.

Above is the owner of Back Porch (Gail Abeloe). She has the best eye for fabric in the industry and it is a real experience going into her shop. I cannot believe the beautiful fabrics I come home with and I never see them at other shops again. I don't know how she does it but her shop is on my top five. If you go to Monterey Peninsula, you must stop! Tell her I sent you!


Above is Cheryl who used some fabric from her Grandmother's 50's stash for the background of these Hoochy blocks. Isn't it wonderful?

Above is Nancy Donahoe (easy to remember because she has my maiden name only a little different). Nancy has a new Granddaughter named Caroline and she is doing a quilt called "Sweet Caroline." Isn't this wonderful?

This isn't the most flattering photo of my friend Laurie but aren't her blocks great? She is doing a 4th of July theme about Lopez Island where she lives. Sharon in the foreground is cutting or studying or possibly sleeping.

Every morning before class we meet for the question of the day. Sometimes the question is what kind of ice cream do you like and other times it is about our past and this helps us remember good things and people. Even if you did not have the best family, there was usually a neighbor, a pet, a teacher or some other good memory there. This triggers all kinds of stories for quilts.

most people leave with way more memories than they knew they had.

Janet, our class photographer is taking me taking part of the class.


These girls are all ready for the question of the day. See how happy and attentive they are!

There are three attentive girls here and two that are looking for the coffee guy.

This day was teal or turquoise day. if you had a top that color, you wore it. If you didn't you didn't get into the photo. Aren't they lovely? I love teal...and each of these people.


This is Hoochy blocks being made for borders...note the tall tree...cool/

This quilt is called "I'm packing my bags and taking my tricks with me." Sylvia who is working on this lovely quilt was a teacher for years and each day of class, she wrote a little song to beging the day with. We all sang and it was a lovely way to begin a day of sewing and color and fun.

A WINNING RECIPE AND The JOY OF ATTENDING EMPTY SPOOLS AT ASILOMAR

Above is the jelly fish section of the Monterey aquarium. This aquarium is known worldwide and is a real attraction for those who visit empty spools seminars. Steinbecks Musuem and Cannery Row are also places to visit that week. There is so much to see and do..other than quilt and buy fabric and eat. There are many quilts done about the jelly fish once people see this in person.

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Below is Sandy who took my workshop at Empty Spools with her drawings blown up the right size. the quilt is about her cat Tinkerbell who she is crazy about. Obviously she is proud that she chose such a darling cat. The cat is happy too since Sandy loves her kitties and pets.

Sandy is a quilt teacher in the San Diego area and really talented....and nice also.

Below is Sandy's cat modeling for the quilt about her.

Breakfast at Empty Spools- Sandy asked for some salsa for her breakfast and they brought her two bowls...I guess they thought she really wanted alot of salsa

Sandy "thank you" for sharing your photos.

Interested in Empty Spools Seminars? Check out this website and mark it for next year.

Emptyspoolsseminars.com

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I love recipes as many of you know. I am always collecting them, trying them and thinking about cooking and baking. Who hasn't followed the Pillsbury contests? Well, this years winner sounded like something my Grandchildren would love and my older kids and friends too so tomorrow is baking day here. For those of you who might want to try a new recipe, I am sharing. Please let me know.

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Carolyn Gurtz's Pillsbury Bake-Off Million-Dollar Double Delight Peanut Butter Cookies
- makes 24 cookies -
Ingredients
1/4 cup dry roasted peanuts, finely chopped

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 cup Jif Creamy Peanut Butter

1/2 cup confectioners' powdered sugar

1 roll Pillsbury Create 'n Bake refrigerated peanut butter cookies, well chilled.
Procedure
1. Heat oven to 375°F. In small bowl, mix chopped peanuts, granulated sugar, and cinnamon; set aside.
2. In another small bowl, stir peanut butter and powdered sugar until completely blended. Shape mixture into 24 (1-inch) balls.
3. Cut roll of cookie dough into 12 slices. Cut each slice in half crosswise to make 24 pieces; flatten slightly. Shape 1 cookie dough piece around 1 peanut butter ball, covering completely. Repeat with remaining dough and balls.
4. Roll each covered ball in peanut mixture; gently pat mixture completely onto balls. On ungreased large cookie sheets, place balls 2 inches apart. Spray bottom of drinking glass with Crisco original no-stick cooking spray; press into remaining peanut mixture. Flatten each ball to 1/4-inch thickness with bottom of glass. Sprinkle any remaining peanut mixture evenly on tops of cookies; gently press into dough.
5. Bake 7 to 12 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Let cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheets to cooling rack. Store tightly covered.

This and That from Asilomar and Pacific Grove California

A beautiful border for a story quilt by Ginger. The colors are spectacular!

The table above and the birdhouse below is from my dear friend's Pat and Gorden's home in Carmel. They are lucky enough to live in one of the fairy tale cottages of Carmel.

The Red House below is one of my favorite Restaurants in Pacific Grove where Asilomar is located. My favorite food at this restaurant is lunch. They have a grilled cheese sandwich that is fontina, sweet red peppers, artichokes and it is served with aoili sauce. It also has a nice grain cold salad filled with good stuff. We split a piece of homemade German Chocolate cake that would rival Grandma's anyday. It isn't a low calorie place. :0)

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This darling birdhouse sits outside a nursery on the main street of Pacific Grove.