Disappointing Quilt

I finally finished putting the binding on my last quilt. I've had it back from the quilter for a while but haven't been motivated to finish it. This is the top.

This side is the back.  I had intended the quilt to be two sided. I've noticed that a lot of modern quilts in blogs and on Pinterest have white backgrounds with bold prints. That was the style I was aiming for.

I had asked the quilter to use white thread but she instead she used a variegated red and blue thread. She offered to tear it out but I think that would have damaged the quilt.

The back of the quilt does not have the look I wanted.

Checkbook Cover

A while ago, Dena gave my friends and I each a piece of fabric.  We are each suppose to make something using it.  I decided to work on that project today.  I needed something quick and fun to work on.  My last project was a disappointment and the bag I'm working on looks like it's going to take forever.  So today I made a checkbook cover and embellished it with metallic thread and a few rhinestones.

This is a photo of the interior.  It was an easy and fun project.  I found the tutorial here.

I received some very neat presents for Mother's Day.  Jeff made me this impressive martin house, more like a martin condo.  It has 6 apartments.  Hopefully it will be installed in the backyard in time for some birds to take up residence this summer.

Jenny sent me this cute pair of Polish pottery salt and pepper shakers.  I always have multiple sets of salt and pepper shakers on the stove top ledge.  They brighten up the kitchen.

These colorful mushrooms are part of the present Angela and Austin sent me.  They look great in the front flowerbed.  I think Ang gave me the frogs a few years ago for Mother's day.  They all seem to enjoy hanging together.

A Gift from Linda

Tomorrow the Millington Quilt Club is going by bus to the One Stop Shop Hop, on the Ferris State Campus in Big Rapids.  There are going to be 25 shops under one roof...a quilter's delight.
My friend, Linda made me this cute bag to take on the Shop Hop.  Linda said it was easy to make and only required two fat quarters.

The fabric Linda used is bright and happy.  She even embellished the front of the purse with a silk flower and button.  The zipper pull has a red bead and a big red rhinestone.

The back of the bag has a pocket trimmed in rick rack. 
I'm lucky to has such a thoughtful friend :)

I've been trying to stick to the Weight Watcher program. (Not always very successfully.)  I made this dessert which was only about one point.

The original recipe was similar to this recipe.  I use only part of a purchased sugar free angel food cake, sugar free Jello, Free Cool Whip, and fresh strawberries sweetened with Ideal (a no calorie sweetener).  It turned out to be a good light dessert.

Spring Flowers

This spring has been untypical. We had a couple of weeks of summer in March and then April was cold and windy. Usually I enjoy my spring flowers but this year blossoms and flowers didn't last long.  This is all that is left of my flowers, a pretty strawberry plant.

and a few tulips.  The grape hyacinths keep popping up even though I've tried to get rid of them.  They were taking over the flower bed.

Today my friend, Dena invited me to go with her to Pride and Country and  Abele's Greenhouse.  We both found some cute garden decorations at Pride and Country and enjoyed a tasty lunch in the  Barn. 

This is a photo of Abele's beautiful flowers.

This is Dena in front of the hydrangeas.

We had a great time picking out pansies and some perennials.