Instant Inspiration

Just arrived - the fall issue of Primitive Quilts and Projects. Every now and then I need an inspiration infusion, especially during this hot, lazy summer. This issue has it! Fifteen new projects to rejuvenate and remind you why you're a primitive fiber artist. Your free shipping pre-orders have almost all been posted, the remainder going out Monday morning. Thank you for pre-ordering!

Stay cool and inspired!

Boo-Boo Knee

This isn't the knee brace I use, but the picture tells the tale. I've had a bad knee since I was in my mid-thirties, but almost two weeks ago I think I really tore something badly. Have been pretty much laid up and barely able to walk! MRI tomorrow to see what's going on in there. I can't imagine not needing arthroscopic surgery, but am hoping that's not the case. Unfortunately, the small amount of orders I have in-house have been held up, and I apologize! I may be able to get caught up this week as the knee has gotten a little better with lots of bed rest, icing and pain meds.

Hoping to see the new Primitive Quilts and Projects magazine this week. Thanks for your pre-orders. I'll be refunding the PayPal customers for shipping charges when the orders get processed.

Thankfully the heat and humidity has subsided! That has also kept me from this computer, as the upstairs was like an oven and I just couldn't work in here. Hope it's cooler where you are, but unfortunately if you're not in the Northeast it looks like the heat wave continues in most of the country. Wishing you A/C and ice cream!

Keep cool!

Primitive Quilts and Projects

The Fall issue of the new quarterly publication, Primitive Quilts and Projects will be arriving soon. A new crop of 15 projects by your favorite designers to satisfy your primitive and folk art cravings! The premier issue is still available as well. Pre-order the new Fall issue and your shipping will be free! Orders pre-paid via PayPal will have shipping charges refunded to your PayPal account.

The July issue of The Wool Street Journal is here with only five copies available - first come, first served!

Hope you're enjoying your summer. Lots of people out in the garden (including me) and at the beach (me too, a little). Weather has been grand in Maine lately, hope you're having a lovely summer where you live.

Ciao!

Happy 4th of July!

Saving the best for last! These two patriotic rugs are Polly Minick designs. Check out Polly and her sister, Laurie Simpson's blog under More Fun Reads.

A friend's daughter posted on Facebook this morning, "Land of the free because of the brave!" Amen to that! Have a safe and happy 4th of July, everyone!

Happy Birthday, America - Part II

Once I started looking at patriotic hooked rugs I couldn't stop - here are a couple of other neat rugs to inspire:

This rug is called 4th of July House and is a Lucille Festa/American Country Rugs design. Lucille has loads of Americana rugs on her web site.

Ulysses is an old favorite of mine, a Lori Brechlin/Notforgotten Farm design. This model was hooked by Lori using the Oxford Punch with #8 cut wool strips. I love the subtle stars worked into the background. Check out Lori's blog under my More Fun Reads section. The Ulysses pattern can be purchased through Spruce Ridge Studios - Kris Miller's blog is also listed under More Fun Reads.

I'll have a few more patriotic rugs tomorrow!

Happy Birthday, America!

I searched for some patriotic hooked rugs in honor of the 4th of July and found a couple of great ones. They are both Sally Kallin, Pine Island Primitives designs. The wonderful eagle rug is called "Kathi's Eagle" and was hooked by Sally. Nothing says America like an American Bald Eagle!

This rug was recently hooked by my friend Rhonda Thomas - check out her blog, My Glory Stars, link is in my list of More Fun Reads. She does beautiful hooking! This Sally Kallin design is called "Olde Flag". I love the hit-or-miss tongues around the border.

Both designs are available on Sally's web site.

Hoping you have a safe and fun 4th of July!

Gremolata

Summer grilling season is here! We had to wait until our deck was repaired before we could get the grill out, and that was done last week. The wonderful aroma of grilled meat is once again filling the air in our neighborhood, and it's "good eats" time!

One of the awesome grilled meals we had included this fantastic condiment pictured above, called Gremolata. While the traditional version is a simple mixture of minced lemon peel, garlic and parsley, mine is a multi-herb concoction of all the herbs growing in my garden: flat leaf Italian parsley, basil, sage and rosemary. It's never exact, just a few leaves or so of each, minced finely. To that I add some grated lemon zest, minced clove of garlic, salt and pepper and enough olive oil to bring it all together in a paste. I then spread this on a butterflied pork tenderloin, which cooks in about 25 minutes on the grill. Absolutely heavenly! You NEED to try this!

In summertime I love mincing herbs, love the smell when I'm working with them, the scent lingering on my fingers. So the process of making the gremolata is part of the enjoyment.

What's your favorite summertime recipe?

Ciao!