the Modern Prairie Girl: May 2015

Saturday, May 23, 2015

Modern Prairie Sewing Success Story from The Sewing Basket!

I opened up my email the other night to find one of the sweetest, most encouraging reviews of

Modern Prairie Sewing possible!

The review came from Lou Ann of The Sewing Basket.

"Hi Abi, I just wanted to write to say that I have been selling your book at homeschool shows and quilt shows since it came out. I buy it at United Notions.... Anyway, I teach sewing when I'm not doing shows and I have just finished a year of working through your book with 6 teen girls. They (and I) loved it! 3 of them made the Riverwalk skirt! No easy task, but a very great pattern. I have used other books, but wanted to let you know that your book is excellently written and illustrated! I am ready for your second book! In the works? Thanks again for a great book!

Lou Ann Rudeseal, The Sewing Basket, Arlington, TX"

She sent me the above picture of her cute sewing girls in their Riverwalk skirts with the note:

"I'm serious when I say we truly loved your book!!"

I loved looking through Lou Ann's photos on her Facebook and spotting numerous projects that her sewing students made using Modern Prairie Sewing. They did a fabulous job. And three cheers for those girls who made two of the most time consuming and thought provoking patterns in my book! You made the Jael bag [pictures above] and the Riverwalk skirts beautifully and perfectly!

Thanks so much for sharing with me, Lou Ann!

Hugs to you and your sewing girls down in Arlington, Texas!

-Abi

Monday, May 18, 2015

busy bee

I've been so busy sewing lately!

I have to confess, it's been even more fun finishing a project

now that I have my new labels to sew on the finished item!

I actually went back and sewed labels onto two of mom's bags.

Both of which are from Modern Prairie Sewing.

The second picture? That's a sneak peek!!

xo Abi

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Nanny's Fantastic Sloppy Joe's

I know. I know. This blog is all about sewing and crafty stuff. But I was so happy with the rave reviews I received after I made my Nanny's Sloppy Joe's today, that I decided I should share it with all of you. I can promise you that it'll be a quick weekend meal!

First. No one can make a Sloppy Joe like our Nan can! She seriously has the touch. So you are mighty lucky that I'm letting this recipe out of the bag. Second. What I love most about this recipe is the fact that nothing is measured. Absolutely nothing! You throw everything in the skillet and then taste. Third. You can call this by more than one name. It's been known to be called "Sloppy Sam" too. Actually, we will run through a list of names before we decide what kind of sloppy we'll be eating that meal!!

Now for the recipe....

Nanny's Sloppy Joe's

1 1/2 pounds ground beef browned and drained of grease.
Throw on top of your beef:
                                  -ketchup
                                  -little bit of mustard
                                  -little bit of vinegar
                                  -brown sugar
                                  -garlic salt
Mix. Taste. Voila!

Hints for yummy Sloppy Joe's: If your mixture tastes too sweet, add a little bit more of vinegar and mustard. If your mixture is too dry, add ketchup. If your mixture's not sweet enough, add brown sugar.

Enjoy! And feel loved that I shared it with you.
xo Abi

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

My Grandma Quilt

My great-grandma Kingery had made a stack of hexagon patches in the 1970s.

Grandma had made the patches using leftover fabrics from the clothes and quilts

that she'd made for her ever-growing family.

Nanny brought them down the last time she came. We laid them out on the counter and we girls took turns picking out our favorite patches.

We all agreed that having little quilts with a little bit of Grandma's work would be more

enjoyable than trying to piece one big quilt that only one sister could use and love on.

For our quilt top backgrounds, we used a vintage white flat sheet.

A few of us found vintage sheets on Etsy and used them for our quilt backs.

I hand quilted around each hexagon patch with Perle cotton thread.

I love how my Grandma quilt turned out!

Working on it made me think of past stories I've heard of Grandma.

The way she'd make her melt-in-your-mouth biscuits, the way she'd call up the stairs to let my Paps and his little family that he'd brought back for visits know that breakfast was on the table, the way she always wore her hair in a bun, the way she loved her children, the way that she worked hard.

Yep. I love my Grandma quilt!

xo Abi

Saturday, May 9, 2015

Nanny's Perfect Pillowslip {a tutorial}

When Nanny came for a visit in March, we decided to make new pillows for our living room.

While Nan measured the pillow forms and cut the correct pillowslip dimensions, I whipped them out on the sewing machine. After making a couple, I was completely smitten!! Nan's pillowslips are beyond easy to make and take less fabric than the normal envelope style pillowcases.

What you'll need:

-pillow form... go straight to PillowCubes to find great, high quality pillow forms!

Use the coupon code MarieMadeline10 to receive 10% off your order too. You're welcome!

-sew on velcro

-2 pieces of fabric

matching thread, sewing machine, scissors

1. Measure your pillow form and add 1/4" seam allowance to 3 sides. Add 3/4" to one side.

2. Pin your fabric right sides together, leaving a long opening on the edge that you

added 3/4" seam allowance to.

3. Sew around your pillowslip, using the proper seam allowance. Cut your strips of velcro a littler longer than your opening. Pin and sew down both sides, so your velcro is secure.