Blue

I learned today that I did not get the position I had interviewed for last week.  To say I am disappointed is putting it mildly.  I really wanted that job and know I could have been a success.  I'm left scratching my head.  They said I didn't have enough technical experience but they never asked me any technical questions during the interview.  I had studied and crammed for two days and not a single question.

I'm so bummed.

Chicken Parmesan

This recipe is courtesy of the Barefoot Contessa, Ina Garten.  It turned out sooooo darned good.  You have to try it yourself!
Start with boneless skinless chicken breast halves.  Hopefully your butcher will hear you correctly when you say 4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves, and not hear 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts.  Now I have TWICE the meat I intended:

 Using my favorite meat tenderizer:

I beat the heck out of the breasts:

Until I had a pile of 1/4" thick chicken breasts:

Next, seasoned flour, beaten eggs, then seasoned bread crumbs with Parmesan cheese:

Don't you love the ancient vintage Corelle dish??

Next I cooked the chicken breasts in 1 T Butter and 1 T Olive Oil -- couldn't be simpler!

I added boiled sweet potatoes and some applesauce:

 Such a yummy Sunday dinner!

Minnie Pearl

Just call me Minnie Pearl.  I got home from my job interview and shopping at Nordstrom and Macy's and decided I needed to change out of my interview clothes and into my PJs.  Know what???  When I whipped off my blouse I realized I had left my hangtag on the sleeve!  Can you believe it??  What a dope.  Thank goodness that my arms are too flabby to take my jacket off so no one at the interview ever knew!

The interview went well and I hope to hear something positive tomorrow.  Keep your fingers crossed!

One Down..

...One to Go!!  My roommate interviewed yesterday morning for a new job and got word later that afternoon that they wanted to hire him!  Hip Hip Hooray!!

That leaves just one Jones looking for a job and tomorrow I have an interview with a large company for what appears to be a great job.  Wish me luck!  I'm off to prepare.  Got new clothes, new handbag and wallet -- can't wait.

Space Bags

I used my new vacuum on some Space Bags and organized some pillows, a comforter, and finally some yarn.

Before ~~~

After ~~~

I deliberately left the shopping bag from Ewe-Nique Knits behind the bag for reference.  It's amazing how it shrinks the bag down but man, is it heavy!  Several bags ended up in the white tote container you see behind the shopping bag.  

Next, I think I'll be setting my winter sweaters aside for the season -- as long as winter is actually over!  I might be doing this with some roving too -- worried though, that the roving won't bounce back once the bag is reopened.  Any thoughts on this??

Sunday Dinner

Today I made Short Ribs with Wine & Cream for dinner for the first time.  I used yet another recipe from the Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond.  It was incredibly easy and soooo good.  I had half the ribs required in the recipe but Ree is cooking for many more people than I am.

I started by seasoning the meat, then braised them for 1 1/2 minutes on each side.

Then I removed the ribs to a plate and started working on the broth/wine mixture to cook the meat completely. The wine was strictly for the pot, not the cook.  At least not until dinner.

The Montes Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile is a super bargain at Costco.  Only $7.99 and rated 90 points by Robert Parker's Wine Advocate.

Into the liquids I added 2 T of chopped Rosemary -- mmmm, so fragrant!

Add the beef back into the pot, cover and simmer for 3 hours.

Oven roast button and Baby Bella mushrooms once the three hours are up.

Next I removed the meat again, added 2 T of coarse grained mustard and 1 C of heavy cream to the wine/stock liquid.  After a few minutes of reducing, the meat was re-added to the pot and the lid placed back on it.  

Plate the mushrooms first, then the beef and top with the gravy.  Smashed potatoes complete the delicious dinner!

Super Cute Case for Eyeglasses

I discovered a tutorial for the cutest, YEP CUTEST!, eyeglass case ever.  I want to make at least one and I know you will too!  Yesterday, Melissa from the Polka Dot Chair blog posted her tutorial and I can't wait to make one.  Hop over to the Riley Blake blog for the tutorial.

The Last of the IQF Pictures...

...I promise!

The last group of pictures were from the various Modern and Pictorial exhibits.  I enjoy much of the design and fabric selection but often stand puzzled by the execution.  Well done is still a requirement in my book, even if the design is wonky.

This one by Heather Jones of Cincinnati, Ohio, is very calming to me with the use of the pale grey fabric as opposed to all white with the blue

 I love this one, Opposing Triangles by Katie Pedersen of Seattle, Washington.  Can you see the quilted triangles on the sides of the quilt?

This one is called 5-HTP Squared, by Jennifer Carolton-Bailly of Portland, Oregon.  Don't you love the colors?

Down Pat by Pat Budge of Garden Valley, Idaho, reminded me of a cotton rug.  The quilting made it seem like one of those wonderful hand-made rugs you see at art fairs.

This is Dream Fields by Janet Steadman of Langley, Washington.  The blocks remind me of Marcia Derse fabrics!

And finally, here are some pictorial quilts that I enjoyed at the show.

Marmalade Sunset by Ludmila Aristova, from Brooklyn, New York. I love the Chrysler Building in Manhattan.

Next is Raven Blanket by Lynn Czaban, from Vancouver, Washington.  It is based on a 1910 photograph by Edward Curtis.

This is Prairie Fire by Ruth Powers of Carbondale, Kansas.

I have been a fan of Hollis Chatelain (Hillsborough, South Carolina) for many years.  This piece, called Silk, is a wonderful depiction of the silk making process.

And lastly, Sure Signs of Spring, something my friend Sue and I were searching for when we visited Cincinnati last weekend.  The quiltmaker is Victoria Gray, from Heffley Creek, British Columbia, Canada.

IQF Show Pictures, Part 2

The International Quilt Festival attracts entries from quilters all over the world.  One of the great things about a show like this is the opportunity to see what quilters around the world are creating.  Some of my favorites were submitted by Japanese artists.  Their fabric selections and execution amaze me.

Viva Quilt was made by Noriko Nozawa from Chiba-City, Chiba, Japan.

Here's another Japanese beauty. Flowers in My Heart, made by Noriko Kido, from Azumino, Nagano, Japan.  Noriko was inspired by famed quilter, Marie Webster.

Flower Quartet was made by Yasuko Sugaya from Ichibara, Chiba, Japan.  It was an honorable mention in the Mixed Techniques category.  I think it's truly masterful.  Yasuko made it for her daughter, hoping it would bring her happiness.  If it were mine I'd be happy!

One final wonderful quilt from Japan.  This quilt won first place in Traditional Piecing -- I just love it!  It's called Departure (perfect for a Mariner's Compass, eh?) and was made by Kiyomi Takayanagi from Kitanagoya, Aichi, Japan.

Next is At Sunset-At Sunrise, made by Gabrielle Paquin from Orleans, France.  She loves working with striped fabrics.

I've been making hexies lately, but I KNOW I could never make anything like this!  This is Wisteria, made by Anna Maria Schipper-Vermeiren, from Klaverkamp, Vianen, The Netherlands.  Before you ask, there are 3,800 hexagons in this beautiful quilt!

This amazing quilt is called ElaTED, by Ted Storm from 'S-Gravenzande, The Netherlands.  Inspired by Delftware, it was really beautiful.  She won the Founder's Award for Traditional Applique.  P.S. Yes, Ted is a woman!

More pictures tomorrow....

IQF Show Pictures, Part 1

This year's quilt show was beautiful and packed with inspiration.  Unfortunately, not everyone was as excited as I was:

Here are some of the quilts I enjoyed the most.

This is Circus Stars by Teresa Justice from Rock Hill, South Carolina.  I love the big stitch quilting.

This is Grandfather's Flower Garden by Margit Kagerer, from Carefree, Arizona.

Next is Floral Mandala (2) by Ita Ziv from Pardes Hana, Israel.  I love the variegated thread used in the quilting.

I love the colors used in this whimsical wall hanging by Tommy Fitzsimmons of Long Beach, Indiana.  P.S.  Tommy is a woman.

I am always intrigued by the portrait quilts.  I'd love to try one some day.  This one is called Sixteen Tons by Sue King of Lancaster, Ohio.

Close up of the wonderful detail.  It's amazing to me how when you stand back you see a 'picture', not a quilt.

This is In The Pink by Cher Cartwright of South Surrey, British Columbia, Canada.  She made it as part of her healing process following 9/11.

Tutti Fruitti Village was made by Susan Bleiweiss of Upton, Massachusetts.  The design was sketched by Susan using an application on her Ipad.  So cute!

 And last for today, Intersections by Diane Melms of Anchorage, Alaska.  I think I'll use my new Kaufman Organic Cottons to make one similar to this.