Incredible Ideas

As I was trying to think of what to write about for Shay's Favorite Things Friday, it came to me that great ideas for gadgets, crafts, cooking and the like really get me going.  For many years, I've been thrilled every time I take my wine opener out of the utensil drawer.  I'm old enough to remember what a struggle it was to open a bottle of wine with a corkscrew.  And so unlady like, with it clamped between my legs, pulling and yanking.  Let alone the occasional spillage of the cork coming loose when you least expect it.

                                                     Oops!  A little wine stain in the picture

A much newer gadget is the Quick Quarter Ruler.  In making this last quilt, with all the half squares and flying geese, I can't imagine how I ever did without it.

And then there are all the terrific ideas I receive from all you fellow quilt and craft bloggers.  This week I made Kirsten's Lime and Coconut Chicken.  Like her, when I was making the marinade, using ingredients I was unfamiliar with (coriander and coconut milk), I thought, "Boy, I don't know about this.  It smells really different."  But the result was superb.  I sent some in my daughter's lunch, complete with fresh lime slices and cilantro.  She raved about this chicken and said her co-worker's were rather impressed that she had fancy garnishes for her delicious lunch. One fellow teacher requested the recipe so I printed it off for further enjoyment.

I've been crocheting a baby afghan and have finally gotten the body completed.  But since the new baby is to be a girl, I wanted a ruffled edge.  All I had to do was ask and Paulette sent a pattern lickety-split.   Maybe in a week or so I'll have added the ruffle and can show you the afghan.

And then there is the bird applique pattern that Angie sent me after I saw her post about it.  I have yet to use it, but have plans for a spring wall hanging once my king-sized quilt is completed.  Yes, I know.  I could work on two projects at once, but I hate UFOs.

Of course, there are many, many more great ideas I get from viewing FTF.  There are just too many to list.

 As an addendum to last week's Red Glass post, my dear cousin's husband (the landscape artist) was antiquing and came home with this lovely red cruet for me.  It is hard to see in the picture, but the top is a strawberry.
Now how sweet is that!