Sunday, August 16, 2009

August Tag from CGQC

Kelly has tagged all of the Charming Girls again this month. I love reading the responses from the girls to these tags. It helps me to get to know them better. This time there are only three questions that need to be answered. Here they are, with my response to each.

1. Share your favorite quilting or sewing tip.

There are so many tips and tricks I have picked up over the years, but I think my favorite is one that came from my Grandma. Her advice was "quarter-inch seam, or scant quarter-inch seam, it really doesn't matter, as long as all seams are consistantly the same width in a project." She always used the edge of her pressure foot for a guide in her quilt making.

2. Share your best tip for managing time more effectively (what works best for you)!

I find I get more accomplished if I don't have to worry about stopping to prepare a meal from scratch. There are several ways to accomplish this goal. You can prepare the ingredients for a salad first thing in the morning and toss them together right before a meal. You can put ingredients for your main course in the crock pot, set on low and let it cook while you sew. Or you can do like I do and prepare meals ahead and freeze them. This method is known as OAMC (Once a Month Cooking). This past Monday and Tuesday, I did the cooking for this month. Monday was shopping and prep day (local grocer has a truck load meat sale once a month). Tuesday was a cooking day. The results? A freezer full of scrumptous meals for a whole month which will require very little time to prepare. Simply reheating, or in some cases, tossing in the crockpot to cook while I sew. If you are interested, there are a lot of good sites out there on the internet with recipes and instructions. The one site I use the most is 30 day Gourmet .

3. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?

Kansas. I know that's not a very exciting destination for most of you. My sister lives there and I would really love to spend some time with her. She makes beautiful quilts. One day, I will have to show you a couple projects she has made for me. Oh, the mischief we two could get into if we lived closer to each other.

I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the responses to this tag. So, what are you waiting for? Start blogging your answers, girls. ;^)

9 comments:

Kelly@ Charming Chatter said...

Awesome tips! I love the idea for cooking ahead -- as the preparing meals and cleaning up take a couple of hours. How sweet that you'd go see your sister in Kansas! Thanks so much for sharing!

Michelle said...

I too love the idea of cooking ahead! We usually cook extra servings during the weekend and then have left overs during the work week. It's hard for 2 working parents to come home and then try and prepare a decent meal after a long day. Great tips, Thank you!

Luv 2 Kreate said...

Great answers...and I learned your quilting tip the hard way, LOL

annieb said...

We cook ahead, too and it helps with the budget and the after work stress. We both work full time and have hobbies, so we do plan ahead.

Unknown said...

I try to cook ahead as much as possible too, it just frees up so much time if the most you have to spend getting dinner ready is 15 mins! :)

Allie said...

Good tip - I hate stopping sewing to cook! The crock pot is my favorite kitchen utensil.

joan said...

Love the tips... and I agree the crock pot is an essential item for quilters....I can relate to wanitng to be closer to your sister. I love it when my sister and I get together and sew. She is a quitler. "Sisters Are Forever!"

Stef said...

I've been thinking about trying the OAMC. Do you have any other sites or books you rec? Just made a 3 week menu-plop, plop. fizz, fizz, RELIEF!

Esther said...

I think that just being able to travel anywhere is a treat!

I think your Grandma's tip is spot on. Consistancy really is the more important element.