Good Afternoon, Quilters in Quarantine!
Today we are sharing a few moreĀ ideas on how to turn quarantine into Happy Hours!
But let’s start with a cautionary tale from Claire and her son, Louis…..
Louis is generally a happy camper, though after several weeks of quarantine, he was having trouble seeing….
While tutorials of child haircuts abound online,Ā
Claire says “DON’T DO IT!
The less-than-happy-hours are NOT worth the results!
It took three popsicles, a new movie (and a round of margaritas) to restore equilibrium to the house!
Fortunately, Louis couldn’t be cuter!!!
Deirdre’s Pick-Stay-at-Home Facial
Her pick this week is this oatmeal-honey facial scrub.
She said her skin felt fabulous after her at-home mini facial and she plans to add this to her skin routine!
(And while you’re waiting for the mask to do it’s magic, my friend, Judy recommends clearing out all of your old and out of date cosmetics!Ā Here’s a little warning about those old bottles!)
Happy Dance-TK’s Pick
My husband’s recommendationĀ is this compilation of dances.
It is also thee pick of more than 52 Million viewers!
Old Movie Stars Dance to Uptown Funk
I promise you’ll love it!
Classic Books from PK
Patrick choice this week is East of Eden by John Steinbeck .Ā Ā
The entire Kennedy family is reading it.Ā I’m listening to it on Audible-I LOVE listening while I quilt, garden, walk…
East of Eden is a classicĀ good and evil, Cain and Abel story of two generations set in California around 1900.Ā John Steinbeck considered it his magnum opus.Ā It is a great story of redemption, however much of the book is rather dark.
If you are looking for something lighter, I LOVED the Audible version of AllĀ Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot.Ā It’s a classic for a reason!Ā Delightful!
Olivia Recommends Giving Blood!
Olivia would like us all to make an appointment to give blood!Ā According to the Red Cross of America there is a severe blood shortage across the country.
In addition, The Red Cross is seeking plasma donations from people who have recovered from COVID.
If you are able, please donate!
My Picks:
Be Happier, Kinder and More Creative!
There is a lot of evidence that being outside in nature can increase our happiness and creativity.
I’ve been hiking, biking and gardening and soaking up as much Vitamin D as possible!!! (No easy thing in Minnesota in April!)
Start a Sourdough Starter
I’m trying my hand at making a sour dough starter.Ā I used the recipe from King Arthur Flour.
I have never tried this before–wish me luck!
Pen Pal Exchange?
Just wondering…. is anyone interested in an old-fashioned pen pal?
If so, I will come up with a plan to create an exchange.
What about YOU?
What are YOU doing to create Happy Hours during quarantine?
Are YOU going for long walks or working in your garden?
Do YOU have any audio book recommendations?
Have YOU given yourself a facial recently? (I KNOW you haven’t cut your own hair, right!?)
Are YOU interested in writing snail-mail letters?
We’d LOVE to hear!
May YOUR Hours be Happy and Healthy,
Lori
PS…All tutorials, images and information are the property of Lori Kennedy Quilts and are intended for personal use only.Ā Feel free to re-blog, pin or share with attribution to LKQ.Ā For all other purposes, please contact me at Lori@LoriKennedyQuilts.com.Ā Thanks!
42 comments
Sharron Woodward
2 good reads- Lost & Found by Jacqueline Sheehan and The Light between Oceans by M. L. Stedman. I have finished a couple of quilts, challenging myself with better machine quilting. I knitted several sweaters and a sock drawer full of socks. I wish I had made and stuck with a walking plan- instead I sat a bit too much.
Edna L
I have had a sourdough starter for 10+ years. It can be forgiving. Even though you must feed it, there are great recipes for using the āunfed/discardā on King Arthur website and Pinterest. one of our favorites is Sourdough Pretzels. Happy Baking! And Sewing!
Marta
My quilting friends have been keeping their bread machines busy, and with sour dough too. I have reread our Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, Bobbsey Twins, Zane Gray and other childhood books. So different from an adult perspective. !!. Have sewn a batch of masks for folks. Finished 2 quilts.. Started a table garden…planted seeds in plastic liter containers cut in half. Many seedlings have sprouted. I suppose I will have to transplant the beets to the ground at some point. The green peas, squash, and peppers are up a few inches and are doing well so far. I also am trying some nasturtiums and zinnias… All experimental LOL ! I have been cooking more (sauerbraten, etc. ) and SpouseMan is beyond pleased ! He helps us out with sliced tomatoes, hamburgers, grilled cheese and noodles and rice..his faves, Will be glad to get immersed into next quilt. I miss a day at the sewing machine. But need to spend time with sketchbook first. Stay well. Enjoy each moment. Our high school principal told us right before end of senior year ( 1960) that Happiness is not something you can obtain, it is a Byproduct of well lived life. Always remembered that.
Lori Kennedy Quilts
Marta–I love that quote about happiness!
Karen Fairbrother
I love audible books, too! I am currently re-visiting some of the Jennifer Chiaverini, Elm Creek Quilts novels. One of my favorite recommendations would be āQueen of the Big Timeā by Adriana Trigiani. I got hooked on my Bluprint.com classes when they were offering them for free. I already owned your first class and enjoyed the other two on the free weeks. At the end I decided to subscribe, for half price, how could I turn it down? Right now I am using up some solid colors from my stash to make blocks for a Christina Cameli class, āFree Motion Quilting Essentialsā. I would highly recommend it for anyone wanting to get started with FMQ.
Mary Green
I have a Skype Pal in Estonia. We visit for 30 min after I wake up and before she starts dinner. We are learning about each otherās country. Been doing this for nearly two years now.
Lori Kennedy Quilts
That is so cool! Great idea!
Mary Green
Forgot to say āevery Tuesday.ā
pattibeequilts
We’re all growing our hair long here! My son and I are starting an organic garden. We’re not very knowledgeable so it’s slow going. We’re learning still but we have started to compost. I am sewing A LOT which makes me very happy. I recommend Frederik Backman as an author, particularly Britt-Marie Was Here and Beartown. Am actually really enjoying my time and getting lots of projects done that have been on the back burner for many months. Very thankful for my husband who has kept us out of any financial stress at this time. I miss my pilates classes terribly, but we are getting out on lots of walks and hikes!
Patti
Susan
I trim my own bangs. I grow the rest of my hair out to donate. I was at the preferred length to donate when the salons closed. So I guess they will get an extra inch or two or three depending on how long it takes for them to open again. I have been doing this since 1996.
I keep busy and happy with my music, yard-work, crafts, cooking, even cleaning, reading, and going for walks among other things.
Sandra Taylor
I loved the Old movie dancers dancing to Funky Town – I watched it 3 times!!! How I miss the Old Dancers!!! Thank you so much for sharing that!!!
Gretchen
I had an overdue haircut scheduled the week we started stay at home. Went to a barber shop and had hair cut short. Best thing I did.
Loved the Uptown Funk. Am old enough to remember many of the classic movies.
Working full time from home keeps me busy. Quilting and yardwork after work.
Sandra Bell
Beware of sourdough starter! It is like a sci-fi pet which enslaves you to keep it growing and growing. When you tire of making bread almost every day, you must kill your pet!
Lori Kennedy Quilts
LOLOL!! you must know me!! I like the project idea but am definitely known to tire of a responsibility!!
Marta
Tried this 30 years ago when folks shared around town. Kept it up for two years, than couldn’t give it away!! Sad when I had to dump it out. We had some delicious bread tho !
Jean A.Williams
Yeah, I cut my own hair. I look a bit like Louis. Will have to wait a few months to look ok again. But, what the hay! Quilting doesn’t care what I look like! Thanks for your blog it is entertaining.
Lori Kennedy Quilts
Lol! At least you don’t have to go anywhere!
Janette
Video chats with family and friends. Mask and gown making. When the Sun shines l am outside gardening. Just can’t seem to get enough of that vitamin D. š Just picked up “Can’t Hurt Me” by David Goggins , self help book l think. Working on a quilt along by Surgaridoo and Bernina, just finished the last block for a quilt that Northcott put out to help us stay focused in quarantine. A block a day for 24 days, lots of fun using up fabric in my stash. Will be a quilt to practice free motion quilting. Try my best to get out and walk everyday, do DDP yoga four times a week on line. Was a class l was taking to get out to meet other people, but free on line while we are under house arrest. Lol! It really is amazing how much you can get done in a day. Thank you Lori for all your tutorials and positive inspiration. God Bless
Lori Kennedy Quilts
You are busy!! I can’t say I’m that focused or productive!
Angie T
Iām really bad about getting my hair cut. I always just pull it back in a ponytail, so I donāt keep up with trims. Iāll sometimes snip a bit off the ends of my ponytail myself. However, my hair was getting long and becoming an annoyance, even when pulled back. So, I got out the hair scissors and asked my husband to cut off about 6 inches. He wasnāt thrilled with the idea. My thought was, Since Iām very high risk for the virus, Iām not going anywhere any time soon, and I tāll grow back if it looks bad. I didnāt dare have him try to give me an even hair cut with my hair down, Iāve seen what our bushes look like after he trims them. But since I donāt really style my hair, I figured it was safest to have him cut off a portion of my ponytail. He finally agreed, and cut off a good 6 inches. It looks and feels so much better! Wish I could say the same about the bushes.
Marta
LOLOL…..bushes there, no tulips the next year here…
Lori Kennedy Quilts
There is comfort in knowing you don’t have to go anywhere. I’m so tempted to cut my hair–but I know I’d regret it!
vangiebrake13gmailcom
Thanks for the Uptown Funk Lori.It made my day!
Lori Kennedy Quilts
Makes me want to dance!
Becky Shaffer
Hi Lori! Iāve been finishing some UFOās, walking, baking and reading. Iām currently reading āDevotedā by Dean Koontz and enjoying it immensely. Itās about a super gifted golden retriever and Koontzās usual diverse, but interesting characters. I just finished FMQ a large StackānāWhack that I pieced in 2008! I really like it now that itās finished. Why did I wait so long!? I guess I was waiting to learn FMQ from you! Stay safe!
Lori Kennedy Quilts
Becky Thanks for the book recommendation! How’s all the FMQ going?!
Becky Shaffer
Itās going well. Itās never steady. I piece and the quilting gets rusty. Then I quilt what Iāve pieced and after a little practice it comes back. I just finished quilting a green background with 100 wt. Kimono silk thread. I should have done a practice piece first. The thread and fabric matched so well that I couldnāt see it. I suffered through and I like the results, but Iāll never make that mistake again! Iām getting a lot of UFOās finished because of this quarantine. I hope you and your family continue to do well and this will be behind all of us soon. Stay safe!
gladquilts
I have been making and mailing fabric postcards. They are quilted and stitched to batting then glued to a 4″ X 6″ card and satin stitched around the edges. The response has been calls from friends I haven’t talked to or seen for a while. Double win.
Marta
Not to blow my own horn but to give a suggestion… I made 42 on plain index cards, sewed on some fabric, tied a ribbon and added some calligraphy. Mailed in package to an assisted living. The residents were not having their regular visitors. Apparently the cards were a huge hit!
Lori Kennedy Quilts
What a wonderful idea!!
Chris Babich
Love the idea of starting your own sour dough starter. Wanted to bake bread but no yeast. Seems everyone staying at home had the same idea. Who would think there would be so much buying of yeast! I tried a clay mask the other day and it is fabulous. Felt like I was driving a lot of gunk out around and on my nose. I like to put the mask on and get into a hot bath. Maybe a little wine is not a bad addition. Try it!
Lori Kennedy Quilts
A mask. A little wine. Some toast with jelly…sounds like Happy Hours at the spa!!
Mary
I have been making sourdough bread for a couple of years. The best advice is on bakewithjack.co.uk he has loads of videos on sourdough. Here in Ireland we got the good news last night that restrictions will start to be eased on May 18th. The over 70 s have been ācocooned ā since mid March but from Tuesday we can go for a short walk in the neighbourhood. Hooray!!
Lori Kennedy Quilts
Hooray! And thank you for the link to bake with jack!
Lynn
Just returned from a 20-mile (round trip) bike ride from my home in Palm Coast, FL to Marineland. The ocean was beautiful today! Lots of quilting, reading and two jigsaw puzzlesš.
Marta
Our quilt group attended a FABULOUS quilt shop in Palm Coast on March 12….just hours before being quarantined at home. There were Bernina’s in there…. LOL… Our last public outing ! One to remember!
Mrs. Plum
Well, Lori, I DID give myself a haircut. I kept at it for three weeks, and finally had to remove the scissors from the bathroom, as I kept ārefiningā it. Itās not too bad, but I will be oh so happy to see my stylist again! Iāve been reading, quilting, knitting, cooking, and digging and dividing day lilies. The next big project here will be recovering the dining room chair seats, in 2 -3 weeks, whenever the fabric gets here. Amazingly, the days seem to fly by.
Lori Kennedy Quilts
I wonder if your stylist will be glad to see you?! Lol? Or will she charge you extra for remediation?
I am amazed that the time passes so quickly!
Johanna
I just read East of Eden by Steinbeck too. It is such a huge book, but the quarantine time just made it a good time to read it. I M also very thankful for my quilting to fill the hours at home!
Sue
Lori, I’m a rabid audiobook lover! I must go through 4-5 per week. I love Audible and also Overdrive from the library.
One of my favorites is To Kill a Mockingbird. And East of Eden is right up there! I also love A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. I have over 500 books in my Audible library!!
So yeah, I’m binging on both audio and kindle books these days.
Your family is adorable!
Lori Kennedy Quilts
Wow, Sue!!! You do “read” a lot!!! A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and To Kill a Mockingbird are my favorites, too!!!
Do you listen on headphones?
Sue
Yes, earbuds and airpods. I love tuning out the other noises haha
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