Awhile back I started a series that I knew would be a personal project that, for me, would last a lifetime. I called it “Grounded: A Quilt Block Series” and it was based on combining flooring patterns that I love and admire with the grounding feeling I get when I sew.

At the time I had no idea how needed this grounding would, and continues to be for me. The time I’ve spent alone cutting and stitching while thinking about various spaces has seen me through some hard times.

Stacked up in my sewing room I have a pile of blocks and quilts all with stories that I think I am ready to share.

And so today, l’d like to start at the beginning…with the very first block…the one that started me on this journey…The Endurance Block.

(You can get the full tutorial for making this block HERE.)

The block is based on flooring from Earnest Shackletons famous ship “The Endurance”.

This ship set sail in 1912 on an expedition to Antarctica. But later, when the vessel became hopelessly encased in ice, the real adventure began. (To read all the amazing details about this voyage you can click HERE.)

However, before leaving on this infamous trek Shackleton’s headquarters were located in London, England. So when I knew I would be getting a chance travel there I got to work on creating an entire quilt inspired by The Endurance.

I took the quilt to Covent Garden…a place my grandmother would have loved. It is a darling spot in London with a favorite restaurant (Din Thai Fung), a favorite pastry shop (Ladurée), lovely shops, and the courtyard where Audrey Hepburn was filmed in My Fair Lady.

The night I took my quilt touring was cold and bright. Christmas decorations adorned the facades of every establishment and the smell of caramelized almonds floated through the air.

We ate fish and chips at an old pub and I tried roasted chesnuts for the first time ever. (The street vendor who sold them to me laughed when I asked how to eat them…and couldn’t believe I had never tried them before.)

It sounds magical. And it was.

That night as we walked the streets of that charming area…my brother, my daughter, and I…we talked about the magic in the air….and the feelings of peace and gratitude we were experiencing. We also talked about some of our unhappy memories, our personal struggles and wondered if those dark times helped to make this particular night feel even more magical.

There was a moment standing on the cobblestones, watching my daughter and her uncle mosing along and laughing that I started to cry.

As juvenille as it sounds, I suddenly, painfully missed my grandma.

I wanted her there, eating macrons, and talking about My Fair Lady. I wanted her there spilling the tea about everyone in the family. And I wanted her there giving my daughter unsolicited advice about life, love, and everything else.

My grandma was, in many ways my Earnest Shackleton. The one who was always brave, knew how to pull together a team, where to find resources, wasn’t afraid to navigate difficult waters, and who never let anyone perish. She was a captain, a leader, a force of nature…and in that moment I missed her more than my heart could bear.

And so there in the middle of the square where Eliza Doolittle sang:

All I want is a room somewhere
Far away from the cold night air
With one enormous chair
Oh, wouldn’t it be loverly?

I thought about how loverly it would be in that moment to be have my grandma with us again…and I had a good cry.

Right there, with my brother, and daughter, roasted chestnuts and that quilt…I cried it out.

Grief is an interesting companion and you never can tell when she needs to speak.

After the cry I crouched down and took this photo:

I wanted to remember that moment.

The happiness. The sadness. But most of all the gratitude.

Because sitting with sadness was also, unexpectedly, gratitude.

And, there was so much gratitude. Gratititude for the opportunity to be at Covent Garden. (I was in London during the holidays!). For the gift of family who is willing to share in my joy and my sadness. For the miracle of having my grandma, someone so wonderful and powerful, in my life. For my brother willing to adventure with me. For my daughter who is strong and funny and willing to take photos of her mom with quilts in public. For a warm stomach full of fish and chips. For comfortable shoes. For a clear night. For a lifetime full of memories….sweet, painful, good, and bad…….For all of it.

The ship this quilt was inspired by was christened the Endurance.

Up until that night I had always thought of the word endurance with a sort of negative connotation…as in to endure hardships…to just make it through…to struggle but ultimately survive. Things to applaud, to be sure, but that must all come by way of rough seas and sorrow.

But then a definition I had written in this post , months earlier, began to float through my head:

The definition was this:

Endurance: the quality of lasting, continuing, or remaining

the quality of lasting, continuing, or remaining

As I mulled this definition over a new idea began to take shape. One that includes not just the act of continuing when times get tough…but also of continuing to love, honor, and be grateful for the people and the memories that have helped to shape us…memories that can warm and encourage us during the times we are struggling to stay the course….the times we need to endure.

Love can last. Love can continue. Love can endure.

And love can help us endure.

With that thought we walked into the shop my Grandma would have loved most and ordered ridiculously delicious macrons.

After that we headed back to our room somewhere, far away from the cold night air…with one enormous chair…and yes….it sure was loverly.

Some day in the future, when the night is dark, cold, and not so clear. I will curl up in this quilt, remember this moment, and take comfort in knowing that love can endure.

-liZ

The post Endurance Quilt Block Goes to London appeared first on Simple Simon and Company.

Ok, ok…I KNOW these are NOT traditional döners…or gyros…or shawarmas but I live in the southwest and don’t have easy access to a vertical spit rotating stacks of savory chicken, lamb, pork, or beef. (Although….I did just find a place in Southern Utah that has some of the tastiest hummus and kalamakia that I have had in a long time!)

So let me explain.

I was first introduced to döners a few years back. We were visiting my brother in Amsterdam and on our way to dinner we passed a little shop selling döners. My husband, who used to eat döners weekly during his stay in Germany, freaked out and told us all about their culinary glory. Our dinners plans were thus changed, as were my taste buds, and the rest is history.

Now every time we travel we are on the lookout for döners and gyros. In fact, last fall during an opportunity I had to travel to Greece, I’m pretty sure all that I ate was gemista, hummus, and gyros on repeat for the entire duration.

Seriously, though can you blame me? That hummus….it’s like heaven.

So now that I am home and I want something that tastes similar and makes for an easy lunch or dinner that my entire family will eat we have “Do-It-Yourself Döners”.

Now, before I get to our knock off version of a gyro…let’s first define what a döner is and where gyros have been crafted to perfection.

Let’s start with….

THE DÖNER.

A döner, or more fully, a döner kebab, is a dish made from seasoned meat that is stacked in layers on a large vertical rotating spit and slowly roasted as it turns. The meat is usually lamb, beef, chicken, or a combination of those. As the outer layer cooks, thin slices are shaved off and served in flatbread or pita-like bread as a sandwich or wrap (although it can also be served on top of rice or vegetables). Toppings and sauces vary according to the region but is it traditionally a warm, savory dish.

The Döner kebab originated in Turkey during the 19th century. The word “döner” comes from a Turkish verb meaning “to turn” or “rotate.” And, the vertical rotisserie style of preparation it employs is most often credited to cooks from the city of Bursa.

Next up we have….

THE GYRO

Now, even though I keep using the words döner and gyro interchangeably they are, in fact, two distinctly different delicious delights.

A gyro (pronounced roughly YEE-roh in Greek, though pronunciations vary) is a Greek dish. And while it is also made from meat cooked on a vertical rotating spit, then sliced into thin pieces and served in flatbread there are a few key differences between the two.

For example gyros are traditionally filled with pork or chicken rather than beef or lamb.

They are also usually served in pita bread and topped with tomatoes, onions, and Tzatziki, a yogurt-based sauce with cucumber, garlic, and herbs. The result is a savory, juicy sandwich with a mix of warm roasted meat, cool creamy sauce, and fresh vegetables….and it is divine.

Sooooo….here is how we make our own here at home.

#1. Start with a stack of pita bread.

One day I will venture into the world of making my own pita bread. (I do love making bread.) But until then, and especially on busy nights after work we just open up a bag of store bought pita.

#2. Next, we spread on some hummus.

There are loads of flavored hummus that you can buy at the store. My go to for this meal is either a Mediterranean hummus or a plain hummus. (But because I am southwestern….I do love me a good honey jalapeño or roasted red pepper hummus to dip my veggies into.)

NOTE: Döners don’t include hummus…and gyros are traditionally made with Tzatziki. However, I haven’t found a Tzatziki in stores that I love…but they are available if you want something more traditional. Another good option that I use if we are out of hummus is a Green Goddess Salad Dressing.

#3. The meat.

If my husband had his way we would already be serving up beef from our very own vertical rotisserie…but that day is not today sooooo….

For our meat I usually slice, dice, or chunk up some chicken, sauté it in a pan with a little olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic, thyme, and some freshly squeezed lemon. Then let it finish baking in the oven.

NOTE: For all you Costco lovers out there, you can also slice up one of their rotisserie chickens in a hot second. Or other options could include leftover grilled chicken, or left over steak both reheated and sliced thin. (Why leftover??? Because at my house we usually end up with leftovers of these items, especially in the summer. This keeps us from wasting food and makes the dinner prep so much faster.)

#4. Finally it’s topping time.

Everyone at my house creates theirs differently but the usual pile of options for toppings include:

Red Onions

Lettuce or Cabbage

Diced Tomatoes

Shredded Carrots

Feta Cheese

Olives

Squeezed Lemon Juice

Guacamole or Avocado Slices (Viva the southwest)

As I said in the very first sentence…I KNOW these are NOT traditional döners…or gyros…AT ALL…but they are inspired by them.

And they are so easy to put together.

And they are delicious.

And, while I am residing in my desert home they remind me of far off places with beautiful, sights, scents, and people.

And I will be eating them all summer long.

Or….I will be eating this version with tuna instead of chicken…which really moves more into the realm of a pita sandwich…but as long as we are on the topic I thought I might as well throw it in here as well.

It’s light, it’s filling, it is easy to throw together and, it has a lot of protein.

My kids aren’t fans…they will stick to roasted chicken variety, thank you very much…but as for me…it’s a solid option.

So there you have it. Easy Do-It-Yourself Döners….and why I make them.

The post Do-It-Yourself Döners for Dinner appeared first on Simple Simon and Company.

This spring we had a lot happening.

My oldest daughter was graduating from high school, we had family funerals out of state and close to home, I was coaching my youngest daughters volleyball team, I was sewing up quilts for several different families who suffered losses, I was still teaching full time at our local junior high (with classes filled beyond capacity), I was attending all the sporting and end of year events for my girls….oh and then….in the middle of all these things….my youngest daughter signed us up to run a half marathon.

To be fair she signed up her uncle (my brother) to run this race as well….but I wasn’t worried about his problems at the time….I was an overstimulated, overly emotional, premenopausal train wreck who was just one more student email pleading-for-credit-on-assignments-they-never-completed away from plunging into the abyss.

(No, bruh, you legit did not turn that assignment in….yes, I’m so for real right now…no cap.)

And so there I was…in the middle of the madness strapping on running shorts at 4 am and heading up a dark canyon to a starting line with my intrepid companions.

As always the starting line was packed with people, loaded with people, shoulder to shoulder…up to our necks in people. We swim through the crowds to our assigned chute. Cheerful humans are stretching, bouncing, and setting their watches. I stand there, pop in a piece of gum and ask if anyone else is cold.

I’m tired and wired and anxious and…to be honest…have no business standing in that chute.

(I’m wearing a sweatshirt from Target with toasting wine glasses on it for crying out loud. I can’t even pretend to be an athlete!)

They announce the start of the race. I guess this is happening.

When was the last time I ran more than 3 miles???

I cross the start line…and turn…uphill?

What??? Are you freaking kidding me??? This race goes uphill????

We came all the way up this mountain only to turn around and run farther uphill??? I really should have looked up the race route…..

Runners are jockeying for position and getting into their strides.

I pull the arms of the sweatshirt down over my hands and shift into a jog.

As I make my way through the avenues that skirt the front of the mountains I am thinking about lesson plans, students I’m worried about, the funeral later that day, and a million other things…until….

…until I pass a house where an older gentleman is standing in his driveway wearing his bathrobe, sipping on cup of coffee, and cheersing all the runners passing by.

(Cheersing…cheersing…is that a real word? Maybe? Kind of? Probably not, but that is exactly what he was doing. Not cheering…but rather lifting up his mug and boisterously proclaiming cheers to the mass of humanity streaming past his house.)

Instead of being upset that his driveway was blocked by roughly 3500 runners he was out there enjoying the show.

I don’t know if it was the smile, the disheveled tufts of white hair, or the fluffy slippers but something inside me changed.

I turned up the music, turned off the conversation inside my head, and set out to enjoy the show….or I guess in my case, the journey.

Sure, for me, conditions of this race were not ideal but that didn’t mean I couldn’t enjoy it.

From that moment on I thanked every officer covering street crossings, high fived every kid with their hand out, booped all the “power up” posters supporters held, shouted words of encouragement to the political activists, petted dogs, and even walked up a hill with a man pushing his daughter in a wheelchair.

I said a prayer of gratitude as I passed the cemetery that holds the mortal remains of those who created those who created me, I cried remembering my tough as nails grandma as I ran down the hill she used to trudge up on her way to work, my heart melted as I ran past the little pastry shop my grandpa would visit to buy us meat pies, and I smiled with pure joy as I cruised around a controversial public art piece that was surrounded by art loving enthusiasts.

I enjoyed every minute of that race.

Around mile 11 my earbuds died….which meant that my soundtrack from there on out would be the sound of my excruciatingly heavy breathing…and…and something else…something I had never listened to in any previous race due to my, up until now, perfectly performing earbuds…people cheering.

Strangers cheering.

Cheering for people they have never met.

Cheering on runners who weren’t the fastest, the slowest, or the coolest.

I looked around at those coming up to the final stretch with me…old, young, thick, thin, tired, full of energy…and I wondered what their current circumstances were…and I hoped that they too were enjoying their journeys…and could hear the cheers.

My brother, with medal in hand, was a few feet in front of the finish line yelling my name…and my daughter was waiting just across the finish line so we could receive our medals together.

After, as we walked around the park drinking our Gatorade and talking I saw those thrilled with their times and others frustrated and defeated. I heard words of consolation and words of victory.

It may be the same race…but for every runner it will always be an individual journey and a unique experience.

As for me, it turned out to be a beautiful morning and I was undeniably happy.

Me…middle aged…middle sized…middle classed…with a middle finishing time…incredibly average and entirely mediocre…this middle me was happy and at peace.

No worries or accolades about my time, my pace, my stride, my finish. Just peace and happiness there in the middle. At that moment, in the midst of this chaos called life, it felt like a miracle.

A few days later I discovered this photo:

I must have accidentally taken it at the starting line just after pushing play on my tunes and realizing I would be headed uphill.

I love this photo of myself.

I know, I know. It isn’t flattering.

I can see my chicken skin neck, the red sore from where I had burned myself a few days prior, the shock of purple in my hair that the girls had dyed over spring break, the mascara that I failed to wash off the night before, and the curse words forming on my lips.

But I also see someone in the middle of a messy, emotional, and stressful time who was about to learn about the power of mediocrity. The power of letting go. The life changing understanding that I don’t and can’t always be perfect.

I can’t solve all the problems…no matter how much I want to.

I can’t always (and usually won’t) run and set a personal record.

I can’t singlehandedly carry so many burdens….while running the show…and working the jobs…and volunteering for all the causes…and figuring out what is for dinner…and doing it all in a cute outfit. (No matter how much I like cute outfits.)

I can’t. But also….I don’t have to.

I DON’T HAVE TO!

Sometimes it is enough just to show up..in a wine toasting sweatshirt with a willing heart….even if you curse all the way up the hill.

You don’t always have do be on your game, at full speed, contending, on guard, playing both offense and defense while simultaneously being the ref and a cheerleader.

And…and…and…in the race called life, we will, more often than not, find ourselves at a start line that we didn’t sign up for, tired, untrained, ill-prepared, unsure of where the path ahead leads, and surrounded by others who seem to know what to do.

This is life. But here we are…in the middle of it…and it is ok to be mediocre.

I’m not the same girl I was at the beginning of the race.

Somewhere between bathrobe man and the cemetary something quietly settled into my soul.

It whispered to worry less about the time, mile markers, keeping up, and being on pace. It told me that life, like this run, isn’t usually ideal. And then it showed me that, in this case, my imperfection…my mediocrity, would allow me to take my time, high five the kids, pet the dogs, and interact with those I met along the way. I didn’t need to go full steam, all in, laser focused….not this time…and not every time.

And it was exactly the experience that I needed.

Yes, there are times for fighting, striving, enduring, competing, and even relentless tenacity. This I know.

But there are also times for oversized sweatshirts, uncertainty, and just showing up in the cold as our not so perfect selves. It is during these times, this time in the middle, that we can, if we choose, enjoy the miracle of mediocrity.

Where ever you are in life…standing at the cold starting line of something unplanned, overwhelmed and wondering how you will find the energy to tackle another mile, feeling a blister starting to form on your good foot, peeing a little with every step, or crouched in a Honey-Bucket that is completely out of toilet paper (Why are they always out of toilet paper?) picture me on your sidelines sipping a beverage both cheersing and cheering you on.

You, in the middle, unprepared, unsure how to navigate the path ahead….a little tired, a little messy, cursing up the hill…to you my friend I raise my glass and say CHEERS!

No, actually, I am screaming CHEERS and BRAVO and YOU’VE GOT THIS and HOLY SHIRTBALLS I SEE YOU AND YOUR EFFORT AND THIS IS SO HARD BUT YOU ARE HERE AND MOVING FORWARD AND THAT IS FREAKING AMAZING!!!

And it’s not just me…slow down, take off those head phones and look around. (It’s ok…this isn’t a personal record, all out kind of moment…it’s an embrace the mediocre kind of moment and it might be the miracle you need.) You will find a hand to high five, a dog to pet, and hear someone from the crowd affirming that you can do this. You don’t need to set a personal record. You don’t need to be perfect. Let’s just make it to the finish line with our hearts intact…I heard there will be beverages….and until then, consider this your power up poster.

All my love. -liZ

The post The Miracle of Mediocrity appeared first on Simple Simon and Company.

Awhile back I had the opportunity to take my family on a summer adventure of a lifetime that included a brief stay in London!!!

I LOVE London…the sights, the food, the history, the atmosphere…to me, it feels magical.

And one of my favorite places in London is St. Paul’s Cathedral…both because of the history of the building itself (especially its survival of WWII) and because of something far more juvenile…its roll in one of my favorite Disney songs: “Feed the Birds”.

I grew up watching Mary Poppins at my grandparents home and the only scene I loved more than the Sister Suffragettes is the one where Mary sings to Jane and Micheal about the little old bird woman on the steps of St. Paul.

This song spoke to my soul as a child…it speaks even louder now that I am an adult.

So, as I prepared for this visit, I made myself some Mary Poppins inspired gear to take with me across the pond.

First up was a Mary Poppins “carpet bag”:

Ok , ok so it isn’t a carpet bag at all.

It’s just a bag made using fabric from my grandma’s old stash, my grandpa’s shirts, and some upholstery fabric I had been saving for just the right occasion.

And of course I lined it with some “you make me happy” fabric from a line Elizabeth and I made years ago called “When Skies Are Grey”. (Based on a song that my grandparents sang to me that I in turn sang to my own babies called “You are my Sunshine.”)

Oh how my grandparents would have loved our adventure to London…and especially our time at St. Pauls. It would have made them so happy.

Carrying around my Mary Poppins bag to hold our souvenirs felt like having a piece of them there with me.

I didn’t use a pattern to create the bag….I just stitched together giant Log Cabin Quilt Blocks for the front and back using THIS quilt as you go method and then simply stitched them together. After that I added a lining along with some handles I have had on the shelf for ages. And just like that, I had a bag.

After finishing I went back and added the bird silhouettes…because…well, because Feed the Birds.

Then, as I was adding the birds, I realized I needed to add one more thing…a bag for my tuppence!

An hour later I had just what I needed:

A simple zipper pouch from grandma’s fabric and a rosette from a scrap of grandpa’s shirt.

These two things that were so simple to create, brought me joy on the journey, and came back full of memories old and new.

“Early each day to the steps of Saint Paul’s
The little old bird woman comes
In her own special way to the people
She calls, “Come, buy my bags full of crumbs”

“Come feed the little birds, show them you care
And you’ll be glad if you do
Their young ones are hungry, their nests are so bare
All it takes is tuppence from you”

“All around the cathedral, the saints and apostles
Look down as she sells her wares
Although you can’t see it, you know they are smiling
Each time someone shows that he cares”

“Though her words are simple and few
“Listen, listen”, she’s calling to you
“Feed the birds, tuppence a bag
Tuppence, tuppence, tuppence a bag”

Family, stitching, London, Log Cabins, Mary Poppins, and St. Pauls.

How lucky I am to have this magical “carpet bag” that carries with it sweet memories of childhood and family adventures. Just glancing at it floods my heart (and more often than not my eyes) with so much love.

I highly recommend stitching for vacations…let’s call it “destination sewing”…it helps build excitement for the journey and returns home with you soaked with the echos of beautiful moments.

Happy Stitching!

-liZ

The post Feed the Birds…Tuppence a Bag appeared first on Simple Simon and Company.

I love Log Cabin Quilt Blocks.

I love them so much we recorded an entire podcast about them.

And we have a tutorial showing you how to make them.

And we have a Log Cabin (Heart of the Home) PDF Quilt Pattern.

And…if I’m honest…I always have a pile of these blocks in the works.

There’s just something about that golden block in the center that grows and spreads as the pieces expand around it to form a perfect square that helps me to feel like I’m putting order and sense into a world of chaos

I know…I know…quilting can’t change the world…but early on Sunday mornings when I’m down in my basement stitching…I can find my center, reorganize my thoughts, and brighten my outlook….and most weeks, that is just enough peace (or pieces if you like a good pun) for me to enter into Monday with renewed hope.

This particular quilt is made using fabric from 3 different Simple Simon fabric lines, vintage fabric from my grandma, an old velvet curtain that had gotten torn, and some solid fabric I had been gifted years ago.

I loved the end product and took it with me on a field trip to Southern Utah for a little hike.

Alas, that trip was it’s only outting…as it was given to a friend shortly after returning home from vacation.

Although, that is the beauty of quilting right? The hours spent cutting and sewing with love and care so that we can share our warmth and love with others?

I think so.

And I hope I am fortunate enough to always have quilts on the ready to be gifted and given at a moments notice.

My daughter snapped the picture below after a day spent hiking and painting in the outdoors while the quilt rode around in my backpack waiting for a moment to be photographed.

I’m dusty and tired and happy…so happy…

If only all days could end like this, golden sun, clean air, sweet memories, quilts and family.

Hooray for hikes at sunset.

Hooray for Log Cabin Quilt Blocks.

Hooray for Quilting.

-liZ

The post Another Log Cabin Quilt appeared first on Simple Simon and Company.

I’m always thinking about how to use my scraps…and I may or may not be crazy about how I store them.

And while my scrap hoarding is a subject for a different time, today I get to share how I make the scrappy 25 square block that I’ve been stitching up to make a small army of bonus quilts.

All the fabric used in this quilt (that I also shared in my previous post) came from my scrap bin…the squares, the border, the binding EVERYTHING but the backing came from the scrap bin…which is fabulous.

I’m using up my scrap stash and getting bonus quilts in return!

It’s a win win.

Here’s how these Scrappy 25 Squares quilts come together:

1. I cut a PILE of my scraps into 2.5″ x 2.5″ squares.
2. I place these squares in a rolling cart next to my sewing machine.
3. I chain piece those squares into rows of 5 squares. (See the map and instructions below.)
4. Once I have a pile of strips I organize them into the 5 row blocks and sew them up.
5. Once I have a pile of finished blocks I lay them out, stitch them together and BAM!

I have another bonus quilt!

It’s super easy…and for me super satisfying.

I love using up the extra fabric. I love seeing the prints that I used in other projects. And, I love having extra quilts on hand to give away to friends and neighbors.

If you want to sew up some of these scrap busting blocks here is what you will need:

8 white squares that measure 2.5″ x 2.5″

17 colored/patterned squares that measure 2.5″ x 2.5″

Then just use the map and directions below to sew up as many of these blocks as you’d like.

Directions:

Layout your squares according to the map above.

Sew each row together.

Do this by stitching the 1st square to the 2nd square in the row, RST, with a 1/4 inch seam allowance. Open and press.

Now stitch the 3rd square to the unit you just created, RST, with a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

Open and press.

Repeat this process with the 4th and 5th squares.

Now your first row is complete!

Repeat this process with the blocks in the 4 remaining rows.

When all 5 rows are completed it is time to stitch your rows to one another.

Place row 1 on top of row 2, RST, pin, and stitch using 1/4 inch seam allowance.

Open and press.

Repeat this process until you have all 5 rows sewn together.

Each block should finish up at 10.5″ x 10.5″.

Just remember to square up your blocks once they are all sewn and pressed. The block in the photo above HAS NOT been squared up…and you can see that it needs some trimming!

Once your blocks are created, pressed, and trimmed all you have to do is lay them out in the pattern of your choice and stitch up your quilt!

*Note: If you create a quilt that is made from 5 rows of 5 blocks each your quilt will finish up at approximately 50″ x 50″…if you would like it wider or longer you can always add a border, sashing, or more blocks.

So that’s it! That’s all there is to it.

And I’m addicted…so stay tuned…more 2.5″ square scrap busting projects are on the way….

-liZ

The post Scrappy 25 Squares Quilt Block Instructions appeared first on Simple Simon and Company.

I have piles of scraps. Bins of scraps. Buckets of scraps.

So many scraps that even my scraps have scraps!

And because I’m always working on new projects the scraps just keep piling up.

So for the past two years I always have a scrap project going alongside my new works in progress.

And, sewing up mismatched blocks and turning them into quilts is one of my favorite scrap projects.

Next to my sewing machine I have a bin full of scraps cut into 2.5″ x 2.5″ squares for stitching together as I’m chain piecing through other blocks.

It is surprising how quickly rows of squares are created…and how many finished blocks I have completed each time I sit down to sew.

This particular quilt is the first of a series of these quilts that I have completed.

Next week I will share the tutorial for making the simple blocks.

They really are quick sews and look fun with any kind of fabric.

And yes, I do mean any kind of fabric.

The photos shown here are of the first of these quilts that I created using only quilting cotton…but there have been many more using a variety of scrap fabrics that include: denim, terry cloth, velvet, and flannel.

I even use scraps to create the binding which makes these quilts true bonus quilts.

I love them.

Not only do I get to whittle away at my scrap bin BUT I always have extra quilts on hand to give away to someone who could use some handmade comfort.

It is a win win.

Long live the bonus quilt…and long live scrappy quilting.

-liZ

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A lot of times social media gets a bad wrap, as well it should, it wastes time, causes conflicts, and perpetuates untruths….among many, many of its other vices.

BUT, there is a lot of good that can come from learning, sharing, and the connections made on that magical playing field that we call the world wide web. The following is one of the good stroies:

Almost 2 decades ago Elizabeth (my sister-in-law and partner here on Simple Simon and Company…remember…two girls, same name, same number of kids, both school teachers, etc.) started a blog about sewing, thrifting, and the art of homemaking.

Oh how we loved the blog…and creating things…and raising our families.

In the beginning we had only two loyal followers…Elizabeth’s sister and my brother…but, as we created and posted and photographed and shared our little blog grew.

Soon Elizabeth and I began attending blog conferences where we met other like minded women. We exchanged information and ideas with these women and although we would only see each other in person a handful of times these women would become a fierce group of friends who we have turned to time and time again for love, support, and strength.

Aside from being talented and fearless small business owners these women are smart, clever, resourceful as well as kind, thoughtful, and powerful.

They are girls girls…women who support women.

They see a need and assemble.

Once one of our group rushed to the hospital with a family member and in the hurry ended up there at the hospital (for what looked like it would be an extended period of time) without a bra!

When one of our group (who lived on the other side of the country) heard this she Amazon rush delivered her a bra right to the hospital.

Like I said…girls girls. Women supporting women.

How lucky I am to know women like this…..because the amazing thing is that I have a million more stories like this…some similar…more serious…all heartwarming.

Today, however, I have a particular story that I would like to tell.

Almost a decade ago my mom suffered a catastrophic stroke during a brain surgery. She lived in the ICU for more than 3 months. We were told that odds for survival were slim and that she may not ever wake up from her coma.

During that time period I was at the hospital at some point every single day…for updates, to be there when tubes and/or oxygen was removed, for physical therapy, for speech therapy, for occupational therapy, etc. etc. etc.

I had young children and the hospital was 45 minutes away. I was brokenhearted and exhausted. One afternoon I received a text. One of the bloggers from our little online group was there at the hospital. Could I meet her in the lobby?

In the lobby I found my internet friend with a basket full of things like blankets, snacks, and magazines to keep me warm and feed during the long hours I was spending at the hospital…all put together by a group of blogging friends…some of which I had never met in person. And it wasn’t just the basket. This friend came prepared to spend the afternoon sitting with me in the ICU watching over my mom.

My heart still overflows when I think about that gesture of compassion.

Fast forward almost a decade.

Early one Sunday morning I was holding my moms hand as her spirit left this world. She had never recovered from her stroke. It had been a long, devastating deterioration that was gutting to watch.

Shortly after the funeral I got a note and a venmo….it was the online blogger friends group. They had pooled funds for me to make a tree for Festival of Trees in memory of my mom. Our family, with my mom in the lead, has been making trees (and quilts) for the Festival since the passing of my younger brother more than 40 years ago.

Putting that tree together with my dad, siblings, and son was a sweet experience.

What a sense of peace, calm and joy it brought to my family.

Thank you blogger/internet/virtual…..real friends.

You gave me the gift of time with family to remember and honor my mom.

And have fun in the process.

Without the internet, without social media, without blogging, without the unruly ball of photos and stories and how to’s I would have never met the powerful, caring group of women who have quietly been there with me over the years.

We don’t live close by…most of us don’t even live in the same state…and at times not even in the same country. We have different home lives, religious beliefs and political stances.

But we are all creative women who care about supporting other creative women.

How lucky I am to have clicked my way into that tribe.

This past year, watching the hellscape that is the internet, I felt like it might be time to say goodbye to Simple Simon’s online presence. With the rise of AI combined with hate and anger and well, you know, it can be an ugly place. I wasn’t sure I wanted to share the things I love most…my family, my thoughts, my quilts, my garden, my recipes…in such a toxic space….and I disappeared.

But as I looked back over the years and thought about the friendships…and not just the wonderful group I have written about today…but all the amazing people that we have met while out teaching and speaking and traveling…I began to realize that I wasn’t ready to let go.

Each person that comments and shares. Each person I sew with and trade ideas with. Each person that emails and interacts with us online adds beauty and positivity to my world. And in a world that, to me, feels increasing dark I can use all the light I can get.

Social media can be good. It can be a light. It can be beautiful and helpful and inspirational and honest and build community.

I know it can because it has.

And the goodness is worth keeping and protecting.

With that said…we are back.

-liZ

Here’s to the good however we can share it….even in the midst of a giant burning dumpster fire.

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If your summer garden is overflowing with zucchini, you’re not alone—this prolific vegetable often produces more than one household (or even an entire neighborhood) can easily use. Luckily, zucchini is versatile, nutritious, and stores well with the right approach. Here are some smart ways to make the most of your bounty:

1. Cook and Bake Creatively
Zucchini’s mild flavor makes it a great addition to both savory and sweet dishes. In sweet recipes, shredded zucchini adds moisture to baked goods like muffins, breads, and even brownies. But my favorite way to use zucchini is in savory dishes like stir-fries, pasta sauces, and soups to add extra bulk and nutrients. You can find one of my favorite zucchini inclusive soups HERE and I’ve included a few other simple recipes below:

• Zucchini Fritters: Grate 2 medium zucchini, squeeze out excess moisture, and mix with 1 egg, ½ cup breadcrumbs, ¼ cup grated Parmesan, salt, and pepper. Pan-fry spoonfuls in olive oil until golden brown.
• Zucchini Muffins: Fold 1 ½ cups shredded zucchini into your favorite muffin batter with a pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg. They stay moist and freeze beautifully.
• Classic Zucchini Bread: Combine 2 cups shredded zucchini, 2 eggs, ½ cup oil, 1 cup sugar, 2 cups flour, 1 tsp cinnamon, ½ tsp nutmeg, 1 tsp baking soda, and ½ tsp salt. Mix until just combined and bake in a greased loaf pan at 350°F for about 50–55 minutes.
• Zucchini Pasta Toss: Spiralize or thinly slice zucchini into ribbons. Sauté with garlic and olive oil, then toss with cooked pasta, cherry tomatoes, and a sprinkle of Parmesan for a light summer meal.

2. Preserve for Later
Don’t let excess zucchini go to waste—freeze it for future meals. Shredded zucchini freezes especially well and can be added to recipes straight from the freezer. You can also pickle zucchini slices for a tangy snack or try dehydrating them into chips.

Freezer Tip: Portion 2-cup bags of shredded zucchini (perfect for baking later) and squeeze out as much water as possible before freezing.

3. Share the Abundance
If your harvest is still more than you can manage, share with neighbors, friends, or coworkers. Many food banks and community kitchens also welcome fresh produce donations.

4. Experiment
Zucchini can be spiralized into noodles as a lighter alternative to pasta or hollowed out and stuffed for a hearty main dish. (Try swapping a zucchini for the red peppers from THIS RECIPE.) With a little creativity, this humble vegetable can become the star of your summer meals.

A big zucchini harvest doesn’t have to be overwhelming—it’s an opportunity to get creative, stock your freezer, and share the freshness with others.

And, as it is every year, it is a great chance for me to saute a zucchini with a little butter, salt, pepper, and some fresh rosemary and thyme. Simple, fresh, and the perfect side dish with my end of summer dinners.

Happy Harvesting!

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If you are looking for a delicious and refreshing summer salad this is it!

My mom made it for us all the time as I was growing up and now, I make it every summer for my own family. It is my favorite fruit salad of all time!

Now, before we get started I will say that while this is a SIMPLE recipe it does take some time to cut up the fruit so be prepared for some chopping!

All right, with that disclaimer out of the way let’s get started.

Here’s what you’ll need for the salad:

1 Watermelon cut into cubes

1 Cantaloupe cut into cubes

1 Pineapple cut into cubes

Then add any (or all) of the following:

1-2 cups of fresh (or frozen) blueberries

1-2 cups of washed grapes

1-2 cups of fresh strawberries washed and cut into fourths

1 Honeydew cut into cubes

1 Crenshaw melon cut into cubes

1/2-3/4 Cup of Coconut Flakes

Sprinkle of chopped Fresh Mint

Here’s what you’ll need for the dressing:

The Juice from 1 Lime

The Zest from 1 Lime

1 cup of sugar

1/4 cup of water

Here’s How To Put it All Together:

1. Clean and cut all of your desired fruit and toss together in a large bowl.
2. Cover and put fruit in the refrigerator to chill.
3. In a saucepan combine the water, sugar, lime juice and lime zest. Bring to a boil. Let simmer. Stir until all the sugar is dissolved.
4. Pour the lime and sugar dressing into a container and put into the refrigerator until cold.
5. Just before serving pour the dressing onto the fruit and toss.

Note: This salad is best when made just before serving. And tastes best just after serving…especially when served cold.

In the salad in the pictured above I used: watermelon, cantaloupe, Crenshaw, blueberries, and coconut flakes….it is what we had at the house and it was delicious.

Now…..sometimes we have some salad left over….when this happens I put it in the fridge over night and then the next day I pop it into the food processor or the blender and whip it on up.

Once it is blended (I leave mine just a little chunky) I pour it into a container and pop it into the freezer.

Before it is frozen…it looks like salsa…but after it freezes it makes a delicious frozen treat on another night.

Ahhh summer salads and treats. You have my heart.

-liZ

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