I’ve always said that spending the winter in Arizona is like going to winter camp for seniors. There’s 92 different clubs and activities offered in our 55+ active adult community and that’s not counting the flu that’s also going around. Tu-Na Helper and I have been busy and enjoying every minute of our time here.
I did spend some time this week mixing things up a bit and produced this cute little block. I thought you’d like to see what I’ve been up to as far as sewing related. No, I have not started a new project. But more about that later.
This little beauty is 7 3/4″ X 9 3/4.” Tu-Na Helper says this one is a new digital model since it’s missing the lever. Some things just have to be left to the imagination. You can find the free pattern here on Why Not Sew.
I changed the pattern a bit. I treated it like paper piecing and not sewed as shown on the pattern for two reasons; I needed it to be facing this direction and I just couldn’t see myself fussing over little pieces of freezer paper. It actually worked amazingly well.
What I Learned Today:
- I’ve been missed. I received 4 emails from my dear readers asking if I was ok since it’s been awhile since I’ve posted. Rest assured all is well but I did enjoy knowing that I was missed. There is much fun in the sun around here taking my time.
- The more time lapsed between posts makes sitting down and writing more difficult.
- I need to use my “real” Kitchen-Aid to whip up another lemon meringue pie. The lemons on our tree are ripe! I’ve already made three pies and we’ve had some company.
- Some of those lemons are so big that it only took 1 and 1/2 to make a 1/2 cup of juice.
- There’s no comparison between homemade fresh lemon meringue pie and lemon pie made from a box of lemon pie filling.
- Find another piece of fabric to use for the background in my pictures. I got a new camera for Christmas from my kids and a new light/camera stand from Tu-Na Helper. I’m still learning to use both.
Question: Do you whip things up by whisk, hand mixer, or a fancy stand mixer like the one pictured? I tried whipping cream with a whisk, once. After 30 seconds, I decided it definitely is worth using something that’s a whole lot faster.
Thanks for stopping by and do come again.
Karen,
Tu-Na Quilts
Linking with:
Main Crush Monday at Cooking Up Quilts
Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt
2018 Monthly Color Challenge (January is red) at Patterns by Jen (PB &J)
Linky Tuesday at Freemotion by the River
Let’s Bee Social at Sew Fresh Quilts
Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats 
I’m glad to hear you are having fun, Karen. I love how you used the number dots from a selvage edge on the side of the mixer. Very cute! We had about 12″ of snow a week ago, and then on Friday we got into the upper 40s, and a lot of the snow melted. I use a Kitchen-Aid mixer most of the time, but I still bring out my hand mixer at times. It was a wedding gift from 46 years ago, and it still works!
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Oh wow! I love your version of the mixer! Thanks for sharing! Glad you’re both enjoying your winter away!
Have you checked out the 2018 Minnesota Shop Hop fabrics? Haha, of course you have!
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I don’t even have a hand mixer anymore and now I wonder why not it would come in handy for small things. I have a kitchen aide mixer like the one you show, nice and red and I use it for everything other than just whisking up some eggs for scrambled with a fork. Why do I not have a hand mixer anymore what ever happened to it? LOL I have a feeling a small hand mixer will be coming home with me the next time I am at a store 🙂
So glad that you are having fun in Arizona – I bet it is the perfect time of year for walking around your area and joining in all the groups if you are a joiner – I hear of so many there that have orange trees or lemon, lime trees -I would be searching pinterest for recipes all the time
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Love this. It would have come in handy when I was making my Xmas cakes.
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Relax and enjoy your camp. It makes me want to be retired! Oh well, perhaps in 8 or 10 years. I just bought a stand mixer, need to get some attachments so I can get rid of 3 other appliances taking up room. I’ve only made whipped cream so far, and the bowl was almost too big to do a good job.
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I use a stand mixer that I love, but like Karen I think a hand mixer would be useful to have sometimes. My stand mixer makes fabulous whipped cream! LOL Sounds like you’re having a lot of fun in Arizona, and the weather looks wonderful. It’s okay to take a blogging break – everyone needs one occasionally. Enjoy your time!
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Hi Karen,
I am so glad you are enjoying Arizona but I’m also SO glad to see a post from you this morning. I’ve missed you!! Lovely little mixing block. When I need to whip up something I definitely use a hand or stand mixer. My arms would never make it to stiff peak stage! ~smile~ Roseanne
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Karen it is good to here you are enjoying Arizona again this winter. We are just starting to look at 55+ communities in SC. Any tips of the good or bad?
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Good morning, Karen! I go between using my stand mixer and my hand mixer. They are both easily accessible in my kitchen, so that’s makes it easier. I love lemon pie from scratch. I have my grandmother’s recipe. Now I want to come visit you, have a cup of coffee and a slice of your pie! Enjoy all those fun days in the sun!
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That is the cutest mixer block ever!! I have been enjoying this beautiful weather as well. I am glad you are feeling better so you can go outside and soak it in❤️
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Love your mixer block. So cute. Now I need pie.
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That selvedge is perfect in your mixer! I love it. Glad you are enjoying your time there – the weather is sure tempting….
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Hey Karen!! Glad to hear y’all are having fun in AZ! The pic is beautiful!!! Your mixer is so cute and the selvege works perfectly there! Kudos to you for changing it to paper piecing to fit your needs!! I have a KitchenAid stand mixer too and I love it! It’s pink too – my favorite color!! It makes me smile to get it out and use it!!! Thanks for all your cheerful posts!!!! xox
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Love your block! I use a hand whisk to mix things like Swedish Pancakes since I make one pancake at a time it is easy, but for the bigger stuff, I love my Kitchen Aid! Trying to make whipped cream with a hand whisk is a great way to work on improving the strength and endurance of the small muscles in your arm!!
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Love your block – I just may have to make something like it as a tribute to my grandmother’s 1945 Sunbeam Stand Mixmaster, which I still use every week!
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I missed you but didn’t write to tell you so. Didn’t know if you were still back in the cold or make it back to sunny Arizona. I use a hand mixer since I had no place to store a mixer with a stand. Sorry I didn’t have room for the latter. Life is short. Do what makes you happy….even if it isn’t sewing or quilting!
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Your mixer is the same color as my actual Kitchen Aid! What I use to depends on the project. I need to make cupcakes for a coworker’s baby shower later this week and will get out the Kitchen Aid. Glad you are enjoying your time in AZ!
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Goodness, yes, you have been missed! Cute mixer block. I prefer my mixer, but just this afternoon I mixed by hand a flourless chocolate cake. Mmmm… mmmm! And never do whipped cream by hand! Lol.
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Nice to see you, and I love your red mixer!!! The selvage detail on the band – so cool! These days, my hands get super fatigued very quickly – pretty sure it’s a Lupus thing – so no, I shy away from whisks. I used to love them. Nice way to get a little frustration or agression out. 🙂
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Love the mixer block! I love my Kitcheaide mixer and use it anytime I need some mixing 🙂
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Hi! I’ve jumped over here from Patterns By Jen’s Linky. Your block is fantastic! Both my daughters and I have KitchenAid mixers. Mine is silver, as is my oldest daughter’s, but now I wish I had picked out a red one. My youngest daughter received her hot pink one as a wedding present! It suits her perfectly! I look forward to reading some of your previous posts and getting to know you.
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That is such a fun block! I like using the mixer, it’s so much faster and easier on the arms!
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Wow, love this block! I have an almond colored KitchenAid which is about 30+ years old. I don’t use it as much as I did when my kids were small but it is a work horse!
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Oh how I love that mixer!
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This is a super cute block. Thanks for sharing it in January’s red challenge. We did miss you, but I’m glad you enjoyed your break.
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What a neat block, when you started talking about the yummy lemons I thought for sure you would make another mixer in yellow! Sounds like you are having a wonderful time, enjoy the warmth, we are getting a snow storm here in Iowa!
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