More about last Sunday

As I mentioned in the previous post I hadn't had so much fun in a long long time as in our last meeting. I don't know what was in the air but we were all laughing and having a good time. I just wanted to share some of those moments with everyone else.

I don't know when Clara finds time to make this beautiful but most importantly, perfectly made quilt top for her daughter! It looked beautiful!


The mascot of the group, aka Luca, was wearing the t-shirt I just made for him from a drawing that my friend Soraya designed. He looked really cute with it on.

Amisha was trying to get a balloon for Luca and this was not easy. We had a good laugh until she got it!.


Pilar didn't even need to take her pants off! She was sewing them right on the spot!

Claudia showed us her new creation, a bracelet she made in a jewelry class.

Marcela was posing too with her new three bags, she has been very productive with these bags lately, they are nice...

Michelle played with Luca and his balloon.



And while everybody was talking...I was doing some flamenco moves....


And for next week we are announcing our first Anniversary celebration! Hurra! We will have a very special event, here goes the announcement!

You are invited to the First Annual Minerva's Circle Anniversary Party!

When: Sunday July 1, 2007, 4pm-6pm
Where: The Mcguire Commons Room, on UF Campus
Who: Anyone interested in quilting, sewing, crafts, or anyone interested in someone interested in quilting, sewing, crafts, etc.!
Why: to see what Minerva's Cirlce has been up to during its first year, to share inspiration, to socialize, to encourage new members, and to eat yummy snacks!
There will also be door prizes made by Minerva's Circle members!
See the linked flyer for more info and directions.
Please pass this on to anyone you think may be intrested.

Happy birthday and see you soon!

At minerva's Circle we are celebrating something most of the time. This past Sunday it was a special one. I think I haven't had so much fun in a very long time. It was a speacil day for Minerva's, we were celebrating a birthday and a farewell.
After her 3 week long trip to China and Korea, Amisha came back with a birthday in her hands! Actually her birthday was today, but we wanted to make sure we remembered and gave her a nice card that Pilar made.


This time too, we wanted to say goodbye to a good friend and member of this special circle. Clara, from Portugal is moving out to North Calorina, and after a great year of quilting, knitting, chatting, and sharing a special friendship with her, it was time for Minerva's Circle to say goodbye, or rather, see you soon.
Michelle made sure we were all color coordinated with the fabrics, bright and colorful, just like Clara. We made 9 blocks and all of them were quite different. We put black sashing and black back and quilted in yellow so you can see it clearly in the back. I think she liked it. We all enjoyed making it and some of our members didn't participate because we did it in a rush, but all their hearts are in it too.
Clara, we hope you enjoy this wall hanging and that you remember all your friends from Minerva's. We will have to visit you and see how it looks in the wall of your new home. Best of luck and warm wishes from Minerva's circle. More pictures here.

BLUEBERRY MUFFINS RECIPE

Since we went to the Blueberry Picking the other day, I was so excited about baking them and turning into muffins. So, this is the recipe I got from a book (*) that my friend Denise left me before she went to Chile around a year and a half ago.

Makes 12

• 1 ¼ cups flour
• 1/3 cup sugar (I recommended 1 cup instead)
• 2 teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 4 tablespoons butter, melted
• ¾ cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon rind
• 1 cup fresh blueberries

1. Preheat the oven to 400 F

2. Grease a 12 cup muffin pan or use paper liners

3. Sift the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt into a bowl

4. In another bowl, whisk the eggs until blended. Add the melted butter, milk, vanilla and lemon rind and stir to combine

5. Make a well in the dry ingredients and pour in the egg mixture. With a large metal spoon, stir just until the flour is moistened, not until is smooth.

6. Fold in the blueberries

7. Spoon the batter into the cups, leaving room for the muffins to rise

8. Bake until the tops spring back when touched lightly, 20-25 minutes (for me 20 min were enough). Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes before unmolding.

Enjoy baking -and off course tasting- this yummy muffins!

(*)Baking. Easy – to – make home bakes. Carole Clements (contributing editor), Hermes Ed., 2001.

A Gifts Sunday

Our last meeting was a gifts Sunday!! Amisha brought delayed gifts for every one who had had birthday; everything handmade and we are very happy and very surprising...! Receiving delayed gifts is a lot of fun!


Amisha continue working with her red quilt..... thank you Amisha for your presents!!!

Claudia is very excited with the dolls and she made one very special.

Michelle finished her baby quilt and in our meeting she make a label, look that it is beautiful!

It seems that the dolls that Minerva's circle will be sending to kenia are done.

These are the last dolls from Carmen and Flor.

A few weeks ago I received another gifts by mail. That was a surprise too. They were sent by Giselle and are handmade. A beautiful pin cushion and a seeds wall hanging.

I received this apron. It is terrific!! and i'm scared to use it for cooking it could get spoted

Here is Claudia and her new gift bag. She, the bag's queen add a beautiful model for her stock. She looks happy! don't you think?

There are all kinds of dolls

We had a good laugh today showing our dolls that will be sent to Africa one of these days. Some are sexy....with funky hair color and classy necklaces...some are loooong, with a flamenco flare....some are boyish looking, but with beautiful smiles....some are ready to clean a house yet cuties...and some are following Tokyo latest fashion...hehehe

As for me I received a late birthday present but beautiful! Claudia made me this mobil with three wonderful stars...The white one represents my Luca, I am the red one, of course red, and the big center one is McNair, such a precious present, I love it!


Yanina had the latest top fashion made by her! ON! We were all impressed with the finish, it looks very professional and it fits her perfect.


Flor was working on a skirt/pants with a beautiful fabric she got for her wedding and following one of Yanina's own patterns. Something typical in Argentina.


Claudia showed us her new hair style, made by her hubby, cute :)


As you can see most of the girls were working hard, Pilar was eating just for the picture, she did make some improvements in her pants that she will showcase in coming editions.


And Luca was also a member today, he did a performance on the piano today, he is a natural already in the Maguire commons room.


Have a nice week you all! I will be seeing you in 3 weeks!

Walking around the lake

We are lucky to live very close to each other for the most part. This week we decided that to cheer our spirit up it would be a good idea not only to craft but also to do some exercise. With all our children together it is really hard to arrange something that would work for all of us. This time, 4 moms and 6 children got together and went for a walk to the lake here at the university. It was a lot of fun, and we enjoyed very much seeing the wildlife and talking to our friends. There is always so much to talk about.... And here is us, I am just missing in this picture:


And today is Teri's birthday! Happy birthday Teri! I wish you a wonderful day and many more to come.

Later alligator!

Camels, dolls and quilts

Today was a quiet quilting day at Minerva's circle. We had a great time as usual, and for me it was specially quiet because I came alone. Mr. Luca was playing outside with my neighbors so I was the most productive I have been in the longest time. And we don't have a picture to prove it!
But we do have pictures of other productive ladies....Clara made these cute camels, the one on the right with the funny head shape, we weren't sure if it was a bird or a camel, but for sure both of the were cute!

Amisha and her baby quilt, she is in her last section, and she is getting ready to move on :)


Pilar, Flor and I got together one day to make dollies without borders. Pilar was the most advanced of all and she even got to make some fancy to this female African doll. Too big right now, but she had all these tricks in her head to make them fit just perfect.

Yanina and her lovely doll, she made the most beautiful hair and face! I really love it because it looks quite realistic. Very cute, and this one with the legs attached directly to the body.

And our special guest. The cutest and most talkative of all Eyram.

Dollies Without Borders Day!

Today we had the pleasure of having Madeline Austin, of Dollies Without Borders join us. A number of Minerva's Circle members donated dolls, and there are more to come!

Madeline took a fancy to Marcela's dollie. It seemed hard for Marcela to part with her.

Madeline brought a slide show of some of the doll makers at work. The best part was seeing pictures of the dollies being delivered in Africa. It made it much easier to part with them.

Yesterday Marcela hosted a doll making party at her home. Here Madeline is holding the dolls donated by employees of Holbrook Travel where Marcela works.

Here is the basket of dollies Madeline left with. She said that before the dollies are taken to Africa she will bring the entire lot of them one Sunday for us to see.

Here is Marcela with her dollie.

Here I am with my dollie and camel. The camel is quick and easy, but the dolls are so much fun to decorate and accessorize! The patterns for both can be found on the Dollies Without Borders website.

We were glad to see Teri today! Amisha was working on a crib quilt she is donating to be auctioned off for Planned Parenthood.

Pilar and Yanina show Madeline some of the things they are working on, and explain a bit more about Minerva's Circle!

Hope to see everyone next week! Don't forget the Friends of the library book sale starts on the 21st! Hope everyone has a great week. And if you didn't make it this week, be sure to ask Carmen to show you the wonderful gift she received from Giselle. It is a book of her blog. It is something I am sure Carmen will treasure always!

Another week...a new metting

As the Beatles said 'it's getting better all the time'...here are the photos from last sunday:

Yanina, finally back from Cordoba...we missed you!
Thanks for bring the alfajores, yummy...

Ermitte stopped by to say hi and see what we were doing...why don't you join us some day?

Carmen and 'Luca pelusa'...the handsome boy from Minerva's

Awa and Pascaline made the most beautiful dolls...

This supposed to be more conversation and less work...but that's the best part.


See you in two days!!

better late than never?

hi there!
well, i am a lax poster here for sure... realizing that "tomorrow" is starting to mean more and more "next week"! so sorry for this, girls. looking at these photos and posting them, i am missing you all and hope that you had a good meeting this past sunday.

so a little blast from the past... our march 25 meeting....

i just love this photo of flor, flipping through a craft book. isn't she cute? :)


marcela is busily working away... she has been making the most amazing cute dolls from thrifted fabric, stretchy t-shirts and wild dresses with ribbon hair and turbans.


clara, knitting a firey scarf in a style that i thought was so interesting and different from what i had seen before... she loops the yarn around her neck and purls every stitch. i love that there are so many ways to knit, and we all produce the same knitted fabric... so many paths! i really want to try this way, it looks fun :)


claudia and her lovely springtime fruits bag! watermelons and lemons and limes...


michelle has made a wee version of melissa's tiny happy shoulder bag, so cute in pink. i think that this pattern is an initiation rite into minerva's circle :)


dineo is piecing this lovely star pattern in earth tones...


and one of our favorite little persons at minerva's circle.... hello luca!


see you all soon!