Quick n' Easy

For me, plaids can be a bit tricky. This was a challenge to myself to work only in plaids and simplify. No playing with 387 colors in this one. No sirreee. Of course, one 4-patch had to have a different blue. Why, well because I ran out of the other one.

Yes, the 4-patches are made with 2" squares and trimmed down to 3-1/4" blocks. The alternate brown plaid block cut at 3-1/4". Then the alternate B block cut to match accordingly. Again, that pesky rule, "make B block last." B block of course being the one with the least pieces.

I think it will make a lovely table topper when my furniture finally comes out of storage. Don't forget to share a picture if you make one.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . . .

Think pink

The Domestic Divas blog site lists how you can win a Dyson vacuum.

http://thedomesticdiva.org/blog/2007/10/21/contest-dyson-pink-vaccuum/

Dyson donates $40.00 to breast cancer research for every vacuum sold.

(quilt pic borrowed from web link)

Quilt Recipe

Recipe For A Quick Christmas Gift

2 colors, 1 background; 1-3/4" strips.

Cut, sew, assemble. Add borders of your choosing. Quilt on the straight grid and bind as appropriate.

Wrap with cheer and warm hugs will be heartfelt all year long. On second thought, better make 2.

The good, the bad, and the ugly

Is it just me, or does anyone else own some really odd, ugly, or what looks like totally unusable fabric?

Instead of "why did I buy this fabric," my motto should be "nothing is too odd, ugly, or unusable." No, really, even that one. Yes, you remember. It's in the back of the closet hiding under that pile of newer, prettier, better, or brighter.
We simply cannot help ourselves. It looked great at the time. It was on sale even. And we knew that one day we'd find a use for it. Didn't we?

And you know what, it's my new favorite quilt. Really. I even bordered it in my favorite color.

And I managed to use up a few more odd and unusual pieces on the back. This was quilted in straight grid though so there were no bubbles. Thank goodness.

Even though it's my new favorite, it will be mailed off soon to someone who is very near and dear to my heart. Lucky them, they get a new quilt. Lucky me, for I don't know what I'd do without them.

Until them, keep stitchen' . . . .

Smartypants

Do you remember when you turned 5 and instigated some clever piece of mischief you believed you could actually get away with? Your mom called you a "smartypants," but your grandmom called you adorable and clever because you reminded her so much of "your" mother.

This quilt is my version. And you would certainly think that in the intervening years, I would have learned a thing or two.

Sometimes frugality has it's rewards and sometimes it teaches us a new lesson. Yes, using up the left over tote bag pieces was a good thing. Using up my leftover batting pieces and expecting my numb hands to quilt over 3 layers of them was not. Making the backing out of a lot of older xmas prints that needed to move on was a great idea, but deciding that I could stipple in many directions was not. Bubbles in the backing happen, especially when there are many seams. (Don't worry, I redid that section.)

Ending up with a very pretty, very heavy quilt is a good thing. Mailing it off to dear friends far away is even better. Every quilt story has a happy ending. They will love the quilt, it will keep them very warm, and I will find more joy in giving than keeping. Smartypants indeed!

Treasure Box

I ask you, where would we be without quiltin' pals? The world would be a far less smilin' place that's for sure.

My good buddy L.B. cleans off her cutting table every once in awhile and mails me some treasures. It does not matter what size, what color, what shape, or even how much. Just getting a box full of fabric pieces puts a smile on my face the whole day through.

And of course, she sends me a calendar every year, as she knows on my schedule I can barely remember what day it is. Thanks L.B. The world would be a far less smilin' place without you!

A pressing issue

My friend Susan, who owns the lil' fabric shop known as The Quilter's Block, encouraged me to do a post on fabric preparation. Or, more specifically, how I prepare my fabric for cutting. It may seem a bit more involved than what you are used to, but for me, the benefits far outweigh the time needed. These benefits include ease of handling small pieces and much less fraying.

I'm not going to cover washing fabric, as you can find all you need to know regarding that subject in Harriet Hargrave's book, From Fiber to Fabric: The Essential Guide to Quiltmaking Textiles. In it, Harriet covers many aspects of dye testing including washing in the water that comes out of your faucet. See if your libary has the book or can borrow it via interlibrary loan.

After my fabric is dye tested, washed, and dried accordingly, I tear off a section based on what size and number of strips I'll be cutting. Generally this includes 2-1/2", 2", and 1-3/4" strips. These pieces will be for my fabric library. The idea is to cut for current and future projects that I have floating around in my head. To this measurement I add 1" for trimming allowance.

The fabric section can have a stringy bottom, which I quickly trim off, tossing the trimmings into my scrap basket.

I iron a sheet of freezer paper on to my ironing board to keep the spray from soaking in. It also keeps the cover cleaner so I don't have to wash it so much. Then I spray each fabric section and pin it to my design wall to dry overnight. (This process is assisted by the dehumidifier which runs 24/7.)

When the sections are dry, I iron them straight (as shown in previous post). If needed I re-spray any areas that are not stiff enough.

Here is my next stack waiting to be trimmed in to strips and/or squares. The fabric pieces left over after cutting strips go in to a separate bag for string quilting. The basket holds any pieces too small to use. As the basket fills, I dump it in to a box. When the box is full, it will be donated to an art teacher or to the local humane society thrift shop. There are many fiber artists in this area who make paper, do felting, etc. Someone will find a need for the fiber and it won't go in to the landfill.

The only change I will be making to this process, is switching from canned spray starch (which has jumped 14 cents per can) to spray starch concentrate, which is much cheaper and I will mix up myself. I'll post more on that process soon.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . . .

Fall Color

Before the rain started on Monday (YEAH, IT'S RAINING!!!), Bonnie and I took a little side trip to the Hiawassee catch basin area. Amazingly, and I don't know why, this is one of the few lakes in the area whose water level is not down a few feet.

Notice how well the Princess Puppy blends in with the fall colors. She was keeping me company while I hung out quilts.

Including the newly washed Chinese Coins. This project was an experiment I started way back about 1998. I had some low thread count muslin which I cut in to strips and then proceeded to sew the "ribbons" on to it. When I first put this quilt together, it bowed to one side like the proverbial flag. I took it all apart, read some directions in one of my books (isn't it amazing what you learn when you read the instructions?), and assembled it by first sewing 2 units in the downward direction, then reversing and sewing 4 units in the upward direction. And guess what, it actually worked. Imagine that!

Until then, keep stitchin' . . . . .

A touch of plaid

Thank goodness for pretty days. And clothes lines. And an actual vacation day that allows me time out to take pictures.

This idea was originally seen in a catalog long ago. Of course, I made up my own version. The 16-patch squares were made using 1-3/4" strips in the strip piecing method. The half square triangles made to match the size of the 16-patch block. Remember that rule, "Always Make Block B After You Know What Size Block A Is! "

Not that I always follow it. However, when I do, things generally come out right!

Until then, keep stitchin' . . . . .

Excitement

The suspense has been building for several days now. No doubt you've been marking your calendars waiting for the official names of those poor chickens. Well folks, it's decided, Mabel and Alma have signed their adoption papers and Aunt Bertha will be winging her way to Nadine's house very soon. As you can imagine, it was a very hard decision. Such creative folks you all are. Aunt Bertha, Mabel, Alma, and I send our sincere appreciation to all of those who participated.

And just for your viewing pleasure, I managed to take a couple of photos of the color this weekend while stopping at a church rummage and bake sale early this morning. In the scenic shot, you can just see the mist as it rises up between the trees. This happens regularly here, but more so when the warm earth meets the coolness of the morning.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . . .

A Recipe, A Contest . . .

But not a recipe contest.

For today's menu, we have Ham and Egg Pie.

When my mom was President of the United Methodist's Women committee (and chief menu planner) she found this recipe to serve at the men's breakfast. It was not called quiche then. You may call it whatever you like. I call it delicious and quick! (Recipe at bottom of post).

Just for grins, I thought you might enjoy seeing my pincushion collection. After all, pincushions are like Lay's Potato Chips, you definitely will want more than one. It never fails that when you are working on your cutting table, your pincushion is over by your sewing machine. Or upstairs, or in your work basket . . . . (You know what I'm talking about.)

One day the light bulb finally went off and I said, "aha, why can't I have more than one?" So I've been making and collecting them ever since. I especially love homemade ones. Although the wooly purple egg, which I bought in Florida, is so tough in the middle I rarely use it. Now the one on the glass candlestick pedestal I made recently. It is stuffed with sheep's fleece that I bought from a local weaver who also raises sheep, and it keeps my pins very sharp indeed. The red plaid apple came from Ohio (made by local Amish ladies). The light colored basket was found at Joanne's Fabrics. And the brown basket was made by a local gal who sells them at a yearly craft fair nearby. (The log cabin background fabric I recently found at Susan's shop, but sorry folks, she's all out.)


And yes, I was serious when I mentioned a contest. You see these two well loved chickens? Well, they do not have names and are in desparate need of one. I know, I know, with my love of fiction, you'd think I could come up with something appropriate. However, my brain is tired so I'm leaving it up to you.

Please leave a comment and submit your favorite names. On Saturday, October 20th, I'll pick a winner. And what will you win?

This lovely lady right here. Whom I did name. She's Aunt Bertha and she rules the roost. Bertha wears a steel apron, carries a wooden spoon, and knows how to use it. When she cackles, the whole neighborhood wakes. (Of course, you can make up your own story.)


I'm going to leave you with my version of my mom's recipe. I'll be taking a few days off from blog land as there are some things I need to catch up on. Not to worry, I'll be back with more fun and adventure.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . . .

HAM AND EGG PIE

4 eggs (I use 6-8 for a fuller pie)
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 cups cooked ham (cubed 1/2")
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup milk
1 cup grated sharp cheese (I use a medium sharp and monterey jack blend.)

Mix the above items. Pour into an unbaked pie shell. Bake at 425 degrees for 35 minutes OR 375 degrees for 45 minutes. Enjoy!

No magic wand needed.

I'd like to begin today's post by saying Happy Birthday to Finn. If you have a moment why not drop by her blog and wish her a Great Day!

Some of you may be wondering how I can possibly piece a quilt top so quickly. Well okay, yes, some are done faster than others. However, awhile back when I was teaching in a 3-state range, while working full time and doing commissioned quilts, I learned the art of fabric preparedness. Basically this means I spent a lot of time prepping and cutting pieces. From pretty much every single fabric that I buy. Yes, this takes time. But, and here's the glimmer, it pays off if you're doing quilts or blocks with same size pieces. Also, you can do it in stages and slowly build up your collection. No magic wand, no marathon shopping sprees, simple progress in slow degrees.

This is also a wonderful way to learn about color. I realize that you can now go out and purchase fully coordinated jelly rolls, charm packs, quilt kits, etc. And . . . there are many lovely pre-selected fabric groupings out there, believe me I love them too. However, if you really want to learn, begin by working with every single color you own.

One way to do that is with your fabric library. Here is a picture of my 2-1/2" square library. Well most of them. Many blues are in a separate box. Yes, it's a suitcase; meaning it's portable, fits my lifestyle, and only cost $3.00 at the thrift store. But from it, I can work with a vast array of squares easily.

And when I want to play in pastels, I simply pull out all light to mediums in soft baby tones. Working on my design wall, I place each one. It may not look like it at first glance, but this piece is for advanced color work. Balancing light, medium, and dark; soft and bright; white or slightly muddy. No, I don't need an expansive collection of Aunt Grace's, Aunt Sadie's, Cousin Bertha's, or Yosemite Sam's. Some would be nice, yes. But this is my collection, no one else's.

It represents who I am simply by its portrayal of color.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . . .

Ahhh yes . . .

You knew it was coming didn't you? Big Blue is growing by leaps and bounds. And what could be better than an excursion to Blue Ridge, GA on a sunny Fall day? A very quick excursion mind you, but great fun nonetheless.

Besides, they were having a sale . . . . on fat quarters, (well okay, some fat quarters). And who can resist this pomegranite color. It is the most lucious color I've seen in ages. Now if only Dawn would drop by and show me what pattern I can use it in. She'll have just the right idea I know. (I'll even make cookies Dawn!)

To top it all off, my new Vintage Quilts magazines came in. (These are older issues, but currently still available.) Inside are many lovely old quilts, but one in particular caught my attention. It's difficult to see in the magazine I know, but it's a Pennsylvania Dutch double Irish chain variation. I took along my school bus orange and Civil War green in order to find the perfect red. I mean PERFECT. It's sooo wonderful, I want to order a bolt of it. Well a gal can dream can't she? (It shows up very dark so you'll have to trust me.)

Not to worry, Big Blue has to get done first. Has anybody seen my box of time?

Oldie, but Goodie

Churn dash has got to be one of my all time favorites. (Yes, I know, I have a lot of those.) However, it seems that no matter what size block, or color, or even placement you decide on, they all come out beautifully.

This treasure has held it's color better than the D.I.C. It is 18 years old now and I keep thinking, "why don't I make this pattern more often?" Well it could be because I have so many others to finish up. Duhhh, silly me. It's so simple and so nice to teach to beginning quilters.




In order to make the back more interesting, I chose to quilt the looped star pattern on the churn dash block and the feathered wreath on the alternating plain block. The half circle pattern done along the borders was made by tracing along the bottom half of a large thread cone. Back then, I used whatever was handy for templates. Cool whip lids also became one of my favorite pattern tools.

Until then, keep stitchen' . . . .

Comfort

As the saying goes, "sometimes life hands you a curve." Then again sometimes it's a cliff . . . full of ragged edges and broken dreams.

This quilt is 21 years old now, made during a time of great turmoil and unhappiness in my life. The road since has been somewhat bumpy and often full of pot holes, but I'm learning to either steer around them or gun the engine and jump.

Through it all, my double Irish chain has brought me comfort, and warmth, and when I needed it, a snugly.

It's semi-retired now and only comes out when I'm feeling ill or especially "blue." No pun intended.

The original colors have faded to a soothing gray. At the time, I did not know that Woolite had bleach in it and Orvus soap was the way to go.

The binding has been mended a time or two. And once, a puppy I had found it on the line and decided to chew a bit. I mended it and thus added one more story to it's journey.

And the bottom photo, the newest one. Big Blue it's called, for the moment. It's still in progress as you can see. No doubt, it too will have stories to tell as I prepare for a new journey. Finding a house, buying a house, settling down. Life is full of journeys and stories.

If your quilts could talk, what tales would they tell?

And your grandmother's quilts?

Label them if you can, for they've traveled further than any of us.

Pass it on . . .

I've been tagged by Su.

And if I understand the rules correctly it seems a clever name game is to follow. Hmmmm, I'll give it my best shot.

G ~ Giver, I love to mail out packages of fabric and such. Of course I love to get them too.

Y ~ Yes, I do love chocolate. Milk chocolate, dark chocolate, Swiss chocolate.

P ~ Pet lover, partial to dogs.

S ~ Sinnamon bun maker, with lots of brown sugar and cinnamon.

Y ~ Yodel, heck no I can't yodel, but I will hum along.

Q ~ Quiltaholic. (No explanation necessary.)

U ~ U gotta have fabric, how else can you be a quilter?

I ~ In the woods, that's where I reside.

L ~ Licensed to carry; scissors, needles, rotary cutters. And believe me, I know how to use them.

T ~ Teacher

E ~ Effervescent, excitable, enthusiastic about quilting.

R ~ Resourceful. I can find fabric anywhere.

And the folks who make me laugh, well I have to include all of my e-mail pals who have the same quirky Yankee sense of humor as I. Along with:

Carolyn ~ http://knotgarden.blogspot.com/

The Little Admiral ~ http://goatdancefarm.blogspot.com/

Susan ~ http://patchworkreflections.blogspot.com/

Tazzie ~ http://tazziequilts.blogspot.com/

Kim ~ http://forcemajeurefarm.blogspot.com/