New Year goals . . . hmmmmm

I've decided that this is the year I learn to applique. . . . something. And if I could just get those leaf edge points to come out flat and pointy, I'd be happy. Truly.

Of course, actually being able to find anything in my studio right now would make me happy too. Nope, I can't even find the floor. Why? Well, it's covered in boxes and bins of, you guessed it, fabric.

Luckily, since I'm never moving again (EVER EVER EVER!!!) there's plenty of time to use it up. One itsy bitsy leaf at a time.

Wishing you and yours a Happy, Healthy, Prosperous New Year. Until then, keep stitchin' . . .


Photo compliments of the Quilt Study Center

Wishing you all . . .

. . . .a holiday full of wonderful surprises!

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

Not just ONE,

. . . but FOUR handsome gentleman are under my Christmas tree this year.

Thank you G.B. How did you ever know? LOL.

Until then, keep stitchin . . .

So many talented folks

exhibit at the Firesale sale.

You might even recognize a few.


Just imagine how many UFOs you could fit in one basket.

So save your pennies.

and come join us next year. There's an awful lot to admire and all of it is Made In The USA.

Mark your calendar for the first Sunday in December.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

A few more pics . . .

from the Fireside sale.


Betsy Orlando's dolls.

Ron Howard's iron work.

Pam Howard spinning away. (Pam is co-owner of the Yarn Circle. If you need supplies for spinning, weaving, or knitting, check out their web site and give them a call.)

Lovely pottery.

and I wish I could remember this lady's name . . . but she had some lovely quilts nonetheless.

Until then, keep stitchin . . . .

Fireside sale . . .

and the work of some talented friends at the John C. Campbell Folk School.

Katrina Miller's fun and always whimsical copper sculpted pins. (She does great ornaments too.)

Lee and Doug with their blue and white pottery. The bunnies are my favorites.

Marsha Bugg's phenomenal porcelain pottery in soft muted shades of mossy green, earthy brown and tan.

Suzy DeLauriers' wonderful watercolors of local scenes around the folk school.

And Lynda Metcalfe's beautifully designed earrings and necklaces.

Of course I took more than 5 pictures and will show those soon.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

A few thoughts on giving . . .

It's a time of year for thinking of others . . . and in light of this year's ecomony, ensuring that what we are giving truly goes to those in need.

Here in my small town, one church boxed up an entire Thanksgiving meal for 160 families. Those directing the food drive verified that those asking for help truly needed it. By buying in bulk at a discounted rate they were able to make the funds and the food go further. Perhaps there's an organization in your home town doing the same thing. Check with members of your community, you may be helping a neighbor you already know.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

I'm on a mission . . .

. . . . to reinstate jobs in America. After 2 hours of trying to get my DSL line to work last night and a THIRTY-MINUTE phone call to another country that should have taken FIVE MINUTES, I hereby proclaim loudly and with great exclamation,

"LET'S BRING JOBS BACK TO AMERICA" by refusing adamantly, profusely, and succinctly, to talk with a service person outside of the United States.

Just so you know, I had to ask the Verizon operator THREE TIMES to put me through to someone speaking American English. I finally got the manager who could barely do so. Next time I will stay on the line until I'm speaking to an American.

I've found that the best way to do this is to keep repeating the phrase, "I need to speak to an American in the United States." Don't say anything else, just that phrase, until finally, you do.

Ok, I'm getting off of my soapbox now. I feel better. Thanks for listening.

God Bless America!

Wishing you all . . .

. . . . safe journey if you are traveling, the joy of arriving family, and the homecoming smells of baking turkey.

May the bounty of our tables be shared with those less fortunate and may our Thanksgiving prayers remember our soilders far from home.

God Bless America.

Linen and gravy don't mix

Very recently unpacked is my mother's tablecloth, which I believe my paternal grandmother embroidered.

My grandmother, a woman who raised 7 children by herself after my grandfather died at age 42, was the only quilter I know of in my family.

She also cooked, canned, baked, ironed with a flat iron, and sewed even while going blind from diabetes. She was a soldier of the steel apron generation and I inherited her chin. . . . along with her love of needlework.

If anyone has any suggestions on how to remove stains on linen, I'd greatly appreciate it.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

Easy as pie

Now that the holidays are upon us (how did that happen so quickly) . . .

I thought I'd share one of my all-time favorite pie recipes which I've been making for years. This can be made a few days ahead, placed in the freezer, and defrosted 10 minutes before serving.

Is it good you ask? Well let me tell ya, you'll probably need to make 2!

***************
Chocolate Cream Pie

1 package ( 3 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/3 cup Hershey's cocoa
1/3 cup milk
8 ounce container non-dairy whipped topping (Cool Whip), thawed *
8 or 9 inch graham cracker or chocolate cookie pie crust (Keebler)

Combine cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla in small mixing bowl until blended. Add cocoa alternatively with milk, beating until smooth. Gradually add and "fold in" whipped topping until well combined. Spoon into pie shell.

Clean the label off the pie crust cover, invert and cover pie, crimp edges of foil around lid, and freeze until firm.

* 2 cups heavy cream and 1/4 cup sugar can be substituted for the whipped topping.

Enjoy!

The end of an era

My mother knew what she was about when I received these on my 16th birthday. They traveled to distant lands such as Orlando, Denver, and Killington. Brochures from colleges filled them until I decided which one, then immediately started packing to leave home and be on my way. . . at 17 no less. It seems I was destined to be a long-time traveler.

Once I got to college they were filled with fabric. I was a textile major then and studying every fiber ever made. My quilting destiny was just around the corner.

Now that I have found my home, the remaining fabric was removed and they were donated to the local humane society thrift shop. I hope whomever receives them has an equally amazing journey. . . or perhaps someone will fill them with treasures from her travels. One can only wonder.

And where will I put my overflow fabric you ask, why anywhere I want. I have a whole house to fill. LOL!

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

On this Veteran's Day, I am truly honored . . .

. . . That Mary will be including my original QOV string quilt top with those quilts being given to the grieving families or the wounded of the Fort Hood incident. Mary deserves a big round of applause for all of her hard work and dedication to the Heart Strings project.

It doesn't take much to coordinate a group to make string blocks. If you're looking for a worthwhile project during your holiday breaks consider getting involved. There is no more worthy cause than to show our appreciation to those soldiers giving so much for our country.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

Smurf meets Mr. Ed

Just kidding. It's more like a warm robbins' egg blue.
Which I achieved by mixing 3/4 gallon of country white with 2 colors (quarts) that represented Caribbean blue. One had more green in it. I emptied the country white in to my big bucket and then slowly added each blue, stirring and testing until I got the color I liked.

True, playing with fabric is much more fun and certainly more colorful, but it's nice to design your own paint color once in awhile.

By the way, does anyone remember the words to "The Famous Mr. Ed" ? A horse is a horse of course of course, but nobody . . . . dah dah dum da dum. It has been a long time. I was very young when that show was on. Ahem. Really.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

A plethora of possibilities

Like a beautiful quilt, nature draws me in with detail.

First with awesome color . . .

Then shadow and depth combine . . .

. . . with an abundance of lines and curves.
and texture, glorious texture!

Can you tell I really love my new camera? It's a Canon Coolpix P90 with a 24X zoom. I have no idea how to work all of the bells and whistles yet, but give me time.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

What to do if your turkey (or chicken) comes out dry. . .

. . . . if you have left overs, or if you simply want a good hot casserole with fixin's from the freezer.

This is one of those recipes that can be adjusted depending on how much you have on hand and how many folks you'll be feeding. And just so you know, I used turkey and celery (from the freezer), a half cup of cheddar cheese (leftover and needing to be used up), extra seasonings to suit my taste, and penne pasta as it was in the pantry.

Baked Mostaccioli and Chicken

1/2 of a (1-pound) package of Creamette brand mostaccioli, uncooked

1/3 cup margarine or butter

1/2 cup chopped celery

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons Wyler's Chicken-Flavor instant Bouillon (I used 3 cubes)

4 cups milk

3 cups chopped cooked chicken or turkey

1 (2-ounce jar) diced pimiento, drained (Personally, I leave this out.)

1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese (I use the pre-grated kind in the jar. Works for me.)

Prepare Mostaccioli according to package directions; drain.

In medium saucepan, melt margarine. Add celery and onion; cook until tender. Stir in flour and bouillon. Blend in milk. Cook, stirring constantly, until thickened and bubbly. Add chicken, pimiento, and Parmesan cheese; heat through. Combine chicken mixture and mostaccioli; mix well. Pour into a greased 3-quart baking dish. Bake in a 350 degree oven until hot and bubbly, about 30 minutes. Refrigerate leftovers. Makes 4-6 servings.

********

You also have the option of dividing up the portions in to 2 pans before baking and freeze one for later.

Another trick is to simmer your chicken/turkey meat bones like you'd do if making soup. After 30 minutes of simmer, strain the broth well and use it to cook the pasta. It adds a wonderful flavor to your noodles. When straining the pasta, save the broth to cool and pour over your dog's dry food a little each day. Your dog will love you even more.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . . .

Meanderings

Even though the heavy amount of rain managed to bring the leaves down faster this year . . .

There are still some great shots waiting to be discovered.

The news coverage on the Fort Hood attack in Texas and now the shooting in Orlando, Florida today have me wondering why so much violence is going on, again. You know I usually don't comment on national events, preferring to focus on the joys of quilting and the beauty of this area. However, at this time, I'd like to offer my sincere condolences to the family and friends touched by the tragedies.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

Ummm, Ummmm Good

Fall is definitely here and Marie over at Oak Cottage is offering a lovely butternut squash recipe along with what sounds like some yumptious cabbage soup. Perfect for a brisk day of leaf raking.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

Quick post

Woo Hooo, Krista is having a give-away. If you already have one, there's no need to submit a comment. You see, I rarely participate in give-aways, but I really need to win this one. As if I'll actually be sewing anything anytime soon! LOL.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

The best sugar cookies I've ever tasted. . . bar none!

Treasures can often be found at local church rummage sales. This time it was in the form of the best sugar cookies ever. I had a heck of a time tracking down the baker who of course was out of town for a few months. Persistence pays off though and I promised to share the recipe with everyone I know.

You'll want to make them for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and any holiday in between. Or just make them for yourself. They are that good.

Amish Sugar Cookies

1 cup unsalted butter (room temperature).
1 cup vegetable oil (Canola)
1 cup sugar
1 cup confectioner's sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
4-1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cream of tartar

Combine butter, oil, and sugars in a large mixing bowl. Add eggs; beat 1 minute until well blended. Add vanilla, beat well. In a separate bowl combine flour, baking soda, and cream of tartar; add to creamed mixture, mixing well.

Drop by small teaspoonfuls onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

Yield: About 5 dozen medium size cookies.

Is it true that blonds have more fun?

If so, I'm about to find out. . . .

One half of the closet was painted bright iced yellow, the side with the slant. I took the remaining yellow, mixed it with country white and did the right hand side.

Do you know why I did the slanted side bright yellow . . . . so I would not hit my head on the wall.

Okay, you can stop laughing now. . . . I'm sure it will wash out eventually.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . . .

T'aint it purdy . . .

This blog post is for all of my relatives. All those folks who know, heard about, or saw some of the places I've lived in in the past. From the camping trailer with the outside shower to the 160-year-old log cabin with no insulation to the efficiency apartment with the small electric heater.

Okay, so about the only places I haven't lived in yet are a lighthouse or a wigwam. And okay, I was only in the camping trailer from summer into fall . . . however, I will be warm this winter and for many winters to come with my new pellet stove. Of course . . . that's no reason to stop making quilts.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

Last new quilt pic for awhile . . .

Here are the last four QOV tops that I'll be sending off to the Heart Strings group to be finished. Well, okay, the last for this year. Who knows what next year will bring.

If you'd like to learn more about this worthwhile project, just click on Heart Strings. Remember, they don't have to be red, white and blue. You can use up your odd pieces and blocks like I did. What better way to show our care and support than to wrap a wounded soldier in a quilt!

God bless America and God bless our troops.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

Inspirational color surrounds us

I was unloading more boxes, looked down and saw this.

A type of fungus growing out of a tree stump in undulating patterns. If I were designing a new fabric line, this is where I would start.

What have you found to inspire you in your yard, village, hill, or dale this fall?

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

There's a new kid on the block . . .

. . . and she is sharing a lovely tutorial on making and appliqueing circles the easy way.

Do stop by and give a hi howdy to Krista.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

I stopped by the water basin lake yesterday . . .

. . . thinking you all might enjoy a lil' leaf peeping.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

When in doubt, follow your OWN color sense.

I know it's hard to see the color, but trust me it's pale, frosty yellow. How do I know, well the hard way unfortunately.

First it was December Starlight by Valspar paints. (Too warm.)

Then it was Iced Lemon. (Too yellow.)

Then it was about 1-1/2 pints of Iced Lemon, some warm white and a third white that I can't remember. I mixed them all up and painted the room a third time.

Nope, not right.

So I finally bought a gallon of cheap Country White from Wal-Mart and a quart of Iced Lemon. Mixed them up and wallah . . . frosty yellow.

If I ever get tired of quilting, I can become a paint color consultant. By the time I get done figuring out what colors work in each room, I'll be ready for anything. Sheesh!

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

A view from the balcony

The nice thing about finally unpacking . . . .

. . . is actually seeing how many quilts there are. Here's a sampling.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

I know, I know, I live in a vacuum . . .

Well not literally, but there's only one local radio station so I rarely listen to music (I prefer books on tape) and I've not had TV in 10 years (no great loss there).

So I'm thankful that bloggers around the world keep me updated when there's music worth listening to. Thank you Deb for sharing the news. Finally there's a group singing songs that one can actually hear the words to! WOW!

The only question is . . . when is Il Divo coming to America?

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

(Photo is of my neighbor's house and of fall just starting to show it's colors around the lake.)

The good news is . . . .

All the fabric is out of storage and on the front porch. (Do you think the neighbors are wondering if I'll be opening a quilt shop? LOL)

And there's more glorious color taking place in my front yard.

When I was little I called these "strawberry trees."

This is my soon to be studio. Complete with a 14' ceiling which I must finish painting . . . yup, this weekend.

The carpet is a kind of aqua green, very cushy and lovely. I decided I was running out of time so I called Frank at Tri-State Carpet Cleaning. He has a new machine and did a fantastic job. It looks brand new! If you're local and need yours done before the holidays, just e-mail me and I'll share his number. His prices are very reasonable.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .