Who doesn't love chocolate?

I imagine the folks who love chocolate are the same ones who enjoy Connie and Mary's patterns from Country Threads. (http://www.countrythreads.com/)

Who can resist those adorable chickens, cows, sheep, and bright red barns. Even for those who don't often use plaids, their patterns will make you want to.

For me, the best part of their books, along with their emphatic love of animals, is their promotion of the spaying and neutering of pets. Those animal lovers out there know what I mean. I've noticed that abandonment is especially rampant in rural areas I've lived near.

This quilt comes from their book Country Threads, which came out in 1992. Of course I had to change it around. I chose to use 2" strips instead of 1-1/2" as called for and adjusted the house blocks accordingly.

And just so I won't disappoint those yearning for something sweet, here is a great cookie recipe you can make while contemplating which plaids and prints to pull for this quilt.

Chocolate Chunk Cookies

2 packages (8 squares each) BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Baking Chocolate, divided
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 cup butter or margerine, softened
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
2 cups chopped walnuts

Coarsely chop 8 squares (1 package) of the chocolate; set aside.

Microwave remaining 8 squares of chocolate in a large bowel on high 2 minutes. Stir until chocolate is melted and smooth. Add sugar, butter, eggs, and vanilla. Stir with a wooden sppon until well blended. Add flour and baking powder; mix well. Stir in chopped chocolate and walnuts.

Drop by scant 1/4 cupfuls of dough onto ungreased baking sheet.

Bake at 350 degrees for 13 to 14 minutes or until cookies are puffed and feel set to the touch.

Cool 1 minute and remove from sheet on to wire cooling racks. Makes 18 large cookies.

Author's note: As you can see no where does it say "add calories" in the ingredients section. Therefore, there aren't any.

Can I interest you in toll tickets for the bridge to Hawaii?

How I survived summer school.

I made this quilt waaaaay back in the summer of 1995 while I was in college working on my certificate for medical transcription. As many of you know, summer school is a shorter session, which means you have to cram more stuff in to your brain in less time.

To say I was majorly stressed would not be putting too fine a point on it. Of course, the main culprits were two intense classes, one of which was anatomy. For those fellow medical majors out there, you know what I mean. To top it all off, the teacher could not teach. Really. Oh she tried, but simply was not capable. As a matter of fact, I remember having to go to the dean's office about it. But I digress.
Through teaching and personal experience, I've learned that one way to deal with stress is with the use of color. Many, many colors. The more colors, the better. Sort and trim and sew and place as much as possible. Let the fabric speak for you. Clear your mind of all clutter and focus on color. Follow a pattern if you want to. This one happens to be from Little Quilts.
And when you're all done, make sure the label says, "I survived . . . . . . " You'll be a stronger person for it and have a new quilt to boot.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . . . . .

Celebrate Fall

The book, "Colorsplash, Trip Around The World" came out around 1995. Rarely do I follow instructions in a book simply because I generally work in a smaller scale. And okay, yes, following someone else's instructions is simply not in my nature. I tend to make up my own method as I go along. Nevertheless, their technique for speed piecing proved to be the exception.

For such a thin volume (just 21 pages) it holds a wealth of information on creating 8 different size quilts.

I really don't know how many quilts I've made using this pattern since some were sold. I'm glad I decided to keep this one though, as it remains a favorite of mine.

Oh Happy Day

In February of 1999, Valentine's day fell on the weekend so I decided a quilting pot luck was in order.

There were 3 cutting stations set up and 1 main sewing table in the long living room. Several of my friends (mostly all former students) came by for an afternoon of sewing and a lot of laughter.

This was the pattern I taught them that day. As far as I know almost everyone else finished theirs. However, I can proudly say that mine is now DONE! Oh Happy Day.

Play Time

Isn't it amazing how the leftover pieces from one project find themselves in yet another?

Set aside after a lengthy involvement with bear paw blocks, were these tiny triangle units. I tend to work small, but not miniature. These started out as 2-1/2" squares. And yes, each and every unit was trimmed.

The fun part of leftovers is the option to simply play. No pattern, no book, no written guidelines, just play time.

Put on some soothing music, let your mind wander, and your fingers do the work. Try it and see what your unconscious mind can create. I bet you'll be surprised.