Thursday, July 31, 2014

On a straight and narrow path

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Kindred Spirits Quilt Company has been getting a lot of new deliveries at the store including this newest line called Through the Winter Woods by Holly Taylor for Moda.

It’s so rich and warm looking, perfect for the holiday season.  This was the perfect fabric to sew my new runner pattern with. It’s a nice simple pattern to make and is designed for the novice or beginner quilter, but I like it because it showcases your favourite fabric.

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I love the pinecone fabric and I really like the way the red and green co-ordinated fabrics compliment each other and pick up the colors in the pinecone fabric. I quilted the runner with an olive green thread and used the pantograph Happy Times. The pattern is called “On a Straight and Narrow Path”.

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Strawberry Goodness

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I love baking. The only problem with baking is that you have to sample your wares to make sure that they taste good. I should curtail the amount I bake because I have noticed the pounds creeping up namely because of all the taste tests. I can't help myself, I love to bake, love to smell the aromas coming from the kitchen and love to see the finished product.

I'm giving you the recipe because why should I be the only one with a wide end load....Enjoy!

Strawberry Braided Bread

Ingredients
  • 2 cups biscuit/baking mix
  • 1 package (3 ounces) cream cheese, cubed
  • 1/4 cup cold butter, cubed
  • 1/3 cup 2% milk
  • 1-1/4 cups fresh cut strawberries
  • 3 tablespoons strawberry jam
  • 1/4 cup vanilla frosting
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Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 425°. Place biscuit mix in a large bowl. Cut in cream cheese and butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in milk just until moistened. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; knead gently 8-10 times.
  2. On a greased baking sheet, roll dough into an 18x12-in. rectangle. Spoon strawberry jam and sliced strawberries down center third of dough.
  3. On each long side, cut 1-in.-wide strips about 2-1/2 in. into center. Starting at one end, fold alternating strips at an angle across strawberries; seal ends.
  4. Bake 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to a wire rack to cool slightly. In a microwave-safe dish, microwave frosting on high 5-10 seconds or until of desired consistency; drizzle over pastry.
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Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Say Cheese

The latest edition of Taste of Home Contest Winners had a fabulous recipe for homemade bread in it and it looked so yummy I couldn't resist.
Have a sneak peak.













You can find the recipe here
http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/cheddar-cheese-batter-bread










It has a delicious topping of cheddar cheese, minced garlic, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, paprika and celery seed.

Monday, July 28, 2014

Beginner basics

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Eleanor Burns Beginner Sampler is one of the best beginner basic books to start your quilting legacy with. My sister in law, Mary Lynn just finished the class I was teaching at Kindred Spirits and now she is well on her way to quilting on her own.
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Students always start off the class thinking that they have “bitten” off too much, but at about the 4th week in(of a 7 week course)they are amazed at what they have accomplished.
MaryLynn had made a log cabin quilt prior to taking the beginner class, but was able to learn many more skills and increase her comfort level. Her table topper turned out lovely.

Sunday, July 27, 2014

Souper

This is the most amazing chowder ever! Absolutely Souper.




So delicious, I can't even describe....no words work other than Nom Nom and Mmmmmmmm



This recipe is Pioneer Woman's Corn and Cheese Chowder and you can find the recipe here  http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2011/10/corn-cheese-chowder/

She gives great step by step instructions....  


                                                                                                     




Good to the last drop!













Saturday, July 26, 2014

Getting Ready for Christmas

It's never really too early to get ready for Christmas is it? I know that when December comes I'm always thinking that I should have started things months earlier, so I'm getting a jump on it.        


This is my newest design pattern called Throw me a Curve Ball and it uses the Bosal Round Adhesive Place Mat forms. Super simple to use and the pattern lets you learn a few different techniques...Strip piecing, curve piecing and bias binding.
The line I used for the place mat  strip side is Holiday Flourish and the red fabric I was lucky enough to get from my Mom's stash.

Friday, July 25, 2014

It's BBQ Season

  These are the easiest place mats to make, and quick as a wink. I designed the pattern and it's called Throw me a Curve Ball and it uses Bosal round Place mat forms which are fabulous as they have adhesive that holds your fabric to the place mat, so sewing and quilting them is a breeze. Awesome with a capital A.
I used scraps I had from the lines Kiss the Cook and Grill Essentials.
I also used scraps from Michael Miller's line Texas Chili Cook off.
Just perfect for BBQ season and all the fixins.









Love how they look when they are all laid out..Makes me hungry just looking at them.


Thursday, July 24, 2014

Dogs, Frogs, bones and bugs

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I’ve been busy making these cute as a button bucket hats for my grandsons…..and they are reversible!
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Owen got the doggie hat and Ayden got the frog and bug hat. Super simple to make with this free pattern from https://oliverands.com/free-patterns/reversible-bucket-hat
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Owen thought it worked better as a bag to hold his cars than a hat…go figure!

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Diddling along

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It seems that I get closer and closer to month end for completing these monthly BOM strips. I always have good intentions…then life gets in the way.

I’m up to date but by the skin of my teeth.

This is a cute free BOM offered by Quilt Doodle Doodles…..I’ve changed each month’s block, but have really been enjoying it. Cindy suggests using 2.5 inch squares to make the blocks, but as I have stated before…I’m lazy and really just want to “get er done” so I’ve been making the blocks using larger pieces.

I really love these mugs o’ love, the cutest block so far I think. You can find the details here…

http://quiltdoodledesigns.blogspot.ca/2014/07/julys-prize.html

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Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Retirement eh?


Last night, middle of the night, 2:30am,  I hear Dear Hubby up for a bathroom break. Usually he is right back to bed, however not this night, I hear him doing the shuffle. Into the  living room, to look out the window, down the hall, to check the room for evidence and back into the kitchen, to contemplate. I know exactly what he's doing, he's done it with all our kids, he's checking. Checking to make sure they are nestled all snug in their beds. I know one of them is not... as he is not back in bed. I get up. He's in front of the computer and getting ready to send an e-mail, when I say...
"Don't send it that way, he won't answer that. I'll send a text on my phone." They are more likely to respond to me than their dad, it's just the way it is. Dear Hubby is a retired police officer so keeping tabs on kids and worrying more than normal is just his second nature, regardless that he is retired. When I nag about his nagging the kids, his first response is always, ..."if you'd seen the things that I've seen".
I haven't, so I can't quite comprehend his thought process.
"I've sent it, he'll answer, come back to bed." So we're back in bed, the room is dark, except for the glow from my IPhone. We are listening and waiting. Now I'm starting to worry, thinking all the worst case scenario tragedies. Dear Eldest son has a motorcycle, a parent's worst nightmare. He is a very responsible 26 year old, a good head on his shoulder, bought the bike to save money during the summer months driving to work. I remember when he bought the bike, I hit the roof. I yelled told him..."Oh that's going to be a nice way for dad and I to spend our retirement, visiting you at the nursing home and feeding our vegetable every lunchtime." I can get nasty when I need to...maybe it was a little extreme.
As I am imagining horrid things, I hear a noise, then another. I nudge Dear Hubby "did you hear that?"... "Ya, he's home".
I roll over and proceed to finish my restful sleep. After what seems like about 10 minutes, I still hear noises and nudge Dear Hubby again. " Are you sure that was him?".... "Yes I saw the car".... " The car?, I thought he took his bike?".... "It's Nick".... "Nick ....  )(*_!*#!)*#_*&_$&_)"
Here I thought it was the Dear Eldest Son, MIA when it's the Sweet Youngest Son causing havoc with our sleep patterns! He's 20, he's was driving my car! He's dead meat!  3 AM! Plus I sent a weird text to the oldest son in error! Just wait til I get up in the morning!
So now I'm laying there, wide awake. Dear Hubby is already gone and snoring as usual and the dog, at the bottom of the bed, is proceeding with a doggie nightmare. Both of them are back and forth...a snore, a whimper, a louder snore, a soft doggie bark, then all hell breaks loose and it's like I'm in an opera house listening to Beethoven's 5th with full orchestra. The dog is quietly barking in his sleep and Dear hubby is in full snore mode. The both reach a climactic crescendo at the same time and the whole room quietens.
As I lay there, wondering how the hell I got here, unable to doze off, a few thoughts come to mind.....

Do you know that 80% of women whose husbands snore, consider assisted suicide For their spouses.

Dearest Sweet Youngest son is getting THE talk tomorrow...The keep your pecker in your pants talk. The one that stresses condoms, safe sex, and the burden of children. We haven't had that talk in a while, so timing seems perfect. Why else would he be out til 3 in the morning, he's the good child that only does work, the Y, and school. Obviously there is a female involved at 3 in the morning. I usually add in a few extras about sexually transmitted diseases that cause the male important parts to swell up, shrivel down and then fall off...just for the visual, scare the hell out of him talk. Then I go on to the touch the heart saga..."Nice girls wait until marriage and you want to make sure you bring a nice girl home to meet your Mom."  Plus I add in that I don't want any more grandchildren ever in the near future, we want to enjoy just the 2 we have. Which is sort of the truth. 

Which brings me to thoughts of grandkids, God bless their little holy terror hearts. They are coming tomorrow for 3 days, including overnights, as Dear Youngest daughter is on shift and we  I agreed to help out .
I'm envisioning how I might  get even a little quilting done with a 2 and 4 year old in the house. There are no nap times as the littlest holy terror  one will be up til 11 at night if he naps...trust me, we've been witness to the exorcism. I would rather not lay him down in the afternoon than go through what transpires in the evenings. So, no nappie, but 7 o'clock bedtime...awesome. More random thoughts are going through my head as to how I could steal away a few minutes to get in front of the sewing machine, but I envision the 4 year old blabbing to his mother when she picks them up that he didn't like Nana's game, of being tied up and gagged. The younger hellion  one would be no problem as you can't quite understand what he is saying yet. Oh...bad Nana, bad Nana...sounds like banana. Works for me.

My thoughts wander to Mmmmm. What about supper. I think that recipe for the Greek meatloaf will be quite tasty tomorrow night....served in Gyro's with tzatziki sauce. I love to try new things and it looked so delicious in the book. I can imagine how impressed Dear Hubby will be...he loves lamb and Greek food...When I ask he'll probably say something like...."It was OK, but don't make it again" ...translation to English...Stick to your regulars and don't make that _ _ _ _ again. 

So this is what retirement looks like, I really can't see anything, it's pitch black in the room....no wonder I have difficulty carving out time to quilt....2 of 4 kids still at home, sleep deprivation, meal planning 101, sex therapy discussions, time management issues, nanny daycare and the list goes on and on....I'm so tired

Then there is the text that was sent at 3 in the morning....I'm trying to think of a good explanation as to what the text "R U OK" at 3 in the morning to Dear Eldest Son means when he asks....I think I can get away with ..."Son, it was just a random thought I wanted to share with you. It's an acronym for 
retirement... useless... overrated, kiddo."  

It's now 4am...I might as well get up and quilt!

Monday, July 21, 2014

Pumpkin Seeds

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I had finished this quilt way back in February of 2013…..finished but not longarmed. I was procrastinating because it needed to be a custom job.

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I finally gave in and loaded it on the machine. It took a few days to complete, and overall I am fairly happy with it……I’m just not a custom quilter. I feathered the pumpkin seeds and did a sort of loopy flower in the white centers. I finished it off with a  feathered border.

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Bento Box

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The block is called bento box…not one of my favourite quilts, but it is kind of manly. With the addition of  a couple of fabrics I was able to create this quilt from the leftovers from my Labyrinth quilt.

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It was a little difficult to get the blocks laid out the way I liked within the quilt. I’d move one, then another, then move it back, then another one wouldn’t look right and I’d move it again…this went on for about an hour…. I finally gave up and just put them anywhere.

Saturday, July 19, 2014

Easy Peasy Pizza Pull Apart Bread

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This is like pizza on crack!  Awesome Nom Nom.

Simple to make and tastes amazing. Simply open 2 cans of Pillsbury pizza dough and cut up into small pieces, rolling into balls. In a large bowl combine the balls with 2 cup of grated mozzarella, 1 cup parmesan cheese, 1/3 cup olive oil, 8 oz. pepperoni cut up into small cubes, 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning…toss and pour into a parchment lined pan. Bake at 350 for 1/2 hour and serve warm with pizza sauce.

OMG…to die for. I brought this to a Canada Day party and it was inhaled within 15 minutes of my arrival. This is a keeper.

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Friday, July 18, 2014

A Whiter shade of Pale

OMG I love this quilt….the colors are perfect. Soft and subtle, cool and beachy….wonderful.
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The batiks are just beautiful in this quilt by Linda.  When Linda makes her quilts they are amazing….she has slowed down this last year though… could be due to the fact she is a Nana to not one but two grandsons…twins…no wonder she’s had to put her quilting on a slow simmer rather than her rolling boil.
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Thursday, July 17, 2014

Twister Illusions

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Oh the work in this one! I’ve made a twister quilt before and while they are wonderful to look at, they are a lot of work. The cutting portion of the quilt is the most tedious work.

This is not mine, but I wish it was…it’s Connie’s masterpiece  and I love her colors. The warm of the browns, greens and golds……gorgeous.

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It was quilted with the pattern Taro and it looked fabulous.

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Hope

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Hope…that’s what I’m hanging on to. My niece Tammy is struggling with cancer and you have to hang onto something to get you through.

I sewed this little pre-printed block into a decorator pillow and sent it off to my niece to brighten her spirits.

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Hope, prayers and thoughts…all the time Tammy.

Dressed to the Nines

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This is my version of the Fashionista Quilt that was first shown at Spring Quilt Market. I love the little 3D dress that you attach after quilting. So adorable with the pink trim at the bottom of the skirt and around the neck.

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I added appliqued pincushion, spools, scissors and needle and thread. You can find the free pattern for the quilt here

http://www.michaelmillerfabrics.com/a-fashionista-studio-quilt.html

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A little pink bow and tape measure, finish off the look.