Friday, December 31, 2010

All Ready for the New Year!

Going to start the new year with a straightened sewing room.  It's cluttered, towers of bins, bits and pieces here and there, but it is now organized chaos... looking forward to 2011! 
Here are a few quotes to hang over your sewing machine....
  • Quilting is my passion .... chocolate comes in a close second. 
  •      Behind every quilter is a big pile of fabric.
  •     A messy house is the sign of a happy quilter.
  • Creative clutter is more blessed than tidy idleness.
  • “There is a very fine line between hobby and mental illness.” – Dave Barry  
  • As ye sew, so shall ye rip.
  • Count your blessings/ Stitch them one by one.

  • A bed without a quilt is like a sky without stars.
  • Hug your sewing machine.

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Auntie Vivian's Banana Bread

This has got to be the easiest banana bread recipe!  It's our family's favorite....

Vivian's Banana Bread
3 bananas
3 eggs
1 white or yellow cake mix

Mash bananas with mixer, whip in eggs and cake mix.  Beat until well blended.  Pour into a bundt pan lightly sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.  Bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes or until toothpick comes out 'clean'.

Muffins bake at 350 for 19-23 minutes

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Civil War Saturdays


"The Civil War Diary Quilt"  by Rosemary Youngs

I have been collecting Civil War reproduction fabric for years... and years... having a very large stash I have decided to start my Civil War quilt.  It's my New Years resolution, to start a Civil War quilt based on the blocks from Rosemary Youngs book, "The Civil War Diary Quilt"  The book contain 121 blocks... it will take time to complete, but just think of the masterpiece we will end up with!  What a wonderful treasure!  Join me starting this Saturday at the beginning... January 1st... don't worry, the first Saturday will be pretty low key... gathering fabrics and a game plan.  I will set up a flickr group for everyone to post photos... there will be prizes along the way... my plan is to follow along with the book completing the blocks following the order of the book.  Work on the block on Saturday and post your results on Sunday.  There will be a bit of Civil War history along the way.  I will include links to some history sites as we take our journey.  The book can be found on Amazon.com at a resonable price.  I've had my copy for several years now and have ooggled over it almost starting the project several times.  It's time to start!  Feel free to post my 'Civil War Quilt' button and link it to my blog. 

It's time to unite and start a masterpiece in 2011!

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Quilting off the calories

As I sit here eating my iced gingerbread cookies like popcorn I wonder if I can quilt off the calories.... hummmmmmmmmm how many hours do I need to quilt to work off all of the goodies I've consumed over the last few days.  So I google quilting, calories to work off etc.  None of the calorie calculators include quilting or even anything that remotely compares.  But I have decided that 'playing cards' comes close.  (Yes you can calculate calories burned for playing cards) I think it's a close comparison, sitting....

So one hour of quilting, at my current weight, will burn off approximately 140.39999999999999 (yes, the point 399999999999 counts, I need all the help I can get) Well that's about 4 gingerbread cookies... I guess I will grab my bottle of water, I have about 4 hours worth of cookies to work off.  I can't even fathom how long I would have to work out for the last few days... 

Happy Holidays!

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Forgotten Kisses...

A batch of these will be in the oven tonight... an easy Christmas cookie to make last minute.

Forgotten Kisses
2 egg whites
1 cup sugar
1 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp peppermint extract
8 - 10 drops green food coloring
1  6 oz package chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350.  Beat egg whites until frothy, gradually add sugar.  Add cream of tartar, flavoring, and food coloring to egg whites.  Beat at high speed 10 to 12 minutes.  Fold in chocolate chips, drop by teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.  Set in preheated oven.  Turn off oven and wait 5 hours or overnight before opening the door.

The perfect treat to leave Santa...




Saturday, December 18, 2010

Friday night...

So last night was the Friday Night Sew-In with Heidi... I fed my family a quick frozen pizza and started to make my way downstairs when I realized... "OMG Christmas is next week..... this is my last weekend to finish dad's afghan!"  So I worked on dad's knitted afghan and got it done and then finished up a bunch of really cute snowmen for my nieces and nephews. I got the idea from  Beehive Cottage.  They turned out so adorable!  I made a ton of them... I never got to my poor sewing machine.  I'm off now to wrap presents like a crazy person.  Much to do, little time...



Textured Treasure Afghan
Pattern from Jo-Ann Fabric and Crafts

Size: 34" x 51"
Supplies & stuff
  • 6 balls Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick & Quick (I used 10)
  • Lion Brand Speed Stix
  • stitch markers
  • Large-eyed blunt needle
Directions:
With 2 strands of yarn held together, cast on 40 stitches.
Knit 4 rows
Row 1:  Knit 4, place marker, purl 8, place marker*(knit 1, purl 1, knit 1) all into next st, purl 3 together; repeat from * to last 12 sts, place marker, purl 8, place marker, knit 4.
Row 2 and 4:  Knit 12, purl 16, knit 12.
Row 3:  Knit 4, purl 8, *purl 3 together, (knit 1, purl 1, knit 1) all into next stitch; repeat from* to last 12 sts, purl 8, knit 4.
Repeat Rows 1-4 for total of 68 rows, end with a Row 4.  Knit 3 rows, Bind off.  Weave in ends.
Dad's Afghan...

Friday, December 17, 2010

Grandma's quilt is finally under the tree...

The tree has been up for a couple of weeks now and I finally managed to get 'grandma & grandpa's' quilt under the tree.  This is a very special quilt to me.  It was my first quilt.  I remember drawing it out on graph paper while at college.  I should have been managing the bookstore at the time, but instead, I was sidetracked with this great idea for a quilt for my grandparents. Originally the design was 1 1/2" squares alternating in a red and white design.  A checkerboard.... I decided to cut 2" strips and then sew them together.  Looking back I was actually ahead of my time in the concept.  Way back then, quilters cut everything by hand with a scissor.  I quickly abandoned the 'squares' idea when I couldn't get my first two strips to line up.  (1/4" seams surely weren't accurate)  opps... Luckily I didn't cut apart my sheet of red and white stripes ... this quickly became the center of my quilt... red and white stripes bordered by white and finished with a red ruffle.  Big enough for a double bed.  Spending the summer hand quilting my first masterpiece with a large quilting hoop I braved the muggy heat poking my finger.  Sounds miserable, but I loved it.  My stitches were big and uneven, but my grandparents loved it when they opened in on Christmas.  This quilt graced their bed from that day on.  When grandma passed away, grandpa gave me the quilt to remember grandma by.  Grandma loved Christmas, so my first quilt is now the perfect tree skirt.  I remember grandma's big silver tinsel tree, her homemade divinity and the smell of a turkey in the oven  when I grace our tree with grandma & grandpa's quilt. 

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

My new favorite recipe...

Yummmm Beer Bread... can I have some!
Beer Bread... yum... what a wonderful thing to make to go with chili, soup or even to cube up to serve with a dip.  I even enjoy it toasted with jam.  My favorite being apricot.


Beer Bread

1 12 oz bottle of beer
3 cups flour
3 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp salt
3 tbsp sugar, if you like it sweeter add 1/3 cup sugar
3 tbsp melted butter

Mix together the dry ingredients, mix in the beer, pour into a greased loaf pan,
pour melted butter over the top.  Bake at 350 for 50-60 minutes.  

So here's my great holiday idea for a great gift for teachers, co-workers etc.  Package the dry ingredients in a plastic zip lock bag (quart size).  Sew a cute fabric bag out of some adorable fabric.... pop the plastic bag of ingredients inside, tie with a pretty ribbon.  Attach the recipe as follows:

Beer Bread

1 package Beer Bread Mix
1 12 oz bottle beer
3 Tbsp melted butter

Combine the mix with beer, pour into a greased loaf pan,
pour melted butter over the top.  Bake at 350 for 50-60 minutes. 

Saturday, December 11, 2010

What did I get done last night....

Well, I ran into my sewing room as soon as I finished dinner and sent my son off to 'camp' and spent part of my evening cleaning my sewing room up so that I would have a space to work.  Fabric, paper, thread, scraps everywhere.  While straightening I discovered..... Arrrrrgggggg!  I cut through my cutting mat... onto my leather topped table!  YIKES!!! I've worn my cutting mat out.  Santa, oh santa, I've been a very good girl and I really,
really need a new cutting mat.



tracing.... tracing.... and more tracing....
  After boo hooing over my mat, nevermind the table.... my poor mat.  I started a new project and abandoned all those other things waiting for me.  I used one of my patterns from my line... 'Santa's Little Deer' and made an ornament and a set of four placemats.... oh so cute!  I was really happy with how the ornament came out. 
Items to cut out....

Pieces, pieces everywhere...

When I do the ornament again I will do my decorative stitching before I trim around the design.  I think it will just make it easier to handle while sewing.  I used a red 1/4" satin ribbon to make the hanger for the tree.  Any decorative ribbon would work.  I just happened to have red on hand.


Also made a set of 4 placemats... they turned out ever so cute!



 
 

Friday, December 10, 2010

It's Friday!


Behind this door...

It's finally Friday and I can't wait to quick feed my family a frozen teriyaki stir-fry, make it in the microwave meal, and skidaddle down to my sewing studio! 

It will be a  lazy stuck in the house weekend since we are forcasted for 13+ inches of snow... my son is scheduled to leave for a Boy Scout campout tonight and I'm wondering if the men in the troop will have the forsight to maybe cancel it for another weekend.  Regardless, it's my Friday night sew in night with Heidi!  Don't know what I will work on first.  My list is large... my studio messy... but I'm sure something will jump out and scream, "Work on me!  Work on me!"

I will go and sew and sew with Wilson to warm my feet... let's see if I can work past my 'bed time'.  I will enter with high hopes to get something done... coffee in one hand and a bowl of M&M's in the other.  Coffee and chocolate will keep me going!


Minnesota Fabrics... 2010 Shop Hop


New Ideas...
  

Need to finish...



Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Snowman...


Snowman Buddies Placemat

There is nothing like a snowman
To make a person smile.

His eyes of coal, his carrot nose,
His pipe with so much style.
We all have special memories
Of fun in the snow and slush
And this will be renewed
With a little help from us!
unknown source

 

I love snowmen, living in Minnesota they grace my home year 'round.  They're always smiling, even when it's sunny outside.   How can you not love a snowman... 

Sunday, December 5, 2010

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

10" of snow last night...

The new snow put me instantly in the mood to decorate the house for Christmas. 
I braved the crawlspace and pulled out those Christmas bins and got it all done.  Whew....
Took a break, had a few cups of coffee, drew up some ideas for mug mats to work on during the Friday night sew in this coming week. Sent my request to the printers for a pattern order.  A very productive day... and as I worked inside my dear husband decorated the outside!

Snowmen roasting marshmallows...


The sofa table display...
  



Home Sweet Home 2010









Thursday, December 2, 2010

23 days.... really 22


Wilson, my little fluffy elf!
OK 23 days until Christmas, and let me tell you that freaks me out just a wee little bit.  Since we celebrate Christmas Eve with my family.... 22 days.  I've been known to be wrapping gifts in the car on the way to my parents home.  It's an hour drive so not much time if I still have to wrap things.  The Friday night sew in isn't until the 10th and 17th.... but I need more delegated sewing time! I am  locking myself in my sewing room tomorrow night.  Starting as soon as dinner's done and working away.  I have tons of awesome ideas and items I want to share with you all in this blog and darn it!  Not enough time to get my ideas done!  You see, I have this other job.... the one that helps to pay the bills, that takes up most of my week.  Don't get me wrong, I love working at the school in the library.  But there are days, I'ld rather be home working in my sewing studio with Wilson laying on my feet.  So tomorrow night, I'm going to sew away, like one of Santa's little elves and hope that all of my fun ideas are as cute as I imagine.

My Favorite Christmas Quilt
I used flannel and a wool batting, super warm for our Minnesota winters.
"Reindeer Frolic" from Simply Nedd'l Love