Saturday, August 27, 2011

Remembrances

Hannah Walton Sanders
1806-1876
It's Saturday!  And I am back to blog about the Civil War Diary Quilt that I am working on.  I hope that you are able to join me in my journey.  I haven't been real consistent with my posts this summer but I am plugging along on the quilt and enjoy reading the diary entries and working on the blocks.  I would like to share with you the next block.  It's called 'Remembrances' and is the first block in the chapter about Hannah Walton Sanders.  Hannah married William John Sanders on June 2, 1825.  She was 19 years old. I love the fact that they eloped!  She climbed down a ladder from her bedroom, forgot her gloves, and returned up the ladder for them.  What a sweet story.  They had five children.  Hannah's family farm is still owned by her descendants.  The diary entries featured for this block from Hannah, are about her loved ones that she misses and mourns for.  Her Uncle Adams, Aunt Senah and her son, George.

Here is how I completed the block 'Remembrances' from Rosemary's book...

I have chosen fabrics from my Civil War stash in traditional mourning colors, purple and black...

Using the foundation paper that I printed up from the companion CD, I wrote the colors in each of the sections.

I find it easier to paper piece when my fabrics are cut in strips....

Here you can see that I am sewing on the lines and pass the 1/4 seam allowance...

The center star is completed.  It's soooooo cute!

"Remembrances"
Remember to post your progress on the Civil War Diary Quilt Group on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/groups/1547598@N25/
Next week I will be working on Troops Arriving' from the Civil War Dairy Quilt Book.  Next weekend is Labor Day, can't believe that summer is coming to a close and school is right around the corner.  Many of us will be cramming in some more summertime  next weekend.  So whatever your plans are, I hope you have a wonderful time.  I'm hoping to get to the Minnesota State Fair.  I'm looking forward to the arts building and all of the beautiful quilts on display.  I'm also looking forward to some gooey, yummy cheese curds and Sweet Martha's Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Happy quilting!


The Civil War Diary Quilt Book can be bought through paypal or through the mail from Rosemary Youngs...
The Civil War Diary Quilt book is available for $22.99 plus $4.95 priority mail, (global priority mail $11.95) . You can order the CD with the book, you will need  Electric Quilt 5 or 6 to run the CD, the CD alone is $10 and there is no extra charge for postage when you order the book with the CD, total cost for the CD with the book will be $32.99 plus your postage.
Send a check or money order to Rosemary Youngs, 3704 Nicole Ct., Walker, MI 49534













Friday, August 26, 2011

Where did the morning go...

See full size imageI spent my entire morning trying to clean-up, spruce up my website.  No one told me that when I decided to design patterns that not only did I get to do the fun stuff.  Design and sew the patterns, but that I also get to do a whole bunch of other things.  I am the packaging designer, web master, shipping gal, marketing and public relations consultant, finance manager, customer service operator and so on.   I am entering year two of Quilt Doodle Designs, and slowly growing thanks to all of you.  I love all of the new people I have met  along the way.  Can't quit my day job yet, but I sure like working on Quilt Doodles.  I like Quilt Doodles so much that I need the day lengthened to lets say a 34 hour day.  I think then I would have enough time to keep up on the daily mom stuff and all the rest.  My morning dissappeared while working on the website. So if you find the time, check out the Quilt Doodle Website.  Let me know what you think.  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated since I'm much better at quilting than at web designing.

Happy quilting!

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Quilt Retreat...

August 2011
That's my mom hiding behind her quilt.  Isn't this a lovely quilt,
this was the first project that she completed.

Colleen's 'Lilly' naps in the chair next to my sewing station.  I think the hum of
the sewing machines put her to sleep.

A stack of squares all ready for me to iron.... working on a quilt idea.

Here's two versions of the same pattern I'm working the kinks out of.
I'm not sure which I like better.  Both of these were completed during quilt retreat.

This is 'Kobee' the neighbors dog.  He's adopted Colleen and her 'quilt family'.  He spent most of the time at Cozy Home Stitches.  He's a big moose of a dog.  Very lovey dovey.... wants to cuddle with everyone!  Thinks he's a lap puppy, but his head is the only thing that's 'lap' sized.

A really sweet baby quilt that my sister completed while at quilt retreat.

My 'no-name yet' quilt that mom tested for me.  I like this color version too!

I completed this cute quilt too!  The embroidery was done during vacation this year at the lake.  It was nice to finish putting it together at retreat. 

Early one morning, while everyone else was still sleeping, I put this together.
Shhhhhhhhhhhh!  I'm giving it to my mom.

Then I worked on my Civil War Diary Quilt.... then decided that my body ached and I needed to stretch.  So I went for a walk...

While going for a small walk outside, I admired the horses...

and Colleen's beautiful gardens...

the sound of the water is so relaxing.... then I went back inside.  Feeling all refreshed.

And worked on my Civil War Diary Quilt some more.
I wish I would have taken more pictures.  But I was having so much fun sewing, and laughing, and eating, and snacking.  It was a wonderful weekend spent at Cozy Home Stitches and Retreat Center.  The meals were fabulous, Colleen and Anne spoil us rotten and treated us like queens.  It's always fun and relaxing to spend time with them.  Our 'quilt' family... can't wait to go again in March! 

Happy quilting and perfect stitches to you,

Monday, August 22, 2011

Gena's Sweet Corn Recipe

Yesterday was my mother-in-law's 70th birthday celebration. My brother in law, Todd came with a truck load of sweet corn for the celebration.  A truck load.... there was sooooooooo much corn.  The men shucked corn while Todd set up his cooking station by the fire pit.  He enthusiastically cooked  corn on the cob for everyone all afternoon.  It was a feast!  But, remember, he brought a TRUCK LOAD of corn....  we gave grocery bags of corn as birthday treat bags as guests left!  I came home with two of these bags.  What to do with all this corn!  So on the way home last night I texted my sister, Gena, for her recipe.  Mom raved about it to me the day before.  Here is a wonderful recipe for sweet corn for the freezer, just in case you have a truck load of corn.  My boys will love this treat this winter, it's a little bit of summer.

Gena's Sweet Corn

You will need 1 pint half&half, 1 pound of butter and 18 cups
fresh sweet corn cut off the cobs
30-35 cobs will yield about 18 cups of corn depending on the size of the corn cobs.

Place 18 cups of corn in a large roasting pan.

Pour half&half over corn and top with the pound of butter. 

Bake in a 350 oven for 1 hour stirring every 15 minutes.


Let the corn cool to room temperature.... it smells so amazing!

Package in freezer bags and pop in the freezer for this winter.  Pack 2-3 cups in each bag. 
Yummy!

Enjoy!


Saturday, August 20, 2011

Wow! I got a few things done!


Halloween 10-minute Table Runner


Santa 10-Minute Table Runner


Quilted all three!
Last night was the FNSI for August and I got a few projects done.  Not what I intended to get to however.  I had originally planned on pinning my batik 'no-name' quilt that I tested on quilt retreat.  I have a teenager at home that insisted that I go to Best-buy to check on my phone so that he could drive the car.  My phone totally crapped out on my on quilt retreat so I was completely cut-off from the world. My phone needs to be fixed and after going to Best Buy they referred me to the AT&T store. Long story short, my afternoon was shot, my Dell phone is not available until September 21st or so.  At least it's covered under warranty.  I got lucky.  But not lucky enough to get my quilt pinned.  Got home in time to run to the Ford Dealership to pick up my Truck.  More warranty work done.  Got home to throw together Pepperoni lasagna for the family and managed to get to my sewing room around 7:00 last night.  Was unable to pin my quilt last night since my dear hubby had a computer spawled out on my favorite table.  Hummmmm what to do? I decided to finally unpacked my bin from quilt retreat and found a pattern that my mom shared with me.  Yippee!!!! Something that I can do for FNSI!!!  Woot hooooo! So I worked on making 10-minute table runners.  It took me longer than 10 minutes though.  I embellished them with yo-yo's and buttons.  So cute!  So adorable that I put together some 10-minute table runner kits that can be purchased at my Etsy store.  I love this pattern!  Then I pulled out a UFO from my bin, something I started but never finished from another FNSI.  Quilted all three of my Dresden plate table runners.  A very productive evening!

Friday, August 19, 2011

Woot! Hoot! FNSI

Same pattern, done with different fabric choices! 
Can't wait to quilt them!
I am looking forward to tonight's FNSI!  It gives me an opportunity to extend my quilt retreat from last weekend.  I had a wonderful time, but didn't get to all of the projects that I wanted to work on.  I will blog all about it next week... I have some pictures to share!  Today, I will pin a quilt that I finished piecing this afternoon and hopefully will get quilted this evening.  I'm not sure where the week has gone, my bin from Quilt Retreat still isn't unpacked.  So tonight I will unpack it, grab an ice tea, turn on my sewing machines and sew/quilt to my hearts content.  I look forward to posting  tomorrow the next Civil War Diary Quilt block that I have completed, (enjoyed my time working on my Civil War Quilt last weekend) and some pictures from FNSI. 

Thursday, August 11, 2011

I'm not packed yet!

I'm leaving for quilt retreat today and have nothing packed yet! Yikes! What to pack.... I've been know to pack up just about my entire sewing room with no idea of what I will work on for a few day. I stayed up late last night typing up a test pattern, mom is testing it for me. "Thank you mom!!!" I hope all of my math is right. I've started the quilt, but ran out of time to finish it. Blocks are done.... I will bring my test quilt too.... I picked up some adorable fabric for two more test quilts.... Ok three projects, mom is doing one of them. Hummmmmmmmmm what else to pack.... I am trying to limit what I bring and be a bit more organized instead of bringing all my bins of fabric and hoping for the best... I'm behind in my Civil War Saturday posts... I'm so sorry Civil War followers.... summer's here.... I'll work on blocks for my Civil War Diary quilt... (five projects)... "No Wilson, you have to stay home... please stop dragging my shoes around the house.... Mama needs to pack....." I have a Raggety Anne quilt I started, the blocks are all done... ok I'll pack that too.... My spring fling blocks aren't done yet, so close yet sooooooooo far away, packed.  (Seven).... paper for drafting.... my moda christmas scrap bag.... snowman idea for tablerunner....(eight) DMC floss and more fabric for a pillow/tablerunner for Christmas.... (nine)  Am I high.... how am I going to get nine projects done!  Time to pack the truck....



Happy quilting!


"Paper Dolls" from Studio E

"Family Tree" from Studio E