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Monday, February 28, 2011

So far, So good.

We're almost there with this quilt top.
Just 5 more inches all around.
What will those 5 inches look like???
I'm not sure yet....
But I think it's mighty pretty right now.
Don't you???

I posted about making the blocks for this one here.

The church ladies made a BUNCH of these.
And......
 I still have a nice big stack.
These blocks are
Waiting....
Ready to be quilts!!!

Friday, February 25, 2011

Haphazard.

A couple of blogland friends asked how to make a pineapple block.
I checked.
(I googled pineapple quilt.)
There are multiple tutorials on how to make this block correctly.
This is not one of them.
:/

My pineapple is very haphazard.
A wee bit wonky.
Not too much.
Maybe it should be more than it is....
Just so you KNOW it's supposed to be a bit OFF!!
;)
I began with a 9" piece of paper/foundation.
I pinned a 2" red square there in the middle...
after folding it quickly to approximate the middle!


I then decided I should probably draw some lines to give
me some AIM as I eyeball placing the strips.

I overlapped the yellow strips a bit.
covered the corners with green.


Using strips ranging in size from
1" to 1 1/2" wide.

And LOOK at THIS!!
I won some fabric that just came in the mail this week.
It's perfect for this project.
Isn't it fun when THAT HAPPENS???
Thank you Riel and Rene'!!!!

Ooooh! How pretty.

When I made it out to the corners I added some
TRIANGLES with this wonderful
Vintage sheet fabric
that I hope doesn't RUN OUT
Before I'm done with this quilt!!!
I won't find any of THAT at the quilt shop!
Will I??

Haphazard.
But.
HAPPY!!!!

Trim to 9"x9"
and.....

Begin thinking of spring!!!!!

I guess this will be a quilt after all.....
someday.
I HAD thought about stopping and turning these blocks
into a table runner....
But.
I don't think I'll be able to stop now!!!!
These little guys just make me too HAPPY!!!
;)


Thursday, February 24, 2011

Thursday Thoughts.

I now have THREE pineapple blocks.
"Do I stop here and make a table runner...
Or keep going and make a quilt???"

Lots of 2" squares that now measure about
60 something inches by 80 something inches.

"Oh boy! I want this to be queen size....
I thought I was closer than that...
I've got a long way to go still!!" :(

A little mug rug or wall hanging being created by my friend's daughter.
"I can't believe a 7 Year old did such
NEAT stitching!!!"
Inspired by this book.

"That chicken and dumplings last night was
THE BEST EVER!!!"
"Think I"ll have some leftovers today!"

What are your thoughts today???

Here's the recipe for the chicken and dumplings.
It doesn't look like much....but it was amazing!!
I looked high and LOW for the recipe on-line...
Since I couldn't find it...
"I'll have to type it in."
"Am I getting lazy??"
"Naw."

Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings

1 potato, peeled and chopped
3 carrots, sliced
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 c. mushrooms, if desired
(14 oz.) Chicken broth
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/4 c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. dried thyme leaves
1/8 tsp. pepper
2 lb. boneless, skinless chicken, cut into 2" pieces

cook on low 6-8 hours

(9 oz.) frozen peas

add peas 1 hour before you're ready to serve
and turn crockpot up to HIGH.

1 1/2 c. bisquick
1/2 c. milk
2 tsp. butter, melted

In small bowl combine these ingredients for the dumplings.
Drop by Tablespoon onto hot bubbling chicken mixture.
Cover and cook on high for the last 20-25 minutes.

Serves 4-5

Enjoy. This is the PERFECT comfort food!!!

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

news!

I'm going to be a Grandma!!!????

click the link and sing along with me!! ;)

Friends...
How many quilts does a baby need???
I've o-n-l-y got SEVEN months!!!

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

green

This is now one of my "GO TO" patterns
 when I need to give a simple gift.
My friend likes green.
Green it is!!!!
It's so simple....
And so lovely.
I have a little tutorial here.

This time I had the perfect backing.
Heavy weight remnant
left over from someone's redecorating.

Look at that!
It's even been scotchguarded!!
Perfect for a busy table, huh?

Putting right sides together I stitched around...
Leaving an opening to turn it right side out!!!
NO batting.
Just that heavy weight fabric for the backing.
In the past I've also used flannel.

I did some topstitching/quilting lines
Using a larger stitch length!!!


Ta Da!!!
Have a happy Tuesday!
Hope you get to sew even just a little bit!
It'll do you good.
It might do someone else some good too!!
;)

Monday, February 21, 2011

Monday.

The village is complete.
Even though I had lots of distractions....
I was able to finish this quilt!
Yippee!!!

                                         
I had lots of fun doing some
Improvisational quilting!
Big feathers,
Little feathers,


some doors.....



This quilt was just asking
for some
fun!!!

Friday, February 18, 2011

Pineapple!

This block is all Victoria's fault!!!
I saw her post today and then I had to play!
It didn't take long.
Really.

My pineapple is a bit different.
It's not as small.
Mine is 9" instead of her 4 1/2"...
Is she crazy??? 4 1/2"?????
I don't think I can wrap my head around that one yet.
Plus...
My pineapple is a little wonky.
I was so anxious to sew this together
I didn't mark a thing!
Oh well...

Now....
I really DO need to quilt a quilt today.
I've been to the store...
I've purchased the batting I needed....
I've had my little play time......
Pretty soon you'll hear my sewing machine
HUUuuuMMMMmmmmING!!!

Thursday, February 17, 2011

a village grows

Remember this quilt???

The new owner wanted it to be twin size....

so it had to grow...
 I added a simple border today.
I'm so happy this quilt found a good home!!!
It's going to a lady who has been "looking out"
for my friend's college age daughter in far away Austria!!
(This even involved trips to the doctor!!)

She wants to give her a nice thank you gift.
I'm so pleased she chose this quilt!!!!


Now just take a look at the fabric I found for the backing!!!
Alexander Henry.
Mmmm...I don't usually brag about brands...
but this one is so  nice!!
You can tell it's QUALITY fabric.
Plus....The color and design JUST FIT this quilt to a "T".

O.K.
I've now got a backlog of quilts to quilt!!!!
Should I read more blogs...
Make comments on blogs.....
Make comments on comments.....
Or....
Do the right thing...and.....
Quilt????

I'm linking up with sarah today!
It's fun to cheer each other on!

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Donation Duo

My goal:
One DONATION quilt a month.
You know what???
I don't always meet my goal....
But THIS MONTH I did....
TIMES TWO!
Maybe I'll give myself extra points for being early too!!!
:)


It all started with these strips given to me...
Already sewn together!!!!

I circled a square of frogs with some of these
Piano key strips.
(I trimmed them to 6" wide.)

Then I circled a rectangle of frogs!!!

A 6" border of scrappy GREEN!!
bright. bright. bright. Right???

Some extra borders....and
VIOLA!!!

Guess what???
I have only little tiny tiny pieces of those piano key strips left!

Two little cuddly quilts.
Aaaah.....But they're not Cuddly yet...are they???

I'd better do some quilting!!!

Monday, February 14, 2011

something from nothing

A new music bag.

for. me.

Made from nothings:
Little pieces of decorator samples
and other little bits and pieces.

Inside linen leftover from my Christmas quilt.

You KNOW I love to make 
something
from
Nothing.


Now Here's something that's NOT from nothing.....

Blackbottom Cupcakes.

This recipe's an OLD, OLD favorite.
It goes WAY back to when I began dating my husband!!
SOooooo....
Of course...
I had to make them TODAY!!!
It being valentine's day and all.
Right?

*1 pkg. Devils food cake mix.

Prepare cake mix according to package directions.
Fill cupcake papers 1/3 full with mixture.
In separate bowl mix together:

*1 (8 oz) pkg. cream cheese
*1 egg
*1/2 C. sugar
* 1 C. chocolate chips

 Drop a small spoonfull of this on each cupcake.

Bake according to cake mix instructions.

Then....
Try NOT to eat them all before your husband
gets home from work!!!!!

Thursday, February 10, 2011

I'm stuck.

I'm stuck on the disappearing 4 patch.
Totally stuck!

Maybe if I make a few more blocks I'll run out of steam...

But I don't know.
This block sure gotta hold of me!!!
Didn't it???

I used some flannels this time.
Pretty, huh?


I used 6" oops! 8 1/2" squares to make my D4Patches.
It only took FOUR blocks to make the quilt!!!
Then I used a 3" border...and a 5" border on the outside!

42"x42"

Today I hope to make some more wonky D4Patches
hoping my wonky quilt will grow to be
TWIN size!!!