As it Stands

This is Amber's quilt. It arrived a few days ago but this was the first time I had a chance to sit down and post about it. Nicely Mary Jane send an extra tiny bit of blue flora fabric that had been used in a pre-existing row. Which will be nice to have to pull everything together.

Since Amber's row is running 12" short I'll be adding two rows. The first will be of my choice and the second will be from the blocks I had made when we thought her top had gone missing in the mail. I think it will be wonderful.

Oddly when I laid the quilt out it told me butterflies, which seems bazaar on a Christmas Robin so I'll be ignoring that comment and instead thing about what might be a similar shape, perhaps a white poinsettia? It's all just wondering now. I have some fabrics that will match well from the Easter effort so I plan to be getting started on this one straight away. Of course this is our last month so when it's all done I'll be sending it off to Amber for final touches and to be quilted up. hehehe wont that be a fun package to receive in the mail?

Apples and Pirates Oh My!

The apple quilt top is done at last. I used my very first "store bought" Jelly roll for this one, and I used nearly every single bit of it in this quilt. I started with the long cabin blocks with the apple centers, and before I knew it I'd added DH's pirate hankercief (what else would make a man want an apple quilt?) Then came the rest of the apple fabric (which was a dream to work with). I added the black with the diagonal fabrics to set off the map (ran clean out of the black DH had just purchased earlier that day!). The braid is noticeable on all sides, those I made after the apple blocks and where my first braids. The 8 little blocks going in last, and you know how long those took me. You can sort of see them there near Jessica in the upper left and right corners (click the image for a bigger photo). Those where made using the last of the apple fabric as well as two maternity cotton shirts I'd worn when I was pregnant with Jessica.

Two blocks from the end I ran out of fabric and had to come up with something, or take a trip to the fabric store (Eeegads, jk!), well I figured it out and it all went together like a dream - eventually (except the two blocks I had to seam rip out because I put them in upside down!)

I had wanted to make this a nice heavy quilt for the winter months, but now that I see it spread on the bed I can't help but think how nice and "autumn" it looks. Perhaps a medium weight is the way to go.

This quilt was a challenge for me firstly because I don't much care for log cabins, log cabins give me fits for some dumb unknown reason, and secondly because of the colors. DH bought Moda's Portugal Jelly Roll for my birthday last September and I let the quilt spring from those. Fabric limitations, because I had never worked in this color scheme made this quilt be slow going. I started this quilt in February. Shortly after I pitched in to help Judy with her International Round Robin. Missi's center used just a bit of fabric from the roll and I thought it was high time I put it to use on something for me. Funny how something DH gave me I'm giving back to him. Here is the quilt as it hangs off the bed. The log cabin blocks diamond out from the center with the dark side of the block making the diamond.

This is the second time only that I've worked with Moda, the material flows through your fingers and it's a nice feeling. Almost spoiling, but I do love my scraps. In fact the blue demin embroidery blocks are from the very curtains that hang in my bedroom window. In a different house the curtains were for a sliding glass door. When I started quilting last year I eventually repurposed the curtains by cutting off the unrequired yardage, and there it is in a quilt. What a nice surprise they will match my curtains so well. Sure is a big belly on this guy, he must have just eaten a bug.
Yesterday I felt bad about all the posts with no photos. I looked out my window and saw this big guy and had to show him to you. My Papa aka my Grandfather would call this a Mr. Friendly, when Papa would talk about more than one he'd even call them Mr. Friendlys. My Papa is the epitome of quiet strength. I always keep things my Grandmother enjoyed close to me, I grow Orchids for example, because she loved them. Grandma's Orchids were always beautiful, but I know they were kept that way because my Papa took such good care of them, just like he took good care of her. While 17 years her elder, she was an established business person when they met. She was a seamstress and ran her own shop. They met at a bowling alley and it was love from then on. I have the photo of their silver wedding anniversary at the Kapok Tree hanging on my wall and I look there first when I need strength or guidance. To have known them, to have been loved by them in the most wonderful unconditional way is truly a wonderful thing.

Tip Toe Through the Apples

I have made nice progress on the Apple Quilt, just two more seams and the entire top will be done. Check back for those photos.

Yesterday I stopped by the Salvation Army as yet another coffee pot has found it's demise. I didn't find any coffee pots, but it was half off clothing Wednesdays so they were packed. I do accept hand-me-downs for Jessica. I was surprised to find some clothes of great quality and even Name Brands. I picked up three pairs of long pants (two beautifully embroidered), three Land's End shorts for school, with four matching tops. Oh and one purple sweatshirt that was to cute to pass up.

I also found one pair of size 8 (aka 5mm) bamboo knitting needles (50 cents). I was out the door with all my purchases for $10 and change. I washed it and Jessica helped me fold it and put it away. She's thrilled with the things I purchased so who could ask for anything more?

As with all second hand purchases, remember to check for holes, stains, and that all the zippers and buttons are attached and functioning. My own mother, who I love dearly that I very doubt has ever bought any clothes that weren't for "working in the field", even commented that some of the items I'd purchased looked nice enough for to be "first day of school" clothes.

I know, I know normally I'd have photos of everything, but my leg still hasn't recovered from the stress the past couple of weeks.

Mum's the Word Wrap Up

Wow! We had a great time at mom's party. Our turnout was a bit lower than I expected. But that was perfectly alright because we had a great time. Shelly at Shadee's Inspire and Fire was great. I would highly recommend her location for a party. Super easy to find location, friendly, bright. You get the picture. We went on ladies night, which meant half price studio fees, those my sister and I picked up the tab on. From there everyone was allowed to pick whatever they wanted to paint from the plethora of bisque around the shop. Items we painted included a fairy (mine), a square plate, a tea light, a welcome sign, a pot, a photo frame of a bustier, and so on. After I was a good ways into painting I saw a beautiful butterfly, and very nearly selected a sea serpent for DH. It's well worth walking around the store several times, as there are many bisque items around on the walls, and the samples are great for getting ideas.

The Food:

I made a revised version of the 40 Garlic Chicken I found on For the Love of Cooking in my case I changed up the cream sauce and made way more to cover my penne pasta. I was cornered for the recipe, which was nice. I kept it hot by cooking the noodles al dente and then keeping them warm in the crockpot. Leftovers DH ate with relish after adding a bit of butter.

My fruit salad in the carved watermelon basket received rave reviews from everyone, but of course I forgot my camera. Trick: Pineapple Juice will prevent your apples from turning brown, so after you cut the apples bag them up with your cut pineapple and they will stay beautiful. Four days after the party the apples in the leftover fruit salad still look freshly cut. My ratio of pineapples to apples was one "cut and cored" pineapple from the grocery store to five or six apples and I did add the tiny bit of juice from the bottom of the pineapple container in with the apples.

Which leads me to the Sangria. I spend nearly a month trying to track down a good Sangria recipe, and now I have made two different ones - two different ways and I can say the way to make a Sangria is to get the general idea of what's in it and then improvise! A bottle of wine, my favorite was the one we made with Blackberry Wine as it took less orange juice to make it fruity. Half a cup of OJ more to taste if needed (I think we put in about 3 cups to the two bottles of Rene Barbier for the party, which certainly took the alcohol level down). Then add whatever fruit you'd like. For the party the strawberries, the watermelon, and the Mandarin oranges all were gushed over as they absorb the wine nicely. I also had added pineapple and apples. No need to worry about those turning brown, the wine puts a stop to that.

The "grown up fruit" in the punch bowl was much preferred to the regular fruit salad, but I did see my sister cutting her Sangria down with fruit from the watermelon bowl. We also had someone who could not consume red wine (if only I'd known...) she enjoyed the plain fruit salad as well.

I made fresh steamed broccoli on site in my steamer. I didn't start that quite early enough, as it takes 12 minutes or so and most people had started loading their plates about 7 or 8 minutes after I turned the steamer on.

I also made mozzarella caprice, but instead of traditional add ins, I used fresh cut Sage (I would have preferred Basil, but I thought fresh Sage would be better than dried Basil), and sprinkled just a touch of salt and pepper. No more, no less. I did buy the high dollar mozzarella from the deli. One pound was around $10, but it was so worth it. With 4 tomatoes it filled my serving dish up and tasted as good as it looked. While I didn't hear any raves about that, both my husband and my sister reported they'd heard the raves. Personally I'd have been happy to just sit down and eat the caprice. Which is exactly what I did with the tiny bit of leftovers.

I topped the whole shebang off with a fresh loaf of tomato garlic bread from Publix and the Land O Lakes Canola Spreadable Butter, which is always just the right size for butter and taste for butter at parties.

Oh I nearly forgot. As some of you may know I don't eat seafood so it flies right out of my head. My sister and I sprung for a Shrimp Cocktail. Amazingly the medium ring was buy one get one free at Publix. Both rings were devoured, and there were more compliments on the shrimp sauce. I was personally just glad everyone liked it, and I didn't have to make it. Both rings were frozen. I bought them Wednesday and spoke at the counter about it. The gentleman assured me that if I put my shrimp in the fridge it would be perfect for the party Saturday and he was right. As a bonus for me no shrimp smells invaded my fridge.

The ceramics need a week at the studio before they are ready to pick up which will be this Saturday, so I'll have photos of at least mine next week.

The Call of the Quilt

What do you have up your sleeve for Father's Day? I'm not wearing sleeves today so I suppose it's a good thing my DH has gone off to work.

I have been hearing call of my sewing machine. It's something between a song and a screaming wail "time to do more sewing". There has to be a perk that something we love and enjoy, yet oddly sometimes stay away from calls us back so loudly.

I have the perfect project to take care of both needs. The Apple Quilt was always intended for my husband and the top is nearly done. By clicking on the link there you can see photos of it in progress. I'm down to just 4 more blocks. Okay three and a half. For some reason this quilt has really dragged on. It is my longest "in progress quilt top", so it will be a joy to give the completed top to my dh.

I have huge sheets of 24"x36" paper, that I think I will have Jessica color or paint, and we'll wrap up the quilt in that.