Newbies

Just a mad rush to the first day back at school. After one day back, I know my projects are going to slow down considerably. It's musical time again with after school and weekend rehearsals.
So the last projects and the newest are being posted.

First, a simple pair of fingerless mittens made for my hairdresser who found some yarn and gave me license to make any type for her. A bulky locally made yarn of mohair and wool. Very imperfect wool, but she'll appreciate them. I personally don't own fingerless mitts, but will make a pair now that I see how handy they can be. Found the free pattern "Ursus" on the internet through Ravelry. The pattern did not have thumbs on them, so I created a bit of a thumb extension.

I also made a couple of biscuit baskets using the Aunties Two biscuit Basket pattern. Fun stuff, although not that easy. It was a tad tedious turning all the tubes, but makes a nice gift. I made 3 miniature ones for Christmas gifts (my own adaptation) but only took a picture of one of those. I like to buy my patterns at Create For Less.
Finally my pride and joy. A baby quilt I started during the summer and finally finished. I wasn't exactly sure how I wanted to quilt the project and finish it. I juxtaposed circles all over the quilts squares and I love it. I used plates and lids from all sorts of things around the house. This is a baby quilt for my dearest colleague who teaches with me. She is expecting her 2nd baby any day now and I cannot wait to give this to her. I know she will love it. It is a quilt from Judy Martin's scrap quilt pattern book called 'Newport Beach'. I used scraps from my own granddaughter's quilts that were full of primary batiks and blenders. It was so much fun to make. I had some striped fabric on hand with all of the colors and made a bias binding which really touches off the excitement of the quilt.I love how the primary squares 'float' on the quilt.

 

...for Kylie Sue and babe.

Hats off to Autumn

 I made it little wall hanging for the season. I may eventually give this as a gift, but for now I'll let it decorate my wall for the next week or so.
It has squares and rectangles displaying many  autumnal elements. I'm not a huge Debbie Mumm fan, but these are fun & relatively quick to make. You have to be a fusible web fan. I made a winter one of these kind of patterns last year. They do make fun and unique gifts. The directions are crystal clear in the book. For a link to the book, here it is:
http://www.amazon.com/Seasonal-Samplers-Autumn-Winter-Trimmings/dp/B000JHO0AA

I'm in a hat craze. I like wearing hats. I am up to my neck in scrap yarn so I am on a quest to make as many hats as I can for the time being. This urge may wear out after my very next hat, which I've already started, but it's what feels right, right about now.
This hat pattern is from the new issue of Love Of Knitting, Holiday 2011. Picked it up at a newstand. I was pleasantly surprised at the nice patterns in it. I am an Interweave Knits magazine girl, but I can't resist the Holiday issues of some of the other knitting and quilting publications. This is call the Double Diamond Hat and Scarf. It's shown being worn by a handsome young gentleman, but I think I'm keeping this hat for myself.

This was made out of leftover yarn..a Brunswick Worsted weight that I'm sure has been out of circulation for a long time. A barn red color.
Well...off to knitting more hats.

Spring Fever for handbags

Little pieces of scrap fabrics and some free motion quilting

I've absolutely gone crazy for making bags. This little gem is a reward for cleaning and organizing my stash the day before yesterday.  I've been pondering the next big quilt project. I am torn between inspirations so in the mean time I decided to make myself a spring kind of bag to replace my old ones (which I still use on a regular basis.) I didn't want to shock the world with my summer bag from the last blog post......especially when our central New York State weather can't seem to break into the high 50s.

Tell me you don't want one of these cuties!

Vacation summons up some project progress.

Managed to find a little time during the school break to complete some projects.
I made a new purse. I was color hungry. Such a long winter and part of me wanted to escape to warmer climes, but that wasn't possible. Instead I made a purse out of the hottest colors possible. It must have been my "inner summer" in me that was crying out when I selected the fabrics from my stash. 
The pattern is from the book Sew and Go Totes by Kristine Poor (A Leisure Arts publication). Fun pattern and I think I will be making the cover purse tote soon. Don't blind yourself looking at the purse....it's bright!

Since we took a quick trip to Maine to see our kids and granddaughter, I managed to whip off another Wheatfields cotton dishcloth on the 6 1/2 hour trip home. It's a favorite pattern of mine which I have knitted several times before and worth knitting and sharing over and over again. I love my homemade washcloths. I prefer them to terrycloth ones...they're softer on the face, dry faster and I can reuse them a couple of times unlike terrycloth washclothes. This was knitted out of good old Lily Brand "Sugar and Cream"...an inexpensive and practical "no-fuss" cotton yarn. However, if made out of a neutral/natural color, it looks especially nice. I have them posted on Ravelry.

New York Beauty Wallhanging

Made this for my daughter a couple of years ago and gave it to her for Christmas. I had it professionally framed under glass and it looks wonderful on her wall in her kitchen.

Finally! Freedom to get back to my avocations

I have been spending the last 4 months directing our High School Musical of "OKLAHOMA!" and now that it is done, I am back to my world of quilting and knitting. Not only that, we were dumped with 26 inches of snow over the last 24 hours, so I had a SNOW DAY. A nice gift after months of long hours at school.

English Paper Piecing Hexagon Flower Quilt

I am proud to say that I finished my English Paper Pieced hexagon flower quilt. All hand pieced and this was accomplished between rehearsals and any free time in between. I'm going to call this my "OKLAHOMA" quilt as I worked on it in sync with the production of the show. I put the binding on it 2 weeks ago. (Somehow I found the time.) I love this quilt and am so pleased with how it turned out. I am going to start working on completing the unfinished quilt I bought last summer. Now that I know how much I enjoy hand piecing, I look forward to always having one hand piecing quilt in progress, simply for the fact I can take it anywhere and work on it while I am at the hair dressers, doctor's office, on long (or even short) car trips.
I managed to churn out a few other projects this winter. A Christmas present for my good friend, inspired by her new bedroom colors. A simple design created on my Electric quilt software and scrap fabrics. The inspiration was the striped border fabric I purchased over a year ago on a whim when it was deeply discounted.

Also, a couple of little scrappy projects. A Debbie Mumm wallhanging pattern. Sometimes it's fun to do playful and quick projects to satisfy the craving to make something from fabric. This was so fun and is an adorable wall hanging. I may make a couple more or these for gifts next winter.

I found a used and slightly worn out picture frame in the trash, salvaged it and simply made foundation letters spelling "WELCOME". I just keep on finding ways to use my scraps.

Quilting like crazy.

I think I am possessed!  I really am!
I have been so busy enjoying quilting and I am addicted. It may have to do with the fact that it is a creative outlet for me and if I'm not teaching, well why not play with needles, thread and fabric.
I have made more quilts and I think my focus has been using all of the fabric that I have on hand. I tend to admire and enjoy quilts that are more random rather than planned in terms of fabric selections.
My latest one was so much fun to do. It had it's challenges, but it was never boring!
It was inspired by a quilt book:
Radiant New York Beauties by Valori Wells.
I can't take credit for the inspiration of this pattern. It is from the book called Vintage Beauty, however they are my own fabrics from my huge stash. No fabric piece was used twice in the quilt blocks. A couple of the fabrics were duplicated in the leaf appliques. Once again, the Bernina Stitch Regulator made the machine quilting so satisfying.
It makes a beautiful wall hanging. It is about 40" x 40".

The freehand leaf quilt pattern I used throughout.

Home is where my heart likes to be

So this is where things stand. The school year is done and I am diving into my fiber arts projects. I am almost done with the front of the sweater I started a few months ago. I intend to knit all summer so this can be finished by fall for my husband. It's turning out nicely. I did frog the sweater after starting 6 or 7 inches as I was concerned it was going to be too small. Rather nice pattern, I think.

 I'm into making scrappy quilt projects. I found this clever pattern from allpeoplequilt.com. It's actually called Bold Sunburst Runner, but I adapted the pattern and size. I love candlemats and I just wanted something bold and fun for summer. It also gave me some more opportunities to machine quilt with my Bernina BSR.

It will be fun for a summer fiesta dinner.

















A new project just finished! Cottage Garden Table Runner

Finally, I made an extraordinary table runner. Lots of applique, but it was fun and not at all difficult, although it helps to have experience and practice, plus patience and time. This lovely pattern is from the October 2008 (issue 94) American Patchwork & Quilting Magazine (A Better Homes and Gardens Publication). It's called Cottage Garden. It has a background of Irish Chain Blocks and the flowers, stems and leaves are appliqued on top. I am so pleased with how it turned out.
This particular issue is one that has several projects bookmarked. I want to make them all. Funny how some magazines leave you wanting and then on the other hand, certain ones are destined for wear and tear!
Some close ups.....

Stash buster and a Diet buster.

My one book I continually refer to is Karen Comb's "Combing Through Your Scraps". To me this is a Five Star book!  I love illusions using color values in quilts and Karen rocks at this.  This simple book is wonderful. I never dispose of scraps and keep boxes of precut strips and squares ready for the making of another scrap quilt.  If I have a few minutes on hand, or need a break from another quilting or sewing project, I'll piece together a 9 patch block. That is how this last quilt was created. I can't even tell you when I started it. I accumulated enough split nine-patch blocks until I had enough to make this quilt called "Off-Set Spiral". I love it. Even the less than lovely fabrics or fabrics you tire off are given new life using this method.

I added a binding without any border and I love how it looks.
I also did meandering quilting using the Bernina BSR. It was my first time experimenting with the BSR and what a great tool. I had the entire quilt "stippled" in no time. This quilt has some of my least favorite and tired out fabrics incorporated into it and they have been transformed into one of my favorite quilts.




The back of the quilt. Thank you Bernina Stitch Regulator!






Last but not least. Another cookie recipe.
Chocolate Mountain Cookies. My mom loves chocolate drop cookies. With Buttercream icing. Really reminiscent of homemade chocolate cake and wonderful with a glass of milk or cup of coffee.
So I just made her a batch. Happy Mother's Day!

CHOCOLATE MOUNTAIN COOKIES

(This recipe makes a ton, so you may want to halve the recipe)

1 cup shortening (don't use butter as they won't puff up quite so nicely)
2 cups brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
1 cup milk
3 cups flour
2 tsp. Baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup cocoa
1 recipe Buttercream frosting

Mix shortening, sugar, eggs and vanilla in a large mixing bowl. Mix dry ingredients together in another mixing bowl. Mix in flour mixture into the sugar egg mixture alternately with the milk. Mix well, but do not over mix. Measure a round tablespoon for each cookie onto a parchment lined cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 14-15 minutes or until tested done. Frost with your favorite buttercream frosting.
(I mix 3 cups of confectioner's sugar, 4 Tablespoons butter, 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract and add 2-3 Tbsp. half and half until icing is the right consistency. It makes the ideal amount of icing.)

Recipe notes: I use buttermilk as I like the tender crumb that it creates. If you do, add 1/2 tsp. baking soda with the dry ingredients. Also, I'm not a big vegetable shortening user. However this is the one recipe I do.

Spring to life with a new Bernina

Spring Break. I have been waiting for this week all winter long. I have been carefully saving my money for my dream sewing machine. Well, last Saturday I did it. I drove to Patchwork Plus in Marcellus, NY (an amazing quilt & yarn shop by the way (a candy shop for my eyes!) Fortunately (or not), it's 40 miles away, just far enough for me to limit my trips so I don't spend every last penny I have there.
Upon much deliberation, I bought the Aurora 440 QE.

 I brought it home and immediately set upon finding out what makes this machine so special. I was intimidated at first. Was it buyer's remorse? Well, the only way to find out was to delve into it and try everything out imaginable. I designed a placemat using scrap fabrics. Something that I could use to try the bells and whistles of the machine. And start sewing I did....

First I was thinking, okay...it feels different from my last machine and then I was hooked. I have been sewing non-stop since last Saturday afternoon. I woke up in the middle of the night wanting to go sew. I stayed up until 2:00 a.m. one night to explore more features on the machine. I was saying things  to myself like, "So that is what a walking foot is supposed to work like". The BSR (Bernina Stitch Regulator) is awesome. There was a little bit of a learning curve, but I am well onto my next quilt to explore the use of this feature. 

The bobbin winder!

The light over the workspace!

The needle threader!

The stitches...it does basic embroidery stitches (letters and numbers)!

I am so pleased. It is a terribly expensive machine. It is worth it knowing that I can have it serviced easily and that technical support is only a 45 minute drive away.

Things I practiced and explored upon using my machine. Started with a small project, easily finished in a short amount of time.

• patchwork (piecing 1 1/2" fabric strips)
• embroidery stitch (blanket stitch) around fused fussy cut squares in corner
• walking foot
• BSR ~ some stippling and free motion quilting.

Now I have a nice little placemat to go under a plant. Officially my first test project on the Bernina.

Now I am on to the next project. A quilt made from 2 1/2" squares (all scraps that I dutifully cut up from leftover fabric). The squares are done and now the sewing begins. I love how it is starting to look.

It's called "Off Set Spiral". I'll keep you posted.

Midnight Garden Quilt
A Jo Morton Design featured in the the April 2009 Better Homes and Garden publicaton; American Patchwork & Quilting magazine.

Finished April 11, 2010

It is a beautiful wall hanging and will look great on any wall in my house. I just have to decide where...


This was officially my last project on my Kenmore machine. I am going sewing machine shopping. I have a Bernina in mind.

"Tradewinds" quilt made from Bali Pops Hoffman fabrics

"Tradewinds" using Bali Pops from Hoffman fabrics. Again, a nice and easy quick quilt. 

The Christmas gift to my daughter in Maine.  She just sent me a picture so now I get to post!

Recipe for my Winter Day

Ingredients:

-New placemats

-New coffeemaker

-Fresh batch of cookies

These placemats were finished last weekend. I have been spending days simply cutting up all my scrap fabrics into usable pieces and decided to make these Mini Log Cabin Prairie Placemats from the March/April 2005 issue of Fons & Porter Love of Quilting Magazine. These are my 2nd pair of placemats using this pattern. Love it. All leftover scraps. It's really satisfying to not let them go to waste.
These go pretty quickly once you get all the little pieces cut. 

Last week I was visiting a friend and she had a Keurig coffeemaker. She introduced me to the fun of making any flavor of coffee I so chose and within a minute I have a great cup of coffee and if it wasn't the most fun.  I didn't hesitate for one minute. I went online to Green Mountain Coffee and ordered a coffeemaker of my own. Sure it cost more to buy the pods, but there is no guessing. An unbelievable variety of beverage choices. In it's trial so far I've made an amazing cup of tea, a fabulous cup of hot dark chocolate and of course, coffee. The possibilties are endless. I get up very early in the morning to quilt and I can just make one cup of coffee for me and not worry about having coffee sit in the carafe getting overcooked.  Now I bought this for use in school, but I may not be able to have it leave the premises of my home. 

This coffeemaker is 4 stars in my book. Love it!!!!

With all this excitement and sampling teas and coffees I decided to make one of our favorite cookies. Hermits. This recipe has history. Came from my babysitting days when I was probably 13 and was taking care of children of one of the many families I used to babysit for. I asked the mom for the recipe and I've had it ever since. Probably one of the most repeated cookie recipes in my file.

The cookies are usually shaped in a log for the length of the cookie sheet and baked; then cut into bars when cooled, but today I made them as drop cookies.  Warning: The cookies are slightly addictive.

HERMITS

3/4 cup butter (half shortening if desired)

1 cup sugar

1 egg

1/4 cup molasses

2 Tablespoons milk

2 1/2 cups flour

2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. ginger

1/2 tsp. cloves

1/2 tsp. mace

1/2 cup raisins

1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts (I simply break them, large chunks are desirable for this cookie)

Mix butter, sugar and eggs thoroughly. Add molasses and milk. Stir in dry ingredients. Stir in raisins and walnuts. On parchment lined baking sheet, shape dough into 2 or 3 long rolls on 2- 3 baking sheets. Shape dough with knife so dough is spread to about 2 inches wide and 1/2" high. Bake at 375 degrees fro 9-10 minutes. The edges will be browned, but the center may appear uncooked, but remove and sprinkle immediately with granulated sugar. Let cool completely on cookie sheet before cutting (Really!) The cookies continue to cook as they stand. When cool, cut into 2" rectangular bars. 

(May make as drop cookies, drop by small spoonfuls and flatten slightly; bake for 8-9 minutes). These cookies will have a very moist interior.

More finished projects.

I've been saving my recipes little by little on Epicurious Tastebook site for some time. When they sent me a $10.00 off enticement I went ahead and gave it a try. It just came in the mail today and it's a cool, cool thing.

I have my time tested recipes in it. The ones I turn to time and again so it makes it pretty special, Also, I have credit for about 30 more pages so I can add them as I like. Hey, it's fun and pretty classy looking, too. I especially like how you can spend months (or as long as you like) designing your book. This would make a great gift for someone. I keep thinking wedding shower or baby shower. Have everyone submit a recipe and voile'....a very useful and meaningful memory book. You can add your own pictures to each recipe....another nice feature.

I just finished a nice little candle mat from one of my frequently visited quilting sites: This-n-That Fabrics.  They have lots of clever free patterns for your enjoyment. One of the free patterns was this Christmas candlemat.  I just finished making it with some leftover scrap fabrics from holiday projects. It's a sweet little thing. I'm so much more inspired to make Christmas projects immediately following the season. Probably because I have the time and the inspiration is staring me in the face. Once the tree comes down and all the decorations around the house, the holiday projects will likely follow suit.

I'm truly looking forward to the time spent in my sewing room this year AND with my knitting needles in my hands. It's back to school on Monday and I have a musical to direct that will keep me busy throughout the winter until March. I'm sure I'll have tons of projects queued up and waiting by that time.