This Is How We Feel Today

This is how we feel today.....so we will take a nice break and do nothing.  (Webster my helper)

Quilt Back

The center of the quilt back looks like a basket ........ was I clever or what!!

Pumpkin Quilt Finished

My pumpkin quilt is finally finished after two years .....yeh!   Dream Quilters wool & cotton was used for the batting.   King Tut variegated thread for the dark areas so the quilting would show and So Fine in the lighter areas.   Make a mistake in quilting the center, did not follow my drawings, had my mind on other things and was not paying attention to the design layout.   My cross hatching.... had to fill some of the spaces for the center to balance....... lesson learned.   Didn't want to unpick all the tiny stitched .....lol

NEXT UP ON THE FRAME

My Blue & Yellow quilt next on the frame.....these are quilts that I have not bee able to get quilted the past 2 years and now I'm taking the time to get everyone quilted.  (all 32)  I have two whole cloths that I would like to get at but need to work on the UFOs.    Feathers, feathers, & more feathers on this quilt......borders will have circles with more feathers.   This is a good practice quilt,  will post when finished.

QUILT ALL MOST FINISHED

This fall quilt is coming off the frame today....yeh!   This quilt has been on my frame for a month, I will finish it up today.   The background fill is simple mctavish , pebbles cross hatching and pebbles ... couldn't  get the brain to work to come up with something different... so I took the easy way out.  I have my 93 yr old mother with me that I'm taking care of and it has been kind of hard to think about  quilting designs.   She has been declining each week and time is getting close for her to go see my father.   Mama will be dancing in heaven...lol

Quilting Time Again

It is time to get back to quilting......  A  "10 Minute Block Quilt"  with fast inset center blocks with a three seam technique.  This entire quilt can be pieced in a single morning.  It is a great way to use up leftover squares.  I'm using fabric by "Rouenneries" by French General "Layer Cakes" 10 " squares.   The quilt pattern is from the book " Boutique" by Susanne McNeill

Maine Light House

If I had a choice to live anywhere in the world,  I would pick this place....  a little fishing village south of  Bar Harbor.

A Cottage Powder Room

When I moved into this house I loved the bathroom, I could see great possibilities.  Wished I would have taken before picture showing green shag carpet, vinyl flooring half way up the walls with the upper walls painted green ( very 50 ish).   I tore up the carpet,  tile floor, bead board the walls and painted the bead board a soft white.  The upper walls a painted a chiffon soft peachy pink.   The pedestal sink I bought years ago and store in hoping I would use it someday.  Will guess what it came out of storage.  The oak frame for mirror was an auction buy for $4.00 which adds to the relaxed cottage feel of this room.   Tiled around the tub and added a hand held shower massage.  Simple white sheer panel pulled up into a bishop sleeve secured with a tassel tie back.

The hair pin laying on the shelf belong to my grandmother who would pin her hair up into a bun.  On the other shelf was my other grandmothers hat pin  and lotion bottles.  When my grandmothers passed on these are some of the items that I chose that were of  memories for me.   Oh yes,  the shaving stand was my grandfather's ,  the shaving brush was my fathers.

Summer Desert for My Friends

Where are you Ray my Aussie buddy ????  Angie???  Vivian????    Hey gals  I'm sitting here waiting on you,  I made this desert specially for my friends, come on over.   I got out my best pink hobnail depression glass, china, wine glass, and napkin/water glass dolie which were all from auctions.  I have place settings of each which I use when we have get togethers, for family, friends that drop over for a visit or to quilt.  Enjoy!
(flowers are from the garden)

Recipe is below!

Summer Desert

This Summer Desert was made up from a recipe that a friend gave me last year.  I have made this several times because it is very low in calories.....yummmm!   It is a great desert for hot summer days,  so here is the recipe..... it is done in two steps...

First step... 9 x 9  foil pan  or what ever you have around the kitchen
1 sm. pkg - cook & service (sugar free) vanilla pudding
1 sm. pkg - Jello ( sugar free ) strawberry
1 cup water
2 cups fresh rhubarb
1 pkg Graham crackers crushed ( layer 9 x 9 pan, saving some for the topping )

Put ALL in a sauce pan &  bring to a soft boil, cook until rhubarb is soft  (I mash my rhubarb with the masher, I don't like it in whole pieces. )  Pour into pan & refrig for 1 hour.

Second step.... 
1 sm. pkg - instant vanilla (sugar free) pudding
2/3 cup  DRY milk powder
1 cup water
put in bowl & mix until thicken
add 1/2 cup Cool Whip  - fold into mixture - spread over layer, refrig until ready to serve.

My Cottage Kitchen

I haven't quilted much in the last couple of weeks, so I thought I would post a few pictures of my little blue & white cottage kitchen.   My utensil holders are garden containers that came from Hobby Lobby, the toile dishes are finds at flea markets & antique shops.    Blue bottles are from trips to Mexico. (dust collectors, but I love them)

Christmas Card Framed

Not bad for a small in expensive gift.  This cost less then going out and buying a card for $3.99 and stuffed in a drawer.   This little card could set out in a frame forever for everyone to see.   The frame cost $1.57 on sale at Joann Fabrics, the rest was made from left over scraps.   These will be handed out at card club on Thursday for a surprise. 

Quilted Christmas Cards

My new project-  quilted Christmas cards....I fussy cut the center piece and glued to a marked 5 x 5  square on muslin.  I used Sharon Schambers technique where she used  Elmer's school glue and stabilizer for her appliques. ( My appliques come out perfect every time.)   Then she uses a basting  glue to attach the applique to the fabric touch by a hot dry iron to set it.   Here are photos showing each step that I took to make each block.   Will post the finished blocks tomorrow.