February-July 2012

I had the pleasure of a visit to Napa, California this past February.  It was absolutely beautiful!  We enjoyed the countryside, Pride Mountain Vineyards (I survived the drive to Pride Mountain) and Reguschi  wineries (love the wine so much I had to join the wine club and now I receive a bottle or two a few times a year) and a lovely meal at Fume Bistro and Bar with local friends.

YOU KNOW I had to check out the local quilt shop “Quiltmaker” and make a purchase. Elephants is the theme of my grandchild’s nursery so I’m always on the lookout for elephant fabric now.

I’m sad to say that the Quiltmaker website tells me that they CLOSED in early June.

 I continue to work on “A Little Porch Time” BOM from the class I was taking with Rose at Fat Quarters Quilt Shop in Vista. The class ended and I missed a few classes to attend the baby and bridal showers and other important events. I’m enjoying watching it grow and I still have access to Rose as I’m continue to take classes with her.

 I’m taking another BOM class with Rose called “Girl Gang” by Jan Patek.  Here are the first 3 blocks.

Girl Gang Block 3

Girl Gang Blocks 1 & 2

I made this “Dad Bag” from the Handmade Beginnings book by Anna Maria Horner.  The book was a gift from my son and daughter-in-law that they purchased from The Top Stitch.  Oh how I’d love to have that quilt shop nearer to me.  I’d hoped to have completed it by Fathers Day but things got a little busy around here and I was just able to finish it.  It’s off in the mail and I hope it will be enjoyed.

The 2012 Southern California Quilt Run was held in June.  I’d never been to the shops in area one so when my wonderful hubby agreed to drive we took off one day and filled the trunk with lots of wonderful “finds.”  On the way we HAD to stop in Tustin at Flying Geese Fabric .  This little gem of a shop was discovered the year we explored Area Two.   While in Area One I found that I truly enjoyed New Moon Textiles in Pasadena.  Of course I had to make a few stops at my favorite Area Four shops too. (Fat Quarters Quilt Shop in Vista, Quilters Coop in Temecula (sadly closing in Dec.), and Quilt in a Day in San Marcos.

I always enjoy visits from one of my best friends when I’m creating on my sewing porch.  This little Romeo, always looking for new places to make his own, never ceases to surprise and tickle my senses. 🙂  (Rancho Coastal Humane Society)

  I have a little more to share, but I can’t wait to get started sewing so it will have to wait until next time.  As you can tell by now I’m pretty predictable in my sewing and posting patterns.  You should have noticed that I’m most active during school holidays and since we are already at the end of July I NEED to get back to my sewing porch.  I’ll be in touch after the International Quilt Festival in Long Beach.  I’m going on Friday.

New Years

Oh, by the way, santa delivered a new portable sewing machine to take to class. It’s the Janome DC 1050.

Sewing Machines Plus off Nordal Rd in San Marcos had a great offer on this machine.

I tried it out yesterday and made this Tossed Nine Patch table runner.

                 I used two FLORA charm packs from Moda and finished it right about midnight on December 31, 2011 and I put it on the table this morning.  🙂

I spent a few hours today enjoying the warmth on my sewing porch and working on a few UFO’s.  I  enjoyed the progress I was making on each one and stayed fresh and inspired by switching projects so that I quilted, then pieced, appliquéd and planned. While I sewed I enjoyed listening to a book on CD I’d checked out from the local library.

Christmas 2011

This year, as with most years, we celebrated with a handmade Christmas. We invited all of our guest to participate with their own handmade creations.

 My daughter made and packaged her signature chocolate chip banana muffins, which were devoured on the spot.  No need to even carry the cute little take-out boxes home.  

They didn’t even last long enough to take a photo!

My little grand-nephew, age 3, made hand painted ornaments and sponge wreaths for each of us.  His excitement was so contagious.  It’s been a while since we had a little one around our house.

 

My sister brought hand made and molded soaps, each one unique with it’s raised design and pleasingly packaged in it’s own cellophane bag.

We also had the pleasure of receiving home made fudge from Grandma that I’m rationing out to make it last and the ever loved, beautiful hand painted ornaments from my husband’s sister.

I sewed felt tree ornament/gift card holders (kits I picked up at Fat Quarters Quilt shop in Vista) and attached them to wrapped rice filled microwavable heating pads.  

I also borrowed from the BOM class I’m taking at Fat Quarters Quilt shop in vista and

recreated a sunflower block and a beehive block into two   pillows.  (“A little Porch  Time” by  Linda Hall taught by Rose.)

Then I designed one other pillow using my nephews dog, a Rhodesian Ridgeback, as the inspiration.  

For our little guest I used polar fleece in his favorite monkey motif to sew up a soft pillow and blanket for cuddling on the sofa or for napping.  

My biggest sewing project, the baby quilt for my first grandchild who is expected to arrive early in March. The pattern is from Still Crazy for Baby, a Me & My Sister Designs. (The appliqué elephants and giraffe were my own embellishment). The fabric I ordered on line through Amazon.com from fabric.com.  It’s Zoology by Michael Miller Fabrics and the main criteria was an elephant motif.  The soon to be father, my son, had an elephant motif as a baby and I just couldn’t resist making a quilt of elephants for my new granddaughter.  I can barely wait for her arrival.

The hit of this season was my husbands Jultomten, which he cut, sanded, and hand painted.  He also photographed the Juletomtens and created our Christmas card.  Friends and family especially treasured this unusual little gnome inspired by Swedish folklore.

“The Jultomten is often depicted as  portly gnome with a white beard and pointed red cap.  During most of the year this creature hides under the staircase, in the attic, or in any other dark corner of the house.  The Jultomten emerges on Christmas Eve, tucking small gifts into unlikely locations about the house.  Capricious by nature, the Jultomten may reward or punish householders depending on his mood.  Old customs suggest that the family leave offerings of porridge and milk, or even liquor and tobacco, about the house to appease him.”

God jul och gott nytt ar

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Summer 2011

Summer finally arrived at the end of June and boy was I ready to spend time on my porch sewing.

 I began with this “3- hour quilt” Lickety-Split by Mackie.  It’s 50″ x60″  I spotted this quilt on display at Sewing Sisters Quilt Shop in Carlsbad some time ago and purchased one of the last available kits. (Sewing Sisters closed the doors for good a few years back). Now, we all know that a “time it takes to make it” quilt, dress or any other project is not based on real time, don’t we? Or is it just me!

I had lots of company during my summer break, but I wanted so much to sew (SewMuch2Sew) that I encouraged my guests to sew with me.  I set up an extra table, got out my old machine and we had a great time chatting and visiting while we sewed.  Very fun and very productive!

I’d been hearing stories from my daughter about bears visiting her yard.  So I dove into my fabric stash and found some clear blue water, river rock and other complimentary fabrics and sewed this Braid Runner, “Quilt as you go”

“17” x 52″ table runner by G.E. Designs.  If you look closely you will see a bear shadow and bear paw appliqued at one end.  This is quick to make and a fun to watch grow project that I’ve made more than once.  Pattern purchased at Quilters Paradise.

While I was at it I decided to make one for my daughter in law too.  She and my son live in a Craftsman style home and I’d been fortunate to be visiting when they were selecting paint colors so I picked up a copy of the paint samples too. 

 I hit up my stash again then marched off to Quilters Paradise, paint samples in hand to blend the colors for this Braid Runner.  My visitor liked it so much I made one for her too.

Well, I did have to clean the sewing porch and organize  all the fabric and tools before I could even begin to sew this summer.  It was great fun and I found lots of treasures like the Lickety-Split Kit and this 

Twiggy Kit that I bought a few summers ago as I passed by Cindy’s Quilt Shop in Idaho.  I didn’t actually “pass by” Cindy’s Quilt shop obviously.  I stopped.  I went inside.  This was a fun an easy quilt made with Moda fabrics.  The leaves are appliqued.  I machine appliqued the raw edges and left the middle of the leaf  loose without stabilizer.  I wondered if I should have stuffed them a bit, but decided to try this look.

Next I moved away from quilts to make a bag from one of the many bag patterns I received this Christmas.  Once again I visited my stash and found some coordinating purple fabrics.  I selected Project 06 Teardrop Bag from Amy Butler’s Style Stitches.  It sewed up beautifully, don’t you think?

Two projects that I had been working on just needed sandwiching and quilting.  (I say just ;-0) With the help of one of my visitors Lickety-Split, Dog Daze by Kinberly Rado of Starry Night Hollow (shown below) and Candy Cane Lane by Marcia Lasher from Quilt in a Day Christmas at Bear’s Paw Ranch (shown below) all were sandwiched and sit on the sewing porch waiting for quilting.

 Thats All Folks! (for now)

For the Babies

Two Baby Quilts. Aren’t those fabrics just too wonderful.  One quilt went to grand niece Carolina and one to grand niece Rosa.

The bright fabrics of Me & My Sister Designs that I used for Carolina’s quilt I found in a fabric shop while visiting Las Vegas in July and the hedgehog fabric came from The Top Stitch in Spokane.

The pattern for this 36 x 36 Greta quilt by Me & My Sister Designs was included with my Spring Fever fabric purchase. The fabric is shown on the designers website.

The Still Crazy For Baby quilt book published by Leisure Arts has four Me & My Sister Designs.  I made my purchase in the Las Vegas quilt shop also, but I’ve seen it on their website. I used this Hedgehog fabric by Michael Miller to create a quilt inspired by the quilts in that book.

The bag I made up myself and using scraps from Carolina’s baby quilt and I gave it as a Christmas gift.

2 less UFO’s and my new collectable

Since I first laid eyes on the Oaxacan Wood Carvings of Mexico I have wanted to begin a collection.  I always admired the detailed patterns meticulously hand painted.  It reminds me of the fabric of quilts.  I love the vibrant colors, the unusual poses and the fun expressions the artists paint on the carvings.  Not having a place to display the fun figures or understanding their background I first purchased a book to learn of their history.  Most recently I learned that you can never really be sure of the background or artist who painted any particular piece.  Sometimes more than one family member works on the piece but share the same signature.  At times an unsigned piece might “acquire” a signature to fill an otherwise otherwise backorder for a requested artist.  I don’t care!  I love them anyway and am delighted to have finally acquired my first one.

I completed this Puzzle Quilt.  It’s a great project for stash busting.  All you need is 9-12″ x 12″ squares for the baby size.  To make it bigger add more squares, wider sashing and/or more borders.  I first was the receiver of this quilt made up in Christmas fabric by Mary.  I display that quilt onmy banister every christmas and am reminded of the giver all season long.  This one I made out of flannels for baby Eve.  She doesn’t need it now, but in a few months and maybe even over the next few years she will enjoy snuggling up in this warm comfy quilt to hear great stories read to her by her loved ones.

I finally finished my Fish Bowl Quilt.

It’s called HOME SWEET HOME and is designed by Genii Lehmann at www.LehmannQuilting.com.  It’s a take off on the Bug Jar Quilts.  I’m just not a bug person.  As a matter of fact I don’t like bugs at all.  I’d love to garden. I don’t mind digging in the dirt at all, but I run screaming if a bug comes to close.  Let’s just not talk about spiders.

Anyway, I like fish and I had a great time looking through quilt shops and quilt shows trying to discover different fish fabrics with this fish bowl quilt in mind.  The fabrics came from all over, including some shops that . . . sadly . . . aren’t around anymore.  This quilt will be on display for a bit waiting for a new baby to be born who will enjoy the bright colors of the fish.

Finished Two UFO’s

July 4, 2010.  Yeah I finished it today.   Kaleido Opt Art Quilt 50″ square by Barbara McKeon.  Quilt is composed of 36 6-1/2″ finished blocks set 6 rows by 6 rows with 3 borders (finished 1″ inner border, 1″ pieced middle border, and 2″ outer border).

I don’t imagine I’ll make another one as the instructions were adjusted and corrected several times during class. There are notes in the margins, strikethroughs and rewrites.  The instructor forgot that she’d already had me cut some pieces and we nearly ran out of fabric.  By the time I got the pieces cut out it was so convoluted I’d never figure it out on my own.  BUT, all’s well that ends well.  A year later, here’s the final product and I like it.

Geese in the Garden 52″ square by Barbara McKeon

This was a project I also began while taking classes at Starry Night with Barbara McKeon.  This quilt was set aside unfinished to begin the Kaleido quilt.  The Kaleido quilt was set aside to begin a Kaffe quilt.  The Kaffe Quilt was set aside for Christmas projects.  But summer is here and I’m back at my sewing machine. Yipee!!!!!

Shop Hop

I’ve been on an on-line shop hop with the fabshophop.com. Go to the web site register and off you go to visit 130+ on line quilt shops.

At each shop you “find the bunny” click on it which registers you to win prizes.  I have found some nice on-line shops that I have bookmarked to go back and visit again later.  Some “bunny clicks” bring surprise quilt block patterns to download.  It’s a fun relaxing way to shop hop across the country.

I went on the 2010 Quilters Run.  It was moved up to June so they didn’t have to compete with the International Quilt Show in Long Beach.  I couldn’t get away to travel outside my own zone four so off I went two weekends in a row and visited every one of the zone 4 quilt shops.  It was nice to rediscover those shops I had enjoyed two years ago and to add a few more favorites to my list of “if I’m in the area I must stop by” quilt shops. Quilters Coop in Temecula, Memory Lane in Santee, Cozy Quilt Shop in El Cajon, and Crazy 9 Patch in Ramona I must count among my favorites along with my local quilt shops, Quilters Paradise in Escondido, Quilt in a Day in San Marcos, Amidon Quiltworks in Poway, and Fat Quarters Quilt Shop in Vista. I collected the free block pattern piece and paid the $3-$5 for the fabric kit to make each one.  The pattern for the zone 4 quilt was handbags and shoes.  How could I resist!  One day you’ll see it posted here.

Of course, I didn’t ONLY purchase the block kits.  I also found great fabrics, panels and patterns. I better get busy.

I was fortunate enough to get a little mini weekend get-a-way to Los Angeles this month too.  On the way back Flying Geese Quilt shop in Tustin was almost on the way. I had to stop.  At last year’s shop hop I visited this fun shop and purchased all the auto prints which I used to make my hubby’s car fender cover.  This time I picked up a couple of fat quarters and a length of fabric that is perfect for one of this year’s Christmas gifts.  Sorry can’t share right now. Shhhh

I also made a stop into my neighborhood Starry Night Hollow in Encinitas. I hadn’t been in for a while.  I picked up lots of new patterns and a kit to make a sailboat quilt.  Kim always has the best selection of fabrics, and kits.  I just don’t know how she manages to offer such variety in her cute little shop.

The Rest of February

I was snooping around in the cookbook section of Borders Books the other day. (I had a Border’s Rewards coupon)    “The Conscious Cook” by Chef Tal Ronnen caught my eye.

He listed pastrami sandwiches, and other “scrumptious, satisfying food” that he ate before he became a vegetarian and then a vegan.  He went on to say that he wanted to continue to enjoy those flavors.  So he went to culinary school, became a chef and created great tasting vegan recipes.  It sounded good, and different so I decided to give it a try.

I can tell you getting started is no piece of cake.  I went to 4 grocery stores before I finally located all of the ingredients. To tell the truth if I’d started at Henry’s and then gone to Jimbos I’d probably could have avoided the 2 traditional grocery stores completely.  If you have one, I’d start at Henry’s and save a few $$. Normally grocery shopping is a chore, right.  I guess I was in the right mood because I truly enjoyed browsing around in Henry’s and Jimbo’s looking for these ingredients like I was on a fun scavenger hunt.

This week I tried the Tomato Bisque Soup.  It was fantastic. (You do have to plan ahead a bit.  The cashews for the cashew cream had to soak in water overnight)  We ate the creamy soup for two nights and my picky child had some for lunch.  I also prepared the caesar salad.  This too was creamy and flavorful (Hint: A friend recommended the yellow label Veganaise for the best flavor).

I also made the twice baked fingerling potatoes with dulce.  Since I cooked them on a weeknight and was hurrying them up they were a little under done, but tasty.  These were prepared like  other twice baked potato, only using vegan products in the mash before refilling the skins.  I like the addition of a little prepared horseradish to the mix. Yummy.

My next trial will be a spiced rum pecan cheesecake. Note:  I don’t think any of these meals would be choices for my Weight Watchers program either.  Vegan doesn’t mean low fat, low calorie.  At least not the way Chef Tal Ronnen cooks.

Sorry for the lack of photos.  I didn’t take any before we scarfed up the good eats and there weren’t any posted on line from his book.  I’ll add my own photo if it turns out.

So as not to shock our system too much or worry my family that we were going meatless I also chose to cook something up from my new best friend Ree Drummond’s cookbook too.

The Pioneer Woman ‘s cookbook offers some recipes that are not on her website.  Country Fried Steak is one of them.  3 pounds of country fried steak turned out to be enough for two meals, lunch and snacking for only the 3 of us.  But, remember I told you I’m not really a cook.  I can follow

directions, but adjusting recipes in any way leads to disastrous results when I do it.    It’s a good thing I do follow directions well and Ree gives great direction.

Our County Fried Steak was not one of those meals that ended up sitting in the back of the fridge until it morphed into something unrecognizable.  The Pioneer Woman’s leftovers fill up our tummy’s not our trash.

I know, I know this is supposed to be a sewing blog.  I need to finish up my geese in the garden quilt.  I’m almost finished.  I’m just hand sewing the binding.  I just can’t do it while I’m cooking or hiking.  Today, I hope the rain holds off long enough to go for a little hike, albeit on a dry sidewalk instead of a mountain vista.  Then I’ll need to start the cheesecake.  I’ll have to plan the meals, do the grocery shopping, laundry and other household chores before I can get to the quilt.  Really, who ever thought of 2 day weekends ought to be taken out and shook.

February 16, 2010

Ok Now!  Pioneer Woman strikes again.

This time she posted a “Delicious Baked Fudge” for Valentine’s Day.

Oh My!  Did I tell you that I’m a card carrying member of Weight Watchers?  I can tell you, cooking your way through Ree Drummond’s cookbook is NOT a good idea if you’re a WW member.  I gained 5 pounds over the winter holidays.  But boy was it worth it. 🙂  Shown here is her photo of her baked fudge.  I must have overfilled the cups, cuz mine looked like muffins. If you have not looked around her web site/blog yet, do yourself a favor and go look.  If you don’t cook tell someone who does. The Pioneer Woman

Um um um um um good

Which brings me to my newest passion, Hiking.

I’m just going to share a few photos and the locations of some of my recent hikes.

Tahquitz Canyon-Oceanside Harbor -Elfin Forest-Lake Poway

I’m so stunned by the beauty that still exists in our parklands. I MUST get out there and enjoy it.