wordless wednesday

ever feel like

You are being watched while at work?

just because

I am loving the Stampin Up monthly card club that I joined. I can't decide which is better, getting new stamps every month or getting to make some great cards.

quilt monday

My jelly roll race quilt. So fun to do; I have another jelly roll just ready for this pattern. And I just might keep that one; this one is a surprise giftie.



quilted with Folk Heart

weekend wrap-up

Best weekend EVER. It was one of those weekends were everything just fell into place and went right.

Earlier in the week, I invited one of our favorite families over for Saturday night; and was quite saddened when they said no. The reason they gave was that I had just finished a killer week and Jim has a pretty intense week coming up; R and C wanted us to have a weekend to veg and relax. And tonight? I'm thrilled they said no.

I sewed all-weekend-long. Yes, ALL WEEKEND LONG. Here's what I got done.

Completed the two baby quilts for the shower on Tuesday.
This one just needed the borders added(and that literally took me 5 hours on Friday. I was terrified that was a sign to come lol).



For the second, I had gotten as far as making the hsts.


Now to get them quilted tomorrow!

Then I used the leftover layer cake squares from this quilt and ended up with TWO more baby quilts.


There are a little smaller then I like for baby quilts so I'll need to order some yardage for borders. Good news, there isn't an immediate need for these.



Then I took some fat quarters to make a lap quilt. Sadly I got distracted and did the cutting wrong :( So I ended up with a table topper instead. But the recipient will never know and I think it turned out super cute.


Lastly, I had a few more Pure blocks left so I made a little table runner for myself.



I'm really really impressed with the pattern(find it here). One layer cake, about 3 yards of Kona snow and I got 3 baby quilts and a table runner. You can't beat that!

I should say that I did sleep this weekend too. On Saturday I didn't get out of bed until 10am and was back in bed by midnight. And Jim and I watched a movie Saturday night. I also cooked all weekend; no take-out was had. And I even got the laundry all washed, folded and put away. This was definitely MY weekend :)

snack saturday

CHOCOLATE SOUR CREAM COFFEE CAKE

1 c. butter, softened
2 c. granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 c. cake flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. sour cream
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

TOPPING:
1 c. chopped pecans
2 tbsp. granulated sugar
1 tsp. ground cinnamon

CHOCOLATE GLAZE:
1/4 c. butter
1/2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
For cake,
cream butter and sugar in large bowl until fluffy. Add eggs, beating until smooth. In medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder and salt. Gradually add dry ingredients to creamed mixture, blending well. Gently fold in sour cream and vanilla.

For topping,
combine all ingredients in small bowl. For glaze, melt butter and chocolate chips in small saucepan over low heat, stirring until smooth. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons topping in bottom of greased and floured 9-inch tube pan.

Spoon 1/2 of cake batter into pan. Sprinkle 4 tablespoons topping over batter and drizzle 1/2 cup glaze over top. Spoon remaining batter into pan and sprinkle with remaining topping. Reserve remaining glaze. Bake 60-75 minutes. Cool 10 minutes in pan. Turn onto serving plate. Drizzle remaining glaze over top of warm cake. Serves 20.

card friday

that's a wrap

Our school year is finished. J finished up his exams on Wednesday, A has 2 more to write next week.


Last night, just before midnight, I did the last stitches on the teacher gifts. I really didn't think I would get them finished in time. Along with making them, I was in the midst of planning a birthday party for B. A big thank you to my friend Cheri Lynn for coming over last night and helping decorate his cupcakes.

I love these for teacher gifts; they are just perfect. By the time we finish getting through all the grades in our elementary school, almost every teacher will have gotten one lol.

wordless wednesday

in 1 week

I'm hosting a double baby shower. And I only have (almost) the first quilt finished. I need to add some white down the sides. Then get down to my post office box and pick up the border fabric.



The other quilt is all the same fabrics but is going to be a different layout. At least I've finished the hsts for that one. But before I can finish(start) on these, I have 4 teacher gifts to finish. For Thursday.


Wish me luck.

quilt monday

I love how this turned out. I used the Geese in the Park pattern from Moda Bake Shop. I ended up making the quilt smaller and I may have enough blocks left to make another quilt. Or something fun for me.
I backed it with a matching flannel polka dot. I really really love these dots!


quilted with Laurie.



Now I just need Canada Post to get back to work so I can get this in the mail. Baby's waiting for it!

happy father's day

snack saturday

Blueberry Coffee Cake


1 cup packed brown sugar
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup butter

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter
1 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup milk
1 cup fresh blueberries
1/4 cup confectioners' sugar for dusting

Heat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Coat a Bundt pan well with cooking spray.

Make the streusel topping:
Mix 1 brown cup sugar, 2/3 cup flour, and cinnamon in a medium bowl. Cut in 1/2 cup butter or margarine; topping mixture will be crumbly. Set aside.

For the cake:
Beat 1/2 cup butter or margarine in large bowl until creamy; add 1 cup white sugar, and beat until fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Whisk together 2 cups flour, baking powder, and salt; add alternately with the milk to the creamed mixture, beating well after each addition.

Spread half the batter in the prepared pan. Cover with berries, and add remaining batter by tablespoons. Cover with streusel topping.

Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 55 to 60 minutes, until deep golden brown. Remove pan to wire rack to cool. Invert onto a plate after cake has cooled, and dust with confectioners' sugar.

card friday

what I've been up too

We are fabulously busy at work getting grad presents and wedding gifts finished up and off to their new homes. Here's a few of my favorites.

By Jean


Quilted with Cotton

And Joann's


Quilted with Cotton

This is Shawna's first quilt; she did a fabulous job!


Quilted with Wildflower.

Shirley made this quilt for her grand-daughters graduation.


Quilted with Rambler Rose.

And Dorothy made this for her grand-daughter's wedding.


Quilted with Morning Glory.

Now off to work to finish more!

wordless wednesday

whew!

I am here. I didn't think I would be but I am! Last Thursday we had a power outage. As a result, my desktop computer bit the dust. And yes, it was on a power surge protector thingy. Thankfully mine was the only one. And even better, Jim had an extra computer tower and was able to rebuild this one and I am back online. Now I'm going to catch you up on what I've been up to.


Friday night I went to a quilt show. I brought home a treat for myself, Sweetwater!


Can not wait to play with that.

Some of my favorite quilts;









I started piecing the blocks for a baby quilt.


I finished my May Birdie block.


And squared up the blocks of my Luna Notte quilt.


Looks like being mostly computer-less for the past few days has been a good thing!

snack saturday

S'more Brownies

One box brownie mix, be sure to get the 13-inch x 9-inch size (not the 9-inch x 9-inch size)
Milk, in the amount listed for water on the brownie mix directions
One cup chocolate chips
One cup graham cracker crumbs (crush crackers roughly by hand)
12 whole marshmallows and 6 marshmallows, cut into small pieces

PREPARATION
Pre-heat oven to 350°F.
Prepare the brownie mix, according to the package directions, but replacing the water with milk. Mix in the chocolate chips, crushed graham crackers and cut up marshmallows.
Pour into greased 13-inch x 9-inch pan and place the twelve whole marshmallows on top. Bake for 25 minutes, or until moist crumbs stick to a toothpick inserted in the middle. These are best eaten when completely cooled, but if you want to dig in while still warm, cut with a knife dipped in hot water to get a clean cut. Store tightly wrapped in foil.

card friday

awesomesauce

I took apart Mom's Mother's Day gift; I had just enough leftover strips to straighten the quilt out *whew*!

Then I quilted it. Lots of lovely straight lines.


Isn't it fabulous? Mom is going to love it!



Even with the troubles I had with this quilt, I still love the pattern.So I made another one. This one with Fig Tree's Breakfast from Tiffany's.


Isn't it lovely? And I think this one is going to get some straight lines too!

wordless wednesday

simplicity

Sometimes a quilt just needs simple, basic quilting. Especially if there is a lot going on with the fabrics, simple quilting doesn't take away from the beauty of the quilt but enhances it.

I had three quilts for Hamels Quilt Shop that I went super simple on and I love how they turned out.

The first, a Word Play Kit(picking up a kit of my own when I drop these off tomorrow! I can't resist!)


Quilted with straight lines. I've never done straight lines for Hamels before; was a little nervous about it but I love how it looks.

Second, Sweet Dreams Lily. I can not get enough of this fabric line. Absolutely love it.


Quilted with a simple meander. And somehow I made a duck head while doing the meandering lol.



Lastly, the adorable panel. This one I did put a pattern on.


quilted with Popcorn.

I love how the pattern shows up on the minkee backing.



Quick and simple. Sometimes it is the best.

quilt monday

I apologize for the pictures; I took them at night and it was raining, not the best light!

I love how this turned out; 3 hours, including quilting, from start to finish. And I finished the binding an hour before the baby shower while waiting for the boys as they got haircuts lol.



quilted with Popcorn.