wordless wednesday

scrappy

Saturday I had the idea of sorting out my scrap bin so I dumped it.

I guess it was really packed in there!

I sorted it into a get rid of pile, cut into 2.5inch squares and usable pieces. Sunday I cut, ironed and sorted for 5.5 hours and ended up with;

This bag of 2.5 inch squares

A bag of binding

A garbage bag of fabrics for our mini quilt creators at the local guild

And the best part?

Another bin of 2.5x16inch for another Scrappy Trip Along!

quilt monday

Hot off the presses!!

And I couldn't love it more!

same goes for Gizmo lol

My Granny Square quilt is finally finished. I am so happy I went with the Hello Luscious line instead of the original fabric(Circa 1934) I had wanted.

I love this block.

Or maybe this one

I just can't get enough

Now I need to decide on what to do for the binding. I have no more Kona; do I dare bind it in pink?

quilted with Fascination

snack saturday

Peanut Butter and Bacon Cookies

1/2cup each unsalted butter, at room temperature; smooth peanut butter, granulated sugar, dark brown sugar.

1/2 tsp (2 mL) vanilla extract

1 large egg

1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp (2 mL) table salt

1 tsp (5 mL) baking powder

2 cups of chocolate chips

1 lb (16 oz) bacon, fried and crumbled

In large mixing bowl of electric mixer, beat butter, peanut butter, sugars, vanilla and egg until fluffy and light colour, about 2 minutes.

In another bowl, combine flour, salt, baking powder. Using wooden spoon or spatula, fold into peanut butter mixture in several batches. Stir in chocolate chips.

Using a tablespoon, scoop dough onto ungreased baking sheet and place 2 inches (5 cm) apart. Press gently with fork. Sprinkle bacon over top of each cookie.

Bake in preheated 375F (190C) oven. Bake to desired doneness, 8 to 10 minutes. Cool 5 minutes in pan. Transfer to wire racks to cool completely. Store in airtight container at room temperature up to 1 week or freeze up to 1 month.

Makes about 30.

card friday

when I want to

Custom quilt a quilt of my own, I usually hang it up on the design wall at work to get inspired. I usually always end up with what my first idea was but I think it's a good idea to think about it a little bit.

So last week I hung my zig zag quilt up. And I'll admit, I wasn't happy with it. After a few days of staring at it, I realized what felt off about it.

Is it just me or is the solid zig overwhelming? That's how I felt so I took the quilt down and brought it home and out came the seam ripper.

Now it looks like this

I still find the solid strong on the quilt but I think it's a wee bit more subdued with the two pieced zigs instead.

And now it's time to get back to this quilt.

I wish this line would get reprinted; I should have hoarded way more of it!

wordless wednesday

playing catch-up

I have lots and lots of customer quilts to show you from before Christmas.  I broke them up into three batches so you aren't totally overwhelmed. I'll admit, I was overwhelmed when I realized how many there actually was lol.

First up, this super cute quilt by Donna.

quilted with Daisies Galore

Della's lovely quilt.

quilted with Splash

Carole's stunning quilt.

quilted with Star Swirl

Gwen made this string quilt for herself.

quilted with Floral Meander

 And had so much fun with it that she made two for her grandsons.

One in blue,

and one green.

both quilted with Laurie

This is the first quilt that Linda has made.

quilted with Holly Ribbon

I love how the quilting pattern shows up on the fabric.

Next up, this lovely embroidery quilt by Margaret.

quilted with an all over meander

Next, these two quilt by Donna.

quilted with Ribbon Rose

This next quilt, Donna made for mom for Christmas lol.

quilted with Holly Ribbon

Carole's cute baby quilt

quilted with Cotton

And these two I Spy quilts for her grandsons

quilted with an allover meander

Also by Carole, this puzzle quilt.

quilted with Random Star

And lastly, by Sheila. 

This lovely table runner.

quilted with Holly Ribbon

\

And a late Halloween quilt.

quilted with Spider Web

Hope you enjoyed the show and tell. I'll do another next week.

quilt monday

I was naughty last week and ignored all my customer quilts to play with some of my own. I discovered that I had 11 pieced tops waiting to be quilted. Eleven!!

7 down, 4 to go!

The first one I picked to finish the binding on was my Valentine's Day runner. This was pieced with leftovers from my Valentine's Day quilt. And I was just looking for that quilt to link this post too and I haven't blogged that one yet either!

quilted with Folk Heart

I really like how this turned out. I wasn't sure at first but now that it's quilted? I just might have to keep it for myself.

I love this quilting pattern. And even more so with it showing up so nicely on the white block.

Maybe I'll put the snowman collection away early this year and bring out Valentine's Day now.

such a beautiful day

To get outside for a walk.

snack saturday

Southern Caramel Cake

• 1/2 cup buttermilk , room temperature
• 4 large eggs , room temperature
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 16 tablespoons unsalted butter , cut into 16 pieces and softened

FOR THE CAKE:

• 1
  Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour two 9-inch cake pans. Whisk buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla in large measuring cup. With electric mixer on low speed, mix flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until combined. Beat in butter, 1 piece at a time, until only pea-sized pieces remain. Pour in half of buttermilk mixture and beat over medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 1 minute. Slowly add remaining buttermilk mixture to bowl and beat until incorporated, about 15 seconds.
• 2
  Scrape equal amounts of batter into prepared pans and bake until golden and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool cakes in pans 10 minutes, then turn out onto wire racks. Cool completely, at least 1 hour.

  
  

  FROSTING:

  • 12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter , cut into 12 pieces and softened
  • 2 cups packed dark brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 1/2 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar

  FOR THE FROSTING:

  • 1
    Heat 8 tablespoons butter, brown sugar, and salt in large saucepan over medium heat until small bubbles appear around perimeter of pan, 4 to 8 minutes. Whisk in cream and cook until ring of bubbles reappears, about 1 minute. Off heat, whisk in vanilla.
  • 2
    Transfer hot frosting mixture to bowl and, with electric mixer on low speed, gradually mix in confectioners’ sugar until incorporated. Increase speed to medium and beat until frosting is pale brown and just warm, about 5 minutes. Add remaining butter, 1 piece at a time, and beat until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.

  TO ASSEMBLE:

  Place 1 cake round on serving platter. Spread 3/4 cup frosting over cake, then top with second cake round. Spread remaining frosting evenly over top and sides of cake. Serve.

card friday

today

Was one of the bestest days ever. It all happened here

One of my besties and her family adopted a sweet baby girl from China. They finally came home today.
My heart is so full of joy and happiness for them that it hurts.

We love you baby Beth; welcome to Canada.

wordless wednesday

oldie but a goodie

Today I crashed some friends regular sewing day. Andrea and Kim usually spend Tuesdays sewing; I've joined them a few times in the past but it's been a long while since the three of us have sewn together.

My plan for today was to start a very special baby quilt. I had actually already started this quilt with some Lily and Will fabrics I had but I didn't have enough variation in the colours and the blocks were so blah. So out came the seam ripper, I cut a few more fabrics up and now I have enough blocks.

sorry the picture is washed out. and  I have a few strips to trim lol

With starting this quilt I realized that with a little bit of creativity and the various fat quarters I have left of this fabulous line(please, please, please do another run of Lily and Will1!!), I should be able to come up with a total of four baby quilts. And a good thing too since there seems to be a baby boom with our friends happening this year.

quilt monday

A friend of mine loves cardinals. When I saw this pattern in a quilt magazine, I knew it was the perfect gift for her. The only change I made was to make it a wall hanging instead of a pillow.

I think it's super cute. I left the quilt simple and just went around the applique and in the ditch. I love how the background fabric makes it look stormy.

beat the january blahs

What a better way to kick off the new year than with a quilting sale!

Starting January 15th until February 28th, receive a 20% off the cost of having your quilts quilted! Beat the January blahs and have a quilt finished for YOU.

Not local? We also accept quilts by mail!

 Get in on this special while you can. Contact me for more details!

the fine print

Quilting discount does not apply to custom or already discounted quilting prices.

No other discounts will be taken(guild or seniors discounts)

Discount is applicable to quilting cost only.

Limited to two quilts per customer.

snack saturday

Blueberry White Chocolate Rolls

2 cups flour
1 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup oil
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup blueberries, washed and patted dry (or 1 cup frozen blueberries)
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
2 tbsp lemon juice1 cup icing sugar

Preheat the oven to 350F. Butter an 8"x8" square pan.

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. In a separate bowl combine milk, oil and vanilla. Add the wet mixture to the dry, and stir just until the flour disappears and you have a nice dough.

Lightly flour a work surface. Roll out the dough to a 9"x14" rectangle. Sprinkle the white chocolate chips and blueberries, and gently press them into the dough. Starting from the long side, roll up the dough into a log. Cut it into 9 biscuits and place them in the prepared pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown.

Meanwhile, prepare the lemon glaze by mixing together the lemon juice and icing sugar.
Once the rolls are done, invert them onto a plate, and drizzle the glaze over top. Serve while warm, but also good at room temperature. 

card friday

it's finished!!

my scrappy trip along is done!! And I love it oh so very, very much.

It measures 61x85(not ironed so it may increase by an inch or two).

I wish I had some minkey to back it with but this sucker is going straight to work today and getting quilted up!!

And what's next? 

I've had these DS fabrics for just shy of a year now to make a baby quilt. Now I need to figure out which pattern I was planning on using for them lol.

Or maybe I should put the baby quilt on hold and make a new ironing board cover? Mine is nasty!

wordless wednesday

addicted

I have been totally and absolutely sucked into the Scrappy Trip Along. All I have done the past two days is sew, sew and sew more blocks. And I couldn't love it more.

I have 26 finished blocks; 9 more to complete. Than iron and decide on a layout. I'll admit that it's taken me longer than I expected to do the quilt but it has been so much fun. I almost wish now that I had done one totally scrappy. Notice I said almost ;)

Time to post this and get back to the sewing machine. Not going to bed tonight until at least the 9 blocks are finished. And I just might start ironing them all too. I'll keep you posted.