Setting goals

I really had to laugh at Alycia's comment today about starting new projects.

 It seems that's all I've been doing for the last several days.  And "guess who" likes to be in the middle of it all.

 So this morning I set my sights on this little lovely.

 Having decided on the baptist fan pattern, I pulled out my home made stencil using blank radiology film.

A Peter Pan print from who knows how long ago became the backing.

A second backing was pieced to match the newest pink 9-patch.

Another item on the list, trimming the edges of over 50 fat quarters pulled from a bin and washed this week.  They were in coordinating bundles packed away for a rain day.

Guess what, it's raining.  And I had to ask myself, "exactly what am I saving these for?"

This led to finding more pieces that were tucked away here and there.  Again, why?

Tonight I'm working on more goals, getting borders on 2 quilts.  Of course I had to take a break and cook dinner, as well as bake a birthday cake for a friend. 

How many projects are you working on today?

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

Lions, tigers, and bears . . . Oh my!

But in reality, there are

 bees, fish, pennies, bugs,

 stars, footballs, plaids,

and of course jelly beans.

In the very big one-patch quilt.  At least 30 years of fabric collecting is represented here.

Each square was carefully selected and placed.  The quilting table had to be raised even more to fit the backing.

My flu symptoms are back today so the quiet task of pinning filled the bill.  No vigorous yard work was permitted, which is a shame as the weather was perfect.

If you have to go out shopping, wear gloves and possibly a mask.  This flu season is the worst I've seen in awhile.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

YEAH, I found it!

Dolly is so excited. 

And so am I. 

Here's the web site with the pocket directions I need.

YEAH!

Seek and find with NO find!

I need your help . . . I really do.

Somewhere out there in "messenger bag tutorial land" is a technique for putting a zipper in using  separate pieces.  It looks something like this.

It's rather hard to explain, but I know if you've seen the concept, you'll know exactly what I'm referring to.  Would you mind sending me the link?

I've spent several hours searching to no avail.

And Dolly would rather be out walking in the rain rather than wait for me by the computer.

Thanks "sew" much.

Signed, Frustrated in Blog Land

Who doesn't like pizza?

My recipe will be listed at the bottom of this post.

I've recently discovered a tasty version using Barilla pesto sauce and cubed chicken breast.

 A warm pink binding finished off the new log cabin.

It took over an hour to get it hung up today.  It's a tricky area needing a ladder and push pins in the wall set just right.

Three yard sticks were taped together with painters' tape to equal the width of the quilt.  A small drill bit set a hole in each end corner and thin wire was run through to form a small loop.  The wire loops go around push pins.  The middle of the yard stick sits atop other push pins.

This is a portable method allowing me to move quilts of varying sizes around often.

Here's Dolly enjoying the late afternoon sunshine on her rug in the middle of the great room.

Pizza Dough Recipe (Piroshki)  - (given to me by Suzy about 20 years ago)

1 package yeast
1 Tablespoon honey
1 cup warm milk
3 Tablespoons melted butter
3-4 cups - combination of high glutton flour, bread flour, regular flour (I bought high glutton flour from my favorite pizza restaurant.  It makes a huge difference.)
1 egg

Dilute yeast and honey in warm milk.  Add butter and enough flour to make a batter.  Let rise in warm place until double.

Add dash of salt and one egg.  Add enough flour to make a soft dough.  Knead well.  Let rise until double.

Heat your pizza stone to 425 degrees for at least 15 minutes.  Lower the oven temperature to 400 degrees.

Roll out dough forming the edges and place on heated pizza stone.  Brush a light coating of olive oil over the dough including the crust edges.

Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes.

Having cubed and cooked the chicken, it was coated with about 2 tablespoons of pesto.

I sliced one onion thinly, added a jar of rinsed mushrooms and heated through until onions were limp and fairly dry.  In the pan went one half cup of thickened spaghetti sauce.  Then the cubed chicken so everything was warm.

Once the crust had cooked 10 minutes, the chicken mixture was added, topped with shredded mozzarella cheese.  I grate my own cheese so it does not dry out.

Everything bakes at 400 degrees for another 10 minutes.

This makes enough to feed 3 adults or 1 teenage boy.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

Ideas for next Christmas

After opening up my mom's dining room table and covering it with her Christmas tablecloth, I decided there needed to be a table runner to fit the center.

 I began with an 8-1/2" square surrounded by 1" strips of solid green.

 Then added 2" strips . . .

 solid green squares using the French braid method.

 A lighter 2" strip . . .

 Adding cut 13-1/4" long strips and more solid green 2" squares.

 Trimming as I went.

The variations are endless.  You can start with a smaller center square for a more narrow runner.  Right now this one measures 18" wide.

I could trim the sides to make it more narrow, or I could have used 1-3/4" strips instead of 2".

But this size will work for the center of the table.  Limiting coordinated fabric to 4 simplifies the process and looks better overall.

Here's Dolly after our big walk this morning, happy to be snug and warm while mom sews.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

Yup, it's still cold here.

 The temperature is 21, but the wind chill feels much colder.

 Poor birds, everyone is hungry today.

 There's less than one inch of snow; however, under it is ice.  Very dangerous for a town which only salts the main 4-lane road. 

Thankfully, I'm off from work today and tomorrow.  Which means I can sew a test project.  We'll be sharing the directions later. 

Dolly and I just had a big walk out to the main road.  The 2 ponds have ice on them, very unusual for this area.

Please drive safely if you're out in the wintry mix.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

Oh baby, it's cold outside!

 The wind chill is 19.  I've taken hot water out to the birds twice so far today.  And some fresh peanut butter.

Sixteen days is a long time for me to be ill,

  . . . but quiet stitching time ensued, allowing me to finish the binding on the 1993 pineapple.

The potato soup, home made bread, and chocolate chip cookies are ready.  Now it's time for a bit of sewing with Dolly in her favorite spot right behind my sewing machine.

If you have to be out and about in this brrrr chilly weather, please dress warmly and carry an emergency kit in your car.

Oh, and of course, check on all of your outside critters.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

Pardon me, while I have a pity party.

You see, I've got severe bronchitis, my doctor has been away, and my mom isn't here to bring me juice, ginger-ale, or Jello.  Do folks still make Jello?

 However, Dolly is keeping me company while I rest in mom's chair and take photos of the wee birds who are ohh so hungry.

 You may have heard that we're getting single digit temps here at night, but thank goodness, none of the east coast storm bringing severe weather to many others.   Susan Branch, I sure hope you're battening down the hatches up there in New England!

 This problem child quilt was bound on 2 sides, when it dawned on me why there was a problem.  The binding wasn't wide enough to cover the edges well. 

Last night I removed all the basting stitching, zigzag stitching, and hand stitching so I can re-do the binding properly.

Where ever you reside during these low-temp days, be sure to check on all of your outside critters, as well as your elderly neighbors. 

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .