merry christmas

Merry Christmas

you tube video about 16 minutes

sparkle Christmas

I cracked open the sparkle box and started sewing the blocks. I had already cut this out a few years ago. It seemed an easy project to tackle. I am using this UFO for the rainbow scrap challenge at so scrappy. Green is the color for March and a good Christmas quilt has plenty of green. I played round and round with chain piecing the squares in a square. 

 This project has been hiding in the ufo closet, so, it was fun to revisit the fabrics. It will be a fun " to go" project since all the thinking is done, and, I can just sit and sew. 

It is a free pattern found here

I am linking:

Monday Making

design wall monday 

oh scrap

boms away 

wednesday wait loss

needle and thread Thursdays 

rainbow scrap challenge

Merry Christmas

 

youtube video about 16 minutes.
Merry Christmas

merry christmas

youtube video about 16 minutes.
Merry Christmas

hooking a leaf

I have a leaf hooked in my Cleveland rug. I am guessing it symbolizes the botanical gardens. It's fun to revisit Cleveland and the biennial in memories as I hook this rug.

It has been awhile since I worked on the Christmas snowflake quilt. But I was able to sew another red one. I only need 3 more blocks to begin assembly.

Linda from Friday quilt group has finished a quilt of valor for the vet's home.

and another donation quilt for the police department. This one included donated fabric from the guild.
She collects the quilts from the guild in October to make one big donation.

I am linking
needle and thread Thursdays
Oh Scrap
Jos country junction

Christmas snowflake part 2

I am working on cutting and sewing this Christmas quilt. I am planning on sharing as I go along. The plan is for every Thursday.
I will be calling it Christmas snowflake.

Last week I shared a bit about how to start and included links to the paper piecing templates.
Intro/ templates

This week I am listing the fabric requirements.

16 assorted red and green fat quarters
6 1/2 yards of white solid for background
5/8 yard binding
4 1/2 yards of backing
79 square of batting
quilt is about 71 1/2 inches square when finished

 I didn't use fat quarters since I am using scraps. I found I could cut most of it from 2 1/2 inch strips and 3 1/2 inch strips.
I used the easy angle and the companion angle rulers to cut.
Surely, there are Christmas scraps and pieces in everybody's stash. I used a Christmas white on white snowflakes for the background. I found I had more red than green in my stash.

I am linking (links in the sidebar) to:
needle and thread thursdays
oh scrap

Dessert and a log cabin

I did finish Peter's log cabin quilt in time for Christmas. And He was so appreciative. He even said it was the winner of Christmas presents ( over a drone from his brother). Every quilter dreams of that reaction to a homemade quilt.

Every year, I swear, I am going to get better at Christmas.... next year. The presents will be more thoughtful, and better wrapped or in some cases just wrapped, more thoughtful decorations, food and shopping done earlier, and the house MUCH cleaner.

We lost a dear friend just before Christmas. Helen Cosgray was a peach with a family that adored her. It was unexpected.
I was asked to help with the dinner. I made this dessert from here.



Salted Carmel Apple Sheet cake

It makes 36 servings

Ingredients for the cake

2 cups (254 grams) all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup (200 grams) granulated sugar
1 cup (200 grams) lightly packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 sticks (227 grams) unsalted butter
1/2 cup (120 ml) buttermilk
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups (200 grams) peeled and chopped Granny Smith apples (about 2 medium apples)

Ingredients for the glaze


1 stick (113 grams) unsalted butter
1/4 cup (60 ml) milk
3 cups (375 grams) powdered sugar, sifted
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup salted caramel sauce (homemade or store-bought)

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Butter or oil a 10-by-15-inch jellyroll pan or a 16-3/4 by 12-inch sheet pan.
In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, salt, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and cinnamon.
In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, combine the butter with 1 cup water and heat until the butter melts. Bring to a boil. Once the mixture is boiling, remove from heat and add in the flour mixture. Add in the buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla. Gently stir in the apples.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan, spreading evenly. Bake for 20 minutes if using a jelly roll pan, and about 17 minutes if using a half sheet pan, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let cool in the pan on a wire rack for about 10 to 15 minutes.
 

Meanwhile, combine the butter and milk in a large heat-proof bowl. Microwave until the butter is melted. Gradually stir in the powdered sugar until combined. Stir in the vanilla and caramel until combined. Pour evenly over the warm cake. Let set for about 15 minute before slicing and serving.

I am linking to:
Fiber Tuesday
Fabric Tuesday
Free Motion by the River

more triangle in a square (s)

Clue #4  has been released for En Provence, a Bonnie Hunter mystery quilt. She releases each new clue on Fridays. I didn't get a chance to start cutting until late Saturday.

I cut all the bright pieces, and most of the civil war centers. In odd moments I chain pieced one side.

pressed them

and added the second side

and presto changeo

all done!

 A few years ago, Bonnie Hunter of Quiltville had mentioned that she often cuts scraps into 10 in squares or strips to use for backs. They are an easy size to piece, and then the math is easy to figure  how many are needed. I have a box of those that I had cut, but I've never used them. I suppose I wanted them to match a little. They are mostly older very scrappy fabrics, I was not in love with anymore.
Working on Peter's log cabin quilt, I needed just a little bit more than the flannel back I had chosen, so I grabbed some blue ones and it was very easy to work them into a useable strip, and 8 of them would be long enough.

And I made his binding. And it is on the frame.

 Christmas here we come....

I am linking to:

Making Monday

Moving it Forward Monday 

 Patchwork Times

Main Crush Monday

Quiltville

Resting from Christmas

This bottleneck is off the frame and ready to handsew the binding. I needed to get Peter's quilt on and done by Christmas.

I watched 2 Christmas movies last night. My husband has gone back to work after sick leave, and I just wanted to sit. I need rest this time of year after trying to do too much. But then I don't get it all done. sigh... It has been very cold here - in the single digits, not the sort of temperature I want to go out in any more. So I have more handwork done.
More rug Hooking. After a large rug, this is going very fast.

I finished these Christmas ear warmers for the kids and spouses.

And this is my third try at this pair of socks. new to me is toe up, and Judy's magic cast on, and a stitch called KW2. I think I have it this time.

I am linking to:
 Patchwork Times
TGIFF
FInished or Not Friday
WHoop Whoop
Crazy Mom Finish Fridays
Fort Worth Fabric Studio
 SewCan She

Christmas rug

It is finally all finished. sigh... I am glad it is done, but I will miss working on it.

I made a Christmas decoration with a scrap of fabric, that I liked. I made a pouch and used stiffener on it. I then added sprays of garland, pine cones, berries, etc in it. I was tickled with how it looks. Now that we are older, we aren't as interested in holiday decorating. But something simple in every room seems doable.

Time to start cutting for En Provence clue # 3- purples!

And sewing strips for more 4 patches

I am linking to:
TGIFF
Finished or Not Friday
WHoop WHoop
Crazy Mom Finish Fridays
Fort Worth Fabric Studio

SewCan She