Thursday, November 24, 2011

My Favorite Holiday

SO THANKFUL AND GRATEFUL!




A little Housewarming gift.

 
Cardamon Honey & Raspberry Butter

The only fabric in this post is the cute acorn
 fabric that is on top of the jars.


 Take room temperature butter and blend with either
raspberry jelly or cardamon spice and honey.
I add to taste.


 Put in a basket.
I added Peach and Pepper Jelly
that I canned this past summer.


The Flock That is Flying to Mom's Today

Homemade
 Almond Apple Pie and Almond Vanilla Ice Cream
Will also be apart of Celebrating!


Happy Thanksgiving!

Till We Quilt Again,

Helen






Thursday, November 17, 2011

You Can Call Me A Knitter Now-And Look What I Won!


When you first look at this little sock.
There is nothing unusual about it.


 At the time I thought it was PERFECT for our soon to be born son.

How the socks came to be,
My grandmother was visiting from Sweden in 1990.
I was 6 months pregnant.
She was a excellent knitter and I wanted to learn.
We made the socks you see above (other one is packed till December).
I was so proud and was hoping to continue being a Knitter.
I brought the socks to the hospital, since my son would come home in them.
So I Thought!
He arrived at 9lbs 8oz.
The socks were1/2 the size of his foot.
They Became His 1st Tree Ornament!

I did not touch a knitting needle for 21 years.



My grandmother died several years ago and left me, her
knitting case, needles and cable pins.
I was honored that she left to me, knowing what
 beautiful sweaters, socks and hats that she made with these needles.
I always wanted to knit and over the years family, work and quilting
 took over any free time.
So the needles have looked so... pretty in a vase. 


Which brings me to the present. This past March several of us went to the
 Williamsburg, Virginia Quilt Show. Every person that went was a knitter.
I could not control myself any longer.
I CAME HOME AS ONE TOO!

I ended up with needles, yarn and 1 and 1/2 scarfs done
before I pulled in the driveway.
Met up with these girls a few weeks later and made this
 Knitting Bag!
Which I think Made It Official.


 So I am all set!
 I have the needles, yarn and patterns (can't read to well yet).
And even have yarn that is sold by the pound.


And here is a tip that I stumbled on. 
If I roll the yarn into a ball, I could never find the ends tucked
 in somewhere. So I had some hair clips that I use on quilt binding.
Needed more, so I got 12 on a card at the Dollar Store. 
I know where the ends are now.


Few things I have made. Some have been given away too. 


 Since starting this new adventure. 
I have found another fiber addict friend (sorry to rat you out Denise)
 who is starting out like me.
We have gotten together and she has taught me this pretty leaf pattern. 


 
So I still collect fabric!


Enjoy a glass of wine!


And took my mother's advice!


To use Wine Bottle Corks to keep my stitches on!


Elena came back from Spain with this little Jem!
This is the one I made.
It is crocheted.


 If you put this....
 or this....
 In a Waffle Iron
You get This!!
In about 2 to 2 1/2 minutes! 
 Gingerbread Cookies

 Cinnabon Waffle Rolls




Look What I Won!
The bag matches my sewing chair perfectly!

 I entered a Give Away at
Billie Jo's blog spot.
Take a look she has a great blog.
She has another Give Away till
12/15.


Till We Quilt Again,
Helen


Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Love Autumn Days!

Here is little something to whip up today!

 My house was taken over by leaf's!
So what is one to do?
Make them for everyone else!

Here is a little tutorial.


 Started with a placement from Walmart.


 Trace the leaf onto scrap batting, using a sharpie marker.


 I did not want to add a binding later.
So after it was traced on one side,
I held it up (towards the light), aligned the leaf to
 trace it on the reverse side.
(there is a reason for this--you will see later)


Gather fall scraps. Cut into strips.
Most of mine are 1-1/2 inches.
But you can have up to 2-1/2 if you want. 





 Lay 2 strips facing each other, somewhere
around the center. Sew 1/4 inch down one side. 
 I like mine to be slanted on the leaf.
Make sure the black marker is covered with fabric at both ends
 and also that it will be covered when you open
at the seam.


 Keep sewing your way out (flip and stitch technique)
 till you go off the leaf and then start back in the middle and work your way out to the other side.


Make sure whole leaf is cover with fabric. 


Turn leaf over and trim about 1/4 inch
from the black line. 


Should look like this.




 Up Close.


 Lay right sides together with backing fabric.
Sew around the leaf on black line,
leaving about a 2 inch opening to turn.
right sides out.


After turning, whip stitch opening closed.
I finish it off with a 1/4 to 1/2 inch seam around the 
whole edge. 


Here are some gifts that will be going to
friends and family!



But I can't stop there.
I wrap a sewn leaf or two around
 a bottle of
Turning Leaf Wine.
What a great Hostess Gift!



Till We Quilt Again,
Helen

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Fall Flock

The Flock That Stayed Together!
 We are in the process of doing a kitchen redo
 (allot of the work ourselves) and college touring.
 So that has not left much time to
sew, quilt, knit, cook, exercise or clean.
Well, I stumbled onto this free pattern a few days ago
and my mind has been spinning ever since! 
So 2 nights ago this is what I did:

 We go to my mothers for Thanksgiving and always bring a gift.
You guessed it.
She is getting her own flock!

 Now let me ask you!
Can't you see a Holiday, Winter, Spring and Summer flock?
I just recently made curtains for the new kitchen.
Yes they are going to be a birds too.


 Here is the icing on the cake
(why is it always about food!)
 Micheal's fall items are 70% Off.
 I will be making a smaller version for my mom.
(And yes, Nancy & Joyce you will be getting flocked as well!)


 LOVE A BARGAIN?
The runner squares were from another project.
 Laid down the leaves from the Dollar Store
(how much did they cost?).
At the time I was learning how to free motion.
Thought it would be perfect for me to play with.
I really liked how it came out.

 It has a classy look about it.
 Even with my beginner free motion stitches!

WHO KNEW!


And last, but not least.

Apple Dip!
Our oldest son will be home this weekend from college.
For the past 3 years in the fall I send him back to school with Apple Dip and a bag of apples. His friends and roommates have put in a request for it again.
And this I can do while under construction!

Recipe:
2-8 oz. Cream Cheese-Room Temp. 
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
1-1/2 Cup of Light Brown Sugar
Mix good to dissolve sugar
That Easy!!!!

Stay Tuned In--There Will Be More Flock Sightings In The Future.
If you have any Flocking ideas, please send them my way.



Till We Quilt Again!
Helen

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Felt The Christmas Spirit!

Felt!
Felt like I needed to try some felting.
Not as hard as I thought it would be.
 I am seeing future projects.
Love The Bag!


Christmas Spirit!
Our guild makes pillow cases for the local D.A.V.
 to wrap children's Christmas presents in.
They are given to local families in need. 
Here are 9 Pillow Cases!
 A early start on having "The Spirit"

The past few weeks have been a bit hectic.
We have closed our seasonal business for another year. 
Have traveled a few states to tour colleges.
We are in the middle of a kitchen redo.
 Squeezed in two trips to Lancaster for some fabric.
Recently started to knit, so have been playing with that.

It feels like a REAL accomplishment to have finish
what I have till this point. 


Till We Quilt Again,
Helen

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

A Bit Buzzed!

So What Were You Were Thinking!
(For all those inquisitive minds, there is a Yummy recipe below) 



 Here is another wonderful piece Jan made and I was lucky to quilt.
 It is the Buzz Saw pattern.
 The quilting is the Baptist Fan pattern. 



The best part other than spending the day with Eleanor and Marybeth,
 was to finally meet Jan and her husband Scott.
And it was at a fabric store in Lancaster Pa.
WHERE ELSE!



  Jan choose great fabrics, that resembled ties for a masculine guilt.
This is a gift for their son.
My challenge was how to quilt it.



The Fall Cocktail    
Bailey's Caramel Appletini
 Tastes just like a Caramel Covered Apple.

Are you wondering-why the Paint Chips?
We are re-doing our kitchen and this little drink helped me narrow
my choices down to only 100 chips. 


The recipe calls for regular Baileys and you add caramel.
But I did find Baileys with caramel in it.

Recipe:
1 oz. Baileys Irish Cream
1/2 oz. Smirnoff Green Apple Vodka
1 slice of apple
1 teaspoon caramel

Pour Irish Cream and Vodka in a mixer with ice.
Shake and strain into martini glass.
Garnish with apple and caramel
Easy!


Thank You!
To all that have said a Pray, emailed and called about Joyce my Mother in-law.
 She is now in a rehab facility and is doing Great!


Till We Quilt Again,
Helen