Sunday, October 31, 2010
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Pinwheel Quilt- Blogger's Quilt Festival
For all of my regular readers-- yes, I'm alive and kicking! It's been a busy few weeks in our house (I know I'm not alone!). I'll catch everyone up later. But for now, here's my entry for the Blogger's Quilt Festival!
I completed this pinwheel quilt in May of 2009 as a birthday gift for my sister-in-law, Jamie. I'll admit that it started as a wedding gift for her and my brother a year earlier, but got replaced by a food processor and put on the back burner for awhile. I had never made a quilt larger than child-sized before this one.
It was also the first time I had done half-square triangles. At the time, I didn't know that I should square them up before piecing them all together! Once I figured that out, everything came together.
I love looking back at photos of this quilt because it features so many of my favorite fabrics-- including orange mono pez, many Alexander Henry prints, and Prints Charming teardrops. Since making this quilt I've become more nervous about using fabrics that I love because I don't want to run out of them! And that's silly. So this quilt is a good reminder that there's no sense in hoarding fabrics. Don't leave those favorite fabrics folded on a shelf!
I completed this pinwheel quilt in May of 2009 as a birthday gift for my sister-in-law, Jamie. I'll admit that it started as a wedding gift for her and my brother a year earlier, but got replaced by a food processor and put on the back burner for awhile. I had never made a quilt larger than child-sized before this one.
It was also the first time I had done half-square triangles. At the time, I didn't know that I should square them up before piecing them all together! Once I figured that out, everything came together.
I love looking back at photos of this quilt because it features so many of my favorite fabrics-- including orange mono pez, many Alexander Henry prints, and Prints Charming teardrops. Since making this quilt I've become more nervous about using fabrics that I love because I don't want to run out of them! And that's silly. So this quilt is a good reminder that there's no sense in hoarding fabrics. Don't leave those favorite fabrics folded on a shelf!
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
two very different bee blocks
After finishing up a sewing commitment yesterday (I'll share it down the road at some point!), I decided to get caught up on bee blocks during Cooper's nap this morning.
First, these liberated X and O blocks for Bee Liberated:
As most of you probably know, these are my kinds of blocks! No measuring, just some sewing and cutting, and everything eventually comes together. The next ones were a different story though. A member of my Not Your Grandma's Quilting Bee requested these star blocks. I don't do patterns well, as precision sewing isn't one of my best skills. But she had precut the fabrics and they came together easily! So easily that I'm saving the instructions in case I might want to try these with more modern fabrics.
Ah, feels good to cross things off the list!
First, these liberated X and O blocks for Bee Liberated:
Ah, feels good to cross things off the list!
Saturday, October 16, 2010
simple sleepover craft
Claire turns 8 tomorrow! We're in the midst of her first hosted slumber party. While the kids are engrossed in the grossness of "Diary of a Wimpy Kid," I thought I'd share the craft that we did to pass the time between pizza and cupcakes.
Claire is crazy about horses, so a long time ago I bookmarked Ann Wood's Cardboard Stampede tutorial. I originally thought I would print out the pattern on individual pieces of cardstock and have the kids cut and decorate them on their own. But I forgot to buy cardstock, and quickly found that it takes awhile to cut out the pieces. So I traced the pattern pieces on a sheet of poster board and cut them out while the girls ate dinner so that they were all ready to go. I also thought we'd paint them. But markers were easier, and worked great.
The only other change we made was to use teeny scrapbooking brads to attach the legs instead of wire and buttons. Again, easy. What made this project even better was that I've discovered Claire has the sweetest friends, and I really enjoyed doing this with all of them!
We have another big party for family tomorrow night, so I think I'll make a few horses of my own to decorate Claire's cake! More photos to come.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
where has the week gone?
I can't believe I haven't posted in over a week. It's been busy, in a lazy fall kind of way. I want to do things, but at the same time I just want to get things in order for the cooler weather. This little guy is all over the place too:
And that means that I've been busy chasing him all over the house, trying to keep on top of dog hair and all of the other things that he wants to put in his mouth all day long.
I have been crafting a bit though. One quilt is basted, two more tops are pieced, and I've become a bib-making factory during what seems to be quite the baby boom in the last month.
What I'm really focused on though is a big birthday this weekend. Claire is turning 8! We're celebrating it with family, plus hosting a sleepover with friends. My plan for coping is to keep all little people very busy with activities and just hope that they go to sleep before midnight. Any ideas? Maybe I can serve turkey for dinner...
p.s. It's moose rutting season! My morning walks just got a little bit scarier.
And that means that I've been busy chasing him all over the house, trying to keep on top of dog hair and all of the other things that he wants to put in his mouth all day long.
I have been crafting a bit though. One quilt is basted, two more tops are pieced, and I've become a bib-making factory during what seems to be quite the baby boom in the last month.
What I'm really focused on though is a big birthday this weekend. Claire is turning 8! We're celebrating it with family, plus hosting a sleepover with friends. My plan for coping is to keep all little people very busy with activities and just hope that they go to sleep before midnight. Any ideas? Maybe I can serve turkey for dinner...
p.s. It's moose rutting season! My morning walks just got a little bit scarier.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
the best lasagna you'll ever have
First, thank you for all the nice comments about my quilt for Rob! He was able to get on an early flight home this morning, so I was extra glad I finished it when I did. He loves it. Success!
I mentioned in last week's scenes from the weekend post that I have a killer lasagna recipe. I've emailed it out to a few readers already, but here it is for those of you who I wasn't able to reply to! It's adapted from the Frugal Gourmet's 4 Cheese Lasagna recipe.
Ingredients:
9 lasagna noodles
2 jars of your favorite spaghetti sauce
1 really big container of ricotta cheese (32 oz.?)
1 egg
1 large bag (4 cups) mozzarella cheese
1 cup parmesan cheese
1 - 2 packages sliced provolone cheese (12 slices in each package)
1 pound italian pork sausage (I use reduced fat, it's just as good)
salt, pepper, parsley
Cook your lasagna noodles per package directions and rinse them with cool water. Brown the pork sausage.
Mix the large tub of ricotta with 1 egg, and a bit of salt and pepper. Parsley too if your kids don't freak out about it like mine do. Add 1/2 cup of the parmesan cheese.
In a large lasagna pan, cover the bottom with a thin layer of spaghetti sauce then lay down 3 noodles. On top of that, layer a third of the ricotta mixture, a third of the mozzarella, and 4 slices of provolone (I tear them up so that they stretch out. Provolone is expensive here, but if you want more of it in your lasagna then use two packages and just layer on the slices.) Then sprinkle on a third of the sausage, and spread on a good amount of the sauce to cover it all. Repeat one time. For the last layer, put down the 3 noodles, the last of the ricotta mixture, then the sausage and sauce. Finish it with the rest of the mozzarella and provolone, then the remaining 1/2 cup of parmesan.
Bake it for apx. 50 minutes in a 375 F oven or until brown and bubbly. As you can see, I'm not exact with anything. But that's the fun of lasagna! I'm telling you, it will be a hit.
Of course it takes a bit to prepare, and is something we only eat every few months because it's not the healthiest thing in the world. If you're looking for something faster and less artery-clogging, head over to Dani's blog, Little Fists, and check out her skillet lasagna recipe and her other simple supper ideas. She's a genius in the kitchen!
I mentioned in last week's scenes from the weekend post that I have a killer lasagna recipe. I've emailed it out to a few readers already, but here it is for those of you who I wasn't able to reply to! It's adapted from the Frugal Gourmet's 4 Cheese Lasagna recipe.
Ingredients:
9 lasagna noodles
2 jars of your favorite spaghetti sauce
1 really big container of ricotta cheese (32 oz.?)
1 egg
1 large bag (4 cups) mozzarella cheese
1 cup parmesan cheese
1 - 2 packages sliced provolone cheese (12 slices in each package)
1 pound italian pork sausage (I use reduced fat, it's just as good)
salt, pepper, parsley
Cook your lasagna noodles per package directions and rinse them with cool water. Brown the pork sausage.
Mix the large tub of ricotta with 1 egg, and a bit of salt and pepper. Parsley too if your kids don't freak out about it like mine do. Add 1/2 cup of the parmesan cheese.
In a large lasagna pan, cover the bottom with a thin layer of spaghetti sauce then lay down 3 noodles. On top of that, layer a third of the ricotta mixture, a third of the mozzarella, and 4 slices of provolone (I tear them up so that they stretch out. Provolone is expensive here, but if you want more of it in your lasagna then use two packages and just layer on the slices.) Then sprinkle on a third of the sausage, and spread on a good amount of the sauce to cover it all. Repeat one time. For the last layer, put down the 3 noodles, the last of the ricotta mixture, then the sausage and sauce. Finish it with the rest of the mozzarella and provolone, then the remaining 1/2 cup of parmesan.
Bake it for apx. 50 minutes in a 375 F oven or until brown and bubbly. As you can see, I'm not exact with anything. But that's the fun of lasagna! I'm telling you, it will be a hit.
Of course it takes a bit to prepare, and is something we only eat every few months because it's not the healthiest thing in the world. If you're looking for something faster and less artery-clogging, head over to Dani's blog, Little Fists, and check out her skillet lasagna recipe and her other simple supper ideas. She's a genius in the kitchen!
Saturday, October 2, 2010
shhhh! it's a surprise!
I just finished maybe my favorite quilt ever.
I made this abstract landscape for Rob, who has mentioned a few times that I make things for everyone else but had yet to do something just for him. It took me awhile to figure out what to do, but his love for the mountains inspired me. Anyone who knows us in real life can attest to the fact that Rob is happiest when he is out on a trail. It doesn't matter if there is snow, rain, mud. He's out there enjoying every bit. He has shared this passion for the outdoors with me and our kids, and for that I'm so grateful. Rob is the best husband, the best father. I'm lucky to have him.
Quilting details-- The quilt measures 28" x 27". I made it entirely out of shot cottons, save for the few pieces of Kona Snow and Aqua. Most of the fabric came from my scrap stash. I started the sky at my sew-in day last weekend but completed the rest in the last 24 hours. (Rob is away at a conference, so I was able to stay up extra late to get it done!) The mountains were pieced in sections and appliqued onto the sky, then the rest was improvisationaly pieced as I went along. I took extra time with my quilting since there were so many starts and stops in the middle. I made sure to hold my thread ends and wove them into the quilt, so the back is as neatly stitched as the front. I also didn't square it up until the quilting was done, since the shot cottons are so thin and flimsy. Here's a photo of the top before it was quilted:
On the surprise part-- I'm 99% positive that Rob doesn't read my blog, and I just couldn't wait to post the photos! This is destined for his office at work, but I'll be hanging it up to enjoy here until he returns home.
I made this abstract landscape for Rob, who has mentioned a few times that I make things for everyone else but had yet to do something just for him. It took me awhile to figure out what to do, but his love for the mountains inspired me. Anyone who knows us in real life can attest to the fact that Rob is happiest when he is out on a trail. It doesn't matter if there is snow, rain, mud. He's out there enjoying every bit. He has shared this passion for the outdoors with me and our kids, and for that I'm so grateful. Rob is the best husband, the best father. I'm lucky to have him.
Quilting details-- The quilt measures 28" x 27". I made it entirely out of shot cottons, save for the few pieces of Kona Snow and Aqua. Most of the fabric came from my scrap stash. I started the sky at my sew-in day last weekend but completed the rest in the last 24 hours. (Rob is away at a conference, so I was able to stay up extra late to get it done!) The mountains were pieced in sections and appliqued onto the sky, then the rest was improvisationaly pieced as I went along. I took extra time with my quilting since there were so many starts and stops in the middle. I made sure to hold my thread ends and wove them into the quilt, so the back is as neatly stitched as the front. I also didn't square it up until the quilting was done, since the shot cottons are so thin and flimsy. Here's a photo of the top before it was quilted:
On the surprise part-- I'm 99% positive that Rob doesn't read my blog, and I just couldn't wait to post the photos! This is destined for his office at work, but I'll be hanging it up to enjoy here until he returns home.
Friday, October 1, 2010
one last mug rug
My mug rug swap package is complete!
I finished up one last mug rug this morning, and since I couldn't decide which one to send out, I decided to just send both of them. Because my partner just might be messy. And when one mug rug is in the wash, she'll need another one to take its place.
This will be my last one for a bit, but I'm pretty sure you'll see more of them in the future-- I've decided they'll be my go-to teacher gift this year for the holidays paired up with a snack size loaf of my favorite banana bread. Yummy!
This will be my last one for a bit, but I'm pretty sure you'll see more of them in the future-- I've decided they'll be my go-to teacher gift this year for the holidays paired up with a snack size loaf of my favorite banana bread. Yummy!
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