Five Pounds!!!

That's what a week of Christmas celebrations will add to you.

We actually had a wonderful holiday with our family in Arkansas.  

Lots of games, including a hotly-contested Ticket to Ride Old West.

I didn't win 😒 but it's always fun to play with our competitive crowd.  We played Uzzle, too.  A lot more challenging than I expected it to be.  Definitely challenges one's spatial observations.

Gifts included art projects from the 2.5-YO great-grand.

And DH gave me travel books to enhance a quilt cruise we're taking later next year.  I'm sure you'll be hearing more about that later.

A brisk hike at Petit Jean State Park on the day after did very little to help me take off pounds, but was fun.

Just a side note:  I think DH and I have worked out the computer/cloud problems and I hope to be posting on a more regular basis next year.

Happy New Year 🎉

Coaster Tutorial

I haven't written much lately because of holiday prep, travel, and computer issues.  Right before we left town I was madly turning out coasters -- first for the guild's mug rug challenge and then for family stocking stuffers.

By the way, the guild members made close to 200 mug rugs for nurses at the county medical center and hospice house.  

I think I made 8 for the nurses and, while I was in high gear, I kept whipping them out for the family.  So easy that I thought my loyal readers might appreciate a tutorial.  Unfortunately, I don't remember the source for this pattern.  But here goes:

• Start with five 5" fabric squares.  It's fun to pick a theme and use at least two different fabrics on the "pretty" side.  
• Select one square to be the "bottom" of the coaster.  Fold and press the other four fabric squares into right triangles.
• Cut a batting square at 4-3/4".
• Center batting square on the wrong side of the "bottom" square and press to make it stick (just hand-rubbing works).

Turn that bottom square (with the batting stuck to it) right side up and place one of the triangles in the upper right corner

The 2nd triangle goes in the upper left corner, overlapping the first triangle

The 3rd triangle goes in the lower left corner, again overlapping the earlier triangles.

The 4th triangle is a bit tricky.  I bet you already figured out it goes in the lower right corner.

Initially that 4th triangle will overlap the others but you will need to gently raise the first triangle and tuck the 4th triangle under it.

I have found it helpful to pin each edge before stitching 1/4" around all sides of the coaster. (If you don't catch all of the batting in your stitching, it should be OK.)  

Trim the corners.  

Then the fun begins! Turn everything inside out.  Be patient.  You'll probably need to poke the corners out.

Obviously this is a different coaster than the other pictures, but you get the idea.  And, voila!

This is a great use for your batting cut-offs and a fun way to use charm squares and scraps.

The Projects from Center Earth

 I can't believe it's been almost a month since my last post (Thanks to those who reached out and said they missed me).  I have been trying to weed out some stuff and all I've accomplished is a bigger mess.

That's my cutting table.  Kinda makes it difficult to get much done in the quilting department!  You may recall that back in October I had a failed start with On the Up and Up, an AP&Q pattern that I had seen on Nann's blog (With Strings Attached).  I had assumed my pre-cut squares were 2-1/2" when, in fact, they were 2-5/8".

So I decided to go back to that baby quilt to jump-start my sewing mojo.  I wasn't too far into the project when I realized I was constructing the blocks incorrectly.  Because the pattern download was in black and white, I had a hard time distinguishing what was supposed to be background squares.  I had to deconstruct the blocks in order to deconstruct strips of three squares.  I let the bits and pieces "mature" on my design wall for a bit.  Maybe a quick and easy project like a jelly roll race would give me satisfaction ...

... NOT!  I finally decided it was time to wrap up the baby quilt and today I have a finished top!

 

Retreating in Kentucky

 I love quilt retreats! 

It's an uninterrupted opportunity to work on larger projects.  We are fortunate when we get together at Loucon Camp and Retreat Center near Leitchfield, Kentucky that we have lots of room to spread out with plenty of tables and great lighting.  But the biggest joy is the inspiration received from other quilters.

I have been pretty productive.  First project was putting a binding on a very large quilt.  Unfortunately, I forgot to take a picture before I put it back in the car.  Next I added side borders to Cursor (I call it Lost) that I finished several years ago.

Sadly, I did not have enough fabric for the top and bottom borders ... so it went back in the box.  I'm hoping I have more at home; otherwise I'll have to consider another option.  Now that I look at it, I think the blue was intended to be the binding because that's how much short I am ... Note to Self:  Leave notes to self!

Then I turned my attention to Shadow of the Bear Paw, started at Quilt Camp in October 2018!

I finished five more very fiddley blocks and decided I was done, at least for the time being.  The pattern includes some uneven log cabin blocks that I'm not thrilled with so I need time to consider how I will set these blocks and/or if I need to make more.  I have made bear paw blocks with the scraps so I may work up a design with the paw blocks as a border.  Stay tuned!

I next brought out a random batik project that had no directions as to what I intended to do.  But while I was digging through my pattern drawer for the Shadow pattern at home, I came across an EQ plan for the batik blocks.  This is the result ...

(Sorry, I cut off the bottom in my photo.)  I will need to do something to stabilize the edges, but it's finally together and I love it!  I still have a box full of the four-patches, though, so look for yet another batik project in my future.

I added borders to Chunky Churn Dash ... it will be donated to Devo encouragement quilts.

Today has been a day of starts and stops ... not much to show yet so I'll wait to report more tomorrow.

Fall Has Fell

 ...to quote some comic character whose name I forget -- probably Pogo.

Remember that maple tree I posted last week on Thursday?  I took that photo right before DH and I left for a quilt study weekend in Shipshewana, Indiana.  This is how it looked when we returned the following Monday.

I have one Knockout Rose that has survived the overnight freezes ...

... and the Beautyberry bush is loaded with berries.

I'm surprised some animal hasn't discovered them.  I've heard one can make jam with them, but I'm afraid to try.

On the quilting front, I'm seriously considering Bonnie's 2023 mystery.  How about you?

I'll be heading to the S'mores November retreat today.  I hope to have lots of progress (and maybe some finishes) to show you.

It's Fall, Y'all

 At least that's what my calendar says.  And the leaves around us attest to that, as well.

But my Christmas cactus apparently didn't get the message.

Actually, I think last year I determined it was a Thanksgiving cactus ...

The Whole World is Asking

 What is Thymely Chicken?

I am happy to provide the answer:

Thymely Chicken

 1 Cup cooked rice
4 Slices bacon
1/4 cup Finely chopped onion
1/4-1/2 tsp Thyme
Bacon drippings
1 Cup (at least) shredded par-boiled or stewed chicken
1 Chicken-flavored bouillon cube
1 packet cream-style chicken Cup-o-Soup
Salt & pepper

 In skillet cook bacon; remove and crumble (save drippings) into rice.   Saute onions in drippings.  Add to rice/bacon + stir.  Add to chicken..  Salt/pepper to taste.  Dissolve bullion and soup in ¾ cup boiling water.  Pour over mixture and stir.  Bake covered at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.