Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Work In Progress Wednesday: November 30, 2011

Nothing like a long holiday weekend for sewing! I didn’t realize how much I had accomplished until I sat done to write this post.

Check out Freshly Pieced for more WIP Wednesday goodness.

Current Projects

2011 Memory Quilt: One more block complete, representing Christmas Gift #2.


2012 Memory Quilt: One more block complete, representing Blueberry Pie.

Blueberry Pie: I am using Blueberry Pie as my leader/ender project, so the piecing of the back is slow going.

Christmas Gift #2: I was able to baste and machine quilt this table runner in under two hours! I can see why machine quilting is so popular!

Christmas Gift #3: The top is finished and now I need to baste it.

Color Book: I pulled this out and started piecing the front cover. I need to finalize my plan for the embroidery before I can move forward.

Finished Tops Currently Being Hand Quilted
Unblogable #1

Finished Tops Currently Being Machine Quilted
Kaleidoscope Quilt Along

Finished Tops Awaiting Quilting
Between the Lines/Paris Cats
Scrappy Green Quilt (aka Unblogable #5)
Unblogable #2
Warm Cool Quilt Along

On Hold
Call Me Crazy
Christmas Gift Bags
Scrappy Nine-Patch {12/70 blocks complete}
Valentine’s Day Half-Square Triangles

Stats
New projects: 1
Completed projects: 1
Total projects: 15

WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

WIP Wednesday: November 23, 2011

This last week has been crazy, but I still managed to make some headway on my Works in Progress.

Check out Freshly Pieced for more WIP Wednesday goodness.

Also, check out the Tuesday at the {Thanksgiving} Table linky party and giveaway at A Quilter’s Table.


Current Projects

2012 Memory Quilt: After finishing the blocks for Call Me Crazy last week, I had a lot of trimmings left over. I sewed them together to make the first block for my 2012 Memory Quilt, since I’m pretty sure that I won’t be finishing Call Me Crazy this year. It still needs sashing, backing and binding.


Blueberry Pie: Piecing a backing out of scraps might not be the quickest way to back a quilt, but I am really enjoying it. The scraps I’m using keep getting smaller and I just keep piecing them together until I have something big enough to work into the design. It’s rather addictive.


Christmas Gift #2: I finished piecing the top and finalized my machine quilting plan.

Finished Tops Currently Being Hand Quilted
Unblogable #1

Finished Tops Currently Being Machine Quilted
Kaleidoscope Quilt Along

Finished Tops Awaiting Quilting
Between the Lines/Paris Cats
Scrappy Green Quilt (aka Unblogable #5)
Unblogable #2
Warm Cool Quilt Along

On Hold
2011 Memory Quilt
Call Me Crazy
Color Book
Christmas Gift Bags
Scrappy Nine-Patch {12/70 blocks complete}
Valentine’s Day Half-Square Triangles

Stats
New projects: 1
Completed projects: 0
Total projects: 15
WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Tuesday at the Table: Tortellini Soup of Thankfulness

I am thankful for many things, but I am especially thankful for the strong relationship I have with my loving, supportive parents. Even though I am a grown woman with a child of my own, they are still an enormous source of comfort and strength. One recipe that reminds me of their love and care is Tortellini Soup. One day, when I was in need of moral support, my parents invited me over for a meal. My mom made Italian White Bean, Pancetta, and Tortellini Soup from Everyday Pasta, by Giada De Laurentiis. It was exactly what I needed: warm, filling and healthier than eating Ben & Jerry’s straight from the carton. Later at home, I tweaked the recipe to make it a bit faster and easier. I also found that it freezes well and I do love to freeze food for later. This soup is now one of my stand-bys. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.


Tortellini Soup of Thankfulness
Serves six to eight

Ingredients:
A bit of olive oil
A package of pancetta or prosciutto, chopped
Two or three shallots, chopped
One bag shredded carrot
A spoonful of jarred, minced garlic
One 15 ounce can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
Four cups or so of bagged baby spinach
Six cups of Swanson’s chicken broth
One small package of cheese tortellini

Directions:
After getting out all the ingredients and chopping the pancetta and shallots, heat the olive oil in a big pot over medium heat. Toss in the meat, shallots, carrots and garlic and cook for five minutes. Stir as needed. Add the beans, spinach and broth and bring to a boil. Add the tortellini and cook until done, about five minutes. Salt to taste.

Linking up to my mom’s Tuesday at the {Thanksgiving} Table linky party and giveaway.

Friday, November 18, 2011

Flashback Friday #13: Flying Goslings Baby Quilt


When I buy fabric for a pattern, I tend to round up. If the pattern calls for 1/3 of a yard, I buy 1/4 of a yard. When I finished my first Flying Geese Baby Quilt, I realized that I just needed to buy new sashing and backing fabric in order to make another one. I started it with a specific baby in mind, but then there was a baby explosion in my social circle, and suddenly there were too many babies and not enough time to make them all quilts.



Without a recipient in mind, I dawdled. The top went together quickly, as advertised, but the hand-quilting took time. I finally found the motivation to finish this baby quilt when I learned I was pregnant. Since I had been working on this quilt for almost four years, it made sense that it would be for my own child. This baby quilt was started sometime in 2006 and finished July 2010, a few months before the birth of my daughter.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

WIP Wednesday: November 16, 2011

I’m still plugging along at existing WIPs and started a new project for Christmas this past week. I need to pick up the pace if I’m going to finish all the gifts I want to on time.

Check out Freshly Pieced for more WIP Wednesday goodness.

Current Projects
2011 Memory Quilt: This block represents the Christmas gift I finished last week. I still need to go back and make a few blocks for previously completed quilts.


Blueberry Pie: Still working on piecing the back.


Call Me Crazy {42/42 blocks complete}: All the blocks for this quilt are complete! I need to buy sashing and backing fabric, so I am putting this quilt away until after Christmas.


Christmas Gift #2: This week I started working on the second hand-made Christmas gift on my list.

Finished Tops Currently Being Hand Quilted
Unblogable #1

Finished Tops Currently Being Machine Quilted
Kaleidoscope Quilt Along

Finished Tops Awaiting Quilting
Between the Lines/Paris Cats
Scrappy Green Quilt (aka Unblogable #5)
Unblogable #2
Warm Cool Quilt Along

On Hold
Color Book
Christmas Gift Bags
Scrappy Nine-Patch {12/70 blocks complete}
Valentine’s Day Half-Square Triangles

Stats
New projects: 1
Completed projects: 0
Total projects: 14

WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Saturday Sweetness: Apple Pie Mulled Cider


Last week, I made a mulled cider recipe that I found online. I received a lot of compliments on it, but it wasn’t to my taste. Mulled cider was on my mind for days afterwards, so I concocted a recipe of my own and made it today. I like it a lot better. Here’s my recipe:

Apple Pie Mulled Cider

Ingredients:
1 gallon (16 cups) apple cider or apple juice
4 cinnamon sticks
2 vanilla beans
2 oranges

Directions:
Get out your crock pot or slow cooker and place it where you want to serve the cider. Toss in the cinnamon sticks. Split the vanilla beans and scrape out the seeds. Add vanilla beans and seeds to the crock pot. Juice and zest the oranges and add to the crock pot. Pour the apple cider over the yumminess already in the crock pot and give it a good stir. Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours. Grab your strainer and take out the cinnamon sticks, vanilla bean pods and some of the zest.  Enjoy!

Note: The backdrop of the picture above is a table runner given to me by Debbie of A Quilter’s Table. Check out her Tuesday at the Table link-ups for more yummy recipes.

Friday, November 11, 2011

Flashback Friday #12: Queen B


What do you give the couple that has it all? A hand-made quilt, of course! When one of my husband’s best friends announced his upcoming wedding, my husband requested that I sew a queen-size quilt for the happy couple. I was hesitant to commit to such a large project, since the last large quilt I had made took me four years to complete. My husband promised he would help me, so I agreed. I selected a few “easy” patterns that I would be willing to make, and he picked out the one he liked best (Happy Medium from Quilts & More, Summer 2009). He also took me to my favorite quilt store and helped me pick out the fabrics. While I did all of the sewing, my husband took care of the bulk of the cutting and pressing. I could not have completed this quilt without his help. Once the top was complete, I sent it off to Girton Creations to be professionally quilted. Darlene quilted it in a lovely pattern, reminiscent of champagne bubbles. This quilt was started in September of 2009 and finished in July of 2010. I’m happy with how it turned out, but am disinclined to make such a large quilt any time soon.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

WIP Wednesday: November 9, 2011

This past week, I concentrated on finishing Christmas Gift #1. I’m very happy with it, but I have so many more I want to make. I better sew faster!

Check out Freshly Pieced for more WIP Wednesday goodness.

Current Projects
Blueberry Pie: I’m trying to use as many scraps as possible for the back of this quilt. I’ve made progress, but it’s slow going.

Call Me Crazy {38/42 blocks complete}: Two more blocks down, four blocks to go!

Christmas Gift #1: This week I finished my first handmade Christmas gift for this year, which was very satisfying. The reveal will have to wait until after Christmas.


Christmas Gift Bags: Progress is slow, but I’m almost done with two bags.

Finished Tops Currently Being Hand Quilted
Unblogable #1

Finished Tops Currently Being Machine Quilted
Kaleidoscope Quilt Along

Finished Tops Awaiting Quilting
Between the Lines/Paris Cats
Scrappy Green Quilt (aka Unblogable #5)
Unblogable #2
Warm Cool Quilt Along

On Hold
2011 Memory Quilt
Color Book
Scrappy Nine-Patch {12/70 blocks complete}
Valentine’s Day Half-Square Triangles

Stats
New projects: 0
Completed projects: 1
Total projects: 13

WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Saturday Sweetness: Chocolate Candy Corn Cupcakes

Do you ever get an idea in your head that won’t let you rest until you see it through? I had an idea like that this October: candy corn flavored cupcakes. Over and over I see recipes for “Candy Corn Cupcakes” that are for cupcakes that look like candy corn, but don’t taste like candy corn. Since I couldn’t find a recipe for what I wanted to make, I made one up. A little part of my brain pointed out that if there wasn’t a recipe for Candy Corn Cupcakes yet, there was probably a good reason, but I ignored it.

The first thing I did was make candy corn infused vodka, which was the closest thing to candy corn extract that I could think of. I threw a bunch of candy corn in a jar, covered it with vanilla vodka, and then stuck it in the pantry for the better part of the day. Once most of the candy corn was dissolved, I added a couple teaspoons to the frosting (I used i am baker’s buttercream recipe). Unfortunately, the vodka made the frosting rather flat and sad-looking. It tasted good, but not enough like candy corn. If I ever try this again, I will use more candy corn and less vodka. I’ll also let it sit longer.

In addition to the “candy corn extract,” I added half a dozen candy corns to each baking cup before filling them with chocolate cake batter. Predictably, they melted when baked. In some cases, when the melted candy corn cooled, it made a nice chewy layer at the bottom of the cupcake. In other cases, they just stuck to the baking cup. Next time, I might add them near the end of the baking time, so that they retain more of their candy corn shape.

My Chocolate Candy Corn Cupcakes were yummy, but they didn’t have the strong candy corn flavor that I was looking for. Guess I’ll have to try again next October.

UPDATE: Linking up to Tuesday at the Table at A Quilter's Table. Head on over there for one of my all-time favorite soups recipes!

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

WIP Wednesday: November 2, 2011

I should have named this blog “Sewing When I Should Be Sleeping,” because that’s what I’ve been doing lately. I may be tired, but at least I’m making progress!

Check out Freshly Pieced for more WIP Wednesday goodness.

Current Projects


Blueberry Pie: I finished this quilt top! I am very happy with how it turned out. Now I’m piecing the backing.



Call Me Crazy {36/42 blocks complete}: The blocks for this quilt are nearly done! Usually I get bored with piecing blocks before I finish a top, but not this time.


Christmas Gift #1: Due to a bout of insomnia, I was able to machine quilt this already. Just need to add the binding and I’ll have one Christmas present done!


Christmas Gift Bags: Ten gift bags are in various stages of completion. I’m going to keep making gift bags until either it’s Christmas, or I run out of Christmas fabric.

Finished Tops Currently Being Hand Quilted
Unblogable #1

Finished Tops Currently Being Machine Quilted
Kaleidoscope Quilt Along

Finished Tops Awaiting Quilting
Between the Lines/Paris Cats
Scrappy Green Quilt (aka Unblogable #5)
Unblogable #2
Warm Cool Quilt Along

On Hold
2011 Memory Quilt
Color Book
Scrappy Nine-Patch {12/70 blocks complete}
Valentine’s Day Half-Square Triangles

Stats
New projects: 0
Completed projects: 0
Total projects: 14

WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Tuesday at the Table: Butternut Squash-Leek Soup

I always enjoy the time of year when the air starts to chill and the leaves begin to turn. It means the return of sweaters, scarves, and most importantly, soups! I love to make a big batch of soup during the weekend, freeze it, and then reheat a bowl for my workday lunches. I found the following recipe in the Cooking Light: Annual Recipes 2007 cookbook and tweaked it a bit. It is the perfect thing to prepare on a lazy weekend morning: quick, easy and yummy. Also, it’s freezable, so you can reheat it another day and transform cooking time into sewing time!

Butternut Squash-Leek Soup
Makes six cups of soup

Ingredients:
1 whole garlic head
4 teaspoons olive oil
6 cups thinly sliced leek (about 4 leeks)
4 cups cubed peeled butternut squash (about 2 packages frozen butternut squash)
2 cups water
2 cups chicken broth
1 teaspoon salt

Directions:

1.       Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and then make your small child breakfast. While she eats (and feeds half of it to the dog), remove the outer papery skin from a head of garlic, plop it on a square of aluminum foil and drizzle it with olive oil. Wrap the garlic up in the aluminum foil and pop it in the preheated oven. Set the timer for one hour, ten minutes.

2.       Play with your small child and marvel at how quickly an hour and ten minutes goes by. Remove the garlic from the oven and set aside.  Turn off the oven and return to caring for your small child.

6 cups sliced leeks

3.       While your small child naps, wash and slice four leeks. Put the leeks and olive oil in a pot and cook over medium-high heat until tender (five minutes or so).

Frozen Butternut Squash

4.    While the leeks are cooking, smush the roasted garlic out of its skin. Add the garlic, squash, water, chicken broth and salt to the pot. Cover and wash dishes until the soup boils.

5.       Once the soup is boiling, reduce the heats and simmer 10 minutes or so until the squash is nice and soft. Let cool a bit while you finish the dishes. Purée using an immersion hand blender. Pour into six freezer-safe containers and pop into the fridge to enjoy at your leisure.

Immersion Blender in Action

6.       Sew until your small child wakes up from her nap.

Stop by A Quilter’s Table to find more Tuesday at the Table posts!