still quilting

A couple finishes from last week and the week before. Both are from leftover pieces from quilts made over the summer.










Quilting really took a back seat to photography this summer. But I'm glad to say with the holidays approaching the sewing/quilting has resumed. Right now I'm doing a couple of wall hanging using Bonnie Hunter's star struck pattern. One is being hand quilted and one is in pieces- hoping to be a filmsy tonight. Also doing a paper pieced pineapple table runner for me.

really- I do quilt

I've been terribly busy with photography and trying to find a job all summer.

In June the state of NJ allowed the Civil Union of same sex marriages. My sister and her partner signed up the first day. SO all summer I've been working on this quilt. Their colors are black and white.




It was "supposed" to have a piano key border too but in following the directions in the book - or at least as I understood them I got a center 8x9 instead of 7x8. If I had put the piano key border on it would have been too big for my frame so......

There are a bunch of good pics on my photography blog- or on my facebook page for those that do the facebook thing :)

I also had a few friends pass away this summer from different kinds of cancers- some got quilts -some just went too quickly ( like in 6 weeks from diagnosis) seriously- it's all too quickly

Been Quilting - just not blogging

Todd's Quilt finished and in transit






Kerry and Lew's Quilt- finished and delivered







Rob's Quilt- finished and delivered




What I'm working on:

I forgot

I forgot this little lap quilt I made my 90 y/o grandmother for her bday. Now she wants matching pillows too.......

Some finishes

It's been almost a month since I posted last- such a bad blogger I know :( But I can honestly say it's because I've been busy actually sewing and quilting.

I didn't think I'd have so many quilts finished with hubby out of work still- scrimping and saving for backing fabrics and batting but much to my sheer amazement- the batting fairy visited me last week. I kid you not- a 40 yard roll of warm and natural was delivered to my house- no names on the paperwork except mine- THANK YOU BATTING FAIRY

My friend Maureen is starting chemo today. I made her a quilt to take with her. Poor thing broke her hip jumping down off the PET Scan table last week. If you could all keep her in your prayers. Finish #12






I had a request from a little friend for a quilt. Seems I made one for her brother when he was born but I didn't know the family when she was born. Tinkerbell fabric has been sitting here since I worked at Joann's many moons ago - but I can happily say it's all gone now :) Finish #11





and I finished both wall hangings- I hand quilted mine in baptist fans and machine quilted one for my aunt. She liked the design so much when I was making them. Things you do when we lost cabe/internet and landline phones during the last Noreaster.


finish 9 and 10
On a sad note- we had to put down DD's cat , Cyd Vicious down yesterday. She was 16 y/o and we had her for just over 11 of them. She developed a huge tumor that she would lick till it bleed and I didn't want her to be out somewhere and it burst and we'd never know what happened. The vet set she had tumors throughout her insides too. RIP my friend- we will miss you.

just a couple quick pics

To prove I'm realy a quilter .................
DD's finished quilt- only 8 months late as a graduation present. Finish #6





A birthday present for one of DD's friends. Never saw a person get so excited to get a quilt -lol Finish #7

Still Sewing

I finally finished the top for DD's quilt I've owed her since June for graduation...another Pineapple Blossom



I made this lap quilt for my mom <3 with the bonus hsts......finish #4




And because I was bored and saw a cute template to cut wind mills from nickles of fabric I finally quilted this one today. Finish #5

Still Sewing

Been working on hand quilting one of the Star Struck wall hangings while I watch tv- it's not done yet so you can see how much tv I watch- but it is over half done YEAH!





I also promised my lovely daughter a quilt for graduation from beauty school last June well with the packing and unpacking and the crap that went on with hubby losing his job I did next to no sewing for months. Well making the baby quilt renewed my quilting spirit. So I started her quilt. I'm almost done with the blocks- My mom also asked for a small lap quilt about 4' x 4' so with the bonus hsts I'm making her top at the same time.....been pretty snowy the last week or so here in NJ perfect for staying and sewing.

A second month- A second finish

I did manange to quilt and bind the quilt for a friend in time for Sunday's Superbowl party. How about those Saints?






and a third finish *VBS*


I cut pieces for another quilt this morning and have started the sewing of blocks. Working on my hand quilting one of the wall hangings....it's good to be sewing.

What's on your Design wall?

Bonnie Hunter came to our guild almost 2 years ago.I blogged about it here. We had such fun at dinner and I took the Star Struck workshop the next day. Unfortunatly it was the first beautiful spring day and I spent a lot of time goofing off on my cell outside :( . My friend Katie cut a million strips for me to use in the class and I got 3 blocks done. I wanted to sew this week I had grand plans of making blocks for a love quilt- though my son stepped on my 24" ruler snapping it in few places.Big ox he is. So I looked through some boxes for something to do that didn't need length or width wise cuts of fabrics and lo and behold there was the Star Struck stuff. So for about 45 minutes to an hour a day I've been sewing parts and blocks. Both pieces are the same size for wall hangings. My aunt visited yesterday and she loved the blocks - hense 2 wall hangings. But I probably have enough for a third...we shall see.
Friday I need to take Dad to the hospital for tests- we could be there hours I was told so I plan on marking at least one with baptist fans and basting it for hand stitching....have another group of blocks that needs to be quilted hopefully by game time on Sunday for a gift. If not a week from Thursday is soon enough.....so what is everyone else working on these days?????

Baby Quilt- First finish of 2010

I was still sewing binding on Friday night but never fear it was finished in time for the shower on Sunday.....





She loved it <3

Actually sewing a quilt....alert the news

Can you believe it? I'm actually sewing and getting ready to quilt something. After not even having the machine uncovered for almost 7 weeks- I remembered I needed a baby shower gift for THIS Sunday.....so I spent yesterday making the blocks and today making the rows....tomorrow I will layer-baste and quilt it. Using black binding.....nothing like waiting till the last moment. But I'll tell you what- my back hasn't hurt in 7 weeks and for the last 2 days it felt like any wrong movement it would give out on me....wonder why that is. I get up every 20 minutes or less to press and do something else....

Jalpaneo Jelly

Either the week before Christmas and New Year's or the first week of Jan I wanted to make a jelly to go with a great phyllo recipe I saw in a mgazine- it called for a hot pepper jelly...so I scoped out the canning books- who knew I'd have almost as many canning/preserving books as bread books within a year of starting....any how, I came across a jalapeno jelly and decided to make it....it came out so yummy.







Almost too pretty to eat........






But never fear- I have a baby shower on Sunday for a family member that I need a quilt for - so I'm breaking out the machine and see if it still likes me after being turned off since before Christmas.....

Tigress's Can Jam Citrus Challenge

Earlier in the month I was reading Oh Yes I Can's blog entry on Lemon Curd- found here. I almost forgot to make this month's challenge for Tigress's Can Jam...that would be bad to miss the first month.

So this morning I decided to make it but I had no lemons *insert sad face* . But I had oranges and orange juice *insert happy face* so with a few changes, I made orange curd- which was very yummy indead-especially since we had leftover scones from breakfast yesterday morning.

So the recipe I used is as follows

Orange Curd
3 large eggs
1/3 c orange juice
3/4c sugar
1TBS orange zest ( I used 2 oranges)
4 TBS unsalted butter ( I used salted because that's all I had)

Sterilize 3 4oz jelly jars and lids.

Mix eggs- oj and sugar together in a double boiler over simmering water
stirring constantly until thickened- 6-10 minutes. Remove from heat and add zest and butter. Stir until butter is melted. I didn't strain it as I wanted to keep the pretty pieces of zest.

Pour into 3 4oz jelly jars- process 15 minutes -

What didn't fit in the jars was enjoyed with the leftover scones

Cooking Challenges

Ok I'm completely crazy now :) it's true...
I joined in on a canning challenge at Tigress's blogThis month's challenge is citrus....since all the marmalade went into the baskets and for gifts I'm trying to decide what kind to make.

Of course nothing is as good as lemon curd with goodies at tea time and Denise at Yes I Can has posted a recipe she found and tried. I HAVE TO make this.

Spaghetti sauce is cooling- chili is simmering as is the stock/rice and veggies for chicken soup. I'll take some out for lovely Veggie Girl aka DD. Chicken stock is as far as she'll go in the soup. Once hers is taken out I'll add the chicken and finish the soup.

Does anyone have a kitchenaide mixer that also has and uses the ice cream maker for it? My handsome son wants to learn to make ice cream this year. So I was thinking of getting the attachment. But I was also looking at this: Wish I had one today for ice cream to go with the pie....good thing DD, friend and I are hitting the gym tonight *WINK*

Still here just not quilting

Remember all that canning I did of jellies - salsas etc? Add some holiday baking and candy making and you get these :





Here's one I sent to my best friend's house.





Isn't this the sweetest Santa? Aunt Kathy stitched it a couple of years ago and I got it for Christmas this year :)






And can you imagine having so many blue ribbons that you didn't want the one that went with the project? Well I got the blue ribbon she won with the stitchery...




Lately I've been more in a cooking mood than a sewing mood. Though in my defense, I did finish another row of the tumbling block top ...I think I under estimated the size and will have to add rows to both the top and bottom :(

Today though is serious cooking day....spaghetti sauce is simmering away- apple pie in the oven, chicken stock in the freezer for the fat to freeze for easy removal for chicken soup. Biscuts will be made and meatballs for the sauce. Then I need to turn the kitchen (and the dishes) to hubby to make his venison chili - yummy.

Tomorrow I plan on making 2 kinds of jelly- apple pie and jalapeno- not together but both sound wonderful....I bet the jelly would go great in those little brie bites in phyllo we made last week- hmmmm...wonder if I have any more brie in the fridge????