Clamshell Update

I've picked it up again!

Thanks to a few questions from Jan at the latest Prairie Quilt Guild meeting about my clamshell progress, I've started hand piecing it again. The middle diamond block is my latest finish which makes it block #10. I was sure it was block #11 but after a fruitless search in my sewing room for an errant block, I've decided that was wishful thinking!

Here are all the blocks I've finished so far on my design wall. Ten blocks finished, only 8 more full blocks, 10 half blocks and 4 quarter blocks to go. After that there's a narrow sashing to hand stitch between the blocks and finally borders to add.

In other words, this is a long term project. As I see it, I have two choices. Either I can decide to make it a wall hanging instead of a queen size quilt or I can persevere but I may have to take it to the nursing home when I move there! Just kidding, I hope to have it done much sooner.

Other news: I have finished the wolf! He is generating a little bit of a love/hate relationship with everyone who sees him. I'm afraid the sentiment is running to the "spooky" side. Pictures coming soon!

No such thing as just one bunny!

These paper mache Easter bunnies have seen a little wear and tear but I wanted to show them to you because they hold so many happy memories for me!

This is an Easter tradition my family had when I was growing up and even on into our adult years. After the traditional ham dinner and waiting for our moms to do some initial dinner clean up, we cousins were cautioned to stay away from the windows and not to peek while our grandparents and perhaps some of the aunts hid our Easter bunnies. Instead of looking for Easter eggs, we roamed the farm searching for the bunny with our name on it. Each held candy in the basket on their backs and hollow bodies.

There were always one or two of us cousins who couldn't find theirs but after some cryptic hints, we were all happily eating our Easter candy. Then came the fun part for us kids, we got to hide our grandparents' bunnies! Some years we made it easy but other years it was a challenge.

This tradition repeated itself at my parents' house. One year I remember hiding my dad's Easter bunny on top of the basketball goal which took him a really long time to find. The silo, of course, was off limits but that would have been a really good hiding place!

Do you see the silver box in the wheelbarrow? A few nights ago, I went to our church's Ladies' Late Night meeting and this is the craft we made. I'm used to working with fabric so folding my own paper box was new for me. Inside are some tiny cards and envelopes we also made. The silver box represents the words we say to each other and our families - hopefully an encouraging gift!

I'm always looking for new recipes for delicious desserts and snacks so here's what I took as a snack for the Ladies' meeting - Chocolate Dipped Brownies.

Chocolate Dipped Brownies

Bake your favorite recipe of brownies and allow to cool completely.

In fact, it might be better to bake them a day ahead of time.

After they are completely cooled, cut them into small cubes and place them on a wax paper lined cookie sheet. Mine were about one inch square. Freeze for approximately one hour. This is to help the brownie cubes keep its shape and also to minimize crumbs.

Melt chocolate dipping candy using whichever technique you prefer - stovetop or microwave. Using two plastic forks with the middle tines broken out, dip each frozen brownie cube into the melted chocolate completely coating it. Try to shake off any excess chocolate. Place chocolate dipped brownie cubes back on the wax paper lined cookie sheet to dry.

Decorate tops with candies, nuts, chocolate chips, coffee beans or whatever you'd like. You could also swirl melted white chocolate on the top to dress up the brownie cubes even more!

These were really good!

Is it really "finished"?!?

That's what I'm asking myself. Am I sure its really "done"???

It seems like so long ago when I started with this stack of scrap fabrics. I believe it was only back in December but it seems like much, much longer.

This was the beginning of my version of Bonnie Hunter's 2010 mystery quilt, Roll, Roll Cotton Boll! (AKA Peppermint Hot Fudge Brownie Delight and today I feel like I really need one of those even though its chilly out!)

I sure went through a lot of learning experiences working on this quilt. Let's just say that my new seam ripper got a good work out. I remember nearly giving up when I found out shortly before Christmas that the quilt needed 600 HSTs! When I finally had it all pieced together, I didn't think it was big enough for our bed so I added another narrow green border and a brown border too. I was concerned there'd be some shrinkage because of the machine quilting but I don't think it would have been a problem.

Here's the quilt on our extra bed. My bed has a taller mattress so the quilt won't seem quite so large on it. So ... I thought my version of Bonnie Hunter's RRCB was finished. I even made a quilt label for it and hand stitched it on. I should have known that it couldn't have really been over. Unfortunately, the quilt had to go back to the machine quilter for some touch ups. These were done quite quickly and now ...

I'm happy (very) to say that RRCB/AKA Peppermint Hot Fudge Browne Delight is done, done and done! Time to move on to some of my Works In Progress of which there are many.

Giveaway Winner!

Oohhhh, I think I must have made this giveaway question too easy. You all guessed the correct answer - the wolf from Little Red Riding Hood! So, I had my random number generator (my daughter) pick a number and then I matched it to its corresponding comment. Merilyn from Quiltminstrel is the winner of my giveaway! As soon as she sends me her mailing address, I'll put the prize into the mail.

Tomorrow, I hope to start making the wolf. I think it will be a challenge and I hope its recognizable so when people see it, they don't say, "What a nice lion!"

Thanks everyone for entering my giveaway!

PS - I picked up my RRCB quilt (AKA Peppermint Hot Fudge Brownie Delight) from the machine quilter and am getting ready to put the binding on. I'm also in the process of making a machine appliqued quilt block for someone (gift). Unfortunately, I can't tell you much about it because its for someone who reads my blog. I decided to do fusible applique and now need to stitch around the edges. Some of the pieces are less than a 1/2" square! Its been a really, really long time since I've done something that small so I sure hope they turn out nice.

Time for a Giveaway!

Here's what you could win -

4 fat quarters of Isabella by Skipping Stones Studio for Clothworks

plus other goodies which will make their way into the package!

A side note - I found out today that its National American Chocolate week. I've never needed a time frame for an excuse to eat chocolate but I guess this makes it more legitimate! What's a giveaway without chocolate?!?

You might win the prize if you can guess what I'm going to do with this (below) and the corresponding fairy tale:

First off, what is it? This is a coyote form used in taxidermy. Before we go any further, I do want you to know that I'm not taking up taxidermy! I borrowed form #4 from a young man at our church who does taxidermy. I do not plan to keep #4! Bear with me now because this could be a long explanation.

For those of you who have read this blog for awhile, you might remember that I helped coordinate "Covered With Love", a doll and crib quilts show, at the Mennonite Heritage & Agricultural Museum last June. We set up scenes with the doll quilts showing how a little girl might have played with her doll. You can see some of these in the pictures at the end of this post.

This year's quilt show theme is "Once Upon a Wall ... " featuring quilted wallhangings displayed in fairy tale settings. For one of the settings, I will need an animal and I'm going to have to make him because I can't think of an inexpensive way to include him otherwise. Basically what I need from the coyote form is the facial structure and I may have to pad that a little. I'm not going to use the body.

OK here it is, to win the giveaway prize tell me what you think the animal might be and which fairy tale he'll represent! I hope this isn't too hard, just use your imagination! Make your comment on this post only and please be sure I can notify you by e-mail. The giveaway contest will be open until 8 pm CST on Sunday, March 20. I'll draw the winner from the correct responses at that point.

Here are some fairy tales to choose from:

Goldilocks & the Three Bears

Rumplestiltskin

Rapunzel

The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe

Little Red Riding Hood

Cinderella

Jack & the Bean Stalk

Chicken Little

Hansel & Gretel

And a clue:

1. The background fabric under the Isabella fat quarters.

Looking forward to your guesses!

Some scenes from the 2010 "Covered With Love" Doll & Crib Quilts Show at the Mennonite Heritage & Agricultural Museum in Goessel, Kansas. Enjoy!

Back to School!


Washing dolly's clothes


This was the final scene, a doll choir singing Handel's

"Hallelujah Chorus".

National Nap Day, Weirdness & Delicious too

Today's National Nap Day! Did you get one?

It was started back in 1999 and happens every first Monday after Daylight Savings Time begins. I'm sorry to say I don't think I'll get one today. I hardly ever nap because having one seems to make it more difficult for me to sleep at night. However, I do regularly fall asleep on the couch in the evenings. We have two couches. If I sit on the full size one, I can stay awake but not long after I sit down on the loveseat, I'm asleep no matter how much I fight it!

There is some weirdness going on here. Maybe winter has finally gotten to me but every now and then I have to do something weird and now's the time!

Anybody know what this is? In the next few days, I'll be back with news about a GIVEAWAY! Hint: it will be quilting related and don't worry, you won't be winning whatever this is! Kind of doubt that the average quilter would have much use for it and I know the person I borrowed it from wants it back!

This recipe, however, isn't weird, its delicious! I made it today for a function my daughter's going to tonight and thought someone out there might like a new recipe. After 31 years of cooking, I'm always on the look out for something new and easy to make, especially something for company or to take as refreshments. Hope you enjoy this as much as we do!

HOT PEPPER PEACH CHEESEBALL

2-8oz. packages cream cheese, softened
1/3 jar of Hot Pepper Peach Preserves
1 heaping tablespoon chopped onions
1 level tablespoon chopped jalapenos
grated Monterey Jack cheese

Cream together well and chill for about one hour. Form into a ball and roll in Monterey Jack cheese. (I usually omit the cheese, just spoon it into a bowl and call it a dip.)

Keep chilled until ready to use. Serve with your favorite cracker. It can be prepared up to 48 hours prior to serving.

Company coming!

Company's coming and someday spring will too!

The entryway is one of my favorite places to hang a quilt in our house. This wool patch quilt is actually the only known "quilt" to have been made in my family. Unfortunately, we don't know who made it or when. It's probably made from men's suit samples which have been put together randomly. I especially like the different colors of feather stitching around each block.

Our son and daughter-in-law from Florida will be here visiting for a few days so I'm taking a short blogging break. See you soon!