October finishes

   I can't believe the month has flown by.

 Small finishes for the month.  I have enjoyed using this hanging hoop pin cushion on the design wall.  It was from a Friday Finds post....here.
  I need to remember to look for more hoops!

 Plume practice piece was turned into a small candle mat.  The background is strips of leftover neutrals that are always useful.  I was testing the layout and arrangement of the different size plumes before using them for a border on the quilt.








   Plume Crazy was the quilt finish for the month.  Originally begun as a scrap project for the Let's Book It challenge.  Small bricks of scraps were sewn in vertical rows.....a different setting for me.  It was looking a little plain as I got the center to the size I wanted.  And no exciting border fabric jumped out of the stash closet.
  Then I heard about an impending surgery a friend was facing.....and heavenly inspiration came in the shape of lots of plumes.

  Thanks to some loyal readers and their excellent advice, the plumes added the perfect finish to the border.  Not too much, just a colorful delight.
  My friend is healing wrapped in the plumes awaiting the results as to further  treatment.   I told her each plume was a prayer for her healing.



   I ended the day/month flat  on my back side on the sidewalk yesterday.  Yep, I fell.    We stopped for lunch and were walking into the deli.  One second I am facing forward and the next I have the sensation of flying and falling.....and ended up on the sidewalk facing the opposite direction with my head cushioned on my purse!    I am fine....nothing broken, no bruises, no pain....only a very minor scrap on my palm.

  There was a water meter cover in the sidewalk that had sunk down about an inch.  I thought I stepped over it.....but apparently my heel was not on solid ground.   I have replayed it in my head and have no idea how I twisted around and flipped over, and ended up with my purse under my head.   I think the purse actually saved me from a major disaster.   And I thank my guardian angels for gently guiding my fall.

  Or was it a reminder to "fall back"......Sir Old Man says I will have an extra hour to sew tomorrow.....lol.  I think I am just getting back the hour stolen from me last spring.  Now I will spend the next week just getting my body time clock reset.  I need more chocolate!  
Happy stitching.
   

Friday Finds...recipes

   Just to tempt your taste buds, I thought I would switch things up a bit.  Quilters have to eat, too.

 

Amish Cinnamon Bread from Redfly....recipe here.   I have made this one several times and it is good!  I cut the recipe in half when I am in a hurry/ or short on ingredients.    Otherwise, the second loaf freezes well once cooled.  

From Mennonite Girls Can Cook

  I love the recipes I find at Mennonite Girls Can Cook.....here is one for a stuffed pork loin.  I plan on trying this soon---maybe without the sauce, as I picked up a pork loin on sale this week.

Be sure to check out their recipe index while there.....so many things.   If you make cinnamon buns, they have an excellent recipe.  So good!

I mentioned I made apple bread last week and the house smelled wonderful.  I forgot to take photos before putting/ hiding them in the freezer.  Sir Old Man can devour a whole loaf in a day!   But I thought I would share the recipe.  Be forewarned, it takes a while to put together and an hour or so to bake (depending on the size pan you use).    The original recipe I found is from 1982 Southern Living cookbook.....Fresh Apples Loaf----we just call it Apple Bread!

4 cups peeled, grated apples

1/2 cup raisins

1 cup sugar

1 cup of brown sugar

•  Peel apples.......I like Red Rome apples.  Once peeled, I give them a dunk in a  lemon  and water bath----about 4 C water with 2-3 tablespoons of lemon  juice until ready to grate.  It keeps them from turning brown.
• Grate the apples.   I use a large food processor to speed up the process and save  my fingers. 
• Place grated apples, raisins, and sugar in large bowl.  Stir and allow to sit about an hour for the juices to run.

3 C of all purpose flour

2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon cloves

1 teaspoon cinnamon

• Sift all dry ingredients together.

2 eggs

1 cup butter.....2 sticks, melted

2 teaspoon vanilla

•   Once the juices have run from the grated apples, add the dry ingredients.  Mix well.  
• Add vanilla, butter and eggs.  Mix well.

Grease 2 loaf pans----9'' by 5''.   Spoon the batter into the pan and bake in preheated oven at 325 degrees for 1 hour and 15 minutes.  

  

If I make smaller size loaves, I  check to see if done at 45 minutes for the mini loaf pans, and at 1 hour for the mid-size loaf pan.   I use a long wooden skewer to check to see if done....as this recipe is dense and moist.  I like Red Rome apples, and I use a food processor for the grating to speed up the process.

As always, please visit the sites for pinning.

   It's errand day and my list is calling.  I added "candy" to the list, just in case a couple of costumed goblins show up.   If not, the resident mischief maker will have some sweets to snack on.  She loves candy corn  :)
Happy stitching.

Let's Book It.....still working on it

   End of the month means an update on the current Let's Book It project.  Mine is a Birds in the Air project done in blues, greens, and purple scraps.  I added a few more small block units to what was on the design wall.

  These are small units....only 4'' when finished.  I have more of the larger HST units, and need about 10 more smaller ones  to get a small throw size.  So this one will continue for another month.  I haven't played with the layout much to get a balance.....that will come eventually.




The Let's Book It project  at Vrooman's Quilts has been a big motivation  for the last two years.  I was encouraged to dig out some books and printed patterns.  All I had to do was start them......and of course once started I could carry on to the finish.  It was great to get a few designs scratched off the "I want to do this one" list.  

   Some projects followed the pattern exactly, and others were adapted to smaller finishes or changed up a bit.   I pulled together a few of my favorite ones from the last 2 years in this collage.  
  Plume Crazy got the border added to a simple brick scrap quilt.
  Charming Bricks became a table topper as well as a wall hanging.
  Tripping thru the Flowers was my version of the scrappy trips pattern ala Bonnie Hunter.
   Where My Feet May Fall is the English Garden pattern from an old publication.  It's a twisted log cabin block with blended floral border.
   A Nickel Saved is a slashed charm square pattern.
   Catching the Light is a bargello  wall hanging done in floral fabrics.

I might not have ever started a couple of these without the nudge from the Let's Book It challenge......so a huge, big thank you to Sharon at Vrooman's Quilts for giving me a reason to start.
Happy stitching.

From the workshop

     Remember the bed?
   Unfinished wood laid out awaiting the finishing.  Then the problems with the finishing during the summer months, and Sir Old Man had to sand it all down again.









We have finish on all the pieces.....now comes the assembly!

I only wish you could run your hand over this wood.  It feels like satin.....and smooth as glass.

   This photo is truer to the warm rich color of the wood now.

  Each slat in the head board and foot board has to be fitted into position.  They will be free floating---not glued down---to allow for expansion due to humidity.  Sir Old Man will be gently tamping them into their appointed spots today.  I tried fitting a couple of them.....not exactly easy as you would think.  Things must be aligned just right for each one to slip into place.

   There are top pieces that will be added to each section.  Once they are added, we are looking at the home stretch.  Only the side rails remain to be have one more sanding!


  Can you tell I am excited?  Now, if I can remember where I stored the Buzz Saw quilt for this new bed....lol.

Now off to make saw dust/scraps!
Happy stitching.

Orange Peel ----some details

 I am working one the Orange Peel blocks in an off and on  tempo.  The steps get tedious, so I am just working a few at a time.   Here are 4 I completed.....all light value.  Along the way in this process, I realized I was doing a couple of things that I had not mentioned in my previous post.

  Thus for the record, here are some details.

• Trace pattern on to the fusible interfacing onto the non-bumpy side.  
• My fabric is cut into hunks....not cut out by pattern.  The interfacing is placed bumpy side down onto the right side of the fabric. 
• Stitch completely around the drawn pattern.  Use a very tiney stitch length....I am using a 1.8 length.
• Trim away the excess.  I am leaving about 1/4 seam allowance on the sides/curves.  At the point I am trimming very close....1/8'' probably.  
• Cut slit in the interfacing for turning.  Carefully turn right side out.
• Smooth the side curves with finger or  "the purple thing" tool---my choice.  Gently poke out the ends with the tip of the tool.  I found that if I carefully kept the purple tool  against the fabric (not the interfacing) I could nudge it out better.  Note here:  You might have to use a pin at the point to get it pulled out.
• Turn the peel over and finger press....or use the wood clapper to flatten!
• Fuse peel to background and stitch in place.

  I did a finger press to establish the diagonal line on the background fabric ---4 1/2" squares--- before fusing the peel in place.   I am using a buttonhole stitch with a deeper bite/wider width and a shorter stitch length than the factory settings.  My width is 2.5 and length is 3.5.  Slow sewing, especially at the tips!




Sir Old Man has been in the workshop for a whole week.....and I have been summoned for a preview.  It's windy and raining and cold......off to grab a jacket and galoshes....lol.  Got to see what is happening there.  Then I will get the soup on for dinner tonight.   And I will add a couple of slices of bacon for flavor, no matter what the world powers think!   :)  Happy stitching. 

The other project

 Birds in the Air units of triangles are beginning to stack up.   They are triangle units for that other project I am working on...since June/July.  Here's the post where I began.  I haven't been working on them steadily.....just when I want to switch up  my stitching.
Sew some triangles, square up, press, and then assemble smaller units.

  This morning I noticed a few had taken wing and flown up to the design wall.   Lol......very random nesting layout.  Looks like I need to sew up some more smaller units.  So I won't make any judgement calls just yet.

  I am using purples, and greens, and blues....just to see how it goes. I needed to free up some space in the small piece bins.  Anything in that color range that was large enough got chopped into 5'' and 3'' squares for the units.
 
Otherwise, I was very lazy today.....I am blaming the weather change on that.  Not to mention the major event that occurs next weekend.  You know the one that happens twice a year and throws my mind for a loop.....spring forward, or fall back.   Maybe I will don a bear costume and sleep 6 months.  Or else I will hibernate in the sewing room.  Come to think of it, that sounds like a great idea.  
  Happy stitching.  

Friday finds October

From Accuquilt

    Need a catchall basket?  This cute pattern is from Accuquilt.  Here's the link to the free pattern.   Of course, they give the instructions for using the cutter to make the fabric strips......but we have plenty of leftovers to sew together.  Right?  This version gives 2 sizes and a little different way to put them together.  I am debating on making a few to hold a loaf and bread and mug rug for Christmas gifts.   Or someone cold give me one stuffed to the brim with fabric.....I would not mind  :)

From EQ Stitch

  Guess you recognize those plumes?  From EQ Stitch blog comes a lesson on drawing your own plumes.   So they shared an idea on how to use them to create a Christmas tree which can be used for applique along with a tutorial.  This would be cute on a table runner, tote bag,  or apron. 

   An owl for applique.....just in time for a seasonal banner maybe.   I won't get to it this year....maybe next :)
Here's the link to my saved image.......I can't remember where I found it.   If it is yours....please claim it and I will update post.  You will need to save it to your computer and then print for use.

As always, please visit the original source if you can for pinning.

  I am elbow deep in apples.  That means it is time to make apple bread and stock up the freezer.  I am making a double batch of loaves so I can have enough for gift giving.  The house smells so good.  Maybe I can squeeze in a little sewing before I collapse.   Happy stitching.