I hope all of you out there in “blogland” have a happy new year and continue to post in the new year. I have enjoyed reading so many blogs out there, I don’t have them all included in my side bar. One day I need to update that list. We normally stay home on New Years Eve and just have our normal routine plus maybe stay up late to watch the ball drop on Times Square on the tv. If I stay up late I will get more sewing done while the tv is on.
Yesterday I finished a Dear Jane block for the “Insanity Revisited” quilt. I haven’t mentioned it much lately I know but I am trying to not forget it and keep doing a block or two a week (sometimes). The latest:
This is block 8 from Row 9. I am in the process of cutting out pieces for the next block - all 41 pieces of it! Some of these are tiny pieces. I save a lot of the scraps from these fabrics as I am cutting if they are bigger than an inch squre they are normally saved. Well for block 10 almost half of the pieces were cut from those tiny scraps!
Several have asked what size quilt the scrappy quilt will be that I am making circles and 4 patches for. Right now I intend to make it a queen size. The blocks are 3 1/2 inch so I need a lot of them. I don’t have the figures in front of me but I think I need 315 of circles and 315 4 patches. I haven’t figured the size of the border so it might turn out that when I get the amount of patches done that I stated ( and circles) that I will need to make more, but right now I think that is the correct number.
Again Happy New Year and thanks for stopping by.
Today has been one of those days where I did get some things accomplished but I also feel like I have spent too much time sitting at the computer!! With the new camera that I got for Christmas a program for the computer was included which lets you deal with your photos in a different way. You can take panorama shots and stitch them together on the computer making say 4 shots of the lake into one photo. First I had problems installing and ended up doing it all over again – then to figure out how to use it!! I can type, do email, do my blog ect., but I haven’t any idea how most programs work 
I tried this one but will need Mike to help me understand how to use it better.)
this is 4 photos of the lake "stitched" together in to one photo. It really didn't turn out right as part of the railing in this photo is curved and it isn't! Also you can see streaks of dark color where the photo's are stitched together - not bad for a first try I guess. This will need some work 
Now other than wandering out to the lake to take these photos I first went to the fitness center and got in some exercise which I needed after eating too many Christmas cookies recently Before going to the fitness center I did get out my four patches and got to work.
a string of 50 4 patches put together
a box of 4 patches (100 of them) 50 more are waiting on the cutting table for squaring up, some are done more are waiting in line. The empty box from the 12 pack of Ramen noodles came in very handy - I needed a place to store these until I use them - I think this box will handle 315 or whatever that number was pretty well.
more strips waiting to be put together.
I do find that putting the camera on the setting for close ups of flowers ect. works great for close ups of fabric. The color is really clear and these photos aren’t as out of focus as some of my old ones with the old camera. I will have to keep practicing on that.
I usually have something to talk about – not today I guess. I can’t think of anything to write! Writer’s block? Or do you call it “Blogger’s block”?
I am working on the same things, appliqueing circles – up to about 80 complete. I have 100 4-patches done and set aside. I have the front and back of the sweater complete and almost done with the first sleeve. I worked on the Christmas quilt this morning and completed the stretch that I could reach and had to roll it several times so it is ready to start of a new stretch of work. It is progressing — but slowly. It is probably time for me to get all the batting out that I have and see if I can baste enough to use for the Baltimore Bliss quilt which has been sitting patiently aside waiting for me to get to it. I want to use up as much of my scrap batting as I can before I buy more. I have a feeling I have enough here to do one more quilt at least.
I am coming up to #500 post soon and when it gets there by the middle of January? I will have a give away. I will start to go through things and decide what to give and announce it then. Keep watching.
I’ll get my new camera out tomorrow and take some photo’s – I really need to practice and see what all is on this menu.
I was asked by several how I am making my circles to applique for the scrappy quilt that I am working on. Instead of explaining – pictures are much better! Of course I am using my new camera that Mike got me for Christmas. I didn’t realize I had the date/time stamp in the bottom corner – I have turned it off but it is there in these photos.
step one - take one of the sampler squares from the Moda Box - or if you don't have that use a 2 1/2 inch square, using a 2 inch round circle from my Mylar collection of circles draw around it in pencil.
I like to have plenty of room to work with so I cut about an 1/8 of on inch on the other side of the drawn line.
using strong thread on the right side of fabric sew a basting circle - size of stitch does not matter
next, use the size circle that you are supposed to for the circles - I think this one was 1 3/4 inches - place it in the middle of the circle
put your finger in the middle of the circle to hold it still. Using your other hand pull the thread tightly to bring it up tight against the Mylar plastic
use a little spray starch - either spray it on the circle of fabric or brush with a stencil brush by putting some starch in a small container. This will help hold the circle stiff while you are working with it. Some people don't use the starch but just use plain water - it is up to you. I like the extra stiffness the starch gives.
holding on to the thread tail make sure you have it pulled tight while you are pressing the circle. When the starch is dry and it is pressed, flip it over and press down on the top side.
now loosen up your thread where you had finished the gather at. Loosen it up just enough to remove the plastic circle.
pull your gathering thread lightly to tighten the circle back up - this should be fairly easy as you do have it pressed and it normally pulls back into the circle easily. Press your circle again on both sides and trim your gathering thread tail off.
your finished circle with the template removed.
fold your white square (3 1/2 inches) in half and finger press or iron and then in half again and press. Center your circle in the middle and pin in place. Your circle is now ready for you to applique. Once you get the hang of this method it takes minutes only to prepare each circle. I have 4 pieces of Mylar template the same size so I work up 4 at a time and then start all over again. When I have about 12 circles ready to applique I sit down and get the stitching done. Take a break and work on something else and then try to do another set before boredom sets in
When you have your circle appliqued in place you can from the back trim off the back ground and also trim some of the gathered circle off from the back. I use a little extra fabric here because I want the circle to be a bit puffy – I did not trim off from the back. I have found that when I make circles like this the added puffiness makes it look like it has trapunto after it is quilted when I use the 100% cotton batting that I use and wash the quilt and dry it in the dryer. It gives that nice antique look to quilts and it this case the circles will look a little more 3 dimensional without having to add the extra batting in from the back. If you do not want the puffiness but do not want to trim from the back you can make your gathering line in closer to the size circle you want – I have excess in mine for the purpose of puffiness.
My white ironing mat has gotten stained up already – it was white not a short time ago – I think it is the spray starch that does it. You can find Perfect Circles by Karen Kay Buckley at this link. These circles are made from Mylar and are safe to iron. This set comes in many 15 sizes. I order a lot of my notions and little handy items for quilting from Connecting Threads and from Keepsake Quilting . I have had a lot of luck with these two quilting sites and I receive their catalog all the time. I have been ordering from both sites for years and have never had a problem with either. I just discovered Karen Kay Buckley’s web site and blog though and I see she has a store also and sells the perfect circles on her web site. I am going to check out her store and the next time I need something by her I will know I can order from her.
Continue reading about Making circles to applique – tutorial
We woke up to a white Christmas! Not much mind you – but it is white We rarely have a white Christmas so it is nice to look at even though it is such a little bit.
This is taken right from the door way - the wind was blowing all durning the night so we have a snow covered porch. It is only 23 degrees outside right now compared to the 54 for a high yesterday.
Looking the opposite direction from the doorway to the driveway.
My cool new Christmas present from Mike - a Nikon Coolpix camera, it is a pretty light plum color and is small enough to fit in my pocket. Now to read the instruction manual and figure out how to use it. The battery charged overnight I used it to take the winter photos.
progress on the circles - about 60 of the 315 (or whatever that number was-it is written down someplace) so many cool colors in that sampler box to use.
I think this is block 7 in Row 9 of Insanity Revisited
these quilting photos are taken with the old camera, give me a couple days to get the new camera figured out I hope to have some good photos this year.
I started making this coffee cake about 35 years ago! I can’t believe it but I have made it for every Christmas during those years. Sometimes by myself – when the girls were too young to help – then with the assistance of the girls. I believe there has a been a time or two after the girls got married that they sent their husbands in the kitchen to see how it was made and to help! Now here it is this Christmas the first time in along time that I have made it totally by myself once again. Mike was in and out of the kitchen taking photos for me as my hands were too covered with flour to do that too
This recipe if you do a search on line has many different versions. The recipe I use came with the first Bundt pan that I bought – it had a little booklet of recipes and I used all of the recipes for awhile – I used to make cakes a lot! This cake Potica is a Slovenian nut bread. It is pronounced “po – tee – zah”
The recipe:
Potica
the cake:
1 cup butter
1/2 cup milk
2 packages dry yeast
3 eggs, separated
2 1/2 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup sugar
Filling:
2 cups chopped walnuts
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup chopped dates
3/4 cup milk
1 cup sugar
reserved egg whites
Heat butter and milk until the butter is melted. Cool to lukewarm (I use a candy thermometer to 110 degrees). In a large bowl dissolve the yeast in the warm water and beat in egg yolks one at a time. Blend in to the cooled milk mixture. Stir in the flour, salt and sugar. Beat until mixture is smooth and creamy. Cover the bowl and refrigerate overnight. The following day blend walnuts, cinnamon, sugar, dates and milk in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stir until thickened. Let the mixture cool a little bit. Beat egg whites until stiff. Slowly add the 1 cup of sugar. Fold into the cooled walnut date mixture.
Cut the dough in half, dust with flour. Roll each out to make a 18 inch circle (or if you like a rectangle it makes no difference). Roll the dough thin – but not too thin! Top each piece of the rolled out dough with half of the walnut mixture and spread to within an inch of the edge. Roll it up jelly roll fashion. Place in the bundt pan one piece at a time and let them overlap. Let rise for 30 minutes and then bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees – bake for 45 minutes minutes.
step one, milk butter mixture cooling
getting the dough ready this morning.
making the filling
rolling the dough out
spreading the filling over the dough
rolling the cake jelly roll fashioned
place in the buttered and floured pan
the second rolled up piece on the opposite end of the pan and let it overlap if it needs to.
Baked for 45 minutes - the top will be a little brown but it doesn't matter as it is on the bottom when you put it on your cake plate. Yes sometimes by overlapping the two pieces of dough you get a little lopsided cake but I don't care - it is going to get eaten rather quickly anyhow! Let it cool in the pan for about 15 minutes when you take it out of the oven.
Put a light glace of frosting on the cake when it is still warm so it will drizzle down the sides - unless you really want frosting and want to cover the whole cake. I just like it light.
It looks like we will be spending our Christmas by ourselves this year – the first time since we spent our first Christmas together 37 years ago! The weather is undependable this year. We have had so much rain the past two days that there is flooding in some places of Arkansas so much so that some of the interstates south of Little Rock are closed in sections. Tonight the temperatures are dropping and we do not know if we will have ice or snow tonight. Right now the forecast is to have 1 to 3 inches of snow by morning. It is not raining or snowing right now. The roads are wet though who knows what kind of shape the roads will be in tomorrow. But because of the weather our daughter and son in law in North Little Rock have decided to play it safe and stay home. They – or we – can make the trip to see the other when the weather improves. I’ll just have to make sure that I save some of this coffee cake for them until we see them. I might have to put their cookies in the freezer to keep them fresh enough also!
I hope all of you have a very happy and safe Christmas. I have enjoyed so much this past year all of the friendships made through people stopping by my blog and leaving comments which lead at times to more mail being exchanged and look forward to more of the same in the new year. The weather is so bad this year in a lot of the county so don’t drive if you don’t have to!
I actually made a little progress today on the circles and patches. I have 40 circles appliqued and 63 4-patches put together. Not moving very quickly with that – but there you go. Progress will be made slowly. After all I never said I could make a quilt in a day or a week or even a month for that mater! I like to enjoy it and take my time.
I have put in some more work on my knitting and the sweater front and back are almost complete – so a bit of progress there. The purl stitch is coming more easily now and is “flowing” better.
It has been raining all day off and on. More to come tomorrow. Start off the day warm in the morning and temperatures will drop all day and we have a possibility – that is “possible” snow flurries by evening. I just hope we don’t have ice!
The only thing left for me to do before Christmas is to make my Christmas coffee cake. The yeast dough gets made in the morning and sits all day in the refrigerator (a cold rise – weird I know most need warmth to raise). In the evening I put the whole thing together and bake it – then we enjoy it in the morning for breakfast and several days after that. It warms up nicely in the microwave and taste best warmed up. If I remember I will take photos of it and post the recipe.
You either love circles and four patches or you hate making them!! It is a toss up for me. I almost wonder if I would get the four patches done faster sitting and watching tv and doing them by hand! I keep getting bored sitting at the sewing machine and get up and do something else. I have about 16 circles done and the stack of four patches is small although I have a lot of strips sewn together and cut. Now I have to get motivated.
I can’t believe it is almost the end of the year! Doesn’t it seem like 2009 just started? Where do the years go – the older you get the faster they seem to fly by. I really don’t have a lot to post today. Here are a couple photos of what I have been doing.
fabric sewn in strips, cut and ready to be made into four patches, now to sit at the sewing machine long enough to make some progess.
my plastic storage box with the fabric for the circles and the threads ect. I do have a small stack of circles made - maybe 16?
One Dear Jane block - Insanity Revisited - block 6 on row 9
Right now this is a quilt with no name (that sounds like a title for a Clint Eastwood movie ). The name will come later – right now it is “scrappy quilt with circles” . The name of the quilt pattern that I am using is called “Yoyoville” but I am not using yoyo’s, just circles and I don’t normally use the same name as the pattern although sometimes I do. I have strips cut, some sewn together and next will be to match some up for four patch blocks. I have four circles ready to applique onto the white squares. Right now I am sewing the 4 patches by machine – but that might change – it just depends on my mood normally. Sometimes I will start a quilt by machine, then do some by hand and then back to machine. I decided to go totally scrappy for the 4 patch blocks and not stick with just 2 or 3 colors. The whites are all mixed up too – so far I think I have 4 different white on whites in use.
the pieces and colors in use so far - the circles will be appliqued to the white squares.
Thank you to everyone for the great comments and e mails sent to me about the “Dutch Treat” table topper. I like it too and think it turned out really well – I can put it as a rectangle on the table or turn it at an angle – put a vase of flowers on it or the big bright color jug on it and it will look great. I will sometime this year be quilting the other small quilt top that will also be used on that table – I just do not have room for a wall hanging so no sense intending it for that. Changing off between several will be nice.
And how many left — I’m going to quit counting for now. I worked on the binding today on the Dutch Treat Table Topper and finished it!! Can’t believe I started those blocks about 2 years ago and lost interest in it so quickly. I just usually do not do that. If I ever decided to try another go at these blocks I will enlarge these 4 inch blocks to 6 inches I think. It would make them more manageable for reverse applique. I just could not see leaving these blocks sit aside in a box though for years while I tried to decide if I would ever finish it into the full size quilt top it was supposed to be so I am glad that I decided to make it into a table topper instead.
The top finished at 30 inches by 34 inches after being washed and dried. Little by my standards – other than baby quilts I don’t make them this small normally other than a wall hanging here and there. Even my baby quilts are normally a lot larger than that. The back of the quilt is the darker green batik.
Trying it out on the table with the Christmas Table decoration. I like the size of this as it leaves some wood showing all around it and the wood is nice color and decorative that you want some of it to show.
The whole top.
While my fingers are resting up from quilting for 12 days I thought I would start on the Moda Bake Shop Sampler box that I got awhile ago. I gathered up all of my white fabric that I had fairly good size pieces of and some other yardage to “audition”. I ‘m not sure if I will use the colors that I show below in the photo. I might go for a scrappier look for the 4 patch part of it. But it would be easier to cut strips from the 3 colors I show. The orange, yellow and red are Michael Miller Fairy Frost fabric and I have 2 yards of each color. The link will bring you to all of their colors – every color under the rainbow! (maybe I need to order fat quarters of all the colors!) They shimmer a bit. They have been sitting gathering dust for awhile, I bought them early last year on sale someplace in the internet world – I am not sure which shop. I haven’t been able to figure what project to use them for. I might do all of the four patches with them – but then again I might just cut some strips from them and go totally scrappy by adding more from my stash – only problem with that is I have mainly small pieces and for doing 4 patch – it would be nice to strip piece. The sampler squares will be for the circles.
The pattern, box of sampler squares and fairy frost fabric - white under the pattern.
I will start with some of the circles and kind of go back and forth between machine sewing the 4 patches and appliqueing the circles once I figure out for sure if I am going with these three colors or if I will go scrappy.
