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.
I finished the quilting on the Dutch Treat quilt– now on to the binding! I will try to get the binding done this weekend and then post a photo. Mainly I was only working on this quilt for the last 2 weeks – actually 12 days!! That must be a record for me. This is a small quilt though so that really helped. I have been knitting a little bit and I think I made one or two Dear Jane blocks in that time also. Isn’t it amazing how fast you can get a small quilt done if it is just about the only thing you are working on!
I’m really glad to get one project done – that leaves 4 quilt tops left to quilt next year – the Christmas Quilt is on the frame and I have touched it now and then in the last several weeks and have gotten several hours of quilting in on it. When I get done with the binding on the Dutch Treat I will decide which quilt will be next to be put in the hoop to quilt but will most likely take a couple weeks before I start the next one and let the finger tips heal once again.
I think the majority of you hate fruitcake!! But listen – really there is a difference between candied fruit and dried fruit – give dried fruit a chance and you will see a difference for sure. I know very few people who like candied fruit but most like dried fruit.
All of you readers out on the east coast – stay nice and cozy inside this weekend – have the fireplace going and sit back and get some quilting done and enjoy looking at the snow 
Ok, who likes fruitcake and who hates it! I have heard so many people over the years say they hate it that you begin to wonder why it is a popular baked good for the holidays! I love fruitcake — BUT — only if it doesn’t have candied fruit in it. I use dried fruit. I haven’t been too pleased with the recipe I have used in the past – for some reason it seems to dry out quickly the past several years. My friend Marianne in Vermont- who was my secret pal for the Dear Jane group this past year – she was the one I sent packages to — posted a link to a recipe that I am using this year. I have the fruit soaking in the liquid overnight and will do the baking tomorrow. I have cut the recipe in half as it does make a lot. I am doing as Marianne does and making a few substitutions. I am leaving the candied cherries out of the recipe and just added a little more of the dried apricots and pineapple. I will use walnuts as that is what I have and King Arthur Flour uses some extra ingredients that you have to get from them that really do not seem necessary so those will be out and substitutions will be made.
We all agreed yesterday that we work on several projects at once – I think we all get tired of working on the same thing all the time and 3 or 4 keep us more mentally alert
I have been continuing to quilt on the Dutch Treat quilt and it really doesn’t look any different from the last photo as it is hard to see the quilting so most likely the next time you see it, it will be done. 30 more blocks to quilt so it is moving along nicely.
The front of the sweater is coming along well too. I found a easy to knit sweater book the other day and bought it. It has several patterns in it that I feel I will be able to do!
Crispy you are a bad influence on me and after seeing your red and green quilt top by Jeana Kimball I decided I had to look the book over and the pattern that is in it. It arrived today and I have been looking at it so much – I don’t know the Little Brown Bird quilt might have to be done at the same time as I do this one!! Once again my projects for the upcoming year might get changed around a little!! and it is all your fault Crispy
sorry for the glare - this book must be out of print as there are so many high prices out there it is ridiculous! If you do a search there are copies available. I found a used-like new copy. It said it hadn't been used and really did look new and I am very pleased with the condition of the book. I didn't pay anymore than I would for any quilting book but there are copies going for over $50 to 100.00 - if you are interested in it do some searching as you can find it in the $25 range.
If you like the historic red and green applique quilts you might like this link – about 19 of them shown I think.
Who can resist chocolate chip cookies! Be truthful can you eat just one I know I can’t. I’m trying the same recipe I always use this evening except half of the chips are mint. Well be a different taste – but one I am sure I will love. I use the recipe on the Tollhouse chocolate chip package. No changes just what is on the package. You can use a variety of chocolate chips – or butterscotch or whatever kind you like. I do add walnuts in mine.
A little work done has been done on the Christmas Baltimore Album quilt but not a lot. I have been working on too many things at once, once again. At least a little more is done but it is a long way from being done.
quilting on the Christmas Baltimore Album
I have the back of the sweater knitted – I might wait to post another photo of it until I am completely finished with it. No photo of it today. The Dutch Treat quilt is coming along nicely. A lot of my time has been spent on quilting it this past week. There are 36 plain blocks in it and 36 reverse applique blocks. Right now I have 19 plain blocks left to quilt and 20 applique blocks left. Just about half way finished!!
The Dutch Treat quilt
the quilting
Do most of you find that you work on more than one project at a time or do you concentrate on one project? I understand working on just one if you do this mainly for a business and have deadlines but if you do it just as your creative outlet do you have a hard time working on one quilt at a time?
I couldn’t believe the weather today – high 50′s! I came out of the fitness center and was so glad I wasn’t in a heavy sweater or sweatshirt – it was long sleeve t-shirt day – the sun was shining, no wind, a really nice day. Of course according to the evening news it will be 20 degrees cooler tomorrow!! Northwest Arkansas is already in the 30′s and here it just went under 50 and it is 6:45 PM right now.
I want to thank everyone for the birthday wishes to my mom. It was so nice celebrating 85 years with her. The years fly by don’t they.
I finished the Dutch Treat table topper – I had briefly thought of adding a border then decided no – it did not need it. It is 32 x 36 inches and that is the size I want for the table.
32 x 36 inches it will have the darker fabric for the backing and the binding. This is a far cry from the 169 reverse applique blocks that I had planned originally to make but I am glad that I decided to just make this smaller version and be done with it. If I ever decide to try again the book will be on the shelf with the rest of them. I use all but 2 of the applique blocks that I had made - I will most likely put those two on the back some where to use them.
In between other things I pick up the knitting now and then and knit/purl a row or two before I set it back down. I am beginning to be more comfortable with purl stitch although it still doesn't flow as easily for me as the knit stitch does. This will be a shawl when it is finished.
Tomorrow I will post photos of all the items to be finished in the year 2010 – I don’t really think I will get done but I must control myself not to start more projects than the ones that I have planned in my head and on the shelf already started. There is enough here to keep me busy for two years easily – now if the magazine companies would just quit showing me so many more ideas for quilts I would be fine – and all the on line sites available too!!! Really 2010 has to be the year to get some things finished – I will be quilting two quilts at a time all year – one on the big frame and one on the hoop!
I thought about it earlier today and thought maybe it was time to start looking through the Christmas things to get the house looking pretty for the season. I tend to decorate over two or three days the past 5 years or so and not do it all at once. Also most of the boxes are in the upstairs storage area of the workshop and I’m not going to drag them in here! I will leave that for Mike to do this weekend. He put all the boxes on the porch last year for me and I think it took me a week before I was finally finished – and I don’t put up THAT much –I just don’t rush decorating
Another reason not to rush is that last year I decided I was going to make a new skirt for the Christmas tree – and guess what — I haven’t touched it!! I saved the old skirt and bought some velvet in a dark burgundy and a forest green and I put it aside — for the whole year! My intention was to crazy quilt the skirt with velvet by placing it on top of the old skirt and do a decorative stitch from my seldom used sewing machine – well after putting the wreaths on the door and the fireplace, table toppers on the coffee table and the dining table and some swag garland in the doorway I came in here to the sewing room to get busy on the skirt only to realize I don’t think I have enough velvet. I got started and will run to Hobby Lobby tomorrow to get more velvet. Good intentions – just was too busy on other projects.
I have more of the Dutch Treat finished but still lacking two rows which I might get stitched tonight so if I get it done I will show it tomorrow. I have not decided on a border. I would like to do a reverse applique border for it to match what I have so far — BUT — I don’t know if I want to take the time! I might just do a skinny border sashing of each of the two fabrics. I will decide tomorrow. That last sentence always reminds me of Scarlett O’Hara - “tomorrow is another day” (“Gone with the Wind” will forever be a favorite old classic of mine – the movie is ok to but I love the book and have read it 3 or 4 times over the years).
I didn’t really get very much more done on the Dutch Treat last night or today. I do have half of the blocks used though. I was thinking it would make a square but my math was off and I think it will be more a rectangle. I will work on it some more tomorrow and get it figured out and put more of the squares together.
18 of the Dutch Treat blocks used up - more to go
We are having quite a cold spell for this early into winter, tonight is supposed to get down to 22 degrees! Yesterday there where snow flurries in various parts of the state and to think we went camping last weekend! Sure glad we hadn’t planned it for this coming weekend or a change of plans would have been made. Also good thing Mike got the motorhome winterized as soon as we got home.
Tomorrow I need to organize a little bit in the sewing room it has gotten messy again. How does that happen!!! I just don’t always put things away right away I know – I will try to do better.
After talking about possibly working on the Dutch Treat blocks again I decided to get right to it last night and work on one. It isn’t perfect – none of them are but there you go – 38 blocks now. That will be easier to work with than 37 if I do go with a wall hanging. Even numbers are normally easier to work with. I’m not sure after working on that one last night if it has inspired me to work on it again or not. Time will tell. This block is trimmed down to 4 1/2 inches as they all are and it is called “Cookie”. (I’m not sure how she came up with the name for some of these – does this look like a cookie? I don’t think so )
Also I got busy quilting on Row K this evening and managed to get two triangles on the end and block #1 quilted. I might get around to doing some tomorrow also. Looks like rain is in the forecast for 
tomorrow and I really do not have that much more to do outside. Packing is about done – I mainly just have to move some food from the house refrigerator to the camper refrigerator. I also need to run to the grocery store and stop at the post office. I’m sure I will be busy in the day but evening I will be done and ready to relax and maybe quilt some more.
Another row is finished with the quilting. That leaves me with 3 rows of blocks and 1 row of border. I will not be able to get this finished before we leave on Saturday I’m not superwoman! I would have liked to but I have been too busy. I do have all my sewing supplies packed in the camper – it took longer than I thought. I decided to pack one box instead of two and combine the two projects into one box and have one large cosmetic bag with “stuff” in it. It was a tight fit but one box of sewing supplies instead of two means more room for sweatshirts and jeans which are a necessity in cooler weather!
I thought I was finished and this evening I dragged all of my Dutch Treat blocks out. I have not touched these blocks since November of last year but lately Crispy has been posting some photo’s of her enlarged blocks (she is making them at 6 inches) (mine are 4 1/2 inches). It got me to thinking of this project forgotten by the wayside. I have decided the reason I lost interest in it was because I haven’t been pleased with the work I have been doing with it.
I do not want to start over again by enlarging the blocks but I think if I redesign the blocks just a tad to make them a little easier I might finish it — mind you I said might! I am going to bring a couple of these blocks along and make curves a 
little easier – maybe drop out some little sections altogether and see what happens. Maybe I will get back to it – and maybe I won’t we will see what happens. I have put a few patterns and fabric blocks in a zip lock bag with the thread and will toss it in the cupboard of the camper with the other sewing items – if I work on them I do – if not it will most likely end up as a wall hanging and be done with it this winter – I’ll let you know what I decide to do with it.
I have never had a UFO they have always been WIP (works in progress – but not totally forgotten!). I have not liked the feeling of not working on this quilt.
I did get finished with the quilting on Row J of “Insanity” and here are the photo’s of the last blocks and triangles of that row.
More on “Insanity”, I was busy last night and this evening. This triangle starts off row E (5th 
row). I also got some of the blocks started. The blocks are # 3, 2 & 1 from left to right row E (#5).
The green/yellow pollen from the pine trees is getting really bad at this time of year. There is a dusty coating of everything outside with it and I had the windows open earlier today and the wind started up before I realized it and the pollen started to come in the house and I had to spend part of the afternoon dusting and wiping it off of furniture! I hate that stuff. It gets so thick here and it will cover the cars and outside furniture and plants for a good two weeks or so before it goes away. I had to shut the windows and put the air on as it got up into the 80′s today and it was getting warm in the house – too warm to sleep comfortably.
I haven’t worked on my Dutch Treat quilt blocks in ages and started to go through them while I was putting together some of my Dear Jane (Insanity Revisited) blocks to take in May on our trip. I decided to take some of the DT blocks with me and maybe I will get back into it. Not really sure though. I have 37 blocks done and thought maybe I could do something with an even 40 – a wall hanging maybe. We will see. I think I will get one of the Christmas Baltimore Album blocks glue basted also and bring it with too. Little variety is good for the soul you know! I’ll probably come back with only about half of the things done that I bring along. That is normal for me, we get so busy taking walks and seeing things and exploring that we don’t sit around a lot.
