Appliquing With Asbestos Fingers

Lately, I've been on an applique tear. Just love doing it. Have done various things with applique involved in them over the 55 years I've been sewing, of course, and mostly done it with my machine, but this has been by hand and the satisfaction has been marvelous. Here are blocks and borders from Baskets In Bloom by Janice Joyner at Sisters' Scraps Quilt Shop in Amarillo Texas. It was a BOM but I bought just the pattern recently. Hubby put the four borders together for picture--interesting pattern it makes, eh?

There are some embellishments to put on a few blocks, but done other than that. Have tried various methods of shaping pieces for sewing down--all seem to work ok in some situations. Did a snowman quilt last summer/fall using what I call the lining technique where you sew very light Pellon to "face" the piece and then turn it--this worked fantastically on snowmen and again on most of the Home Tweet Home quilt. http://www.quilt-lovers-guide.com/applique-techniques.htmlww.quilt-lovers-guide.com/applique-techniques.html This place has good directions for several kinds of applique.

Two techniques that have worked for me recently involve the iron--hence asbestos fingers. The first was one I saw in Material Obsession, a book my son and his sweet wife gave me for Christmas. You cut out shape from thin cardboard, cut a little larger piece of material, a little larger than that piece of tinfoil. Lay cardboard on material, then wrap tinfoil around it tightly and iron. I found it works well for a few pieces that you're going to use right away. http://sylvsquilting.blogspot.com/2010/11/tin-foil-and-cardboard-applique-method.htmluilting.blogspot.com/2010/11/tin-foil-and-cardboard-applique-method.html A good tutorial about it.

Latest way I like preparing pieces was told to me by a lady at Attic Window quilt shop in Wenatchee WA. I do it differently than she does, but this works best for me. You can use thin cardboard, but best thing is to get heat resistant plastic. It's not cheap, but figure all the leaves can be used again. It was something like $15 for six sheets and I still have two whole sheets left and some scraps. I also, cut several of each shape, so wasn't trotting back and forth to iron all the time. Especially with 134 leaves needed for four border strips! The other thing is that smaller pieces for future projects can be cut out of larger flower or other shapes. She suggested a starch from her shop but didn't have it in right then, so I just tried cheap spray starch. I've seen directions for dipping a q-tip or little brush in starch, wet edges and then bring those up to plastic and sort of glue them down. My ironing pad got saturated with starch, but I just put a bunch of pieces down and sprayed them--it always seemed that there was lots of extra starch so I put other pieces on them to sop it up. Sometimes that meant a bit too much starch and harder to sew--especially batiks which are just harder to sew for me period, but I cover middle fingers with bandaids most of the time although my finger tips are getting more immune to it all!! Two things I really found out about this process is to clip where you need to just a bit as those "v's" turn a lot better and make it easier in sewing process. And I left about 1/4 inch or more around the pieces to have something to hang onto, then trimmed them before sewing. Another thing is to gather, not pleat rounded areas. One at a time so starch dries. I use the tip of my iron to do this and my fingers got very hot a lot, but they're getting immune to this, too!! Lady at quilt shop uses a mini iron like from Clover, but it just didn't seem to work well for me. Might try it again on next project.

About half the blocks were done tinfoil way, others starching. I'm wondering if using a combo of starch and tinfoil would work well, but needing a cazillion pieces that stayed nice for sewing them. Starching kept them in nice shape during process better than anything else..These three very bad pictures from my phone show how I hold gathered ends in place and what it looks like after starch dries. When piece is dry, remove the plastic and press one more time. I stack them together and put a pin through to keep them in place. Having so much fun appliquing but need to get organized enough to put blocks for two different quilts together, get them and some other tops sandwiched and then quilted--so much to do, but always fun.

FAMILY POTATOES

FAMILY POTATOES--YUM!

This is my family a few years ago. There are a couple more grandchildren now. Would like to find a picture to put on here of the women who made these for me: my mom and grandma, but did figure out how to get one of my grandma, my daughter and my auntie. My daughter makes these, too. As does my niece. Not sure who else makes them, but they're delicious and I include them in every family cookbook I make every few years. Simple recipe but the one I love more than anything else:

Family Potatoes
6 large baking potatoes

one large onion butter and oil

8 oz. cheese shredded or cut in cubes

salt and pepper
paprika

Cut potatoes into large dice. I always leave skins on but it's up to you. Dice onion. Personally, I love large chunks of onion, but most of my family doesn't, so will dice them according to who's going to be eating them. Heat pan on high heat, then coat bottom of pan with oil, then add some butter--up to you--maybe a couple tablespoons of each. Put in potatoes and fry for awhile until nicely browned, then reduce heat and add onions. I often add them both at once but have to watch onions so they don't burn--want a very nice crispy brown to everything. I don't use salt usually as dh adds it to everything anyway!! I do, however, put in a lot of freshly ground pepper. If wish, put lid on and turn heat to low until potatoes are soft. When potatoes are cooked, sprinkle cheese over and put the lid on for a few minutes until it's melted. Sprinkle paprika over and serve. These are so adaptable--have used other potatoes, added cooked meat, other veggies--diced celery, julienned green peppers, shredded carrots, etc. You especially want all the fried goodies from the bottom, so use a pan you can use a metal spatula on!! I have Cuisinart pans and love them--they even have handles that stay cool.

"POSSIBLE" BAG WINNER

The "possible" bag winner is Sue H. She said this on her comment, "I practically lived in flip flops when I was a kid, but the strap between my toes seems less comfortable now. My favorite flip flops are in a quilt my niece made. Here's a picture of it: http://www.alderwoodquilts.com/shopping/Category.asp?c=Gallery_MelsQuilts&p=1. The bag is so cute- and looks so handy. Thanks for the chance!Just signed up to follow- fun blog!"

I want to make a couple comments about the giveaway, and these are comments I've seen on other blogs, and also on blogs who list giveaways each week: Read what the "rules" are for the contest...if they say to write about birds, don't forget to do that. Also, if you your email is set for no-reply, I can't get in touch with you. This is the second giveaway I've done and both times people forgot to do that. It's frustrating not being able to include everyone in the drawing because one or both of these weren't paid attention to--it always makes me feel so badly especially after you've taken the time to make a comment. I know I've made the mistake of not having an email listed--when I first got online I think I signed up for about 100 giveaways in some special week-long contest spree and have always wondered if I actually won something but no one could get in touch with me!!

Also, I'd love to be able to give away a bag to everyone...if I ever find where to get the directions, I'll post it on here so you can make one if you'd like. DAUGHTER FOUND THE SITE FOR THE BAG, SO GO HERE: https://www.youcanmakethis.com/info/handbags/Convertible-Wristlet-Case-for-a-Gaming-Device.htm

Congratulations to Sue and everyone have a great day!

FLAMINGOES ABOUND!!

Finally found this darling little jingle bell flamingo--he was a Christmas present and ornament for dear hubby several years ago.

Don't remember all the circumstances, but years ago hubby and I were having a discussion about those plastic pink flamingoes people put in their yards. His opinion was that except for Florida, they're tacky. Not sure why FL gets a pass and maybe other states don't, but anyway...he doesn't like the little sweeties in the yard. We live in WA, so that's a far pace from FL. Then he made sure I understood that he'd know we were over if he ever came home to find a flock of plastic flamingoes in the yard. That sounded like an ultimatum and not something I deal with well, so from then on he's gotten flamingoes for birthdays/Christmas/anniversaries. They're always given with much love. The weather vane one I copied from an actual vane in a catalog years ago. Unfortunately, his delicate neck got broken and hasn't gotten put back together. I put some of that clear plastic tape on it and then tied an ascot around so could take a picture. I used a knitting needle stuck in a wooden disk for the stand and he had it in his office for years.

For several years he's also been giving me the little pinkies, so we have alot of fun with them. Our grandkiddos love playing with the playable ones. Our daughter made an adorable one for her dad, plus gave him the one to hang his glasses on, and my friend gave me one, so it's fun that it's spread a bit. The wall hanging was made several years ago and has lots of embellishments. It's one I designed and I had to add the little ladybug--actually try to remember to add ladybugs in some fashion to everything that goes out from me to my family.

I love making Randy flamingoes, and flamingo fabric. So bright and fun. One I can't seem to find is a cute one I made on my embroidery machine and has a bell in it. We have a rug, there's a dvd with a flamingo theme, a wall hanging with lots of bling, a tiny weather vane, a couple puppets. Randy has flamingo bermudas and a denim shirt with flamingoes on the pocket.

.The long-legged stuffed flamingo is from several years ago; it has been painted a bit to give it an antique look. The little floofy pen is one my friend, Shirley, gave me several months ago after she took a trip to FL--it lights up when you write. Love it!

Randy gave me the huge hand puppet (think that's from a trip he made to Florida, but my memory is so terrible) The big one has hand strings inside that allow the head to go forward and backward and to nod. He says I bought the little one--do not remember doing that, but there again... Whatever, they are a super hit with all the grandchildren. It's a big thing to get to play with them at gramma's house. The big puppet is my all time favorite that he's given me, but I also love the totally silly pen that's over a foot tall with crazy hair. I also have a darling thing that is a "bracelet" for a candle jar that he gave me and a neon flamingo that we keep in the little bathroom.

This has been a fun thing for us to share. The tiny ornament with the lei is one I made for him for Christmas this year--had forgotten to make one in all the craziness of getting ready. At dear daughter's home she gave me some pink fabric and the yarn for the legs. I made the lei similarly to how we used to make crepe paper ones when I was a young girl. My sweet grandaughter gave me the beads for its eyes. Couldn't find the weather vane one--he's wooden and his neck snapped a few years ago, so he resides in a protective tin until he gets fixed someday. He sits on a little wooden disk and is supported by a knitting needle that wasn't needed for that anymore.
Hope you enjoy our little pinky friends. We've had lots of fun giving and getting them over the years!

All Around The Neighborhood

At http://www.fabshophop.com/main.asp last month there were a bunch of blocks one could pick up for a darling quilt called Quilt Around The Block. You had to visit shops to find the little bunny button and then at several of the shops you would win a block that goes into the quilt. I found a lot of great shops, many of which have free quilt patterns.
This month there's the same sort of thing, only it's all cupcake patterns along with cupcake recipes. You might have fun looking at the sites and seeing what's there. I really love the various buildings, trees and flowers. And aren't those fence pieces just so cute!!

My sweet hubby took some of the pictures for me, others were taken with my trusty cell phone camera--isn't technology fantastic?

I have a couple things that still need doing--the star on the "flag" next to the little red house, and a bell on the school house. I changed a couple things to fit what I like--made one of the big houses into a school house since that wasn't one of the patterns. Also altered the church to have a steeple instead of a cross on the top since I'm LDS (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) and we don't have crosses on our churches.

Here's all the strips laid out together on the floor. Aren't they just so fun and vibrant? I love them so much. Will be putting narrow green strips between the house/trees/flowers strips which is also a change from the original pattern.

Hope to get that all done today or tomorrow and will add more pictures when it's done. Randy got the cloud material--isn't it cute? It adds so much to the quilt.

"POSSIBLE" BAG GIVEAWAY!

Possible bags were/are used by black powder shooters to carry everything that might possibly be needed to use their guns well. I made these for my grandkiddos. In boyly boy's case, they were in wonderful materials that looked handwoven and personalized with green for one child and blue for the other. They were filled with fun things like compasses, small magnifying glasses, whistles, etc. It's fun to see they're still being used over a year later.

These were made from a pattern my daughter got on ETSY a couple years ago and asked me to make one for her eldest daughter's Nintendo DS. I decided since they were a lot of work, it would be pretty easy to just do a production line sort of thing to make one for everyone. Lots of padding, and honestly hard to do, especially with the material chosen. It would be much easier to do in a plain cotton. I couldn't find the pattern again, but did Google Nintendo DS Bag and there are lots of ideas.

The girly girls' were made of some Waverly outdoor fabric that had flip flops on one of the fabrics--an homage to my oldest girlie girl who loves shoes and whose auntie often got her new fun flip flops. Love them and love the dragonflies--also Waverly fabric. Girlies included fun girlie things!! Also, for our dear little Sabrina, hers was made extra long to hold a large magnifying glass she can use with her acuity problems.

They have twirly clips--surely that's not the name, but they can clip onto a belt hook or whatever and they twirl around!! At the end of the strap is a heart shaped key ring.

Anyway...to enter, you just need to leave a comment about wearing flip flops--a favorite memory of a time wearing them, a fun pair you had, anything about flip flops. Or, you can always talk about dragonflies--their beauty, getting dive-bombed by them, how you used a dragonfly in a project--whatever!! I want this to be easy. You just need to leave one message. You're welcome to sign up for my blog, but it's not a requirement! Deadline is February 8th, midnight pacific time.

Think I have to limit this to U.S. entries, but will update if figure out I could send it other places.

DAUGHTER FOUND BAG DIRECTIONS SOURCE SO GO HERE: https://www.youcanmakethis.com/info/handbags/Convertible-Wristlet-Case-for-a-Gaming-Device.htm

TUSCAN BEAN SOUP--YUM!

Randi at I have to say (http://ihavetosay.typepad.com/randi/) is sponsoring A Recipe Box Swap where you post your favorite soup. I have to say my all time favorite soup is Bean With Bacon. I found a wonderful recipe for it years and years ago in House Beautiful of all places, but lost it soon after. I keep trying to find it but haven't been successful yet. In lieu of that, Tuscan Bean Soup is my next favorite. First time we had it, my dear daughter in law, Jenny, made it for us. It is absolutely delicious and quite versitile. I have made a recipe combining her recipe and one found somewhere else, so here it is:

TUSCAN BEAN SOUP

1 Tbl. olive oil 1 lb. Italian sausage, cut into ¼ in. thick slices or bulk sausage (or chicken) 1 ¼ c. chopped fennel bulb 1 ¼ c. chopped onion ½ c. chopped celery 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 tsp. rosemary ¼ tsp. thyme ¼ tsp. pepper 4 cans chicken broth 1 can baby lima beans, drained 1 can garbanzo beans, drained 1 can kidney beans, drained and rinsed 1/3 c. pearl barley if wish 2 Tbl. Tomato paste 1 large russett potato in ½ in. pieces 1 c. sliced carrots 1 c. packed sliced spinach

In a large saucepan cook sausage, onion, fennel, celery and garlic in oil until soft. Stir in herbs and pepper; cook until onions are tender 2-3 min. longer. Add broth, beans, barley and tomato paste; heat to boiling. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered 20-25 min, adding potato, carrots and spinach during last 10 min. of cooking time. This is soooooooo good!!! And, of course, a hunk of good hearty bread is perfect with this. A perfect soup anytime.

I am the kind of cook who changes recipes around all the time. Often whatever is available is what gets thrown in. Not sure I ever make the same thing exactly ever unless it's with baking. My mother was the same kind and her soups, stews and casseroles were always an adventure. If you asked her what was in it she'd always say, "Taste it and find out." That wasn't what we wanted to hear and sometimes it would be "interesting" to say the least. Usually, it was also very, very spicy. We had two young men for dinner once when she made her chili half as spicy as usual. The poor guys turned bright red from the heat! My cooking is similar and poor hubby has learned to like most of it even though he thought ketchup was spicy when we got married!

Note on the fennel bulb--it's so much more delicious with the bulb, but if you cannot find it (my little town market usually doesn't have it, so have to go "into town" to get it) use fennel seed. I often go searching online to get ideas for changing up recipes, so try your favorite search engine!

Oh, try Artisan Bread in Five Minutes for some fantastic bread recipes that are super easy! http://www.artisanbreadinfive.com/?p=195 that's their master recipe. Highly reccommend their book!

Here's a place you can find a picture of Emeril's version of the soup: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/tuscan-bean-soup-recipe/index.html

I just can't seem to figure out how to format things well on here, so hope you can figure out the recipe--tried to put spaces between ingredients! Also, picture of potholders is only one that seemed to fit in any way with this. Oh, use a big pot!! Super enjoy this recipe.