Hit a Plateau and a Brick Wall

I’m trying to challenge myself with color by using the inherited stash of batiks to make color wheel place mats. It's a real chore for me to make color decisions.

I always finish a project , but this color thing is a challenge. Here’s all I was able to complete this March (and late at that with not one Christmas Gift) :

A gift top for a friend,

and five half place mats

But I am progressing in Project Scan…Scanning 37 years of family photos, and removing them from falling apart Photo Albums….To be continued

I Only like Left Overs if They are in the Frig

So after figuring out the largest half square triangle I could consistently cut out of the snivels of 1970 Christmas fabric I inherited, and designing a Christmas Doll quilt around that figure, how could I stop at the two I needed for Christmas presents?…. to not have to deal with left over fabric, I just proceeded to make 12 quilt and pillow sets. I think they will make lovely future gifts for some precious little girls don’t you?

February’s Progress

7.5 lbs. lost eating Nutrisytems’s candy bars and glorified dog food and well on my way to hopefully 10 Christmas doll quilts with matching pillows….

au boulot as the French say.....

Christmas through the year What Will be Occupying my Morning for Weeks

We all seem to be drawn to a favorite block, or quilt lay out, and mine has always been quilts on point, and the block the Greek Square. I had never noticed a Greek Square made with nine tiny squares until I was thumbing through 101 Fabulous Rotary-Cut Quilts by Hopkins and Martin.

Why not some American Girl Doll Christmas Quilts with the Christmas strip snivels I’ve inherited?….This may take a while because the finished squares measure 3.75”….

Christmas through the year Sweet Dreams No Matter the Season

Have you made one of those roll up tube pillows yet? The directions are complicated unless you just sit back and watch this video, and remember the magic numbers ¾ of a yard, 2” and 9”.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrYWCma9wgM
These are for a very special 13 year old on my Christmas List. I think she’s going to love dragging them to slumber parties. Happy Sewing Everyone

Christmas through the year It All Started out so Innocently

Two yards of wine label material, with the intention of making a few, just a few wine tote hostess gifts.

got it home and realized alas, how can I make the 4.5” wide parallel cuts and not fussy cut to get the entire label centered…Dang now I have a ton of wasted strips?

I’ll think of something…..Okay why not” Dish to Pass Carrier” Totes?…YEA, that’s the ticket…

So using EQ7 I designed a 10” finished square, and built the tote around it….Easier said than done I might add.

For the base, and to keep the bag open I inserted a sheet of plastic needle point canvas between the lining and outer bag,. (After first ironing the edges so I would know how to position it).

Stitched the outer edge creating a crisp outer edge and to keep the plastic sheet trapped inside.

Asked the guy at Loews to cut 10 12” pieces from doweling for five bags, and created a pocket to keep them in.

Used tabs of Velcro on either sideto be able to remove the wooden handles for washing.

Those two innocent yards became more like a month of planning and sewing…ending up as 7 wine totes and 5 carriers…Oy Vay.. But I do think they are going to make 5 great gifts...on to the next project.

Hey Anne do you recognize your pumpkin making material???

23 Tins of Tibbie's Famous Shortbread

Tibbie was this adorable little lady from Scotland who after her kids had grown, divorced her husband and answered an ad in her local paper to come to America and cook for a wealthy NYC couple living in the Dakota that famous building of John Lennon fame, and made immortal in the novel Time and Again. Tibbie ended up marrying into our family, and once while staying with us taught me the secrets of Scottish Short Bread. I've made 23 tins for my co-workers with the her recipe attached. Here it is if you'd like to try them.
Tibbie's Short Bread

Preheat 325°Using the butter wrappers from a LB of butter, grease large four sided cookie sheet. Cover pan with wax paper, and grease wax paper in the same manner.
Ingredients
1 LB butter (room temperature)

1 cup of sugar

5 cups of flour

1 cup rice flour (found in health food stores - you can use white or brown)

Cream sugar and butter

Transfer to an extra-large bowl. Add flour kneading with your hands until dough pulls away from the sides forming a ball. (10 minutes.)

Spread dough on prepared tray. Using the heels of your hand push evenly to all sides. Top with saran wrap or wax paper and smooth out with rolling pin. Remove top saran. Prick at even intervals with fork. Bake 325° oven for 40 minutes, or until lightly golden in color.

Secret: Cut in squares while still hot, cool completely before removing from tray. Wax paper will peel off from the bottom. Store in airtight container. If they become soft they can be put back into the oven for a few minutes.