Christmas Quilt Along - Post #2

Hello Everyone,

 

Here are the results of my QAL project so far.  One cute, little 7-1/2" block that needs something in the center.

 

 

I tucked a little plaid flange between the two pieces of fabric and top-stitched it down. 

Here's a closeup of the flange.

 

So my plan is to make a series of little blocks in all shades of neutral, with a flange, and with different little Christmas "things" in the center.  It's going to be petite and delicate....just like me!  Wink, wink, chuckle, chuckle!!

 

More to come next month during the QAL.  I had to cut this month short since we have company and we have some exploring, hiking and eating to do!



 

This is what we just enjoyed for breakfast.....Fiesta Brunch.  Now we are ready to hit the hiking trails again.

 

Fiesta Brunch

1 (7 ounce) can chopped green chilies

6 corn tortillas cut in strips

1 pound bulk sausage, cooked and drained

1 pound Monterey Jack cheese, grated

8 eggs, beaten

½ cup milk

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon pepper

½ teaspoon ground cumin

½ teaspoon garlic salt

½ teaspoon onion salt

½ teaspoon paprika

-Spread half of the chilies on the bottom of a greased 9 x 13 x 2 inch glass dish.  Top with half of the tortilla strips, half of the sausage, and half of the cheese.  Repeat layers.

-Beat eggs, milk, and all spices except paprika.  Pour over the layers of chilies, tortillas, sausage and cheese.  Sprinkle paprika on the top.

-Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

-Bake uncovered at 350° for 50-60 minutes.  Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

-Serve with sour cream and salsa on the side.  This may be frozen after it has been baked and then reheated.

-Yield 6 to 8 servings
 

 

 

Soon,

Lynn

 

Christmas Quilt Along Post #1

Hello Everyone,

 

It's that time again.....the Christmas Quilt Along.  This month Hazel is our hostess.  So pop on over to her site and see what she is up to along with other quilters located around the world.

 

The challenge this year is, make a Christmas quilt without using red or green fabric.   AAARRRGGGG!!  This is hard for me.  I may have to make this quilt one way for the challenge and another way outside the challenge.  So I poured over my stash and I've selected golds and neutrals for this go round.

I cut a circle in the top fabric and used the starch method of applique to finish it off nicely by turning all of the raw edges to the inside.

You'll just have to wait to see what I do next....it just might include a flange!  I can hear my company stirring in the front bedroom.  I'll try to post some more later on today after we enjoy our hearty mountain of pancakes and before we head out for a hike.

Soon,
Lynn

Christmas Quilt Along - Post #1

Hello Everyone,

It's that time again.....the last Christmas Quilt Along of the year.  Head on over to Quilt Sue's and you can see what Christmas projects we have been working on during the year.

Starting tomorrow you will be able to vote for your favorite project.  There are going to be some beautiful quilted treasures underneath some Christmas trees this year!

 I'll be back later today with an update on Butterscotch Baskets.

Soon,
Lynn

Christmas Quilt Along - November - Post #4

 

Hello again for the last time today,

 

 

Patchwork finished.....CHECK

 

Start laying out the paper pattern......CHECK (or plaid)



 

17 cute little mittens that lost their kittens......OOPS wrong way around.  I'm getting a little loopy and it's time to think about fixing dinner and pouring the wine.  Enough with the mittens already!

 



Thank you QuiltSue for hosting the QAL today.  I'll look forward to the QAL next month.  As always, you are the perfect hostess!

Soon,
Lynn

Christmas Quilt Along - November - Post #3

Hello Again,

 

After all of my strips are sew together, I cut it right down middle.

 

I press half of the seams up, and half of the seams down.

I cut each section into 1-1/2" sections.

Then I start sewing the sections together.  This is what takes the most time, getting all the seams in perfect alignment.

More snow pictures to put you into the Christmas spirit.  Icicles on the oak trees.

The Dogwood is shivering.

You have to watch out while walking in the woods.  The trees will shed their snow right on top of your head!

Zinnie loves the snow with the exuberance of the 3-year-old that she is!

Soon,
Lynn

Christmas Quilt Along - November Post #2

Hello Again,

 

I'll be working on my Mittens With Moxie pattern today.  I'm going to use them for decorations and gift tags on presents.

 

I started by selecting 15 fabrics and cut them into 1-1/2" strips for the my patchwork.  Then let the sewing begin!

We won't be having our lunch on the deck today.  All of this snow certainly makes it easy to work on Christmas projects.  There is some blue sky off in the distance, so the snow will probably be melting soon.

Soon,
Lynn

Christmas Quilt Along - Sept. Post #1

Hello Everyone,

Today is the Christmas Quilt-a-long.  Hazel is our hostess today.  Go on over to her blog and see what she is doing and check out all of the Christmas projects that quilters are working on around the world.

I decided to get my Nostalgic Christmas quilt on my HandiQuilter and dig in!  When in doubt, I quilt feathers.  The 18" blocks have a lot of different borders so there are going to be many thread color changes and different designs in each one.  Am I crazy?  Yes!! Absolutely crazy to think I can get this finished in a reasonable amount of time.

 

 

My to-do list is growing for everything that I need to complete by the Georgetown Quilt Show next Saturday.  There are so many little details that only I can do from finishing pattern directions to hand work on Toyland Tree.  No rest for the weary!

 

Soon,

 

Lynn

Christmas Quilt Along - August - Post #1

Hello Everyone,

Today is the Christmas Quilt Along and I'm getting a late start. Cathi at Shakerwood Quilts is our hostess today.   Hop on over to her site to see who is participating today.  Cathi also posted a cookie recipe that will make you hungry!

I'm making one more pillow.  I printed a picture of my grandson's on Printed Treasures fabric in my injet printer.  I have the first two frames attached.

I finished the double flying geese for the next frame. 

I'll be posting my progress throughout the day.  Also, I'll be announcing the winner of the October Magic pattern later this afternoon.  Zinnie is still trying to decide how to pick a winner.

Soon,

Lynn

Christmas Quilt Along Winner

Hello Again,

Eleven of you signed up on Mister Linky to participate in the Christmas Quilt Along.  We had to figure out a fair way to turn Zinnie into a random generator again.  So here's what we did.  All of the names were written on Zinnie's favorite doggie cookies, and placed into an egg carton.

Zinnie posing and smiling for the camera.

Zinnie contemplating Quilt Sue's name.....

.....and Quilt Sue it is!!!!  Round of apaws!!!!  You have to move fast when photographing a 3-year-old, so this picture is a little out of focus.

Sue, I'm sure Zinnie enjoyed her doggie cookie just as much as you are going to enjoy your 1/4 cuts of Christmas fabric which will be flying across the pond to you on Monday.

Thank you all for participating in the activities today.  Special thanks to Sue for designing such a beautiful quilt for the Quilt Along.  After checking out all of the Festive Mystery Quilts on everyones blog, now I want to make one too!  I just need to find about five more hours in each day.............

Soon,

Lynn

Christmas Quilt Along - Post #5

Hello Again,

I took a small break to go to the car show downtown. Mr. Joe's car is entered in the show, so I went to be with him for a little while.

When I'm not answering email or looking at cars, I've been working on a new pillow pattern using the Sentiments fabric from 3 Sisters for Moda.  The top will finish off at 18" square.  You know, this would make a nice quilt block too......hhhmmmmmm. 

I started out by framing the center section, with plaid of course!

Then I made up a batch of double flying geese.

They went around next.

Another strip of tone-on-tone red.  I could have stopped here for a 16" pillow.  But you know me, it had to have a flange!

A plaid flange!

Hope all of your Christmas projects are going along well.

Soon,

Lynn

Christmas Quilt Along - Post #4

Hello Again,

So what am I working on today for the Christmas Quilt Along?  Mixey Mittens....or Mixed-Up Mittens.....whatever.  Now, you can make some mittens too! 

Mr. Joe made this nice little stand for me out of a wine barrel stave and some dowels.  I'll be able to display them on the dining room table or on the mantle.

All of these mittens will become permanent gift tags.  After the present is opened, the tag can become an ornament for your Christmas tree.

My twin granddaughters were over the other day, and they made the tags for me in their special, holiday printing.

If you would like a copy of this pattern (today only), make a comment on this post and tell me your state and country, and I'll email you a pdf file of the pattern.  I'd love to see just how far the mittens are going to travel.  Remember if you are a 'no-reply' status, there is no way I can contact you.  If you don't want to make a comment, send an email to patched55@comcast.net and I'll send you a copy too.

Let's get these mittens traveling around the world looking for a match!

Soon,

Lynn

P.S. Go to post #1, and check in to see what everyone is working on today during the Christmas Quilt Along.

Christmas Quilt Along - Post #3

Hello Everyone,

Is your Christmas music on?  Mr. Joe is at a car show downtown today, so I can have the Christmas music playing just as loud as I want without anyone thinking I'm a bit crazy.  There also aren't any exaggerated, ocular circle movements coming from Mr. Joe!

Here is the giveaway for those of you signed up on Mister Linky on post #1 and are participating in the Christmas Quilt Along.  It isn't too late to get your name on the list.  Also, go to Mister Linky and check out what everyone else is working on today.

These are 1/4 yard cuts from some of my favorite fabrics that I use in my projects.  Plaids, plaids and more plaids.  I had to throw the tone-on-tone red in the mix just to calm it down.

So what are you waiting for? Sign up, and my dog Zinnie, will pick a winner tonight!

Soon,

Lynn

July Christmas Quilt-A-Long Post #2

Hello Everyone,

Christmas is all about traditions.  Establishing and maintaining traditions keeps the family unit strong and connected to the past while looking ahead to future generations.  We honor our loved ones by making their recipes, and using their serving dishes.  Why wait for a special occasion?  Isn't every day of life a day to celebrate?

For the last 40+ years, my sister Gail, has been making batches and batches of short bread for friends and family. The recipe is in our Grandma Ross' beautiful handwriting. (The Palmer Penmanship Method is a lost art.) Now, her recipe calls for butter, and you know me and butter if you follow this blog. This is the only time I will tell you to use margarine....there, I've said it....margarine not butter for this recipe.  I wish I could send all of you a little tin full of shortbread.

Grandma Ross' Short Bread

1/2 cup butter (or margarine)

2 tablespoons powdered sugar

1 cup flour

1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Cream butter and gradually add the powdered sugar.  Work in the flour. Blend in the walnuts.

Chill the dough for at least 1 hour.  Roll and cut into tiny rounds.

Bake in a 325 degree slow oven between 15 to 25 minutes. (Keep in mind she baked in an old wood stove.)  Bake until faintly light brown. 

While hot, roll in powdered sugar and serve 

(My sister quadruples this recipe!)


My sister said, "I think of Grandma every time I make this and think that she would be really pleased that I carry on her tradition. This is year 43! It brings back all the memories of all the fun times we had with her, not just at Christmas but all during the year." The family cookbook idea was actually started by our mother, Edith Ross Marshall when she gathered all of the family recipes together that had been passed down to her.

This short bread melts in your mouth. Betcha' can't eat just one! I should also tell you that we call them "Polar Bear Farts." Sorry about that and I hope it doesn't ruin it for you, but the little kids love asking if they can have another Polar Bear Fart. Grandma Ross, your baking tradition is alive and well, but I'm not sure if you would approve of your great-great-grandchildren saying the word fart!

We know that you are feasting at a bountiful table while listening to a heavenly choir of angels. We know you brought the short bread!
Check back for more surprises throughout the day.  Make sure you also follow-up with Mr. Linky on my first post of the day and see what everyone else is making today.  Also, those of you that sign up will be entered to win this.........check back to see what you could win!

Soon,

Lynn