Little Baskets

Hello Everyone,

I've gathered lots and lots of Civil War fabrics together and started making little 5" basket blocks for the newest design.

I've been playing around with fabric and trying to decide on the fabric for the setting triangles.....the blue won over a brown.

I design by the seat of my pants.  I have a basic idea and sketch, but I change it completely by the time the quilt reaches the final stage.

It's a dynamic process.....always in the state of change before it gets to a state of grace. 

When I design, I toss blocks and fabric up on the design wall and literally see what "sticks".  If I don't like what I see, I put the blocks away, and they may appear in a different design.  These little baskets could be a stand alone quilt.....and that just might happen! 

This medallion quilt is going to have several rows between the center and the baskets blocks.  I somehow got ahead of myself.  I just knew I wanted to have the little 5" blocks in this quilt.  It still remains to be seen just where their final resting spot is going to be.

I'm off to the shop this morning to teach Scrappy Leaves by Ilene Bartos.  This quilt is easier than it looks but it is fabric intensive.  I used over 120 different batiks.  If this quilt doesn't get you in the fall spirit, nothing will! 

Enjoy your day.  Make some leaves, rake some leaves, or jump in a pile of leaves.  Be a kid again.

Soon,

Lynn
P.S. Way to go Giants! 

Recipe Time

 

Hello Everyone,

 

I haven't been quilting much, but a girl's got to eat!  We had lots of good family time over the weekend....no time for quilting.

 

Last night I fixed a new recipe for dinner that is worth sharing. 

 



 

Pasta with Pancetta and Arugula

1/2 lb. orchiette pasta
1 (3 oz.) package diced pancetta
2 medium shallots, peeled and thinly sliced
1/4 cup chopped garlic
1/4 cup butter
1/3 cup chopped, smoked, sun-dried tomatoes
3 cups coarsely chopped arugula
1-1/2 cups shredded Parmesan cheese
2 tbsp. pine nuts, toasted
Salt and pepper to taste

Cook pasta according to package directions.  While pasta is cooking, saute pancetta, shallots, and garlic in a skillet over medium heat for about 10 minutes.  Remove from skillet and keep warm.

Melt butter in same skillet over medium heat.  When butter begins to foam, cook for 1 minute more until golden brown, being careful not to burn.  Add pancetta mixture, tomatoes and cooked pasta to skillet; cook for a minute more to heat through.  Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Stir in arugula, cheese and pine nuts and toss lightly.  We loved the flavor of all the special ingredients from the pine nuts to the smoked, sun-dried tomatoes.

A loaf of bread and a glass of wine......and you're good!  I figured my greens were in the pasta so I didn't need to make a salad.

I did straighten up my sewing room.  It gets to the point that I can't find anything and my workspace was getting buried.....so......clean up time for me.  Back to quilting this week.

Soon,

Lynn

P.S. Go Giants....one more time!

Halloween Pillow

 

Hello Everyone,

 

I get some of my best ideas in the shower or in the middle of the night.....Halloween pillows from my Christmas pillow pattern was the idea that recently hit me in the middle of the night.



 

I put this on my quilting machine so I could be a little fancier with my quilting.  One of my daughters-in-law loves to decorate for Halloween, so this will make a nice Christmas present for her to use next year.  I love adding a touch of purple in my Halloween projects.

You know you can find anything online.  I found some great, FREE images HERE at Magic Moonlight Studio.  There are some wonderful vintage postcards for Halloween and Christmas that you can download and use to make pillows, or a quilt, or use in other projects.

If you find an image you like, here are the steps to download it to your computer:

1)  Right-hand mouse click on the image
2)  Save the image somewhere on your computer where you can find it again
3)  Import the image into Microsoft Word
4)  Resize it to 5-1/2" X 7-1/2"
5)  Print the image on Printed Treasures fabric/paper in an inkjet printer on the highest quality setting

Now my sewing room is really a mess with Christmas fabric clashing with the Halloween fabric.  Today I need to spend some time organizing before we head off to watch our granddaughter cheer at the Pop Warner football game.  I love a football game on a crisp Autumn evening.  Who cares about the game, give me an apple cider and a hot dog, two of my grand kids, and I'm good!

Soon,

Lynn
P.S. GO GIANTS!  What a ballgame last night.