Memories...

I started this quilt probably 10-12 years ago. I promised myself I would only use fabric scraps I already had and not buy anything new so there are many memories here. I still have not quilted it because I thought I would hand quilt it (hahahahahaha) and now that I am loving machine quilting, I just need to get it done. I am no longer a fan of "traditional" quilt patterns but would still like to finish this and keep it. It fits a queen size bed, too! Maybe for a guest room quilt. The pattern is called Sawtooth Nine Patch and I made it from a book called "Quilts from America's Heartland".

Some of the fabric history on this quilt includes:

• The calico fabrics are from the early 80s from the quilt I started in 1981 for my then boyfriend.
• The dark blue batik is fabric I bought in Cameroun, W. Africa when I was doing missionary work there in 1986. I also made a dress from it which I still have.
  
• The blue floral is Liberty of London which I used to drool over in a shop in St. Louis where I grew up. I still remember buying this piece, off a big long spool. I made a blouse from it but don't even remember what it looked liken now. This is all that's left.
• The dark red Noah's Ark fabric is from a quilt shop in New Jersey where I lived in the early 1990s. I made pants and a vest for a niece or nephew from it.
• The dark green Christmas fabric was from a dress or skirt I made my niece (who is currently learning to drive, eek)

That's all you can really see on this photo. Look at all those little bitty pieces! How did I find the time and patience?

Spring Snow

I'm from the Midwest where we routinely got buried in huge snowstorms yet we always went to school and work and nothing shut down. Yet here I am today, working from home because it's snowing. Self-initiated. I could have driven in, even now, though they've predicted up to 22" the roads look fine. I feel like such a wimp.

After the heat went off, oops, I did turn it back up, I had to take a short break for a cup of hot chai and noticed the birds cleaning out the last of the peanuts in the feeder out the window.

What I really want to do is work on my next sewing project... later...

Sweet Quilt Finished

I finished this yesterday. I love the way it turned out, especially the birds on the back and binding. I had a big surprise after free motion quilting the whole quilt successfully, no problems, I realized I had not dropped the feed dogs for the quilting. I'm puzzled as to why I didn't have a problem moving the fabric then. I'll have to experiment.

Also, I did not pre-wash any of the fabrics on this. I washed the entire quilt after it was finished though. It worked beautifully. I think.

Ciabatta Success!

I finally found a bread that I may be able to make successfully each time! Ciabatta. It may be the recipe that I got from my bread class, I don't know, but this is the first bread from the class that I made that turned out perfect. It was SO good with butter right out of the oven. I had to stop my husband from eating it all so we could have some for today.

It's different from other bread making in that you don't really knead it. You mix it in a mixer (with dough hooks) and then when it's rising, you turn it with a spatula 2-3 times during the day (yes, an all day process). The dough is moister than other doughs. When you cook it, you actually slide it out of the bowl onto the baking sheet, you don't form the bread. Anyway, wish you could taste it!

Twitter and Blog Feature

I was featured here! What a nice article from Melanie at Fabric Shopper! Thanks!



I just joined Twitter, you can follow me by clicking on the Follow Me icon on this page. I'm still getting the hang of it. I feel rusty or something but I'm starting to get the hang of it!

Quilt Pattern Correction

If you downloaded the quilt pattern before 3/19/09, I forgot to add to the chart on the pieces you need to cut: 8 pieces of multi-dot fabric, 4 x 5.25. The download site has the updated pattern. Thanks for everyone who has commented and if you find any errors, feel free to let me know!

Tutorials and Patterns

Well, I've decided that I really love putting together patterns and tutorials so stay tuned for more. Next up is the smaller fishes quilt and then I'm going to have a Charm Pack pattern for the quilted tote bag. I love Charm Packs and you can also just cut your own squares if you want.



If you have any requests for any patterns from things you've seen that I've made (check my Flickr and Etsy shop), let me know!