I just can’t believe how fast this year is going…….one day the years will slow down and I will start getting more constructive things done with my days. My hand dyed kit didn’t arrive this week……so I don’t have to count it as stash…yet. Today was my normal quilt shop pick and drop day…….do you know how hard it is to resist buying fabric when you are in a fabric shop…..really tough…..really tough.
One of the treasures that jumped into my shopping bag today was a very very gorgeous peace of cotton/silk blend sateen…….oh is it luscious…..the only tough part was deciding what color. 
So I’m going to make a quilted tree skirt…I picked this to die for olive green….I’ve had the stencil for years so now its finally going to be used and I’ll have a tree skirt for Christmas that matches the living room. So on my list for this week…..mark the fabric!!!! So to the add column plus 1.25 yards.
At quilt shop #3 (I got out of #2 with nothing, thank God) there were some great looking blacks with gold metallic.
…..I found a very cute pattern at Houston so what good is a pattern without fabric……I actually have a bunch left from another project so I can call part of this a stash project…..so to the add column…… plus 1.5 yards.
In the use column….
..a whole lot of 9 patches are made……so I cut a bunch of strips and started sewing…..usually I don’t count until the top is completed but for this project I’m going to count as I go……so for this project I have cut 4.5 yards…….I’m really mixed on whether or not to show the project. I’m making it from a picture I seen……I haven’t purchased the pattern, heck I don’t even know the name of the quilt…..I’m just going to call it “A whole bunch of 9 patches”.
How do you all feel about that????? Am I violating a copyright by making a quilt without buying the pattern???? I know there will be a bunch of different opinions both for and against so tell me how you feel, your opinion will be greatly appreciated.
Purchased this week: 2.75 yards
Purchased YTD: 73.75 yards
Used this week: 4.5 yards
Used YTD: 85.5 yards
Net Used for the year: 11.25 yards
Mrs. Ninepatch Sewer.
Why is it that the older you get, the faster time flies. I wish that life would just slow down a bit…..I get things done but just not as many as possible.
International Quilt Festival was amazing……….it was my first major show and the quilts were amazing. There were all styles and degrees of perfection. I know now that I’m not sure I want to make a quilt just so it could hang in a show. I make common ordinary quilts and the quilts at the show were not common and ordinary. My favorite quilt was the Best of Show by Caryl Bryer Fallert. 
I had a class with her the next day and the back story that she provided about the quilt was even more amazing than the quilt. They say every quilt has a story and Caryl’s story is amazing. Sometimes the quilts are all about life and discovering or rediscovering yourself.
In the shopping department…..I didn’t do to bad……..the Houston Festival is a buyers paradise. Just about every quilting tool is there. I thought about getting the Go Cutter……I just couldn’t quite talk myself into it……it is an amazing tool and the booth always had a lot of people around it….I guess that was the “tool of the year” at Festival.
I also took classes while I was there. The teachers was awesome and I learned a bunch…..what was the best part for me, in the long arm department is…..I’ve been doing things right!!! I have been basically self-taught when it comes to long arming……there are no local classes available and once the dealer leaves after set up…..its just all you. The internet has been a valuable resource but nothing beats learning in person. I hope to take in more classes in the future……research and development will be figured into my yearly must haves.
So how have I been doing in the stash department since last reporting. I bought some at Houston…….those darn hand dyeds
get me every time….why can’t I resist them.
But this week I did get some sewing done, a small project with just the top completed
….I’ll be machine quilting it
this week….on my home machine with a tool to help in the process. You know, I started out quilting everything on my domestic sewing machine and because I love the machine quilting so much….that’s when I decided to move up to the long arm…..but I still do little things on my home machine……just to see if I can do it.
Purchased since last report 6 yards
Used since last report 1.5 yards
Given away as a gift .5 yards
YTD Purchases 71.0 yards
YTD used 81.0 yards
Net Used YTD 10 yards
I’m still in positive territory yet…this week I have a kit coming in that I ordered…..I seen it at Festival and it was just too good to pass up……of course…….its hand dyeds……….just to tough to resist.
This week I’m starting a long term project………a bunch of nine patches are going to be needed……..the project will all be from my stash so I will be reducing!!!!
later………..da Mrs.
I had the most amazing lunch with Vicki yesterday(Vicki is on the left). 
We are both attending the International Quilt Festival in Houston . She has a great blog that keeps the rest of us informed about what happening around the web. We were both on break from our classes. What she is working on in her class is amazing but she will get t share that with you.
Meeting Vicki has been a highlight of my trip.
Later………Mrs. I have more show to see
So far I have not been disappointed by Houston……Tuesday classes was on maintenance with Rick Taylor…..a very informative class and I found out I should be doing a few things differently than I have been doing, nothing bad just different. My other class was with the very lovely Gina Perkes……..her class was wonderful, I wish I had more time to take additional classes from her, such a treat with her down home attitude.
Todays class is with Caryl Bryer Fallert…..designing paper piecing….for those who don’t already know…….Caryl is the best of show winner at this years festival….I’ll post a picture tonight of her award winning quilt. Time to get on with my day
Karen
Yesterday (Monday) was great. I had three classes…….all lecture/teacher demo………all were great……learned alot…..one classs was a basic beginnner(yes I was too advanced for that class but I did learn something), another freeform feather(I won the door prize in that class which was the teacher sample, Yeah for me, had the teacher autograph that one) and a class on threads….the part that was the best was that it reaffirmed some of the stuff I already new. I’ve been longarm quilting for 6.5 years and this is the first time I’ve taken any classes……I have learned on the go….trial and error to get things to work. I’ve had some screwups along the way learning along the way. It was a good productive day. The toughest part of the day for me was having to sit…………..I usually don’t sit during the day….i’m standing or walking or generally moving…….sitting tough!!!!
Did you ever see the movie…..You’ve Got Mail………….you remember how the guy and the girl in the show were internet buddies……always commucating with each other but never really talking or knowing the other person……..well today…………I’m meeting someone who I’ve known….via the internet for a couple of years……..I look forward to it.
time for a shower and to get on with my day. tonight is the night when we find out who the big winnners are at Houston……..
later……Mrs I’m at Houston enjoying myself
But sitting there is class with three different teachers……I realized that I had been doing somethings right…….which makes me feel very good.
nothing used this week……nothing purchased. Since I’m getting on a plane soon heading to the Internalional Quilt Festival…..my report for next Sunday might not be very good…..the only thing in my favor…..tools don’t count on the stash report….so if I buy only tools I’ll be good on the report.
I’ll be updating this page with reports from Houston as time and service allows.
later………..Mrs. Leaving on a Jet plane….
When searching thru my mother’s old recipe box, this was one of our favorite during apple season.
Apple Cake
2 cups apples peeled and chopped
1 egg
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup pecans, chopped (optional)
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
Mix apples with egg and vegetable oil. Add the dry ingredients and blend well. Batter will be stiff. Place in a 9 inch pie plate sprayed with non-stick spray. Bake in 350 preheated oven for about 40-45 minutes until toothpick inserted comes out clean. This recipe can be doubled and put in a 9 by 13 can pan.
Caramel Sauce.
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup cream
1 Tablespoon flour
1 teaspoon vanilla
Mix flour and white sugar, add brown sugar, butter and cream into a saucepan. Boil for 1 1/2 minutes. Remove from heat and add vanilla.
To serve: Place the cake on a plate and drizzle caramel sauce (can warm in microwave) over the top. If you want you can also serve with a dallop of whipped cream.
enjoy, Karen
This weekend is the Indian Summer Quilt Show……this is the local guild even though its 60 miles away!!! I didn’t have any quilts that I made hanging in the show….but several clients did. One of my favorite quilts I did this year was this beauty. 
Rabbits Prefer Chocolate by Bunny Hill Designs. It has an Teachers Ribbon and The Guild Show Chairpersons ribbon……Carla should be really proud as she did a great job on this quilt.
Along with quilt shows, there are vendors……..I must say….I did really good in the stash enhancement catagory…….nothing was added…..I did have a tough time in the crystal booth….but I remember I hadn’t used the crystals I bought last year…….So I’ll have to add that to my list of things to finish in 2010!! I did buy a ruler and a book so I didn’t walk away empty handed.
This weeks report…….Nothing purchased……and for the second week in a row……..nothing used!!!!
later…………..Mrs. Will I ever Enhance the Stash Again
Over at Patchwork Times, Judy has issued a challenge to get our stashes organized. I’ve actually been working on that for four years….ever since we moved into our new home. So we have until the end of this year of get our stuff together and organized. Here’s the pictures of my pitiful stash, works in progress, and various other sewing stuff from back when I sewed clothes (I haven’t sewed any clothes in 13 years….when my DD realized you could buy clothes in a store already made..no more home sewed clothes for her)…..So I should just get rid of that part of my adventures!!!
You know I think I should just start
over and start with new fabric only buying what I need for the current
project.
So………Mission Impossible…………no just alot of time and maybe an investment in storage units.
Let’s see….did my daughter run away from home this summer…..and there is a whole bedroom just waiting to be turned into quilt studio……oh the plans to be made!!!
later…………Mrs. Stash Organizer
This lovely quilt came off my machine today. I’m not sure of the pattern as I was not told, I’m sure its from a book that is on the market now……
I tried something new in the center…….I’m not a fan of basic puzzle piece meander and I try to avoid it whenever possible. Lately I’ve been doing the basic meander and then going back over the design offsetting the second pass slightly and it gives the effect of a ribbon.
Today, I took this ribbon meander one step further. I added a double leaf to a few of the spots that cross over the first line of stitching.
In the first picture on the left below, you can see the basic meander done in black pen….
..in the second picture on the right, I’ve added the ribbon work with the leaves added. I didn’t add leaves on all the crossovers just every third or fourth depending on the amount of space I had. Please excuse my drawing ability as I can’t draw on paper…….but boy can I quilt!!!!
This is a new to me design…….I don’t think I’ve seen it before but in case its out there already please let me know who did it first so I can give credit. If I was fortunate to do it first, here’s your permission to use this all you want and you don’t have to give me credit, just enjoy it. Its fast easy and very forgiving.
Just incase your tired of hearing about a quilting adventure……..I also bake bread……here’s breakfast tomm morning……..Cinnamon Bread.
This is my Mother’s basic sweet bread dough recipe. As you know I’m baking my way thru my mother’s recipe box. Stay tuned for the recipe in a couple of days….I really like this method because the kneading in done in the bowl and the dough is so soft and easy to work with. I made in in a loaf pan tonight in the interest of time as I’m running out of energy fast tonight.
later………Mrs baking quilter
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