My Flaming 9-Patches

I've finished the binding on my Blooming 9-Patch. Steve decided my 9-patches didn't just bloom, they were flaming. I tend to agree. The colors are so bright and lively.

It will be displayed at the Comfortable Companions quilt show at Glad Creations. It will run from January 1-10. Go check it and you can see it in person.

Holiday Treats

While I was in Utah for Christmas, we made some great treats.

The first I'm calling White Chocolate surprise. We melted 3 bags of white chocolate chips in the microwave. We poured it over peanut butter filled pretzels, dried pineapple, apricots, cherries and blue berries, mixed nuts and Chex cereal. Mix it together and a yummy snack was born.

We also made Cranberry Swirl Cheesecake with Cranberry-Raspberry Compote. It was delicious! As you can see we baked it in a heart shaped spring-form for some extra love. The flavor is perfect for the holiday season.

Homemade Christmas

Happy St Steve's Day everyone!

Christmas was fun for me and a little merrier with some homemade presents. My sister, Martha, with her family and I visited Caroline and her family for Christmas.


I decided everyone needed a pillowcase. My sister Martha decided everyone needed a warm hat for Christmas. Caroline made everyone aprons. Mine is the coolest. Check out how well the hats, aprons and pillowcases turned out. I'm looking styling in my apron.

I've decided that homemade is the way to go when it comes to Christmas!

A Walk on the Wild Side

It is Scrap Tamers tomorrow at Glad Creations. If you have been following my blog you will know that I've been making lots of progress.

This past month month I finished 5 projects, Batik Jamestown, Four-Patch Fun, Nate's New Amish, Steve's Tree Skirt and 4 Farkle bags. I also put bindings on two quilts, my Blooming 9-Patch, and my Forever Friends. I also have my Bargellographix quilt at the quilters.

I'm also very excited about my new project. I've started a One-Block Wonder quilt using a Native Arts 2 fabric.

I finished my piecing the blocks. Now I wanted to lay them out and also make some hollow cube blocks.

I'm excited to see how it turns out.

My goal for this month is to finish the quilt top of the One-Block Wonder quilt. I also want to finish the bindings on Blooming 9-patch, Forever Friends and Bargellographix quilts.

It's a Keeper!

If Steve and I try a new recipe and it is tasty, he says, "It's a keeper." We just made Lamb and Winter Vegetable Stew. Let me tell you it was delicious. It has a great savory flavor.

There was nothing I would change and, yes, it is a keeper.

Sweet Dreams, Georgia!

My friend, Georgia, is now bedridden while her ankle heals. I made this pillowcase to brighten her days (and nights) in bed.

The pillow case is sewn like a sham. I got the pattern free at Glad Creations with the purchase of fabric for the pillowcase.

I think it turned out cute. Pillow cases make great Christmas presents.

I hope the pillowcase brings you sweet dreams, Georgia!

Farkling to the End!

I took a little time this week to make Farkle bags. Here is a link on instructions on how to play Farkle. I think the bags turned out cute and would work well as a gift bag. I took pictures as I made them, so I could give you all instructions.

I cut a 7" x14 1/2" piece of the focus fabric and a 7" X 18" piece of the accent fabric.









I sewed the the 7" edges of the focus fabric to the accent fabric. I pressed the seam toward the focus fabric. I matched up and pinned the seams and pressed to then ends. I stitched the ends leaving a two inch opening near the end of the accent fabric to turn the bag inside out. I also left a half inch opening on both sides at the seam between the two fabrics going into the accent fabric for the drawstring. I pressed the side seams open.

I turned the bag right side out and ironed it. I stitched to two inch opening closed.









I tucked the accent fabric inside of the focus fabric, matching the corners together. I pressed the top. I top stitched along the seam and half inch down at the bottom of the opening for the drawstring. I threaded the drawstring through the channel created by the top stitching, creating two complete loops that started at opposite sides of the bag.


You now have completed bags. Enjoy!

Steve's Skirt

This is the skirt Steve's tree used to wear at Christmas.

This is the skirt that Steve's tree wears now at Christmas after a makeover by Nathan.

Which do you like better?

The pattern is called "Gather 'Round the Tree", and comes from the 2007 issue of the "Quilt It for Christmas" magazine. It ends up being 64" in diameter, so it is a nice big tree skirt.

I got the fabric and started on tree skirt last year, but didn't finish in time for Christmas. I pulled it out this year and finished it up. The quilting was done by Kars Quilting Service. They did a great job!

I love the finished project. Merry Christmas Steve!

Nate's New Amish

Well, I finally finished my sixth and final binding from my previous posting. I love this quilt. I actually made it 6 or 7 years ago, at the beginning of my quilting career.

I designed the quilt, which I wanted to be an updated Amish look. I love how the bright colors play off the black fabric. As always, Carol's quilting makes the quilt. She did such an amazing job.

I'm calling the quilt "Nate's New Amish". What do you think?

If seeing this quilt has got you in the mood to work with solids, you are in luck. Glad Creations just got a new shipment of solids. Go check them out!