Hands2Help Next Step

Whew! I've finally managed to sandwich and machine quilt my two choices in this endeavor. Needless to say, I was terrified of messing thing up but I was encouraged to try.

Here are some of the steps I did to sandwich the quilt tops.

Measure out the backing and press it . I know it doesn't look pressed but it is.

Using "masking tape" tape the edges of your backing to whatever surface stretching it taunt as shown. 

Lay batting next. I tend not to tape the batting but I'm sure that some do.

Next I lay the quilt top on and using the large safety pins, pin all layers together before removing the tape and relocating the sandwich at my sew machine.

 

 

  I meandered each quilt and was fairly happy with the outcome.
Binding is next and then labeling.

The quilts are quilted and the binding is all done.

I went with a unique labeling. Since I'm donating to Hands2Help, I decided to make a hand for each quilt as labels.

 

 

 

No-Reply Blogger - Now I Understand

I hope that everyone who had not understood some of the visitors to "Blogger" who's left a comment but "Blogger" hasn't been receptive to allow responds......you really need to

read why from AMY.

She will totally enlighten you!!
This heads up came to me by way of
Daryl.
Thank you so much girlfriend.

Did you read her post yet????  If not, pop over and get a better understanding.
There are others who leave commenst on blogger such as the "OpenID" that we have no way of communicating with once that person has left a comment.
With all the technology, why can't these computer gizmo thingys just get along.....sigh
Anyone else feeling my frustration???
 

A is for Aardvark - BOW - "T"

Block "T"

 

 

The winner of the Green Turtle is 

Minding Momma!

 

Congratulations to you. Leave a comment and we'll get together via email.

 

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This tropical fish needs a home. Just leave a comment for this lovely mug rug and your name will be placed in the hat!!

 I'll announce a winner May 23rd.

Mug Rug Frenzy

I can't stop!

I just can't stop myself from making mug rugs.

You'd think I'd be finishing some of those larger UFO projects that really needs to be completed but noooo.....

Here are the ones I've just completed.

They will appear as give aways one of these THURSDAY's.

I love naming my mug rugs. It helps me keep up with what I've done in a series like the owls because I've made several versions or if the rug is unusual or unique.

 

Apple Core Mug Rug

Blackbird Mug Rug

Shoe Fetish Mug Rug

Barn Owl Mug Rug

High Seas Mug Rug

 

No fabric was purchased in the makings of any mug rug. However my scraps and stash of fabrics have not diminished one iota........how this is possible, I do not know...LOL

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Remember, there's still time to get in on the

Turtle mug rug give away before tomorrow. The deadline ends at midnight tonight.

 

Just leave a comment at this LINK and you're in the hat for the Turtle!!

 

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Become a "FOLLOWER" of my blog and you will be eligible for a great upcoming give-away that will blow you away.  If you are already a "FOLLOWER"..... no worries for you.

International "FOLLOWERS" are welcome.....meaning,

 I mail overseas, as well.

 

 

DMW

Design Wall Mondays always inspire me to get something done in the way of sewing. As most of you know, I've been into mug rug making this year. They are fun, quick to make and I love giving them away each Thursday.
I've made about 40 and with each I've started to expand my skills. I see them as my way of expressing the art side of me.
Here are two that are in the works now. I still need to get them stitched, quilted and bound.

 

 The hand below is a label I've made for the two Hands2Help quilts that I'll be mailing off very soon. I went with it instead of the tradition rectangle or square label just to add a little something extra.

 

Make sure you pop over to Judy's to see what others are doing on DWM.

 

A is for Aardvark - BOW - "S"

Block "S"

 

The winner of the Rhinoceros is  number

Laura

Congratulations to you. Just leave a comment and we'll exchange info via email.

 

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Green Turtle is the next mug rug up for grabs. Leave a comment and you're in the hat!

I'll announce the winner May 16th.

 

DWM

To see what others are up to, pop over to

 Judy's

for a closer look.

I learned about this wonderful project from this LINK.

With the various situations, tragedies and worries that have occurred lately, Sandra and Sandi came up with this small heart warming project.

I chose a heart design. I wanted it to be vivid. The rest of the design was to be in shades of gray so that the piece would standout.

I used fabrics from my stash. Robert Kaufman's Fusions; Windham Fabrics-Civil War by Nancy Gene and other scraps.

I wanted the wording to fade from darkness to light.

"From Tragedy to Hope"

was what I chose. "Hope" is done in two shades of yellow. 

Sprinkling the monochromatic gray, black and white flowers added to the piece.

Now I'll need to sandwich everything then quilt it. The finished piece should

 measure 12 inches square.

 

All done!

 

Saturday Dinner

I woke up thinking about today's dinner because yesterday a friend and I visited a natural foods market and decided to purchase an exotic meat, Elk. A friendly stocker-guy  told us how he prepares it and encouraged us to try it. So when I got home the first thing I did was make a marinate and tossed the Elk meat in over night.
Marinate Recipe (this is one I love and there's really not any measuring but I'll try to simplify)

I know you can't really see the Elk but it is ready to grill.

• 3 teaspoons brown sugar
• 3 to 5 teaspoons Balsamic vinegar
• salt/pepper to your liking - at this point I substitute my special mixture of fajita, pepper, Accent, garlic salt and onion salt.
• mix well then pour into a zip-loc bag and add the Elk or any game meat. This marinate also works great on flank steak, pork roast and even a roasting type hen. Marinate overnight or at least a few hours.
• Broil (500 degrees) or place on the grill (medium heat) 10 to 13 minutes each side or to your liking.
• After removed from head, allow to rest 5 minutes before slicing across the grain.

 

The morning is was still young. Looking in the frig, I stumbled upon one of my favorite veggies, so an idea struck.  I'll make an Eggplant casserole (my way, of course).

• 1 Eggplant, sliced
• 2 goose-neck squash, sliced (optional0
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 cup grated cheese (I use Colby/Monterey Jack but you can use whatever type that you prefer)
• 1 can spaghetti sauce

Layer Eggplant, squash, onion, cheese and sauce in baking dish sprinkling salt/pepper as you go.

Side view.

This is what it looks like before covering with foil and baking in 325 degree oven for one and a half hours.

All finished and ready to eat.....

YUMMY!!

 

A is for Aardvark - BOW - "R"

 

I'm having trouble with raccoons eating at my bird feeder.  I'm thinking of using drastic measures very soon.....don't ask!!

Block "R"

 

The winner of the Wasp Mug Rug is 

Lesthook!! Congratulations to you.

 Leave a comment so that we can get together via email to get your home address.

 

 

 

 

The next mug rug is one of my favorites. I just love this rhinoceros. He is so cute. Remember, I'm trying very hard to bust some of my stash and as we all know, scraps do not go away, they multiply ten-fold.

If you'd like a chance at this little guy, leave a comment and you're in the hat!! 

I'll announce the winner May 9th.

Teapot #10

I am posting Teapot #10 a day early.

It is one of my favorites because of the green fabrics I used to make it.

This is not a good photo but you can get an idea of its shape. A link to the pattern is on my Sidebar, on my BOW page found at the top of my blog and just in case things go wrong.....

a link HERE!

One can't be too sure.

Enjoy!

Only two more teapots to go.

 

At Last

Pop over the Judy's to see what other are up to on this Design Wall Monday.

I finally finished the last barn. I totally loved this whole process from.....in my head, to drafting/sketching, to tracing, to choosing fabrics, to the actual blocks.

This may be my favorite barn.

Which is your favorite and why? I'd love to know what you're thinking.

This barn design is free to copy.

 

 



A is for Aardvark - BOW - "Q"

Block "Q"

Okay, so this one was a stretch .......LOL.... I thought about a quail but this was more fun!!

 

 

And the winner for the Letter "C" is

 

Gill

 

Congratulations! Leave a comment and we'll get together via email.

 

 

"Eek Insect!"

................ is the next mug rug to give away. As most of you know,

 I live in the country (woods) and I love it but living here does have some scary drawbacks like...... snakes, bugs, ants, wild hogs, aggressive squirrels, hungry garden rabbits,

diving hummingbirds, crazed buzzards, zipper spiders, lizards...........I could go on and no but you get the picture. Anyway, this is my way of dealing with my outside world

by making them from fabric.

Just leave a comment and you're in the hat for this little critter.

 

 

Remember, each Thursday I'm doing a mug rug give away. It doesn't matter how many times you've won a rug, you are welcome to participate.

International viewer are welcome.

 

 

 

Barn #4 Plus Tutorial

I decided to show a little of the process I use when making these blocks.

First, sketch out the design, which may have just the basics. This one is very basic. I tend to add to it later only in fabric form.

(This is a free design that I'm sharing with everyone)

After tracing out the design parts onto my favorite adhesive....say it with me...Steam-a-Seam.....you all know me so well....I then choose fabrics from my stash that best represents what I'm seeing in my head, which is a scary thought, indeed!!

After cutting the pieces out, I press the barn pieces together when at all possible. A tentative  background is chosen and auditioned.

I am not liking this one at all. Hummmmm, back to the stash.

This is more appealing but not quite it, yet.

I like to play around with the slanted options which, in this case, looks like fields in the background.

The blue clouds fabric I'm using is the back side. It's a little more subtle than the right side.

I've turn one corner over so that you can see the difference. I often use the back side of fabrics. A quilter spoke about it years ago. I think it was Mary Ellen Hopkins who did a lecture about the wrong side of fabric. Click on the photo to make it larger.

At this point, I have not pressed anything to the background. I'm looking at it from several angles. I also take a photo of it to see if it needs any changes. You'd be surprised how helpful that little tip is to us quilters.

This is the final version and I've pressed it down. I like it a lot.

I am trying not to buy much fabric this year. Of course there are times that my stash doesn't have the correct green, blue, tone on tone, red, black..... oh, sorry. You know how that goes.

I have one more block to make and then I'm calling it quits. After that, I'll get into how I want to place each barn, what are my filler blocks going to be, will I add something to tie the blocks all together.......woooo, I head is spinning!!!

Four so far