What Did You Do on National Quilting Day?

Which was yesterday - in case you didn't know.

It dawned on me in the morning that half of the month was gone and I hadn't even started on the quilting goals that I had already moved from February to March.  I decided National Quilting Day would be a good time to make an effort.

This scrappy log cabin quilt, which I put together last August, was one that I had hoped to quilt and bind.

Then I realized the reason I kept avoiding it was because I really wanted it to be bigger.  At 42x56 it might be nice enough for a child's napping quilt but I'd rather have it large enough for me - or someone closer to my size at least.

So yesterday I set about to add another column and another row to it.   It's now 56 x 70 - good enough.

I'll put the quilting and binding on my list of April goals while I decide what would work as a backing.  Til then I need to spend some time cleaning up the mess I made of my sewing room on National Quilting Day.

February's Lack of Progress

I didn't meet any of the sewing goals I posted for February -- didn't do a stitch.  For two of the weeks, I was busy helping to care for my mom after she had a fall.  We finally got her settled into a nursing home on Friday to get some therapy.  I don't know what my excuse could be for the rest of the month - I just kept procrastinating.  And it was a short month.

But the month wasn't a total loss.  I did manage to finish two small weaving projects.  My first attempts at weaving - and I really enjoyed it.

 I used a blue and white striped sheet for this one - strips cut on the bias.  I like the design that was created from the stripes.  The gold/white part was also a striped sheet, but was cut on the straight grain.

 They're both about the same size - perfect for a small table runner.

I'll shove the February goals into March and see if I have better luck.  It is a longer month.

February Photo Hunt - Day 5: RED

February Photo Hunt Day 2 - Entrance

The entrance to  my basement doesn't get used very often - it's unusual to have it shoveled out.  I cringe if I have to go through here - spiders and cobwebs take over from lack of use.  This week I had a flood in my basement so I had to sweep out the cobwebs for the guy who grinds roots out of sewer lines.  Actually I swept it out a few days earlier when I purchased a new washing machine -- thinking my old one had caused the flood.  Next week has to be better.

Getting it Done in January

Here are my completed quilting goals for January - I managed to finish all of them.  Wouldn't it be nice if the rest of 2013 would be that productive.

I finished quilting the blue quilt in the middle - and got all three bound.  The two on the right are waiting to see if the February grandbaby will be a boy or a girl.

I also made another baby boy quilt - and passed it on to a new great nephew to snuggle.

I even managed to get started on what may be a QOV.

Even more fun than meeting my goals was the opportunity to take a weaving class at the Calumet Art Center.  It's always fun to learn a new craft.  Many years ago my dad made a table loom and it's been sitting in my attic waiting for me to retire.

It may sit there a bit longer.  Apparently it went to the attic via the old stairway that has since been made into a closet.  It's a bit too wide to fit through my newer drop down stairway.

Fortunately I was able to rent a loom at the art center to work with.  Here's what I have done so far - what a fun way to use up some of my quilting scraps!

 My goals for February:

1. Finish my weaving project.
2. Baste and quilt low value log cabin quilt
3. Baste and quilt one more baby quilt.
4. Baste one more quilt top - not sure yet which one I'll pick.

I think its doable!

What's Cooking Wednesday - Week 5

I did consider wimping out on this one - after all, tofu was the ingredient!  Never tasted it and it wasn't on my bucket list.  I decided to give it a try anyway and dug around on the internet trying to find something that I thought I could handle.  I came up with this recipe for Tofu Chocolate Mousse from Martha Stewart.

It was very easy to make and wasn't that hard to eat, although it wasn't as sweet as I like my sweets.  A little dollop of whipped cream helped that.  I'm linking up to Judy at Patchwork Times - check there to see what recipes you can try using tofu!

I continue trying to "find the time" in 2013.  In addition to trying new recipes, one goal I had now that I'm retired was to go through some of the crafty books I've purchased over the years and try something new.  For my first attempt, I dug out this book and used the technique to make a little chair pad.

It was a fun to try something new - and it took about 50 feet of 3/16" rope for that little pad.

What's Cooking Wednesday - Week 4

The ingredient for this week was cream style corn.  Rarely would you find that in my cupboard, but I was willing to give it a try.  I decided to dig through my "family cookbooks" to see what I could find.

In the Tormanen family cookbook, I found a recipe for Corn Squash Bake -

1/4 c chopped onion
1 stick melted butter
1 can cream corn
1 (10 oz) pkg frozen squash
1 1/2 sleeves crushed saltine crackers
3/4 c shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 c shredded mozzarella cheese
1 c French onion rings

Saute 1/4 cup chopped onion and 1/2 stick butter.
Add corn, squash, and 1 sleeve of crushed saltine crackers.  Cook until squash is well mixed into corn mixture.
Mix in 3/4 cup shredded cheese (save about 1/4 cup for top).
Place in a 2 quart baking dish.
Cook in a skillet 1/2 stick of butter, 1/2 sleeve crushed saltine crackers and French onion rings.  Place on top of corn bake.
Bake 350 uncovered for 20 minutes.

It didn't specify in the recipe when to put the 1/4 cup of saved cheese on top.  I added it before baking - I might try next time to add it after 15 minutes.
I wasn't able to find frozen squash, so I baked an acorn squash and used that.

I really enjoyed the blend of the corn and squash taste - I'll most likely try this recipe again.

It doesn't look much different than my corn and cabbage dish from 2 weeks ago does it!?

You can find more recipes using cream style corn over at Patchwork Times.

Oh dear - I see the ingredient for next week is Tofu!  I may wimp out on that one!