Still Moving

This is the new house in the middle of wheat country in eastern Washington. Built in 1899.  I just love the charm of a country home. We have been fixing and painting. I have been camping out for the last couple of months. Just got the internet but the phone still doesn't work. I was starting to feel like I had dropped off the grid. Still cant use the kitchen sink but at least the bathroom works (thank heaven for small blessings). We have been pulling up old linoleum and tearing off layers of wallpaper. Fixing stair and deck railings. Did I mention painting and more painting? Nothing perks up a place like a fresh coat of paint.

All the furniture is still at the old house and all the little stuff in boxes is here at the new one. All my fabric and my machines are boxed up waiting for their new home to be finished. Do you hear that noise.....I can hear them murmuring because it has been so long since they have had any attention.

The new job is great and the house will be awesome when we get done.

The winner of the Sock Hop Blog Hop Island Batik giveaway is:

JulieJanuary 24, 2015 at 4:41 PM

Love the batik fabrics and your block. The book I would choose is #B10452 Japanese Inspirations. I have a large stash of Asian themed fabrics waiting for just the right pattern.

Well Julie it looks like you will have an opportunity to choose a pattern to use your beautiful fabrics with. I love oriental fabrics, they are so pretty and elegant. Enjoy your book. Thank you everyone for entering. I don't have access to a personal computer during the week so I am unable to respond but I do appreciate the comments. Here is a little review of the book.

The tranquil beauty of Japan is captured in 18 quilted accessories that combine the traditional fabrics and motifs of the East with the ease and versatility of techniques from the West. This extraordinary collection of home-decor accents and gifts will add a touch of Japanese elegance to any room. Includes:

• Eighteen beautiful projects, such as small wall hangings, pillows, full-size quilts, and room screens that feature popular Japanese-style fabrics
• Step-by-step chapters arranged by season, offering a unique set of designs and colors for every time of year • A sizeable pattern library with over 50 traditional Japanese motifs to trace, reduce, or enlarge

Another Star in the Summertime

Welcome to my blog post for Island Batiks Sock Hop Blog Hop!

I saw this star on pinterest and thought I would like to make it so I followed the link to Solistice Stars Series. (You can find a good tutorial there also.) This is what she had to say about the block. "This star is from Barbara Brackman’s book The Encyclopedia Of Pieced Quilt Patterns,page 347 and is attributed to Beth Gutcheon’s Perfect Patchwork Primer." I also found it in Jenny Beyers book "The Quilter's Album of Patchwork Patterns: 4050 Pieced Blocks for Quilters.

 

 

I used Island Batiks line In the Summertime aren't they just the prettiest fabric. I think I am becoming addicted to Batiks. To tell you the truth when they first started to become popular I wasn't sure whether I really liked them but now they are the second to the top of my favorites list, the first being oriental fabrics. Below you will find the cutting instructions and if you would like a tutorial click on the link above for Solistic Stars. It actually is a very easy block to do and turns out quite nice.

Pattern Piece			Fabric
Center	Cut 1	4-1/8” x 4-1/8”	Background/White
Strips	Cut 3	5-1/8″ x 1-1/2”	Print/Color
Short Strip A	Cut 1	4-1/8” x 1-1/2”	Print/Color
Short Strip B	Cut 1	1-1/2” x 1-1/2”	Same color as Short Strip A
Block Corners	Cut 4	4-1/2” x 4-1/2”	Background/White
Star Points	Cut 4	3-5/8” x 3-5/8”	Print/Color
HST Background	Cut 2	3-5/8” x 3-5/8”	Background/White

Here is the finished top

I am next to the last day of the Blog Hop but if you have missed any of the blocks, here is the list.
1/12 – Island Batik –
1/13 – Susan Vassallo Quilting Arts – Topsy Turvey Log Cabin
1/14 – Freemotion by the River – 54-40 in Running Water
1/15 – Beaquilter – Hunter Star in Crimson Tide
1/16 – One Quilting Circle – Flying Geese
1/17 – Mary Mack’s Blog – Sisters Choice in Down in the Boondocks
1/18 – Happy Cottage Quilter – Nine Patch in Johnny B Goode
1/19 – Kauffman Designs – Drunkard’s Path in Downtown
1/20 – Tamarinis – Pinwheel in Saturday Night Fever
1/21 – Bejeweled Quilts – Maple Leaf in La Bamba
1/22 – Six Gables Designs – Friendship Star in Full Bloom
1/23 – Purrfect Spots – Duck and Ducklings in No Particular Place to Go
1/24 – Inchworm Fabrics – Another Star in In the Summer Time
1/25 – Sew Fresh Quilts – Stepping Stones in Cry Me a River

Island Batik has a give away, so don't forget to enter here.
I will be giving away a book of your choice from my store Inchworm Fabrics. So go there and tell me which one you would like to win and for a second entry become a follower or tell me you already are one. I will pick a winner next Saturday. Thank you so much for joining us in the fun of this blog hop.

SOCK HOP BLOG HOP STARTS TODAY!!!!!!

Welcome to Island Batiks Sock Hop Blog Hop! The Island Batik Ambassadors and Designers are excited to share their brand new fabrics with you. These fabrics debuted at Fall International Quilt Market in October of 2014 and you’ll start seeing them pop up in your favorite local quilt shops this month! 

Why the “Sock Hop Blog Hop”? We know, it’s a bit of a tongue twister! We wanted to have fun with the color groupings in this line, each of which is named after a song you might have heard at a sock hop. Continuing with the “classic” theme, all of our bloggers have picked their favorite “oldie but goodie” block to share with you! Brush up on your old favorites or discover a few new ones. You’ll see each block used in a fabulous project to get you inspired!
Here’s the schedule of bloggers, blocks, and fabrics. Don’t miss a day!
1/12 – Island Batik –
1/13 – Susan Vassallo Quilting Arts – Topsy Turvey Log Cabin
1/14 – Freemotion by the River – 54-40 in Running Water
1/15 – Beaquilter – Hunter Star in Crimson Tide
1/16 – One Quilting Circle – Flying Geese
1/17 – Mary Mack’s Blog – Sisters Choice in Down in the Boondocks
1/18 – Happy Cottage Quilter – Nine Patch in Johnny B Goode
1/19 – Kauffman Designs – Drunkard’s Path in Downtown
1/20 – Tamarinis – Pinwheel in Saturday Night Fever
1/21 – Bejeweled Quilts – Maple Leaf in La Bamba
1/22 – Six Gables Designs – Friendship Star in Full Bloom
1/23 – Purrfect Spots – Duck and Ducklings in No Particular Place to Go
1/24 – Inchworm Fabrics – Another Star in In the Summer Time
1/25 – Sew Fresh Quilts – Stepping Stones in Cry Me a River


And don’t forget to enter Island Batiks hop giveaway – two beautiful bundles of batiks from this new line!

Coming.....In the Summertime...Strawberry Fields!!!!!

Join Island Batik for a Sock Hop Blog Hop this January! They’ll be showcasing their fabulous new fabrics (coming soon to your favorite local quilt shop!) in classic blocks used in a variety of projects.
You’ll start at Island Batik and hop your way though blogs authored by Island Batik ambassadors and bloggers like me. It’ll be a feast for the eyes, that is for sure!

Come back on the 24th of January and see what I do with Strawberry Fields. It is so pretty I will have a hard time cutting it up.

Holiday Blog Blitz

A True Southern Classic and the holidays wouldn't be complete without the Banana Pudding

it is a southern thing transplanted in the Northwest, a tradition I continued with my own children, who knows if they do it for their kids but they get it when they come to my house. The kids love it fresh and warm, made from the recipe on the back of the Vanilla Wafer box. Below is the original recipe. No box pudding will do it has to be homemade because nothing else tastes as good. Merry Christmas and thanks for joining our Holiday Blog Blitz and enjoy the pudding as much as I do.

Original Nilla Banana Pudding

Ready in: 60 mins.

Layers of Nilla wafers, creamy pudding and fresh banana slices
are the stars of this American classic.

3/4 cup sugar, divided
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
Dash salt
3 eggs, separated
2 cups milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
45 NILLA Wafers, divided
5 ripe bananas, sliced (about 3 1/2 cups), divided
Additional NILLA Wafers and banana slices, for garnish


1. Mix 1/2 cup sugar, flour and salt in top of double boiler.
Blend in 3 egg yolks and milk. Cook, uncovered, over boiling water,
stirring constantly for 10 to 12 minutes or until thickened. Remove
from heat; stir in vanilla.

2. Reserve 10 wafers for garnish. Spread small amount of custard
on bottom of 1 1/2-quart casserole; cover with a layer of wafers
and a layer of sliced bananas. Pour about 1/3 of custard over
bananas. Continue to layer wafers, bananas and custard to make
a total of 3 layers of each, ending with custard.

3. Beat egg whites until soft peaks form; gradually add remaining
1/4 cup sugar and beat until stiff but not dry. Spoon on top of
pudding, spreading evenly to cover entire surface and sealing well
to edges.

4. Bake at 350°F in top half of oven for 15 to 20 minutes or
until browned. Cool slightly or refrigerate. Garnish with
additional wafers and banana slices just before serving.

Makes 8 servings

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION per serving
287 calories, 6 g protein, 50 g carbohydrate, 7 g total fat,
2 g saturated fat, 117 mg cholesterol, 134 mg sodium,
1 g dietary fiber.

Preparation Time: 30 mins.
Cook Time: 15 mins.
Cooling Time: 15 mins.
Total Time: 60 mins.

_________________________________________________________

This recipe courtesy of Back of the Box Recipes.
www.backofthebox.com Home Page

This recipe created by Nabisco and enjoyed by all.

Beatle Bag

Wow is this a busy time of year or what?

I finished off all my presents and got the last of them sent on Thursday. I just have a few little things that I need to do for work.

I was at a Baazar earlier in the year and saw these bags called IN A PICKLE. They are such a clever bag. It is designed with clear zipper pouches that contain emergency stuff for when you are in a pickle. I thought that there had to be a pattern out there for something similar and guess what.......... I found something.... ya who........Have you seen these Beatle Bags by Abby Lane Quilts? I made one for Christmas for one of the daughter in laws (I can tell because I am pretty sure she doesn't read my blog, she is a non sewer and I would faint from shock if she did). It took me longer to make it than I really thought I had time for but it turned out great. Now to make one for myself but you know how that goes, it will just end up on my to do list. But then again the second time around would be a charm.