Flannel Carpenter's Star - Finished!

I just finished my largest quilt yet, measuring a finished 102 inches x 104 inches.   It is double batted with Hobbs Heirloom Premium Wool and a layer of Legacy Bamboo Blend Batting on the back.  The whole thing is flannel.  She's pretty heavy!  I expect it will be warm during cold winter nights.

And now for the binding.!  

I designed the quilt using Electric Quilt 7.  It's a simple pattern that shows off the quilting well and went together quickly.  The backing is a lovely tone-on-tone in grey, which I used in one of the borders then feathered around it to frame the inside medallion.  

I used Glide Cool Grey on both front and back.  Glide has become my 'Go To' for most of my quilting.  It's strong and doesn't cause a lot of dust or breakage during the stitch-out.  992,861 stitches in this baby and not one break! The quilt was finished using my Statler by Gammill combined with some ruler work.  The designs (and - of course - my inspiration) came from Bill Hibbett and Karen McTavish  (both from Legacy Quilting) and Christy Dillon from MyCreativeStitches.com.  I also used a Digitech Patterns from the Heart of my Heart collection in each of the corners, pulling together the outside borders.  

Reverse to show the detail.

I was pleased to get a bit of attention for this little project.  Thanks to Michelle and Andrew Weaver of Andrew's Sew and Vac in Wenatchee Washington for keeping my machine purring.  You are the best!

MORE Zucchini!

As promised to my Facebook friends, I am posting a recipe that will annihilate a good portion of  your Zucchini crop and make your tummy sing!

I found this one on Food.com by Bergy, originally posted in August of 2001.  We like it quite spicy so I added a couple of habaneros and some finely chopped jalapenos.  I also bottled it piping hot in pre-sterilized jars but you could also waterbath process for about 15 minutes.

Ingredients:
10 cups zucchini, peeled and shredded
4 onions, chopped
2 green peppers, chopped (I included my hot peppers in this lot)
2 red peppers, chopped
1/4 cup pickling salt
2 tablespoons dry mustard
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon cumin
2 cups white vinegar
1 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon black pepper
5 cups chopped ripe tomatoes
2 tablespoons cornstarch
12 ounces tomato paste

1. Day one:In a large bowl combine; Zucchini, onions, green pepper, red pepper and the salt Mix together cover and let stand over night.

1. Day two: rinse, drain well and put into a large pot then add mustard, garlic, cumin, vinegar, brown sugar, pepper flakes, salt,cornstarch, nutmeg, pepper, 1 tablespoon salt, tomatoes and tomato paste.

1. Bring to a boil and simmer for 15 minutes.

1. Pour into sterilized jars and seal.

1. Water bath jars for 15 minutes if they have not sealed properly.

Yes, it's fragrant and wonderfully flavorful.  As good a salsa as we've made here on the homeplace.  AND my stash of Zucs is vastly depleted!  What's better?  How about no frost until October!!  Now THAT would be nice.

Raining Days and Zucchini Abundances

It was a cold and rainy night - er and day...

Every now and then it's nice to get a rainy day.  I always feel justified in staying inside and something besides yard-work ('Weeding') and tidying up ('Weeding' again) outside.
Yesterday, I was working outside ('Weeding') and picked our 2 zucchini barrels.  Today, I have this lovely abundance calling from beside the counter.  *sigh*
Now I know you've probably seen your fair share of zucchini recipes already this year. 'Tis the season...'  Here is yet another one taken from one of my favorite cook books.  It's a compilation of recipes from various Pacific Northwest Bed and Breakfasts called 'Breakfast in Bed Cookbook'.  This collection is by Carol Frieberg and was published by Sasquatch Books of Seattle Washington in 1990.

Zucchini abundance

Among the many fine offerings in this book, I have a favorite that has been used by my family for many years- when the abundance strikes.  Even non-veggie lovers will adore this one.  It comes originally from the Victorian Bed & Breakfast located in Coupeville Washington.

Zucchini Chocolate Bread (makes 2 medium loaves)

Produce and Cookbook - what's brewing?

3 eggs

1 cup vegetable oil

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 cups sugar

3 cups grated zucchini

2 1/2 (I use 3) cups all purpose flour

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 cup chopped nuts

1/2 cup chocolate chips.

 Preheat oven to 350f degrees.  In a medium bowl, mix together eggs, oil, vanilla extract, sugar and then stir in the zucchini gently.
In a larger bowl mix together flour, cocoa, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, and baking powder.   Stir in the nuts (I like pecans) and chocolate chips.
Add the zucchini mixture to the dry ingredients and stir gently until combined.  Pour into 2 greased 5 x 9" loaf pans then Bake for 45 minutes until the bread tests done.  ( I do this with a toothpick - poke into the middle and keep baking if it comes out with batter stuck to it.)

Ready for the freezer

These freeze beautifully. (Please ignore any endorsement of named products here)

So, we bake up many breads this afternoon when hubby gets back from the store.  Until then I'll be quilting on my next project.  It's for a raffle quilt soon to be unveiled for sale to support the Drumheller Area Health Foundation's efforts to raise money for purchasing Sterilization Equipment for the hospital here in Drumheller.

Stay 'tooned!

Pickles n Mint Jelly

Today I started my vacation.  Not that I don't like doing the work at the hospital - I truly do - but this time allows me to catch up on all those things that weren't done while I was working on the Quilt Show. 

Gloria's plan - all previously quilted by hand in red

I've been madly working away at a lovely quilt done by a friend from the bank, Gloria.  She started her first quilt 16 years ago and then decided to quilt it by hand.  I understand the motivation.  She lost her enthusiasm some time later when she'd done about 1/4 of the thing. (it's a double sized sampler quilt) After carefully stitching away on a frame at home, away it went to sleep in a closet or a drawer until about 4 months ago.  She hasn't done another quilt.  Too bad - she's really good at making quilt tops.

Last year she'd seen work done for one of her co-workers and asked me to help her out.  Well, as all you long-arm quilters probably know, this presents a whole raft of challenges but it's now on the table and things are coming along 'swimmingly'.  


That being said, all those things that were waiting for me to take vacation still wait patiently in the back of my head.
I've started weeding (O M G!!! You can watch them grow!) and had picked all the cucumbers before they became a lovely shade of yellow.  Then some dill, then some mint.  

Last night I pickled my husbands favorite Dill Pickle Slices.  As I was cleaning up the disaster area that always seems to occur in the process of the processing, my DearlyBeloved asked me if I liked doing the pickles.  I thought about it for a moment and (all you fellas with wives can sympathize with him during the 'answer a question with a question' scenario) asked him if he liked the canning results.  He said yes (as I had expected). 

Thinking about it for only a moment, I then told him that it wasn't just about getting the canned produce that was home-made, of course that was great, or using our own things from the garden, again - really great, but it was about making things that my loved one enjoyed.

Yes, I can buy really great pickles from the grocery store.  Yes, I can buy produce from the grocery store or local growers.  But when I see the look of pride in his eyes when he opens a jar - that's what gives me my reward.  (He also tends to horde them and hide them from the kids when they visit - that's how I really know he loves them)

Love that man of mine.  He's such a sweetheart.

That's why I made mint jelly for him this morning.  He loves that stuff!  Now I have to go out and save my garden from the weeds so I can get back to my quilting!
               

Haskap Pie

Spring is coming on and I still have Haskaps in the freezer!  What to do...what to do!  The big guy votes "PIE" so here goes.

Haskap Pie

Foolproof Pie dough (with thanks from America Test Kitchens)
2 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour plus more for the roll-out
1 teaspoon table salt
2 tablespoons sugar
12 tablespoons cold unsalted butter cut into 1/2 inch slices
1/2 cup vegetable shortening, cold cut into 4 pieces
1/4 cup vodka, cold
1/4 cup cold water

Filling:
6 cups frozen (or fresh) Haskaps
1 tart apple, peeled and grated on large holes of a box grater
1 1/2 cup sugar
3 tablespoons quick-cooking tapioca, ground
pinch of table salt
2 tablespoons unsalted butter cut into 1/4 inch pieces
1 egg lightly beaten with 1 teaspoon water

1. Combine flour, salt and sugar in mixer.  Add butter and cut into flour mixture until well mixed.  Add the shortening and process until mixture is left with lumps the size of small peas. Add water, mixed with vodka into the flour mixture and use a folding motion with your rubber scraper to mix, pressing down on dough until all sticks together and is tacky.  Divide into 2 balls, wrap with plastic wrap and place in the 'fridge at least 45 minutes.

2. While you're refrigerating your pastry, you can start on the filling.  Adjust your oven rack to the lowest position, place a rimmed baking sheet on the oven rack and heat the oven to 400f.

3. Place about 3 cups of berries in a medium saucepan and set over a medium heat. Use a potato masher, mash the berries several times to release the juices. Continue to cook, stirring frequently and mashing occasionally, until about half of the berries have broken down and the mixture is thickened and reduced to 1 1/2 cups, about 8 - 10 minutes.  Let this mixture cool slightly.

4. Place grated apple in a clean kitchen towel and wring dry.  Transfer apple to a large bowl, add cooked berries, remaining 3 cups of uncooked berries.

5. Blend tapioca in a spice blender to process until fine.  Add to sugar and mix well.  Add this with the salt to fruit and toss to combine.

6.  Remove dough from 'fridge and roll out 1 disk on generously floured work surface until about 1/8 inch thick.  Roll around your rolling pin and unroll into a pie plate, leaving 1-inch overhang on each side.  cut off the extra (bake these with cinnamon sugar!


7. Place fruit mixture in the prepared pie pan atop the pastry.  Roll out the second disk to 1/8th thickness and cut circles in the top with a small 1 1/4" biscuit cutter.  I like a centre circle with a circle of circles (I'm dizzy now!).  Roll loosely around your rolling pin and place in the centre of your pie atop the fruit.  Cut overhanging dough with kitchen shears to overhang 1/2", tuck under then flute edges to seal in the filling.  Brush the top with the egg mixture.  (Add the trimmings to that baking sheet with the other trimmings - you will bake these when the pie goes in for about 10-15 minutes).

8.  Place pie on heated baking sheet and bake 30 minutes.  Reduce oven temperature to 350f and continue to bake until juices bubble and the crust is a deep golden brown, about 30 to 45 minutes longer.  Transfer the baked pie to a wire rack and cool to room temperature, at least 4 hours (can't wait!).  Cut into wedges and serve.

Snowed in and contemplating my past/future (OH NO!)

A dark and stormy night...

My dearly beloved and I have been snowed in for the past 3 days - Alberta Canada is in the midst of a deep-freeze this week - with wind up to 70k and snow drifting, all the highways, much less our 2 miles of gravel road, are impassable.  I looked at my blogsite today and realized how long it's been since we've 'chatted'.  It’s time to catch up.

I’ve been learning SO much this year.  The Gammill and I are becoming fast friends.  Bri has been a good quilting widower and encourages me constantly. 

I finished a throw for a non-quilty friend, Karen in July. 

Karen M's Sarong becomes a quilt.

She received a beautiful, batik sarong from her sister so I made an embroidered signature block for the back and quilted an all over design for her and bound it. She was so happy, she asked me to make a throw pillow for her with the left-over binding and backing fabric.

Myke & Veronica's quilt

I worked on a Un Finished Object next – for my dear #2 son, Myke and his beautiful wife Veronica. This had been haunting me since they married (I’m not event going to mention how long THAT’s been). I’m pleased they like it.  I always know when a quilt is good enough to give away – because I don’t want to let it go.  This was one of those quilts. 

Between working in the yard, putting up garden produce and working in the Foundation office at the hospital, it was a very busy summer!  I need to clone myself!  That or take on an apprentice or assistant…maybe next year.  I did throw a birthday barbeque for the dearly beloved husband in August, complete with a visit from my daughter and granddaughter…life is SO sweet!

Gone Fishing

September brought things down to a dull (LOL) roar and I was able to complete “Gone Fishing” for Kathy D. in early October.  This was a sweet, brightly-coloured small quilt for her grandson.  She did the fish in crayon batik.  I custom quilted this special piece atop a green minke backing. We used Hobbs 80/20 as a batting.  She was so pleased with the results that she kept it in her office at the hospital and showed it off for several days after I delivered it.  

Love Is

This little wall-hanging has been haunting me for quite a while…3 years of taking it to a weekly Stitch group in my area.   This was one of those ‘purgatory’ quilts…seemed to take forever! The hand-guided quilting worked out well.  I used it as a practice piece for my hand-guided feathers.  It’s found a home hanging on the wall behind our bed.  It was bound but I have to make a signature block to appliqué to the back (maybe another UFO!).

HeartsNHope

Next up, I put a pieced lap-sized quilt, purchased off of eBay, layered with Hobbs wool batting and backed with red minke.  (I enjoyed working with Kathy’s so much – I decided this was perfect for it. Nice and snugly!)  I think I may sell this one. I have to get a bit of fabric to bind it with then I’ll put it up on Etsy.  I love the way the quilting turned out.

Early November found me in the shop’s garage space with 3 eager students learning all about fabric dye techniques in my ‘Retreat to Dye for’.  It was a basic overview of Tie-dye, wax resist and a smidge of snow-dye techniques.  Lots of fun was had by all.  I’ll do another retreat in the spring, I think.  Until then, I may invite these students back to use the workspace for dye projects of their own.

June's wall hanging front and back

Finally, I quilted this little wall-hanging for June C, one of my Stitch friends. The bright Amish style colours in the piecing were fun to work with.   Alas, this brings us back to today…snowed in…so, June’s little quilt is waiting for pick-up.  Perhaps Thursday. 

I have my next project waiting for me in the studio.  Time to get crackin’ 

Adding a Sleeve to Your Quilt