It's That Time of Year

There is a soft and gentle snow falling outside, a warm cup of tea in my hand and a schmaltzy Hallmark movie on TV.  Somedays it just doesn't get any better than this.

Today was fun.  I spent it sewing at the store, getting all the kids clubs projects sewn for the next quarter.  Sewing on the new Bernina 750 wasn't too bad either.  Lovely machine.

If you are traveling over the weekend please be careful and if traveling by plane may your delays be minimal and your Thanksgiving with family and friends a delight.  To each of you I want to say thank you for all your support, friendship and love.  It has meant the world to me and I am so thankful each of you have been a part of my life.  How blessed I am because of you.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Friends and Family

Hello from cold and snow flurrying Michigan.  I am having trouble getting warm today so I fixed a cup of hot tea and came to the computer.  I know this sounds a bit cheesy but just thinking about the many friends I have made over the years does warm my heart.

Spent the day yesterday on a road trip with some friends.  We visited the Bittersweet Quilt Shop in Pinconning, MI which is located in an old brick church.  It is a beautiful setting and such a delightful array of fabrics, antiques and home decor items.  I could have spent so much more than I did there.  They do have a website if you want to check it out.

I am doing some baking today for my niece so she will have cookies and goodies while she is here this week with us and plenty to take back to college with her.  Following is a recipe that our family enjoys in the fall and at Thanksgiving especially.  It is smelling wonderful in the house.

Our niece became engaged and the wedding will be in early August.  We are so excited for her.  That will be two weddings next summer and fall.  Our family is certainly changing and growing.  So Brett will not be the first cousin to marry after all.  His wedding plans are coming right along.  So excited!

I have also just finished Emilie Richards new book "Somewhere Between Luck and Trust"  It was an engrossing fun read.

Enjoy the recipe and know you are loved and appreciated!
Dee

Pumpkin Dessert

1 lg. can pumpkin

1 cup sugar

1 lg. can evaporated milk

1 tsp. cinnamon, plus additional spices listed on pumpkin can

3 eggs

Butter and flour 9x13 pan.  Combine above ingredients and pour into pan.  Sprinkle yellow or spice cake mix over top.  Add 1 cup chopped walnuts and pat down.  Melt 3/4 cup butter and drizzle over top.  Bake 350 degrees for 1 hour.  Cool 10 minutes and frost.  You can leave in pan or invert on platter to frost it.

Icing

1 8 oz. cream cheese

1 cup powdered sugar

1 sm. tub Cool Whip

Cream together and spread on dessert.  Wet knife for easier spreading.

Sampler Sew-A-Long Block #6

Step #1:  Cutting Instructions

               For the center of the block you will need an assortment of 16, 1 1/2" squares.  You can make strips and subcut or sew them individually.  (I chose to make two 3 1/2" x 1 1/2" strips of different fabrics and subcut to make my center, which repeats each strip once.)

               Cut two 2 7/8" squares from a dark fabric for HST's

               Cut two 2 7/8" squares from a medium to med. light fabric for HST's

               Cut four 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" rectangles from the med. to med. light fabric used for the HST's.

Step #2:  Make the half square triangles.  Lay the two med. and dark fabrics right side together and mark for sewing.  Sew together 1/4" on either side of the center cutting line and then cut apart.  Trim the bunny ears.

These are the components you should have for making the block.

Step #3:  Sew the half square triangles to the ends of two of the 2 1/2 x4 1/2" rectangles.  See below.

Step #4:  Sew the remaining two rectangles to the sides of the 16 patch center.  See below

Step #5:  Sew the rows of the block together as shown below making sure your seams line up.

Enjoy!  Please send pictures of your completed blocks.  They can be emailed to me.  Would so love to see your progress.

Turtle Progress

Fall has ended and Winter is here even if the calendar doesn't agree.  We had our first snowfall on Wednesday this week.  We were glad that we got our leaves raked before that happened.  The pipes are winterized, flower beds put to rest and the soup kettle is on.

Friends and I did a little shop hopping yesterday which was very fun but it also means I now have a few more projects added to my list.  The list seems to just get longer instead of shorter.  I've made good progress on Brett and Stephanie's ring bearer pillow, just waiting for more ribbon to arrive in the mail.

We are looking forward to having our niece Molly with us for Thanksgiving.  This will be the first time we will have her all to ourselves and are really looking forward to spoiling her a bit while she is here.

Today and tomorrow are long teaching days of which I am thankful.

Rejoice in all that you have to be thankful for and keep quilting!

Blessings,
Dee

Using the Sew Wonderful ruler for this one.  Need to get the rows sewn together and quilted.

Stashbuster Sampler Sew-a-Long Block #5

This is a fun and quick block called Spinning Waterwheel.

Step One:  Cutting Instructions

     

      From two complimentary fabrics cut a 1 1/2" strip by WOF for the corner four blocks

      From the darker fabric from above and a light fabric cut 4,  2 7/8" squares for the half square triangles.

      From a print fabric cut one 4 1/2" square for center piece.

Step Two:

     Sew the two 1 1/2" strips together and subcut into eight 1 1/2" strips.  Sew together to make 4 four patches.  

      Mark and sew to make the eight half square triangles.

Step 3: Sewing the rows

     Sew the rows together as shown in the pictures.

Enjoy and Happy Sewing!

Dee

Busy! Busy!

It warmed up to the upper 40's today.  Yahoo!!!!

I stayed inside for most of today and sewed, sewed, sewed.  One hundred curved seams, 50 half square triangles and 2 more rows of log cabin clamshells and I am so ready to call it quits.  What have you been working on?  Whatever it is, I hope it has brought you great joy!

I finished up a class last week on ribbon embroidery and decided to see if my son and his fiance' would like me to make their ring bearer pillow.  I started designing what it would look like last week and got the word that I can give it a go.  I will keep you up to date on how I am doing.  I am very excited to get started.

Here's hoping your days are filled with love, warmth and sunshine!

Dee