Pieces to Love: November 2012

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Sales, sales everywhere.

The folks over at the Fat Quarter shop are having an extended black Friday sale.

25% off your entire shopping cart. I can't believe it. What pains me the most is that I've been 'cut off' for a few weeks since I just purchased a new sewing machine and some quilting feet to go with it. If I spend anymore money right now my hubby just might shoot me.

I hope to get back here and share some things that I have been up to lately this coming week, but the calendar is looking super busy, so I can't make any promises.

Happy Shopping!
Debbe

Monday, November 19, 2012

Shopping

I am not the typical 'girl' I hate shopping well unless it is for fabric, and even then sometimes I loathe it. Right now I am shopping for a new sewing/quilting machine. I have a modest budget so that makes it even worse.

There are quite a few options out there but, I want something that will hold up. The machine I am replacing is a Brother cs-6000i. It has taken my abuse for about 5 years now, but I have manged to knock the timing out of sync and while it is a great machine, it will cost more for the un-guaranteed fix than I feel the machine is worth.

Until then, I'm begging and borrowing machines to get my Christmas sewing finished up.

I hope everyone has a great day!

Friday, November 16, 2012

What I finished Friday

I did it! I finished up my Frosted Stars quilt. Although I still need to wash it and make it all crinkly, I snuggled up under it and watched a movie with the kids last night. I have a bit of a photo bomb for your this morning of the quilt.

Since it was dark when I finished yesterday, I couldn't get any 'good' pictures I'm so glad I wait until this morning. We had a little bit of frost this morning so I thought it would be the perfect background for the 'frosted' stars quilt.

I couldn't go far to take pictures this morning since my daughter was still asleep, but I found this little tree with the perfect hanging spots for my hangers just out our back door.

here is the back with the sun shining through.

I close up of the swirl quilting in the 'white space'

I tried a new to me binding technique called ' Magic Binding' I liked it and will certainly use it again. I love the edge that looks like piping. I you look at the picture of the quilt hanging in the tree you can see it stand out as well.

If you are interested in trying the 'magic binding' you can find a great tutorial for it here.

The stats on the Frosted Stars quilt are as follows:

Finished Size, 48"x58" (The pattern said 50x60)

Fabrics used:

Fruit Cake by, Basic Grey for Moda

Marbles by, Moda (off white squares)

Sentiments by, 3 Sisters for Moda (pattern 4089)

Premium quilters muslin for the backing

I used an 80/20 poly-cotton batting. It wasn't as thick as warm and natural, but I will say it is pretty warm.

I hope everyone has a great day. I have lots of errands to run today, and I need to start prepping for the Thanksgiving feast that will be at my house on Wednesday, since that is the only day my monster-in-law has off work.

Debbe

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

WIP Wednesday

I have finished all the quilting on my Christmas quilt. Now to trim off my excess and do the binding.

I am completely in love with this quilt, and I can't wait to curl up with it while watching tv. It is the perfect size to drape over the back of the couch or chair for display.

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Test Kitchen Tuesday..errr Wednesday

Welcome to the late edition of Test Kitchen Tuesday.

I totally had a recipe ready to go for yesterday, and then life happened. I always take my daughter to the library for story hour on Tuesday mornings, well my son didn't have school yesterday because almost all the local schools in the county are polling places so they put it in the schedule as a teacher in-service day for the 'safety' of the students. AKA the office ladies would get sick of buzzing in thousands of people since once the students are in school it is basically on lock down.

Enough excuses lets get on to the the food.

My kids love french fries and I don't have a lot of freezer space to keep fries around so on occasion I will make them 'potato wedges'

You will need:
1-1.5 potatoes per person
Olive oil
Seasoned salt (like Lawerys)
Black pepper (optional)

Wash potatoes and cut into wedges or fries (peeling them is optional)

Put cut potatoes in a bowl and toss with 1-2 tablespoons olive oil, about 1 teaspoon of season salt and a dash of pepper. If you are only using one or two potatoes you can get away with a lot less oil and salt.

Mix/toss until well coated.

Place in a single layer on a cookie sheet/jelly roll pan covered with parchment paper to avoid sticking.

Bake at 425 for about 40 min. or until nice and golden brown. Turn about half way through. Now don't get busy playing referee and trying to coach homework at the same time because well they just aren't as good when they are over done...

I hope everyone has a great day.

Debbe

Monday, November 5, 2012

Hello friends

Life has gotten crazy busy and November has snuck up on me. I started to post on Friday, and then I got distracted by...

Whipping up this cute little dress.

I also made an outfit for 'Dolly'

The kids had a wonderful Halloween. Here is the Mario costume I made.

A sweet little butterfly. I made her the pink sweat suit so she would stay warm.

And after all that sewing I have made a decision to put my 'Circle of Hope' quilt on the back burner for a bit and finish up the 2 quilts I have tops done for already.

Things this week don't seem to be slowing down any so if I want to get the backings for my 2 quilts put together, then I must get moving.

I hope everyone has a great week.