I can't wait another day!

My first blog give away!

November 16, 2008

Win this beautiful vintage butterfly quilt.
I almost hate to part with it.
But everyone has been so nice....

It's my way to say "thank you".

While I'm not very good with words,
I really enjoy blogging.
I appreciate your kind comments and continued support.
I have my morning coffee with so many of you....
it's like we're neighbors!

I love the cheddar corner stones!

Here's the link to my give away page. Check it out and see how to win.

Also, the logo on the top right will get you there.

I'm so excited!

Sunday Dinner Recipes

A perfect Sunday dinner. Pork chops, stuffing and apples.

1 pkg. (6 oz.) STOVE TOP Stuffing Mix for Chicken
1 can (21 oz.) apple pie filling

(I used the sugar-free store brand)
6 boneless pork loin chops (1-1/2 lb.), 3/4 inch thick
HEAT oven to 375ºF. Prepare stuffing mix as directed on package.
SPREAD pie filling onto bottom of 13x9-inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray; top with chops and stuffing. Cover with foil.
BAKE 30 min.; uncover. Bake 10 min. or until chops are cooked through.

And Coleslaw Salad

1 pkg. (16 oz.) coleslaw blend
4 slices OSCAR MAYER Bacon, crisply cooked, crumbled
1/2 cup KRAFT Ranch Dressing
TOSS coleslaw blend and bacon in large bowl.
ADD dressing; toss to coat.

Both recipes came from this magazine.

Kraft Food & Family is a free quarterly magazine

chock full of recipes and great serving ideas.

You can subscribe to receive it every season by snail mail here: http://www.kraftfoods.com/kf/FoodandFamily

Sunday night isn't complete without my 1960's fix.

I love this program!

Mainly because of the fashions and hair.

All those hats, bows, pearl necklaces, can-cans, and bee hives.

Can you believe all the smoke and booze in the office?

And Don Draper (Jon Hamn) isn't hard to watch.

Have a safe week and.....

Lordy- Lordy has it been a week already?

It seems every time I sat down to post, something came up.

I started my week off with our Rock Valley guild meeting.

The meeting is a great time to catch up with ladies I don’t see very often.

Of course, my favorite part is “show and tell“.

We have so many talented gals in our guild.

Each month there is such variety of style and colors.

From exquisite hard turned applique to rag edge flannel cuddle quilts.

I would venture to say that the majority of quilts are given away.

Made as gifts. Or given to a charity in need.

My favorite quilt label:

"When I give to you what I make with my hands,

I give you a part of my heart".

This quilt was made by my customer Kathleen.
The colors are beautiful!
It’s called Square Deal. An Atkinson design I believe.

Noticed how my continuous curve quilting
formed circles?

It makes for such an interesting background.


My customer Jean made this 4 patch flannel.
It just looks warm!
Flannel used for both the top and back
makes it so cuddly on a cold day.
Quilted in an "outdoorsy" overall.


On Wednesday, we picked up our sweet baby boy.
He stayed with us for a few days.
And, as always, kept us on our feet.
We so love having him here.

He is such a character!

Well, it’s Saturday night and I’m all for watching

a movie in front of the fireplace.

I’ll work on my snowmen embroidery.

And think about which quilt to give away next month.

Yep, my very first blog giveaway!

Stay turned for details.

I’m ready for Fall!

The cool morning air, trees turning colors,

the texture and smells of the season.

Here are a few pictures hubby took last fall

while traveling the back roads of WI.

Can you smell what's cook'n in the crock pot?

My favorite EASY-PEASY Chicken.

1 pound of frozen skinless chicken breasts
1 can fat free cream of mushroom soup
1 16 0z carton fat free sour cream
1 envelope dry onion soup mix
Put frozen chicken in crockpot,
Mix soup, sour cream and dry soup mix
Pour over chicken
Cook 7 hours on low
Very Creamy! We like it over pasta.
With salad and warm bread. Hmmmm.
And I tried a new pumpkin desert recipe.
I’ll share the recipe if it turns out.

I quilted another Winter Wonderland this week.

I'm working on my snowman blocks every chance I get.

Happy Fall!

The weather Sunday was unbelievable.
Sunny, warm and bright.
Perfect for taking pictures.

And rocking on the porch.

I decorated the bench on my front porch for fall.
Still need to “fine tune’ it.

I know I have another box labeled "Fall stuff"

in the basement but darn if I can find it.

Just wasn't in the mood yesterday to keep digging.

Here is my favorite Fall quilt.
I made this quilt several years ago from
a large variety of 2 ½” strips.
Definitely scrappy.
Set in a rail fence layout
the applique is raw edge.
It was so quick and easy to do.

Ta da.....my Oak Leaf & Reel quilt.
Finished!
The corner squares are hour glass blocks.
The binding is the solid red fabric also used in the sashings.

Just love the colors!

It measures a large 85 x 85 inches.

I embroidered two more snowman blocks while
waiting for Brenna to arrive.
Did I mention they named her after me?
Yep, my middle name is Christine.
And I was named after my grandmother.
I was so touched when my son came out to tell us
Mom and baby were doing great and what they named her.
Really, is there a better smell, in the whole wide world,
than the precious bundle of a newborn?

The long wait is over!
Brenna arrived at 1:58 p.m. on Thursday, October 9th.
Both Mommy and baby girl are doing great.
My DDIL is a real trooper.
She came home to her little nest Saturday morning.
Excited to fill that crib.

Our sweet baby boy just isn’t sure what to make of all this fuss.

I finished my Oak Leaf and Reel quilt. Will post pictures tomorrow.

It's suppose to be a beautiful day today. In the 70's! Perfect for picture taking.

My DDIL is in labor as you read this!

It won't be long now.

Say a little prayer for Mom & Baby that everything goes well.

I will post details on Saturday when I return.

The stinkers won't tell us her name until we meet her.

Our Sew Whats group worked on this charity project all year.

At each guild meeting we collected toiletries

from our general membership.

We also put a basic draw string bag pattern in the guild newsletter.

Each month ladies gave me a variety of "stuff" and colorful sewn bags.

The response was overwhelming!

At the October Sew Whats meeting

we separated the goodies and filled bags.

I'm happy to say that we filled a total of 124 bags.

We are donating them to the local

Women's Shelter and the Salvation Army.

We have at least 25 bags left which is a great start for next year.

Hopefully, another group from the guild will take on this worthy project.

The Sew Whats will be busy .....

We are designing, pieceing and quilting the 2010 raffle quilt!

If the broom fits

Isn’t this just the cutest Halloween quilt!!

I’m not into Halloween as much as fall decorating but

I may have to make this one for next year.

I’m calling it “If the broom fits, ride it”.

It is a Buggy Barn pattern.

The witches legs dangle over the broom.

This green quilt is stripped pieced and
quilted in a freehand overall of swirls and leaves.
It is the background for appliquéd flowers.
It will be stunning.
I can’t wait to see it finished!

I just finished listening to Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen.
I just loved it!
The author is so beautifully descriptive and the narrator was just perfect.
I could almost smell the scents, and feel the magic
from the Waverley garden and kitchen.

The book reminded me of the 1998 movie “Practical Magic”.
Starring Sandra Bullock & Nicole Kidman.
In fact, I rented the movie and plan to watch it tonight while hubby is out.
I just want to sit in front of the fireplace, embroidery my snowmen
and watch a “chick” flick. A few hours without political commercials!

Our "Baby Watch" has officially started. We are just waiting for the call!

Have a safe weekend.

Karen

Finally, a minute to write. I've been so busy with customer

quilts, Sew What business, and family.

Speaking of family, DDIL called and said it won't be

long before baby girl makes her appearance.

She had her weekly Dr appointment today.

My bag is packed, and my project ready.

Here is what I'm working on.

"Winter Wonderland" #408

by Crabapple Hill.

I told the gals at the quilt shop I'm on the four year plan.

It will take me 2 years to do the embroidery work.

One year to piece the blocks and set it together.

Finished size 64" x 71".

And another year to get it quilted and bound.

I have quilted 2 of these for customers

and loved the combination of piecing & embroidery.

I am making mine in blue and white instead of the red.

Here is the latest in embroidery hoops.
It is so much better than the old tension hoops.
With this one you tighten and loosen it using a knob.

The best thing is your thread can’t get caught.
It’s by Clover, as is the needle threader.
And boy, do I need that needle threader!
I couldn't stitch without it.

In place of embroidery floss I’m using Sulky #12 in variegated blue.
One strand is all you need.

While I was working on my needlework
my granddaughter started a project of her own.
She cut and sewed felt pieces together to make a purse.
She was so creative with appliquéd hearts and a pocket.
I showed her how to do a running stitch
and tie a knot “one handed”.
We had so much fun chatting and stitching.
I’m going to look for stamped cross stitch for
her to do on our next visit.

Here is grandson #2. He is such a cutie with his blond hair.
He loves to be outdoors.
He wants to grow up and be a “hunter man” like his Dad.

Here’s my oldest grandson who fought having his picture taken.
He's at that age, you know.
If he’s not playing ball,
baseball, basketball, football or soccer
he’s playing video games.

I'm quilting a customer's witch quilt that is so darn cute.

I want one!

Wait til you see the pictures on Friday.

Pumpkins, Flowers & Quilts

Oh, I’m sorry I’m late. I meant to post early this morning but

I’ve been sooo busy getting ready for our weekend trip.

We are going to visit our 3 “older” grandbabies.

Thank goodness I baked all those chocolate chip cookies a few weeks ago!

Look at the cute plates I found at Wal-Mart ($3.97) to put the cookies on.

And the little pumpkin filled with flowers is from JoAnn's.

All their floral arrangements are half price.

This little cutie was under $5.00.

Perfect hostess gifts.

Check out this beauty. An authentic 1930’s scrap quilt.

I mean scrappy!

The binding is half finished as you can see in the picture.

I plan to finish up the hand work tonight while I watch

the presidential debate. I'm so glad McCain didn't back out.

I'm anxious to hear what they both have to say.

This quilt top was found by a friend

who was cleaning out her parents house.

She put it in the washer/dryer before giving it to me.

This caused the seams to get "lumpy"

and some of the fabrics to shrink.

While this made it more difficult to quilt,

I think it turned out fabulous!

A large meandering, to hold the

3 layers together, was all it needed.

I used muslin for the back and binding.

Look at these lovely vintage prints!

Just beautiful examples of the era.

I couldn't decide which one was my favorite.

How about you?

This next two photos are customer quilts I did this week.

Lin is going to applique white wool

dandelions in the 3 strips. And scallop the edges.

I put curved feathers in the border,

and butterflies and roses in the squares.

Millie used gorgeous African prints.

She has quite the collection!

I quilted an overall pattern using gold thread.

Well, that's all I have for now.

I'm taking my snowman quilt to work on in the car.

I'll share the pattern and all the details next week.

But let me warn you. Your going to want to make one.

It's THAT cute.

I quilted one for a customer and just fell in love with the pattern.

Did I just write SNOW?

The weather here is still beautiful and warm.

Perfect to spend outside with children.

Playing in the leaves.