Laughing Duck

Let summer begin!

8th grade graduation is over. I now have a rising High Schooler! WOW! how did that happen so fast!? But this also means that summer has officially begun. I'd like to say no more carpools or packing lunch but there is day camp next week and now she's a "senior" leader.

Here are a few quick picks of a quilt I finished with scraps left over from this one. You've seen it before but now it's quilted and bound and header for the washing machine. I quilted it with flowers, loops and leaves.

Break through

I've been wandering the house a bit lost lately. I met my goal of finishing up some projects before I started anything new and then I didn't know what to do. It felt like I was swimming through molasses with out a creative bone in my body. Usually when this happens I tidy up my work space, read a book, do a little gardening---ya' know not let it get me down. I know that creativity has it's slow times---it's ALL a part of the cycle and happens to us all. But I was getting a bit frustrated with not knowing what to work on next...

So I played with these little house quilts.

 

After making three I figured I'd better think of something else to do. I remembered a Kaffe Fasset House quilt that I saw and thought I'd teach my self about sewing triangle together.

So one thing led to another and this is my new house quilt taking shape. Ahhh....

It's fun to play

I was inspired by a mini quilt that I saw in a swap post and for the life of me ---I'm so sorry!---I can't find the post or I'd give you a link and full credit. But I was drawn to this house made out of a wonky logs cabin block to I made a few too---here's one. My husband thinks it's a potholder...not a bad idea but tis one's too big--it's about 8"X10".

finished.

For some reason typepad isn't making this posting stuff to easy with it's new software! I just lost this post and am here re-doing it. sigh.

Well, last night I got a LOT done with company of a-hem junkie TV reruns---thank you CSI.

There's nothing like binding a quilt to feel accomplished and I did 3!!

You'll remember Wonky Log Cabin II...

I quilted it yesterday with a feathered square in the solid blocks and a meandering over the log cabin squares. I'm very happy with it. It's better in person then in this photo. The pale blue is very calming.

This is my wonky version of a crazy quilt. I've foundation pieced it. Have I told you how much I LOVE foundation piecing? It makes my blocks so stable. For my next trick I'm going to try this with some feed sack and vintage repro fabrics.

This little fire quilt is quilted with flames to make it SIZZLE!

 Many thanks Deanna for the fun collection of fabrics! 

so sorry

this new typepad posting software has me frustrated. I don't know how my last post and photo got so wonky but I can't fix it.!! argh!

A long weekend is always welcome

We spent time in Grass Valley to the firehouse. Although the weather was rainy and overcast it was welcome. We kicked around, watched movies, ate black bean stew and relaxed. I did a few chores in between finishing Wonky Log Cabin II. Here's a glance a the pieced top.

For your memory here's Wonky Log Cabin I.

Doesn't it look terrific now the fireman's great grandparents bed? A little old meets new but because I so fond of vintage styled fabrics it works.

Then we came home and I had to make this.

Apple Pie

Two 12-inch pie dough circles

6 cups sliced tart, firm apples, peeled, cored and sliced 1/2-inch thick (about 7 large apples)

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon unbleached, all-purpose flour

1-2 tablespoons unsalted butter

 Line the pie pan with one of the dough circle. Press the dough into the sides of the pan and trim to 1/2-inch of the rim of the pan.

Place the sliced apples in a bowl and sprinkle with sugar, cinnamon, salt and flour then toss together. Pile them into to the dough-lined pan. Dot the apples with the butter. Lay the top dough over apples and fold the edge of the top dough under the bottom dough and crimp edges with a fork . Cut 5-6 slits in top crust as a steam vents.

Chill in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes until the dough is firm.

Position the oven rack to the lower third of the oven and preheat the oven to 350˚F. Bake for 60-70 minutes until crust is golden and apples are tender when tested with a skewer or long thin knife blade.

 

My Butter  Crust 

Pie Dough

Makes one 12-inch pie dough circle

1 1/4 cups all-purpose unbleached flour

1 tablespoon sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup (1 stick) cold, unsalted butter

3 tablespoons cold water

 In a large bowl mix together flour, sugar and salt. Cut in the cold butter into the flour mixture with a pastry cutter or in the standing mixer until the texture resembles coarse cornmeal with butter pieces no bigger then peas. Add the water and mix until dough just pulls together. Pat into a ball and flatten in preparation for rolling out. 

another finished quilt

First it blazingly HOT and now it's crazy windy! Both put me in a fuddle, I guess it's good we're escaping to the firehouse this weekend.

Wanted to show you a finished project. I made this for a college bound friend (AGR) and enjoyed working on it. I hand quilted it with little tiny white thread and big wonky red thread---I like the mix, it's just what it needed. 

Next time I do something like this I think I'll foundation piece it. I think the stripes will lay flatter. But it's wash and cozy and the red thread didn't run! yeah!

And here's a little glimpse of a bit of long arm quilting I just finished. I enjoyed working on this project and and proud of how even my stitching is becoming.

and the front

Sorry for ALL the crazy editing or updating typepad has changed it's software and I'm still trying to figure it out!!

Too hot to handle

I've been quiet HOT lately and I'm just trying to stay cool. The daily temps have been breaking 100˚F in the afternoon carpool lanes-GASP! It's not usually like this around here. Our natural bay area fog usually cools us off. That's why I live here. I get very cranky when I get hot so I've been hiding. BUT here are a few pictures to share. My older daughter who's become an accomplished knitter---leaving me in tangles--- passed along this fun bootie pattern from this site.
this is the original pattern

and this is an adaptation I made up.

and a fun pick of me working on the wedding cake I took to France in my suitcase!

now it's down to the basement to hide...with my sewing machine mind you!

Happy Mother's day to ME!

these two make it so....

this one is holding my new toy...

I send out my warmest wishes to mother's everywhere. You are the wisdom in our world, the kiss for all bo-boos, the love that binds us all.

Imported cake

The TSA inspectors didn't eat the cake---it traveled half way across the world OK.

We included an American tradition at one of the many after parties.

and the Spanish cousins included this

Some people come home with fancy souvenirs---you should know me enough by now to know that my favorite place to visit when traveling is the supermarket or fabric store. SO...
say fromage

love these too

my supermarket finds

flea market details