Over Thanksgiving I had a chance to work on my row by row quilt with PKM fabric. My math turned out okay (so far) in joining my blocks into rows.
Next step will be joining the rows together. I have a couple filler rows to add in, too. I am hoping it comes together as I've outlined. I loved making all the blocks and it was a perfect project to use with Pam's fabric.
You can see that the log cabin blocks are making up the border. Because I had an odd number of blocks in the top and bottom rows I made a solid color (blue) center keystone block. I wanted the border to look like a wave all around the edges.

I plan on getting the top quilted before Christmas so I need to wrap it up soon. Happy quilt with happy fabric.

Speaking of happy...Happy Birthday to my sister, Michelle.

-nanette

Read More

Are you sick of turkey and pie? We had a really nice Thanksgiving. I hope you did too.
A few weeks ago we took the pie class at my friend Laura's. (she has recipes posted BTW) We used Laura's pie crust recipe and method. It worked perfectly, except that Shelbie ripped open her thumb on the food processor blade. But that aside, the pies were great. I told you I've never made great pie crust. Well I hope that is all in the past. My father-in-law always makes pumpkin pie for us. His is great. But I finally made really good pumpkin pie. I tried a trick I want to pass on. Use your favorite pumpkin pie recipe. Before putting the ingredients together, cook your canned or fresh pumpkin in a sauce pan for 10 minutes. That will make sure your pie sets up in the center with no mushy texture. I still baked the pie for nearly 40 minutes and it turned out wonderfully and cut into a perfect slice.
We got our Christmas decorations up, too. It was really a productive weekend. I love having Christmas in my entry way. Here is (again) my Christmas Cottage exchange block quilt. It is really special to me.
I have my favorite Christmas things set out on the side board. New this year is the gold dear from Barbara's etsy. You can't beat Oodles and Oodles for a great vintage Christmas.
I have my vintage ornaments in a glass bowl under my beehive cake keeper and in a pretty glass jar.I set out things I made and gifts from friends in my favorite holiday collection. I put some foil covered chocolate balls in the beehive pot. Now if I could keep Allison from getting everyone to unwrap a chocolate ball for her!
Of course I hung my kitchy Christmas wreath I made last year. I wish it was twice as big. But it makes me smile every time I see it.
Mason went by himself and picked out the most beautiful (real) tree and got it at a great price. It is about 9' tall and smells fantastic. He always helps me trim the tree. It feels so good to have this all completed before busy December starts.

-nanette

Read More

Wishing you a sweet day with food and family.

-nanette

Read More

Don't you love vintage Fisher Price toys? Shelbie has been making a collection of FP toys and recently acquired this darling sewing machine on Ebay. Isn't it so cute. I'll have to photograph some of her other fun things to show you sometime. Toys from childhood are so fun to have again.
I've got nothing new to show you. It is Thanksgiving week and we are all super busy. I hope to carve out some time in between the kitchen and spending time with family to do some sewing and get my row by row quilt put together (cross your fingers for me).

Today I'll be making pies with Allison. I hope I can apply what I learned at Laura's class. If things work out I'll snag a few pictures.

-nanette

Read More

These log cabins out of Pam's fabric are a joy to make. It may look like I'm making an entire log cabin quilt from the photo lay out above but I'm actually working on my row by row quilt border and it was just plain fun to see the blocks placed together.

This is about all I got done this weekend. Time went by so fast. I do admit to playing with my Kindle Fire a bit. But I did get quite a few log cabin blocks constructed. They are just so pretty together.

Super busy week ahead people.

-nanette

Read More

It is no secret that I love vintage fabric. I really like putting even just a bit of vintage fabric in most all my quilts. I'm such a fan of Donna Flower's vintage fabrics and her blog. I enjoy browsing and looking at her lovely fabrics and notions.

I don't like to pass up a good grab bag. When I was a kid that illusive brown bag of penny candy or the grab bag at the 5 and Dime always made me beg my mother for change.

When Donna offered the Snippets, Scraps and bits of Vintage Loveliness bags I was pulled right in.
Look how lovely the vintage bits are packaged. They are so inviting.
Donna sent me a fabric gift along with my fabric grab bag. It is so beautiful. Doesn't it remind you of PKM fabric?
The pieces are all very sweet and I will put them in my fabric box with other lovely vintage scraps to use.
Even just a touch of vintage fabric in a scrap quilt adds life.
The prints are all very sweet.
I may even put a bit of vintage into my current row by row quilt I'm making.

It is such a busy time of year. I'm now over my little flu and ready to prep for Thanksgiving Day. Next week will be kind of crazy. I'm sure it will be busy at your house, too. Maybe I will get some time to sew over the weekend, though. Or should I put my Christmas things out?

-nanette

P.S. Happy Birthday to my sis Paula.

Read More

How was your weekend? I had high sewing hopes for my weekend after a very stressful and long week. However, my hopes weren't exactly realized. But that is okay. I've got a new week ahead, after all.
My Pam Kitty Morning came from Fat Quarter Shop so I was excited to get going on my last couple sets of blocks for my row by row quilt and I hoped to even start sashing over the weekend. But I was slightly derailed. Friday night Shelbie, Whitney and I went to my neighbor Laura's for a pie making class. It was very enlightening and helpful (also delicious). I have never made a good pie crust. Ever. I hope to change that during the Thanksgiving and Christmas season. No. I didn't make this pie above, Laura did. It is a caramel banana cream.
Allison came to stay for a couple days. Of course that was a happy derail. Shelbie made Allison this super cute sweater and cap with her very talented knitting needles. The sticky candy face is courtesy left over Halloween candy. She looks pretty happy with herself.
I did manage a bit of sewing on Saturday. I cut out the 1.5" strips for my log cabin blocks in my row by row quilt. Can you just see that it doesn't matter what the block design is used, the PKM fabric is incredibly cute?
I used the strawberries for the center block. I couldn't be happier with how they are coming together. Unfortunately this is all I got done. But I love it.

I had been chasing a cold all week last week and it finally hit Friday. It really slowed me down over the weekend and hit hard on Sunday. I hope it doesn't last long. I just loving using this fabric too much to let a cold get me down.

-nanette

Read More