She Likes it

 

I gave this quilt to Hannah for her 21st Birthday when she was home for Thanksgiving. Since orange is her favorite color I felt it would suit her. 

 I'm not sure if she will take it to school or if Mom will hold on to it until she finishes college.

Happy Birthday Hannah!

Womans Club Project

 

Today is our meeting day for Wendell Woman's Club so I wanted to share our project this month.
 Late in November, we decorated and filled bags of goodies for the school age children of our local food pantry clients.  We filled 72 bags with fresh fruit, snacks, candy and juice boxes.  They will provide the children with a snack during the time they are out of school during the Christmas break. 
This was part of our ongoing "Feed the Future" project.

Tomorrow is my morning to work at the food pantry so I will be able to see first hand how this is being received.  Happy Wednesday.

A Finished Santa

 

Last Thursday at Sally's, C,C,S and I started this Santa doll.  Things were quiet around here today so I finished my version.  I really had to do some digging through some old stuff to find some scraps to make a beard.  I used a combination of two leftover packages. 

I have had this pattern for quite awhile.  I used to make a new Santa doll each year but have skipped the last three or four years.  Perhaps I'll try to catch up as I do have at least two other patterns that I haven't done.  One has the the head sculpted, but I'll have to wait until I come across the rest of the pattern. And anyway, it probably won't happen until next year.

 

My new Saint Nick couldn't wait to join some of the others on the hearth.  Happy Tuesday!

Spare Part Stars Finished

 

Will try for a better photo later on  - perhaps Saturday at Bee. It had been cloudy most of the day but the sun decided to shine on my quilt.  So be it. 

 

I started it back in May.  It is 84 x 84".  Pieced backs are my favorites and I love how this one turned out.

 

Quilted allover in swirls.  Now to the kitchen.  We're having celebrating our 2 November birthdays tonight.  Just need to make a cake.  I think I'll make Black Forest Cake with chocolate icing.

Our Woman's Club Tradition

Each November for the past 17 years the Wendell Woman's Club has prepared and served a meal  for the Wendell Town Employees and also our elected town officials.

It is to thank them for their service to the town.  Our Police Department, Recreation Department, Streets Department, and all the other town employees do a great job of helping make Wendell a wonderful town to live in.

In 1996 Hurricane Fran took down tons of trees in the area and the Town worked incredibly hard to get things back to normal.  We wanted to thank them for their effort.  It was a thank you gesture that we continued today. All our guests tell us they look forward to our meal in November to start off their holiday season.

Lake Life

The leaves are falling up at the lake so John is getting the mower ready for me to run over them and mulch them up a bit.  Normally he does this, but his lungs are so "ratty'(technical term used by his oncologist) that I didn't want him taking chances with all the dust that gets stirred up.

Thank goodness we don't do the entire lot.

Well I'm sure there will be at least one more time, maybe two.  The weather was warm and sunny.  A

perfect day to be outside even if it was for chores.

Little Trees

 

Last year Connie showed a quilt she had made of little trees.  It is so cute I felt I just had to have one too.  She gave me some of her greens and black and white fabrics to get started.   I need to figure out how to get some fatter trees! 

Veteran's Day

Last Tuesday Pat J. and myself delivered 69 quilts, 10 pillowcases and 2 bags of magazines to the Veteran's Hospital in Durham.

The quilts will be given to Veterans in the Hospice Unit.  They were made by two different groups, Undercover Quilters and Pine Tree Quilters.

They were very happy to have the quilts in time for Veterans Day today.   The quilts I made to give are shown here.   I have two started for next year - hope I can do at least three.

Also last Monday, after Bible Study, I used the large tables in the Fellowship Hall to baste some quilts.  Randi came back and helped me so I was able to get three layered.  I am currently quilting the one shown.  I hope to finish it this week in between meetings and appointments.

Finally Finished

 

 

 

 

This morning I finally finished the OrcaBay quilt top (added the red and black and white borders) that I started last November.  I think it looks like it should be called Wolfpack Bay as it looks like North Carolina State colors.

Haven't decided if I will try the Bonnie Hunter mystery this year - it is such a busy time of year - we'll see.

I layered 3 quilts this afternoon and started quilting one tonight. 

October Table of Grace

Although the weather was less than ideal outside, our table of Grace crew was enjoying our time together in the kitchen.  We were glad Jim was back with us (he has been helping his cousin out on his farm this fall).  We made Pork Loin with Cranberry Glaze, Hash brown Potato Casserole, Green Beans, Wheat Roll and Spice Cake with Orange Icing. 

Today, I did finally catch up on all my backings and bindings.  I still have to finish the Orca Bay quilt I made last fall.  I need to add the last two borders.  Maybe tomorrow???

Bunkhouse Half Log Cabin

DAY ONE

I had lots of 2.5" strips cut from shirts and had been looking for a pattern to use them.   For this block you need 6- 2.5"red squares, 2- 2.5" plaids (one light, one dark); 2- 2.5 x 4.5" rectangles (one light, one dark); 2 - 2.5 x 6.5" rectangles (one light,one dark); 2 - 2.5 x 8.5" rectangles (one light, one dark); 2 - 2.5 x 10.5"rectangles (one light, one dark).

DAY TWO

Once all the strips are cut to the correct length.  It takes less than an hour to make 8 blocks.

DAY THREE

The top measures 72 x 72".  I will probably use it for a Veteran's quilt.  I know it would be a lot more attractive made it narrower strips.  I made a backing using some plaids that I had and will use red for the binding.

Capital T Blocks

Layout One

At our sewing time at Cathy's on Thursday, I took these blocks to work on.  

I cut out enough for a full quilt sometime last year. 

The pattern was in an old Traditional Quiltworks Magazine in 2000.  There layout was like  Layout One.

Layout Two

I think I like Layout  Two better.  I'll have lots of time to decide as I think I cut out 90 blocks.

Bunkhouse Braid Quilt

This is a picture of the quilt top that I finished just before we left for NYS.  I was doing a little straightening up in the sewing room today and decided to photo it outside. 
It measures 62 by 72.  I'm considering a border but I like the size it is for a lap quilt.  Hmmmmm!
Guess I'll fold it and ponder awhile.

Perfect Timing - Adirondaks

Between St. Regis Falls and Duane NY October 10th.

 

 

Along the Red Tavern Road--Seventeen miles and we met only one car. 

 

 

One of the rare moments of sun during the time we were on vacation.

Chasm Falls is outside of Malone, NY.  
 

 Everywhere we went there were beautiful vistas.  It was the absolute perfect time for fall foliage.
And the weather was near 70 degrees - for us a big bonus.  We had taken more sweaters and jackets than necessary.  However by Monday morning the temperature was 36 degrees when we left for home.

Freezer Apple Pie Filling

 

Janet - Louck's Pond-October 8

We left the "Pond" fairly early to search for Apples and Buttercup Squash.  The weather has been overcast and rainy since we left NC.  Jan and I went to Hornell, Arkport, Dansville and Cohocton . We did manage to find a bushel of squash and 3 baskets of apples.   



Dansville, NY

Passed this great cheddar building in Dansville.  It looked freshly painted and was trimmed in soft yellow, dark green and white. It's neighbor is a medium rosy mauve.

 

APPLE PIE FILLING

 

 

We brought apples back from our trip to New York State earlier in the month.  These are Winesap  - I usually get Crispin or Mutsu but they are in short supply this year.   I like to make apple pie filling and have it in the freezer as a convenience.  I use about six large apples per pie.  .

 

Peel, core and thinly slice. I slice them into lightly salted water to keep them white.  Drain and place in large pan with 1/4 cup apple juice and 2 Tablespoons lemon juice.

 

 

 

Cook and stir for 5 to 10 minutes, until apples begin to soften. 

Remove from heat and add 2 1/2 Tablespoons Tapioca, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup brown sugar. 

 

Let cool and freeze in in quart containers until ready to use.   Last night we had a family get together and it was nice to use the last container from last year and have an apple cobbler with ice cream for dessert. 

Bunkhouse Quilt

Not a thing going on in the sewing room since I've been home.  This is part of a top that I finished just before we left for NY but I didn't take a picture yet.  It will be about 60 x 70 inches.  Just about right for a lap quilt.

Trying not to think about starting another shirt quilt.  I really do need to finish up a couple of projects.

Busy week  - State Fair (I won two ribbons) with Tracey - Woman's Club (Randi and I are Hostesses) - Food Pantry and Guild- Undercover Bee and District Woman's Club

Out Of Town Guests

 

 

One morning last week we were eating breakfast and I kept seeing shadows out the kitchen window.

They didn't stay very long but everytime we have large flocks of birds visit the backyard - it makes me think of the old Alfred Hitchcock movie.  I don't even know what kind of birds they were but it is that time of year.  We saw lots of migrating geese when we were in New York.

A Finishing Day

Today John went to the lake and after my stint at Food Pantry this morning - I decided to get out a couple of old projects and see what I could finish.  I had finished the Thrifty Log Cabin top on Tuesday evening but the picture I took is terrible.  Anyway, I doesn't really look any different than the progress picture. 

And fair warning the pictures I took today are not that great either!  They are too big for my design wall so I just threw them down on the carpet.

It's not visible but I used 2 different red checks on the inner border and 2 different blue plaids on the outer border.  I looked around at the thrift shop but never could find a super big shirt that would work for the outer border.  Thanks to John's closet, I found just what I needed.  This quilt will be 75 x 88".

 

I still had some time so I brought out my Hidden Stars top.   All I had to do was piece two single rows for two adjacent sides so that the design would end with star points on those sides.

 

Before adding the extra rows

After adding the extra row

 

It will be 75 x 84".  Sally at The Traveling Quilter added two borders to her star quilt and it looks really nice but I think I will leave mine border-less.

Now I really have to get busy and make backings and bindings.  I have 7 tops with no backings.  I had gotten into a routine of making my backing and binding as soon as I finished the top but somewhere along the way I got lazy.  There was a time that I had almost 30 tops and I don't want to go there again.

Tomorrow we have Undercover Bee and that is always fun and inspiring to see what everyone else is working on.

More Thrifty Blocks

 

 

 I have been sewing the blocks into sets of four and then making a row from them.  So at the moment I have 3 rows of five double blocks.  The length is 80 inches. 

I think  I want to make it 80 by 88" - so I will need to sew 20 more blocks. That shouldn't take too long.  Maybe this will satisfy my little obsession with shirt fabrics for awhile.

I did finish another small quilt to donate to Safe Child but haven't taken a picture.

Friday at the Lake

After all the tree cutting and trimming a couple of weeks ago - they missed this one!  The top fell on the shed roof and the rest of the tree seemed wobbly.

John and Hay tried to pull it over with Hay's tractor.  after much messing around, they ended up sawing it down with the chain saw (but I think they like to play with their toys)

Later Ed came over with his tractor to pick up the sawed logs and take them to the burning pile at his place.  Thanks to the Old Guy Squad the tree is taken care of except for the piece still on the roof.  Need another guy for that!   And John can get out his tractor and mow the grass.


What did I do all day other than keep track of John?

 

I sorted through the toy boxes.  Gave some to the church for the yard sale, threw away some and what was left got a bath.

 

These old Fisher Price sets  from the 60's and 70's are my favorites.   Now all the toys will fit in one toy box.