Saturday, December 3, 2016

Just another long, wordy post!

Haven't posted for two weeks. 
So many things going on, and there hasn't been time for therapy quilting. Finally I just NEEDED to quilt. I grabbed a couple of wall hangings that I started quilting weeks ago and squeezed in a few minutes here and there over the past few days, in between real life. Today I finished the quilting--binding will have to wait.

This is my abbreviated version of Lisa Bongean's 10th Anniversary SAL.
If you want to see details of the quilting, you can enlarge the photos below.
   
I think I dragged my feet on the quilting because I spent too long looking at the one Linda Hrcka quilted. I wanted mine to look like hers. I finally decided that it just needed to be done. 
This will be small quilt finish #45 for this year! 

The next one up was what I had hoped to have finished for Thanksgiving (which obviously didn't happen). This is the Buttermilk Basin pattern, which I reduced so that there would be room to hang it.

I had tossed this aside in disgust last month because when I finally made time to sit down and work on it, the tension went haywire and I had to unpick everything I had quilted. After the unpicking I just couldn't face it again for a while. Now it will be finish #46.

                 
As before, you can click the photos above to see the quilting better, if you'd like. But I can tell you now that it isn't anything fancy.
Had some sweet surprises for my birthday. An incredible package from Doniene (Now it's just quiltsII blog) with a lovely card, two wonderful little quilts and an olive wood nativity. So fun to have those beautiful little creations from her, along with another nativity to add to my collection of them from around the world. 
You can see it all below, along with the "loot" Kris (Lavender quilts blog) brought me. It was fun to visit with her in my kitchen as I was prepping food for the holiday. Look at the pretty dishtowel, the great Primitive Gatherings patterns, the mulling spices, candy, threads, etc. These bloggers are such good friends and know me well. Thank you so much, my dears!!
 
I will admit that there used to be more candy with the "loot", but it keeps disappearing. Curious.
There is also a sweet card from friend Annie (no blog--but I "met" her through blogging). She always writes her cards with calligraphy, and it makes me feel so special. Thank you, Annie.

When I received my pincushion from Kevin in the swap Randy organized, I loved the hefty size he had made.  I make wimpy ones, by comparison.
So I played with bits of scraps left from the "Light in the Window"  I made recently. It is a true "make do" creation, and this baby is big. It could be a weapon in a pinch. Kind of looks like a brick, doesn't it?


I continued my "80 Minutes a Week" challenge by attempting yet another Gluten Free pie crust recipe--this is my 4th or 5th try.
I confess that I am a pie crust snob. Before my celiac diagnosis I had worked long and hard to master light, flaky, buttery pie crust.
This pie crust is not as perfectly flaky as those I used to make, but it is the best I have made without a gluten flour. This was a pear pie for our Thanksgiving dinner. I also made a pumpkin pie for our family birthday gathering. I feel like I can call this crust a success. Not what I am used to, but pretty good.

I'm not finished yet. (I promised something fun, remember? Of course not--it has been two weeks.) It has kind of been my habit to share something with my faithful followers around my birthday. This is a little late, but here goes!
                                                          
Just what is this heap of stuff, and why would anyone want it? Maybe no one does, but FYI, it is a little pack of 60 2 1/2" squares in purple, chrome and cheddar (not everyone's favorites, I know, but it's my blog and I love them).
Then we have a clamp on, rustic  looking pincushion holder, with a vintage jar lid for making a pincushion.


 
This photo shows you how you clamp the thing to your sewing machine table or the table beside your sewing chair. You can glue any kind of pincushion there that you would like. The shop where I bought them had a pincushion in one of the vintage jar lids. (which is why I included one), and it looked really good. You could even glue on a regular old tomato pincushion, if you wanted to (but you wouldn't, would you?).

 


Included is this little quiltlet, along with the hanger and hooks.
The color is really off on this photo because I took it at night. The flash on my camera went out on Thanksgiving Day, and ever since then I have to try and time my photo taking when there is plenty of natural light. This wasn't one of those times. 
I guess that about wraps it up, except I will add in a couple of bars of my herbal soap, too. 
So let me know in your comment if you are interested in this bundle of fabric and metal. I'll give it around a week.
Until then,
Janet O.

Drawing now closed.







59 comments:

  1. Good Morning! I enjoyed reading your news this morning. You've accomplished a lot in the sewing room and in the kitchen. And yes, I'm interested in your goodies, a fine treat for the beginning of
    Winter (quite mild so far in northwest CT).Thank you for sharing with your readers.

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  2. What a lovely post. I too just sometimes need those quilting moments!

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  3. Hope you had a wonderful birthday. The prizes look lovely. The soap sounds so nice. Please add my name. Here's hoping you have many more birthdays.

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  4. Amazing three-dimension that your quilting added to your Give Thanks quilt. It really makes all the wool applique pop. So much eye-candy in this post, from your finishes and all the birthday goodies to that luscious looking pie. I applaud your efforts to achieve a perfect pie crust, something that has eluded me these many years. Happy Birthday, a bit late!

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  5. You haven't posted for two weeks but look at all,you accomplished. Push push push. I guess minis finish faster lol. These are all beautiful and would not expect anything different. You go girl!

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  6. Your projects are always so much fun. I love to see how others quilted the same projects that I am working on. The Pin Cushion Clamp looks like it would be real handy. All in all, I must say that I love your blog and look forward to reading it every morning. May all your days be sunny.

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  7. A very happy birthday to you. Celebrate all month. I love your wordy post that can transport me to your wonderful part of the country. The SAL is great....don't compare yourself to the designer. It is what you put into it that is satisfying. And the Give Thanks is my favorite. I just noticed that you put your initials on it....very special.
    I think you had a haul of goodies, but that brick of a pincushion is wonderful. Nice and hefty and meant to be a work horse! The pie crust looks great.....I know it is hard to compete with a light flaky one of flour, but this one you can eat and enjoy. I feel the same about onions....so many dishes are bland without them.
    Love, love love the metal pincushion holder. Just tell me where to order it from :)

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  8. Yes, yes, yes! I would love to have this giveaway--those colors are perfect for me, as well as all the rest. Thanks for the chance!

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  9. What a fun gift package!! I bought one of those tiny charm square packs at AQS-Syracuse and would love another to make some kind of hexie project (but you already guessed that!).

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  10. Oh I would love those things. Please share your pie crust recipe as I am also gluten free and would love a good crust. Your brick sized pincushion? I love it. I am going to make one for my ironing board. What did you fill it with?

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  11. I am working on my Buttermilk Basin Thanksgiving wall hanging too. Not done for the holiday but there is hope for next year.

    I love the pin cushion on the metal clamp. I have one of those clamps that I intended to make a pin cushion out of but don't remember what kind of pin cushion was to go on it. And I will probably never get around to it. Is that your Bernina sewing machine in the picture or one in a shop. Love it!

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  12. I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one stalking--er--studying Linda Hrcka's quilting for ideas--(not that I will ever be able to quilt to her level). Your little quilt turned out very nice--so cute! I have a pincushion addiction and would love to be included in your drawing!

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  13. Wow, your SAL turned out most fantastic!! And Give Thanks is so sweet!! So happy you like your loot!! It was fun picking the perfect gift for you!! Love, love, love your pincushion!! We are doing a pincushion exchange for our Guild Christmas party and I might make a brick similar to yours!! And where did you get that wonderful mini pack of the perfect colors? Now, see, those colors are my idea of the ideal dark and dirty quilt!! :-)) I would love to be included in your giveaway!! That little pincushion holder would look wonderful in my new shop by the ocean!! ;-0

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  14. Love all your quilts. Your work is amazing. I like your style.

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  15. Oh my friend - your SAL quilt is wonderful! It just glows :). And I am amazed that you have finished so many of your small quilts this year - definitely you win the ribbon for finishes!!! Your pie crust certainly looks divine to me - and pear - YUM!!!!! Don't think I've ever had a pear pie but I LOVE pears - they are my favorite fruit. Do you have a recipe for that? I love those hefty pincushions too - have had the fixings for one sitting in my to-do basket for a while now, just waiting for me to find time to play with them. SO SORRY I missed your birthday!!!!! I've been traveling or sick for the past 3 weeks - not a good combination for keeping up with all the most important happenings in my friend's lives. Bad me! I hope your day was lovely and the year to come is your best ever. Sending many, many HUGS!!!!!!

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  16. I would love your metal, fabric and soap!
    Are you going to try and hit 50 finishes for the year?
    Everything is lovely as usual :)

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  17. Wordy posts rock! As usual, your downplaying of your custom quilting exceeds my skills, every time! What great fun to have all those gifts from quilty blog friends. Hope your stitching time grows in the new year! I would love to be the lucky recipient of your lovely grouping of wonderful items--I have loved sewing birds I've seen in articles on antiques and your clamp is a fun version. Happy Birthday again!

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  18. Love your "wordy" post; it's nice to know someone else gets temporarily mad at projects and can't look at them for a while...ha! Also love your quilt finishes and your hefty pincushion (and your Bernina is gorgeous). Hope your birthday was wonderful.

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  19. I loved seeing your quilting on the SAL. It gives me help in coming up with quilting ideas for my own projects, so thank you!! And thanks for the chance to win your giveaway. I love that antique looking clamp and the quiltlet, and the other things as well.

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  20. Your two quilted creations are beautiful! Had to laugh when I read you took so long because you were looking at Linda's :-) She really does an amazing job but I must say...SO Do You! I love how you quilt!
    Your giveaway items are treasures! Thank you for sharing them.

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  21. I love seeing your quilts after you have quilted them. I'm always stumped when I start mine...where to begin and what to quilt. You have inspired lots of creativity and out of my comfort zone quilting - thank you. Hope you had a wonderful birthday. Gluten free chicks rule!

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  22. Okay! Everything you showed is wonderful as always - love the sparks of yellow in your first quilt and the quilting in your Thanksgiving quilt turned out so well - Kudos to having the patience to take out all those earlier threads! A great pincushion - love the size. And your sweet offerings - coveting the little cheddar charm pack...sure would work into my 2017 Dear Jane effort...but you had me hooked with herbal soaps...sigh...
    Happiest of birthdays to you!!

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  23. You might have been MIA but sure have been busy! Love the little bundle of fabrics, but think that shipping heavy clamps to Australia is unrealistic with the price of postage, so happy to admire from afar. Love to hear if you have a favourite GF website you use for recipes, or do you just substitute normal recipes with GF flour? My Dad just got diagnosed, so building up to Christmas need to get my head around using GF flour - any hints would be appreciated seeing as how you have perfected pastry!!

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  24. Not just another Wordy Post! I'm always in for some Purple and your Soap, The cheddar is tolerable and in short supply at my house. Beautiful finishes! 46 --- WOW, Just WOW!
    The pie looks flaky to me. How did the family rate it?

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  25. Hello from Sunny New Zealand! LOVE that clamp- on- pincushion thingie! So clever and antique looking too. Fabulous finishes. The pie looks tasty. Hugsxxx

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  26. What enticing things from one quilter to another?! I do have soap envy, for sure, so I'm definitely interested in your give away!! I have everything to make homemade soap with the exception of the lye. I'm still reading about that. Do you use lye or cold pour your soap? Love your little quilts!!

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  27. nice giveaway and wonderful birthday loot....belated wishes of course for many more years of quilty fun...and i will pass on the giveaway as i think i got the last one...the row by row plate...but nice stuff and beautiful littles of course, love the buttermilk basin one best i think

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  28. Yes, yes, yes!!!!! And I love the quilting on the thanksgiving quilt. I think it us very special. Jkrehel@yahoo.com

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  29. Very nice giveaway. I have admired those clamp on pin cushions. Looks so cute next to a sewing machine. Happy belated birthday. It looks like you had a fun time. I am glad to see your thanksgiving quilt. I had a few that I tried to get finished. Did not happen so now I am trying for a Christmas finish so I can put it up this year.

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  30. Really nice quilts once again. happy Birthday to you! Somehow I missed that happening. I have a pincushion inset into a lid like that one. It is adorable. I would love to make one to give to someone else. Thanks for the chance to win some very special stuff.
    Mary

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  31. Happy birthday! You are one busy little bee! Your quilts are stunning and your pie looks beautiful. Would love to win your lovely give away. Thanks for the chance.

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  32. Happy Birthday to you! Giving treats away is like how we used to take cupcakes or cookies to school to celebrate our birthdays in elementary school. All of those treats look like fun and they are calorie free. I enjoy your posts so much as each time you have something to share - a real share. You're just not posting so you could say you did so. Thank you!

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  33. I so admire people who just dive in and do it! The red and green quilt is gorgeous. They are two of my favorite colors together -- at any season of the year -- and your Thanksgiving quilt is perfectly wonderful. Congrats on the gluten-free pie crust. And again, belated wishes for a Happy Birthday. Your birthday gift to your readers is very generous. Thank you for offering.

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  34. I love seeing your wonderful projects. Happy belated birthday!! Quilt friends truly are the best, aren't they? I put out the little quilt nativity scene you made me and I absolute treasure it! I'd love to have my name in the hat again. Thank you for the chance.

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  35. Awesome stuff to share! I enjoy reading your blog and seeing how much you accomplish "in between life". That's me too, though I don't seem to get much done! Would love to get a little bundle of fabric and metal!
    Tammy morrowrj(at)telus(dot)net

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  36. Your quilts are wonderful, always. I love the idea of the clamp, have to try it and the mini is charming. Happy birthday Janet.

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  37. I love the idea of a giveaway. you always have such nice things. The pincushion clamp is very interesting, please enter me in!!!! Thank you for sharing!!

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  38. I love the little quilt. I think it would be fun to make a jar lid pincushion to place on the clamp. Hope you have an enjoyable & blessed holiday season. Thank you!

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  39. what a wonderful post with so many wonderful projects. Oh don't you just hate unpicking machine quilting! It all turned out in the end!
    Your pies sound yummy. I've never had a pear pie - yum!
    Your sewing clamp is charming.
    What lovely gifts your received and how lovely to do a little sharing.

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  40. Your quilts are beautiful and the quilting is too! I love them both. A perfectionist for sure. The giveaway looks very interesting and different. I would love the chance to win. Thanks.

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  41. The Lisa Bongean mini is so beautiful and I especially love your beautiful rope quilting in the borders! The whole thing is in Christmasy colors without screaming Christmas at you and that's a nice subtle effect. Glad to have you back with, I hope, a working furnace, from a comment you made on Grace's blog!

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  42. Your SAL quilt is just gorgeous! Congrats on a beautiful finish!

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  43. Yes, yes, yes! I'm interested! I would love to have the clamp on which to put a pincushion - reminds me of my grandma, who used this type of clamp for her quilt frame. I even love the fabrics you've chosen; I'm working with cheddar and purple as we speak!

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  44. Hi, I am also eating gluten free and have used nut crusts instead of pastry-type crusts made from gluten free flours. I used a pecan nut crust for a pumpkin pie. The nuts add a nice flavor without the direct comparison to pastry. Just a thought. :) The quilting you add to your little quilts is always wonderful!

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  45. You put your mind to it and achieved - well done - the mini SAL is beautiful!! And the Thanksgiving qultlet is lovely too - I'm sure youll stillbe giving thanks next year, so it will be a suitable finish then! Oh dear sweet Doniene :-) How lovingly you were spoilt for your birthday. Your giveaway items are lovely = as I have been the very lucky recipient of your kindness already this year, please don't put my name in the draw!

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  46. As you know, I am a huge fan of your mini pieces of art! The SAL quilt is stunning! And, happy belated bday! You have some wonderful friends! There is that Pear Pie we discussed.....I wish I could smell it through the computer screen! How generous of you to offer a giveaway!

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  47. Your Buttermilk Basin "Give Thanks" turned out beautifully, but no surprise there! I'll throw in with a chance at the giveaway--very interesting items.

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  48. I always enjoy your little quilts. I have never,ever seen a pincushion holder like that one. How awesome! Maybe I I'll get lucky and it will become mine along with that little Quilt! Happy holidays and tons for sharing.

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  49. You just amaze me! 46 finishes this year? They may be small quilts, but I know how much work goes into them. And I would be delighted just to have the little "quiltlet", let alone all the other goodies. Happy quilting!

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  50. You definitely will get the award for the MOST finishes in a year!! INCREDIBLE!!
    And I do love your little (ahem, I mean BIG) pin cushion. See, now you're a convert!! Who knew??
    Love all the little things you've finished! I don't know where you find the time!!
    Very impressive!
    xxxs,

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  51. What a fun pincushion holder, and a great find too. I made the same 10th anniversary project of Lisa's, and stopped with the same border! Enough already I felt and I love it.

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  52. Janet - I loved reading your post - although late since I don't seem to spend a lot of time on my desktop these days ....... I have so many quilts that need quilting - I really need to get on that. I'm always inspired by the way you do yours! Lovely gifts that your friends sent for your birthday - congrats! Mine is about three weeks away and my daughter will be 35 on Sunday - YIKES - how did THAT happen? I'd love to try making a little quilt from those pretty colors included in your giveaway - and the pincushion clamp would be fun to work with too!

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  53. I would absolutely love all of the goodies in the giveaway!

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  54. I also like your fabric colors! Every reproduction quilt needs those colors and that's why I enjoy your blog. Your quilts are lovely and I have several that need binding. Want to sit and sew? Happy belated birthday.

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  55. You definitely wouldn't want to mail that to Canada... you'd have to get a 2nd mortgage on your house! LOL
    Love your machine quilting... so glad you didn't stay intimidated by the quilting of others and just jumped in and made it your own!

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  56. Well Happy Birthday Sweet Lady! You have some pretty special friends who showered you with wonderful gifts. My computer is acting up and I've had a difficult time keeping up with blogs and commenting, but I've been reading your posts. You continue to amaze me with your progress... #45!!! Will you hit 50 this year???? lol Your pie crust is pretty; looks like you mastered it to me. How sweet to have a giveaway for YOUR birthday! Count me in!

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  57. Belated birthday wishes! What nice gifts you received from your blogging friends.

    Would love to be the recipient of your goodies. I have a pincushion collection so the clamp and lid would be fun to use for pincushions.

    Thanks,
    Charlotte

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  58. Happy belated birthday. You amaze me with all the quilts you have finished this year. It's awesome. The giveaway is too generous for one person. I'd gladly share. It would be an honor to win one of your little art collectables, and the handmade soap is a luxury that I treat myself too now and then. Thanks for all your inspiration you provide on your blog.

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  59. Ugh, I feel awful for missing your special day!! And I've not forgotten you -- I've got a special little something to send your way for your win -- I've just been sickly. I'm sorry! Your pie looks pretty marvelous, GF and all! A very sweet post with lots of little happies, right?! :)

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