postage stamp progress

My one or two blocks a week plan went out the window. I am finding myself thinking about this quilt while at work and can't wait to get home to work on a few more blocks.
I have 36 completed. I plan to make the quilt in the image of the block, so 64 blocks set 8 by 8.
28 to go!
All the solids are from my stash. This is using up lots of smaller leftovers. My 1 1/2 inch squares bin is noticeably reduced! But it still has plenty for the remaining blocks.

As with all scrap quilts, there is a lot of thought going into how I select fabrics. I include a few very low contrast scraps in each block to help break up the checkerboard effect. The solids are varied. Just a few clear brights. I am making sure to include light solids and drab solids to keep the "Easter Egg" look in check.

postage stamp

I've been making postage stamp blocks with my bin of 1 1/2 inch squares and cutting down various solids.
Each block has 64 squares, 32 solids and 32 scraps.
If I make a block or two a week there should be enough in about a year for a nice sized top.

emptying a drawer

47 by 69 inches

I had a goal in 2013 and 2014 to move every quilt project one step forward. Lots of bindings and labels got done. Backs got made for a pile of quilts tops and they were taken to my two long arm quilters who were asked to fit them in here and there as their schedules allowed. I will keep this goal again this year--no pressure to have to finish a certain number of projects, just continue to move each project one more step forward. My steps to move forward usually are to add a border, make a back, get it quilted, and do the binding/sleeve/label.

This quilt was made in 2009 from my 1 1/2 inch strip drawer. I was tired of the leftover short pieces I kept picking over for other projects and decided to use the snake method of sewing them into this.
Quilted by Suzette Fisher. She made mostly parallel lines, and added boxes with angled lines here and there. I love what she did.

It reminds me of woven rag rugs. Our neighbor growing up, Charlotte Pals, wove rugs for my mother and others in the community. I still have a few of hers and I buy them from other weavers because they are so beautiful.

Those two long white strips that show up in the middle make me smile--the serendipity of this method gives these wonderful surprises.

I pieced the back from terracotta fabrics--popular in the 1980s and on my shelves too long. I think there are another 6 backs worth of terracotta fabrics here. Bound with leftover green binding scraps.

doll quilts

Fairy Quilt
16 1/2 by 19 inches

Red and Blue Squares
16 by 18 1/2 inches

Made for our church auction supporting the youth work trip--Andy and Seth are going this year.

a quilt! (top)

A very busy start to a very busy semester, but I decided I needed to make something to feel like I am still a quilter.

60 red 2 inch squares
180 assorted 2 inch squares
54 aqua 3 by 6 1/2 inch rectangles
6 yellow 3 by 6 /12 inch rectangles

Finished size 36 by 40--a nice baby size and uses a single width of fabric for back.

My design--use at your pleasure.

the princess and the pea

When I was about five, my Aunt Betty gave my sister Janna and me each a dime to spend at the Hull Rexall Drug Store. I selected a book, The Princess and the Pea, even though it cost a quarter.
Aunt Betty was kind enough to cover the difference, and it became my favorite book.

The illustrations of the stacked mattresses and quilts come to mind often when I look at my work.
I had hoped to uncover my copy when we took apart our parents' house, but it was not to be found.
So, thanks to Alibris (and, this time, without Aunt Betty covering the difference) I was able to replace it and enjoy the illustrations once again.

Both my sisters stack the quilts I've given them in the Princess and the Pea style too!
Here is Beth's stack:

And here is Janna's:

vet bollen for the new year!

Vet Bollen--Traditional Dutch New Years Eve/Day treat!
(actually, Olie Bollen as I don't have a couple of quarts of lard in the house)

Sift together:
1 cup sugar
3 cups flour
1/4th rounded teaspoon of nutmeg

Whisk together:
1 cup buttermilk
3 eggs

In small bowl, mix:
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cream tartar
1 teaspoon baking soda

Stir in a bit of the buttermilk mixture into the soda mixture. Then stir into remaining buttermilk mixture. Fold into the flour mixture--you may need to add a bit more buttermilk if too dry. It will be a thick batter.
If desired, stir in raisins or chopped apple.

Drop by teaspoonsfull into hot oil or lard. Turn over when brown to fry other side. Remove to draining rack to cool.
Can shake in sugar, powdered sugar, cinnamon sugar, or leave plain.

Note--this is made with a home made baking powder concoction--the cream tartar and the baking soda and the acid of the buttermilk. This is more unstable that purchased baking powder so you need to use up the batter right away. I like it better than the purchased powder that can give a metallic taste to fried foods.