JANUARY, 2009
My
wish for you this new year is to enjoy each day! I love the promise of
a new beginning offered with the new year. It’s fun to feel so free
with the idea of a clean slate. Begin new projects as a treat to
yourself.
Don’t worry about old unfinished projects. You probably
didn’t finish them because you didn’t like them. Leave them for someone
else to finish someday, they’ll love your work. Instead of negative
energy on the old unliked projects, pursue your new projects.
There
are so many wonderful fabrics and books for us to choose from. Treat
yourself to the gift of doing whatever you want this year – at least for
the month of January! Make a resolution to clean out some fabric and
some books. I plan to do this at least once a month during the year to
free up space for new fabric and books to come.
Enjoy yourself, you are special.
New Year’s Greetings and May it be a good one for you!
FEBRUARY, 2009
Happy February everyone. Spring is coming!
This is the month of love, and I am in love! . . . with quilting of course! and I want to share my loves with you.
I have been sewing up a storm during the entire month of Janaury and loving every minute of it. I am working on my next book and have been hand sewing with 2 products I love that you have to have in your life, if they are not there already! The first is Superior Threads Masterpiece threads. This thread is heaven on a spool. It is a sheer pleasure to sew with. Pair it up with Roxanne’s Applique Needle, and you are truly in heaven. I promise you your every stitch will be pure pleasure. Visit: www.superiorthreads.com and www.thatperfectstitch.com
Here is a hint about my next book which is totally different from my last books. It has 50 projects, actually 55. More hints next month.
Enjoy another love of mine – chocolate.
See Feb. ’07 bouquet in the Bouquet Archives.
MARCH, 2009
It’s March and Spring is coming!
I
have been happily hibernating in my sewing room stitching up a storm
for my next book. I am happy to report at this time the 55 project
wallhangings are completed(!), and I am now in the quilting stage. It
is pure heaven to be handquilting using Hobbs Tuscany Silk Batting and
Superior Threads King Tut threads. There is no effort involved, just
pure pleasure and smooth stitching.
Another thing I am happy
about and thankful for is my collection of fabric. Except for some
yellows, I did not HAVE to go shopping for any fabrics for these 55
wallhangings. I simply went through my collection (I hate to call it a
STASH) and ‘shopped’! It’s just amazing what you’ll find when you did
through your fabric. I have so many new ideas for large simple quilts
that I want to make after this book is put to bed to use my fabrics.
If
you find you are not happy with some of your collection, simply pull it
out for a Spring Cleaning and pass it on to others who will be happy to
use it. All guilds can use extra free fabric for community quilt
projects. You are left with a good feeling of helping and more room on
your shelf for new fabrics. Don’t fall into the trap of saying I have
enough fabric and don’t need to buy any more. Of course you do, because
the new stuff is wonderful and exciting. So, on that note, happy spring
cleaning and happy new fabric discoveries.
MAY, 2009
April Showers Bring May Flowers!
In my case it was fabric.
I
spent April on two Quilt Ventures tours to Pennsylvania and to Paducah .
Needless to say there were lots of fabric purchasing opportunities. I
know you are going to say you don’t need any more fabric as you have
enough for a lifetime of quilts to come. However, Yes ! you do need new
fabric to enliven what you already have on your shelf. Old fabrics do
get stale with the passing of time and need new yardage to spice them
up. If you have no room for new fabric, then it is time to thin out what
you have and won’t ever use because your tastes have changed. There are
lots of groups who make charity quilts and gratefully use your fabric
donations. You will be blessed with room for more fabric to have fun
with,
either sewing or just enjoying as you touch and look at it.
JUNE, 2009
June is busting out all over!
What
a beautiful month! Spring has finally come to New England, and I am
enjoying working in my gardens. It's easier to have a garden quilt than a
real garden. To celebrate gardens, quilts and my birthday month, my two
out of print books - Garden View Applique and Applique Rose Garden are
offered during the month of June for $10 each plus $2.00 shipping for
each book ordered. Together these books contain 96 Album patterns
inspired from Vintage quilts.
Send your check to me at 80 Mt. Vernon Street, Dover, NH 03820. Enjoy!!!
JULY, 2009
June was supposed to be busting out all over!
But
actually here in the Northeast is has been the rainiest June on record!
I forgot what the sun is like. Hope things are better where you are.
Here’s hoping July is a month to celebrate sunshine! The rain has kept
me indoor working on the text for my new book. I got a lot done, so I
guess every cloud does have a silver lining. Here’s to good days ahead
in all you do.
AUGUST, 2009
August is here, and, in the Northeast, finally a bit of summer for us. This weather reminds me of the song, ‘summer time and the living is easy…’ I want to share with you an idea for a relaxing couple of hours
It’s called Quilter’s Home Magazine.
I received my copy in yesterday’s afternoon mail. It had been a hectic day,and this was just what I needed. I stopped what I was doing and just relaxed.
Read it cover to cover …twice!
This magazine by Mark Lipinski is like a fresh breeze in the world of quilt magazines. If you have not read it, find it on your newsstand or borrow a copy from a friend. This is not a paid advertisement, but a sharing of a good time.
Enjoy!
SEPTEMBER, 2009
Happy September with fond memories of the first day of school.
September always feels like a new beginning, especially this year. 55 quilts and manuscript for my next book has just been received by AQS. It has been a busy year working on this project and it is done. Working title is America’s Stately Wreaths … Celebrating State Flowers. There are over a dozen different techniques for the various flowers. I used fabric from my collection for just about all of the pieces and only needed some bright yellows for sunflowers.
It’s amazing how much fabric we all have. I enjoyed going through my fabric to find the just fright pieces and it was there! Take time to smell the flowers this month before winter sets in and go through your fabric to see what has been hiding from you.
NOVEMBER, 2009
This month can be a sad month with the passing of a beautiful season of spring, summer flowers and the spectacular fall foliage in New England with a long cold winter ahead. But on the bright side of things, it is a time to rest and reflect on all the good and happy times we’ve had this past year. Be thankful for family and friends that enrich our lives with their individual personalities and their support. Be thankful for all the wonderful fabric out there for us to enrich our fabric collections and quilt making. Let’s drink a toast to our blessings one and all and be thankful are quilters!
Hot Spiced Percolator Punch
From Carole Evans, Dover NH
Makes about 12 servings
1 can (12 oz.) unsweetened frozen pineapple juice concentrate
1 can (12 oz.) frozen cranberry juice concentrate
7 cups of water
¼ cup brown sugar
2 Tsp whole cloves
2 cinnamon sticks
1. Place the juice concentrates, water and brown sugar in an electric percolator.
2. Tie the cinnamon and cloves in a piece of cheesecloth before placing in the percolator basket.
3. Turn the percolator on and let it run its full cycle.
If you do not have a percolator, combine all the ingredients in a pan and bring to a simmer. Remove the spice bag after the punch is hot and to your taste. Enjoy!
Note: If you are not using concentrated juices, you may substitute 40 oz. of regular pineapple and 40 oz. of regular cranberry juice, but the flavor may not be as full bodied.
DECEMBER, 2009
Season’s Greetings!
May this holiday season be full of love and hope and NO Stress! I am enjoying the season with the concept of Less is More, except where fabric is concerned. Slow the pace down, take time to relax and enjoy the moment! I am sharing with you a recipe that should be called If You Can’t Make Anything Else, This Is It!
Enjoy!
Cherry-Date Shortbread Bars
Makes a 9” sq. pan – Do not grease pan
1. Combine in a mixer at low speed:
1 c. flour
¼ c. sugar
½ c. butter – softened
Press into ungreased pan
Bake at 350º for about 15 minutes until edges are very lightly brown
2. Beat at medium speed for 2 minutes:
¾ c. sugar
½ c. flour
2 eggs
½ tsp. baking powder
11/4 tsp. salt
1 ½ tsp. vanilla
Stir chopped step 3 into the mixture
3. Chop ahead:
¾ c. chopped dates
½ c. flaked coconut
½ c. pecans
½ c. drained cherries
4. Pour mixture (steps 2 & 3) over hot crust.
Return to oven. Bake 25 – 30 minutes until lightly brown and filling it set.
Cut into 1” sqs. and enjoy!!!