Friday, November 29, 2013

CHOCOLATE CAKE: VERY DARK

The Thanks giving holiday had me thinking about things I missed making.  I didn't cook this year because I was not at my own house.  The first thing I thought of was chocolate chip cookies, in fact any cookies.  Are you a cookie aficionado, you can seek out my favorite Cookies on these blogs:
 
 Chocolate lovers, these recipes will fill you moments of desire with that, " mmmmmm, this is heaven", feeling.  The first Cake recipe is so easy a 6 year old who has knowledge of a mixer could make it and have success.  It is so delish. A friend gave me the recipe over 2 years ago.
 
 The second site contains two brownie recipes.  The first one I found in an advertisement in a magazine.  It is totally sinful.  On the bottom of my blog is another brownie recipe for making in the microwave.  Have your ice cream ready.  This is a brownie which is fantastic when hot but really looses it when it is cold..to me it becomes inedible.  Fresh it is fantastic and ready 5 minutes after the craving hits. I can't remember when or where this recipe showed up.


 
 
Have a wonderful fun, food filled holiday. 
Cook up lots of fabulous memories.
 

 
 New Article on my blog: 
"A MYSTERY IN THE MAKING"
A mystery quilt designed with the novice in mind
 
Other blog sites by me:
 
Where I have stories of my cats and other pets
a blog about my courtship with my husband,
and a blog about my most embarrassing moment.
A "Soap box" blog where I do air my opinions.
 
blogs about the wildflowers on our farm
Organic methods we use, some cooking and some poetry,
blogs about Seed sprouting, insects, and garden pictures
Blog about an endangered beneficial beetle
New Blog:
 
All recipes, pictures, and writings are my own.
I give credit for items which belong to other people in my blogs .
Please do not copy without permission

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

A MYSTERY IN THE MAKING: CLUE #2

"A MYSTERY IN THE MAKING”
PIECEMAKERS GUILD 2013/2014 MYSTERY QUILT
A mystery quilt in 5-6 installments
(6 if you do the larger quilt)
Finished small Quilt 57” sq. with borders
Small quilt without borders 45 ½” sq.
Larger quilt, 64 ½” sq. without borders)
Thank you for participating in this mystery. I hope it will be fun, easy, and educational.  Beginners should be comfortable working on it.  Newbie’s to the world of quilting may need a little help.  If you understand how to sew a quarter inch, and a scant quarter inch you should do fine. 
If you have just found this clue and need the introduction to this mystery you can find it here:
http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/07/a-mystery-in-making.html
http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/10/a-mystery-in-making-clue-1.html
http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2014/01/a-mystery-in-making-clue-3.html

Every so often I will post items I find on the internet which help improve our piecing.  Today in an email I received is this one.
Hint for the day: Pressing.  I can't impress upon you how important it is to press as you piece.  This video is excellent.  When I piece, on my right is my ironing board.  It is set up as an additional work surface.  The plus is I don't have to get up to iron my pieces.
http://www.mccallsquilting.com/mccallsquilting/articles/pressing
If you are a beginner or not normally a presser I recommend watching this video.  Even if you are an experienced quilter she might have something to offer you.  BTW, I am a steamer.

Now, what you came here for:
Clue #2 takes less time than Clue #1.  You will spend less than 2 hours working on it.  Heading into the Holiday season you don't need projects which will bring anymore stress than normal.  This clue is totally separate from the other Unit.   We will not have a clue in December, we will return January 15 with Clue #3.
 
“A MYSTERY IN THE MAKING”
CLUE # TWO

CONSTRUCTING FLYING GEESE (Also bonus “half square” triangles)
From Fabric “D” cut:
(2) 5” X WOF strips; cut into (4) 5” x 9.5” rectangles
and (8) 5”squares

From Fabric “E” cut:
(2) 5” X WOF strips; cut into (4) 5” X 9.5” rectangles
and (8) 5” squares                        

(3) 5.5” WOF strips; cut into (16) 5.5” squares

1.  (8) Fabric “E”, 5” squares: draw a line diagonally with pencil (don’t use pen or marker it may bleed through the fabric).  If your fabric is dark use a light colored pencil.

***For Fabric "D" 5" squares Repeat Step one: Mark on the wrong side of (8) Fabric “D” 5” squares.  

2.   Fabric “D” 9.5“x 5”  rectangle and place a “5” marked, fabric “E” sq on one half, Right Sides Together.  Stitch on the seam side, one stitch away from the Diagonal line. Do this on all 4 rectangles.

***For Fabric “E” rectangles, Repeat step 2: Take a 9.5“x 5” Fabric “E” rectangle,  place a “5” marked, fabric “D” square on one half, Right Sides Together.  Stitch on the seam side, one stitch off the Diagonal line. Do this on all 4 rectangles. 
    LEFT WING OF GEESE
Press the triangles to the outside corner of the geese, then trim away the fabric 1/4“ away from seam line. (Skip this Step if you are making the Bonus Unit.  Refer to the directions in Clue 1.)  This will give you 8 half-square Units

When you have finished stitching to accommodate the half-square triangles,  press your triangles to the outer corner, and trim between the stitching lines (forming one wing of the geese).   

3. Repeat Step two on the right side of the rectangles.  (Be aware of the direction of the angle you are stitching.)  It should be angled opposite from the completed wing.

      RIGHT WING OF GEESE
You now have 4 light flying geese and 4 dark flying geese.  

If you did the bonus step you will have 8 more half squares to add to your collection.  You have a total of 16 half square units in this Clue.
FINISHED GEESE UNIT
4.  Take a light geese and a dark geese.   Place right sides together, pairing them.  Make sure the points of the geese are the correct direction (see picture).  Make sure the dark fabric geese and the light fabric geese are facing the same direction in each pair.   The dark fabric geese is on the bottom of each pair.  The points of the geese point to the right when the units are right sides together.
FINISHED KISSING GEESE UNIT
HINT:  Pin this unit if you’re persnickety about points matching and not being cut off.  First I pin the long side, which doesn’t have the points on it,  pin those two corners.  Then smooth out your unit, making sure your points of your geese lay on top of each other.  Then I run my fingernail down the diagonal seam line to the corner, making sure the diagonal seams line up.  Pin the center points together at this time.  Pin from inside the body of the unit, not from the outside edge. (Pinning from the out side edge pushes the thick joint apart and out of place.)

Now smooth the unit to the outside corners and pin.  If you have fabric sticking out on the edge above the other geese, use that as your edge to stitch your 1/4 inch. (Not the shorter edge)

5.  Stitch ¼ inch on the right side of the unit. (When pressed open your geese should be kissing).  When pressing the units, press the seam open.  If you press to one side you will have too much bulk in the center of the block.  You will have 4 Blocks measuring 9 .5 inches each. Label clue 2, place in a bag for later.  Also label and bag your Half-Square units.

Other blog sites by me:
Where I have stories of my cats and other pets
a blog about my courtship with my husband,
and a blog about my most embarrassing moment.
A "Soap box" blog where I do air my opinions.

blogs about the wildflowers on our farm
Organic methods we use, some cooking and some poetry,

blogs about Seed sprouting, insects, and garden pictures

Blog about an endangered beneficial beetle


All recipes, pictures, and writings are my own.
I give credit for items which belong to other people in my blogs.

Please do not copy without permission

Sunday, November 3, 2013

BLOCK OF THE MONTH: K IS FOR KANSAS STAR

This month's block is very appropriate for me.  I just arrived home from driving to Denver.  I traversed the center of Kansas twice.  I am one of those people who like fruit cake and am not bored with the terrain of Kansas.  The following is a blog I wrote upon my return:
http://glosgarden.blogspot.com/2013/10/kansas.html
I am thankful to say I wasn't driving through there in the dark.  This time of year wildlife is on the move, especially the deer.  There was plenty of evidence of that on the side of the road.
 THE KANSAS STAR
With the Kansas Star block we will begin another leg of our two year trip,
 "THROUGH THE ALPHABET"     A twenty-six month Journey.
Dorothy Young, owner, of the yahoo group "A Pocketful of Mysteries" is presenting her Block of the Month quilt series. It began in January 2013, and will continue for the next two years.
 The yahoo site for this trip is:
It is not too late to join in. This block and the other ten are at the beginners level. 
So far I have found the construction of the blocks very simple.  I do recommend you start with the first block if you are a beginner.  There are simple techniques you will pick up on the journey.

This block will definitely teach you new abilities if you are new to quilting.  It is paper pieced.  If you have never paper pieced before, google "How to paper piece a quilt block".  I am sure you will find lots of excellent tutorials.

This month's block is way out of my box.  I only do paper piecing when I absolutely have to.  I use it to execute a design I can't get any other way.  I found I do not enjoy the paper piecing process.  I do have lots of friends who delight in paper piecing. 

If you are new to quilting please try paper piecing.  These little blocks are the perfect beginning to a paper piecing career.  You may find this method is just your cup o' tea.
(BTW there are the cutest paper pieced tea cups available free on the internet.)
Here's just an example of what is out there for you:
http://piecebynumber.com/tea-n-coffee-cups.htm

 I hope Dorothy will excuse my excursion away from this month's direction.

I will be piecing my blocks using a square in a square method which I have a tutorial on here:
 
To make the KANSAS STAR
not using paper piecing you will need:
 
FABRIC "A":  One strip 2" X WOF, cut into (16) 2 inch squares (My Blue Fabric)
 
FABRIC "B":  One strip 2" X WOF, cut into (20) 2 inch squares. (My White paisley)
                        One strip 3 1/2" X  15", cut into (4)  3 1/2 inch squares

FABRIC "C":  One Strip 3 1/2" X 18", cut into (5) 3 1/2 inch squares.  (My Dark paisley)

STEP ONE:  Take one 3 1/2 inch Fabric "C" squares and four 2 inch Fabric "B" squares.  Follow the directions in the tutorial for "Square in a Square" (link above high-lighted in blue).  Repeat this on the other four squares.  You now have five "Square in a Square" "BC" units.

STEP TWO:  Take four, 3 1/2 inch "B" Squares and sixteen "A" 2 inch squares.  Repeat the procedure used in Step one. You now have four "AB" units.

STEP THREE:  Join your units in two rows of  AB-BC-AB; one row  of  BC-AB-BC; Press toward the AB unit. (I am using fabrics from the 50's /60's and they are heavier, thicker, coarser than current fabrics.  I open my seams out on these.  When the tips of the "geese" lay on top of each other they are real thick. The block doesn't lie flat when I press them to the side.)

STEP FOUR:  Join your rows together BC-AB-BC  TO  AB-BC-AB  TO  BC-AB-BC.  You now have a 9 patch with the name of KANSAS STAR. (When you join rows that you have pressed the seams open, you can not nest them.  For me it is necessary to pin the seams to keep them lined up.)

 THE KANSAS STAR, I made for my friend,
I'm getting envious of the blocks I am making for my friend.  I love the fall look of the fabrics.
These fabrics were so much easier to work with than the older fabrics.   I was able to nest the seams when I joined the units and rows.

KANSAS STAR in my BLUE/GREEN/LAVENDER PAISLEYS
 
 
See you next month, already I am anticipating it!  The minute I finish the current BOM I can't wait till the following month for our surprise..... LOL 
 
My quilting fix now, will be getting the second Clue for my Guild's mystery quilt  ready to be presented, November 20, 2013.  This is the first time I have been down the road planning a Mystery quilt.  It is very different than making a quilt.  This is the introduction to the guild's Mystery Quilt. 
 
"A MYSTERY IN THE MAKING"
 A mystery quilt designed with the novice in mind
Second Clue November 20.
  


This journey with the alphabet blocks is taking me on journeys through the corridors of my mind.
 While you're on a quilting journey of any kind, please think about reducing your stash and making a quilt top to send to the "Quilt of Valor" group in your area .
 
  Join us in this 2 year journey. There are several hundred friends taking the trip
The following, are blogs written each month on my journey through the alphabet.
Other blog sites by me:
 
Where I have stories of my cats and other pets
a blog about my courtship with my husband,
and a blog about my most embarrassing moment.
A "Soap box" blog where I do air my opinions.
 
blogs about the wildflowers on our farm
Organic methods we use, some cooking and some poetry,
blogs about Seed sprouting, insects, and garden pictures
Blog about an endangered beneficial beetle
New Blog:
 
All recipes, pictures, and writings are my own.
I give credit for items which belong to other people in my blogs .
Please do not copy without permission
 

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

A MYSTERY IN THE MAKING: CLUE #1

“A MYSTERY IN THE MAKING”
PIECEMAKERS GUILD 2013/2014 MYSTERY QUILT
A mystery quilt in 5-6 installments
(6 if you do the larger quilt)
Finished small Quilt 57” sq. with borders
Small quilt without borders 45 ½” sq.
Larger quilt, 64 ½” sq. without borders)
Thank you for participating in this mystery. I hope it will be fun, easy, and educational.  Beginners with intermediate abilities  (knowing how to use the machine and 1/4 inch abilities.) should be comfortable working on it.  Newbie’s to the world of quilting may need a little help.  If you understand how to sew a quarter inch, and a scant quarter inch you should do fine. 
If you have just found this clue and need the introduction to this mystery you can find it here:

CLUE # ONE FOR
“ A MYSTERY IN THE MAKING”
The mystery will be composed of Units. 
The construction techniques will be listed with each step.  Each clue in the making of this quilt is not stressful.  Even if you are a slow quilter this clue should not take more than 3 hours of your time to construct.

CONSTRUCTING A SQUARE IN A SQUARE
(Also half square triangles)
From Focus fabric “A” cut:
(3)   9.5” X WOF strips; cut into (9) 9.5” squares.  If you have a lot of fabric you can fussy cut these.  Just make sure you have enough left for the rest of the cuts.
(6)   5” x WOF strips for the outer border, Label and set aside. (If you are unsure you will like the suggested border do not cut these at this time.)
(2)   5” X WOF strips: cut into (12) 5” Sq., label “Clue 2 & 4”, set aside

From Fabric “B” cut:
(5) 5” X WOF strips; cut into (36) 5” squares
 CONSTRUCTION CLUE #1
1.  On the back of the (36) 5” Sq. Fabric “B”, draw a line diagonally, corner to corner, with pencil (don’t use pen or marker it may bleed through to the front).  If your fabric is very dark use a light colored pencil.
HINT:
The diagonal distance is 7 inches.  It’s important to stitch in a straight line across the diagonal.  I don’t recommend skipping the marking of the line and eyeing it.
HINT: 
 Fine grit sand paper glued on cardboard makes a great board to use in the marking fabric.  It keeps the fabric from stretching and slipping.
2.  Use a 9.5“sq of Fabric “A”; place a marked 5” Sq of Fabric “B” in the upper left corner, Right sides together.  Stitch on the seam side of the Diagonal line, a scant enth off the line.  Repeat this on all 9 squares.
HINT: When stitching an enth off the line I use the inside edge of the toe of my presser foot as a guide to run along the drawn line. It places my needle one stitch width away from the line.  Check your foot and see what helps you eye it.

3.  Press the triangle to the corner of the square.   Trim ¼" away from the seam.  (Do not trim if you would like a bonus unit).  When you fold back the triangle, line it up with the corner of the 9.5 inch fabric "A" square.  By sewing an enth off the line you allow the fabric to be folded back easily.  Also if you have made a mistake in stitching, matching the corner of the larger square keeps your triangle exact. 
 BONUS, HALF-SQUARE TRIANGLES:
If you have elected to make the bonus unit and have not done Step three, you proceed with this step.
With a little extra stitching, and time, you’ll have a pieced unit to use in another project, salvaging fabric which would normally be wasted. 
Stitch 1/2” away from your previously stitched seam: then press the triangle back to the “point” of the larger square.  Pressing back to the corner is very important to do before you trim between the two seam lines.  Stitching ½” away results in a bonus ½ Square triangle.  Be careful when you trim the half square triangle off that you don't cut your triangle off the front of your unit.

 Press your HALF SQUARE TRIANGLE open to the dark fabric.  Voila,  a bonus unit to use in another project,  Fabric rescued before it be comes trash.
4.  Repeat Steps 2 & 3 for the other three corners.  Begin with the opposite corner, diagonally across from the corner you just completed.
NOTE:  You complete opposite corners, instead of going clockwise around the square, if there is a reason I don’t know it (I know there probably is a construction reason).  I do it because it looks better in the finished unit. 
Left, is the unit with two corners added.  The right hand corner has been stitched to allow the harvesting of a HALF SQUARE TRIANGLE.   Remember to press the triangle back to the corner before trimming so your  "Square in a Square" will be square.  If you have chosen to do the extra step you will have (36) Half square triangles, place them in a plastic bag for another Project.  Don’t square them up at this time.
When finished with all four corners you will have (9) 9.5” Square in a Square Blocks,  place these in a plastic bag and label “Clue One”. 
As you can see by this finished unit, fussy cutting is an option.
Need further clarification on construction of a "Square in a Square",  here is a tutorial: 

Other blog sites by me:
http://glosgarden.blogspot.com/
Where I have stories of my cats and other pets
a blog about my courtship with my husband,
and a blog about my most embarrassing moment.
A "Soap box" blog where I do air my opinions.
http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/

blogs about the wildflowers on our farm

Organic methods we use, some cooking and some poetry,

blogs about Seed sprouting, insects, and garden pictures
Blog about an endangered beneficial beetle

All recipes, pictures, and writings are my own.
I give credit for items which belong to other people in my blogs.
Please do not copy without permission