Bread and Butter Quilting: A New Service from ChiliQuiltes

I recently received

this lovely quilt top.  Custom quilting was what I wanted to do but, unfortunately, there are time constraints on how long I could keep the quilt, so I decided to try a new technique that I learned at Innovations. This is a technique I “gleaned” from Elaine Huffman that she designed called Bread and Butter quilting. I have been able to achieve, I think, a custom look without rulers and all from the front of the machine. This being said, since this project turned out well, I will start offering it as another alternative for quilting through ChiliQuiltes. It will be priced lower than custom but higher than my highest free motion/panto at .0185 per square inch. Thanks, Elaine, for a great technique!

Quilter’s Recipe for Cold Weather

This recipe is perfect for the winter “frosties” when they come your way. Enjoy!

San Antonio Style Tortilla Soup (from Fix It and Forget It Lightly Slow Cooker Recipes)

1 Tbsp of olive oil
1 onion chopped
2 cloves of gralic
2 tsp ground cumin
1 14.5 oz cans fa free chicken broth
1 15 oz. can stewed tomatoes
1/4 tsp of black pepper
2 cups boneless, skinless chicken breast, uncooked and cubed
2 cups water

Garnish:
2 cups shredded low fat cheese
fat free sour cream
baked tortilla chips

Combine all ingredients in slow cooker. Cover. Cook on low 6-8 hours or on high 4-6 hours.

Note: You can also add corn if you so desire to this soup.

My “Studio”

Studio frame, domestic machine and HQ 16

MB4, domestic machine and part of my storage

I had a question recently regarding my workspace for my quilting and embroidery business.  My husband and I downsized to a townhome in preparation for being semi-retired (I still maintain a part-time position as a school librarian two days a week and my husband is teaching in a community college).  Our town house has an area that, in most cases, would be used as an upstairs living room but this has turned out to be the perfect place for my quiltilng frame and embroidery machine. The lighting is excellent and we had extra “pot” lights added to give even more lighting. My 12′ frame is a little tight but I have arranged it so that I can still get behind the frame for executing pantos.  I have all of my storage underneath the frame so that helps to keep “stuff” under control. I currently have furniture to handle the overflow of books, patterns and thread but one of my Christmas presents for this year will be overhead cabinets and a cutting surface that will be portable. I really want more floor space, so this will help that dilema. I have included some photos…I am currently working on another quilt to fill that blank space above my frame; I hate not having a quilt that I can look at all the time !

The Results Are In

Well, as often happens in the real world, life got in the way of my blogging, so now I need to catch up and get back on track. Waiting for test results can be unnerving; I am not a particularly patient person when it comes to health related “stuff” so this was a good lesson on learning to make good use of the time in the interim.

As you may recall, I learned through my radiology clinic, not my GYN, that I had an abnormal mammogram. The fact that the group that I use didn’t contact me after having the results for 3 weeks was upsetting; as I have said, it is a great lesson in remembering that we all have to be assertive with our personal health care.  I also learned how wonderful it is to have a husband who will help you with that health care…when the radiology clinic told me that they couldn’t reschedule the tests for another two weeks, my husband went to the clinic in person and arranged a walk-in appointment for the following day…I was at work when he called to tell me. To say that I was happy to be getting it over with is putting it mildly. Long story made short, yesterday I received a letter to confirm that all is well and, yes you guessed it, the referring physician NEVER contacted me. I am very thankful that I am okay, that I now will have a breast specialist who knows who I am and can do procedures based on knowing my history and that I will never go back to the practice that didn’t contact me.  God is good!

On the humourous side of this, I have to say it is always an adventure to be a small woman having a mammogram. There are just parts of me that will never stretch in the direction that the mammographer would like to have it go…at one point there were 3 mammographers in the room trying to figure out how to get the best picture with very little to work with…maybe when I grow up I will be more flexible

Again, I want to encourage anyone who reads my posts to please be assertive with your health care;don’t assume and don’t let anything “go”. You are important!

Taking Your Quilt to A Longarmer

Over the past few days I have had three clients bring me their quilts for quilting. It has been so much fun to visit with these quilters because we had a chance to really brainstorm not only about their budget for the services but also the vision that they have for their quilts. One of the things that I have started doing, along with trying to have samples to help with their decisions, is having preview paper and a plexiglass sheet so that I can actually draw out the design and place it across the quilt. What a difference this has made when it comes to visualizing what design might be the most appropriate both in aesthetics and in size/scale! Another step that I like to take is having the client look at the possible threads and then laying them across the quilt in a meadering line. Seeing how the thread looks across the body of the quilt is a great way to make a decision.

Of course, there are some clients who want me to make the final decisions or simply say, “it’s up to you” and I love that they trust me to do that for them. However, it is really fun to work through the quilt with a client and have them “see” how their ideas might look when brought to fruition. That being said, the next time you meet with a longarmer, you might enjoy going through the process that I just described;it is a very creative exercise.

ToriQue Pattern from Creative Sewlutions

Creative Sewlutions ToriQue Pattern

I enjoy piecing quilts as much as I LOVE quilting them, so one of my “other” jobs is putting goether samples for a darling quilt shop in New Braunfels, Texas, The Quilt Haus. Their pattern business name is Creative Sewlutions and one of their newest patterns is one that I think you might really enjoy. It is perfect for that focus fabric that you would hate to cut up into small pieces; it is built on large pieces that give the illusion of being pieced. I am including a photo of the pattern in this post and will soon  post a picture of the completed quilt. I think you will REALLY like it. It is fast, easy and looks like you spent hours and hours at the sewing machine putting it together .

A Personal Story: Taking Charge of Your Health as a Woman

Because so many of my clients are women, I wanted to share an experience that happened to me yesterday. On October 28, 2008, I had my annual mammogram, planning it so that it would coincide with my annual appointment with my gynocologist. The mammography clinic indicated that the results would be faxed to my doctor the following day.

I had my appointment on November 4, 2008. I asked the doctor specifically about my mammogram as I had micro calcification in a scan in 2007. She said it was sitting on her desk, she hadn’t looked at it but was sure it was fine. Being a trusting soul, I didn’t push her further.

Yesterday I received a letter from the mammography clinic indicating that my latest scan was abnormal. I was LIVID that the doctor hadn’t contacted me and had led me to believe all was well. I can’t get a re-scan until Wednesday of next week and, of course, I have some heavy duty worry about what the problem might be; I don’t know if it is the same problem that has worsened or a totally new problem. Of course my prayer is that it won’t be a big deal, but I wonder what would have happened if the mammography clinic had not sent me the letter…I could not depend on the doctor, obviously.

My reason for sharing this experience is to encourage you to ALWAYS ask questions about your health and NEVER just assume all is well. Be sure that you go to a really reputable mammography clinic, too. Thank God that they are more organized than the doctor!  I will be changing doctors as of today, but what really is amazing that the doctor’s office offered no apologies or explanations. You also can’t assume that a woman physician will be more attuned to your needs; this particular doctor was clueless and, scarier still, came highly recommended.

We all have had friends who have dealt with breast cancer. I will never just assume that any doctor has my best interest in mind ever again; I will ALWAYS ask questions and do a followup to be sure everything is okay. A good recommendation isn’t necessarily a guarantee; ask me, I know!

Quilter’s EXCELLENT Chocolate Cake Recipe

Today’s recipe is from one of my FAVORITE clients, Joannie Alderman, of San Antonio, Texas. Joanie is not only an awesome piecer (I have quilted two of her quilts and I am currently working on one for her that is a French Braid) but an excellent cook. Below is her UNBELIEVEABLE chocolate cake. Enjoy!

Hershey’s Prize Chocolate Cake

1/4   cup butter

1/4    cup shortening

2 cups sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 eggs

3/4   teaspoon baking soda

3/4   teaspoon baking powder

3/4  cup Hershey’s Cocoa

1  3/4   cups  unsifted all-purpose flour

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 3/4  cups milk

 

Generously grease and flour two  9-inch round cake pans.  Cream butter, shortening, sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy; blend in eggs.

Combine baking soda, cocoa, flour, baking powder and salt in bowl; add alternately with milk to the batter.  Blend well.

Pour into prepared pans; bake at 350 degrees for 30- 35 minutes  or until cake tester inserted in center comes out clean.  Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans.

 Frost with your favorite frosting recipe.

 

Quilter’s Recipe: Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

This is a new “go to” recipe for me. My quilting buddies have enjoyed it and have taken it as their own. I can’t take credit…I found it in Weight Watchers Slow Cooker Recipe Book. It is really flavorful and best of all, it won’t add to your waistline.

Pulled Port Sandwiches

Pork Roast (amount according to family size)
1/2 cup barbecue sauce (I use a low sugar, but any flavor or brand will do)
1/2 can of diet cola
mince garlic to taste
fajita seasoning (optional…this is a Texas thing!)

Place all ingredients in a slow cooker. Turn temperature to low and cook for 6-8 hours. When cookin is complete, run a fork through the roast (it will be very tender) to pull the pieces of meat apart. Place on sugar free buns (Nature’s Own) and serve with broccoli slaw or chips. Yummy!

Quilter’s Recipe for Oct. 19, 2008

This is a recipe that is often made by various people in my bee. It is easy and can be made sugar free. Serve it hot with vanilla ice cream—YUM!

Dump Cake

2 sticks of butter
1 whte or yellow cake mix
2 cans of sugar free or regular apple pie filling (you may also use peach or cherry or any other filling that you prefer)
Grease a 9 x 11 pan.  Pour in the cans of pie filling and spread evenly across the pan. Dump in cake mix and evenly distribute over the pie filling.  Melt the butter completely and pour over the top of the cake mix.

Place the pan in a 400 degree oven for 45 min-60 min until browned around the edged and somewhat firm. Serve hot.