SewCalGal - FMQ Challenge - October and November 2012

November

Sarah Vedeler

November Swirls

Swirls can be sewn in columns so they would be nice in sashing or borders, or smooched together to be an all over pattern.

Definitely helps to plan out where you want the design to go and which way you will put them together.  The PDFs worksheets are good to look at and draw long with pencil or finger to get the motion internalized.  My hand was able to do the design better where the joining was with the horizontal line much better than the joining with the point, but I got a few of both in the pink example.

Sarah did a masterful job of breaking down the swirl shape in her write up for SewCalGal.

Different fabric behaves differently - the larger Kona cotton example was sort of dragging as I was sewing, so I was unable to get a smaller scale practice in.  The other example was had thinner batting and thinner fabric so I was able to have more control and to practice with a smaller scale.

I'm amazed that I did not break one needle, and only one time did the thread get doubled up and I needed to stop and pull threads out the back!  We are getting ready now to leave for the sabbatical, probably around January 1st we will be in Boston area for 6 to 9 months.  Right now I'm not picturing being able to bring my sewing machine with me and I have not found an online place where I can take classes and borrow a machine, so I don't know what will happen to my hobby. Guess I will hope to pick a machine up on Craigs List once we are there!  Or I could try my hand at joining without a sewing machine....  http://www.sewingdaisies.com.au/sewing_daisies/2012/01/tutorial-kaffe-fusion-blanket.html

You too can join up with the 2012 SewCalGal's Free-Motion Quilt Challenge now to become a better free motion quilter and have the chance to win fabulous prizes!!  

 To enter the November drawing:
1. Write blog entry or post a photo on Flicker. Copy and save the URL.
2. Then go to http://sewcalgal.blogspot.com/p/free-motion-quilt-challenge.html
3. Click on the August link - you'll go to the screen with information about the challenge for November. The direct link is: http://sewcalgal.blogspot.com/2012/11/2012-free-motion-quilting-challenge.html
4. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and add the link to your site. I'm number 118.

I'm coding all my entries about this project with SewCalGalFMQ2012 so clicking on that will show the most recent post on top.

October

Teri Lucas

October Front

October Back

I wasn't posting during October as I was too busy with the conference, but this was fun embellishing this pieced animal. I did this years ago, so I'm going to do one of the make up challenges to I have 'credit' for doing 12 during 2012.

Thanksgiving 2012

Dinner with B and A (and B)

Turkey Breast with bones from Whole Foods
Brine in sugar and salt and pepper over night
Bake in turkey roaster at higher temperature, then lower for a few hours.
3.5 lbs - three people ate about 1/4 of the meat.

Mashed Potatoes
Peel and dice 8 potatoes, put in cold water and boil until soft.
Mash and add 1.5 containers cream cheese, seasoned pepper, and seasoned salt.
Put in baking dish, top with a little butter and bake for another hour. Sometimes have to add a little milk.   B prefers it blended completely, J and A like with pieces of potato.
Three people ate about 1/3.

Dressing
Dice 1.5 onion and about half stalk of celery, saute.
In another pan fry one container of Jimmy Dean sage sausage until done (crumble as it cooks).
Combine.
Add corn bread dressing mix (I've used stove top and Mrs. Cubbinston's).
Stir.  Boil 3 cups water.  Add first 1.5 cup to mixture and stir - add the rest as needed.
Add dried cranberries.
Put in baking dish.  Bake for another 45 minutes to heat thru.
Three people ate about 1/4.

Gravy
Unbottle gravy and put in saucepan, heat until boiling.

Cranberry sauce
Need to do this early in the morning.
Bring one cup water and one cup sugar to a boil.  Add 4 cups cranberries.  If you don't have cranberries add blueberries.  Cook until most of the berries are burst.  Put in glass container in frig until cold. Three people ate about 1/3.

Corn Casserole
2 cans corn drained. Dice and saute one onion and one bellpepper.  Add flour and cook, then add about 2 T butter and cook, then add milk to make a while sauce.  Add the drained corn and cook while you crush about 8 soda crackers. and stir in.  Save a few crumbs for the top.  Bake for about 45 minutes to heat thru. Three people ate about 1/3.

Waldorf Salad
3 types of apples - each 3/4 apple. about half stalk of celery diced small.  about 1/4 cup raisins, about 1/3 cup walnuts. and about 3 T mayo mix and put in covered container in the frig.

Brussel Sprouts with Bacon
About 1 T garlic, and 2 T finely diced onion.  Saute with bacon cut up. Clean about 2 cups of brussel sprouts. Add about 1/2 to 1 cup chicken broth.  Cook until soft.

Pumpkin Pie
Use the recipe on the can.  This year put pecan pieces and butterscotch at the bottom of the dough before adding the pumpkin mixture. Next time put more pecan pieces, it was nice!

Made the dressing and corn casserole the night before, everything else the day of Thanksgiving.  Worked well.

The day or so before Thanksgiving I was in Walmart, originally to get supplies for my mom, but then I decided to pick up some food.  It was so much fun to listen in on people discussing what they were having.  There was a mom and daughter - the daughter was going to bring something for the first time to the event - her mom grabbed margarine and the girl said how she needed to use butter for the dish.  Then they talked about how their sister/aunt had made the dish that was going with the first dish.  There was a man and his toddler - he was looking for and was so happy to find pimento.  I asked him what he needed that for and he said his mom always made potato salad for Thanksgiving and and the pimento made it so special and nice.  It was nice.  I found out that I can order my mom's stuff to be delivered to the house directly so that will save time, but I will miss overhearing the happy conversations.