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Tuesday, October 11, 2016

RSC16: October: Sunrise Yellow/Gold and Photo of all Blocks

This month was the hardest yet for me to pull fabrics for....

October's Rainbow Scrap Challenge:
Colors of the sunrise or fall: Yellow/Orange

California sunrises have mainly yellow in the sky.  Since we previously had used orange I concentrated on my pulling out my collection of hanging yellow strips.

I have a lot of yellows as it's my favorite color.  It was difficult to decide which fabric to give up for the block though, as again they hold memories that I don't want to give up on -AND- it seems to be really difficult to find yellows when I go to the store!  But in the end, I decided by making the block the memories are preserved in a way, so I gave myself permission to use them.

I started by making a liberated log cabin, but realized I didn't have wider strips that were long enough.  So I cut what I had done so the pieces would work.  There is one seam that goes across about a third of the way up...

The solids and tone on tones were all part of the blue and yellow log cabin quilt that I made the first year I was piecing. Many of them are 1.5 inches wide, not a width that I think I will be working with much now!  I still need to find and finish that project. The robots are left over from my first actually completely finished quilt. It was sent off to Quilts for Kids. The yellow with little orange and green was purchased I'm pretty sure originally to make rice throwing bags with my son, however the fabric was also used in the Quilt in a Day tulip quilt that I pieced, but never basted and quilted it in time to give to my Godmother.

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There will be no new color RSC assignments for the remainder of 2016.  "November and December are finishing off months here at the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.  Hopefully so finishes are in your future." 

So this post also shows all the RSC16 blocks I have made.


I think they look pretty nice on the wall:


I'm glad I finally took part in the rainbow scrap challenge.

Next year I may pick a quilt block to make each month in addition to making these slab/crumb blocks.

Please click to be amazed at what the others are posting this month!

http://superscrappy.blogspot.com/2016/10/scraphappy-saturday.html

Thank you Angela for the rainbow scrap challenge!


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We hosted a department party last week. The meal was tacos, made by a pair of workers who have this as their business!  They took about an hour to set up, made food for two hours, gave me all the left overs so I could repackage and freeze it, and cleaned all their area up too!


Before table cloths and guests.

Makes for a very easy way to have a party.  Guests brought desserts, they were placed inside on the counter.  What a wonderful assortment or store bought cookies, mini-muffins, cheese/crackers and sausage, and sliced watermelon!  The only home made item though was the cake that I made.


Originally it was going to be cupcakes made with:

1small jar Maraschino cherries (3 oz?) - blended/chopped
1 can pinapple (12 oz?) - blended/chopped - saved about half for topping
1/2 - 3/4 c coconut
about 3 T softened butter
about 2 T softened cream cheese
3 eggs
cake mix box (cake box called for a cube of butter and a cup of water but I only added what is listed)
mix together

Put in cupcake tins to bake.  The oven worked until I clicked to set the timer.  I turned it off as it was not recording the time and the oven would not go on again.

So I transferred the batter to a casserole and put in the microwave!

After 4 or 5 minutes I started pulling out to test with knife.  I wasn't sure it was going to work at all so I didn't record how many times I did this...

Eventually though the cake was done.  The pan was hot.

I used a knife to separate from the sides and flipped it over onto a plate while it was still hot.

The cake came out - just a little stuck to the top of the casserole.  I tasted it and it was fine.

Waited for it to cool, then put in the frig.

Right before serving I topped with whipped cream and then poured about half the remaining pineapple on the top.

It was tasty and good.

There were some left overs so I put in little boxes and topped with the rest of the pineapple and some whipped cream before closing the lid.


We gobbled the left overs up before I thought to take a photo.  (and the day of the event I was busy moving chairs around and greeting people)  Instead of getting 30 cupcakes I ended up with one 8 or 9 inch layer that was maybe almost 2 inches deep.  The cake was bright pink with the cherries, then there was white whipped cream, then a circle of yellow pineapple.  The cake looked the same as baked cake, but was much firmer.  The whipped cream and pineapple made the cake less firm, but did not make it soggy.  So I'd try using the microwave again for cake!

So, dear readers, I need ideas for what to do with masses of rice, beans, and meat (chopped Chicken, Pork and Carne Asada and whole pieces of Carne Asada) so it will be interesting to eat! I froze most of the items in one cup portions.

But sort of as Scarlett O'Hara said I'll think about getting the oven fixed another day.  I already know the newer ovens are a different size so it will mean cabinet work will be needed too. 

Thank you for coming by!


Monday, October 10, 2016

Play with Me QAL: Photo of all the blocks!

http://alidatweloqdesigns.blogspot.com/2016/09/play-with-me-qal-final-linky-party.html
Here is a photo of all my blocks in one frame!

I started with using the aqua and white fabric, but then decided to switch to denim to make them all into pillows for our den and living room!  **Perfect as my husband teaches educational game design and sometimes they do work on designing board games (although this semester they are working on making presidential card games). 

I blogged about making these blocks:
  1. Checkers Pillow Cover denim
  2. Checkers - front only aqua & white 
  3. Nine Man's Morris Pillow Cover denim
  4. Backgammon Pillow Cover denim
  5. GO Pillow Cover  denim
  6. Peg Solitaire - front only  denim
  7. Ludo - front only  denim
  8. Hexie - front only  denim
  9. Coppit - front only   denim
  10. Snakes and Ladders front only   denim
This QAL was done very nicely.  The directions were clear and challenged us to use different types of procedures for the blocks.  But we were also allowed/encouraged to make changes as desired to make the blocks our own.

: )

Click here to see what the others have finished up!
http://alidatweloqdesigns.blogspot.com/2016/09/play-with-me-qal-final-linky-party.html


http://alidatweloqdesigns.blogspot.com/2016/09/play-with-me-qal-final-linky-party.html

Sunday, October 2, 2016

RSC16: September: Rose Bouquet.

I'm late with posting my September block, but here it is!

Rainbow Scrap Challenge:
Rose Bouquet. Deep claret to shades of pink with a pop of gold to mix things up.  This  month I worked on adding fabric using y-seams!  I'm pretty pleased with the results.  Maybe I'll even get up enough nerve now to fix that quilt that has the wax drop right in the middle of the design!


http://superscrappy.blogspot.com/2016/10/scraphappy-saturday-sunrise-on-new-month.html
October will be easy with the colors of fall or a sunrise Orange and Yellow!







Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Play with Me QAL: 09-2016 Snakes and Ladders

http://alidatweloqdesigns.blogspot.com/2016/09/
play-with-me-qal-snakes-and-ladders_26.html
The last game board for 2016 is Snakes and Ladders!

Here is my version in various denims...



Click to see the way other folks made the game board!
http://alidatweloqdesigns.blogspot.com/2016/09/play-with-me-qal-snakes-and-ladders_26.html


I'll be adding a back with a zipper so this can join the other Play with Me pillows from the year! 



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Escondido City Hall Area Photos



 Nice event that I didn't attend, but what a great idea for a library to host each month!

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

QAYG: Nine Blocks for Charity and Encinitas

The blocks I quilted for the charity have been calling out to me that they want to be joined together!  As with so many things, I thought about it for way longer than it actually took to do it!

The front is rather boring, made from scraps of material the Saturday group gave me to use.  They also gave me some backing material, but there wasn't enough so I decided to use other pieces of fabric that I had received...



The blue material would have been tossed out if it weren't on the back of the quilt!  I did different free motion quilting on each block, trying to take advantage of the thick batting the Saturday group provides.

My favorite are in the lighter green in the center row - the orange peel and the Baptist fans!

To join the blocks I used these two presser feet.  To begin I used the 1/4 inch foot and sewed a strip of 1 inch to the back and a piece of 1.5 inch folded in half to the front of six of the blocks.  Then I used the same foot to sew the 1 inch strip to the next block.  I checked to be sure the seams were covering what needed to be covered.  Then I swapped feet and used the G foot to sew down the 1.5 inch strip on the front.  I flipped the block and sewed again on the other side so the strip would be symmetrical.

   

The result is pretty even on the front, but not so much on the back...

After doing the three rows each with three blocks, I repeated to join the rows together.  

I thought for a time that the blocks were not the same in the middle position.  I decided to use scraps on the back joining pieces so perhaps the eye would notice the colors and not how things did not line up.

But in the end things did line up in the center, but in two of the rows the outer blocks were a little longer. 

 


 
So now I have another quilt ready to bind!


 Notes to remind myself:

  • Be sure to measure the blocks and to sew about 1/8 inch around each one before adding the hinges.  This makes it easier to line things up. Perhaps I need to invest in a larger square ruler to help with measuring these larger blocks.
  • Consider using thread that matches the back side so the uneven stitching is not as prominent!
  • Maybe cut the folded strip a little more than 1.5 inches, but I think the 1/8 sewing around the blocks may make this not needed.
  • The sewing of the hinges was done over two evenings, I didn't keep track of the actual sewing time but was less than 5 hours I think.
I'll really be able to tell after the binding is applied, but I think this will be a good way to finish up some of my projects!

My husband told me three times today that he really likes blue and purple together - but that green was okay too.  It will be nice when I feel comfortable enough to work on and finish a quilt for him! Sewing a little every day will help with that goal!

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We went on a little one night holiday last weekend.  To a beach town about 30 minutes away from us, Encinitas.  It had been a long time since I used to drive thru that place...

Pretty design on electrical box.

Ampersand design.

The side walks had these tile art pieces on the corners or in front of particular trees.







Yes, we caught some pokemon while we were there!

We passed these decorated mailboxes on our way to the farmer's market.
Next time we need to bring a cooler to bring veggies, fruit and cheese home!
View from the park across the street from the library.

Good idea to assign days & times that dogs can be unleashed.  (Which means to me times when I can walk with out having to think about loose dogs!)

What are so many people waiting for?

In four minutes the library with view of the ocean (like the park) will open!
A beautiful place, arranged with a lovely selection of books and places to read.

We walked down the hill to the town again for a terrific lunch.
We used Yelp to help us wade thru all the choices to decide where to eat, and really lucked out. 



We picked a perfect selection of dishes to share:
  • Crispy Squash Blossoms: Herbed Ricotta, Pickled Fennel, Arugula, Chimichurri, Corn Relish
  • Shrimp & Grits: Blackened Mexican White Shrimps, Cheesy Grits, BBQ Butter, Crispy Pork Belly
  • Summer Salad: Bibb Lettuce, Corn, Radishes, Oranges, Asparagus, Almonds, Feta, Green Goddess Dressing


Designs in the restaurant caught my eye.

In the restroom!

Surfers crossing sign!

We drove back on the 101.
We stopped at the La Jolla Gliderport on our way home - there is a wonderful lunch/breakfast place there and nice tables and chairs to sit at and watch the activity.  I used to bring our son there for BLT sandwiches.

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The previous week we had been watching our son's little dog.
A lot of fun but meant we stayed close to home...

After walks she just wanted to sleep!

One day though she wanted to play so I put some dried food in the bottle and had fun watching her knock it about to get at the treats!

The prize was getting to have dinner with our son, picked a place in Yelp that permitted little dogs to come and sleep under the table while we ate!  



I'll have to make her a little quilt in hopes of other evenings out with her!
I was glad I had sweat shirt in the trunk of the car for this evening....