Stumble It!
Due to a flood at the church, of biblical proportions, we have moved our American Hero Quilts Sew Day to the Happy Valley Grange, 19720 NE 50th, Redmond, WA.
Same time: 10:00 - 2:00 Same day: Friday, May 11th.
Bring your sewing machines and any red, white/cream and blue fabric you want to donate, and come sew your little brains out...taco salad lunch provided...and probably a few laughs as well!
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We had a couple of old friends quilts show up at our meeting...it was great to see them! Of course, we had new quilts, too...just enough to inspire us all to get busy!
This is a Helen original...stunning in it's simplicity! It's been copied and pawed over for years...Helen doesn't use patterns, nor does she make them, she just sits at her machine and sews up whatever she feels like...which is why us mere mortals are so in awe of her and her quilts!
Helen brought in her quilt as an example of a quilt with star blocks - she also brought in the blocks above. Our quilt group is going to have a sew day for American Hero Quilts on Friday, May 11th...we are in need of 9 1/2-inch star blocks (they will be 9-inches when sewn into the quilt)...if you'd like to make a few for us, feel free! We need any combination of red, white, cream and blue...but nothing with metallic threads. Send them to me and we'll put them in a quilt for AHQ that will be given to a wounded soldier or Marine! (We're also accepting donations of any red, white, cream or blue fabric!)
Above is another whole-cloth-French quilt from Ardith...look closely at her fabric, it's Winnie-the-Pooh! She just got this quilt back from the quilter (Terry of Stitchophrenic Quilting) so it isn't bound yet, it's as sweet as anything that grows in the hundred acre wood!
This is the other old friend who showed up...another one of Helen's quilts. It is all raw edge - sorry about the blurry picture, I was trying to get a close up so you could see all the charming embroidery!
This is called a Granny Square quilt...it may look easy, but it's deceiving! There are a lot of little triangles in that quilt! (I detest triangles...working with them, I mean, they are so dang tricky!) I love Helen's use of fabrics...I always find myself thinking, "I would have never done that but it works!" And it really does work!
This is a close up of the borders Helen used in her quilt...interesting, fun, dramatic, charming...you supply the word and it fits this quilt!
One last "Helen" quilt...and this one surprised us all as it's not what we normally see from Helen...a black and white rail fence that is backed with yellow and black...really fun and fresh...just like Helen.
Barbara belongs to another quilt group and her other group had a cake-block exchange...these are some of the blocks she received - they are so, so cute! All of them were pieced, but not paper-pieced...you know what I mean.
I love the bright happy colors they used! Some of the blocks have embellishments that have yet to be sewn on - I'm excited to see how Barbara uses these blocks!
A few months ago it was Kareena's turn to receive blocks from us. She had each of us sew her a block made with scraps from another quilt - this is how she put them together. It's a rather big quilt - so soft and pretty. It's pretty amazing, especially considering it's all from left-overs! I think she only purchased the white fabric. I love how crisp this looks...crisp and clean!
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American Hero Quilt Sew Day!
If you live in the Seattle area, you're invited to come and help!
Bring your machine and sewing supplies
Friday, May 11th, 10:00 - 2:00 at the LDS Church on the Plaeteau, 922 - 216th Avenue NE, Sammamish
You can email me for directions or if you have any questions or if you'd like to DONATE RED, WHITE AND BLUE FABRIC OR STARS!! (nans17@hotmail.com) But we'd really love to have your help!
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If you live in the Seattle area, have a sewing machine and a generous heart, then we'd love for you to come and sew with us on Friday, May 11th! Our little quilt group of 12 is going to sew together as many quilt tops as we can for American Hero Quilts but we'll help!! If you're not a sewer, you can still come and help us by ironing, or sorting fabrics or pinning...I promise, we'll put you to good use!
Everyone is Welcome!! Invite your friends! Friday, May 11th at the LDS Church on the Sammamish Plateau, 922 - 216th Avenue NE
10:00 till 2:00 Pot luck for lunch!
If you can't help us that day, how about donating some of your red, white/cream and blue stash/fabric to us? Anything that is 100% cotton, without metallic, will be gladly accepted! Send me an email if you want to donate fabric and we'll make arrangements to get it picked up! (nans17@hotmail.com)
American Hero Quilts gives quilts to returning wounded soldiers and Marines through Madigan Army Hospital in Tacoma, Washington and also at the military hospital in Afghanistan. There has never been a shortage of wounded...please come and help us support this wonderful way of saying thank you to our military men and women.
Thanks! Hope to see you there!
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Another year, another wedding season - which is starting rather early! My house smelled like a florist shop this weekend...hydrangeas (flown in from New Zealand as this is definitely NOT hydrangea season...why do brides always pick flowers that aren't in season?), beautiful roses and assorted greens - they made for some pretty sweet arrangements...eleven centerpieces, one bouquet, 3 boutonnieres - my kitchen went from one extreme to the other in a very fast 3 hours!
The MOG (Mother of the Groom) came to help - and we had a great time, except for the rose thorns, everything went swimmingly.
The roses, in the above arrangement, are not fully opened...but they were come "show" time. We picked up the roses from the wholesaler on Wednesday, where they are kept in 45 degree coolers. Once we got them home we cut their stems, put them in water and then they just hung out in my garage until Friday morning when they were put into the arrangements. By Saturday morning they were perfect - open, flowy, flowery...just the way they're supposed to be - it takes three days. Most roses get "worked" too soon, before they're open and then the day after the event they are gorgeous. Just in case you ever need to work with roses - give them three days!
The MOG has a great eye for detail - she had me add these beautiful ribbons and jewels to each vase...it's all about the details! (I think she got the little jewels at Michaels, they came in a package of 4 - and they're plastic! They were inexpensive but they sure don't look it!)
Into the car - off to the event - which was held at The Seattle Tennis Club. It was so lovely - even though it was a typical rainy, cloudy, stinkin' cold day! Inside it was...
Elegant...the centerpieces were sent on top of a cloud of tulle which was sprinkled with rose petals and little mirrors that captured the light and made everything sparkle. Like I said, the MOG has an eye for detail! What you can't see out the window is a white-capped Lake Washington - the Tennis Club sits on the shore and in the summer it's beautful...I mean, on July 5th, because we really only have one day of summer up here! Everything turned out great - DeRue, give yourself a pat on the back - you did a great job! See how the roses are open?!? Three days!
After the reception, I came home to finish the owls...
Sunday I had to teach a lesson on homemaking to 13, 14 and 15 year old girls. I made an owl for each girl and told them owls are great homemakers...they have excellent vision, excellent hearing, they can hunt, feed their young, enhance their nests and fly silently...I told them it was good to be an owl/homemaker...yes, it was a stretch and basically just a load of crappola, but they seemed to buy it! And then I fed them frosted double chocolate truffle brownies and they were happy and it was all good. And then I came home and collapsed. Long weekend. I was actually happy to have Monday roll around!
On Valentine's Day I went to Gathering Fabric in Woodinville, WA - it's a very, very wonderful quilt shop - and they were having a Valentine Tea (more about that in tomorrow's post - their sandwiches were fabulous!) The Aussie and I spied these little owls and when we asked about them we were handed a free pattern...unfortunately the name of the person who drew the pattern is not on it! So I can't tell you who did it and I can't thank them - Lynn from Mandie and Me Designs made the pattern and you need to pop on over to her blog to see how stinkin' cute hers are!! Thanks Lynn! (If you want the pattern email me and I'll send it to you.)
Get yourself over to Gathering Fabric - tell Susan, the owner, that I sent you! You will love how warm and wonderful her shop is - plus she has great fabric! Happy Monday!
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So we didn't win the lottery...bummer...the bald eagle who stopped by on July 4th turned out to just be a big bird who flew into our cul-de-sac to dine on a squirrel from our yard and not a sign/omen/signal from on high that we were destined to be filthy rich. Hate that! So real life goes on...and at a breakneck pace - in the last week I did the following... made two trips to girls camp (after having sewed a banner and a flag for camp), instructed girls on how to pull pranks at camp and not get caught then took them shopping for "supplies", gave quilting lessons to a young friend, hosted a luncheon, baked 5 dozen cookies for a scout trip, made food for two pot-lucks, taught a lesson in church, burned two loaves of bread, babysat 3 small boys for 7 1/2 hours which included a fairy hunt (no success with catching a fairy but very successful in brainwashing), worked for the mister (not a picnic I promise, he either fires me or I quit, and there's no signing bonus either!) and did all the usual stuff around the manse...yard work, housework and wedding flowers! (I put all that in here for me, so when I'm bouncing around the padded cell that's in my future, I can look back on posts like this and realize WHY!)
Three large arrangements, one small, one bridal bouquet, 4 boutonnieres...and all of this for a RE-newing of vows!!! And that fascinated me....this couple, who I don't know, has been married for TEN years and the husband decided to SURPRISE his wife on their tenth anniversary with them renewing their vows - got the minister, flew in the fam from Singapore, ordered the food and flowers and his wife/bride, wore her wedding dress from ten years ago...a short maroon number that she could STILL fit in...Who does that?!?!? And who would remarry their husband?!?!? Oh I suppose many of you would...and given enough drugs I just might remarry the mister, but today, being sober and of reasonably sound mind, I would not...he's in the dog house, where he is quite comfortable as he's spent so much time there recently. I'm just saying, in case he asks, the answer will be NO! Not until he i$ $ufficiently $orry.
Years ago I had these beans at a wedding reception and they were unlike anything I had ever had before - crisp tender, sprinkled with sesame seeds, tossed with toasted cashews and covered in a light coating of oil...and then there was the garlic. I've had garlic green beans in Chinese restaurants but they have always been served hot...and these are similar except they are not limp and the color has not been cooked out of them. These are one of our very favorite summer-time sides...they are perfect on a hot summer eve and they are great to snack on!
Garlic Green Beans - Adapted from Michael Barnes
(When I asked the mom (Barbara Knudson) of the bride (Kylee) about the beans she emailed her friend who made them and he sent me the recipe and said, "Nothing makes someone who enjoys cooking feel better than when we are asked for a recipe." Amen. And thanks Barbara and Kylee and Michael!)
1 lb. green beans
2 tablespoons peanut oil
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 teaspoons sesame oil
2 teaspoons rice vinegar
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
1 cup cashews, whole or pieces, toasted
Clean and cut ends from green beans. You can leave whole or cut in half. In a large pan, with a steamer basket, steam beans for 3 to 5 minutes, or just until crisp tender. Remove and immediately plunge into cold water to stop cooking, then drain well.
In a large skillet, toast cashews and sesame seeds, over medium-high heat, stirring constantly until lightly browned. Remove from heat and set aside.
In a large Zip-lock style bag, combine, oils, vinegar and soy sauce. Add green beans, cashews and sesame seeds. Seal bag and turn several times to coat. Allow to marinate in refrigerator for at least one hour - but overnight is best and these are always better the next day, if you have any left! Pour entire contents into serving bowl to serve. Serves 10.
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The week before the wedding I went picking...in my friend's yards. I picked laurel, jasmine, japonica, salal, heather, azalea, and mini-rhodies...all the greeney I would need to make 10 table arrangements, 2 large arrangements, 1 book table arrangement, 1 bride bouquet, 8 bridesmaids bouquets and 1 toss bouquet - it was a lot of greenery! I put it all in buckets of water overnight and the morning I left for Salt Lake City I wrapped it in a big plastic garbage bag and stuffed it all into a huge suitc
ase! (I threw in this pic of Mt Rainier because I wanted to show our recent house-guests that it does exist! The day I flew out the sun broke through and I was able to capture this rare sight...and as the natives say, "The mountain was out that day!")
By taking the greenery with me I saved my sister about $150...so it was worth the trouble. (I purchased all of the flowers at DWF in Salt Lake, a wholesale florist that was wonderful to work with...they ordered everything in and had it all wrapped and ready to go when we arrived - and they had a fantastic selection of ribbon, tulle and vases. I know Costco is now in the wedding biz but buying from a wholesaler is still cheaper and you can order what you want.)
Gabby and Mike got married at The Old Meeting House in Salt Lake - a beautiful old building that was once a church. Everything looked great - the flowers were beautiful and the greenery I picked a week before still looked wonderful! The morning of the wedding it snowed...of course, it's Utah! The bride, who at the 11th hour turned from Bridezilla back into her sweet self, could not stop smiling.
Gabby's colors were Tiffany blue, pale pink and brown...Gabby ordered lollipops for favors and I stuck them into heads of cabbage, hidden in silver bowls, it worked like a charm!
Six of the bridesmaids are in the pic above - the other two were always wandering! Gabby's cake was amazing and was nothing short of a miracle. The lady who made the cake was given a picture of the cake that Gabby wanted - it was, in a word, hideous. So the cake lady, who could not bring herself to make the cake in the picture, changed it a bit and this is the cake Gabby ended up with - and she loved it! And it was the best wedding cake I've ever tasted - as in, it was really, really good! The bottom layer was chocolate with German Chocolate filling. The middle layer was white cake with the same filling...and the top layer was chocolate...can you tell the bride loves chocolate? Gabby's pretty shoes - which spent more time off her feet than on.
Such a beautiful bride! (So sad I didn't notice that coat hanging in the background - but alas, I am not a photographer! That job fell to the girl, who is an excellent photog, so I know they'll have beautiful wedding pics.)
My sweet mom, my beautiful sister and the bride...it was a wonderful day! And then there's Max...he and I spent quite a bit of time in the Bride's room...where I could corral him for a bit instead of chasing him around in high heels - he's so much faster than me! It was a long week and now I'm home getting ready for the next adventure...Disneyland with Max! WoooHoo!!
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After taking care of my domestic chores, the mister and I set out Saturday for a bit of shopping. I forced him to take me to one of my favorite antique shops...vintage Christmas decorations were on my list. We're strolling through the shop and I have my reading glasses on to see the prices - why they are all so small is a mystery to me! Between looking down through the readers and over the tops of them to see things my vision was a bit blurred...that's my excuse...blurry vision. So when I bumped into the mister, I just did what ANY spouse would have done, I reached down and pinched his behind - squeezed it really...twice...only IT WAS NOT THE MISTER!! Horror of all horrors!!! It was some old man, who just stood there and let me squeeze him!! When I realized what I was doing - TWO squeezes later - the old man looked at me and said, "Well hi there, happy to meet you!" Of course I could do nothing but blather about how sorry I was, while his wife looked on, laughing! The old man put his arm around me and said, "It's okay, want to give it another go?"
Unfortunately this is NOT the guy who's behind I pinched...pinching Santa Claus is perfectly acceptable, especially if you're on his GOOD LIST...which I fear I might not be if I'm labeled a geriatricophile...Now speaking of Santa, this year I will be leaving eclairs for him and not cookies...and I suggest you do the same, especially if you want him to leave you something you've always wanted!
I made 50 eclairs for an friend's wedding open house - actually I made 75 but somewhere along the way 25 got eaten, or dropped and then eaten! They were small, three-biters, so it's not like I gained FIVE pounds - or thereabouts!
Eclairs are easier to make than you might think...the cream puff pastry recipe whips up quickly in the food processor - scooped into a plastic Zip-lock style bag it pipes nicely onto a baking sheet. They puff up as they're baked...making them a cinch to fill. But they do take time...time to bake, dry and cool - they're not something you can rush through so allow plenty of time - it's SOOOO worth it!
The cream filling is a snap to make, too...and once cooled (about 2 hours) and scooped into another Zip-lock bag, filling these little babies is the most fun you can have in the kitchen! Then there's the chocolate glaze...ooo-la-la-sis-boom-bah...that's French for Yeah BABY!
Eclairs - Adapted From Baking Illustrated
Make the Pastry Cream recipe first so it can be cooling while you make and bake the puff pastry. Recipe for the Pastry Cream is below. Make the chocolate glaze last, recipe below.
Cream Puff Pastry:
2 large eggs plus 1 large egg white
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 10 pieces
2 tablespoons whole milk
6 tablespoons water
1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup all-purpose flour, sifted
Beat the eggs and egg white in a measuring cup or small bowl; you should have 1/2 cup (discard the excess). Set aside.
Bring the butter, milk, water, sugar, and salt to a boil in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring once or twice. When the mixture reaches a full boil (the butter should be fully melted), immediately remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the flour with a wooden spoon until combined and the mixture clears the sides of the pan. Return the saucepan to low heat and cook, stirring constantly, using a smearing motion, until the mixture is slightly shiny, looks like wet sand, and tiny beads of fat appear on the bottom of the saucepan, about 3 minutes.
Immediately transfer the mixture to a food processor and process with the feed tube open for 10 seconds to cool slightly. With the machine running, gradually add the eggs in a steady stream. When all the eggs have been added, scrape down the sides of the bowl, then process for 30 seconds until a smooth, thick, sticky paste forms.
Adjust oven rack to the middle position and heat the oven to 375 degrees. Spray a large baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray and line with parchment paper; set aside.
Fill a large Zip-lock style bag or a pastry bag with the paste. Push the down, twist bag so top is sealed and snip off the corner of the bag. Pipe the paste into 3-inch by 1-inch strips, spaced about 1-inch apart, onto the baking sheet.
Bake 15 minutes at 375 degrees or until golden brown and fairly firm. (Eclairs should NOT be soft and squishy.) Remove the baking sheet from the oven and with a paring knife, cut a small slit into the top of each eclair to release steam; return the eclairs to the oven, turn off the oven, and prop the oven door open with the handle of a wooden spoon. Dry the eclairs in the turned-off-oven until the centers are just moist (not wet) and the eclairs are crisp, about 30 minutes. Transfer the eclairs to a wire rack to cool.
Pastry Cream:
2 cups half-n-half
1/2 cup sugar
pinch salt
5 large egg yolks
3 tablespoons cornstarch
4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into 4 pieces
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Heat the half-n-half, 6 tablespoons of the sugar, and the salt in a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat until simmering, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar. Meanwhile, whisk the egg yolks in a medium bowl until thoroughly combined. Whisk in the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar and whisk until the sugar has begun to dissolve and the mixture is creamy, about 15 seconds. Whisk in the cornstarch untill combined and the mixture is pale yellow and thick, about 30 seconds.
When the half-n-half mixture reaches a full simmer, gradually whisk the simmering half-n-half into the yolk mixture to temper. Return the mixture to the saucepan, scraping the bowl with a rubber spatula, return to a simmer over medium heat, whisking constantly, until a few bubbles burst on the surface and the mixture is thickened and glossy, about 30 seconds. Off the heat, whisk in the butter and vanilla. Strain the pastry cream through a fine-mesh sieve set over a medium bowl. Press plastic wrap directly on the surface to prevent skin from forming and refrigerate until cold and set, at least 2 hours.
Chocolate Glaze:
3 tablespoons half-n-half
2 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, finely chopped
1 cup powdered sugar
Place the half-n-half and chocolate in a medium microwave-safe bowl, cover with a paper towel and microwave for 20 seconds at a time, until the mixture just begins to steam. Whisk together thoroughly, add the powdered sugar, and whisk until completely smooth.
To Assemble Eclairs:
You can either cut each eclair in half and fill, then replace the top or you can scoop the filling into a plastic Zip-lock style bag or a pastry bag, fitted with a metal tip, and squeeze the pastry cream into the eclair through the slit you made earlier. I used the plastic bag method and it worked great - you'll know when the eclair is full of cream as it will begin to come out the top - just scoop off any extra with a spoon (try not to eat it!) Once the eclairs are filled, make the chocolate glaze and dip the tops of the eclairs into the glaze, shaking off any excess and transfer to a wire rack to set. Serve immediately or refrigerate until serving time. Makes about one dozen 3x1-inch eclairs.
Trying to make perfect-looking eclairs was the only tricky part...but what they lacked in appearance they more than made up for in taste!
I forgot to take pictures while I was filling and dipping them - and later at the open house I remembered in time to snap a pic of some on the silver tray...pictured at left are two "rejects" that didn't make it to the party...happily so!
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Our humble little quilt group had the opportunity to take our quilts on the road! We presented a mini-quilt show to a group of very attentive guests at a nursing and rehab facility in Kirkland, Washington. Only six of us could go, but I think we showed over 60 quilts! Since the six of us all have different styles it was quite a show!
This was wonderful for us - and what an easy way to put on a quilt show! No quilt frames, no threading quilts onto poles, no hanging, pining, climbing on ladders...we just held them up and listened to the oohs and aahs. I'm hoping this can become an annual thing for us because we enjoyed it so much and so did our audience!
I'd like to issue a challenge to all of my quilting friends for YOU and YOUR QUILT GROUP to take your quilts to show at your local nursing home(s)....you'll get a real boost from it and so will the residents of the home...it's win/win!
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Some people do service just to do it - expecting nothing in return. I'm not one of those people. I expect something in return...I expect BLESSINGS! So when I was asked to do flowers for church I immediately said YES because I am in need of some blessings!!
Six arrangements...which, loosely translated means six blessings, no? I shall be sitting here at home waiting for them to arrive...anytime now...doorbell works or you can knock...HELLO? ANYONE LISTENING?!? This IS how the service/blessings thing works, right?
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CALLING ALL QUILTERS!
Next Tuesday, January 12, 2010, our quilt group is sponsoring a sew day for American Hero Quilts at the LDS church on the Plateau in Sammamish (922 - 216th Avenue NE). Anyone who can sew is welcome to attend. We will start at 9:30 and go until our backs give out...which will probably be around 2:00. We're asking sewers to come, with their machines, and extension cords, and any red, white and blue fabrics they'd like to donate. Our goal is to make as many quilt tops as fabric and time allow. We will be making scrappy Rail Fence and scrappy 9-Patch quilts. If you can't come but would like to help us out by making a few blocks ahead of time, that would be great! All blocks should be 9 1/2-inches, so they'll be 9-inches finished. We could really use some star blocks that we'll intersperse between the rail fence and 9-patch blocks.
American Hero Quilts takes 100 quilts to Madigan Army Hospital in Tacoma every month - the need is still there as we still have returning wounded Soldiers and Marines who deserve to be wrapped in a quilt made with love. For Christmas, Sue, the founder of AHQ, was asked to send 100 quilts to Afghanistan for our troops over there and she immediately said yes - which meant her supply of quilts for January went down to zero. So we're trying to help out by sending Sue some quilt tops - and we'd love to have your help!
You out-of-towners can help too! Just whip up a few 9 1/2-inch red, white and blue blocks and send them to me at:
P.O. Box 183
704 228th Avenue NE
Sammamish, WA 98074
Thanks! Hope to see you next Tuesday!
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