Christmas Project Update

I'm making progress on my Christmas project. I have used four Moda Flurry charm packs that I used to sew several nine patches. I started spreading them out on the floor because my table isn't large enough. This is just a few of them.

I should have taken a picture of the same one as I change it up, but I didn't so you can use your imagination! Sorry, but I know how smart my blogger readers are! You won't have any problems.

You pick up one of the nine patches and then cut it in half through the middle.

Then cut each half in half so you have four blocks with the 4 inside corners being the middle square cut in fourths.

Then you flip two of the pieces leaving the center connected. You really can switch them all up if you want to.

I scooted them together so you can pretend they are sewn together. Then you can sash them or not. I don't believe I will because I want them to all blend together.

I have two more to sew- maybe. I can stop now or get enough fabric to make two more nine patches and then it will be a pretty good length. I'm going to stop by the fabric shop on Friday so we'll see. They also have the yardage so I can see about coordinating borders, binding and backing. We'll just see if I finish this by Christmas or not.

I lied, here's the photo (LOL)!

Happy Belated Birthday

Ooops! I forgot my poor little blog's first birthday- November 30!

Sorry for the delay in posting. It's been a very busy weekend. We got the ceiling back up on the porch- 5 hours of cleaning the 65 individual vinyl bead boards and handing them off to the hubby up on the rolling stage so he could nail them in place. The porch is 9 feet wide and 34 feet long so it was a long afternoon. Then I've been trying to work on the Christmas projects all while slightly under the weather these past couple of weeks.

New posts soon, I promise! Thank you to all who take a few minutes to visit!

image credit

Compact Beauty

I am linking up with The Brambleberry Cottage and Deborah Jean's Dandelion House today, showing off some of my treasures. As some of you know, my grandmother never threw out anything. Many thought her house was filled with junk. They didn't look closely enough to see the treasure.

What about these pretty vintage compacts. What a nice Christmas present something like this would make. They are not digital, not plastic and most definitely green- just fill them up and there you have it, instant beauty!

This metal compact was my mother, Ann's. I love the detail and heart shape. The compact is really silver but the lighting makes it appear golden.

What could be better than a pretty gold compact graced with engraved feathers and a loving couple in the middle. What do you think of the art deco powder and rouge purse?

If anyone finds a better powder, you better make a fast call to LaMay! A five thousand dollar reward still sounds good today!

I found a newspaper article Pittsburgh Press 1917 that boasts No White Lead- No Rice Powder. This looks to be one from 1922- see the link and photo for this particular compact here gold hinged compact.

Christmas Projects

Oh those Christmas projects- and time is winding down. I have a couple of things going right now. One is a table runner made out of a Wrapped In Paisley Moda Charm Pack, precut 5 inch squares. The pattern is one of the three Little Charmers.

I'm not the best quilter, my lines are not always perfectly straight but I've only actually quilted a few times before and mostly on smaller things. My larger quilt was farmed out to a long arm quilter but I thought I'd do this one. The center is made out of half square triangles in half dark, half light patterns. Then you use a mixture of other dark colors to go around the half square triangles. Since I used a charm pack, everything matches.

I selected a small print maroon fabric for the backing. I now need to find something to bind it with. The backing is just folded over the front so you can see it against the patterns. It is not really stitched this way. (12/2/11) I found the binding material. It is the green with a small gold curl with tiny dots. It's part of the coordinating yardage that my quilt shop still had a little bit of. The same pattern as the backing but in green.

Here is what it looks like without binding. I will go to the quilt store Wednesday to see what they have available. This will probably be for Mom assuming it comes out ok.

I also had stashed away a couple of Moda Flurry charm packs that I'm making something out of. I haven't decided if it will be a lap quilt or something else. I saw an example on line using different material but she did use charms. There are quite a few possibilities depending on how you lay out the blocks.

You make a 9 patch using the varied patterns. Then you cut the entire 9 patch in half both ways so you have four 7 inch squares less any seam allowances. When you do, you will have one 4 1/2 inch square and then (2) 2 1/2 by 4 1/2 rectangles bordering it. Opposite it, you have a 2 1/2 x 2 1/2. A link to her tutorial is below.

I included an image of the charm pack. I have to finish the block I am working on now and then do another three or four. I may also supplement with some plain fabrics and then choose borders.

charm pack
Little Charmers 2
tutorial

I hope your projects are coming along nicely!

Goat Milk Laundry Soap Giveaway

If you would like to have a chance to win some goat's milk laundry soap there is a giveaway over at Homestead Drying Racks. She is introducing Christy at Artisan Farmstead Living. There's a link below- just follow the instructions and you too will have a chance to win plus meet a couple of nice bloggers!

Giveaway

homestead drying racks blog link

Turkey and Dumplings- Thanksgiving Leftovers

We're having turkey and dumplings tonight. After stripping the turkey and dividing up the meat among households my husband decided to make some stock.

He included the celery and onions that were stuffed in the bird but added some extra for flavor. He used a large stock pot and added enough water to cover the carcass. It boiled for several hours until it tasted and looked done. Then he strained it and filled up the jars that we will freeze, making sure to leave plenty of head room for expansion.

He used some stock for the soup plus added carrots, peas, cayenne and garlic. The meat that remained on the carcass after dividing up the families' portions is also in the soup pot.

Dumplings:
2 C sifted flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
nutmeg to taste (ours is freshly grated)
2 TBL butter
1/2 to 3/4 milk- or whatever consistency you prefer
Stock
Ground sage (optional)

Sift flour, baking powder, salt, sage and nutmeg. Using a pastry blender cut in the butter as if you were making a pie crust until the texture is like course meal. Gradually add milk blending until the batter is like oatmeal. Drop dough with a wet spoon into boiling dumpling pot on top of the meat and vegetables. The soup should be simmering hard on low heat. Cover and simmer 15 minutes.

Now we're letting it rest, cooling down a bit before digging in. My husband will have his plain but Taylor and I have a small salad and cranberry to round it out.

Good eats!

The dumpling recipe is from The German Cookbook by Mimi Sheraton. book link

Mutant Radish

I took a walk by the little side garden to check out the collard greens that are still thriving. I didn't know I was so close, if only there had been music. You know, the background warning music you always hear in the horror movies.

Then I saw it .. . . .

WARNING: MUTANT RADISH!

WOW- this is a biggie. I don't know if it will be any good, but we're going to find out! If you don't hear from me soon please contact the authorities!

(watch for our turkey and dumplings recipe later- if we survive!)

I Gather Together . . .

It was Thanksgiving ages ago, when Dad was still alive and suffering from an infected tooth. We all gathered at the table: my aunt, uncle and cousin plus our neighbors with their kids. Soon things took a turn for the worse.

My young cousin complained of not feeling well so his parents left the table to attend to him. In the meantime, the neighbor was trying to get her kids to eat sweet potatoes. “But I’ll get sick if I have to taste these,” cried the oldest. After getting a stern look from his mother, he agreed to try a bite- just one bite, and promptly threw up which caused the remaining siblings to also throw up, in unison. Off the women went to clean up kids.

Did I mention Dad was on strong pain killers? They must have kicked in pretty good. We figured it out when a familiar tune came drifting down the hall. There was Dad, all alone at the table, singing. Singing? When we listened closely, we noticed a slight change of lyrics: “I Gather Together to ask the Lord’s Blessing. . . “

Wishing you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving.

PS Don't force your kids to eat anything they don't like!


Linking to Jenny Matlock

Pork Tenderloin on the Rotisserie

One pork tenderloin, leaving fat on, seasoned with Montreal Steak Seasoning.
Put it on the spit and let it spin for 2 hours- give or take.
In the meantime make some mashed potatoes, green beans, prep the garlic bread.
Wait for your wife to come home from work and Bingo- Dinner.
Yummy, right? We have leftovers!

Yes, my husband is the cook- it's better that way!

Just Like Steak N Shake Does It

Is there anything better than a Steak N Shake french fry? Thinly sliced, petite and salty? Yummmy! My husband was home today so he got a jump on dehydrating another 30 lbs of potatoes after the grocery store had a tremendous Thanksgiving special- 10# for less than $2.00! I said it would be great to have some homemade potato chips tonight too.

He got out the mandolin and began slicing, 12 trays in the dehydrator -to start- and a couple of potatoes into chips and, to top it off (drum roll please) Steak N Shake style fries!

We had to experiment with the chips a bit. The first ones were a little too thin and crispied up quickly. I have to tell you - they were still great! The thicker ones cooked a little better. They were good too! He sprinkled popcorn salt on them to give a nice overall coating but me, being the bad person that I am, added a few shakes of the regular stuff too.

Good eats!

Side Note:
Notice the old style stoneware? My resale shop find, a complete 12 piece set for $10. I love the old stoneware even if it does chip and crack! I have another complete set, even serving dishes, in the basement from a roadside estate sale!