I decided to use the free pattern/tutorial for the Marmalade Squares Quilt from Moda Bake Shop because I love bright colored fabrics on white backgrounds. :) So excited about this project!
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
New Fabric!
New fabric time! Because I've nearly finished my current quilting project - and that means it's nearly time to use my adorable duckling fat quarter. Yay!
I decided to use the free pattern/tutorial for the Marmalade Squares Quilt from Moda Bake Shop because I love bright colored fabrics on white backgrounds. :) So excited about this project!
I decided to use the free pattern/tutorial for the Marmalade Squares Quilt from Moda Bake Shop because I love bright colored fabrics on white backgrounds. :) So excited about this project!
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Hobbit Soup
The other day I had a craving for Tobold Hornblower's Shire Soup. A friend of mine made this for a Lord of the Rings party several years ago, and now it's definitely a favorite. I thought ya'll might enjoy a new soup recipe during these last few cold, snowy weeks.
Be forewarned; the recipe doesn't make very much! So here is the original recipe, followed by how I make it. ;)
Hobbit Soup
Serves 3-6
Ingredients:
Olive Oil
2 cloves garlic
1/2 onion
2 cans garbanzo beans - drained but save the liquid
1 cup fresh baby spinach leaves (shredded)
1/8 stick butter
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup grated cheese
Pepper/salt (to taste)
Handful of capers (if wanted) (I've never used capers)
In deep frying pan fry up olive oil, garlic, and onion. Add garbanzo beans (not the liquid). Heat for an additional 5-7 minutes.
Shred up baby spinach leaves; add to pan. Add 1/8 stick of butter. Once butter is melted, add the 2 cans of bean liquid and 1/2 cup water. Heat a few minutes and add cheese. (If using capers, add now)
Bring to a boil while stirring intermittently. Let simmer 5 minutes.
What I do:
Follow directions, but I use 4 cloves of fresh garlic and 2 medium sized onions. 3 cans of garbanzo beans, and MAKE SURE YOU SAVE THE LIQUID! I've forgotten a couple times, and it's so much better with it.
I love spinach. I eat it right out of the bag. So I use a lot of it in this soup. As they say "more is better!" But I'm a caveman cook, so don't ask me exactly how much... That would depend on how much I have available!
I use about 3 tablespoons of butter and 1 cup water with the 3 cans of bean juice.
The garbanzo beans, spinach, and cheese really make this soup. So, as with the spinach, I also go a little crazy with the cheese, using at least 3 or 4 cups.
And you end up with this delightfulness;
Hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do! It's pretty quick and easy, and absolutely delicious! With a name like "Hobbit Soup" it has to taste great, right?
Be forewarned; the recipe doesn't make very much! So here is the original recipe, followed by how I make it. ;)
Hobbit Soup
Serves 3-6
Ingredients:
Olive Oil
2 cloves garlic
1/2 onion
2 cans garbanzo beans - drained but save the liquid
1 cup fresh baby spinach leaves (shredded)
1/8 stick butter
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup grated cheese
Pepper/salt (to taste)
Handful of capers (if wanted) (I've never used capers)
In deep frying pan fry up olive oil, garlic, and onion. Add garbanzo beans (not the liquid). Heat for an additional 5-7 minutes.
Shred up baby spinach leaves; add to pan. Add 1/8 stick of butter. Once butter is melted, add the 2 cans of bean liquid and 1/2 cup water. Heat a few minutes and add cheese. (If using capers, add now)
Bring to a boil while stirring intermittently. Let simmer 5 minutes.
What I do:
Follow directions, but I use 4 cloves of fresh garlic and 2 medium sized onions. 3 cans of garbanzo beans, and MAKE SURE YOU SAVE THE LIQUID! I've forgotten a couple times, and it's so much better with it.
I love spinach. I eat it right out of the bag. So I use a lot of it in this soup. As they say "more is better!" But I'm a caveman cook, so don't ask me exactly how much... That would depend on how much I have available!
I use about 3 tablespoons of butter and 1 cup water with the 3 cans of bean juice.
The garbanzo beans, spinach, and cheese really make this soup. So, as with the spinach, I also go a little crazy with the cheese, using at least 3 or 4 cups.
And you end up with this delightfulness;
Hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do! It's pretty quick and easy, and absolutely delicious! With a name like "Hobbit Soup" it has to taste great, right?
Friday, February 28, 2014
Ring Of Stars Quilt
My Ring Of Stars quilt is finally finished!
As I mentioned in my binding post, I was motivated by Moda's Quilt Olympics to finish so I could enter. My sisters joined me to get it done Friday... And we did it! But they had already taken down the competition. :( Oh, well. I'm still grateful for the inspiration, and I'm so happy that my first quilt is completed!
It is a queen sized quilt and doesn't have a single machine stitch in it! I even hand sewed the binding pieces together! It was fun, but I'm planning to machine piece my next quilt. And do something a little smaller, too. ;)
It was a super fun project, and I'm so pleased with it. (And as you can tell, my cats love it!) I have quilter's callous' on 4 fingers and am already starting 2 other quilting projects, so I think I'm officially addicted to quilting!
As I mentioned in my binding post, I was motivated by Moda's Quilt Olympics to finish so I could enter. My sisters joined me to get it done Friday... And we did it! But they had already taken down the competition. :( Oh, well. I'm still grateful for the inspiration, and I'm so happy that my first quilt is completed!
It is a queen sized quilt and doesn't have a single machine stitch in it! I even hand sewed the binding pieces together! It was fun, but I'm planning to machine piece my next quilt. And do something a little smaller, too. ;)
It was a super fun project, and I'm so pleased with it. (And as you can tell, my cats love it!) I have quilter's callous' on 4 fingers and am already starting 2 other quilting projects, so I think I'm officially addicted to quilting!
Now to repaint my pink furniture, hang stuff on the walls, and complete the redecorating!
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Pencil Skirt Failure
One of my first sewing projects was a 50's circle skirt that didn't turn out. The waistband was wonky, and it hung strangely. I wore it around the house a few times and then threw it in my closet thinking someday I might try to use the fabric for some other project.
Well, that day finally came when I decided to try to make it into a pencil skirt. I based the shape on a skirt I already had and set to work. And when I finished... I realized I would never wear this skirt.
It's not absolutely egregious, but it hangs a little funny and is kinda tight at the top. The fabric was cheap to begin with, so I'm not sure there was anything I could have done to make this turn into a nice skirt. But at least I tried!
As you can tell, I didn't even bother to hem it. But I did get the fabric out of my closet, so yay for stash-busting!
Speaking of stash-busting, one of my goals this year is to try to complete at least one stash-bust project a month. I'm hoping to have the "stash" in my closet pretty much gone by the end of the year! Then I can fill it with new fabric/projects. ;)
Well, that day finally came when I decided to try to make it into a pencil skirt. I based the shape on a skirt I already had and set to work. And when I finished... I realized I would never wear this skirt.
It's not absolutely egregious, but it hangs a little funny and is kinda tight at the top. The fabric was cheap to begin with, so I'm not sure there was anything I could have done to make this turn into a nice skirt. But at least I tried!
As you can tell, I didn't even bother to hem it. But I did get the fabric out of my closet, so yay for stash-busting!
Speaking of stash-busting, one of my goals this year is to try to complete at least one stash-bust project a month. I'm hoping to have the "stash" in my closet pretty much gone by the end of the year! Then I can fill it with new fabric/projects. ;)
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
All About the Binding
In the last post I mentioned how much I love the Olympics. Lovely evenings filled with fun sports, USA medals, and lots of crafting.
Well, in honor of the 2014 Sochi Olympics, Moda Fabrics is having their very own quilt olympics, and I am determined to finish my quilt so that I can enter!
So Sunday afternoon I cut off the extra fabric around the quilt to make the binding... and discovered that I didn't have enough fabric. Oh dear. But that was the perfect excuse to make a trip to JoAnn's on Monday! And I went a little crazy because all their quilting notions were 50% off - even batting!
All washed and cut out, the binding is ready for sewing today!
I have to be completely done on Friday, so off to the sewing room I go. Wish me luck!
Well, in honor of the 2014 Sochi Olympics, Moda Fabrics is having their very own quilt olympics, and I am determined to finish my quilt so that I can enter!
So Sunday afternoon I cut off the extra fabric around the quilt to make the binding... and discovered that I didn't have enough fabric. Oh dear. But that was the perfect excuse to make a trip to JoAnn's on Monday! And I went a little crazy because all their quilting notions were 50% off - even batting!
All washed and cut out, the binding is ready for sewing today!
I have to be completely done on Friday, so off to the sewing room I go. Wish me luck!
Saturday, February 8, 2014
Knit Again
The last several weeks have been filled with the adventures of a wedding. One of my very dearest friends said her vows before God and many witnesses last Saturday, and I was very blest to be part of my first wedding! We made programs and favors and bouquets and we painted wine bottles for every table at the reception, and... We got our nails done, we had our hair done, and generally had a wonderful time! Weddings are too much fun!
But the busy fun can't last forever. Now that life is settling down, I decided to pull out some yarn and set to work giving my first pattern a final trial run. If it goes well I'll be posting my very first original knitting pattern! And I haven't done any knitting recently, so it's good to hear the click of my needles again.
This has been a great project to have around as the Olympics begin. :) I have several projects I'm hoping to get finished while I watch. I'm really looking forward to this year's Olympic games!
But the busy fun can't last forever. Now that life is settling down, I decided to pull out some yarn and set to work giving my first pattern a final trial run. If it goes well I'll be posting my very first original knitting pattern! And I haven't done any knitting recently, so it's good to hear the click of my needles again.
This has been a great project to have around as the Olympics begin. :) I have several projects I'm hoping to get finished while I watch. I'm really looking forward to this year's Olympic games!
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Snow, Kitties and Quilts
We have several inches of snow right now and it's beautiful. Perfect for snuggling in a blanket with an adorable kitty.
Because it's been so snowy I haven't been out as much as normal. I kept thinking, "More time to sew!"
But somehow I kept getting distracted. I would walk into the sewing room with big intentions but end up on a cleaning/organizing spree for the next few hours. Our sewing/laundry room looks better, but the skirt I wanted to work on is not any closer to being done...
The only sewing I've managed is finishing the quilting part of our bed quilt. (Little happy dance!) :) Only the binding left until it will be completely finished!!!
With this quilt so close to completion, I've been daydreaming about my next quilting project. I'm all about quilts right now, which may or may not be related to my recent discovery of the Moda Bake Shop. So much fun inspiration!
Because it's been so snowy I haven't been out as much as normal. I kept thinking, "More time to sew!"
But somehow I kept getting distracted. I would walk into the sewing room with big intentions but end up on a cleaning/organizing spree for the next few hours. Our sewing/laundry room looks better, but the skirt I wanted to work on is not any closer to being done...
The only sewing I've managed is finishing the quilting part of our bed quilt. (Little happy dance!) :) Only the binding left until it will be completely finished!!!
 |
| See the little stars quilted in the middle of every pieced star? :) |
With this quilt so close to completion, I've been daydreaming about my next quilting project. I'm all about quilts right now, which may or may not be related to my recent discovery of the Moda Bake Shop. So much fun inspiration!
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