Happy Birthday #6

We celebrated the Quilters from Hale birthday #6 this year at Elaine's beautifully decorated home. She always has her gorgeous appliqued quilts out and lovely handcrafted holiday items displayed. It puts you right in the mood to celebrate! We started off with Show-and-Tell . . .

Elaine, the hostess extraordinaire, showing off the darling quilt she made. I think we all agreed it was our favorite.

Prez Debbie B. proudly completed her version of
"Delilah Floretta". Lovely to look at, isn't it?

(I'm not sure what the discussion was but I loved this picture.)

Julie wows us every time with her work!
There is always something new and beautiful.

No quilt day is complete without Debbie J.
modeling her creation.

Marae impressed us once again with a masterpiece.
Both beautiful . . .the quilt and quilter!

Another display of Marene's generosity and quilt making
skills as a gift. So, so cute!

Staying on top of her game, Michelle finished this little quilt for another grandbaby, before it was even needed.


Heidi decided to do a little quilt for the grandkids'playroom
after seeing American Jane's new line, Punctuation.

Lots of handwork going on this time, lots of talking, lots of life discussions and lots of fun.

(I don't know what happened to the pictures of
Michelle and Andie working. Sorry.)

Elaine had a most delicious lunch with fresh fruit, leafy green salad and a heavenly corn chowder. And topped it all off with Lion House orange rolls, then cupcakes for the birthday girls and take-home candy treat bags. "Oh, no," she said. "It was no work at all." Seriously, who believed her? It was wonderful and so great to be together again. You may have spotted a familiar face in the pictures. Yup, she's baaaaaack! Welcome to Kendall . . . and a very sorrowful good-by to Kim. We miss you and wish you so much luck and happiness in your new quilting grounds!

Fun At Michelle's

SURPRISE! It's been a while since this girl has posted. Sorry for the dead time. I felt a need to look and talk about quilts. So I will use this occasion as my outlet! I love all my quilt friends! Here's a look at all the fun things we did at Michelle's house in April.

Kim wins the prize for such a cute ending to our "project" This was our Christmas present to each other last December. We each made a block from the fabric line "Simple Abundance" and then we exchanged them with each other at our Christmas party. Such fun! This quilt represents all the blocks that were made. Of course I haven't even started to finish mine! We all especially loved the blue border! Way to go Kim....she's a finisher!

Welcome to Julie Lines! She is the new member of our quilt group. We love her! And...by the way, she is Carol Killian's sister. More true talent in our group. She put on a show for us with this quilt. Geez....it's complicated and beautiful. It makes my eyes blur! This one took alot of hard work!

Again, Julie has made the cutest quilt from Simple Abundance....I think? Both of her quilts are labor intensive. I think she will be a fun one in our group!

Wow! These tumbling blocks seem to be the think this month. This is on beautiful quilt. Marene has been working on this for awhile and was able to finish it this month. You guys need to slow down! I can't keep up! Marene always has something beautiful to show!

Yeah!!!!! I have a quilt to show. This is a rare occasion! But I must say I love, love his quilt. It was pretty labor intensive as the pieces are quite small! But you know me, I love tedious things. This was fun to make because I used alot of my scraps. I made this quilt because I loved the border. This is a pattern from Thimble Blossoms. What fun!

Well now....this is a larger version of my quilt. Just by chance Debbie Jensen and I chose the same quilt idea. This is absolutely darling (hmmmmm copy cat!) Just kidding! She used the cutest fabric. She finished hers first...I'm such a slow poke. Don't ya love it????

You won't ever see a baby quilt like this again! Debbie's daughter did her nursery around owls. This quilt was so fun to look at. The word is that her son-in-law helped pick the fabric! Can you see those little owls in her quilt...so cute.

This gives me a headache....only because a few of us started this "time consuming" quilt and here Elaine (and Kim) have finished theirs. We all used our scraps and nothing else (did everyone abide by the rules?). We even traded a few scraps here and there. It is a Buggy Barn pattern that takes some time and effort....but it is fun! Don't worry, I have 8 blocks finished...hmmmm. Elaine, you're a trooper. It turned out wonderful.

Here's Elaine again. This was one of my favorite quilts of the day...because I like scrappy! This is just all around fun! She is helping her "other" quilt group make this quilt. I actually got the pattern from her because I love it so. Thanks for sharing Elaine!

Our girl, Heidi, has been practicing and perfecting her applique skills. It is her mission to learn to applique nicely....and she has indeed. This is a perfect wall hanging she came up with in secret of course! We will all be taking lessons from her before long. I love applique, but never have time to practice and produce anything worthwhile....so hats off to Heidi. Love it!

Michelle, our hostess, has a thing for pin cushions. I think she has started collecting them. So it is only natural she should turn up with these cuties! She always is creating something new and fun. The rest of us want to copy! By the way, she made us all one for Christmas. Yes, she is always doing something extra!

Well, like I said, Michelle is at it again. She loves to make bags and flower embellishments. This is her new creation...a gift for someone in her family. Where does she get her time??? Good question, but I always love to see what she is up to. We count on Michelle for fun things and she never disappoints! So cute Michelle!

This is our yummy lunch menu. Someone teach me to make these rolls!!!!!! Michelle fixed a great salad and had fresh rolls and a fattening dessert. Just down my alley...Yikes!

This is our hard-working hostess dishing up the calories! It is always hard to resist food at quilt group. We all make it easy and eat! Thanks Michelle for your hard work. One thing I love about going to Michelle's home is that she has a great room upstairs that we all fit in nicely! A fun place to sew and visit.

We ate outside...the weather was beautiful. Summer is making an appearance. Is that good or bad? The company was perfect, the conversation enjoyable and the surroundings unbeatable! Our quilt friends are the best! Thanks Michelle for a fabulous effort for this month's quilt group. Take time to sew.....there is next month you know! We will be meeting at Kim's home right? See you then.

April Recipes

I know a fabulous post is on it's way from Debbie but I thought I'd post the recipes from our April quilt day. Thanks to everyone for coming. We had all 12 of our fun group together.

Crescent Rolls

2 Tablespoons yeast
1/2 cup warm water
1 teaspoon sugar
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 cubes butter
2 cups milk
2 teaspoons salt
7-8 cups flour

Dissolve in the mixer the yeast, water and teaspoon sugar. Let it sit for 5 min. In a saucepan heat the butter, milk and salt until warm (not hot). Add the eggs and sugar to the yeast and mix well. Add the warm milk and butter. Add the flour 1 cup at a time until dough starts to pull away from the sides of the bowl but is a little sticky. I usually use all 8 cups flour. Mix another 5 minutes. Remove dough from mixer and place in a greased bowl. Cover and let raise until double about an hour or little more. Punch down and divide into 3 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a large circle and then cut like a pizza into 16 triangles. Roll up starting from the large end to make a crescent roll. Place on a greased cookie sheet and raise another hour. You will have 2 cookie sheets with 24 rolls on each. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and with a pastry brush lightly butter the rolls.


Mandarin Confetti Pasta

16 ounces Bow-tie pasta
10 ounces baby spinach
6 ounces craisens
3 11 ounce cans Mandarin oranges, drained
1 8 ounce can sliced water chestnuts, drained
1 bunch green onions, sliced
1/4 cup sesame seeds
6 ounces honey roasted peanuts
2 cups cooked chicken

Dressing

1 cup oil
2/3 cup teriyaki sauce
2/3 cup white vinegar
6 Tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper

Cook the pasta according to the directions on the box. Rinse and drain well. Mix the dressing ingredients in a large Ziploc bag and add the cooked pasta. Refrigerate 8 hours or overnight. Just before serving put everything in a large bowl and mix well. This makes a ton.


Lemon Jello Cake

1 lemon cake mix
1 small box lemon jello
1/2 cup hot water
1/2 cup lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon rind
1 box instant white chocolate jello pudding mix
1 1/2 cups milk
1 small tub cool whip

Make the cake according to the box directions. Remove from oven and cool 15 minutes. Dissolve the lemon jello in the hot water. Add the lemon juice and rind. Poke holes in the warm cake with a large fork and pour the jello over the top of the cake. Put in the fridge for several hours.
Mix the white chocolate pudding with the milk until it starts to thicken. Fold in the cool whip and frost the cake. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Skipping Christmas and January and on to February!!

Aaaah the month of LOVE . . . the love of quilting that is!!

Kudos to our hostess Andie (injured while preparing for our event) who persevered and delivered a day of fun for all, with clam chowder, chicken salad croissants, fresh vegetables, sugar cookies, and chocolate cake. Plus a take home bouquet of silk flowers for each of us. What would the menu have been if she was feeling well????

Our busy bee Michelle, as usual, had the most to share today.

One beautiful table topper for her mother-in-law--that Michelle quilted on her own machine. Always impressive! A cute Schnibbles wall hanging and another awesome purse for quilting supplies. Her talent and abilities are amazing, aren't they?




Elaine shared yet another new quilt pattern. She is always coming up with the best! And also teaching a neighborhood quilt group. She's a whiz!

Showing off the quilt made from our first quilt block exchange, created from the Sonnet line, is little miss Debbie J and I do mean showing off!!
It's beautiful, sigh . . . look at all her extra blocks!

This is our most recent block exchange at Christmas. We used Simple Abundance. I (Heidi) wanted to try a different layout and showcase these beautiful blocks.

And here is my completed top of "Autumn House" by Bunny Hill, done from a block of the month kit.
My goal was to learn how to hand applique and I did!

Marene made this quilt for someone else. The quilting on it is all free hand on the long arm machine and it is unbelievable!!

Here are some shots of the crazy strip piecing action going on all over the place. These ladies were all part of the mayhem!

Kim and Becky toiling away.

"Oh, %#*#!"

And here's what you end up with! And only 38 more to go!

We missed our prez Debbie B who was supporting her daughter through a traumatic incident. Hope all is well now and we will learn how to make those darling pieced bags next month. And good luck to Marae on a speedy and (bloodless) recovery from vein surgery. We love you! And Carol who gets no sympathy because she is on a 3 week cruise, but we still missed you!

Happy Valentine's Day dear friends! I love you all!

Quilty November

Well.....it's December. Time has rushed by and we now have to look back on November. Marae treated us to such a fun quilt day. I, for one, did not want to go home. For some reason there is nothing quite as fulfilling as attending quilt day each month. There is always something fun and new to learn and look at! Here is our November Fun Day to remember!

Carol finished this apron quilt....some applique and some piecing. A lot of work went into this one. I especially loved the pinwheels surrounding all the aprons. Such a cute, cute quilt, Carol!

Kimmy, Kimmy, already for Christmas. The cutest little quilt all made up of Christmas packages. Is there someone special in mind who will receive this? Who wouldn't love this to open up on Christmas morning? Very fun and colorful!

Heidi has finished another quilt for one of her nieces getting married. Well, she is just too nice! She puts so much work into making quilts for others.....this one is no different. Pretty striking colors, perfect for the newly wed couple who will receive it. Oh, and we love the stars!

Marae has FINALLY finished this dang cute picnic quilt for her grandson (great?) who is soon to be married. A whole lot of work went into this.....really, do they appreciate all our great skills??? Well, I will say how very cute this has turned out....lecture them if they don't shower you with kisses!!!!

Alright Michelle! She is just a little smarty pants! She is always winning awesome stuff from Moda. She goes on their website and designs quilts in the contests they sponsor. She always comes up a winner one way or another. Look at her stash!!!!! Books and Fabric... all sent to her from Moda...Hmmmmmmmm we all need to figure that out. I, for one, am green with envy...but I will never tell!


Debra Sue is ready for Christmas early.....(just because she is lucky to travel to Israel for a dream vacation!) The very cutest reindeer quilt yet to be seen. She whipped it up in no time all ready for Santa Day! Really, it is darling!

This is a biggy! Becky has finally finished her Christmas Wall Hanging that she has been working on for some time! A number of ladies in our group tackled this project. Elaine....did you start all this??? Becky's turned out so cute and we know it was a ton of work!

A few words about Marene. She never stops working!!!!! Here she is making I think 60?? of these darling little wall hangings for the people she works with at the Humanitarian Center. Really? It makes me tired to think of it. But she is so very thoughtful and speedy! A sweet gift to her helpers. We all admire her for her dedication and hard work at the Center. Gotta love her!

We had a little visitor come to our group this month. Sweet little Bethy (as I call her). She has picked up the quilting thing from her Mom. Okay now...this is the cutest little baby quilt made for her little girl out of the "Snippets" line of fabric. Retro and cute. Beth, really, you are quite talented!!!

Now just a few little action shots from you "hard working" quilters!




Now.....for those of you who left early!!! Carol forgot to bring in these darling little projects she has been working on! She made these fun bags and a darling apron. I really think she should bring them next month so we can all get a really good look at all she's done. Nice work! Where do you find all your time????

Kimmy is the model, of course!

Marae treated us to a yummy luncheon. I was too busy eating to take pictures! Big surprise! However, I do have to mention her fruit dessert. It was to die for and just simple and tasty! Thanks Marae for a wonderful day of fun. It is always a lot of work for the Hostess, but the rest of us enjoy is so!

Now, don't forget our Christmas Quilt Day is coming up on Monday, December 14th, at Elaine's home. We all have to have our squares done to exchange for Christmas! I am so looking forward to this fun day. Get sewing on those squares if you have not finished! See you soon!