10 Minute Table Runner

I wanted to post this on the Easter weekend but did not get around to it. I made an Easter basket for a friend of mine and the basket itself was from the garage with gardening tools in it so I needed a cloth, aka piece of appropriate fabric, for lining the basket.  The fabric I had though was not a square as I had hoped but a piece 25x44 inches.  Holding the chick fabric in my hand, I thought of the 10 Minute Table Runner, glanced at the kitchen table and laid my eyes right on a piece of coordinating fabric.  It was meant to be!

Of course, it took me more than 10 minutes and the pointed end should really be turned  with the other fabric (yellow) showing but I liked it better this way.

If you haven't made one of these,  here are written instructions. There are several youtube videos out there too but I can't seem to load the one I like the best.

An Equal Opportunity Sewist

Second “practice” quit, while certainly not perfect, is so much improved that I will be able to take it to the county health department where there is a need.  I purchased this book recently which includes a series of “lessons” that walk you through some of the patterns for all over quilting.  I’m finding it very helpful.

Written by a local quilter

Last week, some of the quilt bloggers were doing a “Meet My Machine.”  I decided to keep a count of the machines that were mentioned.  Some sewists used more than one but I did not count any that were mentioned as collectibles and I did not count single purpose machines such as quilters or sergers.

3 Babylocks; Crescendo, Elizabeth and Elure+

16 Berninas; Sport 801, Sport 802, 125 Activa, 1580, 153QE (2), 440QE (5), 750QE, 780, 1230, 350PE and Virutoso

1 Brother Pacesetter

4 Elnas; Explore 340, no model name(2), 7300

2 Husquvarna Mega Quilter, Husquvarna-Viking

6 Janomes;  4120QDC, TXL607, 1600PQC, Horizon 7700QCP, DC2011, no model name

3 Juki; TL2010Q (2), TL98Q

1 Kenmore 385

4 Pfaff; 1548, Quilt Expressions 4.0, no name, CV

5 Singers; Quantum Stylist, 201K, Featherweight (2), 301

1 Viking Sapphire

I included my Bernina and my Featherweight but not my Bablylock Tiara as it is a quilter only.

Sweet Potatoes with Spinach

26 degrees this morning, bleh.

The original recipe is here at Pinch of Yum.  It was then adapted by barefeetinthekitchen.  I have not really changed the Barefeet version except to downsize it and I left off the cheese.  Cheese and sweet potatoes don't seem to go together but maybe someday I'll give it a try.

Sweet Potatoes with Spinach
½  lb sweet potatoes

½  tablespoon butter
1 garlic clove, minced
1 handful baby spinach leaves

1 tablespoons sour cream
kosher salt, to taste
freshly cracked black pepper, to taste

Scrub, poke and bake sweet potatoes at 350 degrees until fork tender, 45-60 minutes depending on size.

When the potatoes are done, remove from oven, let cool for a few minutes, slice them in half and remove the skins.  Smash with a potato masher.  Add the sour cream, salt and pepper. stir to combine.  Taste and adjust seasonings.  Set aside.

In a large skillet, over medium heat, melt the butter and add the garlic. When the garlic is fragrant, after about a minute, add the spinach. Toss with tongs to coat the leaves thoroughly and continue tossing as the spinach wilts.  When spinach is cooked and tender, add it and any remaining butter in the pan to the potato mixture. Stir well to combine and serve.

This is amazingly good.  I will be having this often, probably tomorrow!  Tonight I had it with a baked pork chop with apple and onions, also very good.

Done

Blue Rose

The last of the donation quilts for Wasatch Elementary  This one is about 68x78.  It's very windy out today and a little hard to get a flat picture.  There are three rows folded over the top of the line.

I really like how this quilt turned out and I only bought the solid dark blue fabric.  I had the lighter blue rose fabric and the batik I used on the back.  7 yards of fabric used altogether.  Score!!

I wonder if anyone will see the roses in the lighter print on the front.  The batik on the back coordinates amazingly well.

Thanks to Sheila for donating her time to quilt it on her long arm.  Such a good friend!

A Great Set Up

Quilt is 70"x80"

Because of the outside light, I had to wash this photo out a bit.  I finish the binding by hand sewing it  on the back side.  I put the front side of the binding on with the machine.  Using the ironing board this way lets me adjust it to a perfect height to alleviate shoulder pain and when I get tired of sitting on the wooden stool, I can stand for a while.

This arrangement also keeps the dogs away from the quilt.  That's a very good thing as this is a donation quilt.  Plus, I can look out into the backyard and watch the greening taking place. YAY!

W.O.T.D.

Floordrobe:  A form of storage for clothing which requires no hangers, drawers, doors or effort.

Bowls for Humanity

Bowls on my calendar, pretty funny.

The Food and Care Coalition posted this on their website:

"Bowls for Humanity, an event which features locally made pottery, artwork, and soup, is typically the largest fundraiser hosted each year by the Food and Care Coalition.  In previous years, up to 1,000 members of the community have been in attendance."

The last time I went was probably four years ago because it was downtown in the Covey Center and their new facility was either not started or still under construction.  Working evenings kept me from it for the next few years so I was determined to get there this year.  I watched the clock all afternoon so I could be there when the doors opened and find the perfect bowl,.

The event started at 5:30 and I decided to leave early and stop at Staples on my way.  I needed a new tape for the p-Touch and Staples was on the right side of the road.  Well you know how that goes, once in a store I fall into browsing mode and then I had to wait for help, etc.  It was 5:40 when I left and it was just a couple of blocks to the Coalition and as soon as I turned on to the street I could see they had orange vested and flagged  Crossing Guards and Parking Attendants.  Wow.  The lot was almost full.

16 tables of bowls were outside under tents.  Almost 1800 donated bowls!!   High school and college students as well as professionals contribute the bowls.  Bowls ranged in price from $5 to $20 with most in the ten dollar range and a few really amazing bowls in a silent auction.  Soup and bread were included with the bowl.

It was pretty much of a mob scene of happy, chatting people and a long line of people paying for their bowls.  Turned out to be no line inside for those of us paying with cash.  Ha!  I was looking for a wee bowl and found it right away and then found another I liked too.  You could have your bowl washed and then filled with soup but I passed on the soup since I had soup at home to eat but the soups they had simmering smelled mighty good.

Yes, the small bowl is a little crooked.

Each of these bowls was less than $10

It's probably a better idea to be collecting bowls rather than chairs.  I looked around with a critical eye the other day and decided I have four too many chairs in this small house.  Four, fps.