Happy Easter Table Runner

Sewing strips of fabric in springy patterns and colors to each other and then cut it out in an egg-like shape. I have a patterns but I didn't really follow it. Super quick and easy!

Disappearing 9 Patch Quilt

This was a quilt in a day class I took at a local fabric store. It was fun to learn some new skills from our very talented, experienced quilt master!

You start with an equal amount of light and dark squares measuring 6.5"x6.5". Therefore, if you want the quilt to be 12 large squares, you need 24 light and 24 dark. For 20 squares, you need 40 light and 40 dark.

Then you start chains sewing the lights to the darks and then sewing two of those together.

Once you have done that, you start cutting the squares into 9 pieces by using a 4.5" ruler and lining it up on the outside edge. Make a cut. The rotate it 90* and cut and continue until you have made 4 cuts all the way around the edges.

Then you take the middle pieces around the edges and flip the 180*.

Then you assemble these into a 9 patch.

This process is pretty time consuming as each square is unique and you only do one at a time. This is as far as I got in my class!

Then you add sashing (11.5"x2.5" strips in all one color) between each block (so block, sash, block, sash, block, sash, block). First sewing rows together. Then sew rows of sash and and cornerstones (2.5" squares in contrasting color) together. Then sew row to sashing strip and then row and so on.

I'm not done but it's pretty close!

March's Bow Ties

So this is month three of my Saturday Sampler quilt class. This is a bow tie pattern but it could be spruced up if you wanted.

This month we only had one square again! It took more time to cut the pieces than to assemble them! This is nice because I learn a new pattern and it goes fast. However, then I have to be creative and fill the rest of the month's hours!

I'm working on some other stuff...post to follow!

Quilt Block Holder

Brilliant! I learned this trick at my monthly quilters meeting this morning and I just knew I had to make one! The object is so that you can store your already-made quilt blocks flat and not have to keep ironing them.

So, you need a foam core board, a fastener and some fabric!

You take a 32" piece of fabric. Line up selvage to selvage. You sew it together like a giant pillow case. Figure out which side will need fasteners and sew in before doing the following steps. (I sewed in a button near the bottom and made a hole where it would close on the flap on top.)

Slide in a piece of 15"x15" board and sew a seam at the top of the board.

Leave a space .5-1" and sew another seam.

Slide in second 15"x15" board. Sew a seam at the top if that. Hem up the flap edges and voila!

All ready to store your blocks!

February's Flying Geese

This month's block was a bunch of flying geese, but only one block!

13 down, 51 to go!

Freezer-->Crock Pot/ Pasta Sauce & Lasagna

Italian Pasta Sauce (My famous!)

Ingredients:

·         Ground beef or turkey

o   precooked

·         1 chopped onion

·         1 chopped green pepper

·         Handful chopped mushroom

·         1 sliced/ diced zuchini

·         2 cans tomato sauce

·         1 can diced tomatoes

·         2 tbs. Italian seasoning

Directions:Put in freezer bag: meat, onion, pepper, mushrooms and zucchini.

When you are ready to cook:Place contents of freezer bag in crock pot with 2 cans tomato sauce and 1 can diced tomatoes with the seasonings. Cook on low 7-8 hours or high for 4.

Serve with pasta alone.

OR used as layering sauce for ravioli or lasagna.

Crock Pot Lasagna Ingredients:
·         Pasta Sauce Mix
·         Uncooked lasagna noodles
·         Cottage cheese
·         Shredded mozzarella

Directions:Put in freezer bag: Cook sauce.

 

When you are ready to cook:Starting with a layer of sauce. Then layer noodles, cheese, sauce, noodles, cheese, sauce, until you have filled to max fill line of crock pot. Cook on low 7-8 hours or high for 4.

Freezer-->Crock Pot/ Cheesy Chicken

Cheesy Chicken
Ingredients:
·         3 chicken breasts
·         1 chopped onion
·         Crm of Chicken Soup
·         1 can corn drained
·         1 c. shredded cheddar
·         rice

Directions:Put in freezer bag: chicken and onion.

When you are ready to cook:Place contents of freezer bag in crock pot with cream of chicken soup. Cook on low 7-8 hours or high for 4.

At the end, add corn, rice and cheesy and let warm through.

Picture from southern plate.com