STILL Harvesting and Reporting a Churn Dash Finish

   I used to think that May was a busy month. September is proving to be a close second - perhaps even beating it. This year we had a big crop of apples. We must have picked 5 bushels already and there are more on the trees waiting for a frost to ripen them. I am not complaining though. It has been 7 years since we last got a harvest of apples, so this is a good thing!

Above are the washed apples after wrapping the "perfect" (unblemished) apples...

They are being stored in 4 boxes in our basement, and are individually wrapped in tissue paper so the skins do not touch one another. These are Cortland and Liberty apples and should keep for a month or two or, (hopefully) more. I will be checking these weekly for any that have gone bad. Because you know what they say about one bad apple!  

I tried my hand at making apple jelly WITHOUT pectin. Yikes! It reached the jelly stage faster than I could get it off the stove. Just look at those air bubbles. I now know what "sliding off a spoon in a sheet" looks like. Nice try anyway. I put these 2 jars in the frig to use up right away and one is already consumed! They are so good!

I cut up more apples and tried another batch using sure-jell. It worked nicely this time. I also had one cup of elderberry juice leftover from making elderberry jelly last month, and added it to 5 cups of apple juice. Oh my! I have a new favorite jelly! It is delicious and such a pretty color! You should see it on toast. ♥ Here you see them resting besides the second attempt at apple jelly on the left.

And there are STILL more apples to process! I peeled and sliced 18 cups to make pie filling for the freezer. It made 5 quarts and enough leftover to make a pie. 

The downside is I didn't really like the filling that much. I'd rather use fresh apples for pies. But its done, and perhaps we can make cobblers and crisp from those frozen 5 quarts.

Of course there were also tomatoes to deal with. I only planted 6 plants this year and I got nearly 10 quarts of sauce along with fresh eating all summer. Not too bad I guess...except all the Big Farmer wives are laughing at my measly attempts at canning! My mom used to brag that she put up 40 quarts of green beans one year when she was on the farm!

I froze 10 quarts like pictured here with the elderberry jelly.  Freezing green beans is not nearly the work of processing them in a hot water bath like mom did, I am sure.

So I am longing for the long days of sewing in the sewing room. In the meantime, I am gathering and saving seeds for next year, and plugging away at reducing the amount of "stuff" we own. Are you minimizing too?

A big shout out to Gerdy and Dot for their fine work of finally laying some eggs! Dot, our Starlight green-egger laid the pretty one on the lower left. Gerdy, laid the small one on the right - even though this picture doesn't not truly represent how much smaller they are than the top two. Gerdy's is not green or blue, but it is textured. Its almost like a fine mesh was wrapped around it. They are both delicious, and we thank them all daily for their hard work!

Well, if you stayed with me this long, I will share my latest finish. I wrote about my red churn dash quilt in July. I fussed about the borders, and making do, and purchasing binding fabric on ebay. She is all done now and I am pleased with the outcome.

Its finished size measures 78" 87". I love reds and this is now one of my favorites. It will keep us warm all winter.

The churn dash quilt block really is a charming block. One that makes any quilter happy to construct. If I ever get caught up with my other ongoing projects, I would definitely consider making another. Maybe try the 3 1/2" block as linked below.  I am sure there is a way to turn this block into a leader/ender project if the pieces were cut out before-hand. 

This quilt began in 2019 when Temecula Quilt Company began a fun sew along called Dashing Through the Snow. 

These 6" blocks (finished size) use 2 red 2 7/8" squares, 2 light 2 7/8" squares, and 1 light 2 1/2" square. 2 strips cut 1 1/2" x 10 1/2" - one light, one red. You can visit Temecula's site for construction directions if you need them. Her blocks finish at 3 1/2". So darn cute!!

I had 3 extra blocks leftover so I used them in the label on the back (to be signed and dated). The block in the middle is done by simply rotating the strip units so the light is next to the center light square.

I calculated the border fabric (3 yards), fabric for the 104 churn dash blocks (5 yards), 1/2 yard binding, and 5 1/2 yards backing. This brings the total to 14 yards. 

This is my 9th finish and I have used up 87 yards of stash so far this year. Should I add the yardage I bought at the Ohio Shop Hop? WelI, I did purchase a total of 4 yards in remnants and, ah-oh, a kit!! I couldn't resist. It was the last one and deeply discounted. I will have to cut into it before the end of the year to claim it in next year's UFO count. 

Did anyone go on the All Ohio Shop Hop? I understnad there are similar shop hops in several states. Is your state participating? More are joining in 2024. Check out the dates and lists here.

I visited a few shops with great restraint. I have enough fabrics, patterns, notions, etc., to keep me busy, but a couple of friends asked me to join them for a day of shop hopping and lunch. It was more like "shop till you drop". Sheesh, I came home sooo tired! Along the way I found this cute idea to use the little blocks that each shop gifted us hoppers with. 

I hit a total of 11 quilt shops. Not even a fraction of all those participating state wide. So, see? I did practice restraint. Ha! I actually heard there were some quilters who book hotels and hit them all! Can you imagine?

 

Bosco loves pulling his toys up as a pillow and napping on them. He is still very much a puppy even though his first birthday was in August. He even self sooths by  sucking on his toy's appendage. He cracks me up. And you know he is relaxed when his tail unfurls.

See you next month. Happy stitching!

Kris

A Brach's Jelly Nougat Candy Quilt

I loved working on this quilt over the years. It is made from the very smallest of scraps I have been saving.  I am naming this quilt Brach's Jelly Nougat Candies Quilt. Remember those? It was one of my favorites!

Sewn into 2.5" x 8" strips, then has sashes separating them into pairs per block as pictured below.

I originally gave up when it reached 69" square thinking it was large enough. It hung on its hanger to be quilted for the last year or two, but then I thought, 'what do you do with a 69" square quilt?' 

 

So I went back to the sewing room because I never seem to run out of scraps, and I made more blocks to extend its size to 85" x 91".  It now fits a queen size bed nicely and I busted through 17 yards of fabric to complete it.

I always marvel at the complexity and combinations of colors, and the weight of a quilt while sewing on the binding. It sometimes can be a wrestling match. And lets not forget the excitement of playing chicken with your thread, bobbin, and/or binding!

It is fun to anticipate sitting under a quilt while sewing the binding on in the evenings with the hubster watching TV.  Handwork has always been relaxing for me. And TV not so much.

The label is ready to be signed and a Scripture verse added in its margins. It is made with a few extra pieces in a miniature block to match the front of the quilt.

My Long-arm quilter, Tina, does such nice work! But I forgot to write down the name of the quilting design....again! 

Do you recognize any of those scraps from your own stash? I think it is one of the most enjoyable parts of working on a scrap quilt - to come across long forgotten scraps from previous projects. They bring up many happy memories and I never tire of it.

So this is my finish number #3 for 2023 and it is a keeper. It fits so nicely on our bed and I love touching it as I walk by.

Happy stitching!

Just in Cases was Skipped

Somehow I forgot to admit this project in the run for finishes in 2023. It is Just in Cases, an American Jane pattern.

I don't even have any pictures of this quilt as it was being constructed. It was a fun project though and a very easy one using some yardage of kona background and charm squares....except I didn't have any charm squares. But I did have plenty leftover scraps from a Sunbonnet Sue restoration I did a few years ago. Those scraps worked perfectly but I STILL have leftovers.

I added another row to make it a little larger than the pattern called for, so it finished at 57" x 68" and I used up 9 yards of stash (including the backing and binding). It is a nice throw size and is a bright and cheery quilt. 

It was a blue-sky, sunny day in February so we grabbed up our puppy and went up to Swine Creek Park for a nice walk and photo shoot. While there we met another pug named Penny. She was very patient with Bosco's curious looks and wiggles. 

The peculiar name, Swine Creek, has an interesting story behind it. Legend has it in the year of 1802, a hog wandered from its premises and for some time the owner, Mr Tracy, did not know of her whereabouts. Thinking that the Indians might discover her during their hunts, he caused them to be notified of his loss and asked them to report to him if they found the hog.

One evening, an Indian came to the house. Not being able to speak English, he poked some ashes out of the fireplace onto the hearthstone and drew a winding line through them with his finger. Mr. Tracy recognized the course of the creek. At a certain bend, the Indian stopped and said “Coosh, Coosh“! “Papoose, Coosh!”

Mr. Tracy investigated the part of the creek the Indian had pointed out and there he found his hog with a litter of pigs. From that time since, the creek has been called Swine Creek.

A large parcel of land further up the hill was owned by group of gun club members back in the 60s until it was purchased by the Geauga County Park District. The original lodge house was torn down last year and replaced with this new building.  It can be reserved for your special occasion by calling the park district. 

 

Happy stitching!

Wrapping up 2022 with 13 Finishes

It has been a good year for finishes. 13 quilts were completed and a total of 168.75 yards of my stash was used up. My best year for sure. 

Last month I mentioned I was almost done with my Christmas Colonial. I only had a few more inches to sew on the binding and attach the label. Here she is completed.

And here is her label. I used 1/2" hexagons and arranged into a diamond shape to fill in the corner of the label. And then I quilted it down with a brick red thread.

And my final finish was Mistletoe Lane made from various leftover scraps from previous Christmas projects. This was such a fun and easy quilt to make. Honestly I was a bit embarrassed to take it to the long-armer to be quilted because some of the fabrics were not great in quality. BUT when I picked it up I was so very pleased with the end result. Isn't it amazing how a quilt can really "come together" once the quilting is done? The texture from the quilting and the fabrics all work together splendidly!

I used Fairfield's Warm and Toasty cotton batting. I had two large pieces that I made into a frankenbatt. For some reason, this batting is hard to find. Sadly, because it feels thicker, is soooo much softer, and it washes well. I really like this batting. I found 2 lonely bags at Joannes and swiped them up for future use.

The quilting design is Christmas Light Strands weaving throughout the top in a cream color thread. These are my only pictures and record of this quilt as it was gifted to dear friends for Christmas. ♥

So there are my 13 finishes!

And here are my empty spools from this year. I counted 20 (both large and small).

It has been a happy, healthy, and productive year. I am hoping for your new year to be that same.

Micah 6:8

Happy New Year and Happy Stitching!

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Bosco is growing and always getting into mischief. He is such an active dog for a pug but such a joy to watch chase leaves, throw his toys in the air, and get the zoomies in the house. Next week he will be 5 months and no hints that he is slowing down. We are thinking of setting up an agility course for him in the backyard. Surely that will burn off some of his energy. If nothing else, he will be a happy dog!

Still in the Running for 200 Yards

I accepted that Challenge a few months ago - that of busting through 200 yards of stash. I think I might make it mainly because I found a really fast and efficient Long Arm quilter (and I have so many tops to be quilted). I am very happy with her work but I can barely keep up with her! Every 2 or 3 weeks she calls to tell me my quilt is finished and ready for pick up. I presently have 2 quilted tops waiting for their binding to be sewn on and I pick up another tomorrow.

But I am getting ahead of myself. Today, I can report a lovely finish that I call Bricks and Pinwheels. Do you know another name for this block? This top was made with beautiful bright fabrics (I can't remember the line) and the pattern really works together for a bright and sunny quilt for summer.

It measures 80" x 80" and I used up 14 yards of stash.

 

The back shows a miniature block made into a label. I love making these kinds of labels. 

 

I debated on the binding to use on this quilt. I found a bright orange polka-dot that would have worked but decided on a plain white binding so it would not compete with the patched border design. 

Another finish that I almost forgot to report is what I call my Purple Fasset. I love Kaffe Fasset's designs and these purple and green prints are so pretty. It features friendship blocks in the center and borders with striped fabrics and a large flowered print. This quit finished at 66" x 74"  and I used up 10 yards of stash.

I only have these 3 pictures because it was gifted to a dear relative very soon after it being finished in early September.

I made a complimentary label using some of the scraps leftover from the pieced backing. 

 

So this month I can add 24 yards to my running total bringing my grand total to 123.75 yards!

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We have been busy canning and freezing what we cannot consume fast enough from the garden. This year we grew Seychelles pole beans and they have been so very productive. Two 6ft rows have yielded 16 quarts of green beans, numerous servings fresh picked before dinner, and several bags full for friends and family!  We will definitely be planting this variety again next year. 

Another huge task has been our yearly yard sale. Sheesh, I am getting too old for this. We are not hoarders, and I am not a messy, but we do have too much stuff in our attic and basement. It felt good to give things a new home for others to enjoy. 

October is rolling in soon and we have a few chores to finish up before cold weather hits. I am looking forward to those "cooped up" days in the sewing room. Besides, I am itching for a new start. Do you get that feeling too? 

 

Happy stitching!

 

"Quilting evokes a tactile response that reaches both hand and heart." 

   ~ Donna Wilder, Quilters Hall of Fame acceptance speech, 

   November 4, 2000