Workshop with Karla Alexander

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of attending a workshop with Karla Alexander of Saginaw Street Quilt Company.  The workshop was sponsored by my guild, which does a wonderful job of scheduling creative instructors and inspirational classes.

Karla is an exceptional instructor.  She had great visuals and samples prepared, and she showed us lots of examples of what she was describing.  She knows that we quilters are "visual creatures".

I loved looking at all the samples she brought- and the many full sized quilts that are pictured in her books.  They look great in the books, but they're SOOO much prettier in person!

This one is called, "Argyle".  It's one of the quilts I chose to make.  It was a 2 day workshop, focusing on different techniques each of the days.  We were able to select a different quilt each day.

What amazed me is that we had a large list of options for each of the days.  Karla was able to guide us each through our choices- keeping us all straight and remaining calm- keeping us all on task. 

For the Saturday class, I chose to work on "Funky Curvy Rail".  I selected a variety of green and black prints. 

Karla taught us how to use free form cuts, or use one of her new rulers to cut waves, then stack and shuffle our "decks" of pieces.  This gave us a good shuffling of colors for our scrappy quilts.

She also taught us how to sew the curves without a million pins!  This was a big deal for me.  I'm the original "pin queen".  Do you see the little piece of foam tape beside the strips I'm stitching?  It was used as a guide to keep our seams at 1/4 inch while feeding the curved pieces through.  Worked like a charm!

Here's my progress so far.  Fun, huh?!?

On Sunday, I opted to work on "Argyle".  This is sooooo pretty!  I just love how this quilt is turning out!  And the curves are NOT difficult the way Karla taught us to work with them.

Obviously, we were all working with a lot of different pieces.  Everyone has their own methods of keeping things straight.  I was struck by the organization of one of my fellow guild members.  Isn't she amazing?  She has everything all lined up... all neat and tidy.....

And then there was my pile.






I want to share some photos of friends' quilts.  They were all gorgeous!

Thanks for an educational, inspirational, and FUN weekend, Karla!  Now, to finish my quilts!

Nanaimo Bars recipe

I've had some requests for this recipe lately.  I posted it a few years ago.... click here.  These are absolutely killer decadent.... but worth it for a treat.  No baking.  The recipe originated in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, BC.  YUM!

Edit:
Reader Diane wrote to tell me that Nanaimo is actually north of Victoria.  She said that the traditional Nanaimo bar has walnuts in the base (not almonds). The custard powder she uses is Birds.  I assume it's available in Canada but I haven't located it in the U.S.  The recipe I posted was from the BC Tourism Bureau, so I guess there are different variations.  I'll definitely try it with walnuts the next time I make them.  Thanks for the info, Diane!

Another Edit:
Patty in Oregon said she found Bird's in the specialty food aisle of Fred Meyer.  Thanks, Patty!

November Givaway- Free Pattern by Karla Alexander!

Argyle

For November, I'm giving away a pattern by Karla Alexander (Saginaw Street Quilt Company).  I currently have 10 of Karla's patterns on my website.  Pick which ever one you like!  Here are just a few....

Windfall

 Cups! Cups! Cups!

 Feature Presentation

 Great Pumpkin Harvest Table Runner

These are just a few of her patterns. You can select any one of Karla's patterns on my website.  The winner will have a hard time choosing!

The winner will be selected at random on December 1, 2011.  To be entered, simply leave a comment to THIS POST and just tell me you want to be in the drawing.  That's it!

For a second entry, be a follower of this blog.  It doesn't matter if you are a long time follower or if you have just joined us.  But you MUST make as SECOND COMMENT to THIS POST and tell me that you are a follower.

For a third entry, tell others about the giveaway.  You can blog about it, Facebook, tweet or whatever- just let others know.  Come back here and leave another comment to THIS POST to let me know.

This month, there's a way to get a fourth entry--- send me a picture of a quilt that you have made from any one of Karla Alexander's patterns or books.  I spent all of this past weekend in a workshop with Karla and I'll be posting photos of what we made.  I'd love to add your photos!

Good luck!

Have You Seen This Bag???

The bag in this photo was taken from the Sanguine Gryphon booth at Rhinebeck recently.  It's hand knitted, embellished with beautiful beads and fabric-lined.  Please contact Sanguine Gryphon if you know the whereabouts of the bag.  People who steal ANYTHING.... especially hand made works.... are LOW!  Let's get the word out in the knitting and sewing community and find this bag!  You can see more photos on Ravelry- the pattern is called "Fulfillment".  You can buy the pattern there, too, if you're interested.

The Winner is Laura!

Laura from Nacagdoches, Texas is the winner of the October giveaway.  YEA, LAURA!  Woo Hoo!  (fireworks go off....)

  Laura's blog is a fun read.  check it out if you get a chance.

I'll look around in the shop today and see what I can use for a November giveaway.....

Zucchini Pie

I know it's a little late to give you ideas for using a bumper crop of zucchini, but you might want to file this for next season.

 

Meat Loaf, Zucchini Pie and cherry tomatoes from my garden.

My friend, Sandy A. (Gotta put the initial in there 'cause I have 5 friends named Sandy!!!) was kind enough to feed me dinner one night when I was at her house on my way to a Scout meeting a few years ago.  YUM!  Her Zucchini Pie became a fast favorite in our house.  Thanks, Sandy!

Yes- I took this photo of our dinner about 6 weeks ago, when zucchini and tomatoes were at their best.

 Zucchini Crescent Pie

Line a 10 inch pie pan with 18-ounce can crescent roll dough.  (This is what the recipe calls for, and it's fine, but you could also use a regular pie crust and pre- cook it a little)

Brush dough with about 2 teaspoons of mustard (yellow or brown- your choice).  The recipe calls for 2 tsp but I generally use a little more.  We like mustard.


4 Cups thinly sliced zucchini
1 Cup chopped onion
 Saute in 1/4 - 1/2 cup margarine or butter for 10 minutes.

Combine:
1/2 cup chopped parsley or 2 tablespoons parsley flakes
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon basil
1/4 teaspoon oregoano
2 beaten eggs
8 ounces (2 cups) shredded mozzarella or muenster cheese
The already-sauteed zucchini/onion mixture

Pour the filling into the shell and bake in a pre-heated 375 deg f. oven for 18-20 minutes or until center is set.

Let stand for about 5 minutes before serving.

I also like a slice of this warmed up for breakfast.  or with a side salad for lunch.

This seems like a good place to show you my new veggie garden.  This is where all the zucchini and tomatoes came from!  DH loves a project that involves his little tractor.  The blue lounge chair is where I sat to watch him put in the posts.  (yea- right!)

 

Last year, I planted a few things and the deer ate all of it!  So this year, we got a few rolls of 8 ft deer fencing.  It's the plastic stuff- they hate it on their noses, and they can jump most anything less than 7 or 8 ft.

The guys built me 5 raised beds, which we filled with nice, rich garden soil. There is quite a bit of space around them inside the fencing for me to plant other things.  I didn't get much planted this summer because the fencing wasn't up until late June, and the lavender is harvested in July.  But I had some nice tomatoes, peppers, onions and a few other things.  Next year will be a different story!  I planted blueberries, rhubarb and grapes last month and I'm planning for the spring!

Our apple tree was a happy camper this year.  LOTS if big apples.  We mostly use them for apple sauce and cider.  And the deer clean up the windfalls.

I'm pretty new at vegetable gardening.  I'm happy to hear any and all tips or recommended web sites!

Road Trip

Yesterday I did a rather long post on internet safety and email privacy.  I expected people to yawn an move on.  Not so!  I got a lot of comments- looks like I hit some nerves!

 I did promise a fun post today.  Yesterday I said that people should post on blogs and FB about vacations AFTER they return (or tell that they are upcoming but not say WHEN they are going).  It's just not safe to post to the world that your house will be empty!

So... following my own advise... here's a post about the trip DH and I took last week.  Our oldest son and his lovely wife moved to Utah last January.  They visited us here in August, but we had not yet been to see them.  We opted to drive the 1600 mile round trip because we enjoy road trips and DH doesn't particularly enjoy airports and such.

I showed the quilt I made for my son yesterday, but I didn't mention that I named the quilt. "Road Trip".

The drive from the Portland area to the Salt Lake area is about 800 miles each way.  I neglected to take many photos of the drive there, but the scenery was beautiful.  I focused on visiting the kids, but never really thought about the fact that we would see the autumn foliage in some rugged mountain areas.  How stunning!  I especially like to see the colors of the deciduous trees contrasted by the deep green evergreen trees.  We have a lot of that in the Northwest.

DH and I grew up in Philadelphia.  While we love living in the Northwest, we do miss those Philly cheesesteaks!  My DIL found this little place is Salt Lake City that serves amazing cheese steak sandwiches!  It's called Moochies (I think I spelled that right).  They even had Tasty Cakes!

This was taken on the deck of a friend's house.  We had our dog.  DS and DDIL have a dog.  The friend has a dog.  Friend's mom was away and her dog was at the friend's house.  I tried to get a photo of the 4 dogs but all I managed to get was dog butts and people feet.

We went to visit the copper mine just outside the city.  WOW!  I never knew how much I didn't know about copper!  It's hard to describe the massiveness of this operation.  This tire gives you an idea of how large the trucks are that carry the material out of the pit to be processed.  (Don't you know every guy who visits has to pose in front of the tire?)

This is the pit they are currently mining.  I felt like I was gazing into the Grand Canyon!

Another shot of the mining operation- slightly to the side of the main pit.  The rock is crushed and travels many miles to be processed.  Then it is returned and taken to the top of the mountain and dumped over the side- creating a "new mountain".  Amazing!

Another restaurant!  We spend one day driving up to Park City.  We started the morning at this cute diner, which was originally a railroad dining car- build onto in many directions to enlarge the restaurant.  I had the most wonderful breakfast! It was an omelet with asparagus, tomatoes, onions, and Munster cheese.  Accompanied by incredible potatoes and biscuits.  

We visited the Olympic Village in Park City.

This is a luge course (I think).  Looks a little different without the snow!

 Cady gets gold, Paul and Wayne take silver and bronze!

Ski jumps sans snow.

View overlooking the valley from the ski jump area.  Is this fall color just the most gorgeous picture?!?  It almost didn't look real.

So where does a ski jumper jump when there isn't any snow?  Into a pool of water, of course! 

You can actually pay to do this- if you're crazy enough.

The next day took us to the Bonneville Salt Flats.  This may look like snow, but it's SALT!

The sign is information about the speedway.  Crazy people drive on this stuff.  My son did it. It's long and flat and straight and people drive fast and grunt about it.   Enough about that.

Here we are at a road stop.  There had been some rain, which evidently sits on top of the salt.

Lots of salt.

 More salt.

I was glad we went because it was amazing to see.  But it was just salt.  And more salt.  And more salt.  And you had to rinse off the tires and your shoes-- salt can do nasty things.  And my lips tasted like salt from the air.  Ick.

In the car--- long drive---- this is not a good picture of DIL Cady (sorry, Cady!)  but I thought it was cute of their dog, Cooper. "Are we there, yet?"

Another restaurant!  This was outside of the Mayan Adventure.  It's like being in an Indiana Jones movie with dark rooms, rock walls, and cliff divers.

I took a lot of photos of the cliff divers, but didn't think you'd be interested in blurry blobs with dark backgrounds.  Some things just don't photograph well.  Fun night, though.

Farewell for now.... we'll be back!  Thanks for a wonderful time, Paul and Cady- love you guys!!!