Get it right or get it wrong?

Sometimes "getting it wrong" opens up a whole new way of looking at things and offers a new perspective and even a way to solve a problem...

Daughter Jennifer and I are working on a BOM (block of the month) quilt together. BOM is a program where you are sent only part of the quilt pattern and fabric each month. Usually the program lasts a year. This is such a program. But as with most BOM programs the quilt when finished will not be big enough for a queen let alone a king size bed, so we need to make more blocks.

We have been mulling this over since month one and had not come up with any ideas for addtional blocks.

By a happy chance, I mixed up an orientation of a set of motifs in one of the blocks and came up with an alternate block. We decided to make alternate blocks using the same motifs but a different arrangement.

We decided this was a good solution because the quilt would still have the same percent of color as in the original and none of the new blocks should stand out and look different than the original blocks.

These are my blocks. In rows 2 and 3 you can see the reorientation of part of the motifs in each block. I like the differences and will be happy to see how the other blocks evolve.

Jennifer's blocks are on the left. She is looking forward to making her additional blocks in the near future. 

Charity knitting for Kikis Hats

A great charity project, you can read about it here.

In September we were making hats and mitten sets. Here are the sets that I donated. These will be going to Minnesota where it is really really cold in the winter. 

Pizza Pizza

A shout out to my Bestie in food and fiber, Deb. Deb is a baker -- a wonderful baker (and cook too), quilter, knitter, crafter, singer, actress....the list goes on and on. 

We get together every Tuesday morning. We talk and share new ideas with each other. We are excited and giddy by the time the morning is over, at potential new projects and recipes.  We both love "new and shiny" ideas.

Years ago I baked lots of bread and even ground my own flours from whole grains. I loved it. It took too much time so I stopped baking.

Deb told me about the Artisan Breads in 5 minutes a day. She helped me get started with my first loaf, which was a success. We have been enjoying the Artisan breads for the last couple weeks.

I mixed up some pizza dough earlier in the week and Saturday night, we had pizza night. I baked all 6 of pizzas!

We didn't have any pizza meats so all 6 were meatless. We didn't have any prepared pizza sauce so we made it from scratch. It is not likely that I will go back to store bought pizza sauce. We decided to make all 6 so we could experiment with ingredients, baking pans, baking stone and baking times.

We used our normal ingredients -- mushrooms, green olives, sauteed onions and green peppers, and shredded cheeses. The star of the show turned out to be fresh mozzarella balls in and herb olive oil marinade. Oh goodness no more shredded cheeses for us.

 This pizza has our porch tomatoes and the fresh marinated mozzarella. The bits of cheese that are browned on the pan are crispy and crunchy goodness a treat.

This pizza has some shredded cheddar along with the fresh mozzarella., and other ingredients.  

Pizza night was a success, Keith and son-in-law Juan said they do not want to have any other pizzas EVER again. I am excited to make more.

Thanks Deb, for another awesome idea. Next time you will have to come for the party!!

Sheba is finished--Tuesday art show

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This is the finished product of the painting Mom started in August 2012. The painting was already framed and my phone camera would not take a straight on view so Sheba looks a little wonky. 

The bottom of the painting makes it look like she is walking through tall grasses. The detail is amazing.

This is the original sketch. What a difference. Mom has been experimenting with alcohol inks and I think she has mastered it.


Have a great Tuesday,
Nancy

Design wall Monday disappearing 4 patch

We had a workshop Thursday at our weekly quilt meeting. Floy taught us the disappearing 4 patch. It was so much fun. 

I decided to use some of my hand dyes fabrics. My daughter and I dyed many fabrics and I haven't really used them. So this seemed like the perfect opportunity. 

I think I have decided to stay with 15 blocks and will just add a wide black border and a scrappy binding from the same fabrics as the blocks. Maybe though I will make some more blocks. Hmmm..... that is a decision for another day.

Head on over to Design Wall Monday at Patch Work Times and see some fabulous projects.

Happy Monday, 
Hoping you have a sunny day to enjoy.

20 Little Dresses for Africa and one Special Lady

Mom made 20 more Little Dresses for Africa in 9 days.

My quilt guild had a request for Little Dresses. One of our members is traveling to South Africa and was hoping to bring 100 dresses with her.

Mom has made many of these Little Dresses in the past, but decided to challenge herself to finish all 20 in nine days! 

We put together kits to add to solid fabric panels that were furnished by the guild. It was a good way to use stash fabrics. 

A huge part of the fun for Mom is that she designs each dress a bit differently than any others.

As you can see there are dresses that are similar but no two are identical.

She is one amazing, talented and giving lady. There will be 20 more little girls somewhere in Africa that will smile each day because of her kindness and generosity. 
You TOTALLY ROCK MOM!!!

Progress on Mom's Birthday quilt

You can see the more about Mom's birthday quilt. Worked today on the first arm of eight on the quilt. It is a little tedious but I love the result. Mom spent many hours working on the placement of all 128 units. Closeup below.

First two rows of 1st arm. There are 4 rows in each arm, so 32 rows of 4 units. Will keep you posted...more tomorrow.