English Rose

Here is my finished piece for the Good Ol’ Summertime quilt swap.

 

It has been sitting in my wip pile for some time, I didn’t know what to do with it and was half thinking of making it into a cushion.

When I went through the ufo/wips last week it hit me it would be perfect for the swap, and I suddenly knew exactly how I wanted to finish it. Its amazing how quickly one can finish something when inspiration strikes.

It will be winging its way overseas early next week I hope my partner likes it.

Size: 16” square

Techniques: Patchwork, appliqué with satin stitch edging, quilting all done by machine.

Plum Jam

We’ve had a bumper crop of Victoria plums on the tree in the garden.

 

So I’ve been busy making yummy plum jam….

Recipe: Victoria Plum Jam

3lb plums

2 3/4lb sugar

knob of butter

Put the sugar in an oven proof dish and put in the oven on a low heat.

Halve and stone the plums. Put in a jam/large pan with approximately 1 pint of cold water. Bring to the boil then turn down the heat and simmer gently until the plums are cooked and squashy -approx 15 minutes.

Add the warmed sugar and stir to dissolve. Turn up the heat and boil rapidly for approx 10 minutes then test for set. When setting point is reached take off the heat and stir in the butter to disperse any scum. Ladle into warmed jam jars put on lids and leave to cool. Enjoy! 

Good Ol’ Summertime Mini Quilt Swap

Bank Holidays are always a good time to play catch up, so I’ve been busy with my camera. I finally got around to taking pictures of the cute mini quilt I received, a few weeks ago from Kristine, for the ‘Good Ol’ Summertime’ Mini Quilt swap.

Kristine was hot off the starting block and had it made and mailed out to me before I had even begun to think about about what to make. She also sent me this cute pack of notelet cards. 

 

Thanks Kris the quilt and the cards are great.

UFO’s or should that be WIP’s?

Today I have also been sorting through all my UFO’s (unfinished objects) or WIP’s (works in progress). I thought there were about six but horrifically there are 20, you can see them listed in the side bar. humm….

This is just one of them I blogged about it here last year when I started it! The attic windows play mat, the child I was making it for is now walking, so I guess she won’t be needing it!

So my challenge is to try to finish at least three of them before the end of the year. Or should I finish one before I am allowed to begin a new project, a tactic I have used successfully in the past. Maybe I should do both……. decisions decisions…..!!

Finally a Design Wall!

Today I finally made myself a design wall, using about 2 ½ metres of fabric in the process.

About a month ago (after some nagging from me) Tony, my lovely partner, put up hanging brackets and found a long length of wood to use as a baton for a design wall, all it needed was for me to add the fabric.

I took down the temporary design wall, part of an old bed sheet to which everything needed to be pinned. It was also rather narrow, being just about wide enough for a cot quilt!

Since then I have been procrastinating about making a new one, because I thought the flannel fabric, which had been hanging around my studio for at least a year, would need piecing. However, when it was unwrapped I discovered it was over 100" wide, and just needed cutting to size and a hanging sleeve added!
As the new one is made of flannel fabric, blocks and fabrics should cling to it without the need for pins, and as it is a much better size it should be able to take a double bed quilt.

Time taken to measure cut, sew and hang – approximately 30minutes.
Time taken to think/procrastinate about it - approximately 4 weeks........ho hum is there a lesson here?!!

Receipe for Fairy cakes

Oven temp: 190
2 x bun tins lined with paper cases

Makes 24
Ingredients:
6oz butter
6oz castor sugar
6oz SR flour
3 lrg eggs

Throw everything in the food processor and zap until all smooth and unlumpy
spoon into paper cases
bake in oven for 20 - 25 mins until risen and golden

When cool decorate with icing and sprinkles
Eat and enjoy

Banana Cake Recipe

Oven temp: 170
7 inch cake tin, line base with waxed paper

Ingredients:
4oz butter
4oz castor sugar
6oz SR flour
1 lrg egg
2 ripe bananas
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
2 tsps milk

Method:
Lightly mash the bananas
Dissolve the bicarb in the milk
Throw everything in the food processor, zap until everything is mixed all smooth and unlumpy
Pour into cake tin and bake in oven until risen and golden, approx 1 hour

When cool cover with icing and decorate with walnut halves (if liked!)

Cooking up a storm

I've been Little Miss domesticity again!

Banana Cake waiting to be iced, its supposed to be banana and walnut but we don't like wallnuts so I miss them out!

Fairy cakes iced and ready to eat!