Here's what you need:
1 cup Land O Lakes butter (Anything with a cup of butter has to be good!)
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 cups flour
1/4 tsp. almond extract
1/4 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup coarsely chopped pistachios ( I found mine at Whole Foods. You want the unsalted and shelled varitey.)

Mix the butter and brown sugar and beat at a medium speed until creamy. Add the flour and extracts; mix until dough forms. Mix in the pistachios until evenly distributed.

Divide the dough in half and roll each half into a 10" log. Wrap each log into plastic food wrap and refrigerate for 3 hrs. or overnight.
Heat your oven to 350 and slice each log into 1/4" slices. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned. Cool completely.

Frosting:
 6 oz. almond bark
1 tsp. shortening
1/2 cup coarsely chopped pistachios
parchment paper

Microwave the almond bark and shortening until melted and smooth.
Dip each cookie halfway into the warm coating, shake off the excess and place on the parchment paper. Immediately decorate with pistachios.

You can't go wrong with these!
 The plates are from Anthropologie. I couldn't resist! (Calligrapher Canape Plate)

Until later,

Alma

     We've had a dusting of snow and lots of cold weather which made us cancel our travel plans to Spring Green, WI. Barb and I hoped to begin work on the next Loose Feather patterns while we were gone. Now we will have to figure out another plan for getting together to work.


      Thanksgiving was busy around here. All of my kids came for turkey, mashed potatoes and all of the trimmings. Luckily they each have a special dish they prepare, and since Dave grills the turkey my job is fairly easy now. My assignments are the pies, some side dishes and preparing the table....not too bad! We invited some friends to make the day fun. (Above is pictured the youngest three of my four children. The oldest was watching a football game on TV and couldn't tear himself away for a picture.)


      Dave finally got the tree up this morning. Although it isn't decorated yet it still gives the house that fresh pine scent. I never think I'm going to get it all done, but luckily everything seems to work out just fine. Today I'm making Christmas cookies and I have to run to the grocery store soon to get several items I forgot. (Isn't that always the way?)

     Thinking of all of you and hoping you are enjoying the holidays. Hope you are able to save some time for yourselves and family during this crazy, wild, stressful and fun season!
     
     December's Loose Feather pattern arrived at the distributor's today. It should be in the shops soon!



Until later!

Alma

I used 1 yd.of  Norfolk Pine - Medium rick rack from R & R Reproductions for added detail. The pincushion pictured above is also in the pattern. It's framed with tiny chenille trim (Norfolk Pine also) stitched along the seam line. These patterns should be in the shops soon. Pictured below is the first in the series which was released in August. The stitched pieces are easily removed from the box top making it easy to celebrate each season.

     These are grocery store chrysanthemums purchased about 3 years ago. I planted them in an outside urn and now they return every spring and bloom each fall. Upon first glance you wouldn't think they would arise any panic, but they remind me my nose better be to the grindstone. There's work to be done!!! Fall quilt market is just around the corner.


     These are from my pecan tree out back. If I can keep the squirrels away I might get to harvest some of these for myself. I have seen them scamper across the yard carrying a full cluster. That's when I tell my husband to call Cynthia, my neighbor, and beg her to get over here with her gun. (We have nicknamed her Annie Oakley because she's a sure shot.)

     But, I digress. After attending fall quilt market for 14 years, Barb and I are changing how we look at market. We do what we can and finish up the rest of the list when we are able. The thought of market now makes me reflect just how lucky Barb and I have been. We have been able to create a business doing the crafts we love. We are very grateful.


     This is one of the quilts I've been sewing for market.  I'm using two backgrounds from our Nature's Basket line of fabric. This print was a coverlet converted to a cross stitch pattern. (Moda # 2720-24) I love the business of the print and the low contrast so it doesn't compete with the applique motifs.



     This is the alternating background print in the quilt. It's also from Nature's Basket. The print is Moda
# 2722-24. The repeating motifs are formally organized and offer less movement which creates a space for the eye to rest.


     Invisible machine applique is the method used on these blocks. Although, I must confess you can see the stitches in these close-up shots...so it's not as invisible as hand applique. After the blocks are quilted and the binding sewn in place, the quilt is thrown into the washer and drier. The cotton batting makes everything shrink up a bit. The results are wonderful. You can see the wonderful texture of the quilting and you really don't notice the applique stitch very much at all. I'm able to applique 1 -2 blocks a day using this method.



  The coverlet print (Moda # 2720-24) was also used as the background in this table runner. If you want to make your own, pick your favorite 6 blocks from the Moda Blog hop. Sew them together using the 6" block templates.  The first part of the instructions follow below. The rest will be in the next posting.

Instructions
1.  Piece the 6 - 6" blocks.  
2.  Cut 2 - 10” squares from the background print. Cut each in half twice on the diagonal for the setting triangles. Use one of the triangles as a template and cut two more setting triangles.
3.  Cut 2 - 5 1/2” squares from the background print. Cut each in half once on the diagonal for the corner triangles. 
4.  Sew the blocks together in diagonal rows to make the table runner. Trim if needed, leaving a 1/4" seam allowance along all of the edges. 

Until later!

Alma

      Above is a picture of our block. I made a 6" square. The smaller blocks look so sweet when completed! The only problem with tiny blocks is you have to sew a lot of them for a bed quilt. An example of this dilemma is shown below. Barb started making these blocks a couple of years ago. After each one she would exclaim, "Isn't this so cute?"  She would carefully pick her favorite prints for the baskets and match them up with a background which perfectly complemented the basket. After making about 80 blocks, she thought she was just about done. We laid the blocks out and found she was no where close to being done. She really needed 291 basket blocks! She then just started grabbing fabric from her stash. She no longer cared if the prints went together well.... she had 211 blocks to go! (Those of you who have made this quilt probably know the feeling!)



The basket quilt is found in When the Cold Wind Blows published by the Kansas City Star Quilts.


Next Barb thought she would make a quilt of 25 blocks. Twenty five large blocks would be so much easier than 291 blocks....but it still has 125 small 4-patch blocks. The Irish Chain quilt is in our Weekend book.


How can you use small 6" blocks without making 291 of them? Make a table runner. Piece 6 blocks, add some setting triangles and a border and you're done. For our block pattern click here. Our table runner directions will follow next Tuesday.


Jeanne Zyck quilted this for me last night. Just finished the binding. (Talk about sliding in for the finish!!!) Thank goodness for Jeanne.




The prize is pictured below. Leave a comment and we will select one person to get the three Jelly Rolls. One each from some of our favorite fabric lines. The contest ends on the 16th. and we will announce a winner then. Good luck to all.


The blog hop is almost done. Here are the remainder of designers you don't want to miss.

I've been sewing some of the blocks from the Moda blog hop. I love the small 6" ones. They go together so easily!


The fresh blue prints from Nature's Basket look crisp and clean.


I had to show a bit of stitching I've been working on each night as I watch TV.  One row a night....(This sampler is from Chessie and Me. I purchased it at market  - Janet Reid 1835 Sampler.  This piece is done with Gentle Arts wool floss, and stitches up like a dream. 
  


The heart fabric above is from our Blueberry Crumbcake line. If you want to set the blocks on the diagonal this sweet heart block won't work, but I can see a baby quilt of these easily pieced heart blocks.
Here's the schedule for the remainder of the week. Don't forget to come back here on the 13th!

     The next Loose Feather pattern will be delivered to our warehouse next Monday. After we box them up and give them to UPS, it takes another two days to get them to the distributors. Then the distributors have to repackage them and ship these patterns out again to the shops. They are well traveled by the time they get to you. Are you keeping up with all of this stitching? I can hardly keep up with the publishing deadlines.

     The initials of Barb’s great aunt are located inside the urns. Stitch your initials in the urn first and then fill with the stitches on the chart. Barb's great aunt was born in 1915, so Barb put the year her Aunt Ethel Larson was 10 years old. Just the right age to learn to stitch. What a lovely tribute to her aunt. I'll have to make one for my Aunt Dorothy!

    Don't forget the blog hop....visit our friends listed below today!!!

Until later!

Alma

     The blog hop began yesterday....but it's not too late to view the blog sites and download free patterns and sign up for free gifts. This is going to be a fun one! Every day begins with three free block patterns. Each block will be shown using fabrics from each designer, making sure you will find one color way which will tickle your fancy. Since this is National Sewing Month it's the perfect time to download a pattern, grab your fabric and get sewing! The above two block designs are from Laundry Basket and French General using Blackbird's Nature's Basket fabrics. The good thing is this line is available in your quilt shop now. These two blocks only took about 30 minutes to sew together! I only have one more to go and I will have yesterday's patterns completed. Maybe tonight I can get caught up with Brigitte's block (Zen Chic), and the ones from today.

September 4, 2013

Until later!

Alma

I made a mistake in the symbols for Never Far Apart. The symbols for Raspberry Parfait and Apple Cider were transposed. You can tell from the picture above the roof and baskets are done with the Apple Cider....not Raspberry Parfait. I'm very sorry and hope you won't have to remove stitches!!!

Until later!

Alma

     Just a really quick market update .... I'm still getting all of the market details finished and working on the next Loose Feathers pattern. The pictures on the tins were so small! I wanted to give a better picture here on the blog. I don't think anyone could tell how the pincushion was finished unless you looked at the pattern. The Oct. 31 kit is pictured above. This kit also includes the fabric from our fabric line Field Notes from Moda Fabrics. The herringbone stitch adds detail to the top. It's just spooky enough to hold all of your sharp pins and needles!


     The stocking kit, Never Far Away is a lovely way to celebrate a special friendship or family member. Barb included my initial and hers. There is an alphabet provided to add your own initials. The fabric on the back of the stocking is included in the kit and is from our Cinnamon Spice line.

     Until later!

Alma

    

     Getting ready for market can be overwhelming at times. Lots of details to keep in line....and many patterns to proof. Luckily we have great people that help check everything twice! I dropped this sweet one off at the printer yesterday and they made big promises of having it ready for market. (They keep their promises better than me!)  

     Sisters is our newest book. I found two early 19th century samplers from England on E-bay . I called Barb, and we decided to purchase them after about 2 seconds of discussion. They were made by sisters with the last name of Shields.

     The samplers they’ve stitched use similar motifs, but clearly reflect the nature of each girl. The older of the two used more sedate colors than her younger sister, who used orange and black with wild abandon.

     The different tones and personalities of the samplers inspired the pieces in this booklet. You’ll find reproduction charts of the original samplers as well 2 other samplers made with Halloween in mind and one just right for Christmas. Barb and I had lots of fun with this one and hope you do too!

     The book will be sold at market first and then available to shop owners from their distributors. 




     Above is Away We Ride, a single pattern designed by Barb. I love all of the windows in the witch's house. She can see someone coming from miles away! If that isn't enough to scare a person away....the tree of poison apples is sure to do it.


     Midnight Ride was designed by Barb to fit into a 6" sewing box by Lone Elm Lane. Stephanie Elmer makes these boxes by hand and they are wonderful. And to make good things even better, Stephanie will be at market too. Her Shaker boxes will be available, and she has designed some wonderful pieces to stitch herself. Just wait until you see those!
     Since the design is easily removed from the lid, we have decided to so a seasonal series for this sized box. Barb has the Thanksgiving one already stitched....I just don't have it into pattern form and won't have it for market. But Midnight Ride will be there just in time for Halloween!

     We will also have 2 exclusive market kits. I will show pictures of those next week.

Hope your weekend is lovely. We have the best weather here! It feels like autumn.

Until later,

Alma

     This piece celebrates my mother’s family. Mom’s maiden name was Lampshire, symbolized by the initial “L” in the center of the piece. The date inside the lower right heart indicates the year her parents married. The initials located on the chart belong to Mom, her parents and her brother.
     Many members of my family moved to Holland from England in search of religious freedom. During the mid-1600s, they began to emigrate to America in an effort to preserve their English traditions. This sampler reflects my Dutch heritage.
     This sampler is bittersweet for me. My mother became ill the end of May and never was able to recover. Her brother, my uncle Wayne, passed away 7 months earlier. I designed this piece before my mother and her brother became ill. I'm so glad to have this with all of their initials together.
     Use the alphabet in the sampler and the numerals provided in the chart to personalize this piece for you and your family.

Barb and I are crazy busy getting ready for cross stitch market in St. Charles. During these times of trying to gather it all together to make the deadlines we usually look at each other and wonder if we will make it.

Usually it all comes together thanks to the wonderful people who help us with our work. We will have a couple of kits, new Halloween patterns and a book. Will give some previews as we get closer to market!

Until later,

Alma

Barb and I have been busy working on the next Loose Feather series. Six of the twelve samplers in this series are already stitched! (Must be a first for us....usually we are always a bit late. We can't take all of the credit on being timely though...we've had lots of good help with this series.)