Quilted Christmas Placemats

I saw some of these round pieced and quilted placemats on Pinterest and decided to make some for a Christmas gift.

I used a store bought round placemat for the pattern. It measures 15″ across. They are made with 3 fabrics and batting. Using 2 of your fabrics, cut into 5-1/2″ squares and then sewn them together into a 9-patch. The 3rd fabric is used for the backing.

Using your round pattern cut a batting and backing piece.

Layer the wrong sides together with the batting in between.

Press, pin really well and baste together along the edge.

Trim away excess on the 9-patch.

Machine quilt through all layers by stitching in the ditch.

Make bias binding cutting 2-1/4″ strips on the bias and sewing end to end.

Sew the binding to the placemat and then you are finished!

Making Christmas Ornaments

I found a cute pattern for pieced heart ornaments in an old quilting magazine.

What you need:
4 different fabric scraps
Heart shape Pattern(or draw your own)
Fiberfill stuffing
Buttons
Ribbon for hanger

They are fun and easy to make. First choose 4 fabrics that you like together. Cut one 3-1/2″ square of each fabric. Sew the 4 squares together into a 4 patch square.
Trace your heart onto the wrong side of your nine patch. Place the 4 patch right sides together with a backing fabric and stitch on the heart lines, leaving an opening to turn and stuff. Trim to 1/4″ around the heart.
Turn right side out and stuff. Hand sew the opening closed.
Sew the buttons on.
Sew the ribbon hanger to the top of the heart.

Have fun and I hope you enjoy making these!

Butternut Squash Macaroni and Cheese

Tonight for dinner I decided to add one of my organically grown butternut squash to my home made Macaroni & Cheese. WOW. It came out so good!  I roasted the squash drizzled with olive oil first until very tender. Cool and cut into small chunks.
Cook elbow Macaroni in boiling water until done. Drain
Next I made a normal white sauce.
3 tbsp butter
3 Tbsp flour
2-1/2 cups milk
Add salt, pepper, cayene, garlic to taste. Cook over med heat until thickened.
Add squash and approx 2 cups grated cheddar cheese. Mix in pasta. Pour into baking dish and bake until bubbly. Yum!

My Gardening Apron

I needed a new gardening apron so I decided to make one out of an old pair of jeans.

I cut the legs off of a pair of bell bottom jeans the length I wanted my ron.  I cut one seam open.

Next I laid it open and trimmed and pressed.

Next I cut pockets out and embroidered them and sewed them on.  I lined the apron with a blue cotton. Last I cut and sewed the apron ties on.

Apple crescent rolls

Tonight I decided to try a new apple dessert idea that I have been hearing about. It is simply apple slices rolled up in pillsbury crescent rolls and baked with cinnamon and sugar and butter. It was very quick and easy.

1 roll of pillsbury cresent rolls
1 granny smith apple
2 Tbsp melted butter
3 Tbsp brown sugar
1 Tbsp cinnamon

Place parchment paper on a cookie sheet. Unroll the crescent rolls and place on cookie sheet, and brush with melted butter. Peel and slice the apple into 16 slices. Mix the sugar and cinnamon together in a small bowl. Sprinkle each crescent with some of the cinnamon and sugar. Place 2 apple slices on top of each crescent roll and roll up. Brush with more butter and sprinkle with more sugar and cinnamon. Bake at 350 for about 12 minutes.
Serves 4

Fall Wall Quilt

I just finished putting the binding on my newest wall quilt.  I have had the pattern and fabric for years. It feels good to use fabric that I’ve had for quite a while, and get a new fall decoration for our house! The leaves and pumpkin were fused on and then stitched down.

Succulent Pumpkins

Today at my local garden club
meeting we learned how to make succulent arrangements on pumpkins and gourds.  It could not have been easier!  No need to cut the pumpkin.  Simply glue
sphagnum moss on top and then glue small succulent cuttings on top. The succulents will begin to root in the moss. You can mist it when it’s dry, and then once a week after that!

A Signature Wedding Quilt

One of my best friends’ daughter recently got married. I decided that I wanted to make a signature quilt for them. Their wedding colors were turquoise, black and silver, so I decided to use those colors. I printed an engagement photo of them onto Printed Treasures (paper backed printable pima cotton), and put that in the center of the quilt. I embroidered their names and wedding date on the black border around their picture. Once the top was finished, I ironed freezer paper to the back side of the silver fabric pieces for the signatures. We used a pigma permanent pen at the wedding for the signatures. After the wedding I machine quilted it (stipple), and sewed the binding on. They love it! It feels really good to be able to give a special gift for such a special day!

Blue Bottle Tree

I love bottle trees! I have been wanting to make one for quite some time. I searched online for ideas for different kinds of trees and for places that sell the colored bottles. I found blue bottles available online, but didn’t order them. Then when I was out garage saleing one weekend I found 12 blue wine type bottles. I got them for only $5.00. I was so excited! I thought that I would have to make the “tree” part. I went to Home Depot and bought several pieces of copper tubing ($70.00), and was planning on asking my husband to cut and weld the pieces together to make a tree for me. That very same day I went to the Home Goods store and found a tree form made from metal rebar on sale for $35.00. They only had one, what are the chances of that? So I returned the copper, came home and put up my tree! It was so easy.