Rose’s Runners

I just added a couple of new small kits to the website, using the beautiful “Let it Snow” batiks by Laundry Basket.  Rose has been taking advantage of the chilly autumn weather to stitch shop samples, and just finished these two projects.

Let it Snow Batik Flip ‘n Strip Table Runner: Kit available for $25.25 plus $8.00 pattern.

The pattern?  Flip 'n Strip Table Runner designed by Karen Montgomery

Rose’s version:

The technique?

Simply a quilt as you go strip quilt, with a little wider asymmetric border.  But, what makes the runner special is the fusible applique accents at either end.   Where Karen’s runner features Christmas Trees, Rose chose to apply fusible web to the back of  two panel snowflakes, then fussy cut and applique the flakes in place.  It was quick, easy, and the end result is simply beautiful.

Rose's Twister Topper: Kit available for $20.00 plus $9.00 pattern.

The pattern? Designs to Share with You: Twister

The technique:  4 fat quarters, arranged in a pleasing fashion, to create a 3-D result. Notice how the runner seems to spin, and the square “rings” seem to interlock.

Rose’s first version of the runner didn’t look quite the way she wanted it to.  See photo left (first version) compared to photo right (final version).

 

Although the spinning pinwheel design appears in both versions, and the same fabrics are used in both, the geometric 3-D effect is much more obvious in the final version. 

Amazing, isn’t it?   Fabric placement can really matter, even in simple designs like this.  

Either one of these projects would look beautiful on your holiday table, especially with an elegant silver, white or crystal centerpiece.  I found these at Crate & Barrel…. but it’s hard for me to imagine the scale.  I think I need to look at Target.  I love their Holiday stuff!

   

~ Have a great week!

Lucky Seven! The second and third winners are….

Congratulations to Holly W  and  LaVonne W.

Your names were drawn as the second and third winners during our Lucky Seven promotion.

You’ll both receive  seven yards of fabric, your choice, retail value $9.50 per yard (or less). You can choose either a continuous cut or assorted smaller pieces. Prize can be redeemed in-store or online.

If I won seven yards of fabric, what would I pick?  Well, I’m in a “Christmas” mood today, and I’d head straight for the “Fruitcake” prints. I just love the contemporary prints, the warm colors, and the whimsical little bells, ornaments, & snowmen.  Click here for the full collection.

~ Happy Quilting!

Vanilla Sour Cream Bread

 

We’ve had our bread machine for over five years, and use it sporadically.  But, in the weeks before Christmas, it runs nearly non-stop, as we make dozens of loaves of bread for friends, family, co-workers, and teachers.  Last year, we bought an identical second machine, so we could make two loaves simultaneously. 

A warm loaf of bread, paired with a jar of homemade apple butter (click here)…. the perfect gift.

Although the bread machine came with a good instruction/recipe book, I really prefer the book shown in the photo right: “Betty Crockers’s Best Bread Machine Cookbook: The Goodness of Homemade Bread the Easy Way”  It has great color pictures, step by step instructions, tips & tricks, and yummy recipes.  Click here  to find it at Barnes & Noble.

We’ve tried lots of recipes from the book, but this one is my favorite:

Vanilla Sour Cream Bread

1 1/2 lb recipe (12 slices)		2 lb recipe (16 slices)
1/2 cup	water	2/3 cup
1 tablespoon	vanilla	1 1/2 tablespoons
1/3 cup	sour cream	1/3 cup
one	egg	one
1 tablespoon	butter, softened	1 tablespoon
3 cups	bread flour	4 cups
3 tablespoons	sugar	1/4 cup
1 1/4 teaspoons	salt	1 1/2 teaspoons
2 teaspoons	Yeast**	2 teaspoons

** May be Bread Machine or Quick Active Dry Yeast

Make: 1 1/2 pound recipe with bread machines that use 3 cups flour, or make 2 pound recipe with bread machines that use 4 cups flours

Measure carefully, placing all ingredients in bread machine pan in the order recommended by the manufacturer.

Select: Sweet or Basic/White cycle.  Use Light crust color.  Do not use delay cycles.  Remove backed bread from pan, and cool on wire rack.

~ Happy Bread Making!