Sewing, Papers, and Potpie

Another hour-a-week of sewing was dedicated to Acappella.  I love being able to sew again regularly and hope to keep this trend going. I have two new stars complete plus some pinwheel blocks.  After this photo was taken, I had 20 minutes to spare so I assembled a handful more.

After the sewing, it was a day of cooking (and cleaning, blech).  After making Arroz con Pollo, I started to prepare a family recipe.  Potpie is just a simple Pennsylvania dutch recipe that is typically made with any protein available (except for pork).  Today's protein was rabbit.  Do any of you eat rabbit?  It is sweet and delicious!  Here it is simmering...

I make the potpie noodles.

This is just a simple egg noodle.  I am not great with the rolling pin on these, so I use a pasta roller.  Here they are drying and waiting for their time in the pot!  This is a recipe that my grandmother made, and knowing it was going to be on the table made me so happy.  Some of my fondest memories are with my grandmother making her potpie.  I would watch her roll out the dough and I had the responsibility of cutting the squares and putting them in the pot.  Along with her cherry custard pie recipe (and quilting), it is one of the ways I honor her memory!

This week also marked my 90th day of Tapout XT.  It is an exercise program similar to P90X and Insanity.  I LOVE it and have put on a few pounds of muscle.  I had thought about putting an "after" picture up, but am not certain about that yet.  The thought of being googled and having that photo appearing is a bit insane.

Have a great week everyone!

Hour-a-week: Week 2

Here are the fruits of my labor.  I have completed a few more stars for Acappella!

What have you been working on this week?

Happy sewing!
-N

Acappella

I love Jamie's blog, L'Fair Quilts.  She has such beautiful imagination and designs many wonderful quilts.  A few of them are now for sale with Black Cat Creations.  A year ago, she sent me one of her new patterns, knowing how much I loved it.  I knew I wanted to make this quilt in blue, so saved a box and threw all of my blue fabrics in it and waited for an opportunity to start.

I had an afternoon free of assignments, so I started cutting.  I didn't finish the cutting, but had enough to work with for a while.  So here and there, I promised myself I would work on it.  Even if I have to put 1 hour a week in my calendar to work on this quilt, I think I can manage this to utilize my creativity (and preserve my sanity).  I have made some progress!

I am not even close to ready to count any of the fabric used in my stash report (see Judy's Patchwork times for more stash reports), but I will eventually.  I managed to use more than I purchased last year, and plan to stay on that course this year.  It will be tougher though, given my stash is largely depleted.  It means (if this quilt is finished this year) that I will be getting into another scrap or crumb quilt.  I do have an idea that involves foundation piecing, scraps, and chevrons!

If you haven't yet, check out Jamie's blog.  She offers such great inspiration to traditional (with a modern twist) and scrappy quilters alike!

Until next time, happy quilting to you!

Natasha

Used this Week: 0 yards (but working on it!)
Used year to Date: 0 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards
Added Year to Date: 0 yards
Net Used for 2013: 0 yards

Last Post of 2012 (in 2013)

It has been a long time since I have looked at my blog, although I still read up on my favorite blogs on occasion.  I took advantage of the time off between semesters to finish Orca Bay.  I have decided to name this quilt, which is something I rarely do.  It shall be named "Gray Street."  Here it is in all its glory!

My favorite part of this quilt is the border.  The quilting was very simple, and included straight lines and a swirly design in the purple string blocks.  Thank you to all of the fellow quilters who so kindly helped me with grays to finish this project!

My final stash report is as follows:

Stash Report

Used this Week: .5
Used year to Date: 31 yards
Added this Week: 0

Added Year to Date: 21.75 yards
Net Used for 2012: 9.25 yards

UFOs (Charlotte's Baskets, Hexie: Part Deux)

Well, it is back to the grind tomorrow.  I will be starting my most difficult semester in my training to be a psychologist.  I am afraid my poor sewing machine will be neglected.  This year, if I am lucky, I want to get Charlotte's Baskets quilted.  I want to do baptist fans, and will likely hand quilt.  I am afraid to do a poor job if I were to put it under the machine.

Happy Quilting!

Natasha