Winter Crazy Quilt Project

I'm setting myself up here, with some projects to work on through out the Winter months. I thought I'd would put a few things together and just have a basket of projects ready to stitch on.

The first is a set of 9 8-inch blocks, all pieced in white fabrics with a vintage embroidered floral hankie as a focal point on each block:



This will be lovely hanging in my Living Room for Summer! It should help to keep my mind occupied too. This damned depression just seems to go on and on. Day after day after day. But I don't care to moan about it too much today. I try to think about my fun projects.

Another one that I want to piece up is a block for a Peacock Purse. I haven't done a peacock in a long time so I thought that would be a nice Winter project as well. I'm also planning to do a few embroidered things using my vintage iron-on transfers. I just need to finish up on my Vogart dresser scarf. I only have the flowers to do on one end and then it's complete. My mom wants to crochet around the outside for me. Despite my protests, only because my mom already does so much for me, I agreed to let her do that.

Well, I'm about out of steam for today. We've had nothing but cloudy, dreary, rainy days here all week. My Seasonal Affective Disorder Syndrome kicked in early this year. My Dr. increased my Zoloft to 100 milligrams a day and it just knocks me out by 3 in the afternoon on days like this.

Before I head off for the day though, I thought I'd share a photo of my Peach Applesauce with you:



I used 3 pounds of Red Delicious apples, 3 pounds of Jonathon apples, 3 medium size cans of peaches in pear juice, 2 teaspoons of cinnamon, 1 teaspoon of nutmeg and 2 tablespoons of brown sugar. Again, I baked it in the oven and oh, does my house smell good!

I never made applesauce with Jonathon apples before. I never liked them but as you can see, I'm experimenting these days.

Winter Crazy Quilt Project

On Saturday morning, I gave Mary Anne's Impossible Chocolate Pie a try. Oh my goodness! It's absolutely sinful! My father said it was dangerous! Ha, ha, ha! I took photos but, my photos were fuzzy so I don't have one to share. I just thought I'd mention that it's a wonderful, very rich dessert and if you want to give it a try, you won't be sorry. You can find the recipe here at Magpie's Mumblings. Thank you Mary Anne!

Susan asked me what I do with all my baking since Scott and I don't eat much of it. I give most of it to my father and my neighbors. The fun for me is making it and the way it makes my kitchen smell. My mom always jokes, that the only reason I have a kitchen is because it came with the house. LOL! I'm really not into cooking. It doesn't do a thing for me. I can make basic stuff like soup, chili and so on but it's the baking that I love.

Sue mentioned that she really enjoys whatever photos I post, be it stitching, sewing, baking or whatever. Thank you for your message Sue!

I was over-stressing (no wonder I had a breakdown) over staying on topic. My anxiety levels have always been off the charts! But as you can see, I'm loosening up a bit. From now on, I'm just going to talk about whatever I feel like talking about. There will be plenty of stitching, new designs (as soon as my desire to design comes back) and other craft related topics but there will also be my baking and probably some gardening photos come Spring & Summer. Maybe I'm starting to let go of some things and perhaps I won't be so uptight anymore.

Well, speaking of Spring & Summer, I started sewing up some blocks today for a new quilt project. I sewed up 4 blocks and have 5 more to do. I decided to do something light and airy to help me get through the dreaded Winter months ahead. Ya'll know how I feel about Winter!

Anyway, I've been collecting vintage machine-embroidered handkerchiefs for years now. I have a whole hatbox full of them! I pulled 9 out with different colored flowers:



The blocks are 8 inches square and are pieced all in a variety of white fabrics. I want my stitching and beading to really pop but I want the quilt to be soft looking. As soon as I get the last 5 blocks pieced, I'll share another photo of them all before I start stitching on them.

I'm still working on my Vogart dresser scarf with the kitties. It's taking me a wee bit longer than I anticipated. If I'd stay away from my Kitchenaid for awhile, I would be able to get it done!

Baking & Blog Friends

My mail came yesterday and what did I find in there? A wonderful vintage Cooky Book from Judy:



Oh, what a nice surprise that was! I've looked through it so many times, I'm surprised I haven't worn it out yet. There are a ton of yummy sounding recipes in here and I've already picked out a few that I would like to try. Along with the book, Judy also sent me a couple of charms. Thank you so much Judy! You're so kind to me!

I must say that my friends in blog-land are the best! So many of you have sent me cards and little surprises to cheer me up and encourage me through this very trying (and what feels like a never-ending) illness. I really can't thank all of you enough for your support and understanding.

Anne mentioned that she really enjoys my baking photos. She said that she wishes she could come to my house for a cookie! Anne, it would be a very long drive to my house just for a cookie! Thank you so much for leaving me a comment.

Honestly, if I could mail cookies to all of my blog readers, I would. Unfortunately, I don't have a money tree growing in my backyard and I haven't been able to work much for awhile so the best I can do is to share my baking, my stitching and my other creative endeavors with you.

I didn't actually bake today but I did make some Strawberry Applesauce:



I guess this is sort of baking because I put everything in a casserole dish and bake it in the oven at 350 degrees. That way, I don't have to watch it and keep stirring it on the stove top.

I must say that my house smells so good right now! I cut up 3 pounds of Red Delicious apples, sprinkle them with the juice of 1 fresh lemon and baked it for 40 minutes. Then I added a bag of frozen strawberries and 1/4 cup of sugar. I baked it for another 15 minutes and I have a nice batch of Strawberry Applesauce. I used a potato masher to mash the fruit after it was done baking. I like chunky applesauce! Sometimes I just leave the sugar out. I don't eat much in the way of sugar but today I felt like adding a little.

I was going to try a recipe that Mary Anne sent to me called Impossible Chocolate Cream pie. I bought the Bisquick today but unfortunately, I'm out of steam now. I will see how I feel tomorrow and perhaps make it then.

I'm hoping to feel decent enough on Sunday to run my sewing machine. I mentioned last week that I'm planning a new CQ project to help me get through this Winter. I collect vintage machine embroidered handkerchiefs. I picked out 9 of them with different flowers and I'll be working each one into an 8 inch block. They'll be pieced entirely in white fabrics. I really want my embroidery and beading to show up and working with flowers will help me to think of Spring.

I do feel like I should be designing. I have ideas but the drive just isn't there. I don't know why since I can stitch, sew and bake. I can take care of keeping my home clean and I take care of all errands. Working on designs at the moment just feels like one too many things. I'm told that will come back in time. I sure hope so. I do enjoy it. I just can't get into it at the moment.

Well, that's my post for today. Hope everyone has a great weekend! I'll have more baking and some sewing photos soon!

Making Christmas Cards

My Thanksgiving cards are made and ready to mail out so I've started on some Christmas cards:



I have another one at mom's that I started today but it isn't quite finished yet. I have a few other projects going as well. I mentioned last week that this will be a pink Christmas for me. I'll share what I'm working on when I have things ready. I have to make Christmas different this year so I decided on everything being pink rather than the traditional harsh red & green. I find soft pastel colors calming on my nervous system. Of course, I'm using lots of glitter as well!

I still want to pick up some pink poinsettias that I can glitter. I'll be going to Hobby Lobby with mom next week. I'm sure I'll find some there.

I had some other things I was going to chat about today but it seems that they've slipped my mind. I'm sure those thoughts will come around again and hopefully it'll be when I can write them down!

Flea Market Finds & Tropical Gingerbread Cake

It was a lovely day here in Northern Illinois. Sunny and temps around 60 degrees. We went to a flea market this morning and I found some more treasures to add to my collections. First, some vintage pins and old lace:



I saw the feather pin and immediately thought it was time to do another peacock project!

Next are some vintage handkerchiefs:



I love the ones with the machine embroidered flowers on them. In fact, I'm planning a new CQ quilt project using some of my vintage hankie collection. I think it'll be a nice project to help me get through the Winter months.

Last but not least, are 2 vintage baking booklets. One is from Bakers Coconut and the other is from a chocolate company. Both are from 1925:



Of course, the minute I got home, I had to try one of the recipes using my new Kitchenaid:



Here's the recipe for TROPICAL GINGERBREAD CAKE:

2 cups Cake Flour
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
1/8 teaspoon Baking Soda
2 teaspoons Ground Ginger
1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup Butter or Shortening
1/2 cup Sugar
1 Egg, well beaten
2/3 cup Molasses
1 cup Baker's Coconut (shredded coconut)
3/4 cup sour milk or Buttermilk

Sift flour once,measure, and add baking powder, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon and salt
and sift together 3 times. Cream butter thoroughly, add sugar gradually, and cream together until light and fluffy. Add egg, molasses, and coconut. Add flour alternately with milk, a small amount at a time. Beat after each addition until smooth. Bake in greased pan, 8 X 8 X 2 inches, in moderate oven (350 degrees) for 30 minutes.

I frosted it with cream cheese frosting and of course added sprinkles.

Please keep in mind that I typed up the recipe exactly as written in my book. We don't have to do all that sifting anymore. Once is enough.

You know, I used to totally stress about staying on topic as much as possible. I didn't want to stray too far from my needlework theme. Under the circumstances, I'm simply blogging about what I'm doing. I am stitching and will have a photo of my vintage Vogart dresser scarf as soon as it's done but I do think that daily progress photos on that is a bit boring.

Thinking about things now, I'm not sure why I always felt that I had to stay on topic. I mean, there's more to me than just stitching and designing. I've always love baking and I collect all sorts of little vintage things that are pretty and fun to look at. I'm a very domestic person and I guess I'm starting to think that since this is my blog, it can be whatever I want it to be.

I confess, I've lost about 1/2 of my daily readers due to my lack of posting during my illness. I imagine in time, my readers will come back and maybe with a few new topics like baking and other things that I do, maybe I'll attract some new readers.

In the meantime, I hope my readers who have stayed with me through this trying year, are enjoying whatever I write about!

I'm trying to figure out how to have my comments sent to my email address. I would love to reply to everyone's comments but it would be so much easier if could just reply to an email. If anyone knows how I can set that up, please let me know.

Ok, I'm off to wash up a few dishes and then I need to take a bath and call it a day.