Winter Crazy Quilt Project 2011 - 2012

I won't start on this until the end of October or the beginning of November but it's ready to stitch so I thought I'd share it with you today.

My Winter Crazy Quilt project for this will be a Peacock Quilt:

This beautiful peacock design was a pre-stamped design on black satin.  I stitched it back in the 1980's and never finished it into anything.  I think it's the perfect focal point for a crazy quilt!

I want to stitch on the side pieces simultaneously so my dad made me 2 custom sized stitching frames.  I've already added the blocks to the frames and secured them with thumb tacks so this project is ready to stitch on.

If you're new to my blog, I cope with Seasonal Affective Disorder Syndrome, which has already set in by the way!  And it's only the end of August!  Anyway, I've found that having a Winter Crazy Quilt project to work on throughout the cold, snowy and dreary months, helps me to get through until Spring which is my favorite season.  By March or April, I'll have a nice finished crazy quilt to hang in my home.  This quilt will hang above the television in my bedroom.

Snowman Ornament Needle Felted

I just had to share this sweet little needle felted snowman ornament that Kathi made:

Is he too cute or what?  And he's so soft and fuzzy!  She made him entirely of wool roving and he's all needle felted.  Not sewn together piece by piece.  He's needle felted together!  I've done some needle felting but I can't imagine doing anything as 3 dimensional as this little cutie!

Kathi also made some beautiful needle felted rose brooches:

Gorgeous!  Absolutely gorgeous and so creative and where she finds the time to make things with a full-time job, I don't know!

Anyway, I thought you would enjoy seeing Kathi's latest creations.  I'm still working on making more cat dolls.  I'll have more photos as soon as I get a few more stitched.

A New Litter Of Little Cat Dolls

As ya'll know, my Crazy Quilt Cat Dolls are one of my signature items!  I've literally made dozens of these!  My inventory is running a little low so I thought I'd make a new litter of these little cats.

They don't look like much now, but when I sew them up, they'll look like these:

I have a few more that I want to stitch up and then I'll put them together.

Crazy Quilt Gatherings Volume #3 August 2011

The new issue of Crazy Quilt Gatherings magazine is now available!

Be sure to see Mary Anne Richardson's review of Elegant Crazy Quilt Seam Treatments Volume 2 EBOOK!

Gatherings Magazine is available to order from Magcloud.

Recipe Sloppy Joe Salad

With Summer winding down and Fall right around the corner, I'm starting to think of some new ideas for different meals.  Scott and I are into healthy eating so I'm always trying to think of different ways to make meals into salads and to keep the carbs down to a minimum.

I recently tried something new and it's really good!  I always loved Sloppy Joe sandwiches so I thought, how about making the Sloppy Joe mixture and putting it on salad?  Wow!  Is this awesome!!!

Basically, it starts with a Barbeque Sauce.  You can use a store bought sauce from a jar but I prefer to make my own.

Sloppy Joe Barbeque Sauce

1 medium onion diced
1 cup Ketchup (Hunts brand has NO High Fructose Corn Syrup in it)
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
2 Tablespoons Vinegar
1 Tablespoon Brown Sugar
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
1/4 teaspoon Dry Mustard
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon Corn Starch

Saute the diced onions in the olive oil.  Cook until transparent.  Add all other ingredients except Corn Starch.  Bring to a boil, stirring constantly.  Add corn starch and continue to boil, stirring constantly until the sauce thickens.  Remove from heat and add to 1 pound cooked ground sirloin.  Serve over lettuce and tomatos with shredded chedder cheese and Ranch dressing.

I've also made this will shredded chicken and I've made it with shredded pork.  It's good every way I've tried it!

Enjoy!