Sunday Soup-athon

Roasted Sweet Potato Soup

• 5          Medium Sweet Potatoes (about 2 pounds)
• 2 T.      Butter
• 1 C.      Onion, chopped
• 2 C.      Celery, chopped
• 6 C.      Chicken Broth
• 1 C.      Potato, cut into cubes
• 1/3 C.   Maple Syrup
• 1/8 t.    Ground White Pepper
• 2 T.      Light Cream (optional)

1.  Pierce the sweet potatoes with a fork.  Microwave on HIGH for 8 to 13 minutes or bake at 400 degrees for 1 hour or until they're fork-tender.  Cut in half lengthwise.  Scoop out sweet potato pulp and set aside.

2.  Heat the butter in a 6-quart sauce pot over medium heat. Add the onion and celery to the sauce pot and cook until tender.  Add the broth and potato.  Heat to a boil.  Reduce the heat to low.  Cook for 15 minutes or until the potato is tender. Add the maple syrup, white pepper and reserved sweet potato.  

3.  Blend mixture until smooth, in batches if necessary.  Return all of the pureed mixture to the sauce pot.  Add the cream, if desired.  Cook over medium heat until the mixture is hot.  Season to taste.  

Until Next Time.....Happy Stitching!!!

Sharyn 

Seafood Pasta Alfredo

Seafood Pasta Alfredo

• 8 oz.             Uncooked Linguine 
• 1                  Small Zucchini, quartered and sliced
• 1 C.              Julienned Carrots
• 1                  Small Onion, chopped 
• 1 T.              Olive Oil
• 1                  Garlic Clove, minced
•                     Dash Red Pepper Flakes
• 1 C.              Heavy Whipping Cream
• 1/2 C.            Grated Parmesan Cheese
• 2 T.               Butter
• 1/2 t.             Salt
• 1/8 t.             Pepper
• 1 lb.               Cooked Medium Shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 2                    Plum Tomatoes, chopped
• 1 can (6oz)     Crab Meat, drained, flaked and cartilage removed
• 4 oz.              Imitation Crab Meat, chopped
• 3                    Green Onions, sliced

1.  Cook linguine according to package directions.  

2.  In a large skillet, sauté the zucchini, carrots and onion in oil until crisp-tender.  Add garlic and pepper flakes; cook 1 minute longer.  Stir in the cream, cheese, butter, salt and pepper.

3.  Bring to a gentle boil; cook for 1-2 minutes or until slightly thickened.  Add the shrimp, tomatoes, crab meat, imitation crab meat  and green onions.  Heat through.

4.  Drain linguine; toss with shrimp mixture.

Until Next Time.....Happy Stitching!!!

Sharyn

Make-A-List Monday

The Week of March 18, 2013
(in review)


1. Bind two quilts that I recently quilted on Annie.

Both quilts have the binding sewn on....now to add them to the pile of quilts to be hand tacked.

2. Prepare a quilt I finished piecing called Taylor's Timeless Quilt for Annie.

Taylor's Timeless Quilt is ready to be quilted.  It has been added to the
 Git-R-Done list.  You can purchase the pattern at Hamels Fabrics and Quilting.

3. Complete the quilting on the Little Baby Boy quilt that is currently on Annie.

The quilting is done on this quilt.  Pictures to come in April.

4. Make 10 more string blocks for a total of 50 of the 60 needed for
 Roll Roll Cotton Boll.

50 done and 10 to go!!

5. Complete the 21 Hexies that I didn't finish last week and do 21 more for this week.

Week 18

574 Hexies



Week 19

595 Hexies


6. Work on the January, February and March blocks for the
Country Threads free online quilt sampler.

January blocks

February Blocks

March Blocks

I am using my Civil War repro scraps to make these blocks.  I keep them in four tubs.  Whenever I pull them out it makes such a mess in my sewing room but it is great to get such scrappy blocks.  I try to follow the colors suggested by
 Country Threads.  

7. Work on the March block for my paper pieced heart sampler.

Oh dear...I still did not get to this.  In fairness, when I got around to working on it I realized that I had not pre-washed my fabrics.  I'm sure I will get to it this week.

8. Spend a day with Ryder :)

This precious 9 month old loves to explore!

9. Attend Byrne Sewing Connection $5 quilt class.

I was able to get to Doylestown, PA to pickup my next block.  

10. Attend Strip Club at The Village Quilter in Mt. Holly, NJ.

These are the strips we received this month:

Here is a picture of the quilt:

This quilt is sized as a Quilts of Valor quilt.  You can order the pattern from Peddler's Way Quilt Co.


The Week of March 25, 2013

1.  Work on the March block for my paper-pieced heart sampler.

2.  Work on the first clue of Bonnie Hunter's Quiltmaker Magazine mystery Lazy Sunday.

3.  Complete the binding for my Little Baby Boy quilt.

4.  Complete the March block for the Pieceful Nights Quilt Along at Jo's Country Junction.  

5.  Finish the last 10 string blocks for Roll Roll Cotton Boll.

6.  Make a few more blocks for a black & white sampler quilt I started a few years ago.  

7.  Make a few more Dear Jane blocks.

8.  Attach the last 126 Hexies I have completed to the quilt center.

9.  Spend a day with Little Ryder.

10.  Attend Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Vigil services at
 St. David the King Church.

Well, that's it for this week.  It is spring break in our town so my hubby will be home this week whenever he is not at baseball practice.  He has already started the project of removing the carpeting on our stairs and refinishing the hard wood. That should keep him busy for most of the week.

Next week I will have an exciting family announcement to make.  It is a very special time for our family and I am so excited to share it in one week.

Until Next Time.....Happy Stitching!!!

Sharyn

Sunday Soup-athon

Potato Soup with Arugula

• 2 T.       Olive Oil
• 2.          Leeks, white parts only, cleaned and chopped
• 4           Potatoes, medium, peeled and diced
• 3 C        Chicken Broth
• 1 C        Baby Arugula
• 1/4 C     Heavy Cream
• 2 t.        Lemon Juice

1.  Heat the oil in a saucepan over medium heat.  Add the leeks and cook for five minutes.  Add the potatoes and cook for 10 minutes or until the potatoes are almost tender.

2.  Add the broth.  Heat to a boil.  Reduce the heat to low.  Cover and cook for 20 minutes or until the potatoes are tender.  Add the arugula. Cook for 1 minute longer.

3.  Place 1/2 of the broth mixture into an electric blender or food processor container.  Cover and blend until smooth.  Pour the mixture into a medium bowl.  Repeat the blending process with the remaining broth mixture.  (An immersion blender could be used instead of a blender or food processor.)  Return all the puréed mixture to the saucepan.  Cook over medium heat until the mixture is hot.  Season to taste.  Stir in the cream and lemon juice.  Serve immediately.

HINT:  This savory soup can be served cold.

Until Next Time.....Happy Stitching!!!

Sharyn

Make-A-List Monday & Blog Hop Party Winner

We Have a WINNER!

Congratulations to Gail Olney for being the winner of the three Moda charm packs.  Your prize is in the mail.  Please visit Gail's new blog 
Sew Out There.


BIG NEWS!!!

I have another big announcement.  I was able to get into 4 classes at
 Quilt Odyssey in Hershey, PA this summer.  The classes I will take are:

Featherweights & Their Attachments - Betty Neff
Chisel Flowers - Nancy Bills
Roundabout
Jamestown Landing - Bonnie Hunter

I am most excited about the Jamestown Landing class with Bonnie Hunter.  I was able to take two classes with Bonnie last summer and I am thrilled to be able to take another.  

I will be writing much more about these classes as we get closer to July.


The Week of March 11, 2013

(in review)

1.  Continue to work on the Little Baby Boy quilt I am making for a very special Mom-to-Be.

The quilt top is done and is currently being quilted on Annie.  I even had enough fabric left to make an accessory.  Pictures to follow after the baby shower in April.

2.  Add 10 more string blocks to make a total of 40 of the 60 needed for Roll Roll Cotton Boll from Bonnie Hunter's book:

I love the way these string blocks look.

3.  Make the March block for the Byrne Sewing Connection $5 quilt.

Another pretty block!

4.  Work on the January, February and March steps for

 Back to Square One Mystery Quilt

by Judy Laquidara of Patchwork Times.

The first three steps made the center medallion.

5.  Work on the January, February and March blocks for the Country Threads free online quilt sampler.

Did not complete.

6.  Work on the March block for my paper pieced heart sampler.

Did not complete.

7.  Quilt the English Paper Pieced Sampler Wall Hanging that I finished piecing in September 2012.

I quilted this wall hanging using interlocking circles.

8.  Add 21 Hexies to my Bonnie Hunter inspired Christmas Hexie Quilt.

Did not complete.

9.  Spend a day and a weekend with my favorite DGS Ryder.   

9 months old!

Scrumptious!

10.  Attend 3 quilt shows in Lancaster, PA.  These are the three shows I attended last week.

2013 AQS Quilt Show at the Lancaster County Convention Center

Lancaster Spring Quilt Show at the Host Hotel

The Lancaster Quilt Show at The Continental Hotel

I had so much fun at these quilt shows.  I liked the first and third the best.

The quilts were gorgeous.  This was one of my favorites.


The Week of March 18, 2013


1.  Bind two quilts that I recently quilted on Annie.

2.  Prepare a quilt I finished piecing called Taylor's Timeless Quilt for Annie.

3.  Complete the quilting on the Little Baby Boy quilt that is currently on Annie.

4.  Make 10 more string blocks for a total of 50 of the 60 needed for Roll Roll Cotton Boll.

5.  Complete the 21 Hexies that I didn't finish last week and do 21 more for this week.

6.  Work on the January, February and March blocks for the Country Threads free online quilt sampler.

7.  Work on the March block for my paper pieced heart sampler.

8.  Spend a day with Ryder :)

9.  Attend Byrne Sewing Connection $5 quilt class.

10.  Attend Strip Club at The Village Quilter in Mt. Holly, NJ.

That's it for this week.  Welcome to all my new followers.  Leave a message so I can get to know you.

Until Next Time.....Happy Stitching!!!

Sharyn

Make-A-List Monday

The Week of March 4, 2013

(in review)

1.  Attend the Quilts for Kids workshop held at Pennington Quilt Works.

Here are the two quilts I finished this week.  I also cut fabric for another pinwheel quilt to be pieced at the next workshop.

2.  Finish the second block in the Pieceful Nights Quilt-Along with
 Jo's Country Junction.

This block is called Lighthouse.  It is from a quilt designed by Lori Smith.

3.  Bind two quilts that I just finished quilting on Annie.

The binding is sewn to the front but now it needs to be sewn to the back.  UGH!  They can now join the pile of about 20 quilts that also need the same.

4.  Correct and update my Git-R-Done List.



YAY!!!  I think I have fixed my Git-R-Done list glitch and it is again up and running.

5.  Spend two days with DGS Ryder.

I just can't get enough of this little guy!!!

6.  Add 21 more Hexies to my Bonnie Hunter inspired Christmas Hexie Quilt.

553 Hexies


7.  Do some more work on the Little Baby Boy quilt I started last week.

I am making great progress on this little quilt.  So sorry I can't share pictures yet.  The recipient is a Facebook friend and I don't want to spoil the surprise.

8.  Finish 10 more string blocks of the 60 I need for Roll Roll Cotton Boll from Bonnie Hunter's book String Fling.

I now have 30 of the 60 string blocks needed for this quilt.

9.  Participate in the Blog Hop Party with Give Aways.

 

The Blog Hop started on March 8th.  It goes until March 14th.  I am giving away 3 charm packs.

Harvest Home by Blackbird Designs.

In order to win these charm packs (retail value $27) you must become a follower of my blog.  Check out the blog post HERE.

Here is a picture of the fabrics in the pack.

Good Luck!!!

10.  Do some more work on the Starburst pillow designed by Laura Sage.

I did not get to this project this week.  The fabrics are laundered but that is as far as I have gone.  I think I will put this on hold for a little while...making pillows is not my favorite thing to do.



The Week of March 11, 2013

1.  Continue to work on the Little Baby Boy quilt I am making for a very special MOM-to-Be.

2.  Add 10 more string blocks to make a total of 40 of the 60 needed for Roll Roll Cotton Boll from Bonnie Hunter's book:

3.  Make the March block for the Byrne Sewing Connection $5 quilt.

4.  Work on the January, February and March steps for
 Back to Square One Mystery Quilt
by Judy Laquidara of Patchwork Times.

5.  Work on the January, February and March blocks for the Country Threads free online quilt sampler.

6.  Work on the March block for my paper pieced heart sampler.

7.  Quilt the English Paper Pieced Sampler Wall Hanging that I finished piecing in September 2012.

8.  Add 21 Hexies to my Bonnie Hunter inspired Christmas Hexie Quilt.

9.  Spend a day and a weekend with my favorite DGS Ryder.   

10.  Attend 3 quilt shows in Lancaster, PA.  It is Quilt Show Week in Lancaster, PA.  Here are the shows that I plan on attending:

2013 AQS Quilt Show at the Lancaster County Convention Center

Lancaster Spring Quilt Show at the Host Hotel

The Lancaster Quilt Show at The Continental Hotel

In the past I have been able to go to all three shows in a day.  I will try to do the same this year but if not, i have reserved two days in my week for these shows.  

Well that's my week!  What do you have planned this week?

Until Next Time.....Happy Stitching!!!

Sharyn

Pieceful Nights Quilt Along - 2

Pieceful Nights:  A Sampler Quilt
Block #2
Lighthouse

The second block of our Pieceful Nights Quilt Along sponsored by

Jo's Country Junction is the block called Lighthouse.

I used black, gold, red, green and cream scrap fabric to make my 10" finished block.

To see what other Quilt Along participants are doing, check out Kelli's blog post HERE.

Until Next Time.....Happy Stitching!!!
Sharyn

Blog Hop Party With Give-Aways

Beat the Winter Blues!

Spring is right around the corner so let's have a

Blog Hop Party with Give-Aways 

to celebrate!

My give-away is a collection of 3 Moda charm packs.  The pattern I have chosen is Harvest Home by Blackbird Designs.

Each pack contains 43  five-inch squares in the following patterns:

(I'm sorry the picture is so blurry)

The original price for these charm packs was $9.00 each but you can have all three for free by simply becoming a follower of my blog: 

Quilty Pleasures

If you are already a follower you will be entered to win the charm packs as well.  If you leave a comment on this post you will receive an additional entry.  

Please be sure to go back to The Quilting Gallery to see the list of other participating blogs.  

I had so much fun doing the Blog Hop a few months ago.  I hope you do as well.

This Give-Away is open until Midnight on March 14, 2013.  The winner will be chosen and notified on March 15, 2013.

I will ship internationally.

Good Luck!!!

Until Next Time.....Happy Stitching!!!

Sharyn

Make-A-List Monday

The Week of February 25, 2013
(in review)


1.  Work on my Git-R-Done list.  I have not had much luck fixing the glitch on my Git-R-Done list page.  I was able to finish quilting two quilt tops this week.  When I fix the page I will be able to add them to the list.

2.  Continue to work on my boxes of scraps by adding to my Scrap User's System!

These three boxes of scraps have been haunting me for a very long time.  By simply putting them on my "Make-A-List Monday" list,  I was able to get them done.  I now have them all cut up and sorted into the appropriate drawer.  A job well done!

3.  Spend a day with little Ryder.

A fun play day with a rope, a ball and a basket!  Let the imagination begin!!


4.  Add 21 hexies to my Bonnie Hunter inspired Christmas Hexie Quilt.

532 Hexies


5.  Attend Quiltfest in Somerset, NJ.  

The quilts were AMAZING!!  This was my favorite...a quilt made by Karen Kay Buckley and quilted by Renae Haddadin.

6.  Complete the January and February blocks of The Sugar Block Club sponsored by Amy Gibson of Stitchery Dickory Dock.

Here are the first two blocks.  They each measure 12 1/2".

7.  Complete the January and February blocks for the Lucky Stars Block of the Month sponsored by Elizabeth Dackson of  don't call me betsy.

These four paper-pieced blocks are so pretty.  I love the way they turned out.
The larger ones measure 12 1/2 inches and the smaller ones measure 6 1/2 inches.

8.  Work on a little baby boy quilt for a special Mother-to-Be.

I have chosen the fabric and pattern.  I hope to start the quilt this week.

9.  Work on a Sunburst Pillow designed by Laura Sage.

All my fabric has been pre-washed. but that is as far as I have gotten.

10.  Work on a long time UFO called Roll Roll Cotton Boll by Bonnie Hunter of Quiltville.   This was a mystery that Bonnie offered in 2010.  It is now available in her newest book:  String Fling.  

I am currently on step 3 which requires me to make 60 string blocks measuring 8 1/2".  

Here are 4 of the 20 blocks I have finished so far.



The Week of March 4, 2013


1.  Attend the Quilts for Kids workshop held at Pennington Quilt Works.

I have the two quilts I am working on pinned and ready to be quilted. I hope to finish these two quilts and prepare another for piecing at the April workshop. 

2.  Finish the second block in the Pieceful Nights Quilt-Along with
 Jo's Country Junction.

3.  Bind two quilts that I just finished quilting on Annie.

4.  Correct and update my Git-R-Done List.

5.  Spend two days with DGS Ryder.

6.  Add 21 more Hexies to my Bonnie Hunter inspired Christmas Hexie Quilt.

7.  Do some more work on the Little Baby Boy quilt I started last week.

8.  Finish 10 more string blocks of the 60 I need for Roll Roll Cotton Boll from Bonnie Hunter's book String Fling.

9.  Participate in the Blog Hop Party with Give Aways.

 

The Blog Hop starts on March 8, 2013.  Stop back to my blog on that day in the late afternoon to see what you may win.  It will have a value of $27.  

Hmmmmm...what might it be???

10.  Do some more work on the Starburst pillow designed by Laura Sage.

Until Next Time.....Happy Stitching

Sharyn