It's a Boy!!!!

Hip Hip Hooray!!!

It's hard to explain the excitement I felt when I got the call this afternoon from my son, Kyle. 

IT'S A BOY!!!

Kyle and his wife, Heather, are expecting their first child in June and we are thrilled for them.  Kyle thought all along that they were having a boy. I am sooooo happy for them and for our entire family.  I see some blue quilts in the near future. 

Until next time..........Happy Stitching!

Sharyn (AKA - Grammy)



Quilt Square Quilt Along - January

The Quilt Square Quilt Along over at Jo's Country Junction http://www.joscountryjunction.com/ is well underway.  Here are the two blocks I did for the month of January.

I've decided to do two blocks each month.  I plan on quilting one by itself for framing or hanging.  The other block I will save to put into a sampler quilt.  This Quilt Along is also sponsored by Country Threads Quilt Shop. 

Until next time...Happy stitching!

Sharyn

Fantasy Fudge and the Cranbury Inn

FANTASY FUDGE.....hmmmmmm!  I thought that would get your attention. 

 About a year ago my friend Kathy gave me a recipe for Fantasy Fudge.  (Actually, I think it came right off of the Marshmallow Cream Jar, but Kathy still gave it to me so I call it Kathy's Fudge)  I went out right away and bought a jar of marshmallow cream and have been staring at it for over a year.  Yesterday felt like a "fudgy" day so I finally decided to make it.  I'm not sure why I waited so long...it is DELICIOUS!!

I'm not usually a fudge kind of person.  It is a little too rich for me but I love this recipe.  Feel free to try it.  Since I gave it to you, you can call it:

 Sharyn's Fudge  (haha)

3 C.            Granulated Sugar

3/4 C.         Unsalted Butter (not margarine)

2/3 C.         Evaporated Milk

12 oz. Bag   Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

7 oz Jar       Marshmallow Cream

1 t.             Vanilla Extract

1 C.            Chopped Walnuts (optional but highly recommended!)

    * In a 2-quart saucepan, bring sugar, butter and milk to a rolling boil for 5 minutes STIRRING CONSTANTLY so it doesn't burn.  Remove from heat.

    *  Stir in chocolate chips, marshmallow cream, vanilla and walnuts.

    *  Pour into a greased 13" X 9" X 2" pan.

    *  Cool to room temperature before slicing

                                                 ENJOY!!

Last night we went to The Cranbury Inn for dinner with some friends we have known for at least 30 years. 

I highly recommend this restaurant set in the quaint town of Cranbury, New Jersey.  We do this every year in January.  It was so nice to catch up and find out who is getting married, who are becoming grandparents and any other news since the last time we were together.  A wonderful time was had by all.

Tomorrow I hope to have a big announcement concerning one of the topics mentioned in the previous paragraph.  Shhhhh...It's a secret until tomorrow.

I'm sorry there was nothing "Quilty" in this post but I have been busy stitching away and should have something to share in a day or two.

Until next time....

Sharyn

    

My Mini Shop Hop

Yesterday was errand day for me.  I began the day with a visit to Gold's Gym and then off to Quilts for Kids.

I dropped off the quilts that I finished and visited with Cindy, Sally and Nancy for a few minutes.  Then it was on to The Village Quilter in Mt. Holly, NJ. 

Because of the snow on Saturday, I missed "Strip Club" so I had to pick up my strips, background fabric and pattern.

The sample quilt they did was so cute.  I can't wait to work on this project.  Maybe I'll have it done by next Valentine's Day-2013!

After visiting with Susan at The Village Quilter for a few minutes it was time to head over to Olde City Quilts in Burlington, NJ.





There were so many fun and exciting things to see at Olde City but I was able to control myself and didn't buy anything.  I concluded my errand day by hitting Shop Rite for some grocery shopping...one of my least favorite things to do.

So this was my errand day and Mini Shop Hop. 

Until next time...Happy Stitching!

Sharyn

Bob, Bob, Bobbin Along

New Jersey received her first snowfall of 2012 a few days ago and it finally feels like winter. 

I've been busy quilting a pretty quilt I made with 1930's reproduction fabric.  This is a pattern from Quilter's Newsletter magazine. 

I'm doing a Baptist Fan pattern and I really like the way it is coming along.
Hopefully I will finish it in a few days.

Tomorrow I am going back to Quilts for Kids in Fairless Hills, Pa to drop off quilts I have finished.   

Then I am off to The Village Quilter in Mt. Holly, NJ and Olde City Quilts in Burlington, NJ to do a little shopping.

This looks to be a very quiet week.  Soooooo, until next time......

Sharyn

My Dear Jane Journey

Two years ago I set out on a journey that has been both frustrating and rewarding.  I discovered the Dear Jane quilt.  This quilt was pieced and appliqued by Jane A. Blakely Stickle in the 1800's.  It was completed in 1863.

  It consists of 169 blocks, 52 border triangles and 4 corner kites.  It is 5602 pieces!  The original can be viewed in The Bennington Museum in Bennington, Vermont.

I have been working on my own version of this quilt since 2010.  I am using only shades of blue and cream as I work on my quilt.  Currently I have completed 144 blocks and 34 border triangles.  I have used 3698 pieces (yes, I have counted every one!)  Here is a picture of the five blocks I have finished most recently.  Each block will finish at 4 1/2" X 4 1/2".

I am using the book, Dear Jane, by Brenda Manges Papadakis.  It is so rewarding to take each block and try to figure out a way to reproduce it.  At the same time, many of the blocks frustrate me when I can't get them to look just like Jane's blocks.  My goal is to complete my "Baby Jane" by the end of 2012.  When I am done I plan on visiting the Bennington Museum to see the original pieced and appliqued by Jane A. Stickle. 

As I complete more blocks I will post pictures. 

I am off to play with Annie.

Until next time......

Sharyn

 

Quilts for Kids

      Yesterday I had the pleasure of spending the day at the National Headquarters of Quilts for Kids in Fairless Hills, PA.  Quilts for Kids provides comfort quilts to children in need -- those with cancer, AIDS, life-threatening illnesses & children of abuse.  This is a very important charity that I support completely.  Their hope is to bring a bit of comfort to children going through tough times.  If you are interested in donating to this worthwhile cause please visit their web site  --  www.quiltsforkids.org   I love to be able to spread my passion for quilting to those less fortunate, especially children. 


   Now -- for my Crock Pot Lasagna Recipe!  For those of us who love lasagna but dislike all the work involved, this recipe is for you.  Serve with a salad and Italian bread and you will have a delicious meal. 


Crock Pot Lasagna



10 lasagna noodles, uncooked
1 # ground beef
1 t. Italian seasoning
28 oz jar spaghetti sauce
1/4 C Water
4 oz can sliced mushrooms (optional)
15 oz ricotta cheese (or 2% cottage cheese)
2 C. shredded mozzarella cheese



Brown ground beef, drain. Add Italian seasoning, spaghetti sauce, water
and mushrooms.

 Break half of noodles into bite-sized pieces and place on bottom of crock pot.

Layer half of sauce and half of both cheeses. Repeat with rest of broken lasagna noodles, sauce and cheeses. Save a little sauce for the top of the pot. Cover and cook on LOW for 4 1/2 to 5 hours.


(Makes 6-8 servings)

 In my next post I hope to chat about my adventures with my Dear Jane quilt. 

Until next time.....

Sharyn

Orca Bay and other Stuff

Yesterday was a very busy day. In between watching football games I was able to finish my Orca Bay quilt top.

As you can see, it is VERY busy! I started this quilt the day after Thanksgiving and have been working on it since then. Here are a few close up pictures.

I probably won't quilt this for a few months but I'm sure it will be beautiful. It is fairly large (85" X 95") Thank you Bonnie Hunter for this gorgeous quilt pattern!

Here is a picture of the quilt I just took off of Annie (my long arm quilt machine)

I pieced the back because I had so much fabric left over. This is a mystery quilt pattern that I did at Pennington Quilt Works. A mystery quilt is one that you choose the fabric before knowing the quilt pattern. Then you work on the quilt, step by step, until you solve the mystery (finish the quilt.) I really enjoy doing mystery quilts. I guess it is the excitement of the unknown. Haha!

Now for something not quilt related.

Over the years I have collected recipes that I wanted to try someday. I'm not sure if anyone else does this but I have gathered hundreds of recipes. In 2011 I decided to start going through these recipes and trying a few new ones each week. In my next post I will chat about the Crock Pot Lasagna I made last night. It is definitely a "do-over."

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

Sharyn

My New Year's Resolution

When 2012 began I had only one resolution, to start a Blog.  Now we are half way through the first month and I am ready to attempt my first post.

I hope my blog will be a place for me to chat about my quilting endeavors and other things happening in my life.  I hope to talk about the quilts I am working on and those I plan to do. 

Currently I am fininshing my Orca Bay quilt...a mystery quilt by Bonnie Hunter of Quiltville.  I used the colors that Bonnie used - black, white, blue and red.  It is a very busy quilt and just gorgeous.  My husband's comment when he saw the top almost complete was, "Wow!  There's a lot going on in that quilt."  And he is so right!  Hopefully I will finish the final border today and then start thinking about backing fabric.

I am lucky to own a long-arm quilting machine I have named Annie.  Currently she resides in our basement but hopefully we will move her upstairs some time in the future.  This morning I completed quilting a mystery quilt I pieced in September.  It is very pretty.  When I figure out how to add pictures  to this blog I will be sure to add one of this quilt.  Next I loaded a "Quilts for Kids" quilt that I hope to have finished very soon. 

My plan for the rest of the day is to finish Orca Bay and put a binding on the quilt that I just finished quilting. 

Well, that's all for now.  I will be sure to post again very soon, hopefully with pictures!