Crochet Crazy

There is something wrong with me. I have been finishing half done projects left and right. My craft supply closest has never been so organized. I have been so good about not starting anything new. Then last weekend I fell off the wagon and landed in a pool of yarn. Yep. I started not one new crochet project but Six! Yes four new afghans and these sweet little things.

 At least I finished them and I happened to have this fingering yarn and buttons on hand.

They were so fun to work up. I want to make more.

I finally have a reason to buy myself an American Girl doll. Right?

Under The Dome #2

Under the cake dome last week

 Blueberry Cheesecake with a chocolate and Ritz crust.

So very decadent.

Peachy Picnic Quilt

I recently finished a 9 patch quilt using several Heather Bailey fabrics. Some of them I purchased and some of them I won in one of her early giveaways.

 Here is a close up. The top went together pretty easily but I struggled with the quilting some. I just couldn't make up my mind. After washing it I think it needs more stitching, it isn't crinkley enough.

 I am still in love with gingham binding.

 Doesn't it look nice laying on the guest bed? So fresh, like a warm spring day.

 It is a perfect picnic sized quilt at 45" x 45".

 The back is patchy because I don't want to buy new fabric...yet.

This project has got me thinking we need to pack a picnic basket grab the dogs and go find some dirt.
We have another eight days of snow coming our way. Yikes!

Under the Dome #1

Once I saw this photo below on Pinterest I knew it would be Under the Dome of my cake plate in no time.

I did not know how good it would be. It was better than good we ate the whole thing in a few days!

A total Pinterest win.

Pineapple Bundt upside down cake. Mmnnn... so yummy

Log Cabin Quilt

Hello out there! It is still snowing and we are still shoveling. This has been a whopper of a winter so far and I am starting to look forward to Spring. I figured I would write a post about my very first Log Cabin Quilt while I warm up and dry off.

 In my quest to be a better quilter I pulled out a treasure I found at the thrift store many years ago. It is a Better Homes and Garden book titled American Heritage Quilts. I sat down in front of the fire with my coffee and read it cover to cover learning so much about quilts through out history. All of the patterns are included as well so I decided to start with the iconic Log Cabin Quilt.

 My fabric stash is chock full of modern prints so of course that is what I used, and the only new fabric purchased was the grey and black dotted binding. In the future I would like to make this quilt again with vintage reproduction prints so I have one that is old fashioned.

 Traditionally the blocks start with a red square representing a home's hearth. A yellow square in the center symbolizes a candle in the window and a black center square in a Log Cabin Quilt hanging out on the clothes line would be a subtle signal that the home was a station of the Underground Railroad.

 I decided to use all three. Each block has a dark side and a light side and they can create several different patterns depending on how you place them. I chose the "Straight Furrows" pattern which symbolizes a plowed field. "Courthouse Steps" and "Barn Raising" are a couple more pattern options I think I will try soon.

I am so pleased with the way this fun quilt turned out. The backing is a gingham cherry print with some black sashing. Each piece of fabric is quilted by "Stitching in the Ditch" creating a super cozy, nubby, quilty texture.

I had two extra blocks left over in the end so I whipped up a trivet/pot holder using a off kilter quilting pattern. I was pondering the idea of using this twisty stitch pattern on the whole quilt but after finishing the trivet I felt it would be a bit dizzying because it has so much going on already.

Well I have stalled long enough, my feet are warm. Time to head out and get to shoveling but I'll be thinking of my next project the entire time.