Custom "Dream Nursery" for Madison!

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You won't find this on the pages of "Pottery Barn Kids" or "Zulilly"! This is a custom nursery!

It’s your baby’s bedroom, but in the beginning, it will be you who’s staring at the walls through tired eyes while you rock, feed, change and play with baby. Here are some secrets to assembling the nursery of your baby’s -- and your -- dreams.

Safari themed baby quilt! For Madison!

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Miss Madison Lee is now 6 weeks old, and just beautiful. She's got such a sweet, good-natured temperament, and we all have fallen in love with her over and over. Mom and Dad are doing great, as are all the pet's!  

Holly asked me to develop and design a custom nursery for Madsion last Winter. The first thing we did was decide on color's, working with her and Nate we decided on pale yellow walls and lavender trim.

Sports themed quilt for Jacob!

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My recent creation in our current baby boom is a sports themed quilt! It was so fun to design and create! Laura our daughter and her husband Ross had decided on a sports themed nursery for their baby son. Laura was up from Eugene for a few days, so, we went shopping and actually found a fabric that Jabob's toy box was made from. I decided to back the quilt with that fabric and use coordinating fabrics for the sashing and binding.

A Pillow Trick! Jacob's pillow!

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Laura, my step daughter, wanted a very special pillow for Jacob's nursery. She looked every where, and just couldn't find, " Just the right one"! I got wind of this, and asked if I could help. She loved the idea of having me make a custom pillow for little Jacob. She is designing Jacob's nursery around sports, so, I came up with a few ideas, she and I shopped for fabric together and I was off!

Gender Reveal Party!

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                                       Weddle it be?

What is this new explosion of gender reveal parties? They are CRAZY! I remember when we didn't know the sex until the baby came out the chute!! Well, okay I'm dating myself now, but, this is some serious fun!! And don't you ever think I am not going to be in on "Some Serious Fun"!! It is usually given by the expectant parents and instead of the party goers surprising the mommy-to-be with a shower, the baby's parents surprise their guests when they reveal the gender of their sweet child. I mentioned the idea to my daughter in passing, when we first knew she was expecting. A few weeks later, she said let's do it!! I was ecstatic! When the idea of "Gender Reveal" started  it was with a few photos of a small group, cutting a cake etc. Now they have developed into some serious all out events!!! Some do “Cravings” as the theme of the snacks, which is totally hilarious, as all pregnant women would agree. At the end of the party they opened a box of balloons with PINK OR BLUE balloons in it. And some do it really over the top with fireworks! There are themed parties with pink and blue shamrocks around St. Patrick's day or pink and blue costumes around Halloween. 

Valentine Poppers!! Embroidered Tee's for the Grandchildren!

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There's no reason to buy those cheesy pre-packaged valentine cards when making homemade Valentine's Day gifts is as easy as this! These Valentine Candy Poppers are the simplest Valentines Day craft for kids to make for their friends or for you to make for your kids or Grandchildren. Best of all, they're a great project for using up all of those cardboard paper towel rolls, or gift wrap rolls you've been saving up! I saw this on a morning show here in Scottsdale, and knew you would love it!! 

A gift of love! Baby Quilt Idea!

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One of the wonderful things about quilters is our ability to share the joy that each handmade project brings. Handmade baby quilts make wonderful gifts, and the smaller size makes them a manageable project to work on and finish! With a variety of baby quilt patterns to choose from in various collections, there is sure to be a design that you can create or customize for your little peep.  For beginning quilters I suggest selecting similar fabrics to those used in the baby quilt pattern, or if you are confident adapt fabric choices to suit your or the recipients tastes. You can make small changes using embroidery and finishing techniques, or add a personal touch by free-motion stitching all over the design. No matter which baby quilt ideas you decide on, you are sure to end up with a one-of-a-kind baby quilt that will be loved for generations.

Spiced nuts! Wine bag tutorial too!

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 Preparations for the "Ugly Holiday Sweater Party" are in full swing. Both nuts that I will serve are done! These are quick, you can have them done for this weekend too! I use mixed nuts, but you can use one type of nut too!

Scroll down for a wine bag pattern, you can whip up today!

Also, 25th Anniversary party pictures, last night with Jack Nicklaus! So fun!!

Miss Muffet sat on her Tuffet!

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These two adorable cousins are our Grandchildren! Emma who is almost 6 months in this picture and Julia who turned 1, sitting on her tuffet!!

A tuffet, pouffe or hassock is a piece of furniture used as a footstool or low seat. It is distinguished from a stool by being completely covered in cloth so that no legs are visible. It is essentially a large hard cushion that may have an internal wooden frame to give it more rigidity. Wooden feet may be added to the base to give it stability, at which point it becomes a stool or a footstool. If the piece is larger, with storage space inside it, then it is generally known as an ottoman.

A couple of years ago I took a "Tuffet" class with my friend Fawn, from Myra at Northwest Quiltworks in Bellevue,Wa. We had so much fun and started making  the cutest little footstools/child's tuffet. I thought, what a perfect gift for a child! They just love to sit and have their Mom, Dad, Grandpa or Grandma read them a story. Story time was big in my children's lives, they still remember that special time. And now, I am making these tuffet's for my Grandchildren, on their first Birthday, so that they can have their own special seat for story time. Wee Bear buys three story books to complete our traditional 1st Birthday gift to our grandchildren. To date of January 2017 I have made 10 tuffets for my grandchildren and a few others as gifts. I have one more to make the end of 2017, for grand child number 11.

A "Duck" blanket using Minky!

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Moose and Bandit!

It’s no secret that Fall is quickly approaching and I must say I’m really excited.   It’s not that I don’t love Summer...…obviously I do, but there comes a time when a girl wants to dress in faded jeans, boots, sweaters, scarves and watch the leaves change colors. Even if the temperature hasn't dipped too much yet, the evenings are becoming noticeably shorter. It makes me all fuzzy and warm on the inside just thinking about it! Soon the pumpkins and apples will be appearing beside the peaches, corn and tomatoes.....ahhh, and, I just love watching the changing leaves! So much so, that Wee Bear and I are leaving for three weeks to see the East Coast leaves turn. I have loved the West coast color changes, all my life, going on long drives up to Kelowna, British Columbia over the North Cascades Highway, Highway 2 to Leavenworth and down the coast on Hy-way 1  through Oregon. This year we are going to New York, see a few Broadway shows, visit some friends and board a ship to Montreal!! Yippeee! There are multiple stops for eating lobster rolls in Maine, salmon in Nova Scotia and viewing the beautiful East Coast Fall leaves through the St. Laurence seaway to Quebec, then to Montreal and all it has to offer. Wee Bear has been brushing up on his French and I have downloaded a app to my Iphone that translates! Can't wait!!

Comfort Food! Speghetti Bolognese

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What are comfort foods? They are foods that soothe the psyche by reminding us of comforting childhood memories. For most of us, these foods are far from gourmet and generally epitomize home cooking. They invoke feelings of nostalgia, safety, and security.

In a poll, I recently read, I  took a stroll down memory lane to revisit favorite American comfort foods. The responses showed distinctive trends relating to age, childhood regional location, and ethnic upbringing. It comes as no surprise that peanut and jelly sandwiches and grilled cheese ranked highest, but who needs a recipe for those? Those two aside, the next highest on the list were meatloaf, mash potatoes, fried chicken, pot roast, macaroni and cheese, spaghetti, and surprisingly, good ol' tuna casserole.

Comfort food to me is Mom's fried chicken.......why? My Mother used to fry chicken every Sunday and serve with baked potato and fresh green beans with bacon. My Dad, my two older brother's and I would go skiing on Sunday during the Winter, and when we drove in the long driveway, you could smell the chicken....mmmmmm...mmmmmm, we were home to a hot bath and Mom's Fried Chicken. Wee Bear loves spaghetti on Sunday, that is comfort to him. Sometimes I make my own pasta, but with spaghetti, I just get a spaghetti noodle off the shelf at the grocery that I know is good. I am sharing my bolognese recipe today and in the future will share my updated version of Mom's Fried Chicken, it is baked and easy, but, I still serve with baked potato and green beans!

                                                   

Spaghetti Bolognese

1 pkg. speghetti noodles

Sauce:

1 lb. ground pork

1 lb. ground veal or beef

1/2 lb. ground pancetta or lean bacon

2 yellow onions, diced small

1/2 bunch celery, diced small

1/4 c. garlic sliced

1 c. pinot gricio wine

1/2 c. whole milk

1 bunch thyme

2 c. tomato sauce

salt to taste

Tomato Sauce:

4 c. Crushed tomatoes

1/4 large onion, diced small

1 bunch basil, chopped

1 bunch oregano

1 T. Olive oil, extra virgin

salt to taste

Garnish:

Pecorino or Parmesan

Parsley 

Sauce:

Brown all the meat in a large skillet. Add the vegetables and thyme and cook until tender. Add the wine and reduce to almost dry. Add the milk and allow to slightly thicken. Add the tomato sauce and cook until the Bolognese becomes thick. Season to taste with the salt.

Tomato Sauce:

In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, saute onions in the olive oil until golden brown. Add crushed tomatoes, basil, oregano. Let the sauce come to a boil, lower heat to low and stir occasionally until desired thickness. About 1 hour.

Assembly:

In a saute pan, heat up 1 cup bolognese with 1 cup tomato sauce. Meanwhile, put your speghetti noodles into boiling water until al dente, about 10 minutes. 

I test one noodle by taste, and double check with Wee Bear! Then drain the noodles, put them into your pasta bowl and pour the bolognese on top. Garnish with pecorino cheese and parsley and have plenty of cheese for the table.

Assembly:

In a saute pan, heat up 1 cup bolognese with 1 cup tomato sauce. Meanwhile, put your speghetti noodles into boiling water until al dente, about 10 minutes. 

I test one noodle by taste, and double check with Wee Bear! Then drain the noodles, put them into your pasta bowl and pour the bolognese on top. Garnish with pecorino cheese and parsley and have plenty of cheese for the table.

Double Irish Chain class pictures:

Here I am cutting the strips with my rotary cutter, using my mat and a Omni grid ruler. I have squared the fabric up first and cut off  the uneven  edge.

 Here, you can see where Dawn, one of my students is sewing the strips together to make the strata, using a 1/4" seam allowance.

In this picture, you see the strata, that Paula, has made.

in this picture, you can see how everyone picked out different fabric patterns to put into their quilt, this is Becky's.

This strata is mine. I am showing the back as well. When pressing the seams, make sure you follow the directional arrows on the pressing guide sheet. It will make matching the seams, during assembly much easier.

Here you see where Dawn, has made her plain block, and her busy block. Dawn has never quilted in her life, and had no problems with this quilt. She was jumping for joy by the end of class. Well, as much as she could with a cracked pelvis and on crutches!! (She had a skiing accident this Winter) I am hoping this quilting will provide her entertainment, until she is back with her golf clubs!!

This is the busy block for Becky. She had decided her fabric's did not contrast enough and was going change that. I can't wait until our next class to see what she does.

Cheers!
JJ

Let the Quilting Begin!! Double Irish Chain!

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This morning I am teaching the first Art's Connection Quilt class at our club. I am also teaching you on line. If throughout this class, you have questions, please ask in the comments below. That comment goes to my e-mail, and I will be able to answer. Hopefully the diagrams are enough!! I will also take pictures of the class quilting progress today. So Saturday's blog, will have those pictures, plus a yummy recipe. I am thinking of a easy, but elegant chicken dijon with an optional fillo wrap! Yum yum!

    Okay, here we go! Read directions first, then, you will understand why we are doing certain steps!

 First, cut a small snip-it of fabric and pin it to the diagram next to the center chain, which on my diagram is the box with the vertical stripes going through it. If you can't print this diagram, then just draw a box on a scrap paper with stripes vertically. Next take a snip-it of fabric and pin it next to the diagram with the outer chain box, a plain box with a circle in the middle. Then, a snip-it of your background fabric and pin it next to the box with nothing in the middle. This will save a lot of frustration, when looking at the diagram, and sewing the strips into strata.

We are going to cut the strips first. I am using rotary equipment, so it goes fast. I will post pictures of that process tomorrow. But, those that have some knowledge of quilting can begin today! 

Baby size quilt:

Cut 9 Center Chain strips, 2" wide

Cut 16 Outer Chain strips, 2" wide

Cut 10 Background strips, 2"wide

Cut 5 Background strips, 5" wide

The Sewing:

Next, you will make your strata. following the diagrams, you will make 2 of Group A, sewing a center chain fabric to a outer chain fabric, then a background fabric to the outer chain, then, a outer chain to that, and a center chain to that.

Next, make 2 strata of  Group B, 1 of Group C, 2 of Group D and 3 of Group E.

When you finish the strata, press it, following the pressing diagrams below. Press the seams in the direction of the arrows. This will make it easier to fit the seams together and match them, so they are "perfect"!

                       

 
                           *This is your only assignment until April 17. If you want to proceed, without my instruction, you may!! 

Here is the wall and queen size cutting instructions. The amount of strips to cut is to the right of the center chain, outer chain and background boxes. The queen info is in ( ).

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         * Again, please ask any questions in the comment box and I will answer.

 The weather in Scottsdale has been beautiful, in the upper 70's F. Wee Bear and I are back to golf!! Happy Quilting!!

Tuscan Kale Salad-Chef Michael Stebner

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 Inside the elegant shopping and entertainment district known as Scottsdale Quarter is a wide array of restaurants. Each restaurant features unique concepts to attract every kind of Scottsdale passerby, it can only be described as a foodie’s dream come…true. And True Food Kitchen is a prime example of both the quality, creativity that can be found in the Quarter.

 Outside, a patio offers comfortable seating as well as traditional tables. Fabric panels with clear plastic windows help keep heat from fire pits and heaters inside the patio on chilly winter nights. Back inside, an open kitchen is adorned with bins filled to overflowing with the bright colors of lemons, oranges, limes, pineapple and more. From these, True Food squeezes their own juices for a variety of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages as well as accompaniments to some of their entrees. Look closely and you will see that the kitchen is devoid of fryers and microwaves which underscores their health conscious, green-friendly concept.

 My guests and I have never been disappointed!

Photo credit Arizona Foothills-photo shop- SWCWJ

                 

Tuscan Kale Salad
Chef Michael Stebner

• 4-6 cups Kale, loosely packed, sliced leaves
      of Italian black (Lacinato, “dinosaur,” cavolo nero)
      midribs removed
• Juice of 1 Lemon
• 3-4 T Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
• 2 cloves Garlic, mashed
• Salt & Pepper, to taste
• Hot Red Pepper Flakes, to taste
• 2/3 cup grated Pecorino Toscano cheese
      (Rosselino variety if you can find it) or other
      flavorful grating cheese such as
      Asiago or Parmesan
• ½ cup freshly made Bread Crumbs from
      lightly toasted bread

Tuscan Kale Salad Directions

Whisk together lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper, and a generous pinch (or more to taste) of hot red pepper flakes. Pour over kale in serving bowl and toss well. Add 2/3 of the cheese and toss again. Let kale sit for at least 5 minutes. Add bread crumbs, toss again, and top with remaining cheese.


                                      Double Irish Chain

My choice for the Double Irish Chain class. The center chain will be the pink plaid, the outer chain is the grey dot and the background is pink swirl.

                                       

                                                       

This is a wall quilt size: Outer chain is the dark blue, center chain is the light blue and the background is the pink

 

 Double Irish Chain Quilt: Yardage

Wall Quilt- 31X31 without borders        Baby Quilt-37"X52" w/o border              

                                                                                       

Center Chain- 3/4 yard                        3/4 yard                   2 1/4 yard

Outer Chain- 1 yard                             1 1/4 yard                3 yard

Back ground- 1 1/8 yard                      1 1/2 yard                 3 3/4 yard

Queen- 70"X90"

center chain- 2 1/4 yard

outer chain- 3 yard

background-3 3/4 yard

 *Borders will require extra fabric, so buy extra, beyond what I have posted. To give you an idea:

Queen: 1/2 yard for a 2 1/2" cut- 2" finish

            1 yard for a 4 1/2 " cut- 4" finish

             Binding- 1 1/4 yard

  * Rotary equipment makes this go fast. Omni grid 24" ruler, mat and rotary blade.                      

Yardage for Double Irish Chain Quilt

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Our yard this morning! Hello! It's March! This is Scottsdale, Arizona! Our world is definitely having weird weather. We had such a warm Winter here in Arizona, that we should not complain! 

The golf course and mountains in our community. The mountain is where Bandit and I were hiking in 80 F, a few days ago.

Our Saguaro's are snow capped!

On the golf course yesterday in shorts, we ran across a herd of Javalena's.

 If you double click on pictures, you can enlarge. You will be able to see the javalena's as they make their way through the desert and golf course.

 Double Irish Chain Quilt: Yardage

You will find it helpful to have a rotary cutter, mat and Omni grid 24" ruler or equivalent. Cutting goes fast with this equipment.

Wall Quilt- 31X31 without borders        Baby Quilt-37"X52" w/o border              

                                                                                       

Center Chain- 3/4 yard                        3/4 yard                   2 1/4 yard

Outer Chain- 1 yard                             1 1/4 yard                3 yard

Back ground- 1 1/8 yard                      1 1/2 yard                 3 3/4 yard

Queen- 70"X90"

center chain- 2 1/4 yard

outer chain- 3 yard

background-3 3/4 yard

 *Borders will require extra fabric, so buy extra, beyond what I have posted. To give you an idea:

Queen: 1/2 yard for a 2 1/2" cut- 2" finish

            1 yard for a 4 1/2 " cut- 4" finish

             Binding- 1 1/4 yard

                              This is a wall quilt size: Outer chain is the dark blue, center chain is the light blue and the background is the pink.

If you would like to follow along and make over the next month. Go out to your local quilt shop or fabric store and purchase your fabric. Jo-Ann's fabric stores have coupons, you can download the app to your smart phone. Look for Jo-Ann in your App store, and stop clipping coupons! 

Cheers!

JJ