Stitchin’ Heaven Howdy

Dear Debby

I have been quilting for many years but I’ve never managed to get my head around  putting colors together.  Usually what I do is buy various shades of the same color but, although the finished quilts look fairly nice and gentle, they do tend to be a bit boring.  How do I make exciting quilts, like the ones you see in the magazines?

Sue

I suspect that there as many answers to your question as there are quilters!  Color is such a personal thing that something that seems exciting to me may look quite garish to you!  I think you need to look at some color theory though, to help you understand why certain color combinations are boring, while others are exciting; and a color wheel would be a good addition to your kit. 

On a color wheel, colors that are opposite to each other, such as yellow and purple; blue and orange; or red and green, are called complementary colors.  Putting a small splash of a color’s complementary color into a quilt makes the quilt seem to ‘sing.’

   From your description, it seems that you have been using analogous colors – these are colors that are next to each other on the wheel.  The result is usually restful for the eyes and harmonious but, as you’ve noticed, all analogous colors with nothing to break the ‘sameness’ can make for a boring quilt.

There are lots of lessons you can learn from a color wheel and carrying a wheel with you at all times is very useful when you are buying fabrics for your stash!
If you’re looking for simple, can’t miss, color tricks, why not trying a splash of pure white to your quilts.  White seems to make colors zing.

One of my personal tricks, which never seems to fail is to use colors that I don’t really like.  I know this may sound really off the wall but, because I have strong color preferences, my quilts can be quite boring too.  Adding a color or print that I wouldn’t normally touch with a barge pole, seems to bring some excitement into a piece of work – probably because they are so different from my favorites.

Does anybody else out there want to share there secret tips and tricks?  We’d love to hear from you.

Happy Quilting
Debby

P.S. Don’t forget to get your comments in for the Quilty Question. We’ll annouce the winner Monday February 8th and post the next question. Hurry, get in for your chance to win a $25 Stitchin’ Heaven Gift Card. XOXO

Dear Debby

I’ve just finished piecing my second quilt and am ready to start basting.  I have it all sandwiched together ready but I’m nervous about starting.  On my last quilt I made an awful mess when I got to the basting stage, and I don’t want to ruin all my hard work.

                                          Helen

***********************

Hi Helen

Well, you won’t be the first and you won’t be the last to have this happen.  You’re so proud of your creation and then, almost before you know it, its all wrinkled and bumpy looking!

All I can do is share my own method with you and hope that helps.  I’m sure that others will write in as well, so you’ll end up with a number of methods for this stage of the game.

I tend to pin my layers together with quilters’ safety pins.  These are different to regular pins, they have a curve in them, which makes it easier to get the point through the sandwich and back up to the top again.  Most folk recommend laying your quilt out on the floor so that it keeps smooth but I have a secret tip here (better done with saw horses but I know not everybody wood turns as well as quilts!) 

Get your dining chairs and spread them out around the room, with the backs forming a square, then get your cutting boards or some hardboard and lay these across the back of the chairs – in effect you are making a big table.  Lay your quilt sandwich on this ‘table’ and pin.  You’ll find it much easier pinning at waist height than scrabbling around on the floor!

Ooh, I almost forgot – it’s really important that you start pinning at the center of the quilt and work your way outwards, that way any potential wrinkles are pushed to the edges!

I know that you can also get a basting spray, if you’re not a fan of pinning you might find this helpful.  Anybody else used this?  Let us know!

Hope that helps
Happy Quilting
Debby

Yeah, as of today, I had no idea that those two things had anything in common. But they do! Alaska!  Our Sandra, (BOM manager and so much more) is from Alaska.  Well, not sure if you knew, but we are going to be hosting an Alaskan cruise in September. We still have plenty of room, too, so be sure not to miss this opportunity.  We will be cruising the Rhapsody of the Seas ship for 7 days filled with fun events and classes taught by Debby Kratovil, Rhetta Warehime and our Sandra! You’ll depart from Seattle, Washington on September 3, 2010, then travel to Alaska Inside Passage; Juneau; Skagway; Tracy Arm Fjord; and Victoria, Brittish Columbia. Doesn’t that sound exciting? Check out our page for more details. It’s really going to be a fun experience.

So, I hear sourdough bread is a commonality in Alaska and thought we would share Sandra’s recipe for making sourdough bread, quick! Enjoy

Ingredients
1 cup water
1 cup bread flour
1/4 teaspoon
white sugar 2 teaspoons active dry yeast�
  7 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vinegar
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon white sugar
3 cups bread flour
2 teaspoons active dry yeast
Directions
In a large bowl, combine 1 cup water, 1 cup bread flour, 1/4 teaspoon sugar and 2 teaspoons yeast; mix well. Cover with plastic and let sit in a warm location for 6 to 8 hours, or overnight.
The next day, pour overnight starter into the pan of bread machine. Add remaining ingredients in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select cycle; press Start.

Pretty easy, huh? Told ya it was gonna be quick.  This is great for those of us who have a bread machine that rarely gets used. At least mine does, but maybe I’ll grow into it!

Hope you all have an amazing we

Congratulations to our Quilty Question Winner Mary Durham,  for answering last week’s Quilty Question asking you to answer which designer you would love to have lunch with. Mary answered with Carrie Nelson from Miss Rosie’s Quilts! When I asked her to tell me a little about herself she told me, “I have been a sewing for as long as I can remember and have the joy of teaching high school kids to sew as I am a Family and Consumer Science teacher.  I am looking forward to retirement very soon and will be having my very first grandchild in June.  I love, love, love everything about quilting, and have been having lots of fun learning how to machine quilt.” Thanks, Mary! We are so excited to have you as a winner!

 Ok, girls (& guys), We’re working on some new and fun giveaways & events this year on the blog. How exciting for you, huh? Well, me, too!  One of the changes will be with the Quilty Question.  Instead of weekly, we’re going to do it monthly, beginning with today’s question. So, you will have plenty of time to answer our quilty question!  I was thinking, too, that since we love you guys so much we would spend the whole month of February featuring you! Yes, YOU!  So, if you know of someone or want to be featured, please send your email nominations to me! Include blog addresses, websites, etc. What do you think? You with us? Email them to me at nichole@stitchinheaven.com and I’ll email you back with my questions and let you know when I plan to feature your post! Exciting, right?

That’s just one of the new & fun things…..Teasers: we’re working on a live online class, mystery project, featured readers & designers, our Month of Men and of course, giveaways!

Alrighty, so this month’s Quilty Question is :  If we all had “Quilty” names, what would yours be?

Alrighty, until tomorrow….Hope you all are keeping busy and staying creative!

It’s finally warming up in our little ol’ town of Quitman. I think we’re going to make it to 50 degrees today! Woo hoo! Our pipes froze twice this weekend, luckily they didn’t burst. Although, I know that is just minor compared to some of the weather you guys have and are still experiencing. We wish you all good health, saftey and warmth!

So, I think I told you already that Deb has invited me to tag along with her at Spring Market in Minneapolis (Yay, Me!).  It’s in May, but I’m already getting ready. I’m excited. I missed Houston last year and hated myself for it, so I’m super stoked about this one.  Aside from the new fabrics, patterns and ideas you get to experience, there are also the Quilting Celebrities!  No, I promise I’m not a groupie, but getting the opportunity to talk with and write about designers throughout the year and to finally meet them in person, is so exciting.  My first year to market, still being new to quilting, I had just a few designers in mind that were “must meets”. They were Ellen Medlock,  Amy Butler and the other was Kaffe Fassett. Although, I just got to see Kaffe, I wimped out when it came to approaching him. Ellen is just the neatest  lady ever and so creative  and Amy Butler is the sweetest most down to earth person.  So, who do I have my eyes set out for this year?  There are quite a few this year. First on my list has got to be Pat Sloan. I just adore her and enjoy following her on Facebook, when I get myself together I will spend more time with her on Second Life. Second Life is a virtual community online where Pat and Alex Veronelli have put together a quilting neighborhood. Stitchin’ Heaven even has a spot . Are  any of you members? Leave your avitar name so we can find you and add you as a friend. Ok, I got off track….Umm….I also look forward to meeting Alex Veronelli, Matt Sparrow (hope him and his wife Bradie will be there), Keri Beyer from Urban Farm(again) and Jodie Davis, from QNN (again). Those are just a few, they are active on Facebook, so that’s why they come to mind right off. In quilting, it really is so hard to pick just one favorite…..So, this little rave is what is going to lead to this week’s Quilty Question, but not before we congratulate last week’s winner!

Congratulations, Shirley Manis!

Shirley answered last week’s quilty question asking about your 2010 “to do” list with “First, finish a string lap quilt for my DH made from all the scraps I’ve accumulated. It’s fast and fun. Next, finish a Dresden Plate tablerunner I started over the holidays. I’ve begun a re-organization of my sewing room…..which may take all year…LOL!! My “Bucket List” is filled with things I’ve never done and always wanted to try. I’m starting 2 BOM’s this month, attending several classes, joined my local guild, going to the Dallas Quilt Show and last but not least, I’ve signed up for your North Texas Shop Hop in March. I don’t know a soul, but look forward to it and meeting new quilt addicts like myself. And, your retreat is somewhere in my future. It’s going to be a busy year.
I feel so blessed to be part of this wonderful, creative, fun-loving community of quilters and especially blessed to finally have more time to pursue my passion.” Shirley is great isn’t she?!  So, I emailed her letting her know she was our winner of the $25 Gift Card and asked her to tell us a little more about herself and she said, ” I’m recently retired and for the first time in my life I have the time and energy to devote to my creative passion….or is it obsession, or addiction??  Oh, well, whatever you call it, it’s just plain fun.  I’ve been sewing since I was a teenager and been a quilter off and on for 25 years. �
Hubby and I just celebrated our 40th.  We are caregivers for my Mom who’s lived with us for 16 years now.  My 2010 calendar and “bucket list”  is filled with lots of projects, classes and shows…. which also means lots of trips to quilt shops…..oh boy!   Love, love, love your website and can’t wait to visit your shop soon so I can meet you all in person.  My Thanks and Best wishes to everyone for a very quilty new year. ”

Alrighty, you ready? Our Quilty Question for this week is: If you could have lunch with and pick the brain of ONE Celebrity Designer, who would it be?

Fun, question, huh? So, hurry up, let me know!

Hope you all have an awesome week!

2010 is here! Wow, huh?  We have survived inventory and we’re already working hard in the new year! Poor us….Just kidding! We LOVE what we do here! We had two winners last week. One for the Quilty Question and another for the New Year’s brunch posting to win a fat quarter pack from Benartex. Thank you all for joining us!

Last week we asked you if you finished your projects for Christmas. Most of you haven’t (we’re normal) those who did (over achievers!). LOL
Congratulations, Janene!

Our winner was Janene Huber who answered last week’s question asking you if you finished your Christmas projects with “No way are all the projects I was trying to get done for Christmas done now. I still have a couple of pair of boxers to make. My girls love to lounge around in them durring the hot summers here in Sacramento, CA. I cut them out according to their measurements, but they are way too big. Now must recut and start over. Also have a fleece jacket for my youngest daughter. Then back to what I love most, quilting, I can’t wait.”

I also, asked her to tell us a little about herself ans she tells me, “I started quilting about 10 years ago.  I had gone on a quilting retreat with some friends.  I had no idea what a quilting retreat was, but anytime I could sew without the constant interruptions of children was a blessing.  I was then introduced to the world of quilting BIG time.  How wonderful would it be to be able to sew something that didn’t have to fit a persons ever-changing body.  You could even take years to complete a project and it would still fit!!  Who would of ever thought…  I have been married to my husband, Mike for over 30 years.  He is so understanding of my quilting obsession I consider myself quite lucky..  We also have 3 children, a daughter-in-law, and our first grandchild, Max who in only 4 months old.  And I’m now busy making my second quilt for little Max and dreaming of all the others I want to make.  I now consider quilting my therapy, my time for myself, and I cherish every moment.”

So how was your new year? Have you made your resolutions? Me? Well, it’s more of a “to do” list. I can then cross off as I go. I promised not to add anymore to it until I cross something off. My list is about 30 long right now. LOL

I really enjoy reading and writing about you all, just in case I have’t told you lately….I just love you guys! Errr….Ladies!

Our winner for the Benartex fat quarter pack was, Laurel. I haven’t heard back from Laurel yet, but when I do, we’ll letcha know a little  about her, too!

Oh my, I almost forgot about the Quilty Question for this week. ok…..   What is the first thing on your quilting “TO DO” list”?

Now, think about this, because in a few months, I’m going to ask you about this and see how many of us have done it!

Hope you all have an amazing week and Happy Happy Happy New Year!

XOXO

New Year’s Day is always exciting and full of tradition. Of course, you’re supposed to do what you would like to be doing all year long, right? So, there’s quilting, of course, but then, your day should be filled with wonderful things like good food (don’t forget the black-eyed peas!), family, and the ever-present New Year’s Day football games.

So, to help out a little, here’s our idea of the perfect Southern New Year’s day brunch. It includes a wonderful, spiral cut ham, sausage gravy and biscuits, and black-eyed peas.  Have your ham ready so that you simply throw it into the oven at 350F and warm it for 1 to 1 1/2 hours before your brunch. Fresh fruits are always a great addition to any table, so if you’ve got them, by all means, make them pretty, and put them out!

Once the ham is ready, it’s time to get going! Increase the heat in your oven, and put in your biscuits. Mrs. B’s frozen biscuits are wonderful! And totally worth the time saved. Just put the biscuits on a cookie sheet, and bake them according to the package directions.

Now it’s time to heat the black-eyed peas in a saucepan over medium heat, and make the sausage gravy. Sausage gravy is a favorite at our house, it’s not only simple, but everyone eats it, even my pickiest one.

Put all these delicious foods together buffet-style!  Slice the ham and put the biscuits in a covered basket to keep warm.  It’s always nice to have some fresh fruits around to add a little sweetness and color, and you can never leave out the cinnamon rolls … just because they’re so good!  Set it all out, and invite everyone in. It’s the perfect beginning to the year, and a great combination to begin the day.  The ham and peas can be warmed, and snacked on throughout the day. Or add chips, and make sandwiches! The perfect football snacks.

SAUSAGE GRAVY

1/3 tube of Owens pork sausage
1 (2.75-ounce) package Pioneer country gravy mix
1 cup chicken broth
7/8 cup water
1/3 to 1/2 cup milk
1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
Red pepper flakes

Place a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté the sausage until fully cooked, breaking large chunks into small pieces. Drain excess grease, add the chicken broth to the skillet and bring to a simmer.

Combine the country gravy mix with water and stir to dissolve. Slowly add to the hot skillet, stirring constantly until thickened. Add the milk or cream, parsley and red pepper flakes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Thickness of the gravy can be altered by the amount of cream or milk added.   Makes about 3 cups of gravy.

Oh yes! I was thinking about biscuits and gravy, and almost forgot!  We want to know about your New Year’s Day traditions.  Send us a comment, and tell us about what you do to celebrate the New Year, and on Monday, January 4th, when we return to our workday, we’ll randomly choose a comment to win a Fat Quarter Pack of Benartex’s Victoria fabric line!  So, send in those comments, and good luck! You may just be the first winner of 2010!

Happy New Year, everyone!

Now that Christmas is over, everyone’s gone home (for most, I think) time to get back to normal. Yeah right! Not here!  We have inventory this week, so we’re closed, but we re-open for First Saturday this weekend.  Last week’s Quilty Question I asked what you were working on right now. How many are still working on the same projects? I started way too many and wasn’t able to finish. So, some will go out late and some will be for next year and then I’m pretty sure a good majority of them will find a home with the other UFO’s. How about you?  I thought that would be a good topic of conversation and a great Quilty Question. But, before we do that, we must announce our winner for last week.

Congratulations, Lynn Otto!

Lynn answered last week’s Quilty Question with: ” Pillow cases to match a quilt I gave my friend last year. I had left over scraps and couldn’t think what to give her for Christmas. I just finished them! They will look pretty on her bed with the quilt.” When I asked her to tell me a little about herself, here’s what she told me, ” My husband and I are snowbirds so we spend half the year in TX, where I belong to the Golden Triangle Quilt Guild and the other half in Old Forge, NY where I belong to the Pointed Pine Quilters.  The TX guild is a big guild and we have many wonderful programs and workshops to attend and learn new things.  The Old Forge group is a small group of hand quilters.  We meet once a week in the local library and quilt quilts for local charities to raffle off to raise money.  I love all kinds of quilts but when I pick one for myself I seem to lean toward the traditional.  I like to design piece and quilt my quilts from start to finish.  It’s creative, relaxing and loads of fun and I have so many wonderful quilting friends.  When I’m not quilting I love to cook, garden, go birding and read.”

Again, Congratulations, Lynn! So glad to have you as part of our blog family!

So, now for this week’s Quilty Question:  “Did you finish your projects you were working on last week?”

Hope you’re all having a wonderful week and celebrate a wonderful new year with tons of adventures in store!

It’s been the talk of the store about this Nieman Marcus urban tale of how the recipe came about.  So, I had to go home and Google it.  It is actually a myth, but the story goes something like a woman and her daughter went to lunch at Nieman Marcus and had a cookie for dessert. They liked the cookie so well they wanted the recipe. Well, it was for sale for 250, the woman thinking $2.50 said ok only to get her bill and see it was $250.00.  So, with spite, she had posted the recipe to everyone on her mailing list and said to forward to all your friends.  The recipe is online in several different versions. I chose the version from what I assume is the original email sent out.  There is also the version from Nieman Marcus  website. So, I made these legeandary cookies and now will be a recipe I continue to use.  Oh, they are so yummy. Hope you enjoy and Merry Christmas!

(Recipe may be halved):

2 cups butter
4 cups flour
2 tsp. baking soda
2 cups granulated sugar
2 cups brown sugar
5 cups blended oatmeal (measure oatmeal and blend in blender to a fine powder)
24 oz. chocolate chips
1 tsp. salt
1 8 oz. Hershey bar (grated)
4 eggs
2 tsp. baking powder
3 cups chopped nuts (your choice)
2 tsp. vanilla
Cream the butter and both sugars. Add eggs and vanilla; mix together with flour, oatmeal, salt, baking powder, and soda. Add chocolate chips, Hershey bar and nuts. Roll into balls and place two inches apart on a cookie sheet..Bake for 10 minutes at 375 degrees. Makes 112 cookies..

It really does make about 112 cookies, too! Of course, I did eat quite a bit of uncooked batter, but you have to when making cookies, right? (wink)

Please share your recipes with us! You can send in the form of a comment or email them to me at nichole@stitchinheaven.com.

From your Stitchin’ Heaven family, we wish you all the Very Merriest Christmas and Safest Travels!

XOXO

This week is Christmas, already! Where has the time gone? All I know is that I’ve been a sewing mess this last couple of weeks. Although, I feel like I’ve been working pretty well under pressure .

So, it’s Quilty Question time!  Da, da, da, da! Our winner for last week’s question asking you “Who taught you to quilt?” is:

Dee Dee Hartzog!

Congratulations, Dee Dee!

Dee Dee answered last weeks question with: “We moved to the Ozarks about 4 years ago. I didn’t know anyone here and had no family close. One day I met one of the ladies and she invited me to their weekly sewing group on Thursdays, and I told her I didn’t know a thing about sewing and she said to come anyway we would have fun and I could meet people and learn things. One of the ladies, Alicia just took me by the hand and has taught me so much. I have made quilts for my Twin grand daughters, dresses, wallhangings, aprons, table cloths, and all sorts of things. I just can’t believe it. I take a picture of everything I make and keep a book about it.
Now sewing is my favorite hobby.”

How awesome, huh? When I was little Granny always made us PJ’s and matching outfits, but I never really took an interest to sewing. I don’t really know why, since I do just about anything that’s crafty.  Not until I started work here at Stitchin’ Heavenin 2005, did I learn to quilt and pretty much use a sewing machine.  I’d say everyone here has had a hand in teaching me the rules of quilting, although, I don’t always like to  follow “every” rule… (hee hee) Now, four sewing machines, an embroidery machine and a load of patterns and fabrics later, there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t sew something or cut something out. Sewing is now my favorite hobby, too!

Alright, enough about me. Are you ready for this week’s question? Since Christmas is just a few days away, if you’re like me you have a few things left to finish sewing or start sewing. So, with the deadlines approaching……

What are you working on RIGHT NOW?

We want to again, wish you all the very best for the holidays and the year to come!