Sneak Peek at a Give Away!

Be sure to stop by on Monday to find out how I turned a simple 4-patch block...

 into this...

 with instructions from this lovely new book!

You will get a chance to win your own copy of Modern Designs for Classic Quilts, by Kelly Biscopink and Andie Johnson, too.  Find out all the details on Monday's leg of the Modern Designs for Classic Quilts blog tour. Right here!
If you'd like even more chances to win, here's the list of the tour so far. Some give aways are still open...

Monday, Nov. 5         (Andie and Kelly, AndieJohnsonSews and Stitchy Quilt Stuff)

Tuesday, Nov. 6       (Lindsay, CraftBuds)

Wed., Nov. 7             (Jill, Darling Jill Quilts)

Thursday, Nov. 8      (Faith, Fresh Lemons)

Friday, Nov. 9            (Tracy, Generation Q)

Saturday, Nov. 10    (Angela, Quilting is my Therapy)

Sunday, Nov. 11       (Shannon, Stitch Craft Create)

Monday, Nov. 12      (Laurie, Scarlet Fig)

Tuesday, Nov. 13     (Lindsay, The Cottage Mama)

Wed., Nov. 14           (Jessica, A Little Gray)

Thursday, Nov. 15   (Mary, The Tulip Patch)

Friday, Nov. 16         (Deborah, Whipstitch)

Saturday, Nov. 17    (Kaysie, KZJo’s Studio)

Sunday, Nov. 18       (Jenny, Sew Kind of Wonderful)

Monday, Nov. 19      (Carla, LollyQuiltz)

Tuesday, Nov. 20     (Thomas, Thomas Knauer Sews)

Wed., Nov. 21           (Brenda, Pink Castle Fabrics)

Thursday, Nov. 22    (Lindsay & Liz Rea, CraftBuds, Inspire Me Grey)

Friday, Nov. 23            (Sarah, The Last Piece)

Saturday, Nov. 24        (Andie and Kelly, AndieJohnsonSews and Stitchy Quilt Stuff)

Wordless Wednesday--Fun with 99 Cent Patterns!

Sunday Morning

 "I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercessions and thanksgiving

be made for everyone---for kings and all those in authority,

that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness."

I Timothy 2: 1, 2

I Timothy 2: 1-2

Knock-Off Tunic

Once upon a time I used to sew most of my clothes. Seriously. Even pants. I once made a fully lined wool maxi-coat (does that date me) complete with bound buttonholes. Then  along came T.J. Maxx and Marshall's. Fabric stores started closing. Then patterns started costing more than a cute sweater at the above mentioned stores. Lately, though,  I've gotten interested in starting to make a few things again. Here we go...

My sewing buddy, Jan, and I decided last weekend to try to copy this cute corduroy tunic...last year's model, from the JJill Store. Retail for the top was around $79. Too much, we decided, to warrant buying this year's model. How hard could it be?

The Simplicity pattern we decided on was on sale for $1.99. The regular price is...are you ready???.....$17.99! What's up with that? It's tissue paper...and they even make you cut on those crazy confusing lines for the size you want. At that price, I think there should be one piece for each size, don't you?     I digress.

Cutting out is not our favorite part, we decided. When we compared the paper pieces to our JJill top we discovered that unless we used stretchy fabric, we were going to have to cut outside the lines as we neared the lower part of the shirt, let's just say! We used a cute hound's tooth flannel that cost us only $7 each with the sale price and end of bolt discount at JoAnn's. Our buttons were a couple of dollars, so the shirts ended up only  costing around $11 each! Yay!

We liked the detail of a seam across the bodice in the front and back of the corduroy shirt. 

It was easy to add the seam by simply cutting the pattern pieces in two and adding seam allowances. We chose to change up the collar on our black and white flannel shirts.

 All in all, I'm pleased with the way my shirt turned out. It fits me more snugly across the shoulders than the JJill shirt, but I don't mind that. This was a big problem for Jan, unfortunately, who is now on the hunt for some lucky person with narrower shoulders than she, who would love a JJill knock off shirt in black and white flannel!

 With one success under my belt (or around my hips), I'm ready to try again. This time around I will be using the Amy Butler 'liverpool' shirt pattern to try to copy this year's version of the corduroy JJill tunic. I'm using a green pinwale that cost me $5 a yard on sale at JoAnn's. I purchased 3 yards. The buttons were half price too so that was only a couple of dollars. The pattern was around $12, I think. (It's been on my To Do list for a couple of years!) So the total cost is around $30 including the pattern, which I can use again, of course.

I'll let you know how it turns out. In the meantime, I'm ready for that cooler weather that's heading my way, I hear!

A Quilty Weekend

I was fortunate to attend, not just one, but two quilt shows over the weekend!  The Blue Valley Quilter's Guild, held their bi-annual quilt show in a beautiful Civic Center on Friday and Saturday.

The show coordinaters wanted "lots of quilts" so, I entered 12 quilts, most of them medium size. You might spot a few in these photos...

The guild is selling tickets for a chance to win this beauty and I am really hoping that my number will be drawn!  My friend, Trish, designed it, put most of it together herself and even quilted it! Isn't it gorgeous?

It was fun to meet up with Linda, [Flourishing Palms] who was in town visiting her daughter, at the show and spend some time with her. We hope to have coffee one more time before she heads back to Florida. 

A highlight of the show for me, was getting to shop at Marmalade Fabrics, who had a booth at the show. If you haven't discovered Tammy's on-line shop yet, be sure to visit soon.

Of course, I couldn't leave without picking out some fun modern fabrics! These two Mod-Century fabrics by Moda are perfect for a little project I'm working on for the Modern Designs for Classic Quilts Blog Tour, which starts today. Be sure to click on the link above to find out how to win a copy of this wonderful new book. I'll be giving away a copy during a special post on Monday, November 19, so be sure to check in that day! You can see a hint of the book under my fabric in the picture below.

I was so excited to get a message from Amy that my QR Code quilt has been nominated for the Two-Color Quilt category in the Blogger's Quilt Festival. I'd love your vote! Hop over and see all of the gorgeous entries.

If you follow college football at all, then you know that Kansas State University won again yesterday and is #2 right now. Having two children, daughter-in-law, and a son-in-law that graduated from K-State, we are following the team closely. Lula and Jane are such big fans that they were even K-State cheerleaders for halloween!

Go Wildcats!

Sunday Morning

"Be kind and compassionate to one another,

forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."

Ephesians 4:32

Pumpkin Soup

I love all things pumpkin, even warty ones!

 

 One thing I'd never tried, though, was pumpkin soup. So, this year I thought that it might be fun to try my hand at making a batch. A friend of a friend shared a recipe with me that she said I'd love. Since it received rave reviews from my friends, I thought that you might enjoy  stirring up a pot yourself!

Tamsel's Pumpkin Corn Chowder
8 green onions, sliced
2 TBS. Butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 tsp. ground cumin
2 cups cubed sweet potatoes (about 12 oz.)
1- 14 oz. can chicken broth
1/4 tsp. salt    1/4 tsp. pepper
1- 15 oz. can pumpkin
1 can cream style corn
1 can condensed cream of celery soup (or onion)
1 cup milk
1 tsp. thyme leaves

In a large stock pot, cook onions in hot butter over medium heat for 5 minutes. Add cumin and cook for 30 seconds. Add sweet potatoes, broth, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, covered for 15 to 20 minutes until potatoes are tender. Stir in pumpkin, corn, condensed soup, milk and thyme. Cook on medium heat until heated through.
To serve, sprinkle with pepitas (shelled, roasted pumpkin seeds) and/or a dollop of sour cream.

And, just in case you think I'm a slacker and I haven't been sewing, here's a hint at what I've been up to...more on that later.

I'm linking up with Homemade Ginger Jamboree Link Party today....hop over and take a look at all the fun stuff you can make!