Bull's Eye Quilt Top Blocks

I commented on my last post that I was making a raw-edged seam allowance quilt top with a friend. This is one of the easiest and most relaxing quilts to be made! I don't want to plagiarize the instructions, but just answer a few questions. The blocks are made by laying a large circle on the square, then stitching a seam allowance with a sewing machine. The back is cut out and the next smaller circle is then centered and sewn, and finally the smallest circle. The circles are to be cut out free hand, too, but I make mine really close to perfectly round. I can't take THAT casual!! After all the blocks are made, you cut them into fourths and mix them up and resew them. Very easy, great stash buster, and even greater when done with a friend.

~Joan

New Fall Table Runner...

...it's still in the quilt top stage, but I pieced a new fall table runner for us. I used up all scraps except for the black for the chain running diagonally through the top. Quick and easy. I originally had 6 blocks, but it ended up being too long for our table for twelve. A little frog stitching, and I was all set! It's very large (don't have an exact measurement). My daughter is standing on a chair in the pic, and it's barely off the floor.

I also pieced a few blocks for a quilt I'm going to be piecing with a friend. It's the 21st Century Bull's Eye from Quilts from Aunt Amy by Country Threads. I wanted to make a few blocks to show my friend what it will look like on a small scale. The seam allowances are on the top, so they curl up slightly after washing and add an interesting dimension to the quilt. Another stashbuster!

~Joan

Self-Filling Pumpkin Muffins

I was surfing and stumbled upon this AMAZING link for pumpkin recipes. The picture is Self-Filling Pumpkin Muffins (last on the list under cakes and cupcakes). I made them exactly like the recipe except that I used mini chocolate chips. Mmm-mmm. We were all self-filling that night!

I highly recommend them. I used one can of pumpkin and doubled the recipe. One recipe is supposed to make 12, but mine made 14. Otherwise they would have spilled over. A definite keeper for us!

We had company the night I made them (my DH cringes when I try out new recipes on company). I told one of the guests he could have a second one. He replied, "I've already had five." So much for me thinking I was being generous!

~Joan

All That and a Bag of Donuts

While visiting my family in Ohio at the end of the summer, we found a great place to shop. It was a Mennonite store that sold bulk-packed goods by the pound. One of the items I purchased was a homemade donut mix.

We had a friend over for supper last night. He had mentioned wanting to cut back (actually completely cut out) desserts just this past Sunday. My husband commented towards the end of the meal that he might want to save room for "a little something". I had to inform him that there wasn't any "little something" for which to be saving room.

My daughter hopped up and pulled the donut mix out of the frig (it was just the dry ingredients). She asked if I would make them...right in front of our friend!! Well, I didn't want to be embarrassed if they did not turn out. But I agreed to give them a try. All that needed to be added to the mix was yeast and warm water.

I wish I had taken some pictures...they were flying off the plate. They were so delicious, light, fluffy, and flavorful. I will never be tempted by stop at Krispy Kreme again. I detest frying foods in the house, so that was a major drawback, but the mess just might have been worth it.

A fun and nostalgic aspect for me was that I used my grandma's donut cutter. She passed away 15 years ago. It is a biscuit cutter with a tan wooden knob on top. It has two small holes in the top of the cutter (so air can escape while you're pushing down on the dough). There are two small screws on the inside that you attach the donut hole cutter to, and so we had lots of donut holes, too. Good thing that was the only mix I had!!

Doesn't everything taste better home made?

~Joan

Fall Beauties

Our church participated in a local festival yesterday. I didn't go, but here are two of my girls that did. Aren't they beautiful?

~Joan

Quilt Show and All-Around Good Morning

My delightful eldest daughter and I went to a quilt show in "downtown" Shelby today. We saw lots of pretty quilts, but most importantly we just spent some time together. I appreciate her accompanying me.

Above is one of our favorite quilts. She is holding a NICKEL in the picture. All the stitching was done by hand. All the flowers were pieced. Such tiny work! It was called Weed Free. Isn't it adorable?

~Joan

Coupon Craziness

Not sure why the pic is small...the savings sure weren't!! Except for the Air Wick I-motions in the back, everything on the right is from Harris Teeter. My grand total for a bag of frozen chicken tenderloins, 6 Green Giant boxed veggies, 3 lb. bag of rice, Chex Mix, 2 Fiber One muffin mices, French's W sauce, Betty Crocker frosting tub, 3 50 feet Reynolds Wraps, Wacky Mac noodles, 3 large Sweet Sue chicken & dumplings, 2 baking powders, and 2 12-count Pop Tarts...$3.03. Then I got a $3 off my next order catalina!! Whoo-hoo! SCORE!! Fun and amazing trip!

The I-motions were $12.50 each, BOGOF at Food Lion. I had Qs for $6, making them 25 cents each!! The Glade candle was free, and the cheese, frozen chicken, and sour cream were all heavily discounted thanks to the FLIPs.

~Joan