Fish Tales Quilt Block ....

Welcome to another day with Hey Grandma!

So, here is the Fish Tales block ... I don't think I would really enjoy making a whole quilt out of the block, but I do have to say it was an intriguing one to make.

For those who have been following, my inspiration for this sampler quilt comes from the 2009/2010 Winter Edition of the McCalls Quilting Magazine. You can obtain a back issue: http://www.quiltersvillage.com/

I have 6 more blocks to go. Then I need to make the filler blocks which are Sawtooth, Flying Geese, Economy, Pinwheels and Hourglass squares. These various blocks fit together with the main blocks to create a Sampler Quilt that is geometric and allows the eye to pass over the quilt with random amazement ... OK, maybe that sounds a bit dramatic, but you'll see what I mean!

Free Trade Quilt Block .... No Knead White Bread ...

Hello from Hey Grandma! Looking out my window, I would be hard pressed to convince anyone it had snowed yesterday. Another beautiful Autumn looking afternoon is in residence. The sun is shining and there is only a breath of breeze. It is actually warm enough to venture out with only a sweater ....

I just finished the Free Trade quilt block. I have to tell you, I really like blocks that have star like shapes to them. This block is a variation on the Evening Star block, which is a sometimes a star within a star in the center square, or four patch in the center square. Our quilting ancestors were very good at creating new blocks with the familiar ones they worked with. (and just for the record, I have also seen the Evening Star block look nothing like this! Lots of blocks out there with similar names I think)

The thing I like about this block is it actually ended up the 12 1/2 inches it was supposed to be! LOL

Here is something else I want to pass your way. A No Knead White Bread recipe. Let me tell you this ... it was by far the softest white bread I think I have ever made! And sooooo easy!!!

2 cups warm water

2 pkgs dry yeast (or 5 teaspoons)

1/2 cup sugar

2 teaspoons salt

1/4 oil

1 egg

6 1/2 - 7 cups flour.

Mix in the order given. Handle gently, do not risk kneading. Let rise once until double (about an hour). Punch down and split between 2 loaf pans .... or make rolls ... or some of each. Let rise again (about 30 minutes) and bake at 400 degrees for 15 - 20 minutes. Though I have not tried this yet, the recipe says you can put the dough in the frig until ready to use and it will keep in there for 5 days. I have a no knead cinnamon roll recipe that has you put the dough in the frig over night, or up to 4 days, and it works out great, so I suspect this would to.

From Hey Grandma! Have a great day!

Owl Pin cushion Giveaway .... Chili Recipe

I woke up to snow falling from Heaven this morning!

Great * Big * Beautiful * Flakes!

The first snow fall of the season. And now as I type this blog, the snow is melted. No more falling from the sky. But there are clouds up there, so here's to hoping it falls again this evening.

There is a blog I enjoy following, Heirlooms by Ashton House. In this mornings post, she is advertising a lovely giveaway! I'm passing it on to you as well. Here is the web link: http://heirloomsbyashtonhouse.blogspot.com/2010/11/owl-pincushion-giveaway.html

It is the cutest thing! I'm just sure you will love it too!

Here is a recipe for the yummiest chili! Seems a fitting thing to share on a day where we get snow after all.

1 Lb. ground beef

1 Lb. stew meat

1 large can tomatoes

1 large can (29 ounce) tomato sauce

I use three kinds of beans: black, red and pinto (the amount I leave up to you)

1 large onion diced

I large green pepper diced

1/4 cup celery diced (generally 1 stalk worth)

2 teaspoons cumin

3 tablespoons chili powder

1 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

2 teaspoons salt

2 cups of water if you see fit to add

Brown meat, add veggies. Cook until the onion is crisp tender (a few min.). Add remaining ingredients. Cook over low heat 2 to 3 hours, stirring every 15 min or so. (This works well in the Crock pot too)

I serve with a salad with vinegar and oil dressing. I also like to garnish my chili. This time I used Frito's and sour cream, but we also like it when we sprinkle with grated cheddar and diced onions.

Yum Yum!!

Hey Grandma! wishes you a wonderful day!

Delectable Moutains Quilt Block

Do you know what I have noticed since I started making this sampler quilt? That I feel "gutsier" with the fabrics I choose to make the blocks. Not that I am not conscientious of the fabrics I choose to make each block, but I feel more comfortable with it all.

I have heard where some women put their fabric scrapes into three different containers or sacks/bags. One each for the lights, medium and dark fabrics/hues. The challenge is to use whatever fabric they pull out ... no matter what. Hmmm ..... I do believe I would like to try this at some point. Perhaps if enough of you would like to do this together as a group effort, I would very much be game! If you consider how fortunate we are in comparison to our Quilting Ancestors with our being able to obtain fabrics at a whim, the three bag of fabrics idea just may be a more accurate style of quilt they may have made. Actually, if you look at some of the Antique and Vintage quilts, you will see pieces put together that we may not have. They had to work with what they had (such as the antique quilt pic on the left), and the three bag challenge makes us have to do the same thing. Interesting concept!

Last night I made the Delectable Mountains quilt block. I have never made this one before, and I absolutely loved it! I googled the quilt block and its history. Here is a link that I found very interesting. http://www.patternsfromhistory.com/pioneer_pattern/delectable-mountains.htm

Once again, my inspiration for the sample quilt is from the 2009/2010 Winter Edition of the McCalls Quilting Magazine. You can get a back issue via www. quiltersvillage.com

Now I would like to show you a picture of another creation I have made. Another part of my life is sewing historical gowns. This is a Civil War era ensemble. This is something my Great Great Grandmother or Aunt may have worn. It could easily have been worn during the second stage of mourning, or as a traveling ensemble. At any rate, this is something I do and want to share this with my quilting friends.

Log Cabin Quilt Block & Lore ..... and Apple Bread .....

November 2nd .... Voting Day! Please! Take this wonderful opportunity to go to your nearest polling center and vote! Many of us do not realize how fortunate we are to have this tremendous opportunity of being able to vote! Regardless of your Political affiliation, your vote is important. Remember, if you do not vote today, you really can not complain tomorrow.

Last night I made the Log Cabin Quilt block.

Log Cabins have such a wonderful quilt lore! I made mine with the red center meaning the red-hot hearth and center of the home. In fact, most people use a red center when traditionally making a log cabin block. However, there are two other colors used with some regularity. Yellow for the light in a window showing the way for those who may be lost. Then there is black which is known for two of it's own reasons. 1. used to symbolize mourning. 2. Used rather significantly as a symbol during the Underground Railroad (or maybe named after Abraham Lincoln because of his effort to free the slaves).

The square center also has been known for the Log Cabin Campaign, especially during the Homestead Act when so many people were moving West and building log cabins on their 144 acres. And another bit of trivia is the Log Cabin quilts were made to use as raffles to earn money for the Union Army.

Many of you have seen other quilts made similarly, but going by different names: Pineapple, Courthouse Steps, Chimneys and Cornerstones, Streaks of Lightening, Broken Dishes (though this one not as much), and Barn Raising. Believe me, this is but a few, as there are several more!

Remember the Apple Bread I mentioned yesterday? Yum Yum!! Here is the recipe!

3 cups flour

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup oil

2 cups sugar

2 eggs, beaten

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups chopped apples

1 cup chopped walnuts

Mix all ingredients (I needed to add a bit of liquid and used milk). Divide dough between two 8" X 4" bread pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 - 45 min or until bread tests done. I found this bread to be very cake like. I have NO doubt it would be great as a after dinner desert. Just heat and serve with whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream! Seriously, this is very good!

Okay ... now I am going to test a No Knead Cinnamon Roll Recipe!

By for now from Hey Grandma!

Bears Paw and Wild Geese ...

Hey Grandma! welcomes you to November 1st! Today I began working on new recipes that will be used during the holidays. I just took out two loaves of Apple Bread from the oven, and just with the delightful fragrance floating around here, I had better do a double workout tomorrow! LOL Tell you what, if this bread is as good as it smells, I'll give you the recipe tomorrow along with a picture ... hows that? But for right now, "Lord, help me to be strong and not eat a whole loaf!"

Last night I made two more blocks for my sampler quilt. For those of you who are new to my blog, my inspiration is from the 2009/2010 Winter Edition of the McCalls Quilting magazine. If you do not have a copy of your own, you can obtain a back issue via http://www.quiltersvillage.com/

Now in all honesty, this is probably my least favorite version of the Bears Paw. However, it will still look wonderful in the quilt. It just seems a little sad using a quarter of a wonderful block ....

I am a fan of the Bears Paw though. It has interesting lore behind it as well. One, is it was believed to be used as a resource during the Underground Railroad to direct the runaway slaves to find water and fish (which kind of cracks me up as the North American Black Bear is largely vegetarian hehe). There is another piece of lore, if the runaway slaves saw this quilt hanging, to beware of bears .... My question is, which lore were they to follow? hmmm ......

There are also two other names for this block: Ducks Foot in the Mud and Hands of Friendship.

The second block is Wild Geese. I have plans with this block to create a new pattern with. This block was fun and has lots of possibilities. I love the feel it gives while leaning toward the Friendship Star block.

Okay! Until next time .... YOU have a winderful day!