Rose Prairie Quilts and Farm

I was going through some pictures I had in one of the folders on my computer. I attend at times these Quilt Study meetings, the group in called MOKA which stands for the 4 states that are participating. Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas and Arkansas. I have to admit that I love to take pictures of quilts and think oh yea I remember where I saw that quilt.  Ya Right and this is one of them. I think this is unusual block and I love the shirting used. I can not tell exactly what  it is. Looks like a drums but with antennae or maybe an abstract flower. If you can tell what it is I would love to know.  The quilting is beautifully done, I'm going to guess somewhere around 10 stitches to an inch and heavily quilted This is a pieced block not appliqued, exquisite needlework. I wish I had more details  like the name of the block (looked it up but could not find this block), maker and where or time period thou that could be guess by the fabric. But I still wanted to share

It has been a couple of days since I last post and it is not because I could not think of anything but because I have been busy doing a little of this and that. So bear with me and I will just be somewhat general in giving you some updates of my doings. Do not want to bore you. But where do I start, let's see Monday I was able to finish another snowman block. I have 2 block left and then need to assemble. Oh ya and all those snowflakes. That evening I did crochet 2 more but I'll wait to show you those when I have more. And being able to buy them by the bag at Hobby Lobby is a no, they do not have them this year. I guess I'm just going to have to keep crocheting. I also made some Red Pepper Jelly from chili peppers I grew this year. I had 5 plants of various kinds and I thought I had pick some really hot ones but I guess not because my jelly just has enough kick to it to know it's chili but not enough to make you want to pull your tongue out. I'

I have found patterns that were published once a month online and I am trying the Crumb's thing but this is the first time for online BOM and I wasn't sure what this would be like.  So far it is easy. The block that has been chosen is a simple block and your color choices are what is going to make this interesting. Here is my version of the block This is a block that goes by the name Crockett Cabin Quilt - Marshall ( 1123a) in Barbara Brackman, Encyclopedia Of Pieced Quilt Patterns. If you change some squares to a different color or fabric it can be called by another name. Now I'm using fabric from my stash, this is mainly why I'm doing this, it is to use up fabric from my stash. So I have a large piece (2yd.) for background and then I have 2 charm packs,  Acorn Hallow by Kathy Schmitz LLC for Moda. I guess with it feeling like fall here in NE Oklahoma I  just had to pick fabric colors to go with how I feel. I love fall, it is my favorite time of year

OK here is my 3rd weeks attempt at my crumbs into blocks. I am learning lots from not measuring or using a proper seam allowance. You can see from star that it is so much easier not to have points on my star, I realized what I was doing wrong, it's all in the placement. The ones that where you just sew bits and pieces to is so relaxing. I really like doing these. The hearts are so easy. If it wasn't for wanting to get this posted before I left the house, I would have zillions of them (OK maybe not zillions, but more for sure). If you have not tried these process before (like me) give it a shot. You might like it. Check out Jo's Country  , she'll get you started Till next time Kat =^..^=

Last week I was given around 50lbs of carrots and 3 dozen ears of corn so I had been canning and freezing this past week. I just love the look of the finish product, you know" it"s the fruit of your labor " thing. I was able to can 8 pints of corn and freeze 4 quarts. It's ironic because I'm allergic to corn but "the man of the place" loves it. Then with the carrots I canned 16 pints, froze grated carrots for carrot cake (enough for 5), and another 3 bags of grated for soup. Then I have 5 bags of chunk pieces for stew.   Then with some of the remaining carrots I grated them for Carrot Marmalade, canned 12 jars Then I canned 12 jars of Carrot Cake Jam, now that was really delicious. I found the recipe by googling Carrot Cake Jam. I have more grated carrots so when I get back from Fort Smith I plan on  making more jam. I think the ladies at the 30's club would like this one. So pretty Till next time Kat =^..^=

Today I was cleaning out the frig, I do this on occasion and it is amazing the things I find. Usually it is something that got push to the back and by the time I find it again I can not remember how long it has been there. I have been looking for a new frig and I'm thinking that the ones with the freezer on the bottom, I will be able to see whats in the back of the shelfs, at least that my hope. Any way I found some yogurt and could not remember when I made it, suggestion; always write on calendar when made. So I thought I would give it to the girls. Put it on a plate and then walked outside to  the yard, called the girls. Here they come running up and if you every seen chickens run, it is really funny. They looked at the plate but would not get close enough to taste it, just look Things like this makes me realize why we use the word " chicken" when someone is hesitant or scared to try something new. I wasn't sure why, maybe the girls just don'

At the retreat that I attended a couple of weekends ago I was sitting next to a friend of mine, Liz E. She was working on a small quilt, which is not unusual for her because that is what she mainly make. If you have never made a small quilt don't let anyone tell you it doesn't take as long as a large quilt. It can and sometimes longer. So this is the quilt she was working on that weekend.  I asked Liz to tell about her quilt and this is what she has to say about it.  The United We Stand is a small quilt probably made in response to 9-11. The pattern was from Miniature Quilt Magazine from their Miniature of the Heart contest that the magazine ran each year. It was in #65 issue-May 2003 and was made by Susan Holman. The block is 1.5 inch by 2 inch. It will measure about 16 inches by 16 inches square. Now I not sure if you can see from this picture that in between the people blocks she used fabric that has the Pledge of  Allegiance written on it. Till next time

OK, I said in a post a few days ago that I have been saving my scraps of fabric for many years, after I thought about it probably  more like 30 than 20, with a few pieces that could be even older. I use to sew for my girls when they were little and the oldest is now 38 years. So here goes.  Whoa-la  Now here it is, the  HEAP in the middle is what was in my sewing room. The clear tubs (and there is one behind the HEAP ) are from the past five years. And then the boxes are the older scraps. At one time I had gone and divided them according to colors, you can make out some of them. So what do you think, will I have enough. Believe it or not I have even made a few quilts already using some of my scraps. Now when I was  in Loveland Co. last month I saw this quilt and fell in love with it. Perfect for using up some of the scraps. ( You like how I admit it will only use some). I wish I could remember who made it, I think it was a guild raffle quilt but do not kno

This is some of the best Potato Soup I have had. This is Grace's recipe that she made for us at the retreat so I thought I would pass it on. I know Liz is waiting for it (Hi Liz). Here it is; 2 Carrots, finely chopped 1 large Onion, finely chopped 2 Celery stalks, chopped 5 lbs. Potatoes, peeled & cubed 1 stick Butter 1/2 lb Velveeta Cheese 1 cup (1/2 & 1/2) Cream Morton Season Salt  In a large pot, saute the 3 veggie in the butter. Add potatoes and enough water to cover. Add Morton seasoning. Bring to a boil, turn down the heat to simmer, and simmer 20 minutes ( or to a fork tender) Add  cheese and cream and some milk. Stir to blend cheese. Use a blender stick to puree some of it. Now enjoy.  Makes a full pot load. I plan on freezing part of it for future dinner. Best served with freshly bake bread if you can. Till next time, Kat =^..^=

It is seems like I am playing catch up sometimes, I did not post yesterday because "the man of the place" and I went to the Canehill Harvest Festival. We left early cause we were wanting to eat there and watch the small parade they usually have. But didn't this year because it rained, the first time in 10 years. We were so hoping it would clear up but it did not. So we spent some time  there wandering around inbetween showers. They showed you how to make sorghum syrup. If you do not know what sweet sorghum  is, it is like molasses but made from  the sorghum cane. The link I have here tells you a lot more about it. It is a neat thing to watch and fascinating process. First they take the harvested cane and run it through a pressing wheel to squeeze out the juice from the cane. Before tractors or motors, a horse or mule was the power and usually they  have one doing the work but this time because the harvest was poor due to the hot, dry summer they had it hooked up to

I made my first crumb blocks and I feel like a new quilter. It was fun making these unstructured blocks. I am such a person who has to have my sewing to be perfect. So this has been enlightening This one is a little too dark. This one is so much better This one actually looks better in person Again my camera has not done this block justice.  I think they look good, I just wish you could see what I see. For more about what this crumbie business is all about you need to jump over to Jo's Country Junction  or the button on the side. Each week I'll show you my progress. I doubt that this will make a dent in my scrap pile(s) and I mean piles. Today I was helping Pam at Sager Creek at their shop for the Shop Hop that is going on so I did not have time today to dig out all my scraps but I will and show you. I have been saving my scraps for over 20 years, so does that give you a little idea. Till next time Kat =^..^=

This is a reminder about Friday Night Sew-In, this Friday Sept. 16th.  To know more about it use the button to get there.

I'm back from the best retreat so far I have been to. I had so much fun and some of which I can not show ( had to do with a sock monkey) due to ratings on this blog. But it was hilarious. I must of had too much fun because I do not have anything completed to show you.. I was trying to finish the Hunter Star I have been working on. But no, its still not done    There was 29 of us and the lodge we were in was wonderful. It is at Lake Fort Smith State Park in Arkansas located in part of the Boston Mountain range. This is the hallway to our rooms but you can see how nice and rustic this lodge is and the rooms were nice and very comfortable, can't say that about some of the places I have stayed at. This is a view of half of the great room where we set up our machines and stuff. Out those doors in the back was a deck where I spend a good amount of time doing piecework. I was out there working on trying to figure out another snowflake and I found out that Darlene knew how to crochet

It came and I have my fabric picked and now I just have to decide what I will use as the border fabric. This is the fabric I picked, it is the Adelaide collection by Michelle Hill. Like I mention I have to decide what will take the place of the red dot fabric. I was thinking maybe one of these Or maybe one of these, just do not know yet I said I was going to make this my winter project, so you could say I have a little time but I am so excited I'm not sure I can wait. I am suppose to be getting issue 2 and 3 also but I heard they are waiting for a shipment. I was able to get the magazine from the shop Buggy Barn, which I was surprised, it's not really what I think of them having. Not their style but I glad they do. Till next time Kat =^..^=

I hope y'all had I good Labor Day. I did and our weather took a turn for the better. The man of the place and I went to Prairie Grove, Arkansas to the Clothesline Craft Fair. This was the first time we had ever been there and it was a fun event. I found a few items that just had to come home with us. I even poised myself for a picture on an antique tractor I really need to bring "the man of the place" into the 21st century. I sat there for probably five minutes before he was able to figure out how to use my i-phone's camera. It was fun to sit there on that tractor and  it was very popular with the crowd for I had to wait for my turn. Why, I'm not sure, other than it was only 1 of 3 Fords tractors among a mess of John Deer's. I told  "the man of the place" I need a tractor this size, his are a lot bigger and I look good on this one. I found this gentlemen who made wooden boxes out of all different types of unusual woods. He had ones made out of  sassa