Last Block – Done!!

We have rotated back to dry camping. During our two weeks with full hook-ups, I managed to layer (not easy to do on breezy days) and quilted 4 small lap quilts for Project Linus. I am really going to miss having my outdoor sewing center/screen house with an oceanview. It was so nice to smell the salty air, watch boats float by and a variety of sea birds fly by during my breaks. It doesn’t get any better than that. Oh, a couple of times we saw dolphins swim by in the early mornings.   I can hear Enya in the background...

Now I get to watch the Iguanas.  They come out during the day to eat the vegetation and soak up the sun.  A couple of them actually cross the dirt road to the camping sites for the taller grass around the site's markers.   The cats spend time watching them and Hitch has tried to chase a few startled Iguanas on our walks.

I guess I was in a dog theme mood this time.  Shhh!  Don't tell the kitties!

I just finish the binding on #4. Ahhh! That feels so good!

Here’s a photo of the last block on Vi’s quilt, but I still have all the outer sashings and two borders to quilt. Yea, I think it’ll take a little bit longer to finish.

I bought a new mesh that is supposed to make it easier to transfer a pattern to my quilt. I trace the pattern onto the mesh with a pencil or a pen. Easier said than done.  Then with the fabric pen, I retrace the pattern onto the quilt. The fabric pen is supposed to go through the tiny holes. I’m not sure how well this is going to work, but I will give it a try. I have been making my own stencils which is not easy to cut out. I’m hoping this will make transferring a little easier for me.

I could spend hours browsing through quilt shops online, reading blogs and message boards. All these wonderful links take my time away from quilting, so I thought I just had to share them with my friends.

This website just started in January of this year.  It is perfect for me. I get a read-along murder mystery, clues, quilts, fabrics, browsing/shopping online and a chance to win a prize. Every Saturday, I receive another chapter to the murder mystery with links to several shops to look for the clues. They also have a great blog with interesting stories about historical quilts and unusually colorful, but real characters.

A new series starts on 1 May 2011.  http://www.quiltingismurder.com/default.aspx

I joined this message board for quilters. I think it has just about everything a quilter could want and if it isn’t there, well just ask! Someone is bound to know or can link you up to a great website. They have tutorials as well.  http://www.quiltingboard.com/

I became a FB friend with Emilie Richards. I am finishing the last of her Shenandoah Album series "Sister's Choice".  She has a wonderful website and blog.  http://www.emilierichards.com/ Quite a few of Emilie’s Fans including me have been asking when she is going to publish another Shenandoah book. Emilie explained that she has another book written, but her publisher says not now.

Recently Emilie posted this in FB:  Oohh. . . Just discovered there's an email address you can write to let my publisher know you'd like more Shenandoah Album books. It pays to ask. This is SO much easier. Just email: customer_ecare@harlequin.ca

So, if you want another Shenandoah Album book to read, please do as I did and just send a short request to her publisher. Who knows maybe if there are enough requests, they will publish #6!

I don’t know about you, but Copyright laws have become rather confusing for me as a quilter. This website goes into great detail clarifying our rights as a quilter. They are good about answering their emails as well.

http://www.tabberone.com/Trademarks/HallOfShame/PatternCompanies/articles/KnowYourRightsAndWrongs_Issues.shtml

Happy Quilting!

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Sorry to take so long on posting the recipe.  Our server has been very slooooooow lately.  I haven't spent a lot of time on the computer since we got back to full hook-ups.  I have almost finished 4 tops for Project Linus.  WooHoo!  My sewing machine is smokin' from all the quilting.  I will post some pictures as soon as I have the binding done.

Chicken Tortilla Soup


2 to 3 boneless Chicken Breasts
4 garlic cloves, minced
Olive Oil
1- 32 oz organic low sodium chicken broth (depending on size of crockpot and the amount of ingredients, you might not use all of the broth. I like a lot of broth in my soups)
2- 14 ½ oz cans roasted tomatoes with garlic OR with green chili
1 cup of your favorite salsa
1 cup of fresh chopped cilantro
2 tbsp ground cumin

Toppers: shredded Monterey Jack, tortilla chips, sour cream, salsa

Brown 2 minced garlic cloves and chicken breasts in olive oil covered frying pan. Turn frequently. Shred chicken with fork.

In the meantime, heat crockpot to sauté 2 garlic cloves in olive oil.

Combine all ingredients.

Cover. Cook on Low 8-10 hours.

Serve soup with toppers on the side.

1 Feb: Goodness! I can’t believe how much time has gone by. It has been almost a month since my last posting. Shame on Me! Surprisingly enough, I have been working on Vi’s quilt. I have finished 3 more blocks and I am almost done with the last one. But, I have finally admitted to myself that this quilt will not be done by mid-March. I still have a lot of sashings to finish. I won’t even mention the two large borders that I need to quilt and do not have a pattern picked out of either one of them. Then there is the binding left to do………Well, I suppose it would be a better gift to give at Christmas time than at the beginning of spring time.

I made some Chicken Tortilla Soup so I could spend more time outside.  Looks pretty enough to quilt!  LOL!

With all the news of bad ice and snow storms up north, I decided I should be showing my appreciation by being outside enjoying this beautiful Key West weather. So, I have been doing a lot of applique work while sitting outside with my cats in our screen house. It is like having my own screened in porch plus I have lots of sunlight for my work. We have been dry camping for the past 3 weeks and we need to conserve our energy. I’m doing my part! Only Dusty and Hitch will sit out there with me.

5 Feb: Great news! We moved to full hook-ups as of yesterday and we are right on the water! Gorgeous Day today so I was outside again. I spent the day pinning two small tops together. I had to fight the wind a little bit, but I got them done. Tomorrow, I hope to quilt them.