Bright Triangles - A Finished Quilt

 My Bright Triangles quilt is done. I love all the bright happy colors, and how the basic half square triangle block, combined with the white, allows each print to pop.

As I mentioned in my last post, I was unsure about what I was going to do with this quilt.  So now, after much internal debate, I have decided that I will be listing this quilt, along with some others, in my Etsy shop.  I am hoping that someone will love this quilt as much as I do and want to purchase it.  As for my sister's friend that is having a baby this winter, my sister and I have decided to go together and pick out some prints special for the new baby, that match the nursery.

When quilting this, I simply echoed each triangle.  It was a little time consuming, but I love the effect it gave the quilt after I took it out of the dryer.  The back is a single novelty print that I picked up at my local quilt shop.  It is fun and colorful and I think it compliments the front perfectly.  But I have to admit, I was slightly concerned when I washed this because red and white don't normally mix well in the washing machine.  Thankfully, Shout Color Catcher is an awesome product and if you have never used it before I highly recommend doing so.  

Quilt Details:

Finished Quilt Measurements: 40" x 50"

Block and Piecing: 63 - 6 1/2" HST, in a 7 x 9 layout

Quilting: Straight line quilting, echoing each triangle 

I will be linking this up to Sew Modern Monday, Fabric Tuesday, and some of these other great linky parties.

A Sunday Stash Report

This weekend, in an attempt to finish my faux string quilt, I headed over to my Local Quilt Shop to get some more Kona Snow.  I didn't even know if she would have any in stock, (as she doesn't stock much of the Kona solids), but I figured it was as good of an excuse as any to go look at fabric.  Thankfully she had just enough left on the bolt.  It must have been my lucky day. 

While I was there I spied some Minky that she had on sale.... 40% off?  Yeah, that always deserves a second look.  Brown and aqua polka dots had been my original plan for the back, but some soft and comfy aqua Minky?  Umm... I think I might need to reconsider.  Sure, why not, I'll give it a try.  I am a little concerned on how it will machine quilt, but she assured me that as long as I use a walking foot it should go pretty smoothly.  Have any of you ever used minky as a backing for a quilt?  Do you have any suggestions or tips for me?  If not, wish me luck and I will let you know how it goes.

Besides, why should Minky just be reserved for babies?  I want to snuggle under a comfy Minky throw this winter, as well.  :)

Old Fashion Rice Pudding

Last week I made rice pudding, a favorite at our house, unfortunately I don't make it that often, so when I do, it is kind of a treat for the kids.  Yesterday, the kids asked me to make it again.  The things I do for my kids.  *insert exhausted mom who slaves over a hot stove for her family*  Just kidding!  It's really not that bad, it is just that rice pudding is one of those recipes that takes a little time to be done right.  It is also one of those recipes that is best done the night before.  Score!  Something I can do after the kids go to bed and catch up on my Project Runway at the same time.

 This is my from my grandmother and I don't have a traditional recipe all written out.  It is one of those things that I just do, you know, from memory.

First, you are going to soak 1 cup rice in 2 cups milk for about 10 minutes.

Cook the rice slowly until milk is absorbed on medium heat, stirring consistently, for about 20 - 25 minutes.  You don't want the milk to come to a boil or your rice to stick to the bottom.  Remove from heat and place a cover on your pan to keep warm while you prepare next step.  At this point it should look a little like the picture above.

Next, in a small bowl beat 2 egg yolks (save the egg whites for later), 1 cup of milk, 1/2 cup of sugar, and 1/2 tsp of salt.  Slowly fold egg mixture into rice that is in your pan.  Return rice to stove on medium heat, and cook again till milk is dissolved and rice is tender, stirring consistently.  Make sure that the rice is cooked or you will end up with crunchy rice pudding and nobody is going to like that.

Remove rice from heat and set aside.  Then beat the 2 egg whites until stiff and slowly add 1 tbs sugar while beating.  Fold into rice.

Now add 1/2 tsp vanilla and cinnamon too taste into rice and mix well.

Pour into serving dish or individual cups, let cool, then cover with plastic wrap and place into refrigerator to cool overnight. 

 The next day serve with a sprinkle of cinnamon and enjoy.

Quilt Bee Blocks and Swaps

One of my on going quilting bees is Twist on Tradition.  This month Danielle asked us to make a Lemoyne Star out of the blue and white fabrics that she sent us.  I had never seen this block made from HST's before, but it was refreshingly easier than the quilt I made from pieced diamonds years ago.  Yeah!  I love learning new ways to make a classic block.

Last month I joined the Make Mine Modern Swap, and then last Saturday the postman left this at my doorstep.  Lynne, who blogs at Miss Stash Would, totally spoiled me when she sent me this package.  Just look at all these goodies.  Fabric and notions, Oh my!  She even made me this fabulous art quilt.  Isn't it lovely?  I couldn't have been more pleased and I really appreciated all the time and care she took in putting this together for me.

After all the swap deadlines I had in August I have been taking a little break but of course I couldn't stay away for too long... I just recently signed up for two more swaps via Flickr, Sewn Spaces Swap - Pincushions, and the Hanging Hoop Wall Pocket Swap.  I am very excited about this, because there is nothing like a swap to get the creative juices flowing and these two look like fun.

A Little Quilting....

I must admit there hasn't been much sewing going on around here lately, but that doesn't mean I haven't been tinkering around with some scraps.  When I am in a slump creatively I always seem to revert back to mindless scrap quilting.  You know, the type of sewing that requires little or no math, and a layout that doesn't require a design wall.  Just a pile of scraps and some white. That way there you don't have to worry about the wrong colors touching each other.

So now after a week of a some fabric therapy, these bright happy colors have inspired me, and lifted my spirits. I have remembered why I love to quilt and why I like to blog about it. I have remembered that I do this for me and that it is OK that I don't have a finished quilt to share with you every other week.  I mean really!  Who can keep up with that kind of schedule and still have time to enjoy life?

I don't really have a home for this quilt... I was thinking of gifting it to a friend of my sister that is having a baby this winter, or maybe I will list it in my Etsy Shop in order to support my growing fabric addition.  I am not quite sure but hopefully by the time I am done with it I will know what to do.  I do know that I picked up an awesome print for the back at my local quilt shop yesterday and this afternoon I will be busy layering this bad boy and getting it ready to be quilted. I am thinking straight line quilting on the diagonal...

One other thing that has relaxed me this week has been the ironing.  You know how I love to iron so this should be no big surprise. I was very careful about the direction the seams were ironed and how they would lay.  This result of this has made this quilt lay perfectly flat and the blocks lined up flawlessly.   This makes me a very happy person!