October True North

Hello friends,

Goodness, time flies when we are Happy Quilting.  I can't believe that is already October and that it's my turn for our wonderful bee :)  And now the fun part, to share what we will be making!!!  I designed this True North quilt a few years back for Riley Blake and have wanted to remake in non-Christmas fabrics ever since.   (Not that I don't love it in Christmas fabrics, I just knew it would work wonderful in something that would work year-round ).

So I have sent you each 2 Fat Quarters from Rashida Coleman-Hale's Raindrop line (I just love the happy cool colors in this line!!) and some white background fabric for your block.  You will use most of the fat quarter and background fabric and no worries on sending back any leftovers, just add it to your scrap piles :)  

 You will each be making one Queen Sized True North block and these guys are big ;)  I have included block directions that I have rewritten to making just one block and simplified them slightly, but if you find them confusing at all, just let me know and I will send you a PDF of the pattern to follow :)

I am so super excited and can't wait to make up this new quilt!!!!    So here are all the details:

Bee Block Questionnaire

What size quilt block do you want your bee partners to make? (Give finished and unfinished measurements, just to be sure.)   24 1/2" x 24 1/2" unfinished and 24" x 24" finished

Can your partners use any of their own stash fabric to use in your quilt block? If so, are there any limitations?  Please just use the fabric sent ;)

Is there a specific color of thread (white/off white) you want your partners to sew with?
White is great

Do your partners have to use at least a little bit of every fabric you send or can your partners decide?
You will need to use all the fabric sent to have enough ;) 

Do you have a general theme or is it up to your partners to decide? Are there any specific themes that you do NOT want in your quilt block? Likes/dislikes?

Just the True North Block ;)
Will you allow any embellishments on the quilt block (i.e. embroidery, raised items such as yo-yos or fabric origami)?

No thanks, not this time ;)
Can you link us to any flickr or Pinterest photos that you would like us to use as inspiration for your quilt block?
There's more pics in this post :)

If your partners are super motivated and are able to make two blocks out of the fabric you send.

Nope, there is just enough for 1, and it is big enough to keep you busy I am sure :)

And that's about it ;)  I am so super excited and thank you so much in advance!!!!  If you have any questions at all on the block don't hesitate to email me ;)  

So now the other fun stuff ;)  Shari asked me to share my top three projects from 2016 and a favorite recipe.  

As far as favorite projects goes, that is super tuff.  (Kind of like picking a favorite child right, tee hee hee ;)  But if you twisted my arm, I guess I would say my favorites from 2016  would be as follows.   My Moroccan Lullaby quilt because I really pushed myself on the quilting of this one and am super proud of how ti turned out.  My Camp Moda quilt because every time I see it it reminds me of all the awesome people I got to work with in collaborating on this one and I just think it turned out adorable!!   And finally, my William and Jack quilt, because I have always wanted to make a Union Jack quilt as my Mother was born in England and it just seemed a special tribute to her.  This quilt also had a huge surprise with it that it ended up front and center and the Main Schoolhouse at Market, that I was not expecting but was indeed a wonderful surprise and honor ;) 

    

 And for my favorite recipie, it has to be my no fail bread recipie.  My family loves it and it is super easy and never fails :)  Love it!!!!  You can also use it for pizza dough, cinnamon rolls, scones, and regular rolls, so yummy!!

BREAD DOUGH

NEEDED

2 1/2 cups Warm Water (110 degrees)

1/3 cup Oil

1/3 cup Honey

1 tbsp Yeast

1 tbsp salt

7 cups flour

DIRECTIONS

Place water in mixer.  Add oil and honey and blend.  (if you put the oil in first and then use the same measuring cup the honey comes out much easier)  Add yeast and 1 cup of flour.  Blend on low speed.  While running add 3 more cups of flour.  Continue blending and add salt.  Continue blending and add remaining 3 cups of flour.  Turn Mixer up one speed and blend for 10 minutes.  Remove bowl from mixer and cover with a towel and let rise till bulging out of bowl – about 1 to 1 1/2 hours.  Refer to what you want to make now.

BREAD

Dump dough onto lightly floured surface and punch down.  Cut into two pieces and shape in the size of a loaf.  Place in greased loaf pan and place a towel over pans.  Allow to rise until double in size about an hour.  Place in oven at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes.  Brush melted butter on the top of the loaf as soon as you take it out.  Enjoy.  Makes 2 loafs.

ROLLS

Dump dough onto lightly floured surface and punch down.  Cut into two pieces and roll the first piece into a large circle about 16 inches in diameter.  Brush melted butter across the surface of the dough.   With a pizza cutter cut 12 pieces the same you would a pizza.  Starting on the edge of the piece of dough, roll up each piece toward the center to make a crescent shape roll.  Place on greased cookie pan or a cookie pan with a liner and make sure to tuck the loose end under.  Repeat with other piece of dough.  Cover with a towel and let rise until double the size, about an hour.  Place in oven at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.  Brush melted butter on the top of each roll as soon as you take it out.  Enjoy.  Makes 2 dozen rolls.

PIZZA DOUGH

Dump dough onto lightly floured surface and punch down.  Cut into two pieces and roll the first piece into a large circle about 16 inches in diameter.  Place on pizza pan and top as you desire.  Repeat with second piece.  Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes.  Sometimes I like to make the crusts a little thinner and leave some dough for breadsticks.  Roll remaining dough into snake shapes and place in a glass baking pan with melted butter in the bottom.  Allow a little bit of time to rise (I normally bake them after the first pizza is done).  Cover with Parmesan Cheese and Seasoning and bake for 15 minutes.  I normally just stick it on the top shelf with the second pizza on the bottom shelf.  Enjoy!!

SCONES

Dump dough onto very lightly floured surface and punch down.  Return to bowl.  Tear off a small piece of dough and stretch it in your fingers.  Place in a pot of hot oil.    Fry for about one minute on each side.  You can cook 3 to 4 scones at a time.  Serve hot with honey, butter, and powdered sugar.  Enjoy!!  Makes about 24 scones.

CINNAMON BUNS

Dump dough onto lightly floured surface and punch down.  Roll into a large rectangle shape.  Make a cinnamon roll mixture by mixing 3/4 cup brown sugar, 2 tsp cinnamon, and optional raisins and chopped nuts.  Sprinkle mixture over dough.  Starting on one end of the dough, roll up into a large cylinder shape.  Use a knife to cut cylinder into 12 circles.  Place in 9 x 13 pan and bake at 350 degrees for 25 – 30 minutes.  This makes 12 very large rolls.  You can make medium size ones by making two cylinders or mini’s by making three cylinders.  Adjust cooking time accordingly. 

 Happy Quilting Everyone!!!!