Mom's Log Cabin Quilt

 Is your closet stuffed with half-finished quilts, unraveling knitting projects, pieces of Christmas crafts, not-yet started gifts or just something cute that was on sale? This year I have pledged to use them up, finish them or get rid of them. Not my stash entirely, just the extra bags I constantly shuffle around and say "What is this?" Freshly motivated by this thought, I ignored my own closet and poked around in my Mom's and found a small quilt top that needed one more row of blocks and it would be the perfect wall-hanging. My Mom was thrilled that I would finish this and I was excited to work on a project that I haven't been shuffling around for four years. I think this in an idea we should all work with, I will finish your stuff and you finish mine, after all its like starting a new project, all the excitement and thrill, only it is finished sooner and we are a little more organized!

 As you can see I love to hand quilt while watching a musical or something where I can listen more than watch. This quilt was entertained by Andy Griffith and Mary Tyler Moore, Doris Day, Perry Mason, Gilligan and the Crew. It took me about six weeks to complete the quilting and now my quilting finger has re-developed its callous so I need to find something else to quilt soon before it disappears.  And in case you were wondering, the safety pins are the preferred method of a no-sew basting, take them out as you go to smooth out wrinkles and admire your handiwork! I truly believe all quilts should have a fabulous backing, just in case you want to flip it over for a comforter look and admire the texture of the stitches. Or in this case, this quilt will hang on the wall and just have a splendid secret.

 And the confession is: I did not do a good job of matching the last row, if you look closely the top pieces are thinner, but hey its finished!

Finished Project - Whisper Cardigan

I have nicknamed this project my Never Ending Sweater. I tore it out so many times, I lost count! In case you were thinking everything we do turns out perfect, not so! I am so glad I persevered and got it finished. It is super cute! I know it is going to be much worn. I don't really have a lot of details to share with you, as it has been in the making a long time! I wasn't sure about the gauge at first, but once I went down two sizes in needles, I was much more happy with the feel of it. So, in trying to get the right needle size I cast on the sleeve and knit it like 3 or 4 times. Then there was a few more rip outs as the first time I tried it on (when it was completed) the arms pinched! I ripped it out to the sleeves again and knit two more inches between the shoulders. And of course I made a mistake the next time I knit it up (and didn't find out until it was finished), so out it came again! It is a good thing yarn is so resilient!

The pattern is the Whisper Cardigan by Hannah Fettig. She is one of my favorite designers because her sweaters are so classic. The yarn is a Merino/Cashmere/Nylon lace weight from Sun Valley Fibers. I fell in love with the yarn at the Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival a couple of years ago. Not only is it a luscious  color, it is super super soft! It is the most luxurious sweater in my wardrobe now!!

Mandy and I had such fun taking pictures, I couldn't decide which to post! And this isn't even all of them....... for more see it on my project page on Ravlery.

Podcasts, music and kniting! Oh my!

I don't know about you but I love listening to podcasts while doing housework, on my daily commute and sometimes even while waiting in line.  So I thought you might like to see what I'm listening to and suggest some of your favorites!

Podcasts in no particular order!

The Knitmore Girls! 
      I really enjoy this lively podcast done by a mother and daughter team.  They cover knitting, spinning, weaving and sewing.  I download from itunes but you can find them at their blog or on ravelry. 

Irish and Celtic Music Podcast
      This is a fun podcast that features independent musicians from around the world playing Irish and Celtic music.  If you like instrumental, traditional or current music this podcast will have something for you.  I download this from itunes or access it from the Irish and Celtic Music Podcast web page.

Good Job Brain
      This is a trivia podcast put together by a group of friends that always is full of fascinating facts.  I listen to this podcast through itunes.

The Moth
       This is a collection of stories told at Moth events.  WARNING: Some episodes are labeled explicit.  I listen to this podcast through itunes.

The Savvy Girls Knitting Podcast
       This it the newest podcast I have discovered thanks to a shout out on the Knitmore girls podcast.  I have only listened to a few episodes but it is definitely going on my list of things to listen to each week.  I found this podcast on itunes.

Knitting Music!

I don't know if it is a weird family trait but several people in our family love historic music from the revolution to 1940's.   Recently I stumbled across the wonderful recordings by Melanie Gall.  Melanie has recorded knitting songs from WWI.  You can buy her CD titled Knitting All the Day and preview the songs on CD Baby or iTunes.   The entire set of songs are aslo aviailable through spotify.  Melanie is also one of the hosts of the Savvy Girls Knitting Podcast. 

Do you have some fantastic podcasts that you listen to every time they come out?

Blackberry-Peach Cobbler

With all the fresh fruit coming into season, we love baking with it. There is nothing better then a pie or cobbler warm out of the oven! Yum! This is also wonderful on a cold winter evening with canned or frozen fruit. This recipe has been a favorite over the years. Don't you love the colors of peaches and blackberries together?

Lazy Man's Cobbler

Crust: 2 cups- flour

1 cup- sugar

1 1/2- teaspoons baking powder

1- stick of margarine or butter (melted)

1 1/3 cups of milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Mix crust ingredients in bowl. Layer half of fruit about 1 1/2 - 2 cups, in bottom of 9 x 14 pan. If using canned fruit add the juice from the fruit too. If using fresh fruit, add about  1 1/2 cups of water to bottom of pan and 1 cup sugar.

Pour batter on top of fruit and add more fruit on top, about 1-1/2 cups. Sprinkle a little cinnamon on top. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-35 minutes.

The fruit combinations are endless. Cherry-Peach, Cherry-Apple, Rhubarb-Apple, Blueberry-Raspberry-Blackberry, Cherry-Blackberry.......... Just about anything is good in a cobbler!

Enjoy!!

Linen Market Bag Part 2

  It is finished!

 Like I promised here are a few pictures of the market bag all done.

My sister is modeling it for me. It is really stretchy! If you put a couple of apples in, it goes almost to the floor! I thought it was pretty easy to knit as long as you kept track of the pattern. It was not a knitting project to knit while you watch a movie!   

At the same time I started a pair of Moccasin Socks by Elizabeth Zimmerman, to knit while watching movies at night. I just finished them both this week! I like to have two projects going at once, one plain and simple, and one harder with cables or some pattern on it.   

     

 We might try it out at the Harbor Market this weekend!

Kerri is all ready to go!   

       

Postcrossing

Here is the newest postcard I got from China!

I love horses, so I get a few horsey card from people.

You ask what is Postcrossing? Well, it is a website where people can send post cards to each other from all over the world!! Here is a link to more about it.

If you ever want to start collecting post cards or just like getting mail, you should try Postcrossing! It is free, well all most, you have to buy the stamps and postcards.     

Here are some I have hanging up in my room. 

 

from Finland

 I love the black and white one from New York, the other one is from Germany, cool huh? 

 This one is from South Dakota, It looks like a fun place to visit!

 

from Russia a photo by Alexey Shtorch

I'm not sure who he is but it is a cool photo!

a winter one from Russia 

Fish Fry Friday

Here in Wisconsin, fish on friday is as natural as cowboy boots in Texas, a necessity but still viewed as a luxury because not everyone wants to do the work or enjoy the fried smell lingering in their house. I don't stick to the rules and fry fish any ol' day of the week and like my mother, I do not care for a lot of kitchen gadgets and machines to haul out of the cupboard and then wash all the little pieces and put them all away. I simply use my cast iron pan to fry anything, it's always on the stove and makes almost any meal as easy as 1,2,3. In the picture I also included my wonderful "Kitchamajig" that I found at an antique store, its perfect for flipping fish. My mother has one and wouldn't give it to me....

1. With a fork, beat an egg on a plate and a splash of milk. Blot your fish dry with a paper towel and dip in egg mixture then the breading.

2. Breading is 1/2 cup a flour and half a package of crushed saltines crackers. I have used cornmeal as a gluten free alternative. For seasoning I always add black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, parsley and mustard powder. Dill and tarragon have been a favorite lately and the "guy" version also includes cayenne and chili powder.I hardly ever measure so I can't provide you with specifics.

 3. Before you place your fish in the pan test the oil, you will know when it is hot enough by dropping in a cracker crumb and it will bubble. Don't add more than three filets at a time or you will have a crowd. My favorite oil to fry fish is coconut, sometimes I use soybean but it doesn't have the same fresh flavor.

I usually serve rice with fish since it is quick and easy to cook but in this picture I put potato wedges in the oven to cook while I fried the fish, they were done at about the same time. I have also roasted green beans in the oven while frying. It's nice to just fry the fish and the rest is magically cooked elsewhere.
Lastly, don't forget your lemon! My husband absolutely insists on squeezing a fresh lemon over his fish and I enjoy lemon water with the meal, its freshening and cleanses the palate.