Cheddar Cheese & Crackers- Part 1

Good morning! I was up past my bedtime last night so I hope this makes sense this morning. Wow! Can you believe it is 2010?!
Before I get started I have 2 quilts up for auction at the The Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative. Mine are both Sue Spargo designs (used with permission, of course) made with wool and cotton. King of the Mound #4676 and Flowers in Bloom #4677. Bid high....bid often... it's for a great cause!!!

Let's get started. Please don't' hesitate to ask if you have any questions. I'm not a designer or a pattern writer so take that into account. Read all the directions first so you know where we are going with the blocks. OK? Don't stress over color choices- have fun!!

If you haven't done so already cut 12- 3 3/8 squares from your cheddar fabric.

Cut a 1 1/2" strip from shirting.
From this strip cut several 1 1/2" squares.

Cut 1- 1 7/8" strip from shirting.
From this strip cut several 1 7/8" squares, then cut them on the diagonal to get triangles

For the first block we will use 4 different prints.
From 2 different prints cut 2 -1 1/2" squares
From the other 2 prints cut 1- 1 7/8" squares then cut on the diagonal to get two triangles

Lay out your block with the print 1 1/2" squares across from each other and the printed triangles across from each other.

Build your first block like this. When assembling the triangles-square unit press toward the triangles. When adding that section to the cheddar press toward the triangles too. It will want to press toward the cheddar, but the finished block lays nicer when it's pressed out. Do what works best for you. Trim to 4 1/2" if necessary.


Put the first block on your design wall or designated layout area. Look at the next few photos. The next diagonal block needs to have the same printed 1 1/2" square. The upper diagonal block need to have the same fabric as triangles.

This is how I assembled my blocks. I worked diagonally down the quilt. If you don't have to match up any colors to the next block, chose a new print and use that. I tried to spread out the pink and indigo fabrics but there wasn't any need to stress or fret over colors. (that was the good thing about having so many browns)

This is part one. Easy sewing but harder to keep the colors straight.

Have fun sewing!!!

Cheddar Cheese and Crackers

I've been eating my fair share of crackers and cheese since my son came home from college on his Christmas break. This quilt reminds me of that!!

Before going through your scrap bins take a close look at the quilt to see what kind of fabrics the quilt maker used. You can click to enlarge. Obviously you can do your own thing too! Small quilts are a great way to use colors you wouldn't ordinarily use so think outside the box if you want.

This is what you'll need as far as fabric. (you won't need much) If you want it scrappy you'll need 36 different prints. The most of any one of these that you'll need is a 2" x 12" strip. (that isn't exact, just a general amount)

I am using mostly different colors of brown, a few indigo blue and a few pinks.

There are some wonderful cheddar prints and I have a few in my stash but I really wanted to use a solid cheddar. You will need enough cheddar to cut 12- 3 3/8" squares and 3- 5 1/4" squares. (that part is exact, so feel free to cut them now if you want)

You will see 2 shirting prints here but I ended up only using one. It made it much easier unless you want that part to be scrappy too. The original quilt maker used two shirtings.

You will need about 5/8 yard for the light background.

You will need a place to layout your blocks as you assemble them. Look again at the original quilt and the color placement. I've had to keep my pieces on the design wall as I sew. I would never be able to keep it organized if I didn't.

There isn't anything complicated about the sewing so we should be able to have a lot of fun and not stress.

Cutting instructions tomorrow.....

Edited to add a link for each part:

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Doll Quilt- Quilt along Anyone?

Many of you commented on this quilt when I had the photo as my blog header. I resized it in EQ to be a doll quilt. Oh, I just love how it's turning out!!! I thought it would be fun if any of my blog readers would want to do it as a quilt-a-long? I know Kathie said she would do it (sight unseen, I might add) so that is one person. If I can get a few more I'll post the first installment January 1st. It is actually a little more complicated then it may look at first. Color placement is everything in this quilt! You won't need much fabric and the finished doll quilt would be 24" square. I was thinking of posting it in 4 parts, 1 part a week. I'm a slow quilter and only am working on part 2. Any takers?
Here is another project I've been working on for a quilt shop sample. It is called Mockingbirds by Lynda. I have the borders ready to machine applique. I would rate this pattern HARD and I feel like I'm an experienced piecer!!

Post Christmas

Here is my niece thrilled with the Candy Stix quilt. She was so excited to get home and use it!!

This adorable sock was a gift from Brandie. The chocolate she sent with it is stashed in the sewing room. Thank you so much for your generosity Brandie! The sock is hanging right next to an old Santa suit and they look perfect together.

These two placemats were a gift from my friend Randy. We have used them already and it was wonderful to see all the great reproduction fabric while eating. Can you believe I've never made quilted placemats? Although we use placemats on the table every meal. Thank you again Randy!
Ta-Da! I put the final quilting stitches on the main section of my Jane Stickle quilt last night!!! I hope it doesn't take me another 10 years to quilt the border. I do plan on working on it when I can this winter.

Merry Christmas!

I wanted to take this time to wish you all Merry Christmas!! This week will be a bit crazy and I'm not sure I'll have time to post again. Enjoy your family and remember the true meaning of the season.
Thank you all for the support and friendship I've made through this humble blog.

Humble Christmas Crafts

I know I'm not the only one that likes to make crafts that aren't necessarily quilts. No matter how humble they turn out I get so much joy from making them and I love revisiting them every holiday. I generally make crafts as gifts then proceed to make me one or more too!

Does anybody else make stockings for decorations? These are too small to hold anything but just hang there and look pretty.

I love working with wool. I made several versions of these last year.


I've even tried my hand at German paper cutting! These are hand sewn down the centers and lay flat for storing.



Before quilting I was a cross stitcher.

My sister made this for me and it holds center stage at my house during the holidays!!

I am working on a quilt for a quilt shop sample. Yikes! It is more difficult then it should be.

I hope you all are enjoying the holiday season.

Candy Stix Quilt

Here's the finished quilt for my niece! Woo-hoo! I know she is going to love it. A few of us from my small online DJ group swapped the Candy Stix blocks and I set them with the string blocks and backed it with flannel.
The blocks directions came from the Empire Quilters Guild blog and was designed by Karen Griska. In the quilt they showed online the blocks were set directly next to one another. It was a fun happy quilt.

These are a few of my favorite blocks and fabrics.

Proud to be a Dane

My kids died of laughter when they saw these Danish Christmas Nisse. I think they are adorable and their little knitted sweaters are so cute!

Legend says, during Christmas in Denmark, the mischievous Danish elf Nisse plays pranks on people. Nisse often lives in old farmhouses and wears gray woolen clothes, red bonnet and stockings and white clogs. As a good elf, Nisse generally helps people on the farms and is good with children but plays jokes during the holiday season. On Christmas Eve in Denmark, many families leave a bowl of rice pudding or porridge for him so that he is friendly to them and keeps his jokes within limits.

My little Christmas tree adorned with Danish ornaments and other red and whites.

Last year on Christmas morning I made these wonderful aebleskiver's. I plan on making them again. I also should plan on running that day too!!

I put a variety of fruit in the center. I tried a small piece of apple, a blueberry or two and served them with linonberry jam. I think I may have even popped an m&m in one!!

This is my grandfather who came from Denmark. I think the winter's must have been really cold in Wyoming. Look at those chaps he's wearing!!!

According to his sister's obituary she was from Skanderborg, Denmark. When we visited my son while he was an exchange student we were able to go through that town. Not much is known about them but I thought this was a great photo op.


I loved the thatched roof farmhouses.

A beautiful view of the town of Ribe.

Can you tell my other hobby is family history? I'm going to see my dad today- leaving as soon as I post this. He is the only son of my Danish grandfather. Both names Nels.

More Christmas Quilts

I may not put up all my decorations every year, I do put up the few Christmas quilts I have. Heck, I only get to enjoy them for a short time.

I made this free-style quilt while visiting my friend in Ohio. The pattern gave you a formula for making the baskets but that was about it. The applique is done all by machine, and if I remember right I was hand sewing the binding down on the way to the airport. I wanted it to be completed entirely in Ohio!! (no, I wasn't driving!)

Here's a Country Threads pattern that was a lot of fun to make. I leave this one up all winter. If we have a lot of snow everyone begs me to take it down!!

Here is a fun little sampler I did with friends. I think what makes this quilt so charming is the sashing and setting triangles. Sometimes I put this one on my table, this year I opted to hang it up.

I've joined SewCalGal's Virtual Christmas Show. Check out the great quilts posted.

This and That

Before I could really get started machine quilting I needed to finish the Blind Mans Fancy block I started. The one with the green center is the latest one.

The top block is this months BOM by Dawn at Linen Closet Quilts. Depending on how the rest of the quilt goes I may need to redo the eagle in a darker fabric.

My son came home from college to join me and some other Central Oregon Weight Watcher members in running the Jingle Bell 5KRun/Walk for Arthritis. Brrr, it was cold but nothing like today! I use the word "running" lightly, but I did set a goal for myself and beat it by 2 minutes, so I was happy. Oh, and I could still walk the next day!! hahaha

Seasonal Quilts

I haven't done any more decorating but have pulled out my seasonal quilts. It is so nice to revisit them after they've been stored for 11 months!

The table runner in my header was a fun, primitive style block that I made last year. I machine appliqued on old sugar sacks and purposely didn't quilt it. I figured I could always go back and do that later if I changed my mind. I really like the simplicity of it.

My patriotic Santa greets visitors as they enter my front door. I wish I could remember the designer. I do know that I love their patterns and the directions are great! (Joined at the Hip- thanks Carol!)

Things will be a bit slow on my blog for awhile. Making binding and basting quilts isn't the most exciting thing to talk about. I am hoping to get two quilts machine quilted before Christmas and that means I'll have to stay focused!!!