Tu-Na Quilts: A Woven Star for Jen

I started out last week thinking about using a different pattern for Jen’s bee block but at the last minute I saw this pattern and knew it would fit perfectly with her theme. Jen blogs over at A Dream and A Stitch but you can read Jen’s Bee Block request post here.

Jen asked us to make any block in any size using tertiary colors. I think these are tertiary colors. Well, I hope these are tertiary colors. She wants to make all of her bee blocks into mini quilts to hang in her sewing studio, her new one after she moves.

This block is called Woven Stars and is a free pattern from Stitch Supply Co.

You can find the free pattern here at the Stitch Supply Co.

Jen is moving to Montana. Since I’m from North Dakota, that makes us practically neighbors. So I feel the need to warn her about some of that wildlife she’ll find. Us North Dakotans know for sure that all of our deer come from Montana.

I’ve driven thru Montana many times and know that that little fact is true. They are everywhere in both of our states: on the roads, in the hills, in the gardens, in the woods, in the backyards, in the cities, and always around the next bend on the highway standing in your lane looking up at you as you drive towards them.

This block is 16.5″ unfinished.

I thought I’d include some deer in Jen’s block just to remind her to always be on the look-out for the deer and the elk and the mule deer and the antelope and even the moose because even in the dark they all look alike and make big dents in your car.

What I Learned Today:

1. Tu-Na Helper knows what a purple thang is! I was finishing Jen’s block as he came into my sewing room. “You’re using your purple thang,” he announced. And we both giggled. If you haven’t read my story yet about my purple thang, you can find it here.
2. Our apple trees are loaded with apples again this year. They are small and green yet.

Question: Have you been annoyed by a deer or other 4 legged animal? They sure like my roses preferring to eat them in the rosebud stage. They also eat tulips and asparagus and apples  and strawberries and even daylilies. They are always on our road and sitting in our apple orchard waiting for the apples to ripen. They’ve become so tame they don’t even move out of our way. Yes, we’ve discovered several times just how much damage deer and mule deer can do to a car. Let’s just say, it ain’t pretty!

If you enjoyed reading this and would like to read more of my adventures and even follow me so you won’t be left out, please see my blog Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats and subscribe by email, WordPress, or Bloglovin. I’d enjoy having you join my family of blog readers. 

Thanks for stopping by and do come again.

Karen, Tu-Na Quilts

Linking to:

Can I Get a Whoop Whoop? at Confessions of a Fabric Addict

Main Crush Monday at Cooking Up Quilts

Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt

Linky Tuesday at Freemotion by the River

Let’s Bee Social at Sew Fresh Quilts

Midweek Makers at Quilt Fabrication

WIP at Silly Mama Quilts

 

 

Tu-Na Quilts: This One’s for Velda

I was anticipating baking a wonderful cake in May. I spent the first two weeks thinking about what kind it should be.

I knew I would wait to make it until I was back in ND when I’d have more time. Once I arrived, I opened my fabric pantry and proceeded to pull out various ingredients to search for just the right combinations.

I settled on whipping up a chocolate cake. To help me create the most perfect one, I asked Mr. Google for some guidance.

I found a recipe for Red Wine Chocolate Cake. The recipe taunted, “Give in to two of your guilty pleasures with this double whammy of naughtiness.” That must mean the wine and chocolate or in Velda’s case, fabric and thread.

Red Wine Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

Then there was The Best Chocolate Cake described as, “A blend of dark chocolate and strong coffee making the sponge deeply delicious.” I wasn’t so sure about the coffee addition but I thought the fabrics sure looked rich.

The Best Chocolate Cake frosted with Creamy Homemade Chocolate Frosting

I found a recipe for a Chocolate Oreo Cake. It looked mighty delicious and fun.

Chocolate Oreo Cake with Classic Vanilla Bean Frosting and Sprinkles

Maybe, Velda would like a classic white cake with a chocolate frosting and colorful sprinkles.

White Cake with Dark Chocolate Icing and Sprinkles

Making good food, just like good quilts, can’t be rushed. I arranged and rearranged and then something quite unexpected happened; May turned into June.  My hunt for the perfect recipe combination continued.

An Andes Mint Chocolate Cake might be an interesting choice for Velda’s delicious quilt. I could definitely see these fabrics using one of the patterns with multiple layers of cake and frosting. It would be sew pretty!

Andes Mint Chocolate Cake topped with Chocolate Ganache

Hmmm, this was good but maybe Velda’s bakery needed something that was worthy of a prize. Continuing on my search, Sandy claimed, “One bite and you’ll see why this velvety beauty was named ‘the best chocolate cake recipe’ and won first prize.”

Sandy’s Chocolate Cake with Whipped Buttercream Icing

It sure looked good and was very colorful but was not quite what I thought Velda might like. Besides that, I for sure, and probably Velda, didn’t know this Sandy. I continued to scroll down the list letting Mr. Google show me a few more winners. The Love at First Sight Chocolate Cake recipe insisted, “It will please the biggest chocolate lovers.”

Love at First Sight Chocolate Cake with Creamy Chocolate Frosting and Non-Pareils

I wasn’t exactly sure how big of a chocolate lover Velda was; I suspected she liked it from her comment on this post. But then I saw a picture of a cake I once had made—a checkerboard cake. It was fun to make and actually looked like a checkerboard when it was cut, at least that’s how I remembered it.

Chocolate and Vanilla Checkerboard Cake with Cocoa Buttercream Frosting

After much deliberation, I finally decided on a perfect recipe. Velda, your cake will be on it’s way to you in tomorrow’s mail. I hope you enjoy it.

German Chocolate Cake with Creamy Coconut and Pecan Frosting

See Velda’s post here for information on where to locate this free cake pattern. She asked us to make her a cake and name it. Oh, what fun this no-calorie splurge was!

What I Learned Today:

1. I know what most of you are thinking—Karen has too much time on her hands.
2. I know what the rest of you are thinking—Karen has a lot of fabric.
3. In reality, I have difficulty making decisions.
4. I like to put fabric combinations together.
5. Now, I want to make a cake quilt, a chocolate cake quilt. After rereading this post, I think I have almost all of the blocks already planned.
6. Chances are pretty great that I’ll still be arranging and rearranging them.

Question: How do you eat your chocolate? I like mine in any form: liquid in the form of chocolate coffee creamer or dark chocolate shakes, semi-soft in the form of Chocolate Mousse, and solid in the form of Ritter Sport Chocolate Bars (they have a large variety of chocolate ones; I’ve been to the factory in Germany). 

If you enjoyed reading this and would like to read more of my adventures and even follow me so you won’t be left out, please see my blog Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats and subscribe by email, WordPress, or Bloglovin. I’d enjoy having you join my family of blog readers. 

Thanks for stopping by and do come again.

Karen, Tu-Na Quilts

Linking to:

Main Crush Monday at Cooking Up Quilts

Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt

Linky Tuesday at Freemotion by the River

Let’s Bee Social at Sew Fresh Quilts

Midweek Makers at Quilt Fabrication

WIP at Silly Mama Quilts

Can I Get a Whoop Whoop? at Confessions of a Fabric Addict

Finished or Not Friday at Busy Hands Quilts

Tu-Na Quilts: For Paige and Jennifer

Obviously I didn’t learn my lesson well enough in February (read #1 of What I Learned Today found on Tu-Na Quilts: An Hour to Spare) which means that I was behind, again. 

But have no fear, Jennifer’s cute little Shamrocks are expected to be in her hands on Saturday.

 

I said to count me in for three. But I got to making these and they practically sewed themselves so I made four.

 

That same day Paige will be jumping for joy as she opens her envelope from me to get her blocks.

 

Oh, dear, this is not one of her blocks.

 

 

And neither is this one.

 

 

 

Ahh! Much better!

 

Tu-Na Helper and I were visiting (not shopping since I didn’t buy anything) some antique stores and happened upon those cute little sock monkeys. I couldn’t help but photograph them as I had just finished making Paige’s blocks.

Paige is making a quilt for a teenage girl. When I found the sock monkey fabric, I knew I just had to include it.  I know a teen would love it.

However, I knew she would be orientating them the long way so now her quilt will have…

 

They were just too cute not to include even if they are lying on their sides.

 

a tower of sock monkeys!

What I Learned Today:

1. I must have some British blood. When I checked the correct usage of orientating or orienting, Mr. Google said orientating is “a British thing. Orientating is the typical British usage, vs. American “orienting”.” (Yahoo) I prefer orientating.
2. Mr. Google is wrong. I have German blood.

Question: What are your roots? Heritage, I mean, not the hair variety. Catherine the Great invited my ancestors (and their neighbors) living in Germany to come to Russia and teach the locals how to farm. They went and settled in the Odessa Region for a long time until the welcome mat was rolled up making their exodus necessary. They made their way to America. All I really know of them is that they knew how to work hard and took pride in doing a good job. 

If you enjoyed reading this and would like to read more of my adventures and even follow me so you won’t be left out, please see my blog Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats and subscribe by email, WordPress, or Bloglovin. I’d enjoy having you join my family of blog readers. 

Thanks for stopping by and do come again.

Karen, Tu-Na Quilts

 

Tu-Na Quilts: A Cookbook Shelf for Emily

Emily, your block is finally finished! I hope you can use this shelf of cookbooks for your quilt. 

These food novelty prints traveled back from ND with me after the holidays in January.

Emily’s a librarian and a mom and a wife and a quilter who blogs at The Darling Dogwood.  She asked for this block in December. Yes, I realize it’s February. Artwork just can’t be rushed.

I’ve made several leaning books before but this one had to lean the opposite way than all the others I made. I got it right the second time.

When Emily asked for a shelf of books, I knew right away what I wanted to do. Yes, it became involved and grew and grew. You know that’s how it is with cookbooks; one just can’t have too many.

I had to add a strip of this wonderful fabric because everything is better with butter!

I added a mixer as my shelf extra. Sitting amongst the “cookbooks” it actually looks like a new mini version. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could actually own a mini KitchenAid that’s just the right size to whip up some cream for two people or even four. I don’t know about you but I need to whip at least a pint in my real KitchenAid so that the beater is effective or else it ends up just whipping up air.

Tu-Na Helper called this mixer a digital version since it was missing the lever but I think some things just have to be left to the imagination.

I trimmed this cute little mixer block down to 7 3/4″ x 8 1/2″ and set it on top of some “cookbooks.” After all, if you owned a mini KitchenAid, wouldn’t you store it on your cookbook shelf?

In the end, this block measured 13″ X 29″. Yes, it’s longer than she asked for in her tutorial here but on our Facebook page she said it could go longer if we wanted. And well, there’s no stopping Tu-Na from adding more books to the shelf, especially a cookbook shelf!

I just had to add some more books to the other side of the mixer for balance. I couldn’t resist adding the strip of selvage for a label on the cooky book. That selvage came from the fabric with the stick of butter. 

Tu-Na Helper thought I should add more labels to the books but I thought you could do that if you wanted to. His suggestion is The World of Pickles. I think I would have put Everything’s Better with Bacon, Betty’s Pies, and The Joy of Ice Cream. If I knew how to operate the embroidery alphabet on my new machine, I’d do it but that lesson comes next week. Since this block is so late I thought I shouldn’t wait another minute. I’ll get it in tomorrow’s mail and it’ll be on it’s way to you.

What I Learned Today:

1. This mixer block was fun but putzy. You can find the free pattern here and the pattern for leaning the books here.
2. I might have to sew up a mixer block for myself. But I sure don’t need another project right now. I just confessed that I suffer from MPD and DSD on my blog here. This block is just one of those blocks one has to make at least once but I’m not going to say I’ll never make another one. 

Question: Do you use cookbooks or are you prone to searching the internet for a recipe? I do both but I have a huge collection of cookbooks. I used to read them as books.

If you enjoyed this post and would like to read more about my journey or follow me, please visit my blog, Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats. Thank s for stopping by.

Karen, Tu-Na Quilts

Linking to:

Can I Get a Whoop Whoop? at Confessions of a Fabric Addict

Finished or Not Friday at Busy Hands Quilt

Show Off Saturday at Sew Can She