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Sept-Oct 2014
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Events
The Country Register of Oklahoma & Texas September/October 2014 Issue
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P.O. Box 32581 • Oklahoma City, OK 73123 • 405-470-2597
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The Country Register Founder: Barbara Floyd, 602-321-6511,
[email protected], located in Phoenix, AZ
USA
• Alabama: Dana Wilburn, 6349 Knollwood Ct., Frederick, MD 21701, 301-698-2694
• Arizona: Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, P.O. Box 84345, Phoenix, AZ, 85071, 602-942-8950
• Arkansas: Lenda Williams, P.O. Box 32581, Oklahoma City, OK 73123, 405-470-2597
• California & N. Nevada: Betty Fassett, 26941 Cabot Rd., Suite 132, Laguna Hills, CA, 92653, 800-349-1858
Colorado: Jan & John Keller, 16755 Oak Brush Loop, Peyton, CO, 80831, 719-749-9797
• Connecticut: Michael Dempsey, 10213 Fanny Brown Road, Raleigh, NC 27603, 919-661-1760
• Delaware: Merle and Gail Taylor, P.O. Box 594, New Market, MD, 21774, 888-616-8319
• Florida: Dave & Amy Carter, P.O. Box 365, New Market, MD, 21774, 866-825-9217
• Georgia: Linda Parish, P.O. Box 389, Lexington, GA, 30648, 706-340-1049, 678-641-7728
• Idaho (N): Dee Sleep, 132 W. Hudson Street, Spearfish, SD 57783, 605-722-7028
• Idaho (S) WA & E. OR: Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, P. O. Box 84345, Phoenix, AZ, 602-942-8950
• Illinois: Lenda Williams, P.O. Box 32581, Oklahoma City, ,OK 73123, 405-470-2597
• Indiana: Gail & Merle Taylor, P.O. Box 594, New Market, MD, 21774, 888-616-8319
Iowa: Linda Glendy, P.O. Box 6, Tama, IA, 52339, 641-751-2619
• Kansas: Cindy Baldwin, 988 9th Ave., McPherson, KS 67460, 866-966-9815
• Kentucky: Chris & Kelly Kennedy, 5804 Whiterose Way, New Market, MD 21774 443-243-1118
Maine: Gail Hageman, 221 Winslow Rd, Albion, ME 04910, 207-437-2663
• Maryland: Dave & Amy Carter, P.O. Box 365, New Market, MD, 21774, 866-825-9217
• Massachusetts-RI: Michael Dempsey, 10213 Fanny Brown Road, Raleigh, NC 27603, 919-661-1760
Michigan: Bill and Marlene Howell, 3790 Manistee, Saginaw, MI, 48603-3143, 989-793-4211
• Minnesota: Kim and Mickey Keller, 12835 Kiska St. NE, Blaine, MN, 55449, 763-754-1661
• Missouri: Lenda Williams, P.O. Box 32581, Oklahoma City, OK 73123, 405-470-2597
• Montana: Dee Sleep, 132 W. Hudson Street, Spearfish, SD 57783, 605-722-7028
• Nebraska: Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, P. O. Box 84345, Phoenix, AZ 85071, 602-942-8950
• Nevada (N): Betty Fassett, 26941 Cabot Rd., Suite 132, Laguna Hills, CA, 92653, 800-349-1858
• Nevada (S): Glena Dunn, 4568 Carol Circle, Las Vegas, NV, 89120, 702-523-1803
New Hampshire: Kathleen Graham, 330 North Road, Deerfield, NH, 03037, 603-463-3703
• New Jersey: Merle and Gail Taylor, P.O. Box 594, New Market, MD, 21774, 888-616-8319
New Mexico: Jan & John Keller, 16755 Oak Brush Loop, Peyton, CO, 80831, 719-749-9797
• New York: Dave & Amy Carter, P.O. Box 365, New Market, MD, 21774, 866-825-9217
• N. Carolina: Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, P.O. Box 84345, Phoenix, AZ, 85071, 602-942-8950
• North Dakota: Dee Sleep, 132 W. Hudson Street, Spearfish, SD 57783, 605-722-7028
• Ohio: Barb Moore, P. O. Box 37, Cable, OH, 43009, 937-652-1157
• Oklahoma: Lenda Williams, P.O. Box 32581, Oklahoma City, OK 73123, 405-470-2597
• Oregon: Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, P.O. Box 84345, Phoenix, AZ, 85071, 602-942-8950
• Pennsylvania: Dave & Amy Carter, PO Box 365, New Market, MD, 21774, 866-825-9217
• Rhode Island: Michael Dempsey, 10213 Fanny Brown Road, Raleigh, NC 27603, 919-661-1760
• S. Carolina: Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, P.O. Box 84345, Phoenix, AZ, 85071, 602-942-8950
• South Dakota: Dee Sleep, 132 W. Hudson Street, Spearfish, SD 57783, 605-722-7028
• Tennessee: Chris & Kelly Kennedy, 5804 Whiterose Way, New Market, MD 21774 443-243-1118
• Texas: Lenda Williams, P.O. Bo 32581, Oklahoma City, OK 73123, 405-470-2597
• Utah: Daniel & Stacy Tueller, 153 S 2050 W, Provo UT 84601, 801-592-8498
• Virginia: Dave & Amy Carter, P.O. Box 365, New Market, MD, 21774, 866-825-9217
• Wash. & E. OR & S. ID: Barbara Stillman and Lolly Konecky, P. O. Box 84345, Phoenix, AZ, 602-942-8950
• West Virginia: Dave & Amy Carter, PO Box 365, New Market, MD, 21774, 866-825-9217
• Wisconsin: Scott & Jennifer Hughes, P. O. Box 276, Altoona, WI, 54720, 715-838-9426
• Wyoming: Dee Sleep, 132 W. Hudson Street, Spearfish, SD 57783, 605-722-7028
CANADA
• Alberta: Ruth Burke, P.O. Box 97, Heisler, AB, T0B2A0, 780-889-3776
British Columbia: Bryan Stonehill, Box 1338, Summerland, B.C. V0H 1Z0, 1-800-784-6711
• Manitoba & Saskatchewan: Scott & Marj Kearns, Box 850, Kipling, SK, S0G 2S0, 306-736-2441
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Events
September / October 2014
Just Between Us…
In this Issue
by Lenda Williams
About Our Cover Art. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Autumn/Fall is defined as the the transition from summer to winter.
Being a crafter/sewer, I call it crunch time. First, I have to clean the sewing
room. Yes, the machines need dusting and oiled. The room lacks some
organization and books and patterns need reviewed. It never ceases
to amaze me how that room can need cleaning when I haven sewn in
awhile. Some of the mess resembles remnants of the last project. Hummm
how could that be? Holiday projects, Oh my… should a started a month
ago. What am I going to make? This is the time to start cruising the quilt
shops for wonderful ideas and tempting classes. Every class I take I learn
something new. Like how I have been doing something the hardest way
possible. There are new materials to purchase and new techniques to
learn. The notions continue to improve and make sewing easier and the
shop owners have the answers. Even quilting techniques change. I always
start this season with a list of to do projects that I need a year to finish. It’s
always interesting to see how many of these good intentions actually get
completed. What a fun time of the year!
Designs, Stitchery & Projects. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3, 14, 15
Not only do most of us love to sew, BUT we also love to cook. Below is
a Pumpkin Bread Recipe that I am clueless where I got it, butI have been
making it for 40 plus years. I’ve made it with canned and fresh pumpkin.
If you make it with fresh pumpkin, just be sure to drain it well.
Pumpkin Bread
3 eggs
1 ½ Cups Sugar
1 ½ Cups Pumpkin
1 Cup plus 2 TBS salad oil
1 ½ tsp vanilla
2 ¼ Cups flour
1 ½ tsp baking soda
1 ½ tsp baking powder
1 ½ tsp salt
1 ½ tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp cloves
¼ tsp ginger
¼ tsp nutmeg
¾ cup chopped pecans
Beat eggs and sugar together well. Add pumpkin, oil and vanilla,
mixing thoroughly. Sift flour, soda, baking powder, salt and spices. Add to
pumpkin mixture and beat. Add pecans. Bake at 350 degrees for one
hour in two well greased loaf pans. This freezes well and is great sliced and
spread with softened cream cheese.
OK, I know it’s not dietary.
Lenda Williams
Oklahoma Advertisers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-8
Recipes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3, 4, 7, 11
Texas Advertisers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8, 9-15
Upcoming Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5, 8, 9, 16
Our Search for Cover Artwork —
Across the U.S. and Canada, you can always tell The Country
Register by it’s cover. Our publishers seek to find cover art or photos
from the state the paper represents. To that end, we are seeking the
work of artists from Oklahoma & Texas to feature on our covers. The art
must be in good taste and consistent with the theme of the papers.
If you would like your work to be considered, please send an
email indicating your interest to [email protected]
3
4
Northwest OK
Zucchini Inspiration
It is August already and I have been in Eastern Washington since the end
of May drifting from one relative’s place to the other. The zucchini are on full
force and no one in the family plants them except my brother-in-law. There
are two people in that house hold, three with me occasionally. He grows
enough to supply many families (and the local food bank) and his garden is
beautifully kept. I asked him how many plants of zucchini he planted. Well,
there are four, sometimes five in a container for a $1.49! Of course he plants
them all. I am sure there were five this year. He is such a farmer, gardener! I
love the end results but not the process.
It has become my 80 year old sister’s full time job to either use or find
homes for all the produce. Her new rule this year is the zucchini must be
picked when they are young and tender. Sometimes she gets her wish,
others not. These things grow like Jack and the Bean Stalk. Forget to pick
them and in one day they become super giant zucchini!
I do not have to worry about getting enough veggies when I am at
their home. My sister JoAnn cooks very well but only by recipes....always.
Me, rarely. She surprised me recently as I landed at their place in time for
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dinner. The zucchini abundance had pushed her over the edge. After making
her usual and many zucchini recipes daily, some of which I have shared with
you in past issues, she took the plunge to get very creative with yet another
picking of produce. If she can free fall in the kitchen after all these years so
can you.
One thing she did that made meal time fast and easy was set everything
out and prep it ahead of time. This made this tasty zucchini dish quick once it
got in the large sauté pot.
Here is what you need for this size batch. All amounts can be adjusted to
fit your needs and ingredients can be added or left out with no damage done
to this recipe. This amount served three generously plus a smaller portion”to
go”for my starving daughter passing through Pasco on her daily commute to
the farm in Walla Walla where Love of Junk, Walla’s Walla’s Vintage market
was held in June.
And, now the “recipe”; Half pound ground sausage, browned. More if
desired or leave the meat out. Add about a cup or more of sliced mushrooms,
a cup of green or regular sliced onions, a cup of sliced red peppers (or any
color you have on hand), one bunch of chopped cilantro, and about six to
seven cups green and yellow small tender zucchini chopped into 3/4 inch
cubes. Lightly sauté in large pan. At this point watch to keep your zucchini
a tad undercooked. There is nothing worse than soggy veggies! Add about
3/4 to one cup tomato sauce and salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle a cup
or more of shredded plain white or pepper jack cheese on top, cover until
melted. Serve immediately.
For added flavor use spicy sausage or ground beef plus other fresh
veggies such as slightly cooked fresh green beans. Red pepper flakes can pep
this up also if desired. The tomato sauce could be exchanged for something
like medium Pace Picante sauce. This “hot dish” tasted great with a fresh
cucumber, dill, parsley, onion relish with a vinegar-sugar dressing. Just another
benefit of being related to a gardener!
Like cookbooks? Check out our cookbook drawing on the home page
of www.countryregister.com every two months.
Barbara Floyd, Founder of The Country Register, The Antique Register of
Arizona, and Love of Junk, Walla Walla’s Vintage Market, resides in Phoenix,
AZ, and still loves the kitchen. She can be reached at barbara@countryregister
and will soon celebrate two years of semi-retirement. Junk Store Jaunts
by Susan Springer
My thrill with thrift stores began when I was about 13. I wandered into a
junk store and was immediately hooked at finding neat loot, stacked helterskelter for pennies on the dollar. I made fifty-cents an hour for babysitting and
could see my buying power expand in leaps and bounds. I was enthralled.
No, I was giddy. This was in a time when it was a social embarrassment to my
mother that I was so enchanted by such a store and talked to the neighbors
about my "finds." Years later—once I had a home of my own—I went wild.
This hobby has continued for the last 46 years, and looking at my garage
and spare room, you wouldn't doubt it. Before you cluck your tongue,
consider this. I have found world-class art, museum quality sculptures, designer
handbags, fine jewelry, high-end clothing, elegant luggage as well as goofy
things I use for props in my various hobbies and businesses. Sooner or later, I
deduced, whatever you wanted would wind up at a convenient thrift shop.
Over the years, I have found this true. Some of my fabulous finds have
been: a bottle of unopened perfume (the real deal that would normally retail
for $125) priced at $6.99; a Chanel shoulder bag, which listed for $1500 at
the time, for $5.99; $400 Taryn Rose shoes for $6.99; and a signed Chihuly
glass bowl with nesting vase for $24.99—just to name a few. Between junk
stores, antique malls and estate sales, I buy what catches my eye and what I
like. It's as if these things jump out at me when I walk into the store.
Do you want expensive cookware or, perhaps, high-end knives and are
willing to get them a piece at a time? You can find them! The skill in finding
your own treasures can be learned. My "collections" and objects of desire
have changed over the years. I collect something and then move on to other
(story continues on next page)
Northeast OK
September / October 2014
(story continued from previous page)
interests. One year it was quilts, another year perfume bottles, then antique
petit point purses, followed by Native American baskets, etc.
The "secret" I possess is this—exposure to world-class galleries, museums
and perusing the magazines of the wealthy. They help me identify the name
brands and artists that may not be known to the thrift store purveyor and
expand my repertoire of stuff I someday dream of finding. One vendor
cannot be an expert on everything so I take advantage of that fact. I will
often buy to sell, but as the years roll by, I am getting rather picky in my
selections for resale. Most of the time I cannot part with things, which explains
my garage and treasure room.
Now that is the problem. Living with ultra expensive items, albeit bought
on the cheap, spoils you. You get used to drinking out of Faberge, Waterford
or Ajka stemware, wearing designer clothing and surrounding yourself with
beautiful art and often unusual or interesting artifacts. Keeping your mouth
shut when someone compliments you on something you are wearing or
displaying is another occupational hazard. It is so hard for me to simply say
"Thank you" and not "Oh! Can you believe I paid $4.99 for this?"
Lastly, keep in mind that the thrill is in the hunt. You may find greater
enjoyment in the looking, longing and hoping for the item. When you finally
snag it, it may not satisfy like you thought it might. Like any proper addiction
it leaves you wanting more, more and more!
Susan Salisbury Springer is a freelance home economist who has a
Bachelor of Arts degree in Family & Consumer Sciences and is affiliated with
several professional organizations. Copyright 2014 by Susan S. Springer. All
rights reserved. Used by permission. Contact Ms. Springer at ssspringer@
consultant.com.
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THE FARMER’S DAUGHTER
It’s In the Bag!
By Bernita Hill
Recently, a reference to feed sack dresses and
quilts started a group of us talking about feed sacks and
their many uses. Each of us thought they were particular
to our childhoods, the 1940’s, which would have been
correct. It was estimated that by 1942, three million
women and children(from all income levels) were
wearing feedsack garments.
By the feedsack story actually started in the 1800’s.
Originally, goods such as food staples, grain, seed and
animal feed were packed in tins, boxes, and wooden barrels. That proved
unsatisfactory as the tin rusted; the boxes and barrels leaked and all were
easily damaged. Plus, they were heavy and bulky.
Manufacturers searched for another option but did not consider cloth
bags of homespun linen(a “junk” fabric then) that farmers used to store goods
because the hand sewn seams would not hold up to heavy use. All that was
changed in 1846, when the “stitching machine” which made double locking
seams possible, came in to use.
Originally, feedsacks were made of canvas and were used to transport
flour, sugar, meal, grain, salt and feed from the mills. A farmer could bring
back an empty sack stamped with his mark or brand to be refilled.
Sacks replace barrels
Between 1840 and 1890, cotton sacks gradually replaced barrels as
food containers. Many of the logos on flour sacks were circular, a carry-over
from when they had to fit on the top of the barrels.
In the late 1800’s, mills in the Northeast began weaving inexpensive
cotton fabric. Feedsacks(or feedbags) were first of plain white cloth and came
in sizes that matched barrel sizes. One barrel bag held 196 pounds of flour;
a 1/8th barrel bag held 24 pounds. The brand name of the flour was printed
on the side of the bag.
Farm wives quickly learned that this cotton bag was a good source of
fabric which could be used for dish cloths, diapers, nightgowns, underwear,
pillowcases, curtains, aprons and quilt backing. One of my friends has always
laughed about wearing “bloomers” with WHITE GOOSE FLOUR stamped on
her botton!
In order for women to use them in other ways, they first had to remove
the label. They used methods such as soaking it in kerosene or rubbing it with
unsalted lard, then washing it with lye soap. Later Fels-Naptha soap and
chlorine bleach were used. Finally, producers began to paste on paper labels
to make the logos easier to remove.
Flour sacks were the most common
The flour industry had the largest share of the feedsack market with more
than 42%. Sugar was next with 17% followed by feed, seeds, rice and fertilizer.
The feedsacks came in different sizes and the quality of the cloth varied with
the item it contained. Sugar sacks were much finer in weave. By 1914, sugar
sacks came in 6, 4,3,2 and 1 pound sizes. Sizes varied by manufacturer
until President Roosevelt standardized sizes in 1937. A 50 pound feedsack
measured 34 x 38 inches; a 100 pound sack measured 39 x 46 inches.
Manufacturers quickly took advantage of this and started offering sacks
in colors, hoping to create product loyalty. It required three identical sacks to
make a woman’s dress. One feedsack would make a child’s dress or shirt.
By the 1930’s there was competition to produce the most attractive and
desirable prints. Artists were hired to design them. Women picked out the
food product based on the fabric they desired. Some sacks had borders for
pillowcases or curtains.
Magazine and pattern companies began to notice feedsack popularity
and started publishing patterns to take advantage of feedsack prints. Matching
fabric was available from the local dry goods store, too. Directions were also
printed giving instructions on knitting and crocheting the strings.
Some bags came ready for sewing with pre-printed patterns for dolls,
doll clothing and aprons. Some sacks were printed as a series such as the
1935 Sea Island sugar doll series.
Most collectible
Sacks had themes. Currently, some of the more collectible sacks are:
those with Walt Disney themes(Davy Crockett, Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland,
Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse and Goofy); movie themes(Gone with the
Wind); comic book themes(Buck Rogers); or nursery rhyme themes(Bo Peep,
Humpty Dumpty).
Those who found they had more feed sacks than they could use sold
them back to the store or traded them with others. Chicken farmers especially
went through lots of bagged feed so they began a side line of selling feed
sacks. Itinerant peddlers traveled the countryside giving women who lived in
remote areas an opportunity to obtain feed sacks.
By 1941, there were 31 textile mills manufacturing bag goods. Bemis
Brothers, TN, Fulton Bag and Cotton Mills and Cotton Mills of Atlanta, GA had
their own textile mills. Percy Kent made the famous WWII feedsacks known as
Kent’s Cloth of the United Nations featuring wartime symbols.
Even after the economy improved following the Great Depression, it
was necessary to conserve for the war effort. Using feedsacks was considered
patriotic and women enjoyed finding attractive feedsack prints.
Paper bags come in to being
But, after WWII, innovations presented more sanitary and cost effective
packaging of heavy paper and plastic containers. A paper bag cost only 10
cents to make as opposed to the 32 cents a cloth bag cost. By 1948, the new
industry held over half of the market.
Most of us are familiar with feedsack quilts. They still can be found today
in almost every household quilt collection. From tiny one-inch squares like the
Irish Chain pattern to the four-and-nine-patch blocks and appliquéd blocks
like the fan and Dresden plate, feedsack prints dominated quilt in the ‘30’s
and ‘40’s.
Today quilt shops and catalogs carry reproduction prints, often in packages
of fat quarters or half-yards, 10 inch squares, charm packs and jelly rolls or in
single color waves like all greens. A package of 50 fat quarters sells for around
$140.
Although the colorful feedsack fell from popularity as a utilitarian piece,
collectors today still seek them. On average, you will pay about $7 for a
common sack with the border prints running slightly higher. The rarer ones will
go for $20 and up.
If you plan to purchase vintage feedsacks or have inherited some, keep
in mind the bag should be in excellent condition with no stains, holes or
fraying. The more flaws, the less it is worth. To insure it is genuine, look for
visible holes across the top where the thread ran. A coarse weave is not a clue
to a true feedsack as the same fabric could be bought off the bolt as well.
Whatever your memories of feedsack are, it is certain that , for many of
us, they represent an important part of our fabric history.
©Copyright, Bernita Hill, 2014
September / October 2014
Quilting with Barbara
Oh, where has summer gone? Summer with its long, hot days, bright
flowers, fresh-from-the-garden vegetables…summer with its relaxed pace,
freedom from routine, opportunities to shop-hop in new places… Did
someone say shop-hop? Does that phrase conjure up visions of the summer
shopping accumulation of a pile of new fabrics, projects and patterns?
Alas, not for me. Not this year. Although we drove about 3000 kilometers
through many towns that had quilt shops, I returned without one single piece
of new fabric! I’m not proud of it, but that’s what happened. I can scarcely
believe it myself. However, that doesn’t mean I did no shopping. This summer,
in search of new projects and techniques for fall and winter (shudder), I
concentrated on searching out books that will extend my repertoire and skill
set, and I’d like to share some of what I found.
Being an inveterate buyer of fabric – except for this summer – I have in
my stash several absolutely beautiful large-scale prints that I hesitate to cut.
Sound familiar? One common problem for quilters seems to be finding a
project to use these fabrics to best advantage. Althea Ballard’s Maverick Quilts
(C&T, 2011) is not new but it’s full of ideas for large prints and panels, with
detailed instructions for ten projects and ideas for many more. She is also a
realist. Of the why-did-I-ever-buy-that fabric in your stash, she writes, “I…am
so over that bunny fabric. A maverick has to bite the bullet, cut her losses, and
get rid of the dang thing…you know you’ll never use it. Ever,” and suggests
easing your conscience by donating it to a charity group where someone
Events & Fun Stuff
7
may love and use it.
Big Print Patchwork by Sandy Turner (Martingale, 2013) approaches the
problem somewhat differently. She explains and lavishly illustrates methods
of incorporating large-scale and pictorial prints into three traditional settings,
Rail Fence, Birds in the Air and Around the Twist. The addition of pictorial and
large prints adds life to these settings, and the variations, many of which are
illustrated, are endless, making this book both inspirational and practical.
For quilters who may be growing tired of slavishly following someone
else’s directions and are ready to start designing their own quilts, Lisa Walton’s
Beautiful Building Block Quilts (C&T, 2013) is a good read and sure to inspire.
Using simple arithmetic the quilter/reader is guided toward designing original
blocks which, when arranged and sewn, will result in an original quilt. Eight
projects (and four bonus projects) illustrate design techniques and encourage
innovation and originality. Modern quilters in particular will relish this book.
The fourth book, Quilt Blocks Around the World, by Debra Gabel (C&T,
2012) is more than eye candy. People who love to travel – or dream about it,
or know someone who does – will savour the possibility of making raw-edge
fused applique blocks representing over 45 international cities from A (Agra)
to V (Venice). Blocks from this book would have so many uses: used together
as a souvenir of individual or family travel, used singly or in combinations in
hangings or cushion covers. What a great reminder of an exotic trip! A bonus
CD is included. It will print PDF patterns from the book in any size, making
possible customization to the nth degree. In addition to patterns and detailed
instructions there are numerous tips and suggestions from the author. Projects
from the book would make wonderful gifts for family or friends who live to
travel.
So this fall, let’s expand our quilting horizons. All of the books listed above
promise fascinating possibilities and projects. I can hardly wait to start!
© Barbara Conquest writes her column from Blue Sky Quilting in Tofield, AB.
8
Events & Fun Stuff
2014
Oct.
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THE COOL THING
ABOUT MEMORIES IS:
(They really don’t have to be your own!)
by Joann Ellen Sisco
Memories are easily transferable. Proof of that is the vast amount of
historical fiction available and no one life could have experienced it all.
Another proof is that memories can be easily re-formed and cherry-picked
for interest.
A favorite reason of mine… is that they have already happened and
they stay right there in the mind or on paper and don’t get changed, the
way the future often is. MY MOUNTAIN MEMORIES and PRAIRIE PENPRINTS
are one way my memories are shared. I have also accumulated other
memories, many of them being from my grandmother who lived them…
way back before microwaves and cell phones that take pictures. When I
was a child, a ‘cell’ was either jail or the wax hexagon where bees stored
their honey. Things change. That’s another fascination with memories.
One of my very favorite writers was an English jocky, and honored
by the queen of England for his successes. I’ve never been to England or
attended a horse race. Horses are beautiful, but I don’t want to be behind
them. I currently carry a scar on my nose for having been too close to a
flying hoof at age three.
I said that the writer ‘was’ my favorite, because he passed on to his
reward leaving only a set number of books, all of which I have re-read
and he gave me some fascinating memories of a place and time I can
never experience.
Those readers who have never lived in the mountains may not know
what a moonshiner is, but I do. I was there . I have also seen survivors
of painful loss take a breath, square their shoulders and plunge ahead,
creating a path for those behind them. There was Floralee, left on a 13
acre hillside farm… pregnant and with seven other children. This package
of memories is titled LIKE AN EAGLE, but it might better have been named
“Rise up Like Cornbread”. She had been promised, at the funeral, that it
was possible to rise up like the eagles.
While Floralee was cooking cornbread for her children’s supper she
thought she would be content to just rise up like the bread in the skillet.
She announced to herself, “I will rise and my children will rise with me. On
the back of that old mama pig out there in the shed, we will rise.”
Why she chose to use those words, are made clear in the book LIKE
AN EAGLE. This book and other books of memories are available from MY
MOUNTAIN MEMORIES.com. Ebook, $2.99 from Amazon. Paperback and
Kindle available.
By Janet Young
“Have you ever had a good time, and never wanted it to end?” That
is a quote from one of my customers of the formerly Over The Teacup
Teahouse. As most of you know due to elder care issues, I had to close
my teahouse after 12 years of serving tea to some of the most gracious
people I have ever met.
Recently I came across a book I kept containing comments that
were made by my customers as they enjoyed their tea experience. As I
served them, I would hear comments about their experience, and I would
immediately write them down when I escaped to the kitchen. That book
served me well on those days when I needed a little reminder of why I
was doing what I was doing. Don’t get me wrong, it was not that I didn’t
enjoy it, but like anyone else, we all need a little encouragement from
time to time. Because tea is such an enjoyable, fun time, few people
realize all the work that goes into making their tea time so special.
Prior to operating a teahouse, I worked for 20 years at a retirement
community. When I left, among the numerous things the residents had
done to honor me, were to present me with an album of hand written
notes from the residents expressing their thoughts about our time together.
While I seldom look through that book, I know if I ever need a little uplifting,
that is the place I will go. This got me to thinking about how we all can
benefit by our kind words or expressions of appreciation to others for what
they mean to us, or what they do for us.
With kids going back to school or college, wouldn’t it be helpful if
they found a note of encouragement from Mom, or grandma, or even a
friend. Or, what about a young adult entering the workforce, he or she
could certainly use a little bit of confidence, that maybe a note from you
would instill. There are many opportunities to offer kind words to those
who are struggling and may need a little compassion to help them on
their journey. You may never know what impact your note(s) may have
on someone’s life.
Last year for my grandson’s first birthday, I wrote him a letter that
predicted what I thought his strengths might be as he grew, and what
possibilities were his as he matured. This year I will recount the fun things
we did over the year, highlighting the joy he has brought into our lives.
His innocence, his sense of wonder, and his numerous giggles are all
attributes that endear him to us more and more. What about you…
is there someone in your life who could benefit by a note of cheer or
encouragement?
When I closed the teahouse, it was not what I wanted to do. However,
I continued on by presenting tea talks and teaching etiquette classes. Now,
when I read my notes that were received years ago, I find great delight
in reading them for I know I did the right thing, and that everything has
worked out the way it was meant to be.
In closing, I will end with another quote from a former customer. I
didn’t want the usual comments: food is delicious, attention to detail,
standard by which we judge other teahouses. Instead, I wanted it to
reflect the true mission of Over The Teacup. I think I found that in the
following quote:
“Thank you for caring.”
–Janet Young, Certified Tea and EtiquetteConsultant, is a founding
member of Mid-Atlantic Tea Business Association and freelance writer/
national tea presenter. Visit her website at www.overtheteacup.com.
Central TX
September / October 2014
Back-to-College Tea
As a university student, I shuffled through the orange and gold maple
leaves carpeting the University of Washington campus. Fall, with its cool, crisp
air, easily became my favorite season—especially as I strolled hand-in-hand
with Milt, my college sweetheart. We got engaged in October of my senior
year and planned on a summer wedding.
Five decades later, I savor memories of those exciting days of learning
and special friendships. So as Lena, my niece’s daughter, prepared for her
own educational adventures, I wanted to send her off with a back-to-college
tea.
Create an Edible Invitation
Since Lena lived only five minutes away, I delivered an edible invitation.
I baked a small streusel-topped teacake to tantalize her taste buds and wrote
this note on teacup-shaped paper:
Dear Lena,
You are cordially invited to a tea breakfast on Monday at 9:30.
Tea 4 - 2, me and you.
Love, Aunt-Tea Lydia
Lena gladly accepted my invitation.
Prepare a Comfy Setting
When Lena came for tea a week later, I seated her in a cozy livingroom chair. Then I served her breakfast on a wooden
tray adorned with a floral placemat, matching cloth
napkin, and a candle in a little teacup. Of course, I
used pretty dishes.
“I feel so pampered,” Lena said, relaxing in the
recliner with the breakfast tray nearby. I joined her in
another recliner.
To encourage Lena and other college students beyond tea time, I
contributed to Rise, a 32-week devotional to help college freshmen grow
in their faith. Lena read my devotions before I submitted them to make
sure they were relevant to college students. This fall her brother will attend
my alma mater, so I gave him a copy of Rise, which is available at: www.
chaplainpublishing.com.
Plan Your Teatime
As summer ends and fall brings beauty and bounty of its own, why not
plan a special teatime for a student you know? I’m ready to bake a plumdelicious teacake to share over a cuppa’ tea. Won’t you join me?
Here’s a short blessing you can use if desired.
For rosy apples, juicy plums,
And honey from the bees,
We thank you, Heavenly Father God,
For such good gifts as these.
Author Unknown
*Caution: One time a jar with pie broke while cooling.
Lydia E. Harris holds a master of arts degree in home economics and
is blessed with five grandchildren aged preschool to high school. She has
authored numerous articles, stories, devotionals, and a book, Preparing My
Heart for Grandparenting.
From Lydia’s Recipe File:
Plum-Delicious Teacake
Try this teacake with plum-flavored tea, such
as Sugar Plum Spice (Celestial Seasonings) and
Cinnamon Plum (Republic of Tea or Ashbys).
Beat together:
Make Yummy Food
For a breakfast tea, choose your favorite foods
and add a cuppa’ tea. I wanted to make Lena’s
breakfast special, so my menu included: coddled
eggs with bacon bits and cheese, homemade raisinbread toast with jam, mango nectar, fancy fresh fruit,
individual cutie pies, and two kinds of tea—rose petal
and mango Ceylon.
“This looks so delicious,” Lena said. “I’ll take a
picture and e-mail it to my friends.”
To make the fruit special, here’s my recipe: Layer watermelon,
cantaloupe, and grapes in a tall goblet for a rainbow effect. Then slice an
orange into circles and poke half a slice into the top of the fruit as a rising sun.
Pour sparkling cider over the fruit before serving.
To make cutie pies, bake individual pies in wide-mouth, eight-ounce
canning jars.* Or use muffin tins, or small aluminum-foil pie pans. Prepare or
purchase piecrust and cut it into 3-inch-circles. (The ring of a canning-jar lid
makes a good cutter.) Line the bottom of each container with crust, add your
favorite fruit filling, and top with another circle of crust. If you use jars, place
them two-inches apart on a baking sheet with sides. Bake at 350 degrees for
30 minutes or until done. Remove carefully and cool. For Lena, I made three
kinds of little pies: apple, huckleberry, and plum. She chose plum, finding it
plum-delicious! Serve with ice cream if desired.
Add Spiritual Food
Lena and I laughed and chatted while we ate, catching up on her
college plans. Before she left, we prayed together.
11
1/2 cup sugar
3 tablespoons melted butter
2 eggs
1/3 cup milk or sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla
Mix in:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg or cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
Pour batter into greased 9-inch round cake pan.
Top batter with 6 to 8 pitted plums cut in half, cut side up.
Sprinkle with mixture of 2 tablespoons sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon.
Bake at 375 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted
in the center comes out clean. Serve warm with a dollop of whipped
cream. Serves 6 to 8.
(Adapted from Plum Kuchen recipe at http://www.tasteofhome.com/
Recipes/Plum-Kuchen.)
12
Northwest TX
The Way It Was and the Way It Is!
Grandma’s House
by James Nelson
It was old, yet new; it was Spartan, yet grand. It looked stark and cold to
many but in my mind’s eye it generated warmth and love. It was Grandma’s
house. At this time in my young life, I was sure no finer house existed anywhere
in the world.
A large bay window in the front room viewed the most elegant front
porch one could imagine, from its ivy-covered pillars to the broad, long front
steps leading to the oaken front door. The porch seemed to beckon you with
the words “This is a grandma’s house.” The top step had a squeak all its own
that seemed to say “Welcome.”
All the rooms had high-beamed ceilings, which made them difficult to
heat in our wintry climate. It didn’t matter to Grandma. She always said it
made her feel like she was living in a castle. Certainly this was easy to imagine
for a small boy.
Her dream home was heated by central heating, meaning a large
round, black woodstove sitting in the middle of the living room. Its cavernous,
clanging double doors welcomed each tamarack log inserted in its throat with
snapping sparks and crackling sounds of warmth.
The living room was Grandpa’s favorite. I remember so vividly, as a child,
watching him rocking in his chair at the end of the day, the only time he had
to sit in it. Later in the evening, the twilight shadows slowly crept across the
living room’s linoleum-covered floor eventually creating a silhouette of this
kindly man. Flames inside the woodstove reflected through its tiny window
and danced upon his weathered features.
He never sat in his chair for long before Susie, his German shorthaired
pointer, who never pointed at anything except her dog dish, was at his side.
She knew it was only a matter of time before his hand would reach and find
her with his soft touch. This dog, whom he often referred to as “that old pot
hound,” always looked up at him with adoration and wagging tail, knowing
full well she would be sleeping by his bed that night.
The only time his chair was moved was on Saturday night. He would take
it to the front room and set it next to a small table radio, encased in a beautiful
maple cabinet. There was no built-in stereo system in this house, thank you.
There Grandpa rocked while laughing at the satirical humor of Amos and
Andy. The rest of the family retreated to the living room so they wouldn’t have
to hear him say in his gruffest voice, “Shush now, I’m trying to listen.”
This scene is etched in my memory forever, along with my love for both
my grandparents. Every child should have the opportunity to develop a bond
with his or her grandparents. After all, they are an extension of your own life.
Grandma’s favorite room and mine, too, of course, was the kitchen
with adjoining pantry. The pantry with the icebox at the back was another
adventure for a grandchild. Yes, I still call our refrigerator an icebox. This always
brings a smile to my children’s faces. It’s only natural.
The big old iron Monarch cook stove was what Grandma cooked her
masterpieces on—from your basic foods to apple pie with golden brown crusts
that would meld in your mouth. Believe me, they weren’t fat free. All this was
done with nothing but a thermometer on the heavy oven door. I guess you
could say it was cooking by the seat of your pants. I remember the wood
crackling and seeing the coals falling as I peered through the draft on the side
of the stove. It tickled me because it was my job to split the kindling and set
the fire the night before. It was a chore I loved to do and couldn’t do at home.
Mom had an electric stove. She couldn’t cook as well as Grandma, either.
The Monarch stove was stoked up for double duty on baking day. It not
only provided heat for Grandma’s goodies but hot water for the weekly wash
as well. If I was visiting, my job was to keep its flaming hunger satisfied with
wooden mill ends. I was glad to do it because I knew at the end of the wash
that Grandma and I would sit down for a coffee break.
I didn’t get coffee at home but Grandma felt a cup of coffee with lots of
cream and a spoonful of sugar wouldn’t hurt a grandchild. I was told not to
volunteer any information to Mom about our coffee klatches, but if asked, not
to lie about it. Fat chance of that Grandma, I thought, as a grin spread across
my face. A large plate of sugar cookies was always on the table at the same
time. Grandson was in seventh heaven.
The fire in the stove depicted warmth in more ways than one. I remember
standing in front of the stove in my flannel pajamas and looking up at this
large, kindly woman, absorbing the warmth generated by her and the stove.
My bare feet would be cold on the linoleum-carpeted floor, but who cared.
I defy any electric stove manufacturer to duplicate the sounds and smells that
came from that old iron Monarch cook stove.
Grandmother arose at five thirty each morning to cook a wonderful
breakfast of biscuits and gravy, sliced slab bacon and, of course, eggs for those
who wanted them. This was topped off with steaming coffee. Grandpa always
saucered and blew on his to cool it. When I told Mom about Grandpa’s actions,
she said they weren’t mannerly. Maybe not, Mom, but it sure looked like fun
to me. Of course, smaller breakfasts were served, but I don’t believe she ever
bought a box of cereal. She didn’t turn a dial to high, medium or low on her
stove. She only had to ask, “Jimmy, please get me some more wood.”
This heavy buxom woman filled my heart with pure joy till the day she
went to heaven. I can still remember the odor of fresh-baked bread wafting
through each room of this giant old house on baking day. This always meant
a week’s supply of sugar cookies would be in the cookie jar for visiting
grandchildren. Occasionally the sharp smell of Sloan’s liniment mingled in with
the other more pleasant odors that filled her kitchen. I knew then Grandma
had an ache or pain she was treating. She called it horse liniment. This always
made me laugh.
Another never-forgotten part of my monthly weekend visits, besides her
cooking, was the evenings. Just before bedtime, I snuggled into her large
lap. While I was enveloped in her massive arms, she opened a book. More
often than not it was the Bible, which she knew by heart. She was a self-taught
reader, since she only went to the third grade in school. As I listened intently,
I knew what she read was true. After all, if your grandmother whom you
adored said it was true, it must be so.
The old house had an upstairs that was even more difficult to heat but no
one seemed to care. All of its large bedrooms had huge walk-in closets and
each had a long dangling cord with a switch on the end, hanging from the
light fixture. It wasn’t hard to find the switch in the closet’s darkness, because it
always hit you square in the eye when you walked in—wham. What better
place for a grandson or granddaughter to spend a rainy afternoon, pretending
they were all grown-up in their very own make-believe house. It wouldn’t
have been any fun if we’d had to manipulate sliding or accordion doors in a
tiny space—like most closets in the average house of today.
Yes, this home would have many drawbacks in today’s fast-moving world
but in my eyes it was pure elegance—occupied by the two people I loved
very dearly, Grandma and Grandpa.
Jim Nelson enjoyed a career at the Spokane Review and retired
in Spokane, WA. His writings have been widely published in nationally
known magazines, including five times in Chicken Soup of the Soul books.
His book, The Way It Was and The Way It Is, can be found in the public
libraries and school systems in Spokane. It is available for purchase through
Amazon.com and contains 46 nostalgic short stories. Jim Nelson enjoys
hearing from our readers and can be reached at 43 E. Weile, Apt. 214,
Spokane, WA 99208. Jim has been writing for over 50 years.
Northeast TX
September / October 2014
Of Handkerchiefs
and Harvests
13
Large Selection of Wool
for Applique and Rug Hooking
1813 Capital Dr. #300
Tyler, Texas
by Kerri Habben
In a lifetime, there are different kinds of harvests.
There is the most obvious and essential—the crops born and raised of
the earth. Then there are the seeds of hopes and dreams we sow as we
strive to a fruitful conclusion. And there are the myriads of moments that
gather together in the sweet preserve of memory.
It is this last harvest that nurtures our soul.
When I was a child, I heard and sang the hymn, Bringing in the
Sheaves. Its smooth melody made its message seem effortless. It was only
some years later, after a few life lessons, that I truly read the words of the
song. Then I understood what I had been singing all along; prayerfully work
hard through whatever comes your way, strive for the truest of reasons and
believe that your efforts shall indeed lead to rejoicing.
One of the people I sang this hymn with was my great-aunt, Aunt
Wilma. By the time I was a young girl she was not in good health, but she
sang as I imagine angels do. She’d ask me to bring her box of handkerchiefs
to her, whereupon we’d unfold them and savor their delicate beauty.
Then we’d gently refold them and put them away.
Nearly three decades later I found myself drawing solace from this
memory when this ever more modern world was too much with me. I
decided to crochet edgings around handkerchiefs purchased at an Amish
store in Ohio and to always carry at least two of them with us when we
traveled. Perhaps these sudden and refined bits of cloth could soften the
edges of someone’s life just as they had brought comfort to Aunt Wilma.
My mother and I enjoy taking a journey and one of the most
compelling reasons to pack the car in autumn is for the fruits of the season.
We’ve been to western North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia and the
Ohio Amish Country for apples, chestnuts, Concord grapes and Stanley
plums. Then we bring the produce home to cook applesauce, bake pies
and make juice. We also make Zwetchenkuchen (plum cake) the way
Nanna (Aunt Wilma’s mother and my great-grandmother) did.
Each of the delicious foods we eat or preserve is a blessing in its
coming to fruition. It is all too easy to take for granted that which matters
most. Simply because something has happened forever doesn’t make it
any less miraculous this time around.
From one of our autumn journeys to Holmes County, Ohio, we not
only carried home the harvest of the land but also a memory to preserve.
Each morning at breakfast we spoke with a couple from West Virginia.
One morning, the husband was there alone and he told us that they’d just
heard his wife’s father had passed away. He was 102 years old.
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The Yellow School Bus
By Marvin Hass
Saw a Mama and little girl
Hold each other tight
Then she let her baby girl just slip away
She knew that in the days to come
A woman would be born
When her baby girl went on that bus today.
She put her on the school bus
As she fought back all the tears
Then touched her lips and waved a long good bye
She felt it in her very soul
The loss already real
Now she’d just go home and think awhile and cry.
Well it won’t be long until she’s gone
And Mama’s all alone
As she sees her little girl that cannot stay
She’ll wave good bye forever
As the memories fill her heart
There’s nothing left to do but hope…and pray.
“Handkerchief,” I whispered to Mom, and she nodded.
At home a few weeks later, a letter from the lady arrived in the mail.
She wrote that she held the handkerchief all the way from the Inn to the
outskirts of Huntington, West Virginia, and that she would treasure it always.
It has been this way forever
With Mamas and their girls
It’s hanging on and letting go this way
The world is out there calling
“Won’t you come and dance with me?”
When those baby girls get on that bus today.
As Nanna’s Zwetchenkuchen cooled upon the counter, for a moment
I could hear Aunt Wilma’s sweet voice sing of sowing, of reaping and of
rejoicing.
The little yellow school bus
Took her baby girl away.
Kerri Habben is a writer, photographer and historian living in Raleigh,
NC. An avid crocheter and knitter, she learned these skills from her
grandmother and mother. She donates many of her yarn creations to
those in need. A published writer for nearly twenty years, Kerri is currently
gathering a decade of essays into a book. She can be reached at
[email protected].
Marvin Hass was a farm boy from Central North Dakota whose career
spanned 37 years throughout the Midwest as a cooperative lender and
CEO. Western poetry is his passion and Marv lives in Green Valley, AZ, with
his wife Candy. Marv has 4 children and 3 grandchildren. You can contact
Marv at his website www.prairiepoet.org.
I found the lady walking outside, appearing much like Mom and I did
when my nearly 100-year-old grandmother died. It was as if the Grand
Canyon had suddenly lost the Colorado River.
14
Southwest TX
All I Know About Quilting I Learned from My
Cats….
the Saga Continues
by Deb Heatherly
Many years ago I wrote an article for QUILT magazine entitled “All I Know
about Quilting I Learned from My Cat.” That article (reprinted on my website)
had such a huge response that, when I opened my shop, Deb’s Cats N Quilts
seemed like the perfect name. Fast-forward to 2014 and I currently share
my home with four furry felines. They, of course, make sure that my quilting
education continues every day.
Let’s take Benji, my supervisor, for instance. Maine Coon cats are
nicknamed the “gentle giants,” and he certainly lives up to that moniker. He
is 18 pounds of purr love and nothing makes him happier than to have my
full attention. Since that is not always possible, we have come to a truce. I am
allowed to use “his cutting table” if it is not nap time. I am allowed to sew on
“his sewing machine” if I take required breaks in order to lavish attention on
him and I am also allowed to bind a quilt if he can sit on it and make sure I
am doing it correctly.
Benji takes the term “large and in charge” to new heights, but he has
taught me an invaluable lesson: to love with all my heart and make sure that
I take time for those I love. Nothing, not even my quilting, should become
more important than those around me. Even if I am interrupted during my
special creative moments, my stitching will still be there when I return. Benji
has definitely taught me that I have to get up from time to time and enjoy
time with others.
Next, there’s ‘Miss’ Gracie. Gracie has taught me so many things that it is
hard to choose just one. I think it all started the day I came home from work
and found fuzzy brown things on the floor in my kitchen. I looked on my shoes
and then in the yard as I tried to figure out their source. I was sure a strange
fungus or mushroom was growing nearby and had somehow found its way
inside. Day after day I picked them up with a tissue and placed them in the
trash, but on day four I realized that the silk sunflowers on my table looked a
little odd. On closer inspection, I could see why. The fuzzy brown things that
had been on my floor were actually the centers of my sunflowers.
For several days, Miss Gracie had been carefully removing them and
placing them on the floor for me to find. Evidently Gracie thought the flowers
looked better without them. As I laughed to myself, I soon had to agree.
Sometimes a little change is good, and she has taught me that, in my quilting,
the same applies. Just because a pattern shows a block design or setting in
one layout does not mean I have to follow suit. Gracie has taught me that it’s
sometimes better to change things up and make them my own…and, if all
else fails, I can follow her example and drop them on the floor and wait for
someone to throw them away.
Our sweet little Lily is example number three. Lily is our climber and she
enjoys being as high up as possible: on top of the refrigerator, on top of the
kitchen cabinets, on top of the laundry room wall…. I think you get the idea.
Although it is sometimes very unsettling to be pounced on while sitting on the
couch, we have learned to accept her need for height and to expect to find
her in the strangest places. Lily finds simple joy in just sitting and watching as
things take place below.
My lesson from Lily has been to slow down and do the same. I now let
my designs “simmer” on my design wall and usually take a step back to look
from a different angle. I often leave things for a day or two and then look
again. This little grey comedian has taught me that looking on from afar can
give one great perspective, and at times, give you insights and ideas that you
never imagined.
Finally, there is the little angel I captured at last year’s quilting retreat.
Lacey was a feral that would come out of hiding each day when I took scraps
of food out to feed her. Day after day, she got closer and closer until finally
I took a chance and grabbed the scruff of her neck. None too happy at first,
she struggled and fought to be free, but finally she accepted her fate. Now,
almost a year later, she has truly become a joy to our lives. I can’t help but
smile each time she comes to be petted or to be snuggled close.
What an amazing change a year has made, and beginner quilters, I
believe Lacey’s example applies to you. At times, new techniques can be a
challenge and you may feel like you are struggling. They may at first seem
overwhelming, but as Lacey would advise, just take a deep breathe and
relax. You must learn to take each new technique one step at a time and
let those “light bulb moments” take place. A year from now you will wonder
why you ever struggled in the first place.
Yes, I know that it is hard for some people to believe that cats can teach
quilting and life lessons, but trust me…they definitely do. Taking time to learn
from their examples has taught me much, and I look forward to my continued
education for many years to come.
Deb Heatherly owns Deb’s Cats N Quilts in Franklin, NC. Before opening
the shop, Deb wrote and designed miniature quilts for QUILT magazine for 4
years. Deb recently designed 3 new specialty rulers: The Turbo 4 Patch, The
Cat’s Meow and the Star Power rulers. Check out www.Debscatsnquilts.com for
links to Deb’s YouTube videos and ordering information.
Cat’s Meow Pin Cushion
By Deb Heatherly of Deb’s Cats N Quilts
106 W. Palmer St., Franklin, NC, 828-349-8912
www.Debscatsnquilts.com
www.Facebook.com/DebscatsnquiltsFranklin
You will need:
(6) 3” squares (3 dark for face,
1 light for face, and 2 for ears)
(1) 5 ½” square for backing
(1) 1 ¼” square pink for nose
You will also need:
(2) Small buttons for eyes
Embroidery floss for mouth
and whiskers
Poly fill or walnut shells for stuffing
Instructions:
1-
Draw a diagonal line on the back of the pink 1 ¼” square.
2- Place this square on one corner of dark 3” square, right
sides together. Sew on the line. Trim off the excess and flip
back to make a triangle for the nose.
3-
Sew this square together with the other 3” squares to make
a four patch. Make sure nose is in the center as shown.
4-
Measure up 2” from the top of the nose and measure down
3” from the top of the nose and trim.
5-
Make the ears by folding the other squares in half diagonally
to make a triangle and then fold in half again to make a
smaller triangle.
6-
Center raw edges of ears on each side of head and baste
in place.
7-
Use 2 stands of floss to embroider a mouth.
8-
Use (4) 4” pieces of floss (all 6 strands) to create whiskers.
9-
Stitch whiskers right under nose and tie a knot.
10- Place kitty face and backing fabric right sides together and
trim backing to the same size as the front.
11- Stitch around kitty leave a small opening on one side of
face for turning and stuffing.
12- Turn to right side. Stuff and stitch opening.
©Copyright Deb’s Cats N Quilts. Deb Heatherly
Southeast TX
September / October 2014
15
Where Does Your
Inspiration Come From?
by Marlene Oddie
While traveling recently on a family vacation in
Scotland, I found inspiration in a variety of places including
church tile floors, street rockwork and concrete wall
embankments. Some of these can be found in pictures
posted at www.facebook.com/kissedquilts.
While zooming by several retaining walls, an interesting design caught
my eye. My camera was never ready so there are no photos but here is my
quilt pattern interpretation.
It is similar to an interlocking cross and I have it designed to be fat-quarterfriendly. The fat quarter (FQ) is approximately 18” x 20”. It could also be
easily done with a jelly roll and a layer cake or the squares in an interlocking
cross, but I have chosen to use the FQ size of fabric for this write up. It is quite
adaptable to any size—the key is that the finished size short strips should be
half as long as the finished size long strips. The widths can be anything you’d
like.
Consider how big you want to make the quilt. Each FQ will yield two
blocks based on the measurements provided. If you only want one block out
of each FQ and much bigger blocks, cut only one wide and one narrow strip.
This design works well with 3 colors or scrappy. This goes together very quickly.
Baby 36” x 43” ….6 FQs
Lap 43” x 54” …8 FQs
Twin 59” x 90” …20 FQs
Queen 90” x 94” …35 FQs (cut 1–10.5” x 18.5”;
2 – 3.5” x 9.5”)
King 118” x 90” …36 FQs (cut 1 – 10.5” x 18.5”;
2 – 6.5” x 9.5”)
[*Note: Blocks at the top or bottom of the columns
that might not be complete will need to be trimmed
for final assembly to even up all columns. You may
choose to use one end at the top of the next column
or some other location. If so, cut the 5.5” strip as
follows: 5.5” x 14” and 5.5” x 5”; and the 3.5” strip as
follows: 2 - 5” x 3.5”]
Stack all FQs, or a reasonable number of them, and cut 2 – 18.5” x 5.5”
strips and 4 – 9.5” x 3.5” strips.
One block:
Lay out all pieces with a long strip and two short strips on either side of
same fabric. Don’t sew any together until you’ve laid out the whole quilt.
Stack these blocks until you have the length you’d like. Add the next column
by interlocking the next ‘block.’ The farthest left and right columns will be small
strips.
When happy with your fabric placement, sew each vertical strip together
making a column; long strips would make one vertical column, then a set
of thin short strips, then a long strip set, then another strip of thin short pieces.
Then sew each column to the next. Seams don’t have to match, but small
strips should be centered against the big strips. Quilt in a pleasing edge-toedge design that works well with the motifs in your fabric or alternate free
motion designs in each block. Trim and bind. Don’t forget to label it! I would
love to see what you make with this so post a photo of your finished quilt on
Facebook and tag me in it.
Marlene Oddie is an engineer by education, project manager by
profession and now a quilter by passion in Grand Coulee, WA. She enjoys longarm quilting on her Gammill Optimum Plus, but especially enjoys designing
quilts and assisting in the creation of a meaningful treasure for the recipient.
Follow Marlene’s adventures via her blog at http://kissedquilts.blogspot.com or
on http://www.facebook.com/kissedquilt
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Quilts That Redeem, ETC:
Pay-It-Forward
by Sherry Osland
(For anyone reading this column and recognizing the title, there’s a
little 3 letter word change. For the times when God has yet to show me
a story of how a quilt has helped redeem someone’s situation, I will write
under the “ETC” heading).
My husband and I witnessed a very heart-warming thing the other day
while eating at one of our favorite restaurants. There was a soldier sitting
by himself at the counter. I would guess his age to have been mid-to-late
50’s. A waitress worked near where he sat. She was restocking and they
visited off and on while she worked and he ate his meal.
A twenty-something year old man approached them, thanking
the soldier for his service and handing the waitress money for his meal.
She smiled and said it had already been paid for by someone else.
Appreciative smiles were exchanged. Both my husband and I had seen it
and our hearts were warmed by the young man’s gesture.
Before we finished our meal and shortly before the soldier finished
his and left, a second young man approached making the same gesture.
Again, it was gratefully declined. We couldn’t help but feel overwhelming
joy at having been privvy to two such neat exchanges. It seemed especially
poignant because it was two very young men showing such respect and
gratitude to the older soldier. . . not the other way around.
There are those times and situations that I say I wish I was a mouse
in a pocket so I would get to see things more closely around me. Well, I
would say this was just such a time. What a special lunch hour it turned out
to be. It reminded us of the encouragement to “pay-it-forward” and also
the television commercials for “moments.org” on the INSP channel. Have
you ever pulled into a fast food line and had the impulse to pay for the
lunch of the one in the car behind you? Or, paid for a soldier’s meal like
the young men offered? Or, even just said “thank you for your service” to
those military men and women you meet?
Give and be blessed!
Written by Sherry Osland of Praise Works Machine Quilting; 1216 NW
3rd St., Abilene, KS, 67410. In business and ministry 14 years. Contact
information: [email protected] or 785-263-4600 (263-5528 cell).
For examples of work: facebook.com/PraiseWorksQuilting