Saturday, February 28, 2015

Early Bird Gets the Dresden Plate


Since I have essays coming in to grade on Monday, and since the grandkids are coming next weekend while the family moves from one house to another ten miles away, I thought I'd better jump on this and get it finished and in the mail before the deluge of busyness.

See below for Cindy's post about how to choose fabrics and arrange them.  I had fun choosing fabrics and found that cute button fabric for the center in my stash.  I liked it so much I made another one almost like it for the quilt I'm working on from last month's blocks, given to me by you all!

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

March 2015: It's Dresden Time Again!

I had such a good time making the dresden block for Rene' that I have chosen it as well. I'm going for clear brights for the blades. You can do all the blades in colors and I'll put those blocks on a texty background with white. (Don't feel like you have to do a rainbow--mix it up however you like!)


Or you can mix it up and do some texty blades (again, with a white background) and I'll add a fun color to the background.


I would like the center circle to be black/white print. It doesn't have to be dots; I just prefer that it be predominantly black.

I'm really excited about this one, and since my goal this year is to actually finish my projects, expect to see this one completed!

I'm emailing the templates to each of you. Let me know if something doesn't make sense or if you have any questions. 

Oh, and please do a signature block--those are such fun!

Friday, February 13, 2015

Juicy Fruit is Finished!

Wednesday night I put the last stitches in the binding of my MCM Bee quilt from 2013-14! Thank you all so much for the happy blocks that helped to make up this piece of sunshine in my life. It will be one of my favorites for all time!
 I used a grey/white dot for the backing and scattered a few extra blocks randomly down the back. The binding is Square Elements, in black.
 I even came up with a fun block design to highlight all of your little signature blocks! The quilt is machine quilted in my non-fancy style...leaves this time.
I'm so, so happy to have this one finished as I begin collecting new blocks for my next turn at being the Queen Bee. If you are interested in seeing more photos of Juicy Fruit you can find them here on my blog. 
Thank you, girls, you are my valentines!!
Love,
Carla
lollyquiltz

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Grandma McQuitty's Lemon Chiffon Cake for Carla

When Mark and I lived in western Kansas many years ago, there was a lady known for her lemon chiffon cakes, not just in our community of 5,000, but in the surrounding towns as well. The recipe was a secret. No matter how much people begged for the recipe, she wouldn't budge.

However, after she passed away, the town was thrilled to find out that she had given permission for the recipe to be published in the local newspaper.

So of course, when Carla requested cake this month, the choice was obvious. I added sprinkles in the lemon filling, just for fun.
 And because I love you all so much, here is the famous recipe.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 c. Soft as Silk cake flour
1/4 c. sugar
2 ts. baking powder
1 ts. salt
1/4 c. vegetable oil
egg yolks
1/2 c. water
2 ts. lemon extract
1 1/3 c. egg whites
1 c. sugar
1 3/4 ts. cream of tartar, dissolved in 2 tbsp water

Directions:

Sift together in 1 qt. mixing bowl: flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.

Make a well in the middle, and add: 1/4 c. vegetable oil.

Into a large mixing bowl, separate enough eggs to make 1 1/3 cups egg whites, putting whole yolks into the bowl with the flour mixture and oil.

Into the flour mixture, add:
1/2 c. water
2 ts. lemon extract

Beat with spoon until well mixed. Set aside. Beat egg whites to which the dissolved cream of tartar has been added, until stiff, add 1 c. sugar slowly. Continue to beat until VERY stiff and quite creamy. Set mixer to low speed and slowly pour in the first mixture until well mixed. Pour into ungreased 9x13 inch pan. Bake in 350 degree preheated oven until cake tests done (30-40 minutes).

Invert pan and let hang until cool. Split cake through middle, remove top half, spread filling, replace top half of cake, and ice with lemon icing.

LEMON FILLING:
3/4 c. sugar
1/3 c. Wondra flour (?)
1/8 ts. salt
3/4 c. boiling water
1 stick butter or margarine
4 egg yolks
2 tbsp. lemon juice (real lemon juice)
2 ts. lemon extract

Sift together sugar, flour and salt in 1 quart saucepan. Add the boiling water and butter and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thick and clear appearing. Bat egg yolks, add a small amount of the hot filling, then add them to the hot filling and cook about 1 minute longer, stirring constantly. If too thick, water may be added a small amount at a time until right consistency. Add lemon juice and lemon extract and mix well. Cool thoroughly.

LEMON ICING:
1/4 c. Crisco shortening
1 lb. powdered sugar
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 1/2 ts. lemon extract
1 ts. butter flavor extract

Mix all ingredients together, and add hot water, a little at a time, until it is of right spreading consistency.

Whew...and now I know why those cakes were so expensive--lots of time and ingredients. But also VERY good!


Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Blueberry Cake with Mint Filling for Carla


I finished "baking" a blueberry cake with mint filling for Carla, as she requested lots of birthday cakes for her month as Queen Bee (February 2015).  This went together quickly, and I had fun thinking about birthdays and all of you--we are celebrating all our birthdays this month, I think!

I'd like to suggest that you check your printer settings to print at 100% scale.  I noticed they default to a smaller size, which will leave your block too small for what Carla requested.  (I was anxious to get this up on the blog and the block out the door, so sorry for the nighttime photo.)

Happy Birthday, everyone!

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

A Block for Elizabeth

January flew by and here it is February. About time I post the block I made for Elizabeth. A little late but done. I took advantage of our free reign in choosing a block and went with a smaller version of my Drunkard's Path Quilt Along block. I love how it came out. Hope E likes it too.



I also hope you'll check out my Quilt Along page where you can link to all the posts. First time I've done anything like this and it's all because Carla/Lollyquiltz suggested it. What have you gotten me into Carla?

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

February 2015 Let's Have Cake

I'm excited to be the Queen Bee again. For my month I'd like to make a quilt full of yummy cakes using this free pattern by Ellison Lane.  Here are a couple of inspiration fabrics that have the colors that I'm going for: red, pink, yellow, chartreuse, aqua and orange. For the background of the cakes please use Kona White (not text as in the photo of Elizabeth's block above.) 
 These Riley Blake fabrics are just to show colors,not for you to have to go buy or anything. In fact, the white background and large design wouldn't work that great for the cake layers. I'm wanting them to look more "one flavor" when viewed from a distance, if that makes sense. 
When you decide on a cake "flavor" you might want to post it to the February topic on our Flickr site so that there will be a variety of cake colors. Thanks so much ladies....I hope that you enjoy baking  sewing this month's block!
Fondly,
Carla Timberlake
lollyquiltz

Sunday, February 1, 2015