Weekend Update


















I just wanted to share some of the photo's that came into the office this past week.
This top picture is the mystery project, that was made by Myra...not me, but another Myra. This is the second Myra that I have met through quilting. However, I have never met another Cori in the quilting world. If there is another one out there, please drop us a line.


And we also got this great photo. This is Norma, who was at our fall retreat, and has just completed her quilt top. Which begs the questions, how is it going with the rest of you who were there??

Thanks Myra and Norma for sharing those updates with us. And we hope that you keep in touch with your next projects.

-the other Myra

Are you looking ?

For a quick Christmas project? Either for your table or for a gift?? Here is my recommendation, sweet petunia! Our sample is done in spring/summer colors but with all of the inspiration of our mystery project this last month, I thought, why not turn this into Christmas? Then it would become a sweet pointseta. The flowers (12 of them) are paper pieced. The project goes together very quickly. Go to http://www.bluemeadowdesigns.com/ and click on shop to purchase your pattern for only $7.99.

It helps to nag....

I knew nagging produces results...even if my husband would disagree. I just received these pictures from my friend Anne, who has not only finished piecing her project, but as also finished quilting it. (I think it helps that she has a QBOT.)

And apparently the two little gold blocks up in the corner are not a mistake. They are there because they hold some deep meaningful insight from her husband. And that's all I am going to say about that. If you want a better explanation, you need to contact Wolfgang directly. :)

Now I am back to bed. I think my winter flu has down-graded it's self to sinus/head cold. Unfortunately, this new diagnosis has also down-graded my families sympathies.

See you soon.

-myra

Mystery Solved!

Every week, we get countless business e-mails that need to be answered and delt with, but this week, I got a few messages popping into my inbox, that had photos attached showing me the Monday Mystery project.

I am so grateful to all of you who sent in photo's. I know a few of you who did the mystery, and DID NOT send me a picture, so I want you to know that I will be bugging you about it, and holding it over your head for the next year or so.

But let me introduce you to the following....






Mystery # 1 - By Peggy, from Northern Ontario.











Mystery # 2 - By Norma, from B.C.

Mystery #3 - By Jill, from Indiana














Mystery # 4 - By Marlene, from Manitoba.





Mystery # 5 - By Diane, from SC.









Mystery # 6 - By Mary Grace.

Isn't it amazing, how one project can look so different, when seen through the eyes of others? I really enjoyed seeing what colors all of you chose to work with.

And the winner of the charm pack featuring Robyn Pandolph's new fabrics - is Mary Grace. If you would kindly send your mailing address to myra@bluemeadowdesigns.com I will happily send the package over to your home.

I do intend to start another mystery next week using charm squares, but you will have to pardon me tonight, as I am going to tuck myself back into bed, and finish having a good old fashioned winter flu.

Talk to you soon.

-myra

Charming Sunday Afternoon

I have to get ready for our Sunday evening guests, but I decided I would steal a moment to share two photo's with you. Since we are on the topic of charm squares, I thought I would post these.















This top quilt is a little project from our friend Jill, who sewed all of her charm blocks together, and then appliqued the three remaining blocks on top! Very cleaver.








And this is a simple little table runner that I made out of a set of charm squares. Do all of you (who were there) remember the snow storm that hit the Dryden Quilt Show? Well, it gave me some free time, so I ran over to another booth, bought a charm pack, and cut them up. (I was tempted to borrow a sewing machine from one of the dealers there, and finish the whole thing in a day.) But I waited until I was home, and stitched it up. It doesn't have a border, or binding. I wanted the blocks right to the edge, so I turned it inside out before quilting.

Enjoy, and I will be back tomorrow to show you some pictures of the mystery projects that have been sent my way.

-myra

Inspiration Thursday

What do you do with those cute little charm packs you buy? Well my Niece simply sewed them together, nothing fancy but fun and a cute way to decorate her room! Her mom-my SIL machine quilted a cute pinwheel design in each block (this was her first machine quilting project - I was wondering if she was for hire!) Just so you know my niece was 10 years old when she made this.

So this is my challenge...make a charm square quilt either for your self or better yet a niece, daughter, grand-daughter or friend. A simple was to get bit by the quilting bug.

p.s our next project for mystery Mondays will be a charm square project! Can't wait.

~cori

It's Monday - One more time!!

I FINALLY got it!!! Thanks to your e-mails, I finally figured out what was wrong on my diagram!! You are all correct, I have the wrong diagram posted! Where are my handy editors when I need them!! I will go back into that entry, and post the right diagram. I simply entered the one that I had in my file, and I never saw the differences. I honestly had to look at it 4 times to see the mistake in the corner blocks. Anyway, I apologize, and I hope to fix it quickly. And then...finally....Monday can be over....I hope.

-myra

It's still Monday....

Due to some gremlins living in my computer, these pictures were not able to load into the last post, but I wanted to share them with you.

This is the original quilt that Cori designed, and hand quilted for me...about 9 years ago. I quickly took a picture of it outside, so that you could see how she quilted it. Cori outlined the blocks (stitch in the ditch) and then quilted a 1" grid diagonally across the rest of the project.

So what will your project look like???

I just decided, that for those of you who have taken on the challenge of my little mystery, I will be giving away a little prize. Send me a picture of your mystery (just the pieced top) and I will enter your name to win this charm pack. Robyn Pandolph has designed a line for RJR, and the fabrics were just released two weeks ago at Quilt Market. But we just happened to have a few advanced samples in the studio, and I would love to share them with one of you.

I will give you until next Monday to send me your picture, and be enterd for the prize. (And YES - I will post all of the pictures for you to see.)

And a huge Thank You for all of you who participated in this adventure. I have never been daring enough to join a mystery club, and so I am grateful to all of you who trusted me to lead you down a blind path...where you cut up precious fabric, without knowing if you were even going to like the end result. If you want to do it again...just let me know.

See you soon.

-myra

Mystery Monday @ Myra's

It is still Monday...(somewhere in the world) so I am not officially late with this post. I have had a few glitches, trying to get this together, and I may have to add the polish to it in the morning, but at least it will give you the bones of the project.
Is everyone caught up on their homework? I hope so, because today I want to show you the final layout, the borders, and a picture of my finished project.

I am having problems up-loading some of my images, so unfortunately I can only post two graphics. If you have all of your blocks together, lay them out in the following five horizontal rows...and then join the rows together.

Each of the block will have a finished size of 4 1/2", and you will have 5 rows, with 5 blocks in each row.
















Adding the borders. Sew your half square triangles of your border print, to the half square triangles of your accent fabric. Sew a half square block to each end of a long border strip, and add to each side of the center blocks. (note on the direction the half squares should be facing) Do the same for the top and bottom borders strips, however you will need to add a 2" x 2" square to each end as well.


And now...layer, quilt, and bind! (and then wrap it up, and put it under the Christmas tree for someone special.)

Fun Day Friday

I won't even START to tell you about the snow storm that blasted over our town last night! The kids of course are in heaven, bundled up to their noses, and playing in the white, wet, snow. Winter has officially hit Winkler. So I am snuggling down under a pile of quilts, with my computer, and some quilting books.

I was recently looking through a book that I bought at the quilt show in Regina this past fall. And these are two quilts that I absolutely LOVE! The book is "Wisconsin Quilts' by Ellen Kort, and it showcases a lot of historical quilts from the state. If you didn't already know that I am a history buff, it will soon become evident.

These are two quilts in the book that caught my attention right away. The owner of both of the following baby quilts is listed as Delores Sundeen, and I am just a little envious of her.

The quilts caught my attention, but as I read the history of them, they began to have a new beauty to them. In 1933, a new President was elected to the White House, where he had to face a tough economic problem. (sound familiar??) One of the programs that Franklin Roosevelt created was the 'Works Progress Administration', where they created work relief jobs, to provide income for the unemployed.

Through this program, the Milwaukee County started a unique program, that employed women in handcrafts. Long story short - they learned to make quilts. They used the best solid fabrics available, but they did not put any batting into the blankets, because it was too costly.


Delores Sundeen was a forth grade teacher from Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, and was able to purchase three baby quilts made by these gifted women.

These two quilts are examples of how a great design can be made out of simple fabrics. I love the simplicity, and 'modern' styling that is found in both of these quilts.

The Small Rocking Horse pattern, and The Deer and Butterflies pattern, were both made between 1935 - 1940, and were made by the Milwaukee State Teachers College.

So my compliments to these women, for they were truly ahead of their time. During a very hard era, they came together as a collective group, and created beautiful quilts that provided warmth to the children, and inspiration to future generations.

Keep warm, and I will see you on Monday.
-myra

Our Fall Class List

Cori and I are very happy to be spending some time at home this fall, teaching classes at a local shop - Annie's Sewing Center, in Winkler, MB.

We have missed getting together with some of our local friends, and working on projects, and showing 'the ropes' to some new quilters who are anxious to start one their first quilt. So here is a brief review of what we have in store. Please note, that we will be having a new class list after Christmas.



Love Joy Peace is one of our favorite samplers. This quilt will show you all of the basic techniques of quilting: piecing, applique, bias vines, curved piecing, and a small touch of paper piecing. Due to all of the classes, we will run this course with 2 classes per month, beginning in January. This class will only begin in the new year, but it is necessary to pre-register, because there will be limited space.











Our hopscotch quilts are fun little baby quilts, that will introduce you to hand applique. The quilts are quick to make, and fun to give away.

Prairie Lap Quilt is a favorite of Cori's, and we are excited to teach it as a class this fall. It is a great quilt for any beginner, because it will help you understand the basic principles of cutting and piecing.
Lemon Slice is a quilt that I really enjoy making. It is a wonderful quilt on which to practice your curved piecing. Someday I hope to make it again using bali print, or earth tones, which will give it a completely different look.













Sweet Petunia is a fast and fun table square that will teach you the basics of paper piecing. It is a small project, where you are able to feature one of your favorite fabrics in the center.

So if you are interested in any of these classes, please drop us an e-mail at myra@bluemeadowdesigns.com and I will send you an e-mail file will all of the class times, and other details.

Hope to see you there.
Myra & Cori

Recipe's continued...

I had trouble with the last post for the brownie so here is a photo to go with that post.



Taco Dip

8 oz. cream cheese (softened)
1 cup sour cream
1/4 cup mayonaise
1 tsp chilli powder

Whip together and spread on a platter.

Cover with 1 jar of mild salsa
1 layer of cheddar cheese.
1 layer of chopped green pepper.
1 layer chopped tomatoes.

Chill and serve.
Serve with a variety of tortilla chips.

a new recipe!
actually 2 (because I owe you one!)

Chocolate Brownies

Step 1
1 cup flour
2 cups sugar
1/2 tsp salt

Step 2
1/2 cup margarine
1 cup water
1/2 cup oil
2-3 Tbspn Cocoa

Step 3
2 eggs, beaten
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup buttermilk or sour milk
1 tsp vanilla

Sift flour together with sugar and salt.
In a saucepan put margarine, water, oil & cocoa. Bring to a boil and pour over flour mixture.
In another bowl, eggs, baking soda, buttermilk & vanilla.
Stir well and add to flour mixture. Bake in a greased and floured cookie sheet.
Bake @ 350 degrees for 20-25 min.
Ice in 10 min.

Icing
1/2 cup soft margarine
3 Tbspn cocoa
pinch of salt
2 cups icing sugar
1 tsp vanilla
6 Tbspn milk

This brownie freezes well.

Mystery Monday @ Myra's

It may be hard to believe, but today I will show you how to make the last block of this mystery project. Next week, I will show you how to do the quick little borders, and reveal my finished project.

Criss-Cross Apple-Sauce

Sew two, 2" x 2" squares of one accent color, to two other 2" x 2" squares of the other accent color. (the purple accent color is the same fabric that I used in my nine patch blocks, so what ever color you made your nine-patches, should be in the same place as my purple. Clear as mud?)

Add a 2" x 3 1/2" rectangle of your border print. Add this to the right side of your four patches.

Sew a 2" x 2" square of your accent color (same as your nine patches) as sew it to the right side of a 2" x 3 1/2" rectangle of your border print.

Sew your first unit on top of this last unit to form a block.

Repeat these steps until you have 4 corner blocks.

We are almost done! And next week your mystery will be solved. See you then.

-myra