Quilts and Cookbooks

The Quilt is Done

The raffle quilt is done and we are selling tickets!!! Lynn and I are participating in the Cleveland Breast Cancer 3-Day walk again this year and since we EACH have to raise $2200, we are raffling off the quilt shown here. The quilt measures 81" x 99" and is machine pieced and quilted. All of the fabric used is quilt shop quality fabric. The drawing will be held October 18th, which is right in the middle of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5. If you'd like to purchase a ticket e-mail me and we'll take care of you!

In case you aren't familiar with the 3-Day event, this is a 60 mile walk over the course of 3 days. We walk 20 miles each day, camp out for 2 nights and even though it is rough, it is such an emotional and amazing experience that I didn't think twice about walking again this year. Of course I think that the most challenging part of this entire thing is to raise the $2200, especially with the economy the way it is right now. Besides this raffle quilt, Lynn and I are having a fundraiser garage sale. We are asking for donations of unwanted items so that we can sell them and put the money earned into our fund. We have been getting a few donations, but could always use more. We are trying to clean and price items as we get them, and so far we are keeping up pretty well.

If you'd like to make a donation directly to our fund, you can go to our personal fundraising website provided by the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation. This site is secure and allows you to make a donation online. Go to www.08.the3day.org/goto/JoanneHubbard Just click on the DONATE NOW button and type in Joanne Hubbard from Ohio when it asks for the partipant's name and home state and you're all set. THANKS!!!

The Cookbooks are Published!!!

I am really excited because we picked up the Strawberry Cookbooks a couple of weeks ago and the timing is perfect! I think the book looks great and for $12 is a bargain. Sandy did a great job getting everything finalized for this project and I am just thrilled to see my name on the front cover!

Troy Mills Farms is my sister-in-law's farm. My brother John (who died unexpectedly in October of last year), Ellen and I had talked about this cookbook a couple of years ago and I started to gather recipes and experiment. It wasn't until Sandy said, "Hey, how about getting that cookbook published" that things started to get done! Anyway, there are 110 recipes in the book, all strawberry, and they have all been tested. Some of the recipes even have low fat or low calorie options added to them! There are a lot of interesting facts about strawberries included, some pictures, and even a few beautification recipes, like facial scrub and pedicure cream. Now I guess we just have to wait for the berries to ripen so we can get cooking and have smooth hands and feet!!!

The Sudoku Quilt

I made this quilt for a class that I taught in Lakewood at Kathy's Creative Sewing Center. The class was about color (value, intensity, etc.) so I made all of the puzzle fabrics a shade of green. The students followed suit and one used blues, one used purples, one used reds and the last one used a mixture of colors (and fabrics - cotton, silk, tapestry, etc.). Two of the students were relatively new sewers, one was a new quilter and the fourth was quite experienced in all forms of sewing, especially clothing alterations and construction. She was working on quite a few prom dresses and wedding dresses during the two weeks of class. She is very talented and my talents really pale next to hers. We had a very good time, sewing. laughing and enjoying each others' company. They all have suggested some other classes that they want to have, including the toothbrush rug. I told them lots of stories about Kare and now they can't wait to meet her!! No pressure there, right?!?

Pink Lemonade

This quilt is for a class that I am teaching at Sew Little Time. This quilt is from Eleanor Burns' Quilts Through the Seasons. I think this is the fifth quilt from that book that I have taught. I really like it when I can make a lot of quilts from one book and I know that customers like it also. If I spend $28 on a book, I sure do feel like I've gotten my money's worth if I make at least two or three of the quilts. I really like this quilt. Of course, I didn't use the lighter fabrics that Eleanor Burns did, but I like my colors. Below is a close-up of one block so you can see the fabrics better. I like that touch of purple in the center of each block. Of course I fussy cut those!

To quilt this, I stitched in the ditch around the center block and the two red flying geese units. I also stitched in the ditch around the small green squares that created a chain across the quilt. I stitched a small meander in all of the background areas. I had fun with this quilt and wouldn't mind making another one, only I would make it larger. I usually only make a lap or twin quilts for class samples, but I usually make at least a queen for home. Lately I have been making all king size quilts, but find that I have a hard time quilting them. Kare has reminded me that I am supposed to be at her place quilting those, so I guess I can continue to make them and expect to get them quilted. YEAH!!!

Speaking of king size quilts, I have one that is ready for binding. I was hoping to get it sewn on before we went to Chicago, but that didn't happen. Maybe I can get to it tomorrow. I also want to finish the border on my scrappy, bright Pineapple Blossom so I can get that quilted, and I still have not decided on the final border for my Carolina Crossroads. I guess I better get my butt in gear and get busy!