I heart this one...

Finally, I finished my pinwheel sampler quilt.  This was a quilt that I did last year following Rachel from PS I Quilt's lead.  I really like how it turned out.  I love my scrappy border and the red binding.  I even love the backing.

Hooray, another goal down.  As I did finish this quilt too.

Orzo Salad Recipe

This recipe and picture were passed onto me from my friend, Lindsay.  This salad is delicious, and tastes great for several days after making it.  It would be great for any occassion, even a potluck.

Summer Orzo Salad with Tomatoes, Feta and Green Onions
From Pittsburgh Magazine, May 2009

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice

1 tsp honey

1 tsp Dijon mustard

1/2 cup olive oil

Whisk above together to make vinaigrette, set aside.

Cook one box of orzo pasta according to directions on box.

Drain and cool by running cold water over the pasta.

Add vinaigrette; toss to coat.

Add the following:

2 cups halved grape tomatoes

1 1/2 cups crumbled Feta cheese

1 bunch chopped green onions

1 Tbsp chopped fresh thyme

1/4 tsp salt

1/8 tsp fresh ground black pepper

Toss all above ingredients.

(optional) Lightly toast 1/2 cup of pine nuts and toss with the orzo just before serving at room temperature.

What I have been up to....

We've been keeping really busy here.  We ended up coaching soccer.  Buddy went back to school and I returned to work.  So, I am sorry I haven't been blogging much.  I have been checking in on most of you, just not always leaving comments.  I finally found the time and energy this weekend to do a bit of sewing.  I am very pleased with the finished Tulip quilt for my MIL.  It turned out fantastic, right?  My long armer did the quilting and I worked most of the day on the binding today.  I am very pleased it is done.

I hope you are all well.  Happy sewing.

A Sweet Finish

Oh I was so excited that my friend had her baby this weekend.  Obviously, I felt joy for their newest addition to their family (baby Roman), but I was also tickled to be able to finish this quilt I started a while back.  I had a fun idea for the center, and it was great to see it finally come together. 

Here's the finish:

I love the Lake House Fabics. 

Here's  a close up of the center:

I love how it turned out.

Here is a finished picture of the set, including 2 personalized burp clothes. 

I LOVE the burp clothes....they turned out so cute.  I especially loved the frog from SWAK embroidery.  How darling???  I cannot wait to send this out in the mail, pronto.

The theme for The Charming Girls Club this month is Quilting the Quilt.  I don't have a lot of good tips for this really.  Everything I have learned has been trial and error.  In fact I had a bit of an issue near the center block on this one.  I like to use curved safety pins to baste with.  I use to religiously spray with basting spray, but it is rather expensive (and makes a sticky mess everywhere) and I have found that some of my smaller quilts really don't need the spray.  The problem I had with this one though probably could have been avoided had I sprayed. 

The one tip, and this is pretty important, I do have is to TAKE A BREAK every now and then.  The first time I quilted a quilt on my machine, obviously I was a bit tensed up and nervous...I am sure that this had something to do with the story I am about to tell you.  Anyway, I quilted for several hours straight.  In the night while I was in bed, I had a rib displace and slide under my shoulder blade.  It was very painful and the chiropractor assured me that it had to do with my quilting that day.  So, TAKE a Break, Stretch a Bit, and don't displace a rib.

Goals for September and October

Is it time for goals again?  I have had these worked out in my head for a few days, but now I guess it is time to journal them down here.

1.  Finish this baby quilt, now that the baby has arrived and has a name.

2.  Create another baby quilt with materials from the Wheels collection (which is on its way thanks to the FQS)...sorry no picture.

3.  Put the binding on the tulip quilt.

4.  Bind the pinwheel sampler quilt.

5.  Create this beautiful pumpkin table runner from the Pattern Basket.