Anything But UFO's

 

 

 

I had the best of intentions

to participate in Carrie's "Nothing But UFO's" this month,

but seemed I worked on everything BUT!!

 

I HAD to try the currently popular scrappy trip block,

so coordinated the colors and turned it into a

baby blanket to send to Operation Homefront-TX,

 

 

bringing my total so far up to 3.

 

During a visit with my Quilty Friend, I learned to crochet

baby hats, and together we made a few to send in with the quilts.

 

(Okay, so I only made one to her 5!)





 

Now it's the zero hour, and I'm working away

so I can report SOME progress on my goals for Carrie!!

 

I did finish my fingerless mitts,

and none too soon, as I needed them this morning!

 

 

And, I sewed my rows together for my scappy Flowers for Hannah.

I'm in a conundrum with this project.  I want to gift it to my lifelong friend

in Massachusetts.  Her birthday is in April.  I'm returning in April.

It's a lot easier to pack just the flimsy when traveling, so do I finish it there?

Or finish it now and try to find the room to pack it in my bag?

Should I strip quilt it to save time? 

Oh my, what to do, what to do!!

 

There!!  1-1/2 goals accomplished!

Better than none!!

 

Visit A Passion for Applique to see how everyone else did

this month!!

 



 

 

 



Hearty Breakfast Muffins

 

With all the weather reported in the northern and northeastern states,

it seemed like a good time to revisit this post!
 



While you are sitting in the mornings with that steaming cup of coffee grasped in your warming hands, watching the birds at their feeders, and feeling pleased that they are enjoying the bounty you have placed before them, you could be enjoying a special winter treat that's good for you, too!

Hearty Breakfast Muffins

2 C whole wheat flour                    1/3 C vegetable oil

1 C wheat germ                             1 C milk

2 tsp. baking powder                     1 egg

½ tsp. baking soda                        1/4 C molasses

2 tsp. cinnamon                             1/4 C honey

1 tsp. allspice                                ½ C raisins

1 C mashed banana                       1/2 C chopped nuts

In large bowl, combine dry ingredients except raisins and nuts. In small bowl, stir together wet ingredients, including egg. Add wet to dry and stir until just blended. Add raisins and nuts. Fill 12 greased muffin tins. Bake at 375 for about 15-20 minutes. Makes 12 large muffins.
Substitute pumpkin, grated apple, carrot, or zucchini for banana for a different treat.

This recipe freezes well!

Happy Valentines' Day

 

Happy Valentines' Day!!

 

 

I made this wallhanging for my daughter

several years ago.

Here's a scary thought.....

someday, someone will refer to it as

being made 'at the turn of the century'!

 

P.S. It's never too late to participate in Operation Homefront.

I know everyone is busy, busy, busy!

Spreading the word is just as important as contributing!

Know any knitters or crochet-ers?

Share with them, too!

 

 



Calling All Texas Quilters

(Of course, you don't have to be a TX quilter!
You don't have to be a quilter, either!
Do you knit?  Crochet?)
 

Operation Homefront - TEXAS

 

Yesterday, Insights from SewCalGal

wrote a wonderful post about donating quilts (and more)

to first-time military moms

who, more than not, find themselves alone

and away from family and friends.

 

Some of these moms-to-be are wives of military men on active duty,

some of them are in the military, themselves,

and some are spouses of Wounded Warriers.

 

Her post inspired me

to contact the Texas chapter of Operation Homefront.

Liza Watts, the Director of Development,

was very excited to hear from me and wasted no time

in getting back to me.

 

We chatted for a long time. She had not ever been approached

by an individual for donations of this sort

and was just beside herself with the possibility

of receiving quilts and home made articles for

Operation Homefront - TX

Boots'n'Booties Baby Showers.

 

 

OH-TX will be hosting 5 baby showers in 5 different TX locations

from March 6th through September.

 

They will be recognizing 50 moms-to be

 in San Antonio on March 6th,

50 at Fort Bliss on May 9th,

50 at Fort Hood on June 12th,

25 at Coastal Bend on July 26th,

and 25 at Dyess AFB in Abilene on Sept. 12th.

 

I also learned from chatting with Liza that

:they have no budget, and offer this unique event through donations

:the median age of these moms-to-be is 19-20 yrs. old

:through screening, some of these babies 

have already been identified with special needs

:they also provide educational opportunities to

help ensure healthy pregnancies

:and generally try to offer as much support as they can

over and above hosting the baby showers.

 

Quilts and related hand made items can be sent to:

 

Operation Homefront- Texas

Attn: Liza Watts

8930 Fourwinds Drive, Suite 355

San Antonio TX 78239

 

(210) 659-8039

 

Be sure to include your name and e-mail address for acknowledgement

(and perhaps an invitation to attend!!)

Be sure to specify which baby shower you'd like your donation

to be used for, if you so desire!

 

A very special thank you to SewCalGal for her

wonderful post and for inspiring our great on-line quilting community

to reach out to those in need.

 

I'd love to see any items you make and send along.

 

Now, I need to get off this computer and get to work!!

 

 

 



Nature Update/February UFO Challenge

 

About the only things nature-related that
I've done since the first of the year...

...chase some winter Texas butterflies around the yard...

 

 

 

{The butterfly in picture #2 is smaller than a dime!!

As yet, I've not remembered to take a Butterfly book

out of the library (I've only gone a half dozen times, now),

so they are yet to be identified.}

 

...wonder what kinds of trees these are...

 

 





 

...and rake leaves.

 

But, I've gotten in some good sewing time

 

and baking time

 

to help Crafty Daughter get ready for a baby shower today.

 

 

It's time for Carrie's Nothing but UFOs February Challenge.

 

The first of my three entries will be to finish these fingerless mitts

 

that I've been lugging around with me since fall.

By the time I get them sewn together, winter will be over!

 

My second UFO is a combination stitchery/quilting project

that I started during the summer. 

I had made a Dresden Plate quilt with quotes encircling the plates. 

Because I live in an Acadian French community.

it was suggested that I do them again IN FRENCH!

 

This is as far as I ever got!

I had found some linen napkins at the Goodwill store

and thought they'd be a good backing.

I just need to finish embroidering one more word

and I can start on the plate.

I'd love to return with at least one completed!

 

Here is the picture of the quilt that started it all.

 

And lastly, when an ad for Fons and Porter magazine

came in the mail,

I fell in love with one of the quilts pictured

called Flowers for Hannah.

This UFO will have to be completed in steps,

as I'd never finish it by the end of the month

with all of my other little projects.

 

All of the applique has been completed,
the quarter square triangles constructed.

 

 

By the end of February, I would like to at least have

the blocks all sewn together.

There are 9 cornflowers, 4 daisies, and 12 QSTs.

I was determined to only use fabric contained in my meager TX stash,

so it won't be as pretty as pictured in the Fons and Porter magazine.

 

I guess now

I had better get to work!

Thanks for stopping by today.

Be sure to visit A Passion for Applique to see other entries

for this challenge.

Thanks, Carrie!!