Saturday Adventure

Last Saturday was a snowy adventure!

I had previously agreed to help my mom with some filing that she was behind on at work in exchange for fabric and a trip to My Girlfriend's Quilt Shoppe, which is an hour from where my mom works and two hours from where I live (more on the shop on Thursday!).  While there was a TON of work to do at my mom's office, it was alllllll worth it when we got to the quilt shop!

When we walked in, I saw the sample and pattern for Cluck, Cluck, Sew's quilt Pow Wow.  Now, I've been eyeing this pattern for a little while, so I knew I wanted to make it!  Then I spotted Pat Bravo's Rock N' Romance collection... and I put them together!  I am making the twin size for our spare bed and the pattern calls for 17 quarter yard cuts, so I almost bought the whole collection :]



Instead of doing a white or light color for the background, I saw Art Gallery's Pure Elements in Cabernet close by and I didn't want to look any further.



This quilt is going to be super dreamy.  Have you ever felt Art Gallery's cotton?  It's incredibly soft.  I couldn't believe it!  I've never bought any Art Gallery fabric before, but now I'm hooked and in love!

I am SO excited to start on this super beautiful quilt.  This made all the hard work so, so worth it.  :]  Thanks Mom!

Also, since I am so terrible at this 30 days of thankfulness thing, I think I owe you at least six:

• Hot cocoa when it snows
• Online tutorials 
• a Mom that loves fabric like I do
• Family pictures
• Spotify (this got me through all the hours of quilting my dad's quilt!  More on that tomorrow!)
• FaceTime (I love seeing family that is far away...)

I hope you have a great Tuesday!

xoxMegan

Currently Listening to: Changing by The Airborne Toxic Event

Making It Happen Monday

Hello, Friends!

We now have 7 days until closing and I couldn't be more excited!  There is still a lot of work to do, though.  Let's review last week's to-do list...

• Begin quilting my Dad's quilt, Body and Sole: yes! and I love it!
• Make binding for my Dad's quilt: no... I plan on using left over jelly roll strips and I just can't decide which ones I want to use...
• Pack master bathroom: no... 
• Work on packing closet: yes! This took way longer than I thought... which is why I didn't get to the bathroom...
• Find paint for Master: yes! I want something between sea foam green and teal. :]

So... my success doesn't look so good, but that's because I spent the majority of my time on quilting... and I got a ton of quilting done, which I am very happy about :]

Since we have just a week until closing, this week is going to be very busy and it's going to be even more important that I accomplish my to-do list.  So here we are:

• Finish quilting my Dad's quilt
• Making binding for my Dad's quilt and attach it
• Pack the master bathroom
• Pack the master
• Take the Curved Log Cabin quilt to the quilter
• Buy batting for the Curved Log Cabin quilt
• Pack fabric/sewing things (sad!)

So far I've gotten a lot of quilting done this morning and I'm pretty sure I'll be able to finish it today.  I'd take a picture, but my camera battery is dead!  It should be all charged up tomorrow for some pictures of some new fabric that I got over the weekend!  I hope you have a great Monday!

xoxMegan

Currently Listening to: Danse Caribe by Andrew Bird

Personal Apple Pies

One of my absolute favorite things about this time of year is apple pie.  I love, love, love apple pie and it is SO fun to have my very own apple pie... That is why I really like to make them in these:



Yes, those are 4 oz. mason jars!  Making a pie in one of these jars is super easy, super fun, and you can choose whether you want to bake them right away or freeze them for another day!  You could make any pie in one of these jars.  I'm planning on making a blueberry pomegranate pie before the holidays.  So, here's the recipe so you can make super cute pies too!

First, gather your ingredients:

• 8 - 4 oz canning jars
• 2 refrigerated pie crusts, or frozen crusts thawed
• 1-2 apples - just judge based on how big the apples are.
• 1 Tbsp. lemon juice
• 1/2 c. sugar
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• dash of nutmeg
• 2 Tbsp. flour
• 1 Tbsp. butter, cut into eight small pieces

Before I cut my apples, I like to mix together the rest of the apple pie base.  So I mix together the lemon juice, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and flour.



*if you don't have a "dash" measuring spoon, I'm sure it'll be fine if you estimate :]



After all those ingredients are mixed  together, I peel and cut the apples, adding in the apple pieces as they're cut.  When they mix with the lemon juice they won't turn brown!



I like to do this part first because the longer the apples sit, the more apple pie filling there will be... Yum!

Then, take the pie crusts and mush them together and roll them out.  Once they're rolled out, take one of the canning lids and push it into the dough to make 8 circles.  These will be the tops of our pies.



In order to fill the jars with crust, take the remaining dough and push it into the jar and piece several pieces together in order to make sure the bottom and sides are covered.  It's weird at first, but not hard.  You'll get it!



Once all the jars are filled with crust, add in your yummy apples!



Just an FYI, these jars are a bit over filled... tee hee... :]



Once the jars are filled, you will need to either use a cut out or cut slits into the tops.  I love using this little heart cut out :]

Before you put the tops on, don't forget to add a bit of butter to the top of each pie!



Now cover the pies with the tops and use a fork to crimp the sides.



Then bake them on a shallow dish at 375 for 35 minutes or freeze them!  When you're baking a frozen pie, place the pie on a shallow dish and put it into a cold oven .  Set the oven to 375 and bake for 45 minutes.



See, I told you mine were a bit over filled... oh well! They are still tasty! :]

These are super delicious little pies and I hope you make some to brighten the holidays for someone! Or yourself!

Have a great time baking!

xoxMegan

Currently Listening to: Naked Kids by Grouplove

A Wednesday Work in Progress

Wow! I usually don't post this late!

Today I have been super busy.  I have spent 6.5 hours quilting my Dad's quilt.  I have to say, I am in love.



I seriously quilted all day, except for a short pie intermission (more on that tomorrow!), and I'm not done for the night.  I am so excited to finish this quilt and show you!  It's actually so amazing that I'm kind of jealous of my Dad... oh well, I'll just have to make another!

I hope y'all have a great night, I'm going to get back to the machine!

xoxMegan

Currently Listening to:  Betty's a Bombshell by Grouplove

Lillian & Oliver: Finished

Remember when I agreed to help my mom with the baby quilt she was making, Lillian and Oliver?  Remember when I picked it up from the quilter and then got the assignment to bind it?

Well, here it is! Finished!






It is super hard to see the prints on the fabric in these pictures because the quilting is so fluffy!  Here is a picture of the quilt top again, just so you can see the prints:




I really love the way the quilting looks on the minky, though!



It's always fun to have a finished quilt!  Mom is going to love it!  Since I was binding it, I decided not to send her any pictures of the quilt... she just has to wait until she comes to pick it up!

xoxMegan

Currently Listening to: Warrior by Kimbra

Happy Monday...

Good afternoon, friends!

First, I want to recap on my to-do list for last week, then I'll share this week's goals, and then I owe y'all three things that I'm grateful for!

So here's how I did last week...

• Put together the quilt top for my Dad's quilt: yes!
• Buy backing for Dad's quilt: no... but I did find and buy it this morning!
• Piece together the backing for my biological fathers quilt: yup!
• Pack the guest bathroom: yes!
• Pack coat closet: yes!
• Pack pictures/paintings: Yes, sadly... the apartment feels so hollow now!
• Finish packing the living room: yes! 

So, it was a productive week!

Now that we are 14 days until closing, I am ready for life to get hectic!  Here's what I want to accomplish this week:

• Quilt my Dad's quilt
• Make the binding for my Dad's quilt
• Pack up as much as possible in the master bathroom
• Start packing my closet
• Find the paint color for our new master bedroom!

It doesn't seem like a lot, but since I bought the backing fabric this morning for my Dad's quilt... I don't even have it pieced together, let alone basted!  I have a lot of work ahead of me this week!

Since we're on to lists, I want to list my three favorite things that I love and that I am grateful for in the winter time... it's getting to be cold here in Utah, and since I am originally from Texas and not a fan of the cold, I have to focus on those things that I love!

1. Potato soup - this is my favorite soup and after going through dozens of recipes, I finally found one that is amazing.  I'll be sharing it here next time I make it!
2. Fires and smores - this requires no explanation :]
3. Holidays with family - nothing is better than family gatherings.  Since this occurs twice in the wintertime, it is definitely something I love and look forward to.

I hope y'all have a great and productive Monday!

xoxMegan

Currently Listening to: All at Once by The Airborne Toxic Event

Body and Sole: Quilt Top

I know I wanted to have this finished way earlier in the week, but it was a lot harder to put together than I anticipated!  I unpicked A LOT in order to get the quilt top to a point where it was tolerable... It isn't perfect, but it is for my dad and I know he won't care or probably even see the imperfections.  That's the best part about making gifts for family!  Anyways, here it is!



The print fabric is Spa by Deb Strain and the solid is Kona Iron.



I am pleased with how it has turned out!  I am excited to take it out this weekend and find a backing for it!

I hope y'all have an excellent weekend!

xoxMegan

Currently Listening to: Six Weeks by Of Monsters and Men