Monday, October 3, 2016

Maggie's Swinging into a Square Dance

Month Five! For real! Can you believe it? The BOM has just marched on this year and it feels like every few days that I'm getting a friendly reminder from Jacquelynne to kindly get off my butt (my words, not hers) and make my blocks and blog about how amazing I am (again, my words, not hers). So here we are, and here we go!


Ha! Remember my butterfly sitch last month? I just noticed the butterfly is on the logo up there. The whole thing. Jacquelynne really is so much better than I am in all ways.

So this month we make five blocks. ACK! FIVE! Does this mean in month six I'm making SIX, because if so I better start now. I saved it all til yesterday and while they weren't hard, between picking out all my scrappy fabrics and cutting and sewing all five it was one of those projects that "expanded to fill up the time allotted," ie took me all day. However, I love my blocks, so well worth it.

I decided to add a little more color and scrappiness to my blocks, so I chose to use five different fabrics in each of my four main colors (blue, purple, green, yellow) rather than just yellow. So that meant a dive into my scrap bins.

I know many scrappy quilt designers like to preach that you should cut and order your scraps into special sizes, like 5" squares and 2 1/2" strips. To this idea, I always say "What happens when you need a bigger piece of scrap, or feel like doing something more exciting than using a couple of different sizes?" To my knowledge, none of the famous designers who order their scraps has actually heard me ask them this nor have they felt the need to answer me personally, but whatever. To each their own. My bins are scraps from tiny to just under 1/4 yard and I like it that way.

Actual randomly sized scraps found in my purple bin.
 I found what I needed and cut them all into the size given. Because I am a quilter, I own tools to cut things, and that is what I do. Doesn't bother me at all that they weren't all precut to 2 1/2" strips. Because now I have more of most of them in bigger sizes and I STILL got to use them in this project. #winning

You can probably tell my greys were all different too. Because why not. My middle name is Random.

Cutting and sewing for an afternoon lead to five blocks, three illustrated here, along with the cautionary tale of "If you store your scraps in jumbled bins as I do, they tend to be wrinkly even after pressing." Bad news: I was too lazy to repress them before taking this photo. Good news: I can and will press them to death before I put the quilt together.
What you can't tell is that all these whites are different, even within blocks. This is a truly scrappy quilt.
Remember my issue with that one purple last month, and my musing that, should I decide to care, it might not really go with the rest of my purples? Well, I think making these blocks scrappy has sufficiently rendered the point moot. One of my constant quilting mottoes, along with "Perfection is Overrated," is "Whenever possible, Deflect." I think all this color does that well.

I'm already kind of excited about an idea I have to add a little more color to these alternate blocks. This of course assumes I will finish it. Because as you can see, I don't even have the whole thing together although I should, and you likely will never return to my blog to see if I do finish it because this month has proven I am slacking. Here's hoping we can all just picture it for now. I do promise to have it together AND WITH BORDERS next month! You heard it here first.

Someone who never slacks is this month's giveaway sponsor - Christa Watson of Christa Quilts. I've gotten to know her professionally over the last couple of years and she is a wonder. She designs fabulous modern patterns and wrote the best book on machine quilting I've ever come upon (no money was exchanged for me to say that) "The Ultimate Guide to Machine Quilting," which she penned along with Angela Walters. Angela covers the long arm parts, and Christa covers the domestic machine parts. As I am a domestic machine quilter, or of as I call it the "roll, stuff, swear, drink, repeat" variety, her tips on quilting designs and using your tiny machine for big quilting impact are amazing.

However, disclaimer. The book is amazing but that is not the prize this month. Never fear, though - Her patterns are just as fabulous! I mean look how cute!


In order to win the pattern pack, you must leave a comment for me telling me your favorite fall soup or stew. Recipe optional; you know we are all just going to look it up on Pinterest anyway if it sounds good. I considered asking you to tell me your brand of iron given my nasty wrinkled blocks, but that was just boring. And iron is only good to eat in cereal.

Thanks for stopping by!











96 comments:

rosemaryschild said...

Your colors are so pretty! - can' t wait to start on block 5. I like a good beef stew with a tomato-based gravy-oh, and have to add a can of cream corn-yum!

Anonymous said...

I don't think you can beat chili in the fall - yummmmmmm.

Kathy E. said...

A little wrinkle here and there never hurt anyone. They add personality and integrity! 😆 I love a lightened up loaded baked potato soup and have already made it once this fall!

Shirley said...

Love your blocks. I am trying a new recipe for meatball stew today. I hope we like it!

Anonymous said...

I like to make up a big pot of super-flavorful chicken stock, strain it then use it as a base for lots of soups with noodles or rice and lightly blanched veggies, also as the liquid in sauces for casseroles.

Scrappy is an excellent way to go!
@susansquiltstudio. Sgrancio at Comcast dot net

mangozz said...

I love to make and eat chicken fricassee. It was something my grandmother made and although I don't have her recipe (she never even owned a cookbook) I make one very similar.

Unknown said...

Gosh just thinking about soup is making my mouth water. It is cool and dark here this morning. I think I will have to make some African Peanut Soup, yum!

I am loving your blocks, wrinkles and all.

Mary Rogers said...

I just made two soups this weekend- both were really good- chicken tortellini soup and sausage and tortellini soup. As you can see I had to use up all the tortellini.

SherryC said...

One of my favorites as cooler weather hits is my version of Hot and Sour Soup. Spicy and full of thin sliced pork, Asian veggies, beaten egg and a rich broth base.

SherryC said...

One of my favorites as cooler weather hits is my version of Hot and Sour Soup. Spicy and full of thin sliced pork, Asian veggies, beaten egg and a rich broth base.

Gloria said...

Corn and potato chowder with lots of onion! MmmmMM!! cotten.gloria@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

I love a good potato soup but haven't found just the right recipe yet to make it myself. However I do make a good vegetable beef soup recipe with our own homegrown tomatoes, green beans, onions, corn, and soup bones . thanks.

Cathy L Wilson said...

I love your scrappy blocks! Baked potato soup is my favorite cold weather meal!

MJ said...

I love ginger carrot squash soup, although I hate peeling the squash, so I cheat and cook the squash in the oven and scoop it out and then use home made vegetable broth to make the soup, very good indeed!! I will need to buy the machine quilting book since it isn't one of the prizes this month.

joolz said...

I loved my grandpa's Cream of Potato soup. Sadly, I didn't get the recipe before he passed. None of the others I tried come close, because his was made with lots of love!

Julie.mirdoch@shaw.ca

Susan L. said...

My favorite fall soup is something my mom called Autumn Soup.

Autumn Soup

½ lb. ground beef
1 cup chopped onion
4 cups hot water
1 cup cut-up carrots
1 cup cut-up celery
1 cup cut-up potatoes
¼ teaspoon allspice
1 ½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
2 beef bouillon cubes
1 bay leaf
¼ teaspoon basil
1 large can chopped tomatoes


Sauté meat and onion until cooked. Add all remaining ingredients and bring mixture to a boil. Lower heat, cover and simmer for 45 mins.

Mary Lou said...

A good chicken tortilla soup is always a fall favorite. Or chili-either the beef or chicken variety. Or stew. Anything simmering in the crock pot all day has all the makings of a favorite fall dish.

Deanna said...

LOve your sense of humor!! My most recent soup was entitled The Best Butternut Squash Soup Ever. I found it on Pinterest. It was delish! And it was easy because I precooked my Butternut Squash on low in the crockpot for 4 hours. No need to worry about chopping my fingers off - it comes out nice and soft!!

Geri A said...

I adore chicken wild rice soup. I think that is my favorite.

Sherry VF said...

My son's favorite soup is chicken and dumplings (the big, fluffy ones)...just the way my mom made them. Mine is squash. sjvonfumetti at yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

"Well, I think making these blocks scrappy has sufficiently rendered the point moot. "
I just love this sentence! It just flows off the tongue! Thanks. (I love words!) I also like your scrappy idea. It will help me tie my blocks together, I think.
Barb in CA (where it's finally cool)

mumbird3 said...

Love your scrappy blocks - very nice! My fav fall soup is tomato and carrot lentil!

nance said...

My favorite fall soup is Tortilla, a recipe I got from Weslaco, TX, a long time ago.

BarefootThunder said...

Cauliflower stew !!! And no-one can make it like my Momma does. Hubs comes close....
Love your scrappy blocks.

PatriciaEE said...

Pumpkin or squash soup!!! Must have in the fall.

Unknown said...

Tomato basil bisque is my fave! And for irons, I love the Rowenta.

Camille said...

Corned Beef Chowder
About 8 servings

1 medium onion, chopped
6 ounces of corned beef
12 ounces frozen corn kernels
56 fluid ounces canned cream of potato soup ( 3 cans, made with low fat milk)
1/8 tsp black pepper
½ tsp dried thyme
Cooking spray
1. Spray large pan with cooking spray.
2. Sauté onions about 5 minutes or until tender.
3. Stir in thyme, corn, and corned beef and stir for about 2-3 minutes.
4. Add canned potato soup and milk.
5. Cook until soup is well heated and serve.
6. A heaping cup = one serving.
Note: Use at least a 3 qt pan.
Weight Watchers online recipe - 4 WW points in 2007

Laura said...

Love a spicy pork and apple stew this time of year.

wendy said...

I love making soup in the cooler weather. My favorite is kind of a Tex-Mex soup that I made up. It has chicken, broth, salsa, black beans, onions, and either rice or quinoa in it. Sometimes I will throw in some corn, celery or shredded carrots. Depends on what I have on hand. Yummy!

Robin in MN said...

In my house, old fashioned beef stew in the crock pot is always a winner. Pair that with homemade apple crisp from our apple trees and life is good!

Unknown said...

Potato Bacon Chowder!!!!

Beth A. said...

Taco soup for now, when the temperatures really drop there is nothing like a chicken, Tasso and sausage gumbo in south Louisiana.
P.S. I love my Panasnic cordless iron.

Linda J. said...

We really like chili or beef stew the best.

Gail said...

I do scrappy (deflect!) like you just because I love variety! My favorite soup is a rich tomato made with cream & sherry. I found the recipe on The Pioneer Woman several years back. It's always a hit when served to family & friends.

Anita Jackson @ Domestic Felicity said...

It is quite difficult to choose one favorite soup I enjoy for fall, I must say anything with vegetables is delicious! Carrots, potatoes, onions! I even add squash and zuchinnis ( I may even sneak in an apple!) anitalynette.simmons@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

I love potato soup and my husband prefers chili so we have more chili but I am thinking potato this week. I make mine with almond milk since my husband has a hugh lactose intolerance problem. It is really good made that way.

Lauri said...

I love your scrappy happy blocks! I enjoy a good beer cheese soup with popcorn as croutons, but then I'm a popcorn-aholic so could probably skip the soup and just eat the popcorn! Haha!

cathy k said...

I love soup when the weather gets cooler. I have already made chicken noodle and beef barley.so far. Many more bowls to come

Afquilt said...

I love pumpkin soup! Yum!

Knittingdancer on Ravelry said...

I love loaded baked potato soup.

Jackie said...

I love to make chili in the fall.

mygeneration said...

Fun colors! I make creamy butternut squash soup with fresh hot rolls. Both my carnivore daughter and my vegetarian daughter love it.

Donna W said...

A hot and steamy bowl of chili on a cool autumn evening

Sherry said...

I don't know if it is specifically a fall soup, but the best one I've ever eaten was Five Mushroom Soup. I had it in a restaurant and loved it so much I decided to try it at home. I bought five different kinds of mushrooms and winged it, and it was still fantastic.

I'm a big fan of Christa's quilts and would love to win a set of her patterns.

Anita said...

My favorite soup is Greek Lentil soup.

judi said...

I love chili best! I make both red and green and they are both delicious.

MaureenT said...

I love making a good beef soup using lots of bones for flavor!

JanieS said...

My favorite is a simple hamburger soup with lots of veggies. Even better with cornbread.

patricia said...

Got a hankering for some chili. No secret recipe--it's the one from the Rival crock-pot cookbook.

Ann D said...

It's not quite soup weather here so i have a wait a bit longer. I like a simple minestrone with some bread alongside.

anndunn24(at)gmail.com

mgquilts said...

There's an old WW Cheesy Vegetable Soup that is so easy and oh so delicious. You can still google it on line. Definitely check it out.

Unknown said...

I love to make taco soup in my crock pot from a recipe I got from a dear friend. It includes all kinds of beans and hominy. I serve it over Fritos with shredded cheese on the top. Even our grandkids like it and they usually prefer McDonalds.

Nancy J said...

Lovely colour choices, those purples sing. Fav soup, Hugh makes pumpkin and onion soup, he does it all from start to finish, chops the huge orange monster, peels the cut up pieces, slices the ( eye teary ) onions, puts all in a huge pot, adds some spices, cooks till tender, than mashes it smooth with the potato masher. Then we have some in the fridge, and containers are put in the freezer. Perfect for a freezing cold day later on.

sam said...

My fave soup for autumn is creamy butternut squash. O-o-o-h. Might have to make some this week end.

Barbara Shires said...

My favorite fall soup, which I made yesterday, is Chicken Enchilada Soup.... It's a total cheater soup: can of cream of chicken soup, can of nacho cheese soup, 2 2/3 c. milk, can of green chilis, can of red enchilada sauce and 2 or 3 shredded chicken breasts. Warm slowly as it will burn easily. Add crushed tortilla chips to your bowl and sour cream if you like.... tastes like you're eating an enchilada. I make a double batch and we eat on it all week (more time for quilting!)

OhioLori said...

Love your Post!!! I think Scrappy blocks are AWESOME!! You did Super job!! & I will come back to see finished quilt!! I Looove it already! :)

Favorite soup in fall (& winter)..is our Chicken Vegie Soup. We use leftovers from Rotisserie Chicken...theow carcass in crockpot w/water. Boil few hours & then pick meat from bones. Doctor up the broth with tasty spices & Love...add whatever vegies we have...sometimes brown rice too. YUMMY with fresh cornbread! :)

Thank you for chance to win your Give-a-way too! :D

Laurel Lee Pedersen said...

My favorite fall soup is "Clean out the fridge" soup. I start with a pound of hamburger and a pound of sausage. I brown them in my big pot with chopped onions or leeks. I add potatoes, carrots, celery, green beans and/or any vegetable that needs to be used up. I add a can of tomato juice and enough water with beef bouillon or stock to taste. We eat it with a salad and rolls, and it's always better the next day.

LOIS W said...

I love your attitude! Blocks look great.
I love vegetable beef soup and spicey tomatoe soup in cool weather.

Unknown said...

Kitchen Sink Chili, unfortunately, there is no way to write down a recipe, because every time , there is something different in the Refrig. Leftover ham scraps? In they go. Potatoes? Sure. Bit left in a catsup bottle? Add a little water, shake it up, and in it goes. You get the idea.

Unknown said...

I enjoy the way your scrappiness adds variety to the quilt. I enjoy a rich creamy corn chowder.

ruth hampson said...

Love it! My favorite soup is BEEF BARLEY for its hearty flavor and its comfort food quality.
sassysalelady@yahoo.com

Deb said...

Have to mention 2 of my favorites....Cheesy Potato Soup and of course a copycat (since I can't go to Panera every day!!!)Panera Bread Broccoli and Cheese.

Unknown said...

My favorite fall soup is potatoe soup made with heavy cream and some yellow corn for color. Love your site, my first visit!

judys said...

It's nice to be able to make a hearty beef stew (my favorite), spaghetti sauce and so many kinds of soup!!

Connie said...

My go to fav is Chicken Tortilla. Ymmmmmmmmm!!!

Unknown said...

My favorite fall soup is called Baked Forgotten Stew. After browning your stew beef,you put it in a Dutch oven with chopped potatoes, carrots, celery, and an onion along with 2 cans reduced fat cream of mushroom or celery (whichever suits your taste) with one-half soup can or less of water, and a bay leaf. Cover the Dutch oven and put it in 350° oven and forget it! It is done when veggies are tender. Yum! I'm going to have to make that soon!

Unknown said...

My favorite fall soup is called Baked Forgotten Stew. After browning your stew beef,you put it in a Dutch oven with chopped potatoes, carrots, celery, and an onion along with 2 cans reduced fat cream of mushroom or celery (whichever suits your taste) with one-half soup can or less of water, and a bay leaf. Cover the Dutch oven and put it in 350° oven and forget it! It is done when veggies are tender. Yum! I'm going to have to make that soon!

Jodi - usairdoll said...

Love your scrappy blocks, great colors! I love Chicken Tortilla soup, yum!

Thanks for a chance to win.

usairdoll(at)gmail(dot)com

Debbie said...

Not really soup or stew but when the weather gets chilly I make a big pot of chili!

Brenda said...

I love my chicken corn chowder soup. Yes, it is a recipe I found on pininterest. Love your blocks.

kelley likes said...

Adorable patterns! Would love a chance to win! thank you for all you do!!

Anonymous said...

Like a number of responses ahead of me, I love Chili con Carne in the fall. I was so happy to see that your scraps are in random sizes, although I do note that you sort by color! So far I file by project, with all the scraps from each quilt in a layer, and recently I decided to make scrappy cushions to go with several quilts and it was fun to dive into the scraps and find them all together.

June D said...

I like scrappy quilts too, so enjoyed your description of getting the fabrics ready.

My favorite soup is lima bean. Made with lots of carrots, celery, onion. Yum! Reminds me of childhood too.

Thanks for the chance.

Kathy's Korner said...

My favorite soup is Taco Soup - but I like it year round! I wish I had your attitude about making something scrappy - I worry too much about fabrics matching. Thanks for the chance to win the patterns.

JanetG said...

My favourite soup to make in Autumn is Gluten Free Chicken Noodle soup.

Wies said...

I love mushroomsoup and lately i have discoverd pumpkinsoup yammie!

Cindy Bedore said...

My go to soup is Olive Gardens Zuppa Toscana. Pinterest has copycat recipes galore!

BettyK said...

I love my soup made with chicken, beans, tomatoes and best of all kale. Of course lots of spices. Even if receipe doesn't call for it, I usually add grated ginger to all my soups.

Sumac said...

I love a good squash soup for the fall.

LakeMGal said...

I love chicken taco soup with sour cream, cheese and tortilla chips!

Unknown said...

Bacon Corn Chowder

The family favorite "soup" in our house is called Bacon Corn Soup [Taste of home 2011] but we call it Bacon Corn Chowder as we have changed it a little bit. instead of making just 6-8 servings we make an 8 quart pot full of this amazing and filling soup/chowder so it can last a few days or feed a small crowd as everyone always wants seconds.

We put in a full pound of bacon (instead of just 4 slices)
2 full sweet or yellow onions - chopped (not just 1 c)
We add about 1/2 pot chopped/diced potatoes (instead of 1 1/2 c's)
About 1 heaping Tbsp or 3 cubes of chicken bouillon (not just 1 tsp/cub)
Just enough water to cover the potatoes - about 4-6 c-s (not just 2 cups)
1/4 c all-purpose flour or corn starch
3 c milk divided - 1/4 c & 2 3/4 c (not just 2)
2 c half-and-half (not just 1)
1 LB bag of frozen corn (the cans don't work, not sure why)
16-24 oz of shredded cheese we mostly have a 3 cheese blend on hand so that's what we use (not the 8 oz of Velveeta cut up into cubes like they say tried it once we didn't like it)
Salt and pepper to taste

In 8 quart pot cook bacon until crisp. Remove bacon; crumble and set aside. In the drippings, sauté onion until tender. Add potatoes, bouillon, and water then lightly stir; cover potatoes with lid and simmer until potatoes are soft.
In a small bowl, combine flour/corn starch and 1/4 cup milk until smooth. Add this mixture, cream, corn, and remaining milk to the soup/chowder; bring to a boil. Cook and stir for 2-3 minutes or until thickened. Turn off heat; add cheese and bacon. Stir and season with salt and pepper until the cheese is melted and everything is semi evenly distributed.

janie said...

I love fall and beef/barley vegetable soup, home made of course.

Annette S said...

Love to make Chili with made from scratch corn bread. Chicken noodle is my second favorite.

Rowenta so far has been my best irons.

Annette S said...

I love chili and made from scratch corn bread.

So far Rowenta's have been the best irons.

Musicat said...

It's hard to decide between a beef stew with potatoes, onion, carrots and cabbage; cream of potato soup--both cheesy and without cheese; or creamy chicken noodle soup. Now I'm getting hungry.
I love your color choices for your blocks.

Gertruda said...

I love my meatball, tomato and potato soup, its my own recipe based on a soup my Mother and Grandmother made. Gertruda

Unknown said...

I don't make too many soups, but my favorite would be Potato Cheese Soup!

Unknown said...

I don't make too many soups, but my favorite would be Potato Cheese Soup!

Unknown said...

It's a toss up for me. I love chili but I also love a good beef stew!

Sarah said...

I like your writing style! I like white chili made with chicken and whatever beans I have in my pantry. Different each time...

Unknown said...

Okie dokie, seafood gumbo. What is not to like about seafood gumbo?!?!? And it smells heavenly while cooking😬

Unknown said...

Okie dokie, seafood gumbo. What is not to like about seafood gumbo?!?!? And it smells heavenly while cooking😬

gaylynn said...

I love beef stew or chicken soup. Especially the broth on the chicken soup. Mmmm so good.

Unknown said...

My favorite fall soup is good ole beef barley.

Unknown said...

Sharing our taco soup with friends makes a perfect ending to a good visit. Ranch dressing mix is the secret ingredient.

Kathryn said...

My mom's vegetable soup is just the best.

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