DONNA POSTER NEWSLETTER
NOV. ‘05
JUST SOME THOUGHTS
Today I’d like to share a special moment with you. As I sit here at my computer --my two puppies are curled up in the corner, each on her own little quilt---Perry Como is crooning softly from a CD---the trees outside my window are a sunny batik of golds and reds---a flannel quilt for little Eliad is on my sewing machine---and the comforting aroma of Mr. Donna’s chicken soup is coming from the kitchen. Moments like this are very special and I treasure them.
Eliad celebrated his first birthday on October 18th. Click onto the following link to see the doings. The entire family was here with so many cameras we looked like the paparazzi!! He’s a happy little kid who loves when Zoe, his mom, reads to him. She’s a jeweler and keeps up with the latest trends. I think it’s hysterical when they go through a fashion magazine and he pays close attention as she points out that, “Oh, look!. Her shoes match her purse!”
YOUR LETTERS ABOUT SCISSORS
I’m still receiving emails about scissors stories! They are such fun to read and each month I’ll pass one or two on to you.
Judy wrote: “My oldest pair of scissors belonged to my grandmother who passed away over 40 years ago. She did a lot of embroidery work and that is what these scissors were meant for. I never had them sharpened and they still cut wonderfully. I use them for cutting threads.” What a wonderful memory of your grandmother.
Ann wrote: “I do not have all my scissors in one place, but I think I know where they all are and I have 23 pairs of them. The oldest pair is at least 60 years old and I inherited them from my Mother. She was a true seamstress because she protected her ‘fabric cutting’ scissors with a big threat of harm to your backside if you cut paper with them.” Oh yes, I remember handing out those threats too!
HINT ABOUT EMBELLISHMENTS
I just heard the greatest hint for those of us who like to embellish their quilts, especially us “crazy-patchers.” A gal in my workshop in Williamsport says she waits until just after the prom or holiday season, then visits her local thrift shop. She buys gowns for very little and cuts them up for the fabric and trimmings. Usually she ends up with so much of everything that she shares all this with other stitchers!. I am definitely going to look into this!!
INTERNATIONAL ORDERS
We have been having a bit of a problem with orders coming from outside USA /CANADA and have made arrangements to handle this. There is a link on the Home Page of ----donnaposter.com----which will take you to a page explaining how to go about ordering for non USA/CANADA customers. We use a Global Express envelope through the post office. The cost is $9.00. Actually, we can get a number of patterns in the same envelope so if you have some quilting buddies or want to order other patterns the shipping cost is the same as for one pattern. Be sure to use the link.
Q & A TIME
Q: Peggy Asks
I would like to know how well the Foldy Stuff quilts wash. Do you have any recommendations?
A: The Foldy Stuff quilts wash beautifully! I use either no batting at all or just a lightweight batting that requires very little quilting so I can launder them in my home washer and dryer. Whether or not ironing is required depends on the fabric used. I use a medium setting on my dryer, then generally give them just a light pressing.
Also, these quilts are very sturdy. Mine get dragged around to classes, shows and lectures all the time and they hold up great.
Q: SUSAN Asks
I’d like to make your clamshell quilt as a charm quilt and was wondering if you sell a plastic rotary cutting template so I can trim the curve on a stack of rectangles all at the same time. My accuracy when I try to cut around a thin plastic template (as well as my safety) worries me.
A: The Clamshell would make a gorgeous charm quilt!! The neat thing about cutting a stack of “clamshells” is that, with my method of pressing, the seam around the curve doesn’t have to be exactly one-fourth inch., so the cutting template doesn’t have to be a “matching” curve”! I use a three inch circle template for rotary cutting. A set of these circles is available through several catalogs and, often, from your local quilt shop.
Gee, now you’ve got me thinking about making a Clamshell charm quilt myself! Maybe I’ll just start cutting some rectangles right now!! Enjoy!
Q: Patricia Asks
I want to make a quilt for my grandson using the Peaks design. I purchased fabric with guitars on it, which is a large print. Now, I’m wondering if this print is too large for the pattern. Do you think Peaks is more suited to small print fabric? I am new to quilting and just love the Mega Peaks.
A: I’ve seen the Easy Peaks done with large prints many times and it’s always great fun! You’ll have a quilt chockful of “guitar parts”, but your eye will put them all together when you look at the finished quilt. In addition, the large prints, when cut up, create a lot of action in the quilt.
A suggestion--if you want to call attention to the actual guitars ( maybe your grandson is a guitarist?), there’s two ways to do this: You can actually fussy cut a few pieces with a guitar centered on it and/or use the guitar fabric in a large outer border to call attention to it. You could also use it as a backing to the project, then he’d have a Peaks quilt and a guitar quilt, all in one! Fun!!
THANKSGIVING
Our family has a lovely tradition--each of us hosts one of the holidays every year. Mine is coming up soon--- Thanksgiving! For those of you who are under the impression that Mr. Donna does all the cooking here, let me tell you, I cook a mean turkey!!! I also make a sweet potato dish that’s such a favorite I’m going to pass it on to you.
Sweet Potato/Pineapple Casserole
2 (40 oz) cans sweet potatoes, drained, (save the juice)
1 (20 oz) can crushed pineapple, undrained
¼ tsp nutmeg
½ tsp salt
¼ cup light brown sugar
½ cup butter (or oleo), melted
Topping
1 cup butter (or oleo) melted
2/3 cup light brown sugar
4 cups cornflakes
Mash sweet potatoes till smooth. Add next five ingredients, mix well. Add a bit of the “saved juice” if needed. Spread evenly in a shallow baking dish.
For the Topping, mix the butter and brown sugar. (they won’t want to mix! Don’t worry about it). Add the cornflakes and toss well.
Sprinkle the topping evenly over the potatoes (thank goodness there’s plenty of topping because some of it never makes it to the potatoes. It’s delicious!
Bake, uncovered 40 min. at 325 degrees.
Enjoy!!!
Arn and I wish you all a wonderful holiday! May you find plenty of those special moments of your own.
Your quilting buddy,
Donna