DONNA POSTER NEWSLETTER
JUNE 2005
Whoo---I think May was three months long! Besides the usual household, family and studio routines I spent a week at the Pfaff Training Center in Cincinnati, then gave a lecture in Hazelton, Pa, followed 48 hours later by a workshop in Warwick Valley, NY. Arrived home tired, but happy, only to find our fifteen year old ailing poodle had to be put out of her misery. To help our sadness, we went looking at new puppies and, big surprise, we found one! So our days are now spent training (playing with?) our little three pound Maltipoo, Corky!
I had a wonderful time at the lecture and workshop. Quilters are such super people and these two groups of ladies were a lot of fun to be with! Almost all signed up for my newsletter, too, so a special, “Hi and thank you!”
The gals at Warwick came up with some great exercises for quilters. My favorites are, “When they come up with a heavier needle I’ll be getting more exercise” and, “The running stitch is an aerobic exercise”. I love it!!!
I can’t believe I was one of the fourty-eight national and international teachers invited to attend a three day training session at the Pfaff sewing machine headquarters in Cincinnati, Oh. We were treated to three whole days of doing nothing but “playing” on their finest machines. The instructors were marvelous, the machines were terrific and we are all hoping we’ll be invited again!
I now have a few weeks before teaching at Quilt Odyssey in Hershey, Pa. Most of my classes are filled I’m told, but there is one I have asked to be reopened to accept more students. It’s called “Who, Me, Teach? OK!” The class developed when I began looking at how I had improved my teaching skills over the years and I realized that I could recognize the points of growth. It’s becoming a very popular class for both new and experienced teachers. Join me for three hours of great hints, Q & A and hilarious stories! For details check out--quilt odyssey.com--or call Missy at (717) 423-5148.
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ABOUT FOLDY STUFF YARDAGES
The telephone rings, it’s a call from a shop owner. “I have a customer and we are picking fabrics for one of your Foldy Stuff projects, and the yardages in the pattern must be wrong” a voice says.
The fabric companies love us. Because strips are pleated and overlap some extra fabric is used. This results in the need for a little more fabric than you are accustomed to using when sewing a ¼“ seam. The Pineapple, with its extra catty-corner rows, uses a lot more than the other Foldies! The good news is that very little batting is needed, none for the pineapple design, and the amount of quilting needed is drastically reduced. In the ditch around each block is plenty.
RIPPING IT OUT
My beginning students always ask, “How do I know when to rip out a seam?” I always tell them the following:
Be as accurate as you can while still having fun. Remember, this is your hobby not your job, and the chances of your first quilt hanging in the Smithsonian are slim, so don’t spend time ripping out every seam that’s not a perfect match. If you enjoy your first quilt, you’ll make more of them, and as you do, you’ll get better at it.
If you need to do some easing to get seams to match, don’t worry. The quilting hides a lot of errors in the “puffies.”
Know what is important and pay attention to that. For example, learn to maintain a scant ¼” seam allowance. Careful cutting is important. Learn to adjust your sewing machine to maintain a good tension. Use a small size (70/10) sewing machine needle for piecing, and change it every time you start a new project. Use good quality fabrics and thread.
Pay attention to these things and you’ll be amazed at how easy it all fits together.
IT’S Q & A TIME
Q: Marla asks--I have just finished a pineapple Foldy Stuff quilt. I used a lot of white fabric and it needs to be cleaned. Can I wash it in my home washing machine?
A: I assume it is backed and quilted. Just take it to a laundromat and wash it in one of the large front-load machine in the usual way. This is a very sturdy quilt.
Q: Sandra asks--My 13 year old grandaughter (Abby) has received her first sewing machine. I’d like her to try her hand at quilting. Which Foldy Stuff pattern would you recommend for her first attempt?”
A: Definitely the Log Cabin! Not just because it’s the simplest but because it has the most possibilities for playing with the finished blocks and that is exciting. By the way, The Foldy Stuff makes wonderful scrap quilts and would be so interesting and fun for her to work with. You two are in for some great times--enjoy!!
THE CURRY MUSHROOM/EGG/TOMATO RECIPE (by Mr. Donna)
Ok, all the ingredients are in the May issue and I have already gotten a lot of grief from my wife over this “to be continued“ format, so, please, be kind . These newsletters are archived and you view them by going to----donnaposter.com----and clicking on “Newsletter Archives” at the home page. Ingredients are in the May issue.
A word of warning. This is not a dish to be thrown together and wolfed down between TV shows. We are talking serious eating enjoyment here.
Cook the rice. Hard boil the eggs, cool and cut in half lengthwise. Melt butter or margarine in a large (10”) skillet, add onion and cook until onion is just short of being tender, about 3 or 4 minutes. Try to undercook everything in the recipe.
Add the spices (coriander, salt, turmeric, ginger and cumin). Cook and stir about 1 minute. At this point the mass in the pan may get a little dry depending upon the grit of the spices. Don’t panic. Just add a little of the chicken broth. Boy-O-Boy, I’m wondering how this would work if I used the broth from my own famous chicken soup. I’ll have to try that--awesome. Anyway, two things here: 1. Use as little chicken broth as possible throughout the cooking process, so the curry flavor will not be diluted, and
2. The turmeric will stain anything with which it comes into contact, so be careful.
Stir in tomatoes and some more broth, heat to boiling, reduce heat and
Simmer, uncovered, 4 to 5 minutes. Carefully place the eggs in the skillet and spoon the juices over them. Simmer, uncovered, until the eggs are hot, 3 to 5 minutes, do not stir. The contents of the skillet should not become a sauce.
If you are using shrimp and bay scallops now is the time to put them in the skillet. Just push them under the liquid between the eggs and tomatoes. Cook for about one minute. Add lemon juice just prior to serving.
Serve over rice with a garnish, a small salad or side of apple sauce. Pop the cork on a bottle of your favorite white wine, and
------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------ENJOY!!!!
Mr. Donna