The 'Mad Chemist'

 It's really rather funny, in a sad way. Dick (Mr. OLT) died in August. One of his favorite meals that I would cook would be chili (the other is my fried chicken). As soon as it would get the least bit cold then the chili would go on the menu. Well............. I probably have not cooked more than 10 meals since August. Tonight, I find myself in the kitchen working up a pot of chili.

I truly feel like the mad scientist at the stove. I hope this pot of chili is good enough to feed me for a few days with the weather getting ready to REALLY get cold. It sure brings back memories of more interesting times. 

This recipe is one that I found in an original Betty Crocker cookbook right after Dick and I got married. He loved it then and he loved it always. Amazing how the little things can bring back memories and a few tears along with them. 

Anyway, I wanted to share with you that I 'might' still be able to cook. Cooper has had his nose right up on the counter to make sure that everything was just right. Now it's time to butter some bread and have a bowl of chili.

Hope this posting finds you warm and snuggly in your home. I really plan to sew this weekend and get my entries ready for the Cobblestone Quilt Show. One needs binding and the other needs....borders....quilting...binding...a label........just a few things. 

Thanks for listening.

Nebula and South Carolina quilters

I am currently working on a client quilt that was pieced from the 'Nebula' pattern with Jay Bird Quilts. This is what the full quilt looks like, BUT, I am working on the smaller version, the throw.

 This top is so much fun to work on. The piecing is spot on and the Tula Pink fabrics are so much fun. 

 This was loading day. As you might see, this top is a hexagon, so care needed to be taken to get everything straight. I did baste the top on as I always do with custom quilting. Once that was done it was time to have some Statler fun.

The black areas were stitched on the first day of actual quilting. The red areas were stitched the second day of quilting. These designs are so cute and work so well in these diamonds. They were designed by Kim Diamond and are just perfect. They really make my job a little easier. So now at this point I have at least 25 hours in this quilt. And on we go!!

On this day I started some of the outer background. That would be those areas at the top in black. The large open area at the bottom will be left until later as those diamonds will not stitch within my throat space on my frame. The quilt will need to be turned for those to be stitched. 

So now I have worked another day and finished the inside triangles (they are now in red). Today I completed the outer diamonds (they are in black). I'll carry on with this outer area until I have to turn the quilt.

This was on Jan. 15, 2022 and it's time to turn the quilt. Things will stop for a week as I go to Myrtle Beach Quilt Party to start a new project of my own. When I get back, the quilt will come off of the frame, be trimmed a little, reloaded, and all of these open areas will be stitched. We're moving along and things are really looking good. 

I'll let you know when it is complete!