The New A-OK Pattern for August - Chained

Hello there my quilting friends!

I am completely obsessed.  I will admit it.  And, I am okay with it.  My mind is consumed with five yard quilts: designing, making, bundling.  At night I lay awake thinking about possible patterns and fabric combinations.  Yesterday, I created different bundles of five yards for use with the new patterns.  I kitted the ones I had done and posted pictures.  Michael came home that evening to quilts and fabrics everywhere, no signs of dinner and a wife with a great big grin!  I was loving it.  You all know he didn't care, he was happy to see me so happy.  We did eat, at almost 9pm!

My only problem - my mind is running in all directions.  Oh!  I should put those together.... Oh wait!  It would be great to collage them on the website.... Oh!  What about a new design.  Whoops!  I need a picture of that quilt, where are the fabrics I used?  I have so many details to tend, I know I am going to need a few days to get it all straight.  Until then....

Our new pattern this month - Chained

This five yard quilt (of course) is super easy and there is NO MATCHING!

Yes, the pattern is available.

Yes, the fabrics are available.

Yes, the kit is available.

You're welcome.











New Fabric Bundles

As I mentioned, I have bundles up some great five yard groupings to use with our patterns.  Here are a few below:

     

Each grouping has the large scale print on the bottom, with the medium scale above it.  The light, medium and dark print are the top three.  Any of the patterns will work for these bundles - just pick your favorite.

Kits

When making my samples, some of them were fabrics from our store, some were from my stash.  Those that were available, we kitted them.  Below are a few of the kits.

Gallery

Since the patterns can be made with any fabric grouping, I created a page to show them off.  Please send your completed quilt picture and I will add it to the gallery for others to admire.  I love seeing patterns in other fabrics and how different they can look. 

So Much More in the Works

I am looking at adding new fabrics and am excited to offer more to you soon.  Please share our website, facebook, and blog with your quilting friends! 

Until then I will continue to try to harness my thoughts and get them to you through the website.  Enjoy life and happy quilting!

Susan/Tia

Peach Cobbler - A July Tradition

California Peaches

Growing up in San Diego, our neighbor had a huge peach tree that grew up over into our yard.  As our neighbor said, "Anything on your side is yours!"  So, every July my Grandpa Temple would climb up on top of our patio and pick the ripe peaches.  He would hand down the bowls and we girls would run them to the house where my Grandma and mom would be cutting up a storm.  As you entered the screen door, you would be overwhelmed by the smell of fresh peaches and the baking of cobbler.  The house would be hot, but who cares.  If you are getting cobbler it is all worth it. 

Years later, the smell of summer peaches would grab me as I entered the grocery store.  Our local grocery had them front and center. Who can resist that?  On Sunday, Cindy and I were making a run to the grocery for a few ingredients for dinner when I caught a whiff of it - peaches.  There they were, California peaches, with their soft fuzz and strong aroma.  We knew what we had to do, make a cobbler!

Here is my recipe which I believe is pretty close to my Grandma's.  It tastes like it to me. 

Crust - this is the secret.  My grandma taught me to make the best pie crust in the whole world.  I am ruined by it and find all others a little less than perfect.  I know, we all have our own favorites.  I am sharing mine.

In a bowl - Mix 2 cups flour, 2 tablespoon sugar, 1 teaspoon salt.

Add 1/2 cup oil, cutting it in with a fork until completely mixed and crumbly.

Add 5 tablespoons of water to the mix.  As you mix it will begin to hold together.  Divide in two, one for the bottom and one for the top.

Lay out a large piece of waxed paper and sprinkle with flour.  Grab one half of the dough and begin rolling it out thin to line the bottom of a casserole type dish.  You can use a 9x11 or 10x13, any dish that is glass and about 2-3 inches high.  Trim to fit or patch areas that are short.  Save the rest to repeat the same procedure when finishing up the cobbler.

Filling - here we go!  I am not sure how many pounds to use, but 10-12 large peaches is a good estimate.  They do cook down so do not be afraid to use a lot!  Begin by blanching them in boiling water for a just a minute.  Remove and put in cold water.  This makes them super easy to peel and worth the trouble.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

In a large bowl mix:

3/4 - 1 cup of sugar (I found I could use a lot less and let the peaches do the work)
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
3 tablespoons flour

Peel and cut the peaches into slices or chunks.  Sometimes they are so ripe you are lucky to just to get them in pieces!  Mix those lovely peaches into the bowl of dry ingredients, coating them.  Dump them into the bottom of your crust.  Roll out the rest of the dough and cover the top, crimping the edges to seal.  Sprinkle with a little bit of sugar and nutmeg on top of the crust. Poke a few vent holes in the top crust to vent.  It will look like the one below:

Ready for the oven

Do you see that the cobbler is a bit under the edge of the pan?  It helps to keep those juicy peaches from bubbling over and ending up on the bottom of my oven! 

Cook for 10 minutes, then reduce the temp to 350.  Continue baking until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbly.  I want to say about 40 minutes. Start at 30 and keep checking it.

We couldn't stand it, we ate it warm.  Even the kids loved it and Alanna had seconds.  I always think it is going to be a ton of work, but it goes quickly and is so worth it in the end. 

Enjoy yours!

Hello My Quilting Buddies!

It is summer and I have been home since the end of March.  Most of you know me as Quiltin' Tia, but I also have a superhero identity - Special Education Teacher.  I love my kids, love my job and love my school.  But, like all superheroes occasionally suffer, I had a setback - mine was cardiac arrest.  My fast acting team saved my life and I am here, back to my ever normal self, and preparing to return in the fall.  In true superhero fashion, the doctors could find no reason for my downfall.  I believe stress and exhaustion played a factor, so maybe that is my Kryptonite.  It won't stop me (maniacal laugh).  Okay, maybe it will slow me down a bit.

This time has forced me to rest - something I do not do well.  I have always filled every moment with a task to remain efficient and on top of it all. I am finishing my Masters degree this December and had already planned to take the summer to relax.  God thought I should do it sooner.  The upside?  I have had time to work on and finish an idea I had about five years ago for a line of patterns.  Needing something to occupy my brain, I began to design again.

Oh, how I have missed it!  I love to write and if there is math involved, even better.  I have been speeding along on my sewing machine dutifully testing the patterns patiently waiting to share them with you.  Seventeen designs and twelve quilts later I am ready (drum roll):


 

We are offering ten patterns initially with a new design each month.  The concept is easy:

5 one yard cuts = 1 great quilt (told you I like math)

Even better, I have created a video that better explains how the idea works and shows off the designs.  I like being able to talk with you this way!

Here is how it works:


Choose five fabrics using the "finger method" and you can choose ANY of the quilt patterns.  They all work for the same yardage.

You can also go directly to the website - click here - for a short explanation and the patterns.  

Let me know your comments on these new designs.  

Have a super day! - Susan/Tia