Advent of Kindness!

Here is a perfect way to celebrate Advent each day--it takes nothing but

Kindness!

Today Is The Day To Begin....................

I know you're not busy today--Right?  NOT!

Busy with cooking, shopping, gift wrapping, etc.

But, here is one that you might want to save

for future sewing times!

Jan Daly Quilts will share the steps on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from the 3rd through the 21st.  The final project is a mystery that will be constructed and revealed in stages throughout the month.  This year there will simple machine piecing (with some smaller patch sizes) making this quilt along suitable for most quilters, including confident beginners.  Check their website for past mystery QAL

I'll be saving these steps along with Quiltville's 2018 mystery

and Temecula Quilt company Secret Santa steps.  So much to sew

so little time--but we'll be ready for 2019 Christmas season!

And don't forget about the New Year's Day 2019

quilt along with Merry Mayhem--every hour a step

is revealed and by evening you'll have a wonderful new quilt--

if you keep up!

AQS Christmas Countdown

Just another reason to sew during the holidays

of if you're like me

save for future stitching.

Join this group through Facebook--

AQS

Each day from December 1-25 we will be posting a block. Please use your preferred construction technique.

Share questions and process images along the way. Be sure to show off your finished blocks with lots of pictures! We may even use your shared images on AQS Social Media platforms: AQSBlog, OnPoint, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, & Facebook. Always giving you credit, of course.

The full projects along with the finishing quilts for 2015, 2016, and 2017 can be found on AQSBlog: http://www.aqsblog.com/2017-christmas-countdown

Our 2018 Christmas project starts here: http://www.aqsblog.com/get-ready-for-the-2018-christmas-cou…. You can even combine all the blocks and make a 100 Block Christmas Quilt!

Blocks are shown in red and white. Please feel free to make your blocks in any color. If you would like to use the same fabrics we are using, look for active links to ShopAQS.com within the blog posts.

Joining this group means you agree to abide by the AQS Social Media Terms & Conditions found here: http://www.americanquilter.com/…/social_media_terms_and_con…

Advent Calendar

It's that time of year when my mind turns to Advent--time to reflect on the reason for the season.  We have an advent wreath--a circle of life--candles are lit on Sundays before Christmas.

I also like to prepare myself by knitting an advent scarf, which I've

done for the past several years.  This year is no different--

Unkatissima hosts this special knit along beginning December 1--Each day a 'window' will open to reveal the pattern for the day--It is my meditation time--yarn in my hands is certainly a blessing.  The pattern is free--knit along!

About the pattern:

1. This year the shawl has
    7 different consecutive lace patterns which mirror each other harmoniously,
    a 20 stitches repeat which allows you to knit the shawl as wide as you like and
    on day 13 a pattern that you can knit as often as you like to adapt the length of the shawl to your liking.
    
2. The pattern
    is a multiple of 20 pattern stitches + 3 start/end stitches + 2 or more edge stitches, and has a total of 386 rows with the day 13 pattern knitted once.
    The day 13 pattern has 28 rows and can be knitted several times if necessary.
    The daily instructions contain each as well charts as written instructions.
    
3. To knit the shawl you need
    yarn with needles in appropriate size (the shawl looks as beautiful knitted in lace yarn as in fingering or bulkier yarn),
    know-how about knitting yarn overs and different decreases and
    if you like stitch markers to mark the repeats.
    
4. If you want to make the shawl
    broader/narrower simply adjust the number of repeats;  shorter,
   • use smaller needle sizes and/or
   • finer yarn and/or
   • knit less loose;  longer
• knit the day 13 pattern more than once and/or
• use larger needles and/or bulkier yarn and/or knit more loose.

Advent Skalender is another shawl to knit during this period.  It began November 20

Wool Work---

Sleep as I will--wish as I would--

It just doesn't get the job done!

I bought this book for some wool applique

sense--I've not done much wool work.  A few small

pieces but I bought this book to make 

This tea cozy!!  I loved this tea cozy!  I have the book

now.  I have wool too.  I have floss to do the stitching--

BUT............A cold spell came along

AND

My tea pot is still naked!!

Not Early Enough!

Every year I think and believe that I will begin gift making

earlier in the year--but here I am in mid November

and just working on a few--and I mean a few!

Not going to have time to create all the gifts

I thought I could--intentions went by the wayside!!

This pattern by Denton Foreman, Cozy Fingerless Gloves

is a perfect mindless knitting project--

knit in front of TV, in the car, in a lecture,

talking to friends--

I found lots of small bits of yarn that will 

work for this easy peazy pattern.

I divided my yarn into two so I can knit both mitts

as the same time on circular needles--and the best

part--it's all Knit!!

Post Thanksgiving Food.....................

  Gobble--Gobble--Gobble!!!

Are there Thursday leftovers in your refrigerator?  Each person in our family love those leftovers and want a 'favorite'--be it just turkey sandwich or turkey ala king, turkey tetrazzini, turkey salad, turkey gumbo--we could eat turkey for days after the BIG day!  What is your favorite?

Here is my recipe for turkey tetrazzini:  which is my family favorite!

INGREDIENTS

• 12 oz dry spaghetti
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 onion diced
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 2 1/4 cups chicken broth 
• 1 1/3 cups half & half or light cream
• Juice of one lemon
• salt & pepper to taste
• 2 cups chopped turkey
• 2 cups mozzarella cheese 
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, topping
• splash of white wine, if on hand

Prepare spaghetti in boiling salted water.  In a saute pan, melt butter, brown chopped onion in butter, then add flour to make a roux.  Add liquid--chicken broth and half/half, stir till thick; then add chopped turkey, juice of one lemon, salt and pepper, mix in cheese--

place the cooked spaghetti in a greased casserole dish, pour the turkey mixture over spaghetti, mix together; on top sprinkle parmesan cheese--sometimes, I'll sprinkle some fine bread crumbs on top to get a nice crunch.  Bake at 350* for about 30-40 minutes till bubbly around the edges.  Serve to the waiting crowd!

Can be prepared ahead, frozen and then served at a later date.

Enjoy your leftovers or in our house we call it "must go"!