Vintage Picnic Quilt

I made myself a quilt!  I know, I've made a lot of quilts that I have shared with you on this blog.  They are usually a gift for a new baby or sick friend.  I also make them for family members.  I guess I have made a few dozen over the last few years.  But I rarely make one for myself.....

 When I started this quilt I wondered who I would give it to.  I loved the fabric and colors sooo much.  Then it occurred to me that if I like it so much there was no reason why I couldn't keep it!  More specifically, I could use it in my vintage trailer as a lap quilt.  Yippee!

 I used fabric from Moda's line Vintage Picnic and a red gingham I had in my stash.  The backing is a red and white chevron fabric.

 Machine quilted it on my domestic machine using Westalee ruler foot and shell template.

I seriously loooove how easy it was to use and how smooth the quilting looks.  Might have to do a post on the ruler foot and templates.........

 Don't you just love giant ric rac?

Here is a pic of the backing.  This quilt is so cheerful!  I can't wait to take the trailer out this summer and cuddle with this quilt while reading a good book and eating chocolate.......mmmmm.

Diana

Sees Copycat Bordeaux Chocolates

Have you ever tried Sees Chocolates?  For those of you on the west coast that probably sounds like a dumb question but since moving to the Ohio Valley I have been shocked at how few people have even heard of Sees!  Thank goodness we now have one in Columbus so I can enjoy them anytime I want.....well almost anytime I want since it is a one hour drive to the mall.  But for those times I can't wait I've found a wonderful recipe from Love & Turquoise that produces a "close enough" chocolate.

I did tweak the recipe a little.  First I used Guittard chocolate because that is the brand Sees uses.  I also tempered my chocolate.  I have a tempering machine but you can do it the manual way if you like.  I also added a little more powdered sugar than her recipe called for because my centers were not thick enough.  Lastly I used real chocolate sprinkles-definitely not the kind you get at the grocery store!  I get mine from a online dutch company.   You can also get them from Amazon.  Once you taste these sprinkles you will never eat the American version again, I promise.  Oh, and I left out the coffee.  Mormon.

 So how did they taste?  At first I was a little disappointed (like right after they had set up).  The centers were just not quite creamy enough.  But this morning (don't judge me, it was in the name of quality control!) I ate one and it was sooooooo good.  Okay, so I had to eat another one to make sure I had a large enough control group.  

 Creamy and delicious!  Best Chocolate ever.  If fact it was so good I pack up most of them to give as gifts and sent them with my husband to deliver!   

We are having quests for dinner tonight so I held a few back to set at each place setting.  And there might be a few more tucked away in my secret place for myself.  Don't tell anyone okay?

Diana

Granny Square Blanket in Yellow and Gray

I am such a fan of giant granny square blankets!  While they do take a lot of time to make, just like any crochet blanket, the stitches are easy, almost mindless.  Great handiwork to pass the time or for late night TV watching.

 This is the third GS blanket I've made this year.

I think the color combo is quite trendy and modern.  The yarn is so soft you can help but want to cuddle under this blanket when the weather dips down.

Diana