Work in progress, darn it!

I had hoped to have a finished quilt to show off for Sew and Tell Friday but alas, I did not have time for sewing this week, imaging that! I've been too busy laying on the sofa, watching my soaps & eating bon bons. (I wish). This quilt top is almost finished. I just have to add a boarder. THEN I must create the back, make the sandwich, baste the sucker, quilt and bind it...all before Christmas Eve...no PROBLEM!! In the mean time here are a few photos of my ever growing fabric stash for Fabric Friday. Big Daddy (husband) gave me a gift certificate to an online fabric store for my birthday back in November and I have been enjoying my fabric deliveries nearly every week. What a good boy he is. I've trained him well.

Last week I mentioned that I would have some wonderful news to share, and I do! I thought it deserved a separate post of it's own, so just click here: WONDERFUL NEWS...I'm very excited!

Now, I would like nothing better than to relax with a hot bowl of Three Bean Turkey Chili, but my sewing machine is calling me back to work...Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it's back to sew I go!

Something Wonderful!

I'm getting very excited! Plans are moving forward at a fast pace. My little shop is now listed on etsy and I will open my virtual doors sometime in January 2010! I had an excellent graphic designer, Jennifer Waddel of corduroystarfish, create my logo and I am ready to unveil the finished product. Wonderful! I have been working like a meshuggeneh sewing, creating, researching, planning, deciding to steer my life in a new direction. Most of you have had a little taste of my creations but there is much more on the back burner, soon to be served. As I have matured I began to look back at where I have allowed myself to settle for things that come easy or by doing jobs that serve others. Even though I have done very well and accomplished much I was not faithful or loyal to my own nature. I now understand that I need to challenge myself to learn more, express more, and become more of who I really am. There is still so much more of me to discover. You see, it is all very clear to me now, the whole thing, it's wonderful!

Busting at the Seams

Lots to do, lots to do! First of all it's Friday so that means Sew and Tell Friday AND Fabric Friday. For these two events I have made a festive, funky pillow! I used Kaffe Fassett Brokade Floral Red and then trimmed it with a ruffle of a funky zebra stripe leftover from the Baboo Quilt. This is the extent of my holiday creations this year as I am already quite busy with the three quilts I have been working on for my kids, not to mention my full time day job, so yeah.... I really liked this Kaffe print as it didn't scream "CHRISTMAS" at ya and the big pink flower is quite different from the usual wreath, snowman or santa.

On another note, one of my recipes is being included in the Quilters Cookbook! Cuban Pork and Sweet Potato Stew has become quite a popular dish and I'm excited to share it with even more hungry folks. The cookbook also features quilts (of course!) so I submitted Big Red. How fun is that? The Quilters Cookbook is a downloadable pdf and would make a great gift for the holidays! Check it out!

Next week I will be sharing some wonderful news that I'm very excited about, so stay tuned...

12/16/09 Addendum: Hop on over to Home Spun Holiday Show & Tell to see some fabulous Holiday creations! Just click here:

Is it Chili in Here?

Or is it me? I'm definitely feeling it. Three Bean Turkey Chili with Cilantro Pesto is a great recipe for these chilly days. No longer a prisoner in the pantry, my crock pot takes center stage on the kitchen counter. Our lives are so busy and hectic that it is comforting to arrive home after a day at the office to someone cooking in the kitchen, even if that someone is the crock pot. I love how colorful this chili is and the Cilantro Pesto adds a splash of garlic and lime. I have served this as a hearty dinner with a pan of cornbread or as an easy lunch with a small salad. Make a big batch and freeze half for another time. It's nice to know that a batch of chili is waiting for you in the freezer, just minutes away from a home cooked meal. I wish I could cook every night but at least I have my trusty crock pot during these cold winter months, that is until the weather begins to warm and back it must go, kicking and screaming into the dark pantry, only to be replaced by the BBQ. Until then it's the crock pot that is our family cook, creating warm and tasty meals for my over stressed family. Such a gem! If only I could get it to walk the dog!

Three Bean Turkey Chili with Cilantro Pesto

1 pound ground turkey

1 Tbsp. olive oil

1 large onion

2 cloves garlic, minced

5 stalks celery, chopped

3 large carrots, chopped

1 1/2 tsp. salt

32 oz. fat-free chicken stock

1-32 oz can diced tomatoes

1 tsp. each cumin, dried oregano, chipotle chili powder

1-15 oz. can of white beans, drained and rinsed

1-15 oz. can of pinto beans, drained and rinsed

1-15 oz. can of kidney beans, drained and rinsed

Coat large skillet with the olive oil. Cook turkey, onion, carrot, celery, and salt over medium-high heat until turkey is cooked though. Drain any fat. Add turkey mixture and remaining ingredients to a large crock pot. Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours. Serve with a tsp of Cilantro Pesto stirred in for that extra kick!

Cilantro Pesto

2 cups or 1 bunch cilantro

2 cloves garlic

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp. lime zest

1 Tbsp. lime juice

1 -2 Tbsp. olive oil

Chop/mix all ingredients in food processor or blender until finely minced to a lovely pesto. Adjust salt and oil to taste. Keep in a covered container in the fridge to use as a topper for soups, chilis or as a dip for bread, yum, yum, yum!

Ginger Blossom Cottage Pillows

I love pillows. The more the merrier! These sweet Cottage Pillows are made from Sandi Henderson's Ginger Blossom line. Such happy fabric! I didn't want the pillows to get too wild so I used a taupe cotton for the backing and to frame the block. It's the same fabric I used on Big Red and it is very soft. It has the look of linen I love without the linen price. All these pillows need now is a sunny afternoon and a porch swing to rest upon. In time Dear One, in time...

"There is no pillow so soft as a clear conscience" - French Proverb

Koop Island Blues - Koop

Check out Sew and Tell Friday AND Fabric Friday! So many beautiful creations and fabric.