More this and that

Another week has flown by and when this happens, it usually means that I've been busy...which I have been!

Just yesterday, I finished making the 48 log cabin blocks required for the next step of Darlene's mystery quilt.  Darlene posted detailed step-by-step instructions complete with photos of the way she makes her log cabin blocks on her blog which you can read about here.  

I've never made log cabin bocks this way but I can tell you that from here on in, this is the ONLY way I'll be making them!

Now I just have to sew them together and attach them to my flimsy which is growing with each passing month.  Here it is hanging and waiting ever so patiently on the back of the door in my studio.

One of our NSLQS (not-so-local quilt shops) is housed in the same building as a grocery store, gift shop and clothing store.  When I went in there the other day, there was a box of hangers in the entrance marked "help yourself"...which I did...to six of them!  

I love these hangers to hang not only WIP's but also my mini quilts until I find a home for them.  Here are a bunch of them which are now hanging on the other side of the same door.

These hangers are the kind that don't leave marks and I find that hanging them is better than folding and stacking them which always results in fold lines.

After a cold and wet Spring, who would have thought that we would be wishing for rain.  We've had three weeks of beautiful sunny weather but that also means that we've had no rain either during that time.  Brush fires have been imminent nearby and that is not a good thing.  

Thankfully there is a nice steady rain falling this morning and Ollie and Frankie have dozed off while listening to the pitter patter of raindrops on the roof.

I don't know about you but one of my least favorite things to do is to fill bobbins.  

My friend Diane (no blog) told me about some 100% cotton pre-wound bobbins that she ordered from Superior Threads.  They were recommended to her by the gal who does her longarm machine quilting and she loves them.  I knew that there were pre-wound bobbins with polyester thread but wasn't aware that cotton ones were available.  

Since I only use 100% cotton thread in all my quilts, I decided to give them a try.

I was a little concerned that they wouldn't be suitable for my Bernina but they work like a charm and I'm thrilled with the quality.  There are two series available, the "L" and the "M" and you just have to check to see which is the one suitable for your brand of machine.  I use a lot of ecru thread when piecing so that's the color I decided to go with although they are available in a multitude of colors.

Here's the link to Superior Threads if you'd like to check them out.  I'll definitely be reordering more when these are almost gone.

Yesterday I was invited to attend a trunk show hosted by La Guilde Acadienne de Clare, a quilt guild located on the French shore of Nova Scotia, about 60 miles from where we live.  Joan Tufts, President of the guild and I met yesterday and exchanged hugs for the first time.  Joan has written a great post about it here.

While there, I purchased some 100% wool batting which is my absolute fave! 

I'm hoping that if I whine loud enough, one of our NSLQS will order it in.

I'm going to be using some of it while putting the finishing touches on June's First Friday Freebie, along with the flying geese pictured below.

Edit:  Judging from some of the comments that were left on this post and from emails that I have received, for those of you who might be new to my blog, I publish a free design/pattern on the First Friday of March, June, September and December.  These are what I refer to as my First Friday Freebies.  There is a link to all of them that I have published to date on the right sidebar of my blog. 

The next one...which I made reference to above...will be released on June 7th, which is the First Friday of June.

And last but not least, I'd like to share my recipe for the best-est, richest, tastiest and yummiest bread pudding ever!

I had some leftover on-the-stale-side dinner rolls so I decided to make some this morning.

Here it is before going into the oven...

and 45 minutes later after baking and adding the sauce.

Bread Pudding

2 C granulated sugar
5 eggs, beaten
2 C milk
2 tsp vanilla extract
4 C cubed stale bread
1/2 C packed light brown sugar
1/4 C (1/2 stick) softened butter
1 C chopped pecans
1 C raisins

Sauce

1 C granulated sugar
1/2 C (1 stick) butter, melted
1 egg, beaten
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 C brandy or 1 tsp brandy extract (optional)

Preheat oven to 350F.  Grease a 13" x 9" x 2" pan.

Mix together sugar, eggs and milk.  Add vanilla.  Pour over cubed bread and let sit for 10 minutes.

In another bowl, mix and crumble together brown sugar, butter, pecans and raisins.  Sprinkle over top and bake for 35 - 45 minutes or until set.  Remove from oven.

Sauce

Mix together sugar, butter, egg and vanilla in a saucepan over medium heat.  Stir together until sugar dissolves.  Add brandy or brandy extract and stir well.  Pour sauce over pudding.  Let set about 10 minutes.  Serve warm or cold.

Have a great day and...

Happy stitching!