Just Sew Quilter

Wednesday, December 3, 2025

Virtual Cookie Exchange

Today's my day in this traditional Virtual Cookie Exchange hop hosted by Carol Swift of Just Let Me Quilt. Thanks, Carol, for this fun hop!

I was NOT good at taking in-process photos this year!! I found myself thinking after my "stuff" was done that I had forgotten AGAIN to take pictures. At least you can see the finished product!

Each year I make fudge and peanut butter meltaways as part of our church's women's fellowship candy sales. This year was no exception:

Here are the peanut butter meltaways: 10-12 ounces of chocolate candy wafer melts, 10 ounces of vanilla candy wafer melts, 15-16 ounce jar of peanut butter. Melt the candies first in the microwave, add the peanut butter and melt again. When melted, pour into ziplock bag, seal, cut out a SMALL corner of the bag, and squeeze (let run) into mini muffin cups. Cool and enjoy. No need for refrigeration, but they can be frozen for future enjoyment. YUM!!

This is the fudge--I think it's called fantasy fudge or some such of a title--it uses marshmallow creme. The recipe is easy to find on line and I've published it before on this blog:

It makes nearly 3 pounds in a 9x9" pan. I usually cut it into 1" pieces and about 11 pieces make 1/2 pound.

This year's "new" cookie are these oatmeal cookie bars:

A quilting friend made these for a retreat, and they were sew good that we all wanted the recipe. Turns out, it is Quaker's Original Oatmeal Cookie, the same recipe my mother always used to make the oatmeal chocolate chip cookie that all of we kids love and that I still make now!! Mom used to make a double batch because my oldest brothers, who are twins, would eat half the dough before the cookies could get baked.

Anyway, Ann added dried cranberries to hers and then baked the cookies in a 9x13 pan, 350 degrees for 30 minutes, instead of baking all those individual cookies. This is a single batch in the 9x13 pan. I made these for Thanksgiving and added dried cranberries, chocolate chips, and chopped pecans. Yum!

I use butter instead of Crisco, about 1/2 tsp salt, and quick oats in mine.

If I am making drop cookies, I use only about 2 tablespoons of water.

Just noticed that my supposedly "next" photo was lacking all the directions, so here they are:

1. Cream together butter and sugars, add egg, vanilla, and water and mix well.

2. Add flour, salt, and soda and mix well. Remember to scrap sides of bowl.

3. Add oatmeal and mix slowly.

4. Add additional ingredients. At this point you may need to mix by hand.

5. Drop cookie dough onto ungreased cookie sheets. I use a medium-sized scoop for mine. (Or pat all the dough into 9x13" pan)

6. Bake at 350 degrees for 11 minutes if cookies or about 30 minutes if bar cookies.

7. Remove cookies from oven and let cool a few minutes before removing from cookie sheet. This is the BEST time to eat them!! Eat bar cookies whenever you want. :)

One thing I have managed to get done for Christmas this year:

It's called Nativity Window designed by Pine Tree Country Quilts. The fabrics are Northcott. The middle is a panel and I got this as a kit from Keepsake Quilting. I love it! It will hang in our church sanctuary this season.

I guess I have made another Christmas thing. Cerro Gordo Quilters made sweatshirt jackets last month, and one of the three I have made was with Christmas fabric. Here we are with our jackets--I'm on the far left. I put a zipper in this one and pockets in the side seams.

Another photo--mine on the right and Ann Huff's on the left.

It's been fun!

Everyone, enjoy this hop by visiting all the participants and enjoy this lovely season of the year!

Here's the entire list:

DECEMBER 1^st

DECEMBER 2^nd

DECEMBER 3^rd

Just Sew Quilter you are here

Kathleen McMusing

Songbird Designs

Quilting Between The Rails

DECEMBER 4^TH

Happy Cottage Quilter

Days Filled With Joy

That Fabric Feeling

Tuesday, November 4, 2025

Coming Soon

The Cookie Exchange will be here before we know it! Below is the list of participants:

DECEMBER 1^st

DECEMBER 2^nd

DECEMBER 3^rd

Quilting Between The Rails

DECEMBER 4^TH

Happy Cottage Quilter

Days Filled With Joy

That Fabric Feeling

Monday, October 20, 2025

My Turn for Out of the Dark

I confess that I didn't do anything really spooky but I had fun sewing! This paper-pieced wall hanging was in the September 2025 American Quilter magazine. It was designed by Mary Hertel. It called my name when I saw it in the magazine. :) The spiders are buttons with embroidered legs and web.

I have been very interested in using the Sew Kind of Wonderful curves rulers, and I made their Mini Pumpkins using the smallest ruler. I really like that we make all the blocks oversized and trim them to size when done. Behind this wall hanging, on the upper left of the photo, you can see a jack-o-lantern that I made last year. Now I don't remember the name of the pattern...

Last is this table runner made from a kit that my LQS (Stewart's Sewing in Mt Zion, IL) made up for us quilters. They make up seasonal kits that include EVERYTHING needed to finish the runner. Of course, many of us have bought several of these kits throughout the year. :)

Sew, those are my finishes.

Enjoy everyone on the hop!

Monday Oct 20

MooseStashQuilting

Karrins Crazy World

Scrapdash

Just Sew Quilter (me)

Quilt Schmilt

Tuesday Oct 21

A Quiltery

Elizabeth Coughlin Designs

Wednesday Oct 22

Quilting Between the Rails (on Facebook)

Thursday Oct 23

These hops are always a good time and are sew inspirational. I enjoy seeing what each of these bloggers have made.

Don't forget to visit!

Saturday, October 4, 2025

Out of the Dark

It won't be too many days before the Out of the Dark blog hop!! Here is the list of participants:

Monday Oct 20

MooseStashQuilting

Karrins Crazy World

Scrapdash

Just Sew Quilter (me)

Quilt Schmilt

Tuesday Oct 21

A Quiltery

Elizabeth Coughlin Designs

Wednesday Oct 22

Quilting Between the Rails (on Facebook)

Thursday Oct 23

These hops are always a good time and are inspirational. I enjoy seeing what each of these bloggers have made.

Don't forget to visit!

Sunday, September 7, 2025

Charley Harper, Bees, and a Sunflower

Last month I finished this quilt that uses Charley Harper designs in the fabric. The quilt pattern is Cincinnati and the Charley Harper fabric is from Birch. This was a kit from Raintree Quilts in Juneau, AK, that my sister-in-law brought when they visited in the spring. Most of these birds can be found in Juneau, not Cincinnati (the picture on the pattern shows Midwest birds).

A week or so ago, I made this block/mini quilt from a pattern by Sara Guerrero of Our Crafty Life. I didn't really want to make a wall hanging so I thought about a pillow, but not being crazy about another pillow cover, I remembered I had this vest just waiting for something to be put on it. Voila! I put a yellow binding along the neckline too. Next up will be decorating the front a bit, but that can wait for now.

At the end of August, I finally got this piece quilted. It's called Bzzz Mini Quilt by Whole Circle Studio. It's partly FPP and partly strip pieced. Glad to have it quilted and hung. I bought her lady bug pattern recently--maybe I'll get it done one of these days...

Now I'm busy working on the Halloween hop that Joan is hosting...excited to see what everyone will make for it!

Thursday, July 31, 2025

More finishes

Here are a few things I've finished in the past several months.

I'll have to look at more photos to catch up on this blog...

The placemats used the Take Four pattern. I have made a dozen or more sets with this pattern and have taught classes using this pattern several times. This set is a finish from samples I started when I taught it last (a year or 2 ago??). I plan to give them to my niece and nephew as their house in Santa Fe is decorated with these colors.

This is a banner for our Church of the Brethren Illinois/Wisconsin District Conference in November.

I wasn't planning to make any such thing, but when someone else was asked and had no idea how to proceed, I had to step in. Easy, peasy really. I use an overhead projector and trace the image onto a transparency, then project it on a wall until I reach the size I need. Newsprint is taped to the wall, and I trace the larger image onto the newsprint for my patterns.

The letters were made using my Cricut Maker. :) It still needs to be pressed but that will likely wait until right before the conference. Right now it is rolled up on a swimming noodle for safe keeping.

Looking forward to October and December hops hosted by Joan and Carol S.!!

Monday, March 31, 2025

Some finishes this year

It's been too long since I've posted.

Not having any blog hops anymore decreases my incentive to get on this blog....

I do have some finishes to share.

Sarah and her dad

Natalie and Todd

I made table runners for both of our daughters for Christmas using jelly rolls. I don't remember the name of the pattern.

I finished the Santa Fe Trip Tych for which I had bought the patterns from Santa Fe Quilting in January, 2024. It was a block of the month for them some years ago with 13 patterns in all. I love this! (even if I do say so myself). I put it in the Salt Creek Patchmakers Quilt Show last month and won a 3rd place. :)

This is a Suzanne Marshall pattern from one of her books. I started the needle turn applique years ago, made myself finish the applique a year or so ago, and finally quilted it this winter. I wasn't keen on filling in the outside so left it with the straight lines. Perhaps more quilting would eliminate that puckery look...

Pat Sloan's Stringbean quilt pattern--I made some of the blocks in Arizona and finished it after we got home. It uses jelly rolls and I also used some coordinating yardage I had. The jelly roll and yardage are Sandy Gervais designs.

I bought this pattern and fabric at Santa Fe Quilting too. Both table runner patterns are in the pattern. I don't remember the name--I'm not home as I write this so can't look it up. I used ruler work to do all the quilting on these.

This one is called Grand Central. I bought the fabric and pattern 3 or 4 years ago at Threads of Time in Danville during one of our retreats. I put the top together right away and then it sat for a while until I sandwiched it, after which it sat another while. It was time to get it quilted! Now it's done and on our guest bed.

One more--this is called Color Love and it is made using the Sew Kind of Wonderful mini curve ruler. I decided to quilt it with a concentric circle all the way out. It's a wall hanging--about 42 x 42".

I have another quilt top sandwiched and ready to quilt. When I get home, I will get after that one. It uses Tim Holtz fabrics.

Now to end with sweet 3 year old Sydney. She is a delight (so are the other 5 older grands) with so much energy and joy!

Tuesday, December 3, 2024

Virtual Cookie Hop

I don't know how many years I have been a part of Carol's (Just Let Me Quilt) Virtual Cookie Hop, but it is with joy and with some sadness that I take part this year. All of us participants are sorry to see the end of Carol and Joan's hosting hops, but I am sure we all understand. Life has a way of changing and moving on, and we change and move with it. Thanks and congratulations to both Carol and Joan on so many years of wonderful hops full of inspiration!

This year, I am making some of the same things I have made in the past.

Our women's group at church take candy orders during November for an early December delivery. I have already made 8 or 9 batches of peanut butter meltaways and 4 batches of fudge, along with 7 or 8 pounds of peanut clusters and 1 batch of almond joy "cookies." Most of that goes to family and friends, outside of our sale!

Peanut Butter Meltaways

10 - 12 ounces of dark chocolate candy melting wafers--Ghirardelli has been my favorite

10 ounces of vanilla (white) candy melting wafers

15-16 ounces peanut butter

Line 48 mini muffin cups with candy (mini muffin) papers.

Melt the candy wafers in the microwave. I do 1 1/2 minutes at 50 percent, then 30 seconds at a time (50%) until melted. Then add the peanut butter, and MW 30 seconds at a time until melted. Stir each time the microwave stops.

Once all is melted, pour it into a zip lock bag (this bag is in a 4 cup measuring cup while I pour in the melted mixture). Zip shut and clip off about a quarter inch from one corner. The bags with boxed corners will not work--ask me how I know. :)

Squeeze carefully into the muffin cups. If you can do this without dripping, I will be amazed. Hee, hee! Depending on how full the cups are, this should make between 45-48 candies, a little over 2 pounds.

Let harden, no refrigeration needed, and package. I bang the pans on the counter to loosen the cups from the pans. :)

You can store them in a cool place or in the freezer, if you end up with any left.

Fantasy Fudge

3 cups sugar

¾ cup butter or margarine

2/3 cup evaporated milk

12 oz Baker’s semi sweet chocolate, chopped (12 oz chocolate chips)

1-7 oz jar marshmallow crème

1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

1 teaspoon vanilla

Line 9-inch square pan with Aluminum Foil, with ends of foil extending over sides. Bring sugar, butter and evaporated milk to full rolling boil in 3-qt. saucepan on medium heat, stirring constantly. Cook 4 min. or until candy thermometer reaches 234°F, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Stir in chips, marshmallow creme, and nuts. Then stir in vanilla. Pour into pan, spread evenly, and let cool. Lift fudge out of pan with foil edges and cut into 1" squares.

Lesson: Be sure to carefully study the recipe after a year of not making any! I pulled out my recipe, noted the ingredients, and dumped in my butter, milk, and sugar. It would NOT cook to 234 degrees, nor would the chocolate chips melt, even after I put it back on the stove for many minutes! I hadn't paid attention to the amount of milk and put in the whole can! FAIL!! It tasted good but was a gooey mess.

Easy Peasy Peanut Clusters

Chocolate melting wafers (I use dark chocolate wafers)

dry roasted peanuts

Melt the candy wafers and stir in peanuts until it looks like the right amount for spooning out onto wax paper. Stir in more peanuts, if and when needed. As I dip out, most of the time I realize I can add a few more peanuts into the mix as I work.

Let harden, package, and eat (or eat and package).

I tried a new-to-me recipe and if you like coconut, this is for you:

Almond Joy "Cookies"

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1 14 oz bag coconut flakes

1 12 oz bag chocolate chips

2/3 cup chopped almonds (I will add more next time)

Stir together.

Use a cookie scoop, pack it with the mixture, and put onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. I have 3 sizes of scoops and used the medium, but as sweet as these are, I will use my smallest scoop next time.

After putting them on the pan, moisten your fingers and make each into a ball, flattening the top. Bake at 325 for 12-14 minutes or until a bit brown around the bottoms. Of all the candy I made, these are my brother's favorite! I think they are really good too. The photo below shows baked cookies.

I store all my candy in our cool basement until it's shipped or delivered.

Below is the wall hanging I made for auction at our church's district conference. I still had 8 more of the panel squares I used in the corners, so I made a wall hanging for our church with 6 of those--no pic yet.

Below is the quilt I made first. I can't remember if I showed it before, so if you've seen it, forgive me!

I was given the fabric but I didn't have enough border. After an internet search, the only place I found it was in Canada, so I ordered all she had; shipping was as much as the fabric. I barely had enough to be able to miter the corners. THEN I made the above wall hanging and the one for church. I still have 2 more squares that I will make into a small wall hanging for a friend who is getting remarried after losing her 1st husband 3 years ago.

Here are some of the Christmas stockings the Cerro Gordo Quilters have made:

I am pretty sure I made around 300 of the total 710 made by our group. These are used by the Salvation Army, DOVE (a domestic violence shelter), Toys for Tots, etc., who all work together at Christmas time. Around 3000 total stockings are made and filled.

Well, you all enjoy visiting everyone on this lovely hop!

And have a wonderful holiday season!

I'll see you on the journey sometime!

December 2

December 3