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Sedona Star by Sarah Vedeler (Fabrics are Fizz by P&B Textiles, and Buttons and Blooms by Red Rooster)

We can sense the buzz about the 2012 BOM quilt all around the TQS website. Sarah Vedeler has designed a stunning quilt that--upon completeion--is sure to become a family heirloom.  Why not join the year-long 'block party' that begins with the first pattern installment on January 1, 2012? With two luscious colorways (Fizz or Buttons and Blooms), we know it will be tough to make a decision which one to choose  Should you decide to select the your own fabrics on your own Sarah even provides provided a blank schematic for you to play with.

Kits for each colorway will, of course, be available for you to purchase through the TQS Shoppe, where the quilting elves even now are busy cutting and preparing the kits. Look for the kits to be available in the TQS Shoppe around the second week in January. That still leaves lots of time to keep pace with the rest of the BOM participants.

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Click Here to visit Colleen at:   4411_colleen_granger_logo.jpg

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See what you can do after watching a show on TQS! TQS member, Carolyn Hughey (clhughey) watched Episode 907: Get UnRuly: Playing with Words featuring Tonya Ricucci and got INSPIRED.  Carolyn is going to fill the stockings with little suprises each time her grandchildren come to visit.  When was the last time a TQS show inspired you?

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This week's puzzle is by Sheila Frampton Cooper.  It is Life in the City and recently won an Honorable Mention in the Art Abstract Large category at the Houston International Quilt Festival 2011.

Here's what Sheila had to say about her quilt:

My inspiration for this quilt is simply my love of color, espcially in nature.  As a native of Los Angeles, this is my representation of life in the city -- the parks, trees, flowers, birds, busy intersections, my love of driving, and colorful people.  I truly enjoyed participating in its creation.

You can learn more about Sheila from her interviews with Sharon Pederson at festival. Click here and here to watch her interviews.

Life In The City - 36 pieces non-rotating

Life In The City - 100 pieces non-rotating

Life In The City - 100 pieces rotating

Life in the City - 255 pieces non-rotating

Life In The City - 252 pieces rotating

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4399_safari.jpgBeginning December 9, 2011, a new exhibit will open at the National Quilt Museum in Paducah, Kentucky. Quilt Journeys: Three Quilters follows the artistic journey of Doreen Speckmann, Diane Guadynski, and Dorris McManis.  

Doreen was one of the first artists to gain celebrity status in the quilt world and was featured on Simply Quilts with Alex.  Diane is one of the most respected and admired machine quilters in the world.  Dorris is most well known for having created one 12" quilt every week for an entire year.

"Like most journeys, it isn't the destination that is the story, it is the process of getting there and how they find their 'voice' during their journey that's interesting," said Judy Schwender, Curator/Registrar for The National Quilt Museum.

This exhibit runs through March 13, 2012. The National Quilt Museum exhibit was funded with a grant from the Murray State University Office of Regional Outreach.

 

 

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The quilts in the Art Whimsical category at the International Quilt Festival in Houston this year were derived from our childhoods, our mythologies, our histories, and our imaginations.  Explore the power of whimsy in these magical quilts.

Click to play this Smilebox slideshow


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4403_20102506.jpgIf you watched Gyleen Fitzgerald our guest in Episode 909 Techniques, Tips...and Turning "Trash" into "Treasure"  you discovered a quick and easy way to make pineapple blocks along with a number of variations. Gyleen wants TQS members to have a Trash to Treasure Pineapple Playground and TQS is willing to oblige.

First, check out the Show & Tell Area which has been set up under the Quilt Gallery button on the navigation bar. Click on Show & Tell and you'll see the Trash to Treasure - Pineapple Playground. Here you can submit photos of your entries and show off your latest pineapple creations.

Second, you'll want to make a visit to the Forum. In the Scrap Bag section, you'll see a new topic, Trash to Treasure - Pineapple Blocks. Here you can share with your friends and ask questions concerning your pineapple treasures.  Gyleen will be stopping by time-to-time to check in and see how you are doing and to help with any problems.

It's a Pineapple Party in the Playground, come along and join us!

 


 

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You recently watched Joyce Becker in Episode 912: Doubleheader Today: Landscapes and Longarm.  In the episode, Joyce demonstrated how she "builds" a mini-lanscape, adds texture with variegated threads, and finishes up by placing the quilt into a frame.  Here are some more wonderful examples of Joyce's quilts.

Click to play this Smilebox slideshow


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Those Swiss Engineers never rest.  So Alex was surprised at the new "numbers" at the Bernina Booth in Houston 2011.

 

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We talked about family traditions in the Quilter's Quips and Tips blog on Monday, here's one from Lilo that she shared last year during our TQS Dessert Exchange:

As a child growing up in Germany I knew that Christmas was just around the corner when the Advent calendar magically appeared in the house.  Every day, before breakfast, I would open a tiny door to find a small piece of chocolate.  Along with the calendar, I remember Christmas music on the radio, an antique nativity scene, Mom’s fabulous cheese ball, Stollen and of course knowing that the freshly cut and decorated Christmas tree was coming soon.  In my family the tree was typically brought into the house and decorated by my parents on Christmas Eve.  It was always such a thrill entering the living room to see the tree decorated with lighted candles and shiny glass ornaments.  Of course the presents underneath was fun too!

In my own family, the same traditions have continued for the most part, with the exception of the big ‘tree reveal’.  But cutting the tree has been a family activity for as long as I can remember.  Each December the family group (including the menagerie of dogs) hikes out in the National Forest to find the perfect tree.  The tree then stays outside in a bucket of water until the week before Christmas.  The whole family joins in the decorating while holiday music plays in the background.  This is usually followed by a good cup of tea with a freshly baked piece of Stollen.  Sitting in the glow of the lit tree with my tea and cake brings back so many wonderful memories.  Even though my sons feel that they are too old for the Advent calendar, I still open a door every day.  Some habits are hard to break.

This is Lilo's family’s variation of the famous Dresden Stollen recipe.

Dresden Stollen

1 ½ cups dark raisins
1 cup chopped citron
1 cup chopped candied orange peel
2/3 cup dark rum
2 Tbs. dry yeast
½ cup lukewarm water
1 Tbs sugar (optional)
2 cups milk
1 cup granulated sugar
2 tsp. salt
1 1/3 cups unsalted butter
grated rind of 1 lemon
2 Tbs dark rum
2 cups flour (not self-rising)
4 eggs, lightly beaten
5-7 cups flour (not self-rising)
1 ½ tsp. almond extract
1 ½ cups chopped blanched almonds
melted unsalted butter
granulated sugar
powdered sugar (preferably vanilla flavored)
 
Combine raisins, citron and candied orange peel and soak in 2/3 cup of rum for at least 1 hour. Drain and reserve rum.  Dissolve yeast in warm water according to directions, using the Tbs. of sugar to speed the process if you like.  Scald milk with sugar, salt and butter. When butter has melted, stir in lemon peel, rum and almond extract. Cool mixture to lukewarm. Add yeast and 2 cups of flour.  Mix well and set in warm draft free corner about 15-30 min., or until dough blisters. Stir in lightly beaten eggs and gradually mix in 5-7 cups of flour until the dough is soft and light but not sticky. It should be smooth enough to handled.

Dredge drained fruit with a little flour to coat. Turn dough onto a floured board and knead, gradually working in floured fruit,chopped almonds. Knead dough until it blisters and is smooth and elastic. Gather in a ball and place in a lightly floured large bowl. Cover loosely with a kitchen towel and set in a warm draft-free corner for about 1 hour, or until it has doubled in bulk.  

Punch dough down and cut into 3 equal pieces. Set aside to rest 10 minutes. Roll or flatten each third of dough into an oval ¾” thick.  Brush top of each with melted butter and sprinkle with a little granulated sugar..Fold each lengthwise, not quite in half, so that the edges are within ½” to 1” of meeting; pinch closed. Place loaves on a buttered baking sheet or jelly-roll pan. Brush with melted butter and allow to rise until almost doubled in bulk. Preheat oven to 425*. Bake loaves 10 minutes, then turn heat down to 350*.  Bake about 45 minutes, or until loaves are lightly golden brown. Brush each loaf on all sides with melted butter and generously dredge with powdered sugar while warm. Cool and wrap in plastic cling wrap. Sprinkle with more powdered sugar before serving.

You can cut the recipe in ½ to make 2 smaller loaves if desired. Freezes very well.