My Christmas Memory Workshop (NEW) from Mary Lou AND HOOD RIVER and cool stuff!......

Just got all of my applique done for my new workshop for guilds and shops. It is so cool! It is going to the quilters and then when I get it back my people will have eyes and animales and there will be all kinds of bling and old keepsake buttons from Grandma....
The only way to get the pattern is to book a class and take it....

In Hood River I taught a self portrait class and this was the beginning of a fabulous sample....so cute isn't it? See the little kitty on the right?

What a difference a little time and details make! Note Mt. Hood in the window on the right and cake and a napkin and leaves and buttons here and there...adorable!

COLOR? Did you say you love color like me? Look at this! hoochy stuff with color!

Susan't Flower Power block...she is great with color and her stash is awesome!

I want a yard of everything please....

Hedda drew herself on her John Deer Tractor, had it enlarged and look at the beginning of her border and her quilt! The self portrait class provided alot of creativity for many girls...such fun!

The flower blocks are from the Flower Power book of mine...available here-Marylouweidman.com

Carol is an awesome and creative quilter and I LOVED having her in my Asilomar workshop. This should have won a first place because it is awesome.
    SO Carol just took another class at Hood River and wow, she is making another prize winner! The border is amazing and done from the Flower Power book...so pretty and the colors were different and super!
Here is her beginning drawing ....of her in the garden

here are her gardening boots!

You can tell just from the beginning of this that it is going to be awesome...the blue of the coverall's is beautiful and bright and pulls into the flowers wonderfully.
Carol is a happy person like Hedda who spreads her joy to the class and everyone she meets....I love people who love to be happy don't you?

Marbe is doing a self portrait of Santa without his hair, his outfit, etc., and he is in his place all dressed down because it isn't Christmas yet...the trees above are going to be the cool border....Poor Marbe had to work the show since she was in charge and taking a class was challenging....hope she finishes this because it is going to be cool!
Marbe we appreciate you and you did a wonderful job!

Hoochy Flying Geese is always part of the workshop....

LOVED the color combination here....with the hoochy blocks

I stayed the last night at Sally's house and this is her view of Mt. Hood!

This is Sally's view of the river and all of those little white dots are people who are wind sailing...it is an awesome place to visit with awesome people. I had a wonderful time.
Sally sent me home with homemade cookies (3kinds) and homemade jam (four jars)...hope to visit her again....wouldn't you????
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Here is a fabulous recipe for GOOD coleslaw from Laurie Latta

 

2 bags coleslaw

green onions (to your taste)

1 c yellow raisins

1/4 c poppy seeds

6 – 8 slices of bacon fried up and crumbled

1 c almonds or peanuts

dressing:

1 and 1/2 cup mayo

1/2 c sugar

1 T rice vinegar
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Have a good weekend dear friend and count your many blessings...no matter what sad or hard thing you are going through, God always gives you good things too...it is best to dwell on those and have faith that things will work themselves out.
I want to say that I have the BEST quilt friends of anyone and they have all come through for me....Having fajitas tonight with my husband and daughter and my Grandson is coming after soccer....I am so lucky.
PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU WOULD LIKE A WORKSHOP OF TWO DAYS OR TWO ONE DAY WORKSHOPS. Marylou@Lattegirl.com
Check out my website which need s little up dating in adding two new workshops...a wool fish and the Christmas tree. Marylouweidman.com

 

Count Your Many Blessings for a Happy Life-+ FAN Recipe for Blueberry/Peach Crisp!

This quilt was made by Jamie Morton who took my Asilomar story quilt class.
If YOU want to do a cow the pattern is in "Out of the Box with Easy Blocks " book by me and Mel McFarland. I am sitting on cases of what was left as it "just" went out of print. Forty some cows will be at the AQS show in Iowa and then later Houston is showing 30 different ones ...it is called "MOOSTON"
No one has done a cow called "ChiCOWgo" and no one has done MOO YORK Moo York.....hope you consider it.
There will be shows next year too. The list of wonderful cows just keeps growing! So creative and it brings many smiles....how creative are YOU?

The quilt above was done by Penny from Modesto who is a nurse. She met her husband in Vietnam when they were both nurses. They LOVE to dance and so this was her theme. Imagine leaving a quilt like this about who you were. It makes us smile when we see it as it is so happy, colorful and creative. This is the goal of those of us who want to tell people for years to come who we are and what is important to us.
     My husband has terminal cancer and I am working on telling the happy times he and I have had building our lives for the past 44 years. Our friends paid for a trip to hawaii and we are going in two weeks. The neat thing is I am taking a Hawaiian background and I plan to put us on a surfboard..I am wearing a muumuu and he will have a wild Hawaiian shirt on.....I plan to see what else inspires us.
Mark had his last radiation and chemo today after 6 long weeks and so it will be a nice place to go and rest and get healthier with the smells the sun, the water and the slower life style....lovely and just what we need right now.
     I am going to add more photos soon...my Grandkids just got here. Check in and see what else I add here. I have some more friends who have sent amazing story quilt photos plus samples from the self portrait class I just taught....so fun!
Count your blessings friends...it is healthy!
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Molly my friend made this fabulous dessert when we went to Black Butte Rance...I cannot tell you how GOOD it is!
It is a recipe from Ina Garten who is Barefoot Contessa...I have ALL of her cookbooks! She is amazing and you will LOVE this recipe. These photos are of Molly's baking.

Peach and Blueberry Crumbles

Ingredients

For the fruit:

• 2 pounds firm, ripe peaches (6 to 8 peaches)
• 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
• 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup fresh blueberries (1/2 pint)

For the crumble:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 pound (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, diced

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Immerse the peaches in boiling water for 30 seconds to 1 minute, until their skins peel off easily. Place them immediately in cold water. Peel the peaches, slice them into thick wedges, and place them in a large bowl. Add the lemon zest, lemon juice, granulated sugar, and flour. Toss well. Gently mix in the blueberries. Allow the mixture to sit for 5 minutes. Spoon the mixture into ramekins or custard cups.
For the topping, combine the flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, and the butter in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix on low speed until the butter is the size of peas. Rub the mixture with your fingertips until it's in big crumbles, then sprinkle evenly over the fruit. Place the ramekins on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper and bake for 40 to 45 minutes, until the tops are browned and crisp and the juices are bubbly. Serve warm or at room temperature.
If you want to make these early, store the unbaked crumbles in the refrigerator and bake before dinner.
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Was Bessie Drunk?

I had to share this, it is the best laugh I have had in a long time...isn't this funny? Stay tuned for post card photos and photos of the car blocks girls made for my husband Mark!

Recipes that are Delightful!!! And Easy Piecing Blocks too!

Molly's Delicious  Fresh Tomato Tart
1 recipe Pie Crust
8 oz Cheese, Mozzarella -- shredded
2 tbsp Basil - note-Molly said she uses about 5 Tbp of Basil as she thinks it tastes better
 4  Large Farm Fresh  Tomatoes --
sliced1/2 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Pepper
1 tbsp Oil, (Olive)
Preheat oven to 400.
Line 10" loose bottom tart pan with pastry dough.
Spread bottom of pastry with cheese and sprinkle with basil.
Cover with tomato slices, arranging to cover as evenly as possible. Sprinkle tomatoes with salt and pepper and drizzle with olive oil.
Bake 30 to 40 minutes. Garnish with fresh chopped basil. Slice in wedges and serve warm or at room temperature.    
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Enchiladas from Kathy from Eagle River Alaska....yum

        1-8oz. carton sour cream
2 – Cans cream of chicken soup
1 – Large can green chilies
1 – Small can chopped olives
1 – Medium onion chopped
4 – Cups grated Mexican cheeses
4 – Boneless chicken breasts (poached)
1 – tsp. chili powder
1 – tsp. cumin
1/2 - tsp. garlic salt
1 – Tablespoons. Butter
1 dozen tortillas
1 – Cup cooking oil

Mix sour cream, one can chicken soup and green chilies in a small sauce pan.
Cook until warmed through and place on simmer.

Put the butter in the skillet and sauté the onion.  Add chili powder, cumin
and garlic salt.  Cook until the onion is transparent. Remove from heat and
set aside.

Dice the chicken add the other can of chicken soup and the onion mixture,
the olives and one cup of cheese.

Dip the tortillas in water to soften, add a small amount of the chicken
mixture and roll.  Place seam side down in an 8x13 pan.  I used two smaller
pans so I could freeze six of the enchiladas.

Spread the remaining sauce over the enchiladas and top with the remaining
cheese.

Place in 350 degree oven for 20 minutes.  So-o-o-o-o good.
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Molly gave me this recipe!
The BEST Pesto Macaroni SALAD you will EVER EAT! Prepare for compliments!

PESTO PASTA SALAD

Small bag (or box) of small pasta shells

1 cup  Pesto

2 cups Mayo

1 cup grated Parmesan Cheese (the real stuff)

1 cup frozen peas

1 T sea salt

1 T cracked pepper

2 T Basil (fresh or dry)

Boil pasta until al dente.  While pasta is cooking, mix remaining ingredients in a bowl.  When pasta is ready, drain and rinse until cold.  Add pasta to mixture and garnish with some parmesan cheese and basil.   Refrigerate and serve cold.  
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King Ranch Chicken-Delicious

1 (4 1/2- to 5-lb. ) whole chicken
2 celery ribs, cut into large chunks plus 2 carrots, cut into large chunks
2 1/2 to 3 tsp. salt
2 tablespoons butter
1 yellow onion, chopped
1  green bell pepper, chopped
2 garlic cloves, pressed
1 (10 3/4-oz.) can cream of mushroom soup
1 (10 3/4-oz.) can cream of chicken soup
2 (10-oz.) cans diced tomatoes and green chiles, drained (I use mild Rotell)
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon  chili powder plus A few shakes of red pepper (I don't like mine so spicy so add more if you like heat)
3 cups grated  Tillamook sharp Cheddar cheese
12 (6-inch) fajita-size corn tortillas, cut into 1/2-inch strips

.Rinse chicken off and place it with celery, carrots, and salt in a large Dutch oven with water to cover. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat; reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer 50 minutes to 1 hour or until chicken is done and falls off the bone. Remove from heat. Remove chicken from broth; cool . Remove and reserve 3/4 cup cooking liquid.

turn oven to 350°. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, and sauté 6 to 7 minutes or until tender. Add bell pepper and garlic, and sauté 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in reserved 3/4 cup cooking liquid, cream of mushroom soup, and next 5 ingredients. Cook, stirring occasionally, 6 to 8 minutes

Skin and bone chicken; shred meat into bite-size pieces. Layer half of chicken in a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch baking dish. Top with half of soup mixture and 1 cup Tillamook Sharpest Cheddar cheese. Cover with half of corn tortilla strips. Repeat layers once. Top with remaining 1 cup cheese.

5. Bake at  for 55 minutes to 1 hour or until bubbly. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

. Serves  8 to 10

 Photos from Flower Power and Easy Piecing Workshops...very fun!!!

 Hope you are having a good end of summer!

Bodi Gardner...isn't her work wonderful?

 

Terri Jones work above,,,isb;t ut wonderful? And look, a blue ribbon too!
 

The Importance of Having Quilt Friends and Having a Chance to Share Your Love....

This is my John C.Campbell quilt and this is John and Olive...I am appliquing it now. It is huge and has buildings and mountains and a huge garden and angels in the sky and it is going to be colorful and cool. Very fun. Below is the food they serve there and I have half of it appliqued now and will show you more after I get the pitchfork done and their faces,,,,it feels good to create again. Spaghetti and meatballs on the side above the fish on the platter and pie and a strawberry cake and cinnamon rolls and cupcakes and mashed potatoes...I didn't have room for the salad...kind of like how I eat...haHA...

I am going to post photos of all of the wonderful and fun Postcards you have sent! We went through them all today with my daughter and also we read aloud the beautiful cards that you sent. SO lovely and thank you for your prayers which we LOVE.
     I went to the Cupcakes Group retreat this past week and I got rest and LOVE from my dear friends. I feel stronger and I have a happy attitude about life and facing everything that is brought our way. Mark is happy and NICE as usual and enjoying everything that life sends our way. He enjoys getting to know the nurses and he enjoys having family take him to his appointments if I can't. God has been so good and provided love for us from YOU and from family. I have so much to be greatful for.
Next month I am going through my many quilts and will list some for sale. I have too much stuff! And I have too many quilts and I have saved them and stacked them and have had many people ask if I ever sell anything. I have sold some quilts in the past that people begged me for...and I don't know why but I kept thinking someday I will clean my studio and sell them. I don't know when I thought some day would come...do you know what I mean? Haha.
     If you would like to make a car for Mark's car quilt it can be any size and most people are making red cars though now we decided that maybe another color might work in there too....any style on a sky blue background. I  am posting photos in a day or two and post card photos also. Stay tuned for FUN! The blocks we have received are awesome. Please send your block to Mary Lou Weidman
1521 N.Argonne #276, Spokane Valley WA 99212-2555
I am hoping to share it with a magazine or two when it is done. It will be alot of fun setting it. And he will have a warm quilt with happy blocks this winter.
He is loving the blocks for you girls who have mailed them. Thank you for doing this and for the loving notes that are attached too.

Here is Susan Typpi who is a flight attendant with Alaska...many of you know her and how much fun she is. This dinner was delicious and Molly made sliders, great pasta salad and the next two photos....YUM

Tomato tart- if I hear from enough of you, I will post the recipes....

Pesto pasta...delicious!

Peach and blueberry crisp....delicious!

We all saw this fabric at jean Well's store in Sisters and bought it...it has an amazing text fabric. Molly is making a quilt for her neice and it is going to have these adorable birds for the border around it....awesome!

These are drinks that Molly made...she said the name of them is "skip and go naked." They were good but I didn't drink enough to feel like I wanted to do that....haha.

Above, someone made a blueberry drink that was fab. We really aren't drinkers, the six of us but somehow at Cupcakes retreats once a year everyone tries to outdo eat other with dinner and drinks...it is alot of fun! Mel said that she is more relaxed and seems to quilt better after one of these...haha

Three of the cupcake girls worked on polka dot blocks....we had polka dots everywhere!

 

We started meeting 4 years ago at Lopez Island where my friend Laurie Latta lives and we went to her home.

After a number of years we went and rented a house for three different years (different houses too) at Whidbey Island and then we ended up going to Black Butte this year in oregon and next year we are trying for Coeur d'Alene Lake in Idaho and close to my house. Each year one girl makes dinner and buys something to add for lunch and breakfast. We bring our own projects and energy and we laugh alot and sometimes we all cry.

We have seen births, and deaths and weddings and divorce and well, you know stories so we can do quilts about our lives. My friend Laurie said it is the "continuing saga" of our lives...and it is and it is so nice how women support women...this is what I have seen from you.

 I used to love to pray for others and support them and now I am seeing how wonderful it is to be on the reciving end....it is kind of hard sometimes. It is easier to wash feet than to have yours washed...do you know what I mean?

Below Mel is working on a Swiss Missy quilt....the more fabrics she added the more fun.

While we were shopping in Sisters, Molly found these fabulous Garden Posts....I think they are fab and wonder if I could do a piece of wood with paint and a wood burner for my garden...Molly has a new house they are builfing and it will look amazing! She bought the two cutest ones....

 

The flower baskets in town were amazing!

I am almost done with a Christmas tree quilt for a new workshop I am doing. I just appliqued the toys at the bottom ...it is so much fun!

Below, Mel brought a quilt that she made of Hawaiian fabric and has baskets or pails in the middle....really cool and since she owns to places in Maui, she will be using it for sure...

Eilene's dinner...delicious

Below was a before dinner treat that Molly made...hot jelly over cream cheese with crackers...

Below is a quilt that Molly made to have on hand in case she needs a gift....it is still getting another border...it is so pretty in person.

Below is a baby cowboy quilt for a baby. Mel put the border on and then quilted it and it is ready for the little "pardner"....fun!

All in all today I feel so happy and thankful for so many blessings that God has provided

. I am so thankful today for quilting friends and the nice stack of postcards and cards that we will continue to read as our journey with Mark goes on.

            Isn't it a lovely thing to be a quilter? We all come from so many backgrounds and we are all different but all so close in so many ways. Thank you sincerely for reading my little blog and for buying my books and for taking my workshops.

 I hope that you will consider doing a quilt story about YOU and it will be a precious reminder for years to come about who you are and why you are important.