{Two} Work in Progress

I've been working on two quilts simultaneously this past week.  I do this frequently. It helps keep things fresh because when I get bored with one I can switch to the other.

Currently: I finished the top {minus borders} for my split 9-patch. I am so happy with its progress. The small pattering of cream looks fantastic.

I am also working on this beauty. I was inspired by THIS quilt but I switched out the plain white for black and whites prints. So far I've done 6 rows and I am still planning on adding a purple row and orange row. The bricks measure 4" by 12" and the quilt is 16 bricks across.

You can see my quilts and others at W.I.P.s at freshly pieced

 

St. Patrick's Day Favorites

Be sure to wear green this St. Patrick's Day and check out these other great treats and crafts from St. Patty's Day past!! Enjoy.

Little Leprechauns ~ How-To make this lucky beard

Mint Brownies ~ St. Patty's Day Must

Somewhere over the rainbow Carmel

Exciting News!!

I have some exciting news to share and its not just that I am quilting again!! Right after Christmas I found out I was EXPECTING baby #4. The whole family is thrilled to bring home a new little baby this August. I have been very sick {understatement of the universe!} and blogging has taken an extreme back seat. Starting in March I could see the light at the end of the tunnel with this "morning sickness". I put "morning sickness" in quotes because lets be honest: "Morning sickness" = all day and night nausea {for me anyway}.

It is funny how when you are really sick and can't hardly raise your head off the pillow you start to appreciate all the things you could do and enjoyed doing everyday like: EATING, and playing with your KIDS, and carpool, and DATE NIGHT and quilting. I have been dying to get back to quilting and found the perfect quilt to do just that: Spilt 9-patch!!

At the beginning of  March I got away and went to a girls weekend and got started on this beauty. I am making it for someone special and I know how much HE loves BYU. I got the inspiration from a quilt my friend Kristin made for her husband who is a huge BYU fan also. At the girls weekend a friend of mine suggested I "split" my 9-patches for a scrappier look. We played around with the idea and fabrics and I instantly knew it was the perfect direction.

As I make more progress on the quilt I take more pictures. As for blogging I'm sure I'll be hit and miss around here. With 3 boys, one being 17 months old: Quilting Time let alone Computer Time is a precious commodity. We found out what we are having in less than two weeks so I'll post the news here!!

Happy Friday.

Homemade Chicken Pot Pie

Last Sunday I was craving Chicken Pot Pie (CPP) for dinner. With winter still in full effort here in Utah I was majorly craving some winter comfort food. Because of  the tediousness of making the crust, sauce and ingredients; chicken pot pie is no easy task. It is hard to see all that work and effort go to waste on just one pie I made two so that I could enjoy CPP twice as long.

I had three goals when making CPP. 1) Make sure the veggies aren't complete mush ~ hence parboiling. 2)  Ample amounts of salt ~ nothing is worse than not enough flavor 3) A nice delicate thin crust ~ I am not a fan of thick pie crust.

Chicken Pot Pie

Crust:
2 cups sifted Flour
1 teaspoon Salt
2/3 cup Shortening
6-8 tablespoons ice cold Water
{chill dough for 2-4 hours before rolling}

Sauce:
1 medium diced Onion
4 tablespoons Butter
{saute butter and onions over medium heat}
1/3 cup Flour
1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper {be generous}
whisk in:
1 cup Cream
2 cups Chicken Stock
{cook over medium low heat for 10-15 mins. til sauce becomes thick}

Filling:
1 cup chopped Carrots
1cup Potatoes {peeled and chopped}
{Parboil carrots and potatoes just enough so they aren't crunchy}
1 cup Peas
1/2 cup of Celery {raw}
1 cup Chicken {I preferre rotisserie chicken left overs}
{Toss all ingredients into a large bowl and salt heavily}

Cook Pie for 1 hour and usually a little more at 375 degrees. Left overs are amazing so I highly recommend double the recipe and making TWO!!

Trunk Show Hotesses

I am "sew" excited announce the ah-mazing quilters who will be hosting Trunk Show are this spring's retreat.

Konda Luckau from Moose on the Porch

and

Kati From the Blue Chair

If your as excited as I am to see these Hostesses quilts in person, don't delay and get your ticket now! The price goes up after February 2nd. So email me pamela@frenchknots.net now to secure your spot.

Quilt Retreat Spring 2012

Ready to shake off those winter blues and have some quilting fun?? {Frenchknots} Quilt Retreat is having it’s second annual Quilt Retreat. So.....If you want to recharge your battery before spring and have a little girls getaway come and join us for a weekend of inspiration. Mark your Calendars {Frenchknots} Quilt Retreat is this: March 2nd, 3rd and 4th. The retreat will be located at the relaxing Fairview Retreat and Reunion in Fairview, Utah.

The last Retreat was such a success! Fantastic food, amazing trunk shows, great class and new friends made ~ you don’t want to miss out. To read more about our first Retreat click here.

All you need to bring: Your Projects, Supplies and Machine!

We Provide: 3 days and 2 nights of quilting, socializing and YOU time, 5 delicious meals {breakfast x2, lunch x1 and dinner x2}. Also provided: tables, chairs, ironing boards, cutting mats and cutters.

Total Cost for the 3 day Quilting Retreat is $235.00. The first 10 people to sign up will get a $36.00 discount! Making your retreat pass only $199.00! The deadline to register is Thursday, February 2nd. We only have 18 spots, so register early. Bring a friend and make some new ones!

So you WANT to attend? Can't hardly wait? Sign up now to secure your spot! We have 2 payment options:

1) Mail CHECK to
Pamela Cardwell
495 North 650 West
American Fork, Utah 84003
(send me an email pamela@frenchknots.net letting me know you sent the money)

2) Paypal
(send me an email and I will invoice you for the funds pamela@frenchknots.net)

I will email you a detailed Itinerary of the Quilting Retreat and more once I have received payment!
Thanks and I can't wait to see you soon.

xoxo,
Pamela Cardwell
email: pamela@frenchknots.net
web: http://www.frenchknots.net/

***Please note: due to family necessities this retreat has been postpones. Thanks

2011 was a great year!

2011 was a busy year for me. As I look back and visit the past year in photos I actually did a WhOlE lOt. Way to go gurl! I file my pictures away in folders on my computer and it is fun to retrace my sewing steps month by month and see what I accomplished!! My cute family was by side and my sweet hubby supported me through it all. Here is a recap of the highlights of 2011.

 {Quilts}

(L-R, T-B) Black 9-patch on Point

Machine Quilting  for the very first time

Made a baby quilt from a charm pack

Improve Quilting

{Events}

(L-R, T-B) Inaugural Sewing Summit

Rit Dye Party with Melissa

Hosting my first Quilt Retreat next retreat in March! Wahoo!

Attended Quilt Market in SLC

{Munchies}

(L-R, T-B) Mouthwatering English Muffins

Mexican Coleslaw perfect for parties

Pumpkin Granola great for soccer games

To Die For Huevos Rancheros

Happy New Year 2012