Saturday, December 28, 2013

Oh no! Not again!

I was so excited when I got my replacement bars for my quilt frame. I had to wait until after Christmas but I was happy that I had them.
When we got back from my daughter's house, I started by connecting the replacement bars to the quilt frame and using the metal bars that came with the installation kit. Small problem, they didn't send enough screws for all four plates.
It took me about an hour to locate screws that fit the bracing plates
The plates were on the bars and I started loading the backing, then the batting and finally the quilt top.
Now I started rolling and smoothing, rolling and smoothing.  Almost done!  Just have to load the opposite bar and then tighten the quilt and start quilting.
That's when the new bar cracked! Again!
Now I am stuck with no frame, again!

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Gluten Free Biscochitos

Biscochitos are the state cookie of New Mexico. They are usually made for Christmas, New Years and major celebrations. They are very similar to sugar cookies but much richer.

Since my daughter has Celiac it was very hard for me to make them and she wouldn't be able to eat them. So between the two of us we came up with a gluten free recipe!  It still needs a little tweaking but it's very close. They taste great!

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Merry Christmas Eve!

We are on the way to Albuquerque to spend Christmas Eve and day with my youngest daughter's family and my youngest son.
We are just north of Santa Fe. Aren't the mountains beautiful?

Monday, December 23, 2013

Anxiously waiting for the UPS truck!

Here I am waiting for the UPS truck! Why? Because my new extension bars come today!!  YAY!!

I have been working on my hexie quilt handwork. You know making individual hexies and then sewing them together to make the individual flowers.  I have already made about 15 flowers.  But I need about 40 more.  No problem! I have been working on this particular quilt on and off for about 2 years. I also need to make about 200 white individual hexies.  The white ones are going to be the path between the flowers. This quilt is for me so I can take my time with it. Right now my priority is my oldest daughters quilt, which I need to finish in time for her birthday!

I have also started sewing the blocks for another string basket weave quilt. This one will be for my youngest daughter.  I figure if I sew the blocks for the youngest in between hand quilting the one for the oldest, I should have the second quilt ready for the quilt frame as soon as I get the first one off the frame. . . maybe even before.  Then. . . I still have to make one for my oldest son!  My youngest son already has his quilt. 

So you see, waiting for the UPS truck is really holding up the parade!!  Plus, I will not be able to work on the quilt today because we are making chile rellenos (New Mexico Style) or Chile bullets as my daughter in law calls them. We cooked the meat and green New Mexico chile yesterday. Today we will form the "bullets" and fry them. YUM YUM!

We wish everyone a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year! Have a great time with family and friends!