JANUARY, 2010
New Year’s Greetings and may it be a good year for you!
May you enjoy each day with some special time to yourself for stitching, even if it just 15 minutes!
Relax and enjoy wonderful feeling we share of working with fabric.
My goal this year is to make quilts from my collection of batiks. They are so beautiful that you can’t go wrong with your project. I am also hoping to cull out some of the fabrics on my shelves that are no longer speaking to me. There are many groups that can use fabrics we no long love. I plan to do this at least once a month during the year to free up space for new fabrics to come, which we all know will happen!
I love the promise of a new beginning offered with the new year. It’s fun to feel so free with the idea of a clean slate. Begin new projects as a treat to yourself. Don’t worry about old unfinished projects. You probably didn’t finish them because you didn’t like them. Get them out of your house. Instead of that negative energy on the old unliked projects, pursue your new projects with pleasure.
Treat yourself to the gift of doing whatever you want this year – at least for the month of January!
Enjoy yourself, you are special! And don’t forget to have some chocolate, too!
FEBRUARY, 2010
Happy February!
When this month leaves us, Spring is on its way, at least we hope so here in New England. This is the month of Love, so do something loving for yourself. Free up your space and guilt by eliminating some UFO’s!
IF you do not have any, then enjoy new projects and some chocolate!
IF you do have SOME UFO’s, go through them and get rid of at least 3, maybe more if you are on a roll. Unless you are madly in love with the unfinished project, chuck it! It is not worth the space it is taking up. Your tastes in fabrics have changed, or maybe you didn’t like the technique involved. What ever the reason, free yourself for more new projects! Spring cleaning! I would love to hear from you, if you have taken any of this advice to heart.
MARCH, 2010
March is the month of contrasts…in like a lion, out like a lamb! with the promise of Spring to come. I can’t help but think of green during this month, especially after such a snowy winter across the country. I crave the fresh greenish look of Spring.
Over 30 years ago, my first quilt teacher gave the class advice on fabric selection that I have not forgotten. When you see green, buy green, even if only a quarter yard. You can never have too many greens in your fabric collection. The fabric manufacturers change the dye lots of greens on a regular basis, and you need to stockpile the many shades available. It’s a difficult assignment, but I know you can do it! Enjoy the journey of fabric pursuit!
I am expanding my shopping pursuits this month during my tours to Lancaster
to include half yards of lots of batiks in all colors!
APRIL, 2010
April Greetings
May there be No More Showers in April!!!
March was the rainiest month in over 100 years in the northeast! Let the flowers begin to bloom and the sun to shine.
Wishing you all a Happy Spring time, Happy Easter and Passover. To celebrate Spring, enjoy making flower blocks and quilts…from my books, of course!
All out of print books are on sale in April for just $15 each, plus $2.50 shipping for each book.
QUILTS WITH A VIEW
GARDEN VIEW APPLIQUE
APPLIQUE ROSE GARDEN
My newest book, Ribbon Treasures from Celia’s Garden,
is on sale for $20 plus $2.50 shipping.
To order: Send Check to me at 80 Mt. Vernon St, Dover, NH 03820
MAY, 2010
Weeding!!!
That is what I have been doing.
It seems this time of year everything just springs into bloom overnight. If you don’t keep up with the weeds, they will overtake your garden. I had that happen last year and was determined this year to be vigilant and aggressive. A beautiful spring day resulted in success in the worse part of the garden. I now have planting space for new blooms. This same weeding process must to happen to our fabric collections. If not, they will over run the space we have and prevent us from seeing and selecting choices for our projects. Have a box ready to accept those fabrics that no longer speak to you and those you wonder why you bought in the first place! There are lots of places this box can be donated for many new quilts. You now have space to add new spice / fabrics to your collection. Now there is excitement! Isn’t that what it is all about?!
Enjoy!
JUNE, 2010
There is nothing like a day in June!!! May you Enjoy each day and do something to make yourself happy!
Take time to smell the roses, too!
JULY, 2010
ALOHA!
When you read this I shall be in Hawaii for Quilt Hawaii. We are in Waikoloa on the Big Island of Hawaii.
I would like to share the ALOHA spirit with you in this month’s bouquet.
AUGUST, 2010
Hope you are enjoying the summer and staying cool! It sure has been hot all across the USA. On a personal note, I have some more news… about the USA!
My next book is all about the state flowers of our 50 states, plus the District of Columbia and 4 US territories. I have made 55 quilts, one for each state, with the flowers featured either as a wreath or other arrangements. Over a dozen different techniques were used for these quilts. This entire collection will be premiered at the Lowell Quilt Festival 2010 America’s Stately Wreaths August 12 – 14, 2010, at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium, Lowell, MA. Visit www.lowellquiltfestival.org for more details on the festival. Hope you can come down and see all the exhibits! I shall also be there as a vendor with my Flower Garden Ribbons. The book is due to be released next spring by AQS. More specific information to follow (as soon as I know details from AQS).
Enjoy the rest of the summer and stay cool!
SEPTEMBER, 2010
September is back to school!
You are never too “young” to learn new tricks! I am off to England and Wales for 3 weeks to share new techniques
from “America’s Quilted Garden”. This is the working title of my latest book (to be released by AQS 2011). I am excited about using Fabrico Markers to “draw appliqué” and color in with fond memories of childhood coloring days. This technique is so easy and great results! I am also enjoying “raw edge” appliqué with ultra-suede. Just cut and sew!
Hope you try something new this month.
Enjoy!
OCTOBER, 2010
The beauty of Autumn is all around me in my New England home. Along with the beauty of the fall foliage for serenity and inspiration, I also enjoy the delicious beauty of the fruits of spring blossoms, most especially apple blossoms. These delicate spring time blossoms have become a wonderful variety of apples. What a wonderful way to celebrate fall than with Mom’s Apple pie! Actually, this is not Mom’s apple pie, but rather her recipe for the pie crust. This recipe is over 100 years old and was given to my Mother by a pastry chef when my Mother was a cook in a Retirement facility. “Mamie” was one of the residents and enjoyed coming into the kitchen every now and then to make a treat for her friends in the home. This recipe makes a foolproof, flaky and delicious piecrust. You can add any filling of your choice for a really delicious pie. I hope you enjoy it!
Mamie’s Pie Crust Recipe
From Ourania Samaras and “Mamie”, Manchester New Hampshire
It is a foolproof recipe and makes a very flaky and delicious pie crust.
I hope you enjoy it. Faye Labanaris
Makes 4 - 9” pie crusts. Cut recipe in half for just one pie.
5 cups flour
2 ½ cups Crisco sticks
1 tsp salt
1 cup milk
1. Cut Crisco into flour and salt with a pastry cutter until it is in small pieces.
2. Add milk and handle just enough to hold together. (Too much handling makes the crust tough)
3. Wrap with plastic wrap and chill about 1 hour. Hint: I like to remove the dough from the bowl and wrap in piece of plastic wrap before chilling.) Mold the dough in the shape of a flat ball.
4. Flour a pastry cloth lightly ( or use a clean linen dish towel) and roll out to the desired thickness.
5. Dough can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three days. It also can be frozen.
No matter what pie filling you use, you will always
make a delicious pie with this wonderfully flaky crust!
Please Enjoy It and Share It
NOVEMBER, 2010
November makes us stop and give thanks for our blessings. I give thanks for having you as a bouquet recipient! I hope you get a bit of pleasure from each month’s bouquet.
It is a blessing to be a quilter and to have the pleasure of fabric. Some of the blessings of my fabric are overflowing and shall be shared with others who make quilts of valor for our veterans. They are ones who deserve our heartfelt thanks for a their sacrifice for our freedom. Let us not forget them in our prayers.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
DECEMBER, 2010
Season’s Greetings!
May this holiday season be full of love and hope and NO Stress! I am enjoying the season with the concept of Less is More,
except where fabric is concerned. Slow the pace down, take time to relax and enjoy the moment! I am sharing with you a recipe that should be called If You Can’t Make Anything Else, This Is It!
Enjoy!
Cherry-Date Shortbread Bars
Makes a 9” sq. pan – Do not grease pan
1. Combine in a mixer at low speed:
1 c. flour
¼ c. sugar
½ c. butter – softened
Press into ungreased pan
Bake at 350º for about 15 minutes until edges are very lightly brown
2. Beat at medium speed for 2 minutes:
¾ c. sugar
½ c. flour
2 eggs
½ tsp. baking powder
11/4 tsp. salt
1 ½ tsp. vanilla
Stir chopped step 3 into the mixture
3. Chop ahead:
¾ c. chopped dates
½ c. flaked coconut
½ c. pecans
½ c. drained cherries
4. Pour mixture (steps 2 & 3) over hot crust.
Return to oven. Bake 25 – 30 minutes until lightly brown and filling it set.
Cut into 1” squares and enjoy!!!
Copyright © 2012 Faye Labanaris. All Rights Reserved.