Years ago we told our four grown daughters they are free to prioritize their significant others' families on Thanksgiving. I rather like the annual hall-pass. More often than not John and I end up sitting in a restaurant for a turkey meal. This past Halloween as I walked around the block with our grandkids who had stopped by, I was offered a taste of stuffed pumpkin that my neighbor had made. Yum! I thought it might be a fun yet low-key thing to make on Thanksgiving. Well, I don't know where they go, but those pumpkins just disappear from the grocery stores by November 2. So I snagged the uncarved one off Melissa's porch and saved it in the cool dark garage til yesterday. There's tons of recipes on the net if you just google "stuffed pumpkin". Some with as few as five ingredients...I was attracted to this one, which had more like 20 ingredients. Oh I had such hope and anticipation that I would have lovely photos to share with you today! ahem...so much for hope and anticipation. After two hours in the oven the apple was still crisp and the flavors hadn't really blended and it was after 7pm and I was O-V-E-R it. Am hoping that another hour of baking (no longer in the pumpkin) tonight may make it more edible. Next year we'll probably go back to a restaurant. ;-)
But I do still have a pretty picture to share.
This is our oldest granddaughter Kadence, shortly after she turned three in September. Pretty stunning, huh? I rarely show pictures of her, as I rarely get a chance to take them (I didn't take this) and besides; you just don't know who's looking at your pictures. But I thought friends and family who know of her would like to see an updated pic, and I also wanted you to see who I've been making this little quilt for.
I'm sure I should've waited til it's nicely made into a quilt before showing you, but just in case that takes a while I thought I better show it NOW, and I'll tell you why: the majority of the fabrics used are from the Urban Chiks SWEET line, which is not available in stores til late February of 09. Apparently at Quilt Market in Houston last month there were 50 fat quarter bundles available PERIOD and our own BrendaLou of the local Scottie Dog quilts brought home two of them! I was bragging to my mom on the phone that I got one and she (not without reason) said, "Yeah, now let's see if you actually use them before everyone else can buy them!" so of course I took that as a challenge and got busy sewing. ;-) I'd had the name part done for a while but wasn't sure yet how to proceed. As I was blog hopping one day last week I came across this post by the very talented Melly and that's when I thought to use these fabrics (AND where I got the idea to sash in white, I see!)
I also wanted to share this idea for keeping all those little fabric bits on.
I bought nine of the new Sizzix Hello Kitty dies on ebay recently, knowing I wanted to use them in quilts. I iron the fabric onto an adhesive product like heat n bond, but it's a light (sewable) bond and with all those little pieces for a three year old to pick at I wasn't too hopeful they would last long. So I got some very sheer tulle and sewed it over the whole square. I think if you click to enlarge you'll see it. I got the idea from having taken a mosaic quilts class from the local and very talented Pat Durbin. (who strangely, has nothing to hyperlink!) I do need to finish this quilt so miss Kadence can put it on her new big girl bed, in her new room which is the first one she's ever had all to herself (and everything in it is pink, of course!)
Okay friends. That was a lot of yapping just to share two pictures, but it was nice yapping at ya' just the same. Take care, and have a great weekend!
jen
wow, jen! LOVE the quilt. And that grandaughter!!! well. She must look like her grandma!
Posted by: Des | February 20, 2009 at 06:48 AM
OMG Kadence is beautiful! But then you already knew that right? Love her candy necklace.
Kadence' quilt you made is great. I love those fabrics.
Posted by: Sharon | December 06, 2008 at 12:16 PM
What a cutie patootie your grand daughter is, and such a wonderful quilt. Too bad about your pumpkin dish. You are brave--if I saw 20 ingredients I would have run the other way :-)!!!
Posted by: Cheryl | December 02, 2008 at 12:13 AM
P.S. I do love having a friend who is also fatally drawn to impossible recipes with a bazillion ingredients - LOL, stuffed pumpkin - why go with 5 ingredients when you can have 20?? Did you have cheese on toast for dinner? Grilled cheese and tomato soup, that's my 'OMG' fallback :)
Posted by: Sue McG | December 01, 2008 at 08:04 PM
Oh my, where do I begin? Miss Kadence is totally stunning, that goes without saying - but still has to be said! The fabrics are fabulous, and your quilt is adorable - who wouldn't want that on their big girl bed? I'd like it on mine :) Love the Hello Kitty theme, too much fun!
Posted by: Sue McG | December 01, 2008 at 07:55 PM
Your granddaughter is absolutely adorable... as is the quilt you made her! Envious you got your mits on some Sweet... and cracking up about the challenge. Love how you sashed in in white and stoned in pink. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!
Posted by: happy zombie | December 01, 2008 at 10:48 AM
Jen--thanks for linking to me and so very glad you got the fabrics! You've done a fantastic job to make a lovely quilt. I like the idea of putting the netting over the applique for child. Great idea. BTW..link for Pat Durbin is www.patdurbin.com
Posted by: BrendaLou | December 01, 2008 at 09:46 AM
Boy oh boy is she growing up fast!!! What a cutie and a beauty!! Love the wonderful quilt and I imagine Miss K will be head over heels in love with it. The Hello Kitty is just the cutest idea for such a sweet and pretty quilt for a lovely young lady!!
Posted by: Barbara | December 01, 2008 at 07:02 AM
That is just so sweet!!!!!!!! Lovely!
Posted by: celia | November 30, 2008 at 04:33 PM
Love the quilt. I'm very jealous that you have that fabric. I missed out on the Swell line, so I'm looking forward to some Sweet. Your granddaughter is adorable!
Posted by: MichelleB | November 30, 2008 at 09:12 AM
Well how clever are you Miss Jen? That quilt is so darn cute. I was wondering about the HK stuff. Cute enough to make me want to do something HK. Anyway, I'm always inspired by your cleverness. xo
ps that girlie is Darling.
Posted by: pam | November 29, 2008 at 09:40 AM
Hi Jen, I love that quilt, such bright happy colors! You can never go wrong with Hello Kitty either! xo, suzy
Posted by: suzy | November 29, 2008 at 04:50 AM
Absolutely darling quilt for a darling girl.
Since we stopped going over to my sisters and having 40+ people, this year thanksgiving is managable. We only had 9! It was a lot of cooking but it was fun. My girls helped me and I'd so much rather do that than pile in a house with so many other family members - don't tell them!
Posted by: Nanette | November 28, 2008 at 05:19 PM
Beautiful girl and fabulous quilt! They belong together! :)
Sorry about your stuffed pumpkin------ hope you were able to finish it up today? Did more baking help??
I don't do the eat on Thanksgiving thing, have always been one to spout "It is my favorite holiday"............. but it is not the same anymore and if the truth be told, it really isn't!!! Maybe the restaurant thing might pan out in the future.
I have tons of leftovers, and happily so-- I won't start to "gobble" until Sunday perhaps!
Posted by: tina | November 28, 2008 at 02:45 PM
What a beautiful quilt. I love the name. Really pops out. Maybe one of these days you'll be able to photograph it in her room?
Bummer about the pumpkin.
Posted by: michelleinfantino | November 28, 2008 at 02:36 PM