Help In The Studio

February 16, 2021 Laura Leave a comment

Don’t laugh, trying to work with a new photo sizing program. So far can’t get pictures to load correctly, but my webmaster will get it figured out now that I am giving her something to work with.

I get a lot of help in the studio, not all of it exactly what is needed.

What is the most helpful hint, tip, hack you have learned for making your studio or sewing space your happy place.

I know for me, when I practice a 15 minute “Fire Drill” once a day, usually before I leave my studio at night, I get so much more real sewing and designing done.

Share your hints in the comments.

Happy Stitchin’

Organizing, Uncategorized

Which Way is Up?

December 29, 2020 Laura Leave a comment

Have you every played that game with King and Queen fitted sheets, Which Way is the Top?

top label — Label from leftover binding or 2 1/2 strip.

Cut light colored strip into 5 inch pieces.

Fold in half, right sides together and sew side seams.

Turn right side out, press, then use a permanent laundry marker to write TOP or other notation.

Sew or safety pin to the top seam of fitted sheets or any item you want to easily identify the top edge.

Baking and Cooking, Uncategorized

Pig in a Blanket

August 19, 2020 Laura Leave a comment

Pigs in Blankets — Pig in a Blanket is an easy recipe.
Ask for help heating the oven to 375 degrees, and maybe with opening packages.

ingredients — You will need 1 package of refrigerator crescent rolls
1 package of Hot-dogs
A large baking pan
A table knife
A little bit of flour
Parchment paper makes cleanup easy
1 slice of cheese, if you like

additional items — You will need 1 package of refrigerator crescent rolls
1 package of Hot-dogs
A large baking pan
A table knife
A little bit of flour
Parchment paper makes cleanup easy
1 slice of cheese, if you like

cut dough — Carefully open the refrigerator crescent tube by finding the start tab and carefully pulling to remove the outside paper.
The tube may pop open by itself or you may have to gently whack it against the edge of the counter.
Don’t whack to hard ?
Unroll the dough and use the table knife to cut the dough apart following the perforated lines.
Stretch each piece a little bit like in the second photo.

Carefully open the refrigerator crescent tube by finding the start tab and carefully pulling to remove the outside paper.
The tube may pop open by itself or you may have to gently whack it against the edge of the counter.
Don’t whack to hard ?
Unroll the dough and use the table knife to cut the dough apart following the perforated lines.
Stretch each piece a little bit like in the second photo.

dry hot dogs — Open the package of hot-dogs and place then on a paper towel.
Roll them back and forth to dry them off.
This will make the “blanket” stick better.

Place a hot-dog on the long edge of the dough.
Roll up like in the second photo.
Then bring the long tail back over the bare spot on the hot-dog.
With your fingers, pinch the seams together.

If you like, you may add cheese to your hot-dogs.
Use a table knife to carefully cut a slit in the center of the hot-dog.
Don’t cut all the way through.
Cut a half inch strip of the cheese and insert in the slit.
Then wrap in the blanket as shown above.

Place the Pigs in Blankets on the large baking pan.
Place pan in Pre-heated 375 degree oven.
Bake 12-13 minutes until the blankets are golden brown.

Baking and Cooking, Uncategorized

Individual Peach Cobbler

August 12, 2020 Laura Leave a comment

You will need a peach or 1 cup, drained, canned peach slices
1/4 cup biscuit mix (like Bisquick)
1 Tablespoon milk
1/8 tsp lemon juice
Some sugar and some cinnamon
And, preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

First we have to get the fuzzy skin off the peach.
Ask for help because you will be working with a sharp knife.
With the sharp knife, cut a small X in the bottom of the peach and place it stem end down on a microwave safe plate.
Place plate with peach in microwave oven and cook on high 30 seconds. This will loosen the skin. This is called blanching, slightly cooking something.
( If you want to blanch more than one peach, add an additional 10 seconds cooking time for each peach, two peaches take 40 second and three would take 50 seconds.)
While the peach is blanching, fill a medium bowl with cold water (you can add some ice-cubes if you have them). this will help loosen the fuzzy skin and cool the hot peach.

First we have to get the fuzzy skin off the peach.
Ask for help because you will be working with a sharp knife.
With the sharp knife, cut a small X in the bottom of the peach and place it stem end down on a microwave safe plate.
Place plate with peach in microwave oven and cook on high 30 seconds. This will loosen the skin. This is called blanching, slightly cooking something.
( If you want to blanch more than one peach, add an additional 10 seconds cooking time for each peach, two peaches take 40 second and three would take 50 seconds.)
While the peach is blanching, fill a medium bowl with cold water (you can add some ice-cubes if you have them). this will help loosen the fuzzy skin and cool the hot peach.

When the peach is cool enough to handle, carefully pull the skin back from the X you made. keep pulling until all the skin is removed.

Cut the peach in half and carefully remove the pit.
Be careful, peeled peaches are slippery
Then cut the peach halves into thin slices.

Put peaches in a 1 1/2 cup size baking dish and sprinkle with 1/8 tsp lemon juice and stir well. This will keep the peaches from turning an ugly brown.
Add 1 Tablespoon of granulated sugar and a dash of ground cinnamon.
What is a dash? A dash is like one shake only with a little sweep to it.
Stir well again

Combine 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, 1 Tablespoon milk and 1 Tsp granulated sugar in a medium mixing bowl.

Mix ingredients with a spoon until they clump together in a ball you can pick up with the spoon.

With you fingers, gently pat the ball of dough into a thin round, slightly smaller than you baking dish.
Place the round on top of the peaches in the dish and press down gently. Sprinkle with 1/8 tsp granulated sugar and several dashes of cinnamon.
Place in 350 degree oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until bubbly and biscuit is golden brown.

While you wait, lets clean up the dishes and utensils we used.
Mom, Dad or the babysitter will appreciate this.
Put a very small amount of dish soap in the mixing bowl. Fill with hot water and wash all the spoons, knives, plates and other items you used. Rinse well and set on draining mat or dish drainer to air dry.

Baking and Cooking

Pizza Pockets

August 4, 2020 Laura Leave a comment

Pizza Pockets, ingredients and utensils.
Frozen dinner rolls, pizza sauce, sliced pepperoni, shredded mozzarella cheese, cooking spray, a little all-purpose flour, large baking pan, rolling pin and measuring spoons.

baked pizza pockets — Six Pizza Pockets is any easy number to bake at one time,
but you may make any number you like.
Let’s get started!

baking spray pan — You have to plan ahead with this recipe.
Four (4) hours before you want to bake Pizza Pockets, you will need to thaw the rolls and let them raise.
Spray the baking pan with baking spray.
Place the frozen rolls, 3 inches apart on the pan.
Cover with a piece of plastic wrap that you have sprayed with cooking spray.
This will keep it from sticking to the rolls.

place frozen dough — You have to plan ahead with this recipe.
Four (4) hours before you want to bake Pizza Pockets, you will need to thaw the rolls and let them raise.
Spray the baking pan with baking spray.
Place the frozen rolls, 3 inches apart on the pan.
Cover with a piece of plastic wrap that you have sprayed with cooking spray.
This will keep it from sticking to the rolls.

raised rolls — After about 4 hours, the dough will have raised
until they are very puffy and about 3 inches across.
Note:
If your mom or dad make bread dough, you can turn some of the dough into pizza pockets using the size piece you would use for a dinner roll.

lightly floured surface — Very lightly flour a flat surface like a bread board or counter top.
(I like to cover the surface with freezer paper, waxed paper or parchment paper because it makes clean up easier.)
Remember, we don’t want to leave the kitchen messy.?
With your fingers, press the raised dough flat,
then using the rolling pin, working from the center out, roll the dough very thin until it measures 6 inches across.
Note:
If you don’t have a rolling pin, you can use a jar or drinking glass with straight sides.

flattened dough — Very lightly flour a flat surface like a bread board or counter top.
(I like to cover the surface with freezer paper, waxed paper or parchment paper because it makes clean up easier.)
Remember, we don’t want to leave the kitchen messy.?
With your fingers, press the raised dough flat,
then using the rolling pin, working from the center out, roll the dough very thin until it measures 6 inches across.
Note:
If you don’t have a rolling pin, you can use a jar or drinking glass with straight sides.

Measure 1 Tablespoon pizza sauce and spread over dough,
leaving 1/2 inch uncovered around the edge.
Use a measuring tablespoon to make sure you don’t get to much sauce.
To much sauce will make a messy Pizza Pocket.

measure and spread sauce — Measure 1 Tablespoon pizza sauce and spread over dough,
leaving 1/2 inch uncovered around the edge.
Use a measuring tablespoon to make sure you don’t get to much sauce.
To much sauce will make a messy Pizza Pocket.

measured cheese — Place 3 slices pepperoni in a line at the center of the pocket,
Can you see them hiding under the cheese in the second picture?
Measure 1 tablespoon of shredded mozzarella cheese.
The cheese will hang out of the measuring spoon a little bit.
Sprinkle over sauce and pepperoni.

cheese on pocket — Place 3 slices pepperoni in a line at the center of the pocket,
Can you see them hiding under the cheese in the second picture?
Measure 1 tablespoon of shredded mozzarella cheese.
The cheese will hang out of the measuring spoon a little bit.
Sprinkle over sauce and pepperoni.

moisten dough edges — Dampen you finger tips in a small bowl of water.
Brush a small amount of water all around outside edge of dough.
Then starting at the center of the pocket,
bring two opposite edges together and pinch with your fingers to seal,
then working toward each end, keep pinching and sealing.

moisten edges — Dampen you finger tips in a small bowl of water.
Brush a small amount of water all around outside edge of dough.
Then starting at the center of the pocket,
bring two opposite edges together and pinch with your fingers to seal,
then working toward each end, keep pinching and sealing.

sealed pizza pocket — There, you have a Pizza Pocket, ready to bake.
Place Pockets bake on the pan you raised the dough on.
Take note of the third picture.
A paper towel, like in the third picture, is handy for wiping your fingers when they get too wet and the dough sticks to them.

There, you have a Pizza Pocket, ready to bake.
Place Pockets bake on the pan you raised the dough on.
Take note of the third picture.
A paper towel, like in the third picture, is handy for wiping your fingers when they get too wet and the dough sticks to them.

wash the dishes — While the Pizza Pockets bake, lets clean up.
In the sink or dish pan, put a small amount of dish soap and fill with warm water.
Wash, then rinse off the soap, all the utensils you used, rolling pin, measuring spoons, small dishes, even the ruler you used to measure.
Place them in a dish drainer or on a drying mat to air dry.
Wipe any spills from the kitchen counter.
Mom will appreciate the clean kitchen.

bake pizza pockets — When the oven time goes off, carefully open the oven door and check to see if they are golden brown.
If not brown enough, close the oven door and set the timer for two more minutes.
When done:
Use pot holders or oven mitts to carefully remove the pan from the oven.
Use a spatula or pancake turner to carefully remove the Pizza Pockets to a cooling rack.
Wait five (5) minutes before eating.
The filling is HOT!

use a spatula — When the oven time goes off, carefully open the oven door and check to see if they are golden brown.
If not brown enough, close the oven door and set the timer for two more minutes.
When done:
Use pot holders or oven mitts to carefully remove the pan from the oven.
Use a spatula or pancake turner to carefully remove the Pizza Pockets to a cooling rack.
Wait five (5) minutes before eating.
The filling is HOT!

baked pocket — Ready to eat!
You don’t have to cut them in half to eat, I just wanted you to see what they look like inside.
Now that you have the basic recipe down, you can experiment with additional ingredients.
Olives
Mushrooms
Cooked Sausage
Cheddar or American Cheese
Just be careful to not over fill or they will pop open while baking.
Leftover Pizza Pockets may be reheated in a toaster or toaster oven.
Microwave…..not so much.

Baking and Cooking

Summer Cooking-Rice Krispies Treats

July 22, 2020 Laura Leave a comment

Now we are ready to start. You need 1/4 cup butter or margarine. That equals half of the cube.

butter in pan — Put the 1/4 cup butter in the large kettle.

butter dish — Slice a few thin pieces from the rest of butter and put them in the
9 x 13 inch pan.

grease pan — Use a plastic sandwich bag to spread the butter all around in the pan. The butter will keep the Treats from sticking to the pan.
The sandwich bag will keep you from getting to greasy.

add marshmallows — Now count exactly 40 large marshmallows into the kettle with the butter. Place pan on stove top burner and turn heat to medium. Stir constantly with a wooden spoon.

stir constantly — The butter will melt before the marshmallows
Keep stirring.

starting to melt — The marshmallows take a little while to melt.
Keep stirring.

melted mixture — When the mixture is smooth and creamy it is time to add the 6 cups of Rice Krispies cereal.

add Rice Krispies — Add the 6 cups of Rice Krispies all at once.
Quickly stir the mixture with the wooden spoon to evenly coat with the marshmallow mixture.

stir quickly — Add the 6 cups of Rice Krispies all at once.
Quickly stir the mixture with the wooden spoon to evenly coat with the marshmallow mixture.

pour in pan — You may need help with the next step.
The heavy kettle will be hot, so use potholders to hold the pot.
Quickly scoop all the Rice Krispies mixture into the buttered 9 x 13 inch pan.

Butter the spatula.
Use the butter spatula to press the Rice Krispies mixture into the buttered 9 x 13 inch pan.

Butter the spatula.
Use the butter spatula to press the Rice Krispies mixture into the buttered 9 x 13 inch pan.

cover pan — Cover the pan with plastic wrap or the lid if your pan has one and let stand 1 hour.
I know, it is hard to wait.

While you wait, clean up the utensils you used.
Mom will appreciate a clean kitchen.
Put the kettle in the sink.
Add a small amount of dish soap.
Fill the pan with warm water.
Wash the utensils in the soap water and rinse well.
Set then on a towel or in a drainer to dry.
The kettle will clean up easily after soaking while you washed the other dishes.

suds — While you wait, clean up the utensils you used.
Mom will appreciate a clean kitchen.
Put the kettle in the sink.
Add a small amount of dish soap.
Fill the pan with warm water.
Wash the utensils in the soap water and rinse well.
Set then on a towel or in a drainer to dry.
The kettle will clean up easily after soaking while you washed the other dishes.

When the hour is up (I hope you set a timer) cut into bars or squares.
This may require strong hands so ask for help.
Package in snack bags or cover tightly.
Don’t eat them all at once, save some for tomorrow.
Recipe:
6 cups Rice Krispies cereal
40 large marshmallows or 4 cups miniature marshmallows
1/4 cup butter or margarine

bag for lunches — When the hour is up (I hope you set a timer) cut into bars or squares.
This may require strong hands so ask for help.
Package in snack bags or cover tightly.
Don’t eat them all at once, save some for tomorrow.
Recipe:
6 cups Rice Krispies cereal
40 large marshmallows or 4 cups miniature marshmallows
1/4 cup butter or margarine

Uncategorized

Tie On Emergency Face Mask

March 21, 2020 Laura Leave a comment

Tie on Mask — Emergency Tie On Face Mask
You will need 1 Fat Quarter close-weave, all cotton fabric (18 x 22 inches) and a spool of sewing thread, scissors, and rotary cutting equipment is very helpful

Cut Fat Quarter — From the Fat Quarter, cut 2 strips, 6 inches by 22 inches
and 4 strips, 1 1/4 inches by 22 inches
Or, if you happen to have some pre-made folded binding on hand, you can skip the strips and cut a third 6 x 22 inch strip.

Sub-cut Fat Quarter — Then cut the two, 6 inch by 22 inch strips into four, 6 inch by 9 inch rectangles. Pin two together with right sides facing.

Sewing seams — Sew along each 9 inch edge use a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

Turn and Press — Turn the tube you have made right side out and press sewn edge even and smooth. I know…..where is that iron anyway?!?
Seriously, pressing will make your life easier in this project.

Top Stitching — Top stitch along each 9 inch edge (example on right) Thread that matches camouflages sewing imperfections, but hey! This is an emergency so any color will do.

Place Three Pinch Pleats and pin to hold.

Pleats completed — Do the same at both ends, making sure the pleats go the same way on both ends. We don’t want any smirky looking masks scaring patients.

Now for the fussy part. Take the 1 1/4 x 22 inch strips to the ironing surface and press each in half lengthwise like the top example. Then fold in 1/4 inch on each side and press toward the center crease, bottom example

finished binding — Now, press the strip so raw edges are tucked inside and the piece is a little over 1/4 inch wide. Then fold it in half to mark the center of the strip, like the top example.

Binding Pinned in Place — We are getting there.
Place the center fold at the center of a pleated edge and pin in place through all layers. then use two more pins to secure at the edges of the mask.

Sewing Tie — Make life easier, don’t mess with trying to hem the end of the tie.
This is not a wedding dress!
Just stitch across the tiny end, turn and sew down the open side of the tie, close to the edge. Your machine may be finicky about this step, but go slow and talk sweetly to it, and it should cooperate.

Sewing on the ends — When you get up to the mask piece, take a moment to check and adjust pieces so all is going under the presser foot as you want. Sew as close to the mask piece as you can, then finish up by sewing the edge and end closed on the other part of the tie.

Safety rectangle — To make sure the tie stays securely sewn to the mask, top stitch this “safety rectangle” as shown. We don’t want any masks flying apart in a healthcare professionals haste to “gown up” to attend to the ill.

Applique

Basted Freezer Paper Applique Tips

February 20, 2020 Laura Leave a comment

basting — **Basting the Seam Allowance to the Freezer Paper.**
Applique shapes are cut from freezer paper and pressed to the wrong side of desired fabric with a dry iron (no steam). Then using needle and thread and a long running stitch, fold the seam allowance around the papers cut edge, creating a smooth fold and sew in place.

**Basted Pieces**
Using a contrasting color of thread for basting, makes removal after applique easier. These leaves are ready to be appliqued.

**Basting Curved Edges**
Most applique shapes have curved edges. Convex curves like the piece to the left, gather in easily. Concave curves on the piece to the right, require some clipping to lay flat. Note the clip at the point of the scissors. This clip was made after sewing the basting stitch. Clips should go only half way to the edge in the seam allowance.

**Leaves Ready to Applique**
Use fine pins or a basting glue to secure to background of applique piece. Applique with matching thread. When done, remove basting then on the back of piece cut a small slit in the background fabric and pull out freezer paper.

Uncategorized

Pressing Matters

January 14, 2020 Laura Leave a comment

Accurate pressing is just as important as accurate seams in producing well pieced quilt blocks.

Scraps to Small to Save — Even scrap blocks need accurate pressing or they will pucker along the edges, making them hard to join together.

pleated seam — Note under the tip of the iron how the seam is pleated and needs pressing flat.

Setting the seam — To avoid those pleated seams, first press from the wrong side, as shown, to set the seam. Doing this will aid in producing a crisp, flat seam on the top side.

Right Side pressed seams — When you turn the piece over and press from the top side, you can use the tip of the iron to “dig” into the seam-line and spread the seam flat.

Pressing aids — There are many tools, aids and irons available to improve and make accurate pressing easier. Mary Ellen’s Best press is great for getting out stubborn creases. And I stick with Black and Decker, because they steam good, and the two Managers of Operation have animated discussion on the ironing board, and irons have been the casualties.

Punkin
Irby

Angels, arent they.

Uncategorized

Organizing Your Sewing Space for the New Year

January 6, 2020 Laura Leave a comment

I work in a very small studio. 10 feet by 10 feet. Things are packed in pretty tight.

everyday studio — What my studio looks like most mornings

Projects are here and there, but they all have their space.

messy studio — What my studio may look like at the end of the day

So how do I keep this small space so I can work in it? My first line of defense is doing a 15 minute pick up at the end of each day. I use a kitchen timer to keep me focused.

Most of the time I have several projects going at once and I like to keep things portable so I can take with me to work on. Wrap-n-Totes from my pattern #1501 work well to corral a messy project or to transport a hand sewing project.

Wrap-n-Tote #1501 — Wrap-n-Totes make great project totes.

I have many projects in ArtBins and 2 Gallon Zip Closure Bags, labeled and including a Project Action Sheet where I have listed next steps, supplies needed and a proposed finish date.

Of course no work space is complete without a good paperweight. Punkin, our Manager of Operations, likes filling that duty.

Punkin the paper weight — Punkin’s favorite quilting job.

I am offering an Organized Sewing Space Workshop at Experience Quilts!, Odessa, Washington, beginning Saturday, January 18th, 2020. 509-982-2012

Looking for a Guild or Shop Workshop, contact us at our info@laurassagecountryquilts link.

What organizing tips can you share with your fellow readers?

laurassagecountryquilts.com

Help In The Studio

Which Way is Up?

Pig in a Blanket

Individual Peach Cobbler

Pizza Pockets

Summer Cooking-Rice Krispies Treats

Tie On Emergency Face Mask

Basted Freezer Paper Applique Tips

Pressing Matters

Organizing Your Sewing Space for the New Year

Applique, ruching and dimensional embellishments of quilts