Friday, June 24, 2011

A New Rug Hooking Project (and Some Gifts for YOU!)





I'm sooooo excited about my newest design for a rug hooking project!  I don't have the pattern named yet, but spent the week finalizing the drawing, getting it transferred to monks cloth and picking/cutting my wool.  I hope to have the pattern ready for release right after the 4th of July holiday so you have plenty of time to hook it before fall.  In addition to a paper pattern, I'm looking to also release the design as a kit with pre-cut wool strips.  Won't that be fun?!

This is just a short post today because I'm headed to our cabin in the Cascade Mountains tonight to do a little rug hooking on the deck.  You know by now that I love to hook on that deck, but we only get to use it about three months out of the year due to snow conditions.  I'm gonna mix up a couple beverages and see how much sun I can get as I work on my rug!

Oh, and I have some gifts to give back to YOU!  If you are a rug hooker, be sure to visit my auxillary rug hooking blog page by visiting the tabs at the top of this page or by clicking this link: For Rug Hookers.  And if you're a quilter, I'm adding videos, tips and tricks you can find by visiting the "For Quilters" tab at the top of this page or by clicking this link:  For Quilters.  Don't worry, there's plenty more coming in my posts next week.

In the meantime, thanks for visiting and check back soon!

Monday, June 20, 2011

Chicken Dinner Quilt and Throw Pillow!

On Facebook a couple of weeks ago, I introduced Chicken Dinner, my new design for a cute table or wall quilt and 14" throw pillow.  If you're a beginning quilter and worried this design is too complicated to start with, you'll be surprised!  I'm a self-taught quilter and designed this quilt a few years ago on typing paper with colored pencils, and it was the first quilt I ever made.  I kept all that trial-and-error in mind when I recently decided to publish the pattern and included LOTS of diagrams and extra instructions for beginners (if you're not a beginning quilter, you can cheat and skip around!).


If you're interested in the pattern, you can pick up Chicken Dinner by snail-mail or by instant ePattern download from my website at http://www.americanpiedesigns.com/.

Some of you know I'm a bit ecletic when it comes to designing and have plenty of UFOs ("Un-Finished Objects") on my worktable, so it shouldn't be surprising to anyone I'm dinking with a new rug hooking design.  In my previous post (A Slice of Pie - June 17, 2011), I mentioned I enjoy hooking in the summer sunshine, but I really meant rug hooking on the deck of our Idaho cabin over the 4th of July.  For this occasion, the men are banished to a tiny fishing boat and the ladies use that time to test out their best barbecue and Bloody Mary recipes, play cards, read books and hook in the sunshine.  I've been planning well in advance of the occasion by perfecting a yummy spice rub and sketching a new fall design I want to release after the 4th of July.  I haven't named it yet, but here's a small sneak preview:

 

I'll post more pics of the design as it is completed, so be sure to check back or follow me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/americanpiedesigns.  At 5:00 am each morning, you'll also find me working on additional pages for this blog that will contain tips, links, videos and full-color printable instructions for quilting, rug hooking, punch needle and applique (Mmmmm, applique).  I'd love for you to be a "Follower" of this blog, and you can also join my private email list so you're notified when new patterns are released.  In the meantime, I've gotta go cut the wool for that new rug . . .

Friday, June 17, 2011

A Slice of Pie (and 4th of July Dump Cake)!

Take a peak at my newest design, "A Slice of Pie", that I introduced to my email followers yesterday!  It's a fun little quilt that shows off hand or machine applique in the center and traditional Flying Geese blocks in the border.  I finished the model using hand-dyed wools for the center, but it can also be done with your favorite quilt fabrics.  Mmmmm, don't you love applique?  I certainly do, especially if it's "cheater" applique I can do on a sewing machine or with the blanket stitch and perle cotton thread!


Now that "A Slice of Pie" is finished, I can feel a new rug hooking project coming to the surface.  I love rug hooking in the sunshine over 4th of July weekend, in between a cold beverage, a bowl of chips and salsa, and my mom's "Fourth of July Dump Cake" . . .


The recipe is ridiculous and simple and your belly will be happy when you try it:

1 box yellow cake mix
1 can cherry pie filling
1 can crushed pineapple in natural juice
1 cup butter (2 sticks)
1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

Spread the crushed pineapple and juice in the bottom of a 9"x13" glass baking dish.  Put the cherry pie filling on top (I smoosh it around a little with a spoon).  Dump the cake mix on top, spreading it out evenly, and then sprinkle on the nuts.  Some people met the butter, but I slice it and place it in little pieces everywhere (either way is fine).  Bake at 375 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes or until it is lightly browned (watch it carefully).  There you have it--my idea of culinary heaven!

If you'd like to know when I finish that new rug hooking design, drop me a note or a comment, or you can join my email list at the top of this page (don't worry--it's safe and private and I don't share it with anyone).  In the meantime, I'm off to the old drawing board!  xoxo



Thursday, June 16, 2011

Starting the Holidays in June!

It may seem early, but it's never too soon to get started on designing for the holidays!  I'll admit it's a bit hard to get the Christman spirit in June when my garden is just starting to bloom, but it takes weeks to get a new design from dream-stage to finished pattern.  I've been working on this little cross-stitch tea towel since mid-April and I figure if things go right, I might have the model finished in another day or so.  It's still in rough stage, but I hope you like it!  Watch this blog or my website at http://www.americanpiedesigns.com/ for my announcement when the pattern is ready!


I wanted to share a tiny bit of my garden with you (see? I don't just sew all day!).  We had such a cool, wet spring in Boise that the flowers we normally have in May are just now beginning to bloom.  Even the robins are way behind schedule and just getting their chicks out of the nest a few days ago.  Come on summer!!