Tall Tales from Kansas

a little bit of Christmas'ing

It has been fun to do a little bit of "Christmas'ing" this past week. By that I mean getting together with a few friends to celebrate the season. It seems like it's been awhile since there was much of that. 

The Quails went to dinner down at Union Station which was dressed in all its finery. The atmosphere was warm and festive, the conversation was easy and nice, we laughed a lot, the food was wonderful, and a friendly passerby snapped this photo for us in front of the very pretty trees. Starting your meal with a small cocktail is recommended. The old fashioned was excellent.

The prairie makers came to Tall Tales Headquarters last week for a visit where there was guaranteed seating, comfortable chairs in front of a fireplace, free parking, and a nice selection of Christmas music playing overhead. It was fun to have people over when the house is decorated. It was also an opportunity for me to stretch my gluten free baking muscles.  

If you need a gluten free breakfast treat let me recommend the King Arthur flour muffin mix - which I turned into a cranberry orange coffee cake with the addition of dried cranberries, orange zest, toasted pecans - and on the top a sprinkle of more pecans and sugar in the raw. I also whipped up a glaze for the top but it really wasn't needed. It had a wonderful moist crumb that tasted exactly like a regular coffee cake. 

In the event that the coffee cake was a flop, I also made some energy bites that were advertised to taste just like snickers. Which they did not, they were better. More like a breakfast treat and NOT a candy bar. Recipe below. 

In the comments there was mention of things not turning out quite like they should, but for me the recipe was spot on. I followed it exactly and had no trouble at all.  I elected for the drizzle of chocolate instead of the dip. I also added a little bit of sea salt. Because I like sweet salty combo. I will make these again for sure - they will be a perfect workday breakfast accompaniment to the morning coffee at my desk.

Why I did not get any photos of the makers I do not know. Unforgivable, and it means I will have to have them over again soon. 

Helpful links: The Minimalist Baker - energy bites

so many potential applications in future projects

The Prairie Makers met last month in Lawrence for a serious discussion about all things having to do with creating - thinking about, starting, finishing, showing, telling... all about our projects. 

Ann had just finished this fabulous quilt. Isn't it wonderful? I love the curvy lines of it and the fabulous border that frames it so perfectly. 

Ann and Pam and I recently took a "faces" quilt class taught by Jean Impey. Here are our creations in various stages of completion. 

So here's the deal about this ... while it's not really my "style" in terms of a project, I learned so much from the class. Things about spontaneous piecing and free motion quilting and using that heavy black thread for "outlining" areas.  

My absolute favorite thing about this little face is the BACK!

How cool is that, and with so many potential applications in future projects.  We also talked about QuiltCon 2023. I love seeing what everyone posts from there.  We are kicking around a field trip to Atlanta in February to check it out for ourselves. If you have been, how did you like it? 

where you catch the scent of the fruit on a breeze every once in a while

Today I had the great pleasure of going to The Quilters Guild of Greater Kansas City's 2022 Quilt Show. Such a wonderful display of work by a group of local, talented, artists. There was something for everyone. I'll just show a few of my favorites. 

After studying the one below in great detail, we decided we needed to have a Prairie Makers session focused on sewing strips then cutting and re-positioning them in various ways. It's so interesting to study the details and figure out how they go together up close... and the effect from afar. 

The "shadow" effect below, followed by the red and white with the "pinwheel peppermint candy" are wonderful examples of the optical illusions created in piecing. 

Below is more of that sewing strips together and cutting and re-arranging. I am completely enamored with the thought of playing around with that, not to mention these "modern" Christmas fabrics. I have also seen many renditions of trees on quilts through the years and feel there could be one in my future. Sometime. Maybe.  

So many ideas. I am so glad to have like-minded friends who also get ridiculously excited by the idea of "making" quilts. 

I had to skip the farmers market today but did treat myself to a ridiculously good, and most unusual latte at Second Best Coffee on 85th and Wornall - the "EZPZ latte", which is a latte with the addition of a housemade apricot, lemon, vanilla syrup . They call it "summer in a latte". Fabulous. It's like drinking a vanilla latte while sitting at a picnic table, out in an apricot orchard, where you catch a hint of the scent of the fruit on a breeze every once in a while. 

in case you want to cook up your own perfect get away weekend

When we went to Lincoln to the quilt museum this was our home base. Because why wouldn't you want to rent a house that looks like this? We were operating under the "you only live once" principal. There was not a book with the history of the house and its former occupants contained in the home (that we could find anyway), but we used our imagination and made up (really excellent) stories. 

There was a visit to a local restaurant where we started with grilled peaches, lemon ricotta, basil/arugula, crispy prosciutto, balsamic and honey.  The moaning after each bite was done as quietly as possible to avoid being asked to leave. Every single thing was wonderful. If you go to the quilt museum, DISH restaurant on O street is the perfect place for dinner. 

While I am on the topic of food, we had a wonderful appetizer spread for dinner at home one night - a personal favorite for supper. Please note that we did not let the lack of a vase in the house stop us from making flower arrangements to put us in a festive frame of mind.

We checked out The Mill coffee and tea and LOVED these Wheat Paste Murals on the building! Done by Nebraska artists - they were striking. I wish I had captured more images, but you get the idea. 

There was time for a morning neighborhood walk to check out all of the unique homes with their great porches.  I love a neighborhood with all kinds of different houses and yards.

At the quilt museum we stumbled upon these reclaimed wood "quilts" by Laura Petrovich-Cheney. Oh! What we wouldn't give for a pile of unclaimed old painted lumber, safety glasses, a power saw, and a big table to play around with pieces on. Here is more about her and her work. 

In addition to knitting and stitching, we also made time in the mornings for yoga on the wide front porch and wine sipping in the early evening while we sat in the rocking chairs.  

These details are provided as a partial list of ingredients in case you want to cook up your own perfect get away weekend.  

whatever superlative you use to describe an amazing experience...

This weekend, Ann and I ventured up to Lincoln Nebraska to check out the Red and White exhibit at the International Quilt Museum. Shut The Front Door! Holy Smokes! %$&%*! Insert whatever superlative you use to describe an amazing experience... and this is what this exhibit was like.

Apparently there are 652 quilts in the entire collection. This display contained maybe 100... which was just the perfect amount.  More than this would have overwhelmed.  As it was this allowed us to ooh and ahhh and "look at this!" about all of them.







Some of these designs we had never seen before. Not that we are quiltologists or anything... but to be surprised by the unexpected brilliance of some of these makers was mind blowing.







We really enjoyed the variety of ways in which they were displayed for viewing.  







I was struck by the fact that the makers of these quilts were mostly unable to be identified. It seems a shame that these masterpieces did not have a history of the maker (photo included) right by them. 







I hope their spirits were hovering close and they heard every single thing we said about how unbelievably amazing their art is. If you are in the area, and love quilting, you MUST see this. I think the exhibit is up until mid September. 

some sort of a triangle quilt

The prairie makers loaded up and headed to the Missouri Star Quilt Company in Hamilton, Missouri this week. It's only a few hours away and seemed like a thing to do.

Yep, we had to get the picture at the worlds largest spool of thread. Started in 2018, 22 feet tall, and with one million yards of thread, visitors are encouraged to bring and add thread.  Next time we will come with our contributions. Maybe a ladder?



This trip started with a visit to the quilt museum, filled with quilts, machines, notions, and a very knowledgeable young man at the door who answered all our questions. There were some quilts on display from a national collection ... more on those later. My personal favorites were all these quilts made by "regular" folk. Above is a crazy kite quilt circa 1900. 

This 9 patch was labeled as being completed in 1901.

Seeing an early Bernina was a treat.



While I love all the really "scrappy" quilts, this anything but simple black and white was stunning. 

Crazy quilts have always had a special place in my heart... the combination of embroidery and pieced scraps is so interesting and personal. I especially loved the border on the one below. 

The precision in the stitching on this butterfly quilt, all by hand, was a thing of beauty.

The "Dresden plate" design below was one I especially enjoyed studying. Why do you suppose there is more white space at the top? Also... another lovely and complex border.

This really scrappy number below is so marvelous it made me want to jump up and down and clap. Every time I looked at it I was caught by another optical illusion. Circles, triangles, diamonds!

Yes, I forced Joan to pose by the giant rotary cutter, and I also got a shot of the tiny machine she got as a child for Christmas.  Which she still has, I might add. 





The "lily garden" quilt below was machine pieced, hand embroidered, and hand quilted in 1990. It was included in the section from a national quilt museum. Completely amazing. 

The appliqué in this quilt was mind blowing. The lighting in the room where these quilts were displayed was not quite as good so my photos were a bit blurred. I wanted to get a better shot of the appliqué that had so much texture, alas, those did not turn out. Not really sure what that technique is called. Fabulous. We came here to get inspired and left filled to the brim.    



There are many murals in town - again, perfect for posing in front of. 

At the end of the day, I could not pass up this incredible bundle of Kona solids at one of the stores. It is destined to become some sort of a triangle quilt. Unless it whispers otherwise to me in the middle of the night. Which is entirely possible. It's hard for me to go anywhere for fabrics other than my own local shop downtown, Sarah's Fabrics... but sometimes a field trip is called for. 

Helpful links: Missouri star quilt company

Sashiko stitching and Burst blocks

When Pam walked into a recent Prairie Makers session carrying this bag I grabbed it right up and tried to steal it, but she caught me. Don't say you wouldn't have tried.  She has been on a deep dive into Sashiko stitching. Taking it in all kinds of directions.

I like ALL the places she is going with it. Such creativity. We had a great discussion about threads and needles and stitch lengths and the like. Notes were taken.

Then Ann whipped out a couple of quilt squares. She is using parts of her old lab coats and Dan's old shirts to make these. I would normally not think to use colors like this in a quilt but I LOVE how the black works with them, making the overall pattern so striking. Genius. I have been loving all the photos posted on Instagram of the fabulous quilts at QuiltCon. There is an ABUNDANT amount of talent out there in the quilting world, so many ways to take this incredible art. 

Quilt museum field trips were discussed.

So as not to feel like a slacker, I put my feet on the table to show off the valentine socks.  After that, a discussion about linen ensued. The different kinds, what you could use it for, what things have been made, how they have turned out...

When I got home I cut 3, 31 inch lengths, ironed the edges, sewed the seams, and made some dishtowels. I had some fabric left which seems like it will be perfect for patching jeans. 

They required ironing when they came out of the dryer. This is not a game changer for me. I like to iron. The key to a good dishtowel in my book is absorbency. After only one washing I am liking how they soak up the water. 

Do tell, what are your maker groups up to these days? 

not a hard deadline that feels like pressure

The Prairie Makers masked up for a get together recently, just a short visit, over coffee, to discuss important things. Like who is making what now, and what we are dreaming about making in the coming year. Discussions about the conveyer built of ideas sliding by in our imaginations is important. 

Never one to be satisfied with simply making a jacket, Ann went and pieced together all these rectangles of batiks, then quilted them, laid out a pattern, cut out the pattern, inserted a pocket and is going to make it reversible. Boggles the mind really. 



Pam, is making re-usable "paper towels" which is a project I can get behind.  It seems the perfect use for the 20 year old sweatshirts I was going to throw away. Cut, put a binding around them... in my mind they are going to be perfect. A basket of them sitting by the sink. Chris seems skeptical...



At the end of our time together the calendars came out, a future date planned, I need to know I have little things like this to look forward to.  Plus it motivates me to have something to show at our next meeting. But it's not a hard deadline, that feels like pressure. That's the best... 

no topic is off limits

The Prairie Makers (minus 1) met today and worked on projects. Below is the quilt Ann has been diligently working on.

As you can see, she is about done! Binding was being sewn down by hand today.  

This is an amazing bit of work, and I LOVE how she quilted it.  We declared it a family heirloom.  

Pam is putting together what looks to me like a very complicated blouse even though the pattern says it's "easy". I love the combination of the structured pattern with the fun fabric. 

We discussed quilt artists, the ridiculous installation of "traffic calming devices" in old west Lawrence, fruitcake recipes, who's doing what for Thanksgiving, what it's like being retired &/or working part-time, stick-on-wallpaper, and about 9 other topics that I can't remember right now. No topic is off limits and we love sounding like a bunch of "old ladies". It was wonderful.

Thanks for another great day of creating friends.. and for letting me boss you around while photos were taken in your knitted creations.

to have the most contrast in color value between the strips and the squares

Today the Prairie Makers got together to work on sewing projects. We had such an invigorating session last time, we decided to have another "meeting of the machines".  The photo below will not look like much to a regular sewist, but for me, gathering the sleeves and fitting them into the cuff band in a relatively uniform pattern is no small feat.

 

When I was considering how to best do the gathering after our last session, I discovered the existence of a Bernina "gathering foot". Which I promptly ordered, not realizing it was shipping from Istanbul. I love thinking about it coming to me from that wonderful city. 



It worked just fine and the next step will be gathering the neckline. But because I can never work on just one project at at time, there is also the update on the Spots and Stripes quilt.

I am zipping along on my squares and continue to be quite entertained, getting a few squares done at each sitting. 

With the "stripes on stripes" squares below, it is fun to experiment with pairing the different colors, my preference seems to be to have the most contrast in color value between the strips and the squares.

On a day off, it is so great to engage my brain in things like gathering material, pairing pleasing colors, and just everything NOT related to work. On a related note, last night at knitting class, my friend Dianne brought her autumn cross stitch projects to show me. It took me back to how I so enjoyed doing that years ago. 

Stitching on over dyed linen was something I would never considered, but seriously how cool is this?!

enjoying the journey

Last week the Prairie Makers got together to MAKE for the first time in a long time. We converged on Ann's house, sewing machines in tow, projects in mind, support at hand. It was wonderful. 

I never cease to be amazed by the talent, knowledge, and initiative of this group. It spills over on to me, providing the push and the help I sometimes need to feel confident and go forth.

All the fabrics for this quilt were purchased a few years ago, cut out at least a year ago, and have been sitting quietly waiting for me to pay them some attention. 



With Ann's guidance, I was quickly able to piece a square, and once the first was done, I was off and running. You will see above I have made good use of this ledge at the top of the stairs to lay out what I believe will be the best color combinations for each square. Oh joy. 



It's quite nice to have someone warn you in advance of pitfalls to avoid. I also need help with basics like - which way is best to press the seams and what's the standard seam allowance for quilting again?

There is something quite meditative about carefully sewing then pressing each square. At this moment 7 squares are finished. I am enjoying the journey. Quite a lot. This pattern is available from Sarah's Fabrics in downtown Lawrence. The fabrics are from Kaffe Fasset. I have said this before and I will say it again, the women at Sarah's are incredibly helpful and I feel certain they will be able to answer any questions. 

I feel terribly lucky to have people who I can knit, sew, embroider, dream, create, problem solve, AND drink good coffee with. Aristotle was referring to a group of women makers I am sure when he said "the whole is greater than the sum of it's part's".  

I picked up the scissors on my table and did some "air snipping"

Last week on a Prairie Makers Zoom gathering, I might have asked Pam how her peonies were doing.

She let me know they were in full bloom and that she had an abundance.

"Pink, white, and the deeper fuchsia colors" ...

At this point I think I picked up the scissors on my table and did some "air snipping". 

She let me know I could come by and get some.

So I did. 

I got to meet Scout. That's the one giving me the stink-eye. 

Spectacular color.

Divine fragrance. 

Such perfect flowers.

Thank you Pam!!!

she makes it sound so easy

Butterscotch latte's were on the menu at Decade Coffee in Lawrence this week.

There was also a lovely tea service. Yes please to any nice cup you can wrap your hands around while chatting with friends on a chilly day. 

Joan brought the sweater she just finished making.

Such beautiful even stitches and a lovely pattern.  She's not sure if she is keeping it or not.  We discussed the merits of a nice wool sweater worn with a turtleneck underneath for walking outside on cold mornings. Especially how even if the bulky wool can sometimes make you feel like the "Michelin Man", you can not beat the warmth. 

At Prairie Makers meetings we discuss important things like this.  As well as the best way to prepare gravy for Thanksgiving if you are serving a smoked turkey and have no pan drippings. Sewing projects were also covered with a tentative plan to make January a full on sewing day. Mostly so I can get help for any of my needs, though I didn't say this when we were together.  

My current project has me keeping close track of stitches. I have difficulty with charts, and after a few problems with my sleeves, I am taking no chances with the body of the sweater. So far so good. I was glad to see that Ann was doing the same thing with her project.

Pam is making a stranded colorwork sweater and has decided to knit it in the round and do a steek.   

She makes it sound so easy. 

Did I mention there were Brussels spouts on the lunch menu? With some dried apricots and cashews and this insane slightly sweet and spicy glaze. 

And before you know it, the day was done. But not before we were invigorated, rejuvenated, ready for the holidays, and excited about MAKING! Which of course, is what days like this are all about.  

all contained on a gleaming surface of more white

One day recently, when it was lovely and sunny out, before the leaves did their thing, when the mums were looking festive, and the butterflies were floating, and their was a tiny bit of morning frost on the lamb's ears, the Prairie Makers got together for some inspiration.  

There was also the Kauffman Garden cat to visit and lunch out. Don't you just love a tea service that looks like this? The pot, the cup, the lemon, the spoon, the tea leaves in their special pouch that is not paper. All contained on a gleaming surface of more white. It's just so refined yet not over the top. It made me stop at the tea shop next door to the cafe and buy a few ounces of Earl Gray. For when I feel the need for simple pampering.

I did not buy this lovely pillow to tuck behind my back, nor the throw to spread over my legs while I sip the tea, but I can always dream about making them. Which is what a day of inspiration is all about.  

 

the season when the garden goes to bed

The Prairie Makers got together this week. For coffee and making and sharing of ideas, just the usual - with a whole lot of talking involved. 

I was so busy talking in fact, that I did not pull out the camera until it was almost too late. We discussed quilts, hand-stitching and a project with felt + embellishment, bug houses and renting a space with power tools to make them, knitting of course - with some ripping out and restarting of a project with a different yarn, and a field trip for inspiration in September. Because September means FALL.  Which is the season when the garden goes to bed and front porch sitting is replaced with mornings and afternoons in front of the fire. Sitting and making and reading and dreaming. Stuff like that there. 

continues to astound, amaze, and delight

High on the list of ordinary things that have occupied my time these last weeks have been morning walks, peonies, berries, and cats coming for visits.  

There have been storms moving through the midwest and the lakes and rivers are full. The geese take it all in stride and continue with their spring routines. 

Friends have been met with, conversations had, plans made, projects worked on, latte's and blueberry/vanilla scones savored.  Sitting outside on a morning in spring, when the sun is shining and the breezes are cool, can not be taken for granted.   

My bougainvillea and I were visited by a cardinal and the fountain got turned on this week.  No fuss, no muss.  I plugged it in and it took off.  

The ancient jade plant that lives indoors was trimmed and mini jade plants were started. Their future seems uncertain.  Sister assures me they will do well.  

This rose bush continues to astound, amaze, and delight me.

Finally, though we are used to tornado season, having lived in Kansas for a very long time, we are grateful to have been spared damage from the big one that touched down very close to Tall Tales headquarters on Tuesday night. Thank you all for your thoughts and well wishes.  

the beauty of a circle of makers

The flowers on the tables at Decade coffee shop in Lawrence were pretty this week.

That's where the Prairie Makers met this month.  To discuss making.  While making. And sipping the rich, creamy, delicious, coffee beverage of your choosing.

Pam is making a simple tank out of linen.  I want to make a light, loosely constructed, short sleeve, "sweater-ish" type of garment out of some linen.  Summer would be the perfect time.

I did already mention the flowers right?

Joan has started a lizard ridge afghan.  

Two squares down and 22 to go!  I am laying money on an early July completion.  

What about a hand-made, hand-stamped, bag to hold your wallet?  And your library card.  And a paper and pencil to write down all the adventures you have while carrying it.  Bravo Pam!

Somehow I missed taking a photo of the new scarf that Ann is making.  From yarn she got in Hawaii.  Maybe it was the flowers between us that kept distracting me.  

I love that Joan is taking on the afghan she never thought she would be able to make; that Pam thinks she wants to try one too; and that Ann has started putting together a quilt like the one I cut out months ago - which has me itching to get back at mine.  That is the beauty of a circle of makers. 

adventures that turn into busts can suddenly right themselves

The other day when the Prairie Makers were out on an adventure, which turned into a bust, because the location where the adventure was being held was closed, we were unexpectedly introduced to a whole new form of making.

Making with big, giant, heavy, rusty, steel, and metal.

It was quirky, unexpected, and Joan was very cooperative when I screeched at her to "STOP THE CAR" so I could take pictures.  

Oh boy do I want to meet the person whose mind came up with this.

It was a garden of patterns and textures.  The like of which you don't see just anywhere.  

The moral of this story is that adventures that turn into busts can suddenly right themselves given the right perspective.  

adventure partners

There will be no apologies for this sudden need to create collages.  As I review the photos from last year, I can't help it.  Know that it will pass by the end of January.  Bear with me.  

These are some of my adventure partners from the last year.  Definitely part of what made 2018 sparkle and shine.  As we speak dates are being penciled in for a future meeting.  It's like adding a holiday to the calendar in my book.  Who couldn't use more of those in their schedule?

what is 3/4 of 1/4 teaspoon anyway?

 The next time you get together with your maker friends, I am going to respectfully suggest that you begin the day like this.

You can come to Alchemy Coffee and Bakeshop on Mass street in Lawrence, or get a slab of dense pumpkin pie with a thick graham cracker crust topped with freshly whipped cream, served alongside a flat white at your favorite neighborhood coffee and bakeshop.  After all, it is November.  

Maker Mary Joan brought her table runner, started at our last meeting, now completed except for the quilting she decided to add.  In a gesture of generosity and kindness she gifted it to me and I will show the whole thing when I have finished the hand quilting.  It's lovely.  Somehow I missed getting pictures of Ann's table runner - which she added a cool edging to, and Pam's - which she embellished with stitching.  Photos will be taken at the January meeting.  

We usually start the day at a coffee shop so we can get important jabbering time in before we get to any projects that might require intense concentration.  We also needed to check out the latest trunk show at the Yarn Barn downtown.  Three of us may have purchased patterns for new sweaters.  More on that later.  

"Winter Squash" soup was served for lunch.  I changed the name because in addition to using one small butternut squash, I used 2 small buttercup squashes.  Is the plural of squash squashes or squash?  It looks funny.   

I have provided this recipe before.  It is a keeper and works as well with the buttercup/butternut combo as it does with butternut alone.  Click on the picture to make it large enough to read.  Also, do NOT leave out the cayenne pepper, it really makes the soup.  I use between an eighth and a fourth of a teaspoon.  More on the fourth side.  What is 3/4 of 1/4 teaspoon anyway?  I was never good at math.   

"Do Not Destroy"

When the Prairie Makers met at Mary Joan's house recently we got the chance to examine this treasure made by her great aunts Emma Dunagan-Thompson and Martha Dunagan-Thompson.    They lived in Georgia and were of English/Irish descent.  

We have all seen Crazy Quilts, right?  

And I think we can all agree that this is ABOVE and BEYOND what is normally thought of as a crazy quilt.  

Such attention to detail, even on the back.

All the fine hand embroidery, variety of stitches, and consistency in the repetition is simply remarkable.  

Truly a museum quality treasure.  Beyond compare.  

Mary Joan was given this by her Aunt Eva Barker.  Who, in a very smart move, pinned this note to the back of it. In the event that it would somehow end up in the hands of someone who did not recognize the true art that it is. Bravo Eva Barker!