This and That
I have a little of this and that to share with you today. I’ll share a bit about my progress from last week’s post, and a little about what I’m working on right now. First, though, I want to thank those of you who sent me an email letting me know that you were not able to comment on last Monday’s post. I apologize for that – I still don’t really know what happened, but it did get fixed. Fingers crossed you’ll be able to leave a comment today, because I really enjoy reading and replying to your comments! Okay, let’s get back to the fun stuff.
I’ve had some fun testing blocks for Sandra Healy Designs recently. I am close to having enough of Sandra’s Nativity blocks to make a quilt top. I just need to make a second of a few of the blocks and I’ll be ready to go. Here are the three recent test blocks I did for her.
Sandra’s patterns are well written and great for using up scraps. Most of the blocks are sold individually as well as in bundles, and her costs are reasonable. I hope you pop over and check out her shop.
At Thanksgiving, I gave my daughter a refresher course in breadmaking. We had so much fun, and the result was pretty tasty.
We used this easy baguette bread recipe. There’s very little kneading and the recipe is quick. It’s very forgiving and turns out well (no affiliation). I had so much fun making bread once again, that I’ve been on a bit of a kick with it. I’ve grown a new sourdough starter, and have been trying lots of recipes.
Last Monday, my two goals for the week were to get started on two different projects: my challenge quilt (due February 1st) and my SAHRR (Stay at Home Round Robin) quilt. I’m happy to say that I’ve made progress on both, but I can’t show you either of them. You’ll have to take my word for it.
Meanwhile . . .
I pulled out some Christmas fabric and decided to play around a bit. I don’t have much to show you yet, but if I don’t get distracted by breadmaking, I might have another post or two this week. Here’s a little sneak peek.
Here’s my to do list of this and that for this week:
- Celebrate 65(!!) spins around the sun today
- Keep working on the challenge quilt and SAHRR quilt
- Finish the little Christmas project
- Make more bread!
- Catch up on blog reading (I’m so behind!!)
I’m linking up today with Brenda, Carol and Melva:
- Monday Musings @ Songbird Designs
- Sew & Tell @ Melva Loves Scraps
- To Do Tuesday @ Quilt Schmilt
Thanks for stopping by!
Wendy
33 Comments
marissthequilter
Happy happy birthday!! You obviously decided to celebrate by being busy… I see a Christmas surprise taking shape
Cindy Pieters
Happy 65th!! A Christmas surprise and freshly made bread.. yum
texasquiltgal
Happy birthday – you’re still just a kid! 😀 I usually want cake, but bread and butter would do just fine.
Your bread looks perfect – thank you for baking it until it’s brown. I see such anemic loaves sometimes – why are people afraid to brown their breads and cookies? I’m going to give that recipe a try. I’d be happy with a loaf of bread, a stick of butter, and water for every meal – lol!
The Sandra Healey blocks are really adorable. I love the fabrics you used.
Wilbs’ donut is deeper than the ones I have, I’ll have to look for one like that.
texasquiltgal
Did you use table salt or fleur de sel, and what do you use to score your loaves?
Katy Sweigart
Happiest of Birthdays to you, Wendy! I hope you have the best day ever. 😊🎂
Melody
Happy Birthday, Wendy! I hope you get to have a nice, enjoyable day doing what you love! Here’s to many more!🎂🎉
Tracie
Happy birthday, Wendy! I was wondering how you will celebrate today. Your quilt blocks are beautiful and the bread looks yummy! I wish I were there and we could visit the Brick Oven. Enjoy! Celebrate!
Vicki in MN
Happy Birthday, hope your day is filled with fun things!
Quilting is in my Blood
Happy birthday Wendy! I can’t wait to see your Nativity blocks made into a quilt. I’m leaning toward making my own, maybe next year.
Kate
Happy birthday! Hope you get to celebrate in a very fun way. I was wondering if there would be a 2024 SAHRR. I had such fun last year, I’m looking forward to this years. Enjoy your stitching time.
Kathleen McCormick
Happy brithday, Wendy! I do hope you have some lovely celebrations planned! Love block you made and it really makes me want to pull this out and make it….but SAHRR is calling. I can’t wait to see what you are doing with the Christmas fabric. I was just in my similar pile and today is the last day to sew before Medford for a few days…so who knows what will happen. A squirrel bit me yesterday and I finished a block that I am sure was 20 years old! I would love some of that delicious looking bread. I may make some Irish bread before the day is out…again today is a total whatever I can do day.
Kim
Those nativity blocks are gorgeous and so well sewed! Hope your birthday has been a blessing.
Cindy Berry
Happy Birthday Wendy! Love those blocks. Hope you have a great and productive week.
Sandra Healy
I am late catching up on your posts, Wendy, but I hope you had a fantastic birthday!
Thanks so much for pattern testing the nativity blocks, they turned out beautifully, as ever! I am always delighted to get your input.
Wishing you a wonderful year ahead!
Nancy @ Grace and Peace Quilting
Happy birthday, Wendy!!! Your Nativity blocks are adorable! The bread photo is making me hungry!!! I hope you have a fun, fun, day, week, month and year ahead!!!
Diann@ Little Penguin Quilts
Happy Birthday, Wendy! I hope you have fun things planned for today. I love those Nativity blocks – every time you share one, I think I want to make that quilt! Your bread looks yummy, too. Have fun with all your projects!
Bernie
I echo Diann! Happy birthday to you!! I love the Nativity blocks too and always think I should give some of them a try. But the want-to-make list is long….. Love your bread – Wish I could share it with you in person. 🙂
Brenda @ Songbird Designs
Happy birthday, Wendy!! I hope you celebrate all month-not just today! The bread looks yummy. I love your Nativity test blocks for Sandra. I think I may have to get the pattern. Have an awesome day!
Yvonne @Quilting Jetgirl
My own blog had the same issue last week, so it must have been a WordPress thing. Fingers crossed it’s done for us both, now! You are a tease. 🙂 I look forward to seeing more of the projects you are working on (even if it’s more bread). Have a great week!
ShelteringHaven
Relishing our friendship on this day of yours! Happy birthday, dear friend!
Laura
My daughter and I both love baking bread! Unfortunately, we don’t live close enough to do it together, but we do share recipes and techniques. Thanks so much for sharing the baguette recipe, I definitely want to try that one soon! I have been making sourdough recipes for quite a few years…my starter is quite mature and has great flavor now! I hope you had a fantastic birthday, Wendy! Mine is next week. My 92 year old Mom will be spending the week with us, so I feel very blessed to be able to celebrate my birthday with her! The Nativity blocks look great! Have a wonderful week! 🙂
Rochelle Summers
Many returns of the day. The bread really does look good. And I love your blocks. That gold grunge looks so nice as hay. What a teaser – partly Wilbs, partly squares. Hope you do something special today.
Sara F
Happy birthday! Your bread looks delicious!
anudge
Happy belated birthday. I’ve got 13 years on you. Mine’s the 15th. Those bits of Xmas strips are intriguing. Congrats on the yummy looking bread..
Cocoa Quilts
Happy Happy Birthday!!! Hope you are having a fabulous day! This is my favorite easy bread recipe https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/no-knead-crusty-white-bread-recipe No fail for me and I’ve made it 20 or more times!!
Astrid
Happy birthday to you! Hope you spent it doing things you love, like bread making and quilting. Bread making sounds like so much fun!
Eva
Herzlichen Glückwunsch zum Geburtstag liebe Wendy!
Want to say it in German!
Happy happy birthday dear Wendy! What a special number … enjoy all your guests and family who celebrates you today!!!
We both love the grunge… it is a perfect colour. Love your blocks.
Sourdough… so similar to German … Sauerteig.. we have a dialect in the north, and it sounds a little bit like you pronounce it!
We have good bakeries around the corner, so no need to make that big work, but I can understand that you all like to bake your bread by yourself.
So happy to see there will be a SAHRR 2024
Enjoy your day and and a big hug!
laura bruno lilly
Happy Happy Happy Birthday! ’65 spins’ is such a Wendy way of mentioning this event!
🙂
I wish for you many days of baking bread with your daughter and quilting up plenty of projects in the days ahead.
Helen
I’m sure I’ve already said this, but those little nativity blocks are just precious. I can’t wait to see them all put together.
aquilterstable
Hope you had a very happy birthday! And yay for the yummy-looking bread!
jaybirdinohio
Thanks for sharing the baguette recipe. I’ve been making Peasant Bread lately, from Ali Stafford’s book Bread, Toast, Crumb. It’s also very easy and tastes so good!
The Morning Latte
Your nativity blocks all look wonderful. I bet the bread making session was really fun! (Can’t quite get my girls to do things like that. Hmm…). The loaves look so yummy! Funny little sneak peak of scrappy cuttings! LOL. Well, they do look like fun fabrics at least. We’ll await the reveal! Happy belated birthday [again!]!
sandi1100
I’ve been on a cruise and just catching up with my email. Happy belated birthday to you! I always enjoy seeing your projects and ,of course, Wilbor!