Misty Fuse...

Here at the Parish we are always trying new products that will make life easier and get us the best finished product. Well, recently we've been force to change fusible products due to some issues with the makers of Steam-a-Seam. We've tried a couple, but the one we love is called Misty Fuse.

What we love about this product is how sheer and soft it is. It makes the projects you use it in much more supple and nice. Here's some photos of a project I'm working on and you can see what you think.

See how fine it is. When you use this product you will need either a pressing sheet or parchment paper. You place the Misty Fuse on your fabric and I make a sandwich with my applique pressing sheet and fuse the product to my fabric.

You should be using a dry iron. Let it the fabric cool for a second or two before removing the pressing sheet.

Your fabric will now have a shine to the wrong side of the fabric. This isn't the greatest photo, but believe me it does.

You will do all your tracing on your parchment paper and you can reuse your tracing several times. I love that part!! The fusible will pick up your drawing. I just used a number 2 pencil.

I put the fabric on the pressing sheet with the fusible facing up. I put the parchment with the drawing facing down, sandwich the pressing sheet over the top and press.

You can now either: cut the piece out with the paper in place. This makes it like Steam-a-Seam. Or you can peel the paper off and cut out your shape on the lines left on the fusible. Then your scissor never has to cut paper.

Once you get all your pieces cut you place and fuse as normal, however they are not tacky. You can use the tip of your iron to tack them down if you need to and then fuse them when you get everything placed how you like it. I think you get a much crisper edge not cutting with the paper on. REMEMBER you always using a dry iron with this product.

This is a block I'm working on from my new Block of the Month called Autumn Evening. It begins Monday, June 17th and runs for 5 months. So you'll have it done in the autumn to adorn your home! Call the shop if you're interested 253.531.4309.

I hope you try this product and love it as much as we do!! Let us know what your favorite products are, share your comments below. We'd love to hear from you! Happy stitching and may your bobbin always be full!!

What's Cookin' Wednesday... Pretzels!

IN THE KITCHEN today we made homemade pretzels! They are the best! All my kids love making them and especially eating them!  It was great fun. What a great way to spend a wet day, by playing with dough you can eat!

Here's the recipe:

1 pkg dry yeast 4 cups flour
1 1/4 cup warm water 1/4 cup melted butter
1 tsp salt 1 beaten egg
1 Tbsp sugar

Dissolve the yeast in the warm water. Then add the sugar and salt, stir with a wooden spoon to combine. Then add the flour and melted butter. Stir until it starts to become stiff and then move to the counter and kneed until elastic. Divide dough into small equal pieces. Roll into "snakes" and twist. Place them on a lightly greased cookie sheet. Brush with egg wash and add coarse salt (if desired) and bake at 375 for 15 minutes, until golden.

A great snack for a day of sewing! Enjoy!

Happy stitching! May your bobbin always be full!

Friendship Star Block

In our new 'Quilting Sisters' Block Exchange we will be featuring a new block each month. May's block was our 'Friendship Star Block'. Here's a tutorial if you'd like to quilt along. If you'd like to join our exchange just email me at parklandparish@gmail.com or call us at the shop (253) 531-4309.

Our finish blocks measure 12 1/2 x 12 1/2 so make as many as you'd like to make your quilt the size you'd like.

To make one block you will need:

1  4 1/2" square
4  4 1/2" half square triangle
4  4 1/2" four patches

To make your four patches. Cut two 2 1/2" strips and sew them together; press open.

Then sub cut your strips into 2 1/2" strips. Nest your seams and sew.

Once you have your four patches sewn and pressed. Make your half square triangles. Take two 4 7/8 squares right sides together. Mark your 1/4" seam, sew, cut and press open.

Once you have your units pressed, square them up to 4 1/2". Now you can build your stars. They are easy to put together.

Here are some other color ways for you to consider. Happy stitching and may your bobbin always be full!

What's Cookin' Wednesday... Luscious Lemon Curd

If you follow us on Facebook or are a frequent patron at our shop you'd know we have a Hand Embroidery Club Tea each month. So today for What's Cookin' Wednesday, I'm sharing my luscious lemon curd recipe. I love lemon curd and often give it at Christmas time. It's my sunshine in a jar gift.

For this recipe you will need:

6 Tbsp of room temp butter (NOT margarine)
1 cup sugar
2 whole eggs (room temp)
2 egg yolks (room temp)
2/3 fresh lemon juice
1 Tbsp lemon zest


First take your butter and cream it with your sugar until it's smooth.

Next add your eggs and yolks one at a time, beating each one in. You will end up with a lovely creamy mixture.

Finally add in your lemon juice. This will make your creamy mixture look curdled. This is just fine. It will all be taken care of when it cooks.

 

 

Now take your mixture to the stove and on a low heat cook this mixture, stirring constantly. As this cooks it will thicken (approx. 15 minutes).

Once your curd has thickened and hangs on to the back of your spoon, remove from heat and add in the lemon zest. Stir in well and then pour into jars. It will continue to thicken as it cools.

This will last in the fridge for a couple of weeks or one month in the freezer. There you have it, Diane's 'Sunshine in a Jar'. Enjoy!

Happy stitching and may your bobbin always be full!

Stack & Whack Quilt class...

Have you ever seen or heard of a Stack and Whack quilt? I think they are amazing!! We just offered a Stack and Whack class here at the Parish and I think the ladies had a lot of fun! What amazing blocks they made. Here are some photos of class...

This is a fun technique and makes a beautiful quilt! The ladies used Marti Michelle's Magic Mirrors to create these wonderful blocks. Click here for more about Marti Michelle templates...

What's Cookin' Wednesday...

I'm really trying to get back into the swing of posting more times per week. However, that being said it sometimes hard throwing a blog post together with all the other things we are juggling. In the mean time I hope to share with you a recipe per week on Wednesdays to add something new and fun.

This week's recipe is a breakfast recipe that is popular with my family and the kids like to get in on the fun too. So with the assistance of my little helper here's what we did to make this yummy breakfast treat!

Your Mom's Dutch Baby

1/4 cup butter

3 eggs

3/4 cups flour

3/4 cups milk

 

 

Turn on your oven to 425 degrees. Spray a 2-3 quart casserole dish. Place the 1/4 cup of butter in the casserole and place it in the oven as it pre-heats.

 

 

While the butter is melting I put all the ingredients into a mason jar.

 

 

 

Then I let my helpers shake...

 

 

Once your batter is 'shaken up' remove the pan from the oven and pour batter into the melted butter.

 

 

Put it back in to bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until 'puffed' and golden brown.

 

 

Then we sprinkle cinnamon sugar over the whole thing and dig in! Some like maple syrup too!

 

 

Yummmmmmmmm....!

This would be a fabulous breakfast to begin your day of sewing this weekend!! Happy stitching and may your bobbin always be full!

 

Just a note... here are your ratios if you have a larger crowd.

 

3 - 4 qt pan 1/3 cup butter, 4 eggs, 1 cup flour and milk

4 - 4 1/2 qt pan 1/2 cup butter, 5 eggs, 1 1/4 cup flour and milk

4 1/2 - 5 qt pan  1/2 cup butter, 6 eggs, 1 1/2 cup flour and milk.