You know what I mean. It's the kind of movement where you know you're moving, but you aren't making any forward progress. I'm just glad I don't have any evidence to suggest I might be moving backwards.
Thank you very much for "prancing along" with Pat - and with me. Three winners have been randomly selected and notified -- that part wasn't random. They are -- JMNiffer, Lisa B and Suzan. If you think that might be you, check your e-mail box. If you have something with the subject line "From Miss Rosie...", then you're it!
I'm still binding. And I'm still watching playoff hockey games. Woohoo to the Coyotes! The games have been great but I'm feeling quite old. I remember when Martin Brodeur was a youngster so I'm going to have to hurt the next announcer who feels compelled to remind everyone that Marty is now 40 years old.
Speaking of birthdays, my Mom is 82 years old today - Wednesday. After getting a ho-hum-ish sort of response to Carrot Cake and seeing strawberries on special at the grocery store, I decided to make her long-standing favorite Gateau des Fraises ~ Stawberry Cake.
Basically a cheesecake with a sour-cream layer underneath the strawberries. This cake is supposed to be served with whole strawberries on the top but (1) it looks best when all the strawberries are the same size and I didn't have that. And (2), it is so much easier to cut, serve and eat when the strawberries are sliced. So with all apologies to the French chef who created this recipe... I changed it.
Speaking of my habit of changing things to suit moi - do you remember when I showed you these blocks last year? They were part of the 2011 Summer Pieced Block of the Week from Primitive Gatherings in Menasha, Wisconsin.
It's a twelve week program and each week, you're sent the kit for five blocks.
Five stars that are supposed to finish at 4" x 4"... except I changed that. My blocks finish at 5" x 5". I also changed every combination just so that mine would be different, adding and subtracting fabrics as I went along. And because that wasn't going to be different enough, I also made more blocks. I didn't know what the shop setting was going to be, but since I was already in for a penny...
I've called my quilt Rorschach.
Yes, this quilt says more about my psyche and personality than any silly little inkblot every could.
I used a lovely soft gray tonal print by Lecien for the alternating squares and setting triangles because I wanted the stars to be the focal point of the quilt. It is also why I decided that this quilt didn't need a border. The binding is a faded red print from an early Sturbridge collection.
The quilt was going to be in a book I was scheduled to publish in September 2013 but I have postponed that because my timing is so "off" these days. (Don't worry! Yes, I had asked Lisa's permission to publish my version of the quilt.)
The only other thing I've been working on is this quilt...
When you see this one, I think you're going to laugh. Think of it as a "plus-size" quilt... and that will make sense when I tell you about it as soon as I've got pictures and a pattern cover on the way.
Happy Thursday!
Happy Birthday to your Mom!!! And boy that Strawberry cake looks delicious. Recipe????
Posted by: Jocelyn | May 09, 2012 at 07:06 PM
love the strawberry cake! I am working on my summer stars and I just love all my stars but i really think your setting is spectacular!
Posted by: Anna | May 09, 2012 at 07:41 PM
Ohmygosh -- that cake looks fantastic -- lucky birthday girl! I LOVE that star quilt -- it's gorgeous!!!
Posted by: Thimbleanna | May 09, 2012 at 07:47 PM
Happy Birthday to your mom!
Talking about feeling old watching hockey...I remember watching Zach Parise's dad JP Parise play hockey for the MN North Stars back in the 70's. Now, JP is in his 70's and his son is playing. Yikes! Good thing I was watching back then from my crib:)
Posted by: Colleen M | May 09, 2012 at 07:56 PM
Happy Birthday to your Mom!!! 82 years young!!! Were you not just talking about Martin Brodeur?? LOL!! Enjoying the hockey too, even though our Wings are done.
Posted by: Linda | May 09, 2012 at 08:09 PM
Happy Birthday Mom!!!! That cake looks so yummy!
Posted by: Carmen | May 09, 2012 at 08:34 PM
Best wishes for a great next year for your Mom. That strawberry cake looks awesome - plus, like your quilt - you made it your own (style).
Posted by: Ramona Chester | May 09, 2012 at 09:34 PM
A belated 'many happy returns of the day!' to your mom. Omnomnom to that cake. The soft grey makes those stars *shine*--is really lovely. :-)
*pricks up ears* A new book!!! I can wait. :-)
Also, that sneak peek--J'ADORE!! Bright, colourful and cheery, just as I like it. Can't wait! :D
Hazle
Posted by: Hazle | May 10, 2012 at 12:40 AM
Happy Birthday to MOM! OH I wish I could just pop over and have a piece of that strawberry cheesecake, now you are talking about my favorite ! yum!!
I love that star quilt just beautiful, the alternate fabric really sets it off and reproduction fabrics perfect :)
thanks for the sneak peak will be watching the online store for the patterns!
kathie
Posted by: kathie | May 10, 2012 at 01:26 AM
Your Rorschach quilt looks inspired. How do you get these ideas to take plain blocks and make them something special?!?
Posted by: Margaret | May 10, 2012 at 04:53 AM
Happy Birthday to you Mom! We share the same birth date! Love how good that strawberry cake looks. Is there a recipe?
Those star blocks are wonderful and look great in the quilt!
Posted by: Kathy | May 10, 2012 at 05:12 AM
Wow...love the star quilt...and I can't wait to see more of that AB fabric!!! Pretty pretty! I'm busy this week trying to finish up a tote that I want to take to Kansas City next week...crossing my fingers!!!
Posted by: Dianne | May 10, 2012 at 07:47 AM
You are so OCD. Save a slice for us please. Yum, yum. Wish DH liked cheesecake. Wonder if I made it in chocolate how'd it would be, he'd eat that. Loving the colors.
Posted by: auntie pami | May 10, 2012 at 08:00 AM
Happy Birthday, Mom! The birthday cake looks delicious.
I love the star quilt. Yep, love it.
Posted by: Mary | May 10, 2012 at 08:51 AM
oooh, love the stars with all the gray around them. very beautiful. ;p
Posted by: ina | May 10, 2012 at 10:00 AM
You have to share the receipe, if you can...looks delicious! LOVE the gray you used in your quilt, it makes the blocks stand out, very beautiful! Happy birthday to your mom!
Posted by: Deb A | May 10, 2012 at 11:30 AM
You wouldn't consider bringing a piece of that cake to KC for Market by any chance??
Posted by: Dawn Heese | May 10, 2012 at 12:09 PM
Happy Birthday to your mom. We so appreciate her pattern stuffing! Enjoy that yummy birthday dessert.
Posted by: Karen Shackleford | May 10, 2012 at 05:30 PM
I love the gray setting for the star blocks. It gives it such a different look. It gives me a good idea for my Farmers Wife blocks. Keep up the inspiring work.
Posted by: Debbie Gallett | May 10, 2012 at 06:50 PM
Happy Birthday to your Mom! Those strawberries look soo good! And I can't wait to see the Sandi Henderson fabric quilt...I remember when you showed the stack of fabrics a little while ago!
Posted by: sherri | May 10, 2012 at 08:08 PM
A tad belated birthday wishes to your mom! Smart lady to opt for strawberries, of course carrot cake would be oh so close!! I recently stopped a local stand and picked up the the best strawberries - notice I said picked up, not picked!! I am still sad over nixing a bday cake for myself, but then I often get other treats - really?? LOL!
Can't wait to see the reveal on the plus size fat lady - is she singing? Zoom, zoom market is near!!
Posted by: Linda P | May 11, 2012 at 07:41 AM
Belated best birthday wishes to your mom! The strawberry cake looks scrumptious! Loving the star quilt...is the gray from Lecien's Centenary line? Beautiful:)
Posted by: Marie | May 11, 2012 at 08:51 AM
Wow! The cake looks yummy! So do the quilts! Please tell your mom that I said "Happy Birthday"! :-)
Posted by: Michele | May 11, 2012 at 06:15 PM
Happy (belated) birthday Carrie's mam!!
I love your star quilt and am intrigued by the sneak peek...
Posted by: Archie the wonder dog | May 13, 2012 at 09:03 AM
Happy birthday to your mom! If I could cook, I would ask you to share the recipe, but it would just hang out with all the other recipes I've collected that I'll never, ever, ever make.
LOVE the star quilt. It's a real beauty. And I'm anxious to see the plus-size quilt. I just finished a quilt with that fabric collection, and the colors make me happy.
Posted by: Kim | May 23, 2012 at 07:13 PM
I am eagerly awaiting your pictures from quilt market and your new quilts. I had hoped that someone would have pictures of your booth, but I haven't seen any. I know there will be some quilt patterns to add to my must-do list.
Posted by: Carol | May 28, 2012 at 04:59 PM
Your quilts are as amazing as always but that cheesecake is to die for!! You clever girl you and you have one very lucky Mom and Happy Birthday to her.
Posted by: Patricia | June 02, 2012 at 09:03 AM