What to Do With Fresh Blueberries

There is so much fresh fruit available now and we are fortunate to be close to lots of "Pick Your Own" farms. Here is a quick recipe for using up some of those freshly picked blueberries.

Blueberry Cake

1/4 cup butter, room temperature
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup milk
2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries, rinsed

Topping :
1/4 cup butter, room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Preparation: Cream 1/4 cup butter with 3/4 cup sugar; add egg and beat well. Into a medium bowl sift together 2 cups flour, baking powder, and salt. Add sifted dry ingredients to butter mixture alternately with 1/2 cup milk, beating until smooth. Fold in blueberries. Pour into a greased 9-inch square baking pan. For topping, combine topping ingredients and blend well to form crumbs.Sprinkle topping crumbs over batter. Bake at 375° for 35 minutes.

Quilts at the Morrisburg Antique Show

Here are some interesting quilt-related items I saw at an outdoor antique show in Morrisburg, ON last weekend.

An interesting combination of boxes - fabric and embalming fluid!

This framed Mola (approximately 18" x 24") was priced about $100.

An old thread cabinet

I was fascinated with this quilt priced at $125. The individual blocks were about 4" square and were combined to make nine-patch blocks. It reminded me of the Dear Jane style of quilt.

The pink gingham was maybe not the best choice of colour for the sashing and border, but it all added to the charm of this quilt.

Fresh Hot Bread!

Upper Canada Village is a historic re-creation of a village in Upper Canada in the 1860s. We are fortunate that we live close by, and are able to buy the wonderful bread that is baked fresh in a wood-burning oven every day during the summer season.

The bread arrives, hot from the oven, in a horse-drawn cart.

The driver takes the bread in wicker baskets into the village store.

There is always a long line of people waiting to purchase the bread.

And here it is, still hot, and ready to be bagged!

More Quilts for Maryna!

Maryna has already chosen her next project. She is going to make my Little Picture Quilt #4 pattern. When I went to Maryna's place for her second lesson, she had already cut out all the pieces. This is work from someone who started quilting one week ago!

Maryna, Kristina and Maggie have also visited one of our local quilt shops and chosen fabric for another project. They are going to be making beach bags from this great fabric they found at Picket Fence Fabrics.

Maryna and Kristina will only be in Canada for 3 more weeks before they return to Belarus and Chernobyl. I think we are all going to be very busy getting all these projects completed! What a thrill it has been for me to see the excitement these little projects have created!

Quilting Lesson #2

Yesterday, Maryna and I got together to finish her little picture quilt. Marina has never done any quilting before, but she did an excellent job of machine quilting and sewing on the binding. Another quilter joins the ranks!

Even the cat wanted to be part of the adventure!

The binding is almost finished and ready to be hand-sewn.

Here is Maryna with her almost-finished picture quilt. Of course, we couldn't wait to put in the picture of Maryna's son!

Maryna's First Quilting Project

Last March and April I wrote about the Canadian Aid for Chernobyl project and the quilts that my Quilters' Guild made for the orphanages there. For the past 17 years, families in Brockville have hosted children from Chernobyl for 6 weeks during the summer. Kristina (age 13) has been with my neighbours, Peggy and Eric, for the past 6 summers. This year they are also hosting Maryna, one of the interpreters who is here with the children.

Peggy is a quilter too, and after seeing some of Peggy's and my work, Maryna thought she would like to try making a small picture quilt. Yesterday was our first quilting lesson. Maryna has not done any sewing since her school days, but she is a very fast learner! After 2 hours, she had learned how to use a rotary cutter, cut strips and sew a 1/4 inch seam. She also finished the top of her little picture quilt made from my Little Picture Quilt #1 pattern. She is going to put a picture of her 5 year old son in this quilt. On Friday we are going to get together to quilt the first project and sew on the binding. Now she is ready to start another little quilt!

Quilting Lesson #1

Eric has a wonderful blog that is full of information about the Canadian Aid for Chernobyl project. He has also just posted pictures of all the children arriving at the Ottawa airport after their 28 hour flight from Chernobyl.

Crocuses: A Painting by Celia Kainz

Celia Kainz is a painter in Brockville, Ontario. I am lucky enough to own this wonderful painting by Celia which is now hanging in our sun room.

Celia is the organizer of our "Art in the City" artists' studio tour which is held in Brockville every Fathers' Day Weekend. I wrote about this tour in my post on June 16. (Watch for a new Blog about this event coming soon!).

Last night we were having a meeting about next year's Studio Tour and I saw this wonderful painting of crocuses by Celia. It would be perfect in our kitchen. Maybe someday....

Free Patterns

I have just put a "Summertime Special" on my website. You will receive 1 free pattern (my choice) for every pattern that you order from the website from July 10 - July 31, 2008. After you place your order on the website, just e-mail me and quote this code: SSFP01

Cupcakes Are In!

According to American Quilt Retailer magazine, cupcakes are now the in thing! There are patterns for cupcake quilts and serveral fabric lines featuring these sweet treats. Check out Sweet Tooth by Robert Kaufman Fabrics, Little Lady by LakeHouse Dry Goods and Just Desserts from Clothworks.

Ian Millar and Big Ben

Perth, Ontario is the home of Ian Millar, who along with his horse, Big Ben, became one of the greatest teams in equestrian history. There is a wonderful statue of Big Ben located in Stewart Park in Perth. You can learn more about this great team here.

Stewart Park in Perth, Ontario

More Quilts from the Perth Antique Show

Here are a few more pictures of the quilts that were for sale at the Perth Antique show this weekend.

Perth Antique Show

Yesterday we visited the Perth Antique show in Perth, Ontario. This picturesque community, close to Ottawa, is the location for the Annual Antique show and, as always, there were lots of quilts on display. Here are a few pictures.

Lynne Edwards MBE

Today my friend, Lynne Edwards, an amazing quilter, teacher and author, received her MBE award (Member of the Order of the British Empire) from Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace. I am sure Lynne will be sending more pictures in the next few days and I will be sharing them with you. This is a very prestigious award in Britain and Lynne is a most worthy recipient. Congratulations, Lynne!

Happy Canada Day!

Happy Canada Day everyone!