Appleton Dance

by Linda Theil This blast from the past is for Claire S., my dentist at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, who loves to bake! I notice all the press releases say my commemorative plate is gold -- I wonder if that is just a figure of speech. I wonder where I put it. Fudgie: the best chocolate cake in Michigan AAA/Zehnders recipe contest 1991 winner: Linda Theil Cake: 2 cups flour 2/3 cup Dutch-processed cocoa 1 tsp baking soda 3/4 cup unsalted butter 2 cups sugar 2 eggs 1-1/2 cups buttermilk 2 tsp vanilla Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease and flour with cocoa three 8-inch cake pans. In small bowl, stir together flour, cocoa, and baking soda. In large electric-mixer bowl cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla. Beat well. Add dry ingredient mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with dry ingredients and beating well after each addition. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until center springs back when touched. Cool slightly. Remove from pans. Cool completely. Fudg...

by Linda Theil Here is my hilarious un-boxing video featuring commentary on a recent order from Missouri Star Quilt Co.  All items are listed below with prices and links to Missouri Star Quilt Co.  Items featured in "Fabric un-boxing" video: Missouri Star Half-heart template $8 (regularly discount from $9) daily deal $0.64 https://www.missouriquiltco.com/products/missouri-star-half-heart-template Tea with Bea fat quarter bundle $70 (regularly discount from $78) https://www.missouriquiltco.com/products/tea-with-bea-fat-quarter-bundle Quilt back, delicate vines super pale 108-inch wide back, $15 per yard (sale discount from $18) two yards ordered $30 https://www.missouriquiltco.com/products/quilt-backs-delicate-vines-super-pale-108-wide-backing   Missouri Star colorful quilting clips, 12 pack $6 (regular discount from $8) free https://www.missouriquiltco.com/products/missouri-star-colorful-quilting-clips-pack-of-12 Plus 20-percent special celebration discount June 11, 2021 ...

by Linda Theil Small crossbody pouch with adjustable strap made by Linda Theil This tiny 9 x 6-inch pouch with front pocket and zip closure features a wide, cross-body strap that keeps a passport, phone, credit card, plane ticket and face mask safe and close. Travel pouch fully-lined interior features slip pockets inside and outside The indigo fabric used for outer body of the bag is from the "Dot and Stripe Delights" collection by Studio RK for Robert Kaufman Fabrics. The lining is Needle Stitch - Tangerine from the "Sew Fine Batiks" collection by Kathy Engle for Island Batik. The adjustable strap is made of 1.5-inch wide, navy blue, polyester webbing by Dritz. The strap findings: an adjustable slide buckle, and rectangular "ring" in black are also made by Dritz.  Back of travel pouch with red, wooden button decoration by Organic Elements The red wooden "logo" attached to the back of the pouch is a four-hole button by Organic Elements. The jaunt...

by Linda Theil Here is a quick and easy kitchen lesson to share with your kids: How to make Salmon Patties! Click on video below to watch video recipe for making Salmon Patties.

by Linda Theil Original indigo and white workshop product by Linda Theil, May 21, 2021 I took David Owen Hastings live-online, design workshop, "Indi-Go-Modern",  sponsored by the Greater Ann Arbor Quilt Guild last Friday -- May 21, 2021.  Hastings presented six hours of instruction via the Zoom Internet platform from his studio in Sequim, Washington. Students used indigo prints of their own choosing, and solids in white and indigo to create small works from six-inch blocks of our own design. My fabric choices for the David Owen Hastings "Indi-Go-Modern" workshop  As a warm-up exercise, we cut paper that was printed with indigo fabric designs into strips, and sewed the paper strips together to make strip sets. We cut the strips sets, and sewed them onto solid white-, or indigo, three-inch paper squares in various combinations that could be manipulated into compositions of the student's own inspiration.  3x3-inch-square, stitched paper design by L. Theil from exe...

by Alisa My aunt recently moved house after many years in her home. She did a lot of work to prepare, purge, and pack before the move so my mom and I wanted to put together a care package that would make her move-in easier. Here's our brainstorm list of items and links to what we chose for her special, move-in gift pack. Safety CO detector  - maybe find out if they have natural gas first. Fire Extinguisher  -- tried this aerosol spray one, easy to store and small enough to stash several around the house. Dusk-to-Dawn Pathlights  -- pop these into plugs near stairs or in hallways to automatically illuminate unfamiliar areas. Motion-sensing Nightlight  -- these are great for bathrooms or areas where you don't want a light on all night. Install Picture hanging kit  -- best thing about this Kurui-brand kit is the amazing little hammer! Drawer liner  -- this one is thick and wipeable and great for drawers or refrigerator shelves. Decor Kitchen towels -- we chos...

by Linda Theil  I designed this easy bird block that would be cute on a baby quilt or placemat. I used the quilt-as-you-go technique to fill out my bird block with log-cabin style stripes to make fabric for a quilted tote. I used the Spencer-Ogg "Forever Shopper" pattern by Diane Spencer Ogg to make my tote. As a special feature, I added a swivel clasp and D-ring to secure the contents, or to use as a key leash. This photo shows the back of the tote with quilt-as-you-go stripes. I added diagonal quilting before construction. This is a photo of the quilted fabric before tote construction. How to make an E-Z Bird block This is the E-Z Bird block with log-cabin sashing. The beak is a prairie point inserted in the seam between the bird body and the first row of sashing. This block as constructed according to these instructions is 15.25 x 14.25-inches. For one E-Z Bird block you will need: scraps of four contrasting fabrics. For the background, you will need scraps for snowballin...