QBOTMC News - Star and Chains Block, Covered Jars and Roasted Berry Apples with Meringue

Published: Tue, 05/02/17

Hi ,

We hope you've had another fab week this week!  It's May, and we're practically halfway
through the year again.  It's enough to  get me in a bit of a flap, as I'm still working through
things I was going to get done last year!  
Trouble is, my list keeps growing, and I keep re-prioritising (and finding whole new projects
to jump in and make), and I find I'm ending up with UFOs and piles of fabrics designated
for projects now on the back burner!  Oh well - need to get good at delegating I think (look
out Annette!!!).

Miss 11 was sewing something in here with me on the weekend - she marched in to my
studio, announced she wanted to make something, raided my scrap bag, and started cutting. 
She and I "shared" sewing time on my machine (I WAS in the MIDDLE of a project!) and
she actually made quite a lovely little fabric book cover.  Not sure what's happening to it next,
but she did say that she'd like to help me sew more often... Just got to get those 1/4 inch seams
down pat, then I might just put her to work....

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This week's block will take some work too.  It's a great pieced block, but is a bit fiddly.

Please click the link below to download the Star and Chains Block and see what I mean.

http://www.quiltblockofthemonthclub.com/download.php?file=star-and-chains-block.pdf


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I found this quick 'how to' online and might just give it a go...

Lotta Jansdotter's Fabric-Covered Lids

Materials:

• Jar with a screw lid
• Spray adhesive
• Fabric scraps

Directions:

1. Cut out a circle that is big enough to cover your lid. Make sure that you include the
inside lip too.

2. Position the fabric circle right side down and apply spray adhesive. tip: Spray adhesive
can be a bit sticky, so make sure you cover and protect your work surface.

3. Center the lid on the fabric, making sure that the fabric adheres nice and flat. Smooth
and stretch the fabric a little by gently pulling the edges of the circle.

By folding and gluing the fabric under the lip of the lid, you give them a clean and contemporary
look.

4. Fold up a section of the fabric so it adheres to the outside of the lid lip. Now you need to
snip a slit every 1/4″or so on the remaining fabric. This way you can fold the fabric over
the lid easier. Press the flaps over the side of the cover and adhere them to the interior of
the lip.

These jars also make pretty storage containers for the kitchen or studio. Fill them with
buttons, bobbins, pins, or thread spools, and they make perfect gifts for quilters.

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Roasted Berry Apples with Meringue Toppings

Ingredients

    2 teaspoons cornflour
    1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    3/4 cup raspberry jam
    8 golden delicious apples, peeled, cored, cut into thick wedges
    1 vanilla bean, split
    250g / 1/2lb fresh strawberries or frozen strawberries, hulled, halved
    8 egg whites
    2 cups caster (fine white) sugar


Method

Step 1

    Preheat oven to 200C/180C (356F) fan-forced.
    
Step 2
    Blend cornflour with 2 tablespoons of water until smooth. Place in a small saucepan with
cinnamon and jam. Stir over medium heat until jam has melted. Bring to the boil. Boil for
1 minute until mixture thickens slightly. Remove from heat.
    
Step 3
    Place apple and vanilla in a 5cm/2in-deep, 22cm x 26cm (Approx 8 x 10 in) roasting pan.
Pour over jam mixture. Toss. Roast for 20 minutes. Stir in strawberries. Bake for a further
10 minutes or until apple is tender. Cover loosely with foil to keep warm.
    
Step 4
    Preheat grill on high. Using an electric mixer, beat egg whites until soft peaks form.
Gradually add sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating well after each addition until sugar
has dissolved. Spoon meringue over apple. Spread evenly with a spatula to form peaks.
    
Step 5
    Grill for 3 to 5 minutes or until meringue is light golden on top. Serve.

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Until Next week - Happy Quilting!


Regards,

Jody & Annette