QBOTMC News - Tumbling Star Block, Tips and Berry Chocolate Meringues

Published: Tue, 02/13/18


We hope you've had a great week.  This week started off good - then it all went wrong
on Miss 12's Birthday...

I had a special afternoon tea planned, and she had a couple of friends home after school
to help celebrate.  I'd made a cake, had the table decorated and even made fairy bread
(as was requested!).  When they arrived home I was met at the door with my husband
and nearly collapsing Master 13.

I've never been so scared in my life - he couldn't talk - just couldn't get words out and
looked awful.  Poor Miss 12's party was forgotton as we called an ambulance for him, and
he and I went to hospital, with lights and sirens and them querying stroke.

Thankfully it was not a stroke, but the poor guy had every scan and test known to man
while they tried to figure it out.  He started talking properly again about 6 hours later and
is now completely OK again.  They seem to think it was some kind of Acute Confusional
Migraine.   Grateful it's not anything worse, but know we don't know if it was a one-off,
or if this might happen again.  

Meanwhile at home, a subdued afternoon tea happened, until Miss 12's best friend's mother
arrived to collect her daughter, and announced they'd bought a house an hour away, so the
kids will have to change schools.  Both girls in floods of tears, and not a great end to a
birthday. Some days you just can't win.

All is OK again now...

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This week's block is a tricky, but really lovely pieced block, and I LOVE the effect when you
rotate a few together.

Please click the link below to download the Tumbling Star Block.

http://www.onlinequiltmagazine.com/members/content/f/id/609/

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A few tips to make your quilting easier and better:
 
• A border should be kept simple. Too grand a border can over-power the central sections. Shapes
and colours in the borders should echo those in the quilt blocks.
 
• With each quilt top you plan, look for pairs of patches and units that can be chain pieced or strip
pieced assembly-line style.
 
• Choose the quilting design that is best for your quilt without worrying about how much time it
will take. If you don't you will spend that much time wishing you had.

Sometimes less is more, and never be afraid to think outside the box - try a twist on something,
or mix and match techniques as you like.

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It's Valentine's Day here today, and what better excuse to try this recipe?

Berry Chocolate Meringues

Ingredients

    3 eggwhites, at room temperature
    1 cup caster (fine white) sugar
    2 tablespoons cocoa powder
    50g / 1 3.4oz dark chocolate, finely grated
    250g / 1/2lb punnet strawberries, hulled, quartered
    150g / sm punnet blueberries
    1 tablespoon caster sugar, extra
    1 cup thickened cream
    1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
    Grated dark chocolate, extra, to serve
 

Method

Step 1
    
Preheat oven to 130°C/266F. Line 2 baking trays with baking paper. Draw 3 x 10cm/4in (diameter)
circles on each piece of baking paper. Place onto trays, pencil-side down.
    
Step 2
    
Using an electric mixer, beat eggwhites in a large bowl until soft peaks form. Add sugar, 1 tablespoon
at a time, beating well after each addition. Continue beating until meringue is thick and glossy.
Sift cocoa powder over meringue. Add grated chocolate. Using a large metal spoon, gently fold in
until combined.
    
Step 3
    
Using circles as a guide, spoon meringue onto baking trays. Make a small indentation in the centre
of each meringue. Bake on lowest shelf in oven for 1 hour. Turn oven off. Leave meringues to cool
in oven with door ajar for 1 hour. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
    
Step 4
    
Place berries into a bowl. Sprinkle with extra sugar. Stir to combine. Set aside for 15 minutes. Beat
cream and vanilla until soft peaks form. Place meringues onto serving plates. Top with cream and
berries. Sprinkle with extra chocolate. Serve.

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It's bag pattern week again too, and this is one of my all-time favourites.

Please click the link to download the Boston Backpack.

http://www.onlinequiltmagazine.com/members/content/f/id/608/


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Have a great week!

Until Next Week - Happy Quilting!

Regards,

Jody & Annette