Tuesday 7 February 2023

Lone Star Medallion, Cake Love, Napper or Not?

 Recent -42C wind chill temperatures and here I am bundled up for my outdoor walks.  Don't you think I look chic? 

Will Hammell for Puck Magazine

I've yet to see Snow Buntings on my property. And imagine a world with "muffs" and where the word "chic" would apply to my day to day clothing. Oh dear, it's been quite a long time since I last "dressed up" even a little. 
Is weather worsening I wonder. Regularly we are being urged to prepare for power outages and have supplies ready.  I don't remember this being a usual thing even in winter. Meanwhile, Tony and I watched some of the videos of the ice coated highways in Texas...that was quite something and we felt badly for the truckers whose job it is to keep the supplies moving no matter the road conditions. 

I've been remiss in showing Daughter's lovely cakes.  This is our latest and it is the chocolate with marshmallow frosting one and peppermint chocolate sprinkles, a favourite for both of us.

 I've been eating a piece each evening because it's winter and cold outside and I need the calories to stay warm. :D
The plate is from my Johnson's Brothers The Friendly Village winter set and the little side plates feature Sugar Maples and collecting the sap to make maple syrup. I love the shades of reds used and the subtle greens throughout the leaves.

It is a hopeful thought too as this will soon be started (if it hasn't already) here in Ontario, a late winter/early spring activity. 

I felt like I just had to take a break from my current two projects that I'm a bit tired of sharing with you at this stage of year 2 of sewing. So this happened! 

A wall hanging I spy often in movies (do you do that?) features the Lone Star Medallion and I always admire it. Early in the new year I downloaded the free pattern at Childlike Fascination, with credit to Terri Ann Swallow and chose the medallion with 288 diamonds. I set about sewing two diamonds myself using EPP just to see if I could do it. The colours are a nod to the red, white and blue of the Union Jack which was the provincial flag of Newfoundland till 1980. I think it would suit our wooden walls. Wouldn't it be nice if I could buckle down and concentrate and get another diamond sewed this week.  There have been distractions but I will try. And my love affair with EPP continues!
 I just realized in this photo above I've reversed the points. I'm aiming for the flower to be in the center of the medallion.

Here is a link that is useful...the year 2023 calendar cleverly laid out on one page. Found at Big Think. Helpful for tracking appointments.

I just looked over at Tony on the sofa. He is having one of several daytime naps. How I envy that! Even if I want/need to, I just can't sleep during the day. Are you a napper or not?

Linking with Quilt SchmiltCreations Quilts ArtAlycia QuiltsSongbird Designs and Small Quilts and Doll Quilts.


27 comments :

Jenn Jilks said...

I'm not a napper. I have trouble sleeping, as it is, naps just set me back.
Good for taking a break from projects. I have found that helps, too!
We've just ahs a report of snow buntings on a near-by lake.
Our neighbours have a professional sugar bush. They don't begin till April, maybe March. It has to be 10 C in the day, and below zero at night. Soon!

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

oh I love cake - I was so disappointed when DH said he wanted chocolate chip cookies instead of cake for his birthday - I might have to make a cake for valentines day instead - I would eat two pieces a day!
That is some cold weather you are having up there - stay warm - I am not a napper but I have found the older I get it is no unusual to close my eyes for ten minutes here or there in the daytime while reading and realize I took a very short nap - that didn't start to happen until the last year or so

Rosemary Dickinson said...

I can never nap during the day. I have tried but no luck. My husband could sleep on a picket fence any time of the day. I do sleep well during the night so I guess I shouldn't complain. Love your lone star! I would like to make one too some day. He had frigid temps all weekend long but not we're back to somewhat normal. We're expecting a little snow tonight but nothing too awful.

Magpie's Mumblings said...

Such a pretty illustration, even though it does make me feel cold.
Seeing your Lone Star made me think of my grandmothers, both of whom were quilters and both made this design (or one very similar).
Napping - Resident Chef does it all the time but I don't seem to get the luxury. I always tiptoe around when I see he's dozing but he's like a bull moose in a china shop and being quiet so I can nap isn't something he ever thinks about.

Libby in TN said...

I'd certainly use that excuse for a piece of that cake!

Jackie said...

Not a napper, even after having a rotten nights sleep. I would so love to be able to have a nap some afternoons.

God bless.

Brian's Home Blog said...

That cake sure does look good and the plate is very pretty. I hope you all keep warm up there!

Peggy Stockwell said...

Ooooh! I love your EPP project. I think those flowers in the middle will be perfect. I live in sunny California but spent some of my youth in Havre, MT where I was elected to shovel the roof on a regular basis. LOL! So I remember how cold those winters can be. When my daughter went to Dalhousie for four years, I made a number of forays to my northern neighbors. She visited New Foundland and loved it there. She is now back on my coast (yea!) in Seattle Washington but her boyfriend is still in Halifax. Anyway, I digress. Keep sharing all those EPP projects. They are my go to project for all the hockey tournaments that I end up at. LOL! Good luck!

Astrid said...

That's going to be a pretty Lone Star! LS is on my bucket list (actually been for some years). We need a break from projects and always fun to start something new. Yes, I love chocolate cakes (pretty plate), and yes, I'm a napper! I'm an early bird and with three kitties who have decided it's 'food-o'clock' sometimes as early as 4 a.m.! One nap max one hour, seldom more unless I'm exhausted. Never any problem to sleep in the night.

kddomingue said...

Not a napper. I envy my husband’s ability to just close his eyes and fall asleep whether for a nap or at bedtime. I’m on the same page as Jenn Jilks…. I have trouble sleeping. I’ve been that way as far back as I can remember. Trouble falling asleep, trouble staying asleep. There’s a meme going around that says “I’m not a early bird or a night owl. I’m some form of perpetually exhausted pigeon.” That describes me perfectly, lol!
I’m delighted to have found your blog and look forward to seeing posts from you in my inbox.
Btw, what is a snow bunting? I live in the USA way, way down in the deep south so rarely see snow. When we get more than a smattering of snow down here, everything shuts down!

PaintedThread said...

Another delicious looking cake! Lone Star Medallions are so pretty. God luck with yours! I'm not a napper either. Too many things to do!

Anonymous said...

I don't often get to nap, but this afternoon I took a nice, much-needed one.
My brother-in-law's clan have a large maple syrup "sugarbush" and produce a goodly amount here in northern Michigan. They share a lot with us.
Our pastor's family have those lovely dishes, too.

Pamela Dempsey said...

I’m in Northeast Texas and right on the edge of the ice last week. It was very bad and some icy accidents were deadly. I was happy to stay home, had several days of rain. Luckily our power stayed on , some had several days without. Your cake looks so yummy and i love the dish. Stay warm 😻

Nancy J said...

Lovely pieces in your latest project. Yes, I nap, or rather deep sleep almost every afternoon, my Dad did that for years on the farm, he called it " Just a spell" and no doubt kept him going for the afternoon and then the milking the cows. My maple shrubs are only shrubs, I long for the real Maple Syrup here, but it's so expensive, so I save it for special treats.

Jennifer said...

That cake looks delicious, Jocelyn - and I love your plate! Our current daytime temps are in the mid-30s C; while we're used to that, it does get tiring after a while.

Lorraine said...

I would love a slice of that cake please. I like your plan to put the flower in the middle of that motif. And I have to say that investigating that calendar sent me down a rabbit hole on that website - so interesting. I am up later tonight than usual because I dared to take a nap this afternoon after a delicious lunch. Sadly, I feel rested but didn't get done what I wanted to.

gladiquilts said...

Making a lone star medallion quilt has been on my “to do” list forever. Yours is looking great and might just be the nudge I need to get me going on one. I’ve been afraid of dealing with all those bias edges but maybe the EPP method is the answer! Like you, I have never been able to nap; my husband, though, takes a daily afternoon nap to keep himself from falling asleep too early in the evening. We bounced from wind chills of more than 20 below zero Saturday AM to temps in the mid 40’s Monday. Such wild swings are not usual!

Michelle Ridgway said...

Ohh I cannot imagine weather that cold....brrrr! Beautiful picture. That cake looks wicked and I do love your plate. Your Lone Star is wonderful too. I so wish I could catch up during the day after a restless night xx

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

I haven't seen a snow bunting either, but looking them up, it appears they're not uncommon well into Colorado. Wasn't that ice storm in the south wild? I'm thankful not to have to deal with that here. Your daughter's cakes always look beautiful and yummy! The Diamond EPP project looks amazing, too. I haven't looked up the pattern, so I'm curious to know - will you eventually make a star shape? And then - applique it to a background? I'll enjoy seeing what you do with this!

loulee said...

Your Lone star is looking lovely, it's something that is on my one day list.
What a fascinating calendar.

Carol Andrews said...

Hi Jocelyn. I do hope your weather has turned and started to warm up. That is terribly cold and hard to enjoy getting outside when it is that cold. Here in BC it has warmed up. We have been getting rain and today we have beautiful blue skies and fresh snow on my mountain tops. It is weird weather this year for sure. Love your dishes. I once had that same set but with kids, there are only two pieces left now. How wonderful your cake sounds. Too bad daughter doesn't do delivery service to my prt of the world. I love your Lonestar. It is a favourite pattern of mine. I once made a king size Lonestar with wool roving for the batting for a lovely couple who lived off grid. They said it was the warmest quilt they've ever had. Thank you for linking with To Do Tuesday. Stay warm and enjoy that slice of cake! ;)

Cheree @ The Morning Latte said...

I really wish I could nap but I just can NOT! I LOVE that plate!!! I always thought it would be so fun to get our own syrup! And that temp! Oh my, that is COLD! Although, I would take advantage of it and stay in to sew!

Linda said...

I love Johnson's Brothers china! I don't have any, but if I ever find any at a reasonable price, I will buy myself a plate. :) I want a piece of that yummy looking cake. Your start on the Lone Star is really pretty. I have a UFO started years ago sitting in my closet. I am going to look at it today to see if I actually did anything on it. I do take a nap almost every day, and my most refreshing naps are about 10 minutes long. If it is cold, I am far more susceptible to naps because I get cozy under a quilt. ;)

QuiltGranma said...

A number of years ago I took a class where we sewed by machine strips of fabrics, offset, so when we cut them on the correct angle they would make parts of the star. I have part of my star finished, then I, confusion on my part, cut the angle wrong. So it is stalled. I need to dig it out and remake the ruined parts. But there are so many other UFOs since then! Good luck with this.

Susie H said...

I'm not typically a napper but I do doze off now and again. Ha! Love your Lone Star. Are those Minnick & Simpson fabrics I spy?

Susan said...

Napper, big time. That calendar would drive me crazy, but thanks for the link. Interesting to see it. I need boxes to write in information! Your plates are so pretty. Do you put those in a dishwasher? The star quit will be beautiful, too. Thanks for the link. I made one 40 years ago, but don't think I could do it again now without at least a layout design.

Brenda @ Songbird Designs said...

Oooh that cake looks and sounds awesome!! And I love the plate! Your Lone Star is coming together beautifully! But that snow does not look fun! LOL