Two New Patterns!

We've been busy in Purple Moose country - we have two new patterns out.

The first is Chocolate Truffle Scarf. What could be a more decadent treat than a chocolate truffle? This scarf is a decadent treat for your wardrobe! It couldn't be any easier to make and looks like a million bucks. I get compliments every time I wear mine. Each scarf is an original work of art. Try one today and you will be the envy of all your friends tomorrow!

The second is Fish Frenzy. A super easy quilt that looks much more difficult than it really is. It would be a perfect "guy" quilt or for anyone interested in fish or fishing.

You can find both patterns on our website http://www.PurpleMooseDesigns.com - be sure and visit the gallery to see what others have done with these patterns!

Quilt Block Dash - Serene in Pink

Purple Moose Designs is participating in the Quilt Block Dash “Serene in Pink” which runs from April 1-10. Quilt Block Dash is an online hide and seek game just for quilters. You dash to the participating shops and find the Quilt Block Dash creative image. With each found image you will reveal part of the instructions for a quilt block. If you visit all 14 shops and find all the images, you will have all the instructions and patterns needed to complete a quilt top. Your name will then be entered for a chance to win fabulous prizes (FREE FABRIC!!). Visit www.quiltblockdash.com to register – hurry, it starts tomorrow!

And just to tease you - I have seen the quilt that you will be getting the instructions for and it's beautiful! Quilt Block Dash is a lot of fun, I hope you'll join in.

Terri Sontra
Purple Moose Designs
http://www.PurpleMooseDesigns.com

Welcome Spring!

What do hardy snow people do on the first Saturday night of SPRING to welcome in the new season? Why, have a cook-out of course! No problem that there's still enough snow on the ground to be measured in feet and that the fire pit is buried somewhere under all that snow - we will not be deterred!

Our family does a cook-out a little different than most. We cook over an open fire. Naturally, we have the usual cook-out fare but we also do fresh bread, stir-fry, cobblers and....well, the list is limitless. I take great pleasure in trying to figure out how to cook foods that would normally require a stove or oven and do it on the open fire.

We built our pit last year from granite that was reclaimed from a building that collapsed the previous winter from the snow. The building was part of a summer camp and had a massive fireplace. I also have some of the white bricks from the interior firebox of that fireplace. I plan to make an oven for our fire pit out of them this year. Then I will be able to do some serious baking!

This spring kick-off-cook-out had a simple menu, gourmet hot dogs, fire-pit potatoes and stir fry veggies with peach cobbler and s'mores for dessert.

Thanks to my hubby who spent 3 afternoons chipping away the hard snow to find the fire pit and thanks to our friends who joined us. Everyone had a fun time (even though only 1 was smiling in the photo!) and no one went hungry (as usual). Can't wait until the next fire pit!

p.s. That's me in the black sweater in the back fixing up some more s'mores for the kids - not facing the camera, as usual!

Terri Sontra

Purple Moose Designs

http://www.PurpleMooseDesigns.com

http://nequiltdesigners.blogspot.com

Thanksgiving Recipe

Happy Turkey Day To All!!

I hope you find your day filled with family, friends and great food. I know our table will be laden with all of our favorites and then some. I am thankful for many things in my life, one of them being the great friends I have made through the quilting world. The encouragement I receive from my quilting friends and students is a wonderful thing indeed! As a thank you for all that I have received I would like to pass along a recipe to you. If you are anything like me your fridge will be packed at the end of today with more food than you know what to do with. This recipe is a great way to use up some of the leftovers. What has this got to do with quilting you ask? Well, this recipe is so easy and quick it will leave more time for sewing!

Day After Thanksgiving Casserole

Spray casserole dish with non-stick spray. Build layers in the dish - amounts will vary with the size of the dish and the amount of leftovers. You can also substitute any ingredients, sweet potatoes for mashed, beans for corn, etc...

Layer 1 - 1 to 1-1/2" mashed potatoes
Layer 2 - stuffing
Layer 3 - turkey cut into bite size pieces
Layer 4 - corn

Press the layers together to eliminate any air pockets but not so much that the potatoes ooze out.

Layer 5 - gravy, pour over all

Bake at 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes or until bubbly.

Enjoy your turkey day, count your blessings and know that you are counted as one of mine!
Terri Sontra
Purple Moose Designs
http://www.PurpleMooseDesigns.com

And so it begins...

I was born in New England with a New England Dad and a California Mom. I grew up with the best of both coasts but have always considered myself a New Englander at heart. Whenever I have lived away from this corner of the U.S. I get most home sick during the fall season. I love the crisp air, cool evenings and the colors. In my opinion, Mother Nature saves her best work for the fall season. I guess it's no surprise that my fabric stash is predominately fall colors, my clothing too. For those who have never witnessed the fall foliage in person or who have only made brief visits to view its beauty, here's a tip: it's not a static thing to be viewed!


Here's a photo of how it starts, just a hint of muddy purple on the occasional leaf. To the newcomer it might be viewed as a diseased or dying leaf. With a little time though, it will be a thing of spectacular beauty. The process takes a couple of months to complete with many stages along the way.



Designing a quilt works much the same way, it's a process that must start small and build to a beautiful ending. Picking colors for a quilt can be helped by looking at the fall leaves as well. Of course there's the show stopping bright reds and yellows but they would not be so show stopping if there were no browns, muddy purples and dark oranges to set them off. Next time you see the fall foliage (either in person or a photo) take a much closer look at each individual color. Most of them are not that exciting by themselves and there are lots of boring "support" colors. So remember when choosing colors and fabrics for a quilt, a little "show stopper" with lots of boring "support" colors and you'll do fine, just like Mother Nature!



I'll keep you updated on the progress of the color changes here in the heart of New Hampshire. And did you notice the spider on the leaves? I didn't while taking the photo in my yard, only found him while editing the photo. Sorry if you're spider squeamish!!



Terri Sontra
Purple Moose Designs

http://www.purplemoosedesigns.com/