107: here come the goodies

That's right....finally the giveaway post.

And here's the quilt in all it's glory.

Several people guessed what the pattern would be.  I saw it at this tutorial.  I didn't particularly follow the directions, but used the general idea.  It has no batting and is made from circles of recycled jeans with fabric inset.

Not MY jeans mind you...but someone's.  I didn't want to do very small squares because of time limitations, so I had to go to the thrift store and buy the biggest jeans I could find.  The sales people though I was crazy as I could literally fit in one leg of some of them.  But I didn't want to pull off pockets and such and have them have changes in color.

The instructions recommended zig-zagging the edges but I really wanted the frayed denim edges.  That means this quilt is by no means a study in perfect sewing.  I washed it again after I was finished sewing and had to go back and re-sew the edges that frayed a little too much.  I suspect the new owner may have to do that as well during it's lifetime.  

But I like the rough-around-the-edges look.  It feels like a great picnic blanket.  And I think it will get better with age.  Sorry I can't get it to your for possible 4th of July picnics.  :(

So, "how do I win such a beauty?", you ask.  Well, if you've never before commented on my site, you can't.  Sorry to new readers!  I'm not doing it that way to be elitist, but since it's a whole quilt I wanted it to be somebody who's not just passing through for a giveaway.  Hopefully whoever gets it will really love it and use it.

But don't fret if you are a lurker.  I have consolation prizes.  There are two sets that come with: handmade zippered pouch, three fun, bright fat quarters, six 8 1/2" squares of recycled denim, and a little flower I crocheted (I didn't attach them to the pouches but that certainly might be cute).  I will be givng one of these prizes randomly to someone who leaves a comment on this post and one to someone who has already left a comment on this previous post where I drew out all the lurkers.

My method for the grand prize selection is this: 

1. Randomly pick a number between 1 and 106 (the number of posts before this)

2. Randomly pick a number between 1 and the number of comments on that post (comments left after now won't count)

3. Check to see if that commenter also entered by leaving a comment on THIS post

4. Repeat as necessary to find a winner

So, you have to leave a comment here to win.  I won't be overly picky about what you say.  If you want to be fun, you can send me your favorite cookie recipe.  I'm particularly interested in finding a good shortbread-like sugar cookie recipe for big, thick cutouts.  I bought the most amazing ones for Easter with a slightly lemon frosting that I'm hoping to re-create.  I'll leave the contest open until Tuesday at midnight, just in case some of you are too occupied with the holiday.

AND....if you can be the first to tell me where I can buy PEACH colored raffia, I will make a special prize just for you.  It has to be peach, not coral, or orange, or terra cotta, which I already have.

**** UPDATE: I should have mentioned I'm looking for synthetic raffia!

So good luck to you all.

You should know I appreciate all my readers so much.  When I started this all a year ago I never knew how much fulfillment I would get from sharing with you and getting to know you too.  A whole year....wow.

JT

Comments

[Alicia]

I heartedly admit that I was one of those lurkers! I'm still impressed you have this much time to do all of this - and baking to boot!

[Kat]

How about a bread recipe? This is to die for...

TUSCAN FLAT BREAD

2 1/2 TEAS ACTIVE DRY YEAST ( 1 ENVELOPE)
1/2 C LUKEWARM WATER
1/2 TEAS SUGAR
2 1/2 C ALL PURPOSE FLOUR
1/2 TEAS SALT
5 TABLESPOONS EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL, PLUS OIL FOR DRIZZLING
1/2 C COLD WATER
COURSE SALT

SPRINKLE YEAST OVER THE LUKEWARM WATER,STIR GENTLY. STIR IN SUGAR, LET STAND UNTIL CREAMY, ABOUT 5MIN

IN LG BOWL,MOUND FLOUR AND MAKE A WELL IN CENTER. POUR YEAST MIXTURE INTO THE WELL. ADD THE SALT AND 2 TABLESPOONS OF OLIVE OIL IN THE WELL. STIR SLOWLY INCORPOARSTING THE DRY INGREDIENTS. WHEN HALF THE FLOUR HAS BEEN INCORPORATED, ADD THE COLD WATER. CONT WORKING UNTIL THE MIXTURE FORMS A COHEASIVE BALL.

TURN DOUGH OUT ONTO A FLOURED WORK SURFACE, KNEAD UNTIL IT IS SMOOTH AND ELASTIC (10-15 MIN)

SHAPE DOUGH INTO A BALL AND PLACE IN OILED BOWL. TURN TO COAT WITH OIL , COVER WITH TOWE., SET IN WARM PLACE TO RISE, 1 1/2-2 1/2 HOURS.

LIGHTLY OIL 10 1/2 X 15 PAN. PUNCH DOWN THE DOUGH AND KNEAD AGAIN FOR A COUPLE OF MINS.ROLL OUT DOUGH ON FLOURED SURFACE AND SHAPE IT TO SIZE OF PAN. PLACE IN PAN AND COVER WITH DAMP TOWEL AND SET IN WARM PLACE TO RISE 30 MIN.

PREHEAT OVEN 400 F

DIMPLE SURFACE OF DOUGH WITH FINGERTIP, POUR REMAINING 3 TABLESPOONS OIL OVER THE SURFACE, SPRINKLE WITH THE COURSE SALT.

BAKE 25-30 MINS. REMOVE FROM PAN AND CUT INTO SQUARES.

[Jess]

I think it is the perfect picnic quilt. Thanks for sharing the tutorial. I may just have to make it if I don't win it. I have a lot of old jeans lying around that I've been saving for a project! Well I know I am a newer reader, so I think my luck with be for some post over 100...but I'll cross my fingers and toes. Thanks! Jess

[Amanda]

What a great quilt! I love the sturdy feeling of denim, and I think that will do nicely as a picnic quilt. Have you tried the NYT Bread recipe yet? Here's my slightly tweaked version. It's so easy and delicious!

SPEEDY NO-KNEAD NYT BREAD

3 cups bread flour

1 packet ( 1/4 ounce) instant yeast

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

Oil as needed.

1. Combine flour, yeast and salt in a large bowl. Add 1 1/2 cups water and stir until blended; dough will be shaggy. Cover bowl with a plate or with a larger bowl placed upside down on top. Let dough rest about 4 hours at warm room temperature, about 70 degrees.

2. Lightly oil a work surface and place dough on it; fold it over on itself once or twice. Clean your original bowl, oil it, and put the dough back in for about 45 minutes to rise again.

3. At least a half-hour before dough is ready, heat oven to 450 degrees. Put a 6-to-8-quart heavy covered pot or dutch oven (cast iron, enamel, Pyrex or ceramic) in oven as it heats.

When dough is ready, carefully remove pot from oven. Dump the dough from the oiled bowl directly into the hot pot. Shake pan once or twice if dough is unevenly distributed; it will straighten out as it bakes.

4. Cover with lid and bake 30 minutes, then remove lid and bake another 10 minutes, until loaf is beautifully browned. Cool on a rack.

Yield: 1 big loaf. You can easily double this recipe, just make sure that you use a bigger bowl to mix it in and let it rise. You can use the same amount of yeast, just double the flour and salt.

When you go to do the second rising, split the dough into two equal pieces and put each in its own oiled bowl. Bake one, and then when it is done, plop the second one into the already-hot bread-baking pot.

This is my slightly edited version of the NYT bread recipes from Mark Bittman.
See http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/08/dining/08mini.html for the original article and
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/08/dining/08mini.html?ref=dining for the faster updated version and all the details, plus photos of how it should look at each step.

[FawnDear]

Sadly, I'm not good with cooking cookies. I think I burn 2 trays out of 3. I blame it on being distracted by my kids. That and if I was good at cooking I'd be the size of a small whale because I couldn't stop eating them.
So I'm not too good at helping but I thought I'd share some of my favorite posts of yours. The ones I keep going back to time and time again because they are genius. The basement room makeover,Your daughter's magical mermaid costume, and the birthday crown.
You are one incredibly talented lady and whoever wins your quilt will be blessed indeed.

[Courtney]

I love the bright colors in your quilt combined with the worn in denim. This shortbread recipe is from The Pastry Queen by Rebecca Rather owner of Rather Sweet Bakery.

2 cups unsalted butter, at room temp
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
2 tsp Vanilla extract
4 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder

Preheat oven to 350. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Beat the butter and sugar in a large bowl on med-high until fluffy. Add the vanilla and beat until combined. In a separate bowl, stir together the flour and baking powder. Add the flour mixture slowly to the butter mixture, stirring on low speed. Stop beating as soon as the flour mixture is completetly incorporated. Form dough into a ball, cover in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 30 minutes before rolling it out. Roll to 1/4 inch thickness on a floured surface. Cut out cookies, and use a spatula to transfer to baking sheets. Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes.

I like to roll the dough into a log and cut off slices to bake after it has been chilled. If you like this recipe contact me, and I will send you the powdered sugar icing recipe.

[Amy @ parkcitygirl]

I've had fun getting to know you too! :) Your quilt is really fun and would be put to good use here!! I'm not a sugar cookie or raffia girl - so I'm no help at all :P Have fun going through all your posts and comments!!

[Trish]

Hmmm... I certainly do not qualify as an "old" reader, nor a lurker as I've just stumbled across your blog ;) I'm glad I've found you! I love this quilt and I'm totally thinking picnic, ball game, etc quilt! Thanks for linking to the tutorial.

As for cookies, I'm afraid I am not the world's best baker and I tend to believe that Pillsbury is my friend!! (I am however a rockstar at making pies. Wierd - right?

[Mary]

I love the quilt! It looks amazing, you are so generous to be giving such a beauty away.
I recently made some shortbread cookies... but cannot for the life of me fine the online recipe- sorry, but whatever shortbread you find- make sure you don't let the bake to long, it will help them stay nice and moist!

[Jamie AZ]

That quilt came out so great, Jessica! Inspires me to move that style quilt up on my to do list! Hope your holiday weekend is good. We're off to Colorado for cabining, fishing and fun with friends.

[Ingrid]

It really is a beautiful quilt and very generous of you to give away! I don't have a recipe because I'm not much of a baker, but I am going to use the the cookie recipe posted by another reader with the cream cheese icing! I could eat the icing without the cookie!

[Hannah]

So great! I really need to start quilting....

[Brandy]

Super cute quilt! I love it.

[SparklyGreenKnickers]

Ooh, like I needed another quilt tutorial! I'm having trouble finishing the 5+ that I have on the go now. This one looks to simple enough to tempt me, though. Maybe it's best that it is raining outside (meaning that thrifted jeans wouldn't dry quickly enough). Have you made one for yourself, too?

[Erica T.]

This is a really unique way to put together a jean quilt!! (from a lurker)