build a quilt workshop: cascade

the first set of build a quilt workshop classes went over really well.
so well, in fact, that i've been gearing up & making plans for a new class.
:)

in case you missed out on the first classes, here's a little refresher. . .
the idea is to host online workshops in a quilt along style atmosphere.
we'll be using a private flickr group as our platform.
and everyone loves taking classes with their friends, right?!?!

class will start mid january.
once your class fee is paid, you'll be invited to join our private flickr group.
and that's when the fun starts.
{providing we all like this concept, more classes will be added.}


cascade class-
in this class we will build a modern patchwork quilt.
this class is perfect for beginners through advanced quilters.

*cascade quilt we will be building*

pay the cascade class fee HERE.
limited spots available.

paid class members will recieve a 20% discount via fat quarter shop towards their next purchase. {code will given via flickr group.}

so who's ready to build some quilts?!?!
:D

♥ rachel

12.25.11

we wish you a merry christmas & a happy new year!!!

♥ the griffith's

grandmomma's sausage cheese pie.

grandmomma's sausage cheese pie.

here's what y'all will need:
1/2 pkg jimmy dean sausage
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
4 eggs
1/2 cup milk
frozen pie crust
optional: crushed parsley flakes

the making part:
brown sausage; drain.
mix all ingredients together.
pour in frozen pie crust.
optional: sprinkle crushed parsley flakes on top.
bake 350' for 30 minutes or until firm & golden brown. <--it's best to set these on a cookie sheet while baking. it helps brown the buttom of the crust. let it cool. hork it down. note: we ALWAYS double this recipe because it's gone in a blink of an eye.
i mean, you might as well use the whole pkg of sausage.
PLUS the frozen pie crust package already contains 2 crusts. <--win/win :)

if you like a little kick to your breakfast, grandmomma always did 1/2 pkg mild sausage with 1/2 pkg hot sausage. <--i just use a whole package of regular or country mild to keep it kid friendly.
BUT if you're the type that likes a little sweetness, the maple sausage is pretty good too.

this is perfect for company.
grandmomma served it with fresh fruit, like cantaloupe.
i can personally just stand over it and eat straight from the pie plate with a fork. <--don't judge :P

hope y'all enjoy.

oh and one more thing...
not all sausages are created equal.
i'm a huge jimmy dean advocate.
i believe that jimmy dean is the BEST sausage in the world & other sausages just aren't welcomed in my house.
so, please, use jimmy dean if you make this recipe.
*wink*

xo, rachel

merry giftmas :)

i don't know about yall, but i'm busy working on handmade christmas gifts.

my current project is making a gozillion homemade heating pads.
vanessa has a simple tutorial, if you're looking for one.

they make the perfect gift for teachers, hubby's coworker's wives or even the bachelor best friend who has been known to take over the one that you made for yourself.

i'd love to know what yall are crafting for christmas gifts this year.
please leave a link of what you're gifting or working on.
either a link showing the finished product or the pattern/tutorial that you are using.

i can't wait to sit down with a nice cup of hot chocolate and read through yall's giftmas list.
and maybe i'll even pick a winner or two :)

♥ rachel



*note: it may take a few minutes for your link to appear. this is normal.*

art gallery winners.

congrats to our winners!!!

purple bundle winner = jeni.
jeni's pics just make my heart happy. and i kinda wanna adopt her as my little sister :P

citrus bundle winner = emilie.
emilie has a SUPER cute blog and i personally dig this post. <--we think alot alike :)

ladies, please email me: rachel {at} psiquilt {dot} com

♥ rachel

stimulation.

{comments closed.}

i don't know about yall, but i do enjoy looking at pretty stacks of fabric.
*sigh*

i think that different colors & prints stimulate my creative side in different ways.
how about yall?!?!


i have never, ever been a fan of purple - but pat bravo seems to have recently changed that.
don't yall just love these colors?!?!
i know i do.


and look at this citrusy mix.
again, not a normal rachelish color palette, but me likey.
me likey alot.

i honestly like that pat bravo has a way of making me step outside of my norm.
i love how vibrant & saturated her fabrics read.
and i love the way they stimluate my creative side.

remember my market loot?!?!
it seems that yall just loved my art gallery fabrics.
and as luck would have it, the good peeps over at art gallery thought it would be nice to share some of their yummy fabrics with yall :)

so up for grabs...
2 bundles - each has 10 half yard cuts of assorted art gallery fabrics!!!
note: there will be two seperate winners.

to enter:
simply "like" pat bravo on facebook.
AND please leave a comment telling me which bundle you would pick, purple or citrus.
{winners will be announced on friday.}

♥ rachel

sewing with oilcloth.

fact: i've always been afraid to sew with oilcloth.
so much so that i've never even purchased oilcloth or laminated fabrics.

while at market, i just happened to come across a book signing with miss kelly mccants.
she was promoting her book sewing with oilcloth.
needless to say, i was intrigued, so i stuck around.

kelly talked a little bit about oilcloth and her book.
she even handed out little samples of oilcloth so we could make a small project from the book.
note: i totally recommend her book. <--it's SUPER informative.


well i finally got the courage to play with my oilcloth :)
obviously this was a smaller project, but sometimes a small project is all it takes.
btw: i think i see some cute oilcloth banners in my future.

so are yall for or against oilcloth???
inquiring minds want to know.

♥ rachel

still here. promise.

so what happened to november?!?!
seriously.

sorry i was awol, but we had a whole lot going on over here.
everyone in the griffith house was sick at least twice. <--hardcore flu type sick.
our daughter kept coming home with head lice thanks to her school bff.
patterns were printed with a major error.
oh and there was a little flea bombing mixed in as well.

i haven't forgotten about yall. promise.

i'm SO glad it's december.
november was ugh with a capital u.

the most creative thing i've done lately is decorate for christmas.
:)

now that the sickness is gone, i'm trying to get back in the groove.
i would like to start with remaking our stockings.
stockings i made 5ish years ago.
stockings that kind of make me cringe because of unmatched seams & cheap fabric.
stockings that my hubby just happens to love.
stay tuned for how that will go down. <--wish me luck :)

and because i know someone will ask...
quilt above = my christmasy synchronized squares quilt.
{tutorial is available HERE.}
fabric = flurry by kate spain for moda

ps - all pattern orders are being processed.
the month of november and the printing error has really set me back.
please remain to be patient with me as i play catch up.
i promise they'll be in your hands as soon as possible.

♥ rachel

my market loot.

hyperreal garden & pure elemets by pat bravo.
i'm head over heels in love with it.


more delish art gallery fabrics. . .bespoken by pat bravo.
yep. still hardcore in love. *sigh*

for the record: i think i came home with about 23ish yards of art gallery fabrics :P


oh and this yummy salt air fat quarter bundle. {by cosmo cricket.}
looove it.

i also have books & patterns . . . as well as more fabric. <--yes, more fabric.
but this is enough show & tell for now.
:D

now if yall will excuse me, i have a house full of sick people.
thank goodness the kids are out of school on monday & tuesday.
i feel a good dose of bleach & lysol coming on.

♥ rachel

fall quilt market recap.

even though i already knew what to expect, market still hit me like a mack truck.

i'm still nursing a market hangover.
i've been home since sunday night and just unpacked my suitcases yesterday.
and that's just my clothes. <--i still have all my market loot to go through :)

market is like a tornado.
there one minute, gone the next.
so i take notes.
notes that i'm still trying to work through.
it's a good thing, but i really just wanna nap. HA.


day 1 - schoolhouse/sample spree day:
first things first . . .
to the two super sweet girls that walked up to me & v early that morning -
i am SO sorry if we seemed short with yall.
we were trying to figure out where to pick up our badges.
and we couldn't find our other friend.
we were caught off guard and yall were super sweet to introduce yourself to us.
and honestly for the next couple days, v & i would bring yall up in coversation because we felt horrible. we're not jerks. promise. <--i feel a little bit better now. phew.

i only had one schoolhouse session in my sights, but i ended up in a few more...
valori wells, vanessa christenson, thomas knauer, betz white and lotta jansdotter.


speaking of betz white . . . lookie here at us.
so true story: kimberly jolly {owner of fat quarter shop} was all "rachel stand over there with betz so we can get take a picture with you, her & your bag" and all i could think was "but i didn't get the button put on the front pocket yet" <--talk about being a dork, huh?!?!
i'm proud to report that since this pic, a lovely green button has been added.

*pretend there's a pic here of hundreds of women storming through one door here*
sample spree was sample spree. <--kinda like the running of the bulls but instead of running from bulls, people are running to fabric :P
{i only took one pic at sample spree . . . horrible lighting = horrible picture.}

day 2 - floor is open:


miss barb & miss mary.
i just love these sisters.
they never, ever fail at making me laugh.
i'm eager to make myself one of those dotty bags. and i will. one day.


oh my word.
i already adore sandy klop, but her booth this market . . . yum!!!
love, love, love.


i'm also in love with the look & feel of lu summers' fabrics & whatnots.
SO darn pretty.
and that quilt . . . *covet*


i spotted lori holt's fabric right away.
i just love her style.
just look at those pom poms. and those lamps. *swoon*
i want need this fabric.


and this fabric *sigh* by my mind's eye.
i'm really digging the peachy-ness of this line with those yummy greys.
SO pretty. and oh so me.
another must have in my book.


ah betz white's booth.
just lovely.
i promise i would think that even if my quilt wasn't in it. really.
{the quilt in the back = my melly}


and this girl - emily herrick - i could just be her bff in real life. for reals.
after years of "knowing" each other online, we finally met.
instantly we were down like 4 flat tires on a low rider.
love this girl. love her fabric. and love that we finally met.
word.


and last but not least . . .
i am in love with pat bravo & art gallery fabrics.
i have loved them from afar for quite some time now, but now it's capital L O V E love. <--and yall know i don't use capital letters lightly :P


i mean just look at this wall.
i could frame this and hang it in my quilty room. for reals.
and i NEED that pillow. like yesterday.

all in all it was a great market.
even though market is way bigger than little ol' me, i still had my fair share of representaion.
i had a total of 8 quilts among various booths.
and that was both refreshing and a little terrifying. lol.

i'm missing a ton of pics, but c'est la vie.
i carried my cell phone AND my camera, yet still came home without the pics i needed.

for instance . . .
i had so much fun catching up with peeps like julie, john, kate, jana, katy, cara, jen and so many others.
but i'm kicking myself for not taking pics!!!
all yall rock my socks off btw.

come back tomorrow and i'll show yall my market loot!!!
:D

♥ rachel

hello houston.

we're in houston yall.
{we = me & vanessa.}
consider yourself warned.

♥ rachel

gearing up.

it's that time folks.

the time where apparently the days seem hours shorter, everything happens all at once, and your children, without fail, get sick.

i've been living on starbucks {& mountain dew}, utilizing my trusty sample helpers and probably driving my husband absolutely insane.

yep. i'm gearing up for market.
so yall stay tuned.

♥ rachel

impromptu.

i give yall impromptu :)


so i loooove this quilt.
and by loooove, i mean loooove.


i love that both the white AND the prints are equally showcased.
score.


oh and she's SO easy to piece that she's bed sized.
yep. bed sized.

so that quick & easy quilt you've been wanting for your bed - this is it.
promise.

she takes one layer cake plus yardage so she doesn't break the bank either.
score again.

patterns are available for preorder HERE.
{shipping in november.}


and i know this pic has lighting issues thanks to the trees, but me likey.
me likey o'lot.

qulit stats:
size = 90 1/2" x 90 1/2"
fabric = treasures & tidbits by piece o' cake designs for robert kaufman
piecing = lani padilla
quilting = darla padilla

if you are a shop that is interested in purchasing my patterns you can contact me directly or you can contact your united notions rep.

♥ rachel

savvy.

i give yall savvy :)


i might be a tiny bit biased, but i'm loving this quilt.

i just love the way the colors & shapes pop, don't yall???
*big, dreamy sigh*


savvy uses the 90' double strip ruler by creative grids for quick & easy construction.
if you're not into specialty rulers, a template is also included as an alternate option to the ruler.

and even though you need a template or ruler, it's still an easy peasy quilt to make.
promise.

patterns are available for preorder HERE.
{shipping in november.}


quilt stats:
size = 65 1/2" x 65 1/2"
fabrics = summer house by lily ashbury for moda
piecing = lani padilla
quilting = darla padilla

if you are a shop that is interested in purchasing my patterns you can contact me directly or you can contact your united notions rep.

♥ rachel

the new girls in town.

stay tuned for more details.

♥ rachel

smooth.

don't yall just love it when everything flows smoothly?!?!

kiddos are in school.
baby is napping.
hubby is at work.
dinner is prepped.
laundry is done.
and itunes is playing your fav band.

it's just you & your fabric.
and you're free {& in the mood} to be ubber productive.
*sigh*

oh and things go SO smooth that you even forget to blog.
ooops :P

i don't know about yall, but i needed a day like today.
they don't come often enough.

ps - build a quilt workshop classes are now posted.
if you're one of my students, go have a lookie doo.

♥ rachel

georgia.

i give yall georgia :)

georgia is always on my mind.
and by always, i mean always.

it's home. my roots. and my family history.
<3

on top of being raised in the great state of georgia, there was another georgia in my life.
my great grandmother.
{my daddy's momma's momma.}

her name was georgia, but everyone called her georgie.
well not me. she was mal to me. {pronounced mall.}

i used to spend the summer with her.
she taught me how to make biscuits from scratch, how to make homemade jam, how to hang laundry out on the line & how to snap beans for supper.

she amazed me with what her hands could do.
she was the real deal...the epitome of all things good in my book.

she was also a legit do-it-all-by-hand quilter.
i never learned any quilty things from her, but my mawmaw says she did extraordinary things.


my mal is the very reason i picked up quilting.
honestly.

i try to remember the quilts in her house.
the one i try the hardest to envision is the one that was on her bed.
i don't remember the pattern at all, but i think it was made using old clothes or feedsacks.
i can't even visualize it clearly, but i can remember seeing blues and reds.
and i remember sleeping there with her.
{mal & pal had seperate bedrooms.}


i was almost 12 years old when mal died. she was 91 years old.
i will never, ever forget her & how she was the female patriarch on that side of the family.

when mal passed away all her quilts were devvied up to be given to all us grandkids.
it's heartbreaking to say that my quilt {along with my sibling's quilts} were somehow misplaced before we were old enough to have them.

i wonder frequently what "my" quilt would have been.
it's kind of fun not knowing, but what i wouldn't give to have that quilt.
or any of her quilts for that matter.

to honor my mal, i wanted to have something quilty named georgia.
so georgia the pattern was born.


georgia is a pattern that i guest designed for it's sew emma.
for those that don't know, it's sew emma is fat quarter shop's new pattern company.
{get your own georgia pattern HERE.}

quilt stats:
size = 80 1/2" x 80 1/2"
fabric = ruby by bonnie & camille for moda
quilting = darla padilla

this quilt just touches my heart. alot.

do any of yall's great grandmothers {or grandmothers} quilt?!?!
do you have any of their quilts?!?!

oh and yall should scootch on over to the jolly jabber.
psst: giveaway giveaway giveaway :)

♥ rachel

to hide or not to hide???

i'm curious...
do yall store your quilts with the front facing out or do yall hide the fronts???

here's my two cents:
mostly our quilts sit {or hang} with their fronts facing out.
but then again, depending on the quilt, i might store them with the backing facing out.
oh and if i travel with my quilts, i always fold them with the backing facing out.

note: my kids have their own quilts plus we have quilts that we all use & abuse.
{livingroom quilts, quilts we play peekaboo with, quilts that build tents, quilts for football, etc.}
but we do have some quilts that are my "working girls" that travel to shops & such.
and those are "no touchy" for the kiddos. lol.

so which do yall do???
and why???

♥ rachel

rachel's beef tips & noodles.

rachel's beef tips & noodles.

here's what y'all will need:
1 1/2 - 2 lbs frozen beef stew meat
1 big can {26oz} cream of chicken soup
1 envelope lipton soup mix <--i use beefy onion OR savory herb with garlic

1 cup water
1 package cooked egg noodles

the making part:
mix cream of chicken soup, lipton soup mix & water in bowl.
place frozen beef stew meat in crockpot.
pour soup mixture over meat.
cook in crockpot on low for 6 hours.

add the cooked egg noodles to the meat & gravy right in the crockpot.
{makes for easier clean up.}

hork it down.

this meal is a must in the griffith house.
it's one of mr griffith's favorite meals of all time.
the meat is oh, so yummy & tender.
and i just love to sop up my gravy with a piece of buttered bread.
mmmm gravy.

note: you could add mushrooms if you wanna, but we no wanna.
well, mr. griffith might wanna, but mrs. griffith don't.
:P

oh, and this is THE perfect meal when you don't feel like cooking.
OR if you've been quilting all day. <--ask me how i know this. HA.

hope y'all enjoy.

xo, rachel

scrap republic blog tour.

{comments closed.}
1st winner = deserae
2nd winner = sonia
3rd winner = jen
4th winner = cori
5th winner = marisa
email me: rachel {at} psiquilt {dot} com

welcome to the scrap republic blog tour yall :)

my good friend, miss emily cier {aka the mastermind behind carolina patchworks}, is back with another book!!!
woot, woot.

scrap republic is flat out awesome. for real.
it's the perfect book for peeps that love color.

the quilts in the book are scraptastic, but emily is SO cool that she gives yardage requirements in case you wanna aim for a more controlled quilt.

hands down this is a book that i would recommed to all my peeps.
so trust me that yall want need it!!!

today i'm gonna talk to yall about the color white.
and i'll argue with anyone that says white isn't a color - cause it SO is.
*wink*


the best white thing EVER, in my book...a newborn baby all wrapped up in teeny tiny hospital clothes.
*swoon*


the 2nd best white thing, in my book...snow.
i believe that snow is god/nature's way of making us fully aware of all the other colors/things around us.


the 3rd best white thing, in my book...a clean creative slate.
any color + any placement = endless possibilities my friends.


the 4th best white thing, in my book...white fabric.
i really think that white fabric makes the quilting world go round.
and white doesn't have to be white persay.
it can be cream, ecru, ivory, snow, buttercream, feather, bone, meringue, eggshell, natural or porcelain.


the 5th best white thing, in my book...white dishes.
food is just WAY more appealing when it's served on white.
idk why, it just is.

in conclusion: white is SUPER refreshing, speaks volumes given the proper accents AND is the color that binds all other colors together.

no blog tour would be complete without a giveaway:
5 lucky ps i quilt readers will win their own scrap republic goodie.
up for grabs...
- scrap republic from c&t publishing.
- scrap republic eco tote from c&t publishing.
- bag o' scraps from robert kaufman.
- roy g biv essential cotton thread from connecting threads.
- mrs. roy g biv quilt pattern from carolina patchworks <--the pattern that inspired the book!!!
just leave a comment telling me what your fav white thing is.
{winner will be drawn october 14th.}

and don't forget to visit all the peeps on our blog tour:
{they'll also be having giveaways!!!}

october 3rd - white
rachel griffith - ps i quilt

october 4th - pink
kathy mack - pink shalk studio

october 5th - red
kimberly jolly - fat quarter shop

october 6th - orange
jake finch - generation q magazine

october 7th - yellow
pat sloan

october 8th - green
connecting threads

october 9th - blue
scott hansen - blue nickel studios

october 10th - indigo {grouped with black/brown/grey in the book}
john adams - quilt dad

october 11th - violet/purple
allie heath - robert kaufman

so happy touring!!!

ps - don't forget that i'm gonna be on the radio today with pat sloan.

♥ rachel