VINTAGE QUILT HOODIE | A COZY UPCYCLED GRANDMOTHER'S FLOWER GARDEN SWEATSHIRT

I started with a vintage quilt runner that I picked up at an antique shop sale.

It’s soft and timeworn, with a few gentle tears and holes—

yet still every bit a vintage beauty.

This was clearly a well-loved piece. I know some don’t like the thought of cutting into something like this, but I love the idea that someday, someone might take one of my quilts and upcycle it—maybe into something soft & worn that lets them feel a quilt’s warmth wrapped around them.

I purchased the creamy hoodie at Costco on sale for $5. Score! It had a side seam from the armhole to the bottom band that really made replacing the front panel with a quilt piece super easy! 

I picked out the stitches along the shoulder seam, armhole seams, and side seams, and just along the front at the bottom band, leaving the band intact on the back. 

Note: Some sweatshirts don't have side seams. You might be able to cut along the side to remove the front panel of the sweatshirt. But I have not attempted that. 

To create the quilted front, I used the original sweatshirt panel as my pattern, laying it over the vintage quilt and carefully cutting around it. 

This simple step gave me a perfectly sized quilted front panel. Also note: I was careful when positioning the front sweatshirt panel as a pattern, making sure I didn't have flowers in unwanted places. Two flowers at chest level would not have been pretty. LOL

It came out better than expected, and it's the most comfortable hoodie I own! 

I get compliments on it every time I wear it.  

I hope the quilter who made this quilt runner would be happy to know that I am wrapping myself up in their quilt and sharing it!  So much better than tucked away on a shelf. 

I even sewed one of my canvas labels at the bottom of the front panel. 

My labels are very similar to these available on Etsy.

@Etsy #EtsyHoliday #EtsyPartner #Ad #EtsyCreatorCo

EASY APPLE CRISP PIZZA RECIPE | A SWEET FALL FAVORITE

EASY APPLE CRISP PIZZA RECIPE | A SWEET FALL FAVORITE 

We have a Honeycrisp apple tree in our backyard. It's not a big backyard, and it's not a big apple tree. But just about every other year, it produces an amazing crop of apples. 

We've juiced them, made applesauce, eaten them, and always made apple crisp pizza! It's one of our favorite fall treats. 

I found a similar recipe online years ago and have made it my own. I usually make my own pie crust, but you can totally buy a premade crust. We've tried different caramel toppings too, and they're all our favorite! 

I've also made this out of many different varieties of apples. But mostly Honeycrisp from our own tree. Enjoy! 

INGREDIENTS

1 Pastry for single-crust pie crust (9”) I usually make my own (it just takes it to the next level!) But you can totally buy a premade crust, like the Pillsbury kind.

⅔ cup sugar

3 T flour

1 tsp. Ground cinnamon

4 medium apples—peeled and diced

TOPPING

½ cup flour

⅓ cup  packed brown sugar

½ cup old-fashioned rolled oats

1 tsp ground cinnamon

¼ cup salted butter

DRIZZLE

½ cup caramel topping

Preheat oven to 350°

Roll pastry to fit a 12” pizza pan; fold under edges to give the pizza a bit of a raised crust. Crimp edge in your preferred method.

Combine sugar, flour, and cinnamon in a medium bowl. Add peeled, diced apples and toss. Arrange apples in a single layer over the pie crust to completely cover it. 

For the topping, combine flour, brown sugar, oats, cinnamon, and butter in a bowl.

Mix well. Sprinkle topping evenly over the apples. 

Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until apples are tender.

Remove from the oven and immediately drizzle with caramel topping. Cut into pizza slices and serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

INSIDE THE PLEASANT HOME LONGARM STUDIO - PROFESSIONAL LONGARM QUILTING EDGE-T0-EDGE DESIGNS

Welcome to my longarm quilting studio—an unexpected dream come true! This is where I get to put the finishing touch on your beautiful quilts.

It's exactly as I pictured it when I started planning for it. Bright, clean, and organized. If you don't know me well—I function better in neat and tidy spaces. 

Fun Fact: I professionally cleaned and organized for over 25 years. I started when I was a sophomore in high school. 

The photo below shows where all the computer/bookkeeping parts of my business take place. And where Queen Elna calls home.  She sits right in front of the big. I almost always have the window open a little, to let fresh air in and to hear the sounds of our little neighborhood in the country. 

This is Betty Jean, my Innova Classic Longarm. She fit perfectly in here. 

This is the cutting and ironing/pressing table I call my workbench that the husband and I built. 9 cube cubbies on either end, with a piece of plywood on top. (The husband put some nice routered trim around the edge.) A brace in the middle keeps it sturdy and from sagging. Then the husband built a shelving unit with two drawers that sits underneath to one side. 

I would love to spend some time in this space and longarm for you!  I currently accept drop-off and mail-in. For more information and to get the process started. Click the button below! 

BEGINNER FRIENDLY QUILT-AS-YOU-GO PILLOW PATTERN - A COZY DIY FOR QUILTERS

Bring handmade charm to your home with this easy Quilt-As-You-Go project. A pillow cover perfect for those cozy spaces in your home. 

A short and sweet pattern that was originally published several years ago. I’ve finally taken the time to put the pattern into a downloadable PDF. It’s a simple Quilt-as-You-Go method ideal for scraps from your stash.

If you've been wanting to try a quilt-as-you-go method, this Cottage Cabin Pillow is the perfect starter project. Quick, fun, and full of cozy texture. 

The pillow cover could be made for any season or holiday. 

The View Through a Vintage Window

In the 1990's, my husband and I rented and later bought my grandmother's little old farmhouse. It was the house my dad grew up in. It was the house me and my little family spent 13 years in.

We had the same neighbors that my dad grew up with. The same neighbors I knew as a child. The same neighbors that were on my grandma’s party line.

Our little farmhouse when my grandmother lived in it.

It started as a chicken coop in the 1930s or 1940s. By the time my grandmother bought it, it had become a house. According to family lore, the original farmhouse on the property burned down, and the owners moved into the chicken coop. They gradually added to it, transforming it into a livable home.

The little shed and chicken coop when we lived in the farmhouse

Years after we had moved into the house, we decided to remodel. It started with replacing a window. As we peeled back the many layers of wallpaper around the window, it suddenly began to move. To our surprise, we discovered that the window had never been properly framed in; it was basically sitting in a hole cut into the side of the house, held in place by the wallpaper.

The beginning of our “remodel”.

That marked the beginning of the enormous task of reconstructing a house within a house, a massive project that took many months to complete.

During the process, I collected old windows and unearthed artifacts. Some I kept, including one window that became my sprinkle cupboard, which I've posted about on Instagram many times.

Another window became part of my home décor, finding its place in various spots over the years.

There's something captivating about vintage windows. I often find myself imagining the views they once framed and the scenes others saw through them

When I had the opportunity to host my niece's bridal shower, I brought it out again. I stapled some string to the back, draped it in the front, and used clothespins to hang photos of the bride and groom.

It was a simple decoration, but one of my favorites from the shower. And everyone loved seeing pictures of the bride and groom throughout their lives. I imagine I’ll be using this window more often to decorate with now!

SIMPLE FLAG BANNER PATTERN | SIMPLE QUILTING PROJECT FROM PLEASANT HOME

When I was decorating for my niece’s bridal shower, I pulled one of my old windows out and sat it on top of my kitchen hutch.

I used it to display photos of the bride and groom. And it turned out so cute! You can see a picture of it HERE

I loved the window on my hutch! (I’m not sure why I had never thought to display it there before?) I wanted to keep it there for a little while, but what could I decorate it with? A quilt or wall hanging popped into my head!

So I took some measurements. Drafted a pattern. And went to work. I am totally in love with the results! A simple quilted flag banner was the result.

Use up your scraps and stash by mixing and matching prints, tones, and solids for the stripes and the star. You could even use vintage linens.

You can grab the Simple Flag Banner PDF pattern in my Etsy shop.

@Etsy #EtsyPartner #EtsyCreatorCo #Ad @Pleasant.Home

PINWHEEL QUILT MADE EASY | NEW AND IMPROVED PINWHEELS & PRAIRIE POINTS QUILT PATTERN

A new version of an old favorite!

For several years I’ve wanted to update my original pinwheel baby quilt with a different way of making the pinwheels.

The original pinwheel quilt was first featured on the Moda Bake Shop blog in 2009. And it’s been a favorite among quilters ever since! You can still find the original tutorial 'Pinwheel Baby Quilt' at the Moda Bake Shop Blog.

Today (July 9, 2024) I’m releasing a NEW version of the original tutorial! The original tutorial has been revised, refreshed, updated, and cleaned up and uses a different method for creating the pinwheels.

In the new version of the Pinwheels & Prairie Points quilt, the pinwheels are smaller than in the original pinwheel quilt, with 42 in total. I love how it gives the quilt a dainty, vintage vibe. (The quilt’s finished size is approx. 42”x47”).

This is my third pinwheels and prairie points quilt using the new version of the pattern. And it just might be my favorite! This was also the first time I used a low-volume print for the background and borders (instead of solid white). And I love the results!

You can find a blog post on the Original Pinwheel Quilt HERE

@Etsy #EtsyPartner #EtsyCreatorCo #Ad @Pleasant.Home