Seaside Summer Blog Hop

Welcome to the first day of September...or as I like to think of it, my day to play in the Seaside Summer Blog Hop from Island Batik. I am working with the same colorway that Kissed Quilts is using today on her blog...it's time to Splash! This colorway makes me smile... I can't wait to hang this one in my studio. Keep reading this, because there are two giveaway opportunities here for you. I had a very hectic schedule this month - more so than I usually do; I worked two events (18 consecutive days!), and even with some advance planning, this quilt wasn't finished until about 9:30 last night. I had been able to piece the top of the quilt in July, and I even got the binding made...so while I was dashing in and out, this happy quilt was on my design wall.  Waiting...My inspiration for this piece came from a Nancy Zieman video on you tube, found through surfing on Pinterest. I was drawn to the clean lines of the design, and I see this as colorful pennants hanging at a beach house. Or swimsuits.  I have shown sketches of this to a shop owner who carries many of my patterns, and she loved the idea of the quilt...but she wanted the construction done through precuts.  This quilt can be done using a layer cake precut- with yardage serving as the background fabric. The pattern is being written now.This quilt is about the size of a large wall hanging, although the pattern design can easily be scaled up to a full size quilt.  The amount of negative space in this quilt scared me - I did more sketching and doodling on this pattern than on almost any other quilt I've done. Not to mention the new machine that needed a good hard run.At one time, this quilt was going to be called Car Doodles, but I want the name of the pattern to relate to quilt.  So here's the first giveaway...a charm pack (Island Batik calls them stamp packs) of the Splash colorway  to the quilter who gives me the best name suggestion for the pattern. Please leave your comment below...winner will be drawn on Tuesday, Sept 6th and the winner notified by email.The second giveaway is via the Rafflecopter widget below...there is a giveaway being hosted by Island Batik - enter below for a chance to win some of the fabrics that you've seen on the hop.a Rafflecopter giveawayThe last ingredient that we were asked to put into this blog post was a special summer recipe. Going last has its' advantages...I've been reading recipes all morning long. In the summer, I love a good Caprese salad, and this crowd sized version comes from AnnsEntitledLife.com on  Pinterest.Cucumber Caprese Salad RecipeBy AnnA beautiful and delicious take on a traditional Caprese Salad, this Cucumber Caprese Salad Recipe is a perfect side dish with steak, burgers, turkey legs, barbecue chicken and more! Easy to make, this Cucumber Caprese Salad recipe is loaded with sweet, fresh vegetables. Try it today!Prep Time: 10 minutesTotal Time: 20 MinutesIngredients:• 2 TBSP Olive Oil• 1 TBSP Balsamic Vinegar• 1 TBSP Dried Oregano• 1 TBSP Dried Basil• Dash Salt• Dash Pepper• 1 Cucumber Peeled, Skin Scraped w/Fork and Sliced Thin and Diced• 1½ cups Cherry Tomatoes quartered• 8oz Fresh Mozzarella• ½ Large Red Onion DicedDirections:• In a small bowl mix together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, dried oregano, dried basil and a dash of salt and pepper; set aside.• Peel washed cucumber, scrap the skin with a fork up and down a few times. Slice thin and dice. Add to a medium sized bowl.• Quarter washed cherry tomatoes. Add to the bowl with the cucumbers.• Thinly slice and dice your red onion (of you do not like onion, feel free to omit from the recipe). Add to bowl with cucumbers and tomatoes.• Slice mozzarella into bite sized pieces (or use pearl sized mozzarella balls). Add to bowl with cucumbers, tomatoes and red onion.• Pour marinade over vegetables and cheese; mix well.• Allow to sit for 10 minutes before serving.• Makes 4 servings Cucumber Caprese Salad