Log Cabin~Spring & a Recipe

Introducing Log Cabin~Spring! In shades of yellow and green with images of a primrose path, stylized florals, and dragonflies, I think it captures the spirit of spring.

And here is my recipe for Blueberry Raspberry Coffee Cake. It is in US measures and temps, hopefully our friends in other parts of the world can convert these online. It may have a few layers but it really is pretty easy to put together. It stores well and stays moist. I hope you'll enjoy it too!

Blueberry Raspberry Coffee Cake

preheat oven to 350 degrees F

spray 9" springform cake pan with non-stick spray (I also cut a piece of parchment paper for bottom of pan and put it in the pan and spray the paper)

Cake Layer ingredients -

2 cups unbleached flour

1 1/4 cup sugar

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 stick butter

Mix dry ingredients and cut in butter (I use a food processor and pulse in butter then transfer to mixing bowl and add the wet ingredients and blueberries)

3/4 cup milk

2 eggs, beaten

1 teaspoon almond extract

Combine the wet ingredients and then add to dry until blended.

1 cup blueberries (toss with a tablespoon of flour) fold into the batter and then pour into springform pan.

Ricotta Layer ingredients -

1 cup ricotta cheese

1 egg

2 tablespoons sugar

1 tablespoon of lemon juice (or 1 teaspoon lemon extract)

Combine ingredients and then pour over the cake layer.

1 cup raspberries

I just drop these randomly on the ricotta layer.

Streusel Layer ingredients -

1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 stick butter

Pulse in food processor and sprinkle on top of cake. (I always have some of this on hand in the freezer for topping all sorts of baked goods)

Sprinkle with cinnamon and if you like some nuts - I usually use sliced almonds.

Bake approximately 50 to 60 minutes until the center doesn't jiggle, you can also test with a skewer. Let it cool on rack for about ten minutes, remove the side of the pan and let continue to cool before serving.

Log Cabin~Winter Model Finished

You know, it really is a good idea to stitch winter themed things during the heat of summer :)

Thankfully, we've had a very cool summer so far, but even a few hot days are too many for me and it was nice to be stitching snowflakes and reindeer and remembering 'my' time of year isn't too very far away. I'm not wishing my life away, mind you, I'm grateful for every day the good Lord gives me, but it is easier for me to be thankful when it is cooler, lol.

This cooler wetter spring and summer have given us a bumper crop of blueberries this year and in between stitching and designing I've been freezing berries and making a few much requested recipes. If you've never tried it I highly recommend filling your next batch of cinnamon rolls with some blueberries, fresh or frozen. They can make getting up and having breakfast something to really look forward to. I also make a blueberry/raspberry coffee cake that is easy, beautiful and pretty delicious if I say so myself. If there is any interest I'll happily post the recipe :)

I hope to introduce Log Cabin~Spring in a few days. Log Cabin~Winter will go on sale during the Counted Wishes Festival which begins Sept 15th. During the festival I'll also be offering buy two patterns get a third of your choice for free and I'll have a new free pattern available. Right now I can only tell you that it contains my favorite motto about music!

Color and What I Think of Those Who Change My Patterns

Recently I've had several people ask me what I think when someone changes the colors of my designs. I think this question has come up, because some group stitchers have completed Heart Note Alley and posted photos on various sites.

I can see why they might ask since some stitchers chose to drastically change the colors I used in this pattern and so I thought it might be a good idea to answer on the blog.

One of the reasons I began making my own designs and started this blog is to encourage others to be creative, so how could I complain when someone exercises some creativity and make changes in a pattern? When someone buys one of my patterns it is theirs. The only thing they can't do is sell it. I don't mind if they share it with someone else, for free. And what colors or changes they make is completely their business.

I've seen some finished Heart Note Alleys that were beautifully and uniquely someone else's interpretation, while some were frankly unattractive, but if the stitcher is happy with it, I'm happy with it.

The only thing I would ask is that they understand that I choose the colors I do for specific reasons. Color greatly inspires me and the images I create won't 'say' the same thing I meant them to say if the colors change. But maybe the stitcher wants to say something different and the colors they choose may do that for them. More power to them ;)

Log Cabin~Winter Colors

This one has been fun to stitch! :) Hopefully I'll get it done in time for the online festival next month.

I'm going to be stitching all of the seasonal Log Cabin designs on the same Zweigart 18 count pale cream Aida. This one is slightly larger than the Autumn Log Cabin, with a stitch count of 190 x 190 and on 18 count it measures approximately 10 1/2" square.

I'm using HDF's silk floss for the model and this is the DMC conversion I'm using -

DMC 800 delft blue pl - HDF Fugue Blue #2239

DMC 799 delft blue md - HDF Fugue Blue #2241

DMC 798 delft blue dk - HDF Fugue Blue #2243

DMC 743 yellow md - HDF Koi Gold #4215

DMC 728 golden yellow - HDF Koie Gold #4217

I chose this blue because it really has a cool feeling to it and this yellow due to its having a warmth like firelight. Hope you like it :) Here are the first two seasonal log cabin blocks. I think they look well together.