I want to wish everyone a very Happy Holiday and a very creative New Year!

Tracy & Girls

www.3bgirlsquilts.com

I got this in my email this morning. Needless to say I was very happy! My first online award :-)

Have a creative day, Tracy & Girls www.3bgirlsquilts.com

My Other Passion

For those reading this post, you might think I do everything "quilty". But you're wrong!! Meet my other passion…cooking. Well let me clarify that some more-- I love trying new food recipes and sampling spices I've never tried. The girls (Drew and Justin) snicker and crack jokes about my endless viewing of Martha Stewart. Last week Martha had on Eva Longora (just in case you haven't heard, she's from Texas) demonstrating her recipe for beef skirt steak. She topped her steak off with Queso Fresco (Mexican cheese that my girls thought was Feta cheese) and a squeeze of fresh lime. This all looked and sounded good but I wasn't motivated to make this until I ran across the following recipe while flipping through Southern Living magazines in the local library:

Smoky Barbecue Rub

Stir together 2 Tbsp. firmly packed dark brown sugar.

2 tsp. garlic salt.

1 tsp. chipotle Chile powder.
½ tsp. ground cumin.

¼ tsp. dried oregano.

Mix ingredients together and rub mixture on meat. Let meat marinated for 1-2 hours in refrigerator.

OK, I have a confession to make—I hate following directions! So this is what I did to the recipe. First of all, I couldn't find Chipotle Chile powder in our local grocery store so I did the next best thing. I found Chipotle Peppers in Adobe Sauce (canned). I chopped two of the peppers up fine and tested the heat of the peppers. I can't stand to much heat so two or three would be just right for me. I also added 1 tsp. of onion powder to the rub and lastly I added 2 Tbsp. of olive oil. So now instead of a rub, I got a paste J I rubbed the paste over the skirt steak and let marinate for three hours. I cooked the steak on my extra-large Forman Grill (I sometimes use my Forman grill like a stove-top grill) but this could also go on the outside grill. With the top open on the grill, the steak cooked for six minutes on each side. I thought if I cooked with the top open I could better control the heat and cooking time. Try slicing some red onions and red bell peppers, coating them with a little olive oil and salt & pepper. I used half of the grill for the steak and the other half for the peppers and onions.

I served the steak as tacos with slice of red onion and red peppers, a squeeze of lime, chunks of avocado and Queso Fresco. In the picture you will see I added some homemade potato salad. It all was um, um, good!

This meal was very easy to make, fast and cheap. You just can't go wrong with all those qualities. I hope you get the chance to try the recipe out. Please let me know what you think and/or if you added something different.

Okay, now on to something "quilty"! This last month my family moved into our home. Mid-way through all the unpacking I had the need to start creating but I needed to load my EQ6 onto my new laptop. How come you can never find things when you're looking for it??? I went through box after box and no EQ6. I even offered to pay a reward to the girls if they would look for the software. No luck. Finally after looking at the price of the new EQ7 ($189.00) I decided to check eBay out. My luck was changing because I found a brand new copy (still in wrap) for $111.00 but with the option of submitting a Best Offer. Alright I'm feeling lucky, so I placed an offer for $100.00 and guess what…I got it! The box arrived in three days after paying for the auction and now I'm ready to roll.

Well, I hope I didn't talk too much on this post but it has been awhile. Take care and keep creating!

Tracy Ward

3-B Girl's Quilts

Pattern Giveaway

With the release of our new pattern "Trellis", we are hosting a pattern giveaway. Now through September 13th leave a comment below on how you caught the quilting bug. We will be giving away five (5) Trellis patterns! All winners will be randomly picked the close of September 13th. Thanks and good luck.

Have a creative day,Tracy & Girls
www.3bgirlsquilts.com

New Pattern Release

Please feel free to post this on your page, email or facebook.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 2, 2010

Quilting in a Day Has Continued with the Release of “Trellis”
3-B Girl’s Quilts a quilt pattern company located in sunny San Antonio, Texas features a mother and two daughter design team. Mother, Tracy M. Ward, states, “I want to teach my girls the love of creating through quilts.” Tracy said that she is still keeping hope open as the girls still hate to wind a bobbin, but they do contribute to the company by creating graphic designs, pattern names and occasionally doing some seam pressing.

This past August the threesome joined forces and released their seventh pattern, “Trellis”. The company’s policy is, “We create patterns for the lack-of-time quilter,” and the release of Trellis has proved that these three know what they are doing. When asked what makes Trellis such as easy quilt to make, Tracy said, “The pattern is great for Jelly Rolls, Charm Packs and Layer Cakes or if you need to put a dent in your fabric stash this is the pattern for you. Also with the gift giving season around the corner, a quilter can whip up a couple of these quilts for fast gift giving.”

With their quirky style, the design team is steady making strides to be one of the well-known quilt designers in a quilt world of traditional methods. They’re spreading their unorthodox way of quilting one pattern and interview at a time. Last year Tracy hosted Podcast Queen, Annie Smith, of Simple Arts (http://www.simplearts.com/) during her cross- country trip. Tracy showed Annie where to get the best BBQ in Texas. You can listen to this episode (153) on Simple Arts website. “Although I’ve been sewing and creating for over 20 years, I like to say I was “discovered” by Mark Lipinski (http://www.marklipinski.com/), then editor of Quilter’s Home Magazine,” said Tracy. One early Sunday morning, Mark thought he was responding to Tracy’s post from his online Yahoo Group Pickle Road, but was actually responding to Yahoo’s Group Quilt Designer. After he realized his error, he sent an apology to Tracy and offered to publish one of her patterns sight unseen. Tracy took Mark up on his offer and in March/April 2009 issue “Crazy Daisy” was show cased in Quilter’s Home with great reviews.

Tracy frequently designs patterns for websites such as QNNTv.com (La French) and GraceFullCreations.com (Watermelon Pencil Holder). Just recently, she was selected as one of the designers in Rachel Clark’s (http://www.rdkc.com/) Back Porch Fiber Art Show. “Egypt was my theme for a three-quarter length coat, however I took my theme back to Ancient Egypt. After watching many Discovery and NatGEO Channel documentaries on Egypt, I came up with a design that utilized intricate beading and gold fabric around the collar and hieroglyphic symbols all over the coat.” This coat can be seen touring throughout the country at one of Rachel Clark’s fiber art shows.

Contact Information
3-B Girl’s Quilts
13000 Vista del Norte #524
San Antonio, TX 78216
210-815-1016
http://www.3bgirlsquilts.com/

Have a creative day,Tracy & Girls

www.3bgirlsquilts.com

Where have I been? And My Favorite Blogs

I can finally catch my breath! This week was my last day of work until January and my first week of crafting full time. I also moved (along with five boxes of fabric) and my kids finally got a chance to see how many sewing machines mommy "really" has J It's funny how we can explain away the use of three sewing machines…you know "what if one breaks down, then what?" Anyway, I've been on this kick to finish up all my unfinished quilts. So far, I completed three and made a brand new quilt called "Trellis". Trellis will be a new pattern to my line after I work out the kinks. You can check it out on my Etsy shop.

OK now for my favorite Blogs…first up is the girl's from Lizzie B Cre8ive. I just love their bright and cheerful website and their funny antics. They just make me laugh!

Next up is Mary Engelbreit blog. I think I'm addicted to her fabric. Anyway I love reading the process how her first sketches transforms into fabric, cards or painting.

I just love, love, love Pink Chalk Studio by Kathy Mack. Lots of give aways and tutorials here. I like Kathy's quilting style so this is one of the places I go for inspiration.

Last but not least is Pink Penguin. Her work has been published in the Stitches magazine. She seems to find the coolest fabric and wait until you see what she come up with. Actually after reading one of her post, "she talked me into" purchasing a Speedball starter silk screening kit…more on that another timeJ

Well gang there goes my list. I tried to keep it short so you won't get hooked like me and wonder where the time wentJ So tell me some of your fav blogs.

Have a creative day,

Tracy & Girls

Happy New Year!

Boy, I haven't posted for some time. I like to bring you up to date on what I've been doing.
November I spent the whole month planning and making my coat for the Back Porch Textile show, which was held in Pacific Grove, CA. I was plaqued with many stopping and starting sessions because of fear (this coat was going to be seen by no other than textile artist, Rachel D.K. Clark). After being pushed along by my children, I did finally complete the coat. I waited so long that I had to send the coat via next day delivery and that cost me a woping $95! Lesson learned here...won't do that again :-)

The theme of the show was to make a coat based on a country. My country was Egypt and I tooke that to Acient Egypt.

After sending my baby (coat) off into the world, December I held my second annual cookie swap party. This year I made a whole turkey that I put in a brine which made the turkey so flavorful. I heated the brine on the stove and added chicken broth, apple cider vingar, black pepper corns, fresh sage leaves, fresh tyme leaves and kosher salt. I let the turkey soak for four hours but I think it could have been longer. For a side dish, I served Creamy Potato Gratin. This was another hit with my guest. As you can see, I'm a big fan of the Food Network Channel and I like trying different recipes.

Today I feeling very creative so I will sign off. I have a couple of new designs swimming around in my head. Until next time...

Have a creative day,
Tracy & Girls
www.3bgirlsquilts.com