Happy Birthday Mom, Part 1

We celebrated my Mom’s 70^th birthday for four wonderful days!  It started with an early birthday dinner last Thursday evening at her favorite restaurant.  Her first surprise was my sister flying in from Houston.  She came to the table at the restaurant, ready to take our order.  My mom was so surprise that it took her a second to figure out that it was my sister.  (In her defense, the place was a bit dark)

A couple of the gifts that I have been working on and couldn’t share were for her birthday.  First, I made her and my sister these ruffle scarves.  They are both HUGE University of Alabama football fans which will explain the scarf colors…

This one is my sister's...a little shorter to wear in a single layer

This one is my Mom's...a little longer because she likes to double hers

Then, I gave her a free standing lace church that I made using the embroidery attachment to my sewing machine.

 The bottom of the church has an opening to place a battery operated tea light.  The light shines through all of the lace...so pretty.

This church is one of several buildings in a village.  I made myself the Victorian House as a test.  I was told that this piece is the most difficult to assemble so if I could do that then the rest would be a breeze. 

House front

 

House side 1

 

Snow-capped roof

 

House side 2

 

House back

 

I adore this little village and plan to make the entire set for ME!

 

On Friday evening we had a pretty low key dinner where we revealed her second surprise.  I’ll share that tomorrow evening as it will be pretty photo heavy.

Until then, I’m super happy we made over the….well, you know J

Hump Day!!

 

Short and Sweet

Still not a lot to share since most of my time has been making gifts.  However, I do have one item that is for ME that I can show you J

The Fat Quarter Shop’s Deck-Ade the Halls Quilt…

 

See my very tall DH’s head over the top of the quilt? It was a bit windy and he had to let the bottom of the flimsy touch the ground so I could get a somewhat decent photo.

 

FQS does an amazing job with their kits…plenty of fabric left for something else. 

This was an It’s Sew Emma pattern and for the most part, a beginner can make this.  I did have some issues in that a few of my blocks did not measure as the pattern indicated and it DID matter in the end.  I was able to find a way to make it all work though.

This one is off to the long-arm quilter.  It will be bound and laundered the next time you see it….woohoo!

Next weekend is my sweet Mother’s 70^th birthday and we have a couple of surprises for her… I’ll be back to share photos and a story or two J

Have a wonderful week my friends!

From the Recipe Box: Pumpkin Tarts and An Update

Wow, time has really gotten away from me.  It’s been a month since my last post!!

Life has been busy…my job and yes, I’ve been very busy in the sewing room too.  However, most of what I am working on is either a gift or an experiment for a gift so I won’t be able to share photos just yet.

I am happy to report that I have TWO quilts at the long arm quilter’s and one more will be going this week J

Knitting needles have been humming also…again, gifts so no pictures yet.

I thought I would pop in and share a recipe that I found on a butter box.  Yep, I’ll try recipes from ANYWHERE… do you do that, too?

This one sounds labor intensive but it is really super easy!

I hope you try it and like it!

Pumpkin Tarts

Preheat oven to 375^o

For the topping:
¼ cup       all-purpose flour
¼ cup       brown sugar, firmly packed
¼ cup       pecans, finely chopped
2 Tbs         butter, softened
Combine all ingredients in a bowl, mix until it resembles coarse crumbs.  Set aside.

For the Crust:
¾ cup       butter, softened
6 oz            cream cheese, softened
1 ½ cups  all-purpose flour

Combine the butter and cream cheese in a medium bowl, beat at medium speed until well mixed.  Add the flour and beat until it forms a dough.

For the Filling:
14 oz. can     sweetened condensed milk
1 ¼ cups      pumpkin (I had to use canned)
1                     egg
1 tsp              pumpkin spice

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and whisk until smooth.

Assemble:
Divide the dough into 36 pieces and place each piece into an ungreased mini muffin pan cup.  Press dough onto the bottom and up the sides of the cups.

Add approximately one tablespoon of the filling to each cup and sprinkle with the topping.

Bake for 25 – 28 minutes

Yields 36 tarts (I make 24 at a time because I only have one tart pan)

Smells wonderful

Can you smell them?

Enjoy!!!

I'm linking up to Karen's Sew Darn Crafty Linky Party...October Theme Week

My New Favorite Coffee House and Butterfly Trails

Happy Sunday Friends!

A few girls from work and I met at the Stuart Coffee Company on Saturday afternoon for a little "Sit n Knit" session.

This place is not new to our area but it is new to Me J  It’s a quaint little place downtown that serves coffee, tea, light meals, etc.  We met there to work on these…

 Helmet Liners

I didn’t get pictures of the girls, at their request, but I’m not sure I’ll always be able to honor that…they are going to have to smile for the camera sooner or later ;) 

I also didn’t get any pictures of the inside but I will soon.  My DH is very interested in visiting with me.  (I guess Starbucks and Barnes & Noble is wearing old)

Now…for the big news!  Butterfly Trails is a flimsy!

 

I had this much thread left..

 

 

 

I found myself sewing faster and faster towards the end...you know, like THAT was going to keep me from running out.  One word for ya....WHEW!

 

I will shop for backing fabric next weekend and hopefully, it will be bound and labeled the next time you see it.

I love the way it turned out and my DD is super excited.  So excited that we are planning a whole room makeover…more to come!

I rewarded myself for this big accomplishment by starting a ‘no brainer’ project.   A ruffle scarf…

 

I got the yarn at this cute yarn store…

My poor machine is worn out and needs to be serviced.  I’ll probably take it in on Monday and get it ready for the holiday projects I have planned.  Not sure I’ll have a lot of quilting to share next week but I do owe Mom a couple of scarfs and there is always a helmet liner to work on.

Have a blessed week my Friends J

From the Recipe Box and Stitching Progress

‘Tis the season to bake (isn’t EVERY season?) so I thought I would share an easy apple cobbler recipe.  You can find many variations of this recipe on the internet.  My family likes this one because it isn’t too sweet…just sweet enough.

Preheat the oven to 375^o

For the filling:
6 cups of a tart apple (granny smith is my favorite) peeled, cored & sliced
¾ c.           sugar
2 tbsp.       all purpose flour
½ tsp.       cinnamon
¼ tsp.       salt
1 tsp.          vanilla extract
¼ c.           water
1 tbsp.       butter, softened

It took 5 granny smith apples to yield just over 6 cups

Place the apples in a bowl.  Combined the dry ingredients above and pour over the apples, add the vanilla extract and water.  Mix well.

Spray a 2 quart baking dish with cooking spray and pour the mixture into the dish.  Drop pieces of butter on top of the apples.

For the topping:
½ c.           all purpose flour, sifted
½ c.           sugar
½ tsp.       baking powder
¼ tsp.       salt
2 tbsp.       butter, softened
1                 egg, beaten

Combine the ingredients above and beat with a fork until it is a smooth consistency.  Place spoonfuls on the batter evenly on top of the apples.

Bake for 35 minutes (your oven may vary), make sure the apples are tender.

I'm wearing Mary Grace's apron, green side showing...for the apples of course!

This serves about 8

Serve with your favorite ice cream J Our favorite is French vanilla but my DH has discovered French vanilla gelato.

I'm linking up to Karen's Sew Darn Crafty Linky Party...Theme Week

 

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After the cobbler was finished, it was time for a cup of tea and some stitching.

Remember my DD’s graduation quilt that I first shared here?
I haven’t worked on it much after cutting everything out…that is until last weekend when I finished piecing all of the blocks. 

This weekend I started sewing the blocks into rows.  I joined three rows together just to give you some idea as to how it will look.

You can vaguely see the little seashells on the white background

Three rows together and ten more to go…  After the borders are added, this quilt will measure 91” x 105”.  I will try to finish the quilt top, backing and the pillow shams by the end of next weekend.  I want to send everything to the LAQ so the shams can be quilted at the same time as the top.

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I’m also finishing helmet liner #6.  You can read more about those here.  I’ve committed to knitting 9 liners this campaign.  I would try to do more but we have quite a few participating knitters this year and I know we will have a lot to donate.  The Forgotten Soldiers Organization will include them in their Christmas mailing to the soldiers which is scheduled for November.

It’s been a busy and WAY too fast weekend here.  I hope you have enjoyed yours J
 

Girl's Lunch: Mrs. Mac's Fillin' Station

 WARNING: Photo Overload

This is not a quilty, crafty post at all.  This is ME  keeping that promise I made to you here.  I didn’t have a camera with me the first time I went to this restaurant with Mom.  Well, my DD and I went back there with Mom last Saturday and I took LOTS of photos.  Here is a sampling…

My Mom and DD 

 

The front door handle

 

 

Menus have a license plate on the front and back covers

 

Flatware wrapped in oil rags (that have NEVER touched an automobile) 

 

Squeeze your tea lemon, wipe your hands on the napkin and it turns black...like OIL!

 

 

A wall in the Men's Room...yep, they took me in there!

Men's Room 

 

Ladies Room 

 

 

 

 

Who doesn't LOVE a Mustang?

 

 

 

Instead of mints at the end of your meal, you are given bubble gum :)

 

I hope you enjoyed the photos from Mrs. Mac’s.  The three of us had a great day and even did a little ‘antique shopping’ afterwards.  I’ll save that post for later.

 

I also did A LOT of stitching this weekend…just wait until you see what I was working on.  Hope to have another ‘share’ soon.

 

Have a great short week my Friends :)