Just Let Me Quilt: November 2013

Saturday, November 30, 2013

Ritzy Christmas Mint Cookies

The very first Christmas cookie exchange that I went to had some amazing cookies, but the one recipe that caught all of our attention was the thin mints Susan made....out of Ritz crackers.

Yes, you read it right---RITZ CRACKERS!

I'm sure the recipe was on a Ritz cracker box, but I'd never seen them.

Really, they were so good!

Here's the recipe for these Ritzy Chocolate Mint Cookies:

1/2 lb semi-sweet dark chocolate chips
2-3 drops peppermint extract
1 sleeve of Ritz Crackers
Some crushed candy canes

Melt dark chocolate over low heat or in a glass cup at 15-second intervals in the microwave (stir after each 15 seconds.) Stir 2-3 drops of peppermint extract into the melted chocolate (don't use too much peppermint--the 2-3 drops is plenty.) Using a fork or dipping tool, dip each Ritz Cracker in the melted chocolate. Place on a foil covered cookie sheet making sure they don't touch each other. Sprinkle each chocolate dipped cracker with a small amount of crushed candy cane. Chill. Eat. Enjoy.

She Who Sews...Doesn't Let The Door Stop Her!

I love this new fabric from Quilting Treasures.
Janet Wicker Frisch did a great job on the artwork...so fun!

There's going to be a blog hop using this fabric.

Whoohoo!

You can find a panel of it over at Thearica's store...here.

This blog hop has a twist. There will be TWO, yes, TWO, blogs hops in one! She Who Sews and/or Don't Let the Door Stop You. Wow!

Check out how to join in the fun over at Sew We Quilt.

Friday, November 29, 2013

Winner, Winner, Rooster Dinner

TAMMY

from Tammy's Sew N Life

Thanks to all of you for taking a moment from your day

to visit my blog. Quilters are just the nicest people!

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Aprons And Black Tie Boogie

Happy Day Before Thanksgiving!

Things might look a little off on this post due to posting from an iPad.

Just pretend everything is centered and you like turning upside down and sideways to read.

I never knew about this, but it is a great idea:
www.apron memories.com

Look who's doing the Black Tie Boogie today:

November 27

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Social Media Overload...Or Is It Just Me

I can't seem to keep up with all my favorite places to visit on the internet. This became even more evident while I was moving and when my laptop decided last week that it wanted to breakdown just a little (I only slightly melted down over this...okay, so maybe it was more than a little meltdown.)

In the beginning of my blogging life...

(This may have been just a "few" years before I started blogging,

but it was the first picture I used for my avatar.)

...I would go to my blog's dashboard to visit blogs so I could see what everyone was making or cooking. It was so easy to "follow" people around by clicking that cute little box with faces (I love that little box!)

I always had lots of time to leave comments and enjoy reading the posts.

But...then...along...came...

Facebook (great place to keep track of family and friends)

Instagram (love the pics that show up here)

Google+ (I'm struggling on how this works and haven't totally figured it out. yet)

Bloglovin' (a way to follow you around)

Feedly (another way to follow you around)

Twitter (never used this)

Pinterest (very addictive, but love it!)

AARGH!

I like simple.

I'm sure the overload thing is just me.

I'll try to get focused a little more and get used to the NEW technology stuff.

What is is simple for me? Visiting the blog hops.

Look who's hopping today:

November 26

Sew Mollie Sue, Quilt Much?

Marjorie's Busy Corner

Bumbleberry Stitches
Words & Stitches
Quilting, paper piecing and crafts

Monday, November 25, 2013

My Baby Is How Old? Really?

It's my youngest daughter's birthday today. She made this cup for me several years ago....yes, I still have it (she must have known I loved purple.)

I used to call her my "Angel" (she's still my angel, but now I have to share her with her husband and those sweet Monkey Boys.)

She's really funny, especially around that husband of hers. I keep telling them
their face is going to freeze like this, but they just don't listen to me!

She's really talented, too. She decorates cakes that taste as good as they look
and she sews when there's not a Monkey Boy hanging onto her legs or in her arms.

Sometimes I'm taken aback when I realize that I have children who are all grown up.

I can't possibly be THAT old....can I?

Have you been checking out the Black Tie Boogie Blog Hop?

It's been such cocka-doodle-do fun!

November 19

Selina Quilts

Sew Peace To Peace

Elizabeth Coughlin Designs
The Quilting Queen Online
Marla's Crafts

November 20

Debby Kratovil Quilts

Seams To Be Sew

Robins Fabric Nest

Scrapbook-ChickADoodle

November 21

November 22

November 25

Georgia-Girl Quilter
In the Boon Docks
More Stars in Comanche

November 26

Sew Mollie Sue, Quilt Much?

Marjorie's Busy Corner

Bumbleberry Stitches
Words & Stitches
Quilting, paper piecing and crafts

November 27

November 28

Celtic Thistle Stitches

Crafting 365 Days

Hill Valley Quilter

Thimblemouse & Spouse

November 29
Sew Incredibly Crazy

Lixie Makes It

The Quilted Cat

Sew We Quilt

There's a new blog hop coming, too!

Sunday, November 24, 2013

A Class With No Exam Just Fun

I made it through my classes yesterday...whoohoo! Both classes were held at Dave's Bernina and were taught by Sandra Larson, a really great teacher for Bernina. Luckily, there weren't any tests so I didn't ~~ditch~~ leave in the middle of it.

The first class let us all sew on new Bernina 780's...wow! That is quite the machine! The kit we received included a premade bag that had been opened on one side and at the bottom. We learned to applique/embroider a flower on the bag, do a little machine embroidery, and add a zippered pocket with Wonder Tape. The zipper method was pretty cool! Once we were done, we sewed up the two sides with a serger. It's not spectacular or perfect, but I learned a few things while making it.

The next class was using the BSR (Bernina Stitch Regulator)...no pics for this one!

I have a lot of practicing to do so I can free motion quilt using that interesting tool.

I think I might just have to sign-up for some more classes!

Saturday, November 23, 2013

I Feel Like A Schoolgirl Again!

I never liked school. I was one of those that found ways to ~~ditch~~ miss classes just so I didn't have to sit in a classroom. Dean Mannion knew me by my first name.

So, what the heck was I thinking when I signed up for a couple sewing classes at a local store...

for today!

It's raining...maybe I shouldn't go.

I have a stomachache...maybe I can't go.

The dog is laying on my lap and doesn't want me to go...maybe I should stay home.

The toilet needs cleaning...maybe...never mind...I'll just go to the classes.

I'll try to be respectful and not ~~ditch~~ leave in the middle of things. Really, it should be fun.

Hopefully. LOL

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

My Day To Boogie With The Chicks

I don't have a rooster cock-a-doodle-doing in my yard like Vickie does, so I had to

sew me some feathered projects. If I had a rooster, I'd want him to be like Vickie's Fonzie

He is such a stud!

Check him out HERE, along with the whole Black Tie Boogie schedule.

These guys have really gotten into this Black Tie Boogie Blog Hop.

I went looking for a rooster and found the perfect one by Julie Lynch on her "Jaunty Rooster"

pattern. He looks very handsome in some of the "Home To Roost" fabric from Red Rooster.

Right-side up look at fabric

This is a small quilt, 45" x 45"

The hubby had a shirt that matched my apron perfectly, so he became a sort-of-willing

model for me (even though it had a ruffle.) I love the chicken soup recipe on the fabric!

Aren't these just the cutest chicks!

Monday, November 18, 2013

Black Tie Boogie Begins!

Madame Samm is the queen clucker of this feathery blog hop

and Vickie has been flapping her wings all over the place to keep us on track.

Thanks to you both for all you've done to give us chicks a good time!

Thanks to Red Rooster Fabrics for sponsoring Black Tie Boogie with a

great giveaway of fabric. Check it out over at sewwequilt.com!

There's going to be so much to cock-a-doodle-do about during this hop,

you won't want to miss even one day!

Here's who's strutting their stuff during Black Tie Boogie:

Black Tie Boogie Schedule

November 19

Selina Quilts

Sew Peace To Peace

Elizabeth Coughlin Designs
The Quilting Queen Online
Marla's Crafts

November 20

Debby Kratovil Quilts

Seams To Be Sew

Robins Fabric Nest

Scrapbook-ChickADoodle

November 21

Pigtales and Quilts ~ Happy Birthday Thearica !

November 22

November 25

Georgia-Girl Quilter
In the Boon Docks
More Stars in Comanche

November 26

Sew Mollie Sue, Quilt Much?

Marjorie's Busy Corner

Bumbleberry Stitches
Words & Stitches
Quilting, paper piecing and crafts

November 27

November 28

Celtic Thistle Stitches

Crafting 365 Days

Hill Valley Quilter

Thimblemouse & Spouse

November 29
Sew Incredibly Crazy

Lixie Makes It

The Quilted Cat

Sew We Quilt

Saturday, November 16, 2013

John The Chef''s Bread Pudding

With the holidays fast approaching and the weather getting cooler, I've been in the mood to do some baking. Bread pudding and it's hearty goodness is at the front of my list of cold weather food to make. A few years ago my hubby and me visited a local restaurant and got lucky when "John The Chef" shared his bread pudding recipe with us. He actually sat at our table and chatted with us while we scribbled his recipe on a small piece of paper. We both love bread pudding, so this was pretty exciting for us (our social life is quite dull, so this was a really big deal!)

With a few changes to meet both our chocolate and cinnamon demands, it turned out almost as good as John The Chef's recipe. We were lucky that The Monkey Boys were willing to jump right in to help mix it all together.

Here's the recipe we adapted for us:

John The Chef's Bread Pudding

Mix in a really large bowl:
7 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
2 cups half and half or cream
1 teaspoon vanilla (or almond) flavoring
1/2 to 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Add and lightly fold into egg mixture:
2 apples, peeled and chopped
1/2 c. blueberries (fruits can include, but are not limited to, strawberries, apples, bananas, blueberries, peaches, raisins--your choice, just not huge amounts)
1/2 cup large dark chocolate pieces (optional, but it makes it so good)

Really, the chocolate just MAKES this bread pudding so delicious!

Add 8 cups stale/dry bread cubed to the egg mixture. Use a variety of bread types like wheat, rye, challis, white, raisin bread, but make sure to include 2 croissants. John said we HAD to add a couple croissants...no exception to that rule!

John said it was okay to toss it with your hands, but don't let it sit too long and get soggy!

Pour mixture into lightly greased pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 45 minutes and then turn up heat to 450 degrees for 7 minutes to make the top crust crispy.