Showing posts with label virtual cookie exchange. Show all posts
Showing posts with label virtual cookie exchange. Show all posts

Sunday, December 4, 2022

The 2022 Virtual Christmas Cookie Exchange Begins

My very first Virtual Cookie Exchange was in December 2013. I've had it every year since, except one year when I have no idea why it didn't happen. It's changed a bit and not everyone makes a sweet treat, but there is always Christmas goodness in fabric and projects!

Update: Whoops! I posted today instead of my real day. Joan at Moosestash suggested that "the season has melted my brain." Yep, I'd have to agree with that. 


Prancer's Favorite Christmas Treat

Prancer isn't fussy about what he eats, as long as it has Hershey's Kisses in it.
I had plenty of those and other leftover candy (from a retirement party and Halloween.)

The Kisses, pretzels, peanut butter cups, Rice Chex, Cadbury balls, nuts, and M&Ms all 
went in a big bowl. Sorry, I didn't measure anything...just dumped it all in a bowl.


I slowly melted some Ghirardelli white chocolate chips and almond white chocolate
together in a glass bowl and placed it in the microwave. You have to melt it slowly, in 30 second
 intervals, or it burns. Regular chocolate would be yummy with this, too.

Pour it over the goodies in the bowl. Stir it to coat all the pieces. Spread on a cookie
sheet that's lined with parchment paper or foil. Let cool. Break into pieces. Done!


These are perfect for small gifts and to-go treats for Prancer.


This recipe is from my first Virtual Cookie Exchange. It's still one of my favorites!
Really, they are delicious!

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.

This recipe is from December 2016. It is a little more work, but it is amazing and so delicious!

Chocolate Cheesecake Cookie Bar


When I was at the Garden of Quilts in Utah, I was walking by the Jillily Studio booth and noticed a Christmas pillow (Holiday Lane) in a corner. I was excited to see it because I had sewn one a long time ago during a blog hop. The designer of "Holiday Lane", Jill Finley of Jillily Studio, was in the quilt booth so I got to meet her. She is just the nicest lady!

Jill was so kind and said I could share her link to the free pillow pattern (HERE). There is even a kit available HERE.

Here's my 2022 version of Jill's "Holiday Lane"' pillow pattern.
I used Benartex fabrics, "Cozy Winter" by Cherry Guidry, for my pillow and quilt. 


The pillow I made in 2012 went to the Monkey Boys and family. 
There were only four little Monkeys sleeping on the pillow back then!


The Monkey Boys became five in 2016.


2018


There's a Monkey Girl now...time for a new picture!






You can find the PDF downloadable pattern in my Etsy store HERE.

Ready for more Christmas sweets, treats, and inspiration?
Check out these incredible bloggers!

December 5

Wait! There's more...a GIVEAWAY!
WINNER, WINNER!

I have a sweet bundle of fat quarters for a giveaway.
Benartex "Cozy Winter" by Cherry Guidry.

One winner will be randomly chosen.
USA mailing addresses only.
Leave one short or long and sweet comment.
Giveaway ends December 11, 2022, midnight MST.


You can find the Virtual Christmas Cookie Exchange Pinterest page HERE.

Thanks for stopping by!

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Friday, October 21, 2022

Jill Finley And Her Holiday Lane Pillow Pattern

When I was at the Garden of Quilts in Utah last month, I was walking by the Jillily Studio booth and noticed a Christmas pillow (Holiday Lane) in a corner. I was excited to see it because I had sewn one a long time ago during a blog hop. 


The designer of "Holiday Lane", Jill Finley of Jillily Studio, was in the quilt booth so I got to meet her. She is just the nicest lady!

With the Virtual Christmas Cookie Exchange coming up in December, Jill was so kind and said I could share her photo and link to the free pillow pattern (HERE) on my blog for anyone who wants to sew it for their project.  There is even a kit available HERE.

Jill's photo of "Holiday Lane"
It's beautiful and so sweet!

*NOTE: This isn't a have-to sew to be part of the Virtual Cookie Exchange. It's just an idea if you're looking for something fun to make. I'll be making one to share! The pillow I made in 2012 went to the Monkey Boys and family. 

There were four little Monkeys sleeping on the pillow in 2012 when I first made the pillow.


The Monkey Boys became five in 2016.


He was mad about having to share the pillow.


All better...


Six Monkey Boys in 2018...not much room left!


I love these faces!


Monkey Girl definitely needs to be added to this year's photo. Move over boys!


If you want to join the Virtual Christmas Cookie Exchange, let me know!


Challenge: (recipes are optional)
You can share a recipe or not.
Share Christmas quilts or projects.
Tell us about your Christmas traditions.
Show off your Christmas decorations/tree.
Spill your funny Christmas stories.
If it's about Christmas, we want to hear about it!
Email me if you want in.


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Saturday, October 15, 2022

Blog Hop Challenges And Other Happenings

It's that time again!
I'm hosting another Virtual Christmas Cookie Exchange!

Challenge: (recipes are optional)
You can share a recipe or not.
Share Christmas quilts or projects.
Tell us about your Christmas traditions.
Show off your Christmas decorations/tree.
Spill your funny Christmas stories.
If it's about Christmas, we want to hear about it!
Email me if you want in.

Joan has this one happening starting Monday...spooky fun at Moosestash Quilting!


Carla will have us rocking out with our projects and music!
Email her to see if she has openings if you're interested in joining.



 About those blog hops Carla, Joan, and I host...we're changing it up a bit!
We've decided to call it Sew It - Show It.


We've been challenging our blogger friends each month and they never disappoint.
With a new name, Sew It-Show It, we'll be looking for bloggers each month
who want to meet our challenges and share their creations. 

It won't be much different than our previous blog hops but will only be for four days.

Giveaways just might be included, too!

It all begins in January with Carla hosting the first Sew It-Show It in 2023.
She'll be posting about it soon so watch for it at Creatin' in the Sticks.

Joan, Carla, and I are seriously working our fingers to the bone right now.
We're getting ready for Cackling Stitches Block of the Month, "Which Way to Witchville."
We're so excited! 
We'd love to have you join us on our Cackling Stitches Facebook page!


We're going to change this one up a little too, but we'll share all that good stuff later. 
Trust me, my wicked friends have thought up so many spooky blocks. 



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Wednesday, December 8, 2021

Last Day Of The Virtual Christmas Cookie Exchange Blog Hop

What a week it has been! My brain has been filled with so many amazing ideas to sew and bake...great way to start the Christmas holidays! Please take the time to visit each blog and leave a comment. It's always a joy to hear from other quilters.


It's my day to share a project along with some incredibly gifted quilters. 
I had a ton of fun creating "Decorating for Christmas."


The Nutcracker


The presents


The bird and star for the tree


A mischievous hand decorating the tree


Decorated homes


Fabrics: Riley Blake Designs "Painter's Watercolor Swirl" by J. Wecker Frisch


You can find "Decorating for Christmas in my Etsy Store HERE.


When we moved into this house, we were excited to have a Meyers lemon tree in our backyard. It was loaded with lemons the first year, but no thanks to a big windstorm, there are fewer this year. There was still enough to make some Lemon Snowball Cookies!


Lemon Snowball Cookies

1 cup butter at room temperature
2/3 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon fresh squeezed lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 teaspoon lemon zest
1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
2 cups all purpose flour
3 tablespoons cornstarch
*1 1/2 cups powdered sugar and 3 teaspoons lemon zest (for rolling the cookies in)

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch and salt. Set the aside.
Mix the butter until creamy.
 Mix in 2/3 cup of the powdered sugar. 
Mix in lemon juice, lemon extract, and 3 teaspoons lemon zest. 
Gradually add in flour/cornstarch/salt mixture and mix just until combined.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Roll dough into tablespoon sized balls. 
Place balls on baking sheet lined with parchment paper, spacing about 2-inches apart.
Bake in preheated oven for 12-14 minutes until bottoms of cookies are lightly browned. 
Remove from oven and allow to slightly cool.
Roll them in the mixed 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar and 3 Tablespoons lemon zest.
Place on wire rack to cool. 
Roll the cookies in the powdered sugar again, generously coating the snowballs. 
Store cookies in an airtight container.

More of this year's stitching of Christmas projects...

Santa and His Dog
Free pattern HERE


Wreath of Joy
Free pattern HERE


Treats for Santa mug rug
Free pattern HERE


It's such a pleasure to blog hop with all of these quilters...check them out!

December 6

There's a Pinterest page for this year's Virtual Christmas Cookie Exchange HERE.

There's a giveaway, too!
I love the Quilt Taffy store and one winner will get $20 to shop there...fun!



Christmas 1956...can you guess which one is me?


Thank you for stopping by!
Merry Christmas!

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