Thursday, November 29, 2018

Yummy cookies

Today is the last day of the Virtual Cookie Exchange Blog Hop. Be sure to stop by and visit the participating blogs. So many delicious recipes shared. It's time to crank up the oven and whip up some yummy holiday cookies.

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Virtual Cookie Exchange

Welcome to the Virtual Cookie Exchange Blog Hop. What better way to prepare for the Christmas season than with home made cookies? If you read to the end, you will find a GIVEAWAY there :-)

Enjoy cookies with a cold glass of milk, or a hot cup of cocoa.

A variety of cookies is always a treat. But there are favorites that grace my table every year.

Every Christmas Eve, when my children were small, I would make MandM cookies. I often made enough to share with neighbors.

And even now that the children are grown, I make a batch and send them home for their families to enjoy.

Holiday Party Cookies -

1 cup shortening
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup brown sugar (firmly packed)
1/2 cup sugar

Blend together, then add

2 1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt

Blend everything together and add 1 1/2 cups MandM's or Chocolate Chips
Drop by teaspoon onto an ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes.

Aren't they pretty :-) I do place the MandM's on the top. I hope you enjoy them.

Thanks to Just Let Me Quilt for hosting the blog hop. As a thank you for visiting my blog, and a jump start for your holiday cookie baking, I'm having a little giveaway for my U.S. readers.

Just leave a comment on this post telling me where you live and what is your favorite cookie recipe. The Random generator will choose a winner on Friday, November 30th.

Be sure to come back for the next few days and visit the other participating bloggers. Here is the list.

November 27

Kwilty Pleasures

Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats

Happy Cottage Quilter

Sew Many Yarns

For The Love Of Geese

November 28

Creatin' in the Sticks

Adventurous Applique and Quilting

November 29

Pieceful Thoughts of My Quilting Life

Kathleen McMusing

DesertSky Quilting

Life in the Scrapatch

Ridge Top Quilt

Cynthia's Creating Ark

Bejeweled Quilts by Barb

Pumpkin Patch Patterns & Quilting

Operation Domestic Goddess

Just Let Me Quilt

Monday, November 26, 2018

Tomorrow's the day

Guess what starts tomorrow? It's the Virtual Cookie Exchange Blog Hop

Stop in every day and visit the different blogs that are participating. There will be lots of cookie recipes and maybe a giveaway or two!

Friday, November 23, 2018

Scrap Busters

If you would like to do some Scrap busting, check out these websites for some free patterns.

Scrap Happy: More Than 50 Fabric Scraps & Remnant Ideas

Fat Quarter Fun

Plus -

40 Free Tote Bag Patterns

50 Reusable Grocery Bag patterns

Happy Quilting!

Thursday, November 22, 2018

Happy Thanksgiving

So once in every year we throng
Upon a day apart,
To praise the Lord with feast and song
In thankfulness of heart.
~Arthur Guiterman, The First Thanksgiving

Wishing you a Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving!

Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Thread ....

I am not a thread purist, although I have quite a lot of thread in my sewing room.

However, I have come to love Superior's The Bottom Line bobbin thread for my machine quilting.

Every time I use this thread in my bobbin, I feel like the Energizer Bunny! It just goes, and goes.

When I use regular thread, I always run out of bobbin thread way before I am finished quilting. Which means I have to take my quilt out of my machine, change the bobbin and find the place to start quilting again. I kind of lose my momentum.

I'm sure the newer threads are very nice, but they can be quite pricey, and one of my biggest challenges in sewing with expensive thread is a lot of times it ends up in the trash.

Have a Happy Quilting day!

Monday, November 19, 2018

You Are...

You Are, written by Emily Assell, is a very sweet board book for children. Subtitle "Speaking God's Word Over Your Children" is written in simple text with accompanying illustrations. Each page has an uplifting line of worth, and a corresponding scripture verse. The illustrations are captivating and engaging for children.

In this day of bells and whistles, speaking God's word over children is a much needed message. This little book of encouraging words shares how God sees us in simple text and illustrations. Lauren Copple's illustrations are fun and heartwarming. This would make a great baby shower gift. A definite 5 star children's book.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher. All views expressed are my honest opinion.

Friday, November 16, 2018

For the coffee lover

Even though we live in the deep south, I have a couple of people who live with me who love the cold weather and more importantly the snow. So to keep the resident coffee lover happy, I made her a Mug Rug.........

You can't get snowflakes any bigger then that! And I like the way the back looks too.

I guess this Mug Rug could be reversible.

Okay enough with the Mug Rugs. I've got other larger projects I need to work on ;-)

Can I get a Whoop Whoop!

Finished or Not Friday
Brag About your Beauties

Thursday, November 15, 2018

Did you know?

Did you know that 14% of all households report at least one family member who quilts?

The average dedicated quilter is 62 years old with a college education and in a median household income of more than $90,000.

The majority have a room in their home dedicated to quilting and/or sewing and spends an average of 2.2 hours a week on quilting websites.

She also subscribes to 4 quilting magazines and spends 5 hours a month reading these magazines.

She has purchased an average of 95 yards of fabric and bought 5 quilting books over the past year.

Estimated total value of the quilting industry in the US is an average of $3.5 BILLION

So how do you line up with these statistics?

Friday, November 9, 2018

Fun quick gift to make

I've made these little tissue cozies for several years. They make a nice quick gifty for an acquaintance or just a little extra in a Christmas present.

woo-hoo Christmas fabric -

The pattern came from Kim - she has a great tutorial on how to make these.

I have a friend whose daughter is a huge Gator fan. She is coming down from Atlanta to visit her Mom and then heading to Gainesville for the game. With two of these :-)

Happy Quilting!

Can I get a Whoop Whoop!

Finished or Not Friday
Brag About your Beauties

Wednesday, November 7, 2018

Quilt shop inspiration

Happy Quilting!

Monday, November 5, 2018

Outdoor Quilt show

Happy Quilting!

Saturday, November 3, 2018

It is really Fall?

I love to see homes decorated for the seasons. One of my biggest problems, living in the deep south, has been decorating for fall. When the temps are still in the 80's and flowers are still blooming, it's hard to wrap your mind around fall leaves and cool breezes.

Most of our decorations are packed away in a box marked "FALL". I found a table runner and a couple of candles. And these warm fall quilts to spread out around my home.

I do love the warm colors of fall. These are the only leaves that will turn color around here!

As we say down here in the South -

Happy Fall Ya'll.

Friday, November 2, 2018

Hidden Peril - a review

Hidden Peril by Irene Hannon is the second book in the Code of Honor series. As in Ms. Hannon's first book, this story was filled with suspense and a bit of romance.

Kristin Danes is all about helping. The owner of a fair trade shop, she features items that helps others around the world. That is, until one of her employees ends up dead.

Luke Carter has grieved the loss of his wife, and is not looking for a relationship. But when he meets Kristin at a mutual friends wedding, things change. When the Detective is called in on the murder, his attraction to Kristin continues to spark. With a second murder of one of Kristin's customers, the tie draws them closer together.

The story, and how it all plays out, could be one of a current day headline. Ms. Hannon's excellent writing, and thorough research, had me captured by the first couple of chapters. I started suspecting the villain early on, but until it was reveled, I wasn't totally sure. This was a good suspense novel, and anyone who enjoys good clean books, will enjoy this new novel.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher. All views expressed are my honest opinion.