Christmas tablerunner

 My daughter asked me to make a Christmas table runner for her. She picked out the fabric and I decided I did not want to cut up the pretty fabric. 

This is the first project I have finished since hurting my back. I think it turned out pretty cute.

Sew and Tell NTT  Finished or not Friday   Brag About Your Beauties   Scrap Happy

Meet our new travel friend

 For years we owned and traveled with a 2008 Airstream. As the years have passed, we were doing more and more repairs and upgrades on the silver bullet. After a major wheel break we decided that we would try to sell it. So in July a lovely lady came and wanted to buy the Airstream. We were sad to see her go, as we had so many great memories while traveling.

My hubby thought we would look at motor coaches. And after several rounds at dealerships, we came across Coach House motor homes. Built in south Florida, it was an easy drive for us to take a look. We we impressed. And found out that a used unit was becoming available.

And here she is. We took her for a maiden run, and loved it. We are looking forward to many miles of comfortable traveling. I think we will be stopping at more quilt shops along the way.

Christmas Cookie Exchange

 Today is my day to share a Cookie goodie. Thank you Carol (Just Let Me Quilt) for hosting this blog hop once again. It is so fun to be a part of this event. 

But before we devour the goodie (my family beat me before I could take a picture). I wanted to share a cute project that wins kids of every age.

A few years ago I made these cute little snowmen for the children of some friends.  They were fun and easy.  There is a Hershey bar wrapped under the snowman.  I still think this is one of the cutest little gifties for someone whether they are young and old :-)

You can find a link for the template HERE.
(p.s. be sure to turn the template to the Landscape position before printing)

I hope you will enjoy this cookie bar recipe.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon pumpkin-pie spice
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
1 large egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup canned pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
1 package (12 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips

directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9-by-13-inch baking pan and set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda, and salt; set aside.

2. With a stand or electric mixer, cream butter and sugar on medium-high speed until smooth; beat in egg and vanilla until combined. Add pumpkin puree and mix well. The mixture will look somewhat curdled. Reduce speed to low, and mix in dry ingredients until just combined. Fold in chocolate chips.

3. Spread batter evenly in prepared pan. Bake bars for 35-40 minutes or until edges begin to pull away from sides of pan and a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan and serve.

Enjoy!

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Be sure to stop by all of the other participants of the Cookie Exchange

DECEMBER 1^st

 Just Let Me Quilt

Hill Valley Quilter

Karrin’s Crazy World

Lynn's Blog

Quilted Delights

Quilt Schmilt

Selina Quilts

 

DECEMBER 2^nd

 A Quiltery

Ms P Designs USA

Bumbleberry Stitches

Texas Quilt Gal

Beaquilter

Quilted Snail

 

DECEMBER 3^rd

Just Because Quilts

Just Sew Quilter

Kathleen McMusing

Songbird Designs

Quilting Between The Rails

 

DECEMBER 4^TH

 MooseStashQuilting

Scrapdash

Sew Many Yarns

Happy Cottage Quilter

Days Filled With Joy

That Fabric Feeling

Wishing you a very Merry and blessed Christmas.

Virtual Christmas Cookie Exchange

Today starts the Virtual Christmas Cookie Exchange. Be sure to stop by every day.

DECEMBER 1^st

 

Just Let Me Quilt

Hill Valley Quilter

Karrin’s Crazy World

Lynn's Blog

Quilted Delights

Quilt Schmilt

Selina Quilts

 

DECEMBER 2^nd

 

A Quiltery

Ms P Designs USA

Bumbleberry Stitches

Texas Quilt Gal

Beaquilter

Quilted Snail

 

DECEMBER 3^rd

Just Because Quilts

Just Sew Quilter

Kathleen McMusing

Songbird Designs

Quilting Between The Rails

 Words & Stitches 

DECEMBER 4^TH

 

MooseStashQuilting

Scrapdash

Sew Many Yarns

Happy Cottage Quilter

Days Filled With Joy

That Fabric Feeling

Thanksgiving blessings.

 

Without a Clue

 

Without a Clue by Melissa Ferguson is a fun and unique rom-com with a touch of mystery.

Penelope (Pip) Dupont is the assistant to the Magnificent Seven. Seven best selling somewhat eccentric authors. When Hugh Grant is murdered the first day out on the Book Cruise, Pip finds herself digging for clues. Is it one of the seven? 

Nash, the good looking cowboy, is the only one that Pip trusts. But is he as innocent as he seems. 

Melissa Ferguson is such a talented writer. Every book I have read of hers is always satisfying and full of good characters and great dialogue. This whodunit, the twists and turns trying to figure out who the murderer is, was a mystery in itself. Great story and plot. Clean and cozy. 

I received a complimentary ebook copy from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Fall decorations

The best way I like to bring fall colors indoors, is to use a splash of color on my table.

I made this table runner several years ago. It's one of my favorites. I still enjoy the warmth it brings to my home.

How do you decorate for fall?

Tutorials for quick Christmas gifts

 

Here are fun tutorials for your Christmas gift giving.

GIFT TAGS

TRAVEL SIZE TISSUE COZY

CUTIE POUCHES

NOTEBOOK COVER

CHARMING HANDBAG

VINYL FRONT ZIPPERED POUCH

VINYL POUCH

DOLL BEDDING

NEEDLE BOOK

DOUBLE POTHOLDER

LUGGAGE TAG

Happy Quilting and gift making!

Binding

 Ok this is probably a loaded question. Do you enjoy sewing binding?

Since I have been down with a back injury, I took the time to sew the binding on the quilt I made for my hubby a couple of years ago. It was ready and waiting...........

But I have never enjoyed sewing down the binding. It takes too long, almost like a waste of time (sorry). It took me longer to sew it down then to quilt the whole quilt.

But it is done now. And I am glad. 

Veterans Day

 

October Sew Sampler

It's been a while since I have posted about the Fat Quarter Shop Sew Sampler box. So this was the October box.

Great stuff!

I always feel like it a gift box every month.

Welcome November

 

It's the first day of November!

21 days until Thanksgiving.

54 days until Christmas.

61 days until the New Year!

Are  you ready??

Hang ups

 Over the years I have had several ways to hang quilts.

When we moved 15 years ago I lost some of the hangers. 

How do you display your quilts? Do you change them with the seasons?

Free Christmas quilt patterns

 Christmas is coming and it's time to get busy making Christmas quilts. Here are a few websites with FREE patterns for you to choose from.

Generations Quilt Patterns

Adventures of a DYI Mom

American Patchwork and Quilting

Cluck Cluck Sew
 Okay I think that will keep you busy for a while.
Happy Quilting!

The spirit of kindness

 Last year my quilting buddies and I embarked on a pumpkin pattern. Along the way I lost interest in making it. So I left it thinking that I would pick it up again this year. Well long story short, I decided that I just couldn't put the effort into making the pattern.

I suggested to one of my buddies that she could take the fabric that I already had for it, and make another one for herself. Or she could just throw it away. Well I was amazed and grateful that she finished it, and gave it to me.

I love it! It was such a generous and thoughtful thing to do.

Ouch!

 

No sewing today. Or for the next few weeks. I injured my back trying to pick up a pot that apparently was too heavy for me. So I am in recovery mode, being cared for by my very loving husband. So unfortunately I will probably not be able to finish the charity Christmas quilts that I have been working on. Sigh, which makes me very sad. But I am hopeful to complete them and maybe donate them to a near by hospital. 

Dress for fun

 

Sew and Tell NTT  Finished or not Friday   Brag About Your Beauties   Scrap Happy

Hearts in Circulation

 

Hearts in Circulation by Sarah Monzon is a delightful rom-com.

Circulation librarian Hayley Holt is trapped on the road when her Bookmobile dies and a rock slide sandwich her in on her way to Turkey Grove. She has one bar to call for a tow truck. Disgruntled hunky Levi Redding shows up and tows her to Turkey Grove. How long will it take for the one road in and one road out to be cleared? Not the best news.

I loved the way Ms Monzon unfolds this story about an outgoing librarian and a reserved mechanic. Levi has a sensory disorder and deals with it by staying away from people. Hayley, a liver transplant recipient, lives her life trying to give back for the life she was spared. Beautifully written humorous dialogue. A clean sweet story. 

I received a complimentary an e-copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

Apple Pie Goodie

Apples. They are in abundance this time of year. But what do you do with all those apples?

A few years ago I found the yummiest recipe on Bitty Bits & Pieces blog.

 

Apple Pie Goodie has been a mainstay for us. A dessert that makes up quickly and everyone seems to love it.

Go to Kim's blog post for the recipe. You will enjoy it!

                                                  Vintage Charm Party

Saturday Sparks

Love Your Creativity

Pumpkins in October

 The fall season always brings out pumpkins.

So I wanted to make my own pumpkins. I came across a very easy tutorial on Stacey Lees website.

These were fun to make. 

Sew and Tell NTT  Finished or not Friday   Brag About Your Beauties   Scrap Happy

 

Quilting with my walking foot

Over the years I have tried my hand at free motion quilting. Every time I get a little bit of control and ease in the quilting, I find that there is a huge break in time. I lose the momentum, and the next time I sit down at the sewing machine, my quilting looks like a disaster.

Taking the time to practice, practice, practice has brought a sense of frustration. So in light of completing the quilt, I purposed to do straight line stitching with my walking foot.

Case in point... I started quilting straight lines through the body of this quilt.

Crossing over to make an X over the white blocks.

But I can also fancy up the quilting a bit, just by adding curves and arcs.

All done with my walking foot.

 

I machine quilted straight vertical lines on this quilt. 

But then I felt I needed to do something more. So here is what I did.

Starting at one point, I spotted down two rows. Went back to the top and crossed over, again spotting two rows down.

I love the way it turned out.

My quilts are not going to win any prizes, but they are what I love to do. Using geometric designs works for me. Better to be finished than perfect :-)

Happy Quilting!