Sunday, September 30, 2012

Pumpkin Bread

I love fall and my family loves anything with pumpkin.  So I came up with this super easy recipe for Pumpkin Bread, it could also be classified as a cake.  I enjoy making this on lazy Sunday mornings and I serve it warm with coffee, juice and vanilla yogurt. I like to put a dollop of vanilla yogurt on my piece... my boys like it plain.  If you wanted to serve it as a dessert or cake, it would be wonderful with a dollop of whip cream.

Pumpkin Bread

1 White cake mix
1  15oz can pumpkin
3 eggs
1/3 cup applesauce
1 tbsp pumpkin pie spice

Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl on low speed with a mixer until combined.  Then mix on medium speed for 3 minutes.  Pour into bundt pan sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.  Bake at 350 for 45-55 minutes.

Enjoy!

Saturday, September 22, 2012

The FNSI That Wasn't....


Well, it was the FNSI that wasn't.... who knew that my husband would take my hoarding comments to heart.  You see, he has tons of computer/electronics laying here and there around the house.  He really isn't a hoarder, he just has tons computer parts, he's a geek.  A true geek.... well, the computer graveyard that has been residing in my sewing room has disappeared. But who knew that the cleaning bug would hit my hubby yesterday!  I came home from work to find him rummaging through my sewing room, piling up the computer parts to go to the 'electronics dump' today.  So I had to go with it... accept that FNSI wasn't going to happen.  But the trade off was regaining my space under my counter top in my studio.  An awesome trade! I will celebrate FNSI tonight, Saturday night. 

I also get to announce winners for my giveaway for the Dots on Dots Blog hop!  I have so much fun spreading the love and having giveaways! Wilson picked these two names out of the hat....
Shirley
who left this sweet comment...
"I am HOPPING.. What a cute quilt.. why do animals have to sit on what we are doing, My little dog sits on my sewing machine if it gets to late.. LOL ,..."

sew.darn.quiltWho left this sweet comment....
"WOW!! I'll say you got over your phobia! Laundry Day is good, clean fun and so fresh too! Congratulations!!
My phobia, curves and circles. Not too sure how to tackle those just yet. ;)"

Congratulation!!!
The lucky winners won a PDF copy of Laundry Day!
You can purchase Laundry Day on my Craftsy and Etsy stores.
It's available as a PDF or packaged pattern, your choice!
I also want to thank everyone who took the time to visit my blog.  I appreciate all of you! Thank you for stopping by and leaving your sweet comments.  I read them all and try my best to answer everyone.  I'll be participating in the 'Leafs Me Happy' blog hop next.  After that I will be a guest designer for the Glorious Autumn Block party.  (I have an awesome giveaway lined up!  Can't wait to tell you!) Mark October 16th on your calendars! October will be a fun, busy month!  I then will be offering some Halloween fun at the 'Wicked' Blog Hop and also 'Something Wicked This Way Comes' blog hop.  Lots of treats for the month of October!

Happy quilting!

Thursday, September 20, 2012

FNSI, Whooo Hooooo!

Handmade by HeidiShhhhhhhhh..... don't tell my boys, but it's Friday Night Sew In with Heidi is this Friday.  When I disappear quietly on Friday, I'll be in my studio.... sewing!  Some well deserved sewing time, just for me!  I have a few projects I would like to finish up and FNSI gives me the time to get something done!  Here's my to-do list;
  • batik quilt to quilt, it's all pinned and ready to go
  • tea towels to finish up
  • Black Cat table runner to finish for Halloween
  • "Leafs Me Happy" project to finish
  • peasant shirt to make
  • "Glorious Autumn" block to finish
  • sample table runner to make for International Quilt Market
As you can see, I am not lacking projects to do.  I'm lacking the free time to do them! FNSI is on the calendar... please sewing gods, let nothing come up.... please shine down on me. I'm looking forward to show and tell on Saturday!
 
There's still time to join us, just click on the link on my sidebar.... I would love to have some more virtual sewing friends.
 
Happy quilting,

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Scrap Vomit Squares Swap

Swap-bot swap: Scrap Vomit Squares Pack - International


I'm busy canning tomatoes and between batches I found this fun swap.  I haven't done a swap in a while and this made me chuckle.  Gnome Angel is coordinating the swap which is sectioned into two groups - Aussies or All Others. I have tons of bits and pieces and can certainly rotary cut a ton of squares for the swap.  I think it will be fun to receive squares from all over the world.  These squares would work beautifully with my Doodle Stamp Quilt.

Back to tomatoes, I'm on to making a batch of Salsa.  (Chili Base and Pizza Sauce are done!)

Happy quilting,

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Dots on Dots! My Turn!

 
Dot on Dots Blog Hop has been so much fun so far!   A huge Thank you to Madame Samm for another awesome hop and to Connie at Quilt Taffy!  I have to admit, I'm a dot-o-phobic... sorta scared to buy dot fabric, use dot fabric.  I know that's crazy because there are tons of fabulous fabric out there to use!  So this was a good challenge to help me get over my dot fear.  So I dug around in my fabric and found a fabulous collection of scraps that I actually bought on Etsy, there were some wonderful dot fabrics included.  I've been saving this fabric to make a quilt.... so I came up with this fun quilt square which is quick and easy to put together.  I hope that you enjoy my block.... which turned into a quilt.  The pattern for my quilt can be found on Etsy and Craftsy.... I have called it 'Laundry Day'.... the colors are fresh and bright, like clean laundry hanging on the clothes line.
 


Here is one of my blocks for my quilt.... it measures 12 1/2" (this includes seam allowance) I really like the green dot fabric.
Then there is this block with the blue dot fabric.... love this one too!
"What..... why can't I lay  down here?"
Here is a section of my "Laundry Day" quilt with my Dot blocks...
Here is 'Laundry Day' laided out on my kitchen table, all ready to be pinned for quilting....


Lime green with white dots...... I had so much fun free motion quilting!

A funky flower dot.....

More lime green....

A fun lime green and pink dot fabric!

Well, as a recovering Dot-a-phobic.... I quilted 'dots' too!  It was a lot of fun to do.

The finished quilt!
'Laundry Day'
44" x 56"
 
So as a fun giveaway, I will be giving away a PDF copy of my  'Laundry Day' pattern to two lucky winners.  Leave me a comment about if you have any quilt-phobias.... for a second chance to win, follow me too.  (For a third chance to win.... tweet about it)  Wilson and I will draw the lucky winners on September 21st.
 
Grab your cup of coffee and enjoy the hop!  I get to share today with these talented quilters!
 
It's Sew Kiki
 
A complete list of bloggers can be found HERE
 
'Laundry Day' can be found HERE and HERE
  
Happy quilting and perfect stitches to you! 

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Tabby Face Block Lotto!

How would you like to win a pile of Tabby Face blocks made by quilters from all over the world?  I sure think it would be fun!  So I have been making some sweet little tabby faces to enter in the lotto.  Wilson is a tad bit jealous of the cute kitties that I have been making.  He's been snorting and pouting as I sew along.  Silly dog.... Jennifer's pattern is so fun to paper piece. She is offering her sweet little Tabby Face pattern free to use for the lotto, it can be found on the Tabby Face Block Lotto link.  Would you like to get involved too?  Tabby Face Block Lotto info can be found HERE You have until October 1st, Jennifer at Sewhooked needs to have the blocks by October 1st.





I have a sweet litter of kittens ready to be mailed to Jennifer.  They are a cute bunch of furry friends.  It would be so much fun to win the Tabby Face Block Lotto......I've grown attached to these little sweeties but I know they will go to a good home if I don't win and make a bunch of new friends from all over the world. 
Happy quilting and perfect stitches to you!

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Apple Pie Goodness

This year I had an abundance of apples!  I've had this tree for almost twelve years and this is the first time I have been able to pick buckets of apples.  Either they blow off in the wind, or the squirrels and deer get them. I'm amazed to have apples. They are organic, haven't been sprayed, not pretty apples.  But when peeled and sliced they make wonderful pie filling or applesauce.  Today I pulled out my tried and true 'Apple Pie Filling' recipe that I can in quart jars.  My sweet husband helped me peel a ka-zillion apples....


Apple Pie Filling
From Canning and Preserving by Linda Ferrari
(for 7 quarts)

6 quarts sliced fresh apples
5 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups Clear Jel A
1 tbsp Cinnamon
2 1/2 cups water
5 cups apple juice
3/4 cup lemon juice
1 tsp Nutmeg
7 drops yellow food color (optional)

Use firm, crisp apples.... not sure if mine are, think they are.... don't even remember what kind of tree I planted so many years ago.  Wash, peel, and core  apples. Prepare slices 1/2 inch wide and place in water containing ascorbic acid to prevent browning. Blanch 2 quarts at a time for 1 minute in boiling water. While blanching other batches of apples,keep those already blanched in a covered pot so they will stay warm. Combine sugar, Clear Jel A, (I buy Clear Jel A online) and cinnamon in a large kettle with water and apple juice. If desired, food coloring and nutmeg may be added. Stir and cook on medium-high heat until mixture thickens and begins to bubble. Drain apple slices. Add lemon juice and boil 1 minute, stirring constantly. Fold apple slices immediately and fill quart jars with mixture. Process in a boiling water bath for 25 minutes.  Cool and label jars... enjoy!
Apples folded in all ready to be jarred up.

Yum!! Apple Pie Filling for this winter!
Sweetie just brought in another big bucket of apples, it's off to do another batch!  I love to use apple pie filling not only for pies but also for the filling for turnovers!  Yum!!!

One of these days I will get back to Civil War Diary Quilt Saturdays, but for right now, I'm preserving summers goodness for this winter...

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Autumn Block Party Has Begun!

Glorious Autumn Block Party and Super Deals for Quilters

The Autumn Block Party has begun! Over the next 15 weeks, 45 designers will create 12" blocks for the Glorious Autumn Block Party. These blocks will be featured, three per week, on the Quilting Gallery site starting September 4th. In addition to the blocks, there will be Super Deals for Quilters from our favourite online retailers. The blocks are all instant downloads for you to enjoy for FREE!  Also, be sure to check each designer's post, as many will be offering give-aways on their own site that everyone can participate in. Sounds like fun doesn't it!  I will be posting my block on October 16th, I can't wait to show you the cute fall block I've designed just for you! 

There are three talented designers to kick off the fun this week! 
The first on our list of 45 is Pat Sloan!

Pat Sloan Pop-a-licious


Autumn Pumpkin

Wednesday, Sept. 5th


Thursday, Sept. 6th

I hope that you have fun hopping around!  Enjoy the awesome blocks that are being designed just for you!  Join the Flickr Group and post your Autumn Block creations.
Happy quilting and perfect stitches to you!

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

More Winners!!!

More winners to announce! Woot woot!
I want to thank everyone who stop by during the 'Blog Hop with Giveaways' hosted by Quilters Gallery.  I appreciate you all!  Thank you for your coffee, tea, hot chocolate comments!  There are sooooo many wonderful drinks out there, yum. I learned about some new ways to have my morning coffee.  It was so much fun seeing all of different blogs, meeting new quilt friends.
Now, time for the giveaway! Two lucky winners will win a a packaged 'Spring Bloom' Doodlette Pattern, this pattern can also be found in my Etsy Store.

'Spring Blooms'


And the winners are.............. Drum roll please.........................................................................................
Wilson, have you chosen our two winners?.....................................
Our two lucky winners are:

Lori
Lori left this lovely comment....
I don't like coffee. But I love Hot Tea. Preferably carmel.

apple blossom
who left this sweet comment...
love my coffee with flavored creamers.
Congratulations!!! 
Lori and Apple Blossom  please email me your address so that I can send your pattern out to you! 

 It the first day of school here in Minnesota.  My youngest is a senior this year, where did the years go! I am also back to work, I'm sure it will be a busy day with all of the little sweeties!   I hope that you have a wonderful day and take some time to quilt or do something that you love.  I'm hoping to fit some quilting time in tonight after dinner.  I have all sorts of fun projects to work on for up and coming blog hops and all sorts of other quilty projects that I'm looking forward to sharing with you.

Happy quilting and perfect stitches to you,

Sunday, September 2, 2012

And The Winners Are....

Oh my goodness!  I should have announced these winners a few days ago!  I still am in shock that it is September.  Where did the summer go! Time flies when you are having so much fun!  So I guess better late then never to announce out lucky winners!

I want to thank everyone who stop by during the 'Bowls on Bowls Blog Hop' I appreciate you all!  Thank you for your cookie comments!  There are sooooo many wonderful cookie favorites out there, yum. I plan on trying a couple of new cookie recipes this Christmas.  It was so much fun seeing all of the bowl projects.  Imagine... all of those different quilts from the same pattern.  So much inspiration!

Now, time for the giveaway! Two lucky winners will win a PDF version of a pattern of their choice from my Etsy Store.

And the winners are.............. Drum roll please.........................................................................................
Wilson, have you chosen our two winners?.....................................
Our two lucky winners are:

Kimberly Cassie @ Quilty Doodads
Kimberly left this great comment!

My favorite cookie recipe...hmmm...head to the. Refrigerated section of the grocery store. Grab one of those flat bags of a dozen precut refrigerated cookie dough (the one in the yellow and brown wrapper). Pop them in the oven and no one will know that you didn't slave over them in the kitchen. My favorites are the ultimate turtles. Yum mm mm

Gmama Jane
Jane left this lovely comment....

I've followed you since the RWB blog hop! I Love Wilson!! Your bowls simply "Bowl Me Over"!!
Blessings
Gmama Jane

Congratulations!!! 
Kimberly Cassie and Gmama Jane please take some time to check out my Etsy Shop and let me know what PDF you would like me to send you. 

I hope that you all have a wonderful day!  I'm off to clean my kitchen (boo) and then to go and play in my sewing studio.  I have all sorts of fun projects to work on for up and coming blog hops and all sorts of other quilty projects that I'm looking forward to sharing with you.

Happy quilting and perfect stitches to you,