January 3, 2012

So... have you been following your New Year's resolutions?  Did you make any?  I DIDN'T!  I'll be honest.. I don't follow them anyway... so why set myself up for disappointment?  Sounds logical to me... free as the wind!

Have you taken down your Christmas decorations?  Wow... that is one job I DO NOT LIKE.  I'll be honest.. I'm VERY GROUCHY when it comes to takin' down, wrappin' up, packin'... it just isn't my thing. 

PLUS.. .this year I made a promise to my hubby (why I did this... I have no idea!) that I would go through ALL of the decorations and slim them down quite a great deal.  It's so hard.. some years you feel like decorating more than other years.. so you hate to "purge" anything! 

Hhhhmmm.... I wonder if I could disguise some of the decorations in different boxes... maybe he would think it's some of his Mother's stuff that she left the family (you know..the things you don't want to get rid of because you would feel guilty...but you have NO use for them.. let alone like the stuff!).  Now that could be a plan... I'll have to think more on that concept.

Here's a little "good-bye" Christmas photo for you... just too cute

What a great idea for Christmas cards for families

with new little ones!!!

I'm so excited... since I have been "pinning", I have found the most wonderful quilts, techniques, ideas...it's just mind boggling.

Look at this pretty, awesome block!  Is it not gorgeous?  I was showing some of the girls how to "pin" at a quilting retreat not too long ago and I came across this  beauty.  I did my research, found the ruler on the Internet, called the quilt shop that sold it... told all the girls in the room.. and placed an order for 16 rulers with the quilt shop owner.  She was so happy! 

Then I found out where to purchase them wholesale (for Karen @ Cinnamon's Quilt Shoppe  here in town).  Now she'll be carrying the rulers so they will be easy for all of you to find!

Now...don't panic.. this block is much easier to make than you may think.  Follow the link below and see the step by step instructions...       Click here to learn how...


WAIT.. I'm not finished...here's another beauty I'm making.  I'm putting wool on the inside - with the outer edge to coordinate with the shades of wool.  I'm then going to use the octagons to be the border on a long table runner I'm designing!  It's so easy and FUN!!    These are called "Hickory Nuts" and Karen (Cinnamon's Quilt Shoppe) will be carrying these also.

I think I'm going to offer these two technique classes on the 2nd quarter calendar at Cinnamon's.  If you live in the Jacksonville area... keep watching the website and the calendar!






I am so excited about this idea... I have MANY cut out and ready to stitch... I work on them while watching TV in the evenings... so it's hard to tell when I'll have enough ready to get started on my new creation.  I'm on a mission... step back... or get sewn in the stitches!  HA!

One last thing... I MUST MAKE THESE LITTLE PIGGIES!  Are they not the cutest things you've ever seen?  Don't you just want to pop one of them in your mouth.  They made me giggle when I saw them .... I just had to share with you.  Kids would love to help make these!  I don't have the receipe or instructions... but how hard can these be to make.  (round biscuit for head, cut out dough ears and snout, two cloves or large seeds for eyes, two little pieces of spice for nostrils.. maybe brush them together with a little egg wash.. experiment... before you know it... you may be making the entire ZOO from bread dough...HA!)

Happy Sewing... chat with you tomorrow!

Gloria

p.s.  Celebrate Handmade!

Let's Get Organized!!! This section of our daily blog is going to help us get our life in order! Doing a "little something" each day will quickly get your organized and make you feel SO MUCH BETTER!!

 Declutter the top SHELF of one of your cabinets

Happy January 2, 2012 !!

Wow... I have so many things to share with you... I'm having trouble deciding... I thought I would begin each blog with a sweet photo.. .one that will make your heart happy... first thing in the morning...  How about this sweet one?  He's saying..."aaahhhhh... if only I could get through this window...."

Is this little fellow not adorable???  When I first saw this picture... I burst out laughing.  I remember when my twin sister, Vicky, and I were little....!  We were at our grandparents - at the lake - and had been digging for worms to go fishing.  All of a sudden the shovel hit something a little hard.... maybe a rock?  We turned over the dirt and to our surprise... TONS OF BABY TURTLES THAT HAD JUST HATCHED!  They were adorable box turtles... the size of a quarter... and they were crawling everywhere.  Well... you can just imagine the squealing that came from both of us.  We ran up to the house and got Grandma!  She helped us rescue them ... some went back into the lake.. and several we kept for us and our friends.  I loved my turtle...

Then... when I lived in Eagle Harbor... my nephew - Peter... he found a teeny, tiny baby turtle on the golf course.  He brought it home and Vicky and I were instantly taken back to the day - digging in the garden.  We kept the little fellow in a turtle dish until he got large enough to let loose.  It was sad...praying he wouldn't be prey to another animal.   I wonder where he is today?  Do you think he remembers us?  Childhood memories... ya gotta love 'em!

Now...this is clever!  I can't tell you how many casserole dishes I've taken to events and forget the silly thing!!  Does that happen to you?  Or...they bring them to my house... they forget to take it with THEM... and I have NO IDEA who to call and let them know!  This little project can solve that issue.  This is only the beginning of what you can do with "glass engraving"!!   Have FUN!!

Casserole Dish with YOUR name!!

Now...here is the perfect recipe for your casserole dish!!

Baked French Toast... OMG!!!  The saliva glands on my tongue are on over-load at this moment.

BAKED FRENCH TOAST

OH YES... I FORGOT ... I CLAIM NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANYONE GAINING WEIGHT DURING THIS NEXT YEAR!

Have fun today... cook up a storm ........... AND............... ENJOY!!

Chat tomorrow... Gloria

Let's Get Organized!!! This section of our daily blog is going to help us get our life in order! Doing a "little something" each day will quickly get your organized and make you feel SO MUCH BETTER!!

 Declutter the top of your cabinets and dust!

JANUARY 1 - HAPPY NEW YEAR'S DAY!!

Well... here we are - another wonderful year has passed and we're moving on to 2012.  How many months will it take you to write the correct year?  It seems to take me forever...MONTHS!! 

Remember when I blogged about a BIG COMMITMENT to send you something new and fun each DAY for 2012???  Today is the FIRST DAY!!  Gosh.. this is huge for me... sending something each day will be a great way for me to:

1.  Plan ahead
2.  Be very disciplined!
3.  Keep my creative juices flowing (that will NOT be hard to do)
4.  Try and get more sleep... this idea has kept me awake quite a bit lately

Then.. you will all enjoy the fun things I've found that I can share with you!

Here's the first of my great "finds"!!  Just to make you get a great BIG smile on your face to start the day!!

This just has to make you smile... even if you are not a lover of kitties!!!  These two little fellows remind me of the kittens we found abandoned in our back yard this past summer... looks JUST LIKE THEM!  They have both been adopted... sure do miss them!

Isn't this cool?  One of my pet-peeves is ugly cords ... here is an adorable way to resolve the issue!!  So easy and fast to make...

Click here to learn how!

And one more goodie for you... FOOD... we can't forget the best thing in life... EATING!!! 

It's time to be thinking about our next major holiday!!  Yep... "SWEETHEART DAY" !!

Make these beautiful cookies for your children, your "honey" and enjoy...  I think they are absolutely gorgeous!

Valentine Pinwheel Cookies - here's how!

YUM-A-LI-CIOUS!!!!  I surely go for about 6 of these sweet things right now...mmmm... dunked in hot, sweet coffee!!!

I can see this blogging may be a problem with my DIET!!!

Now... get busy and get to the kitchen!!

See you tomorrow!!

Gloria

Let's Get Organized!!! This section of our daily blog is going to help us get our life in order!  Doing a "little something" each day will quickly get your organized and make you feel SO MUCH BETTER!!

 Set up a donation station!  For example:  Church Yard Sale, Goodwill, Women's Shelter

They can be tubs, boxes or bags - your choice!