Raspberry Butter

We love this sweet treat.

If you like "spreads", then you'll enjoy this on your breads and rolls this holidays season (well, anytime of year for that matter!) 

Here's what you'll need:

1/2 lb. butter

6 oz. raspberry jam

3 oz. honey

1/2 tsp. vanilla

Whip butter.  Add remaining ingredients.  Whip until mixed.

[Couldn't get much easier than that!]

*1 batch fills about 4 1/2 half-pint jars

It's super yummy and easy to make and makes a great gift!

Now that is my kind of "canning!"

This is what happens...

when you live in Utah.

You go to sleep one night (with no snow on the ground)

and you can wake up the next morning

to THIS:

and THIS:

I love it.

(And the kids do too!)

Mr. Winter, I knew you would be here. 

I didn't doubt you for a minute. 

Christmas, we're ready for you!

O.K. So I'm a Procrastinator... (a Quick & Inexpensive Teacher's Gift)

I didn't put two and two together that today is the last day of school before Christmas break.  I knew I wanted to get my kids' teachers a little something (I couldn't get their book marks in time like I had planned so I'll have to do that for their end of year gifts instead.)

So at about 10 p.m. last night I decided I should probably go to the store and get them something.  For less than $4.00 I was able to make these gifts (of course that is because I use to be big-time into scrapbooking and had all of the embellishments, paper and wrapping supplies on hand.)

A tile with an initial represents each of their last names. 

An hour later I had these 3 homemade gifts ready to go!  Who doesn't like to have a little scratch paper on hand in a stylish notebook?  I know I do.

Happy Holidays!

Stash Manicuring ~ Holiday Style

I was all ready to guest post over at Stash Manicure on Monday, but there was a little mix up so I thought I'd share my thoughts with you on more ways to use up your scraps!  Specifically, for making Christmas projects.

Over the last year or two I have been adding a few details to my Christmas decor.  They've been simple projects, but have used up quite a bit of my red and green scraps.  As you can see, my colors are quite traditional.

Above, you can see a simple table runner I made using red, green and white 2-1/2" squares.  Putting the colors in a diagonal pattern adds interest and I love that I was able to make it just the right size to fit my entry table. 

It's patchwork and it's simple, but it adds the perfect amount of color to that table.  If I didn't have something under those decorations, the table would look very boring and unfinished.  This little baby was made solely with scraps and you KNOW that makes me happy :)

Next, I had an idea that I wanted to do using holly berries and leaves.  This little runner sits on my coffee table in my family room.  It was a good way to use up small pieces of greens and reds.  Green rick rack added the right finishing touch.

But still, I had more red and beige scraps that I couldn't stand to have laying around, so I had to make a little something for my kitchen table.  This one will be good because it is neutral enough to work for Valentine's Day, Fourth of July, whatever.

But then I got looking and I found that I had even more red, green and white scraps!  Oh, what to do, what to do!?!

So I got to work making a few dresdens using the EZ Dresden ruler by Darlene Zimmerman.  Dresdens are fun, but only require a teeny tiny bit of fabric for each point so I'm thinking about doing a pieced sashing, as well as using up more scraps for the centers.  Hopefully by then I'll have made a dent in my  red/green stash.

I have much more red (than I do green) so I think most of my dresdens will be red and white.  Kind of peppermint-ish, don't 'cha think?

That's the great thing about quilting.  There are no rules.  So I can do whatever the heck I want!  It's great!

I'm still auditioning fabrics for the backgrounds, but this beige polka dot is what I thought looked best from my stash.  We'll see though.  I only have a yard of the beige/green polka dot so I'll either have to:

*use lots of different backgrounds

*make a small quilt

*break down and buy some more or other fabric

Hmm...I'll have to think about that one.

This was my second favorite option from my stash.  What do you think (it's kind of pink-ish)?  Yay or nay?

 

Well, that's just me ~ playing around.

What are YOU playing with today?

Winners!!

First, the winner of the darling sewing bookmark is Duff, who said,

"This English teacher and quilter would absolutely LOVE to win!

Thanks! I see creativity runs in the family!"

 Duff, you're one lucky girl.  I just LOVE these book marks!

Second, the winner of the PURE Layer Cake and Gigi's Thimble quilt pattern set is Melanie, who said, "I've wished for this line of fabric - can't think of a better reason to have some than making a star quilt....Merry Christmas."

Melanie, it looks like your wish came true!

Congratulations Duff & Melanie!  Please email me (at adctd2qultng@gmail.com)

your addresses and I'll get those prizes right off to you

(hopefully just in time for you to stick underneath the tree!)

Now, I'm off to work on a new pattern that I started the other day. 

Think "Central Park". 

Think "Charm Pack". 

Yeah...you might want to go get one before they're all gone

(say it's from "Santa!") 

I'm REALLY excited about this one.

Add - On To The Giveaway

My talented sister Cassie wants to give one of YOU, my lucky blog readers,

one of these DARLING book marks!

Oh, I just LOVE them!

 Now through Sunday, you can enter to win one just like the one featured here (or you can pick your own ribbon, but if you ask me the tape measure ribbon is just perfect!)

Leave a comment below to enter to win.   

Become a follower of her blog for an extra entry (just let me know that you did/are).

Click here to see the rest of her amazing creations.  See something you like in her Etsy shop? - Enter "justsew" in the discount code for an extra 10% off (until Sunday).  I'm getting some for my kids' teachers Christmas presents (like the one below) and maybe for a few other people that I can't mention because they might be reading this...  Oh, and there's free shipping on everything right now, so hop on over and check them out!

And, if you haven't entered to win the PURE Layer Cake and my 3 latest patterns click HERE.  I'll announce all of the winners next week.

Good luck!

Star Bright ~ A New Pattern & Giveaway

I'd like to introduce you to:

Star Bright

[A Layer Cake pattern].

The fabric I used is Wee Woodland by Keiki for Moda.

The quilt was quilted by Kayleen Parry in Lehi, Utah.

 The rick rack and stars are optional. 

Or, you could even add more stars. It's up to you! 

  

 This scrappy quilt will brighten up any room in your home ~ I promise!
So what do you think of it???

So, I'm not sure if you know this about me yet,

but I like to give away my new patterns (with fabric) when I can.

['Cause who doesn't like that kind of stuff?!?]

Well, remember when I did my giveaway for "One, Two, Buckle My Shoe" a few months ago?  Many of you mentioned that you would like to make that pattern out of the fabric line, "Pure".  So. I talked with the ladies over at Sweetwater after that and they offered to donate

a "Pure" Layer Cake [aren't they so sweet!?!]

So I am giving away:

a "Pure" Layer Cake

with "One, Two, Buckle My Shoe" 

and Star Bright

(and hey, I may even throw in Square Root too.)

 And, I also decided to do "FREE SHIPPING" [on all regularly priced items] in my etsy shop from now until December 31st! 

So happy holidays to you from me!

To enter the giveaway:

**Leave me a comment below (be sure to be a follower!)

Tell me something fun you love about the holidays...

a favorite recipe, a favorite gift, a favorite place to travel, etc..
**Blog about it and leave a separate comment for an extra entry.

The giveaway ends this weekend.  I'm not giving a specific day and time because it seems I'm always a day or two late on announcing the winner.  You'll just have to check back! :)  Good luck!

You think you're doing good -

And then you stop by a fabric store to take a "quick look around".

Next thing you know, you've got stuff for a new design! 

{I couldn't help myself.  It's an addiction I tell you!}

I thought I was going to get all 12 of my

old, unfinished projects done before starting something new!

{That's what I would have told you, had we talked a few nights ago.}

But, suddenly, I find myself walking into

American Quilting and then {!BAM!} ~

before I know it I'm driving home with some new cotton.

I feel pretty good though, about my purchase.

$20 off from a filled up punch card and my total only came to $8 something.

That's nice.

One of these days this fabric will be used for a new pattern. 

Think "Dear Lizzie".

What's not to love?

And the stockings were hung...

 

Can I say that?

I think I can because my friend designed 'em.

I just had to share because the only mantle we have in our house is in our master bedroom so no one ever gets to see them.  They make me happy though.

I love my stocking holders too.

I got them through Ballard Designs a few years ago.

It's a good store.

It makes me happy too. 

While browsing through their online catalog today I found some fun things! 

Isn't this bookend perfect?

And these pillows?

[Maybe there's some design inspiration there for some of you?]

And how cute is this button garland? 

Oh, and I really need one of these storage ottomans...

to go with a couple of these...

plus a couple of new couches.

[Seriously.  Ours has a HUGE hole in it.

We have to keep a quilt over it to hide the hole.]

I'm not sure how I got onto Ballard or this list of cute things because none of them are really on my Christmas list this year.  Maybe when I do my GIVEAWAY next week I'll have to have you guess what IS on my list.  [New pattern coming VERY soon = pattern & layer cake giveaway!]

Check back soon!