BLISS! and American Patchwork & Quilting Magazine

Hello Woolies!

I hope you are experiencing a wonderful Fall Day!  When I look out of my windows I am amazed how quickly the leaves are turning and falling.  Chuck hinted laughingly that he thought it might be time to turn on the furnace.  That is his way of telling me that he is cold.  Here I am just loving the cooler temperatures and the last thing that came to my mind was to turn on the HEAT!  Isn’t that one of the reasons why we make all of these beautiful quilts…..to snuggle under them when it gets cold.  My friend and staff person Yvonne talks about how her and hubbie challenge each other to see how long they can go without turning on the furnace.  They just pile on the quilts.  My problem is…..I get cold, cover up with a quilt, get my stitching all organized in my lap (on top of the quilt) and then promptly fall asleep.  I guess it is just called BLISS!

 

I wanted to give you some exciting news!  As you know, our quilting Bible…American Patchwork & Quilting Magazine features projects from Quilters.  We as Designers submit projects to the magazine in hopes of being included in an issue.  In 2009, we were honored to in the Quilt Sampler magazine as a Top Ten Shop.  And, in 2010, I was selected and invited along with 20 other North American Designers to be honored in the “Creative Circle”.  It was amazing….kind of like being on the Oprah show!  Anyway….I am honored to have one of my projects featured in the December issue of American Patchwork & Quilting Magazine.  I am letting you know, because, they tell me it may hit the Newstands/Quilt shops this week, so look for the issue.  My project is called “Pocketbook” and those of you that know me, know that I love the challenge of taking trash and turning it into treasure.  A vintage piece – otherwise a “throw away” and giving it new life.  My way of recycling.  My BLISS!  See….I get BLISS from many different places.  I hope that the article will inspire you to create some treasures of your own.

 

 

This article is a perfect reason for a GIVEAWAY!  Maybe adding a bit of BLISS to your life.  I am giving away one of my creations (not the one in the magazine).  I found this cute round vintage navy blue purse at a local flea market.  Every part of it was in great condition, including the lining inside.  So, I designed a Penny Rug for the lid of the purse.  It features a Rose and of course….a BEE!.  Inside the purse where there once was a mirror, I added a small Penny Rug embroidered with “Needles” and glued it to the worn spot left by the missing mirror.  VIOLA! A Sewing Kit.  Small, but great for those important Sewing items….scissors, threads and needles, of course.  I like it because it sits flat on your table and opens to reveal all your necessary sewing notions inside.  Here is your chance to win this fun Sewing Kit.  Sign up as a Member or leave a Comment beginning today 9/25 through November 1^st.  We will draw for the Winner and announce the Winner on Friday, November 2^nd.  Good Luck!

 

 

 

 

 

           

“Snowbuddies” – November is Coming……..

This Free Downloadable project sure has been fun!  I swear, I just get one designed and it is time to design the next. I hope you liked our October “Snowbuddie” all gussied up in his Mask….Bats and all….for Halloween.  This Embroidery of the Month is designed to be whimsical and make you smile.  If you are signed up as a “Member” of the Blog it will just automatically appear in your mailbox to remind you that it is the first of the month.  I will include in November’s design how I am putting my blocks together.  It matches the whimsy of the project. Any ideas for the November design????? I’d love to hear them!

 

I think I will go walk on the leaves and see if they CRUNCH!  BLISS!!

 

Connie

 

Mini Moments with Bee…………………………….             

 

As you see below in the picture, I am drawing a pretty picket fence on the door outside the shop. As you might already know we are painting it. I am very excited to start it.                

 

I had a wonderful birthday about three weeks ago. I had a great birthday dinner/movie birthday sleepover with a friend.  I got wonderful gifts. One of which, I've been waiting for forever, a cell phone.  I also got to go shopping and out to dinner with my Tee Tee and mom.  We went to Aeropostale, Marshall's, and Justice.  I got lots of clothes.  Other than a birthday this month it has been great.  I can't believe it is almost October.  It seems like it was just the beginning of summer. Wow, life does go fast.

 

Phrase of the Day- Spend each day making small memories because some day when you look back to the memories they'll be big.

Fall is in the air....

Hello Woolies,

It has been a busy few weeks here.  We have spent the last two weeks closing out our Retail space – The Little Wool Shoppe.  After over 8 years of Retailing, it is time for a change.  Change is good and I am looking forward to focusing my efforts on my Quilt Pattern Design Business – Starry Pines Pattern Company and offering retail items for sale on our Wool Shoppe Website.  Although our brick and mortar doors will be closed to the public on a daily basis, we will still be offering lots of new projects, mysteries and Block of the Month projects on line.  First! Coming is The Red Chair project, so watch for details.

And Blogging, we will keep sharing with you – Savannah and I.  I have been wanting to paint our back door.  Now, it will be quite the process as Savannah and I will be painting a creative new “gateway” to the building .  Below is a photo of Savannah at what is now a very plain entrance….stay tuned for the changes as we make it a very magical entrance.

 

 

Moda Suitcase – The winner of the Moda suitcase is  Phyllis.   Congratulations!!  Phyllis, I responded to your post comment.  It should get sent to you as an email as well.  Please contact us with your address so we can send it off to you.

 

How Does Your Garden Grow??? -  If you have squash and zucchini galore here is a recipe that you will enjoy.  We have a cute towel pattern with the following verse embroidered on it……”if you don’t have zucchini, you don’t have friends!”  If your friends and neighbors are sharing their abundance, try this recipe.  It reheats beautifully.

 

Zucchini Casserole

6 c. sliced zucchini or mixed squashes

½ c. chopped onion

1 can cream of Chicken soup

1 c. sour cream

1 cube margarine

1 – 14 oz. herb seasoned stuffing mix

Salt and Pepper to taste

1 c. shredded carrots

Cook zucchini and onion for 5 minutes.  Drain.  Combine soup, sour cream and carrots, fold into drained squash and onion.  Add salt and pepper.  Combine stuffing mix and melted margarine which has been mixed with 1 ½ c. of water.  Put half of dressing into the bottom of a greased 9” X 13” pan.  Cover with vegetable mixture and put rest of dressing mixture over the top.  (I would add some shredded Parmesan cheese if you like)  Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until bubbly.

Have a great week!

Connie

Mini Moments from Bee………………

I auditioned for a Christmas show a few weekends ago that will be put on by my dance studio. It is the first time they have done a Christmas show and thank goodness it isn’t the Nutcracker.  It is a show written by the owner and her husband.  It is about a girl that learns about the true meaning of Christmas, and it is called Christmas Presence. Well anyway, I got the main part, the little girl. We will be performing at the Lincoln Center, in Fort Collins, on November 30th and December 1st.  I can’t wait!  I start rehearsing on Wednesday. The Christmas show is going to be a blast. For the show we even have a live camel and donkey. I’M NOT KIDDING!

Phrase of the day- Life is to short for us to get mad at things not worth getting mad at. So keep your madness for times when being mad is worth something to you. 

 

  

End of Summer

Hello Woolies!

Here we are at what feels like the end of Summer!  It has been a very hot Summer here in Colorado and I must admit that I look forward to cooler days.  I will miss the local Farmer’s Market that has been just around the corner from the shoppe.

We have been extra busy at The Little Wool Shoppe (our retail space) as we begin our “Close Out” sale next week and begin the process of closing our doors.  After 8 years and lots of changes it is time to close our doors to the day to day retail business.  I do believe that change is good and I am looking so forward to the next chapter in my designing life.  I will be so happy to be able to spread out my Studio/Design space and actually have room to breathe and more space to be creative in.  We plan to really “poop up” all of our on line services and will provide lots of great projects on line.  Still Retail….but Cyberspace style!  Stay tuned for all the fun!

So…………..as I have been cleaning out storage spaces and finding all kinds of cool things that I have had tucked away, I found these really cool Moda U tin boxes.  I was thinking………………how fun to fill this up with little fun projects, etc.  So…………………..leave a comment, sign on and we will draw for a winner on September 14^th.  Here is a sneak preview of the tin box……………………

It is “Snowbuddies” time!  Well, I think of October as Halloween, so I have dressed our Snowbuddie this month in his Halloween mask and of course he is holding a carved pumpkin.  Instead of Bees fluttering around….a few bats.  Hope you like it!  Next month I will preview how I am planning on putting my blocks together.  

Have a great Labor Day weekend!  Bee safe!

Firsts

Hello Woolies!

I hope you have had a great week.  Kids in our area have already gone back to school and I am sure very tired at the end of this first week.  I was grocery shopping earlier in the week and it was about 4:30 in the afternoon and I watched the very bleary eyed kids following their mother’s through the store getting asked all kinds of questions about their first day of school.  They looked like “deer in the headlights.” 

Our grandson Cody who has been homeschooled for the past 4 years headed back to school and entered into 8^th grade.  I must admit that his mom and I both had nervous stomachs all day on Monday.  We were anxious…Cody did fine!  Cody is a cool guy, makes friends easily and definitely was noticed as the “new kid.”  What a change and another first that his family revisited…almost as hard as sending him off to kindergarten. 

When I think of “firsts” I remember being at Disney World with Cody and Savannah.  Savannah I think was maybe two.  We were not sure what she would think of all those giant Disney characters.  Right inside the front gate of the Magic Kingdom was her first life size Disney character…..The Mad Hatter.  We crept up rather slowly and carefully and announced that he was Savannah’s first Disney character.  He responded in his very lispy Mad Hatter voice……”First! I am your First…..I will always be your First.”  Oh my!  If it were always that easy!  I hope your “firsts” or the ones that your loved ones are experiencing are just like Savannah and Cody’s….full of magic!

So, the firsts…..we all have them!  We start training for “firsts” from the moment we are born.  Just when you think you have experienced everything, along comes another first.

We would like to announce the Winner of the “Dresden Window Panes” kit.  The project came out absolutely beautiful.  The quilt is 66” X 66” and is so much fun to make.  It was a great challenge for me to take 40 different fabrics from different fabric lines and scrap them together.   Pretty close to a “first” for me!  The winner is Gayle. Congratulations!  Your kit is being mailed out tomorrow.  If you are interested in a Kit….the Kit is $44.00 and includes 44 precut strips and the pattern.  We will post a photo of it next week for those of you that would like to order a kit.

Have a great weekend!  Our shoppe has been bustling with friends from near and far.   Many who are experiencing their “first” time in our shoppe.   It is always so much fun to hear the laughter and share what you love with others.

We are blessed!

Connie

p.s.  I think Bee is going to write about going back to school…..I think she misses her brother a bit!

Mini Moments with Bee.............

School has started once again! I love school! School isn’t a drag for me. As you might already know I am homeschooled. My brother, Cody went back to school this year. Of course, I don’t have that someone to joke around with or fight with, but I am also so happy for him.  Beside from school starting I also start dance on Tuesday.  My mom is going to be driving all over the place all the time! I am very excited for dance to start I have missed it all this summer. I am  ready to get back to my three and a half turns and the sit ups that burn so bad the next day you can’t even walk. I am just so happy for this year of dance to start. But please pray for my mom in the chaos of driving!!!! LOL!

I call this the Peach and Strawberry Oatmeal School Day Booster-

1 cup of frozen strawberries

1 cup of frozen peaches

1/2 cup of uncooked oatmeal

1 cup of milk

1 Tblsp. of honey

Place all of the ingredients into the blender and blend until smooth.  Add more milk if you desire a thinner smoothie.  Enjoy!!

P.S. This is the smoothie I drink every school day  morning  to boost me up! It really works.

September Snowbuddies

August 1, 2012

September “Snowbuddies” – “Honey Bee”

Hello Woolies!!

As I finalize my sketch of the September Snowbuddies Embroidery pattern, I think about how we all need a “Honey Bee.” I am so lucky that I have a whole hive or bee skep of Honey Bees that bring so much joy to my life. I often (in jest) refer to myself as the Queen Bee. Surely, it is “good to be Queen” especially when your life is so blessed with so many honey bees.

You know that my “Bee” is Savannah who shares this Blogspot with me. You are getting to know her through all the stories that she shares in “Mini Moments.” Well, Bee has a big brother named Cody. He has always been our Sweet Pea, because before he was born, he would not reveal if he was a girl or boy….he is certainly a boy full of surprises. No surprise that he stole my heart before he was even born. Cody is about to turn 14 and he is quite the handsome young man. We had a date on Saturday!!! A lunch date. He arrived with a beautiful bouquet of flowers and we went to a French Restaurant. Cody loves to eat and would never be considered a picky eater, he loves everything!! We shared a fabulous salad made with produce from the local Farmer’s Market. Then an appetizer of Mushrooms, Truffles and the most incredible Ricotta Pasta balls that were the lightest of dumplings ever. We just about embarrassed ourselves and licked the plate…..the dressing was amazing!! Cody had a burger with homemade chips (not so French) and I had a Vegetable Frittata. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Wee! Wee! Wee loved it!!! Yes, the food was wonderful, but my date and our conversation…..Priceless!!

I so believe in intuition and what my “gutt” tells me. My antennae have been saying to stop and smell the roses. In the rose bushes I always encounter a few bee stings but, the hummmmmmmmmmmmmmm of the hive is music to my ears.

No bees……………no honey!!! I hope you take some time with your bees, I promise, the honey is sweet!!

Connie………… aka Queen Bee

Mini Moments with Bee……………..

I am on a competition team at my dance studio that has 12 to 15 students on it. My competition group was chosen to be choreographed by a woman who has worked on Broadway. Next Wednesday and Thursday I am going to be choreographed by her.Then next Friday I am going to Waterworld with a group of friends. I can not wait. I love Waterworld even though it is only the second time I've gone. It is going to be an exciting week for me!

This Carmel Puffcorn recipe is amazingly good.

1 stick of butter
1 cup of brown sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 cup of light corn syrup
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla
1 bag corn puffs (Chesters)
Preheat oven to 250 degrees
Grease roaster pan.  In saucepan mix butter, sugar, salt and syrup.  Over medium heat cook until boiling, stirring constantly.  Reduce heat to low for five minutes, do not stir during this time.  Then add soda and vanilla, mix well.  Pour over corn, stir well.  Bake 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.  Cool on wax paper.

Girlfriend Time

Hello Woolies!

Have you had a “Sew Day” with a friend lately?  It has been a very long time since I have been able to spend a day creating and sewing with a friend.  Now, I am not feeling sorry for myself, but I am still glowing from just a few hours spent sewing with my sistah friend Jeanette on Friday.  Jeanette and I are both quilt pattern designers and we love picking each other’s brains for ideas.  Since I have “closed out” the majority of cotton print fabrics in the shoppe, I have a surplus of beautiful Civil War prints that are screaming for a beautiful scrappy project.  I thought of pinwheels and hexagons and all kinds of patterns that are great for scrappy projects.  So many of them require yardage of background fabrics and I wanted to challenge myself to try to use what I have.   Jeanette had a perfect idea and we began selecting and cutting 2 ½” strips.  She became the instructor and I was the student…so stinkin’ much fun!!  (There are times when it is great to not be in charge!!!)  Using a nifty Dresden template, we cut the pieces and began stitching them together.  The photo below will show how we are using 20 different prints and how beautifully and scrappy they work together.  A great way to use your stash and in our case, construct, cut and offer a kit for this beautiful Dresden project.  We will be cutting this project and offering it as a kit.  A perfect NEXT giveaway item……………………….August 17^th we will draw for a winner of this kit.  Be sure to sign up!  And, if you are interested in purchasing a kit, stay tuned as we reveal more of the project and the price of the kit.

 

Since July has been “Snowman” month, this Friday we will present the last special snowman themed project.  This one is my design and even though in my head I had a design that I was going to call “Snowball Fight” I ended up with a design called “Laughing Snowballs.”  This kit will be offered two ways……………

1.      For those of you that have made or are making the Flag Stand Penny Rugs, we will offer a kit that is just the right size to fit on your Flag.

2.    It is also offered as a kit for a finished Penny Rug

You can stop by the shoppe and pick up a kit or order a kit by contacting Carrie at carrie@starrypinespatterncompany.com   She would be happy to ship a kit to you.

 

My real sistah Lori who lives in Omaha recently sent me a recipe.  Now, if Lori sends a recipe, you know it is good.  In fact, she said that you want to sit down with a gallon of cold milk and eat this whole  Peach Pound Cake and then she said…..”just ask me how I know that.”  Here in Colorado we are blessed with some of the most incredible peaches.  This would be a great recipe to try out and if you are trying to consume more calcium….sounds to me like a great reason to drink some milk……Enjoy!

Lori’s Peach Pound Cake

1 c. Butter or Margarine, softened

3 c. sugar

1 t. vanilla

3 c. flour

½ t. salt

2 c. peaches, peeled and chopped

6 eggs at room temperature

½ t. almond extract

¼ t. baking soda

½ c. sour cream

Glaze

1 c. sifted powdered sugar

½ t. vanilla

3 T. warm water (use less if too watery)

½ t. almond extract

Cut a piece of waxed paper to fit bottom of a 10” tube pan.  Grease and flour pan, put in paper, crease and flour paper.

In a large mixer bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Add eggs one at a time beating well after each addition.  Stir in vanilla and almond extracts.

In a small bowl, combine dry ingredients.  Add to creamed mixture.  Fold in sour cream and peaches, pour batter into prepared pan.

Bake at 350 for 70 minutes or until a stick of dry spaghetti inserted in the center comes out clean.  Remove from pan and dry on a wire cake rack, cool and glaze,.

Mix powdered sugar, vanilla, warm water and almond extract.  Place cooled cake on a plate.  Pour glaze over top of cake, leave on rack at room temperature to set.

Have a great Week!!

Mini Moments by Savannah……………..

I am really excited because my Tee Tee has taught me how knit a ruffled scarf.  It is pretty easy and of course adorable!  You can buy the yarn at your local yarn or craft store! You wouldn’t believe how fun it is. I am also excited today because I am going to my second dance camp called Intensives. It is four days of dancing for four hours each day.  It is so fun! I do a different kind of dance each hour. I learn a dance in each class. And I perform at the end. Of course after the camp is done I am tired, but stronger in everything!  

July is Snowman Month!!

Hello Woolies!

Happy Friday the 13^th!  I try not to be superstitious, and think WOW!  We need to make this a lucky day!  Today is the drawing for the Moda Bag and all the goodies that Savannah has selected and packed inside.  The “lucky” winner of this bag will receive the bag and inside are 15 mini kits.  The value of this bag and goodies inside are well over $100.00.   Our “Random Number Generator” has selected the following person as the winner……Marlene Sullivan.  Congratulations!!!  Marlene please contact us with your mailing information so that we can send this bag your way!

July is Snowman month at The Little Wool Shoppe.  Each Friday we are offering a new kit featuring Snowmen.  These kits are all available by contacting Carrie (Bee’s Mom) at carrie@starrypinespatterncompany.com.  Our first kit was “Frosty Mugs” and the cost of the kit for all the wool and binding is $45.00.  This is the custest project ever and goes together and finishes really fast!  The designer is Threads That Bind and it measures 11” X 40”.

The kit featured this week is from All Through The Night.  Bonnie Sullivan has done it again with “Seven Snowmen.”  If you are familiar with her pattern “Seven Santas” you will love this project, too!  It is like paper dolls and dressing seven cute snowmen.  The cost of the kit is $62.00 and features wool for the entire penny rug top including the black background.  The easiest way to dress these snowmen is to use and applique sheet and lay out all the pieces and steam press them together.  Then when cool peel the constructed snowman away from the applique sheet.  Repeat for all snowman.  They are then very easy to place onto the background fabric and press into place.  Here is a picture of Bee holding one of the snowmen.  I think I know who is cuter!!

Here is a sneak peak at next week’s Snowman project from my friend Joanie from Bits and Pieces by Joan.  (Joan calls me Butthead!....it is a long hilarious story!!)  This project is called “Snow Pals.”  It will be presented in kit form two different ways…one with a frame and one finished like a penny rug.  We will post it next week.

The last Friday of July I will present in kit form my new Snowman project called “Snowball Fight.”  Stay tuned for photos and information.

My sistah girlfriend Jeanette Pie’ is coming to visit next Friday!  She lives in Maryland and we will be spending the day together.  We are adopted sistahs and just know that it was inevitable that we would meet and join hearts.  Fate is that way and I am so lucky to have her in my life.  Professionally she is the owner and designer of “Easy as Pie” designs.  She is the “Talking Quilts” lady.  She has designed some new pillow tops with Subway Art and will be bringing along her models and some preprinted panels so I can feature them in the shoppe.  Check out her website at www.easyaspiedesigns.com .  We will share photos in our next post.

I just cannot believe that we are halfway through July.  I checked our corn fields and our corn did not quite look “knee high” by the Fourth of July, but it has been so hot.  I was reading through the current Country Register

Found this interesting recipe.  Have not had a chance to try it, but it does sound promising…..

“Cooler Corn-on-the Cob”

Get a cooler and wipe it clean.  Fill it with shucked ears of corn.  Pour two kettles-full of boiling water over the corn and close the cooler.  Open the cooler 30 minutes later and enjoy your meal.  The corn will be perfectly cooked and as long as the cooler stays closed, it will also remain at the perfect level of doneness for a couple of hours. 

Enjoy the Weekend and stay safe!

Mini Moments from Savannah………………………..

Last week I was on the road to Wyoming.  It was quite a  5 days. I went to see my Grandparents and Great Grandmothers. When I was in Wyoming with my Grandparents, we did lots of stuff. For one night we were campers even though we were sleeping in a fifth wheel. We went on a hike and went fishing. I also met a man named David Miller and his dog, Max. He was biking through Wyoming. He told us that he was 50 years old and that he was going to bike through 50 states in a year. He had already biked 26 states including Alaska. He showed me pictures of the beautiful Savannah, Georgia. He was right Savannah is beautiful.  And a cool fact is that there is a ferry in Savannah called Savannah Belle’s Ferry. Well, that is my name!  He was a really nice man. So nice that we invited him for breakfast. So my brother, Cody and I made pancakes, eggs, and bacon for 7 people that morning.  Then we went to my Grandparents house and played games and ate dinner. The next day we went rafting on the Shoshoni River. It was a grand time. The next morning it was time to leave. It was a fun trip.

P.S. On my blog, www.thestudyhouse.blogspot.com I have started a read along for the book Where the Red Fern Grows.  Children and adults will love it.