January Themed Snowbuddie and Wool Applique Snowbuddie Kits now Available

Hello Woolies!

We had a fabulous Thanksgiving Holiday at our home, I sure hope you did, too!  The grandkids always keep things so festive and fun.  Savannah and our littlest Angel (3) came up with some great dance routines and performed for us.  Cody who is now 14 was into food! Loves dressing and turkey and anything else related to the dinner table.  I am always amazed how he can eat!  I came upon our Little Angel in the kitchen licking a serving spoon that had obviously been dipped into a container of Cool Whip.  She was just in heaven….mostly because no one knew she was doing it. 

Speaking of performing….Bee has been so busy in rehearsals for the program freshly written called “Christmas Presence.”  She played the lead – “Roxy” who is 8 and with her Grandfather they tell the true story of Christmas.  There was lots of story telling, dancing and singing.  She did a great job and was just fabulous in her first lead.  I know she will be updating you in her “Mini Moments” and hopefully can include a photo.  So proud of you Bee!

So……….here we are just creeping up on Christmas!  For me, and probably for you, it feels like we are in fast forward.  Can we all make a pact to slow down as much as possible and enjoy those beautiful moments that just go flying by so quickly that we totally miss them?  Before I close my eyes for the night, I am consciously making an effort to remember a few of the great things that happened during the day I just finished.  Sometimes, it will include a giggle and sometimes sweet tears.  Let’s promise to allow ourselves those sweet moments. 

Since our home is on the second story of our building, we face Main Street and the street is lined with trees.  Once again! I look out my windows to beautiful twinkly lights.  I just love this time of the year, love seeing the lights go onto the trees and celebrate when the lights come on.  It is like floating in the sky with twinkling lights. 

January Themed – “Snowbuddie”

Here is the January themed “Snowbuddie”  all snuggled up in ear muffs, scarf and holding a snowflake.  I hope you are having fun with these stitcheries.  We only have four months remaining.  The downloadable patterns will be available until June 1^st and then will disappear from the Blog site.   

TA DA! TA DA! TA DA! HERE ARE THE WOOL VERSIONS OF “SNOWBUDDIES”………………………

Okay, well, I was so excited about  giving new life to these embroideries by making them into Wool Applique Penny Rugs!  I enlarged the patterns and then created the same designs in Wool Applique.  They are so stinkin’ cute!  They are so much fun to make and stitch….just come to life right before your eyes.  I wish I could say that I have all of them stitched, but I am working on it.   I do have all of them fused to Black flannel background blocks.  In the photos below you will see the options of what to do with these great Penny Rug blocks.

Background Basic Kit - $38.00 Includes:

     Tan Check Wool for 12 Scalloped Penny Rugs*

      Black Wool for 12 Inner Circles and Snowbuddie Mouths*

      Crème Wool for 12 Snowbuddie Heads*

      Orange Wool for 12 Carrot Noses*

      1 yd. Black Flannel for 12 – 10 ½” X 10 ½” Background blocks

      Pattern for * Items

Wool Applique Kits – These kits are $10.00 each ₊ Shipping and just include the Wool for the Appliques – Available now, June, July, August, September, October, November, December (2 variations) and January.  February, March, April and May will be available when each of the Downloadable Embroideries appear on the Website. 

Option 1 -   Fused onto Black Flannel Background Blocks that finish about 10” each.  Blocks are then put together 3 blocks X 4 blocks into a wall hanging.  I plan to sew mine together without sashing.  I will Featherstitch along the seam lines of the blocks.  You can sash yours if you like.  An outside Border can be added to finish off this cute piece.  You will need the Background Basic Kit and each of the Snowbuddie Wool Applique kits to complete Option 1.

Option 2 – Some of you may want to pick and choose which Penny Rug designs you would like to make.  Instead of sewing the blocks into a wall quilt, I finished the December design individually.  After all the stitching was complete, I added fusible fleece to the wrong side of the square.  I then cut into the circle shape, adding backing and finished as if it is a small quilt by adding Bias binding to the outside edge of the circle.  It finishes to a 9 ½” circle.  So cute!  It is a great variation or addition to my Flag Stand pattern.  This kit comes with the Wool Welcome Flag kit which includes the adjustable wrought iron stand.  This kit is available for $52.00.   You can check out our website for other Penny rugs that go onto the Flag Stand.  www.thelittlewoolshoppe.com .   Needed for Option 2 – Background Basic Kit and Snowbuddies Wool Applique Kits.  If making individual Penny Rugs you will need Fusible Fleece, Backing and Binding for each Penny Rug. 

“SNOWBUDDIES” GIVEAWAY…….  Okay, if you are interested in the “Snowbuddies”  Wool Applique program, we are giving away one Background Basic Kit valued at $38.00.  That will get you started.  If you will email Carrie at carrie@starrypinespatterncompany.com with your Name & mailing address, we will include them in a drawing for the Basic Kit.  The drawing will be January 1^st.   Good Luck!

Hopefully, in the next few days we will have our website updated with some new Block of the Month auto ship programs……The Red Chair, Snowflakes Galore and a brand new Embroidery/English Paper pieced project that features authentic 1930’s 40’s Feedsack fabrics for the Paper piecing.  It is fabulous!  We will cut up the fabric and when it is gone it is gone.  Kits are very limited. 

I wish you a great week!

Connie

Mini Moments from Bee………………………..  

This past weekend I did my show at the Lincoln Center. It was a great show full of lots of dancing, acting, and music. The cast was wonderful. I am sad that the show is over though.

I can't believe it is December it seems like November went so quickly.  I can't believe it is almost Christmas, but of course it ruins the effect of Christmas when there is no snow yet. I know that my family has already put up our Christmas decorations in our house.  It makes it feel a little more Christmasy!  I think Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year!

December Snowbuddies

Hello Woolies!

I cannot believe that my last Blog post was on October 1^st.  Bee and I have been very busy and we have let you down.  I thought closing the Retail part of my business would open up all kinds of time….I must have been dreaming!

I did get my Storage units emptied, thanks to some great help from Linda!  She just kept nudging me along and we got it done.   I spent a solid week going through all of those Rubbermaid tubs that we moved over…it felt like an impossible job, but I sorted and the gals marked the items and we set up a cute little indoor sale spot and it was a whopping success!  What did not sell was donated and it felt sooooooo good!  I never thought that I would have empty Rubbermaid tubs that I would also donate to the Goodwill. 

I have spent a lot of time setting up our new workspace and my Studio!  I just cannot tell you how great it feels to know where everything is….and I am not wasting my time with the frustration of wondering which tub it is stored in and in which storage unit!!  My Studio is once again spacious and I am surrounded by the things that I love and it inspires me to create!

We are working away on getting items available on line.  Carrie has an Etsy site set up and here is the information………Our shop name is Wooly Moments and we can be found at the following link:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/WoolyMoments?ref=si_shop  We appreciate those orders that are coming in.

We are planning an Openhouse on November 17^th.  Want to share my Studio/Classroom/Work space with you and also announcements of upcoming classes and projects.  “The Red Chair” project will be available beginning on the 17^th and classes and projects will be posted on all of our sites for those of you that are not in the area.

The Backdoor…..

Bee and I see each other almost every day, but we have not had time to continue on with our Backdoor painting.  We will keep you updated with changes and we will have to finish it soon before the weather changes too much!

Winner of the Vintage Sewing Bag…..

I hope you have had an opportunity to check out my project featured in the latest American Patchwork & Quilting magazine.  We promised a great giveaway of a one of a kind vintage bag that I created into a Sewing Bag…..the lucky winner is Cindy Weed!!!                               Congratulations, we will be contacting you via email to getting your mailing information!  Enjoy this great Bag from my heart to your heart!!

December “Snowbuddies”…….

I know that I am a day late getting the December themed “Snowbuddie” to you, but for a good reason.   This month I designed two.  The Reason for the Season is different for everyone and so I wanted to design two different blocks….one very Whimsical with a string of Christmas Lights, Candy Cane and Holly.  And…I wanted to design a Snowbuddie shining with a Star behind him and abeautiful Nativity scene in his hands, called O! Holy Night.  You decide which works best for your Snowbuddie collection.   I love both of them!

NEW! NEW! NEW!......Now, that we are over halfway through the “Snowbuddie” collection, I have decided to offer these cuties in another medium.  I have been stitching mine in Redwork and you probably have been doing embroidery on yours.  I will now present the current “Snowbuddies” in Wool applique.  They are just gonna’ be so darn cute and as soon as I have the current seven ready, I will present them to you.  Kits will be available for these wool projects, I think you are going to love them.  At the end of twelve months you will have 12 blocks to embroider and/or applique.

Hurricane Sandy….

Oh my gosh!  To our East coast friends, my prayers have been with you all!  Words cannot come close to expressing the pain and sadness that we all feel as a Nation.  Blessings to you all!

Hey! Have a wonderful November.   I promise you will hear from me more this month, so stay tuned, stay safe and be Blessed!

Connie

Mini Moments from Bee………………………

It was another busy week for my family. Busy weeks are pretty fun though. Cody had three basketball games this week and I had lots of dance classes and Christmas Presence practice. The production is getting close it's kind of scary!!! We have just started practicing like crazy.  In my opinion the show is going to be the best Christmas show ever.  The whole cast of the show is great.  I can't wait until opening day, but I am glad that it isn't tomorrow. If you haven't bought tickets yet; I encourage you to get some cause it is going to be great. Plus the tickets are selling fast. Here is a link to where you can buy tickets. I hope to see you there! 

November "Snowbuddies"

Hi Woolie Moment Followers!

Today I looked out my window and saw I believe the “first frost.”  I am loving the cooler days!  I did go out last week and walk through the leaves and loved the “crunching” sound.  Yesterday, Savannah and I spent a few hours working on our back door paint project.  This is our “Gateway to Creativity”.   We are painting a picket fence on our door so that it looks like a gate.  As you can see from our photo…the progress, we have painted on our fence pickets and the fence posts alongside.  We are planning to add detail of grass, flowers and probably a Bee or two!  We thought it would be nice and cool while we painted, but since the door is on the South side of the building, we were in the sunshine and we were surprised how quickly the paint dried and how hot we felt!  Had to put some sunscreen on Bee!  I noticed she would wander off now and again to walk through the leaves….she loves the crunching as much as  I do!

November themed “Snowbuddies”

Okay, so here it is the first of October already!  Below is featured our November themed Snowbuddie…”Pilgrim Girl.  I think she is pretty sweet!    Also, I have included photos of how I am planning to finish my blocks.  To add a bit of whimsy to the project, it just kept screaming Yo-yos.  Now,  I know that yo-yos can make some of us cringe…they use to have the same effect on me.  But, I love the little Yo-Yo Makers that come in various sizes.  I precut my squares and put them next to my sewing chair and before I know it, I have made a bunch of perfect, same size yo-yos.  The Yo-Yo maker that I am using is the 45mm Orange maker and the Yo-yos finish to about 1 ¾” wide.  I have selected a tiny red/crème print and solid red for my yo-yos.  I originally cut my background squares 8” X 8”.  After finishing the embroidery, I cut the square to 7 ½” X 7 ½”.  I then cut a 7 ½” X 7 ½” red/crème print for the backing of the square.  I placed them right sides together and stitched ¼” around the outside edge, leaving a small opening for turning.  (Like sewing a pillow)  Turn right side out, press and slip stitch the opening closed.  My embroidered square is now completely finished.  I then Blanket stitched around the outside edge using two strands of my Sulky 12 wt. thread.  As you see in the photo below, I then added 4 print Yo-yos to each side and a Red yo-yo to each corner.  Notice that it is now finished both front and back.  My plan is that the blocks will be put together three blocks wide by four blocks down. I will continue to add the little finished blocks and yo-yos.  It is really coming out cute and a bit different from setting it together with sashing and borders.

December American Patchwork and Quilting Magazine…..

I have not personally seen or heard that the issue is out for sale.   Check my last Blog Post for news on my featured project and the Giveaway. 

Storage Units…..

A curse!  I have had three of them.   Many of you know that I have worked hard the last couple years to “gleen” my stuff!  I am sure a collector….don’t think that I am a hoarder….just have so many interests and so many things that I love.  Vintage…just gets me into trouble….and Flea Marketing.  I must admit that I am not the impulsive buyer that I used to be….more selective and contemplative.  After living in a 4000 sq. ft. house with way too much garage space for storage, I just have to downsize and I have done it in stages.  My last stage….this past week was to go through all three units and move everything out.  Well, Linda and I did get through all three units, but I found myself needing to keep one.  I am planning for it to be short term, another step in the process.  My stuff in storage was beautifully organized in Rubbermaid tubs, but now I am going to go through them and gleen again.  For those of you in the area…..Big Indoor Sale this coming Saturday (October 6) at the Shoppe – 9 – 3.  There will be lots of fabulous stuff that I am ready to have out of tubs and on to new owners.  I think when I am finished with this process, I surely will write a book!!  I won’t even include a photo of the mountains of tubs….too embarrassing!

I hope you have a great week!  Think of me as I am sorting and pricing and feeling the load lift!

Connie

Mini Moments from Bee………………………….  

 Yesterday was very exciting, Tee Tee and I started painting the door. We used a brillant blue; it is beautiful. The brown we painted accents the blue.

 Yesterday I also made a shirt bag.  To make it I took one of my dad's old t-shirts and cut off the sleeves and then cut around the neck hole.  I cut a few inches off the length of his shirt so that the bag wouldn't be too long.  Then I turned it inside out and sewed a zigzag stitch at the bottom of the shirt.  I then turned the bag right side out again and the bag is complete.  It turned out really nice!

I am excited because I am in a play this Christmas called Christmas Presence. I play the granddaughter. The tickets went on sale online at the Lincoln Center today. Tommorow the tickets will be sold at the box office so make sure to get your tickets!

School has been going great! My favorite subject right now is math.  Talk to you later.

Quote of the Day- "And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."   Abraham Lincoln

Savannah

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.