Little Bits of This & That

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May 15, 2012

Winner time....

I want to thank you all for the nice comments you left about the tote bag and eye glass case! I really appreciate all your kind words.

Without any further waiting...the winner of the Quilts and More and Moda Layer Cake is Darlene F and she said~ It is a hard decision--the eyeglass case because I have "reader's" all over the place and they should have each have a case but I have to vote for the bag because I am the "the bag lady"! I love bags--any and all kinds and this one is unique because of the way the handles are knotted! I love it--and the trim on the bottom edge is a bonus! You have such great stuff:-)

Darlene, please email me your snail mail address and I will pop your gifts in the mail when I get back from Market~thanks!

I have been packing for Spring Market and I really could have used a glass case. I will be definitely be making myself some of them when I get home. When I was packing up my knitting to bring with...in case I get a few minutes....I realized I needed a new bag to carry my yarn in so I whipped up one of my new Farmer's Market totes.

I used fat 1/4's even though the pattern calls for yardage because that is all I found on hand. I think it turned out pretty cute!

Here is another one I am taking~

I love this big tote. I used Craft-fuse so that it has some stiffness and holds it shape well.Any don't let the top curves scare you...they are VERY easy, I promise!

Here is the actual pattern cover~

I have 12 more new patterns to share with you when I get back.

Leave me a comment and let me know what you think of this new pattern and I will draw a winner on May 22nd. The winner will get their own copy of the Farmer's Market pattern.

Now to finish packing the trunk and head out the door.....

Posted at 03:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (56) | TrackBack (0)

May 10, 2012

Gotta love it.....

I have always loved the American Patchwork and Quilting Magazine. There is always something in it that I find inspiring and of course, a project or two that goes on to my "gotta make it" list. Yes, the list is VeRy long!

When I got my "Quilts and More" magazine from APQ this month I was very excited to see two of my projects made it on to the front cover. YAY! How exciting is that!

My projects are the tote bag on the top right and the eye glass case on the lower right.

I made the eye glass case for my sunglasses so I can toss them in my purse. But these days, I seem to always be running around with bi-focal glasses on my face all the time, so I think I need to make a case or two those glasses also. Of course, I could try to be careful with them and put them in a pocket in my tote when I head out the door but I just don't aim that well when I am throwing them in, so I think a cute case is the way to go. I will be making some of the cases when I get back from Market and I will post them for you to see.

The tote bag was designed because I needed bags to take to the grocery store when I shop. Nothing more fun than to have a cute tote to shop with and I really don't like coming home with a bunch of plastic bags....so why not have a cute tote or two to take with. It also doubles as a great beach bag. I am definitely heading to the beach when I get home from Market! I could use a day or two with sun in my face.

So...which is your favorite project? Leave me a comment and you could win a copy of the "Quilts and More" magazine along with a Moda Layer Cake. I will draw the winner on May 15th, so be sure to leave your comment today.

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May 08, 2012

Crock Pot Potato Soup~YUM!

Weather in Minnesota is very fickle this year. Some day's it HOT and some day's it is down right cold, rainy and dreary. On the dreary day's, I love to pull out my crock and throw some food in it to cook all day....making the house small warm and cozy.

One of the newest favorites in our house is Crock Pot Potato Soup. Super easy and totally yummy....you have to try it! So here is the recipe~

Crock-Pot Potato Soup (Yum!!)

What you need~

1 bag (32 oz) frozen diced hash brown potatoes, thawed

1/2 cup onions, chopped

1/2 cup celery, chopped

1/2 cup carrots, chopped

1/2 cup red peppers, chopped

Salt and pepper to taste. (I used 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper)

2 tbsp butter

1 carton (32 oz) chicken broth

1 cup water

3 tbsp flour

1 cup milk

2 cups shredded cheese. (I like mexican blend)

1/4 cup real bacon, cooked crispy

4 medium green onions chopped

More shredded cheese for topping if you wish. (Can never have too much cheese right?)

What you do~

In 3- or 4-quart slow cooker, mix potatoes, onion, carrots, red pepper, celery, butter, salt, pepper, broth and water.

Cover; cook on Low heat setting 6 to 8 hours.

In small bowl, mix flour into milk; stir into potato mixture.

Increase heat setting to High.

Cover; cook 20 to 30 minutes or until mixture thickens.

Stir in cheese until melted.

Garnish individual servings with bacon and green onions (and extra cheese if you like.)

Eat with happiness!

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May 06, 2012

Designer of the Month...May!

It's May and time to tell you about the Aurifil Designer of the Month. This month it's Thimbleanna!

Anna is a super talented lady with a wonderful embroidery project just for you. She has designed a ubber cute May pole with the sweetest birds.

A definate must-stitch project don't you think?

Hop over to the Aurifil Blog to download your copy of the pattern.

Don't forget to upload a picture of your finished project to the Flickr: 2012 Aurifil Designer of the Month page.

When you upload your picture(s) you will be entered in the drawings for some wonderful Aurifil thread. And of course you will inspire more people to join in our monthly Designer blog hop! There is already lots of pictures upload and they are so beautiful...add yours too!

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April 30, 2012

Today is the day!

Today I will be chatting with Pat Sloan today on her show, American Patchwork and Quilting Radio. I have to say that Pat is a really great lady and I love talking with her.

We will be chatting about tote bag construction and a some other fun things. I hope you will join us!

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April 19, 2012

Chatting with Pat....

I hope you will join me tomorrow as I get to chat with Pat Sloan on her wonderful American Patchwork and Quilting show!

(The date on my picture is wrong...it is tomorrow, April19th!) Ugh~ I got it wrong! It will air on the 30th, not today. I am talking with Pat today and it air's later. Sorry about that! Please tune in same time but NEXT week!

We will chatting about a whole bunch of new stuff that I have coming up for you in the short future...so you won't want to miss it! Tune in at American Patchwork and Quilting. Hope you will join us!

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April 16, 2012

Mystery Monday #3.....Project Parade Time!

It time for a little show-and-tell for the Mystery #3.

Here we have Elaine T~

Pam~

Billie in TX~

Deb~

Joyce~

Great job ladies! I love to see the different colors and fabrics that people choose. I am so glad you have joined me on Mondays and I hope you have had a chance to find a little more time sew each week. There is nothing more relaxing or rejuvenating to me than to find a few minutes to myself to create something for my home or as gift.

And now...the winner of the 11 new This & That Patterns and Moda Jelly Roll is.....Joyce! So Joyce, please email me your snail mail address and I will pop your prizes in the mail to you.

I have received another beautiful picture of Mystery #2~

Here is Roslyn's runner~

I also got a wonderful picture from Teresa. She calls it Safe Passage~

Teresa did the lighthouses using machine embroidery.

She used my Season's of Migration pattern~

I think Teresa did a great job and so glad she shared with me....thank you Teresa!

I love seeing the finished projects that you make with my patterns. Please feel free to send me your pictures and I will share them on the blog. Your projects will inspire others to find a little time to create.

I will be starting a new Mystery in a few weeks and I hope you will join me! I have been working like a crazy woman finishing things up for Spring Market and I will be sharing them with you soon. So as soon as I am done with that, I will be back at the Mysterys. This will also give you some time to finish up the previous Mystery's that we have done...then send in those pictures!

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April 12, 2012

Handmade Holiday

For Christmas 2011, I knitted as many gifts as I could for those special people I appreciate. I must confess that I did start making gifts back in February so that I didn't feel so crazy rushed. Of course I still felt crazy rushed and tried to knit up more gifts then I had time for the closer the holidays came. But I did get quite a few done and I'm pleased.

I made my friend Kris some cozy socks. I picked up the pattern at Coldwater Yarn Shop in Excelsior. It was one of the last minute patterns I used to do the quick-knit socks. They use bulky yarn which is a big plus when time is limited.

Here they are on Kris's feet with her kitty admiring them.

Here they are again.....

A hat was made for my good friend Lori~

Click here for the pattern.

A little beach bag I made for Lori's birthday (which is just a few days after Christmas)....it's knit using t-shirt yarn. I made this bag at a class I took at Steven Be's Yarn shop.

A hat that was made for my daughter's good friend Audrey~

Click here for the Zig-Zag hat and mitten pattern.

A hat was made for my daughter's good friend Leah~

Click here for the Lichen Moss Stitch Stripe Earflap hat.

Here are the mitten's I made for Cindy, the nice lady who works with my daughter and her horse.

Click here for the Quick Bulky Mittens. They are are made with Rasta yarn by Malabrigo.

I made the Polly Pullover for my long-time good friend Beth~

I have already have a jump start on gifts for this Christmas. After they are blocked, I am hoarding them in the "Christmas Box". There is already 3 gifts in it~yay! I hope get knitting on gifts again as soon as I am done with all my Spring Market patterns.

When do you start your Christmas gifts?

Posted at 12:00 AM in Knitting | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)

April 11, 2012

Aurifil's 2012 Designer of the Month......It's April!

It's that time again...time for you to get stitching! This month we have the very talented Gail Pan.

She has designed the cutest little bird with happy flowers....April shower's do bring May flowers ya know. So cute!

Hope over to the Aurifil blog to download your copy of Gail's pattern.

EACH MONTH Aurifil will pick one random winner that has made a stitchery block.. that person will receive a special Aurifil thread prize!

You can make ANY of the 2012 blocks to be in the running (and we hope you make them all!). Share your photos at the Flickr Folder… I want to see what you have been working on!

www.flickr.com/groups/2012_aurifil_featured_designerofthemonth/

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April 10, 2012

Come march with us....

Are you heading to Kansas City next month for Spring Quilt Market? I am! And I have something wonderful to tell you about.....

There is 16 talented designers that have joined together to design a beautiful block-of-month just for your quilt shop. Each of these designers has created a special block for the quilt “Our Legacy Sampler”.

Shop owners just have to stop by each one of the designer booth's and have your passport stamped. When you are done hopping to each booth you will receive the Block of Month to promote for free in your quilt shop. Shop owners will also have a chance to win this quilt for their shop by visiting each of the KANSAS CITY MARCH booths. There will also be a number of other prizes for the participants of the hop including fabric bundles, pattern bundles, books, & more.