Wednesday's Workings

As promised a big batch of Peanut Butter Cookies with Snickers was my first task of the day - along with getting the boys out the door to school of course!

Mmmm Cookie dough - yum!

 Here is a tip that Miss Irene passed on to me - you will meet her later!  Use a small ice cream scoop to scoop your cookie dough.  Make lovely even sized cookies.

 

PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES WITH SNICKERS

1 cup caster sugar

1 cup brown sugar
250g soft butter
1 cup (280g) smooth peanut butter
2 eggs beaten
2 teasp vanilla essence
3 cups plain flour
1 teasp bicarb soda
1 teasp baking powder
18 (approx) fun size snickers bars, cut in to 8 pieces

Preheat oven to 180°C.  Line baking trays with non-stick baking paper.  In a bowl combine sugars, butter, peanut butter, eggs and vanilla essence and mix til smooth.  Sift flour, bicarb soda and baking powder into peanut butter mixture and mix well.  Roll tablespoonfuls into ball, place a piece of Snickers on top flattening slightly at the same time.  Place on prepared tray, leaving space for spreading.  Bake for 10 minutes, until lightly browned.  Cool on tray. Serve.

It was time for a Sewing Bee today.  We needed to spend time progressing our quilt for the local bush fire brigade to raffle.   We started it last Wednesday and today we were able to get the quilt top together.   I wouldn't mind winning it!  It took quite a while to get it to come together but we were all really happy about it in the end.

I don't know why this photo is so blurry!  I must be doing something wrong with the camera!  Will have to get the manual out and see what I can work out!

Miss Irene was particularly happy but then she is that kind of girl!

Hi Irene! 

 We have even sorted out the fabrics for a pieced backing and made the binding

Gotta love candy stripes!

Tonight I went to my sewing class.  I should have done some more work on my Shattered Notes Quilt as you Go FMQ project but I was too tired and my hands were too sore so I sewed the latest blocks for the LGS BOM.

All in all a good day!  Till next time......happy stitching!

Tickled with Tuesday

Well, I didn't think I would get much done today but I feel I have achieved more than expected.  No actual sewing but then sometimes you have to do some ground work and that can be just as important.

Today was errand day, including a haircut for me, followed by a bit of time at home and then music lessons for Guitar Hero and then haircuts for both boys.  That means that we got home in time to eat dinner.  No free time till after dinner and then lots of interruptions from 15 year olds looking for any excuse to talk to me or each other, rather than study for tomorrow's maths test.

Finally I was able to get a few things done though.  First up planning for some cutting out.  School holidays start on Friday for two weeks.  During the holidays I watch a lot of movies with the boys at night time.  It is pretty much the only thing they will agree to do as a family, so movies it is.  Only problem is that I often don't find their choice of movies all that much fun (give me a chick flick anytime) so, whilst they lounge over the sofa and chairs, I sit at the kitchen table and cut out. 

I have decided that I am going to try and plan my Christmas sewing and get it all cut out during the holidays so that I can sew it whenever I get a few minutes. 

In addition to Christmas sewing I am also going to make some more feeders like this for the young mum whose baby shower I went to on Sunday.  She won't need them till the baby starts on solids but I figure if they are cut out they will be easier to get done.

This morning I bought a stack of tea towels which I threw in the washer and dryer.  Just as well I did coz they shrunk ALOT!

 I figure I can make one feeder out of each tea towel with the tea towels being the bib part.  I will use it double.  That way I can sew two pieces together, turn right side out, top stitch and hey presto!  no need for bias binding, on that part anyway!

You need fabrics for the sleeves so I rifled thru my stash till I found the appropriate fabrics.

These are my favourites.  The baby's Mum was born in New Zealand (poor thing!  ha ha ) so some kiwi birds and kiwi fruit seem quite appropriate! 

 I am starting a pile of things to be cut out during the movies so these went straight on the pile.  Another lot that will be going on the pile are the fabrics for the Baby quilt for the above baby!  These are the fabrics I have chosen.  I have been asked for pale blue and white.  Don't you just love that "Oh Boy" fabric! 

And this is what I am planning to make.  I have special plans for the backing too, but as always, you will have to wait!

Tomorrow is a big day.  Baking in the morning - Snicker's Cookies (just to whet your appetite!)   Then a bit of tidying before my quilt group comes over around 1030ish to get back to work on our Christmas Star quilt for the Fire Brigade Raffle.  After they leave I have to get my things ready for my fortnightly sewing class at the LQS.  Early dinner, take Fly Boy to Cadets, go to sewing class, come home, send fly Boy to bed and fall into bed myself.  Thankfully, I think I am home most of Thursday and Friday and then Monday we are on hols, well at least the boys and I.  Best thing about that - two weeks that I don't have to wake up at 540AM!

Till next time...............happy stitching!

Finally quilting......and quilting....and quilting......

Before I did anything else, sewing wise, today I finished off the bag I started last night.  It was a bit fiddly sewing around the handle but as long as I didn't try to sew too close to the handle it was ok.

 I really thought about how to use this fabric to its best advantage because I really like it and wanted to rally show off the family.  Hopefully this works.  I am pleased with it anyway.  Hopefully someone in Ireland will want to buy it.  It is off to the International Charity Bazaar with all the other things that I have made for it. 

 Then I decided that I had better get on and quilt this quilt which is one of the ones that I brought home with me from the Quilts for Queensland sew-in.  This is the last of the three quilts to be quilted.  Tomorrow, hopefully, I will get the binding made and maybe even sewn on.  I quilted in the ditch which I think it enough.

Then I really got started and worked on Bruce's quilt.  This was really hard work coz of all the pushing and pulling I had to do to move it around under my machine.  It is much bigger than I had intended it to be but that is just how big it wanted to be and that is ok.  I will wave goodbye to this quilt when it is done with just a smidgen of regret.  I am probably two thirds of the way thru quilting it. Hopefully I will get the rest done some time this week.

 I needed something simple to sew tonight - too tired to quilt and not enough brain power left to want to do something that needs much concentration so I sewed a few half square triangles in Christmas fabric - these will become pinwheels and then probably potholders, also for the Irish Charity Bazaar. 

Is anyone else starting to freak out at the thought that Christmas is coming way too close?  I think I need to start sewing Christmas presents soon, oh dear, better start working out what I need to make.
I think I will sleep on it.
Till next time.................happy stitching!

Early to rise........

Got up early this morning.  I woke up and couldn't go back to sleep so I got started on some sewing.  I didn't get to do any of my Rainbow Scrap Challenge sewing yesterday so I spent some time finishing of my first place mat.  I had the front done but needed to cut the back, quilt and bind it.

 Luckily I had a length of scrap binding that was perfect.  I am quite happy with this backing.  I will probably use it on the other place mats when I do them.  I had been planning to strip piece a backing but can you believe it.......I couldn't find the strips this morning  and decided the apples would do instead. 

By the time I got the binding finished my husband had woken up and it was time to start doing a few other jobs.  Once the jobs were out of the way I had time for a little more sewing before I went to my young friend's baby shower.  First I made a simple toy bag - the black bag has little green frogs on it and comes together by draw string.  After that I decorated three little bibs - I used the same fabrics that I used to decorate the little onesy.  I was in Target the other day and saw a display of cute little onesies in all sorts of gorgeous colours!  I had to get one but couldn't leave it plain.

I wrapped all the goodies in red tissue paper and put them all inside the bag that I showed you the other day here.  I am so glad I thought of using it for a gift bag!

We had a lovely time at the baby shower today.  Opening the presents was fabulous.  This baby is going to be so well dressed.  I am dying to know how many new outfits Junior was given today!  Every parcel seemed to contain at least two, if not four or five!!!  What fun to dress him each day!

Had a bit more time to sew tonight.  I made this ten inch star for the Christmas Quilt we are making for the Fire Brigade raffle.

And finally I have almost finished this bag.  In this photo you can see the completed bag on the bottom right of the book cover.  The book is "Sew Pretty Homestyle" by Tone Finnanger.  This is an Australian fabric with native Australian flowers on it and I really like it - the large pink flower you can see it a Waratah - they come in pink and white but are most famous for their red variety which is the floral emblem of New South Wales where I live. 

All I have to do tomorrow is sew the handles on.  Too tired to do that tonight!


Till next time........happy stitching!

Major Victory!!!

Well, I can't believe it.  It is always a nightmare trying to get my boys to go shopping to buy clothes but today we had success in a major way.  Both boys have to do a dancing testing at school on Tuesday - what a riot - their year is doing dancing for sport this term and they have to do a test!  poor things.  they also need to be appropriately dressed for the test (giggle) and for them that meant that they had to (in their mind) have a pair of dress shoes.  I have been trying to get them something nicer to wear for ages so hooray we finally got there - and we got slacks for one of them and some nice casual shirts for both.  And as if that wasn't cause enough for celebration my husband and I actually managed to convince Guitar Hero to pose for some photos!  That is the major victory!!!!  I haven't had a decent photo of for ages, probably all year!  Silly boy thinks he doesn't have a nice smile - if only he would believe me that he will be melting girls hearts with that smile before long.......

here he is with his favourite girl - Snickers

Today my girlfriend and her daughter and I packed the shoe boxes that we have been collecting things for - we ended up with 8 bulging shoe boxes and a few leftover pieces that we gave to the girl coordinating the shoe boxes.  She was delighted as she will definitely be able to add our extras to her boxes.

After filling the shoe boxes my girlfriends and I had a leisurely dinner at a noodle hut and then for me it was home to sew for a while. 

Boy, does this bring back memories.  My boys used to wear these feeders.  They are almost a family tradition and I had forgotten about them until my cousin mentioned making some.  They make a fabulous bib with sleeves so they really protect the sleeves of whatever the baby is wearing.

I couldn't resist making one for the baby shower I am going to tomorrow. 

But now it is bedtime well and truly - till next time.........happy stitching!B

Bits and Pieces

Kind of cute that at the grand old age of 15, where so many things aren't cool, Fly Boy still likes toast and vegemite towers for breakfast!

Had a few important tasks to complete today.  First up bake 40 party cup cakes for a circus themed party for two 16 year olds.  Don't you love the colours!

 The cakes were to go on two cup cake towers so I was asked to make them in two different colours.

I chose Purple

 And orange.  Couldn't be much brighter for orange could it!

 Next I had to make another of my favourite little bags as a gift bag for a young mum who is expecting a boy.  I am off to her baby shower on Sunday.   I am also making her a quilt but I want to wait till the baby is here so I can incorporate the name in the quilt so on Sunday I have baby socks and a couple of cute outfits.

 And finally 8 more marble bags to go with the shoe boxes for Vietnam.  We are packing them tomorrow night.

Sorry I have to run - but it is time to collect Fly Boy from Youth Group - and then I can finally go to bed!  They finish quite late - 1030 - so it is after 11 before we get home!

Till next time.happy stitching!

Baking, sewing, pinning........

Started the day with a batch of cheese puffs.  These are so simple to make.  My Mum found the recipe when I was a kid and they have become a family favourite. 

Mix 1 and a quarter cups of Self Raising Flour with 1 cup of milk and 1 cup of tasty grated cheese.  Spoon into greased muffin tins, I used mini muffin tins to make dainty bite sized ones.  Bake in a hottish oven , say around 200C for about 10 or so minutes or till nicely golden.  Cool for a few minutes in the pan and then carefully remove and cool completely on a rack.  Once they are cold, split them and place a slice of cheese in the middle.  When you are ready to eat them heat gently until the cheese is melted and serve straight away.  I think they are best served warm but my kids don't mind them in their lunch boxes cold.  They freeze really well too.

These ones went straight into the freezer as they are going to a baby shower on Sunday.  I will thaw them Sunday morning and put the cheese in them.

Next I moved on to the backing for Bruce's quilt.  Sad note to the story.  Found out yesterday that Bruce is on hospital with a broken arm.  He had a lesion in a bone in his arm that had weakened the bone,.  Unfortunately he caught his arm and twisted it and snapped the bone!  He uses crutches to get around so I am not sure how he is going to handle crutches with a broken arm.  I wish I could do more for him but at least I can send him a nice surprise.

I have been going to use a red backing but I changed my mind and found more of one of the blues that I used on the front and that became the backing along with a couple of leftover churn dash blocks, the label and my phrase. 

As soon as we finished dinner tonight I commandeered the kitchen table and set about pinning the quilt.  I have used up my last pins on this quilt and I couldn't understand why I had so few and then I remembered that as well as the quilt for Queensland that is waiting to be quilted I have another large quilt from the quilt group also waiting for quilting.  Oh well, Bruce's quilt first. 

I have one more job to start tonight - more marble bags for the Vietnam Shoe Boxes. 

I have four more to make for our 8 shoe boxes but my friend and partner in the shoe boxes was given some more marbles so some extra bags will go with the extra marbles and we will give them to the organisers to poke into other boxes.  I won't get them all done tonight but a start will do.  I can finish them off tomorrow night.

So, nice chatting with you - time for me to get back to work - happy stitching!