Christmas Gifts in a Hurry!

It is awfully hard to believe that fall will soon be nipping at our toes & that Christmas 2010 is breathing down our necks already!  I am sitting here at my keyboard thinking of the wonderful summer that is slipping away.  Our grandboys came to live with us in May, so my summer has been filled with swimming, trips, movies, fairs & all sorts of adventures.  With a 6-yr-old & an 11-yr-old in the house, this has been a lively place full of cooking, washing, toys & lots of laughs.  Okay, so no sewing or writing has been on my calendar.....now that the boys are back in school, I have Christmas gift projects all over my sewingroom & on the brain.  This Farmer's Market Bag is my first Christmas gift creation.  I have a girlfriend whom I always go to the local Farmer's Market with during the summer.  When I saw this fabric at a quilt store in Indiana while visiting another friend, Char, I grabbed 2 yds. of it, knowing immediately what I was going to make with it....a shopping bag for my Farmer's Market pal & one for me.  Next summer, we will be the envy of  the fresh fruits & vegetables crowd.I found the perfect pattern for free at this blog:  http://terryatkinson.typepad.com/atkinsondesigns/2008/11/fat-sack.html  Terry Atkinson has a very unique way of constructing the corners that really apeals to me, & the reinforced bottom makes this a strong bag.  The only thing that I did differently from her tutorial is that I chose to line my bags for even more strength & body.  When my friend opens her Christmas package, she will get a flashback of our great summer outings together!

Peter Cottontail

Here comes Peter Cottontail

Hoppin' down the bunny trail,

Hippity hoppin', Easter's on its way

Bringin' ev'ry girl and boy

A basketful of Easter joy

Things to make your Easter bright and gay

He's got jelly beans for Tommy

Colored eggs for sister Sue

There's an orchid for your mommy

And an Easter bonnet too. Oh!

Here' comes Peter Cottontail

Hoppin' down the bunny trail

Hippity hoppity Happy Easter Day

Here comes Peter Cottontail

Hoppin' down the bunny trail,

Hippity hoppin', Easter's on its way

Bringin' ev'ry girl and boy

A basketful of Easter joy

Things to make your Easter bright and gay

You'll wake up on Easter morning

And you'll know that he was there

When you find those choc'late bunnies

That he's hiding ev’rywhere, Oh!

Here' comes Peter Cottontail

Hoppin' down the bunny trail

Hippity hoppity Happy Easter Day.

Butterfinger Dessert

Butterfinger Dessert

2 1 cup crushed soda crackers

1 stick margarine

2 small boxes instant vanilla pudding

3 cups milk

1 qt. vanilla ice cream

9 oz. whipped topping

4 bars crushed Butterfingers

This dessert is made by layering the ingredients in a 9x13 pan. First, mix crushed crackers (save 1/3 for topping) and melted margarine. Press this evenly into the bottom of the pan. Second, mix instant pudding, milk and softened vanilla ice cream. Spread this evenly over crust. Freeze. Third, spread whipped topping over the ice cream layer. Fourth, sprinkle saved topping and crushed Butterfinger bars on top. Freeze.

Take out 10 minutes before serving Cut into squares.

Downey Quilts Finished

Here is Char's Kid Quilt that she made for the Downey project......bright & perky!This is Carla's quilt top....very nice!

 

Canning Jars

I cannot resist painting canning jars.  There is just something about them that makes me feel warm, cozy and loved.  Some other times I feel like this are when I bake cookies, curl up under a quilt and/or wear an apron.

Spring Tomorrow?

I am so ready for spring to start tomorrow.  This morning, I woke up to snow, and it's still snowing......all of the grass is covered now. What a long, hard winter this has been!Dh bought, cut and split a lot of wood to keep us warm in SW MO. Our driveway looked like thisfor about 2 months and only the 4-wheel drive could make it in and out.  Finally, it dried up just enough to have it rebuilt..$$$$..  This is a beautiful site!

Tutorial for Downeys Quilts for Kids

http://tobycatcreations.blogspot.com

Go here to see the tutorial...thank you for visiting.....

Quilt for a Cause

Create the Downy Heart Quilt

http://www.quiltsforkids.org/volunteer/

http://www.quiltsforkids.org/ 

The Downy Fabric Soft Company is asking for volunteers to make children's quilts for hospitalized kids.  You can request a free quilt kit including a pattern or provide your own fabrics & patterns.

My friends received these kits in the mail.  Downy asks that finished quilts be returned in 4 weeks.