Monday, November 2, 2009

Double Cranberry Muffins from October's Meeting

Becky was the gracious host of our October meeting. It had been postponed a week due to illness but it was worth the wait! I had missed the prior month's meeting because of the craziness of apple season so it was great to catch up with everyone that made it to this months meeting. We learned of each other's Halloween/Thanksgiving traditions. It was nice to take a minute to think of family and what we enjoy doing with them at this time of year.

Here's the recipe Becky used for her delicious Double Cranberry Muffins

From 'simple celebrations'

Double Cranberry Muffins

1 3/4 cups flour
1 cup plus 1 T sugar, divided
4 tsp. Baking Powder
2 cups Post Selects Cranberry Almond Crunch Cereal, divided
3/4 cup fat free milk
1 egg
1 tsp grated orange peel
1/3 cup orange juice
2 T. plus 1 tsp. oil divided
1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries, coarsely chopped

PREHEAT oven to 365-degrees. Combine flour, 1 cup sugar and baking powder in large bowl. Mix 1 cup cereal and milk in medium bowl; let stand 3 min. Add egg, orange peel, orange juice and 2 T oil; mix well. Add to flour mixture; stir just until moistened. (Batter will be lumpy) Gently stir in cranberries.

CRUSH remaining 1 cup cereal; mix with remaining 1 T sugar and 1 tsp. oil. Spoon batter evenly into 16 paper-lined medium muffin cups. Top with cereal mixture.

BAKE 22 min or until muffins are golden brown and toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool in pan 5 min; remove to wire rack. Serve warm or cooled.

Monday, May 18, 2009

Lapacek Kiddo's in the Blossoming Orchard

The orchard was in full bloom this past weekend. It seemed to warm up long enough to dress the girl's in matching dresses and snap a few pictures. Cedi was a little hesitant to cooperate at first but promise of chocolate cake helped fix that!





If you want to see any more beautiful pictures of the girls, the orchard and other various flower pictures from me just click HERE.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Quiltsy Etsy Street Team Presents: May Daze!

The Quiltsy Etsy Street Team Presents:
May Daze!

May 10 -16, 2009


Play our game during May Daze and you could win one of these fabulous prizes!




STOP TO PLAY, STAY TO BUY




Has the long, cold winter left you in a daze? Well, Quiltsy is celebrating the coming of spring in a big way, with an assortment of prizes worth $350!!




Our May Daze promotion is sure to waken your adventurous spirit with a lively game of hide & seek through participating shops. While the game is being hosted, you will also be treated to special promotions offered by each shop which can range from free shipping, to free gifts and/or discounts. Winners of our game will receive prizes from among our most popular-selling items.




Quiltsy Team members are quite a creative bunch, and you will find within the items for sale new twists on traditional quilts, as well as other delightful items in the fiber arts arena.




HOW TO PLAY






  1. Your objective is to find the secret letters hidden within listings of participating shops. These letters will be placed in one of the 4 alternate pictures in a listing of the seller's choosing.


  2. There are SIX words in total, and 35 shops. The letters that belong in the same word will be the same color to help you unscramble.


  3. The letters will be hidden in a quilt-related item; the seller may opt to give a clue, so be sure to read the shop intro!


  4. Once you have located all the pictures, unscramble the matching letters to form a quilt related word/phrase.


  5. Send your answer in a convo to QuiltsyTeam. (You will need to sign in to Etsy). Please include the words "May Daze" in the subject line.


  6. For each correct answer, you will get an entry to win one of six prize packages. The number of prizes in your package is determined by the length of the word. So for example, if you unscrambled the word "lotion", and your name is drawn from the correct entries, you would win six prizes!


  7. We encourage you to buy from participating shops, but there is no purchase necessary to enter or win.


  8. Winners will be drawn from among the correct answers received. Winners will receive notification of their winning entry by May 25, 2009. You will be asked to provide your shipping address at that time.


  9. Your prizes will be shipped direct to you from the shop giving the prize. This is great because you will get little surprises in your mailbox over several days. How fun!



RESTRICTIONS






  1. No Quiltsy Team members or their families may play.


  2. Drawing only valid for correct answers received between 12:00 AM EST May 10 through 11:59 PM EST May 16, 2009


  3. Only one entry per user per word. So you cannot submit "lotion" over and over; but you could submit "lotion" and "soap" to get two entries.



We sincerely hope you enjoy our May Daze promotion! Good luck!




LIST OF PARTICIPATING SHOPS

Please visit QuiltsyTeam.etsy.com for the complete list of shops and to play the game!!!




Remember: you are looking for letters like this in one of the images of a listed item in their shops!


Written by LoveBug Studios. Letter image provided by ForQuiltsSake. Prize photos submitted by participating shops.


If you win the item from QuiltsbyBarb you will be winning this stunning piece of hand-dyed fabric (1 yd)!

Whoever wins the item from KimsCraftyApple will be recieving this hand-dyed quilted zippered pouch!

ALL shops participating in this even will be having special promotion offers....a percentage off, free shipping, or maybe even a free gift! Make sure to stop by and see what you can get and have FUN playing the game!

Sunday, May 10, 2009

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Someone shared this in one of the etsy forums and I just wanted to pass it along:

Before I was a Mom,
I never tripped over toys
or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not
my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind
and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held down a screaming child
so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held a sleeping baby
just because I didn't want to put her down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
when I couldn't stop the hurt!
I never knew that something so small
could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom,
I didn't know the feeling of having
my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel
to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond
between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small could
make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night
every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth,
the joy,
the love,
the heartache,
the wonderment
or the satisfaction
of being a Mom.

I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much,
before I was a Mom

HAVE a FABULOUS day everyone!

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Are you a Quilter or do you Love Looking at Quilts?

Are you a Quilter or do you Love Looking at Quilts?

If you answered 'yes' to either of these questions I strongly recommend checking out this website:

http://parkcitygirl.blogspot.com/2009/04/quilt-festival-spring-2009.html

Park City Girl is hosting a Virtual Spring Quilt Festival on her blog...it is just FABULOUS!

As I type this there are 342 links to people's favorite quilts! It's really fun to just browse through what other's are creating. (I do recommend higher speed internet though....)

Friday, April 17, 2009

Thanks again!


Once again, I would like to thank you for all of your support. My Patchwork Corduroy Quilt WON the etsyBABY Story Time Challenge! 2 for 2 now! I'll have to come up with something fabulous for the Cinco de Mayo challenge next month...hmmm.


Thanks again and I'll see you all on Monday!

Friday, April 10, 2009

It's Time to Vote again!

This time for the EtsyBABY Story Book Challenge!

Here's the email I received regarding this fun April challenge:

Dear EtsyBABY members,
It's challenge time! We want you to tell us a story using your favorite crafting medium!
You may list as many as you want but only 1 entry will be eligible for the poll. The winner will get official bragging rights, lol.

Here are the following details to participate in the Story Time Challenge:

A. Design an item to be listed in your shop that tells/interprets an original or classic or modern story.

B. All Items should be listed by the 1st of April.

C. Include in the title listing : EtsyBABY Story Time Team Challenge. Write in either the title or the listing body what the name of the book or story is...

D. Add the following tag to the listing: "EBST"

E. A poll to vote for your favorite "EtsyBABY Story Time" item will be available on April 4th and will end on April 15th.
All Etsybaby members can vote just once.

F: The use of licensed materials (ie Disney, Olivia, Dick and Jane) is prohibited

Please take the opportunity to use this for a treasury and to further promote the team and the challenge.

Thanks and GOOD LUCK!
Anna - EtsyBABY Moderator
Jen - EtsyBABY Team Leader

AND NOW here are the entries for this month's challenge! Not quite as many as the Spring Fling Challenge but some amazing work was done!

I will start out the 'show' of the entries with my own..."Patchwork Corduroy Quilt."
This quilt was inspired by the book 'Corduroy' by Don Freeman for the EtsyBABY Story Time Team Challenge.A patchwork blue, green and brown base make up the main part of the quilt. Light blue faux bois fabric borders this patchwork. 'Corduroy' is made from brown suede and some upcycled cordoroy's. Black buttons make up his eyes and two green buttons are for his overalls (one is 'lost' in the quilt). It is perfect for a little boy or girl...they will love the different textures! The buttons are securely sewn on using extra strong thread (quilting thread). I quilted a random pattern throughout the quilt and appliqued the bear on. My signature fancy stitch border is also quilted on.

TadpoleCreations enter her "The Little Mermaid Lap Tee or Onesie".


The TrendyTot entered 'Elmer, the Patchwork Elephant Long Sleeve T-shirt' into the challenge.

AmyRoseDesigns entered a Captain Underpants Super Hero Cape into the Challenge!


LemonDropBaby created this 'Blue Whale' onesie:


Baby Boots - Little Red Riding Hood were created by Charliemac1000.


Daisy Creek created this: A Bad Case of the Stripes Fun, Twirly Dress and Book Set for the team challenge:
ImogensGarden created Alexander a Waldorf-inspired doll for the etsyBABY Story Book Challenge.
LuLusWoobies was inspired by Dr. Suess' Fox in Sox!


AlamodeFabric made a Giving Tree Wall Art for her challenge entry.

Love Forever Wall Hanging and Photo Frame is LYIS's entry into the challenge.


New Girls Boutique CIRCUS Merry-Go-Round Pants Set Peasant Petal Tie Top and Ruffle Pants was made by RozzisSweetPeas


ZadyBall created this Where The Wild Things Are - Monster -

CandyStickLane The Hat Gift Set


BloomHillBaby Cow Over Moon Baby Bib


TweedleBee's The Little Red Hen -- Plush Toy or Pillow with Jingle Bells


And that concludes the entry for this month's challenge! I hope you take a few minutes to go to to http://shopetsybaby.com/StoryTime and vote for your favorite entry!
VOTING ENDS APRIL 15th! HURRY AND VOTE NOW!

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

EtsyBABY Spring Fling Challenge


Hi everyone! Hope you're enjoying this fabulous rainy weather :( I just wanted to share with everyone that I WON the etsyBABY Spring Fling Challenge! Thank you for all of your support :) I just found out today and it was pretty exciting news...over 500 people voted on 39 different entries! I win a free week of advertising on the etsybaby site :)

~Kim

http://shopetsybaby.com/SpringFling2009

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

A Cute Forward from Sue

Church Funnies

LOT'S WIFE
The Sunday School teacher was describing how Lot's wife looked back and turned into a pillar of salt, when little Jason interrupted, 'My Mommy looked back once while she was driving,' he announced triumphantly, 'and she turned into a telephone pole!'

GOOD SAMARITAN
A Sunday school teacher was telling her class the story of the Good Samaritan. She asked the class, 'If you saw a person lying on the roadside, wounded and bleeding, what would you do?' A thoughtful little girl broke the hushed silence, 'I think I'd throw up.'

DID NOAH FISH?
A Sunday school teacher asked, 'Johnny, do you think Noah did a lot of fishing when he was on the Ark ?' 'No,' replied Johnny. 'How could he, with just two worms?'

HIGHER POWER
A Sunday school teacher said to her children, 'We have been learning how powerful kings and queens were in Bible times, but there is a Higher Power. Can anybody tell me what it is?' One child blurted out, 'Aces!'

MOSES AND THE RED SEA
Nine-year-old Joey was asked by his mother what he had learned in Sunday School. 'Well, Mom, our teacher told us how God sent Moses behind enemy lines on a rescue mission to lead the Israelites out of Egypt . When he got to the Red Sea , he had his army build a pontoon bridge and all the people walked across safely. Then he radioed headquarters for reinforcements. They sent bombers to blow up the bridge and all the Israelites were saved.' 'Now, Joey, is that really what your teacher taught you?' his mother asked. 'Well, no, Mom. But, if I told it the way the teacher did, you'd never believe it!'

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD
A Sunday School teacher decided to have her young class memorize one of the most quoted passages in the Bible - Psalm 23. She gave the youngsters a month to learn the chapter.
Little Rick was excited about the task - but he just couldn't remember the Psalm. After much practice, he could barely get past the first line.

On the day that the kids were scheduled to recite Psalm 23 in front of the congregation, Ricky was so nervous. When it was his turn, he stepped up to the microphone and said proudly, 'The Lord is my Shepherd, and that's all I need to know.'

BEING THANKFUL
A Rabbi said to a precocious six-year-old boy, 'Your mother says your prayers for you each night? That's very commendable. What does she say?'
The little boy replied, 'Thank God he's in bed!'

UNANSWERED PRAYER
The preacher's 5 year-old daughter noticed that her father always paused and bowed his head for a moment before starting his sermon. One day, she asked him why. 'Well, Honey,' he began, proud that his daughter was so observant of his messages, 'I'm asking the Lord to help me preach a good sermon.' 'So, how come He doesn't?' she asked.

UNTIMELY ANSWERED PRAYER
During the minister's prayer one Sunday, there was a loud whistle from one of the back pews.
Tommy's mother was horrified. She pinched him into silence and, after church, asked, 'Tommy, whatever made you do such a thing?'
Tommy answered soberly, 'I asked God to teach me to whistle, and He did!'

TIME TO PRAY
A pastor asked a little boy if he said his prayers every night. 'Yes, sir.' the boy replied. 'And, do you always say them in the morning, too?' the pastor asked. 'No sir,' the boy replied. 'I ain't scared in the daytime.'

EQUAL REPRESENTATION
When my daughter, Kelli, said her bedtime prayers, she would bless every family member, every friend, and every pet, current and past.
For several weeks, after we had finished the nightly prayer, Kelli would say, 'All girls.' This soon became part of her nightly routine, to include this closing. My curiosity got the best of me and I asked her, 'Kelli, why do you always add the part about all girls?' Her response, 'Because everybody always finishes their prayers by saying 'All Men'!'

SAY A PRAYER
Little Johnny and his family were having Sunday dinner at his grandmother's house. Everyone was seated around the table as the food was being served. When Little Johnny received his plate, he started eating right away. 'Johnny! Please wait until we say our prayer.' said his mother. 'I don't need to,' the boy replied. 'Of course, you do.' his mother insisted. 'We always say a prayer before eating at our house.' 'That's at our house.' Johnny explained. 'But this is Grandma's house and she knows how to cook!'

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Sun Prairie Heritage Quilters Quilt Show - Sun Prairie

I just got back from visiting my quilts at the Sun Prairie Heritage Quilters Quilt Show! It was really fun to see my work hanging for everyone to admire (or not...). Here are some pictures from the show...


Joanne Reinhold from http://www.quiltingpathways.com/ was kind enough to take these pictures of me in front of my quilt! Her friend made her take the first one twice because, "she wasn't showing enough of the quilt"! Hilarious! Here's my Tutorial? for Woven Wonder that was posted on Quilting Gallery. You can also look at this blog post to read about the story behind it.

Here are some more of the quilts you can see if you go visit the show in the next few days: