Snowman Frenzy!

We have had freezing rain the past few days. And since we didn't dare venture out on the icy roads.. we decided to make Snowmen! Wet snow is the only way to do this.

My oldest made one on his own...

Then our youngest made one with his Dad's help..

And after a quick snowball fight.. I retreated inside to make a Snowman of my own too!

My LQS (local quilt store) is offering the "Patch Abilities" monthly mini's kits this coming year. And, in a moment of weakness, I signed myself up.

They are super fun to make and quick!! And then once a month I can have a new one to hang on the table.

They also have the "Button packs" for each month because they typically have special buttons.. like this carrot nose. The kit includes the button pack, but you can also buy them separately.

I'm thinking about giving the patterns away when I'm done each month. But here is where I need your help.. should I give them away each month after I make them? Or wait until the end of 2011 and giveaway the whole set? Pin It

Retzels.. or Polos..??

I don't know what the actual name is of these little treats.. but they are GOOD!!


The ingredients:
Pretzels
Rolos

Place on a cookie sheet:

Put into a 350 degree oven for approx 5-7 minutes.. until something magical happens

Transfer to a cooling rack. Resist the urge to pop one in your mouth until they have cooled slightly.

ENJOY!!!

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Quilt for her Dollys...

I had a great Christmas with my family! It has been a few years since we have all been together and it was so nice.

Now, when it comes to grandchildren in our family - the boys out number the girls 6 to 2. One of the girls is 17 and the other just turned 3... and neither one belongs to me *sigh*.

So it's always a treat for me when I can make something girly. My husband and I decided to give our youngest niece a homemade doll cradle for Christmas this year. And I knew I needed to make a sweet little quilt for her dollys to go with it.

I created my quilt sandwich with backing, batting and a large white rectangle. Then I placed charm squares all around and pinned them in place. Then I sewed them on with rough edges, quilting as I went. The entire quilt was ready for binding in about an hour. That's probably why some of the squares are not totally spaced correctly.  

I wish I had taken more/better pictures of it - but with the Christmas frenzy I was lucky to just get these!  

Every one says she looks so much like me. And if she ever comes up "missing" - I think my Sister-in-law knows the first place she should look is my house! Maybe that's because I'm always talking about stealing her away for myself! The way I see it - since she looks just like me.. she would blend right it!

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My Win is Your Gain!!! It's a Giveaway!!

The lucky winner (using Random.org) of the book is Marie from Oregon who said

"I love the Country Registor. I won a book once from them. I have book #1 and have made a couple of the basket so would love to have this new addition."

Congrats Marie! I have sent you an email.

Have you ever seen this little newspaper "The Country Register"?? It is typically at quilt stores.. craft stores.. etc. I think most States have their own version of it.

It is a handy newspaper for crafters - telling us about craft fairs and crafty events of all kinds.. recipes.. fun articles and so much more.

Anyway - if you didn't already know this about me.. I'm a VERY LUCKY PERSON. I have won a lot of things in my life. The first thing I ever won was a "Boombox" at a youth event at church when I was just a kid. And the rest is history!!

So recently I was reading my local Minnesota Country Register and I signed up for all the "drawings". Then yesterday, I was at the mailbox and found a little package.. I WON!!!

It's a book.. Called "It's a Wrap II" by Susan Breier.

I know that I will probably never use this book. Therefore, I want to pass it on to one of you! Pay if Forward as they say.

To enter - just leave a comment.. that's it. No hoops.. just a nice little tidbit.. maybe tell me if you have any New Years resolutions??

I will leave the drawing open until December 26th at 10pm.

Good Luck!! Pin It

Sew-In Results

Thank you everyone for your kind words and prayers. I know it was a strange way to dump all that info out there and then move on. LOL. My mind just hasn't been working in a "normal" fashion lately though.

Anyway, I had a goal this year to make Christmas Stockings for the 4 of us. I'm so close to being done.. but I'm worried I'm gonna run out of time. I might need to sacrifice some sleep...

I have one totally done...

and I have all the "parts" complete for the remaining 3.. I just need to quilt and assemble them. I used the Minky for the tops and all the appliques are with wool. I love working with wool.

I have also been making more of these ornaments. They are just a 3 inch quilt square and are so fun to make.

These will become Teacher gifts within a few days. The kids and I will be making Peppermint Bark and packaging them with an ornament. Then giving them to each Teacher and Teachers Helpers.

I have so much to get done these next 3 days! Who needs sleep??!! Pin It

FNSI WINNER!!

First I must appologize for being so late in getting this posted. I had a crazy, scary weekend. We went to my husbands company Christmas Party and approx 30 minutes into the party.. my husband collapsed. And for a few moments there was no pulse and no breathing. We still don't know what happened.. the paramedics couldn't find anything abnormal when they arrived. But we will be going for testing this week and hopefully we will get to the bottom of it all.

Moments like that really make you realize how quickly things can go terribly wrong without any warning.

Anyway.. back to the Friday Night Sew-in!! I will share pictures tomorrow of what I worked on during my FNSI. For now - I will just tell you who our lucky winner is!!

Random.org selected #31 - Karin from http://www.bizkitea98.blogspot.com/

Karin is making an adorable baby quilt - and she got quite a bit done on Friday Night. Way to go Karin!!

Send me your mailing address and I will get these little handmade goodies in the mail to you!



Some Christmas Tree Ornaments.. and



This Snowman Dishtowel

 Congratulations Karin!! Pin It

Getting Ready to Sew??

Are you ready for the FNSI tonight?

Thank you for all your kind words and emails while I was sick. I don't always respond to your comments - but know that I do read and appreciate each and every one of them!

I don't get sick like that very often.. and it was a doosy. But, in true Heidi fashion, I scrubbed and cleaned all the possible places germs like to hide and was able to keep this all to myself. It's almost like a game to me when someone is sick in our house.. thinking of all the places that a germ could be hiding... waiting for it's next victim. Phones, remotes, door handles.. fridge handles.. light switches.. kitchen drawer handles.. faucets... well, you get the picture.

Anyway, I'm very excited to sit down and sew tonight! This week has been crazy and I haven't touched my sewing machine since last Saturday. I have so much to catch up on! I have a commissioned quilt that I need to finish, teacher gifts, our family stockings... yikes!

I hope everyone that is signed up for the Sew-in tonight is ready! Get your Sew On!!! Pin It

Guest Blogger....and the FNSI winner

Howdy folks.  Its Bobbi from CRAFTY VEGAS MOM doing a little guest blogging for Heidi while she is a little under the weather.  (poor girl)

Heidi and I both shared pics via our phones friday night and saturday morning.....and i can assure you she did some CUTE sewing projects over the weekend.....that is until the flu bug took her out!

I have picked a winner for the FNSI for this weekend and you can see who that is on my blog at:
http://www.craftyvegasmom.blogspot.com/

Heidi will be picking the winner for next weeks FNSI which is on 12/17/10.
You can sign up HERE .  I cant wait to see what she makes for that lucky person. 

happy sewing and we hope you get well soon Heidi!  we all cant wait to see your projects! Pin It

Finally Friday!!

Well, it has been a hectic day of running around for me. I had to get groceries because we are probably getting snowed in this weekend. And I needed to get hockey skates for my oldest.

Last nights dinner conversation went something like this..
11yr old "Um.. Mom, I need hockey skates for PE tomorrow"
Me "cough cough.. Excuse me? Am I pulling these hockey skates out of my MAGIC POCKET?" (seriously.. I say that all the time).
Husband "You are just going to have to sit out son... where is your Mom supposed to get skates now?"

Well the look on our sons face would have melted even the toughest of souls! So the husband call his friend the hockey coach... asked the best place to get skates in the morning.

Which turned into me finding my way to the other side of town to buy skates first thing this morning.. and delivering them to school before PE class. I did get a public "I love you Mom" so I guess it was all worth it. And I'll be sewing my "Mother of the Year" badge on my Mom Vest tonight!! Just kidding.. maybe.

Anyway - after all that I decided to hit a quilt store and buy some last minute items for my project tonight.

Those little stacks are wool. The large white fabric is minky... quite the combination huh.

I have already warned the family that I will not be available for conversation of any kind tonight.

I have a date.. with all of you and my sewing machine.  

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Don't forget!!! Friday Night Sew-In..

Are you ready for the first Friday Night Sew-in of December??!!!

Hopefully you are as eager as I am. I have my fabrics cut and waiting for me to sit down and get busy.

The lucky winner this week will be receiving a sweet box of homemade love from Bobbi!

It's time to get your plan in order.. either on paper or in your mind.. because Christmas is only 2 WEEKS AWAY!!! YIKES!

What am I doing on the web.. and what are you doing on the web?? Let's get crackin! Nothing beats a homemade Christmas! Pin It

Thread... it's overwhelming!!

I'm overwhelmed with all the differences and kinds of threads out there. And in true "Heidi" fashion.. I'm on a mission to get to the bottom of it!

I was recently at a quilt store and I was trying to match some thread that I had for a project. I had brought the "dead" spool in with me. All the quilt store had was 100% cotton but my spool was polyester.

I asked the clerk if she had any polyester thread.. she looked at me like I had 2 heads! Then in her best disapproving voice said "I ONLY use cotton thread! Polyester doesn't give and can break easily." HUH?

So that left me thinking.. what's the difference. I know the basic material type difference..

Is one truly better than the other?
If so.. which one? And why?

Then this happened to me..

I made this quilt last year and used cotton to bind.. well well.. look what happened!

Now I'm sure people will say that it comes down to personal preferance. But all that personal preference means is that "cons" to one person, are "pros" to another and vise versa.

And let's not forget.. cotton and polyester are not the only choices out there! Arrgghh... the science of quilting! Are we over thinking it? Pin It

Friday Night Sew-In December 17th Signup

This may seem a little early.. but I wanted to get the signup out here for the December 17th Friday Night Sew-in. Bobbi and I have decided to split up the giveaways for the 2 FNSI's in month. She is taking one and I am taking the other. We will be sending the winners something handmade by us! Sew exciting!

If you are like me - you need to get it on the calendar and make the commitment SOON!!

This month is FLYING by!!!

If you need the details on how to participate in the FNSI.. click HERE. Otherwise just add your name to the list!

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Friday Night Sew-In December 10th

Well - the votes are in! We will be having TWO Friday Night Sew-in's this month. This first one will be December 10th (the next will be December 17th).

We all have a long "To Do" list of projects that need our attention. Let's get all those gifts made, wrapped and under the tree!

So if you are excited and want to participate in the Friday Night Sew-in this month.. here is how it works.

1. Enter your blog info below. **If you don't have a blog - you can enter the Flickr group link as your URL.

2. Make a post on your blog - letting all your readers know about the sew-in. Spread the word.. we could all use the virtual sewing support and encouragement.

3. On Friday – 12/10/10 - Get your house settled, put on your comfy jammies.. maybe make a cup of tea.. and sit down to work on some of those projects.

4. Then, sometime on Saturday - publish a post about what you worked on.. show us a picture or two on Flickr. There is a FNSI group on Flickr if you haven't already joined. Totally optional.

And finally - on Sunday 12/12, we will enter all participants into a drawing for the GIVEAWAY!!

This is the sign up for DECEMBER 10th  (Dec 17th coming soon)

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Wa wa.. weeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Sledding.. makes me feel like I'm 10 years old all over again.

And yes.. before you say anything.. I know there is a tree right in the middle of the sledding path. The kids actually made this sled run before we knew what they were up to. My husband brought home hay bales yesterday to cover it. We also had to put hay bales at the end since it stops at the tree line into the woods.

We also made a few more runs using the snowblower.. the kids are having a blast.

Come over.. let's go sledding!! I'll make you hot cocoa when we are done.. with marshmallows. Pin It