I HATE TO SAY IT....

BUT THERE ARE ONLY 128 MORE DAYS TILL CHRISTMAS!

So with that said I think I am going to actually start making some of the things I've been pinning over on Pinterest.  Like this cute bird nest necklace.   

Blessings friends,

PURPLE DOOR 2011

We just returned from our ninth year at Purple Door.  The first year we went was for my daughters birthday and I guess we are either hooked or crazy because we keep going back.  This year was the first time we didn't have any of our own kids with us!  And it has probably rained 7 out of the 9 years we've gone.  We go with great friends, Matt & Jennie and their kids.  We volunteer and work a 4 1/2 hour shift on Saturday and then we all go back on Sunday morning and clean the grounds.  You get to hear lots of good music, see some interesting people and make new friends. Here are some photo's from this year's trip.

Our campsite before the rain... 

I couldn't resist asking this guy if I could take his picture!

I am not sure what organization this guy was with but it had to be hot in there. 

This year the concert was at a new venue so there were lots of indoor stages and seats.  Here is our 'gang'.

A new band SisterBrother my daughter Jocelyn blogged about here.   They were awesome!

This was Sons & Daughters.  Great harmonies and a cello!

Check out their music!

Blessings, 

My First Baby Quilt

 I just made my first baby quilt for the daughter of a good friend.  This mom to be went through Kindergarten to Twelfth grade with my oldest son Michael.  I wanted to make something special for her first child, a daughter.  The baby's room is purple and lime green.

Here is the back.  I added a strip using all the different fabrics from the front just for a little interest on the back and I machine quilted it with a zig zag pattern.

 I did a meandering pattern around the boarder.

                                

I actually used my portable design wall for the first time with this quilt.  My friend Lisa over at 9patchnurse told me about it!  I bought a cheap table cloth from Walmart.  I picked up some of those 3M hanging hooks and woo-la!  It was a HUGE help to be able to look at it from afar and see where I needed to move things around.  

Thanks for stopping by!


Blessings,

It's Official

I just got my picture id for school.

And my first textbook!  

I must be crazy! :) 

Blessings,

Knock off Twix Bars

I found this recipe over at thesweetdeal and thought I would give it a try except make it gluten free. 

Ingredients for Base:

• 1 Cup of Gluten free flour (mine was just brown and white rice flour mixed together)
• 1/2 Teaspoon of Xanthan gum  (I always throw some in.  I am not sure it really needs it. 
• 1 stick of Butter, softened
• 1/4 Cup of Sugar

Preheat oven to 325.
Mix base ingredients together with a fork.  

Spray the bottom of a 8 by 8 or 7 by 9 dish with Pam or Mazola.
Spread mix on bottom and bake for 20 minutes.

Filling Ingredients:

• 1 stick of Butter
• 1/2 Cup of Condensed Milk. * One small can makes 2 recipes.  You can freeze the leftovers and thaw in the refrigerator to use for your next batch.  And yes, there will be more than one batch! :)
• 1/2 Cup of Brown Sugar.  I used light but I think the dark would make the caramel look better.
• 2 Tablespoons of Corn Syrup

Combine all filling ingredients in a saucepan and stirring constantly bring to a boil and cook for 5 minutes.  I think it's a soft ball stage on a candy thermometer.  You just have to be careful not to let it burn.   It will be the longest 5 minutes of your life.  This is my third batch and I still have trouble not letting the bottom burn even though I never stop stirring.   When done, pour on top of base.   

Topping:

• Chocolate!  I used those candy making wafers but you can use what ever you have on hand.  Today I am using both light and dark chocolate.

   

  Gently place chocolate on top of filling while it is still hot.  It will melt from the heat of the filling.  Spread gently.  Cool in refrigerator before cutting.  I couldn't get a good picture of the finished product because my camera wouldn't focus so close... three tries and then I had to eat it!

Enjoy!  Just don't eat them all in one sitting! :)

From the 1930's to 2011

A wonderful young women from church asked me if I could alter her grandmothers gown for her May wedding.  Above is a picture of the gown, circa 1930's.  Below is a picture of her on her wedding day.

                              

This was very nerve wracking for me.  I mean this is an antique!  I kept asking her "are you sure you want me to cut it?"  Before I did anything I took specific pictures of the areas I needed to alter so I could remember how it was put together once I took things apart.  Since the new bride was a bit more busty and taller than her grandmother I needed to do quite a bit of altering.  The dress did not have a lot of extra fabric in the seam allowances so I actually had to make the train shorter to have extra fabric.  I used that fabric to remake the piece that ran around the top of the bodice.  I used the old piece that I removed to add material to both sides of the back.   I purchased new button tape and replaced the old and put the 34 buttons back on.  I also had to add inches to the bottom so I bought an off white satin and cut a 5 inch strip on the bias, folded it in half and sewed that on the bottom of the gown.  

The biggest problem I had was that the 'bride to be' moved to California where her fiance, now husband lives.   I only had a few fittings and had to do quite a bit of the altering without an actual body!  I seriously did a lot of praying when I was working on that dress.  Especially while I was sewing all those buttons on and hoping it would fit!

The dress turned out great and she was a beautiful bride.  All the while I was working on this gown my daughter away at college was also making a wedding gown for a friend although she made hers from scratch.  She did an amazing job.  I am so proud of her!  You can take a look here. 

Blessings!

22 Years Ago Today....

We were blessed with a beautiful little girl....

Who's become a beautiful woman.

We love you Jocelyn Grace.  Happy birthday!

Blessings,