Sunday, December 27, 2009

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

New Years resolution time!  Here are a few things I hope to either start or complete by the end of 2010.  Trying to keep my goals realistic this is my list:

1.  Start the completion process of my VW Van wall quilt.
2.  Start the completion process of Gail Pan's Christmas BOM wall quilt  (pattern came from here)
3.  Start the completion process of Gail Pan's Christmas pattern (pattern came from here)
4.  Start a selvedge edge project (potholder and/or totes)
5.  Do a Which Witch Halloween wall quilt (similar to my Which Elf wall quilt)
6.  Dust off and start at least two quilt patterns I haven't touch yet from my quilt pattern box (would you believe some of them are as old as m 15 year old son?)
7.  Start my VWBug BOM wall quilt
8.  Make Mahalo (Thank you) totes for my kid's teachers, coach mom's etc. (an idea I got from my ever so talented cousin on Oahu, let's just call her "Aunty Holly")
9.  Start the slip covers for my sofa
10. Last but not least, give my husband, son and daughter all the love support they need from me and hope I am able to deliver only the best to them!

I will be "on the road" for the rest of the year so my blogging will be on pause until I get caught up. 

Wishing all of you a Safe and Hauoli Makahiki Hou (Happy New Year)!

PEACE ON EARTH

Thursday, December 24, 2009

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Where did the time go?  I really thought I was ahead of the game:  early shopping, early wrapping and LOTS of time (I thought) to fnish up all the little things later.......Guess it won't work that way.  Today, I'll finish up a few more wrapping and baking.  I was so lucky to have out of town family visit and spend some quality time together, play Christmas games and just enjoy each other's company.  We also had a surprise visit from my husband's out of town college buddies.  It's this time of year I appreciate all my family and friends and all the good things that life has brought to me.  There's a quote I once read and it goes something like this:

BE GREATFUL FOR WHAT YOU HAVE, NOT UNGREATFUL FOR WHAT YOU DON'T HAVE


From my family to yours, have a safe and happy holiday season.
Mele Kalikimaka me ka Hauoli Makahiki Hou!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

RECIPE REVIEW - CHOCOLATE CHIP MACADAMIA NUT COOKIE

During my daily blogging recently, I stumbled upon this chocolate chip cookie recipe, click here.  One thing I liked about it was that I could freeze this dough for up to three months.  With my busy scheudle, that's my kinda recipe.....and anything that says THE BEST, I'm all game!  So I tried it and added my all time favorite, macadamia nut (1 cup).

First I gathered all the ingredients together:


Mixed up the dry ingredients in one bowl and the wet ingredients in another:


Put them together and mix:


Shaped them into balls using my ice cream scoop (some smalll, some larger):

:

Placed them in the freezer for about 15 minutes, then put them in freezer plastic bags.  The next morning, I made a batch of fresh baked chocolate chip cookies for my kids to take to school for snack time.  In the preheated oven my little cookie dough balls went in (I actually flattened them slightly)  for ten minutes:


Yummy!  Nothing like fresh baked goodies so early in the morning!

This recipe is a keeper!

Saturday, December 5, 2009

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

It was exactly 17 years ago today I married my best friend.......I can still remember all the fine little details of the preparation for this special day......I was surrounded by family and friends......One of the best days of my life!




December 5, 1992

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

SNEAK PEAK REVEALED..."WHICH ELF?"

For my first December post, I thought to start off to reveal my "WHICH ELF?"

As I was browsing for something new to do few a months ago, I stumbled upon a blog (click here to see the blog) and saw the cutest whimsical quil ever!t.....My mind instantly thought of Hawaiian prints for the elf's clothing using my children's extra fabric from their younger years....

I just HAD to have it so I searched the web and wallah....I found it here at Among Friends Quilt Shop.  With my busy schedule, I gave myself a reasonable deadline to complete this fun looking project no later than December 15th.  And yes, it is complete!  Can you believe that!  Such a simple and fun project!  Can't wait to make the witches for next Halloween

So here's my journey to complete this fun piece (not a tutorial, I'm still learning all this "blogging" thing):


1 - I rec'd my box of goodies, aren't they beautiful!




2-Trace the leggings, shoes, and skirts onto HeatnBond iron on adhesive (be sure to follow manufactuer's directions carefully)
    (I used a light box to trace but you can definitely use a window to tape the drawing onto, place your iron on adhesive over and trace the items)
   Iron traced items onto desired fabric  then cut them about 1/4" over the traced lines, you will cut them exact later.


3- Cool then cut on exact traced lines.  Peel backing and place onto white background (already cut). 


4-Carefully placing them exactly as you want them to be adhered to fabric fiirst, then iron to secure the adhesion.


5-Cut out borders, pin and sew as directed (coming along!)



6.-Sandwich the pieces together (bottom-muslin, middle-batting, top-elves!)
     Pin and get ready to quilt



7-Quilt the top as desired (I'm totally a beginner so I opted for the stipple method, that way I can get away with the obvious "mistakes"  Added some swarkovski crystals from Creative Crystal , what a difference it made!


8-Okay, I was on a roll and added bells and pom poms to the elves shoes



9-Crystals and a cute little bow for the girl elf's stiletto. 



10-I couldn't stop, I added some red and white velvet flowers I found at Wal-mart which I think turned out really cute!



11-Add the binding, more crystals on the elve's skirts and, "WE ARE DONE!"  Somehow Coca Cola and Christmas seems to go togther well so I thought to take a picture of it here.  Pardon the unprofessional shot but that's what I am, unprofessional!

Watcha think?  I think the fabric they sent with the kit is perfect! 

More Christmas things to follow...."Come back soon, 'ya hear!"

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

TWO MORE OF AMY BUTLER'S BIRDIE SLING BAG

Here are two more of Amy Butler's Birdie Sling bag:


I made one out of faux snake skin, here's a close up of what is looks like, really sharp!  It caught my eye at the fabric store I frequent.  You can find them here.  They have a great selection of fabrics and the workers are always very helpful!


The other bag, I made out of extra fabric from previous projects.  This time I added fabric studs I purchased from Kit Kraft.  They had the best shipping prices to Hawaii.  Okay living here, we (okay so I speak for myself) are very careful about purchases w/shipping costs that can double and at times quadruple the price of the merchandise.  Crazy!  It cost me less than $6 (okay $5.95 to be exact, plus tax) to get a full order versus another well-known business (no name, please) that only goes through an express carrier and would have cost me at least $26.00.  Go figure.  In today's economy, wouldn't you think that businesses offer shipping prices that are reasonable for repeat customers/business?  The USPS has a variety of Prioirty Mail boxes with set shipping rates that can be literally stuffed without changing the shipping price.  Duh!  Next time I need a refill on studs, I'm going through Kit Kraft.  since no one sells fabric studs in my area. 


I realized AFTER I cut the fabric on this side of the bag only , the peace symble was upsidedown.  Eeeeeeek!  So I did a test to a few people to see if they can see what I called an "obvious error".  They didn't.  My husband says I always look at things too closely.  Actually, I do, but to things that I make and do as tool to myself for improvement.  Then I realize that with things handmade, the "unperfect" are what makes them special and unique, right?  So, I'm okay with this "obvious error".  Main thing, I learned something....pay attention to the fabric before making that cut.

Of course, I had to put my BB & me label...The polka dots makes the bag youthful and fun.  I can totally see someone using this as a beach bag!  Or maybe even a sleepover bag.


So I had little b model the faux snake skin bag this morning.  Then insisted that she use it as her school bag.  To my surprise, it fit her binder, a text book, her library book a small water bottle really well.  Not heavy at all!  Don't it look cute on her! 


Here's a sneak peak of another project..  Basketball season is upon us and I thought it would be appropriate to do something for my son since little b talked me into giving her the faux snake skin bag.


Thanks for visiting, I hope you come back and see my finished basketball project!

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

BEACH TIME

We woke up to a clear Sunday morning.  It was so nice we couldn't pass up a few hours at the beach.  After coffee for me and my husband, OJ for the kids, we drove down to Hapuna Beach on the South Kohala Coast.


 Over those hills is the sleepy little town of Kohala.


Waves started small and then after a few hours, it swelled up and it was fun boogy boarding for the surfers.  It got to a point where Little B and I walked the beach and then settled  in a little area where we dug up a "little pool".

Peace!


Mr. and Mrs.:


Watching my son boogie board:



Another sneak peak of what I'm working on....



Tuesday, November 10, 2009

CAMERA FOUND! POST HALLOWEEN PICS


I'm back....I must confess, my camera didn't grow legs, it was I who "forgot' where I placed it.  Hre's a few pics of  my two "B"'s on halloween:



May I introduce to you the MIDNIGHT GOTHIC FAIRY.....Yeah, she was lovin', really lovin' the eye lash thing.



And this is the famous #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers...



We had two of these skeletons in the front yard.  The skulls light up at night and the trick or treaters had a blast w/ them.  Every halloween for dinner, I dust off the crock pots and make pulled bbq pork for our Pig Sandwiches, beenie weenies, cole slaw.  This gives us enough time to roam the neighborhood and go trick or treating, come home and get a hot meal.  For dessert this year, I found a recipe for Pumpkin Pie Bars.  The photo of it was to die for so, I just HAD  to have it.  Click here for the recipe. 

Here's a sneak peak of what I've been working on:

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

CAMERA MIA

I have a few projects that I'm working on and can't wait to share them with you...BUT....My camera seems to have grown some legs and "ran away".....So here I go again playing HIDE AND SEEK with my camera.....As soon as I find it, I'll be back...Thanks for visiting!

Friday, October 30, 2009

RECIPE REVIEW - PISTACIO PESTO BUTTER

One Sunday morning, I turned on the television and the Food TV Network was on. Aaron McCargo Jr.  reviewed what was on the menu and the Pistacio Pesto Butter caught my eye.....Yeah, we were planning to grill some steaks for dinner and the melted pesto butter on the steak looked way too good to not pay attention.  Click here for the recipe.

This what it looked like when I put all the ingredients in the processor:



I didn't have the exact ingredients that the recipe called for...I substituted the Asiago cheese for freshly grated parmesan reggiano and toasted some pine nuts instead of pistacio.

I scooped four generous portions of a tablespoon on a plastic wrap like this:


Rolled it up into a log like this:


Chill until firm.  When steaks are ready, unroll plastic wrap, cut off about 3/4" and immediately place on fresh off the grill steak....And here it is all melted on my steak:


Yummy!  The fam liked it so much, they used it on thier vegetables and went back for more to spread on their dinner roll.  This is a keeper!

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

RESTAURANT REVIEW - HILO BURGER JOINT


Nothing was on our to do list this weekend so we drove 55 miles over to the east side of the island, Hilo town.....As usual, we took our short cut, also known as "saddle road" which is a route between the Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa mountains.......Here's Mauna Loa:


Here's the ever so famous Mauna Kea:


It was a clear day and if you look good, you can see the zig zag road that goes to the top:



We like to support the local businesses and hit the old "mom and pops" places for good old fashion service and grinds.  Burger anyone?:


There were a variety of burgers on the menu such as:  Kohala Kim Chee burger, nacho burger, Greek burger, fresh mozeralla cheese w/tomato and balsamic vinegar burger.....and of course the traditional cheeseburger, to name a few.  For me I had the blue cheese burger salad which is basically a huge bowl of lettuce, w/a cut up beef patty tossed in blue cheese, bacon, saute onions and mushrooms, chopped tomatoes, you get the picture:


Little B had a nacho burger which was covered in gooey melted cheese, just as she likes it, minus the hot pepper, as usual:


As far as the boys, they were done before I got to snap a pic of it....It was nice to see that Hilo Burger Joint supports local ranchers by offering local organic beef.  Ambience was nice and cozy.....Most importantly, they had a very nice bar with many selections....

On the drive back home, the VOG (volcanic haze) started to settle in and our town was not visible from the road as it ususally is from a distance......



Nice quality time w/the fam.