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!"