Blog Hop Day 2

It seems we have a problem with the templates not posting the right size.

PLEASE FOLLOW THESE STEPS TO DOWNLOAD AND PRINT TEMPLATES:
Click on the link to open template. Mine opens up at the top of the blog so you may have to scroll up. At the top of the template screen there is an arrow. (beside the word share) Click on it and download file to your desktop. Then print the templates from your desktop file. The page is 12" X 18 " so if you are using 8 1/2" X 11" paper you will have to tile. The bulb should mesure about 7 1/2" across.
So sorry about this. - Falls under the " too stupid to blog" category. :)

Hello everyone and welcome to my blog. For those of you who do not know anything about me - probably most of you, you can read all about me on my bio, to your right.
I am really in "busy" mode as far as designing goes. I recently finished my fall 2010 line of fabric named Awesome. I named it Awesome because I think Autumn is our most awesome season. Look for this to arrive in stores in August.

My newest line of fabric to hit the stores is Essence.

#468 Let's Eat.

You still have time to make these placemats before Thanksgiving dinner.
They are quick and easy, as they use a pre-printed panel from the Essence line.

#462 Wind Power
This pattern is really quick and easy as it uses the stack and
slice method of piecing and an Essence Layer Cake.

Next to arrive will be La'Mour.



Followed by Nautical and Nice.



Frolic was introduced at fall market. It will be hitting the shops in January.



I also introduced 9 quick and easy wool projects.
Go to my Website http://www.piecesfrommyheart.net/ to check these out.
They are posted under "What's New".

Today is my day to be Project Designer.

Since we are all blogging about Christmas it has put me in the gift
giving spirit. So today my gift to everyone visiting my blog is this tablemat - which my graphic artist named Bulb-a-licious.

Some assembly required.
Well maybe more than some.
Well okay, I guess you have to make the whole darn thing yourself.
But…. It takes just a few hours to make.
And….
The pattern is free. (Okay I guess my gift to you is the pattern.)
find the template here.



The instructions you will find below.

This projects uses fabrics from my Crazy 8 line of fabric.
Wool felt is used for the applique.

Finished size: 20" X 27"

Things you will need:
1/2 Yd. cream dot fabric (background) Moda #17460-13
1/4 Yd. green plaid fabric (borders) Moda #17458-26
1/4 Yd. red dot fabric (top border and binding) Moda #17460-21
Red wool (bulb)
Green wool (holly and dots)
Gold wool (bulb top)
7/8 Yd. jumbo off white rick rack
2/3 Yd. fabric (backing) Moda #17454-12
Embroidery floss to match wool
Freezer paper
Disappearing marking pen

Cut the following:

Cream dot - 1 pieces 14 1/2" X 16 1/2" (background)
Green plaid - 2 pieces 3 1/2" X 16 1/2" (side borders)
2 pieces 3 1/2" X 20 1/2" (top and bottom borders)
Red dot - 1 piece 5 1/2" X 20 1/2" (top border)

Embroidery
1. Using a disappearing marker, trace the bulb hook onto background fabric.
2. Using 6 strands of red embroidery floss and a backstitch, embroider hook.




Appliqué
1. Trace bulb, bulb top and holly onto the dull side of freezer paper.
2. Iron each object onto the appropriate color of wool.
3. Cut objects out one traced lines.
4. Cut a piece of rick rack a little bigger than your bulb.
5. Pin rick rack to the center of the bulb, turning raw edges to the back of the bulb.
6. Using three strands of red embroidery floss, and backstitch, stitch rick rack to bulb.


7. Pin all wool objects in place.

8. Using 2 strands of matching embroidery floss and a tack stitch, appliqué each object in place.
9. Using 3 strands of green embroidery floss and a backstitch, embroidery veins in holly.

Green Borders
1. Stitch a border piece to each 16 1/2" side of the background.
2. Stitch a border piece to the top and bottom of the background.

Red Dot Border and Rick Rack
1. Cut a piece of rick rack long enough to fit across quilt.
2. Pin rick rack in place over seam allowance.
3. Pin red dot border in place over rick rack. Stitch in place.

Back, quilt and bind your quilt as you please.

The topic for the day is: Special food/cookie you made as a kid or was tradition.

Every Christmas my mom would make "soft" popcorn balls. Other peoples were more hard and crunchy. (Oh no is this starting to sound like the Saturday Night Live "Schweddy Balls" episode???) I certainly hope not!

I preferred mom's popcorn balls and every year I make these popcorn balls.

Please read the recipe carefully. I have a friend who tried this recipe, but she misread the directions. She thought she needed to pop 6 quarts of popcorn. She had grocery bags full of popped popcorn sitting all around the kitchen. Just as she was running out of room to put the popped popcorn, her husband walked in and set her straight. I have always wondered how she thought one bag of melted marshmallows would cover all of that popcorn????

Mom's Popcorn Balls

6 quarts of popped popcorn
1 lb. bag of large marshmallows
1/4 C. sugar
1 stick butter
1 C. red and green M&Ms - Optional (mom did not do this - it is something I added.

Pop popcorn
Salt popcorn

Place marshmallows, butter, and sugar in a bowl. (Do not add the M&Ms)
Cook in microwave until melted, stopping to stir a couple of times.

Pour the melted marshmallow mixture over the popcorn and stirred until evenly coated.
If you are adding M&Ms you have to wait a little while before adding them.
This is where it gets tricky - do it too soon and your M&Ms melt - wait to long and you will have one huge popcorn ball stuck in your bowl. Good luck.

Wet hands with cold water and form into balls.
Wrap in cellophane and tie with a ribbon or fabric scrap.

Now hop along to the other designer's blogs - GE Designs, Pieces of My Heart, Atkinson Designs, Pat Sloan, Anka's Treasures,Pam Kitty Morning, New Leaf Stitches, Whimsicals, This 'N' That, Miss Rosies,Rosebud's Cottage, Linda Lum DeBono to check out their special food or tradition.

Be sure to check in tomorrow. The Project Designer is Terry Atkinson. I can't wait to see what fun project she will be making. http://www.terryatkinson.typepad.com/

The topic of the day will be - Gifts, a story about a favorite gift received or given.

Happy Hopping.

From my heart,

Sandy