Chocolate Covered Peanut Candy

I made my Christmas candy for my coworkers at the office and thought I'd share the "so easy" recipe with you.  You will need 12 ozs of candy quick/almond bark which can be purchased where the baking products are - like Hersey's chocolate chips.  12 ozs of semi-sweet chocolate chips and about 32 ozs of dry roasted peanuts.

Melt the candy bark first and then add the chocolate chips until melted together.  Remove from the heat and then add the peanuts and mix. 

 Pour globs on some parchment paper or wax paper.  Let it air dry for about 2 hours until the candy hardends up.  

You can put them in tin cans, a plate with Christmas cookies or make your own gift bags . So simple and yummy.

I did a lot of shopping this weekend - just have to get busy and start the wrapping.  It is creeping up on us - just a few days left!  And speaking of just a few days left - I still have to finish a Christmas present.  Here is a peek......

I've got it pinned down - just have to sew the applique and then add the tongues at the ends and hopefully it will come out to be a very nice table runner made out of wool. 

 This will be my last blog for year.  Taking some time out to enjoy the holidays with my family. Here's wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and let's all hope for a wonderful New Year!  

See ya in 2012!

Blessings to all, 

Pretty Ballerina for a Pretty Little Girl

Goodness! Two weeks before Christmas and I am not nearly as ready as I should be.  Still have shopping, gift wrapping, a gift to sew and making my list and checking twice, three times or however many times I need too!  But with all the preparing and work - it still is my favorite time of the year!

I just finished this little ballerina for a very special friend I've made through blogging.  She ordered a custom doll for her granddaughter.  I have to admit when she first asked if I could do a doll with a tutu - I wasn't sure I could do it.  She was so nice and told me just to make the dress and she would make the tutu.    Well I gave it a try and she loves it!  Yay, hope her little one does too.  She sent me a picture of her granddaughter and she is so beautiful!  Oh, by the way - I told my husband I don't think I'll make another ballerina, until my granddaughter came over last and night and saw this doll and asked If I can make her one too!  Oh, boy.  Lol

I'm making homemade chocolate covered peanut candy for the office this weekend.  Yummy and sooo easy to make.  I'll post the receipe this weekend for anyone who might be interested.  Gotta get back to finishing that Christmas gift - until later - take care.

hugs,

Christmas Doll

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  Now it's time for the next holiday and one of my favorite ones.  Time for Christmas decorating, addressing Christmas cards, shopping and baking.  So much to do and not enough time.  That is why this will be my last Christmas doll.  She will be in my Etsy shop tomorrow.  I have two special orders for dolls and two projects to finish for Christmas gifts.  Then I will take a break to enjoy the rest of the time with my family and friends.  After all, that is part of enjoying Christmas - family and friends. 

I'll post a few more times before the end of this year - maybe share some favorite family recipes and who knows what else.  Meanwhile, thank you all for your special comments.  It means a lot to me and I appreciate each and everyone of you!

Blessings,

A Speical Gift From My Son

Today when I got home from work I had a very nice surprise from my son, Andrew.  He sketched and painted on canvas one of my very favorite dolls.  Well, I do tend to like each doll I make - but I think this one has to be on the very top of "cherished dolls" that I've made.  Isn't she adorable?  What a nice surprise.  Thank you Andrew!  Love, love, love the art and you!

Here's wishing everyone a very blessed and happy Thanksgiving! 

I Wonder If I've Been Naughy or Nice?

What do you think?  Noel has her Christmas stocking ready for Santa and is wondering if she'll get any goodies this year. 

Hi friends!  Craft show is over and I'm very happy to report that it was a huge success!  The only bad thing was that I didn't have any dolls left to put on my Etsy - but then again - I think that has to be a good thing - right?  Anyway, I got busy today and finished Noel and she is now sitting pretty in my Etsy shop.  I hope to start another one tomorrow plus I really need to start making a few Christmas gifts.  It is all coming so fast!  After this coming Thursday, Christmas will just be around the corner.  Wow!

Hope you enjoy my little Noel and may you all have a wonderful week!

Take care!

Craftshow Set Up Day

Today was the set up day for the week long Christmas craftshow in downtown San Antonio.  I must apologize for the not so good pictures I took.  You know the feeling when you are almost at your destination and you think you packed everything and all of a sudden you remember something you forgot.  "Darn, I left my camera on the kitchen table".  And hubby says "I asked if you had everything".  So now I only have my phone camera to do what I can.

This is the grand house where the show will take place.  It's as beautiful inside as it is outside.  It was built in 1898 and has the same hard wood floors, stained glass windows,  8 fireplaces and a ghost that lives upstairs.  The house is just so wonderful to see.

My display is in the center of the room and you can view it from both sides.  It so upsets me to show these blurry pictures, but I think you can get the idea how I'm set up.  It's the best I could do.

The pictures below are from my sister-in-law, Bel's booth.  She does some beautiful work with wool.  These pictures do not do justice to her work.  Did I mention that I am her mentor!  Lol.  Bel just started the craft business and this is her second year.  I love her stuff!  There were several things I wanted from her booth to purchase, but her hubby (my brother) said, "no - Bel can make that for you for free!"  He is a silly, but adorable brother!.

That's it for now.  I'm glad this show is on the way and hope that by next Sat when we take it all down I won't have too many things coming back.  Now it's time to work on some dolls for my Etsy shop.  Have a wonderful week!

Hugs,

Some Of The Girls Ready For The Show!

Hi everyone!  Finishing up a few things and wanted to post some of the girls that are ready to be packed up for the show.  I have a couple more to do besides some Santas.

This little brown-eyed cutie just pulls at my heart strings.  She is going to be so hard to let go.  I really want to keep her.  Better hurry and gently pack her up before I change my mind!!  Can you believe after all the dolls I've made I only have one!  The very first one I made I kept.  She isn't very pretty, but I love her just the same.  Maybe one day I'll take a picture and post her.

Well, back to the craft room and see how much more I can get done before I have to hit the sack.  I have to get up at 5 am to get ready for another full day at work. 

Sweet dreams, my friends.



Seeing Angels All Around

Busy week - busy weekend.  Took two days off from work on Thursday and Friday to drive down to Houston TX for the International Quilt show.  I've been going to this show for several years, but this is the third year I travel with my two sisters and sister-in-law for the two day get away.  It's always fun and an adventure when the four of us get together.  Wish my other sister-in-law from California could make it too.  Below are a few of the things I bought.  Some new patterns and always some wool.  There are so many vendors and so many new things out there.  I always look forward to this show.   

 Speaking of shows - mine is coming very soon. Saturday is set up and the show begins on that following Monday through Saturday.  Here are some star snowmen I'll have out there.  The picture doesn't show the snow glitter on them.  I tea stained the warm and natural and added some rusty bells for their buttons.  These were fun to  make.

And I just finished these angels today.  I started yesterday and just completed them today.  I hope I have enough for a full week!  Guess I'll be burning the mid night oil this week!

I'll post some pictures of my craft display next weekend.  Have a great week.  Wish me luck!

Blessings,

Fa La La La...

OK - from Halloween to singing Christmas carols these ornaments are so much fun.  Not only will it get you to sing, but shake them a little and you'll have the bells jingle along.  These ornaments are one of my biggest sellers.  I've turned one around so that you can see the backside.  I found this cute fabric at Hobby Lobby with the music notes.  So perfect!

What else have I been working on?  Check out these little angel ornaments.....

These are done with osnaburg fabric; wings are warm and natural batting and the hearts are wool felt.  The words on the bottom, which are best seen when hung, are faith, love and hope.

And last, but not least....

 A Christmas doll.  This little girl comes with her own stocking with goodies. 

These are just a few things going on with me.   Thanks for stopping by - break is over and time to get back to the craft room and do some more stuff!  Oh, the best part is today is a day off for me from work.  Having fun!

Hugs,

A Little Bit Halloween

I've changed gears here a little bit.  For the last couple of months I've been working on Christmas crafts for the show and decided yesterday to take a little time out for me.  Yes friends, sometimes you need to take a little time to make something nice just for you.  I was reading some blogs yesterday and happen to come across a very talented lady who designs stitchery and quilt patterns.  She had a free stitchery design on her blog that I've changed by doing a wool applique instead of the stitching.  I just might do it next as a stitchery.  I made mine into a hanging pillow and have it displayed in the hutch's doorknob.  Thanks  for the freebie Shirley.  Check her blog at www.hudsonsholidays.blogspot.com

I also managed to make 10 stocking ornaments.  These are done in wool felt and then rubbed down with cinnamon.  I got the idea from one that I saw last year at the International Quilt show in Houston TX and made my own pattern.  That reminds me, I'll be going to that again this year, Nov 3rd and 4th.  I'm excited about that!  I'm working on a couple of Christmas dolls, which I'll post later in the week.

Well that's all for now - I'm heading off to my sister's house to play Bunco tonite.  I'm in a Bunco group that meets on the 3rd Monday of the month.  Let's hope I win some money tonight!  Until later - have a great week!

Hugs,

Snowmen, Snowmen...

What have I been up to?  Sure looks like I have a thing for snowmen.  Since I was off yesterday from work for Columbus day I worked on these guys.  Looking at my inventory for the show I noticed I've certainly done a lot more snowmen that I normally make.  Could it be trying to forget the drought and 100+ degree temperatures we had this summer in Texas?  Trying to focus on staying cool?  Whatever it is, I do love snowmen.  The pillow was fun and easy - might have to make one for me to keep!  And the guys below are shelf sitters.  I think I might add some mica flakes on the tops of the hats. 

Thanks for stopping by and checking the progress with my crafts for the holiday show in November.  Blessings to all!  

To Wish Upon A Star

Awww - finished up these little cuties last night.  These will be in my show and they will be my Christmas angels with a wishing star.  They have a string where you can hang them as an ornament.  But then they also look like they could be a year around little angel.  They are seven inches tall and quite lovable.   Have to keep this short since I'm on my lunch hour from work.  Until next time - hugs to all!

New E-pattern And Santa In A Stocking

I finally finished getting my Christmas epattern completed as a pdf file for my Etsy Store.  Although the pillow and ornament were finished two months ago, the pdf file took forever to be completed.  I had trouble scanning the pattern.  For some reason it would not print with the correct measurements.  That was a pain, but sometimes all it takes is perseverance to get it done.  This is an easy one to stitch and I love it as an ornament.  For the pillow I've colored the holly leaves using a crayon, but you could also applique it with fabric or wool.  This is one of my favorite holiday songs - Have a holly, jolly Christmas!  You ought to hear me sing it - too funny - since I can't carry a tune!

The Santas were fun to do.  They are stuffed in a stocking with a list of names of good boys and girls.  This cute pattern is from The Olde Country Cupboard.  Sandy did her stocking in a tea-stained flannel, but I used a homespun fabric. Check her website at www.theoldecountrycupboard.com

I'm getting some request for some more dolls in my Etsy shop - and I'm itching to work on them, but I really should finish up some snowmen and some more santas.  I'll have to see.  Until then remember, "All is Bright" and hugs to all!

A Wonderful Day For Finishing Projects

Yes, a wonderful day indeed.  First day of Autumn and a day off from work helped me get some projects done for the show in Nov.  First up was finishing two dolls.  Actually, they aren't quite finished yet.  I still want to add a Christmas pillow or a wreath or maybe a teddy bear.  Something will come to mind - the main thing is they are almost done.  Just have to get busy and make about ten more!!

The stars below are from a pattern by My Primitive Saltbox I just bought through Etsy.  They are so easy and really look much pretty in person.  I made six real quick and thinking about making a dozen more.  They are made of tea-stained Warm n Natural batting and then I sprinkled mica flakes with an adhesive spray.  They are ornies for a bowl, but I think I'll add string to the stars for hanging on a tree or a cabinet door knob.

I also finished those snow pillows I posted earlier and I'm finalizing my new design for a Christmas stitched e-pattern that hopefully will be posted in Etsy by mid week.  Busy, busy, busy, but so enjoying the cooler weather that certainly helps to get in the mood for crafting -  looks like it did for me!  Have a great weekend and Happy Fall Season to all!

Hugs,