I love a new year ~~ a clean slate of possibilities. This year I am starting the year with a new sewing machine that was my Christmas gift from my sweet Hubby Jeff.
When I found out it was the machine of my dreams I was over the moon. It couldn't be delivered before Christmas but it came last Tuesday via the big brown truck. My driver, Cale, agreed to smile for a picture for my blog !~~~
Here she is in all her high-tech glory.
This is a Janome 12000 Horizon and I've decided to call her Jewel. I've spent the last few days learning how she works, trying out the embroidery feature and downloading and learning two computer programs, one for embroidery editing and the other for quilting. It will take me months to learn everything I want to know and put them to use. In a nutshell so far, I love the Horizon Link for editing embroidery designs on my PC and sending them to the machine to be stitched, the thread cutting feature is awesome and the selection of stitches makes my eyes roll! Jewel came with her own luggage and the acrylic table you see in the picture. If she is as dependable as the other Janome machines I've had, Jewel will be my last sewing machine. I have no excuse not to turn out loads of quilts this year. Thanks Jeff, you really surprised and blessed me.
What's on your sewing agenda for early 2015? Do you still have unfinished projects from 2014 ~~ I do. I'm still in holiday mode and think I will sew a table runner or two for next Christmas.
Whatever you decide to create, enjoy your time in your special sewing space.
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL WHO PASS THIS WAY.
Yes, 2015 is here for real. I hope the new year brings everyone happiness, health and contentment. How did you see in the new year? We did our usual and slept through it. I'm sure we fall into the 'boring' category!
Looking back over 2014 I'm satisfied with what I accomplished creatively. I made five large quilts, four bereavement quilts, countless pillowcases and pillow covers for my daughter's business, thirty pillowcases for kids, a table runner and a handful of chicken pincushions. I'm sure there was more, but this is what comes to my sleepy mind right now.
This year I will be starting the off with a brand new sewing machine. Once I figure it out and integrate it into the sewing room I'll post pictures. When a sewing machine comes with a user guide almost an inch thick, you know there's a lot to learn. This one interfaces with my PC, so there are programs to download and figure out. I must say this is the smartest machine I've ever had.
I'm off to wish Dottie and Olive a Happy New Year and give them their first cookies of 2015. There's nothing quite like sharing your life with Scottie dogs!
Wishing you all a year filled with Peace & Plenty.
Today is the day after the day after Christmas. Our Christmas was sweet and slow this year. We slept in a little and had a nice breakfast of homemade cinnamon rolls. Our dinner was turkey with all the trimmings and Dutch apple pie with ice cream for dessert. The day got even slower after eating all that food! We have enjoyed our Christmas tree so much this year that we've decided to leave it up another week or so.
The yummy Funfetti cookies were a real hit at our house and I'm sure with everyone who tried the recipe. If you missed this 3-ingredient recipe shared by The Hidden Pantry blog, scroll down two posts and give it a try. I've never baked cookies that had Cool Whip as an ingredient.
I'm expecting the delivery of my Christmas gift (a Janome 12000) from my Hubby Jeff on Tuesday. At least this is what UPS Tracking is indicating. The last time UPS brought me a new sewing machine I was so excited I ran out the front door jumping up and down. The poor driver thought I was going to tackle him. That driver has since retired and I will make every effort to control myself Tuesday. I don't want to scare him and have him drop my new machine. What can I say ~~ when I'm happy I'm happy all over!
I hope your Christmas was everything you dreamed of and more. As women I think we are relieved that the rush is over with and life can resume at a more normal pace.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend ~~~~ Barb
From our hearts to yours, Merry Christmas and Happy 2015. May your Christmas be blessed with Peace, Joy and Contentment.
The Oaker Family
Two more days to finish last minute baking, gift wrapping and shopping. Do you leave cookies for Santa? These sweet treats are so quick to make and cost almost nothing ~~~~
1 box Funfetti cake mix (use dry)
1 tub Cool Whip (defrosted)
1 egg
powdered sugar for rolling
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large bowl mix the dry cake mix with the Cool Whip and the egg. I beat the egg a little with a fork so it would mix in better. Mix thoroughly (I did mine by hand).
Roll the dough into balls and roll around in powdered sugar to coat. Place 2" apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake
12-15 minutes and remove to a rack to cool.
These cookies are soft and chewy. Make sure you bake them long enough to get done. I baked ours for 14 minutes.
I borrowed this recipe from the Hidden Pantry blog.
Wishing you all a wonderful day.
When I was a child I counted down the days to important days like Christmas, Halloween and birthdays by the number of sleeps until the day arrived. We have just four more sleeps until Christmas, can you believe it!
This year we've had an exceptionally slow Christmas, mainly because I don't have the energy to put into doing more. Our tree is simple and the other decorations are minimal. I'm making only the treats Hubby can't possibly live without - namely things that contain chocolate. I made a quick batch of peanut cluster candy today and it took just a few minutes:
Ingredients:
1 package white (vanilla) Almond Bark
1 regular size package of semi-sweet chocolate chips
I jar dry roasted peanuts (Planters) 16 oz
Melt the Almond Bark in a large glass bowl in the microwave for 1 1/2 minutes, followed by stirring and additional 15-second melting and stirring until the AB is melted and smooth. Stir in the chocolate chips and cook as above until melted. Stir well into the Almond Bark. Stir in the peanuts and drop by Tablespoon onto waxed paper or parchment. Let set until firm. Pack in container with a layer of waxed paper in between layers of candy.
Note: This made about 45 clusters - enough for a few bags of goodies to give as gifts.
Everyone is in the holiday rush as this is the last weekend before the holiday.
We wish you a blessed weekend from our home to yours.
These are the quiet hours in our house. Jeff is on his way to work in an ice storm and the Girls (Dottie & Olive) are tucked back in their nests for a quick nap after braving the elements. Olive has a special spot atop one of our old family quilts that's on its last legs and Dottie has tucked herself away in a secluded spot where she can dream her doggie dreams. The hand quilting on the quilt below is spaced 1/4" apart. It has been washed countless times and has frayed in all the right places. It normally serves as a tree skirt, but this year I wanted to enjoy the beauty and texture of the stitching that came from my Greatgrammy's needle.
Fortified with a cup of hot tea and the hum of our furnace keeping us warm, it's a morning to be savored. A holiday candle is scenting the kitchen with the aroma of spices and baking goodies. Who doesn't love the glow and scent of nice candles ~~~~
We put up our tree yesterday and decorated it very simply with the angels and snowflake ornaments I make on the embroidery machine. I have memories of embroidering angel components in July and August and tucking them away for completion after Thanksgiving. A few special ornaments can make even a humble tree pretty. I think there is something tranquil and pristine about all white. I think of this as my "Broken Wing Collection" as a reminder that Christ invites us to come to Him just as we are ~~~ broken wings and all.
On the menu today is a pot of homemade vegetable beef soup with hot bread for our dinner. If I had ripe bananas on hand I would bake a batch of biscuits for the Girls, but that would require a trip out into the storm. The Girls are happy to accept a bite of toast instead.
Wishing you and yours a day to remember as you begin the new week.
PEACE & PLENTY
