Hand made gifts...

If you were excited about Sew Mama Sew's Handmade Holiday daily idea lists, you'll love this too: Martha Stewart has a holiday "craft of the day"!! If only I had more time to craft and sew!! My project list is getting longer every day!! (So glad for finals this week...no more homework soon!!)



p.s.Look--I figured out how to hyperlink!! (assuming they work)

I am thankful for...

• My family (ALL of them!)
• The sunshine today
• Air popped popcorn
• pie
• old friends, new friends (both I got to spend time with this week)
• busy days
• slow days
• colors
• turkey with gravy
• time with my husband
• health
• pre-school
• finals week
• Snow?
• chai tea
• Christmas is coming!!
• my boy's good attidudes and hard work
• Freckles
• Big brown eyes
• God's grace (that He continues to pour into my life moment by moment)

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!!

Pleated...WIP

Cindy & I worked on these Sunday...

I whined a lot, but it was a really nice day. I can't wait to finish mine...

Pretty Fall Bag

Charming Handbag from "Bend the Rules Sewing". Finished on Monday! Very simple pattern, though I had to figure out the handle dimentions 'cause the pattern didn't list it. It was an easy figure, though! This is some of my Favorite fabric...so pretty! Can you see the snap? The bibs have snaps, too. I don't know why I didn't buy/use a snap press a LONG time ago. I loveit! 8 bucks well spent.

*edit* For the casings I cut 2- 2" x 6 1/2" strips, for the handle I cut 1- 2" x 26 1/2" strip (or you could piece 2- 13" strips)

**edit** Oh yeah...Don't forget to clip the curves before you turn it right-way out(otherwise you have to turn it back and do it, then turn it right again. )

Sometimes I Bake

I love baking (and then eating it), and on a rainy, blustery fall day pumpkin bread just seems like the thing to bake. So I did...




Whole Grain Pumpkin Bread (I got this from iChef.com and changed it a little)

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees, grease 2 loaf pans

1 1/2c. flour

1c. whole wheat pastry flour

1/3c. wheat bran*

1/3c. wheat germ*

1/3c. oat bran*

*or 1c. total any grains you like or have on hand

2ts. baking soda

2ts. cinnamon

1ts. cloves

1ts. nutmeg

1/2ts. salt

1/4c. finely chopped pecans (I leave these out)

Whisk these all in a large bowl

2 eggs, beaten

1c. Oil

1 1/2c. packed brown sugar

1/2c. molasses

16oz. can pumpkin

Whisk these together

Add the liquids to the solids, stir well. Pour evenly into your 2 loaf pans and bake 1 hr. until pick comes out clean (mine always smells like it is burning about 10 mins before it's done, but it's not) This tastes best out of the fridge the next day for breakfast with some chai. Yummm...

Baby gifts...1 down

This is what I made for my friend Cindy & Daniel's baby! I am very pleased with the plane bib.(That's my last bit of that fabric.) The bibs are from Amy Karol's "Bend the Rules Sewing".( you can visit her here http://www.amykarol.com/) I love this book right now. All the projects are quick and simple and fun. BUT, I did have to have James enlarge the patterns 'cause I couldn't figure it out. Thankyou, love!
I drew the frog pattern based strongly on a frog pattern from a library book.
The shower was so nice, and I got to chat with some friends I don't see often! Amazing how my community of friends/acquaintances is so connected.

Speaking of lists...

I am so excited about this ! Fun for me!! I just wish I had time to sew one a day. That'd be super fun! Time to get buzzin'!

http://www.sewmamasew.com/blog2/ This is where the button is supposed to go. I am not so clever with computers.

I love lists

Christmas is coming!! Time to make lists! lots of lists. Wish lists, gift lists, baking lists, crafting lists, address lists, shopping lists, chore lists, party lists, and so on! First list, though...Thanksgiving pie list!! Wanna see?

1 blackberry

1 peach vanilla

1 blueberry

1 pecan

3 pumpkin (1 sugar-free, 1 with fresh pumpkin)

1 apple (maybe)

first three are in the freezer now! Check, check, check!

Hallow-late

This is what I did for Halloween this year...
(sorry, it's blurry)

And this is just fallish and pretty...see the cricket?