Remember the sale on the website ends this week.
Check out the Home page for details!
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Do We Have To Take The Tree Down?
Christmas is over and it seemed to float by too quickly as usual. I cooked without ruining anything for a change, we ate a lot, we played even more. It was slow paced and easy this year. The grand babes had a great time and have a whole new selection of toys to choose from for the coming months. Everyone loved their quilts I made them and the boys are snuggling with theirs in bed already. I wish I had taken pictures but I never have the camera next to me when I need it.
I got wonderful box of chocolates from Benartex this year and everyone at my house has been enjoying them. I made lots of cookies but sent them home with everyone so I'm free from temptation! Let the diet begin.
My sister and husband were here for 4 days and we all had a great "adult" time when the grand babes weren't here. My husband and I especially enjoyed the blissful quiet time once everyone left. The house was once again silent, well, except for Toto and her morning conversation voice. She's very chatty in the morning! It's like she wants to catch up on all those hours she didn't see us during the night.
It's time to start thinking about work again, after taking a few days off. I guess I'll spend the week working on designs and ordering fabric. I could use a day to clean my desk also! Amazing how fast it fills up. There might be something important under there, after all!
How was your Christmas?
I got wonderful box of chocolates from Benartex this year and everyone at my house has been enjoying them. I made lots of cookies but sent them home with everyone so I'm free from temptation! Let the diet begin.
My sister and husband were here for 4 days and we all had a great "adult" time when the grand babes weren't here. My husband and I especially enjoyed the blissful quiet time once everyone left. The house was once again silent, well, except for Toto and her morning conversation voice. She's very chatty in the morning! It's like she wants to catch up on all those hours she didn't see us during the night.
It's time to start thinking about work again, after taking a few days off. I guess I'll spend the week working on designs and ordering fabric. I could use a day to clean my desk also! Amazing how fast it fills up. There might be something important under there, after all!
How was your Christmas?
Saturday, December 17, 2011
That Golden Day is Here!
It's cookie time! I have all of my ingredients laying all over the kitchen, just waiting for the mixing to begin! I would have started yesterday but my husband beat me to the kitchen- he spent the day making and baking deer sausage. Needless to say, the counter was too full to compete with my cookies. I haven't baked in a while and I'm anxious to get started.
My favorite cookies at Christmas are peanut butter with those little Hershey's kisses on them but some how I don't think I'll be making them much more. MY little Grace is highly allergic to peanuts and we try not to have any in the house if she'll be "in house". You know, just in case anyone else eats them and gets near her. Those food allergies are scary stuff. Sarah keeps an Epi -pen with her at all times.
I do plan to make chocolate chip cookies, maybe some no-bake cookies and sugar cookies. I'll have to make fudge, after all, what's Christmas without fudge? So much for that diet I was going to start. Too late now! I have a great recipe for Mrs. Fields cookies, made with real butter and chocolate chunks. I will have to make Rice Krispie treats too. The kids love them!
I'm thinking pies- maybe pecan, chocolate cream and coconut. Funny story about my Coconut pies- a few years ago I was going to make 2 pies for Christmas. Well, sort of. I was in a hurry, company was already there. I mixed one batch for two coconut pies and got busy doing other cooking and left it too long so it burned on the stove. The pan was black. I think we eventually got it clean but it took a lot. Meanwhile, I had baked two pie crusts in the oven and forgotten them also. They were pretty brown but the time I remembered so i had to throw them out. I was all stressed out, wanted the stupid pies.
I was in a pretty bad mood by this time but I was determined to not let the pie win. I found a graham cracker crust in the pantry, so I started a new batch and watched it like a hawk. It turned out OK. I thought I was finally on a roll.
I put it in the graham cracker pie crust and started to move it into the dining room to cool, out of the way. To my horror, the entire foil pan buckled in my hands and the runny pie dumped all over the carpet. Needless to say, I cried. I spent the next half hour cleaning the milky coconut off of the carpet while wiping the tears out of my eyes. There was no comforting me that day and it took a few years to tackle the pie again. Did I learn any lessons? Probably not, as I still get busy and forget- things burn and I can only blame myself.
One lesson I did learn-
I always get extra ingredients now. Just in case!
I promised Toto she's going to get her long overdue bath today. It's been raining and snowing and really muddy out. She's a mess and confined to the kitchen until the bath. She gets her first grooming appointment later this week. I wonder how she'll do there? She hates the brush, even though I try to brush her each day. It's never been her friend. I think she'll get a little Christmas bow this week. I'll be sure to take a picture.
I'm going to start with the Christmas cleaning today, you know the kind- washing the windows, vacuuming under the beds and dusting the mini blinds. That stuff you don't do very often unless company is coming. The countdown begins. Are you done shopping?
I still have one quilt to finish for Grace, other than that, I'm ready, until you count the cleaning, baking and wrapping. I guess I'm not so ready after all. But I will be! Don't forget about the 25% sale on the website through Christmas.
Have a great weekend!
My favorite cookies at Christmas are peanut butter with those little Hershey's kisses on them but some how I don't think I'll be making them much more. MY little Grace is highly allergic to peanuts and we try not to have any in the house if she'll be "in house". You know, just in case anyone else eats them and gets near her. Those food allergies are scary stuff. Sarah keeps an Epi -pen with her at all times.
I do plan to make chocolate chip cookies, maybe some no-bake cookies and sugar cookies. I'll have to make fudge, after all, what's Christmas without fudge? So much for that diet I was going to start. Too late now! I have a great recipe for Mrs. Fields cookies, made with real butter and chocolate chunks. I will have to make Rice Krispie treats too. The kids love them!
I'm thinking pies- maybe pecan, chocolate cream and coconut. Funny story about my Coconut pies- a few years ago I was going to make 2 pies for Christmas. Well, sort of. I was in a hurry, company was already there. I mixed one batch for two coconut pies and got busy doing other cooking and left it too long so it burned on the stove. The pan was black. I think we eventually got it clean but it took a lot. Meanwhile, I had baked two pie crusts in the oven and forgotten them also. They were pretty brown but the time I remembered so i had to throw them out. I was all stressed out, wanted the stupid pies.
I was in a pretty bad mood by this time but I was determined to not let the pie win. I found a graham cracker crust in the pantry, so I started a new batch and watched it like a hawk. It turned out OK. I thought I was finally on a roll.
I put it in the graham cracker pie crust and started to move it into the dining room to cool, out of the way. To my horror, the entire foil pan buckled in my hands and the runny pie dumped all over the carpet. Needless to say, I cried. I spent the next half hour cleaning the milky coconut off of the carpet while wiping the tears out of my eyes. There was no comforting me that day and it took a few years to tackle the pie again. Did I learn any lessons? Probably not, as I still get busy and forget- things burn and I can only blame myself.
One lesson I did learn-
I always get extra ingredients now. Just in case!
I promised Toto she's going to get her long overdue bath today. It's been raining and snowing and really muddy out. She's a mess and confined to the kitchen until the bath. She gets her first grooming appointment later this week. I wonder how she'll do there? She hates the brush, even though I try to brush her each day. It's never been her friend. I think she'll get a little Christmas bow this week. I'll be sure to take a picture.
I'm going to start with the Christmas cleaning today, you know the kind- washing the windows, vacuuming under the beds and dusting the mini blinds. That stuff you don't do very often unless company is coming. The countdown begins. Are you done shopping?
I still have one quilt to finish for Grace, other than that, I'm ready, until you count the cleaning, baking and wrapping. I guess I'm not so ready after all. But I will be! Don't forget about the 25% sale on the website through Christmas.
Have a great weekend!
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Never Enough Time
I don't know about you but I can't seem to get enough hours in my days. I have such a list to work on and what I think I should get accomplished in a day ends up short. I sent the last two days in bed with some sort of flu again. I've had this a few times this year and it's getting old.
I am working on two "big boy" quilts for Nathan, who will be 4 next week, and 2 year
old Patrick. They've been dragging around their baby quilts I made them, you know, pastel greens and blues with chenille, and I figured it's time for darker colors plus some puppies, trains and cars in them thar quilts! Nathan's quilt is shades of green and Patrick's quilt is shades of blue. I'm working on the bindings tonight. Fabrics are from Benartex.
I co
uldn't leave Grace out, she gets a pink one with Girlie Girl fabrics from Moda. 
They have ballerinas and lots of flowers. I am tacking them and using fleece on the back. No batting. It makes them so soft, like a quilt on one side and a blanket on the other. After these are done, I'll tackle another baby quilt for Lilian Joy, due in February.
I am pretty much done shopping and decorating, just waiting until time to bake. I am making pumpkin roll this year for my son who can't be with us. That is going to be interesting to send in the mail! I am patiently waiting for the newest cardinal to return from the quilter. When it arrives, I'll get a picture posted. It uses the new Wintersong fabrics.
If you haven't noticed, there's a sale on the website posted on the Home page. 25% off on patterns until after Christmas. the code is christmas, all small case. Type it in the voucher space at check-out.
I am working on two "big boy" quilts for Nathan, who will be 4 next week, and 2 year
old Patrick. They've been dragging around their baby quilts I made them, you know, pastel greens and blues with chenille, and I figured it's time for darker colors plus some puppies, trains and cars in them thar quilts! Nathan's quilt is shades of green and Patrick's quilt is shades of blue. I'm working on the bindings tonight. Fabrics are from Benartex.
I co
uldn't leave Grace out, she gets a pink one with Girlie Girl fabrics from Moda. 
They have ballerinas and lots of flowers. I am tacking them and using fleece on the back. No batting. It makes them so soft, like a quilt on one side and a blanket on the other. After these are done, I'll tackle another baby quilt for Lilian Joy, due in February.I am pretty much done shopping and decorating, just waiting until time to bake. I am making pumpkin roll this year for my son who can't be with us. That is going to be interesting to send in the mail! I am patiently waiting for the newest cardinal to return from the quilter. When it arrives, I'll get a picture posted. It uses the new Wintersong fabrics.
If you haven't noticed, there's a sale on the website posted on the Home page. 25% off on patterns until after Christmas. the code is christmas, all small case. Type it in the voucher space at check-out.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Pre-Christmas Website Special
Happy Holidays- it's coming. I just listed a bunch of quilts on the quilt page of the website. We also have a BLOG special this weekend on our website. It runs through Wednesday, 11/30/11. Order any patterns, charts or pre-finished stitchables on the website and get 20% off the entire order. Finished quilts are not included. Sorry!
The voucher can be used multiple times through Wednesday. www.prairiegrovepeddler.com
I'll be cleaning the house and putting up my Christmas decorations this weekend. I did a little bit of shopping yesterday and the crowds weren't too bad at the Mall, in my opinion. I stayed away from Toys-R-Us though!
The voucher can be used multiple times through Wednesday. www.prairiegrovepeddler.com
When you order, type the word
prairie
into the voucher box at check out for the discount.
prairie
into the voucher box at check out for the discount.
I'll be cleaning the house and putting up my Christmas decorations this weekend. I did a little bit of shopping yesterday and the crowds weren't too bad at the Mall, in my opinion. I stayed away from Toys-R-Us though!
Monday, November 21, 2011
Happy Thanksgiving Week!
My turkey is thawing and the grocery shopping is done. The house cleaning, awe, not so done yet but it will be. I finally got the magazines shipped out to the winners. Watch for them later this week. I just sent my next fabric designs to Benartex so I got that off my list. It's been a really busy month but I can finally think straight.
I did have a funny thing happen this past week though - someone told me my fabric was the kind that a Mid-western grandma would like. Well, I am a grandma and I live in the Mid-west. I also like the fabric! I guess it's true! I didn't know it was classified that way though! Now every time I talk to my BFF Barb, she reminds me that I design fabric for Mid-western grandmas.
I had a bummer of a week last week and Barb sent me flowers to cheer me up. Sometimes life just doesn't go the way it should and we feel like we're pulled in too many directions. The card said "Next week will be better, hang in there!" What a sweetie Barb is! They are beautiful flowers also. Thanks again Barb!
I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends,
signed,
a Mid-western grandma!
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Lots of Winners
Winners of the QuiltMaker's 100 Blocks Blog Tour magazines are BillieBee, banjo 795, Kris in WI, and Lisa Marie. If you are one of these people, please email me at PGPeddler@aol.com with your address and I will send you a free QuiltMaker's Vol. 4 magazine this week.
As for the winner of the fabric panel- and I'll throw in a free magazine also- it's Kathy in GA. If you are Kathy, please email me your address and I'll send it right away.
Thanks everyone for all of the nice comments. There are a lot of nice blocks in this issue. I think there's more applique this time around also. I do love my applique! Hopefully we'll get to do it next year in Volume 5!
As for the winner of the fabric panel- and I'll throw in a free magazine also- it's Kathy in GA. If you are Kathy, please email me your address and I'll send it right away.
Thanks everyone for all of the nice comments. There are a lot of nice blocks in this issue. I think there's more applique this time around also. I do love my applique! Hopefully we'll get to do it next year in Volume 5!
Welcome to the Blog Tour!
It's time to reveal my block in the QuiltMaker Magazine's 100 Blocks issue- block #309 on page 22. I do love my applique whether it be needle turn or quick fuse. I also love my poinsettias! I called this bock Winter Blooms. It can be made with red flowers also. I kind of like the white ones myself. I made it into a table runner as follows-
I would be a nice addition to a festive table. I added a 2" border. I also repeated the blo
ck for a small wall quilt. Here is one with a 1-1/2" sashing and 3" border. It would also be nice if the flowers were all different shades of reds or golds on black background. I'm honored to be included again this year. I'll have a drawing for a free copy of the QuiltMaker's 100 Blocks magazine. Leave a comment and I'll draw several winners later today.OK, a last minute thought, everyone who comments today only is also in the drawing for the new panel I designed, Wintersong, shown at the right. The entire fabric line will be in your local quilt shops in January.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
QuiltMaker's 100 Blocks Blog Tour Has Begun
In case you missed it yesterday, the 4th annual blog tour has officially begun. You can follow it at http://www.quiltmaker.com/blogs/quiltypleasures/. Each day there are new designers highlighted. If you visit each blog, you can enter drawings for a free magazine and other great stuff. It's fun to see what the designers are doing also! My special day is Thursday of this week.
This is the second time I have been featured in the magazine. I noticed there is a lot more applique this issue. Ohhh, I love my applique! I can give you a hint on my new block- it's called Winter Blooms. Can you guess what it is? It's not pictured on the cover so you'll have to check back to see it.
Stop back on Thursday for a look at my block featured in the new book plus some finishing ideas for it. We'll have some drawings for a few free issues also.
This is the second time I have been featured in the magazine. I noticed there is a lot more applique this issue. Ohhh, I love my applique! I can give you a hint on my new block- it's called Winter Blooms. Can you guess what it is? It's not pictured on the cover so you'll have to check back to see it.
Stop back on Thursday for a look at my block featured in the new book plus some finishing ideas for it. We'll have some drawings for a few free issues also.
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