IHAN Is Coming To The MLQG!

I think most quilt bloggers are familiar with Kelly Jackson, owner/operator of the online quilt shop, I Have a Notion.  Kelly has fast made a name for herself and her business within the quilting world by operating an online store with the same amount of personal attention that you would find in any local quilt shop.  Kelly lives in Ohio, but she also has family ties to Pennsylvania and visits here on occasion.  Luckily, her most recent visit (read about it HERE) came at the same time as a scheduled monthly meeting of the Mountain Laurel Quilt Guild and Kelly agreed to be our special guest speaker for the evening!  From what I understand, Kelly has all of her favorite quilting notions and gadgets with her and will be demonstrating many of them for us tonight and of course all will be for sale.  It promises to be a very fun guild meeting and visitors are always welcome, so please join us if you are in the area!

Maple Oatmeal Cookies

Maple syrup and oatmeal together in a cookie...sounds an awful lot like breakfast if you ask me!

Maple Oatmeal Cookies

1/2 cup shortening
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1 egg
1/2 cup real maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup quick oats

In a mixing bowl, cream shortening and brown sugar until fluffy.  Beat in the egg, syrup, and vanilla until well mixed.  Combine flour, baking powder and salt.  Add flour mixture to the creamed mixture.  Stir in oats.  Drop by teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes or until light brown. Cool on cookie sheet for two minutes. Remove to wire rack to cool completely.

Cross Another One Off The List

I mentioned that I had a few little projects to take care of before starting any big projects and here is another one that I can cross off my list.  This tote bag is to hold the lil' cowboy's My Little Town play quilt and cars that I gave to him for his birthday.  Now I just have to decide if I should mail it or make another road trip and deliver it in person.

Creating For A Cure

Last week, Rene' of  Rene' Creates contacted me about the possibility of her creating a blog challenge based on my New Year's resolution to donate one quilt a month to the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative.  Of course, I thought a challenge was a wonderful idea and after a bit of discussion, the Creating for a Cure Challenge was born!  Please click over to Rene's post, Creating for a Cure, for all of the details and then get started on your January Priority: Alzheimer's Quilt!

Voilà A Valance

I've found that I have a few little sewing jobs to take care of, before I can start any new projects. First on the list is making a window valance to go with the comforters that we got our granddaughters for Christmas.  This was a simple project...just converting tab top curtains to valances.  Measure carefully, cut, press, sew a few straight lines and voilà a valance!

Far From Perfect

I finally started quilting my "Dear Jane" quilt and you can tell by my stitches that it has been a very long time since I have done any hand quilting.  I should have practiced on a small project on a bit before starting, but this quilt is far from perfect anyway, so I guess the irregular stitches will fit right in once it's done!

Resolutions

I've never been very good at making or keeping New Year's resolutions, but this year I am going to make one and do my very best to keep it!  In 2011 I am going to try my best to make one quilt a month to donate to the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative.  Last month researchers at the University of Michigan announced the development of promising new tools in the fight against Alzheimer's which was funded, in part, by donations from AAQI.  Yes, these tiny quilts are helping in the fight and each quilt donated makes a difference!  If you have never made a Priority: Alzheimer's Quilt won't you resolve to make at least one in the coming year?  If you have donated to AAQI in the past, why not try to make 1 or 12 more this year?

To find out more about the research being done at the University of Michigan read the article, Unraveling Alzheimer's: Simple small molecules could untangle complex disease.

Lucky Charms

What happens when you mix three generations of knitters/crocheters and more than a few packages of  KoolAid for a week?  You guessed it...lots and lots of yarn dyeing!  I believe we dyed 6 or 7 skeins of yarn over our Christmas vacation!  We used all sorts of color combinations and tried several different techniques too.  We found a stove-top method for self-striping yarn at Streets and YOs that worked especially well!  I used Lemon Lime, Strawberry, Lemonade and Pink Lemonade for this skein which my daughter-in-law appropriately named "Lucky Charms".  Now to figure out the perfect project to make with it!

Happy New Year!

Wishing you and your loved ones peace, good health, happiness and prosperity in the coming New Year.