Wednesday, April 3, 2013

9 yards of beautiful and 1 pair of shorts!

 My beautiful daughter fell in love with this fabric at our LQS, Creative Hands.  It was on clearance for just over 2 dollars per yard. She bought all 9 yards!  Now, my daughter lives in another era of times gone by. All things vintage........


First project?  A pair of high waisted shorts loosely following this tutorial from Cotton & Curls



I can't decide which is more adorable, the shorts or my little peanut! Just kidding, it is of course my peanut, by far.
 She is such a cute model!  I added belt loops and a long tie belt so that she can use different options.


Close up of the shorts.  I love the finished product for the most part, but I plan to make a few changes in the construction technique on the next pair.  I found using a rectangle insert for the crotch to be quite difficult and awkward. I much prefer a traditional construction method, but must confess this way does save on the amount of fabric needed. We used 1 yard!

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Apple cake from scratch


My beautiful daughter, Peanut, made a simply scrumptious cake the other night. All from scratch. She used a recipe she found online with minor changes. She is also quite the photographer as you can see from her picture above, taken with a phone! The honey glaze tastes awful by itself, but ROCKS when on the cake!

Ingredients
Honey Glaze:

1 cup confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons milk

Apple Cake:

3 cups diced Granny Smith apples, or whatever you have, she used assorted apples,  about 2 apples
1 cup lightly toasted chopped walnuts
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3 cups all-purpose flour (or you can grind your own soft white wheat like we do!)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups sugar
1 1/4 cups vegetable oil
3 eggs

Directions

Glaze: Add all the ingredients to a small bowl and stir until smooth. Set the bowl aside.

Cake: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Lightly grease a Bundt pan or tube pan.

In a bowl, mix together the apples, walnuts, vanilla, and cinnamon. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt.

Using an electric mixer beat the sugar, oil, and eggs in a large bowl. Add in the dry ingredients and beat until completely combined. Fold in the apple mixture.

Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 1 hour and 30 minutes or until a tester inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean.

Allow the cake to fully cool in the pan, about 1 hour, and then turn it out onto a plate.

Drizzle the apple cake with some of the honey glaze, serve and enjoy!

The cake can be wrapped tightly and stored in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days.
Here she is frosting it!

Monday, March 18, 2013

Charity quilting mindblock...can YOU help?

So, it's been awhile since my last post. We were battling the influenza b, strep throat, and a sinus infection, all at the same time and all in the same kiddo! The rest of us just had the flu. UGH!  Well, I have a quilt to make for a silent charity auction THIS Saturday night, nothing like procrastination.  Here are my fabrics
Fat quarters are fun!  My plan is to use this tutorial from two little banshees. It looks like fun and you only need 6 fat quarters




.On the design wall. My hubby took one look and decided it wasn't big enough, "after all a charity quilt should be bigger", were his words.  Hmm.... so off to add another few pieces with that second bundle.




  The enlarged version is much better. At least that's the popular vote around here. Now on to the back of the quilt using leftovers and some basic brown cotton. It was a fun back to sew. Very quick and easy.

So what I need from YOU, is suggestions on quilting. I will make the sandwich tonight and quilt tomorrow. Straight line in a random grid? Stitch in the ditch, free motion stipple, free motion dog bones?  HELP me PLEASE!




Monday, March 11, 2013

Bosch universal giveaway at Pleasant Hill Grain!



Okay, this is too good not to share. If you are on facebook, go to this page and like, them then you can enter to win a NEW BOSCH!  Now, if you aren't familiar with the Bosch Universal you should become acquainted.  We use our Bosch for everything from baking bread using wheat we grind at home, to processing the venison my hubby provides.  It's our food processor, slicer, pasta maker, meat grinder, mixer and more.  I won't go on and on....but here is mine.... excuse the messy kitchen please....

I'm a little short on counter space! Now, this is the model they are giving away. I had an older one and she broke, she was repaired but we just couldn't stand to wait at the time and this one took her place. The old one now belongs to one of my grown daughters. Pleasant Hill Grain has been our source for all things kitchen for years now. The customer service is excellent and the prices are always the best I have found.

Here is the link to the facebook giveaway!

Like them and then enter to win a BOSCH!

Monday, monday........

Good morning! Thought I'd go ahead and show you where I "work", more like play that is! Originally this was my husbands office, then a child's bedroom, now it's mine. Sort of...I share it with my very creative daughter.  So without further ado, here is my sewing space.





This is the view from the entry . My stash of fabric is on the top right shelf and was recently doubled by my friend Mary Lou who sent me OODLES of fabric, cotton sheets on top left, and all my little pieces are on the bottom left shelf.  The dresser was my mother's and is very special to me.  





                                                     This is where I quilt. My husband and son helped me make the table. It is a dining room table with the leaf removed and a plywood base to inset the machine. Then we used foam board to make a level surface and covered with a big vinyl tablecloth.  I got the idea from here....
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1936826011?ie=UTF8&tag=crazshorquil-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1936826011 
I watched the you tube videos first, but yes, I actually got the kindle book. The critter in the cage is my bearded dragon. He likes to sit on my shoulder while I sew.



My design wall is my best friend!  Here I can play. These lovely Christmas blocks were all sent to me by friends for my Birthday!  I have wonderful friends!  When all of my birthday blocks arrive I am going to turn them into a very special quilt! The area under the lizard cage consists of various crafting items. A lot of it is for my daughter. She paints and cuts and pastes and .................  Ask me about spray glue on my quilting surface sometime!


Here you see the entry door on the left, my chair which needs covering, my record player (I ADORE) old music and hymns), and my little built in space that houses my albums and rotary cutters.  This chair is frequently occupied by my husband or one of the children.

            
                         

Now... this is what happens when I try to work. I was working on this quilt I designed.  I'm working on a pattern and tutorial for it so hopefully I will post that soon. The triangle blocks actually have 8 triangles per block. I've sold it and need to do the Embroidery and get her finished. But when I try to work,  I get invaded! My guests this morning......
 George is our indoor kitty. For the first 3 years we had him he hid under a bed, literally. The next 5 he would sometimes venture out and let you pet him, the last 3 he become the worlds most affectionate cat. Trying to sew with George nearby is next to impossible.


                         I have a baby gate in the doorway to keep the big dogs out...guess I should remember to close it! This is our faithful dog Trooper. That is not a dirty floor, but painted plywood subfloor. At some point I will put in a real floor, but for now, at least I have my own space. :)


Lily...This is what happens when you give a 16 year old a puppy...... 5 years later the puppy is mine!  


   



Saturday, March 9, 2013

It's snow fun!


Thanks for all the comments on my last post! Quilting, tutorials, sewing, homeschool, gardening, I will share my adventures into all!  

Well, my snow lady is melting.  We live in Kansas, right on the state line with Missouri. Snow is not a regular occurrence, unfortunately. You see, I LOVE snow! LOTS of SNOW. Oodles of .....well, you get the idea.  I grew up with snow and snowmobiles. Vacations were snowmobiling. My husband and I lived in upstate New York and Maine where we had plenty of snow. Then we moved to Kansas. It's sad.  Last week we were blessed with an amazing snow storm, we did, of course, take advantage of the gift and built a snow lady! My 3 year old grandson comes over on Sunday after church and stays till Tuesday morning so we can do "preschool".  Actually it's purely selfish on my part, I simply need my grandbaby fix!  Don't tell his mama. ;)  To the point... we built this.....

Notice the cute knit frilly scarf hair! I love to knit. 
I love all things PINK!

My sweet daughter, age 15, decided that our snow lady was really and snow man and quickly the transformation was complete. Note the coffee.... all snow people simply adore coffee.













 After a night out for American Heritage Girls, we pulled up the drive and this is what I found, my snow man had been bullied!
 Apparently the temptation was too great for my son. Chuck Norris sometimes seems to take over his body and WHAM, "one swift roundhouse kick later",  the snow man was down!

Darling Chuck did go out the next morning and put our friend back upright, but alas Mr. Sun had other plans.   This morning, here is all that is left of our dearly melted snow friend.


If you have extra snow, please send some my way!  Now, I must get busy..... sewing to do, papers to grade, and a new product to review!  Have a wonderful Saturday.

Friday, March 8, 2013

Giveway.... Welcome to my blog!

Hello and welcome to Burns' Bobbins.  I'll get straight to the point, I love to sew, craft and quilt. There are hundreds of photos I need to upload, and I will....eventually. Deciding to begin a blog AND do a giveaway on the spur of the moment make for a busy morning in my world.  So with out further ado, here is the giveaway!




Moda Marmalade Mini Charm Pack

HOW TO ENTER:  Please leave a comment below telling me what you'd like to see me blog about. Quilting, sewing, homeschooling, life in the country, tutorials? You tell me!  If you post as anonymous, please let me know how to reach you in case you are the winner! If an anonymous wins and can't be reached after 1 week, I will generate another winner. :)  2nd... Please become a follower of my blog!  I'll still include you if you don't, but I'd welcome the opportunity to have you follow and leave some feedback once in a while. :) You can always unfollow me if you find I'm not your cup of tea. Welcome and have fun!

Adding a second giveaway!  Don't worry, if you already commented, you are  entered for both giveaways. This one is from my FAVORITE local quilt shop, Creative Hands Quilt Shop and Decorative Painting Store . Seriously, Sheryll is so kind and gracious and always helpful with anything I need. If you live near Belton, MO drop on in, you will be in for a treat! You should also check out her Facebook!  Sheryll has generously donated The Dessert Time Quilt Pattern and DVD combo!  So hop on over and like her page and tell her that Sandra sent you if you have time!


winners will be selected by using Random.org on March 14th!

While you are at it, jump on in and join the blog hop party! The party will begin tomorrow March 8 at about 7pm Eastern. You can find it here...

http://quiltinggallery.com/quilters-fun/quilters-blog-hop-party/

or click on the sidebar button!

WINNERS!  I will contact you for shipping address. Congratulations!
Ohio Lori you have won the Charm Pack!
Penny you have won the DVD combo!  I can't contact you vial email as you are no reply. You have till March 21st to contact me or I will have to draw another winner. Congratulations!