Project Updates

So I am cruising on the socks.  I turned the heel on the second sock yesterday and have gotten an inch and half beyond that.  I could have done more but, it has busy around here.  I made homemade chicken soup and homemade bread yesterday.  A KitchenAid really takes the work out of the bread.  One loaf was regular for dinner last night and the second loaf was cinnamon for breakfast.  I love my KitchenAid.

 I have been making some progress on the Mystery Sampler.  I have all the tree branches done.   I have started on the leaves.  It is moving along. 

I also cleaned some of the basement today.  I brought up some more stitching supplies as I start taking over Ed's closet, only the side he really doesn't use.  I need to get that stuff organized.  I cut cardboard for three Prairie School pieces I have done over the last year.  I will get those pressed and centered to lace up the back. 

Did you notice the recent blog posts on With Thy Needle and Thread....the Whitman Hearts.  I did buy 4 hearts.  Some are to give away but, I will tell the kids to keep the boxes for future use.  I have to get that pattern.  It is awfully cute and may make great gifts.  Too many project too little time. 

Keep on Stitching.

The Latest Stitching Night

Stitching night was again at my house last night.  We rotate every other week.  I thought this time I would blog about what everyone was working on.  Even Patty had a project.  Usually she doesn't have one.  We threaten to throw her out but, she just laughs at us. 

 Patty's scarf.  It is a very pretty shade of pink but, this looks too orange.  She is doing a basketweave and a very good job at that.

 Jean has been working on this bib with a very cute turtle on it.  She did start a new Charles Craft bib with stars and  moons on it.  She is cross stitching her new granddaughter's name on it.  I missed taking a picture of that.  I think it is her first counted cross stitch.  Maybe we have a convert

 Ann wanted to straighten this out so you could see the whole thing but, then she spilled her coffee.  This is a LizzyKate.

 Arttie is working on cabin patterns.  I forgot to get the name of this one.  It may be a Little House Needleworks. 

 Sock number two for me.  I had the Mystery Sampler too but, this was more mindless and I could concentrate more on the conversation. 

Appearance by Buster who was a very good dog.  He greeted everyone.  He spent most of the night sleeping on the rug by the patio door. 

I didn't take a picture of the dessert.  It was amazing and a new, crazy easy recipe from the church cookbook. 

Caramel Chocolate Bars

1 pkg German Chocolate Cake Mix

1 can evaporated milk

1 14 oz pkg caramels

1/3 c.  butter melted

chocolate chips (the recipe called for a 6 oz pkg.  I don't know if they make those anymore.  I had a 12 oz pkg and probably used 10 oz.)

1 c. chopped pecans

Grease a 9x13 pan.  Preheat oven to 350

Mix the cake mix, melted butter, 1/3 c evaporated milk and nuts.  Press about 1/2-2/3 of the mix in the bottom of the pan and bake for 6 minutes.  Unwrap caramels and melt with 2/3 c of evaporated milk.  Sprinkle the chocolate chips ontop of the crust.  Pour the caramel sauce evenly over the chips.  Sprinkle the remained of the cake mix on top.  Bake 20 minutes. 

I served it with a scoop of Turtle Tracks ice cream....yum.

Thanks for checking in.  Keep on Stitching.

Socks and Coffee Cakes

I have the first sock done.  The pictures I have to admit aren't great.  I see some of the wonderful pictures on other blogs...I use Fujifilm camera.  It isn't anything fancy.  Maybe someday I will get a fancy camera.  Anyway, I digress.  The first sock is done and the kid is waiting for it.  I have started the twin but, I really need to cross stitch and I think I will be finishing the Mystery Sampler.  I don't usually have alot of WIP going at the same time.  I like to finish things.

 Then I made a coffee cake on saturday.  I saw this recipe on a Green Bay TV station.  Which called for two cans of Pillsbury biscuits.  That I thought is too much for me .  You make them in a Bundt pan.  That sent me on a search for a smaller Bundt pan that I found on Amazon cheaper than anywhere.  I didn't want to spend $30 on a cake pan.  I forgot to take a pic before we dug into it.  It turned out amazing.  Definately a keeper.

Orange Coffee Cake  (I halved it.  This is the full recipe.)
3/4 c. granulated sugar
4 tsp orange zest
2 cans (12 oz refrigerated buttermilk biscuits 8 oz pkg.  I used Grands.  I sent kids for the supplies)
cream cheese
1 stick melted butter
1 c. sifted confectioners sugar
1 Tbsp orange juice
1-2 Tbsp milk

Preheat the oven to 350  degrees.  In a small bowl, combine the granulated sugar and 3 tsp orange zest.  Separate the biscuits and flatten them slightly.  Place about a teaspoon of cream cheese in the center of each biscuit.  Fold each biscuit in half over the cream cheese, pressing the edges to seal.  Dip the biscuits in melted butter, then dredge in the granulated sugar mixture.  Place the biscuits in a a single layer in a lightly greased 12 cup bundt pan.  Drizzle any remaining butter over the biscuits, and sprinkle with any remaining sugar mixture.  Bake for 35-40 minutes, until golden brown.  Immediately invert the cake onto a serving plattter.  Combine the confectioners sugar, orange juice and 1 Tbsp milk and remaining 1 tsp orange zest stirring well.  If too thick, add more milk.  Drizzle the glaze over the warm cake.  Serve warm.

I did do one variation.  I sprinkled some cinnamon sugar mixture over the cream cheese, not very much because I thought it would jazz up the cream cheese.  I thought that was an excellent addition.

Oh my gosh.  I always preview to proof read and the table runner looks stunning.  It is one of my favorites.  My mom made it years ago for me.  I use it in January.
Keep on stitching.

Silver Needle New Years Eve Sale Stash

I always shop the Silver Needle New Years Eve sale.  This year the server crashed.  I figured "Oh well did I really need the stuff?"  Everyone on the 123stitch message board was a buzz.  I could have called it in but, by that time it was already past the 25% sale time.  You have to do that between 6 and 7 am.  I'm up by then anyway.  Lo and behold, it was posted they were honoring the 25% all day!  That was fabulous.  I jumped for joy....well I don't jump, trick knee you know.  I placed my order.  I had everything picked out prior to the sale.  You get what they have in stock.  You never really know what you are going to get until the box comes.  THE BOX CAME YESTERDAY!!!!!

How cute is this.  There were also individually wrapped jelly bellys. 

 A free pattern Love Bird by Midsummer Nights Design.

 Margaret Cottom Simply by La-D-Da, the fabric and the floss.  Can't wait to start!

 All 3 sets of the Prairie School cards that came out earlier this year.  I love these smalls!

The other Prairie Schooler that was on the wish list but, didn't make it and two of the three Santas.  I got 2004 and 2007 but not 2005. 


I missed a picture of the Drawn Thread Book of Days and my camera just died. 

Keep on Stitching.  I know I really have to get on the stick!

Homespun Elegance Santa Finished

I finished the Santa and he turned out very cute.  I didn't use the metallic buttons but, from my stash.  I like them just as much.  Still haven't picked out another cross stitch project yet.  I am ready to turn the heel on the sock.  I will do that tonight.

I do have a terrible cold.  I think half the UP does.  I just don't have much of an appetite.  Heck of a diet. 
I did make one of my favorite dinners.  I had veal in the freezer that should have been used a while ago.  This is the simplest, fastest recipe in the world. 

Tarragon Veal
4 4oz veal cutlets pounded about a 1/4 and inch
1 Tbsp butter
1 cup chicken or beef broth
2 Tbsp Brandy
1 Tbsp fresh Taragon
Salt and pepper to taste

Melt butter in a skillet.  Brown the veal on both sides about 1 1/2 minutes each side.  Place on a plate and cover to keep warm.  Deglaze the pan with 2 Tbsp brandy.  Add the broth and tarragon.  Simmer and reduce to half.  Return the veal to the pan and heat thru.  THATS IT!!

We had red skin potatoes and carrots.  Nothing fancy. 

Keep on Stitching and thanks for visiting. 

Stash Enhancement at the Bee

I had to take my daughter to a doctor's appointment in Green Bay yesterday.  We can't let a 100 mile trip go without a stop at the Stitching Bee on Velp Avenue.  When we moved to the UP, I was stressed about not having a LNS.  We had moved from Cedarburg where there were three at the time within 6 miles.  I had done some research and found the Stitching Bee.  I guess you could say that it has become my LNS although it is not exactly local.  If  you are in the area it is a MUST.  It is the friendliest shop I have ever been in. Kendra is the best! You are welcomed as a long lost friend.  Once the weather gets better I may go for the thursday afternoon group.  I am also hoping someday to go on the fall retreat. 

I didn't take pictures of the store.  Another blogger posted a great montage on her blog so hopefully she won't mind that I kind of hijacked the pics....not really, here is her blog site.  It is a really nice blog and I have become a follower. 
http://maudeandmozart.blogspot.com/search?q=Green+Bay

I picked up a few things:  Yet another Prairie Schooler....but I LOVE PS.    I hope I don't have this one.  I did April or May last year with the sheep on it and now I just need to frame it. 

 Another Homespun Elegance.  I already have the Wisper thread for the beard. 

 A piece of 40 count linen that has gone up ridicously in price.....$200 per yard.  What is up with that???
And some threads that I anticipate will need for some upcoming projects. 

  And last but not least, I finished the hand work on the Homespun Elegance Santa.  I am going to finish it like the picture on the pattern without the chenille around the edge for the time being.  Maybe I will get some but that can be done later. 

So I am currently without a project more because I can't decide what to do next.  I have a pair of socks I am working on with the most amazing alpaca wool combination yarn.  The color is absolutely gorgeous!

Keep on Stitching!  It is snowing and blowing likes nuts. 

Breakfast with My Son and update

Saturday started out with having breakfast with my son, Ed.  He will be going back to college soon.  When I told him I wanted to take his picture for my blog, he rolled his eyes and groaned a little bit.  He thinks I'm nuts.  It was fun.  We catch up on books and movies.  Sometimes he will talk a bit about his friends.  He is a great guy.  I can't call him a kid too much any more.  He is excited about the new semester and his computer science class. 

                                                                                                                                                      

The Homespun Elegance isn't going as fast as anticipated.  I think I could be done with it by the end of the week.  I think I have had a little sinus thing going on so, I'm awfully tired at night. 

  I'm not sure what I will work on next.  I have a pile of stuff.  I did get all but one of the Prairie Schooler patterns for Christmas.  Between Katy and my sister I got all excluding Summer Breeze.  I did order that from Silver Needles New Years Eve day sale.  Who knows if I will get it.  I haven't heard anything from them yet or seen the charge go through.  One time it took well over a month to get what I had ordered.  The anticipation nearly kills me.  I did order the PS mini cards too.  You hate to even think about ordering any of them from anywhere else until you get your order.  If I don't get some or all of the things, I will probably order them from 1-2-3 stitch.  I think I have found them to be the most reliable.  It is too soon to tell, it really hasn't been that long yet. 

I do have a fresh blueberry pie in the oven for tonight.  They were on sale at the grocery store today.  I couldn't resist.  My family will be thrilled. 

Thanks for checking in.  Keep on stitching!



Latest: Homespun Elegance Cinnamon Stick Santa XXIII - Such Delight

I was really hoping that I would have had time to do this before Christmas but, with the family circumstances it just didn't get done.  I decided to work on it now for next year.  It is a combination of DMC, GAST, Weeks and Wisper.  I do have a bunko brush that I got several years ago when I did another Homespun Elegance Santa that is framed and one that is a bellpull.  It should fluff up the fibers.  There was discussion on the 1-2-3stitch message board about it.  A lot of stitcher use velcro.  I have used a toothbrush in the past. 

If you haven't gotten on the 1-2-3stitch message board you should try it.  I like the format better than the typical message board.  And the topics really are soup to nuts.  If I fall asleep the last five minutes of a TV show, I can always get the rundown.  Sometimes though, I find the political topics a little too intense and generally avoid them.  People can get a little snarky but, that goes with the territory of some anonimity. 

I digress, here is the where I am on this project.  It is really a quick stitch.

Keep on Stitching. 
Watch for the Elegant Stitch New Years Eve Sale results.