I love when it rains!

     What can be better for sewing than a rainy Sunday? Yesterday I spent the whole day in my studio cutting and sewing. I made two of Atkinson Design's new patterns - Hot Stuff & Classmate. Again, without failure, these patterns are incredible.
     I made the Hot Stuff (casserole carrier). While Steffani and I were are the shop on Saturday we set our new HQ Fusion with Pro Stitcher to pre-quilt the fabric. Was that ever slick. We used Insul-Brite for the batting and chose a great swirl pattern. I can tell you there will be no more domestic machine quilting for me! Back to the Hot Stuff - this would be a great gift for all of your family and friends.
     My second project was her new pattern called Classmate. It was so much fun to make and today I am back to the studio to make a couple more. I always enjoy Atkinson Design's patterns but this is by far one of my favorites. She has you apply fusible interfacing to the wrong side of your outer fabric & lining BEFORE you start cutting - now isn't that ingenious? My favorite interfacing, and the one I use on all my bags/projects, is Bosal 300. It's a woven fusible and is the best on the market. When you stop into the shop I would suggest you pick up 5 yards, you won't be sorry.
     We have our Thursday Sew-Cial this coming Thursday and I am using a new recipe. I am sure they will be great!

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
1 cup butter, softened

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1-1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 cups Old Fashion Oats, uncooked

1 cup raisins

3/4 cup walnuts

1. Heat oven to 350°.

2. Beat butter and sugars until creamy.

3. Add eggs and vanilla, beat well.

4. Add combined flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt, mix well.

5. Stir in oats, raisins and walnuts; mix well.

6. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet.

7. Bake 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.

8. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheet; remove to wire rack to cool completely.
9. Make approximately 4 dozen

Enjoy your day!
Deb

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Good Afternoon:
What a fun weekend we had. Steffani and I attended International Quilt Market in Kansas City, MO. We took a couple of extra days and did a bit of 'antiquing' along the way. I found a couple of great props for the shop and Steffani found lots of great stuff 'she had to have'.

Market was Friday through Sunday. We found a lot of really fun stuff - especially the new Rhinestone Lanyards that hold your I-Phone. It's a MUST have! The vendor ran out very early in market so you will have to wait a week but the wait will be worth it. Of course, we have the Rhinestone lanyards that hold your scissors in stock now! What girl doesn't love bling?

Trends at market - there is a huge surge toward Modern Quilting. Market was buzzing with some very young quilter's. It was great to see! They are our future. As we often hear in our shop, "My age (16-30+) doesn't want to sew the traditional fabrics'. As you know, 3 years ago we filled our upstairs with modern fabrics and it's the best move we could have made. However, we still carry traditional fabrics on the main floor along with some of the trendy Moda fabrics.

Colors for Summer - The number one Pantone color of the year - Tangerine. You see in it everything from fabric to Home Dec. Other colors you are seeing - Turquoise & Lime Green. All in all, they are very 'happy' colors.

Most Exciting (for us) at Market - We bit the bullet and ordered the Handi Quilter Fusion with the Pro Stitcher. This incredible quilting machine has a 24" throat! The Pro Stitcher software has had a major face lift and it's amazing what it can do. It should arrive on the 30th. We won't be able to get Steffani off the machine. She will be teaching Pro Stitcher classes come Fall. We are also planning on having an Handi Quilter Event in the Fall.

Now it's back to the grist mill! We hope to see you soon - the shop has never been so full! To date we have over 1000 samples finished and on display!

One last mention - we are going to be changing our name. So often quilter's come in and say - you aren't country. Mom, Steffani and me have debated back and forth for many months. We don't want to lose our roots so here is what you will hear us answer the phone and in future publications:

CF Quilts (the CF stands for Country Fabrics).

Enjoy your weekend!
Deb

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Good Morning:
What a fun weekend we had and survived. We were part of a Golden Ticket Bus Tour that went to 5 states - 13 shops - in 3 days! We saw many new faces and they loved the shop, especially the Modern fabrics. Upon greeting each  bus we told them that we have over 1000 samples and the be prepared to be 'overwhelmed'. They were and loved the shop. Most of them commented to their bus moms that we were the best shop of all. I need to put out a big thank you to my family and staff. My mother and father made the food for these 400 plus women. Mom and her crew served food from 9:00 am - 9:00 pm two of the three nights. My staff went with the flow also. We had a broken down bus, which Steffani graciously met the riders at the hotel with wine, beer & appetizers. They so appreciated this and thought it was above and beyond. Steffani is now known as 'Your Awesomeness'. The last, but not least Thank You is to my faithful riders. There were challenges along the way but they handled it like troupers. All in all it was an awesome event.

We were also asked if we had any other buses planned. We are in the 'thinking' stage for next May. We have our own ideas for a Golden Tour. Just a teaser and we will keep you posted.

There were many requests for Mom's recipes - so here they are...

Taco Soup:

Brown:

1 # burger

1 medium onion

Add:

1 - 15 oz. can diced tomatoes

1 - 15 oz. can kidney beans, undrained

1 small can tomato sauce

1 pkg. Taco seasoning

1 tsp. salt & pepper

Simmer for 20 minutes

Serve over - Frito's

Top with - Cheese & Sour Cream 

Poppy Seed Bread:

Mix together:

1 pkg. yellow cake mix

1 pkg. coconut instant pudding

1 c. oil

4 eggs

Let set for 10 minutes the following 2 ingredients and then add to above mixture:

1/4 c. poppy seeds

1 c. hot water

Beat 4 minutes. Makes 2 large pans.

Bake 50 minutes at 350

Carrot-Date Nut Bread:

Cream well:

3/4 c. oil

1 c. sugar

2 large eggs (beaten)

In a separate bowl mix together the following ingredients and add to above mixture:

1 1/2 c. flour

1/4 t. salt

1 t. soda

1 t. cinnamon

Next add the following to the above mixtures:

1 c. grated raw carrots

1/2 c. chopped nuts (optional)

1 c. chopped dates or raisins

Makes 1 large pan or 2 medium pans

Bake 45 minutes @ 350

Best Ever Banana Bread

Cream together:

1/2 c. butter

1 c. sugar

Add, one at a time:

2 eggs, unbeaten

In a separate bowl mix together the following ingredients and add to above mixture:

2 c. flour

1 t. baking soda

1/2 t. salt

Whip until smooth and light and add to above mixtures:

3 mashed bananas

1/4 c. chopped nuts (optional)

1/2 c. mini chocolate chips

Grease pan well. Sprinkle sugar in pan. Add dough, sprinkle with sugar. 

Bake 1 hour at 350 

Grandma Grace's Rhubarb Bread

Cream together:

1 1/2 c. brown sugar, packed

2/3 c. oil

1 egg

1 t. vanilla

Mix together in a separate bowl:

2 1/2 c. flour

1 t. salt

1 t. soda

Pour and set aside:

1 c. buttermilk (make your own using 1 c. milk w/ 1 t. vinegar)

Add flour mixture alternately with buttermilk. Mix well. Add:

2 c. finely chopped, rhubarb

Makes 2 loaves

Bake 45 minutes at 325

I was also asked if we had any other buses planned. We are in the thinking stage for next May - I have my own ideas for a Golden Ticket Bus tour. Just a teaser - I will keep you posted. 

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What's Up for January!

Good Morning:
What an incredible Winter we are having! Yesterday, January 10th, people were playing tennis outside and today it's raining. Hmmm!

Tomorrow is our monthly club called 'Thursday Sew-Cial' and as always I have a wonderful recipe that I want to share with you. It's a perfect dessert to make when you need something quick. It came from a wonderful cookbook called North Country Cabin Cooking by Mary Brubacher and Margie Knoblauch.

BIG LAKE CAKE
2 cans blueberry pie filling
1 box white cake mix
1 stick Butter, melted
1-3 oz. package slivered almonds
Put blueberry pie filling on bottom of a 9x13 inch, buttered pan. Sprinkle dry cake mix on top. Drizzle melted butter over cake mix. Sprinkle almonds on top. Bake at 350 for 50 minutes.

The shop is buzzing with new fabrics, patterns and of course samples. We just received a line from Moda called Urban Cowboy. It's great! We have it in yardage, charms, layer cakes and jelly rolls. Come check it out! Steffani will be posting it on-line in the next few days. Remember, you can shop 24 hours a day with our on-line shop.

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year. We look forward to a great 2012.

Happy Sewing
Deb

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