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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Resolutions you can keep!

     

1.  Start the New Year fresh - Have your machine cleaned and serviced
2. "Remember to change your sewing machine needle(s) after every project. Needles can become dull and can snag fabric. New needles stitch crisp stitches. I recommend changing your needle(s) after 8 to 10 hours of sewing." --Eleanor Burns. - Use Schmetz Micro-tex sharp needles for best results and most accurate piecing. 
3. To take advantage of limited sewing time, keep together all the supplies that you are using for each project so that if you have to abandon the project for a few weeks or even months, you can quickly get back to where you left off.  - Sterlite Clipboxes work great for this, and they stack nicely together.  

PLUS they are made in the USA!
4. Be sure to test sew even if you are doing something you have done before. If you forget to change certain settings on your machine, you will find the problem before you start on your actual project. Save yourself from ruining good pieces of fabric!
5. When you finish a project cut your leftover scraps into 3", 4" or 5" squares, maybe even 10" squares, or 2 1/2" strips or squares (tokyo subway quilt anyone!?). Store them together with like size scraps, and on a rainy day pull them out and make a scrappy quilt. Sterlite Clipboxes work great for this too! 
6. Use the hoop that is the closest size to your design. Many times, you will have a better quality stitch-out if you do several hoopings with a smaller hoop than trying to get all of the designs in a larger hoop. Plus if you only use the size hoop you need, it saves you stabilizer. 
7. Resolve this year to learn the ins and outs of your software or machine by reading over your machine manuel and also create a stitch book. If you have all your decorative stitches stitched out, you're more likely to use them. 
8. Slim down the stash - Go through those stacks of fabric, any pieces you no longer want, and try donating them to our local Quilts of Valor Chapter. You can drop fabric off at the shop anytime. 
9. Before tossing your old machine to the curb, call your local dealer and ask if they know of anyone that would have a use for it. If it can't be fixed, allow us to use the machine for parts. Either way it's out of your way and in the hands of someone who could get some mileage out of it.
10. "When sewing for yourself and those you love, remember to sew at least one gift per year for someone you've never met." --Nancy Zieman
11. Get inspired this year by subscribing to a sewing publication. STITCH magazine anyone?!
12. AND the biggie...Take time to sew for yourself. (We never do it!)

Happy New Year!

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Happy New Year

     Happy New Year! We, at Country Fabrics & Quilting, are gearing up for a new year filled with lots of new samples, clubs and classes. Be sure to visit our website for the new information.
     My family and I spent the Christmas week skiing in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Well in truth - I skied three days and they skied five. We stay in a family owned private home so I had plenty of room to set up a 'sewing room'. I brought along projects cut out and ready to sew. I made 3 baby quilts, a really cute 'birthday' table runner, helped Steffani with 12 pairs of Ice Scraper Mitts, bound 3 quilts and knit two pairs of felted clogs. Now that is my idea of a fun vacation.
     For those of you who were given an embroidery machine from Santa don't forget to join us for Embroidery Club. Our Embroidery Club meets the 1st Wednesday of each month (September through May.) The daytime club meets from 1:00-3:00 with the evening club meeting from 6:00-7:00. This club is FREE to those who have purchased an embroidery machine from Country Fabrics & Quilting. This month we are having a 'challenge'! I have chosen a bag pattern, To Market, To Market by Annie. Each one participating will embroider as they wish. Next month the bags will be displayed and 'Best of Show' in each session will win a $25.00 gift certificate. The requirements for this challenge are - they must use an incredible new filler, Soft & Stable, and have continuous embroidery on the bag in some form.
     I will be offering challenges throughout our Embroidery Club year. I find this is one way that I can grow each of you in knowing your machine and their many features. Come join us! You will meet great people and learn something in the meantime (not to forget mentioning the desserts that I serve - yum!)
     Here is the dessert that I will be serving tomorrow (thank you Linda for this recipe):

CAN'T LEAVE ALONE BARS
1 pkg. White cake mix
2 eggs
 1/3 c. canola oil
1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/4 c. butter, cubed
In a large bowl combine cake mix, eggs and oil. Press 2/3 of the mixture into a greased 9 x 13 pan. Set the remaining cake mixture aside.
In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the milk, chocolate chips and butter. Microwave uncovered until ships and butter are melted; stir until smooth. Pour over crust.
Drop teaspoonfuls of remaining cake mixture over top. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool before cutting. Enjoy!

     Looking forward to spending a great 2012 with each and every one of you.

Happy Sewing & Quilting
Deb

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Sweet Pickin's Dessert

Today was the first real sign of winter - gray, blustery and snow. I don't know if I am ready for Winter but I guess we don't have a choice. Today we had our Sweet Pickin's Club. This is a club that meets the third Saturday of each month. Brenda does an incredible job with the presentations and I come with dessert. Well...she told me this dessert was the BEST I have made so far (and I have been doing these for years). I know you will want to make this yourself.

Chocolate Raspberry Bars
1 c. flour                                          2 Tbsp milk
1/4 c. powdered sugar                     1 c. vanilla-flavored chocolate chips, melted
1/2 c. butter                                     3/4 c. semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 c. seedless, raspberry jam          2 Tbsp shortening
4 oz. cream cheese, softened
Combine flour and powdered sugar; cut in butter until crumbly. Press into an ungreased 9" square baking pan. Bake at 370 for 15-18 minutes or until browned. Spread jam over warm crust (I beat the jam in a small bowl so it would spread easier plus I used more jam). In a small mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and milk until smooth. Add vanilla chips; mix well. Spread carefully over jam layer (I actually used a spoon and dropped small 'glumps' until it was nearly covered - I was not successful in spreading). Cool completely. Chill 1 hour. For glaze, melt chocolate chips and shortening; spread over filling. Chill 10 minutes. Cut into bars; chill 1 hour. Store in refrigerator.

This will be a hit at your Thanksgiving Dinner. I wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.

Deb

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