i have to say...

don't double this recipe...

...unless you want muffins for your family, the freezer and the neighbors!

Seriously, it makes a big batch--about 18 muffins per recipe.

These banana-streusel muffins are not lowfat or diet-icious in any way, but they sure are yummy and they are loaded with goodness.  I tend to think that natural things like butter and sour cream are much healthier than processed foods, even though they aren't lowfat.  You can always add some whole-wheat flour in place of the all-purpose, too.

You can find the recipe here.

Enjoy!

my pillow talk swap creation

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday weekend! It was packed with activity and fun, and that makes me happy to start a normal week. What can I say? I can only take so much partying!

I finished my pillow talk {swap} pillow cover and it will be on it's way to it's new home this week.  This one is admittedly hard to let go.  Why didn't I make two?  For some reason my mass-production tendencies did not kick in with this project.  Kicking myself now.....

More pillow covers will certainly be in my future. I loved being able to play with fabric and design, without commiting to a full-sized quilt.  I think 20" pillows would be nice for floor seating in the living room, and I am thinking a little stack of these would be quite decorative.

I just have to wait until after Christmas crafting is done.

What about you?  Do you have any projects in the works?

This post is part of Heather and Megan's Fabric Tuesday and Amy's Sew and Tell.

thankful...

...for so much.

I want a take some time to express my thanks to everyone who stops by this blog o' mine.  It means a lot to me that people see fit to check out what's happening in my world. I have been inspired, encouraged and lifted up by the people who hang out in this blogosphere, and I am glad to be a part of it.

Also, to all of my wonderful customers:  Thank you so much for supporting my little shop. I know there are many shops to choose from and I am grateful that many of you pick mine on occasion.  You allow me to do a job that I love, surrounded by fabric and loveliness.

I wish all of you a Happy Thanksgiving!

a random post

I am unable to post the recipe for the veggie soup because it is not mine.  A friend shared her special family recipe with me and I don't feel comfortable making it public.  A few of you had questions about canning and about the soup itself, and I will answer those next week.  My hubs has the rest of the week of off work, so my time is limited right now.  When he goes back to work I can answer some of your questions.  Look for that post early next week.

On the cutting table I have a couple of bags ready to be sewn for Aubry's ballet teachers.  They are producing "The Nutcracker" and I wanted to give them something fun as a thank you.  I thought Delilah and Parisville (with a bit of Innocent Crush thrown in) would be good for those bags.  The top three on the stack are for one, the bottom three for the other.

What about you?  Do have any projects in the works?

sometimes i do strange things...

...like put tons of veggies in a rubbermaid container.

...and mix them up with plastic shoppping bags on my hands.

...and divide them between 28 quart jars.

...and pressure can them til they become homemade vegetable soup.

I love having friends that join me in these silly adventures!

Til next year when we make a full batch...over 50 jars!

Fun stuff!

shop notes: my darling delilah

Oh gosh, isn't she pretty? I just love her.  I am gushing, can you tell?  The reds, the blues, the flowers, the dots.  Ah, this one has stolen my heart. 

Delilah by Tanya Whelan for Free Spirit Fabrics is simply dreamy.

***Just a reminder:  All Christmas prints are on sale for 35% off through Monday, November 22nd.

Have a lovely weekend!

handmade boxers?

Progress on my pink hat is slower than I thought it would be, but that's OK. A girl has to have some down time, right?  Not every minute can be spent on the go go go!

I try to get in a couple of rows a day.  I had thought that my whole family would be getting hats and scarves this year, but I am now rolling my eyes at that thought.  Maybe I could have them done for Fourth of July?

Anyway, knitting is relaxing and I have the "feel" of it.  Slowly but surely gets things done. 

Aubry will probably get a hat for Christmas (the pink one) and I hope to make my hubs one since he asked.  Since it's rather hard crafting for guys, I want to try and do that.  Now that I think of it, I don't think I have ever made him anything. Maybe I should try sewing up a pair of boxers?  Or maybe I could knit him a measuring-tape cozy.

I think the hat is the best choice, don't you?

winner, winner, winner!

Thank you to everyone who entered the Parisville giveaway! This is such a unique and lovely line, and I know that sewing with it is going to be a treat!  Without further ado, here are the winners:

Sprout colorway: John @ Quilt Dad

Mist colorway: Amy @ Little White Schoolhouse

Pomegranate colorway: Emily @ Mommy's Nap Time

I will leave a comment on each one of your blogs to let you know you have won.  :)

Have a lovely day, everyone!

 

sometimes my projects end up in the trash

Today is not about sewing success.  It is about sewing failure.  Really, it's not a big deal, just an opportunity to start over and do it right.  To all of you new crafter/sew-ers out there:  If you ruin something, it's no big deal.  We all do it on a regular basis! 

Here are couple of things I made this week that are now in the trash.

Yes, the trash.  It's that bad.

I wanted to make a zippered pouch with a zipper on the front, with a wrist loop.  A wristlet, I suppose.

It came out quite cute, don't you think?  I just love that gingham loop.

Well, the problem is on the inside.  There is not supposed to be a purse pocket in the top and the open zipper should reveal the green fabric, not the batting.  The sad part is that this is my 2nd attempt.  The first attempt had batting on the outside of the bag.

Now, I know that I will figure this out, but for now this little wristlet is in the trash.

Next up is my Pillow Talk Swap project.  I changed my mind about my first idea and came up with this:

And I don't like it.  It just doesn't work me. It is also in the trash.

This little pile is now awaiting my attention for the PTS. 

Same fabrics, different shape.  Hopefully this one works!

Have you tossed any projects lately?

***Don't forget about the Parisville giveaway! You can leave a comment through the end of the day.

this is too good to wait until saturday! read this whole post if you love fabric. :)

Normally I like to reserve "shop notes" posts until Saturday, but this one is worth doing on a Tuesday. 

First up, Parisville by Tula Pink has arrived in full.  "Wow" is all I can say about this line.  Everything about it is gorgeous.

Secondly, Delilah is trickling in too.  This collection by Tanya Whelan has that Darla charm, and I sure do love Darla.  I can not wait to do something with this one.  Hopefully the full collection will be in the shop by tomorrow morning (it just depends on whether the UPS guy brings me the goods.)

Thirdly (is that a word???), I am having a huge Christmas fabric sale.  All of my Christmas prints are 35% off through November 22nd.  You will find Holiday Happy (Happy Zombie's adorable line), Heavenly Peace, Hip Holidays, and Michael Miller Christmas prints.  All of it ready for your holiday sewing projects!

Fourthly (OK, I am pretty sure I made that one up!), I am giving away one Parisville colorway fat quarter set to 3 people.  I will give away one Sprout (9 pieces), one Pomegranate (9 pieces), and one Mist (10 pieces) colorway set.

Just leave a comment below to enter the giveaway.  Comments will close on Wednesday (11-17) and winners will be announced on Thursday (11-18).

Have a great Tuesday!