Happy Holidays!

Many thanks to all of you who help to make this dream of mine possible.  I am so grateful for each of you. 

With blessings, and sincere wishes.

Kari

Peppermint Bark- Super Easy!

This is what I made last night.  Gorgeous right?  Yes it is- though this is not my photo.  This is the stock photo from the McCormicks website for Peppermint Bark.  

Back Story:  I had a lot of Almond Bark (white chocolate for candy making) leftover from a different recipe.  I didn't know what I would do with it.  Then I remembered a recipe I had seen for Peppermint Bark.

I bought some Candy Canes the old fashioned peppermint kind for 88 cents.  I broke 10 of them into tiny pieces in a baggie.  Then melted about 12 ounces of the white chocolate in the micro.  This took all of 3 minutes for both.  Add 1/2 tsp of peppermint extract or vanilla extract.  Either is fine.  

Then mix in 1/3 of the candy cane bits into the chocolate.

Pour this out onto a wax paper or saran wrap lined cookie sheet.  Drop red food coloring in about 5 places and with a knife swirl it around.  Then top with the rest of the candy cane bits.

Place in the fridge for 10-15 minutes to harden.

Take it out and break into pieces.  

This makes a delightfully simple candy, that is both lovely and festive.  Perfect for any holiday gathering.  It literally takes less than 30 minutes start to finish.  Unless you have issues getting the wrapping off of the candy canes-then it might take just a little longer!

Enjoy!

Book Review and Giveaway!

Check out this very nice book review of my very own TidBits from Triangles book over on Niki's blog Butternut Street

She is having a giveaway over there for one of my books and it's autographed by me.

So skip on over and check it out!

Hope you are all having a great holiday season!

Until next time....

A couple of Giveaways to mention....

Giveaway winner of the Cookie Swap book is Duff!  She is one of my readers cool huh!


Also Marcia won the membership for the Patchwork Posse!  Congrats to both winners!

Okay so I have not yet picked the winner of my last giveaway.  I will do that later today so any people still catching up on the Project Parade have a chance to enter here.

In other news....

I was informed about this little giveaway and it sounds like something I want-- even if I don't win, I may have to find this book and buy it.  Yes I entered it too.  So over on the Niki's Book Reviews blog she has done a review on a book about COOKIES!  Be still my heart.  I love to eat and to bake cookies, so I read it and entered it.  I suggest you hop on over and enter it too.

And lastly, I am giving away a membership to the  Patchwork Posse!  I am a member and contributor to this site, and they have lots of fun things going on all the time.  This is a rundown:

Starting with the first Monday of the month, each Monday there will be new content posted.

The Weekly Schedule of the Month: 

• 1st Week~     1 Exclusive pattern by Guest Designers + Interview
• 2nd Week~   Block of the Month pattern
• 3rd Week~    Topic & Tips ~ Recipe Share. From your Kitchen to ours
• 4th Week~    Challenge Topic {given 1st month} ~ Giveaways {thanks to our sponsors}
• 5th Week~    Something Special

Interaction:

Patchwork Posse online workshops are here to create a sense of sharing and community within the group. This is a place for the group to meet together: the password-protected workshop blog, where all tutorials, pdf patterns will be posted, and also Photo Gallery where you can share your photos each week.

  I was interviewed on this site and the interview went up Monday night.

All you have to do is leave a comment about why you would like this membership.  Giveaway is open to all, and a winner will be chosen Friday December 10th after 9PM MST.

Designers Project Parade- Day 7

On day 7 here we have our last 2 wonderful designer spotlights.  What an amazing group of talent we have at Henry Glass Fabrics.  I can only say how incredibly fortunate I feel to be included among this very talented group.  With no further delays today I bring you:

Kim Diehl of Kim Diehl Designs
(Kim is blogging on the Henry Glass site so try not to let that confuse you)













and  Janet Nesbitt and Pam Soliday of the incredible Buggy Barn 
Have you been to their show yet?  I have not, but it is on my list!  And by the way, they are a little new to blogging, so show them some love and leave a comment.  Thanks kids!

Designers Project Parade- Day 6

Todays terrific projects brought to you by the number 6 and....
we are winding down to the last days and the projects have all been wonderful.  I know there are several I am looking forward to making.  I am thinking the Little Quilts Garland would be darling in Valentine's Day fabrics!  I love Valenhearts day-- it is one of my favorite holidays.   I want to make Linda's Pillows, and Carrie's super cute Schnibbly style quilt-- I'm thinking it would be really fun in my line TidBits!  Yep-  already got my thinking cap on-- I hope you do too because there are a few more projects to see.


Leanne Anderson of The Whole Country Caboodle

and Dana Brooks of Lazy Daisy Cottage

Designers Project Parade- Day 5

Project Parade Day 5! 

On the 5th day of Christmas----it's my birthday!  and you get to visit 2 more great designers websites.

Today's Designer Line up is:

Chelsea Anderson of Pink Fig Patterns

 and Brenda Pinnick of Brenda Pinnick Designs

Designer Project Parade Day 4

On the 4th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...... 4 calling birds and 4 more fabulous designers!  This day should be the day of Applique because these designers today are all superstars when it comes to applique designs.

Todays Designers are four ladies I consider dear friends.  Both Laurie Bird and Barbara Jones live here in Utah as I do.  The Lizzie B girls Liz and Beth Hawkins are Sisters-in-law that went into business together and one lives in Tucson the other in Philly.  I have known them all for some time now.  The Lizzie B girls gave me a lot of great advice when I was first beginning my pattern designer journey.  They have been very helpful at times when I had no clue what I was doing or how I should do it.  On top of that, they are talented lovely ladies that never fail to inspire me.  They don't do anything half way and I really admire that about them.  I strive to be more like that each day!

Lizzie B Cre8ive- Liz and Beth Hawkins

Laurie and I are in Clothesline Club together and see each other monthly that way.  We also try to coordinate our booths together at market so we can be neighbors.  I just love Laurie and her design style is truly unique.  I have loved and purchased some of, or all of every line she has designed.  I love her applique work too--it is whimsical with a vintage inspiration that speaks to me.  Speaking of applique, I got a sneak peek at her very fun project last night at our Clothesline Club Meeting and it is really adorable--like Laurie!

Laurie Bird of Rose Cottage Quilts

Barbara and I met several years back but always seem to see each other at different events.  Occasionally at quilt shops locally we bump into each other.  She is wildly talented which I am sure you already know!  I truly admire her, both for her sense of style and for her business savvy.  She has been very kind when I have asked her for assistance or advice. I used her line Summertime in a quilt project for Quilter's World that will be out this spring.  I needed fabric fast for the project because I only had a few days to make it from inception to finished work.  My fabric wasn't ready yet, so when I asked her if I could use hers, she was more than helpful.  She bent over backwards to get it to me quickly, and then offered me more if I needed it later!  As I said, she is very kind.  Be sure to visit her because I am sure what she has to offer is darling.  

Barbara Jones of QuiltSoup

Don't forget we have a great Journal Cover for all these great patterns you can get it here.
We have a Flickr group where we would love for you to join us and show what you make from these great projects.  

And you will need all of the special words to win the grand prize drawing-- so hurry over and check out these sites!

Answers for inquiring minds...

For those of you who loved this cute little snowman candle, I bought him last year at Pier 1 Imports.  I went there yesterday and they have a pair of penguins that are similar and a snowman who does not hold a candle, but still cute.

Also-- one very nice person commented that we should not forget to put out a bucket of water for the reindeer to drink because they do get thirsty!

Thanks to all of you who sent birthday wishes!  I appreciate all of you who read my blog and who leave comments.  That is a gift to know there are so many terrific people out there who support me!

Best wishes and go have fun blog hoppin'!

HG Designer Project Parade Day 3

 Here it is Day 3 of the Henry Glass Designer Parade.  Have you been changing the days on your advent calendar yet?? We sure have.  My kids love to do that.

So for today's Designer Line up:

Jacquelynne Steves of The Noble Wife









and Jill Finley of Jillily Studios

Dont forget to post your project pictures on Flickr, anyone can join the Project Parade on Flickr!  We plan to do more Project parades in the near future so this would be a great way to see what everyone does with the projects and ideas we offer you! and be sure to Tweet, Blog and Facebook about our great giveaways!

  

Designers Project Parade Day 2-My Project!

We have a winner!

Congrats to BillieBee (Billie Mick)

You won the loot!

Today's Designer Line up: Moi, Kari Ramsay of Fresh Cut Quilts.  Thought you might want to know what I look like because I rarely post my picture anywhere!

I am offering 2 design ideas, because one is not really a design, more of a fun thing to do for the kiddos.  So read on, they follow the intro's.

Also-- you must read on because I am having a giveaway too.  And then there is the great grand prize of oodles of HG fabrics at the end of the week.

During the holidays is also the celebration of my birthday on the 5th of December.  Growing up we had several traditions that were based on the holidays and my birthday.  In our family everyone else was born in February or July, so it made mine a little different and was probably challenging for my Mom.  It's got to be hard to buy gifts for a child for a birthday and then also for Christmas without letting either over shadow the other.   Mom always made me a really fun cake.  Some years it was a Snowman cake with coconut on the icing to look like snow, a few times I got a bunny rabbit too.  The rabbit had coconut for fur, licorice for whiskers, and gumdrop eyes and nose.  Those are the ones I remember and they were so good! Another thing mom always did was to purchase an ornament for me each year that she gave me on my birthday.  I still have them, and they go on the tree every year.  That made me feel very special because she didn't do that for my brother and sister.  In the picture above is the ornament Mom bought me this year.  It is hand blown glass and I may just hang it in my dining room window for the whole year.  

The tree usually went up right before or right after my birthday.  Then I got to hang the new ornament on the tree.  I grew up in Oregon, so we always got a fresh tree each year to decorate.  And always, the week of my birthday sometimes the day before, my Dad and I went outside in the rain and put all the lights on the outside of the house.  I loved hanging out with my Dad, so that was fun for us.  We never got electrocuted due to rain by the way.  I still love to hang out with my Dad, but he lives in Oregon and I am in Utah so we don't put lights up together anymore!

My husband and I get both of our daughters ornaments for the tree each year.  Now my sister gets one for each of them too and sometimes one for me as well.  I get my sister's son an ornament each year too.  I love that because it is as if a tradition my Mom began continues on for all of us still.  Thanks Mom!

Here are a few other ornaments Mom got me through the years.








My cats always find this little guy and play with him.  He is made from a half of a walnut shell and a felt Santa hat.  He hangs on the lowest branches and they get him off and knock him around the house.  He looks a little roughed up, but he has survived the attacks.  He has been on my tree every year since I can remember.






These are the other ladies in Day 2 of the Project Parade be sure to go see what they have to offer! 

Carrie Nelson of Miss Rosie's Quilt Co.  She is simply adorable and Rosie her dog is too.  Did you notice we share a name? yep we are the "2 Carrie's of Henry Glass" except mine is spelled different.
and Amy Hamberlin of Katie Cupcake  She is adorable too- you can tell by her company name-- but also her patterns and designs are wonderful and of course adorable like her.

Rudolph's the name, lighting the way is my game....Rudolph is my "special" word that you will need for your giveaway entry.

In honor of Rudolph, here is a recipe for Magic Reindeer Food:This helps the reindeer keep their strength all night and helps them fly!
2 Tablespoons Oats (not sure if the reindeer like the flavored kind- but it should be dry not cooked!)
Generous Sprinkles of Glitter
8" square of Christmas fabric Plastic Wrap and ribbon to tie it with.
Print up the Tag here
Place a tablespoon of oatmeal and a few sprinkles of colored sparkles on the plastic wrap. Twist the Plastic Wrap tightly and place in the center of material. Twist and tie together with a piece of ribbon. To each attach the tag. Remind the parents to let their children sprinkle the "food" on the lawn before putting the children to bed.  If  you get snow at Christmas, take a broom out later when the kids are sleeping and mess up the snow a little.  The broom handle stuck down into the snow in several places makes it look like hoofs were stomping about.
PDF version with tag

Along with the Magic reindeer food recipe I came up with this little idea.



Inspired by the ridiculous amount of snow we have received here in the last 3 weeks, I have been feeling a little "snowed in".  So I called this candle mat the Snowed Inn Candle Mat- and because I think it is fit for an Inn somewhere cold and snowy, with fireplaces roaring, and candles lit in case the power goes out.   That was quite a run-on sentence, but I think you get my vision.

Here is the link to the instructions.
Snowed Inn Candle Mat 


Still looking for the giveaway info?  You found it.  Hopefully you enjoyed my offerings for the Parade and my ramblings on holidays past traditions.
For my giveaway one of you will receive my Jolly Stockings Block of the month Pattern, a pack of Clovers Black Gold Applique needles-- these are divine needles that glide through the fabric so nicely, and a Flower Frill Template from Clover. 

 Frill is the newest offering from the people over at Clover and they have provided me with one to try and one to giveaway.  My first attempt at it is not worth photographing.  It was really a user issue, the template works fine.  So I need to play more with it, but it is as easy as pie to use!  It makes really cute embellishments and is a nice alternative to making yarn pom poms.  Clover has a few free pattern ideas that are downloadable for the Frill on their website.

So leave a comment about your favorite holiday tradition-- we all love reading these!  That will enter you, but leave me a way to contact you.  If there is no way to contact you I will have to choose someone else.  Follow me on my blog, Twitter, or Facebook and get another entry, but let me know you follow me and where.  I am only giving a max of two entries per person--otherwise I get too confused to keep up!  

Henry Glass Designers Project Parade Day 1

Introducing the Henry Glass Designer's Project Parade!!!

What is it?  It's a fabulously fun blog hop that goes from December 1st through December 7th.  With individual free projects offered each day at the designated designers' blogs and a big Giveaway at the end on the Henry Glass Blog.
What do you do?  Each day you will go to each designer's website for that day.  There will be 2 or three designers blogs to visit each day.  Many of the designers are hosting giveaways besides the big grand prize at the end, so be sure to visit each one.  Each designer has been given a "special" word to mention in her blog post.  That word is what you need to enter the big giveaway at the end.  You will need all 15 words in order to enter the drawing at the end.  You can only get the word by visiting each designers blog post, then you enter the drawing at Henry Glass by listing correct words and you must leave that and your name and contact info in your comment.  The people at Henry Glass are great but they aren't mind readers, and if thirty Sharon's enter without giving their last names, things could get confusing. You can only enter once, and in order to keep things fair the comments will not show up on the blog post.  Please only leave one comment on the HG Blog on the last day December 7th.  You can enter through December 9th 8PM EST.

What do you get out of it??  You will get lots of terrific holiday inspiration, 15 free projects some will be holiday themed some will not, you will have the opportunity to win a big grand prize if you enter the drawing on the 7th day with the correct "special words" and you can have a chance to enter giveaways individually sponsored by some of the designers  (Not all of the designers are sponsoring individual giveaways), and you will get to "know" each of the Henry Glass Designers a little more and share their fun holiday stories.  



Todays designer line up:

Linda Lum DeBono of Linda Lum DeBono Designs

Heather Mulder Peterson of Anka's Treasures

Mary Ellen Von Holt of Little Quilts

My day on the Parade is December 2nd-see ya back here then!

The following is the Flickr link if you would like to post pictures of your projects from this parade.  Feel free to join in!  http://www.flickr.com/groups/projectparade/

Facebook Link: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=103276483077726   Feel free to blog about this and post the links for everyone you know! Text it, Tweet it, Facebook it, Blog it we would love that!


On top of all of that..... Jill Finley of Jillily Studio has made up a cover page.  This will be like a book cover for everyone who wants to print off the project instructions.  Imagine that a cover too?  Isn't she great?-- yes she is I know!  Here is the link for the cover pdf
What can you do with the cover?  Download and have color copies made of all of the projects, then have the cover copied in color on cardstock add a piece of cardstock to the back and have it bound!  It will make a great gift for all of your quilting friends!