Ivy Arts

I will be the lucky recipient of a handmade present from Anna of SewGoodSewFar. She’s offering a Pay It Forward handmade exchange.

It’s the Pay It Forward Exchange. It’s based of the concept of the movie “Pay it Forward” where acts or deeds of kindness are done without expecting something in return, just passing it on, with hope that the recipients of the acts of kindness are passed on. So here’s how it works. I will make and send a handmade gift to the first three people who leave a comment to this post on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. I’m not sure what that gift will be yet, and it won’t be sent this month, probably not next month, but it will be sent (within 4 months) I promise! What YOU have to do in return, then, is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.

So leave a comment and help me to Pay It Forward!

Happy Crafting,

Peg

(P.S. Try the Cookie Challenge too. I’m a really good baker. I swear.)

Triangles on a Roll.

They are a beautiful thing. I have to make 120 half-square triangles for the new quilt. Going freehand with something like this is just way too much work. The roll comes two across and you can pin them to the length of your fabric. Sew continuously on the dotted lines (short stitches so the paper will perforate for easy removal) and rotary cut on the solid lines.

So simple and so fast. Yipee!

(P.S. Don’t forget to submit your recipes for my cookie challenge. You could get a dozen homemade cookies delivered right to your door!)

I don’t like to get ahead of myself, after all, Thanksgiving is barely over but I find that I’m already thinking about what kind of cookies to make for Christmas. I usually make 4-6 different kinds to give to family and friends. Last year I skipped cookies and made Earl Grey truffles and Irish Cream fudge because I was short of time.

I have a few parameters that my Christmas treats must adhere to.

1.) Must be able to make ahead. I start about a week or so before and make a batch a night and freeze.

2.) Must be portable and durable for gift giving. Nothing overly decorated or fragile that will look like mush by the time it arrives to it’s recipient.

3.) Must taste as good on day two as day one. I tend to like strong flavors like mint and ginger but they can contaminate other cookies when grouped together on a plate. Two years ago, I put all varieties in individual snack size bags so the flavors remain distinct. I don’t exactly know how to get around it. I may have to continue this practice.

So the challenge is…. give me some recipes! If I make the cookies from your recipe, I’ll send you a dozen of another variety I make. Sound tasty? Leave a link or recipe in the comments and I’ll pick at least one by December 15. You’ll have your cookies by Christmas. Yum! Anyone in?

Sharon from Morgan Street makes the most delectable, natural soaps, body polishes and lotions. Please visit her Etsy shop and blog. (Yes, that last one is a soap too!)

I’ve been doing all the cutting for the new quilt so I’ll be ready and raring to sew at class. Thank goodness for resealable bags. Sorting out 120 pieces of strip A, B and E as well as 56 strips of C and D would be a nightmare without them.

Ok, I know this will embarrass the big boy someday as this blog leaves some sort of digital footprint in his future but dang it, it’s too darn funny.

We’re potty training here and much of the time that means the large boy is naked from the waist down. At some point I really needed him to at least put on his underwear. Maybe it was lunchtime. I think being naked at the table is impolite, call me a prude if you must. I asked him to put on his underpants. He shouted, “No underpants!” I asked why he didn’t want his underpants on.

His reply… “Underpants make my piggy nervous.”

HA!

Finally, one I can talk about! I dropped off the mysterious gift quilt to the machine quilter this past weekend. When that is in the hands of its rightful owner, I’ll post pictures. The ribbon border really makes it, you’ll see.

The new quilt will be for our own bed. The one that’s on there now is my first queen size quilt and it doesn’t fit properly. I’ve learned so much since then that I’m anxious to make a really spectacular one for us. I’m going to use this fabric. (I hope it’s not too feminine for my husband’s taste. Actually he only cares if it’s warm or not. Right, love?) I just figured out how to make 36 fat quarters work for the four, make that five colors needed in this pattern. It’s called Options and what makes it great is that the block is asymmetrical and can have many different looks based on how you turn and piece them. Bring on the rotary cutter, it’s going to be a wild ride!

Janet Nelson, the woman behind A Planet Named Janet is a fantastic painter and illustrator. I’m particularly fond of her Retro Glam and Retro Chicks series. Please visit her Etsy shop • website • blog.

(This is Peggy. I had to include her.)

Champagne Yeast Bread – I made it again with regular yeast and the texture wasn’t the same, not as fine. A very ordinary loaf.

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread – I halved the muffin recipe (because I had less than a full 15 oz. of pumpkin to use up) and baked in a loaf pan for 40 min. or so. Still exceptionally yummy. Will make again and again and again and again…

Sourdough Bread – My sourdough starter is still going strong. I make it every week or so. It’s had a few texture changes over these months but it perks up when fed and gives a great sour taste and dense, chewy crumb. I use half King Arthur White Whole Wheat flour for a little added grain.

Fast and Fabulous Buttermilk Bread – A new one I made last week (actually a revisited one from this Crescent Dragonwagon book). I remembered that it wasn’t exactly “fast” but I forgot (and didn’t read ahead) that it has 3 rises plus a rest! Nothing fast about that. A big, airy loaf that makes nice French Toast.

I got another Etsy Treasury without being at all prepared. I knew it was time for some new ones and just wanted to see some cool things. Then the screen was blank…. waiting. I knew it was possible to get one but probably not likely, right? And yet, I couldn’t get myself to move past the screen. Then there it was. I bet true curators have lists at the ready. Regardless, I think this stuff is really cool.