Cake in a Mug

I did this post and then I removed it but I've had people ask me where it was so I'm posting it again. I got the post from here:

Molten Mugs

I tried out the cake and it was awesome! So I decided to post the link here. It's I got it from one of the website links in my sidebar "Freebies for Crafters". She has some amazing things on there. Check it out. She's redone her site with an index listed along the side so you can go down the list to see if there's something you'd like to check out.

Now to the reason I deleted the post. I didn't realize it would still show up on other people's pages as a post after I removed it. I made the cake, as I said, and when my husband came home I gave him a taste of what little was left. When he said it was delicious I told him what was in it. He said "A whole egg and 2 Tbsp of butter in that little cup?" Then it hit me.... whoa... this thing is like a heart attack or stroke in a cup. There's also 1/4c chocolate chips. So I decided maybe it wasn't such a good idea after all. I mean it's nice for a treat if about 4 people share it but for one person to eat the whole thing at one sitting? Yes, I admit it, it did eat almost the whole thing.

I love the look of it and the little bag is really neat. I suppose you could put candy or something in the bag rather than the cake mix. Or maybe you're more creative than I am and can come up with a cake that isn't quite so rich.

I've been quiet on here cause I've been doing other stuff. I'm trying to put my genealogy together so people can read it. What a lot of work! I've got 7 years of research! And all my family is really interested in is our direct line so I've been going through everything and tossing things that were interesting to me at the time but offshooting way off from the family.

My daughter also gave me a pair of pants to hem. I haven't sewn on anything aside from cotton for so long that I was a bit nervous but I think I did an okay job. It took some practise with stitches though to work on a stetchy type fabric. Once I did that successfully I've been going through the pile of pants I've been putting off hemming so I have a full days work ahead of me.

REMEMBRANCE DAY

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders Fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders Fields.

- John McCrae

This isn't looking great great but I was so excited that it worked I wanted to share it. This is a tutorial from Whip It.

What I'm showing you is about 4" x 7.5" and looks like a wallet right? Wrong. It's an 18" x 14" shopping bag.

You fold it up and put it into what looks like a pocket on the front of the bag and it fits in your purse.. or whatever you carry... so if a shopping spree hits you... like you see a quilt shop.. you're all set to bring your stuff home and be environmentally friendly at the same time.

I made some changes. Her pocket was single layer and so was the bag. I can't see one layer being strong enough and I wanted the pocket to be heavier. So I can see I need to make the pocket a tich longer so the bulk of the bag will fit better. And I did my handles my way... okay, I admit it, I got lost in the directions half way through and made the rest up. I even had to make my own continuous bias binding.. which actually took me longer than all the rest of it put together. I think I'd like the binding a different colour from the pocket too. And I need practice putting it on better. Maybe I'll use commercial binding.

Thanks for looking. I'm going to make a few for Christmas gifts. I'll keep this one and use it myself cause I don't care what it looks like.

Four Tenors singing Amazing Grace

Four Tenors singing Amazing Grace inside the Colseum in Rome.

This gave me goosebumps and is too beautiful not to share.

Quilt Block Holder from Country Scraps!

Here's my post I was telling you about. I just wanted to have a picture to show before I posted. A number of weeks ago I decided I wanted to get one of the Quilt Block holders that Jim, Angela's husband, makes over at Country Scrap Quilts. I LOVE it! Guess you'll have to click on the picture to get a good look at it. I haven't decided what to hang from the pegs yet cause I just got it but never fear, it won't take me long to decide.

I'm just so excited to actually get it up and mounted. I needed my husband to help me find a way to secure the block in a way that I can switch them out.. hopefully every month.

The embroidery itself I got free from an online site but I didn't mark down which one it was. Sorry everyone.

To make up for that I'm going to share with you a link to a website for the Cross Country Christmas Designer Quilt Blog Shop Hop. Popular designers will be posting designs from now until Christmas that are Christmas themed for gift giving and quick and easy to make.

Okay, off to make my annual Marmalade for my father-in-law. Scots love their marmalade and he swears mine is better than any you can buy.. even the expensive ones. When should I tell him I use the recipe from the Certo box? *LOL* Oh well, it's a Christmas tradition and it makes an easy gift so what the heck. It takes longer to make than most jams cause you have to cut up all the oranges, grapefruit and lemon but I think I can manage that once a year.

Have a great day.

Sewing machines 140 years ago

I've decided to take what information I have and start on my family history information that I want to leave behind. One of the things I was fortunate enough to come across during my search was a Paper of Record site, which no longer exists. I was able to search Ottawa newspapers for anthing about my ancestors. While searching I came across a number of newspaper ads that I just had to include to show what life was like back in the 1870's.

You'll have to click on the photos to enlarge so you can read them. Notice how gender specific sewing machines were back then!

In 1871 this ad:



In 1872 this ad:

I guess one of the things that blows me away are the prices. Of course wages weren't as high, but a sewing machine for$12? Such a deal. And with the treadle part you get exercise at the same time.

I did sew some on my daughter's quilt blocks yesterday and it was enjoyable. But now I have my head into working on this book so quilting will have to share it's time.

Have a good day.

This is so amazing! Deer for breakfast

I haven't been posting cause it's been a bit rough emtionally around here for too many reasons to list. Life just gets out of control sometimes.

I've lost my zest for quilting. I sure hope it comes back! I'm going to focus on working on my daughter's wedding ring quilt for awhile.

I do have an embroidery I did but won't be showing it for a few days and I have another one I want to start. It's a sewing machine cover. Right now I'm finishing up hand quilting my flannel snowman. I forgot needles were so sharp. Ouch!

Have a good day.