Comfort Cookies

Everybody has a favorite family recipe. Stuffed in a book. The page stained with grease, dog-eared, and marked with a pencil star to alert anyone who thumbs through the recipe book that it's a winner.

One of my favorite recipes surfaces all sorts of good, yummy memories. A batch of Raisin Oatmeal Cookies can cure a glum mood or pull the sad sacks out of the doldrums. They taste like home.

Hold on! These aren't your average Raisin Oatmeal Cookies, mind you. I think I was in college when I realized that most of the world ate Raisin Oatmeal Cookies that were crunchy and spiced with cinnamon.

Those are okay, but the Raisin Oatmeal Cookies from my memory are soft and laced with pure vanilla flavor. The raisins aren't chewy and hard. They are soft and loaded with juicy flavor, plumped before baking to heighten the cookie-savoring experience.

This recipe originally came from a package of Spry. If you don't know what Spry is, ask your mom or gramma. If she's over 50, she'll probably know. Or there's always Wikipedia!

Want some of my favorite cookies? Visit the Hummingbird Highway website, scroll down, tap on the word "cookies" and download the recipe.

What's your comfort cookie?
Joan

Off and Running

Seems impossible that it's already nearing the end of January. Where does the time go? Anyway, cold weather makes for excellent sewing time.

The first Scrap Therapy pattern for 2011 is ready to sew. Have you started yours, yet? It's a great sit-and-sew project for a snowy weekend. Use all your scrap sizes from your ScrapTherapy bins, and just go at it! Ask for the pattern and classes at your local quilt shop.


As long as I'm on the ScrapTherapy subject, thought I'd share a couple of projects made by students who have attended my classes. Here's Cecelia and her bright and playful version of Flower Ballet. Doncha just love it?







And camera-shy Liz is hiding behind her version of Lightning Strikes Twice. Instead of making her scrappy zig-zag panels with one set of light and dark scrap colors, Liz took control of the situation and reigned in scraps in three color-combinations.

I'm already moving on to designing the next few projects. I'm having a great time working with Creative Grids strip rulers and my scrap fabrics. So far, I've been having a blast with the Kaleidoscope Double Strip ruler. Can't wait to show you the results!

Stay warm!
Joan

Stitchery Giftery

Spoiler alert! If you are on my Christmas card list and you don't want to see what's coming in the mail. Turn away now. (That means you, Jordan!) 

This time of year, I do everything possible to avoid shopping at the malls. So, that usually means I break out the needle and thread and spend time at the sewing machine to make cards and gifts.

This year, it seems hand embroidery has been my sewing craft of choice. And with some great patterns and idea starters, how can you go wrong!

Blueberry Backroads has a pattern series to make small ornaments for the holidays and for year-round. Once I stitched several variations and repeats of the center stitching, I went back to the sewing machine to make the mini-block. I backed it and turned it envelope-style and added a little quilting and a hanger. A little mini quilt ready for the tree!

Next, the cards were made on my printer with some help from PC Crafter clipart, a little glue, glitter, and some spongy space-makers used to create a pocket for the fabric ornament.

Moving on to gift-making. To create whimsical bags big enough to hold a small portable computer or eReader (below), I started with a small embroidery/ applique pattern from Crab Apple Hill.

Then on to the sewing machine. The resulting bag is an original pattern variation from one of the patterns in my soon-to-be-released book, Cut the Scraps. The embroidery patch really could be any machine or hand embroidered motif.

I'm sure I'll have to head to the mall at some point, but not yet, I still have some sewing to do!

Happy Stitching!
Joan

Let it Snow! Then Let it Stop. . . please!

I live in Syracuse, New York. Just south and a little east of Lake Ontario. This time of year, the big lake isn't frozen yet. Without getting too scientific, if the wind blows just right, Syracuse can get walloped with bad weather as winter sets in.

Just so happened, the 'right' combination of wind, and cold, and snow happened this week over Syracuse - and my house. It started this past weekend. It's Wednesday and it hasn't stopped snowing yet.

There is a little landing just outside the back door that leads down three or four steps to the back yard. Small railing. In the summer, it's the easiest access to the patio. In the winter, this landing becomes a wind magnet, often creating interesting shapes with falling and drifting snow.

For some reason, on Monday evening, I thought the amount of snow accumulated on the railing was rather 'amusing.' So I opened the door and snapped a pic. Little did I know what might come next.

The next morning, the wind made some interesting shapes that seemed to defy gravity. Kinda reminded me of that famous painting by Michelangelo on the ceiling - will the two 'fingers' meet or not? More snow.

This was last night. Yup. The two snow blobs are now one big blob. Snow's not done yet.

This morning. No more railing visible. I find the little red hummingbird feeder/holder a bit comical in this picture. That's about eye level for me. Much to my surprise (and dismay), not a hummingbird anywhere in sight!

Another 6-8" of snow is expected today and another 8-10" tonight.

At least I have fabric, thread and a working sewing machine. And heat.

Is it Spring yet?
Joan

Turkey Day

When I got married 10 years ago, I inherited a new-to-me Thanksgiving tradition. My husband's family gets together and does the usual - eat, gab, watch football, and repeat! This isn't just a few immediate relatives - this includes ALL of my husband's family, aunts, uncles, cousins, and all their kids, pretty much. Before too long, three generations will become four, and there will be even more hungry relatives at the annual gathering. I grew up with a much smaller immediate family Thanksgiving meal and celebration.

With all the guests at the feast, and with most of the food elements covered, I often struggle with what to bring to add to the meal.

To save the day, about two miles down the road from my house, a new cookie bakery recently opened, called ICJ cookies. ICJ stands for Italian Cookie Jar, and boy-O-boy are the cookies yummy!

Okay, I know Thanksgiving is all about that 'family thing' - and the pies - not to worry. The pies will be well-accounted for. But who can resist a yummy Italian delight?

There is always room in the tummy for just one cookie! Or two. . .

And the best part is I didn't dirty one dish or bowl in the process!

I'm making a small turkey with most of the fixin's on Friday, so Dave and I can have some leftovers!

Maybe I should get another tray of cookies just for us too!

Happy Thanksgiving!
Joan

Best in Show

Okay, I'm not an official judge, so that would be in my opinion. I love to walk the aisles at Quilt Market in Houston seeking out new gadgets and ideas. Sometimes a booth strikes my fancy. This one, I thought, was really original.


Don't Look Now! That's not an order, that's really the name of the pattern designers based in Melbourne, Australia. These pictures really don't do justice to the exquisite detail and dense quilting in all the samples. The booth was light, modern, and fresh.

Loved the border treatments on the quilts. Scattered appliqued flowers, or a combination of pieced and appliqued color.

And yes, one or two of the patterns may have made it into my shopping bag! A little indulgence never hurt anybody!













Happy stitching!
Joan

PS:
Retailers, don't forget to subscribe to the no-obligation newsletter for the latest news on patterns from the Hummingbird Highway - ScrapTherapy patterns and Snap Sack packs. Lotsa changes coming!

Exciting Times!

I can't believe it's already the end of October and I'm headed off to Houston for Fall Quilt Market in the morning. Unlike many of the past trade shows, this semi-annual show finds me in a bit of a transition.

Exciting changes are happening for the ScrapTherapy program - no longer autoshipped to enrolled shops - retailers may be pleased to know that absolutely nothing is required for the quarterly inventory purchases. The same great patterns, recommended notions, and tips - the best parts of the program remain unchanged! In fact, I'm working on the next project right now. Here it is, in progress. Isn't it beautiful! (At least it is in my head!)

And the Snap Sack Small Quilt Kits are changing too! Shops may now purchase kit-your-own packs in two quantities - 24 packs and 12 packs. So smaller shops can play, too! I can't show you what the next Small Quilt will look like - don't want to spoil the fun. It's due to start shipping in early November (oh my gosh, that's next week!). Alright, here are some hints - it's featured month is January, named Winter Chill, and includes four shades of icy blue! Love it! Ask for your kit at your favorite independent quilt shop!

Two brand new patterns are available. Chunky Quarters and Chunky Halves starting this Market. Almost too easy, and definitely way too much fun to assemble! Your favorite quilt shop can prepare kits for you so all you have to do is sew your lap-sized quilt together! A great gift!

If you are a retailer and want to know all the latest product information from the Hummingbird Highway, go to the home page of either of my websites, www.scrap-therapy.com or www.hummingbird-highway.com to subscribe to periodic e-nouncements! If you are a quilter, tell your LQS to get on the list so you don't miss one thing!

As if all this isn't enough! A new website is under construction, so watch for changes and be careful of the construction dust!

Scrappy Trails to you!
Joan