2012 Holiday Show & Sale Highlights!



What a party we threw last weekend!

It was our 4th Annual Holiday Fiber Show & Sale...

...and were we ever decked out!

As usual, the front entrance served as our check out area,

but there were plenty of goodies to tempt shoppers

from their first step inside.

Evidently, all our group has been working

especially hard this year,

because we had more inventory

to share this year than ever before.

With our hand knitted scarves, hats,

shawls, vests and jackets,

we also had some gorgeous

knitted and fiber inspired jewelry

and shawl pins, home decor items

and some really inspired wreaths.

We packed lots of goodies into my bedroom...

including soaps, lotion bars and lip balms made

by one of our group.

My "Pillow Vest" found display space on the bed...

...and the dresser showed off more jewelry.

We served refreshments in the kitchen

and tempted customers with some

of our tree decorations

and some good things to take home and eat.

My studio became our "Christmas" room

for our handmade ornaments, quilted stockings

and table runners.

And we even had room to squeeze in a few...

...shoppers!

This show is an incredible amount of work,

and would not be possible without the

talents and efforts of our group,

my sister Nanniepannie, who helps

me install it (AND clean up afterwards),

and everyone who comes and supports us,

while getting some holiday shopping done.

So, my heartfelt thank you to everyone involved!

So, another successful Holiday Show done

and time to say,

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Fabric Inspirations

Karen, a member of my knitting group is in the process of redecorating.

Recently, before coming to knit, she stopped by a furniture store

to check out their couches.

In casual conversation with the store's owner,

he said he had some fabric swatches he no longer wanted.

Bonanza!

Karen took them off his hands and our group has been

divvying them up.

Now, I'm not talking about a few dozen different fabric swatches.

I'm talking hundreds...

...and hundreds.

We're talking paisleys (many all silk),

florals,

and geometrics, as well as lots of solids.

What to do with all these little pieces of fabric?

A little creative challenge was proclaimed and here

is a bit of what has been made.

Katherine, a wonderful quilter has started a ...

pieced pillow top, still in process.

Here's one of several "catch-all" message boards

created by my sister Nancy.

Each different fabric is a deep pocket for

organizing papers, receipts, etc.

This cute little case by Karen

will hold cell phone,

camera or an I Pod.

How about a fabric basket, another Karen creation?

Guess who made the sheep???

I made some accessory bags. 

They're great for knitting tools, jewelry, make up, etc.

I've also been making "Pillow Vests,"

(more about those at a later date),

and table runners.

Remember those blue swatches at the beginning of this post?

Here's what they became.

This week I'm joining the Wow Us Wednesday Party

at Savvy Southern Style.

Morning Muffins!

Last Wednesday I hosted my knitting group.

We've been knitting together for years.

We meet once a week and rotate around

to knit at each other's houses.

It's a totally low maintenance group.

The hostess is not expected to supply anything

except a place to meet.

However, being good Southern woman that we are,

the hostess always has coffee and tea available

and more often than not,

some sort of baked goodie to nibble on.

Since I try to only bake when people are coming,

my knitting group day is a fine time to try new recipes.

The January 2012, edition of SOUTHERN LIVING

provided me with

Applesauce Muffins with Cinnamon Streusel Topping

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

In a large bowl whisk together:

4 cups baking mix (Bisquick)

1/2 c. sugar

2 t. ground cinnamon

Make a well in center of mixture

In a small bowl, whisk together

2/3 c. chunky applesauce

1/2 c. milk

1/4 c. vegetable oil

2 large eggs

Add to sugar mixture,

stirring just until dry ingredients are moistened.

Spoon batter into a lightly greased 12-cup muffin pan,

filling almost completely full.

(My muffin cups are a bit smaller than one cup,

so I got 18 muffins, which were plenty big enough.)

Sprinkle Cinnamon Streusel Topping over batter.

Cinnamon Streusel Topping

Whisk together until blended:

1/3 c. granulated sugar

1/4 c. firmly packed light brown sugar

3 T. all-purpose baking mix

1/4 t. cinnamon

Stir 2 T. melted butter into this mixture

until well blended and crumbly.

Bake at 400 degrees for 18 - 20 minutes.

Cool in pan on a wire rack 5 minutes.

Remove from pan to a wire rack.

Add a cup of coffee or tea and enjoy!