Better with Bacon...

When Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival tickets went on sale this month, I made sure to be online, as they sell out in minutes...and I was thrilled to get four tickets to the 2014 event (I blogged about the 2013 event here)! Tickets went on sale 12/12/13 at 12:12:13 and again sold out in minutes...and we are not-so-patiently anticipating this yearly festival, which is being held on February 1st. One of my very dear far-a-way friends is a bacon fanatic and she is quite knowledgeable in all things bacon...I sure wish she could be here to share the experience with me...that would definitely make it a perfect day! She did however send me a very fun and extremely unique Christmas package - it included bacon balm (yes, I said bacon flavored lip balm!), a book full of bacon recipes...and get this...she made me two of the cutest flannel pillowcases with bacon inspired fabric! I just could not stop smiling when I opened this packaged...it was a complete surprise and brightened my day immensely...

I know it is usually all about the squirrel on my blog, but today, it is all about bacon! In fact, I am getting hungry just writing this post. Time to go curl up with one of my bacon pillows and look through my new cookbook...and I may even try the bacon lip balm...an exciting Friday night...

On A Snowy Evening...

The predicted snow storm has definitely hit the Midwest and I am thankful I got all my "running" done beforehand. I moved Simba's grooming appointment up to first thing this morning (instead of this afternoon) - then filled up the Jeep with gas, visited the post office, ran a few errands, and got some last minute grocery shopping done while he was getting his bath and haircut. We arrived home in time to take a good cold walk before the heavy snow started to fall. I am happy to be at home, safe and warm...enjoying the snow from my studio window...

I wanted to take a moment and share couple creative things with you this evening, before heading to my stitching nest or sewing machine (I haven't decided yet). I received a lovely birthday package from my friend Lorrie this week - she delivered it at the perfect time, as the last couple weeks have been filled with challenges and I needed a little pick-me-up. I was excited to see she included one of her fabric bowls - Lorrie has been experimenting with making fabric bowls after receiving one as a gift (you can read about it/see photos on her blog: http://www.astitcherssnippets.blogspot.com/). I wasted no time in filling my bowl with trims and ribbons I am using for current projects and have it sitting on my sewing table. Several years ago, I was obsessed with making fabric bowls for gifts and found a couple wonderful books - perhaps I should see if Lorrie would like to borrow them....if you are interested in making bowls from fabric, check out "Fast, Fun & Easy Fabric Bowls" (2003) and "Fast, Fun & Easy Irresist-A-Bowls" (2005) both by Linda Johansen (C & T Publishing) and are still available. Each book has clear instructions for five reversible bowls - great for beginners with lovely color photographs, diagrams, and details...and wonderful ideas for materials, embellishments, and decorative stitches! (No affiliation, I just enjoy these books...)

The fabric bowl Lorrie gifted me - made from the Blackbird Designs Blueberry Crumb Cake Fabric Collection.

Lorrie spoiled me with other creative gifts as well - including a gorgeous heart fob with my cross stitched initial ("Heart To Heart" - By The Bay Needleart...heart pendant by Nunn Designs) - a BEAUTIFUL cookbook ("The Afternoon Tea Collection" - Metro Books) - along with recipe cards, and the cutest wrought iron bird card holder (see photo top right for detail)...there was even a fun magnetic owl "to-do" list pad and a unique wrought iron daisy. It was such a cheerful and heartfelt package from a very dear friend!

I'm thinking I may need to put the Afternoon Tea cookbook to good use during this storm...I already have a cup of black tea on my desk as I type this...and the recipes all sound scrumptious...perfect for a cold winter day!

Finally - I have been busy working on more items for the Blue Ribbon Designs Etsy Shop - more needlework pouches, stitch starter sleeves, and holiday pieces...there is quite an assortment for St. Patrick's Day...and last night I listed a few spring items...and more will be on the way...I have already cut multiple projects from some gorgeous sampler fabrics that are ready for assembly...but for now, here are some of my current/new listings...

To those of you in the winter storm path - stay safe and warm...

Holiday Sewing Projects - Embellished Kitchen Towels

Another holiday gift I worked on this season - embellished kitchen towels. These are quite fun and easy to make....and you use purchased kitchen towels (which can be found at any home store, grocery store, and many quilting/sewing stores at reasonable prices). I then picked coordinating fabric especially for the recipient - and you don't need a lot of fabric, a fat quarter will be more than sufficient for a couple towels. I simply cut a band of fabric to fit one end of the towel - then used my serger to do a 3-thread rolled edge around the cut ends of the fabric band to keep it from unraveling and give it a nice finished look (you could zig-zag the edges or do a basic hem if you do not have a serger)....I then used a small amount of fusible web to hold the fabric band in place on the towel - and attached it with a tiny zig-zag stitch on my sewing machine. To make it even more fun and unique, you can add trim, rick rack, piping, or buttons. Pair it with a cookbook and you have a perfect gift for those who like to spend time in the kitchen....