PANTIE RAID!

Today is the 1st day of our cross country Pantie Raid.

Bring in a package of new women's or children's panties or socks,

and we will give you a free fat quarter!

Keepsake Cottage is the only shop on the West Coast

that is participating.  So, let's show the rest of the country

some West Coast spirit!!

All of your donations will go to a local 'safe house'

for women and children.

We will be taking donations from Black Friday through Cyber Monday.

Thanks for your help! J

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

I had a different post planned for Thanksgiving day.  You know, a vintage Thanksgiving image, a heartfelt message, wishes for kindness and world peace.  I still have that message in my head, but my heart has a new message.


Yesterday, my 1st born, Christopher asked his long time girlfriend, Megan to marry him!  I am so thankful to be adding Megan and her family to our family tree. Not only is she beautiful, but she is funny, kind and loves my boy.


I hope each of you has a wonderful day with family and friends.  This year I have an extra reason to be thankful!  J

SNOW DAY

 Oh yes, it's beautiful, but it causes so many problems.  Hundreds of cars, scattered like Hot Wheels, on the side (or middle) of the roads. 

4 inches of snow should not be such a problem.  It's the ice. A layer of ice under the snow is very dangerous.  This morning I was watching the news, and they were showing, live, a city bus, sliding sideways down a hill.  I don't want to see that in person!

Maybe, I will brush off the chairs, and build a little fire in the back yard!  I remember my husband building fires in the front yard.  The boys were young, and our driveway was a perfect sledding hill for them.  They would come in, soaking wet, put on dry clothes and go back out.  They LOVED the snow. 


Now, Chris lives in a town in Idaho, where they measure the snow in feet, not inches.  He has a Saint Bernard, who digs huge holes in the snow and lays in them, snow shoes hang by his back door and one of the highlights of winter is the Beard Growing Contest. (you can't make that up)  He still loves the snow.


It's not so much fun at Country Village.  The slight incline to get back on the Highway, is a sheet of ice.  So, if you were planning on shopping with us today, stay home.  Work on a UFO, and check back tomorrow, because we are staying home today.  The shop is closed, along with the Northshore School District.  Stay warm.  J

PANTIE RAID

A huge thank you to all of the Blog Hop particpants!  I had over 1500 people look at my Blog on Thursday.  That takes my breath away!  We all had tons of fun, and positive feed back from all of you.  We will be posting the grand prize winners, tomorrow.  So Please check back.



Now for our next big event.  This weekend, Friday, Saturday and Sunday,Select Quilt Shops across the country are collecting Panties and Socks for women and children.  Each shop has selected a charity to donate the items.  The panties and socks that are donated here, at Keepsake Cottage, will be taken to a safe house for women and children. 


For every package of panties and socks that you bring in, we will give you a free fat quarter.  A win-win.


A friend in the Atlanta area did this last year, and she collected hundreds of packages of undies.  I think the people of the NW are a very generous group, so I am hoping to out do her this year!  So, while you are shopping in the Mall at 4 am on Friday, pick up a pack or two, and drop them by the shop.  It will make someones life just a little bit better.  J

MISTLETOE MAKE AND BAKE DAY SIX

Today is the final day of our little journey together, what fun we have all had!  I have learned a lot, made new friends and have lots of great ideas.  I hope you are feeling the same!

First things first, I have 2 winners from Thursdays post.

At first I thought I was going to give just one prize,

but you were all so kind, I wanted to give all 172 a prize.

That didn't seem quite possible.  So, I decided to give 2.

The first prize, a zippered sewing tote,

and 9 spools of the amazing Aurifil Thread

goes to

CARAQUILTS

(insert applause here)

The second prize, 9 spools of the amazing Aurifil Thread

goes to

MRS. DILLYDALLY

(more applause)

Please email me (quilts4julie@frontier.com )  so I can get these out to you right away.

Today we are all talking about Cookie Exchanges, and tips to help you.  I wish I could write this post after I read all of my fellow bloggers ideas.  I am really bad at Cookie Exchanges.

I haven't been invited to participate in one for years, I'm sure it's because I have failed in the past.

There are always people with darling presentation, something a little extra.  They 'cute' it up.  They make complicated cookies, they have a secret twist.  I am always embarrassed by my packaging.

Usually a paper plate, probably left over from a themed birthday party, and plastic wrap.

I'm sure it was all I had time to do.  They always happen at the end of soccer season, with 3 boys, I spent a lot of time on soccer fields.  I imagine all the other mom's had kids in soccer too, they seemed

to make it happen.  I just couldn't get organized.  Besides, the boys would 'sneak'

the cookies out of some of the packages.  When they were small, they would

just take the Kisses off the top, and leave the cookie.

So, my advise to you is be organized, make it cute, do something extra, make fabulous cookies,

and don't invite your 'lame' friends.  Just give them cookies, and a hug.

It will make everybody feel good!

I found an old recipe for today, and old friend.  I haven't baked them in years,

but I'm sure I would love them as much today as I did back then.

OATMEAL SCOTCHIES

2 cups unsifted flour

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1 cup butter, softened

1 1/2 cusp firmly packed brown sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp water

1 1/2 cups uncooked quick oats

1 12 oz package of Butterscotch Morsels

1/2 tsp orange extract

preheat oven to 375, in a small bowl combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. 

In large bowl combine butter, brown sugar, eggs and water.  Beat until creamy.

Gradually add flour mixture, stir in oats, Butterscotch Morsels and orange extract.

Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto greased cookie sheets.  Bake 10 to 12 minutes.

makes 4 dozen 3 inch cookies.

Our last 2 designers are

Vickie Cook Eapen http://spunsugarquilt.com/

and my good friend Melisa Morrison http://sweethomequiltco.com/weblog/

Skip on over to see what the have going on for you today.

Now that we have become friends, don't be a stranger.

No, I don't post every day. 

No, I don't post recipes. (maybe I will start)

2 or 3 times a week I share a little of what is going on in my world.

Usually it's about quilting, sometimes I toss in news of my boys, or my granddogs.

I try to make it fun and fresh.

I hope to see  you soon!  J

Mistletoe Make and Bake Day Five

 A Huge Thank you to everyone for all of your sweet comments about my project yesterday.  Even with my 'techy' difficulties, you were kind and patient.  If anyone out there still needs my Cookie Tray pattern, Please email me at  quilts4julie@frontier.com and I will make sure you get a copy!

I will post my winner on tomorrow's post, since it is still Thursday where I live!

These are the Cookie jars that are on my kitchen counter.  I love the one's from the 70's.  However my super most favorite one in the entire world is the   one on the right.  It was painted by my youngest boy, Quinton.   It is the one we really use for cookies.  If you turn it around and look at the back, this is what you will see.

 

Quinton Stewart loves his mom, and her cookies as well.  5/17/97

This boy is now 25, he went to culinary school, is a Chef in a boutique restaurant in Seattle, Branzino.  He and his father, my DH, rode their motorcycles across the country and back last spring. 

I love this boy and his cookies, as well!

When I read that we were to write about a Holiday Tradition that we "had to do, no matter what"  I knew that it was the cookie recipe, that I would post today.  Even if the tree wasn't decorated, or if the lights were not on the house, there had to be Peanut Butter Kisses in the House!!

It doesn't matter who walks though the door, they all want my Peanut Butter kisses cookies!

This is your recipe for today.

PEANUT BUTTER KISSES

18oz peanut butter

1 1/4 cups granulated sugar

2 eggs

48 Hershey Kisses (a 9oz bag has 53)

Heat oven to 350

Stir peanut butter, eggs and sugar until thoroughly blended.  (dough will be sticky.)

Roll Tablespoon size balls, place on ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake 12-14 minutes. (cookie will be dry on top)

remove from the oven,  press the unwrapped Hershey Kiss in the center of each cookie.  Transfer from cookie sheet to waxed paper.  Cool and enjoy.!!

I have made these with my boys for their entire lives!  When they were really little, they just unwrapped the kisses. 

It was a big job for them and a joy for me.  Make these easy cookies with the children you love.  It will start the best memories, ever!

Today's designers are my good buddie

Roseann Kermes http://rosebudscottage.typepad.com/

and  Brenda Riddle http://brendariddle.blogspot.com/ 

MISTLETOE MAKE AND BAKE DAY FOUR

We are half way thru this fun event.  I am having fun reading everyone's blogs, and collecting gift and cookie ideas, I hope you are too!


Today is my day for a project, along with Moda Lissa!  What a fun partner for this event.  She is very creative, so I am looking forward to her post.  The pictures of her son, enjoying his cookies and milk, were pretty darned cute!

When we were asked to share our favorite Christmas book, only one thing came to mind 'the stockings were hung by the chimney with care'.  I have read that story hundreds of times.  My very favorite time, was always on Christmas Eve.  The boys would have on their new pj's, they would be so excited, I knew they would take forever to go to sleep.  I would always read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas to them.  All snuggled up together.  Them dreaming of the morning to come, me dreading what was ahead for me.  There were always things to assemble, I usually hadn't finished wrapping, and then there were the stockings.  I usually had to force myself not to be upset with my husband, because he was not worried about it at all!  So, those few moments of calm were always very special to me.

I hope you will have fun making these fast and easy Fabric Cookie Trays!
Fabric Cookie Tray.docx

When I was looking for a recipe for today, I looked in my Mothers wooden recipe box.  I found one that sounded good, but the best part about it was under the title is said, Barbara Walters.  So, if you can just imagine Barbara in a cozy kitchen, wearing an apron, this is what she might be making!

Chocolate Macaroons

Barbara Walters

1 can (14 oz) Sweetened condensed milk

4- 1 oz squares of unsweetened chocolate

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla

8 oz shredded coconut

Pre heat oven to 350.  Grease 2 cookie sheets. 

In a double boiler, combine condensed milk, chocolate and salt.

cook over hot, not boiling water, stirring frequently, until chocolate melts and mixture thickens, about 12 to 15 minutes. Remove from heat.  Add vanilla then the coconut.  Mix well, drop by rounded teaspoons one inch apart on cookie sheets.  Bake until cookies are just set, approx. 9 minutes.  Remove at once and place on waxed paper.  Let cool.

I made these last night, and remember to LET COOL.  The coconut holds onto the heat.  They were very good, I can see why Barbara enjoys them! 

Today I am having a give away.  Leave me a comment, and I will pick a winner.  I will be sending you 2 appetizer packages of my favorite Aurifil Thread, and a zippered sewing tote!

Now, go on over to Lissa's blog and see what she has cooking.

http://modalissa.blogspot.com/

NOTICE:  several of you have had difficulty opening the pattern.
I am not a very techy kind of girl.  So if you will email me,
I will send you a copy of the pattern! 
It's fun, easy, and I want you all to make one!  Julie
quilts4julie@frontier.com

Misteltoe Make and Bake Day Three

`

It's Day Three of our big adventure.  I don't know about you, but I feel like baking!!  Some of the recipes have been amazing. 

Today we are talking about how to start a conversation at a Cocktail party.  This can be difficult, especially if you are the only stranger in the room.

I remember years ago going to my husbands office party.  They asked him to dress as Santa.  It seemed like it would be fun, but it turned out to be one of the worst parties I had ever attended.  I was a young mom, I had been looking forward to a night out without the kids.  My husband was the most popular man at the party, but he didn't have time to introduce me to his colleges or even chat with me.  I decided that night, that I would always look for the 'stranger' in the crowd, and talk with them.  People love to tell you about themselves, their family's and their careers.  Try it, you just might make a friend, and I know you will make some one's evening much more comfortable.

Isn't this little guy cute!  Last Christmas my son, Christopher and his girlfriend Megan,  painted this for me.  He would never be lonely at a party!

My Mom used to make these cookies when I was a little girl.

I loved it when she baked them in the afternoon, just before I came home from school.  Spicy, thick, chewey cookies with crackled sugary tops.

Molasses Crinkles

3/4 cup soft butter

1 cup brown sugar (packed)

1 egg

1/4 cup molasses

2 1/4 cups sifted flour

2 tsp soda

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp cloves1tsp cinnamon

1tsp ginger.

Mix thoroughly butter, brown sugar, egg and molasses.  Sift together dry ingredients and stir in.  Chill Dough.  Heat oven to 375.  Roll dough into balls the size of large walnuts.  Dip tops in sugar.  Place sugar-side-up 3" apart on greased baking sheet.  Sprinkle each with 2 or 3 drops of water to make a cracked surface.  Bake 10 - 12 minutes. Just until set, but not hard.  Makes about 4 dozen.

Now  hop on over to Celinehttp://www.perkinsdrygoods.com/blog/

Patrick http://www.patricklose.blogspot.com/

and

Kelly Ann http://www.kellyannsquilting.blogspot.com/

Now, I am off to try my recipe for tomorrows post!

MISTLETOE MAKE AND BAKE DAY TWO

Welcome to the second day of the Mistletoe Make and Bake.  I loved Sherri's project yesterday.  How about you?

We all have things in our "bag 'o tricks to help us get through the Holiday Season.  I used to feel like I should decorate inside and out, every room in the house.  But, after a couple of stressful years, I realized it really is all about the people you love.  So, I have scaled back.  I have a large cookie jar collection, so I pull out some cute, chunky cookie jars, sprinkle a few quilts here and there and call it 'decorated'.  It's helped save my sanity!

I was given this recipe many years ago, by the Grandmother of a friend.  She baked them every day!  The mailman counted on it!

Drop Sugar Cookies

1 cup powdered sugar

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup butter

1 cup vegetable oil

2 eggs

1 Tablespoon Vanilla

1/2 tsp. salt

4 cups plus 4 Tablespoons flour

1 tsp soda

1 tsp Cream of Tartar (her secret ingredient)

cream sugars with butter.  Beat oil and eggs.  Add vanilla, mix dry ingredients, and add gradually.  Roll in small balls, place on cookie sheet. Press with glass dipped in sugar.

bake at 375 for about 8 minutes

watch carefully, do not let them turn brown.

Now go over and see what Heidi http://blog.heidikaisand.com/

and Monique http://opengatequilts.com/id69.html

are cooking up today.

Remember to post on every ones blog, to be eligible for the big prize basket!

Mistletoe Make and Bake

Welcome to the first day of the Mistletoe Make and Bake. We have all been so excited to bring a few ideas to all of you, to make your Holiday season the best ever!

Santa has always been a magical man in our home. When our 3 sons would go to bed on Christmas eve, the tree would be lit, the stockings would be hung, but there were no gifts under the tree. If you believed in the Magic of Christmas, the tree would be full when morning came.


They are all adults now, but all of the gifts under the tree come from Santa. Who is going to argue with that?

When my boys asked for Yummy Cookies. I always had the ingredients in the pantry. This is an easy 'go to ' cookie recipe when you need something at the last minute.

YUMMY COOKIES

Combine in a sauce pan and boil one minute:

1/4 cup butter

2 cups sugar

1/2 cup milk

4 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa

pinch of salt

Remove from heat and stir in quickly

1/2 cup peanut butter

3 cups quick oats

1 tsp. vanilla

Drop by teaspoonful onto waxed paper and let set overnight

Head over to Sherri's http://thisandthatpatterns.typepad.com/ blog to see what project she has planned for you today.

FYI, my good Buddie Monica, aka The Happy Zombie had to drop out of the hop at the last minute. We will miss her, but you can still show her some love! Click on my sidebar to go visit her!

At Quilt Market the designers are like stars on the red carpet. Constantly posing for photos and answering questions. When I was talking with Liesl from Oliver & S, she tried to get in the best lighting in her booth! Her patterns are so adorable, I love them. Little paper dolls model her designs. How super cute it that. I loved Betsy McCall when I was a little girl, how about you?

Barb and Mary from Me & My Sister are super fun girls. They had us hold an iron in it's own little cozy, like it was an award. Lots of laughs in their booth. And the iron cozy is darling. One of my buddies, Nanci Quick from the Quilted Kitty is going to make them for all of the irons in her class room!

Kathy Schmitz has brought her Crackle back!! I know lots of you will be happy to hear that. Her newest fabric collection is all printed on Crackle. Pretty wonderful. Her panel is printed embroidery blocks. So, if you love the look of embroidery, but don't have the time to do it. This will be a collection you won't want to miss. Of course, if you love embroidery, her patterns are wonderful. We still have space in our Winsome Wreath Club, if you have thought about joining. Her projects are beautiful.

There were many wonderful moments at market that weren't captured in a photo. Most of them involved my wonderful friends from across the country. All of us shop owners wanting to create the best quilt shops ever for our community of quilters and home sewers. We exchanged thoughts and ideas late into the night. We are working on a 'giving' project that will involve all of our favorite customers. Watch for that next week.

Don't forget the Blog Hop- Mistletoe Make and Bake starting on Monday! J

Get ready for 13 fun holiday projects, from 13 designers! A cross country Blog Hop, starting next Monday. 6 Days of projects, cookies recipes and holiday memories.

• Monday: Sherri Falls http://thisandthatpatterns.typepad.com/
• Tuesday: Heidi Kaisand http://blog.heidikaisand.com/
• Tuesday: Monique Dillard http://opengatequilts.com/id69.html
• Wednesday:Celine Perkins http://www.perkinsdrygoods.com/blog/
• Wednesday: Patrick Lose http://patricklose.blogspot.com/
• Wednesday: Kelly Ann Richardson http://kellyannsquilting.blogspot.com/
• Thursday: Lissa Alexander http://modalissa.blogspot.com/
• Thursday: Julie Stewart (that's me kids) http://keepsakecottagefabrics.blogspot.com/
• Friday: Roseann Kermes http://rosebudscottage.typepad.com/
• Friday: Brenda Riddle http://brendariddle.blogspot.com/
• Saturday: Vickie Cook Eapen http://spunsugarquilt.com/
• Saturday: Melisa Morrison http://sweethomequiltco.com/weblog/

Doesn't this look like a great line up! We're all cooking up a little fun for you so

please join us next week! J

MARKET RECAP

I have been home from Market for 5 days, and it's been a whirlwind here! Finally I have a few moments to post a few pictures of my Quilty Friends!



This is Joanna, from Fig Tree Quilts. I always love her booth. The colors, and the traditional designs just draw me in. Joanna has become a good friend. We have danced the night away at many Quilt Market parties!






These are the Blackbird Ladies. Alma and Barb. Their quilts are breath taking, and they are the sweetest women. People were lined up for autographs and photos. As you can see, they didn't know which way to turn!



Their newest book was hot off the press, we will have it in the shop next week.





Ann Sutton, from Bunny Hill Designs, is a delight. Her fabric line, Lilly and Will, was delivered to the shop this week, and they have added 2 new color ways, yellow and soft turquoise. And look at that super cute sailboat quilt, darling!

Quilts, Inc. still won't let Miss Rosie in the show. So, Carrie Nelson has to go it alone! Every time I walked past her booth there were lots of people talking to her, and she always had a smile on her face. Her new fabric line just makes everyone happy!

There are more pictures to come. Some of the things I bought for the shop are Kwik Sew Patterns. Childrens clothes, doll clothes, pj pants and aprons. These are great sewing patterns that have been tested and retested for your success!

I spent many hours with my shop owner friends, sharing ideas about making the best shops ever for our favorite customers. I am ready to dig in and work hard for you! J