Apple PIe

So the other day I was feeling quite like Betty Crocker and decided to make an apple pie. It is the season after all.  And nothing gets you baking like a promise to your co-workers that you will bring a pie in.

I really wanted to dazzle them with my skill so I went to the store to see if I could buy some... skill that is.. LOL  Well, I couldn't find skill so I bought some granny smith apples and Pillsbury role out pie dough instead.  I didn't make my pie crust from scratch since my son used my rolling pin to kill a mouse..... YUCK!  I am in the market for a new one if you have any recommendations.

I do have some gadgets that I like to use when baking.... and all of them are from pampered chef.  I just love their stuff!  My friend Angie is a consultant so if you are interested in ordering some here is her email.....   angie_hilkin@yahoo.com.. just tell her I sent you!  No, I won't get any rewards for the referral... but success sometimes comes with a little help from our friends and we could all use that, right?!
Are you ready to see the pictures????   Well, wait no longer .. here they are!

                         This handy little contraption in the apple slicer, peeler, corer.
                          It is worth every penny even if you only bake once a year.
                           I had 6 apples peeled, sliced and cored in less than 5 minutes.
                           and that included the  time it took to take the pictures of the
                            process!

                                              I love the stringy peel!

                  The prepared apple!  Just a little peel remains but that is easily cut off in

                     just a matter of seconds...or you can just leave it and bake it into the pie.

I used some fun little cookie cutters, I actually think they are for cheese but I used them to cut
the crust.  Fancy Pants, I know.  LOL


 Now I have to tell you about another giveaway that is currently going on.  It is over at
Kammy's Korner.  She is giving away a Cutting Edge stencil..of your choice up to a $50 value. I really want to win, but in order for me to increase my chances I have to blog about it.... But I would like you to win too!  I know you would share with me, just I like I would you!  LOL

This is one of my favorites.  There are so many on the website. Just click and go 
see what they have. You may be surprised at what all they use stencils on!  You should see what Kammy did with hers! 


 So head on over to Kammy's and enter the giveaway now.  Heck,
while you are there you really should check out her blog.. she is very talented and has
a keen eye for design.  
Unfortunately I have laundry up the wazoo today so I better get off the computer and get to work. Nothing makes you feel more creative than a clean house and clean clothes!
Have yourself a wonderful day!

Look What I got!

A while ago I entered a giveaway on The House Undone Blog.... they were giving away an original acrylic painting from VickisArt.....  You can check out her Etsy Store here.  This is the first piece of ART that I have owned that wasn't a print or made from my son back in his elementary school days.  I just love this painting.  It is beautiful. I just need to decide if I want to keep it in my living room where I will see it throughout the day or do I want to wake up to it in my bedroom... Either way, with the arrival of this painting, I realize now more than ever that my walls are pretty naked.  I really need to dress them up.  I have a plan for the TV wall... I am going to do a gallery wall... all frames will be black but they will all be different shapes and sizes.   I would love to put a stenciled pattern on the walls, but the opposing wall is brick..... hmmmm I just think that would be tooooo much pattern for me. No resting place for my little eyeballs!  LOL  Well, for now.. I am just going to show my photo's of the picture... when I finally decorate my walls, I will blog that as well.  In my mind it is going to be absolutely beautiful.

 Below I was trying to impress with the signature of the artist...but my camera wouldn't focus... I was too close I guess.  LOL

Here is my picture hanging all pretty on my wall.

 Can you see Leroy's tail.... As for the apple pie that I was going to post today... it will have to wait for tomorrow.  This painting had to take first priority!

I hope you all have a fantabulous day!  I have a date with Edward Cullen tonight.  YUMMY!  Now he is better than apple pie FOR SURE!

More of my Modern Christmas Table Runner Swap

I can't believe that it has been so long since I have written anything.  I have definitely been busy.  I have been working on my Facade quilt..almost done with that ..only 4 more rows to attach before the top is completed.  I am still waiting for the fabric to arrive for the back...I just ordered it Friday so it hasn't been that long..lol..   I must be patient.


I took the big step and began quilting my Modern Christmas Table Runner... I don't think I don't want to give it away.  I  L>O>V>E it!!!!!  But gosh, trying to decide on a quilting pattern was a struggle... so I stand in front of it tracing with my fingers  the design I am contemplating, trying to give myself a visual before committing to thread.  Lord knows I hate to rip out quilting!  I did a lovely big stitch ...well, probably just a running stitch..I don't know the difference..hehehe  ..oh silly me.

And now since I am in the writing groove, I am debating if I should take this time to write about my apple pie.  I think I will wait.  I got some awesome pictures for you to see ..it was so gosh darn cute!  Thank you Pampered Chef..oh and Pillsbury for the amazing crust!  

I have to work tomorrow so I should get busy with my housework tonight.  The Bosch Pest control guy is coming tomorrow when I am not here.... I don't want him to think I am a slob, but I have been sewing a lot and well, you know... the housework does tend to go to the bottom of the priority list.  I think I am going to take my dog to town with me..I really want a soda!

Happy Halloween!!!!

 Happy Halloween to my bloggy peeps!!!!  This is me above... and I am feeling sooooo pretty!  Well, I have been a busy bee lately... and since I didn't have my internet behaving like it should... we won't go into that story...lol.......  I am a little tardy in getting some posts made here.    I have been doing some sewing and I even made some Halloween cookies to take to work... I left some at home for my son... didn't want him to feel left out.. Actually, I just wanted to see his reaction when he saw them.  

These are the fun severed finger sugar cookies.  I got them from an issue of Rachel Ray's magazine.....  Aren't they absolutely gruesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  eewwwww

            This is the finished top for the Modern Christmas Table Runner swap that I am                          working on.  I can't say who its for yet, but will do that after I know she has received it. I absolutely love this.  I have a quilting design already.  All I have to do is layer it and go for it!   I will post the final funner in a couple of weeks!

This is the star block... I cut the points off when imaging this block...its there on the 

actual runner..lol....  my quilty friends will get the importance of points!

And this is how it all started.....  graph paper, fabric and colored pencils.  I love this process.  

Oh, and one last picture to show you.... I was inspired to take this when Julie from Jaybird quilts took a picture of her views.... below is what I got to enjoy from my front window.... most of the leaves have fallen now and that's ok.  I look forward to being able to enjoy them again next year!

I actually stood outside on my porch to take this...otherwise there were tons of little window panes in the way!  giggles

This is the picture with the window, taken with me standing.... not so pretty and the hickory tree leaves were already turning brown...now it has no leaves at all....hehe  But with the way my furniture is placed in the livingroom and when you sit and look out the window.. I get the pretty view..I am so blessed!

Its Monday!

Yeah for me!  Five more days before I go to work again..wooohooo!  My house is a bit of a mess since I spent last week completing the top for my man's quilt, making a matching pillowcase and I made a little purse for a little girl who sells farm fresh eggs. She delivered two dozen to me on Sunday.  She loved her bag and my hugs from her were never ending!  I am so blessed!  

I recycled some of my sons old blue-jeans and added the fun

chicken wire fabric for the handle and the fried egg fabric for the cuff.The idea

for the style came from the internet at this link

http://thehappyhousewife.com/home-management/low-sew-purse/#ixzz13ceqyhpy

I modified it just a little but the happy house wife was my inspiration.

The pillow case

                                            This is the quilt that I made for my man...mmmm  mmmm                                           It's the BQ pattern. Since the trucks are directional I this was the only layout I could do..oooo.. I should have
                                            staged a big accident and had them all meeting in the middle!HAHA

                                                 A close up of the truck fabric.  Randy drives
over the road and requested this sort of print.  His birthday is coming up.  Can't wait to give it to him.


Now.... onto the Christmas table runner swap.  Well, my partner isn't participating much so I am going to have to rely on my stealth stalking skills to make a runner that will be to her pleasing.  I have decided to go with the fabric she mentioned  she liked ..which has a modern coloring but still somewhat traditional.  From looking at her blog she seems to be more of a traditional gal ... I see stars a lot on her projects.  So my design plan is a traditional runner with stars in the center... I will do some big stitches on it as well... she likes that!... Maybe I could add some beads to perk it up a bit!  I will draw  a sketch and post it with my fabric choices later this week.
Well,  the FlyLady harkens me.... gotta clean so I can be inspired.  Clutter really stifles my creativity and so does dust, dog hair and dirty dishes!  LOL  

Have a great day!!!

This was my first doll quilt swap.  I made this for Jenn who LOVES brights!  I am sure I got this pattern from somewhere.... oh, yes!  It was from my sisters book... if I had the name, I would give proper credit. I had some teaser pics in earlier posts but forgot to post the final product!

 I have a lot of other quilts, normal size..lol.... on my flickr page http://www.flickr.com/photos/arbonnegirl/ These doll quilts appear on that photostream as well... I am excited to show more of what I am doing.

Christmas Table Runner Swap...fabric preview

Good morning!!  What a wonderful fall day.  The leaves are so thoughtful.... blanketing my lawn after it cried out how cold it was last night.  Now if they could just find their way back onto the trees it would be great!

Last night, I gathered some fabric from my stash for the Modern Christmas Table Runner Swap.  I can say that it looks better in person than in the picture...the green doesn't make sense but trust me...in real life..it really looks great.  The green and the red will be used in bits and pieces  just for the 'pop' of color.  I am listening to the comments and will be adding a solid...probably white to break up all the color and give the eye resting places. Today I will tinker with some sketching to get a design plan and post that later.

So maybe, pull the green add a stripe?Or what about adding a touch of orange?  ok..so I pull the red and green add an orange and a stripe.... and some white.  You guys are the best! Thanks for helping me make up my mind.  Gotta go find some orange to preview...oh, and the stripe.  I will have to go fabric shopping ...what a drag.  (NOT)  hehe.    

My son has a football game tonight and I have to work this weekend so I probably wont post again until Monday.  Don't miss me!!