Bag LOVE!

In the studio this weekend we had one of the monthly “Sleep in your own Bed Retreats”.  Among all the fabulous projects being worked on there was a lot of bag stitching taking place.

A group of us made the "Tango" bag by Silk Road Creations.  Love the bag!!  It goes together smoothly and we all loved the finished product.  What I personally like about it is my ipad fits in the interior pocket perfectly and there’s plenty of room left for anything else I want to carry.

Here’s a peak at our “Tango” bags.

From left to right the bag creators are Julie, Terri (me), Jeanie, and Sandy.

 

 

 

 

Shirley’s bag (not pictured in the line up above).  Shirley was leaving and threw her bag over her shoulder and I just had to take a picture.  Is it not adorable on?  Thanks for modeling Shirley!

Did you happen to notice a theme in the bags?  There was a lot of Sweetwater Love going on when we made these bags.  5 out of 6 of the bags were made with fabric by Moda designers Sweetwater.  This happened just by chance, we just showed up with our fabric and ……. you saw what we had!  They’re such fun fabrics and they make great bags.

Julie not only finished her “Tango” bag but made this adorable "Pocket Parade Tote" by Penny Sturges of Quilts Illustrated.  She made it to be used as a diaper bag. 

Sandy also finished 2 bags this weekend.  Along with her “Tango” bag she finished this "City Zipper Tote" also by Penny Sturges of Quilts Illustrated.  More on this bag in my next post.

Hope you enjoyed the “Bag Parade” and that we’ve inspired you to give one a try.

Have a great week!  Be sure to take some time nourishing your creative side this week!!

Blessings ~ Terri

New Year Giveaway!

Have you started a new project yet!  The beginning of a new year just seems like the perfect time to begin a new project.  I know it is for me.  I thought I’d show you my first little project.

A tablerunner I’m calling “Parquet Tablerunner”.  We’ll be making this tablerunner for our February project in the Studio’s Christmas Club. The focus of the Christmas Club is projects for our home or gift giving that isn’t to time consuming.  This little guy will fit the bill!

(Click on the “Studio Classes” button on the right side bar for more information on the Christmas Club).

I love these fabrics from the Sweetwater gals.  They’re designers for Moda Fabrics.  Their fabrics and designs are fun, fresh and simple.

Would you like to make this for yourself?  I’m having a GIVEAWAY for a kit featuring the same fabrics as I’ve used in my tablerunner, pattern included.

What you need to do~ leave a comment on this post telling me what you like to do at the beginning of the New Year.  Do you start new projects, organize your home, go on vacation after the holidays?  Tell me about it and you’ll be entered in the drawing to win the “Parquet Tablerunner” kit.

The contest will run until next Friday, the 13th at 12:00 am.  (Friday the 13th will be lucky for someone)!

Thanks for visiting!

Blessings ~ Terri

 

SYOB and Recipes!

SYOB ~ Sleep in Your Own Bed Retreat is the most popular function at the Studio.  We have so much fun!  8 students get to work on any project they’d like.  I’m there to help if needed, keep the snacks and meals coming ~ the support person!  I love it!  It’s always such a great group of ladies.  If I haven’t said it before (and I’m sure I have) quilters are GREAT people!

Here’s some shots from this weekends SYOB along with a couple recipes from Saturday’s lunch.

 Vicki pinning on her borders.

Mary’s ADORABLE Christmas tree blocks!

These are paper pieced.  I would have never thought to make Christmas trees in black and white but these are going to make a great wallhanging.  With a little spot of red ….fabulous!

Jeanie won the kit for this quilt on the blog!

 Sue, Laura and Sandy finishing projects!

 Dee and Vicki ~ friends who love to quilt together!

Here are a couple recipes from Saturday lunch~

Mexican Chef Salad

 Throw first 5 ingredients in a large bowl~

1/4 onion chopped

1 bag of romaine hearts

3 tomatoes cut up

1 avocado

1 cup grated cheese

**********

1-lb. ground beef

1 can black beans

Brown the ground beef.  Add the drained can of beans to the beef and simmer 10 minutes.

Add beef mixture and 1/2 bag of crushed Nacho Cheese Doritos to the bowl.

Pour 3/4 bottle of French Dressing over all.

Wash you hands good and then mix it all up using your hands to turn all the ingredients and mix together.

This recipe could be modified in many different ways depending on your taste.  Play with it and make it your own.

Tip:  This is a salad that isn’t good made ahead of time.  Mix this all together just before serving. 

To get a jump start on this salad I brown the beef and simmer with the beans ahead of time.  Then refrigerate until I’m ready to put the salad together.  Pop the beef mixture in the microwave to warm it up and in a couple minutes it’s ready to go. 

You could also do the chopping ahead so all you have left to do is mix it all together.

Margaret’s Berry Trifle

6 oz. box of vanilla instant pudding

1 1/2 c. buttermilk

large tub of cool whip

pound/angel food cake (about 1 1/2 purchased pound cake loafs or 1/2 angel food cake)

1 pint assorted berries

Wash berries and allow to dry or blot gently with a paper towel.

Cube the cake into bite sized pieces.

Mix together the buttermilk and pudding mix. Stir in cool whip.

In a large straight sided glass bowl layer the three different items making sure you can see cake and berries through the side of the bowl.

Tip:  Adjust this to your liking.  I’m thinking peaches and blueberries will be the next try!  Yum!

You could also serve this in individual goblets as pictured below.  (No we don’t use crystal at the SYOB).  :-) 

Pound cake is the traditional cake for a trifle but angel food is good and less fat!  You could also use a sugar free pudding mix, fat free cool whip and fat free buttermilk.  It’s possible to make this so it’s not to sinful!

Thanks for visiting!

Blessings ~ Terri

Studio Open House!

This past Saturday was a very special day.  Opening the studio was a realization of a dream.  I am so blessed.

Thanks to everyone who came out for the Open House!  I was overwhelmed by all the expressions of love and good wishes.  Quilters are such AWESOME people.  I really don’t have the words to express my gratitude.  It was so great to see so many of my past students again.  And to meet new friends! 

It was a time for all those interested to come check out the space, share in some goodies and participate in the Make ‘n Take.  We made Lil Punkins ~

There were some pretty cute Punkins leaving the studio that afternoon!

My dream for the studio has been that it be a place where women can come, relax, create, learn, and feel special.  So much of our lives are spent taking care of others.  I want this to be a time for you and to let yourself be spoiled a little.  :-) 

Here are the teachers that are devoted to making that happen~

 Amber Hiebert, myself, and Loretta Orsborn

I’m so happy Amber and Loretta will be teaching at the Studio.  They truly have a heart for their students.

Here’s a few shots from the Open House.

THANKS to my daughter Bethany for taking pictures!

A big thanks to my kids here in town for all their help.  From hanging quilts, assembling chairs, setting up a Facebook page….the list goes on.  I couldn’t have done it without them.

A HUGE thanks to the Bold family.  Dale who was the HEAD MAN on the job and did the majority of the work.  To Kelli, Dale’s wife for being so supportive of the project and all the hundreds and hundreds of hours Dale worked on the project.  Dale Jr. for spending so much of his extra time at the studio when he probably would have rather been hanging out with his friends.  And to everyone else who worked on the project.  It took many people to bring this to fruition.

Dale and Kelli Bold with me

 Kelli brought me a beautiful gift!

A cross stitched picture I will have specially framed and it will hang in the studio.  She’s so sweet.  Such a giving soul.  Love you Kelli.  XXOO

So…..the works been done.  Now……it’s time for classes.  You can click on the “Studio Classes” button on the right side bar at any time for the most recent class list.  I hope you’ll consider signing up for a class sometime and giving the studio a try.

We’re kicking off the studio with a “Sleep in Your Own Bed Retreat”.  A time to get away, and sew while in the company of other great women doing the same.  We begin this Friday evening the 19th at 6:00 pm, sew until you can’t sew anymore.  Then you go home and sleep in your own bed (leaving everything at the studio).  Then the retreat continues Saturday at 9:00 am (or whenever you get here).  Then you’ll have the day to sew.  Working on anything and everything you’d like.  I’ll be there to be your cheerleader and help you over any bumps you may encounter.  Snacks will be provided Friday evening and throughout the day Saturday along with a light breakfast and lunch on Saturday.  The retreat will wrap up at 5:00 pm.  We have a few spots left if you’d like to join in the fun!

Again ~ Thanks to all of you who joined me on Saturday.  It meant the world to me.

Thanks for stopping by!

Blessings ~ Terri

Studio Open House & Sneak Peek!

I’m so excited to announce the opening of my Quilting and Sewing Studio!

Studio Entrance

This Saturday, November 13th from 1 – 4 pm I’m having open house in the new Studio.  Everyone is invited! 

This is the culmination of a very long year’s worth of effort on many persons part to get this up and running. The class schedule is set and we’re ready to go!  Click on the “Studio Classes” button on the right side bar to read all about the studio and the classes offered.

If you live in the area, come check it out.  I’d love to see you. 

 

Here’s a couple pictures of the inside.

Hope to see you in the Studio!

Thanks for stopping by!

Blessings~Terri