Scarf Sew Along!

I'm "SEW" excited about this.  Julie of Joy's Hope is having a scarf sew-along.  Starting this week and she is getting us started on making eight scarves by Thanksgiving!  Don't be scared if you aren't very good at sewing.  In fact that is the whole point of this sew along.  I'm just excited for something to keep me on track and get some presents done!   The Scarf Sew Along starts today so head over and see what this weeks homework is.  Oh and while you are there cruise around her blog.   It is AWESOME!  Let me know if you are in!  I'd love to see what other people are doing.  And if you are in the Tri Cities area, maybe we can do the whole thing together! 

Christmas Dresses

I got a new dress pattern for Ivy and I love it.  I searched Etsy for a peasant dress and found the Perfect Party Dress by Heidi and Finn.  All of their patterns are super cute, I love the modern twists, like the tie on this peasant dress. 

The ends of the ties flare out a bit at the end.  The fabric I ended up using definitely gives it a Christmas dress vibe.   I'm resisting the urge to put up Christmas decorations every day.  I don't know if I will make it to Thanksgiving this year!

Ivy runs away screaming when I finish a dress and try and get her to put it on.  I end up chasing her around the house and she thinks it is so funny.  So I just have to wait until Sunday to get her ready for church to see if it even fits!   I've decided that I have to add about 6 inches to the bottom of every dress to make it long enough.  Other than being just a bit short it fit great!  Can't wait to make some more.

So since Christmas is coming up WAY faster than you think start thinking about Christmas outfits!  I'm taking orders now!! I love to put fabric together so let me know if you want anything!

Chocolate-Peanut Butter Candy Cookies

These cookies are our favorite.  I hate flat cookies so these are perfect, and they are great for fall and Halloween( I know its over, but its still fall!) because of the Reeses Pieces.  I wish that they changed the colors for other holidays like M&M's but so far no luck.  I was trying out my new camera when making these.  I am proof that its not the camera that takes good pictures its the photographer!

Chocolate-Peanut Butter Candy Cookies

(from Better Crocker fall baking 2006)

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/2 tsp vanilla

1 egg

1 1/4 cup flour

1/4 cup unsweetened baking cocoa

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1 1/4 cups Reeses Pieces

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Lightly grease cookie sheets.

In a large bowl, beat sugars and butter with mixer on medium speed until creamy.  Beat in peanut butter, vanilla and egg.  Stir in flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt.  Stir in candies.(I usually add 1 cup of candy to dough and reserve the rest to add on top so they look pretty!)

Using a cookie scoop(or tablespoon) place dough on cookie sheet.

  Bake 8-12 minutes or until edges are set (centers will be soft).  Cool one minute; remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack.

See don't they look fallish?!

Ivy likes making these cuz it is about the only time in her life she gets candy!

We got boo-ed twice actually so I made these cookies and put them in some cute boo bags.  Yay for trying to be a good neighbor!

New (to me) camera and a camera strap.

Darin is the photographer around here.  He has been trying to get me to have an interest in it forever but I always say "Why?  Its your thing and you take such good photos."  He had a Nikon D70 until he upgraded about a year and a half ago to the D300.  We kept the D70 for back up and I'm sure he has been holding out hope for me.  A couple of weeks ago he asked me if I would want a lens for that D70 to take pictures of my crafts and stuff-for my birthday.   I said  Pssh that would be like me giving you fabric for your birthday.

Meet my new (to me) camera and lens!  He had already gotten me the lens when he asked me that.  Oh man did I feel bad when he gave it to me on Friday.  Actually he had some guts to go through with it after my reaction.  The lens is an 18-55 VR - if you know anything about that.  So now it looks like I have to make up for making him feel bad by learning about photography.

And to be honest I was most excited about making one of those cute camera strap covers I've seen.  This one is really basic, but I just winged it and wanted it to look cute.  I cut a strip of fabric 23 1/4 by 4 inches wide.  Then I turned under the short ends twice and stitched them with two rows of stitching.  After that I folded the fabric in half lengthwise, right sides together and stitched it with a quarter inch seam.  After turning it I pressed it with the seam to the back and slid it onto my strap.  Ta Da.  I instantly felt better about my camera!  I want to make a fancier one, but for a quick fix I love it!

Handmade Holidays III

The Sew Mama Sew blog is having a whole month of holiday gift giving ideas. I can't wait to get new ideas every day and thought I'd pass along the info to anyone who was interested!