Monday, April 28, 2008

Fairy for Bren's Mini RR # 18


Finished this weekend and sent on her way today!

Friday, April 11, 2008

Something a little different - a recipe!

A few weeks ago I stitched the "Santa's On His Way" ornament from Rosie & Co., which was in the 2003 Just Cross Stitch Magazine Christmas Ornament issue. A lot of the designers include recipes with their designs, and the one that accompanied the ornament was this coconut tart. It's so easy to make - just mix up everything together, put it in a pie pan, and bake it. It puffed up beautifully, just like the recipe said it would, and then sank some once it was chilled. Don and I ate it both warm and chilled, and liked it both ways. The tart makes a crunchy top crust that reminds me of a coconut macaroon. I think I'll make it again soon and see if I can do it with Splenda and unsweetened coconut.


Cathy's Coconut Tart
from Rosie & Co. in Just Cross Stitch Magazine


1 cup coconut
1 cup sugar
4 eggs
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 stick unsalted butter, softened*
2 cups milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 325˚.
In a large bowl, beat all ingredients together until thick and creamy. Pour into a greased 9" pie plate and bake approximately 30 minutes, until risen and golden.** Serve warm or cold. Makes 6-8 servings.




* I used salted butter and it was just fine
** I had to bake it for 40 minutes before it would set up

"Tender Moments" - Dale Burdett


This is from the Dale Burdett booklet For Bunny Lovers. It's a big for Taylor, daughter of my friend Tom.

"Out of This World" - Twisted Threads


I finally finished this and framed it today. It's for TJ, son of my friend Tom.

"Feliz Navidad" by monsterbubbles


The pattern for this piece was in the 2006 Just Cross Stitch Christmas Ornaments Issue. I had a great time stitching this little piece, but chose not to finish it like it was done in the magazine. I just trimmed it with pinking sheers and mounted it on some stiff felt, using some silver cording for a hanger. Much easier than sewing a pillow by hand (which takes me forever!)

Thursday, April 3, 2008

"Woodlands Sampler" by Something in Common

This is a piece that was in The Gift of Stitching Magazine, and I decided it was perfect for our trailer. It was framed at Michaels, and I picked it up just before we went camping.

"Colorado" by Cathy Callery (Fireside Originals)

This is a piece I stitched a few months ago, and I finally got around to finishing it just before we went on vacation. It could have been framed or turned into a bell pull; I chose to make it a bell pull-like hanging. Doreen, a fellow stitcher on CSRR, had sent me a gift package for a Christmas exchange that included some fusing tape. It worked perfectly for this - I didn't have to stitch a bit! I just ironed the edges and used the tape to fuse them. I even did that for the top. The piece is hanging on piece of dowel that I got at Michaels for 79 cents (it was a yard long), and then I glued two wooden beads on each end. A nice piece of green yarn finished if off. This piece is hanging in my trailer - I wanted a few pieces there that are reminiscent of our passion - camping and fishing!