Giggle Club

Today I finally joined the Giggle Club. Sonya makes such wonderful buttons and patterns, that I just couldn't resist.
The fun will start in February next year. Gosh, that's another two months. Oh well, something to look forward to already!

I feel very very happy today (O:

When I was going through the blogs I love to visit frequently, I came across my name twice today! Once on Giggle Buttons, where lovely Sonya anounced that I was one of the three winners of the beautiful Too much Button Pack.

I am so happy I met Sonya! She has become a very special friend to me!

And then I visited Gail Pan Designs and once again read that I was one of the two winners of the Gentle Dreams stitchery. I love the name of her stitchery and the text that goes with it : Let summer whisper her gentle dreams. It gives me a nice and peaceful feeling and makes me dream of the summer in these cold and gloomy days. Her new giveaway also has such a wonderful name: Midsummer Garden. Thank you Gail, for making such wonderful patterns!

Black and white quilt challenge

This week I joined the Black and White Quilt Challenge, so that I will actually start making my black and white and yellow quilt and might even have it finished before the end of 2009.

I first want to finish all my Christmas projects and meanwhile I'll be thinking about what pattern I will use for this quilt.

My very first swap

The last three days we have had quite a lot of snow, which is a bit unusual. It was fun taking nice long walks in it!

My very first swap arrived within 5 days to Australia! And this is what I made for Sarah. I really had fun making it.

And then when I saw this little project she made, I decided to make her a little button bag. As if it were made for me with that color!

I was glad Sarah liked her gifts!

Giggle Buttons

On May Britt's blog I discovered Giggle Buttons. Sonya makes beautiful patterns and buttons and uses wonderful colors. Please go have a look there.

On her blog you will see, that Sonya has a giveaway of a lovely button package. Hurry over to her blog and make a comment. Good luck!

Magical Christmas almost finished

Laura, my daughter has been creative once again. Look at the tiny stitches she makes. She certainly does have good eyes!

Today when we got up, we had snow!!! Our first snow in November. Doesn't it look beautiful. Our dog Bibi loves running around in the snow. It makes her active and happy.

And here's my Magical Christmas almost finished. I have one more border to go and then I'll be able to finish it! I must say, I'm quite satisfied. This is a very fun project to make!

Rudolf the red nosed reindeer

A few years back I made this mini quilt called Rudolf. The pattern is from Bobbin. I always enjoy hanging it up in our living room, since it makes me happy with all those smiling reindeer.

Delicious brownies

Here is one of my favorite brownie recipes I made today for a friend who was coming over for a visit. It's easy to make and very tasty to eat.

You'll need:
- 300 gr. dark chocolate, broken into pieces
- 250 gr. unsalted butter
- 1 1/2 cups caster sugar
- 4 eggs
- 1 1/2 cups plain white flour, sifted

Method:
1. Preheat oven to 170 C (150 C fan-forced)
2. Grease and line a 4 cm deep, 18 cm x 25 cm slice pan
3. Melt the butter in a sauce pan, together with the butter, but do not overheat! Stir regularly with a wooden spoon until the ingredients have melted and are combined well.
4. Remove the pan from the heat and mix well with the caster sugar.
5. Put the eggs in a bowl and beat well with an electric mixer, before slowly adding in the chocolate mixture. Then fold in the flour. Beat until all is well combined.
6. Pour the brownie mixture into the prepared pan and bake on the lowest shelf of the oven for 35-40 minutes. Be sure not to bake them too long, otherwise they will be too dry.

SMAKELIJK

Some more Magical Christmas and some wonderful fabrics

The top border is a Christmas tree that goes on the left side. After I finish the 'Stars make way..." border, I only have one more to go and then I can put the quilt together. I do think I will have it finished by Christmas now (O:

Look at these fabulous fabrics I bought at Pink Chalk Studio. They are for a quilt I want to make with our black leather sofa.

Here are some more wonderful fabrics. Don't you just love the hugs and the kisses fabric. I really look forward to making something out of these. Pink is after all my favorite color.

And then I got these two patterns by Melly and Me. Their patterns often suprise me, since they often have a very special way of making their softies. Magoo will be made from the fabric the patterns are on.

A special giveaway by Debra Facer

Please have a look on Debra's blog for this special giveaway concerning ovarian cancer.

All you have to do is scroll down and read the information that Debra has kindly provided, find four symptoms for ovarian cancer and leave a comment under the Giveaway post listing these four symptoms.
Please help her reach as many as we can.

Some more news

Esther is hosting a Mystery Bom called "Red Delicous". On the 15th of each month a new block will be released with the old block being removed. Red Delicious is designed for Applique or Red Work . We're so lucky to get this from BOM from Esther!

This week I also came across a very nice blog Hilltop House. Evonne has made some very nice Christmas patterns. Please have a look. And if you are quick, you can still join her wonderful giveaway "Santa's watching". It's beautiful (O:

Bears for Aids and orphan children

This week, when I was in blogland, I came across a very special blog by Sonnja. She makes bears from different fabrics for Aids and orphan children in the 3rd world. Isn't this a wonderful initiative!
She makes about 1000 (!!!) bears a year. Unbelievable.
You can support the project Beertje Zonn by sending her fabric. For one bear she needs a piece of fabric 30 x 60 cm (12" x 24").
Please send her an email (rboudestein@casema.nl), if you have some fabric for her.

Two sneak peaks

One for Sarah ...

and one for Stina

Win an online class with Lenna Green from Stiching Cow

Look here to see what you can win and go to Stitching Cow to see what you have to do to join in. Good luck!

Old Red Barn Giveaway

Old Red Barn is giving away three wonderful completed quilts. Have a look here

Yummie cupcakes

The fudge and cupcakes make a perfect pair!!!

I found this recipe for Double chocolate cupcakes on one of the blogs I visited. They taste really really good :-D

And here is the recipe (for 12)
90 gr butter melted
1 cup self rising flour, sifted
1/2 cup of sugar (original recipe used 1 cup))
3 tbs cocoa
100 gr chopped dark chocolate
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 180C (160C fan forced)
Sift the flour and cocoa together.
Add all the other ingredients and mix until just combined (don't overmix or they will be tough).
Spoon into cupcake papers placed in a muffin form and bake for about 15 minutes.

SMAKELIJK

Magical Christmas once again

Santa looks better when ironed!

I think I will finish Lynette Anderson's Magical Christmas mini quilt this year. My left shoulder and arm are doing much better, thanks to my physiotherapist, chiropractor and me doing much less than I want to. I so much enjoy making this :O)

Christine is going to have a giveaway. You get to sign in till the end of the month. Good luck!

Pay it forward (PIF)

On Stina's blog I found this lovely idea, which I had seen on other blogs before.




And these are the rules...
It’s the Pay It Forward Exchange. It’s based of the concept of the movie “Pay it Forward” where acts or deeds of kindness are done without expecting something in return, just passing it on, with hope that the recipients of the acts of kindness are passed on. So here’s how it works. I will make and send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment to this post on the blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. I do not know what that gift will be yet, and it won’t be sent this month, probably not next month, but it will be sent (within 6 months) and that’s a promise! What YOU have to do in return, then, is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.

Look at these fly agarics/fly amanita's

This morning when I went for a walk with my dog I saw these beautiful fly agarics. I've never seen so many together before.

Isn't it like a fairy tale? I can see the dwarves coming out and visiting one another in their wonderful little homes.

Pink Chalk Studio and Lynette Anderson and Sue Daley's giveaway

My Magical Christmas quilt is progressing as you can see. Santa is finished and now I'm working on the first border. Quite a lot of work and fun to do :O)

Pattern: Bento Bos by Tracey Brookshier. This quilt was not made by me! I took the picture from a card, Kathy of Pink Chalk Studio send to me along with two of her patterns by Pink Chalk Studio: Note Taker and Pencil Roll. Both patterns have the description for two different sizes! Kathy really describes her patterns well with very clear pictures to it, so you know what step you have to take and when. I really enjoyed making the pencil roll (see October 14, 2008). The Note taker is on my list of 'next fun project' to make.

You can get her patterns at Pink Chalk Fabrics. Do take a look there!

Sue Dayley is having a giveaway. Good luck ;-)