Images From December Sewcial Sisters...

Sewcial Sisters - Terry's Christmas Cushion Project

I'm sharing pictures today from our December Sewcial Sisters day at The Gathering. It was a perfect day for a drive, and the sun shone on Primitive Gatherings' retreat house all day. 

As you look through these photos, I'd like to also draw your attention to all the gorgeous red and white quilts that surrounded us as we visited and stitched on our respective projects. These are all part of the Red & White Quilt Show now in progress. I think Lisa said there were about 140 entries, and they're all so impressive!

Sewcial Sisters - Maryann's Wall Hanging

Sewcial Sisters - Lori's Table Mat

Sewcial Sisters - Kay's Candle Mat

Sewcial Sisters - Kathy D. Sharing Gift From Jody

Sewcial Sisters - Judy's Mini Wall Hanging

Sewcial Sisters - Jean's Christmas Quilt 1

Sewcial Sisters - Jean's Christmas Quilt 2

Sewcial Sisters - My Needlework in Progress

I shared the baby kimono during our Show & Tell. This is what I worked on while we chatted all day. I was inspired by the work of another artist on Instagram. I'm going to turn this into an ornament for a friend.

We all brought treats that we shared (before and after lunch), so each of us went home with a nice assortment of cookies, fudge, and other confectionaries. All my cookies were either eaten or went home with the ladies. 

The ladies all asked for my recipe, so I pointed everyone to the original source. In case you're interested, click HERE for the cookies. THIS is her frosting recipe, which I use every time - unless I make royal icing. They're both delicious and fool-proof wonderful cutout cookies, and they're the only recipe I've used since moving back to Wisconsin seven years ago.

I've got errands this morning, and then I'll be home working on my class project for tomorrow in Portage. I'll give you a sneak peek tomorrow, so you can see what we'll be working on. See you tomorrow!

There Be Bears!...

Farmhouse Cutout Cookies

 

I finished my commissions in the morning yesterday, and then headed down to the kitchen. I had cookies to bake yesterday so I could decorate them today. I used the same recipe I used last year, as they were a big hit. I shared the recipe in my blog HERE last year. I decided on polar bears this year.

 

Six Of Eight And A Half Dozen

 

I made four batches of the dough, and ended up with eight and a half dozen cookies. Six for the cookie exchange, and two and a half for us to enjoy at home.

 

I posted about making the cookies on my Facebook page, and one of my friends said she thought I was amazing. I wrote back and told her that I'm only "partially amazing". When I finished cleaning up after making all those cookies, I took an hour-long nap before dinner. lol (Nothing like keeping it real for you, right?) 

I'm well-rested now, and ready to decorate these bears! I'm going to use royal icing again, and we'll see how ambitious I am with the decorations. I know that however they get iced, they'll be tasty. It really is a never-fail recipe. The party's tomorrow, so I'd better get cracking so they set up properly before I have to box them up again. 

I'll share pictures of the completed cookies (and the appetizer I'm taking with me), on Monday. I'll share that recipe then, too. 

 

Happy December!

Like A White Wing Dove...

Dove-Shaped Cutout Cookies

Just Kinda Almost like a white wing dove. 

My six dozen cookies are done for the Sunday Cookie Exchange! I haven't made a cutout cookie since I was a little kid, so I'm thinking I was pretty bold to assume I could just channel Sweet Ambs without any practice.

Truthfully? I'm exhausted by my first effort. The cookies are really tasty. I used this recipe from In Katrina's Kitchen blog, and love everything about it. I let them sit over night before decorating them.

Dove-shaped Cookies With Eyes

 

I've been watching video tutorials for quite a long time, so I had just enough knowledge to be dangerous. It took me about four hours to decorate six dozen cookies. They're not gorgeous, but they're kind of pretty and the do taste good thanks to the recipe I linked for you.

I had completed icing the first two dozen cookies, and then I sprinkled sparkling sugar on the still-wet icing. I set those aside and started icing the next dozen. When the icing on the first cookies was hard set, I added eyes...and immediately regretted it. I just didn't like them. The last four dozen cookies didn't get eyes.

Party - and my Birthday - is tomorrow. I'll get pictures of everyone's cookies to share, too. I can feel the added pounds already. sigh

Happy Weekend, Friends.