Bad Blogger

I'm finding the spaces between my posts are getting farther apart. I guess not much to blog about. I do have a few projects to share. At out last quilt group I had a table topper I made for my Mother-In-law, a fun Valentine topper that used up some of my red and white stash, and a easy purse that I made as an example to teach a class at church. I love all the easy projects that whip up fast. (Unlike the strip quilt i'm working on now). I also finished a quilt that had been done for a couple of years except for the quilting. I put brown minkee on the back and gave it to Andrew for his 18th Birthday. It is super warm and snugglie and very boyish with all the fun earthy plaids. My mom did an amazing job quilting it as always.

String of Stars

Today I had sooooo much fun starting to turn this.....

Into this....


This is a Buggy Barn pattern that is going to use up some of my scraps. Now I only have 40 more block to go. WHAT WAS I THINKING. Oh well, some of my friends are joining me in this little project.
Misery Loves Company. (it really is super fun)!!!!!

Hollis Family 2010

Simple Abundance

This year for our quilt group Christmas party we decided to do a block exchange instead of a gift exchange. Can I say it was an absolute blast. We decided on the fabric line of Simple Abundance by Bonnie and Camille. Our block needed to be 10 and 1/2 unfinished and the rest was up to us. Take a look at darling blocks I came home with yesterday.

ELAINE (our wonderful hostess)

HEIDI

MICHELLE


DEBBIE JENSEN

MARAE (my cute mom)

MARENE

BECKY

KIM

ANDIE

VAL

CAROL

DEBBIE BOYER

I am soooooo lucky to be a part of such a wonderful group of talented, nice, darling, funny, creative, domestic women. I LOVE you all. Merry Christmas 2009.

Well Done!

Heather finished her service mission this week. We are so proud of all her hard work and dedication this past year. Children all over the world will benefit from the 100's of school bags she filled...

Families will be so grateful for the thousands of hygiene kits she assembled...

Young and old can keep their heads cozy with the many hats she made...

And people everywhere will stay warm from the quilts she helped trim and get finished.

Thank you Ned and Marene Ellsworth for all the countless hours you spend helping Heather and many others learn to serve.

And thanks Marene for the David Archuleta Christmas CD.

AND IN JUST A FEW SHORT WEEKS ANOTHER HOLLIS MISSIONARY WILL FINISH HIS MISSION!!!!!!!!! WE CAN'T WAIT TO WELCOME HOME ELDER HOLLIS.

We got our GROOVE on tonight BABY!

Tricks & Treats

When family calls don't we all come to their aid? Well, my sister Jenny needed a place to host her students piano recital so I said I would be glad to do it. The kids all dressed up in their costumes and performed a number and then were invited to the kitchen for some spooktacular treats. My mom, Jenny, and a few other moms brought all the treats and I just provided the house but I just had to show how cute some of the goodies were. First, here is Jenny and her daughter Emma.

Here is my island filled with yummy treats. I thought the apples were so cute with crooked sticks from orange trees. The little cupcakes were frosted with black sesame seeds for the eyes.



What a fun night to perform and have fun. Everyone did a great job.
The caramel apples were to die for and made from scratch. None of this unwrapping store bought stuff.
Here is the recipe for the

Carmel Apples
2 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
1 cube butter
1 cup light Karo syrup
1 can sweetened condensed milk

Bring the sugar, butter and Karo to a boil stirring constantly. Reduce heat to low and boil 7 minutes. Add the can of sweetened condensed milk and continue to cook on low to the higher end of the soft ball stage. Dip granny smith apples that have been washed and dried into the carmel. Place on a cookie to set-up and cool. Makes about 20 small apples.