TeaTime Mug Mats

I'm having fun making these little mug mats for friends & relatives.

These are going off to two tablescapers who love to

shop for bargains together.

Can you guess who they might be???

Hint:

I'm joining The Tablescaper for her

The fabrics that I used on both of these have been

mellowing in my *resource center* for YEARS!!

It was a line called "TEATIME" fabrics put out by Hoffman Media

in combination with their book,

"TEATIME", which I still have.




It has some darling projects that I'd love to make

but I can't find the fabrics anymore!

I only have some small pieces left from

prior projects.

The two table toppers, below,

were some of the very first quilting projects I ever did.

In fact, there is very little quilting on them...

I was so afraid I would ruin them that all I did was

"stitch in the ditch" to anchor the layers together,

then used my embroidery machine to add some

red work teacups...well, really PINK teacups.

I still have the pink one up on the wall of my sewing room.

The blue one, below, I gave away.

It is fun to look back at how far I've come,

yet I feel I still have so much to learn!

I'm not as afraid of doing free motion quilting now.

In fact, I had lots of fun doing the stippling on the mug mats.

Check out those tiny squiggles around the teapots!!
You get a trapunto look that makes the teapots feel 3-D.
The word "trapunto" means "to embroider" in Italian.

Long ago, in Italy, the women would cut the back of the project

and stuff it with batting, then sew up the hole

to achieve the same effect.


I have a few more in my head that I want to make,

then its on to other UFO's that I've neglected.

Never enough time!!!

Thanks for visiting...stop by anytime...

I'll be in the lower level, sewing up a storm today since its raining...AGAIN!

fondly,

EDIT TO ADD:

Donna from Brynwood Needleworks has a great tutorial on how to make these.

Go HERE.

Clothespin Cookies

As promised, here is my recipe for Clothespin Cookies.

I've been making these cookies, literally, for DECADES!

I have tinted the creme fillings to coordinate with high school &

then college graduations, bridal showers, teas, weddings &

have even made them in plain white for a funeral or two, as well.

Here is the recipe, but I warn you...it takes all day!
CLOTHESPIN COOKIES

Cookie Ingredients:

• 1 pkg of Crisco in sticks, (NOT Butter Flavor)
• 3 Cups all purpose flour
• 3 Tbsp. sugar
• 2 egg yolks (save the whites for filling)
• 1 1/4 Cups water

Filling Ingredients:

• 1 stick unsalted butter
• 2 Tbsp. Crisco shortening
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1 Cup granulated sugar
• 2 egg whites, saved from making cookies
• 1/2 Cup hot milk

Cookie Directions: START EARLY!

To make the pastry, sift sugar & flour together,
then cut in 2 Tbsp. of Crisco shortening,
add 2 egg yolks & 1 1/4 Cup water.

Mix well & refrigerate 2 hours in same bowl.
Roll out into a rectangle on a well floured board.
Spread 2 Tbsp. Crisco over the top, fold over three times.
Wrap in plastic wrap & refrigerate 1 hour.

Repeat the rolling out & spreading of 2 Tbsp. of Crisco & the folding two more times,
refrigerating for 1 hour in between each application of Crisco, then when complete, keep in refrigerator for at least 2 MORE hours before shaping cookies.

I have both wooden clothespins & metal dowels

for shaping the cookies around.

Do not use wooden dowels from a lumber store...they are chemically treated & not food safe!

Using 1/4 of the dough, roll into 6" x 18" rectangles.
Cut into strips 1/2" x 6" each.
Roll each strip loosely on clean, old-fashioned wooden clothespins or metal dowels.

Overlap the edges to prevent spaces when baking.
I start at the open end of the clothespin & roll down to the knob.
(don't use the French clip kind with the metal hinge)

Place on cookie sheets & Bake 12 min. at 350º.
I use parchment paper but you don't have to.

Let cookies cool for 5 minutes before taking off rods but do remove while they are still slightly warm, as they will release easier.
Put your hand around the entire cookie & gently twist, then pull.
Do not pull on just the cookie itself or it will break.
They are very flaky & fragile! Allow to cool completely before filling. Use a pastry bag or cookie press to insert cream filling, below.

Filling Directions:

Cream the 2 Tbsp. shortening & 1 stick of butter together.
Add 1 Cup granulated sugar & beat until dissolved.
Add 2 egg whites (that you saved after making the cookie dough)
and 1 tsp. vanilla & mix well.

Add hot milk only 1 Tbsp. at a time, beating until creamy.
Divide dough & lightly tint in desired colors...pale shades look the most appetizing.
Dust with powdered sugar just before serving.
These freeze well IF you have any leftover!

Lavender & Yellow for Easter Pink & Green for Delta Zeta sorority or any occasion Blue and/or Pink for baby showers
Bridesmaids' dress colors for weddings
Plain White for Funerals

I'm joining noted author, Michael Lee at

Designs by Gollum

for her weekly meme

Foodie Friday.

I hope you go visit her & find tons more recipes to try.

Thanks for visiting me here at The Gazebo House, too.

I'm always thrilled & you're welcome anytime.

fondly,

Sugar Content Email

WHAT A UNIQUE WAY TO PRESENT THIS...


Each sugar cube is a teaspoonful.






































I think I'll have sliced strawberries on Special K today!

How about you?

My Baby Sister's Visit!

My baby sister came to visit for the first time

since we moved into our new home!


She loves yellow roses, so I had this bouquet waiting

for her in the guest room,

along with some chocolate candy on each bed.

She & her husband live in Gilbert, AZ

so we mostly go to see THEM.

They're not big on Ohio weather! LOL

It was chilly & rained just about the entire time they were here.




We had my two other sisters & my brother, along with his wife

join us for a big family dinner.

One vegan, three diabetics & one gluten-intolerant person

made menu planning VERY challenging!

I served beef tenderloin, baked potatoes

coated with kosher salt & olive oil...

not butter (animal product)

Marinated green beans, Cowboy Caviar

(both Vegan recipes later this week)





My sister & I shopped a few rainy days & found this beehive dispenser at

Tuesday Morning for only $20!
SCORE!!

That's my contribution to "Nifty Thrifty Tuesday".




You will be seeing it used in many more tablescapes,

especially out in the Gazebo!




Since our Spring flowers are just beginning to open,

I had a few indoors for splashes of color.





Can't forget to show you one of the desserts!

Whats left of them, anyway.

I'm SO bad about taking photos once everyone arrives.

These "clothespin cookies" didn't fit anyone's diet...

they're full of butter & fat & sugar

but they were soooo good & a family tradition from long ago.





I'll share that recipe later too but I'm warning you...

it is very labor intensive!



I'm joining The Tablescaper for her


Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for



and Linda at Coastal Charm

for herand Kim

at Savvy Southern Style

for her



Please stop by their beautiful blog to see all the pretty participants?

Thanks, too, for visiting The Gazebo House.

I wish all of you could have come to dinner with us.

We had a blast!

fondly,