Friday, March 30, 2012

Bountiful Beauties Give-a-way

The winner of last week's Ms. Pinny Cush pincushion and pattern is:  Prim2Pink


I know I have created a successful pattern when quilters embellish and add their own creative touches to personalize the quilt.  Bountiful Beauties is one of those patterns, it makes me so happy to see that a quilter is having fun with the design.  The blog this week is inspired by Paula who emailed me a picture of her finished Bountiful Beauties quilt. 

 Paula writes:  "I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy quilting your designs. I have made the dogs, cats, bugs quilts and have several other patterns I can't wait to start . hope you like the additions I added in the bathing beauties...Once I got the girls done I needed to fill it in a bit so I got my grand daughters coloring books out and added a few things so it would be large enough to cover the area where I'm going to hang it at the cottage. The border fabric I picked up in maui when we where there last spring I was so excited when I saw it I could hardly wait to get home...Thanks again  for making quilting fun."


Here are some more Bountiful Beauties that quilters have emailed us.  I love all the embellishments!








 





Here is my original version of Bountiful Beauties, you can purchase it here:


Our give-a-way this week is a free Bountiful Beauties pattern as well as these stunning sunglasses to get you in the mood for sunny weather!  Comment to this post on your favorite embellishment to use on a quilt or on a favorite vacation spot to enter to win the give-a-way.  We will post the winner next Friday April 6th.

 

Have a great weekend!!!!  Amy

Friday, March 23, 2012

Pin Cushion Give -a-way


The winner of last week's necklace give-away is: Madame Samm
Our give-a-way this week is a free "Ms Pinny Cush" pin cushion and our pattern to make even more for all your friends. We came out with this pattern last fall when I wanted to take one of my funny drawings and turn it into a pin cushion.  http://www.amybradleydesigns.com/mspicupipa.html
If you have been following this blog you know that I sort of go crazy for pin cushions.  To enter the give-a-way, comment on if you are an extreme pinner or a lackadaisical pinner when you sew.  Next Friday March 30th we will choose a winner at random from the comments.
I took some photos of my last three acquisitions to share with you.






                                    

I also wanted to share another recipe that I served at the girls weekend.  This is a super easy dessert. My son Adam requests this for his birthday each year.  You can also substitute your favorite ice cream.  We have made this with chocolate mocha almond ice cream too. Yum!

To make two mint ice cream pies:
Two ready made chocolate pie crust
Two jars of chocolate fudge topping
One 1/2 gallon of mint ice cream

Remove plastic protector lid from crust.  Save for later to use as a lid for the dessert.  Remove lid from fudge toppings and warm in microwave following label instructions.  I use 3/4 of each jar on each crust and the other 1/4 I use to drizzle over top after pies are frozen.  I pour some of the fudge topping on the bottom of each crusts and spread it around.  I then use the back of a spoon to spread spoonfuls on the sides going in one direction only.  If your topping is not warm enough you can make the crust pick up because it is too sticky.  Once the topping is spread over each crust I  put the crusts in the freezer without the lids to freeze.  I wait about 30 minutes and then take out the ice cream to soften. How fast it softens depends on the temperature in your house.  Once softened I divide the ice cream into the two crusts and put each of the lids on and freeze for a couple of days before I serve it.  You can warm up the rest of the topping and drizzle over each piece, top with a dollop of whip creme and put 1/2 of a small mint patty on each piece for a pretty presentation.

For a fancier version of this dessert go to this link on the new TV show "The Chew"and click on Clinton'w chocolate chip mint ice cream torte.  http://beta.abc.go.com/shows/the-chew/episodes/March-20-2012  He triples the calories!


Have a great weekend!  It has rained the last week so I am looking forward to our forecast for a sunny weekend to dry out.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

The reason I missed my 6:00 a.m. exercise

I shot this photo on the morning this calf was born.  I think it has been raining non-stop since then.  Where is Noah and his ark?
I hope you are all having a good day.  My husband John and I had the pleasure of walking around in the pouring rain and mud last night at midnight to bring up a cow so that we could pull her calf.  My boot got stuck and I fell down in total muck and poo and all I could do was laugh because John was saying "No, not that way...go the other way."    I could barely walk in that stuff and hold on to my cell phone at the same time so that he could give me directions.  It was pretty comical.  I now know why cow men get married.  They need a full time assistant for calving season!   It was the latest I have taken a bath in a long time.   I also spent four hours on Friday afternoon watching a cow in labor.  We had to pull that calf too.  We usually only have to pull 2 or 3.  I hope this means we are done pulling calves for this season.

Also last night....
I look forward with anticipation for "Dancing with the Stars".    http://www.mlive.com/tv/index.ssf/2012/03/dancing_with_the_stars_2012_pr.html   The season premier was so good last night!  There will be so many fun ones to watch.  I love Monday night TV.... "Dancing with the Stars" and "Castle". 

Friday, March 16, 2012

Girls Weekend Fun and Give-a-way

The winner for last week's St. Patrick's Day kit give-a-way is Joann.  
Thanks for sharing all your favorite green things!


We had so much fun this last weekend at my house!  We probably kept you all up laughing and playing cards.  Saturday night we played Hand and Foot (a card game) until 3:30 a.m..  We did NOT want to stop but we had to start thinking sensible at some point in the weekend. We definitely didn't eat anything sensible on our diets.  The diet plan flew out the window as soon as they stepped foot in my house!  My family is the best!  I know you are all saying ...no mine is the best...but we can all have our own opinions!   We even caught ourselves arguing over who was going to clean up the dishes.  Now that is a good family!


My sister, mom and I each bought one of these buttons. We then put them on and when my husband came home we stood in a line.  We introduced ourselves with " Hi my name is ...... and I'm a loud talker."  He cracked up because this side of the family are very loud talkers.  It is embarrassing.  We are working on this affliction that causes non-family members to hold phone receivers at arms length and find our voices easily in any store.


Friday morning we got facials and bought lots of new make-up because my niece Katie is selling Mary Kay now.  Apparently we made her month...I mean quarter.  We love Katie and we love our new make-up.  A side note: The concealer is the best I have ever tried and I love, love the eye primer so that my eye shadow will stay on all day.  We then sat our behinds down at my dining room table and played Liverpool Rummy and Skip-Bo the rest of the day. (both card games.)  Did I mention we are a game playing family?  Below, my future daughter-in-law Megan (in the black t-shirt) is probably wondering what kind of family she is getting herself into!


Saturday we went into Kansas City to my distant cousin Jane's new store.  Her store is called "Junque Drawer Studio." http://junquedrawerstudio.com   It is FABULOUS and you could see new and different stuff every time you walked around it. My sister-in-law Devra kept pointing to everything and saying ...come see this...come see this!  We just followed each other around laughing at all the sayings on signs, magnets, notepad.... We quickly found all sorts of treasures to buy.  Four of Jane's family members were there that day.  They all love hanging out together too.  It's really not working when you have so much fun together!


Our give-a-way this week is a necklace from Jane's store.  Comment to this post on something high calorie that you have eaten this week to make me feel better to enter our give-a-way.  I am trying to be good now so don't describe it too deliciously!!!  We will choose the winner next Friday March 23rd.


Saturday morning my niece Lisa made us banana stuffed french toast.  This is a photo before I drenched it with syrup.  It has cream cheese in it too.  Can you spell FATTENING with all caps!  It was so good and remember no diets were to be found on this weekend!  I have other recipes and photos that I will give out in later posts from this calorie laden weekend.


Banana Stuffed French Toast
Source: Down Home With the Neelys


4 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup light brown sugar
Pinch ground cinnamon
3 ripe bananas, peeled, cut into 1/2-inch-thick rounds
4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
1 large unsliced loaf French bread, bread cut into 8 slices that are about 2 inches thick (I like the suggestion that Heather mentioned. She said croissants are amazing in this recipe.)
4 large eggs
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 1/2 cups whole milk
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon rum extract
Nonstick cooking spray
Confectioners' sugar, for garnish
Maple syrup, for garnish

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Melt butter in a heavy bottomed skillet over medium heat. Once butter is melted add the brown sugar and pinch of cinnamon. Stir with a wooden spoon until the sugar melts into the butter and becomes a sauce. Add bananas and toss together. Let cook until the bananas are soft and incorporated into the sauce. Remove to a bowl and let cool completely. Once cool, add cream cheese and mash lightly with a wooden spoon.
Using a paring knife, cut a 2-inch-long slits in 1 side of each bread slice (or croissant), cutting 3/4 of way through bread and creating pocket that leaves 3 sides of bread intact. Divide banana mixture equally among the bread pockets.
In a large bowl, add eggs, heavy cream, milk, cinnamon and rum and whisk to combine. Pour mixture into a 13 by 9-inch casserole dish. Put the bread into the egg mixture and let soak for 3 minutes, turning occasionally. Remove the bread from egg mixture, using a spatula, letting the excess drain off.
Spray a wire rack with nonstick spray and put the rack on a baking sheet. Put the bread on the rack and transfer to the oven.
Bake the French toast until it is golden brown and filling is hot, about 25 minutes. Transfer the toast on a serving platter and garnish with confectioners' sugar and maple syrup.




That's it from Lawrence, Kansas.  Have a great week and don't forget to leave your sewing long enough to enjoy the sunshine.  It's time to open the windows!

Friday, March 9, 2012

Girls Weekend and St. Patricks Day Give-a-way

The winner of the Quilt Diva fat quarter give-a-way from last Friday is Deb G in VA
Thanks for all your Diva comments, I so enjoy reading what everyone is working on!
Mom and Princess Rowan putting together a puzzle
Mom turned 75 last July.  I asked her what she wanted for a party and she said another girl's weekend like I had for my 50th.  Due to scheduling difficulties of 7 busy women and one retired birthday girl we just now are getting together this weekend!  The party is on!  We loved when we got together before for my birthday .  We laughed, cried and shared.



Whenever we need all the guest rooms.  My daughter Ashley and I go into folding mode in the room where all the quilts are stacked.  I am so glad that a bunch of quilts are traveling around in trunk shows or there would be more folding!!!   No one is ever going to be cold in the home of a quilter!


In honor of St. Patrick's Day coming up we are giving away a kit and pattern to make this small wall-hanging next Friday.  Remember "Pat" in the old Saturday Night Live" episodes.  That's what I think when I look at this character that I designed.  Is it a she....or a he?????   Tell me something green that you own that you really like a lot, and then post to this entry before next Friday March 16th to be entered in the giveaway.  Spinach would not be a thing I would write about!!!
Have a great week!  Amy

Friday, March 2, 2012

Quilt Diva Quilt by Julie plus another Give-a-way

Happy Friday!  The winner of last week's Happy Howlidays give-a-way is: Sharon B
Thank you for all your comments.  This week I want to share an amazing quilt emailed to me by Julie.  Julie named this her Alter Ego quilt and used my Quilt Diva fabrics.  I love it!

   

Each border she did something different.  Super Creative!




The back of the quilt is amazing too! Not only did she not have to buy a backing fabric but she used up her left over blocks!  This is so much more interesting then a plain backing.

You can read more about Julie's quilt on her blog here:
http://quiltdivajulie.blogspot.com/2012/02/alter-ego-quilt.html

The original Quilt Diva pattern below. It is still one of my best selling patterns.  I have had ladies do this pattern with leopard skin, fake fur, real charms and real spools around her neck to name just a few things.  I have had ladies pin all their pin collections in the borders of the quilt.  One lady said it will be her coffin quilt....oh my goodness!  One lady hung it up in her hospital room and all the nurses and doctors thought she must be a fun patient.  Shops have had Diva Days.  One quilt show had a Diva Alley because there were so many made up.  I just love hearing all the stories!

http://www.amybradleydesigns.com/abd170.html


In honor of Julie's Alter Ego quilt, I want to give-a-way a fat quarter pack of Quilt Diva fabrics this week.  Anyone that posts to this entry by next Friday March 9th will be entered to win the Quilt Diva fat quarters.  Let's share any projects you have made lately that make you a Quilt Diva (or anything else you want to post).  We will announce the winner on Friday March 9th as well as our next Friday give-a-way. 
Happy Quilting!!  Amy