Week #2 H2H Blog Give Away

The weather is mild - no snow on the roads and it is predicted to stay like this for the next few days so it makes a perfect time to get out there and finish your Christmas shopping.  I've got some sewing to finsih but things are looking good!  Hearts To Holly has lots of great gift ideas - some ready to wrap and others that require some sewing but either way they would make great stocking stuffers or a nice hostess gift.  So put on your Santa hat, sing your favorite carols, and enjoy the sights, sounds and scents of the season!

This is week #2 for Hearts To Holly's Blog Give Away and this week we will be giving a Holly Bunch (12 corrdinated fat quarters) and a Holly Bunch pattern.  Holly Bunch patterns are patterns that have been designed specifically for Hearts To Holly by Valerie (our oldest daughter) and use 12 fat quarters - all cut the same way - for the quilt top.  You can then add borders if you want - and it makes a nice lap size quilt.  We currently have 7 Holly Bunch patterns and I hear that there might be some more in the near future.

Rules are the same - sign on as a follower of our blog and post a comment. Or if you have already signed on as a follower - just post a comment and you will be entered into the drawing for Saturday, December 17.

Have an absolutely wonderful week - Happy Quilting!

First Winner

Our first blog winner is "Nettie".  Nettie wins the Snap Sack kit which makes the beautiful Christmas wall hanging.  Congratulations, Nettie!

Thanks to everyone who participated!

Today starts the beginning of the 2nd contest.  Rules are the same - join the blog and post a comment (make sure you post a comment) and your name will be entered into our drawing for next Saturday, December 17.

I need to take a picture of this week's prize so stay tuned - will post it tomorrow!

Countdown to Christmas

One of our customers told us about a great block - the disappearing four patch.  It is a fun and easy block that looks really great! 

We started with charm squares and made a four patch using two lights and two dark charms. After sewing them together to get the four patch, press and lay on a cutting mat that you will be able to turn.  Measure from the center seam - we measured 1 1/2 inches from the center - you can measure any increment that you want - and cut, then turn the mat (don't move the block once you start cutting), measure from the center seam - same distance - and cut.  Continue until you have made four cuts from the center seam - one on each side.

You now have nine squares that you can arrange in any format you would like and sew together.  This is what we did with ours -

 Isn't it a great looking block? Think of all the possibilities!

Christmas is just a few weeks away and in the spirit of giving, we will have three give aways - one on  December 10, December 17 and December 24.  Just post a comment during the week before the give away date and you will be entered into our drawing.  Our prize for December 10 will be a snap sack kit for the wall quilt pictured above.  The snap sacks are complete - everything you need to finish this project is included.  So don't delay - post your comment today! 

Better and Better

We (Hearts To Holly, Delphine's Quilt Shop and Cousin's Quilt Shop) are currently hosting our first Demo Daze and it has been really well received.  We are giving some great demos - some really fun, easy and quick gift ideas that can be sewn up well before Christmas. 

Some of the things we are showing are the Ten Minute Tablerunner - we actually call it the 15 Minute Tablerunner because we have added a small strip to each side to perk it up a little bit, the 20 Minute Pillowcase, East Mitered Placemats, Napkins that fold into a beautiful tree shape - really pretty - and coasters.  You can make a beautiful tablescape with all of these items (20 Minute Pillowcase shortened and used as a chair cover) - what great ideas!

So we have been busy and are enjoying seeing our quilters while they are out shopping and enjoying the festive Holiday atmosphere.  Mother Nature has even blessed us with great weather to be out and about. It has been good!

Next week we have some more goodies planned so be sure to stay tuned and if you don't get our newsletter, you can subscribe at http://www.heartstoholly.com/

Have a great weekend!
 

Special Treat

I wasn't sure that I would have time to post again before Thanksgiving but I do have a few minutes. 
Thought I would share with you a great recipe for something a little different - would be a great treat for everyone after their scrumptous Turkey dinner.  This is one of my sister Viv's great recipes and everyone at Chatter Time loves it - so if you want to make one more great treat here you go -

Cranberry Upside Down Cake

Topping
1 1/3 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup butter

2 1/2 cups fresh cranberries
1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Cake Batter
1 cup butter, room temperature
1 1/2 cups sugar
4 eggs,
2 cups sour cream
2 tsp vanilla
3 cups flour
3 t. baking powder,
2 t. baking soda
1 t. cinnamon,
1/2 t. salt

Line 9 X 13 pan with foil. In saucepan, combine brown sugar, 1/2 cup butter. Bring to boil, pour into pan and spread to edges. Sprinkle with cranberries and pecans. Cream together 1 cup butter, sugar, eggs, sour cream, and vanilla. Add in flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Mix just until moist. Pour batter over cranberry mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 60 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out clean. Cool in pan for 10 minutes, then invert onto serving platter and carefully remove foil. Serve warm.

Enjoy and Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

It's the beginning of the holiday season with Thanksgiving this Thursday - can time go any faster? 

We had the opportunity to go downstate this past Friday to Battle Creek to watch the Charlevoix Girls Volleyball team participate in their first ever state semi-finals.  It was good to see the many Charlevoix supporters and the girls did great!  They did not win their match however they tried hard and their attitude was great!  Way to go Lady Rayders!

After watching those games, we then headed over to Ann Arbor and showed our granddaughter, Maddie, Michigan Stadium. What a sight - even in the dark!  Then we stayed near Flint where Maddie and I shopped on Saturday while Papaw Mike went to the  Michigan/Nebraska game.  Go Blue! 

While driving home Saturday evening, we couldn't help but notice all of the Christmas decorations already in place and lighting up neighborhoods. It won't be long before Santa is loading up his sleigh!

At the shop we are getting ready for Demo Daze - December 1, 2, and 3.  We will have lots of great demos plus great quick and easy gift ideas - some to make - some already made for you!  Always something to do - do you think that has anything to do with time moving so quickly?  And talking about so much to do and get ready for guess we better get to the shop - have a great week, a wonderful Thanksgiving and Happy Quilting!

Fall and more

When we were getting ready for our 4th Anniversary at the shop, we put some pumpkins on the shop porch and at the classroom door.  They looked really good so we just kept them there.  This past Monday morning when we got to the shop, the squirels were having a pumpkin feast and pumpkin seeds were everywhere.  But they - the squirels - small red ones and the larger gray ones - were so entertaining we kept the pumpkins there for another day.  They are going to be fat little squirels!

One of our customers brought these cute little ornaments that she made in to the shop. They are really cute and she is going to do a class for us - yea!

 



Have a great day and happy quilting!