Finally! A Dear Jane Block!

I have officially started my Dear Baby Jane Quilt. Yes!!! Here is the first block B13. I am, oh lets see, 21 blocks behind!!! :-0 I have a lot of catching up to do. I am hoping to show you more blocks next week (crossing my fingers). :-)

Making Butter How Cool Is That!

I thought this was really neat. I did this a couple of months ago with my children but am just now getting around to posting the pictures I took on my butter making attempt, which was very successful, I might add. :-)

You will need the following:
1. Jar
2. Heavy Whipping Cream
5. Salt (optional) I did not use any.
4. An arm that is in really good shape to shake, shake, shake, LOL!

The first thing you need to do is let your whipping cream sit out on the counter so it will get to room temperature. I only let mine sit out for about 4 hours or so. The longer it sits out the less sweet your butter will be. When the whipping cream is at room temperature pour it into the jar and tighten the lid. Now it's time to exercise those arms, shake, shake, shake that jar! That's right your doing fine! LOL! Anyway, keep shaking. The jar will be white for a while, then you will notice the milk starting to separate from the sides at this point the butter is start to form. Keep shaking until the butter starts to solidify. At this point you can stop and pour the butter milk out, then place the lid back on and keep shaking. When you have more butter milk stop and repeat pouring butter milk out. Keep doing this until you have no more butter milk. Take the butter out of the jar and place in a bowl, pour a little cold water over it and start patting it with a spoon so to take out any remaining milk out of the butter. Repeat cold water process until no more butter milk comes out of the butter. Drain. Your done! You can also clean the butter milk off of the butter while it is still in the jar if you like, rather then putting it in a bowl. Save the butter milk to use in banana bread or blueberry muffins. Yummy! Oh, how good is that! :-) You can also use a Kitchen Aid mixer. That's right let the blender do all the work for you. Try it and let me know how your butter turns out. This is a great thing to do with your children. All though I have to say I think I was more excited about the whole process then they were. LOL! It might be because I really like real butter. My motto for butter is "if you can't see it, there's not enough on it". I have to say, I am getting better and not using so much, now if I can just cut back on the sour cream (my other weakness) then I'll really be doing good. LOL!

A little side note to all my faithful readers, sorry for not being very good at posting this month. I promise I will do better next month. I will be posting some of my sampler quilt blocks soon. Remember the Dear Jane quilt project? I will be starting that soon also. I finally got the computer program for it, now I just need to find the time to start the blocks. I hope to be posting some of those soon also. A new thing I want to start on my blog is posting a really good recipe every month. Check back in May for my second recipe post.

Remember if you try the butter come back and let me know how it went and what method you used. :-)

The Pink Artist Doll "Love Squared" Reveal

The Doll is finished! Her name, "Love Squared". She wears 180 two inch squares. 182 artist total created her. She is just under 40" tall and weighs 6 lbs 2 ounces. Monica said it beautifully "She smiles because already she knows love and is able to give love unconditionally. To many she is a symbol of hope. She stands for courage and was built by a community of givers."

In case you missed my earlier post about The Pink Artist Doll let me catch you up on what I am talking about. Monica Magness of Girl Gone Thread Wild had an idea to make a doll to help raise money for breast cancer research. She asked for artists to make two 2" squares. I answered the call and sent in two squares. I did this for my sister-in-laws mother Gail and all the other beautiful ladies in the world who have had to fight cancer. Love Squared has been sent into Art Doll Quarterly, who is going to do an article on the doll. The doll will be auctioned off on eBay at a later date. The money raised will go to Susan G. Komen For The Cure. I will keep you updated on what is going on with doll as I find out. :-)

Below are the squares that I made for the doll. Feel like playing I spy? LOL! You can see one of my squares on both bottom row close up pictures. The square that is shown has one of my favorite quotes, "Beautiful people cause beautiful things to happen".

Last but certainly not least I want to thank Monica Magness for thinking up such a wonderful idea and seeing it through to the end. You did a beautiful job Monica! Hats off to you!!!

All About Quilting

O.K. this may be a long one. First I wanted to show you the miniature quilt I made for a Fairy Quilt Swap. My dollhouse baby was trying it out before I sent if off to Pennsylvania, so I had to take pictures. LOL! I know all the beads are a choking hazard but I am almost positive she won't choke. LOL! I am still waiting for my fairy quilt to arrive in the mail, my swap partner sent it out yesterday so I am thinking I will get it the end of next week. The quilt I am waiting for won't be for a fairy but for my dollhouse baby, which I still need to name. Any suggestions? I am calling baby's doll Charlotte, because that is what she is a Frozen Charlotte doll. I know it's not very original, but I like it. :-)

Second, remember the Sampler Quilt class the president of my guild was teaching? Tada! Here are my first two blocks. I am almost done with the third block. I have to have it done by next Thursday, so I will post a picture of it next week. The first block is a nine patch block called Sawtooth Patchwork. The idea of the first block was to do a nine patch. We could do any nine patch we wanted so of course I choose the more "difficult" one I was told. It really was not hard and I rather liked the way it turned out. :-) The second block we did was the Flying Dutchman. I did mine so it looked like a pinwheel in the center. The third block.....well, I can't tell you! You will have to wait and see it next week. Hehehe!

Third, I am going to embark on another quilt journey. Yes that's right I am going to make a Dear Jane Quilt. I have been wanting to make one for years now and have decided that this is a great time. A friend and I had been discussing the idea of making one over at Quilting Friends and she told me about a blog called Dear Baby Jane. They are making 2 blocks a week and are in their third week. I joined, but will have catching up to do since they have already done 6 blocks. I can do 3 of the blocks without the book. I am waiting for the book so I can get caught up on the rest of the blocks. There are a total of 225 blocks in the quilt, so you can see why I would like to do it with an organized group. LOL! I am wanting to make two quilts. I will start off using fabrics of today that way I will use some of the fabrics that I have and will buy more as I need them. I also want to make one using the Civil War reproduction fabrics like Jane's quilt. Maybe I bit off more than I can chew, I don't know, but I am sure going to do my best to stay up to date with the blocks every week. I will post on my progress on my Dear Jane quilt. :-)

My OWOH Winnings

I have received all of my prizes that I won from the One World - One Heart blog event. Yeah!!!

Thank so so much Danielle at The Vintage Dragonfly - I won a pack of vintage ephemera

Thank you Jolene at One Vintage Housewife - I won a pair of baby booties & a card

Thanks Jenny at Fated Follies Studio - I won My Big Ideas embellishments

Thank you Molly at Creative Life And Times - I won card & art supplies

Thank you ladies I love all my prizes. If you have some time take a look at these wonderful blogs. If you missed the whole OWOH thing and don't know what I am talking about visit here. :-)I plan on doing some prize giveaways in the future so check back so you don't miss out!

Ultimate Blog Party Game Winner!

Drum roll please!

The winner of my Ultimate Blog Party guessing game, and only being three away from the correct answer of 42 is.......

Angi from Teen Lit Review.

Congratulations! Angi has won a Tooth Fairy Pillow from Lisa Michelle Design.

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I am so happy to say that I won the Shaklee Basic H2 natural cleaner at Crunch Domestic Goddess Yeah!!!

Quilt Giveaway!

Giveaway is now over.

Enter to win a beautiful quilt from Old Red Barn Co. Dana is celebrating her 200th post. Go here for more info and to enter.


If you are here for the Ultimate Blog Party see post below. :-) Guess How many buttons are in the glass vase to win a pretty tooth fairy pillow.

It's A Bog Party!

The Guessing game is now over! Sorry you missed.

Welcome to the annual Ultimate Blog Party hosted by 5 Minutes For Mom. This is a female bloggers only party, sorry guys! LOL! This is my first year joining in on the fun, so welcome to my party pad! Visit 5 Minutes For Mom to find more bloggers that have joined the party.

As your host of this "party pad" let me introduce myself. My name is Lisa and I am a SAHM to three beautiful and creative children and wife to the love of my life, Steve! I am the designer of Lisa Michelle Design and I specialize in tooth fairy pillows and hair accessories for children. I love to create and surround myself with beautiful things. I enjoy sewing, quilting, decorating, gardening, singing, antiques and art.

Now for the fun stuff! You can't have a party without a game and a prize right? So here is what we are going to play, a guessing game! "How many jewel buttons are in the vase?" What you need to do is leave a comment and tell me how many antique jewel buttons you think are in the glass vase. You can click on the picture and get a closer view of the jar. I will choose the person with the right or closest answer. In the case that I have more than one person with the right or closest answer I will do a draw between those people for the prize. I will post a winner on Monday March 17th. When you leave a comment don't forget to leave me a way to contact you. If you don't have a link back to your blog please leave me your e-mail address or check back to see if you are a winner. If the winner does not have a way for me to contact them I will allow 3 days for the winner to contact me before I pick another winner.

Now for the prize! I am giving away a sweet tooth fairy pillow created by me. It has a small silver charm that you can use to personalize the pillow with a picture or an initial. The small organza pouch in the pocket is used to keep the tooth safe while it awaits the tooth fairy's visit. More tooth fairy pillows can be found at Lisa Michelle Design. If you live in a country that does not allow feathers please let me know when you comment and if you are the winner I can make you a pillow without feathers.

I will post a winner on March 17th. Good Luck!

Go here to win a bottle of Shaklee Basic H2 natural cleaner.

Go here enter a Watkins Spring Giveaway!

My "Pink Artist Project" Squares

I finally finished my "Pink Artist Project" squares and got them sent out a day before the deadline. Phew!!! (wiping my brow right now). The first square has a wonderful quote and my favorite quote that says "Beautiful people cause beautiful things to happen". The second square says "Love". These squares along with other pink artists squares will be sewn onto a large doll that is being made right now by Monica Magness. When it is finished the doll will be featured in Art Doll Quarterly Magazine. A blanket and journal with a page dedicated to each artist and a picture of their squares will accompany the doll. Later it will be auctioned off on eBay and all proceeds will go to Susan G. Komen For The Cure . I will keep you updated on the doll as I get word.

My "Pink Artist Project" Posts.

Update March 7th: "Hold on what was I thinking! I did get them out on the deadline date, which was March 1st. Boy was I cutting it close. :-)"

Pay It Forward, Surprises! & Dollhouses

I checked the mail today and guess what I found? A Pay It Forward surprise package from my friend Anna over at Sew Good Sew Far! She sent me this wonderful little pin cushion and made with fabric from one of my favorite fabric designers too, Amy Butler. Thank you so much Anna! It is greatly appreciated and much needed. :-)

I joined Pay It Forward at Anna's blog a couple of months ago but nobody chimed in on my post. So, I will offer it again now. The first 3 people who leave a comment and state "Pay It Forward" will receive a small gift from me to be sent some time in the next couple of months. In turn you continue the Pay It Forward goodness by giving a gift of kindness to someone else, they in turn give to someone else and the gift goes on. You can copy the picture above and add it to your post about Pay It Forward on your blog, if you don't have a blog find someone who would like to carry PIF on. Again, Please state that you want to "Pay It Forward" or "PIF" in your comment so I can tell the difference between those who are just commenting and those who would like to join Pay It Forward and give a gift to someone else. Please don't forget to leave a link to your blog or website or an e-mail if you do not have a site so I can get in contact with you.

Today was a double surprise of lovelies. I also got my first baby doll and dolly for my dollhouse. As some of you may know I am starting a dollhouse in a 1:12 scale to have in my sewing room. I really enjoy the little world of miniatures and dolls. I did not have a dollhouse when I was a little girl, so I will have one now. :-) I don't have a dollhouse yet but that's o.k. I will set it up on a shelf for now. I bought this little cutie from artist Beckie Holiday. She makes these beautiful dolls and their clothes. My purchase was of a 2" porcelain baby doll with jointed hands and legs, and a 1" porcelain frozen Charlotte. These are the most beautiful little baby dolls I have seen. They have such delicate features. I am so happy with my purchase that I plan to buy more from her. If you have a dollhouse or collect dolls you have to see her dolls here. Check back often she is always listing new dolls.

Since we are on the topic of dollhouses, does anyone know of any nice dollhouse swaps? I want so badly to join Club Little House but Amy over at Inspire Co. is not organizing a swap right now. If you hear of any please let me know. :-)

Oh, yes! I forgot to tell you about Turkey Feathers. It is a wonderful blog and She makes little bakery items for dollhouses. So guess what! I plan on buying some. :-) You can check out her etsy shop here. She also has the cutest little dollhouse bakery that you should check out here. Grace is the little baker. O.K. I think I remembered to tell you everything. Talk to you all later. :-)