Monday, February 23, 2009





I love to do the quilted balls in blue--my favorite color.
I was asked a question about them so posted a couple more pictures.

Friday, February 20, 2009

Texas Ranch Style Stew

1 cup small shell pasta
1 pound lean ground beef
1 meduim onion chopped
2 garlic cloves minced
3 cans (5 1/2 ozs each) reduced-sodium V8 juice
1 can (15 ozs) ranch style or baked beans undrained
1 can (14 1/2 ozs) southwestern diced tomatoes undrained (I used rotel)
1/2 cup frozen corn thawed
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Cook pasta according to package. Meanwhile in a large nonstick skillet, cook the beef, onion, green pepper and garlic over medium heat until meat is done. Drain. Stir in remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, simmer uncovered for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Drain pasta. Stir into stew. 6 servings

I also added some cajun seasoning to it all while simmering.


Bells and mouse were from a kit and the snowflakes we made several after buying one.
This quilted ball is one of the first I made and I have made alot since then.


This was a cardboard star box that I found (actually got a few) and I painted them all silver then sponged on gold paint. I used the box and traced out the star on 3 different materials for a front and back and cut them out using pinking shears. I also cut out a batting for the middle and I sewed the 3 pieces together. I just sewed with the batting in the middle, and the material with the right sides out. I put the 6 coasters in the box and had a gift.


The rectangle snowman is made from a pack of gum. Use freezer paper to wrap it, then paint on the face, tie on scarf and use alittle hot glue to put it on, then use pom poms and pipe cleaners. I have made several of them for favors. The one snowman is a baby food jar just sponged painted and a hole made in the lid to put a light in and hang it on the tree.


Here are a few more pictures of some craft items I have did. Pardon the black shirt that I used for a back ground. I was sorting material on it before taking pictures on it and it has pieces of batting and such on it.

Santa from a light bulb. A reindeer from a small wooden pot.

Friday, February 13, 2009


Some stain glass ornaments that we made with beads. So pretty on the tree with lights or hanging in a window.

Using an ice cream cone and a glass ball, then you drizzle some paint down it around the top and put little seed beads on the paint while wet. Then when dry hot glue the bulb onto the cone. Seal with a clear coat.



The next two pictures are of sweatshirts that I did for grandma. When she died last summer I got them back so will do pillows. They are quilt blocks sewn to a sweatshirt then just cut the material away.


These next couple of pictures are angel shelf sitters. Made with tiny terra cotta pots.

I crochet these soxs for little girls. Newborn on up.

Thursday, February 12, 2009



These two round ones, I cannot really get a good picture of so will probably not be to good. They are the little glass balls from garland that my DD paints on. This was the first one done about 5 or 6 years ago. It has a house on it with a little girl going down the hill from it and on the back side it has a tree with a snowman by it and then a deer. Wish I could get it better.



Here are a few pictures of the ornaments that I do for family members and close friends if they lose a loved one. Using flowers from the funeral or whatever the occasion, I let them dry for several weeks, then I tear them apart and put inside the ornament. I then shrink a picture down and put a few inside the ball and then also tie some onto the ball with fishing line. I replace the cap and put alittle hot glue around the cap. The round are my grandparents and the heart is my dad. I also do these with flowers from special occasions. (21st b'day, our 25th wedding ann., my grandparents 70th ann, and etc)
I will make these tom. for my co-workers for Valentines Day. Everybody ask for the recipe usually when eating these.

Buckeye Brownies

1 brownie mix (13X9)
2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup butter plus 6 tablespoons divided
8 oz. creamy peanut butter
6 oz. chocolate chips

Bake brownies according to directions. Let cool. Mix together powdered sugar, peanut butter and 1/2 cup butter. Spread it on the top of the brownines. Chill 1 hour. (It is a pretty thick layer) Melt chocolate chips and 6 tablespoons of butter in a saucepan. Stirring once in awhile. Let cool before cutting.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Check out the Snickerdoodle Muffin recipe that Vickie has posted on her blog. It is under my blog list. Uncommon Artistic Endeavors. I took them to work this a.m. and they loved them.
Here is a recipe that I have been making off and on for a year or so. I never seem to have any leftovers.

Chocolate Crunch Patties
2 cups (12 ounces) butterscotch chips
1 cup (6 ounces) milk chocolate chips
1 1/2 cups dry roasted peanuts
1 cup crushed thick ripple-cut potato chips

In a medium microwave safe bowl, combine butterscotch and chocolate chips. Microwave at 50% power for 2-4 minutes or until softened, stirring after each minute. Stir until smooth. Add peanuts and potato chips, mix well. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper lined baking sheets. Allow to harden. Yield: about 4 dozen. (Tested using a 700 watt microwave)

Chili-ghetti

Ran across this from a 2019 Simple & Delicious issue earlier this week.  Trying another recipe as I am typing this.  It is Apples & ...