Notes from the Patch

Fruit Pizza and Drinking The Kool-Aid

A couple of you asked for the dessert recipe we served at Bernina Club this month. It's SO easy because it starts with ready made Pillsbury Sugar Cookie dough. I'm usually one to make my cookies from scratch but these were so good and couldn't have been quicker. Great for a large group and perfect for the upcoming holiday and summer entertaining.

I made the cookies ahead of time but waited to assemble them just before serving so they would stay crispy. You can even let your guests assemble their own as shown above. The only thing I added was a premade strawberry glaze on top of the cream cheese. I love the bright red color it added.

These are the party favors I made for Bernina Club. They were quick and very inexpensive to make (the fun plastic straws are from The Dollar Tree - six for $1 and the Kool-Aid was five for $1 at Von's and Walmart).

It's ironic that we gave out Kool-Aid at Bernina Club since we've been accused by some husbands to have a mysterious hold over our members. Despite  popular  belief, Bernina Club is not a cult and it's members are free to come and go as they please.                                                         

                                                       Kool-Aid anyone?

You can find the free printable here.

What would we do without all the fun ideas we find on Pinterest?

Encourage one another,

          

The way I see it, this is the very best "problem" we could have

I got home after Bernina Club last night and got to make more of these

and more of these.

Then after only four hours of sleep,  got up extra early to make more kits for these -

our make-it-take-it project for March (tutorial to follow). Although we always plan enough kits and goodies for extra guests, we didn't anticipate such an overwhelmingly wonderful turnout! (You guys are just awesome)!

This morning before I hit the shower and head out the door for our Thursday morning Club, I linger over an extra cup of much needed coffee and thank God for your friendship and continued support.

We do love spoiling our customers!

Encourage one another,

Next Bernina Club is April 17 & 18. We hope you can join us - we already have it planned and it's going to be good! = )

Confucius Says...

When I first saw these adorable felt fortune cookies on the cover of Mollie Makes magazine I knew I had to make them. (I buy Mollie Makes at Barnes and Noble).

One thing led to another and before I knew it I had whipped up fifty of the little suckers for Bernina Club favors. They were so fun to do - even after fifty!

I inserted a printed paper fortune into each cookie predicting that club members would receive a discount on a future purchase. 

Although Mollie Makes also included a pattern for the take out boxes I took the easy way out and purchased mine at Paper Source. They are the perfect size for my diminutive cookies.

Confucius says: these would make fun favors for a New Years party, birthday parties, Chinese New Year, bridal or baby showers. You can customize the paper fortunes  for any occasion.

The idea and recipe for the individual cheesecakes that we served were from Pinterest.

I'm loving the canning jar craze right now and it's a great way to serve a large group.  You can check out this and other fun ideas here on my Pinterest board.

I'm linking up with my friend Beverly at My Sew Sweet Studio for Try Pinterest Thursday.

Encourage one another,

She's baack!

If you haven't met my new assistant Bianca, you may want to read this post first.

So Costco called. Seems they couldn't deal with Bianca's disruptive behavior. Something about food samples, the wine department and some Halloween costumes. I don't know. Bill immediately left to bring her home. (I think he secretly kinda missed her).

Anyway. She hadn't been back long before I found her in the pool. That water is bone chilling cold, but she didn't seem to mind one bit. I fear she may be anorexic or something because she spent most of the day swimming laps,

(I know it looks like she's sky diving with swim fins on but that's just the clouds reflexion in the water. She's such a graceful swimmer that she barely makes a ripple).

snorkeling,

kicking back

and just lounging around.

I even found her in my craft closet rifling through my stuff

and soaking her tired bones in my tub.

My assistant had become my nightmare. This just had to stop.

 

Parental discretion is advised 

The following image may be disturbing for sensitive types

Proceed with caution

 

I hope you won't find this too morbid but I think I have found the perfect solution to rid us of this annoying house guest once and for all.

Today I am linking up with my friend Beverly for Try Pinterest Tuesday. (I first saw this wreath idea there).

Talk about recycling!

Thank you Pinterest...for everything!

Encourage one another,

 

Decorations and confessions

Isn't it amazing how the simplest thing can make you so happy?

I love any excuse to decorate. Case in point, the stairwell which leads to my happy place.

Actually I can't think of a better place to decorate than the place that makes me the happiest. I guess you could say it's my "happiest place on earth"! Who needs Disneyland when you have your own personal place where you can go to dream, create, write, meditate and refuel?  

I love walking up the stairs seeing these popcorn filled votive jars and those paper silhouettes, which are apparently attracted to popcorn.

The LED candles have timers which I set to turn on when I get home from work.

To me they say, "Welcome home, come up and play - here, I'll show you the way".

While we're on the subject of happy places, I have a bit of a confession to make. You know how I've been on this creative roll - making dozens of  the same project week after week?

Well. I didn't do it all by myself.  I had some help.

Meet Bianca.

At first Bianca was the perfect assistant. She was productive, quiet and didn't eat much.

Bianca, can you say hello to our friends? (She's painfully shy).

One day last week I came home early from work and caught Bianca on my laptop, spread out on the couch watching The Addams Family.

The night I found her in bed with Bill was the night she gave me no choice.

I fired her skinny arse!

Yup, packed her up and sent her back where she belonged...Costco.

Ba bye Bianca.

Today I am linking to my friend Beverly's blog. It's Try Pinterest Tuesday where we actually try a pin we found on Pinterest. I found the inspiration for my stairwell there. Pop over to My Sew Sweet Studio and see what great Pinterest ideas Beverly has linked up.

Paper mice - Martha Stewart.

Candle jars - Strawberry Patches

LED candles - OSH

Bianca - Costco (I know they have at least one left).  = )

 

Encourage one another,