Merry Christmas!

I hope that all of you are enjoying this wonderful Christmas Season!  I know I am!  I love having my family all around me, seeing the anticipation in the grandkids faces and hearing all about the projects our customers are making for gift giving.  Isn't it a wonderful time of the year?

I thought that I would share a couple of recipes with you for the Holidays. The first one - Egg Nog - I have been making for about 30 years.  It was given to me by a neighbor, Elaine Crane.  (Of course, I tweaked it a little).  It is a Holiday staple at our house and I really hear about it if we run out!  This tastes best if made the day before.  Make sure you shake it well, during the making and each time you use it.  Be prepared to have enough ingredients on hand to make another batch.  One won't be near enough!

Egg Nog
2 small pkgs. vanilla instant pudding mix (I like the Jell-O brand best)
2 cups sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 gallon whole milk
nutmeg, to taste

Pour 3 cups milk in a blender.  Add pudding mix, sugar, vanilla and nutmeg.  Blend on high until well mixed.  Pour into gallon pitcher.  Pour 3 more cups milk into blender and blend.  This just gets all the leftover mixed in.  Pour into same pitcher with the rest of the milk.  (I actually pour it back into the milk jug.) You might have to do this gradually, as it tends to foam up a little.  Shake or stir well.  Chill.

The second recipe is for Candy Cane Brownie Truffle.  This one was from a co-worker - Annette Page.  Again, I have "tweaked" it a bit.  It is a great way to use up the candy canes that Santa left on the tree.  I took this to my Relief Society Christmas Party and came home with a scraped out dish!

Candy Cane Brownie Truffle

Brownie
1 cup butter
2 cups sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
4 eggs
1 cup flour
2/3 cup cocoa
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt

Melt butter in large saucepan.  Remove from heat.  Blend in sugar and vanilla. Cool slightly. Beat eggs with a fork, then mix well into sugar mixture.  Combine in a separate bowl; flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt. Gradually stir into egg mixture; mixing well but do not over beat. spread into a jelly roll pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Bake 20 minutes or 350 degrees until done.  Cool completely.

Truffle
2 pkgs. Milk Chocolate Mousse mix (Nestle or Dr. Oetker)
1 1/3 cups milk
1 pint heavy whipping cream
12 peppermint candy canes, crushed*
Brownies (above)

Mix mousse mix with milk.  In a separate bowl, add a few drops of lemon juice to the chip cream. This helps stabilize it.  Break up brownie into bite sized pieces and place 1/3 of them in the bottom of a trifle dish.  Spread 1/3 of mousse on top, then 1/3 of whipped cream.  Sprinkle with candy cane bits.  Repeat twice more EXCEPT on the last layer of candy canes; sift out the larger pieces of candy cane and "decorate" the top.  Save the "dust", it's great in hot chocolate!  Refrigerate until ready to serve.  YUM!

*crushed candy canes - remove candy canes from wrappers and break up into large pieces.  Place in a gallon freezer zip bag.  Place bag in a towel and smack with the side of a hammer.  (My great husband does this for me. =]  )

May all of you have a peaceful and wonderful Christmas!

Carolyn

Mystery Quilt of the Month

Yes, I am a little behind on posting the November Mystery Quilt of the Month (just where did this last month go?)!  Well, here it is: our November Mystery Quilt of the Month.   All Boxed Up, came in three different color-ways.  It was fun and easy to make.

We took December off from the Mystery Quilt of the Month and so, the January Mystery Quilt of the Month is just getting posted.  There are two color-way choices for January.  You can choose from the Brown & Blue or the Green & Orange.  Kits are limited, cost $28.95 each (borders are purchased separately) and must be ordered by January 8, 2015.






When these fabrics are gone, we will add another color-way.  What do you think of the fabrics?

Quilting Recipes

As most of you know, we hand out a recipe a week.  Some of these come from our staff, but most of them come from our great customers! This all started several years ago when a customer asked me, after being here all day, what I was cooking for dinner that night.  When I told her, she asked for the recipe.  Thanks to Susan Ward who gave me this recipe years ago!  It is a great one for those busy days (and aren't all days busy at this time of year?) . I call it "Quilt Day Chicken".  You just put it in the slow cooker in the morning and just let it go all day!

Quilt Day Chicken

4 large chicken breasts, (frozen is what I use - then I don't need to take the time to thaw them)
2 cans cream soup (chicken, celery, mushroom - or a mix)
8 oz. brick of cream cheese
1 pkg. dry Good Seasons Zesty Italian Dressing mix

Place chicken in bottom of slow cooker.  Spread cream soup on top.  Place cream cheese on top of this, then sprinkle with the dressing mix.  If you like a little more zest (which I do) try sprinkling on some red pepper flakes.

Let cook on low 8 hours.  Remove chicken and whisk sauce in the slow cooker together. You can cut the chicken up and serve over rice or noodles with the sauce, or serve the chicken as is with the sauce poured over the top.  Add a veggie and you have a great meal!

You can even use frozen cream cheese.  This time of year it is usually a great price and freezes well enough for cooking with.

Try adding water chestnuts, chopped celery or mushrooms to this.  I wonder what it would be like served over a popover, like Chicken a'la King?

ENJOY!

Neighbor Gifts

Don't know what to give a family member or neighbor for Christmas?  Check out our fast and easy kits!

  Pillowcase kit - $12.95 each





"Thread Catcher" & "Pear" Pincushions - $7.50 each

"Snap Bags" (great for make-up, sewing supplies, etc.) - $4.75 each
                "Pie Carrier Tote" (also fits a square pan) - $12.95 each
                                 "Christmas Place-mats" (Quilt as you go - set of 4 - includes binding) - $26 45 each
                                                     "Catch-All Can" (sewing supplies, make-up, baby table,
                                                                              bed side - includes can) - $12.65 each                          

"Crayon Roll-Up" (crayons not included) - $4.40 each
                 "Mug Organizer" (mug not included) - $5.75 each
                                   "Snowman Pillow" - $7.95 each
                                                 "Christmas Tree Napkins" (set of 4) - $17.39 each

"Christmas Star Pincushion" (English Paper Piecing) - $7.50 each

Come in and see for yourselves!

December Pincushion of the Month

It's here!  Our December Pincushion of the Month, Christmas Star.

No sewing machine required for this pincushion.  It is English Paper Pieced!  The kit comes with everything you need to make it (except the needle and thread). A great pincushion to give for Christmas, or give someone the kit.  Check out our other pincushions that you may also want to give.

  The red and brown pincushions sit under the edge of your sewing machine and have a removable "Thread Catcher" bag.  You can make two large pears (striped or one color) or a large and a small pear with the Pear Pincushion kit.  Fast and easy!  Who can't use another pincushion?

Secrets & Shadows

Come join us as we make a quilt that honors the women from World War I and World War II who risked their lives as spies in service to their country.  A 12 month program with a story behind every block.

The quilt measures 90" x 90".  The registration is $25 (which pays for your final kit) and $20.95 per month.  Space is limited.

Pincushion of the Month

By popular demand, our October Pincushion of the Month, is one that goes under your sewing machine and has a thread catcher attached.  The "Thread Catcher Pincushion" comes in either Red with Red Stripes or Brown with a Blue Floral.  The thread catcher bag is attached to the base with Velcro, so you can empty it without moving your machine.  Kits are $7.50 each and when they are gone - they are gone!  We also have some Pear Pincushions left from last Month.  These will make GREAT Christmas Gifts!

Mystery Quilt of the Month

Customers thought we were crazy when they saw how many fabrics were in the October Mystery Quilt of the Month.  There were 10!  But, we think it turned out great!  What do you think?

"Harvest Medley" measures 54" square with the borders.

When you purchase the Mystery Quilt of the Month, you get to see the fabrics being used and find out just how big the quilt will be with and without borders.  The borders are not usually included in the kit, they will need to be purchased separately.  Kits cost $28.95 each.  The kits need to be ordered by the 8th of the month and you may pick them up on the 10th of the same month.  When you pick up your kit, you may also purchase fabric for your borders, binding and backing.  If you would like to make your quilt bigger, we would suggest that you purchase 2 or more kits.  This will guarantee that you will get enough fabric to do so.  The fabrics are available to purchase, only for those who have purchased the kit, until the 20th.  After that, the fabrics will go back on the shelf.

These patterns are not for sale, but we hope that they will be soon!

Here are the fabrics for the November Mystery Quilt of the Month.  You may choose from the Red Elegant or the Green Whimsical Christmas.  You will need to sign up by November 8th.

Beehive Shop Hop

Wow!  The Beehive Shop Hop is over until next year.  We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we did.  The theme this year was "Somewhere in Time".  We chose "The 60's" for our shop.  We played "Spin the Bottle" and had pictures from the 60's to stand on, and played actual records from the 60's.  Yes, we are still hanging on to those.  (Does that date some of us or not?)

Our shop quilt had all the blocks from all 17 stores incorporated into it.  Of course, our block "Flower Power" was in the center.

We also just had to use batiks, the background looked tie-dyed!

 
We are going to donate this quilt to "Festival of Trees". So, if you missed seeing it in the store, you can surely see it there.

Congratulations to all those who won something during the Shop Hop.  We are looking forward to seeing you soon!

Save the Date!

Beehive Shop Hop

October 8 - 11, 2014

Somewhere in Time

Travel through the ages with the Beehive Shop Hop

Shops open 9 am - 7 pm (Wednesday - Friday)

9 am - 6 pm (Saturday)

Enter to win a:

Babylock Rachael

Babylock Melody

Babylock Symphony

and

many other prizes!

Check out beehiveshophop.blogspot.com

for a list of participating shops.

It's a WINNER!

Congratulations to Vicky Green of West Jordan, Utah!  Vicky brought in her finished Row by Row Quilt today.  She incorporated eleven rows into her long quilt.  Vicky said that she has the perfect place to hang it in her house.  Vicky won a bundle of 25 fat quarters and a $25 gift certificate.  Her quilt will be hanging in the store into September.  Great Job, Vicky!

July Mystery Quilt of the Month

Do your eyes go crazy when you sew on spots?  Mine certainly did!
This is our July Mystery Quilt of the Month.
It was fast and easy (if you could stand looking at all those spots).
It measures 48" x 60" and was a lot of fun designing. 














Check out the fabric the fabric for the August Mystery Quilt of the Month!

Can you imagine what we will make with this selection?

$28.95 (+ tax) will put you on the list for this kit.  Sign up and pay for it by August 8th and then pick up your kit on August 11th.

Are you in for a MYSTERY?

By the Sea

We couldn't take time to go to the ocean, so we brought part of the ocean to us!

Our cute little sea turtle is our July Pincushion of the Month.
The kit sales for $7.50 (+ tax) and includes pattern, fabric, stuffing and bead eyes.

Supplies are limited.

Every month on the 20th we have a new pincushion for sale.  Visit our shop to see all the past pincushions.

Utah Row by Row Experience

We are really enjoying having all of you in for the Row by Row Experience!  It has been fun seeing those we know and meeting the new.  Sorry to say that I have made some mistakes on the pattern.  If you have already picked up your pattern, you will need to make the following corrections:  BEACH UMBRELLA - cut the gray 1" x 15".  Step #3 - Square block to 9 1/2".  BEACH BALL & FLIP FLOPS - Step #1, cut the strips to 5" x wof.  Cut into 5" lengths after sewing.  Step #2, square the blocks to 9 1/2".  All the patterns from here on out, have been corrected. 

You still have plenty of time to start collecting patterns for the Utah Row by Row Experience.  Check it out on facebook or look up the website at www.rowbyrowexperience.com.  The experience goes to September 2, 2014. 

We hope that you are having fun with this Row by Row Shop Hop!

Day to Day

We hope that all of you had a GREAT time at the "Beehive Buzz Table Topper Tour".  We enjoyed having you in our shop!  We still have a few "Harvest Splendor" table topper kits available.  One kit makes two toppers. They are on sale 20% off this week, as are all other kits (except BoM, Mystery or any monthly  block classes and programs).

We hope to see all of you at our fall shop hop,  "Somewhere in Time", October 8 - 11.  Of course, we would also love to see you before that!  Check out our classes and come see our new fabric!

Beehive Summer Buzz Shop Hop

Beehive Summer Buzz Shop Hop

It's that time of year again when we all go crazy with the Shop Hop.  This year we are having a "Table Topper Tour".  Here is a peek at our table topper, you get TWO for the price of ONE! Each shop you visit will have a FREE Table Topper Pattern.  Kits will also be available to purchase.

What do you like to do at the table?  Our family likes to play games.  Come in and play table games with us, win prizes and put you name in for a drawing!  Join us on Tuesday - Friday from 10 to 7 and on Saturday from 9 to 5.

Check out the blog for more information check out:   beehiveshophop.blogspot.com.

Beehive Shop Hop

Beehive Shop Hop - Summer Buzz

Table Topper Tour

June 3 - 7, 2014

Each shop will have an exciting table topper that they have created just for this Shop Hop.  A free pattern will be given out at each shop just for dropping in.  See a list of shops on the Beehive Shop Hop by visiting www.beehiveshophop.blogspot.com.  This will be a fun and exciting time for everyone.  Stop by and see what we have created!

April Jelly Race (cont.)

 Jelly Race - (Cont.)

Have you ever tried to thread a needle at 11:00 at night?  That's what our two teams did, only each team had to thread a whole package of needles! Some couldn't even see the needle, but they persevered!

Joyce threading while Arnell and Nancy watch.

Sometimes reader glasses just don't help as Lynette threads the needle and Julie watches.

Joyce

Andrea

Julie - Third Place

Liz -First Place

Nancy - Second Place

Melanie

Pat

We had a lot of fun and hope to see more of you joining us in August!

April Jelly Race

 Jelly Race

On April 11th we held another "Jelly Race".  We started at 7:00 p.m. and finished at midnight!  If you thought you could sew fast, you haven't reckoned with my whistle and stopping to eat and play games. :-)

Liz and Nancy sewing fast!

Joyce and Susan sewing away while Lynette tries to figure where she's at.

Arnell, Julie, Bev, Pat, Andrea and Melanie - all concentrating on their work.

 Quilt Tangrams - How fast can you make a 12" square, using all the pieces you are given?

 

Read more about our "Jelly Race" later.

Special Delivery Fabric

Special Delivery Fabric

We had this great juvenile fabric called "Special Delivery" come in from Quilting Treasures.  Now to decide what to make out of it.  It came in two color ways: Blue, Green & Gray and Orange, Yellow & Gray.  It is such a darling line, we just had to make something special out of it. 

Finally, we came up with using the "Perfect 10" pattern by "Swirly Girls".  It shows off the fabric and makes an adorable quilt.  Let us know what you think.

Thanks to Amber Cox for making and quilting the quilt.

Upcoming Jelly Race

The Jelly Race is Coming!

On Friday, April 11, we will be having our Jelly Race.  It starts at 7:00 p.m. and goes until midnight.

We play games, sew, eat, sew, talk, sew, win prizes and sew!

If you have not joined us before, now is the time.

Come in and sign up and choose your jelly roll (we will hold it until the night of class)!

Here are some pictures from our last Jelly Race.

Sewing!

Quilt Bingo

Sewing!

Button Toss

Jennifer Neilsen and her Halloween Jelly Quilt.

Shauna Lawrence shows off her finished top.