Merry Christmas to All!

Almond Sugar Cookies

A simple Merry Christmas to all of you in Blogland!  I have been thinking of you for weeks now, but with no extra time to write until today - Christmas Day!!

 

Being Danish, I love anything almond; especially pure almond - the real thing! These little cookies are a favorite of mine & the family.  I thought it only fitting to share the recipe with you today!

Almond Sugar Cookies

1 cup softened butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon almond extract - the real stuff  - pure!
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

Glaze

1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon almond extract - pure!
4 to 5 teaspoons water

Sliced almonds!

Roll dough into 1" balls; place 2 inches apart on cookie sheet.  Flatten to 1/4" thickness with the bottom of a buttered glass dipped in sugar.  Don't push down too far! 

Bake for 7 minutes at 400 degrees or until edges are very lightly browned.  Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheet.  Cool completely.  Frost with glaze & decorate with almonds!

Makes 3 1/2 dozen cookies!  Enjoy!

I hope you have all enjoyed a very special holiday with friends & family.  It is the most wonderful time of the year! 

 

Have a super New Year 2014!

Winners & Fall Market Highlights !

General Sheridan

I'm back from market & it was wonderful, but before I go any further, I want to notify four winners of a free new pattern - General Sheridan!

If you remember - back in September I promised to draw a winner from those who made comments on that day's blog as soon as General Sheridan was printed & ready to go - well, there were 4 comments by the followers, so I've decided to give all four of you a new pattern.

So, would Billie Bee (billiemick), Nancy E, Karen & Roberta Krueger please email me your mailing address as soon as possible so I can keep my promise to you!   Email me at evonnecook@clotheslinequilts.com

And many thanks for your comments!  It really is the pay-off for us out here in blogger land!  I love to hear from you!

Yes, market was fabulous, so very much to take in, & so many old friends to catch up with.  One shop owner who is always a joy to welcome into the booth is Michelle Joyner of Fat Quarters Quilt Shop in California.  So good to see you again, Michelle. 

Of course, there are many, many awesome shop owners who come by & we appreciate them all; sorry to say, we just don't get pictures of them all.  I did not crop this picture down so you can see so much more of the booth this way.

And here is the other end !  Everyone especially enjoyed the black & gold General Longstreet & the new Table Cozees IV.

Then, too, the new Welcome Home hung on the new ladder that Sharon's dad had made for the booth.  It worked superbly to show off the new quilt!


Welcome Home is my version of a Christmas quilt; not much red & green, but I love the holly on the grapevine wreath & it coordinates with my home décor.  You can add different leaves included in the pattern if you don't want holly!

And in this picture you can see the new Little Brown Baskets on the side wall & the New Orleans we made out of the Women of Courage border fabric.  It is beautiful in the teals, browns & touches of red.  I'll post a closer shot of that quilt for you in a few days.

All in all, it was a super trip & the fall foliage was in it's full glory coming home through Arkansas.  Until later -

It's Time to Show . . .

With fall market less than a week away, I believe it's time to show you the new Generals quilts!  We have General Sheridan, the Union General known to be the first to use the "scorched earth" policy that General Sherman used on his march to the sea.  General Sheridan, however, used the technique in the Shenandoah Valley earlier, and it, too, did help to put an end to the war.  After the war Sheridan was sent to fight Indians in the far West & is credited with saving Yellowstone for the generations instead of the land developers.

General Sheridan was a small man, only 5'5", nicknamed "Little Phil."  I smile whenever I read the quote by Abe Lincoln, "A brown, chunky little chap, with a long body, short legs, not enough neck to hang him, & such long arms that if his ankles itch, he can scratch them without stooping!"  Funny!  But Sheridan was indeed one of the most superior generals,  winning Grant's & Lincoln's praise before the end of the war.

General Sheridan


The quilt features stars, like all the Generals, between light & dark sashings.  The dark sashing resembles the scorched earth left behind the marching army. 

Jo Morton's Savannah fabrics make the stars sparkle & dance across the quilt.  As you can tell, I really like General Sheridan & it was a joy to sew!

Then we have the Confederate General Jeb Stuart, leader of the South's cavalry, as was General Sheridan for the North.  The cavalry was the eyes & ears of the armies for Grant & Lee; accomplished horsemen, they scouted out the enemy & returned information to the camps needed for successful battles. 

You may have seen pictures of General Stuart in the past.  He was the general in his "red-lined gray cape, yellow sash, hat cocked to the side with an ostrich plume, red flower in his lapel, often sporting cologne."  What a sight he was on the battlefield; a "knight in shining armor" for the South.

When I first saw Jo's red toile fabric, I wanted to do a quilt with red stars on the toile, and General Stuart is it!  This quilt would be a beauty on a full bed with the 10" block size! 

Four different reds are used for the stars & the alternate blocks!  Add the borders & it's done.  An easy quilt to decide the fabric call, that is for sure.

Take care until I return from market.  I will try to blog from market & send pictures.  Wish me luck, as you know,  that does not always work, but I will certainly give it my best try!

New Table Cozees for the Houston Booth

I have been spoiled in the past having a dear friend Shirley to sew most of my new quilts & patterns.  But . . . Shirley wanted to retire her position here, which I might say, was right up at the top.  So I have been left to actually do the sewing together with the pattern writing.  When I decided to market in Houston this year. . .well, needless to say, I have been scrambling to get it all done.

But do we have some great new samples of the patterns for the market booth!  And I just wanted to share some of them with you before we leave.

This little red & black design is from the very first Table Cozee   pattern.  I love this Jo fabric in the border & always wanted to do something with it; I think it makes a beautiful border fabric.

Now this little black & gold number is from the Table Cozee III  pattern. 

Love that big paisley fabric on the border.  Another of Jo's!






And here are the Pinwheels included in the Table Cozees II  pattern.


Isn't it cute with Jo's new Savannah in the border!



Now I wouldn't be very nice if I didn't show you the very newest Table Cozee pattern - IV! 







As you know, each of the patterns features two designs; Table Cozee IV is no exception.  It features Stars Over Tennessee and Blockade blocks.  I hope you like it as much as I do! 


You won't find this new one on the website yet, but just give us another week.

                                                       

 

 

And let me know by calling

 712-362-3022

if you're interested in a day class at your shop. 

 

We'll do one of the designs

with extra attention to

mitering the corners &

scalloping the edges. 

 

At the end of the day you can go home with a finished project!