I must have these~~~~

I have been craving Chocolate the last couple of days and look what I found.. 

Yes yummy yummy Chocolate!!!

Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies..

I found these yummy yummy Cookies at: Betchacanteatjustone's 

Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies

• 4 oz cream cheese, softened (recipe called for 5-6 but I only had 4)
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled 
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 cups plus 3 tbsp all purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees and line baking sheets with parchment
Cream together the butter, cream cheese and sugars until light and fluffy.  Add the Vanilla.
Sift together dry ingredients and then add them to the butter mixture.  Beat until well combined.  Stir in chocolate chips.
*original recipe suggests chilling the dough overnight but I made them right away
Place a large scoop (about 2 tbsp) on the prepared cookie sheet and flatten slightly with your hand.
Bake 12-14 minutes or until edges are looking light golden brown.
Cool for 5 minutes on cookie sheets before moving to wire racks to cool completely.

Block size

 

Hello ladies.. just wanted to point out.. if you do a patched block.. please make sure your finished blocks are

12 1/2 inches in size.. it's easier to trim off fabric than put back on a 1/2 inch... 

I do not square up my blocks.. I send them out a little over sized. That way they can be trimmed prior to sewing together.. The blocks unravel when handled...That way through handling and shipping...They will still be 12 1/2 inches after trimming..... when its time to put them together.. Just a little food for thought .. Thanks M

Christmas Block Swap 2011

Sign ups start Sept 26, 2011 and end Oct 14, 2011

Hello ladies its time to get our thinking caps on to start the annual Christmas Block Swap. Those of us that played in the 2011 Halloween Block Swap had a blast. We received some awesome and creative blocks... So Sign up have some Holiday Fun with us :)

I will try for two groups of 12.

Here are the rules for the Christmas Block swap...

A. UNFINISHED 12 ½ inch blocks using 100 % quality Cotton.
B. Christmas colors up to you and each block can use different fabrics (same theme though).
C. You will need to pick a theme. Only one theme for each group. If I have too many of the same theme I will request you to choose another one ;) Or I will suggest one to you :) Please look to see what has already been spoken for in group and choose another fun theme.
D. I have chosen " Unk I will have to think on this one ;) ”
E. Exp: I will make 12 UNK finished blocks (same theme)... size 12 ½ inches using any Christmas fabrics I wish.
F. You  may use any technique you want, some ideas; pieced, paper piece, applique, embroidery, fusing, whatever makes you comfortable. You can also send embellishments for the finished block. Do not add these, you have to quilt your quilt.. so please put the embellishments in a zip lock baggie.
G. Some ideas; Reindeer, Santas, Santa hats, Snowmen, Angels, Christmas Bells, and Stockings. The list could go on and on.
H. SIGN your THEMED blocks on the FRONT any way you would like, I will have to write because I do not have a machine that can embroider.
Example:
AuntPittyPat
Oz, Kansas
That’s, all you need to do any more is fine and up to you.

3. I am trying to stay away from traditional blocks, I want this to be an “out of your box” swap.
4. Blocks are DUE not mailed... by DUE Dec 2nd, you only have about two months to work on your blocks. That way you will have time to put you quilt together prior to Christmas! I will not wait this time on blocks being late... The blocks will be sorted with in a few days of being due and shipped back out.. If you can not meet this dead line please please do not sign up!!! Thank you in advance for your courtesy.

5. US residents can send their blocks to me any way they want but they MUST go back to you in your self address stamped Flat Rate Priority Envelope, it is 4.95. Your postal inspector will know what a Flat Rate Priority Envelope is, so no worries. No Bar Code for shipping.. this is not accepted at my post office .. it MUST be a stamp!

International participants, we can talk about shipping later. Most of my International participants pay via Pay Pal after I get the total due for return postage :)
In order to join YOU MUST E-mail me @
auntpittypatsfun@yahoo.com
Please email to the above email account.

Please email the following:
Your full name
Address
Email
Blog link
Phone Number
And your Christmas theme (MUST be included) 

I will provide you my address when I confirm your slot in the swap ;)
This is a first come first serve basis on the theme, so do not wait to long!!
I know this is a lot of information; I am always here to answer any questions.
I look forward to another wonderful fun Christmas Block swap!

There are changes in the air.

The almost unbearable heat has finally left.. I wake up in the mornings now with fog and dew on the windshields of my little truck. I turned the heat on a long time ago in the house for the Pitty... she was a pup-cycle. The Mommie can't have a frozen sweet wittle itty bitty puppy :) Although it's still getting warm in the afternoons. It's not so bad we can't stand it without the AC. We will see if that furnace up grade was worth the extra money when they put in the new AC a few weeks ago. I am in the process of getting an upgrade on the house also. I have ordered the siding for my home. The order should be in any day now. I am leaving my beloved yellow house with white trim behind for a nice country cream and white. I did notice the country cream appears to be a very very pale yellow. That was my main want in my color.. yellow. I am sadden to say every color of yellow was harsh. It was too yellow.. you could almost use it for road divider lines... that would have been to much for a two story house...  Yes I toned it down to make everyone happy and I am sure myself happy in the end :) It will be beautiful, LOL I hope :)  Even though it will not be yellow. I had a butter cream yellow in my head.. That is exactly the color... but alas no such animal. I will go out sometime this weekend and find a new front door. What is up with all the metal doors? I want a wood door to replace my wood door!  The one I have has been on the farm house since it was built in the late 30's. It's in pretty bad shape now. NOT energy efficient at all. Finally I am going to put seamless guttering on the house. The Oleo Ranch will once again be a show place ;) Or at least not looking like it is in dire-straights to have a paint job ;) Always nice for improvements.. I guess you can say .. I said goodbye to the dream of having a new studio building put up.. Oh well in the future :)

I have been in the mood to sew Halloween Mug Rugs.. I have two completed and am working on another. I have been searching the net for some other great Applique ideas.. but so far everything seems the same as last year... Darn wanted some new inspiration! Here is what I have made so far... sorry for the lousy photos I had to rush to take them. The rugs needed to go the new owner..... She needed them in a couple of weeks for a Halloween Party....

Here are the finished blocks from the 2011 Aunt Pitty Pat's Halloween Block swap..

didn't they turn out awesome!!

LOL I need to thank Creative Down for the photo.. since I swiped it from her blog :) 

This year I tried a new technique.. I did some free motion stitching on my Witches Cauldron. I had to back the block with stabilizer to keep the material from puckering, when I stitched the bubbles. 

I also used variegated thread to make the bubbles...

I have to tell you ..... 

I am still laughing at my lousy bubbles .. 

I can't draw a straight line.. nor can I sew a circle :)

The girls really out did their-selves this year... They used paper piecing, applique, patch work hand-stitching, creative embellishments.. free motion stitching...and the list goes on and on.

The photo really doesn't do these very fun blocks justice... 

Your blocks are FANTASTIC Ladies..

Thank you again for playing along. I hope you think the extra wait time was worth it ;)

Halloween Blocks were mailed out today :) Yeah!!!!

I mailed out all the wonderful fun Halloween blocks today after work... I hope you like them.. they were really cute this year... for those of you that owe me postage I will send you and email shortly with the amount due ;) Fees can be paid via the donate button here on the blog ;)

Thank you all for another fun year of Halloween blocks... Now start thinking ahead for the Christmas block swap. I will open the sign ups in a couple of weeks :)

What will they come up with next?

Have you seen the latest trend????

I have to say I am always amazed at what people come up with..... 

I was blown away at the following ideas.
I hope you try them.. let me know how they work out for you :)

Salad in a Jar

You will find a very interesting and clever tutorial at
Salad in a Jar 

Try this out Mason Jar Meals. You can find the tutorial at
Big Red Kitchen.
Also check out Mason Jar Meals part 2.

If you want other great ideas for using mason jars.. run over to  

The Decorated Cookie.

You will find these fun food recipes. Drinks, Sweets, meals, and salads.

Wow I don't know about you but
this is the perfect way for a single to be able to keep food longer.
I am always throwing out food.
I don't get it eaten fast enough..before it spoils.
Plus you have easy great meals at your finger tips.
Not to forget... the money savings too :)

If you have links for recipes.. 
please share them with us ;)
Happy Cooking and Canning ;)

With Heavy Heart.... You are not forgotten....

 

A big "Thank You"..... to all of you that have lost a loved one,

or risked your lives to keep our 

Wonderful Country Free...

God Bless all of you!!!

Block Swappers

I must make a dead line to all of those that still have their blocks out!!! At the end of next week (7 days) all blocks received will be sorted and shipped back to the ones that sent their blocks in on time.. If I don't have your blocks in that time frame.. please don't send them...... If your blocks are received after the 7 days... I will ship them back. Sorry It has been almost a Month after due date.... 

I am sorry to those that have completed and waited so long for your blocks... You have waited long enough! Thank you ladies that have completed this swap on time. 

I also Thank You....for your patience in this long drawn out swap! 

This is really no way to participate in a swap, keeping everyone waiting!!

***UPDATE*** Spookable Halloween is UPoN Us :)

  Halloween Tote Bag with Matching Mug Rug Swap.  

This is the tote bag and Matching mug rug that I gave Nadine last Halloween ;)

Sign ups start today :) 

Sept 2nd end sign ups on Sept 25th.
 *** UP DATE***
The projects need to be
received not sent to your partner no later than
Oct 25th.

Send APP the following @
auntpittypatsfun@yahoo.com

Name
Address
Phone number
Blog

The requirements in this swap:

1. One Halloween tote bag made with Halloween fabrics. Please make your bag at least a 13 X 14
2. 3 little Halloween goodies... exp candy bar, pack of gum, life savers... etc or even sewing notions.
3. 3 Halloween FT Qts and one spool of  matching thread. (Please good quality Quilt shop FT Qts)

4. One matching mug rug at least an 8X10. (Halloween cup optional)

5. One surprise gift... inexpensive!!!! I stress inexpensive!!! Exp: cookie cutter, Halloween decoration you make, old Halloween recipe book you already have... or even fun recipes on card stock. Remember inexpensive.

Ladies try to use your stash for this project..
or even up-cycle your material for this item.
You could use vintage buttons, old lace,
old sequins, old tulle anything your
little ole heart desires :)
Be creative and have fun!!

ATTENTION:
If your not into Halloween and want to play along..
let me know you want a fall tote and I will see if I can find you a partner! I can't promise but I will try :)

I had a lot of requests to do a Halloween Tote swap agian .. lets have fun!!

This Swap will not be Angeled.. sign up at your own risk!