It's started...

  Out with the old in with the new ;)

It has been beautiful here in Ta Town just the perfect weather to install my new front door. 

We had to do some rebuilding of the opening .. but I think it will all work out nicely. 

Removal of the old front door. Gezeee sort of a mess. 

Oh well that is why we have brooms and shop vac's.

 

New door.. still needs a bit of frame work. The opening was about 8-10 inches to large. 

We had to rebuild the framing area. 

This is a problem you run into sometimes when you have an old house with 10-12 foot ceilings. 

The door opening is way to large, for the new modern doors.  

Unless you special order.. and that is very expensive.

This door is going to look awesome with new siding and trim attached to it.

Since this photo new brushed brass door handles have been installed.

I have to tell a funny story The Pitty is having a tad bit of trouble adjusting to the new front door.

She sat all night the first night and just stared at it. She could see that it was different, but could not figure out why. She could see the cars driving down the street and the Lights from the city across the fields.

She stayed up all night Watch Dog-ing just so The Mommie could be safe and sleep. 

Only thing was..... she kept barking at all the new sights and kept The Mommie wide awake. 

Such a sweet protective little girl ;)

 

Look who's here!!!

All up set with The Mommie that she has to stay in her play pen.

For her safety and my piece of mind she had to go into the safe place for babies.

 I didn't want The Pitty running in and out of the house freely.

 There are monsters outside of that doorway, that the Pitty just doesn't understand.

Cars, Trucks, Tractors, Combines, Dogs, Cats, Hawks, Eagles, Horses and other Predators OH MY!!!

It's the Beginning ;)

Today.. the work on the Oleo Ranch (one of the cheaper spreads) begins...

the new front door is to be installed today!!! 

I can hardly wait to see it finished.

The door had to be gel stained and then sealed before it could be installed. 

I have not seen it since the first coat of stain.

It was beautiful then and I am sure it will be more beautiful now. 

Just putting in the front door will make a huge difference in the old farm house. 

But it will really pop when the new siding and trim gets on!!!

I am so excited.. yes I will try and take photos as the work progresses!

I was sort of pleased with myself ... my dad's friend De-way a long time friend.  

I do mean a long time friend... over 50 years.

Has a handy man that is doing the work for me. 

Inc has been De-way's handyman for years and he recommended him to me.

I am so excited to find a handyman that can help me out around here for a reasonable wage.

We have several projects line up for him to work on over the next year ;)

De-way called Daddy O and chatted with him a few days ago. 

He told Daddy O he had seen my door, and said how nice and pretty it is.

I have not gotten excited about the whole thing until I woke up today... the new begins!

I picked out a very expensive door with a Stain Glass Panel... It really is pretty .. you will see soon :)

I chose to put an expensive door in the house because the old one is not level and has a huge gap in it.. 

I know that is where a lot of my AC and heating goes. 

The Daddy O was very excited for me! That I am getting the improvements.

Improvements are always good ;)

THANK YOU EVERYONE THE SWAP IS FILLED ;)

Thank you ladies for helping me fill up the spaces for our 

Annual Christmas Block Swap 

your the greatest.. 

Happy Sewing and have a great time creating ;)

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Yes ladies you have read right. The blog is starting to look like Christmas even though Halloween has not passed us by ;) One must get a head start on getting all those fun and exciting swaps started.. the reason you say??? So there will be enough time to get them accomplished. If you have noticed over the last couple of days...The Christmas block swap is starting to fill up nicely. There are only a few spaces left to fill .....so hurry hurry hurry.. don't miss out on receiving some fun and creative blocks. Let's get them filled ;) 

Ask your sewing friends if they would like to play in the swap.. I always like to see new faces! 

After the Block swap is under way ... 

I will announce another Christmas Swap in the Beginning Of November. 

So stick around to see what that is going to be all about ;) 

Until the announcement of the next swap... 

Make Aunt Pitty Pat a happy girl and lets get the last few spaces filled... 

I am so excited!!!

I want to take a moment and say a big THANK YOU to all of you that have answered my email and have either joined in on the fun or have declined. I am very surprised ....that the swap has slid by a lot of my regular Block swapping ladies without their notice. I am so happy I sent out an invitation email to my prior participants :) If the ladies decided they did not want to join in on the fun... I asked for feed back and I have received some very good suggestions. I hope to use them during the next swap season!
I know I have not given any of you that have signed up for the swap my address yet.. once we get the groups filled, I will send out a reminder of the rules and my email address.. thank you for waiting on that :)
I hope everyone is having a great weekend.. don't forget to drop by JoAnn's its the Columbus day Sale Weekend.. I picked up 16 yards of warm and white... used my 50% off coupon and my Birthday Gift card from my family...Yeah for great sales.. also Simplicity Patterns are on sale for 99cents..
I was very disappointed.. I wanted a certain pattern and it was sold out.. Oh well maybe next time..

It looks like swapping days are about over??

We only have a few days left to get the spaces filled for the Christmas Block swap. Before the sign up date ends. The swap has not filled up as quickly as I had hoped. I have always enjoyed my block swaps... but it looks like they are becoming a thing of the past. I have been struggling to get people to join in on the fun. I think I know the reason for the hesitation... No one likes to wait on others that are late getting their swaps in on time. I hate that it happens. I have no control over that...I wait to receive the late ones to send the complete set back out. ME......I just hope each time I hold a fun block swap that everyone will get them in on time....
OK Now here is the deal.....
Ladies I need your help to get others to join in. If you know someone or can recommend someone that would like to join in on the swap give them my email.... I would love to have them! I always like to make a new friend in my swaps.... some of my oldest blog land friends have came for joining in on fun swaps. Some of my swaps were sensational and others were duds. The way I see it .... it's fun and you can make a new friend that enjoys the same interests ;)
So come on ladies lets recruit new participants in the swap and get these last spaces filled up ;)
Thanks in advance for you help :)

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....