DUTCH APPLE MINI TARTS

Ingredients
(crust)
1 package (15 ounces) refrigerated pie crusts

(for the filling)
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 egg
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 medium Granny Smith apples, peeled, sliced and chopped (3 cups)

(topping)
3 tablespoons firmly packed light brown sugar
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons butter or margarine

**NOTE: this is the recipe as I found it from Pampered Chef, however I've only used 1/3 to 1/2 of the filling mix, so when I make it now I only cut up 1 or 2 apples, or grab another package of pie crust and make double the amount.

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375°F. On lightly floured surface, unroll one pie crust. Cut 12 circles from dough. Press into a mini-muffin pan. Repeat with remaining pie crust.

2. For apple filling, whisk cream cheese until smooth. Whisk in sugar until fluffy. Mix in egg until well blended. Stir in flour and cinnamon until smooth. Peel and slice apples. Chop into small pieces. Stir into cream cheese mixture.

3. Fill prepared muffin cups with apple mixture, filling over top of pastry. For topping, combine 3 tablespoons flour and 3 tablespoons brown sugar. Cut in butter until forms coarse crumbs. Spoon over apple filling.

4. Bake in preheated oven 18-20 minutes or until light golden brown. Let cool in pan 5 minutes. Remove from pan. Serve warm or at room temperature. Makes 24.

**NOTE: Pampered Chef makes lots of products that makes preparing this very easy. I love my mini-tart shaper for putting the cut dough circles into the pan, so easy. If you are interested in any other Pampered Chef products, I know a great consultant - Jena - and you can shop with her online!

5 THINGS

While at the airport last night to pick up my brother, my boyfriend saw this older woman 10 feet away, sporting a red ball cap and he says that she looks familiar, in the she's a movie star kinda way. I said she kind of looks like Glenn Close, but no way would that really be her in Bozeman, MT. Someone else we knew there came over and suggested the same thing. Taking another look, the cap she's got on is from Damages, a tv show she's currently on, however I've never seen it. Turns out she and/or her sister own the Leaf and Bean coffee shop here, along with Poor Richards (bookstore). Crazy. I'm obviously very unaware when it comes to picking out celebs. . . once in Vegas, LeBron James (plus his crew) were walking right in front of us at the Caesar's shopping meca. No clue. The same trip to Vegas also included almost being run over by Apollo Anton Ono (speed skater/Dancing With the Stars) in his attempt to escape from some crazy fans.

So, my brother is here for a week to spend Christmas with me and our grandparents. It is nice to have him here. I'm looking forward to a very mellow Christmas Eve/Christmas morning as any other family making it won't be here until dinner on Christmas. I've got lots of knitting projects to curl up on the couch with. My mom taught me over the summer while they stopped by Montana. Since then I get really anxious to finish a project and end up starting new ones that I'm excited about. I need to find a neat basket-like thing to keep everything together by the couch. Haven't had much luck yet, but I'll find it. . . or make it.

I find a lot of things online that either inspire me to create something on my own, to copy/modify their projects, want to buy, etc. Most of the time those things don't go much farther than just thinking about them. I want to share some of that stuff. .. in hopes of kicking myself into action and because I hope you will enjoy them too! I can't think of a very good post name for when I post my 5 THINGS, maybe it should just be that simple. . . if anyone has an ideas, you are invited to post a comment!

- Heather Bailey Sewing Patterns: Henrietta Turtle . . . the cutest pincushion EVER! Must buy the pattern or kit soon to make one or I don't know how I will go on!

- CB2: Clothespin Chopsticks . . . I already have a set of chopsticks that I like, but these are awesome and have several people in mind that these would make wonderful gifts for.

- Gallatin Quilt Guild: These ladies pretty much rock. I've joined a few months back and attend monthly meetings. People bring stuff for show and tell, and I get way reinspired to finish things that are half done or to try a new product. There was a bring your stuff and sew day before Thanksgiving, where a member demo'd a particular pattern she'd brought for a show and tell. I went on a wool sweater hunt to make some of my own *more to come, many are Christmas presents and I can't ruin the surprise*. Kind have been a maniac about this project. . . if anyone has old sweaters (at least 70% wool) and would like to get rid of them, let me know, I want them!

- Pandora: Regina Spektor Channel . . . is what I've been listening to for the last two weeks when I get a chance to sit down at the sewing machine. I feel great listening to it and time just flies.

- Reading: Jodi Picoult and Emily Giffen . . . both great writers. Have been reading their books almost cover to cover for the last few weeks.

"Stare. It is way to educate your eyes and more. Stare, pry, listen, eavesdrop. Die knowing something. You are not here long." - Walker Evans

CUSTOM ORDER --> tote bag

First "custom order" bag! I have a similar bag (mine has a flap that goes over the front) that lots of people admire. One gal liked mine so much she asked me to make one for her. She told me the colors she likes, wanted it open on the top and with lots of pockets! The "front" side has 2 small pockets, the "back" has one big pocket (great for slipping in a magazine!) The inside of the bag is lined with many different sized pockets for pens, keys, and more. I love mine, I hope she's enjoying her new bag just as much!

SCD @ RE:FRESH

It's been about a week, but I'd like to officially announce that my bobby pins are being sold at another location in Sitka, Alaska. They can be found at Re:fresh Salon located at 101 Lake St #A (below the Westmark Hotel). Got them in there at the last minute for Christmas. Hope to get some more things up there in the future.

WANTED: THESE GREAT CRAFT BOOKS

I've got a good collection of craft books going, including these . . .

- Bend the Rules Sewing
- Craft Challenge: Dozens of Ways to Repurpose a Pillowcase
- Pretty Little Patchwork
- Pretty Little Presents
- What Shall We Do Today?
- The Apron Book
- The Big-Ass Book of Crafts
- Freestyle Handmade Bags and Skirts
- Friendship Blocks: New Settings for Sentimental Favorites
- 52 Projects: Random Acts of Everyday Creativity

. . . but I'd like to add these to it!

- Sew Liberated: 30 Stylish Projects for the Modern Sewist
- Chic and Simple: Skirts, Dresses, Tops and Jackets for the Modern Seamstress
- Button It Up: 80 Amazing Vintage Button Projects
- Material Obsession: Modern Quilts with Traditional Roots
- Sew What! Bags: 18 Pattern Free Projects
- Quilts, Baby! 20 Cuddly Designs to Piece, Patch and Embroider
- Make Your Own Contemporary Quilts
- Simply Sublime Bags

(ps - they are available on my Amazon wish list)

REDESIGNED

Lately I've been wishing to rearrange my bedroom, but with all the walls/windows/doors/closets being where they are, along with all the bedroom furniture, there isn't a very good set up other than the one there is now for watching tv from bed without messing with my neck. It's just not the tv thing, it's that if I moved the bed to the few other places it could go, everything else ends up looking a little squished together. Plus, no matter how I could arrange things, I live in a rental and can't paint the walls (and I love to paint), so I will never be totally satisfied.

Same goes with the rest of the house. . . the living room has only one good layout with all the furniture and its size, the craft/guest room was just recently changed, the dining room is as good as it gets (unless I somehow come into an extra $1000+ to get a new dining set), and our roommate's room - which I would love to rearrange, but it's not my place to.

So. .. here goes a new blog. . . maybe not completely new or redesigned, but at least it's a new start. I'd messed around too much with all the formatting on my old one that it stopped listening to me. My old one was started with the idea as "crafts only", but now it'll be a "me" blog and include whatever I'm doing -- crafts, cooking, books, music, lists : )

What's going on now?
Over the weekend: lots of nothing! I did get some of Christmas project worked on, but more on that later
Tonight: there's a school Christmas concert to attend, the little girl I watch is in kindergarten and has a solo
Tomorrow: dinner with some of Chad's family at their new place (hmmm .. maybe I can rearrange their stuff?)
Rest of the week: baking, finishing up with Christmas gifts, a few movies, cleaning before my brother arrives on Sunday, reposting some favorite projects and putting up some new ones!

Have a good week!

JERK CHICKEN NACHOS

The first time I had this was at a Pampered Chef party. They are super easy to make and one of my favorites! I could easily eat (and have eaten) them more than once a week!

Nachos
-> 6 cups tortilla chips
-> 3 cups diced cooked chicken
-> 2 cups shredded cheese, mix of cheddar and monterey jack
-> 2 tablespoons Jamaican Jerk Rub

Topping
-> 1 small red bell pepper
-> 1 small lime
-> 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro
-> 1 teaspoon Jamaican Jerk Rub

Directions
-> Put a layer of chips on a flat baking sheet
-> Combined cooked chicken, cheese and Jamaican Jerk rub in a bowl, mix well
-> Spread the mix over the chips and put into oven at 475 for 5-7 mins
-> While nachos are in the oven, dice the red bell pepper and mince the cilanto
-> Combine pepper, cilantro, Jamaican Jerk Rub and squeezed lime juice
-> Sprinkle topping onto nachos and enjoy!

Tips
-> I like to use the Tostitos Scoop Chips for their size and shape, it makes a nice little bowl of easy to eat yumminess!
-> I've used all kinds of different blended cheeses, Albertsons makes a Mexican Nacho blend that I like the best - I also use less cheese than what's called for
-> I really like the spicy flavor of Pampered Chef's Jamaican Jerk Rub, but for the cost and size of the bottle it comes in there's better options - McCormick makes a Caribbean Jerk Seasoning that works great and is half the price
-> Place some aluminum foil on top of your sheet before making nachos to make clean up easy!

ALPHABET PHOTOGRAPHY

This is something I've been meaning to post on for awhile. My boyfriend is a great gift giver. He always remembers things I've mentioned wanting and also loves coming up with something that I would have no clue where to start with guessing. As we were on vacation for Christmas, he saw this idea and thought it was great -- it's personal, inexpensive (made for his family and mine), and easy to bring along. I can't find the pictures that he actual took on the computer, but these are from the site alphabetphotography.com -- there are many similar sites out there.

You find things out in the world and if they resemble a letter, take a picture. I forget how, but I actual found out about the gift before I received it. He was going to ditch me because it was a nice day and he needed to get out to get some pictures. I asked if there was anything I could help with and since he was doing this as a gift for many people, I got to go along and help search for letters. It was a lot of fun and you get to exercise being creative and seeing things a little different. The playground was a great spot, as well as many old historic buildings. Great idea for a child or newlyweds!

MARTHA'S VERSATILE VANILLA CAKE

I saw this on the Today Show awhile ago when Martha was on. Found the recipe on her website (photo of her cake as well, I forgot to take one of mine). Decided that it would be perfect to make for a summer bbq celebrating birthdays of a few family members. Went with making the lemon version. Very easy to make, but had some trouble with the frosting. Cake was so yummy and moist, but the whipped frosting evaporated (best way to explain it) . . . after it sat for awhile it looked like I'd frosted the cake in foam! Still good to eat though.

SEW EASY

I'd like to start making a little bit of my own clothing, but it's hard to know where to start. I love love love going to JoAnn's and looking through all the fabric. On one of my last trips I found this fun fabric and thought about what a cute dress it would make. . . but cherries really aren't my thing and the fabric was little girls, so it would've been too short ;)

The little girl that I watch is very into dresses and will be turning 5 tomorrow, so it was perfect for her birthday! I bought 3/4 yd (really only needed 21 inches). The top was already finished with the scrunching and hem, so I sewed up the back and then hemmed the bottom. After that I added some red ribbon to tie over her shoulders just in case it were to slip down. Just for some more fun, made a little purse too.

If you ever choose to make a dress that's already a little bit finished like this and need to cut it, start cutting the scrunched side and then after cutting through that you need to rip the rest of the fabric apart. It sounds crazy, but doing this makes sure that it's all along the same thread line and keeps the "skirt" the same proportion all around.

The same JoAnn's trip resulted in lots of other great fabric that I have a few plans for. Keep checking back!

CHINESE TEA EGGS

While searching for how to dye eggs with onion peels, I came across this technique for "Chinese Tea Eggs". This is a snack in China that is actually made by soaking cracked eggs in tea . . but for Easter it was more fun to use colored dye. Instructions can be found here!

AMY BUTLER BAGS

I had an odd car problem which resulting in these fun bags -- sometimes it doesn't want to start. . . mostly when I have to run a quick errand and need to restart it within a few minutes of last turning it off. A couple weeks ago, I stopped at The Beatnik to drop off more of the bobby pins I make and sell there. Not thinking that I would be in-and-out, I shut everything off, ran in and came back to a car that still needed a few minutes.

Luckily, there is a very nice quilt shop across the street! Most of the time I will go to JoAnn's for my fabric since I get their coupons in the mail . . or even WalMart if I find something great. But this little shop is so nice and cozy and ORGANIZED!! I tried to limit myself to $10, but ended up spending $20. I bought 4 half yards of some amazing Amy Butler fabric to make these bags for my friends Kelly and Holly. Obviously it's the same pattern in different colors. And I have some of the fabric left over for another project when the right one comes along.

This is the same pattern as a previous bag I made from Bend the Rules Sewing. I LOVE IT!

BABY SHOWER THANK YOU'S

Have you ever needed something for a baby or bridal shower, but the mothers and brides to be insist that they really don't need anything (or they do and you don't want to shell out a bunch of cash)?? I think a perfect gift is thank you cards. It's not something that everyone always has on their mind after such an event. This way they are on-hand for them to use and is one less thing for them to worry about during a busy time.

I just attended a baby shower and brought these. The baby is unknown, but I found out the nursery is yellow and green. Each set that I made contains 10 cards and envelopes. I packaged them in clear vinyl boxes (from U-line) that I use when I make card sets to sell and tied ribbon around to keep the package together.

Another great idea is to make a couple extra for yourself to keep in your ready to go collection!