New Projects and Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

First, some projects I have been working on for the last couple of weeks...

A quilt for an upcoming quilt class...

My embroidery design for the upcoming Seasons At Home magazine. We will have more pictures of these later! I love the new embroidery designs we've been working on.  

Now for some ice cream. Recently, I bought something at Williams-Sonoma that I liked as soon as I saw it - ground vanilla bean. Almost all recipes that call for whole vanilla bean require all of the extra steps of steeping the vanilla bean in milk and then scraping the seeds out. This was a perfect easy substitute and far less expensive than whole vanilla beans.

I love simple ice cream recipes, and almost never make a custard base. Cream and sugar recipes always come out so well, there's no need to make a custard. I love this combination of almond milk and half & half! The almond milk gives the ice cream an almost buttery taste (yummy), and it's so easy.

Simple Vanilla Bean Ice Cream 

(with almond milk!)

Combine the following in a large glass measuring bowl:

     2/3 cup sugar
     3/4 tsp. ground vanilla bean (or 1 tbsp. pure vanilla extract)
     3 1/2 cups Silk Original almond milk
   
 Whisk together until the sugar is dissolved. Whisk in 2 1/2 cups half & half. Freeze in ice cream machine according to the manufacturer's directions (I use the Cuisinart ice cream maker).

 Hmm, where's a spoon? 

My Hot Fudge Recipe

In a small pan combine: 

1/3 cup sugar

1/3 cup half & half

1/3 cup dark corn syrup

1 cup semi-sweet, dark or bittersweet chocolate chips

Heat over medium-high heat, stirring constantly until the chocolate chips are melted. Bring to a gentle boil, and boil for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and cool for 5 minutes. Stir in 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract and 3 tbsp. unsalted butter, chopped into small pieces. Stir until butter melts completely, and fudge is smooth. Use immediately and store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. Reheat before using. You can add 1/2 tsp. of peppermint extract along with the vanilla to make peppermint hot fudge.

We ate this while we waited for a blizzard to come in... 

Many blessings! Jessica

On the 5th Day of Christmas...

Good morning everyone!  Before today's post, the winner of the Embroidery Pattern is Shannon! Send us an email at ripe4harvest@msn.com with your address!  Congratulations!

And for the 5th Day of Christmas, we are sewing...

Rag Mitten Ornament

Homespun or Flannel - Scraps will work, you'll need a front and back fabric
Template Shape - Trace a small mitten or draw one
Perle Cotton #5 plus Chenille #20 needle
Buttons, Bells, Rick Rack or other notions
12" Silk Embroidery Ribbon (4mm) or ribbon small enough for the needle

1.  Cut our your shape on both fabrics, make sure it's 2-4 layers thick for each one.

2.  Cut out the bottom part of the mitten (if that is what you chose for a shape).

3.  Arrange the shapes so you have a one the front and back fabric showing.  Pin together.  Pin the bottom part fabric, pinning opposite colors to each side.  

4.  Using a 1/4" - 1/2" seam, sew around the shape, take your time!

5.  Sew a line across the mitten bottom, about 1" down from the top of the shape.

6.  Snip the top of the bottom mitten shape on both sides. Also snip the ends of the shape, don't snip through the sewing line!  Snip in 1/4" increments.

7.  Thread your needle with the Perle cotton, knot the end. Start at the middle line you sewed for the bottom of the mitten.  Come up through the middle of the snipped fabric to plant your knot. Trim the end close to the knot.

8.  Insert the needle at the line, bringing it through the back and wrap the thread around the needle.

9.  Pull through the slit of the snip, but not too tight.  Using your needle, separate the snips so there are a few on each side of the loop.  This makes a pretty looped effect all the way around the ornament.  When you get to the top the mitten bottom, tie off (take a small stitch, pull until you have a small loop and insert the needle through the loop, pull - make sure it knots!)  Switch thread colors and finish around the bottom.

10.   Fluff the ornament by shaking all the excess thread out and frilling the ends with your fingers. Run a quick gathering stitch across the bottom of the mitten sewing line, pull a little snug and tie off.  This gathers it just slightly.

11.  Thread the needle with the ribbon.  Pull the ribbon through the middle of the snips at the top, bringing it out about 5".  Remove the needle and thread the other end bringing it through the same way, but leave a loop at the top.  Tie a bow. 

12.  Add a piece of the Rick-Rack below the ragged mitten bottom.  Sew a zig-zag stitch to close the ends near the mitten.

Back...

13.   Add bells to one rick-rack end.  Thread and knot a needle, pull through one end of the rick-rack.  Add the bell to the needle, continue with a few bells.  Tie off.  Then put a few stitches to stitch both pieces together.  Sew on a button in the middle.  The one stitch will show on the back but it doesn't matter really, the ornament is very pretty!

 Done!


We are keeping the daily giveaway as simple as possible. To enter the giveaway, just leave a comment to that day's blog post and say that you want to be entered in the giveaway - one comment equals one entry. You can earn one additional entry by posting about the daily 12 Days of Christmas blog post on your blog, Facebook (add us, Theresa Powers or Jessica Munday, as friends on Facebook for verification) or twitter. Each day we will draw a winner and announce the winner the following day before the next daily post!

Today's giveaway is again going to be the 
Joyous Home Journal Christmas edition!

and the Daily Deal on Joyous Home is...

Farm House Rag Quilting Lessons

On sale for $12.50  - Regular price $25.00 

Complete Quilting Lessons for a finished Farm Rag Quilt - Color Photo Tutorials - Step by Step Photo - Download Now!

 Looks wonderful on a wall or big table!

Have a wonderful day everyone!

~Theresa and Jessica

Summer 2009, Seasons At Home

I thought I would post this..

Like I said.. I think we managed to do some good 'ol fun stuff! The girl's tea was absolutely lovely and we now have a brand new bookshelf sitting in our living room. Not to mention all of the other goodies we did!

Have a blessed evening, ~*~Jessica~*~

Giveaway Winners and August Giveaway!

Now announcing the winners off the July Seasons At Home Magazine giveaway!

And the winners are..

Amy O'Quinn and Elley at Wind Hollow Farms!

Congratulations ladies!

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This also marks the start of the August giveaway, so post your comments here to enter for this month's contest. We are having a little change in the giveaway prize. Starting this month, we are giving away two single issues of the current magazine away!

So, if you enter for this month, you are entering to win a Summer 2009 issue of Seasons At Home Magazine!

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The Summer issue is officially at the printers and we can't wait to get it! Even though God has brought many unexpected changes for our family, we were able to put together a fun issue. In fact, I think this issue is going to be my new favorite! We think so anyway, and we hope our readers like it too ;)

We may make our plans, but God sometimes brings about a change that is better for us. We had announced earlier this month that God seemed to be leading us to the New England area. All doors were closed leading there and God has taken us to Michigan. In about two weeks, we are going to be moving to Traverse City, Michigan! It will be a big change for our family, and we are excited about the doors God has opened for us. We have a busy Fall to look forward to, and I'm sure lots of snow this winter!

In between packing the house and all of the other busy things we have going on, we shall try to get in a few more blog posts before we leave. Or I shall anyway!

Many blessings! ~*~Jessica~*~

Spring Issue is Here!

Yes, the spring issue is here! We are so excited to be able to be working on sending all the magazines out :) All of the kids have been on assembly line duty for the past two days, bagging and sealing, and I think today we have the majority of them done!

We are busy this week with planning the May online conference for Joyous-Homemaking! Now that Mom is feeling better, I have a little more time to get back to fixing up the blog and other websites. We actually have few things that we took pictures for to add to the blog, so we'll be back on here later with one of our recent recipes.. or other something!

Hope everyone is having a very blessed week! And If you are subscribed to our magazine, be on the look out for it in the mail!

~*~Jessica~*~

Summer 2009 Magazine Cover

I thought it was time that I post a preview of the cover for this summer's issue! Isn't it pretty? :)

Finished Dresses

The dresses I've been working on..

Would anyone like a quick lesson on how to put lace on the bottom of dresses? I always used to hem. I don't anymore.. I took some pictures and thought about posting a quick lesson.





Nothing too fancy, very simple. I meant to show the back neckline which hangs lower. They have pretty pearl buttons on the back.

Blessings, Theresa

Another Preview..

Here is a preview of the upcoming spring cover, fresh and springy for the new year. Isn't it peaceful?

Many blessings, ~*~Jessica~*~