Sugar Cookies and Granddaughters

I made sugar cookies with my Granddaughters, Olivia (5), and Quinn (3 1/2) on Tuesday. It was quite the event. I think I'll be vacuuming up sprinkles for months to come, but that's okay, we had a great time. I'm not too much of a baker, it's just not my thing. I do love these particular cookies though, and my family has come to expect them at holidays and birthdays.

While waiting for a batch to bake, here is Quinn checking out Grandma's ornaments. This one is a favorite with the girls. The angel's harp plays music when touched. I love it, too.

Look at these faces. They are my darling girls, and such good helpers, too. I think Quinn was feeling a little sad in the next picture. It was taken shortly after the sprinkles hit the floor. They were stacking the bottles, and I told them not to. Of course, they toppled over. How could I get mad at them? Impossible! Especially after Quinn says "I'm sorry Grandma" in her sweet little voice.

Most of the cookies ended up with unusual colored sprinkles for Christmas treats. The girls were far more interested in decorating with pink and purple than the traditional red and green
colors. You have to love little girls!

Here is my recipe:

Best Sugar Cookies

1 c. butter, softened

3 oz. cream cheese, softened

3/4 c. sugar

1 teas. vanilla

1 egg

3 cups all-purpose flour

1/8 teas. salt

Beat butter, cr. cheese, sugar, vanilla, and egg in a lg. bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Stir in flour (I sift mine first) and salt until blended.

Cover and refrigerate dough at least 2 hrs., but no more than 24 hrs. Heat oven to 375. Roll one fourth of the dough at a time 1/8 of an inch thick on a lightly floured surface, keeping remaining dough refrigerated..

Cut with assorted cookie cutters and place about 1-in. apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 7 to 10 minutes. Cool completely on a rack and decorate at desired. Makes 6 dozen.

Have a merry and blessed Christmas!

Another one bites the dust

Can you hear the pitter patter of me doing the happy dance? Finally...the A&E is done. It's not actually mounted, the frame is just sitting on top. I'll have to save that for another day. I feel like I started this one back in the 90's. I know I've worked on other pieces right along with this one, but it still felt like it would never be finished. The chart pages actually fell out of the magazine from so much handling. I had planned to give the magazine away to the person who wanted it the most, and I still will. Just know that it is not in pristine condition. The first person to email me with an address gets it. Now that it's done, I am very happy with my version. It looks much different than the magazine's reproduction.

Now on to Ann Rayner ~1839~. Isn't she the loveliest? Look at all the red. I'm in sampler heaven with this one.

Here's my start in the corner. The little sheep is over one. I'm using 40ct. Buttercream from Lakeside. You'll be surprised to know that I have almost half of the border done already. Quite a shocker for this border procrastinator. I think this sampler will be more fun than most. It's very colorful, with some quirky color blending, which I won't be doing. Like Sarah Palin, I'm Going Rogue, and will do my own thing.

1804 York ornament

One more for the sampler tree. I finished this last night. It is stitched over one on 40ct. The stitched part measures 1.25 x 1.50 inches. I just noticed that my cording is slightly off center. Oh well...I've been a digging through my stash for some more charts that can be stitched tiny enough. I think I'll try to do a few more by next Christmas. Right now, there's too many other things calling my name.

Sampler Ornaments

Thank you for the sweet comments about my sampler tree (in progress). Vonna has asked to see the ornaments up close, so here they are. I want them to be teeny tiny for the tree, so I've stitched them all over one, with the exception of this one.

My finishing skill leaves much to be desired. Very simply done. I'm using odds and ends of rick rack and ribbon, with the backing being felted wool scraps.

I think all of the patterns were the freebies that are sometimes included in the orders from the needlework shops. Freebies are good!

Every year, I buy the ornament issue from Just Cross Stitch. I can hardly wait until Sept., when it comes out. The funny thing is that I rarely stitch anything from them. I just look at the pictures. I do love this one by Carriage House Samplings from the 2005 issue though.

It will be this year's contribution to my tree. I'm stitching it over one on 40ct. Navy Bean from Lakeside. I started doing full crosses and it was just too tight and not much fun. I started over, and the tent stitch is much better. I added the ruler so you can see the size.

Over the weekend, I ordered my frame for the A&E. I have to finish it now! I'm close.

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I have an extra Christmas needlework set if anyone would like one. I'll be adding it on my Etsy shop.

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For those of you in the throes of the winter storm, be careful. Hopefully, you can stay inside where it's warm and dry with your stitching.