New Boutique Items

I thought for today, I would share photos of our newest Boutique additions.  First, are mom's new Embroidered Door Pillows:

Are these little birdies on the teacup too cute or what?!!!

And then mom's Purple Heart Shaped Door Pillow:

This one reminds me of an old sampler! 

My newest creations are these sweet little vintage crocheted Easter Eggs which I I of course had to embellish with flowers, chicks and glitter:

So that's what new in our Cottage Boutique!

In other news, I'm working on a few more I Phone pouches.  I spent some time this morning in my craft storage room.  Geez, I can't believe I let it get so messy!  I spent some time refolding my lace pieces, organizing my ribbons and trims and I still have a lot more neatening up that I want to do!  But I'll do a little at a time and in a couple of weeks, it'll be nice and organized again!

For now, I'm making Homemade Beef Soup!  Click the link for the recipe!

Recipe - Creme Brulee

My mom's birthday was last week and my sister made the most wonderful Creme Brulee!  I asked her for the recipe so I could share it here on my blog.

Crème Brulee

Ingredients
• 1 quart heavy cream
• 1 vanilla bean, split and scraped
• 1 cup sugar, divided (use vanilla sugar if you have any-To make vanilla sugar place a vanilla bean in your sugar jar stirring occasionally)
• 6 large egg yolks
• 2 quarts hot water
• 1 tsp vanilla

Directions
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
Place the cream, vanilla bean and its pulp and 1 tsp vanilla into a medium saucepan set over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat, cover and allow to sit for 15 minutes. Remove the vanilla bean and reserve for another use once rinsed off an dried can be added to your sugar.
In a medium bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup sugar and the egg yolks until well blended and it just starts to lighten in color. Add the cream a little at a time, stirring continually. Pour the liquid into 6 (7 to 8-ounce) ramekins. Place the ramekins into a large cake pan or roasting pan. Pour enough hot water into the pan to come halfway up the sides of the ramekins. Bake just until the creme brulee is set, but still trembling in the center, approximately 40 to 45 minutes. Remove the ramekins from the roasting pan and refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to 3 days.
Remove the creme brulee from the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes prior to browning the sugar on top. Divide the remaining 1/2 cup vanilla sugar equally among the 6 dishes and spread evenly on top. Using a torch, melt the sugar and form a crispy top. Allow the creme brulee to sit for at least 5 minutes before serving. 

This is absolutely incredible!!!  Enjoy!  And be sure to see my other Sweet Treat Recipes!

Flea Market Treasures and Some Finishes

Scott and I picked mom up this morning and headed out to the Flea Market in Grayslake, Illinois.  The Flea Market & Antique show in Grayslake is the 2nd Sunday of every month and it's indoors so we didn't have to worry about the cold March air this morning!

There were a lot of new vendors this month and it was a bit larger than last time.  I found some nice little treasures for my crazy quilting.  First, were some pretty trims:

Next, I found a pretty doily with a cross stitched rose motif in the center:

Some vintage buttons:

 

 And some pink vintage velvet leaves:

Definitely some nice do-dads today!

When we got home, I sewed up my custom order Crazy Quilt Cat Doll:

And I did the finishing on my Crazy Quilt I Phone Pouches:

I did spend a little time sitting out in my backyard which felt so good!  Bubba started a fire in our firepit so I just sat for a few minutes.

So that was my day everyone!  Bubba is making dinner now.  Scrambled eggs with ham and pancakes.  Don't you just love breakfast for dinner!

Book Review - Crazy Quilting by Allison Aller

It's very difficult for me to post an unbiased review of Allie's new Crazy Quilting book.  I've known Allison Aller online for many years now and have always been in awe of her CQ work.  Allison has this fearless use of color which has always intrigued me.  That fearless use of color is the basis for her beautiful and unique Crazy Quilt compositions.

Crazy Quilting by Allie Aller is a modern twist on the Victorian art of Crazy Quilt embroidery.  Yes, you can see the usual abstract crazy quilt piecing beneath the contemporary techniques and embellishments.  However, Allie's unmistakable style shines through like a breath of fresh air!  Her skills in sane quilting have given her the gift of color and composition.  Her love of flowers and nature inspire embellishment techniques never seen before and her finishing is absolutely exquisite!

Covering every aspect of the crazy quilt process, you'll find sources for crazy quilt supplies, including inexpensive ways of stash building, several techniques for piecing crazy quilt blocks, embroidery stitches and unique embellishments, as well as projects with clear, step by step directions and so much eye candy you won't be able to put this book down and get any of your own crazy quilt projects under way!  Allie also includes the directions for her famous "false back" finishing.

One of the most beautiful books on crazy quilting in my collection and sure to be a treasure your crazy quilt library as well!  If you love the beautiful art of crazy quilting, if you're looking for the most up to date, modern techniques or if you're just into gorgeous embroidery or textile art, I highly recommend this lovely book by my dear friend, Allison Aller.

Crazy Quilt I Phone Pouches

I mentioned the other day that Bubba & I had to breakdown and get us some new cellphones.  The old ones were on their last legs.  It was a little hard for me to give up my pink Razor.  I mean, I loved my pink cellphone!  And I hate having to learn how to work new cellphones! 

We decided this time around, we would splurge just a bit and get I Phones.  I must admit, it's nice to be able to check my email without turning on the big computer or the laptop!  But after having it for 4 weeks, I still haven't set up my voicemail! 

Anyway, because of the glass touch screen, I decided it would be best to keep it in a pouch, esp. when it's in my purse.  Heaven only knows when my keys might get a bee in their bonnet and decide to have a wild party the expense of my cellphone!  LOL!

So far, I've stitched 2 pouches:

 

 The pink one is mine and the purple one will go in the boutique.  I'd like to get these sewn up over the weekend.  I have some more pouches to stitch.  No, I never do one of anything!  But first, I have a custom order for one of my crazy quilt Cat Dolls so I'll start on that now.  Then I'll stitch up some more pouches!