There's a Party going on!

Now, do you have the song running though your head?  For those of you who haven't visited me here at Pieces to love, welcome.  I love to quilt!  I also do some cooking, stop in for Test Kitchen Tuesday, where I share a tasty recipe.  I also make some cute dresses for my 4 year old daughter.

I mentioned a party. The Quilting Gallery is turning 5 and to celebrate Mishka is hosting a Blog Hop Party with giveaways!   What a way to celebrate.

There are quilters from around the world participating in this party with giveaways.   Mishka, has a list over at the Quilting Gallery with all the participants so please go check out the Quilting Gallery, and be sure to visit as many of the blogs listed as you can, because they are all giving something away!

I have chosen a charm pack of Moda Basics, by Basic Grey.  

So here are the rules.  

1. Who is eligible   Anyone who has an address :o)  I am willing to ship international! The only catch is, you must be a follower of my blog to enter. 

2. If you are a no-reply blogger and I have no way of contacting you, then if your name is drawn, how will I be able to tell you?  So, please leave your email if you are a no reply blogger.

3. Leave 1 comment telling me what your favorite birthday gift you have ever received was. 

4.Voting will remain open through December 16th.  I will post the winner on Monday, December 17th, 2012. I will notify the winner via email after voting has closed.  You will have until midnight on December 19th to respond with your address.  If you do not respond, then I will choose another winner on December 20th.

Please go and check out Quilting Gallery's page, there are so many things going on over there.  Weekly themed quilt contests, Block parties and more!  I don't know how Mishka does it all.

**Winner/s will be chosen through a random number generator.   

Good luck everyone!

Test Kitchen Tuesday, and a giveaway.

Hey happy Tuesday everyone! I can't believe I've made it to my 200th blog post. So, today I'm going to share one of my favorite go to recipes for potluck meals. I have always brought home an empty plate, so I think people enjoy it.  It takes some time but since it has to be refrigerated, it is great to make a day or two before.

I have horrible lighting in my kitchen paired with a cell phone picture.
I promise it isn't really cheddar cheese yellow.

Cheesecake

Preheat oven to 325 (this is the temp for the crust and cheesecake both)

Crust: 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
3 tbsp (tablespoon) sugar
3 tbsp melted butter

Mix crust ingredients together and press into a spring form pan. Bake for 10-12 min.

Filling

2 8 oz. pkgs cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup flour
2 eggs
2/3 cup evaporated milk
2 tsp (teaspoons) vanilla

In a medium sized bowl, combine cream cheese and sugar with an electric mixer. Then add remaining ingredients one at a time mixing well after each addition. Go slowly when adding the evap. milk to avoid splashing.

Pour filling into slightly cooled crust and bake for 40 min or until set. Once the cheesecake is set turn off the oven and leave to cool for about 1 hour. 


Once completely cool, refrigerate and add desired toppings.



I like to cut my cheesecake before adding any toppings.  I can see where I'm cutting and then if I mess up, it can be hidden by the topping :o).   Canned pie fillings make for a quick topping.  I usually use cherry and it goes over well.    I have also use caramel and chocolate syrups, with some pecans for a turtle cheesecake.


I mentioned a giveaway, didn't I...Well here it is!


Now I'm in the mood to celebrate my 200th blog post so I have dug into my stash and found this cute little fat quarter.

One of my lucky followers will win this.   


There are 3 requirements:


1. You must be a follower, if you are a no-reply blogger, please leave me a way to contact you.  


2. Leave a comment telling me what kind of recipes you would like to see more of, Desserts, main dishes, appetizers, etc.


3. One entry per follower, duplicates will not be included in the drawing.


Entry's must be received by Midnight EST on Thursday, August 26th, 2012.


I will draw a random winner Friday, August 27, 2012. This giveaway is open to all,  I am willing to ship internationally.  


Good Luck!

Sew Bittersweet Designs is having a Giveaway!

My friend Melissa over at Sew Bitter Sweet Designs is giving away a layer cake of 'Twirl' by 'Me and My Sisters'  The colors are oh so fun and bright. Just what everyone needs right now as the 'winter blues' are beginning to set in.

Photo Courtesy of Fat Quarter Shop.

Go Check out Melissa's blog and find out all the ways you can win!

WIP Wednesday 12/21/2011

It's another work in progress Wednesday.  I'm going to pull some of my WIP's out of the closet and see if I can't finish at least 1 of them up.

I was going to forego any sewing today and take the kids to the Wonder Lab, but my oldest is running a fever and hasn't moved from the couch.  I need to check his throat because he said his neck hurts, which to a 5 year old could mean a sore throat.   I hope he is better by Friday because we will be travelling to celebrate Christmas with my family and he would hate to miss playing with his cousins.

I have also been collecting fabric to make the 'Frosted Stars' quilt by Charlie Scott.  I fell in love with this quilt at a shop when I was on vacation back in October and I'm still drooling over the quilt.   I borrowed this picture from Charlies blog Qubee Quilts

I just love the design and colors from the fabric line, which is 'Fruit Cake' by Basic Grey.    I can't wait to get started on this, but it is going to have to wait until after Christmas.

Don't forget the giveaway I have going on, you can read about it here

I WON, but I'm giving it away!

No, your eyes aren't playing tricks on you.  I won a fabulous prize of $30 off professional quilting of a lap sized quilt (55"x70") or larger, in the month of January 2012, from Marcia through the 'Occupy your sewing room'.  

Marcia does "free-style quilting", which means she manually moves the machine to make a personal design with the stitches on your quilt.  These designs are everything from simple to very complex such as: swirls, spirals, meandering, stippling, feathering, stars, hearts, butterflies, leaves, flowers, and anything else you can imagine.  No two quilts will look the same with Freestyle Quilting! You get an amazing final product!

She quilts on a Gammil Long-Arm Classic Plus Regulated Stitch Quilting Machine, making every stitch the same size.  She quilts nice and neat and evenly.  She has quilted over 1500 quilts since 2003.  Now that is a lot of quilts! 

I have added some of her work, it is just fabulous!

Swirls

Look at all the beautiful 'feathers'.

Check out these lovely flowers.

And lastly, Marcia has this one on her blog and I absolutely LOVE IT.

Marcia also offers extra wide backing fabric in 18 different colors.  If you don't have backing fabric or batting, she sells all of that as well, so in reality you can just send her your quilt top and buy everything else from her.


My title said giveaway didn't it? Well here is where that part comes in, right now I don't have any quilts that big that need to be quilted so I am going to share my prize with a lucky person (I have received Marcia's blessing for this).   You don't have to be a follower but it would be nice.


Here are all the ways you can enter to win.


1. Leave a comment telling me what you are looking forward to the most this Christmas.


2. If you are a follower let me know, that is 2 chances to win.


3. Blog, tweet, or share on Facebook and leave me the link. (since I'm feeling generous I will give you 1 entry for each one, so that is a possible 3 additional entries!)


The Winner, receives $30.00 OFF the quilting on a Lap quilt or larger. Good for any day in January 2012.


If you are a 'no-reply' blogger or don't have a blog you need to leave your email in your comment so I will know how to contact you if you are chosen as the winner.  If I can't contact you I will chose someone else.


This giveaway is open to entries now thru Friday 12/23/2011.   The winner will be chosen and posted on 12/24. Remember If I can't contact you, you can't win.