And the Winners are....

Well I'm covered in Key Lime pie, and cookie crumbs,
and slightly tipsy from the Brandy Slush!

Thank you so much for dropping in for our first

Food Fight Friday!

Some very yummy treats indeed,
and still a week left to make a few!
Tipsy or not, I've got a job to do
And that's to announce our winners!

So without further Ado...

1st up:

Winner of our Tina Givens Fat Quarter bundle
and 101 essential Sewing tips booklet.

Congratulations

An email is on the way Carla!
Your holiday Tradition has made me hungry!

and 2nd

Winner of our custom SuperCape.

Congratulations



An email is on the way B!
What a wonderful way to spread some Joy

Thank you all for sharing your wonderful traditions,
Memories, and spreading joy in the true holiday spirit!

If you'd like your own Supercape for your
little adventurers, please feel free to drop into the shop!

Happy Countdown!

Food Fight Friday - Vanilla Kipferl

Yay...It's Friday!

Time to host our premier
Food Fight!
and last day for the Giveaway!

You know what to do...
Grab a whisk and really big pot lid and take cover...
No no no...
actually it's much easier than that.
Just link up your favorite Holiday Recipe and join the party!
(Don't have a blog, but want to play...just leave a link in the comments!)

Remember to link to your specific Blog Post (not your blog)
then go on and check out what everyone else is slinging
Drop a comment or 2,
since slinging food and running is really bad form!

And go on...Grab a snazzy Button
You know you want one!



<center><a href="http://choochmagooz.blogspot.com/search/label/food%20fight%20friday/"><img border="0" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5209/5263950032_675bc25ce0_m.jpg" /></a></center>

As promised
I'm Starting the first round of slingin'
with my favorite Holiday Cookie
Vanilla Kipferl

Every year we spent Christmas Eve with my Fathers side of the family...
and you can bet these where always on the table!
Ahhhhhhh...tastes like HOME

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 pinch salt
• 7/8 cup butter
• 1/2 cup icing sugar
• 1 egg
• 3 teaspoons vanilla sugar (or 1 tsp essence)
  
• 1 1/4 cups ground almonds

Directions

In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour and salt.
Cut in the butter or margarine, and mix until crumbly.
Add the remaining ingredients to the flour and mix until a dough forms.
Place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
Divide the dough into manageable balls.
Make rolls (ropes) that are approximately 1 inch thick.
Cut the rolls into 2 inch pieces, bend the pieces into crescent shapes and taper the ends slightly.
Place the kipferl on a baking tray and refrigerator for 15 minutes.
This recipe will make just over 2 pans.

Bake at 350 degrees F (185 degrees C) for 10 to 15 minutes.

While still warm, roll the kipferl in a mixture of icing sugar and vanilla sugar.

Enjoy!

So these are going out Christmas Eve
with a shot of vanilla steamed milk

What do ya say Big Guy in Red...
Reckon you got a Band Saw in that sack for me!?!

What are you slingin?!

Are you ready for a Food Fight?!

Wow...I'm speechless!
And no it's not because my mouth is stuffed with baking!

So far we've had approx 275 lovely guests drop in
and enter our Giveaway!
Leaving behind such lovely comments,
favorite holiday traditions and cheer spreading ideas.

Being so far from home, we've had to combine some of our
original traditions and come up with a few new ones along the way.
It's always great to see what others do to make the holidays special.

Baking seems to be the running theme so far!
So in honor of that tradition,
and because you're all making some amazing festive treats,
I've decided to bump up the launch date of our First Ever

Global Food Fight Friday!



I'll open up the links tomorrow with one of my all time
favorite holiday cookies, and then stand back
and see what you've got to sling into the mix.
Oh I do hope you can join us for the party...
I couldn't possibly handle all those calories myself!

Our family has had a baking tradition for as long as I can remember. Several years running we even made our own chocolates, and of course my mother never did anything by half. She must have had the entire collection of Wilton chocolate molds! Though her greatest achievement, and a memory that will last me a lifetime is the baking fest.

I will NEVER forget the year she turned the guest bedroom into a cold storage. In Canada this is pretty easy to do at sub zero temperatures, stuffing a towel along the door to keep the heat from escaping from the rest of the house. She had turned that room into the biggest walk-in you have ever seen...I swear there wasn't an inch of that queen size bed that wasn't covered in tins and stacked 4 deep! I swear I could hear knocking in the night as the calories tried to escape and find us! It was Divine!

Be sure to drop in tomorrow and link up your holiday favorites,
let's see how high we can stack 'em!

It's starting to look a lot like Christmas....

If you're here by way of Sew Mama Sew's Giveaway day, Welcome...
You can stay for a quick tutorial or jump straight to the Giveaway
either way, I'm glad you've dropped by!
________________________________________________

fa lalalala la la la la......

Eeeeek...With only 10 days left
there's no time for procrastinating
Tis the season to get crackin...

So today I bring you a little Christmas cheer
in way of a short tutorial for some
European inspired Christmas ornaments.

Can be used on the tree, as gift tags, gift to friends
or hanging on a string of twine to display holiday cards.

Supplies:
Scissors (plain and pinking shears)
Red or Cream Felt
Embroidery Floss, (red and white)
gingham scraps
burlap scraps
buttons
polyfill or cotton fiber for stuffing

Get crackin:
Download and print template

Cut out all of your shapes in the felt of your choice.
Use pinking shears to cut a band of gingham for 1 of the large hearts and the smaller heart for the star.
(I used a piece of fabric with a heart motif already printed) Cheating.... I know!
After cutting your Burlap square, fray the edges slightly by pulling out a few threads.

Now it's time to embellish your fronts...
Don't be afraid of embroidery..if you need some help, check out some of the great video how to's on youtube. Have fun, be creative, maybe you have some linen scraps you'd like to add...
Lay out all of your designs and secure by stitching. I use a running stitch for most.
sew on your buttons and embroider the wording (I use a simple back stitch, but a chain stitch is also nice)

Once you're finished embellishing, place your pieces together (right sides out) and begin stitching. I like to keep a rather long (7" or 18cm) tail at the beginning. Tie your knot at this length then begin stitching from the top of your ornament. To add contrast, I've used a running stitch for some and blanket stitch on the others. Stitch all the way around until you are 3/4 finished. Add a small amount of stuffing and poke into corners (chopsticks are great for this). Now continue stitching. Knot your last stitch and tie off with the tail you left at the beginning. Cut the end to match the other and you can now decide what length you would like your hanging tags*. A simple knot in the end of your tails and your all finished.

*I have longer hanging tags as I like to hang my ornaments from a long piece of twine for my Christmas cards. The extra and different lengths add some character. Add some mini clothes pegs and you have yourself a lovely card bunting.

Happy Holidays
and Merry Crafting!

Sharing the Holiday Spirit Here too:
Trendy Treehouse
Someday Crafts: Whatever Goes Wednesdays
Sew Much Ado: We did it Wed.
My Backyard Eden: Make it yours

Tis the Season for giveaways....

Comments now closed, Thank you for your overwhelming response
...Stay tuned for a winner!
___________________________________

Can you believe it's Giveaway time yet again!
Are you ready...
are your wrists and fingers flexed
do you have your snacks and pot of tea beside you..
Because....
It's Giveaway Day at Sew Mama Sew!

Your chance to visit amazing Blogs around the Globe
and enter to win hundreds of amazing
handmade items and supplies.

You can start by entering our Slash my Stash giveaway below.
and our Handmade offering at our '100 Posts' blog post.

Today I'm giving away 8 Fat quarters from Tina Givens,
and a handy 101 Basic tips of Sewing booklet.

How to enter:
Just leave me a comment below telling me your
favorite holiday tradition.
Be sure to include your email address
Comments are open until Dec 17th
and yes...this is open internationally!

That's it for this one...super easy!

Then.. if you want to jump over to our
Handmade giveaway
you can double and triple your chances and win
a custom handmade heirloom supercape
for the little adventurer in your life!

Good luck and happy blog hopping

Return to Sew Mama Sew by clicking the Giveaway button Above.

A bit of Saturday Shopping

I've been playing with wall hoops since last year and finally came up with a few I really like. I needed a way to try out my free motion foot (that I bought 6months ago) I think I tried it once and then put it promptly back into the tray...

it freaked me out that bad! Silly Huh!

Well You know me...I like small art!
It's a little less committal and therefore easier to just go for it.
I think they turned out quite nicely.

So here's a few offerings now in the shop

Hope you like them

For a bit more Saturday Shopping
head on over to Zsazsazsu's Saturday Shopping Day

And if you haven't seen our giveaway post
Drop in here

Food Fight Friday - Christmas Crack!

Find our giveaway post here.
_____________________________________________________

First off let me just say I didn't name it...
But man if there was ever such a thing...this is it!

There are several recipes floating around the blogging world, but I realized some of you may not have been lucky enough to stumble upon them yet. So Today I'm slinging some yummy scrumptious totally addictive Christmas Crack your way!

Ingredients:

Saltine Crackers (enough to cover baking tray...approx 4oz)
1 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
2 cups semisweet choc. chips
3/4 cup chopped pecans or slivered almonds

If your in Spain...you'll need some Crackylu...seriously!

Directions:

preheat oven, 400 F or approx 205 C
slightly grease baking tray and cover with Saltines or (Crackylu)
In a saucepan combine the butter and sugar, bring to boiling and cook for approx 3 min.
Pour immediately onto saltines and spread to cover all.
Place in oven and bake for approx 5 - 6 minutes.
remove pan from oven and immediately sprinkle chocolate over.
Wait for chocolate to melt (approx 5 min) then spread to cover.
Sprinkle with optional nuts and cool in fridge.
Crack into bite size pieces once cooled and try not to eat ALL of it!

And now for a little showing off of the stylish little jars
the Chooch and I made for all of our friends.
I used glass etching to frost the star on the top
and then we both went crazy with the glitter on the star tags,
which double as a tag and ornament.

Fill with Christmas Crack and hand out to all your skinny friends...
They may just not notice that your own thighs
have expanded due to eating half a pan of each batch!
Oh NO I didn't!...hehe errrrrrrrrmmmm!

Stay tuned in the New Year
when Food Fight Friday goes global!
We'll be starting our very own Linky party where
you'll be able to sling your own yummies at us!



Slinging some yumminess around at the following parties:
The Shabby Nest: Frugal Fridays
Fingerprints on the Fridge
It's a Hodgepodge Friday
Tatertots and Jello: Weekend Wrap up
Along for the Ride
Craft Envy: Saturday Spotight

The countdown has begun

Who doesn't love a bit of Bling during the holidays?!

I thought this Christmas we would add a bit of
Holiday sparkle to our countdown.

can you believe this started out as this...

I was inspired by this gorgeous one from Jennifer at Muse Lodge



Not wanting to add to my holiday storage,
I wanted something that we could use all year round.
And so a chi-chi chalkboard it became.

I first painted the framing a rich gold,
then gave it 3 layers of chalkboard paint.
Next it was off to the local framers for some extra dressing.
Without the glass, this was quite inexpensive.

So with a stash of buttons and vintage finds...

and a little strong glue and pin backs,
We now have a Swanky new Chalkboard,
perfect for our Holiday countdown.

And a place to write up our New Years Resolutions...
But I've got many days of Bling before I have to worry about those!

Happy Creative Holidays

Don't miss your chance to enter the Giveaway...
Find it here


Sharing at the following Linky Parties:

Tatertots and Jello Weekend Wrapup
Along for the Ride
AnneMarie's BreiBlog
A Vision to Remember
Mommas Kinda Crafty
I Heart Naptime
Raising Memories
The Girl Creative
Making the World Cuter
C.R.A.F.T
Sumo's Sweet Stuff
Mad in Crafts - Mad Skills

100 Posts Giveaway!!!

Comments now closed,
Stay tuned for a winner!
________________________________

Yes my friends, another month of Cyber slacking.
Mia culpa, mia culpa!
I'd get into a list of excuses but you hate those right?!
So I'll just say...Sorry!

However, to make up for my absence,
and to celebrate throwing 100 posts of Randomness at you all...

It's time for a giveaway.

Let's just jump right into it shall we

I've had a few custom orders lately and have been inspired.
I like the challenge, and the creativity it allows.

So for you...
Another custom superhero Cape!


We had such a success with the last giveaway,
and they are such fun to make...


Here's a few I've made to get your imaginations moving!





So here's how to play...

for your official entry:
Leave a comment telling me what you plan to do
to spread some joy this holiday season
This step is mandatory...all bonus entries will be void without this step.

For bonus entries:
:Follow or subscribe to my random ravings (aka:Blog)
:Join our Facebook page
:Stop into my Etsy Shop and let me know what product is your favorite.
:Share this post via Twitter, Facebook etc

Please leave me a comment for each bonus entry you are snagging!

Or If you're rather impatient and can't wait to win one..
You can now head on over to my Etsy Shop and purchase one today!


Good luck!
I'll be drawing the winners on Dec 18th so be sure to check back.
Due to the personal nature of this order please note that it will not ship
directly after the giveaway. Please allow 2 weeks for our mutual collaboration.
And my sincere apologies for the dead airwaves there for a spell...

Lot's of new fun stuff coming your way.

For more chances to win amazing Handmade goodies
jump over to Sew Mama Sew's Giveaway Day

Is 4 too young to wear Cashmere?!

Ahhhh...Project complete.

If you recall,
I am somewhat following a sew-along
over at Elemental Stitches,
using the 'Carefree clothes for girls' book.
I already mentioned in my previous post
how far from the project I strayed.
Obviously, I really dodged the road where the sign said Knit!
Someday......maybe!
But for now I pulled out a scarf from the book
and decided to use that instead.
It kept with the "Fancy" theme.

So I managed to rip, pick, unstitch and re-purpose
the formerly "Nice" men's Cashmere overcoat,
and produce a "Nicer" little number for the Chooch.

All with minimal swearing!
okay---I let fly a couple good ones but
said Chooch was already asleep... so all good!

Now we just need some winter weather
and a few good Holiday Parties.
And a child receptive to wearing the Jacket
after far too many try on sessions!

Happy Sewing!

Sharing at these lovely Links:

Squaaawk..Trick or Treat!

Introducing Polly...
The Amazing SQUAAAAWKING Parrot

After last years mermaid request,
I have to admit I was a little apprehensive to ask this year!
So of course, we just happened to be standing near a Parrot at the time!
Next year I'm going to have to time that question Very carefully!

Fortunately I learned my lesson..
Delegation is key!

It started with these gorgeous mermaid pants
that our dear friend Mz Luckey made for her daughter...

photo taken by Mz. Luckey

Jax was over the moon about them and HAD to have a pair!

Ummmm sorry Kid...this Mamma don't knit!
"That's okay...Nana Knits!"
Well aren't you clever...
Here...you phone her! hehe

So armed with encouragement and tips from Mz. Luckey
A free pattern from Knitty.com for Emma's unmentionables...
and a wee voice in her mind...
"Knit, Nana Knit!"

Nana did indeed knit up a storm
and posted them across the pond in record time!
"Thanks Nana...You're the Bestest Ever!"
Seriously...she doesn't want to take them off..
They swish!

Next came the headgear...
whilst cruising my usual crafty links
I checked in on my favorite swapping site, We-Swap
And what did I find!!!... this perfect mask from Artisan Maskers!
Oh yes please..pick me pick me!
And she did!
YAY!!!

I had first thought we would go as parrots together
and keep the mask for myself,
However, when it arrived in all it's glory
I was well impressed by how sturdy and well made it was.
It will definitely stand up to my little squawker.
And let's face it...My butt won't look as good in knit pants!

Mission Delegation
success
All that was left for me to do was make feathers...
Lot's and lot's of feathers!

Happy Halloween Everyone
Have a Safe and Fun Weekend!

Don't forget your free gift with any purchase in My New Etsy Store
I may be extending the time on this as we are about to hit
100 Posts!
talk about a lot of squawking!
And with any luck
100 Followers at the same time!
Stay tuned for a special celebration giveaway.


More Squawking about it
at the following Linky Parties:

Etsy Front Page - WHooooHoooo

Wow..
only a week after opening and I was featured in my first treasury!
And we made it to the ETSY Front page!

Unfortunately I had my head down sewing the Choochs Halloween costume and missed the actual action. But huge thank you to Small Earth Vintage for featuring me in her very interesting Treasury.

See see...that's me in the corner...That's me in the spotlight...
that's me...nevermind!

So I got such a kick out of it,
and because I needed yet another reason for an
inspiring creative procrastination break...
I created my very own treasury
All sorts of yummy goodness and beautiful things
Handmade by Artisans all over the Globe.

Just click on the photo's to take you to the individual treasuries.

And drop a comment if you dig it!

And of course Shop Shop Shop If you Really Dig it!

And don't forget we're offering a Free gift
with any purchase from Choochmagooz until Oct 31st!


Happy Monday!

Did you Hear the News!?!

Creative Procrastination is My forté

However,
That doesn't mean that I am not being productive.
I just wish I could slow down and show my couch some lovin!

But we've got Big News Here Folks..
Big News!

I've been behind my camera and in front of my screen for days
Learning about and setting up shop!!!
Finally I'm out of the dark ages and getting e-commerce savvy!

That's right my lovelies...
I've finally got an ETSY site!
Whoooop Whooooop...

To celebrate
I'm offering this gift with every purchase until Oct. 31st

1 magnetic bookmark
style will vary
Use as a bookmark or fridge magnet
strong rare earth magnet holds up to 10 pgs

please mention this offer in the "notes to seller"

Check us out Here!!!
Choochmagooz.etsy.com
I'll change my sidebar link as soon as I figure it out!

I promise to get more items listed as soon as the sun and time allow.
Until then please feel free to leave me a message
if there is anything in my flickr gallery
you would like me to set up as a listing

sniff sniff...No couch for the weary!
Yipppeeeeee!

Dotee, do dee do..I'm so Procrastinating!

Now that my craft room is organized...
My head is totally Scattered!

I nearly missed a swap deadline I had signed up for last month!
And can you believe I even had a post it note about it!

I promise I'll get there yet!

So because I felt like doing something fiddly and fun..
I signed up for a Winter themed Dotee swap.

If you're anything like the Fhub you've just gone...
Huh??? Whu...ck is that!!!
Dotee Dolls are an altered art doll (between 3" - 5"), created by Dot of
dots life and art.
A great way to use up your scraps as all you need is
imagination and left over fabric, yarn and beads.

So here is my Ice Princess,


Ready to be bundled up and shipped to one patient swap partner!
(to be fair the deadline isn't actually until Wed)

Now back to my coat...
nothing like a creative procrastination break!


Gettin' my linky party on here:
Sew Cute Tuesday
Get your Craft On

Bad A$$ Mama!

I'm such a rebel...YAAAAaaaaa!
well as much of one as a stay-at-home mom can be!

Yes I made the cut!...and then some more cuts...
and then some ripping, and pining, and sewing..
and a few more seam ripping...

And somewhere along the line...
a wee Jacket emerged.

It's still a work in progress
but I didn't want to leave you hanging there too much longer.

So first act of rebellion:
cutting down a beautiful 100% Cashmere overcoat

Second:
I'm participating in the Carefree Clothes for girls sew along
over at Elemental Stitches.
and am supposed to be making this....

photo taken by Elemental Stitches

Whilst I think this jacket is really cute..
it's just not what I wanted for Jax.
So I used elements of both jackets in the book and went my own way.
Something romantical and dressy.

I'm sure my mother has a stack of school notes filed away...

"Lacks focus and does not follow directions"

To Cut..or Not to Cut?..that is the question!

Help!!!
I find myself stuck with an up-cycling dilemma

Recently we acquired a lovely Men's 100% Cashmere Overcoat.



It's luxurious, it's designer fabric..if you go for those sorts of things...
And it fit's Fhubby quite well.

- I've searched all over the web for average resale value and
it just doesn't look like it's worth the effort...

- Fhubby already has a nice dress overcoat which he hasn't in fact worn in the 6 yrs we've been together. I'm pretty sure I glimpsed him in a suit and tie once but can't be certain I wasn't just seeing things?! And as far as winter wear...the man still cycles to work in shorts in the dead of winter (that Aussie sun must soak deep into their bones...cause the Canadian in the room has the heat cranked and is wrapped in 20 layers of flannel!)

-I REALLY REALLY REALLY love the coat for it's fabric potential...vs style!

-I Really Really want to remake it into a cute Fall/Winter overcoat for the chooch!

With all that in mind..I'm also a wee bit terrified of the screw up factor on the coat for her..

So Please Please Please help me out here...

Do I cut or Not?!?!!!