Needle Punch Embroidery

A couple of years ago, I took a class from a local fabric store on needle punch embroidery.  I am in love with the way it looks and I have so many ideas of how to use it, but never seem to actually getting around to doing it.

 In the class, we started this little linen bunny bib.... but I never actually finished the thing.

When I found out a dear friend is having a baby next month and I thought this bib might be the perfect gift to send her...

It was just the motivation I needed to finish it up. 

Yay for finishing two year old projects! And yay for cute bibs!

Cran Pear Pie

Even though this pie tastes like Christmas I craved it last week.  When I saw fresh Bosc pears in the market I remembered I had frozen some whole fresh cranberries and caved in to that craving.  My 18 year old son said it tasted like "Santa Clause, jingle bells, holly and ivy, gingerbread houses and Christmas lights!"  He also said it tastes how Christmas candles smell.  Well, cranberry lover that I am, I am ready for this pie anytime of the year!

I copied this recipe from a magazine.  I can't recall which one and I can't find this recipe on line.  But it is truly a wonderful combination resulting in a new taste--not cranberry or pear.  Have I mentioned how much I like this?

CRAN PEAR PIE

Pie Dough Prep

Roll out pie dough and make base in a 9 inch pie pan.  Roll out another circle of dough on waxed paper and place in freezer for 5 minutes to chill.  Use cookie cutters to make shapes for pie top and put back in freezer until ready to use.

Pie Filling

1/2 tsp lemon zest
2 T lemon juice
3 lb. Bosc pears, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch chunks
1 c. fresh (or frozen) cranberries, chopped in food processor
3 T cornstarch
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
3/4 c. sugar

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and place on top of dough lined pie plate.

Dot with 1 T. butter.   Top pie with dough cut outs and brush with cream.  Sprinkle with sugar.  

Bake in pre-heated oven at 425 degree for 20 minutes and then reduce heat to 350 for 1 hour.   Cool.  Serve warm or at room temperature.

Ninjago Drink Labels: Ninjagade!

Here are my Ninjago drink labels that I used for Henry's birthday party.  I simply pasted each image into Microsoft Word, adjusting the sizes until four fit onto a page.  Then, I printed them on photo paper, cut them out and taped them around short Gatorade bottles.

These labels are free for your personal use (that means enjoy them for your little guy's birthday party but please don't sell them on your Etsy site).  

Ninja-GO!

POST EDIT:

Some people have had a hard time getting these to work in a Word Document.  I wish I was more computer savvy and could offer better help, but I'm just an amateur mom-blogger with little technical know-how.  I've posted these images as photos, so you should be able to save them to your computer and reprint them in the program of your choice: a photo editing program, Word, Power Point, etc.  You will have to manipulate the images to be long enough to go all the way around a small Gatorade bottle.  I have a PC, so if you are working on a Mac, it may be different.

I will try my best to email the images to you directly, if you leave your email address in the comments section.

Cheers!
Becca

Work in Progress

I've seen some requests to post the drink labels I made for Henry's Ninjago party and am happy to post them for your printing pleasure.  Currently, our little blog is needing some adjustments and updates, but as soon as those are made, I'll get the labels up.

xoxo
Becca