Sticky Buns -- Oh, so yummy!

Today we had a retirement breakfast for a co-worker at school.  While it's never fun to say "so-long" to someone we've worked with daily, we certainly did enjoy a great breakfast.  I probably shouldn't eat for a week after this one!  I had a request for the sticky bun recipe, so thought I'd post it here for anyone interested.  They are so easy to make, and very sticky, gooey, and just fun to eat! :)

2 loaves frozen bread dough, thawed (any brand)
1 c. walnuts, pecans or raisins (or mixture of nuts & raisins)
cinnamon

Sauce:
1 large pkg. vanilla pudding (not instant)
1 stick butter (or margarine -- but I like the REAL stuff)
1 c. brown sugar
2 Tbsp. milk

Place nuts and raisins in a greased 9 x 13-inch pan.
Cut or pull bread dough into little balls (12 per loaf) -- I find it easier to cut mine -- once lengthwise and then 6 across.
Sprinkle with cinnamon and place on top of nuts in pan.
Mix pudding, sugar, milk, and butter on stove just until heated through (do not overcook.)
Pour warm sauce over dough balls and cover.  (I grease a piece of wax paper with butter and cover with that.)
Leave in refrigerator overnight.
The next morning, bake at 350 for 35 minutes.

These are great to prepare for company.  Mix it all up at night, and just pop them in the oven in the morning.

Happy Eating!

Drum roll, please ... It's a ....

MUG RUG!  And it is on it's way, and may have already arrived at the home of my daughter-in-law.  I couldn't resist when I saw the pattern for this cute little squirrel on http://bunnyhillblog.com/free-patterns/.
Knowing she enjoys her "neighborhood" squirrels, and that she enjoys her coffee in a mug -- I thought I just had to make a mug rug.  So there you have it ... the mystery is solved!

My most recent bit of creativity was to make a zippered clutch for my school auction.  I tried a different type of fabric and changed the design a bit on this one.  I'm not too sure how I feel about it yet, but here it is...

The inside lining on this one is in the same fabric as the band on the front.

Clue Two... and assorted other things!

I STILL have red vines over my window.  I put them up before Christmas, and am thinking it's time for a change.  Maybe tomorrow!

I've been lazy; that's all there is to it!  At least, lazy once I get home from school.  I did however, finish my little mystery project about a week ago.  A few people have guessed a placemat.  Close, but that's not it.  Here is Clue Two...

Hmmm...now what could this be??  And to whose house will it go????  Someone will get a little package in the mail, and they will surely understand once they see it.  ;)

Other tidbits for the day...

My three most worn aprons!  I call the blue and white one my "Cindy apron."  I'll share more about that another day.  The middle one is my sturdy wear for anything apron, and the pretty (new) one on the left was the one made by my niece.  There is a spot for one more.  That is the one I'll tell you about later -- a new "Cindy Apron."

What is it?

When I recently visited my Mom, I came home with a box of fabrics she had used for quilts.  They were all neatly organized by color in the box -- and so far I've been able to keep them that way! So... my first project from the "neatly organized scrap box" is going to be ...

ANY GUESSES??

Stay tuned -- another clue will follow.

Hmmm..."Scrap Box Creations" -- I may have a challenge for myself!

My Swap Apron ... and other things...

Over the weekend I had a lovely visit with my Mom.  Among other things, we decided to visit as many "Re-use It" shops as we could.  I wish I could say I found lots of treasures, but nothing jumped out at me this time. Mom sent me home with a "treasure", though,-- a BIG box of quilting fabric scraps she was not using.  It's a fairly large box, so I'm sure the friends I was riding with are happy I did NOT find other treasures! :)  When I returned home, I found the swap package from my niece waiting for me in my mailbox.  I LOVE the apron, and will so enjoy wearing it.  I tried to take a picture of it using the timer on my camera, and this is what I came up with ... I am not the photographer she is!  Check out her page at facebook.com/burnettphotography.

Before I went to see her, I made a gathered clutch for Mom, and just love the colors of this one. They get easier to make and come out better each time.  I just want to make sure I mention that I found the pattern/tutorial for this clutch on Noodle-head.com.

At it again...

I just had to post the newest clutch.  I'm really liking this one.  I have once again used an Amy Butler fabric. The bright colors are great!  On this one I added a longer strap to make it easier for "hands free" shopping.  Have a great Saturday, and do something creative!

Show & Tell

You don't have to be in an elementary school long to know that kids LOVE Show & Tell time -- whether it's a scheduled "Show & Tell" or not!  I don't think we ever completely outgrow "Show & Tell". :)  So, here's mine ...  The Gathered Clutch!  Here a clutch, there a clutch, everywhere a clutch, clutch.  Ok -- enough of that.    It's just that it came out so cute!  I'll be making more of these, I'm sure.  This one uses Amy Butler fabric, and is the one made for a swap.

This the back.

The inside has two pockets on one side for cards.

And -- the front.  

When I started this project, I decided I might as well make two right away, so... here is the one I made for myself.  It uses an additional Amy Butler fabric on the gathered front.

 I'm sure I loved show & tell as a kid -- although I can't remember what I might have taken in.  Show & Tell ... maybe this is what God does for us every day through his creation.  Genesis 1:31 ... "Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was excellent in every way."  Wow!  His creation is a show and tell that is new and different every day!  Something to ponder...