Be A Good Cookie Give Away!

A Great Cookie Spatula for you!

Congratulations to Heather fron It's Yummy To My Tummy for winning!  Heather found me through the Secret Recipe Club!  Stay tuned.  I am redoing my sewing room and am SOOOO inspired to sew up a storm.  Thanks again to you all!
Well, here it is, my very first give away!  I was chosen by OXO to help bake a difference, and they sent me 2 of this cute cookie spatula. One for me to give to you, and one for me to keep.  By baking cookies and holding bake sales, OXO has helped raise over $150,000 to support Cookies For Kids' Cancer for childhood cancer.  This spatula is available in limited quantities at Bed Bath and Beyond, and part of the proceeds go to their campaign. OXO is a great company, less than 70 employees, and they have a presence in most American kitchens.  Their kitchen gadgets are made to be functional, comfortable and affordable.  Disclaimer: Yes, we sell many OXO products at WS, I am not doing this because of that affiliation.  My blog was chosen by OXO.  I am in no way, any kind of decision maker for WS.  I am a worker bee.

An OXO spatula and a Butcher's Apron (that this baker loves), made by me!

And because I wear many hats, I decided that I would add an apron to the give away, made by me.  I love a good apron, and I love to sew.  I made it out of a book called A is for Apron.  I go for the butcher style because I sit and decorate cookies and my lap and legs are covered, and thus my apron is covered in icing!  And this is truly special because it has the Petitti label right on it!  It's long, but it is one of my favorites, here's hoping you agree!

Petitti...that's me!

So leave me a comment and follow my blog and get my followers over 100....please!  If you are already on the list, just leave a comment, but make sure I can find you!   I am not a great Facebooker, but if that is your thing you can like me there, and leave a comment, you'll be able to win there too!  I am a writer first and foremost, and writing here is my priority.  Sugar cookies are second, and that is what I use my Facebook page for. Make sure I can contact you through the comment, and a winner will be randomly chosen.  And if your lucky, there may be a sweet something enclosed as well...So, what are you waiting for?  Enter!!!! (I am sorry that it is U.S. only this time around!)

Be a Good Cookie Indeed!

Handmade is Best!

Yes, we all know I LOVE to bake for people. It is a creative, cathartic process. And I enjoy the whole concept of gifting. Sometimes a little sugar brings pure joy to someone, I like that I can be responsible for that. So of course I gave away plenty of sweets this past holiday, but I had a few gifts looming in the sewing room. And finally, I have finished! Since I am a pretty talented sewer I decided to put this here as well as the Hipline blog.

First up is the Chicken Apron. My frind Mel gets an apron a year from me. I am always looking for an idea to embellish a great canvas apron (wonder where I buy those?) I have monogrammed, embellished, left blank and even embroidered some clever saying. She loves an apron and especially likes the full ones that go over the head. I am a butcher apron girl, but more on that later. I gave her an appliqued apron like the ones that follow, for her birthday in October. But when I was at her house gifting her, she showed me the apron a family friend made for her when she graduated from high school...in 1975. You do the math. The photo follows. It is green ticking with a calico chicken whip stitched on the front. It is stained and well worn, and obviously her favorite. So I asked to borrow it. Yes, I know it is January and I have held her favorite apron for almost 3 months, but I think she may feel it was worth it. How cute is this? I found green ticking with no problem. Then I spent hours (honest) trying to find coordinating calico-type fabric for the chicken. I think I got some updated colors, instead of whip stitching I appliqued, and well, the result is pretty darn cute. She's off playing in Vegas this week, but she will be gifted this weekend. My other apron gifts were for friends and family. I admit I get into a groove and stick with it. The groove now is applique. Big loopy letters in great fabric, way more fun than a boring old monogram. Take a peek.


Back in the fall I did an article for Family Corner appliquéing beach towels, I just can't stop! I have been hitting the clearance shelves with the fleece throws in lots of colors to applique for the hundreds (okay maybe just 30) graduation gifts.

Finally, I just couldn't resist an apron for me. But my needs are quite different. I wear the classic apron at work, so I am not interested in wearing it at home. I love a long apron with long straps and a straight cut. A butcher's apron if you will. I can whip one up pretty quick in a fun cotton for whatever mood or holiday stirs me. They don't really hang well, so you'll have to trust me on the finished product. Better yet, come on over when the ovens are fired up, I am certain to have one on. So, get in there and bake!