Wishing everyone a sweet day today!  Here are a few seasonal bags that just say February 14th to me! Please look for the following bag making pattern and craft sets from you local quilt shop, or at www.ellenmedlock.com.

The Coquette Bag Pattern is represented by two different bags in this shot. One with the black and white butterfly (Alexander Henry Fabric)  handbag bedecked with romantic embellishments- direct glued to the exterior with Fabri-Tac craft glue.. a super quick bag to put together! (Getting to rummage through your stash of little things is the most fun as far as I am concerned! Ha!) And not to miss the other Coquette Bag .. sewn  in red rose fabric with a tiny metal embellishement tied on..

The Preppy Mini-Tote Pattern & Handle Set is shown with the black wood handles (you may choose either black, light oak or walnut with this set.) It is sewn with fabric by Blank Textiles. The bow ornament tied on to the handle is made special with a cardboard scrapbooking tag! Very easy to engineer with a bit of patience and again, a good clear drying craft glue!

The Interchangeable1 Bag Pattern & Handle Set is the poufy bag in the foreground with the black and white Michael Miller fab floral fabric, dot bow,  and check ruffle! The secret to this bag is the clever metal purse handle that allows muliple bags to use the same handle hardware~ one handle for many bags! Perfect for the traveler.. just pack one handle, and a bag bottom to match every outfit.

The Bangle Bracelet Set is shown in the background as a tower of many bracelet samples sporting black and red! Go crazy here with your stash snippets of both fabric, ribbon, and embellishments. They all start out as creative blanks … awaiting your touch! Wrap in fabric or paint and embellish in a million ways!

-ellen
xoxo

Sharing a sincere wish for A  Happy New Year in 2010!
Any resolutions to make more bags out there??
Would love to hear what tops your list of resolutions for the New Year!

Happy Christmas, Frohe Weihnachten, Joyeux Noël, Buon Natale,メリークリスマス, Feliz Navidad, Счастливого рождества, Gelukkige kerstdagen, Hyvää Joulua,  God Jul, … however it is said in your part of the world,
Merry Christmas to all!
xoxo

-ellen, mike, stephen & kathryn

As the countdown shortens to Christmas 2009, many of us are turning to our tried and true favorite recipes to please our family, holiday guests, or for gift giving! Wanted to share a cookie recipe that I always make.. although of course the dough can disappear before you have a chance to actually cut them out- so I usually whip up several batches, and refrigerate them ahead of time- being sure to hide it behind something in the ‘frig! (You can also freeze the dough too..)

Please tell us about any of your annual baking/cooking holiday favorites! And if you have a moment, share your recipe too!!

Cut-Out Christmas Sugar Cookies a la Martha Stewart  
(saw this probably ten years ago in a magazine, and have made some small changes over time)

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
1 cup granulated sugar
2 cups all purpose flour
1/4  tsp. salt
1/2  tsp. baking powder
1  large egg
1  tbs. brandy extract
1  tsp. vanilla extract

Cream the butter and sugar. Mix the dry ingredients together, then add to the butter mixture, and beat well.
Add the egg, brandy & vanilla extracts, and beat again until well mixed. Shape the dough into two flattened rounds
and refrigerate for at least an hour.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees, and line cookie sheets with parchment paper if necessary.  Bake the cut-out cookies for approximately 10 minutes, and do not allow to brown! Cool and racks, and try not to eat 20 at a time like me!

Royal Icing

1 cup confectioners sugar
1 egg white
drop or two of food coloring

Happy Baking!
-ellen
                                                                                                                                                                   

All Images and Text Copyright 2009, Ellen Medlock, LLC.

This Holiday Fabric Table Setting-   napkin, napkin ring, charger, and dessert plate, I designed using Christmas themed  fabrics by Michael Miller. The mod pink and green tree fabric  is called “Yule Tree”- one of my favorites!

I also used one of my Napkin Ring Set blanks to finish the red and white striped napkin ring. For How-To Instructions on the Napkin Ring’s take a peek here.

The Glass Dinner Plate is from the local Dollar store! You can’t go wrong-

The Napkin was made using Michael Miller coordinating green dot fabric, and is cut 16″ square. Simply turn under and sew 1/4″ seams on all sides.

Here’s how to make the rest of your unique Table Setting:

The Fabric Charger Plate

13″ common acrylic charger plate (these seem to be everywhere around the Holidays, and are pretty cheap- I found mine for $1.50.  Try Walmart or Target.. they come in sets of 4. I used a silver metalic finished charger.)

Spray Adhesive for crafters (Elmer’s Craft Bond worked well for me.)

15″ Square of your favorite  Holiday fabric, ironed well.

Clear Matte Acrylic Spray

Rotary cutter

1.  Give the top of your acrylic charger a good coat of adhesive spray.

2.  Drape and center your fabric square over the tacky charger, and gently smooth it onto the charger’s top.

3.  Allow to dry completely, then turn the charger upside down on your cutting surface, and use the rotary cutter to remove excess fabric from around the rim of the charger.

4.  Are we having fun yet?! If the answer is YES, then move on to the next step!

5.  Protect the new fabric charger with 3 coats of the clear acrylic spray. Of course these are not to be immersed in wather, but will repel water, and food stains while in use as a mostly decorative piece!

                                                               ♥

Now on to the small silver dessert or serving plate….  A clear glass dinner plate from a Dollar type chains store sits between~

The Dessert Plate

a clear glass plate @ 7″ round, with a flat area in the center that will accomodate a design (again, check the Dollar store!)

a tiny motif cut from a coordination piece of fabric, (possibly from the charger fabric) or paper, to be placed in the center of the plate

silver glitter spray paint- small can

aluminum matte finish spray paint- small can

clear matte acrylic spray

1.  Wash your glass plate well.

2. Press the tiny cut motif  -if fabric.

 3.  Very lightly spray the BACK or WRONG side of the tiny motif  with two coats of clear acrylic spray, allowing it to dry between light coats. Avoid saturating it.

4.  When the tiny motif is completely dry, turn it over to the FRONT or RIGHT side and spray with the spray adhesive.

5.  Take the small round glass plate, and turn it upside down.  Then carefully center the motif on the flat center  area of the back of the plate, smoothing it gently to help it adhere.

6. Once dry, spray the back of the glass plate with several light coats of the silver glitter spray, allowing it to dry between coats.

7.  When dry, spray a 2 light coats of the aluminum spray paint on top of the glitter coat, still working on the back side of the glass plate.

8. When the aluminum spray paint is completely dry, give the back of the plate several light coats of the clear acrylic spray to protect the piece. Again, this is not an immersible piece, but it will be somewhat serviceable as a decorative or special serving piece!

                                                                 ♥

-ellen

As a New Year’s Gift to You, enter the coupon code

“Happy2009″ at check out to receive 25% off your RETAIL ORDER from my store EllenMedlockStudio.com.

(Wholesale customers will receive Free Shipping for US orders over $150- call 918.852.5697 for details!)

First resolution: tune out the doom and gloom of the media, and let’s party!!!

-ellen