Results for WOW #4 - Details for #5

For a long time I cringed at Valentine's Day.

No someone didn't break my heart..well no, they did.

I lost my maternal grandmother many years ago on Valentine's Day.

It never seemed right to smile on the day

I lost someone I loved so much.

My sweet husband had plotted to propose to me on Valentine's Day

and then I lowered the boom a couple days before his big plan.

So..we got engaged on February 17th.

A random night when I was looking anything but beautiful.

And then I had my first daughter.

And I love to celebrate above and beyond with her.

I started to let go of my pain connected to the day.

In fact I realized that it was bittersweet.

The day is supposed to be about love, not Hallmark love..

but real love.

Now I embrace the day with those I love

without $80 roses or overpriced dinners.

We only exchange cards and gifts priced less than $5.

It keeps it in perspective.

And it is also a day I remember my grandmother.

So for my WOW #4 - a valentine without traditional red or pink,

I choose to do a quilted wall art piece

I call "My Sunshine in the Fog".

My girls drive me nuts some days,

but they DO brighten every single day of my life.

We didn't reach 5 entries yet..but I think we are getting close!

I loved Jen's digital art.

I think this would be adorable done up as an embroidery

or printed on a card.

Super cute - love it!!

And Kathleen's quilted Valentine is so sweet.

A perfect piece for the entry way or living room.

Even in non traditional colors,

it still such a romantic piece!

Thank you ladies!

I hope you enter again this week - and invite those crafty friends!!

Challenge #5

This week I challenge you to:

1. Learn a new technique

2. Include letters in the project.

It can be a cookie, a quilt, digital art, a card, etc.

Anything you create with your hands is eligible!

I hope you push yourself and look for some new technique

you've been waiting to try!!

I can't wait to see what you do!

The prize for this coming week is

ANY Valentine Photo card from Andrea Gerig Designs

Love her modern cards!

Please leave your links on this post by Tuesday at midnight (MTN)

You can read more about WOW here.

Have fun!

Linked up at the Crafty Chica's Crafty Corazon

Results for WOW #3 - Details for WOW #4

I hope ya'll were able to find some fun with 7 deadly sins.

Thanks to Urban Stitches, I was able to

hand embroider this beauty.

After stitching the picture all in black,

I then went back and "colored" in with fabric markers.

I had seen this technique done by Mary Engelbreit,

and I have been wanting to do it for months.

So much fun - a grown up's coloring book!

My sin could be interpreted in a number of ways.. wrath, envy, lust

It's all about the original temptation.

Want it for the temptress in your life? It's in the store!

And I just adore Kathleen's Sue Envy!

Love the thought and love the art.

This kind of nails who I am too..

I've always loved the country & the city.

Too, too cute!

The challenge this week is

to do a valentine and do not use pink or red!

I can't wait to see what you come up with.

Please leave your links here by Tuesday at midnight (MTN).

It can be anything..quilt, food, photography, etc..

You can read more about WOW here

If we can get 5 crafters to enter,

the prize this week will be a

Sweet & Savory Spice Kit for Popcorn

by DellcoveSpices on Etsy

A Cooking Contest Tutorial and A Challenge

This evening as I prepared my sample meal for the

Philadelphia Cooking Creme challenge,

my husband was watching "The Worst Cooks in America".

I wondered to myself how some people go through life not cooking.

It's one thing to not know how to debone a duck like Julia Child,

but to not know how to make simple meals seems incredible to me.

Granted I've always had interest in the culinary arts,

and only at the last minute decided to not pursue the Cordon Bleu.

However, I mainly learned by watching my mother cook

and out of need in the several years I lived on my own before getting married.

As I ramble on more and more on my blog and Facebook about

my cooking contest endeavors, lots of people have asked me how

one creates a unique recipe.

Now that I can understand as a daunting task,

as it was to me up until a couple years ago.

Cooking IS a science, and to ask someone to create their own recipe

can feel like asking them to create water.

But it's not that hard,

and it's fun!

Believe me, I wouldn't spend my precious spare time

creating recipes if I didn't get enjoyment from it.

There are mishaps...oh yes.. but that's gives my hubs and I

something to laugh about.

So here is a little tutorial on how I came up with my next

Philadelphia Cooking Creme recipe entry.

It may not be "the" way to create a recipe,

but it works for me and we loved the results.

Coming into this challenge I knew I wanted to

try a different type of ethnic food for each flavor.

This week I wanted to do an Asian style.

So that was my first step - choosing a style.

Next thing I wanted to do was show how one

can easily cook with the Creme in recreating family favorites.

I choose a Friday favorite in this house - Pizza.

That was my next step - choosing the entrée.

I once ate a Thai chicken pizza long ago

that had a to die for spicy peanut sauce.

That was my main inspiration this week

and then I went on my own...

Choose an inspiration.

I used a ready made pizza crust - I wanted this to be a quick dinner.

As a mom of 2 under the age of 3, um..yeah time is of the essence!

I had the fabulous Savory Garlic cooking creme,

no need for many other seasonings - it's all in there!

And my inspiration piece assisted - the peanut sauce.

Lots of fresh foods for vitamins and taste.

I decided to make them personal sized pizzas.

Pizza is one of those fabulous foods that is really easy to

personalize and make your own without a lot of fuss.

((Translation - my hubby & I like spicy, our toddler does not)

Top it off with good ol' cheese..

Mmm.. cause everything is just better with cheese..

And tada, a super easy scrumptious meal that

I created on my own!

I don't reinvent the wheel.

I go with what I know taste good and I experiment..a little.

If it still seems intimidating, I propose this.

Go to one of your favorite every week family meals.

Be it pizza, spaghetti, burritos, etc..

and change 2 things.

Make a different kind of meat, try a new seasoning..

Make it yours and I promise you,

you will be on your way to creating your own recipes.

Yes, there will be flops.

But, keep a sense of humor and a martini near by.. and you'll be fine!

I will be filming this recipe later this week with my hubby

(as long as the girls nap!!)

And will be posting it on YouTube (link on right side)

and of course on the Philadelphia contest page.

I hope you try my Asian inspired pizza once the Philadelphia Cooking Creme

comes to your local grocery store.

It is fabulous!

It is so fabulous, I pose this challenge to YOU!

Choose what you think would be the most difficult type of ethnic food

for me to create a recipe for with Original Cooking Creme.

I want to prove to you how versatile this new product is!

You have till January 15th to submit your answer.

Then I will choose what I have the hardest time with.

Results for WOW #2 - Details for WOW#3

This week I had 2 super fun entries for

our "mustache" challenge!

Kathleen made a fabulous

'stache mini quilt!

I love this!

I think it would be a perfect wall accent for

the man in your life with ever-changing facial hair.

I bet a few teen guys would think this be

awesome in their room too!

And Kathy created a super fun

felt face for her daughter

How fun is this?!

I know her daughter will get a kick out of this.

Wouldn't it be perfect for those dinners out?

And mine of course was the 5 o'clock shadow!

Loved,loved, loved the entries.

One problem.

We need more crafters!

We need at least 5 crafters to keep the prizes going.

The more crafters we get, the bigger the prizes.

So, email your craftin' buddies and tell them to join us!!

Details for WOW Week 3:

Choose one of the 7 sins and craft it.

Yup.

Not caught up on your sins?

Here they are:

wrath, greed, sloth, pride, lust, envy, and gluttony.

What to do?

I think lust is perfect for Valentine's Day around the corner.

Or how about all those New Year's resolutions to end the gluttony??

I'm pretty sure I'm going to tackle envy..

Leave your links here by midnight (MTN) next Tuesday night.

The prize this week will be:

1/2 pound of caramels from Vintage Confections

yumm,yumm,yumm

**5 entries need for prize to be awarded**

Here is all the information on WOW 2011

Culinary Contest Update

I love checking my inbox and finding good cooking news!

Tonight I received an email that I placed 4th in the "Women of The Grill" contest

Even placing in a contest (especially when it's judged and not votes) is so awesome.

This is my 2nd win this year, I also placed 3rd with "Love With Food" Chocolate Master.

And I'm stalking the Philadelphia website to hear who won the first round

of cooking with creme..

Off to work on my Philadelphia Savory Garlic Cooking Creme recipe..

What Time Is It?

It's time to check your mustache!

Yup, I made a mustache clock.

I know, you want it.

And well lucky for you,

I've decided to sell this sweet 'stache clock as

my opening listing on A Quiet Stitch.

Have you made YOUR mustache?

You have till midnight (MTN) tonight

to enter the WOW #2.

The prize is yummy glittery Michael Miller fabric.

Come on..show me some facial hair

(Need 5 entries for contest - so go tell all your crafty buddies!)

Here are the rules!

**Entered into Tatertots & Jello Weekend Wrap Up Party**

What's Cookin'

I was so excited tonight, when I received an email that Caryn,

a RWOP (Real Woman of Philadelphia) celebrity chef had posted on my blog!

((Hi Caryn!))

And it reminded me that although I returned to the culinary contest world

back in November, I haven't blogged about any of it.

I actually dove into the culinary cooking contest world with RWOP.

For 8 weeks, my husband helped me submit videos

with recipes focused on cream cheese.

Now Philadelphia is coming out with a new product, cooking creme.

It comes in 4 flavors and they are soo yummy!

Since I was active in the cream cheese contest,

I was asked to participate in the latest contest with cooking creme.

This challenge will go on for 4 weeks; 1 week for each flavor.

Here is my first video entry for Italian Cheese & Herb

Winner of WOW #1 - Details for WOW #2

I loved the entries!

But there were only 2..

How do you choose one?

I loved both for different reasons - so Ebony and Kathleen, you both win!

Email me with the details on your custom pom pom hat!

Here is Ebony's awesome stashbusting yarn & magnet combo

I love this because when I came up with the mystery items,

what I had in mind is a magnet that my toddler could scurry off with,

but I wouldn't have to worry about her swallowing.

This is perfect!

Even if you don't have a button machine (big surprise I do..lol)

there are a number of DIY button kits on the market that you could use.

What a fun way to use those last bits of fun yarn!

Here is Kathleen's perfect dishwasher sign

Love,love,love this!

I will be making it this coming weekend!!

In our home, we have a piece of paper taped on the dishwasher when it's clean.

Go check out her awesome tutorial!!

And here is my entry:

Who Who Loves You Baby?

Love this owl applique and I thought it would be a fun magnet

to hold my toddler's artwork from preschool.

BU T IT'S HUGE!

Seriously, it measures close to 6 inches..

What to do?

This hooty owl will be perched on a super cute toddler hat in my store later this week.

And the details for WOW Week 2:

Mustaches

Yup!

The Etsy merchandising desk says they are still in for 2011..

So come on, this week get your Tom Selleck on..

It can be a photo, quilt, card, etc..

If it's crafty and stylin' some facial hair,

enter it here..

You have till next Tuesday at midnight (MTN)

The prize: 2 fat quarters from

Michael Miller Cotillion

...yummy, glittery goodness...

**We need to at least 5 entries**

So, email your crafty buddies and have them join WOW!!

You Still Have Time

You have till midnight tonight (MTN time)

to enter my first WOW challenge!!

You just need yarn, a magnet,

and a fabulous idea!

I have 2 entries so far...

You have time!

Get on it!

This week's prize is a custom pom pom hat from my shop..

Any size, any color

(in wool or acrylic)

It's Not Too Late To Vote

Well, it's not too late to vote for me at least!

I'm entering into Michael's Crafting Contest

and here is my Week 1 Entry.

The premise is to create a craft with 3 mystery craft items each week.

This week it was: ornaments, beads, and ribbon.

My girls of course were my inspiration!

A faux fur created wreath (Isa adores fur!!)

A pearl bracelet to hang it up on the door.

And decked out in pink boa feathers, platinum, and more pearls!

Want to help me win a crafty cruise?

First you need to have a Facebook account

(you have one don't you??)

And then go here: http://apps.facebook.com/michaels-challenge/

You can search for me by name (Jennifer R.)

and if you click "like", you'll be doing me a huge favor!

Thanks so much!

Want to know how to make the wreath?

Want a tutorial?

Let me know and I'll post one up!

Bring it on!

I have *always* wanted to be on a Design Team!

*ALWAYS*

Maybe it's the desire to be validated, to be acknowledged, or something else.

But to be quite frank, I've never really put my heart into an entry call.

So I did this time..

Here is my "Angels in the Garden" entry.

The Design Team is for a company that sells charms.

It is my first bib necklace and I'm in L-O-V-E.

Not sure if I'd make these for Etsy since the market is quite saturated,

but who knows maybe you'll see more in the shop..

Hope you love it!

And send me some of the positive vibes,

it would make my 2010 to be on a Design Team!

Ode to Alice Cullen Loom -a- Long

I love contests! And when I saw one of my favorite knitters, Vickie Howell Twitter about her Loom -A -Long contest, I knew I had to enter!

Here are my supplies: Provo Craft Flower Loom & Bernat Soft Chunky Yarn

It is a super easy pattern, and I was able to finish the set in less than an hour.

And here are my end results: a pair of super cute arm warmers!

I'm going to make another with a fiber that is even chunkier.

Living here in Utah, arm warmers are not accessories they are necessary.

Thanks Vickie!

I'll keep my fingers crossed I win...