Good Grief Girdie's blog

thought I was thinking ahead.......

This morning I was just about to blog about my 2 new patterns  for Valentine's Day that I will be taking to Waco this weekend and a new email popped up.... and it was from Mary Englebreit and looks like we are all thinking ahead about Valentine's Day......I remember when Cindy was still here and we always had to think several months in advance on the next holiday,  you always have to stay ahead of the game.......I LOVe Valentine's Day. I will post the classes soon but don't have all the samples finished yet.  I will say this I have a beginner punch needle class for all you who have wanted to learn and we will be using the very first punch needle pattern I designed......

Fun little stitch book...............

And of course a Sacred Heart.......I do not have this sample even started because I want to pick out some pretty velvet this weekend while in Waco......so stay tuned and remember January will be full of classes because February 14 comes fast......

I will have a few of the new Valentine's Punch Needle patterns this weekend for the Texas girls and when I get back home I will have them available for you okie gals.

friday.........

Here is the results of the lights and greenery.  I tried different lighting and times of the day and evening and you can barely see the tiny lights inside each of the windows.  It's so delicate to try and get the lights up close to each window (  broke several in the process but I had extra icing to repair) but I think if you look close you can see the twinkle........

So that's it on the Gingerbread Village.......hope you all enjoy your weekend........excited to head south to teach at the Paper Crown Waco this weekend......see all you Texas gals soon!

my house smells like Gingerbread...........

This is my second time to try and get this posted.....I had it almost finished and I lost power........oh well here we go. Yesterday was Gingerbread House day...........I hate to say it but it took ALL day to finish this little project.  It's not completely finished because I need some led lights and some greenery and hopefully today I will finish up and show you in it's real finished way.

 

here is how it started out:

I made the dough the night before and let it set in the refrigerator overnight.......( recipe at the end of the post)

Rolled the out the dough  and cut into random sized panels with cut out windows....after you cut out the shapes you leave the dough in between so it won't puff up.  I did take it out from the windows but I learned you don't have to.

Then you bake them .........I let them bake a little longer than the recipe called for because I wanted them to be dried out and a little darker......be sure that as soon as you take them out to remove with a sharp knife all the extra dough and cut around each of the windows and doors for a cleaner look.

Then you start to decorate.........I used 2 different kinds of frostings.  Royal icing mix that you just add water and mix and the other was the Brille that I use on my sugar cookies.  The royal icing is great to use on the windows because it is stiffer and will hold the lines.  The rest I used the other because it flows much easier.

Then I started to put the village together......I used a large white circle of cardboard. I put a bowl upside down in the middle just to help prop the first few panels. I used a glue gun to hold each piece on the bottom  and then glued the sides together.  After the circle of panels was complete I started adding the stars, hearts, trees, gingerbread men etc.  In the middle I raised the big trees up with some leftover pieces so it would tower above the rooftops.......now all I need is some LED lights and greenery to finish it off.......I put this on a wooden lazy susan so it would be easy to turn to see each side.........

here is the recipe:

Well I hope you will try this fun and MESSY project........good luck and let me know if you do.......

My husband said this morning when he came into the kitchen it smelled just like Gingerbread and Christmas............


Happy Thursday all.........

 

what I am baking today........

Can you guess by the photo what I am going to tackle today................A Gingerbread/house/village!  It's been many many years since I have made one but I am anxious to try this easy recipe with several shortcuts.......I will hopefully have some photos tomorrow to show you with the recipe I used.  Here we go..........

 

have a great wednesday...........

Congratulations.......

Thank You to all who left comments about their favorite recipe.  Wish I had all those wonderful recipes from those who have passed them down to each one of you. Today the winner is Brenda D........Congratulations and I hope you enjoy this book full of some family favorites. Please email me and we will make connection .

You all don't know how much it means to me for you to leave comments on the blog. I know everyone is caught up with all the many ways you can catch up on social media activities but since this is my only way to communicate with you all THANK YOU.

I will hopefully have a few more giveaways in the next couple weeks.

Have a great monday and the start of this new chilly week ahead.

what's on the worktable today thursday Nov. 7........

Always fun to look down and see multiples of little images........getting those little details ready for upcoming classes.........

Stay warm today.......at least in OKC........chilly thursday!

Waco classes coming up........

Sunday November 17 from 1-4:00 I will be teaching this Christmas Journal......this journal has all kinds of pockets and openings for you to tuck all sorts of journaling, letters, photos and whatever else your imagination will take you.  Always a fun class because you might want to journal a countdown to Christmas and add the days and what all went on each day leading to Christmas.  I use to call it countdown but not everyone wants to journal everyday so I have just left it as a Christmas Journal. On the front cover is a special wreath we will be adding and a few other little elements to add to this charming journal.  If any of you Texas girls are interested or anyone around the Waco/Dallas/Ft.Worth area and would like to spend a sunday afternoon creating I would love for you to join us.  You can call the Paper Crown to reserve a spot. I will give you the phone no at the bottom of this post.

 

Monday November 18 we will making this Sacred Heart from 11-2:00........Cindy carries this beautiful velvet and what better way to use such wonderful products than on this Christmas Sacred Heart project. This will also be a class where I will show you how to add a little dimension with Mica Tiles.  They are so much fun, easy and add that old vintage elegant charm to any project.  So here is your chance to make and use some of the beautiful velvet you love looking at and now have a reason to use it.  All supplies on both classes are in the kits but some of the basic supplies for each class you will be responsible for and Cindy has that list.  I hope to see you all in Waco. Come and enjoy some Christmas charm at one of the most wonderful stores in Waco.

Call the store today. I am always excited to teach at the Paper Crown.............have a great tuesday and I will see you soon!

Paper Crown 

254-224-7436

601 Franklin Ave.

Waco Texas

cookbook giveaway........

 

I think it's about time for a giveaway........so thought what about a cookbook.......  Through the years I have tried to compile some of my families favorites and for the past 20 years I have come up with a homemade cookbook.  The spelling and punctuation is not always correct but I have managed to get the recipes down on paper and put together as some sort of a cookbook you can easily flip over and use.......

 From now until Saturday November 9 leave me a comment about one of your favorite recipes........you don't have to give me the whole recipe just a title unless you would like to. I know so many people do not read blogs anymore so here is a chance to win. I will announce the winner on Monday November 11.

Have a great week..............  

Happy Halloween......

Hope you all have a fun safe Halloween.........Don't eat to much candy!!!!!

Happy Halloween 2019.........

stop by to see me Saturday Nov. 2.........

A few things iI will have at the Christmas Market at MY Church ( Bethany First Church) this coming saturday,  along with other talented folks......hope to see you then!!!!

Hope you all have a great week.........Happy Monday!