Hearts and Hands United

Fish for Friday, Part 2

2012-02-26T18:00:00.002-05:00

Here's our second seafood dish for this Lenten season, this time courtesy of Nancy of NancyEllenStudios and DesignsStainedGlass. This easy dish is sure to please!

TUNA STUFFED SHELLS

1- 10 oz. can Campbell’s condensed cream of celery soup
½ tsp. lemon juice
¼ tsp. oregano
1- 10 oz pkg. frozen chopped broccoli, thawed and drained
½ cup chopped tomatoes
2- 7 oz. cans tuna in water, drained, and flaked
Jumbo macaroni shells, about 24 to 32, cooked and drained
½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese

1. Combine soup, lemon juice, oregano, broccoli, tomatoes and tuna. Mix well. Stuff each shell. Arrange in a buttered baking dish, 9 x 13.
2. Bake at 400* F for 20 minutes. Sprinkle with cheese and bake about 5 more minutes until cheese is melted.

Call for Recipes!

We want your recipes for our blog! With Easter and the related spring holidays coming up, we'd love to know what your special holiday dish is! Email entries, with a picture of your dish if possible and any family or cultural story that goes with it, to heartsandhandsunited@gmail.com with the title "Easter recipes".

From Robin's kitchen to yours, enjoy!

CRAFTY CORNER

2012-02-24T03:13:00.038-05:00

AS CUTE AS A BUTTON

By Sewsouk

Button

a small fastener securing two pieces of cloth. The button goes either through a cloth or thread loop or through a button hole in the fabric

Usually now made of plastic but also of metal, shell, fabric, yarn, wood and pottery.

There are three main types of attachment

shank- an attachment to the button which has a hole through which the thread is passed so it can be sewn onto the garment or object

sew through 2 or 4 holes in the button.

stud buttons which are usually metal pressed through the fabric and used particularly on jeans and denim jackets

Buttons can be a work of art and can be highly decorative.

Historically early buttons were used as ornaments or seals rather than as fasteners. Earliest examples are about 5000 years old and made of shell . Buttons from 2600BC have been found in China and ancient Rome.

Artisans make buttons and also they are factory manufactured.

Nowadays there are many forms of buttons:-

metal, embroidered, passementarie, lacquered,enamelled,woven, painted, ceramic, jewelry making, printed, fabric covered, knotted and crocheted.

Buttons are usually used on clothing but also on bags and containers.

Artisans not only make buttons they use them in interesting ways.

HHU Team Button Lovers

HHU team love using and making buttons in so many interesting and different ways. Here are just a few

FabricGreetings.

Fabric uses buttons to add colour, 3 dimensions, texture . She uses buttons in interesting shapes on her beautiful fabric greetings cards and ACEOS. She even incorporates them into the subject of the picture to wonderful effect.

Jeanie Bean Handknits uses buttons on her hats, cowls,phone and ipad cases. I love the way she chooses the shapes, colours, patterns and materials of her buttons to offset the texture and colours of her chunky knits to perfection.

Sewsouk that's me!

I make knotted and crochet fibre buttons to traditional Moroccan designs and also soutache buttons. These can be used in textile jewelry but a few look wonderful on plain fabric as an unusual fastener. I use mother of pearl and shell buttons in textile jewelry to add texture and subtle sparkle.

Womanwithtools incorporates beautiful vintage buttons into her jewelry pieces- She cleverly manages to make her pieces so they don't look like a button appendage but an integral part of the jewelry

Nouveaux Retro . She is so knowledgeable about vintage buttons. She is a collector and sells amazing collections of vintage buttons in her vintage shop. Crafty corner are hoping she will write a feature for us soon about vintage buttons.

NancyEllenStudios uses interesting buttons on many of her fabric designs. I love the way she uses buttons on these cushion covers

Headchange makes beautiful wooden buttons. I love the grains on her larger buttons. These have so many uses and are a wonderful must have supply.

KarinSF. Karin uses buttons to perfection in such a subtle way highlighting the quality pieces she makes. I love her fabric covered buttons on this top ... and the buttons on this cowl.

Fish for Friday

2012-02-20T16:45:00.002-05:00

Whether it's cutting out meat on Fridays during lent, or just trying to eat a bit healthier, there are lots of reasons to add fish as seafood to your diet. This tilapia recipe is just the first installment of yummy fish and seafood recipes.

Tilapia with Mango Salsa and Brown Rice

2 c. brown rice
4 tilapia fillets
For salsa:
1 ripe mango, diced
1/2 sweet red pepper, diced
1/4 c. onion, finely diced
3 T olive oil
1 T balsamic vinegar
1 T cinnamon
2 t lemon juice
salt and pepper to taste

1. In a medium bowl, combine mango, pepper, onion, oil, vinegar, lemon juice and spices. Taste and adjust amounts of seasonings is needed. Cover and refrigerate 1/2 hour to overnight.
2. Cook rice according to instructions, set aside.
3. Place fish in a shallow baking pan, folding thin edges under to avoid overcooking. Drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice. (I like to add a sprinkling of lemon pepper or Caribbean citrus Mrs. Dash also, but it's not necessary.) Bake at 350* F 20 minutes (30 minutes for frozen fillets) or until fish flakes easily with a fork.
4. Serve fish on a bed of rice, top with salsa.

Yield: 4 servings

This salsa is also great with any white fish, with chicken, or omit the meat and add a can of rinsed black beans for a vegetarian meal.

From Robin's kitchen to yours, enjoy!

Call for Recipes!

We want your recipes for our blog! With Easter and the related spring holidays coming up, we'd love to know what your special holiday dish is! Email entries, with a picture of your dish if possible and any family or cultural story that goes with it, to heartsandhandsunited@gmail.com with the title "Easter recipes".

Origin of Jewels + Photos

2012-02-18T14:46:00.022-05:00

jew·el·ry: jewels; especially : objects of precious metal often set with gems and worn for personal adornment

Man has been adorning itself with jewelry for centuries now. Currently we wear jewelry for aesthetic purposes, but the wearing of jewels did not quite start out that way. Jewelery initially was worn as symbols of wealth, power, authority, wards of evil, and victory in battle. Evidence of jewelry has been dated as far back as Cro-Magnon! The Cro-Magnon period was about 40,000 years ago! Jewels from that period weremade from items found from the earth such as shell, bones, animal tusks, and even pearls. (I wonder if this could be the reason I love pearls! They are timeless!!)

This is a necklace that has been reconstructed of a period Cro-Magnon piece.

If you would like more information on the origin of jewelry and more pictures of period pieces, click the following blog and enjoy!

http://jewelsbytrish.blogspot.com/2012/02/origin-of-jewels-photos.html

CRAFTY CORNER- Crafty Facts and Quilting Survey

2012-02-13T02:56:00.017-05:00

Crafty Facts

Did you know?………………………..

By Sewsouk

Most of us know knitting is making fabric from a strand of yarn and usually uses 2 needles. The word knitting derives from the word “knots” and to knit means to tie or join.The earliest fabric pieces which have the appearance of knitting still existing are socks and stockings made in the 300 AD in Egypt.

Crochet derives from the French wood “crochet "
meaning hook. There is no clear evidence to show that people did crochet work before the 1800s so it is a much more modern craft than knitting. The first crochet patterns were published in Europe in 1824. With the industrial revolution machine spun cotton became readily available replacing more expensive linen and so crochet became more popular. Early crochet hooks were nothing more than bent needles stuck into cork, richer ladies used decorated silver, steel, ivory and bone hooks though these were more to set off a rich lady’s fine hands rather than for serious work.

Quilting Survey

By FabricGreetings

Here are a few facts that came from a survey that is presented By “Quilters Newsletter” in cooperation with the International Quilt Market and Festival, a division of Quilts, Inc.

http://www.quilts.com/announcements/y2010/QIA2010_OneSheet.pdf

These results are from a survey conducted for 2010.

14% of US households are home to one active quilter
total quilters in US exceeds 21 million
In 2010 – quilting households spent an average of $219 up 27% from 2006

Estimated total dollar value of quilting industry - $3.58 billion

Dedicated quilters are defined as households that spend more than $600 per year on quilting related purchases

Who is the dedicated quilter? (My profile)

Female (dedicated)
62 years old ( over dedicated)
72% attended college (dedicated)
Affluent - $91,602 HH income (very under dedicated)
Spend an average $2,442 per year on quilting (under dedicated)
Quilting for average of 16 years (over dedicated)
44% prefer traditional quilts
50% enjoy both traditional and contemporary styles (my choice)
Check out this web site for free quilting patterns:

http://www.freequiltpatterns.info

Etsy shops featuring quilting items:

www.NancyEllenStudios.etsy.com

www.EggMoneyQuilts.etsy.com

Sweet ideas for Valentine's Day- or any other day

2012-02-07T15:24:00.007-05:00

Valentine's day seems to be a day for sweets- heart shaped boxes of chocolates and candy hearts seem to be timeless ways that we celebrate this holiday. Personally, I'd prefer something homemade- nothing says "from the heart" than dessert fresh from the oven. And so, we have a few sweet recipes for you this Valentine's season.

The first recipe here is one of my family's favorites, both to make and to eat! My little helper was making these with me the other day, so he took some pictures to help you see how to make them.

Banana Cocoa Bars

1 1/2 c. mashed ripe bananas (about 3)
1/2 c. butter or margarine, softened
1 c. sugar
1 egg
1 t. vanilla extract
1 1/2 c. all purpose or whole wheat flour
1 t. baking powder
1 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
1/4 c. unsweetened cocoa powder

1. Preheat oven to 350* F. Grease a 9"x 13"x 2" pan.
2. Beat butter and sugar with electric mixer until fluffy, about 30 sec. Add egg and vanilla, beat until well combined. Stir in bananas.
3. In another bowl, combine flour, baking powder and soda and salt. Add banana mixture and stir just until combined.
4. Remove half of the batter to the banana bowl. Add cocoa to one half of the batter, mix well. Spread cocoa mixture into pan. Spoon banana mixture over the top and swirl with a knife to marble.
5. Bake 25-30 minutes, until top is golden brown. Allow to cool before cutting into bars.

Yield: 24 bars

This next recipe is a unique cookie made with corn flakes, which gives them a wonderful crunch. This is a family favorite from Nancy of NancyEllenStudios and DesignsStainedGlass.

Cornflake Cookies

1/2 c. butter or margarine
1/2 c. white sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 t. vanilla
1 1/4 c. flour
1/2 t. cream of tartar
1/2 t. baking soda
1 c. cornflakes

1. Preheat oven to 375* F.
2. In large bowl, beat butter with electric mixer until softened. Add sugars, beat until fluffy. Add egg and vanilla, beat well.
3. In a different bowl, combine flour, cream of tartar and baking soda. Add gradually to butter mixture. Beat well.
4. Fold in cornflakes with a wooden spoon. Drop by rounded teaspoons onto an ungreased cookie sheet.
5. Bake 8-10 minutes. Let cool 30 seconds before removing from sheets.

Yield: approx. 36 cookies

Maybe you're looking for something a bit fancier than just a cookie. The other day I tried my hand at flan, and discovered it's not as hard as you'd think! And with only four ingredients, you may not even have to run to the store in order to make it.

Classic Flan

2/3 c. sugar, separated
3 eggs
1 1/2 c. milk or half and half
1 t. vanilla

1. To caramelize sugar, in a heavy saucepan, cook 1/3 c. sugar over medium heat until it begins to melt, shaking pot occasionally but not stirring. Once it starts to melt, reduce heat to low and cook about 5 minutes until all of sugar is golden, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon. Immediately pour sugar into bottom of a 9" round baking pan and tilt to coat. (The sugar hardens quickly, so act fast!) Allow to cool 10 minutes.
2. In large bowl, beat eggs well. Add milk, vanilla, and remaining 1/3 c. sugar. Beat until well combined but not frothy. Pour into sugar-coated baking pan. Place pan into larger baking pan. Pour very hot to boiling water into larger pan to a depth of at least 1", or halfway up the flan pan.
3. Bake at 325* F. approx. 1 hour, until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove pan from water bath. Cool at least 1 h.
4. To unmold, loosen edges with a sharp knife. Cover with serving platter and invert pans together. (This is the second tricky part!). Cover and chill overnight before serving for best flavor.

Yield: 8 slices

From Robin's kitchen to yours, have a sweet Valentine's Day!

CRAFTY CORNER

2012-02-05T12:26:00.016-05:00

WHAT ARE ACEO's AND ATC's?

By FabricGreetings

ACEO's stands for Art Cards Editions and Originals. They are also known as ATC's – Artist Trading Cards.

I first heard of artist trading cards in an article in “Quilting Arts” magazine in 2004. Pokey Bolton, who was the editor, had challenged readers to send in a ATC. In return, she would send everyone who participated a card she had made. I sent her a card and received one in return that September. Then in October when I was attending the International Quilt Market in Houston, Texas, I was thrilled to see my card displayed along with all the others she had received on a wall of her booth at the show. Since then, I have been making them. The challenge is to get your design into such a small space.

These little work of art are a specific size -2.5” x 3.5” or 64mm x89mm. They are the same size as sports trading cards. And they are traded by artists and collectors all over the world. Many groups are organized and plan weekly trades.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/artisttradingcards/

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/artisttradingcards/

ACEO's are often designed using watercolors, pen and ink, screen printed, mixed media or fabric.

There is a team of ACEO artists on Etsy.

http://www.etsy.com/teams/6297/acetsy-aceo-etsy-street-team

Two of our HHU Members also sell ACEO's. Both sellers use very different techniques.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/anikasart

http://www.FabricGreetings.etsy.com



A CRAFTY DESTINATION

By FabricGreetings

There are some places you hear about and just want to see – The Statue of Liberty, 
The Grand Canyon, Mount Rushmore... the list can go on forever. Many years ago I
was attending a sewing event and heard someone mention a fabric store in North Carolina.
I immediately filed it away in my memory bank. Since my sister moved to Georgia and we
drive to see her, I get to visit this “find”. And a find it is.

Mary Jo's Cloth Store is located in Gastonia, NC. Right off of I-85.  
Over the years, we have made Gastonia our overnight stop on our trip south. It has been
said that if they do not have it, you do not want it. Located in this  32,000 sq foot store
is everything a sewist could want....fabric, trims,  buttons, notions, and on and on. 
They are most helpful when you call and offer a mail order service that is fantastic.
They now have a web site and a blog.

So I encourage you to read about this little bit of heaven in the following article.
I am heading there in a couple of weeks and am already making my list.


mhttp://www.charlotteobserver.com/2008/08/23/148179/landmark-store-
is-the-fabric-of.htl


http://www.threadsmagazine.com/item/6948/a-special-trip-to-mary-jos-cloth-store


http://maryjos.com/ 

http://maryjoscloth-design.blogspot.com/

Crafty Corner- Embroidery tells a Story

2012-01-29T10:01:00.016-05:00

Bayeux Tapestry- King Harold is dead!

CRAFTY CORNER

Embroidery tells a story

By sewsouk

There is much more to embroideries than may be seen at first glance. You have to look carefully to see the story they tell.

The first embroideries I saw were enormous French ones which filled almost the whole wall- you had to stand so far away to see what the pictures were that you lost the sense that they were made up of thousands of tiny stitches- they left me cold which is sad as they must have taken years of work by many, many gifted embroiderers.

Then my parents took me to Bayeux to see the embroidery of the Norman invasion of England - “The Bayeux Tapestry” and my love of embroidery began. Made from wool on linen and over 70 feet long its pictures wind round the room and show the journey from France, the fighting and even the arrow shot into King Harold’s eye . Although made a little later than the famous battle of 1066, in the 1070s, it nevertheless gives a fairly accurate portrayal of early medieval life- the soldiers’ uniforms stitched in minute detail- almost like a photo recording life at the time and what happened- a story full of interest to an historian as well as fibre artists.

Embroidery does not necessarily just tell its story through its pictures but can also do so from its colour, design , the type of yarn used and the style and types of stitches. It may tell of who made it, where they made it and who it was made for. For instance here in Morocco where I now am the embroidery from Fez is most often vibrant blue or black on white cotton fabric and is made up of tiny geometric shapes.

The style of Meknes is similar in the shapes and stitches but is usually in a number of bright colours

Embroidery from Meknes

Embroidery from Fez

and from Rabat embroidery is full of colourful flowers in satin stitch. Much embroidery shows off the skill of the craftswomen who made it. Families stitch the love and pride they have in their skills into the designs which were often traditionally made as a “wedding chest” for a much loved daughter or grand daughter and to show a bridegroom’s family of the quality skill and love of the bride’s family.

Embroideries can have hidden messages. Women stitched the names of their sweethearts or things they liked or were of interest to them into their work. Mary Queen of Scots famously stitched messages into her embroideries made during her years of captivity by Elizabeth 1 about politics, her favourites and rivals. World War 11 prisoners of war stitched hidden Morse code messages in embroideries supporting the King and insulting Hitler. These were so well hidden that the Germans even exhibited them in the prisoner of war camps!

With today’ s modern yarns it is possible to stitch secret messages into embroidery which are only revealed after dark when the messages glow in the dark

Embroidery is ever changing with new designs, stitches created and new subjects. Technology is also embraced in modern embroidery to tell a story. Here is a sequence of embroidered texts from separate conversations about love

http://www.textually.org/textually/archives/2008/11/021857.htm

Next time you look at an embroidery take a closer look to see the story or message behind the stitches.

Warm Me Up dinner ideas

2012-01-24T07:55:00.003-05:00

Although the weather has been rather crazy in many parts of the United States, it's still January, and winter calls for some nice warming meal ideas. Nancy of NancyEllenStudios and DesignsStainedGlass and I have come up with some family favorites we'd like to share with you.

Crock Pot White Chicken Chili, from Betty Crocker

6 skinless chicken thighs (1 1/2 lb)
1 large onion, chopped (1 c.)
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 can (14 oz) chicken broth
1 t. ground cumin
1 t. dried oregano leaves
1/2 t. salt
1/4 t. red pepper sauce
2 cans (15.5 oz each) great northern beans, rinsed
1 can (11 oz) white shoepeg corn
3 T. lime juice
2 T. chopped fresh cilantro

1. Remove excess fat from chicken. In 3 1/2-4 qt. slow cooker, mix onion, garlic, broth, cumin, oregano, salt and pepper sauce. Add chicken.
2. Cover. Cook on low setting 4-5 hr.
3. Remove chicken from slow cooker. Use 2 forks to remove bones and shred chicken into pieces. Discard bones; return chicken to slow cooker. Stir in beans, corn, lime juice and cilantro. Cover; cook on low setting 15-20 min. or until beans and corn are hot.

Yield: 8 servings

This next recipe is also a chili, but is great for those nights when you're short on time!

30 Minute Chili

1/2 lb. lean ground beef or ground turkey
1 medium onion, chopped
1 can (15.5 oz) chili beans
1 can (14.5 oz) chili ready diced tomatoes
1 t. ground cumin
chili powder to taste

1. In large pot, brown meat and onion. Drain.
2. Return meat and onions to pot. Add beans and tomatoes, 1/2 can of water, and seasonings. Bring to a boil, lower heat. Simmer 15-30 min.
3. Serve with shredded cheddar cheese and corn muffins (opt.)

Yield: 3-4 servings.
This recipe is great to double, even triple if you have a big enough pot. I've also played with adding corn, peppers, or other veggies, or replacing the ground meat with diced sausage links.

Everyone has a recipe that reminds them of home. For me, it's my mom's beef stew.

Mom's Beef Stew

2 lb. stew beef
3 T. flour
1 t. salt
2 T. vegetable oil
3-4 large potatoes, cut into pieces
1 large onion, chopped
4 carrots, cut into chunks
1 large (28 oz) can stewed or diced tomatoes
1 bay leaf
1/4 c. minute tapioca

1. In a bag, shake beef, flour, salt, and a dash of pepper. Heat oil in a dutch oven on large pot. Add beef and brown.
2. Add potatoes, onion, carrots, tomatoes and bay leaf. Mix well. Sprinkle tapioca over the top of mixture. Bring to a boil. Cover, lower heat and simmer 2 hr. or until meat is very tender.

Yield: 4-6 servings

This last recipe is a favorite in my house, making both kids and adults excited for dinner!

30 minute mini-meatloaves

3/4 lb. ground beef or turkey
1/2 t. salt
1/8 t. pepper
1 T. onion flakes or powder (if using onions salt, omit salt listed above)
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/2 c. (for beef) or 1 c. (for turkey) bread crumbs
1/2 c. tomato or spaghetti sauce

1. Combine all ingredients. Shape into 4 loaves. Place in a shallow baking dish. Bake at 350*F 20 min.
2. Meanwhile, in small bowl, combine the following:
1/2 c. tomato or spaghetti sauce
2 t. dried parsley flakes
1 T. brown sugar
1 t. worchestershire sauce
3. Spoon sauce over meatloaves, return to oven and bake 10 min.

Yield: 4 loaves

Stay warm and enjoy!

Posted by Robin of RobinsFlight.

QUICK AND EASY IDEAS: ITALIAN SAUSAGE SOUP

2012-01-01T23:09:00.007-05:00

Happy 2012! Next in our series of quick and easy ideas is a recipe for Italian sausage soup, provided by Alyce of Fabric Greetings on Etsy. On a cold winter day, nothing sounds better than a bowl of tasty, hot soup! All you need for this recipe is a crock pot, and the following ingredients.

ITALIAN SAUSAGE SOUP

1 pound Italian sausage - (turkey sausage is preferred by Alyce)

1 small onion diced finely

1 - 6oz can tomato paste

2 TBS Italian seasoning

3 -14 or 15oz cans of chick peas - rinsed

1 - 14 or 15oz can (almost 2 cups) of white beans - rinsed

2 - 14 or 15oz cans of chicken stock

1 - 14 or 15oz can of beef stock

Remove sausage from casing and brown with the onion and seasoning, crumbling the meat as it browns. Add paste and mix into the meat. Heat to toast the paste.

Add all ingredients to crock pot and stir to mix. If needed, add more chicken stock or water.

Let cook all day on low. (It tastes even better the second day!)

Quick And Easy Ways To Decorate For Christmas or New Year's

2011-12-16T00:28:00.006-05:00

Looking for some quick and easy ways to decorate for Christmas and New Year’s Eve events without breaking the bank? Check out these ideas provided by Robin of RobinsFlight on Etsy, to add a festive look to your table with what you may already have around the house!

Make a bold, bright centerpiece by placing round Christmas tree ornaments in a large glass bowl or vase. Or place smaller gold and silver balls in champagne flutes and small bowls. Don’t have enough ornaments to fill the bowls? Add some tinsel to the bottom to fill it up. If all your ornaments are on the tree, try pine cones instead for a homey look.

Wrap ribbon in a spiral around wide mouthed glasses, secure with double sided tape and trim even at the top and bottom to use as votive candle holders. Use the same ribbon tied in a bow as a simple napkin ring for your place settings. Add a pine cone or Christmas ball ornament to finish off the look. Or cinch the ribbon a bit tighter and tie at the back of matching napkins, placing the napkin sideways on the plate to look like a bow tie.

Use those Christmas lights that didn’t make it onto the tree to add a festive atmosphere to your room. Run along a mantle or drape along the serving table, even string around an existing chandelier or light fixture. Or use bead garlands instead!

If you’re feeling crafty, cut small paper snowflakes from tissue paper and hang with thread or fishing line from the ceiling or light fixtures for a wintery feel. Drape tables in thin white tablecloths or white bedsheets with white Christmas lights underneath to shine through and scatter some tissue snowflakes on the tables too.

Spruce up that table using festive wrapping paper as a table runner. Choose a plain metallic or a fun print, depending on your style.

Go simple and edible, and decorate with fruit! Place beautiful picks of apples, oranges and pears in large bowls, or piled on platters for a pretty, inviting table.

No one will miss the stroke of midnight when you group clocks at the center of attention. Arrange analog alarm clocks, mantle clocks, whatever clocks you can find, on a side table. Make sure they’re all set to the same time- or to different hours, if you want to count down the new year in different locations. ------------

Quick and Easy Entertaining Ideas

2011-12-14T00:40:00.017-05:00

Are you having guests over for the Holidays and need some ideas for appetizers or hors d'oeuvres? We have several suggestions here; recipes used by Alyce of FabricGreetings on Etsy. Thank you, Alyce!

*****************************************************************************************

SAUSAGE STARS

1 lb cooked & crumbled sausage
1 1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese
1 1/2 cups grated monterey jack cheese
1 cup ranch salad dressing
1 small can sliced black olives
1/2 cup chopped red pepper (sweet or hot to your taste)
1 pkg wonton wrappers
veg. oil
Preheat oven to 350* 4-5 dozen
Combine sausage and other ingredients -except wonton and oil
Grease muffin tins and press 1 wonton wrapper in each tin. Brush with oil. Bake 5 min.
Remove from tins and place on cookie sheet. Fill with sausage mixture. Bake 5 min.
Can be served hot, warm or room temp.
********************************************************************************************
MINI CREAM CHEESE AND PEPPER JELLY PHYLLO CUPS

3 dozen mini phyllo cups thawed
1 8oz pkg cream cheese - cut into 36 cubes
jar of hot pepper jelly
Preheat oven to 350*
Place phyllo cups on cookie sheet. Place one cheese cube in each cup. Bake 20 min or until cheese has melted and pastry is golden brown.
Top each with 1/2 tsp of pepper jelly. Serve warm or room temp.
*******************************************************************************************
CHEDDAR PEPPER STRAWS

2 oz. finely shredded cheddar cheese
2 Tbs. butter - melted
1 1/2 tsp cracked black pepper
3/4 tsp celery salt
1 sheet of frozen puff pastry - thawed following directions
1 egg
1 Tbs water
Pre heat oven to 400*
Stir together cheese, butter, pepper and celery salt.
Roll pastry to 14 x 10" rectangle. Cut in half so you have 2 - 14 x 5" pieces.
Cover one rectangle with cheese mixture. Top with other rectangle. Roll to seal edges and flatten.
Cut pastry crosswise into twenty eight 1/2: wide strips. Twist each strip. Put i inch apart on sheet. Press ends to seal.
Beat egg and water and brush twists.
Bake 400* - 10 minutes. Lower to 300* and bake 8-10 minutes until golden and crisp.
Store airtight for 2 weeks. Serve cold.
********************************************************************************************
------------

Blue and Silver Gift Guide!

2011-11-21T09:27:00.002-05:00

'Gifts for Friends in Blue and Silver' by MooreMagnets

A Gift Guide brought to you by Friends of HHU Team!

Chunky Knit Merino Woo... JeanieBeanHand... $58.00	Cream crocheted belted ... RobinsFlight $40.00	Fancy Sterling Silver a... SariBlue $35.00	Angel suncatcher staine... DesignsStained... $20.00
Clutch bag, fold over c... NancyEllenStud... $31.00	Royal blue shredded rea... earjeans $24.00	Pale blue art silk belt sewsouk $6.00	Lapis Earrings - White ... MariesGems $17.50
Quilted Fabric Postcard... FabricGreeting... $9.50	Personalized Letterpres... alohaletterpre... $34.00	Light Blue and Silver L... JewelsbyTrish $34.00	White Lily Photographic... KPTography $3.50
Small Coupon Organizer ... MooreMagnets $8.00	Gnome Mushroom Cottage,... AubreyMade $37.00	Personalized Butterfly ... JewelrybyJakem... $15.00	Vintage Art Nouveau Sil... NouveauxRetro $135.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Gifts that say Thank You Treasury Challenge

2011-11-08T14:22:00.005-05:00

Here are some of the treasuries from this weeks treasury challenge! You can find the challenge here: http://www.etsy.com/teams/7582/friendsofhhu/discuss/9238818/

'Unique Ways to Say Thank You.' by FabricGreetings

Say thank you with a specialized gift.

1 yard of hand stamped ... scrapwithstyle $1.15	Say Something Book'... weddingstuff $7.50	Four One Ounce Soap Sam... Intentions $6.00	Teal art silk tassel a... sewsouk $6.00
Travel sewing kit, brow... evabdesigns $10.00	Stitch Markers Set of 3... JeanieBeanHand... $7.00	Lanyard ID Badge Holder... SewDarnSimple $7.00	Rustic Wooden Thank You... headchange $8.75
Scrabble Tile Wine Char... KCowie $9.95	Safety Cat Collar - Ruf... Pugs2Persians $8.50	Thank You Cards, Merci,... mooseart $4.00	DSLR Camera Strap Cover... AKACreations31... $9.50
Burlap bottle bag custo... sweetcs $7.00	Matchbook Post-It Note ... cutiehandmade $4.80	Sun Dried Linen scented... candlesbycarol... $8.00	Hand Stamped Homemade J... BabyPuppyDesig... $9.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

'How to say thank you to your hostess' by NancysBagsEtc

Giving one of these lovely gifts would be a great way to say thanks.

Turquoise Earrings - Ru... MariesGems $8.00	Set of 3 Blank note car... PhotoLadz $8.75	Burlap bottle bag custo... sweetcs $7.00	Small Perfectly Purple ... PiecefulDesign $7.00
Dragonfly print decoupa... GlassPaperSciz... $89.00	All Things Splendid Col... FabricGreeting... $9.50	Eco Friendly Office Kit... blueroompotter... $19.00	Snowmen Christmas Holid... KCowie $15.95
Watercolor Tiles "... phileosofia $6.00	Purple turquoise and wh... earjeans $15.00	Personalized Letterpres... alohaletterpre... $34.00	funky aqua dish for jew... maryjudy $20.00
Hammered Copper Earring... ATwistOfWhimsy $22.00	Triple Threat - Set of ... LaurenAlexande... $35.00	Tempered Glass Cups - H... GlassWorksEtc $30.00	Thank You Cards Medalli... whimsycreation... $20.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

HHU Gift Guide

2011-10-25T07:44:00.001-04:00

'HHU Gift Guide' by MooreMagnets

Felted Wool Floral Hand... JeanieBeanHand... $63.00	Grommet top handbag in ... RobinsFlight $45.00	Magnet Board 12inx12in ... MooreMagnets $30.00	Pillowcase Greeting - H... FabricGreeting... $15.00
Stained glass heart, sm... DesignsStained... $9.00	Coin purse, coin pouch,... NancysBagsEtc $18.50	Silver Choker with Oran... SariBlue $46.00	Moroccan wooden arch wi... sewsouk $7.00
Tourmaline Necklace - P... MariesGems $95.00	Golden yellow genuine l... earjeans $18.00

Mission Treasury - Taking a break until August 1st!

2011-07-18T09:13:00.002-04:00

The mission treasury is taking a little break until August 1st!

Feel free to post any treasuries you make between now and then below as a comment. Heck, you never know what we are going to feature around here!

MISSION TREASURY RESULTS! EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED

2011-07-13T13:22:00.010-04:00

This week's treasury has some unique and beautiful glass items to be found on Etsy. The cool shades of green are lovely to gaze at on a hot Summer day.

'Unique, unexpected, unusual glass finds' by NancysBagsEtc

I love green and I love glass. Here is a collection of unique glass items in many shades of green.

Handcrafted green glass... glassminiature... $30.00	Mini Centerpiece, Tropi... ConfectionsInG... $18.00	Steampunk Goggles - Vin... edmdesigns $185.00	Olive green and gold gl... TopazTurtle $25.00
GREEN SLUMPED BOWL Uniq... RJKStudio $75.00	Awesome Handblown Green... Urbansea $95.00	Bumpy Peyote Bracelet i... MadeByKatarina $35.00	Green Delight,Russian a... flashtrackgems $59.00
Unique Green Leaves Bot... CanDezign $20.95	Soft Spring Green Glass... FortyfourOrang... $20.00	Avocado Green Diamond P... BootsNGus $60.00	Green Leaves Silver Ear... KUKLAstudio $69.00
Spring Green Latticino ... CrowbirdieBead... $20.00	Green Stained Glass Dra... MouhotDesigns $9.00	Glass Drawer Pulls or H... UneekGlassFusi... $24.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Mission Treasury! A night out!

2011-07-11T06:30:00.000-04:00

Mission Treasury is all about getting you, our readers, in on the treasury making fun! We also hope that you will find a shop or two to introduce us to that is fun and exciting!

So, we will be posting a theme and 4 shops each Monday - and challenging you to create a treasury that fits the theme and contains at least one item from one of the 4 featured shops.

You will have one week to create your treasury, and come back to the blog post and leave your treasury as a comment.

The best treasury will be featured, and all treasuries submitted will be mentioned!

The results of this weeks Mission Treasury will be posted on July 20th 2011!

Mission: Create a treasury full of things that you would need for a night out in July!

Shops to choose from (you must include at least one item from one of these shops)

http://RobinsFlight.etsy.com

www.etsy.com/shop/sewsouk

http://jewelsbytrish.etsy.com/

http://www.etsy.com/shop/KCowie

MISSION TREASURY RESULTS! GREAT HOST AND HOSTESS GIFTS

2011-07-09T15:34:00.006-04:00

Thanks to all who submitted treasuries. This one has a great nautical/Summer theme.

'Gifts for the Hostess! ' by RitzeeRebel

With all the upcoming summer parties, be sure to give your host or hostess a great thank you gift!

Magnetic Pen, Pencil, o... MooreMagnets $5.00	Creme Brulee Flavored G... dasweetzpot $4.95	BEACH Whisperer SOAP in... RiverGirlsStud... $6.50	Traditional Anchor Tatt... theforks $10.00
Reusable Chic Chalboard... WestCoastChalk... $15.00	Blue Crab Spoon Rest brookepickerin... $26.00	Letterpress Cards Prett... alohaletterpre... $7.50	Reusable food bags - se... kootsac $10.50
3"x6" Eco Fr... GreenLeafCandl... $14.00	Stone Tile Coaster Set ... rbclarkson $25.00	Stoneware Heart Bowl wi... nealpottery $17.00	4x6 Recipe Cards - Set ... LittleLadyComp... $12.00
Blue and Silver Beaded ... DesiBoltz $18.00	Dainty Dragonfly Boomar... EleganceFarm $18.00	Sushi Candles craftycollegeg... $16.00	Melted Wine Bottle Chee... GibsonPottery $20.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

AN AFFINITY FOR ANIMALS

2011-07-06T17:35:00.005-04:00

Practically all humans have an affinity for a certain animal. I refer not only to mammals, but reptiles, amphibians, birds, insects and any other non-human creatures. People adorn themselves with animal jewelry and images of animals on clothing. Houses are decorated with animal-themed objects and art. What is it that causes people to gravitate to a certain type of animal and attempt to make it part of their identity?

In ancient times, (and even in some cultures today), animals were revered for their special attributes. The Zuni Indians of North America, for example, have a rich cultural and spiritual tradition regarding animals. Their belief is that animals, according to their abilities, were appointed Guardians of the six Directions. Mountain Lion, because of his hunting ability and stout heart, was assigned as Guardian of the North. Badger, with his single-mindedness, became Guardian of the South. White Wolf became Guardian of the East, the origin of the new day; and Black Bear was appointed Guardian of the West. Bald Eagle, with his ability to fly, became Guardian of Above; and Mole, because of his skill at burrowing, was a natural for Guardian of Below. The Zuni carve fetishes or talismans in the forms of the Six Guardians and other animals. The fetishes express values and beliefs that are used to guide decisions in pursuit of physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.

Some people might align themselves with a particular animal because it is their zodiac sign. The Western zodiac includes only some animals, whereas the Chinese and Japanese zodiac consists of twelve cycles, each marked by an animal. The animals are: the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and boar. As with the Western zodiac, people are believed to possess aspects of the characteristics of the animal in whose year they were born.

There are numerous ways in which animals resonate within the human mind. Animals can evoke awe, fear, hatred, and compassion. They possess traits and abilities we often wish were our own. Perhaps by identifying with a certain creature, humans empower themselves; and at the same time, hopefully gain some perspective on our own humanity.

Mission Treasury! Expect the unexpected!

2011-07-05T11:52:00.003-04:00

Mission Treasury is all about getting you, our readers, in on the treasury making fun! We also hope that you will find a shop or two to introduce us to that is fun and exciting!

So, we will be posting a theme and 4 shops each Monday - and challenging you to create a treasury that fits the theme and contains at least one item from one of the 4 featured shops.

You will have one week to create your treasury, and come back to the blog post and leave your treasury as a comment.

The best treasury will be featured, and all treasuries submitted will be mentioned!

The results of this weeks Mission Treasury will be posted on July 13th 2011!

Mission: One of the best things about Etsy are the unexpected things that you find! So, highlight some of the unexpected finds on Etsy!

Shops to choose from (you must include at least one item from one of these shops)

http://etsy.com/shop/ConfectionsInGlass

http://etsy.com/shop/NancysBagsEtc

http://www.etsy.com/shop/HomeDecorating

http://www.etsy.com/shop/TopazTurtle

Mission Treasury Results! Weather You're Hot or Weather You're Cold

2011-06-29T08:08:00.003-04:00

I LOVE LOVE some of the treasuries that you came up with for this mission! This will certainly bright up a gray day and warm up those of you in the southern hemisphere!

'Blue skies and sunshine' by NancysBagsEtc

Another dreary rainy day here. I am hoping for blue skies and some sun.

SALE... Felted unisex m... Baymut $60.00	Honey Yellow Cup Cozy, ... natalya1905 $17.50	Soul music hand painted... CraftUnikat $34.00	Barely Pear - 8x10 phot... PopPopPhotogra... $25.00
The ocean dress (Ino) -... movezerb $19.00	Bright blue white and k... RobinsFlight $35.00	Primrose yellow transpa... TopazTurtle $45.00	Set of 8 One-of-a-kind ... ArzuMusa $10.00
Made to Order 4 Crochet... cherrytime $40.00	Scottish Sea Beach Glas... RainbowsontheB... $38.00	Abstract colorful leave... TheJoyofColor $20.00	Cardinal the Mrs. LaurieRyan $15.00
A Little Nautical Croch... madeformebyoak... $28.00	Smooth Polished Yellow ... lushdestash $12.95	Sycamore and Driftwood,... Patsysjoy $18.00	Bracelet woven swarovsk... shaneyz $75.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

CULTURE: AMERICAN STYLE

2011-06-28T19:54:00.006-04:00

As the 4th of July approaches, I have been thinking about what defines American culture. Or does the United States even have a specific/dominant culture? Some feel the U.S. has no true culture compared to the "older" civilizations of Europe, Asia, and elsewhere. I searched the Internet for answers. One website dealing with worldwide culture, etiquette, customs and protocol stated that: "America is ultimately a nation of immigrants and as a result is a cultural mish-mash in every sense of the word".

It's true that America is a nation of immigrants. Only about 1% of the population is Native American. But is the Country a mish-mash? The definition of mish-mash is a "jumble". A jumble is described as: "a mass of things mingled together without order or plan". I think it can be safely said that the U.S is not without order or plan. The children of the various immigrants all go to school (for free). Those who become citizens vote, pay taxes, and serve jury duty. With each successive wave of immigrants, there is a blending of old ways with new ideas.

How do people in other countries view American culture? Most know Americans from television shows, movies and music. (Which is a rather scary thought, considering much of our entertainment attempts to derive humor out of extreme stupidity). Though sometimes exaggerated, American values do come across in those venues. Beliefs such as human nature is basically good, accomplishments and winning are important, and individuals have the right to choose what is best for them, even if it means going against the group.

Americans are often thought to be too direct and informal, striking up conversations with strangers, or commenting on the behavior of other people's children. We are curious and will stop and gawk at traffic accidents, or watch long and tedious car chases on television. Foreign visitors are confused by our complex list of social rules about where and how much to tip. (So are most Americans). A bathroom is where the toilet is, and may or may not include a bathtub. Women do not go topless on the beach. Americans do not know how to barter or haggle (except for cars). We do not bribe anyone in a position of power unless we want to take the chance of being arrested.

The United States does have a culture. How do I know for sure? Because every 4th of July, without fail, Americans celebrate. We put out our flags, dress in red, white, and blue, have barbecues, and watch fireworks. We are not a mish-mash, but a Country with a deep sense of being American that is not always easy to put into words.

Mission Treasury! The Hostess with the Mostess

2011-06-27T06:37:00.004-04:00

Mission Treasury is all about getting you, our readers, in on the treasury making fun! We also hope that you will find a shop or two to introduce us to that is fun and exciting!

So, we will be posting a theme and 4 shops each Monday - and challenging you to create a treasury that fits the theme and contains at least one item from one of the 4 featured shops.

You will have one week to create your treasury, and come back to the blog post and leave your treasury as a comment.

The best treasury will be featured, and all treasuries submitted will be mentioned!

The results of this weeks Mission Treasury will be posted on July 6th 2011!

Mission: This is a great time of year for parties and get togethers! Be gracious to your host and hostess! Create a treasury full of great host and hostess gifts!

Shops to choose from (you must include at least one item from one of these shops)

http://www.etsy.com/shop/20thCentury

http://etsy.com/shop/MooreMagnets

http://www.etsy.com/shop/jewelrybyjakemi

http://www.etsy.com/shop/alohaletterpress

Team Member Spotlight! RobinsFlight!

2011-06-23T16:23:00.000-04:00

This week we proudly introduce - Robins Flight! Take a look below at an example of one of her beautiful bags.

1. Your name, nickname and a little about who you are
My name is Robin (no nickname really other than Mom), and I'm a stay at home mom of 2 great kids, ages 6 and 3. Before that, I did cancer research. I think being a mom is the harder of the two jobs!

2. Surprise us with something about you that you think will shock us!
For most of my life, until about a year before I had my first child, I didn't want kids...at all! So now, of course, that's all I do.

3. What is your main craft/art/collectible?
I make crocheted, fabric lined bags, purses and wallets.

4. How did you start with Etsy?
I've been crocheting as a hobby for a long time. I started making bags, since they're faster and easier than, say, afghans. Then I started creating my own patterns and lining them. I found Etsy as a means to justify making them.

5. Any secrets to share for success?
I really don't feel like I've been that successful, at least not in terms of sales or profits. But I guess my secret would be to do it because I enjoy it, and use that as my guide, not how much I sell. It's a hobby for me, a creative outlet, so as long as I'm enjoying it, and hopefully selling a few along the way, it's a success.

6. Hobbies or pastime when you are not doing Etsy.
I love to read, when I find the time, though I tend to drop everything to finish a book once I start. I sometimes like to try variations on my crochet, like thread crochet too. And my daughter is getting into the craft thing too, so I like doing projects with her.

7. Where would your dream vacation be? and why?
My husband and I went on a lot of trips before we had kids, so a lot of the places I'd like to see I've already been. If there's one place I'd really like to go still, it's Alaska. It sounds like a beautiful, awe inspiring, breathtaking place.

8. What do you hope to contribute and gain from Hearts and Hands United?
It's really easy to get stuck in measuring Etsy success by sales, and forget the reason we're all here- because we love to create. The HHU team is a great place to connect, to feel at home, to help each other remember why we do what we do, and maintain focus, to encourage one another, and even give some help in getting those sales. So I hope I can encourage and help others in that, and be encouraged when I need it.

9.Where can we find you?
Your shop address
http://www.etsy.com/shop/robinsflight

Facebook address
http://www.facebook.com/pages/RobinsFlight-handmade-bags-and-purses/263070380756?ref=search&sid=1150135783.1043228634..1

10. Where do you draw your inspiration from? Your strength?
First and foremost, my strength for anything and everything comes from my faith in God. I also have great support from my husband- for Etsy as well as for being a SAHM or whatever else I feel compelled to do, he's there telling me, "go for it!" And even my kids- they love seeing my new creations being made, as long as I have the time to put down the computer or my crochet and play a game with them now and then! My inspirations come from all over- what I want and need in a bag, pretty fabrics I find, colors in nature, someone else's bag that catches my eye, even sometimes a yarn or notion that I'd love to find a use for!

11. Free writing anything you want to say
I've been really glad to have HHU and the friends thread! Being home with just the kids so much, it's been such a help to know I can drop in, say hi, and have people acknowledge me, there to say hi, to give encouragement, to be friends. Thanks guys!