JoAnn Fabrics is running a fun new handmade nursery video contest!

What do you need to do in order to win?

Shoot a video tour of your nursery with handmade decor and you can enter to win!
Showcase your original baby-themed crafts, created for your child, age two or younger.

What is the prize?

You could win a $500 gift card from Jo-Ann by showcasing your baby’s handmade nursery.

When is the contest taking place?

The contest runs between June 1 to June 30 at 11:59:59 p.m. ET.

How will the winner be determined?

A winner will be chosen for nursery theme, originality and workmanship by a team of crafting experts from Jo-Ann.

Where do I enter Jo-Ann’s Simply for Baby Nursery Video Contest?

http://joannfabricandcraftstores.blogspot.com/2012/06/enter-to-win-with-your-handmade-nursery.html

Where can I see submissions?

Check out JoAnn’s contest submissions on Pinterest:
http://pinterest.com/joannstores/simply-for-baby-nursery-contest/

 

While browsing Robb wolf’s site I came across the ‘Apricot Power Bars’ and I thought I just had to try it, because they sounded so yummy.
You are forwarded to Elana’s Pantry site where he got the recipe from.
After making it and it is very good, I set out to try and improve it, making it even better.
The several attempts, the result is an even sweeter dessert, Paleo friendly, no sugar added!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups pecans
• 1 cup dried apricots
• 1/2 cup unsweetened finely shredded coconut
• 1/4 cup golden raisins
• 1/4 cup chunks of dark chocolate 70% or above
• 2 eggs
• 1 Tbs. vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp. salt

Start by pre-heating the oven to 350°F.
You would need 8×8 inch Pyrex baking dish.

Start of with the dry ingredients.
You can use a food processor, I found that my Vitamix does an excellent job chopping and it’s easier and faster to clean.

I prefer organic pecans.

You can see the ingredients list is huge: Organic pecans.

You will need 2 cups of pecans.

The organic Turkish apricots similarly has a huge ingredient list, or not 😉
No artificial preservatives or sugar needed.

From here how fine you want it chopped is up to you.

Once you’re happy with it, put it in a large bowl.

Time to add more yummy ingredients, organic unsweetened shredded coconut.

Add 1/2 cup unsweetened finely shredded coconut.

For extra sweetness add raisins.

1/4 cup golden raisins.

Use dark chocolate 70% or above.

Add 1/4 cup chunks of dark chocolate.

Put in the bowl as you measure.

Give it a quick mix.

Now on to the wet ingredients.
Organic eggs.

In a small bowl add 2 eggs.

We love our Vanilla extract!

Add 1 Tbs. vanilla extract.

Some sea salt.

Add 1/4 tsp. salt.

Mix it all together.

Pour it over your dry ingredients and mix.

Use parchment paper on your Pyrex baking dish.
Or use spray oil.

Spread your mix evenly and pack it down a little.

Put it in the oven, 350°F.

After 25 minutes, this is how it should look.

Put a timer for 20 minutes to let it cool.

Time to eat!
To control how sweet it is, add or subtract from raisins.

When you know you’re going to have a busy day, take a piece with you to munch on.
Try using different fruits, I would recommend dates.
The choices are limitless!

Enjoy!

Let’s create something!

What is Shop Hop?

It’s a wonderful way to get to know your soon to be favorite stores.
Each area has a group of shops that participate in a shop hop. Stop by a shop hop participating store and pick up your passport. You will get a chance to explore a shop you may not have visited before. At each location you will have your passport stamped and receive a FREE GIFT!

Think this is a great idea? What to participate? Live in the Bay Area, CA?
Shop hop by the Bay 2012 is a group of 13 quilt shops and the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles.
If you Quilt or Sew you will love it!
Not a Quilter or a Sewer? It’s fine, come anyway, check out the classes and think about joining.
Each store carries different fabrics, patterns, notions and gifts, come and share in the love.

At the first store, along with your passport, you will receive a Shop Hop by the Bay containing a map.
It will guide you to all participating shops.
You can see where every store is located:
http://www.shophopbythebay.com/shops.htm
Although a visit to the beautiful San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles is optional, in doing so you will be entered into the Museum’s own drawing for a wall-size collectible quilt!

Need more reasons to participate? How about winning some prizes?
Visit all 12 shop and the Museum and you will be entered into a drawing to win one of the wonderful prizes.
Got 7 or more stamps? And you will be eligible to win a second chance gift basket.

Shop Hop by the Bay Prizes:

GRAND PRIZE: A week a Empty Spools Seminar in Pacific Grove, CA.
KIDS GRAND PRIZE: One lucky Shop Hopper will win a sewing machine ($350 value);  must be between 5 and 17 years of age to be eligible.
13 First Prizes: $100 Gift Certificate to one of the participating shops.
Additional Prizes: 12 Fabulous gift baskets full of fabric, books, patterns, notions and more! Plus… 1 year free membership to San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles.
Up to $25,000 in Prizes and Give-Aways this Year!

When?

Shop hop by the Bay will take place between June 20-24.
Turn in your completed passport at the last shop you visit. This MUST be done during the Shop Hop.

Where?

To see completed list of shops and maps:
http://www.shophopbythebay.com/shops.htm
Participating Shops:
Always Quilting
Back Porch Fabrics
Eddie’s Quilting Bee
Family Threads
Golden State Sewing & Quilting
The Granary
Judy’s Sewing Center Capitola
Laurel Leaf
The Nimble Thimble
Quilts and Things
Sew Bee It Quilting
SueDee’s
San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles
At your first shop you will receive Shop Hop By The Bay passport and a newsletter containing a large scale map with insets showing the location of each shop

Shop Hop hours:

9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, June 20-23 and
11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Sunday, June 24
(some shops may have extended hours)

When/How do I know if I won a prize?

All winners will be notified using the contact information they provided in their passports.
You don’t have to be present in order to win.

Grab your friends. Make new friends. Join in for a fabulous tour of the Bay’s Best Shops!
This is a great way to spend a few days with your quilting and sewing friends, become inspired by what you see, and shop!
Explore the area, made a day out of it.

A more optimized route:

Always Quilting	4230 Olympic Avenue, San Mateo, CA 94403
The Laurel Leaf	648 Laurel Street, San Carlos, CA 94070
Sew Bee It Quilting	94 San Pedro Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
Quilts and Things	16985 Monterey St., #312G Morgan Hill, CA 95037
The Nimble Thimble	7550 Monterey Street, Gilroy, CA 95020
Family Threads	107D The Alameda, San Juan Bautista, CA 95045
Back Porch Fabrics	157 Grand Avenue, Pacific Grove, CA 93950
Judy’s Sewing Center Capitola	1501 41st Avenue, Capitola, CA 95010
SueDee’s	222 Mount Herman Rd. Ste. G Scotts Valley, CA 95066
Golden State Sewing & Quilting	2435 South Winchester Boulevard, Campbell, CA 95008
San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles	520 N 1st St, San Jose, California 95112
The Granary	1326 South Mary Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA 94087
Eddie’s Quilting Bee	480 South Mathilda Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA 94086

Above: Belinda with asymmetrical blouse.

Have you ever been to a tea part and fashion show?
If you haven’t, you are in for a treat…

Started off with potluck with the participants.
The army marched on it’s stomach…

Meet the sewing instructor, Lynn Faus.

Tea and refreshments.
It is a spring tea party after all.

Tables are all set.

Getting ready, behind the scenes.
Adorable baby Mina – check.

Cute kid, with Apron and over mitt – check.

Final preparations.
Susan with Tina’s cowl neck top.

Here we go!

From full ensemble.
Tina with Jacket, shirt, pants and purse.

Lucy with camp shirt.

Linda with sleeveless smock with pockets.

Judy modelling Ruth’s peplum top.

Belinda with sequin top.

Look at the flair of Mary’s skirt with a matching handbag.

Marsha with Satin rosette Red top and matching purse .

Mom Charity made the dress and Miriam loves it!

Tina’s pants and shirt.

Linda made the jacket, corduroy suit, tailored shirt and bag.
She is SO talented and also Lynn’s assistant.

Mary made the pants.

Check out Elaine’s jacket.

Marie walking this gorgeous bag by Marsha.
Did you know some of the materials for it came from the hardware store?

Rock those place-mats Ron!

A different style of place-mats by Ken.

Susan’s Bibs for the little ones.
That monkey is the perfect model!

Keren kicking off BBQ season.
A girl’s must have, a big tote bag.
Christmas stocking? why, that’s how we roll!

Same fabric yet different looks:
Judy with a summer sleeveless top.
Linda with long sleeve open collar shirt.
There were two additional looks that didn’t get into the shot, sorry ladies.

What is a fashion show without something for our four legged friends?
Linda made this coat and hat for her adorable dog, Mochi.

Great job on organising such a successful event.
Colleen on right, Corrie on left.
To find out more information about events and classes at the Foster City Recreation Center:
http://www.fostercity.org/Services/classes/index.cfm

Hope you enjoyed as much as the Tea Party goers did!

Like what you saw?
Look for one  near you or even better join the local sewing class!