Ladies Luncheon 2009

"THE HAPPY HOMEMAKER"



Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates. Proverbs 31:31

Proverbs 31:31 the theme for this year.

The Happiness found in being a Godly homemaker..

and the fruit that comes from faithfulness and contentment in serving the LORD as a Proverbs 31 woman.

We had a wonderful devotion given by our guest Speaker Mrs. Susan Spurgeon (wonderful name!) and she is a precious lady. She was also our guest speaker last year and both luncheons brought forth the fruit spoken of in answers to prayer and the encouragement to our ladies in attendance..


Fun, Food, Fellowship and Favors...were all a part of a wonderful day.

I made the First Place Blue Ribbons from cross grain ribbon...a pie chart from Martha Stewart's craft site...and letter stickers. They turned out really cute and with a magnet on the back a constant reminder of a labor worth doing!



The FUN...a PIE CONTEST of best taste and presentation...
"How many cherries" (candy) in a canning jar....and our "APRON CONTEST".
I was so thrilled to see that most of the ladies found time to make their own aprons! Many of them are so busy with their little children or homeschooling.

This is the First Place Apron!! So cute!

Also the Apron Poem I wrote...and now published in our church cookbook. I read this with an Apron story to open our Luncheon.

I found these adorable mini cooking stickers at Micheal's Craft store.

In wanting to express the talent of homemaking, I chose a County Fair decor...to display handmade items. There was canned jams...cross-stitching, scrap booking, crochet items,handmade clothing, wood burning...quilts.

Can't have a County Fair without Jam and Quilts!...and Candy Apples and Cotton Candy!

My challenge was the Candy Apples!

The large red bucket made a great way to serve cold sweet iced tea in Mason Canning Jars!


A church project since December was putting together a church cookbook...those arrived just in time. All enjoyed their new cookbooks and recipes from friends and family and some from our fellowship dinners.

The highlight of our luncheon each year ....is always a little gift at each place setting. I plan each year this gift to correspond with the theme. I had trouble this year finding what I wanted...mini rolling pins! I searched everywhere..and so disappointed that my search was nil.

BUT..my HERO stepped in and said...

I can make those for you.... YOU CAN!!!

What a joy that my husband so willingly (as he has in the past) hand made something I needed for the luncheon.

And so he did and they are adorable..and also with the help of my sweet friend at http://stampwithcarrie.blogspot.com who does scrap booking...the BIBLE verse card set perfectly in the rolling pins for display at each place setting and a take home gift.



Our luncheon menu consisted of:

Mini Corn dogs (have to have this also at a County Fair!) Pigs-n-blanket...
BBQ meatballs...corn on the cob...potato salad...green salad...baked macaroni and cheese...fruit platter...vegetable platter...and various desserts... PIES!


I hope you enjoy the photos and that it inspires your creativity for fun in decorating or planning an event.

THE "GUS" GAZETTE

Gus has his own blog...

I had several request for him to have his own journal of adventures...so if you go to the side bar and click his photo you can stop in and leave a bark!

He is full of adventure! Come see!

I'll be posting photos of the ladies luncheon next week...

til then...

Hope

Sneak Preview

Today I made CANDY APPLES for the Ladies Luncheon our church is having this Saturday. I made a couple over the weekend that turned out great and so thought today as I made the REAL batch...I'd share photos...and a sneak preview of the colors and flowers for the luncheon decor.

The theme this year is "THE HAPPY HOMEMAKER"

Proverbs 31:31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.

The ladies attending are making homemade pies for a pie contest..and also making aprons for the cutest apron contest. Those I can't wait to see!! So stay tuned for the post The Happy Homemaker's luncheon.

I also chose to use a County Fair theme as the decor....thus the cute sunflowers. I love these flowers. They seem to be a cross between a daisy and sunflower..and the red poppies I found just at the last minute. PERFECT!

The decor has red and white check, polka dots (I love polka dots!!) and some butter cream yellow spread about...I just happen! to have butter cream plates..and one red one..while another gal in the church had four red.

JUST what I needed. The LORD is so good!! This happens to me EVERY year...truthfully. I find myself looking for or thinking of a certain item or color..and then VOILA..it shows up! You'll have to read on down in my post about last years Brown Betty Teapot (I just happen to own for a very special occasion).

As is this year...many things that just fall into place and give me confidence that this is what the LORD wanted me to do. I pray and plan this every year. This is the 7th year...though probably my last to be totally in charge. My health is starting to be affected by all the time consumed and it would be good for some of our younger women to form a little committee and learn this for the ministry. Some of them have husbands attending Bible School and some are already making preparations for the mission field. Just the experience alone of planning an event and knowing how much of this and that is needed is a good lesson.

We are having a very special lady as our guest speaker for the luncheon as we also prepare for a weeks meeting of preaching with her husband.

I love this photo of the apples lined up...they look like an army ready for battle..they are going to be attacked you know!




The recipe is simple and the technique surprised me. I used my Fry Daddy to keep the temp at 250 and the clean up was a breeze with HOT soapy water.




Have a SWEET day!

HOPE

Faded Memories Cottage Quilt

This a peek at the beginnings of my Cottage Quilt using the disappearing nine patch. The fabric collection is from Faded Memories by MODA. It is a lovely array of soft colors. I am normally not a pastel person...but for my sewing room it is perfect. The blues match my beloved hutch perfectly!



When using this pattern...you first cut the desired size square. I chose 6 inch. Then sew them in rows of three and stitch together creating a NINE PATCH block.

Then taking your rotary cutter...cut right down the center squares both horizontally and vertically...and VOILA... you have now FOUR very nice patterned blocks to arrange to your liking.

I will add wide white rick rack when I start sewing the blocks together. I think it gives it the cottage touch! and perhaps a little nostalgia, since rick rack seems to be popular now...as it was...waay back when? 60's-70's perhaps, when I was doing my first sewing class in junior high!

This is what I am hoping it will look like when I finish!


Maybe this summer some time! I have had wonderful interruptions with family visiting and at this present time working on our ladies luncheon set for this Saturday. I will be posting photos next week. Sooo...as I progress on my quilt, I'll post photos and hope you enjoy it as much as I am making it.

The fabrics are so peaceful and sweet that it makes each step a pleasure!

Now, I know why I LOVE to QUILT!

Happy Quilting!
HOPE