All I want for Christmas....

For those of you who do not already know... I am blessed with two darling daughters.  My oldest, Hannah is 12 and Grace is 9.  Now, to say they are completely opposite is very true.  

So the other night I noticed this revised list from Grace (which once was much smaller and on my IPhone).  Now, where is it hanging - on my bedroom wall, mind you!  Front and center to be sure it is seen!!!  Check out her Christmas list, it only has a thing or two on it! LOL... We think it is just too darn cute!  And it is prioritized by stars with another "real" kitty (preferably orange and white, her own!) having the most stars!  

(Note: we already have two!)

And as for my sweet Hannah... well, her list has just a few things on it and she is always happy with whatever she receives!....  (Luv her!)  

Little do they know, we always spend the same on both - list or no list!!!  

Oh, to be young again!

Grace's ever growing Christmas list 2011!

Baking Reminds me of Grandma!

Wow - this makes it 4 days in a row for posting... I'm impressing myself!!!  LOL!

Ok - so this morning I brought the invites to the shop and snapped a quick photo for you before I stuffed the envelopes with them.  It is rather simple this year - but simple is good every now and then.  I love the old recipe I included in the bottom left.  There is something magical about old recipes.  I love coming across an old recipe box filled with someones recipes that have been special to them or passed on from generations.  I still have a few of my great grandmother Lily's old recipes that she had written.  Seeing her hand writing warms my heart!  She was one of those who never really used a recipe - yet anything she would make or bake turned out amazing.  

Speaking of amazing... I am the only one who has her recipe for svensakaka.  It is kinda like a flatbread/soft round bread like...  It is rolled out and baked one side at a time in the oven.  It is best when it comes out of the oven hot and fresh and the butter melts on it when you put it on!!  (Heaven)!  It is also tasty with butter and homemade strawberry jam!  What I wouldn't give for one more round of baking with my great grandma Lily!!  Those were some of my best memories... 

Baking was a huge part of my life.  Every since I can remember, once or twice a week I would rush over to her house in the morning (we lived in the same yard) and we would bake cakes, cookies and breads etc...  She was so patient and we giggled all morning long!  It was just the best.  The crazy part is that you know how crazy flour can be - well, try cleaning up everything with no running water.  Yes - she never did accept our gift of plumbing.  I would carry pails of water (heavy - big pails!!) everyday!  And in the winter... I would haul them over in my sled.  Thinking back... It was a normal thing to do.  It is hard to imagine those "good olde days".  However, even though the days are but a memory, her legacy lives on through my baking... as I am blessed to have her rolling pins and sticks (hand widdled) for making lefsa and svensakaka, along with her recipes.  

I miss you & love you soo much Grandma!  XOXOXO 

Birthday Celebration~

I don't know about you... but I have always loved celebrating my birthday throughout the years! 

This year, was no exception!  

It started out with a gathering of my closest girlfriends meeting up downtown Minneapolis at our hotel room last Saturday.  (We rented a suite -Heaven!)  Once we were all looking fine... we headed over to The Melting Pot.  The fondue was just delish!  It felt so good to be surrounded by so many amazing girlfriends.  After dinner, we headed out for an evening out on the town!  (Way too much fun!)  After we lost our "grooves".... we headed back to our hotel suite and the gals sang Happy Birthday to me and we cut into the most heavenly cake I have ever tasted around 4AM.  I can not tell you the last time I stayed up that late and enjoying time with my gf's.... Remember...You are NEVER too OLD to enjoy YOUR day in my books!  Here is a pic of my awesome shoes I wore that evening from Nordstrom and the BEAUTIFUL & soo delicious cake the girls surprised me with!

Birthday Cake 2011

New Shoes from Nordstrom

The next days leading up to my bday were followed my many delightful texts, cards, birthday wishes, bday suppers (and lunches - can you say "spoiled")... and of course... some sweet bday gifts!  I thought I would share a few below of the ones you would enjoy most!  (I absolutely LOVE them all!!!)  Thanks to each and EVERYONE of you who made my birthday amazing!  Love ya!

Handmade goods from a special friend! Simple GORGEOUS!

Handmade earrings out of an old quilt.

Find your joy Handmade copper necklace

Annual Cookie Swap

It's that time of year again... time to get the Holidays in motion with one of my fav events that I host for my girlfriends!  My annual Holiday Cookie Swap.  

The last couple of days I have been tweaking my invite and am pleased to say they will be going out in the mail on Monday to all my swappers!  My swap is always held on the second weekend (typically on Saturday) of December.  This give the gals plenty of time to nibble on cookies with any guests they have prior to the Holidays or freeze them to use during the Holidays.  

Since it has been rather busy around here - I have not taken the time to research my cookie for this year.  I typically have numerous qualifications that it has to meet (I'm pretty picky)!  LOL!  It needs to taste delish, bake up nicely and especially look pretty packaged etc..  Since I also cook a full meal from apps to desserts... it also has to be doable.  I don't mind a little challenge - but I have to be able to bake them on Friday with "no fear of fail"!

For some reason... I have jumped right from designing the invite to thinking about my packaging.  (Ya - I'm crazy!)  Anyway, I think that is the funnest part!  I LOVE creative packaging!  So - if any of you have a yummy cookie recipe you would love to share or a cool packaging idea... Pop it to me!  I would be happy to share it on here with others who might enjoy it as well!

Back to cookie swap planning!

Greetings Everyone!

I hope this note finds you thankful for all your blessings and excited for the Holiday Season that is all to fast approaching!

I would like to start by thanking each of you so very much for being patient (and still having faith in me -) that some day I would get back in to the "blogging" world!  Well, tonight is the night! (I know, can you believe it! Lol! ;)

For the most part, I have been busier than ever (which is good) and as of last Saturday have filled all my shows and teaching/speaking commitments for the year.  It feels good - REALLY good!  I am one of those gals who does not like to be over committed... and this year, I felt I was.  Hence, lot leaving much room open for being creative and holding any exciting events at the shop.  However, I feel VERY fortunate and would not trade in any of my experiences from this past year (ok, maybe just one...LOL!)  I am a very lucky gal living my creative life that I have always DREAMED of doing!  I love what I do and get to be surrounded by so many passionate people who inspire me!

Thank you, thank you, thank you for all your emails, calls, cards & notes (you spoil me!) and also for your patience as I get the last of my "ducks in a row together" before I start of another exciting year! MUCH to be thankful for!  I am truly BLESSED!

35 NEW PATTERNS

35 NEW PATTERNS 

IN WOOL,

STITCH,

QUILT & PUNCH 

(HERE IS A LITTLE SNEAK PEAK!)

NOW AVAILABLE 

ON OUR 

WEBSITE 

AT

 WWW.BUTTERMILKBASIN.COM

HOPE YOU LIKE THEM! 

And the Winner is..

First of all we would like to thank everyone for sharing their wonderful memories of summers past with Buttermilk Basin!  It was so much fun to read what things people did in the summer and what sticks out in their minds!!     

Now, the winner is ........ Gayle (post number 13)  Congrats!!!  Just drop us an email with your personals and we will get  your order rolling!  As for the rest of the followers, this is not the first or last give away...keep following for more......surprises, give- aways and treats!   As always , many thanks for the support!

xo

                                                                               Lola

Summer Loving....

 

Hey Girlfriends......

Hopefully  your summer is full of loving, sun and fun!  Stacy is in her hometown of Roseau with the family and friends living up the good 'ole times.  County fairs, lemonade, chatting on the farm and enjoying the charm of growing up in a small town are being passed down to her lovely daughters with each passing day!

As for the Basin..we have been hard at work revamping, brainstorming and stepping up our stitching game!  We have some new fun things in the works, including new workshops, club of the month and an HUGE event announcement in September (please watch blog for more details)!  

Now we have something fun.......

Stacy and I reminisce a great deal about the differences of growing up in a small town (Stacy) and growing up in the city (Lola) and what memories mean the most to us!

Here's what we are doing...

Briefly share with us your favorite summer memory.   We will randomly pick one memory on 7/25 and the winner will receive a $50.00 online credit to Buttermilk Basin.  Remember you need to be a follower to be eligible.  We will announce the winner Tuesday 7/26!

Here's to sharing the summer loving.....

xo

Lola

Sad News...

.....I should be snuggled in bed drifting of into a nice dream... 

However, today we got some sad news and I just can't sleep.  

Our oldest cat Winsten, who is 16, was diagnosed with cancer this morning.  He has a very large mass in his intestines and it is not curable or removable at this point.  For the most part, I was really caught off guard and unprepared for the news to say the least... especially since I brought my two girls with to the (what I thought would be a "typical") appointment.  They were devastated and heart broken when we heard the news.  The thought of them having to say good bye to the "Big Boy" just breaks my heart.... Gonna go snuggle again with him and see if he will eat a little for me...  

Love you, Winsten XOXO!  

Winsten our on way to the vet this morning...

Signs of Summer!

Hey... Well, the good sign is after a lot of tlc and waiting patiently... 

I picked our first cute batch of raspberries from our little patch!  

Not too shabby for some city slickers! (:

Raspberries...fresh from the patch!

Then, the bad sign is realizing that even though we have a lawn guy and True Green take care of our lawn...  they can not fix dead grass created by a left out slip-n-slide!!!!  (Special thanks to my two darling girls for making that beautiful piece of art in the back yard - I still love u.. MOM!) {Grin!}

Slip-n-slide Happens!

Hope you all are enjoying these gorgeous summer days!  Make some memories and try not to make a dead grass streak on your nicely manicured lawn!!! (:

4th & Party Planning!

Hello Friends!

I hope each of you are doing well and starting to re-coop from the Holiday Weekend!  

For the first time in quite sometime, we did not take in any festivities or gatherings over the 4th.  It was a very quiet (can I say, long?) weekend for us at the West household.  My youngest daughter came down with a fever early Saturday morning which has had her pretty much confined to the couch for most of the weekend.  In between taking her temps and keeping her hydrated, we did manage to sneak out today and pick up a load of "legal MN fireworks" to shoot off tonight!  It is the best we could do under the circumstances....  We gathered the neighbors, lit the sparklers and watched a simple, but beautiful array of fireworks in the dark sky!  
Sometimes, it is the "little things in life" that matter the most!  

My two girls and the neighbors with their sparklers!  :-)

Now... With that being said... I really did miss celebrating with family and friends.  So, I have decided it is time start planning a summer party!  For those of you who don't know (although I totally LOVE what I do) my DREAM job, would be to be a kick ass PARTY PLANNER!  Typically, I host several "themed' parties a year.  However, since BB has grown over the last few years, my "play" time has decreased (soo not fair!)  As I say that - I also have to say I  have never miss giving the girls a cool themed birthday party of their choice.  Birthday parties are sooo special in my books!!!  As a little girl, I would get showered with birthday parties (I lived between two sets of grandparents!!! Lucky me!)  But the best part was going to Great Grandma Lily's and getting my favorite homemade three layer cake - it was white with white frosting and coconut!  It was the best ever!  (You know it was good when I am really a chocolate girl!!)  That reminds me... I should through myself a "29"party this year!!!

OK - back to my party... I am thinking of a Vintage Backyard BBQ?  What do you think?  I am thinking of basing it around red gingham.  I have the the best blue and red old metal trays, a ton of Mason jars....  etc! I think it could be really cool!  Here is my inspiration..... I thought you would enjoy the pics too!  If you have any other cool ideas - let me know!  

Photo Credit: Celebrating Moments by Marcie

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Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July from the Basin!

Antiques, friends and stitching..Oh my!

Hey there Friends!

Good times were had by Stacy and Lola in Lee's Summit Missouri!  We met the most amazing women who were students and teachers.......talented, kind and a ton of fun.  The food we ate was good..... maybe not good for us......but what are vacations for right?  This part of the country has outstanding antiques, friendly faces and a bit of all I can say is "southern charm".  The classes Stacy taught were with women who were keen on learning and motivated to stitch ......an awesome combination for a class!  We will never forget the kindness given, the stories shared and the memories made...and of course all the laughing!  Thanks gals you are the best!!  And now, some photos for you to enjoy..........

xo Lola

How True!

A fabulous example of punch needle

Beautiful  examples of rug hooking

Everyone's dream house

Remember these sweet, simple bikes?

The Barrelmaker and his wife

The cutest sundae maker in Missouri!!

Peanut butter hot fudge sundae..WOW!

Those great students we were talking about

New friends  Barb and Nancy

Another wonderful student

Sweet, talented, kind teacher Lynda

How we want all you friends to feel!