10 Minute Table Runner

Table Runner
A quick and easy table runner using just two pieces of coordinating fabric.  For the center you'll need 1/3 of a yard of fabric.  For the back and the border you will need 1/2 yard of fabric.  The construction takes just four seams.  Add a button to the place where the end seam meets, or embellish with any trim or appliqué that you wish.  Batting for the table runner is optional.  But if you choose to use it you will want a width that corresponds to the finished width of the runner when you get the pieces sewn together.  If I wanted a little padding I would use 1/2 yard of pre-washed flannel and adhere it to the wrong side of the 1/2 yard fabric and treat it as one piece.

This first try at the 10 minute table runner actually took me 30 + minutes but I added some stitching on the triangle ends, and it was the trial run.  Still pretty fast.

This runner is an outdoor, black and white holiday theme; but any theme could be incorporated.  Just choose two contrasting fabrics that reflect the theme. The white fabric shown here actually has a silver speck throughout the fabric.  The black fabric features a deer and trees and several holiday themed phrases: "peace," "happy holidays, " and other phrases that invoke the holiday spirit.

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Enjoy sewing creatively.
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Tuffles for Valentine's Day

I love chocolate truffles -- here is a friend's basic recipe.  Use the basic and experiment with white chocolate chips, white or dark chocolate almond bark, crushed nuts, or coconut.

Jean's Truffles 

• 6 cups semisweet chocolate chips (recommended: Ghirardelli baking cups)
• 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese at room temperature
• 6 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 Tablespoon sweet red wine 
• 16 ounce bar of almond bark (or more if you want white and brown chocolate)
• coconut, chopped nuts, or whatever you might wish to garnish the truffles with.

Directions:

1. Step 1: In a very large mixing bowl, beat the 16 ounces of cream cheese with an electric mixer until soft an fluffy.  Gradually mix in the confectioners' sugar until completely incorporated.
2. Step 2: (Melting the chocolate) Melt semisweet chocolate in a double boiler (or if you don't have a double boiler set a heat proof bowl over a pan of barely simmering water.  Make sure no water gets into the chocolate or the chocolate will seize).  Stir occasionally until the chips are melted and smooth.  Remove from heat.
3. Step 3: Add the wine, and stir the melted chocolate into the cheese/sugar mixture.  Once all is stirred together into a dough like mixture.  Cover and refrigerate the dough for one hour or until firm.
4. Step 4: Shape the mixture into 3/4 inch balls and place on a baking tray lined with parchment / waxed paper.  
5. Step 5: Melt the almond bark.  Dip the individual truffles in the almond bark to coat the outside, or simply drizzle almond bark in a decorative design over the truffles.  Use you imagination.

For Valentines day -- Use white chocolate chips, make the truffles, dip into the almond bark, and coat the truffles with the white almond bark, and then drizzle white almond bark tinted pink.

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