"Green" Tree Calendar

It was impossible for me to find a calendar this last December which is a BIG problem.  I depend on my calendars, without them I am awash in a sea of days and unstuck in time!! lol  I was shown a contest by Remy for "Sewing With Nature" and decided to turn my quest for a calendar into my project.

When considering how many calendars are printed each year and then thrown out each December 31st, it's no wonder that our planet is in crisis.  In order to cut down on the amount of paper wasted in a calendar, I decided to create a green calendar that would not use paper but would instead be made of cloth and velcro so that the days could be rearranged for each new month.  I also designed the picture above to be able to change with the seasons, and what better way to represent seasonal change than with a tree.

For each new seasons the tree changes from bare limbs to young leaves with flowers.  It then changes to a full summer canopy with apples and finally to a bright display of fall colors.  The different tree tops are attached by velcro sewn onto their backs.

Overall I'm very pleased with how this turned out and I plan to use it for many years to come!

Other pictures: 

Close up of the tree

The backing

Ribbon and branch hanger

Flower Tote

Made this bag for a friend's little sister for Christmas.  The fabric was wonderful because it had a built in border around the edges.  I cut what I needed (about 14" wide) and folded the top down inside itself to make the edges, sewing it like you would a sleeve.  The lining is the same width but slightly shorter so that the outside can fold over it.  The handles are two pieces of a white, woven cotton strap you can buy by the yard at fabric stores with a blue ribbon sewed on.

I made another one for myself with a yellow lining

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies (GF)

A friend of my mother is allergic to gluten so she never gets to have the cookies and cakes that other people bring into the office. I felt bad that she got left out so I made her some cookies that she could have all to herself! The title is probably the longest cookie recipie title I've ever heard for such little cookies, but the taste makes up for it.

This recipie comes from http://www.cookies-in-motion.com/

1 cup peanut butter
½ cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
1 extra large egg
1¼ tsp baking soda
¾ cup semisweet chocolate chips (though I would recommend ½ cup or less. With too many chips the dough was a little hard to work with).

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, and line baking sheets with parchment paper or aluminum foil. If using aluminum, lightly coat it with butter or vegetable shortening. (I used parchment paper in the picture but the grease runoff made my oven smoke. Switching to foil, they turned out a little melty but less smoke!)

Beat peanut butter and light brown sugar on medium speed for 1 minute or until well blended. Combine egg and sprinkle baking soda on top. Beat again on medium speed for another minute until all ingredients are well combined. Fold in semisweet chocolate chips.

Roll dough into approximately 1-inch balls or drop it by teaspoonfuls onto prepared baking sheets, spacing about 1½ inches apart. Form the trademark crisscross with the tines of a fork. Press slightly if you prefer thicker cookies. Bake one sheet at a time and refrigerate the other.

Remove cookies when edges are lightly browned, about 10 to 12 minutes. They will be soft to touch. Carefully transfer cookies to wire racks to cool completely before serving.

The recipie says it makes 30 but I got about 36 cookies out of it when all was done and said.

Overall, five stars!