Bad ideas I've had...

I think asking everyone to tell me their favorite candy has to be at - or near - the top of the list.  

I would suggest that you're evil but I asked.  You replied.  With every possible candy known to woman.  I actually had a sugar rush while reading the comments!  Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed reading about it and now I'm anxious to try frozen candy bars.  I admit it - I've never had one of those.  I'm sure the experience will fall into the category of "bells you wish you could un-ring" and "knowledge you wish you didn't have".  

Have you seen these?

For immediate relief of: Chocolate Cravings, Lovesickness, Exam Pressure, Mild Anxiety and Extreme Hunger.  Directions for use:  Tear open wrapper, break off desired dosage, and consume.  Alternatively massage into the affected area.  Repeat dosage as required until finished.  If symptoms persist, consult your local confectioner.  

I spied them while waiting in line at "the store with the coupons" and the wrapper was too irresistible for me to resist.  It comes in a Dark Chocolate but I've only seen those at Christmas-time in the mini-size.  I have never actually tasted one as I don't really care for Milk Chocolate but I still had to get one because it makes me laugh when I see it on the shelf in my workroom.  

For the record, I run hot-and-cold with candy.  I go through stretches where I go looking for it, and then I go weeks and months without being interested.  I wonder if that's hormonal.  But when I'm feeling like candy, I love jelly beans - Jelly Bellies Tangerine are my favorite - and Hot Tamales.  I like licorice - especially the little red and black Scottie dog candies you often see at Christmas time.  Sour anything - love those.  (Williams-Sonoma used to have a sour gummy bunny at Easter that was so tart it would pucker your mouth.  They were fabulous and I loved them.)  I also like almost anything made with Dark Chocolate.  

If I am feeling the need for something chocolate, my favorites come from Trader Joe's.  Their Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups are awesome, as are their Mint Creme things - like York's only a little creamier.  Phoenix is also the home of a local candy maker - Cerreta's - that makes terrific chocolates.  Their Dark Chocolate Butter Cremes are quite nice, thank you.  And a few months ago, a friend gave me a lovely package of Dark Chocolate Caramels with Sea Salt by Jo's Candies.  Yum.  And See's Candies - the Lemon Truffles.  And most everything else.  I would send you some but it's still hot here so anything I tried to send would totally melt. 

You know, someone once sent me a candy wrapper from her favorite chocolate truffle.  She was worried that it would melt and get all over the lovely fabric gift in the package so she ate the truffle but sent me the wrapper so I would know she was thinking of me... that she'd sacrificed herself for the good of my lovely little gift.  It was pretty funny.  But she still owes me a Lindt chocolate truffle.  

Speaking of "candy"... winners of this announced tomorrow.

Two lovely people are going to win one of these - ten pairs of Moda candy.  Candies?  Whatever.  It's calorie-free!  

PITP sent me a big box of Moda Candy to share with you, and together with what I already had, I have "several" confectionery prizes.  Let it suffice to say that there are two big prizes and three smaller prizes.  I'm keeping a couple of the charm packs she sent but I'm giving the rest away.   I'm sorry but you'll have to get your own Indigo Crossing.  Next February.  

Before I go... I've gotten all sorts of e-mails asking me about the trims I used on a couple of the Morsel pinnies.  

I got this twill tape at a scrapbook store a couple of years ago.  I'm sure something like it is still available somewhere... and if I see if again, I promise to buy a squillion yards of it so I can share.  I love the scrapbook stores for things like this.  They have wonderful ribbons, trims, buttons and doo-dads that work wonderfully for embellishing pincushions.  But - one important warning - most of it isn't colorfast.  This twill tape was a little darker before I washed the top before finishing the pincushion.  Next time, I'll do all the quilting and then the shrinking, but I won't attach the trim until after that's all done.  

The measuring twill tape on this pinnie came from a quilt shop somewhere... a few years ago.  But you can get the same tape on Etsy.  A search for "measuring twill tape" will bring up several shops/sellers.  I bought more of this one - and some of another - form Little Red Cottage.  Some of the tapes are intended for scrap-booking so I would check to see how colorfast the dye is if you intend to wash/shrink the top after it's quilted.  

And finally, the safety pins I've used to attach some of the buttons to my pincushions.  While in London last year, I bought a box of funky safety pins.  (Among other things.)  They are made by Merchant and Mills and they're called "bulb pins".  They are available in the United States from Union Made Goods in California - Merchant & Mills Bulb Pins.  

They aren't anything special.  They're different.  And I like that sort of thing.

That's it for today but I'm going to warn you about something.  Because it seems like everybody likes pincushions... and because I've been asked quite a few questions about them... I'm intending to bore the pejeebers out of you in the coming weeks with lots of useless information on how I make my pincushions.  From stuffing to stuffing - the "how to" and the "with what" - and a couple of other things that I've picked up along the way.  Make no mistake - I.  Am.  Not.  An.  Expert.  

But I like making pinnies and the more I make, the more I learn.  Funny how that works.  

Happy Tuesday!

Comments

[Mary]

I'm thanking you for sharing info on those twill tapes. I should have asked you back when I first saw your post of the one with the measuring tape. I've been searching because I fell in love with yours! I ordered All the Little Bites for my instant gratification and I think better than chocolate. Enjoy your week Carrie!

[Jill Neely]

I just love the Moda minis, I am thinking of all of the cute little quilts that I can make!

[Nancy]

Oh Carrie...once again, you have started my day off with a grin and a giggle!!! Love the Emergency Chocolate dosage directions,just too funny, or maybe it's too early in the morning for me...either way, it cracked me up! LOL. I'm not a chocolate candy fan, but brownies and cakes, well, stand back or I may trample you for those *wink*. Big Hugs..

[Polly]

Carrie, I love reading your posts!! I cannot wait to get my Moda mini's and make this month's Schnibble!! I just bought four of your new patterns!! Love them already!! Thanks so much for the tips for the trims and pins!! Frozen candy bars!! Yummy and they last soooo long!!!!

[Archie the wonder dog]

Frozen candy? I think I need to go back and read the comments!! (Although I do like to put my chocolate, particularly double deckers, in the freezer for half an hour or so before eating...) I've found those bulb pins at one of my favourite UK shops so I'll be putting them on my wish list! I'm looking forward to having my pants bored off with talk of pin cushions!

[Heartsdesire]

I love the pincushions, so will look forward to all of your tips. What could be boring about making pincushions?

[Linda]

CUTE MINI'S THANKS FOR SHARING!
NEAT PINS+PINCUSHION TOO!

[Judy BL]

Looking forward to all the tips on pincushions!!

[Hildy]

You can live months without chocolate!?! My maximum is two days;-) Looking forward to your tips. Hildy

[Carole]

Sure hope I can find that twill tape...what a cute idea for little Christmas gifts.

[L. Rudd]

I collect pincushions, so I will so enjoy learning more about them! TIA (thanks in advance) :)

[kathy]

My secret vice is keeping Hershey's Special Dark Chocolate Chips in the refrigerator. They are extra good eaten straight from the bag that way!

A word of caution about the frozen candy bars: My dentist told me once that frozen Snickers were the best invention ever for keeping him in business fixing broken teeth. You probably don't want to know why we were on that subject...

[Sue]

I love the fact that we all enjoy chocolate- my children used to get teased by their friends, because I was the only one they knew who had a separate candy drawer in the kitchen. I still do it. Love your patterns and the new fabrics!

[wendy]

Reading all about candy and chocolate makes me want to run out to the store right now. I love pincushions and can never have too many.

[Ruth B]

Bring on the pincushion tutes! Love the ones you've made.

[Linda P]

I forgot to tell you about my Good & Plenty's. Yes, you probably know it - it's licorice. but the what makes it really good licorice is the memories I have of my granddaddy eating them. It was his favorite, and I don't count it as candy - it's a staple - LOL!!!
I have a whole spool of great measure tape ribbon from Laurie Simpson - I am planning a pinnie now as I type, yes, I am!
PS: Let's run away to Sue's house and peek in her candy drawer!!!!!

[Charlotte]

I used to love frozen Snickers UNTIL I broke a tooth while eating one.
When at the dentist office, he asked: "How did this happen?". I couldn't lie so I told him. His reply: "A woman after my own heart!!!!"

So careful with the frozen candy.

Charlotte S.

[Sandie @ crazy'boutquilts]

Love pincushions~ yours are all so adorable! We have a kitchen candy drawer too~ never know when you might have a chocolate emergency! :-)

[Bari Jo]

Oh my- frozen candy bars... who can wait long enough for them to freeze? LOL.... but I do admit to enjoying frozen thin mint girl scout cookies ... looking forward to your info on pin cushions! Thank you!

[Wendy]

Calorie free candy! Count me in! Yummm.

[Brenda]

I work in my local yarn shop, and those pins are also available from a company named HiyaHiya. They sell knitting needles, notions, and other knitting accessories. So---if you are looking for the bulb-shaped safety pins, your local knitting shop may have them.

[todo list]

Hello Brenda & Wendy!!!

I learn more details from your post.Thank you.