The girls

Ok.  I am prejudiced...just a tad!  But here are my creative and lovely daughters!
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.djsounds.com%2F02%2F20%2Fsara-simms-project-future-prophecies-toronto-canada&h=dc951
This is a big project that has kept them both busy for quite a while now.

Something else to try!

Just found this!

A tiny terrarium in a light bulb!  You can find the whole tutorial here: http://thehipsterho.me/2010/01/how-to-make-a-tiny-terrarium-in-a-light-bulb/
I'm on spring break next week, so I'll have to try these myself....as well as finish up my swap parcels.

Knock-off decorating

How cute is this kitchen clock??!!  I found it at Mod Cloth ...but I'm thinking old cutlery, can of spray paint...Saturday afternoon project coming up!
http://www.modcloth.com/

Cute fabric projects!

Just found these...cute projects from Ty Pennington (HGTV star!) http://www.typenningtonfabrics.com/projects

I have to try the bolster pillow for Melle!  Found instructions on this blog http://www.hawthornethreads.com/
Lots of cute fabrics here!

Another swap!

Ahh...the swap bug has hit me pretty hard!  Here is my next swap...looks very fun! It's called "EASTER BASKET SWAP" and you can find all the details here!  http://www.onarainynight.blogspot.com/
I'll be all over the blog-land looking for cute ideas for this one!!

Happy Valentine's Day!

In case you are still looking for cute printables for today (or maybe next year...try this site   http://tipnut.com/vintage-valentines/  lots of these cute vintagey valentines!

Here is the next swap I've signed up for...an Easter MUG-RUG swap! Sign up here! http://auntpittypats.blogspot.com/

Valentine's Projects



Valentine earings and gauzy flower pin




Earings for Sarah

Well being a conscientious mumsie, I had to have something that I made to put in the parcel for daughter #1, seeing as Miss Melle is getting the duvet cover and trimmings.  So these are the very first pr. of earings that I've made. Actually the pictures are backwards and I haven't yet figured out how to switch things about, the top photo is of ones I made for myself...to wear tomorrow of course, with the flower pin....on a pink sweater naturally!  I made Sarah's first. The photo looks a little fuzzy...perhaps time for a better camera!


And being Valentine's Day, of course I have to take treats in to school.  So here is what I made:  Black Bottom Cupcakes! 



  

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup water
• 1 tablespoon vinegar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 (8 ounce) pkg. cream cheese, softened
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C)  Line two 12 cup muffin pans with paper liners, or spray with cooking non-stick spray.  Or, use 24 cup mini muffin pans plus one 12 cup regular size muffin pan.  (this is what I did)
2. Sift together flour, baking soda, cocoa powder and salt.  Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, whisk together 1 cup sugar, oil and water until blended.  Stir in the vinegar and vanilla.  Beat in flour mixture until incorporated.  Set aside.
4. In a medium bowl, beat together the cream cheese, 1/3 cup sugar and salt.  Stir in the chocolate chips.
5. Fill muffin cups 1/3 full with chocolate batter.  Top with a teaspoon of the cream cheese mixture.  Bake in pre-heated oven until top springs back when lightly pressed.  20-25 min.  (less time for smaller pans)

Let cool completely.

STURDY WHIP CREAM FROSTING
(don't you love how it is called "sturdy"!)

• 1 pkg. cream cheese softened
• 1/2 cupwhite4 sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 teaspoon almond flavouring
• 2 cups heavy whipping cream

Combine cream cheese, sugar and flavourings.  Mix on medium speed until smooth.  While beating, pour in the cream.  Keep beating and scraping the bottom of your mixing bowl until stiff peaks form.  Keep refrigerated.



Ready for the oven



• 



Iced and ready to go!



Owl pillow done and swap parcel arrives



Owl pillow

I made daughter #2 an owl pillow to go with the duvet cover.  I thought he turned out pretty darned cute!  His eyes, feet and beak are felt, and his "feathers" are quilted leaves made out of her duvet cover scraps.  Next time I'm going to make a kitty-cat on the other side, b/c when you turn him over he looks like a cat face (so the hubby tells me!)
And today the parcel from my very first apron swap arrived.  If you go here: http://flirtyapronswap.blogspot.com/2011/02/yay-my-parcel-arrived.html you can see pictures of all the cute things my swap sister Stevie sent me!

more of my offspring!!

Check out my crazy girls in this utube video!!  Hilarious!  And if you happen to be in the Toronto area this wkend...check out the show!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hDS3-STYfw&feature=player_embedded

Great fabric and pattern web site

http://www.heatherbaileystore.com/default.asp
This is a great web site for fun fabrics and patterns!  I'm going to order some of the laminated fabrics she has...cute, cute, cute!!

Christmas duvet cover done!!

 Well, finally...here it is...one more picture....but it is done!  Has bottons on it and everything.  Hope Miss Melle approves!  Willis seems to like it...but he is her kitty-cat!  (Left with Mumsie when college was done and she left for the big wide world).  Anyhow, here is the picture...

Duvet cover finished!



Close-up of pillow case




I thought the pillow cases that came with the sheet set I used for the back of the cover needed a little something!  I seem to be into these fabric rosettes at the present...I put them on everything!

Quick Draw and a Prize!

Quick Draw 2011

Last night the art teacher at my school and myself entered our local Winter Carnival quick draw.  You have an hour to produce a painting then frame it.  They are auctioned off and the proceeds go towards scholarships at the local college.  Seeing as daughter #2 was the receipient of many of those scholarships I figure I'd better do my part and contribute towards future scholarships.  So this is what I painted.  It's somewhere in the Tetons....the art teacher had taken the photo a while back. 

Art teacher's quick draw 2011

This was what our art teacher painted.  He works in oils and this was an amazing painting.

MY PRIZE!!

When I looked at the apron blog that I am currently doing...well one of 2 actually...I found out that I was the WINNER of the giveaway!!   And this is what I've won!  These are from:http://www.etsy.com/shop/BottlecapEarringShop.  They have lots more very cute and whimsical earings and other jewlery.  Check them out! 

Duvet coming along!

Duvet cover for Melle

Lunch @ Sandford's

So I realize that this looks suspiciously like a previously posted photo, but honestly the top is all stiched together now.  I need to buy a flat sheet for the bottom then it's all done.  Yay!

Last weekend I took a quick trip to the big city with a friend and her little girl.  That's a grilled pb&j sandwich you see there! Yummy!

Diamonds, fur and laundry: Upcycled apron tutorials

Diamonds, fur and laundry: Upcycled apron tutorials