Thursday, December 24, 2009

Merry Christmas To You!

Our home is just sizzling with excitement about tomorrow. Tonight we had a visit from the best Santa ever. One of the owners of the company I work for and long time friend of 17 years stopped by in his Santa suit. The kids were just beside themselves with glee.

Enjoy a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year with those that you love!








Monday, December 21, 2009

Let's Get This Show On The Road Santa



I've enjoyed all things Christmas this past month but I'm movin on! I love Valentines Day and all that jazz above has me inspired to mix a little new with a little old. I'll be back to share more later this week.

Are your littles bugging you to "open just one present" too?








Sunday, December 20, 2009

Christmas Is Coming!



I'm still finding and putting out a few decorations and Christmas is this week. I found this sweet old reindeer, he doesn't stand up on his own so I had to prop him up. Not sure if he was part of a set or an ornament or what but I loved it when I saw it.

I have to give Cassie in Arizona a big thank you for sending me this adorable turquoise tree. I'm crazy about it! I haven't yet but I want to make a bunch of miniature ornaments for this tree including a tiny stitched tree skirt. If I start now I'll have all that done by next Christmas!



My shopping is done and as of last night so is my wrapping. Does anyone else have rolls of paper that WILL NOT END? I'm pretty sure that I have about 5 rolls that I've had since I got married 13 years ago. My husband came in to the dining room where I was wrapping at the table and he asked why all of the gifts were wrapped in just two different papers and I told him I was trying to use a few of them up so I didn't have to see them again next year!!

I'll be back this week with sneak peeks of my January home studio class projects. The date for that class by the way has been changed to January 30th instead of the 23rd. The office where I work is moving to a new location on the 23rd and they've asked for an all hands that day. I'd like to move all of my personal belongings myself anyway so they make it to my office and aren't lost!

Enjoy your Sunday!








Sunday, December 13, 2009

Cornbread Salad Recipe



I have a wonderful side dish recipe that is perfect for the holidays because aside from it being delish it's also so festive looking. This is a cold salad that has tons of flavor.

Cornbread Salad

12 corn bread muffins {fully cooled & crumbled into small bits}
1/2 pkg of bacon {cooked, cooled & crumbled}
1 green bell pepper {diced}
1 red bell pepper {diced}
1 small onion {diced}
3 medium tomatoes {diced}
1/2 c sweet relish
1 c mayo

Mix everything together and refrigerate for 1 hour before serving.

I hope you love it! Have a wonderful week!








Saturday, December 12, 2009

The Mannequin Cafe!

I was just visiting Catherine Moore's blog in hopes of seeing a sneak peek of her latest stamp line that will be available in January and lo and behold, there they were. I can't wait to get mine. You can see them here.

On a different note, I'll be back tomorrow with a great recipe so stop back in.








Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Flea Market Review #28



Sunday's flea market was VERY cold. I ran off in such a hurry I forgot to grab a pair of gloves. I can assure you, that will never happen again! I did find some nice things that I'm really happy with though. I scored an old cabinet card photo album with the prettiest cover {above} for $10. Since the cover was half way off as it was I just pulled it off and tacked it up on my inspiration board {more on that in a future post!}.

I also found this great little silverware cabinet that a lady had painted a pretty robins egg blue. I thought it would be the perfect thing to hold my stamps. {Yes, I know my tree needs a tree skirt}.



I've been on the look out for an old scale in the perfect cream color. I thought this would be dandy...



These old french labels came in the most adorable little matchboxes made to look like books, a great price at just $2...



Does anyone remember these old blocks? I remember having a bunch in our toy box when I was little. Not sure what I'll do with them but I didn't want to pass them up. I like the faded color on them...



I have another really good recipe to share and a sneak peek of one of the two classes I'm going to teach in the Vintage Handmade Studio in January so pop back in later this week.

Stay warm & well!








Sunday, December 6, 2009

Give-a-way Winner!

Last weeks give-a-way winner for the Cherry Tassie cookie kit was Patty! Patty please email me with your address and I'll mail it out to you this week. Thank you everyone who left a comment. I'll be back tomorrow with pictures and a run down of today's flea market finds.

Have a wonderful week!








Friday, December 4, 2009

Christmas Blog Party Post {A Wee Bit Early}

At this time of year inspiration abounds. Blog parties are always rich with great photos, some tradition and sometimes the unexpected. Here are some photos I'd like to share with you.

I bought this advent calendar last year with the intention of redecorating the doors. I was recently inspired to follow through on that idea and I love the way it came out...



Here is a close up of some of the doors...



The side...



We do have a traditional noble fir each year in our family room but I have this luscious pink one for my studio...



I made this simple decoration this year...



This is one I've had since I got married...



Kohl's was THE place for me last year for ornaments. They had a wonderful line of vintage style ornaments and a few whimsical ones as well like this deer that my daughter won't leave alone...





This is a little gift card size mini album I'll be teaching next Saturday...



My Christmas album for this year that is ready for photos...



A gorgeous "Wish" banner by Wendy Addison...



Oh and this thing...I can't say I love it but I'm glad I finished it up. I didn't have any directions for it. It's in the Pottery Barn catalog every year during the holidays. It's not as easy to make as one would think. Don't mind the little dark spot on the left, I had to prop something behind it so it would lay right for me to take a photo. I love the burlap ribbon. It was serendipity at JoAnn's one day, I didn't even know there was such a thing as burlap ribbon.



I will be making my monthly trip to the flea market on Sunday and I always post a "flea market in review" with photos of all my finds so stop back by!

Thank you for crossing paths with me! I wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!








Thursday, December 3, 2009

It's Give-a-way Time!



I have a prettily wrapped box of Cherry Tassie ingredients as my giveaway this week. Leave a comment and I'll announce a winner on Saturday. These are my favorite holiday cookies. Don't mind my picture below, I sprinkle mine with colored coarse sugar and I must have been a bit distracted because I sprinkled it on before I baked them and not after like I usually do. They're much prettier when the sugar isn't melted but they taste just as good! The kids are inhaling them right now.



Here's the recipe:

Cherry Tassies

1 1/4 cups butter, softened
2 1/4 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp peppermint extract & vanilla
1 egg
2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cups finely crushed peppermint candies (about 18)
48 maraschino cherries with stems
Coarse sugar

Cream butter and 1 1/2 cups of powdered sugar, baking powder and salt. Add peppermint, vanilla and egg. Add flour and powdered candy. Roll into 1 inch balls, roll in powdered sugar and press into 1 3/4 inch muffin cups. Place cherry, stemmed side up, in each cup. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until browned. Sprinkle with coarse sugar. Makes 48 Tassies.

I've been busy working on several projects this week and I've had so much fun. When I post the winner Saturday I'll share some pictures.








Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Sharing Has It's Rewards



I work with a wonderful lady named Laura. She has a boy and a girl that are just about 1 year younger than each of my younger boy and girl. I have been happy to pass along clothing that they've outgrown to their family. Last week Laura came to me and said that she had read on my blog that I loved old buttons. She went on to say that she had an old tin full of them that she would find and bring in to me. I was off for the holidays a bit early in the week and my sister who also works with me dropped a tin off to me saying, "Laura hopes you can do something with these". I was thrilled with the age, variety... I could go on and on. It was so nice of her to pass this old tin on to me, I appreciated it more than she probably realized. It just proved to me once again that when you share what you have, others respond in kind. I love the way that works.










Sunday, November 29, 2009

A Simple Garland



I saw this simple garland here {photo 7 of 9}. I tend to find projects in this magazine that I like every year. It was just the thing to sit down and make this Sunday afternoon. I wanted to make something without making a huge mess or committing to a couple hours. I had everything {and you probably do too} and it took just under 30 minutes from start to finish!

I hope you have a wonderful Sunday. Don't forget to pop back over mid week for my giveaway!








Saturday, November 28, 2009

Aprons & Journals



I want to thank Cindi, Valerie, Kat, Melannie & Reanna today for a great class! These girls really rocked the aprons and they did a great job on their art journals. I LOVE teaching in my in home studio! Thank you again ladies! I also want to let the two ladies that couldn't make it today know that my thoughts are with you and you're in my prayers.

I made kits out of my favorite cookies, Cherry Tassies, for all the girls. I will be making some with the kids this week so I'll share pictures and the recipe. It's a keeper, so much so that I'll make one more kit for a giveaway mid week so stop by and check it out!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!








Friday, November 27, 2009

A Surprise In Today's Mail


Today I saw the mail man pull up in front of the house and decided to go out and meet him since he had some boxes to deliver for me. He handed me the boxes and set the mail on top. As I was walking back into the house the mail slid off and fell to the ground. In with all the ads and catalogs was a Somerset Gallery. Well I don't subscribe to Gallery so I knew that meant I was in it somewhere. I was so excited I gathered up everything I could and ran back inside where I dumped everything back out on the floor. My Dad was over helping my husband put recessed lighting in my studio ceiling and he stopped to wait for me to find my project inside. We were so excited. It was nice that he was here to share that fun moment with me. He himself is an accomplished artist and has been in several magazines and on a few covers so he knows how thrilling it is.

I'm busy cleaning and putting my kits together for my studio workshop tomorrow. I have a lot of fun in store for the ladies that will be attending. I better get back to it.

Enjoy your Friday!








Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving!

I want to wish everyone a happy thanksgiving with their friends and family. Every year at this time I'm reminded of a song we sing at church. "Count your blessings name them one by one, count your blessings see what God hath done".

Enjoy the day!








Monday, November 23, 2009

Goals - Pen to Paper

Today I blew into work and as is my custom on a Monday morning, I made a list first thing. A list of everything I need and want to accomplish for the week. I have always done this. Being an ultra organized person I love to check things off my list and consider them done. After I'm done making my work list I immediately move on to my personal list for the week. What I know is this - whatever makes the list is as good as done. It got me thinking, if I want to accomplish my goals next year I need to commit them to pen and paper. I have all kinds of personal, family and artistic goals swirling around in my head but they need grounding.

Tonight I lined up a babysitter for tomorrow night. Mr. Sweet and I are going to go out for dinner and write out our goals for 2010. I will pen my personal and artistic goals on my own but I want him to be in on what I hope and plan for our family in the upcoming year. I also want to know what he feels should make the list.

I'll be back to share these goals in the hopes that some of them may be inspiring to you too.








Saturday, November 21, 2009

I'm Back With Lots To Share

Time has really gotten away from me the past couple of weeks. I can't believe I've gone this long without a post.

I was lucky enough to find some vintage Godey's Fashion plates this week. There are four of them and they're all so beautiful. Here is a picture of one of them.



Last Sunday I had a few friends over and Denise Juliani of Sparrow Songs came over to teach us how to make velvet strawberries. It was such an enjoyable class and Denise is very personable. If you ever have a chance to take a class from her it's a real treat. Aren't they pretty? I want to make some jumbo ones to hang on my pink x-mas tree.



Somerset Life (my favorite) had a challenge for dressed up calling cards. This is my submission. Simple but fun, this is my favorite colorful string.



I'm already feeling x-masy. I pulled out my collection of x-mas paper, etc. and made this tiny gift card size book...



And this 5x7 album for this years photos. It's a major eclectic mish mash of all kinds of x-mas bits from past years. It felt so nice to make something and use up old stash at the same time...



A peek at the inside...



I have some other projects that are almost finished. I'll be back to share those as well as a recipe for my favorite x-mas cookies that I'm going to make with The Littles this week.