Vegas Never Disappoints

March Class

After my last post I hope it makes sense why I haven't posted many projects in the last couple of months. I've really been wanting to share something handmade that wasn't a recipe. Those of you that were in the January class saw these dresses on my work table. They were a submission turned workshop, and we decided on March 5th.

While I'm not big on giving them, I know several members of my family like to receive gift cards, and in some cases, cash. I'm also not a proponent of giving the card on the trusty little hanger it comes glued to or buying a $5 card that someone else wrote either. Each of these dresses have either a small envelope, a magnetic purse or glass vial to store a gift card or money. The back is perfect for writing a sweet sentiment to the recipient. Simple envelopes sewn from wax paper protect the "card" but give the receiver a hint that something pretty is inside.

In other news, today is my 14th wedding anniversary. Yep, he's still buying me glue after all these years. We're off to spend the rest of the week in Las Vegas thanks to my darling Mother who graciously offered to keep my kids. It's going to be downright GLORIOUS I tell you.

How Fun Is This?!

Oma'goodness, my friend Carole emailed me tonight and told me she voted for the next cover of Somerset Life with my project on it. I didn't know anything about it until she told me. How exciting!! If you have time, pop over and vote here. My cover is A with the recipe card file. What's really fun is that the magazine will be out on April 1st and I'll be teaching the class on April 9th.

And while we're on the subject, I haven't mentioned it on my blog but as of December of last year I'm a Bonne Vivante for Somerset Life. I'm so happy to be a regular contributor to my most favorite publication.

Leave a comment if you voted ok?

My First Fruits...or Fruit Really

Today my son came running in the house with this itty bitty meyer lemon for me. It's the first fruit off the tree we planted last year. You can tell by the picture that it's really small, did we buy a dwarf tree by mistake? Doesn't matter, I'm still really excited that it's begun to bear fruit.

This is turning out to be a really short post - my 4 year old just rolled up on me with bright blue eye shadow on. I haven't worn blue eye shadow for ions so it tells me she's really been going through my stuff...

SO Good & Easy

I was surprised to find at one of my classes recently that most people cook their lasagna noodles before baking it. This isn't how I was taught to do it {and thank goodness because that extra bit of work might have been a deal breaker for me}.

My ex-husband once declared at the table that he'd crawl a mile through broken glass for my lasagna to which my Grandma replied, "that's a lie." Yeah, no love loss there...but that's another post. Anywho...I thought I would share my short cuts for the perfect lasagna.

I saute a whole onion in a tiny bit of butter. We love onion in my family, even the kids. If this is too much for you maybe do half. The onions are super sweet when done so no strong flavors here.

Once that's done I brown my hamburger {I never use sausage, it just makes it taste like a different dish to me} and add the onions, a jar {oh yes, I said a jar} and 2 heaping tablespoons of sugar. Once that's done I begin layering.

The layers consist of noodles, the meat/sauce mixture, cheese and ricotta with cheese being the final layer. Once that is done I fill the sauce jar up about 3/4 of the way and I pour the water around the perimeter of the lasagna and a splash on top. One of the biggest keys is to put the foil on really tight.

I think this is way less work don't you? Does anybody else do it this way?

Fab Flea Market Finds

We just couldn't have asked for better weather for the flea market this past Sunday. By 7am I'd already taken my coat off. Sellers seemed to be in good spirits, particularly the man that I got the lemon and raspberry millinery from. He had a bag full for $45 but all I wanted was two sprigs to tie to the rim of my last jar of homemade lemon marmalade. This was our conversation:


Me: All I need are two sprigs...can I buy just two?

Him: Will that make you happy?

Me: Yes!

Him: When that's all that matters isn't it?

Me: What can I give you for the two sprigs?

At that point he blew me a kiss and waved goodbye to me. What a doll!

I found these two cuties at the Addison Endpapers sale two weeks ago but somehow the picture got in with all of my flea market finds.

I found these old glasses in this amazing metal case at Marcia from The Cottage Jewel's booth.

Some old wooden, and some velvet, hangers for a future class. I know what I want to do with them but it won't be until probably summer.

This book has the sweetest illustrations in it. The book is such a fun shape too, tall.

Miscellaneous old metal and millinery...

I love the shape and colored caps of this old tinting liquid. I have something in mind for these...

Cute red wagon, for what I don't know but it will hold something in the studio...

No sooner than I saw Sharon, a.k.a. Mama for those of you who come to my classes, and Cindi did I find this adorable apron with her name on it. I bought it and, well, last night I couldn't resist...I was on my way to bed and I saw it sitting on my table. I thought I'd add a few things to it and before you know it I had the sewing machine out and was hand stitching more things to it. Sharon, when you see it it will be a bit enhanced...

These cute blocks were in a plastic bag when I bought them. Too bad I didn't know that they smell like their 1000 years old. They might not be salvagable...

This is the biggest flash card I've ever seen. I bought it for my husbands workbench in the garage...

I have one of these old velvet lined sewing tins but I bought it for the shopping cart...

I needed these for our March class, found them on my way out...

There were some wonderful old valentines to be had, that's for sure...

So lots of small things this trip. Really fun though to see Colleen, Sharon and Cindi, Maureen and Linda there this month. We can only hope for as beautiful of a day next month as we had this time.