up for grabs.

While pondering whether or not to keep or sell
this beauty my husband chimed in "sell it".

I am pretty sure that is his kind way of saying
"I'd like to see it live elsewhere".

And since I am currently without a
craft room, which is where it would live,
I have listed it in the shop.

There will probably never be another.

:)

20 minute crafter. how to make a simple applique.

Ready for another one?
Am I adding too much to your to-do list?
And I apologize that it is just me again this week...I
have just not had enough time to research new crafters.

Today we will learn to make a Crystal applique.
I call it that because I have no idea if this is
how normal people do it...this is what I
came up with. :)
You will need:
cardstock
fabric
Wonder Under

First, print out your template onto card stock.
This is American Typewrite in 850 font.

Second, cut it out.

Third, trace your letter onto Wonder Under-the smooth side.
Be sure to trace it backwards.

Fourth, iron your wonder under onto the wrong side of your fabric.

Fifth, cut it out. :)

Sixth, peel backing and iron onto your item of
choice then run a zig zag stitch around the edges.

Done and done. Now you can make anything cute.

:)

feeling blah.

had to take a mini break.

forced to make some painful decisions about long time issues.
trying to focus on the positive things in my life.
two wonderful boys.
a fabulous husband.
a God who knows when I don't have a clue.

enjoying my boys.
planning our vacation to Boca Raton.
celebrating Aaron's birth this week.
great chats with my in-laws.

resting in the knowledge that God loves
everyone far more than I can.
that He knows the plan.
and letting Him be the savior.
and taking deep breaths. again and again.

hoping to get on my feet again soon.

xo

actual conversation.

me: hey moses...did you put the paint in your mouth?
moses: nope.
me: are you sure?
moses: yep, i'm sure.

:)

when art doesn't imitate life. or a confession.

I've had a couple of "splurges" lately. Here is one. Lovely, bright, patterned, colorful, attention grabbing fabric. No fabric is too colorful...no pattern too wild. I love it all. So many combos and pretty colors and lovely inspiration. This is Crystal part one.

Here is splurge number two.
A fresh new set of essentials.
Solid color cotton shirts (scoop or v-neck), cardigan, tank tops.
To wear with my curvy jeans from the Gap.
Conservative.

Curvy jeans, tank, vneck or scoop top and a cardi/hoodie jacket.
I rarely sway from this combo.
(Julie I laughed out loud when I read this EXACT list on your blog!)

I rarely wear patterns...unless they are on a tank top or socks.
I have issues with wearing a shirt with words across the chest.
The sewing machine shirt has been the exception.
I ALWAYS wear a tank.

I shop at Gap, Old Navy and Target.

A & Fitch overwhelms me with smell, sound and nearly nude models.
Aeropostle...I refuse to be a XL when I am a M everywhere else.
Anthropologie...Um...I can buy a WHOLE wardrobe at Old Navy for the cost of ONE outfit from here. But I DO love their clearance home goods section.

If I am feeling a bit sassy I will wear a chunky necklace or bracelet.
If I want to branch out...I wear argyle.

I don't like to draw attention to myself.
I don't like buying clothes that will be out of style in a matter of months.

What do you think? Is it weird that there is such a contrast?
Anyone out there relate?

:)

20 minute crafter. what muffin top? (belt tutorial)

ready for another round of quickie crafting?
how about a SUPER cute belt!?

not only is this a quick craft BUT it is also great camo...
people will say cute belt and won't think twice about your little ol' muffin top. :)

The great part is that you can make as many cute
belts as you want...one for every single
outfit if you really want. You can get the materials
needed in any color and combo you could think of.

Here is what you need:
1in wide webbing (I found mine in the ribbon section at Joanns)
length of the webbing should be your waist size plus 10 in inches or so.
2 d-rings or rectangular ones like I have (I found these in the purse handle section
fabric of choice
sewing machine (or MAYBE iron on adhesive?)
having a cutting mat and guide (shown in photo) will help a lot

First, wrap the webbing around your waist where you wear your belt.
Add about 8-10 inches to that and cut and seal the ends with a lighter.
Like if your waist is 28 cut 38 inches of webbing.
Second, thread the webbing through your
d-rings and sew the end down as shown.
I went over it several times to ensure strength.

Third, cut your fabric 2 1/4 wide by your waist measurement PLUS one inch.
In my 28 inch example I would cut the fabric 2 1/4 by 29 inches.
You could make a patchy belt..that would be cute. :)

Fourth, fold in half and iron with 1/4 guide...then turn it right side out.

Fifth, once you have turned your little
fabric tube right side out...iron it with
the seam in the middle of the back
...as shown...tuck in the ends a half inch or so as well.

Sixth, center your fabric onto your webbing...pin if you would like...be sure to cover your previous stitching with your fabric AND allow room for your sewing foot to get in there.
Sew all around the sides...using 1/4 guide.

Then go flaunt your new sass and leave them saying...what muffin top?
Leave questions in the comments and I will answer them there. :)

xo

cry. laugh. cry. laugh.

Let me begin this with a fact.
Doug and I are not Valentines Day people.
It mostly comes and goes with little fanfare and that
is OK with the both of us. When I DO do something,
it is usually food related. Cutesy food. Red or pink. Hearts.
You know.
Above is the cake I was planning to make. How cute right?
HERE is the tutorial...the photo is from there too.
My first mistake was using cake mix. Bad. Bad idea.
This cake needs from-scratch cake.
If for nothing else but the sturdiness it provides.
A red flag popped up when I took the cakes out of the pans.
They stuck. Uh-oh. But I pushed through.
Determined to get my cute red heart cake.
I got both parts carved and filled. I was doing good and full of hope.
Then I had to "flip" the top onto the bottom.
UH-OH. The. entire. thing. crumbled.
I think...surely I have enough frosting to fix this.
I want my cute cake dang it.
I ran out of white frosting.
And I would be darned if I would spend another dime on this stupid cute cake.
So I tried and tried and cried some more.
Added some chocolate frosting that I had on hand.
And ended up with the worlds ugliest cake.
I cried. laughed. cried. laughed.

Meet the worlds ugliest, dumbest, most ridiculous cake.
Ever. I don't know if I have ever sucked so bad at something.
I am so bad that I even adopted my own doppelganger.
Meet her.

Her name is Dot.
Just look at that face...doesn't it just scream professional!
That look in her eye is determination and skill.

I was dumb enough to hope that maybe,
just maybe, there would still be a cute
little heart on the inside.
But also...I was a little scared that the smoke monster would escape when I cut into it.
Surprise! There was not a heart in there.
Just some dilapidated sad. Bummer.
At least there was no smoke monster.

stupid cake.

Just so you don't leave here thinking I have NO skill.
I can still sew. i think sew. i know so.

love...

a nice saturday project.

You can make this. Really. Today.
If you sew at all you probably have everything you need.
It took me a couple of hours tops...and that was because of the 2 1/4in squares.
But after you get the cutting done it goes quick.

I added the cute (Velcro) ruffled collar. :)
Just a little something for my sweet little niece
that I get to see in a couple of weeks.

Get the free pattern HERE.

Let me know if you have any questions.
I will answer them in the comments on this post.
And here's another peek at that something I am working on.

xo

i dare you...

not to smile at this sweet little boy.
I love this photo...a sweet frame with his nose scrunched, lips curled up in a belly laugh
and a chubby little chin drenched in drool.

He loves all things soft...here he is having a thumb moment with a touch and feel book. :)
When we put him down with his lovey at night he will turn it over until he can get his face into the soft part. He is our little cuddle bug.
He is also our little mischievous one.
He is climbing everything...and have I mentioned that he is walking?
He also knows which parent will fall for his fake cry.
And he eats everything in sight.
He definitely gets way more "real" food than Moses did at this age.

I can't believe he will be one in two weeks. So fast.
We are planning a co-celebration with our nephew Blake who is two weeks younger.
Well, Blake isn't planning much. :)
But we're planning a weekend with Doug's siblings, parents and Uncle B to head to Baltimore!
We are SO excited to see them all and to take Moses and my niece to the aquarium!
I grew up nearby so I have been a ton but I love it...

...and this happy guy is going through a shark phase.
So he cannot wait to see "sharks at the aquarium" and to see "kyee" and all his other relatives.
I don't know that there is a more perfect age to take a child to the aquarium.

Need something that goes great with your morning coffee?
Try this Cardamom coffee cake...it is heavenly!

2 c. soft butter
2 c. light brown sugar
4 eggs
2 tbsp. vanilla
2 c. sour cream
(I only had 1 cup on hand so I did 1 cup sour cream and 1 cup vanilla yogurt)
4 c. flour
2 tsp. baking powder
2 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. powdered cardamom
1/2 tsp. salt

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla, beat well. Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cardamon, and salt. Add sour cream and flour mixture alternately, beginning and ending with flour. Fold in each addition just enough to blend. Don't beat or over mix!

NUT MIXTURE:

1/4 c. light brown sugar
1 tbsp. cinnamon
1/2 c. chopped walnuts (Doug doesn't like nuts so I did choc chips instead)

Mix together brown sugar, cinnamon, and walnuts.

Spoon 1/3 of the batter into a well buttered tube or bundt pan, then 1/2 of the nut mixture, then 1/3 batter, then remaining nuts, then remaining batter. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 to 1 1/2 hours until brown on top and dry when you insert a probe all the way down. Turn onto a plate after 10 minutes of cooling.

YUM!

And lastly...here's a peek at something I am working one. :)

Happy weekend. :)