All Th!ngs Pr!ssy!

Cranberry Bars Recipe

2011-11-20T15:26:00.001-08:00

I used to live in Cranberry Country I think its only appropriate that I have at least one recipe that contains cranberries. Don't you? Me too! This one's a keeper so I thought I'd share tis' the season!

CRANBERRY BARS
2 eggs, well beaten
1 1/2 cup sugar
2 cups whole cranberries
(you could use cran-raisins re-constituted)
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup chopped nuts
(I save the nuts to sprinkle on top of the frosting.
I don't add these to the cake batter, but you can if you want to)
(I think pecans are better with cranberries but you can use walnuts)

Mix together and bake in greased 9x13 pan @ 350 degrees for 40-45 min

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
1 pkg cream cheese (8 oz)
1 tsp milk
2 cups powdered sugar
3/4 cup butter
1 tsp vanilla
Top w/chopped nuts (see comment above)

Here is what the bars look like before being frosted

Frosting and chopped nuts (I use Sahale Nut Blends) ready to go...

Frosted

ENJOY A GREAT RECIPE AND VERY FESTIVE FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR!

Good Works...

2011-09-25T14:47:00.002-07:00

...are links that form a chain of love. ~Mother Teresa

Wow several posts two days in a row and a couple in one day! I must be on a roll. I'm happy I'm back blogging and crafting again but can you say RUSTY. I felt like a chicken with my head cut off. For the record, at least for me it's really REALLY hard to get your mojo back. I just can't seem to find my flow anymore? I do more thinking about than actually making cards.

Its the stop-start-stop-starting thats getting to me. Working full-time really puts a crimp in my social aka creative life. Boo. Ok enough yatayata. I am so so rusty. I can't hardly find anything anymore. Or I have so many ideas I want to try out I don't know where to start.

Plus, I am all dropsy and clumsy today. Every time I turned around I was knocking something over. Not just one little item nooooooooooo that would have been too simple. No I was knocking trays of items over.

Then I really really wanted to do sewing on a card. So I thought I'd try my new fancy schmancy tool called Sew- Easy <---- click there instead of pulling out the alternative, the larger, sewing machine. I thought it would be so much quicker. Ok short version??? NOOOOO....Not so easy. Nope not at all. It wasn't piercing all the way through the card stock. I did not like it at all. However, I have noticed some tutorials online on YouTube so I might watch those and try again later when I have time. The jury is still out until then.

So the heck with it, I pull the sewing machine out, it's called Sew-Mini <---- click there (not the exact model that I have). It's specially for crafting and its just what it says... its a mini version of a sewing machine. WELLLLLLLLLL do you think I could get it to sew more than three stitches.? I persisted and spent way more time on it than I wanted to but after at least an hour, give or take, I finally got it to SEWWWWWWW. Really? Ya kiddin me right? Turns out I didn't have the thread threaded properly. But before that I tried everything. Check and recheck the bobbin thread, adjust the stitch, adjust the tension, DUST it. I mean everything. I even had the directions manual out from the beginning. So I went back through the manual and looked at each tutorial very closely. I retraced my steps. Yep, I found the cuprit.... threaded wrong. But do you see my point? Holy mother of pearl. Pain in the butt. This was my sample piece. I thought I better try it on a scrap before I wrecked my card. This is but a small sampling of the thread I went through to figure this out. Doesn't that look like fun?!?!>!>!

Whew, I started out so holy and serene and it all went downhill from there. LOL. So onto the point to my story.... there is a point to my story and I do have one.

I been noticing a trend of mono-tone, color-on-color designs and I really like the simplicity of it and the muted colors and feel. I've had this SU set "Inspired by Nature" <---- click there for a while now. I bought it for the sentiments alone, but I like the other stamps also. I'm crazy for sentiments I can't get enough of them. AND I copied the sketch straight from the SU 2011 catty, p. 113. It helps me with the rust (see above). It was quick (after I got started) and easy and I will probably mass-produce this one for my card assortment sets that I give as gifts.

Here is a pic of all of the elements I used. The evil sew-mini in the background. Why I even gave it blink (blog-ink) at all DON'T KNOW. All products are SU. I used More Mustard card stock and ink. I like that it used fall colors too. That's a bonus since I'm in such a fall mood. I used my boho flower punch to make the blush blossom flower. I added a little angel embellishment which I thought went good with the sentiment. I also used a brad in the center to hold the 3-piece flower together. Aint it purty.

See the little angel ornament? I also used my Cuttlebug <---- click there (not the exact model that I have) to punch out the tag for the sentiment. That didn't go smoothly either. I had to press it out a couple of time because I kept tearing the little handles off. Not to mention that I couldn't stamp the image straight onto the label either. I had to do that a couple of times also. RUST I tell you RUST.

Enjoy! Now off to make some more cards.... lets just hope some of the rust is gone and the next ones go a little smoother. FUN.

Coffee Cake with a Twist!

2011-09-25T08:28:00.001-07:00

Well, hello there! First a backstory... I had written an entire post last night with this recipe including pics and saved it to my drafts to publish later. When I went back to get the post and publish it... it was GONE. Boo what a waste of time. Anywho, here's what it said:

I love fall baking and so I thought I'd share one of my favorite recipes. It has nutmeg and cinnamon in it so it makes the house smell divine and fallish. Just what I wanted. Now for the *twist* part... the crust is on the bottom ~and oh so good~ I only took a couple of pics of the process and not the play by play that I sometimes share. Its a simple yet elegant recipe. Try it, its good.

Crust Bottom Coffee Cake
Rub together:
1 stick of butter ~room temperature~
2 cups of flour
2 cus of brown sugar

Divide mixture into 2 parts
~I did the math, that would be 2 cups and 4 tblspns~
Press part 1 into an 8x8 cake pan
~I used my 9 in round clay baker and it was a perfect fit also~

To the other part add:
1 beaten egg
1 cup sour cream
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp nutmeg ~maybe a smidge more~
Mix well and spread carefully over the crust bottome
Sprinkle the top with cinnamon and chopped nuts
I like to make sure my cinnamon covers the entire top.

I use a liberal amount so that no cake area is showing and then also sprinkle nuts over it. Use lots of cinnamon

Below on the left is the 1 part pressed into the bottom and on the right is the other part. The cake part that is spread onto the crust bottom

In this next picture is the finished product

This next picture is with no flash and shows the layers with the crust bottom

Here's the same shot with a flash. I wanted you to see the lovely and yummo crust bottom. This is a very elegant coffe cake and is great to bring to a potluck or Sunday event.

~ENJOY!

and Happy Fall Ya'll

My new room -repost

2011-09-25T05:13:00.003-07:00

Edited to add: I accidentally deleted this post from my blog last night. Thankfully, I had a copy on fb and was able to copy it and replace the deleted post.

There's a lot of pictures but I'll show you around... we began working on this room about a month ago. What started it was a plumbing problem I had to clear over half of the contents of the room to make room for the plumbers so they could put holes in the walls in order to get at the plumbing problem [whole house hot water lines re-plumbed]... we had a slab leak so they had to re-route above ground to fix it]. The redecoration was a long time coming, since the move last year in July. So for over a year. Although I had set it up initially it had long housed a jumbled collection of mismatched furniture, jerry-rigged shelving [a vintage bench used for a shelf], boxes, crates that were used just *until* and in general just too much stuff for one room without planned organization. For such a long time I've had a dream of an organized space with a place for everything and everything in its place. Ya know?

If your decorating inspiration is on a small budget then IKEA comes to the rescue. I researched other peoples spaces on the web, blog-surfing and such and decided upon two IKEA Expedite units, one with 5x5 cubicles and one with 4x4 cubicles. Mainly I wanted functional and I chose white because it goes with everything. Most of my other wood around the house is the dark espresso stain. I had three choices birch, black-brown or white. I felt the black-brown would make the room seem dark and smaller and I didn't want to go with the birch because most of my other furniture in the house is black-brown [or espresso] and I didn't want to start mixing wood colors. So I chose white because it seemed more craft-roomish?! But it also seemed brighter and cleaner. Something cheerful for my *happy place* Turns out that everything fits, everything is functional, and everything is beautiful.

AND we only got in ~~two~~ ~~three~~ ~~four~~ one ~~huge~~ small fight. I'm sure it had nothing to do with the fact that we had to make SEVERAL trips back and forth to IKEA for different exchanges/units, YES, I MEASURED... the first u-turn was because we forgot to load one item and left it on the loading sidewalk [that was one trip], then we I decided to exchange the entire purchase for one smaller unit because I ~~didn't~~ measured wrong[nuf said??], the truck broke down on one return trip and triple AAA had to be called and the truck towed. During the towing trip one of the boxes that we were returning flew off onto the HIGHWAY and had to be retrieved promptly. On top of all of this it was hot and Mr. M had a kidney stone festering. Did I mention it was HOT. We only got in ~~two~~ ~~three~~ ~~four~~ one ~~huge~~ small fight. Oh I mentioned that already.

I didn't have one IKEA meltdown and we also had lunch while there. I always get their *Swedish meatballs* lunch, pretty yummy.

Welcome to my new space [I'll have some before and after]

First, the before, quite a lot of stuff but no where to house it [all pictures follow the text and click on any picture to enlarge]

Right wing before

Doorway view before

Dismantled before

Drywall patches from the plumbing repair 1

View from the door showing the new closet shelves and a partial of one of the Ikea Units

View of the two new Ikea units and nice and empty

Another after shot this time with the shelves filled

Another after shot, a view from the door with everything put back into the room and my new red-checked country curtains. I have curtains on the closet door shelves also to hide the clutter when not in use. I removed the existing closet doors because they slid back and forth and you could only access one side at a time. Above the table you can see the stamper shelves that I made out of a repurposed wood futon. I painted them with black chalkboard paint. I did another post about these shelves here, and here <------ This was before I painted them black. But better closeup pictures....

One view with the curtain closet doors shut nice and organized

A close up of the new cafe curtains, in red-checked gingham

Closeup of flower bellies

Close-up of glitter, flocks, flower-soft, glazes. I use two of the expandable spice rack shelves found at most Target, Wally and Container stores. I like having my stuff out to see and grab easily and with the three-steps to these expandable shelves they hold a lot. Sometimes I will have a grouping of current season stamps on these shelves to get inspiration.

Close-up of glitter, flocks, flower-soft, glazes.

Close-up of my SU and Copic marker collections. My SU markers are in a 4-pocket acrylic display. These are found in most Office Depot/Staples type stores. I have had this forever and have always loved it for use in storing my markers

Loose ribbon storage. These are the Best Craft Organizer brand wound on spools and stored in trays. Each tray holds six holders and each holder holds 6-12 ribbons depending upon the width of the ribbon. I did an entire blog post about these. Check it out at an appropriately titled post called RIBBON <----- here. With tons more photos to see each tray individually. These are perfect for the bulk ribbon we crafters like to purchase in every style and color. I purchased all of my misc loose ribbon from Pink Hedgehog Paper Crafts if you want the best, the MOST ribbon with a great selection and if you are just getting into papercrafts PHPCs imho is the place to go. She gives you the best value for the $$. You will be able to stock up and save.

This is another office supply type tray. This is my tool, glue and just everything catchall. Its always right on top of my desk to the left. It's my grab and go tray. Again, everything easily accessible.

Below are some pictures of closeups of what I have stored on my new Ikea Expedite shelves

Cat ceramic pencil holder. I have my most used tools in here

Drawer of Ephiany craft punches and misc soldering tools

I have my sewing baskets stored on the top. The wicker looks nice. I now have room to store these in this room. I used to keep these out in my living room. I like that ALL of my craft supplies are in one area now.

One side of the *L* the red boxes come from Ikea and hold my sewing kits, and extra samples of different items

Full view

The other side of the *L* shaped wall I showed some of the close-ups earlier in the post up above. Here I store my inpirational books, paper, journals, magazines, 12x12 paper, ribbon and washi tape collections.

I hope you've enjoyed the tour of my new space and maybe have picked up some ideas for your own areas. Now if I could just find my mojo, my scissors ,),) and get back in here and CREATE one of these days. Where's my ???? ....sometimes I can't find things when they are all neat and organized. Ha!

Organizational Tip

2011-05-08T17:36:00.003-07:00

Just another quick post today. I promise I'll be back blogging soon. I came up with a solution to my empty ink storage container. A while back I ordered a 70s wooden cassette tape holder [remember those] from eBay to store my ink pads. It can hold up to 100 cassettes or in this case ink pads. Well, at the time I only had approx 30 ink pads thinking I'd have room to grow ,) so I got the larger holder. Fast forward, I never did add more large ink pads to my collection. I tend to use the smaller ink spots and just never found a need to purchase more larger ones. Since I wasn't using the holder as intended I was even considering selling it and getting something more compact. It was taking up needless space in my craft area. Then a scathingly brilliant idea came to me. I can store my Martha Stewart paper punches by turning the punches handle side inwards. Then I had to come up with a solution in order to see the punch image [which is facing up and not visible]. I punched each image onto low tack masking tape material [its the white stuff] and then colored each image appropriately so it would show up better on the white punches.

As you can see, the entire holder is filled now and its holding approx 30 punches with room for a few more ,). The punches were sitting on a shelf and took up quite a bit of room. They take up a lot less space this way and are easily accessible.

EDITED TO ADD: The punches take up two spaces each. One for the top handle of the punch and one for the bottom handle of the punch. Each handle slipping into a separate space. You have to squeeze the handles together a little bit to slide into the space but this is better because when they bounce back they fit snuggly .

Enjoy!

Blog changes

2011-03-28T20:46:00.000-07:00

A very short blurb... I've blanked out my blog AGAIN and am in the process of redoing the look. I like to do that every now and again. Right now its just simple, white background with some color text etc... FYI

Greetings

2011-03-27T20:05:00.000-07:00

I know I know... winter is over and so are the holidays BUT I've had this design idea in my head for awhile now and was in the mood to make it. I think it turned out very cute. All stamps are *Crafty Secrets*. I inked the image with white craft ink [SU] and made a winter scene even though the image is really a summer image [the snow banks are really flowers]. I covered these with liquid applique and heated it with my heat gun and walla... it looks like puffy snow. I love the vintage feel of this card from the color of the cardstock, the monochromatic use of white ink and the lighter shade of green used for the greeting. I used white flower soft for the house roof and dazzling diamond clear glitter for the light of the silvery moon. I used my sharpie white marker for the smoke coming from the chimney. I love this card.

Every noble life...

2011-03-20T16:40:00.001-07:00

...leaves its fiber interwoven forever in the work of the world.

Just a quick post to share a card I made with the Stampin Up set called *Farm Life*. I love rustic, country and vintage images in general and this set met all of those. I was so excited about how this turned out I wanted to post it right away. I haven't been blogging much [I do visit fb more so lately] but I am hoping to remedy this SOOOOOON. I've pretty much failed at my P.A.D. [picture-a-day] project, I've failed at staying focused on my word for the year F.I.T. [yeah not so much YET] soooo I have removed those page tabs until such time as I'm either compliant or caught up. I have added a tab, however, titled *the little things* and I have a running list of things that I feel grateful for. I want to fill that list up so I am keeping that tab active.

I stamped the fence using a Crafty Secrets set called *Sweet Kids* I only inked the fence part of the image. I colored the fence with my Sharpie white pen, the rest of the images were colored in with my Copic markers. I added creative candy to look like flowers and I used a Mulberry paper to add a touch of fiber and texture and I stamped the sentiment on this mulberry type paper. I also airbrushed the back very lightly to give it an appearance of a blue sky.

EDITED TO ADD another rendition, this time a holstein!

I hope everyone is having a very Happy Sunday!

More later

Sunday's Child is Bonny and Blithe, and Good and Happy~

2011-02-17T17:16:00.002-08:00

Today is my firstborn's birthday. She was born on a Sunday. As the saying goes ...Sunday's Child is Bonny and Blithe, and Good and Happy~

This is so true of my daughter. I hope she has a wonderful & blessed day.

Enjoy this little photo montage [be sure and view full-screen and with volume turned UP]

I remember the day she was born. God only visited me once and I saw Jesus twice [in a vision of an ocean wave] and thought for sure I would die in childbirth. The baby would live and I would die [so my visitor [God] during my ~~hallucination~~ vision told me so! ...HEY after 27 hours of labor you'd be seeing AND hearing things TOOOO]. I escaped a c-section by a mere 30 minutes and if my husband hadn't started singing this song to me I probably would have had to have one.

Lyrics:

Bad To Me Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas

(Lennon/McCartney)

If you ever leave me, I'll be sad and blue,
don't you ever leave me, I'm so in love with you.

The birds in the sky would be sad a lonely,

if they knew that I lost my one and only,
they'd be sad, if you're bad to me.

The leaves on the trees would be softly sighin',
if they heard from the breeze that you left me cryin',
they'd be sad, don't be bad to me.

But I know you won't leave me 'cos you told me so,
and I've no intension of letting you go,
just as long as you let me know, you won't be bad to me.

So the birds in the sky wont be sad and lonely,
'cos they know I got my one and only,
they'll be glad, you're not bad to me.

But I know you won't leave me 'cos you told me so,
and I've no intension of letting you go,
just as long as you let me know, you wont be bad to me.

So the birds in the sky won't be sad and lonely,
'cos they know that I got my one and only,
they'll be glad, you're not bad to me.

they'll be glad, you're not bad to me.
to me, to me, to me.

When I heard him singing this little ditty I snapped out of it, came back to earth and safely gave birth to a beautiful 7lb 1oz baby girl. It was the best day of my life!

Enough about me.... HAPPY BIRTHDAY HONEY!

Herbal Flu Tonic

2011-02-14T18:19:00.000-08:00

It's flu season again and with all of the snowmagedon's and blizzasters we've all had across the country (except for me, since I live in Sunny SoCal, don't hate) I thought I'd share my SECRET recipe for Herbal Flu Tonic used to help get over the common cold/flu.

Liz's FAMOUS Herbal Flu Tonic

Peppermint tea - 2 bags per pot

Elderflower tea – 2 bags per pot

Yarrow tea (or herb loose) – 2-4 Table spoons per pot. Use a teaball.

Echinacea Drops – 2 droppers full per cup or approximately 6-8 droppers full for pot. (Can be found at any health food/Whole Foods/Henry's type store, possibly even in a general grocery store)

All of the above support immune system.

To taste:

Crystalized Ginger - Metabolizes fever, body aches and pains, promotes draining of nasal passages. I use a couple of very large cubes. You want to taste/feel the ginger.

Honey – provides lubrication for throat, promotes draining of nasal passages

Lemon slices – Source of extra Vitamin C

Oranges slices – Source of extra Vitamin C
Lime slices - Source of extra Vitamin C
Fresh Mint leaves - Pack the pitcher with these

Whole cinnamon stick stirrers

With boiling water

Steep teas and yarrow

Add echinacea drops to pot

Season with honey, ginger; garnish with lemon/orange/lime slices, fresh mint leaves and whole cinnamon sticks.
Serve hot!

Drink all day/night until symptoms gone. Usually notice improvement after 1-3 days.

I normally make a huge pot of this tea and sip on it ALL day. I cannot stress this enough. One cup won't cut it. But if you sip on this all day you will be surprised how quickly you feel better.

Have you noticed that ALL of my recipes start with the words secret and Liz's FAMOUS.... a bit of self-grandiosity because I can... te-he yeah because they are super secret shhh and VERY famous.

Happy <3 Day toooooooo! Here's a cup-o-love for ya!

Warm Fuzzy Alert

2011-02-09T08:44:00.000-08:00

My husband has always picks out the cutest cards for me whatever the occasion. He's flirty like that. Hedgehogs are our thing since we were married on February 2nd, 32 years ago (holy heck, a moment of silence please, bow head, anyone got any oxygen in here, check my forehead... thanks? and it's Groundhog Day, Hedgehog/Groundhog? same thing)

Sooooo, we've kind of made the hedgehog our mascot of sorts. Soooooo (it's my birthday and I can say soooooo twice if I want to) when he picked up this card for my birthday and a "hedgehog" image was on the card...WELL that made me smile. The sentiment that went with it wasn't too shabby either. Just in case I needed a little reminder... (Ok well maybe it is a bear on the front but we decided he's a hedgehog because we can). Sorry for the fuzzy image. I guess I was a little shaky when taking the picture.

Keep opening...

and again...

It opens into this great big poster sized I LOVE YOU inside a heart and in the lower left it reads... THERE..and that's for KEEPS. Warm fuzzy alert!

Happy Birthday to Me!

2011-02-09T07:18:00.000-08:00

I took out the book "Simple Abundance" A Daybook of Comfort and of Joy and decided to look at today's reading since it is my birthday. The quote at the top of the page reads...

Another real thing! I am not dead yet! I can still call forth a piece of soul and set it down in color, fixed forever. ~Keri Hulme

I thought it was pretty funny that the first words of the quote were... I'm not dead yet, ha! seeing that it is my birthday. I also enjoyed the fact that the reading uses art as a metaphor for savoring life! The irony and a great day for me to continue creating the canvas of my life...

Today's reading for February 9, 2011:

A Fresh Canvas Every Twenty-Four Hours

Before a painter begins a new work, she takes preparatory steps to get ready. She probably made preliminary sketches of the scene she is trying to capture. She mixes her pigments to achieve the right colors. She has also prepared the canvas with a fixative coating so that the paint will adhere. All of this takes time. Of course, we don't see the preparations when we look at her completed work. We only see the entire vision. An artist once commented, "A picture that is beautiful or that owrks looks as if is was all made in one brushstroke. I don't like to see the trail of a brushstroke or a drip of paint.

Preparatory steps are necessary in all of the arts. They are also necessary in life if we want to live authentically. Every twenty-four hours we are given a fresh canvas to prime, to make ready for the vision. Quieting our minds in meditation, carving out time to dream and express ourselves with our daily dialogue and illustrated discovery journal, becoming aware of our true preferences, slowing down to concentrate on completing one task at a time-these are the preparatory stepss we need to take if we wish to experience contentment.

But our preparation won't have been in vain. For when we are in the flow of life, savoring the moment, the brush strokes don't show.

Today, don't rush through your inner preparations as you get ready to set down a piece of your soul to life's canvas.

I always enjoyed having a birthday in February so close to Valentines Day. I will make my classic cake chocolate on chocolate with cinnamon red-hots for decorations. Well it might be chocolate on yellow since that is the mix I have in my cupboards. But I will still use cinnamon red-hots for the decorations. Lets just hope I don't break any teeth today. That's an entire posts for another day. I will have to tell you about that sometime.

Making it a great day!

The Most Pleasant Things...

2011-01-23T20:31:00.001-08:00

that happened during my day...

I woke up early and had my shower, hair/makeup and dressed including shoes by 9 a.m. The thing I liked about that was I was ready for my day bright and early. And for a Sunday that's saying sumpin'. I was out the door to grab a few groceries to make good eats for the games today. I have a couple of recipes to share tomorrow. Wow were they ever good, so stay tuned for that. You can use them on Super Bowl Sunday. The hus and I went together. The thing I liked about that was we got to Costco early enough (right when they opened) it wasn't a mad house YET and all the shelves were all pretty and NEAT. Plus we found a couple of treasures that weren't on the list. That's always fun. All in all it was a pretty good day. We watched a great match-up between the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears (I liked both teams). It was very windy today the umbrella on my patio furniture took flight. Whoa.

Oh AND last but not least I talked to my Dad today on the phone. It was nice just catching up. I always like to hear his voice. He has a very nice voice. He had a heart attack a couple of months ago requiring a triple by-pass. He also had to have a few more procedures since. It's been a bit of a touch and go situation to stabilize after this major event. But he's on the mend and taking good care of himself. I wish him well and continued recovery. Incidentally, he also knew some of the Tucson, AZ shooting victims. The Morris'? The wife was shot and died at the scene and her husband is in recovery. They lived right down the road from my dad and were neighbors. Her memorial is tomorrow. EDITED TO ADD: I just realized that my post is titled "The Most Pleasant Things" about my day were... I did not mean to infer that the above topics in this paragraph were part of the pleasant things... Oh my NO not at all. Just to be clear =D as mud.

Well off to get a good nights sleep and awaken refreshed for Funday Monday. Hope everyone had a great weekend too. Oh and please do leave a comment if you like. I really like comments.

I'm up-to-date on my P.A.D. picture a day project. I've been pretty good with my F.I.T. project too. If you'd like to follow me on these two projects, you can find these two projects on the tabs above just under my blog header. Check it out.

Come back tomorrow for some super recipes. Easypeasy ones too.

Sweet dreams y'all.

Betcha Didn't Know That!!!

2011-01-22T18:47:00.001-08:00

I used to do Stained Glass. I thought I'd scan in some photos of some of my pieces. All were commissioned work, some commercial but mostly for family members. This first piece was a commercial piece that I did for an interior decorator friend. It was commissioned for an assisted-living type apartment unit that was being built on the North side of Chicago. It would be installed as the skylight in the general living area. Where people would gather together to eat and do activities.

VERY Funny story. After the window was installed I asked if I could go to the building and see it in its finished state in all its glory giving so much pleasure to the residents. Beautifying the whole building I am sure. I don't know what I was expecting?? Everyone to be sitting in their lounge chairs, reclined back just gawking at my LOVELY art work. Staring in awe, their eyes just transfixed by the beauty. So I enter the room. The excitement building in my mind. I walk in and what do I see. The window was installed smack dab in the middle of the room, right over the main dining area as expected. Just as I had seen in the renderings. People were in their seats around the table under the window (mostly they were all in wheel chairs around the table). Every single person was sleeping. Yep they were sitting under my window, slumped over in their wheelchairs, SOUND ASLEEP. I looked around. I looked up at my window (you know the one giving all the joy). I walked out laughing at myself. Ha! As if. My ego checking itself at the door.

I called this design "Hummingbirds and Vines". The skylight window(s) consisted of nine 2ft x 2ft sections for a 6ft x 6ft piece or 36 s.f of glass. It was a pretty large piece. This design was drawn by me FREEHAND. I then projected it onto a wall to trace it to scale for my pattern that I would eventually use to cut out the glass. It had over 1700 hand cut/soldered pieces. The color scheme was dictated by the project decorators. It took me six months to build. I used a mix of soldering techniques I used both the copper foil technique for the intricate birds, vines and flowers and I used lead came on the strictly linear lines. I used a mix of glasses. For the peachy center I used a hand rolled glass named English Muffle. Incidentally, a peach colored glass is a very rare color to find. I had to special order this to get enough of it. I also used cathedral glass (all the solid combos with the flowers. Black for the vines) and opalescent glass (all of the streaky blues, purples on the border background).

This is the window set out on my basement floor, just finished.

This is the window installed with light coming through it. I did not take very good or very many pictures.

I think this is a close-up shot

These next windows I did for my Aunt and Uncle. My aunt wanted two panels for a side-board hutch to display her dishes. She wanted it to be transparent. Again, this is a hand drawn design of flowers and vines. I must have been on a floral and vine kick at the time. The background in this panel I used one of my favorite types of glass. This glass is called Glue Chip. I like it because it reminds me of Jack Frost on the windows in the winter. So feathery and delicate. Lacey. LOVE. Again, this is a peach colored Glue Chip (I must have been on a peach kick toooooo). This peach was even rarer than the English Waffle that I used in the above windows. I can tell you though that I would use peach Glue Chip in almost every window if I could. This is a rare and beautiful glass. Again, I remember having to special order it and this was limited. I was lucky to get enough to finish this piece. My aunt is lucky to have a window made with this rare glass. I used a mix of opalescent and cathedral glasses for the flowers.

Left panel

Right panel. A little more light with this picture

Here is a picture of the finished piece. I wish I had gotten it more from the front. But I think that the table was in the way

Here is a little better front picture of the right panel

This was done for my Mother-in-Law's kitchen for her corner cabinet. This panel alone had over 100 hand cut pieces in it.

This was a panel I did for my mom in her living room. Very Victorian but it fit the houses style. This glue chip was on the peachy side but it was actually a brown/tan color. With peach accent on the border. The center design I used another of my two favorite glasses one is called Antique glass and the other is called Water Glass.

Surprise surprise... I've been an artist from wayyyyyy back. Ya know I kind of forgot about these myself. Don't know why I haven't mentioned it before now.

EDITED TO ADD: Comments welcomed! oh and click on any picture to enlarge.

Fit

2011-01-16T16:50:00.000-08:00

Information on my newest page FIT is now all up-to-date. Eventually I hope to add my stats, measurements, schedule, food journal and MAYBE some before and after pics NO NOT THAT etc... for now, it is what it is. Go check it out.

Yours,
M!ss Pr!ssy

Don't ask me WHY? (also info on...God Box and Pennies from Heaven)

2011-01-05T13:45:00.001-08:00

...I've been so motivated and inspired lately. or as my Prissypal put it "Stella's Got Her Groove Back" WHAT? But I won't question it... just go with the FLOW. Woohoo. Recently, I read this article in "Real Simple" about a God Box and I thought I'd make one too. It's a perfect time of year to start new things. I took an empty used box left over from Christmas gifts... this one was a chocolate brown so I loved the base color to begin with. Then I printed out a pretty (and appropriate) saying on 8x11 printer paper. I aged it by singeing the edges with a match (blowing it out immediately so the entire sheet doesn't burn up, this can be tricky in a hyperventilating manner) and then I affixed it to the box top with double-sticky tape. I also made a loop with ribbon for a knob. I just punctured a hole into the center of the box top, made a loop with the ribbon and tide it on the inside of the lid to keep it in place.

Below is a picture of the box top using a favorite verse (I have many) from the bible of mine. I don't know about you but bible verses always bring me a sense of peace and comfort. I thought this verse was especially appropriate for use with my "God box". Lawsy knows I have plenty of crooked paths that need straightnin' Ya'll.

Inside view of God Box. I punched various scalloped shapes for use to write my little mini-prayers on. I keep a few xtra blank ones in there too.

I also finished my "Pennies From Heaven" journal. I'll post pictures more on that later. I am going to use it for my gratitude journal this year. This is a journal class that is taught by Debby Schuh over at the Memory Bee blog? You can read what the Pennies from Heaven journal means to her over at the Memory Bee <---- click and where it originated. Just love that.

Always love a new gratitude journal and fresh new beginnings that the New Year brings~~

Shoot for the Moon You Might Just Land Among the Stars~~~

2011-01-04T09:47:00.002-08:00

As you might be aware... my word for the year is "FIT" So far so good. On NYs weekend the girls and I decided to make vision boards (also called Treasure Maps, Visual Explorer or Creativity Collages?) in place of making "resolutions". We all know that resolutions fall by the wayside and never get kept anywayzzzzzzzzz. It was a lot of fun, easy and we hope it to be inspirational in the coming year. You will notice on mine that I used the word "FIT" quite a few times as a reminder of what my focus should be on this year.

The idea is to surround yourself with images of who you want to become (me, fit), what you want to have, where you want to live or vacation etc. It can be approached with knowing what you already want, a theme or opening and allowing. I think we approached it with a combination of those ideas but more so just opening and allowing. A lot of times I used pictures that had the "feel" of what I would like to become, do or have.

So with clear hearts and minds, some yummo hot holiday drinks and inspirational music we approached it with just a few thoughts in mind. Focusing on:

Ask yourself...what do you really really really want? (yes, more of that please)
Don't worry about the "why or how"

We went through magazines and images that we had saved over the years and tried to tear out those images that brought great joy and delighted us. Like I said not worrying about the why or how. Just smiles and having fun. Open to whatever spoke to us. Ohmmmmm. Breathe. ,)

Ok that's a little hippy-dippy

I had been unknowingly gathering photos for this purpose because I had been working on an "Illustrated Discovery Journal" <----click for the past couple of years. Which is still ~~in progress~~ not done. But I was able to grab some pictures already cut out from magazines for this journal to use on my vision board. As a result my vision board came together quickly.

As I go through the year I will keep in mind what is it telling me about me? The answers will unfold and we hope that our vision boards will be powerful guides for us as we go through the year.

My vision board is propped up on my dresser where I can see it daily.

On top of dresser (my daughter added the candle to wake me up one morning) She's such a little spa-fairy

In addition, I took a picture of it and have "set it" as my computer desktop both at home and work (this is pretty cool) having it ever present in front of me.

As I added images I found it cool that the pictures all found their "place" on the board fitting just right in most cases. As my board developed I noticed sections forming. Predominantly... health, fitness, home, financial freedom, inspiration, faith and R&R.

I also used a lot of favorite sayings as reminders. Some of my favorites... "You will never find time for anything you must make time", The picture of the eagle with the word "intention", Set your goals high and don't stop until you get there, the word "gratitude" / "faith"... The words "effortless" and "deliberateness" found themselves on top of each other (see the upper left corner) when put together effortless deliberateness. That sounds really powerful to me to go forward in a deliberate manner yet make it effortless. There's another reference again on my board to my path being straightened??

Must be kind of crooky overhere in prissyland.

My daughter also said that answering this question... (in reference to your one word) Does this choice (fill in the blank) agree with my word for the year? So I added that sentence to my board in the "FIT" section of the board as a reminder to ask myself that when I go forward in my day or when I get ready to eat that cookie or say no to exercise. Get it? Let me see does eating this cookie agree with my word for the year? um.... NO... um that depends. Ok come back to me. I also added the words delight and fun because I need to have more of that. I don't really know how to have fun in an exciting sort of way so I guiltily made myself into add those words.

IRONICALLY while I had pictures cut out sitting on the table in a stack of other pictures all ready... my dream "crafty space" somehow didn't make it on the board so I intend to make a second board to fit the pictures that inadvertently were missed (there were a couple of other ones too). EEK.

Vision board 2011

Don't laugh....

ok so this is the longest post EVER.... whew! I tarred, I gotta go get a cookie

~out

Fanny's Heirloom Apple Bars

2011-01-03T12:04:00.001-08:00

Should Old Acquaintance be forgot,

and never thought upon;

The flames of Love extinguished,
and fully past and gone:
Is thy sweet Heart now grown so cold,
that loving Breast of thine;
That thou canst never once reflect
on Old long syne.

These will be but a memory...

My Heart is ravisht with delight,
when thee I think upon;
All Grief and Sorrow takes the flight,
and speedily is gone;
The bright resemblance of thy Face,
so fills this, Heart of mine;
That Force nor Fate can me displease,
for Old long syne.

Since thoughts of thee doth banish grief,
when from thee I am gone;
will not thy presence yield relief,
to this sad Heart of mine:

Say goodbye to old friends...

Why doth thy presence defeat me,
Say hello to my new friend... (forever)

with excellence divine?
Especially when I reflect

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne.
We'll take a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

Perhaps the title of this post should have been, again... don't ever ever ever try this at home children.... EVER!! I jest but srsly this will probably be the last recipe I share that doesn't contain carrots. So good-bye old friend hello new friend =C. This recipe is another from my heirloom collection of recipes I have from my Grandmother Fanny (R.I.P.) She was an awesome cook. This was a family reunion or potluck favorite. Enjoy!

Fanny's Heirloom Apple Bars

4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 cup butter
4 beaten egg yolks
4 medium apples, pared, cored, sliced (4 cups)
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 slightly beaten egg white

Combine the 4 cups of flour, the 1 cup of sugar, the baking powder and salt; cut in butter or margarine till crumbs are the size of peas. Stir in egg yolks. Divide mixture in half. Press one half over the bottom of a cookie sheet size baking pan. Combine apples, the remaining sugar and the flour, and the cinnamon; arrange over bottom crust. Crumble remaining dough over apples. Brush egg white over all. Bake @350 over for 40 min. Cool drizzle with powder sugar icing, if desired. Cut into bars. Makes 4 dozen.

M!issPr!ssy

To insure good health...

2011-01-03T07:39:00.004-08:00

...eat lightly, breathe deeply, live moderately, cultivate cheerfulness and maintain an interest in life. ~William Londen

This Year I Hope To...

2011-01-02T10:42:00.000-08:00

January 02, 2011

Get fit, stay fit
Keep a gratitude journal daily
Write a" that would be fun to-do" aka bucket list
Read more
Start a God Box <----click
Be present
Finish this list <----click
.....

I started drafting posts daily after the 1st of the year and I SWEAR there are several still in the queue. So I've decided to finish writing and get them posted. There are a couple items of note. I've been doing some housekeeping on my blog. Lately I've been changing the "look" with the season. It's a bit cumbersome and time-consuming but I thought it would be really fun. So come on over and take a peak. Right now I just have a pink florally-theme going on. I was trying to do something with a Valentine theme but that didn't work out.

Also, I've added some tabs.

One is called "FIT" <----click and this is going to be an area where I record my progress for the year. To help me stay focused on my one-word for the year a sort of one-stop shop to record my stats. My intention is to make it a daily journal BUT I have to back fill already. Stay tuned for that because I have a lot of stuff I want to share.

The next new tab is called P.A.D. <----click I've seen others participate in this and have always wanted to give it a try. This is where you take a Picture-a-Day (hence the PAD part). So far so good I have all of my pictures loaded here and am current with this project. YAY.

A couple of others things that I really really like on my blog. In the right sidebar ----> I have an area of all of my shared "links" <----click. It's really worth checking out sometime. Its blog articles I've favorite'd and shared from all of the blogs that I read through Google Reader. While I am web-surfing if I see an inspirational idea, a color combo, a great sketch or even some decorating and fashion ideas... I will click on the "share" function and it populates in the right sidebar of my blog. That way if I want to go back and revisit the article I was reading I can do so quickly. It also gives a good feel of what me likey's if anybody's interested.

Well that's all for now folks. All text post today.

Word

2011-01-01T08:00:00.000-08:00

EDITED TO ADD: bumping up

Original Post Date: Saturday, January 01, 2011
I've had several words in contention for the "One Little Word" for this year. As I thought about which one to choose, I chose the one that caught my attention. I decided that this MUST be the word.

First, here's a peek at some of the contenders...

Light (Remembering God's light in my life, seeing the light, becoming lighter ,))
Faith (Always good to stay focused "In God We Trust")
Grace (God's Grace is ever present)
Present (Live in the moment, yesterday is gone and we aren't promised tomorrow)
Abundance
Joy (goes with fun, and happiness)
Fun (goes with joy and happiness, try and have more)
Happiness (goes with joy and fun)
Fit (the Winner)
Energetic (kind of goes with fit)

Last year my word was "Encourage". I settled on that word because I felt it was a year that a lot of people could use more encouragement including myself.

For several years in a row before that I repeated the word "Simplify" because I felt that I just hadn't master it. I wanted to purged belongings and have a streamlined environment and at the end of each year I felt like I STILL had too much stuff. So I rolled it over yearly until I felt that I had simplified things enough. Although I am still not "there" 100%, it's a continuous improvement process and I can always simplify things more. I feel like I made good enough progress to retire that word, for now (it was a favorite I can always bring it back). Plus, I just thought a new word would be fun for a change.

My word for 2011 is.... drum rolls.... FIT! I had several words in contention but kept coming back to this one so I finally decided upon this word. FIT. DO-BE-HAVE.

fit - adjective, fit·ter, fit·test, verb, fit·ted or fit, fit·ting, noun –adjective
Fit - 1. in good physical condition; in good health

There is such a huge connection between happiness and good health. I don't take enough time to build a foundation of good health. Good health can be the launching pad for great things. It is hard to stay on track and consistent with my goals (of any kind) when my body isn't up to the challenge. It is extremely important to make sure my body stays (in my case "gets") in great condition if I want to build greater happiness in my life.

I will live with it, invite it into my life. Let it speak to me and also follow its lead. I will identify the major characteristics of its qualities. I will focus on the qualities I would like to become. I will use it as my lens to see the changes I need to make as well as determine whether or not change is actually happening.

Staying focused on my word will give me direction. Besides FIT covers a couple of the other contenders too. If I get FIT I will be lighter, have more joy, it could be fun which will bring greater sense of well-being and happiness and we all know with fitness comes more energy. So it's a good word. Here's to your (and my) health in 2011.

It is health that is the real wealth, not pieces of gold and silver. ~Gandhi

Don't Try This at Home Children

2010-12-31T18:21:00.001-08:00

I decided to make my Famous Egg Rolls for New Year's Eve and weekend munchies. Its a fam favorite and they usually fly off the plate. I thought I would share the recipe and a pictorial. As the title suggests I wouldn't recommend you try this at home. Its a lot of chopping PEOPLE. But if you feel REALLY ambitious and are in the mood for some drain bamage HAVE AT IT. No I'm kidding here it is a bit of work but well worth the trouble because they are DELISH...

Liz's Famous Egg Rolls

Cast of Characters

2 center-cut pork chops
2 chicken breast (I used organic)
1 lb shrimp
2 tablespoons oil (or more)
All meats browned on both sides and fully cooked in a fry pan using a couple of tablespoons of oil
1 head of cabbage shredded
1 lb of soy beans (Amount approx. I used fresh, but you can use a large can of soy beans if you can't find fresh) diced
1 onion diced
4 carrots shredded
1 lb of peas (I used the fresh sweet pea pods) diced
2 small cans of brussel sprouts diced
2 small cans of sliced water chestnuts diced

1-2 packages of egg roll wrappers (I used almost three packages of wrappers this time because I ACCIDENTALLY doubled the meat I normally use. Shoot me now)
For the sauce use 2 tblspoons of each of the following (amount are approximate because I just shake a little of each onto the batch of filling until it looks right?@!?)
Soy sauce
Sesame oil
Premium fish sauce
Kitchen Bouquet browning & seasoning sauce
2 packages of stir fry seasoning mix (Any flavor you can use chop suey, fried rice, stir fry seasoning mix. I normally use what I have on hand)

La Choy Sweet & Sour Sauce for dipping (the red stuff) OR
If you don't have any of this on hand (my favorite) then you can make some. TIP of the CENTURY: Mix equal parts of apple sauce and honey for a fantastic sweet and sour sauce substitute.

Brown the pork chops, chicken breast in a fry pan in oil on both sides until fully cooked. Cook the shrimp in boiling water, drain. Dice the meat/shrimp. Shred the cabbage and carrots. Dice the soy beans, onions, pea pods, bamboo shoots and water chestnuts. Combine all and add to the meat mixture. Season w/ seasoning mix, soy sauce, sesame oil, fish sauce and kitchen bouquet (to taste). Simmer until all is mixed well and wilted. Drain the egg roll filling in a strainer until dry. Add 2 tblspns a filling to each wrapper. Brown in hot oil on both sides approx 3-5 min each side or until lightly browned. Drain on paper towels. Makes: approximately 2 dozen

Close up of the cast, Part 1

Egg roll wraps, seasoning mix, fresh soy beans etc....

Close up of the cast Part 2

Onion, water chestnuts (yes I said sliced chestnuts but the hus did the shopping), mushrooms, carrots, pea pods

Cast Part 3, Soy sauce, sesame oil, fish sauce and kitchen bouquet (secret ingredient)

Shredded cabbage

Pea pods, bamboo shoots, water chestnuts and mushrooms diced

Shredded carrots and diced onions

Tri-meat filling (diced shrimp). Meat diced in food processor. Normally I dice it by hand bc it adds texture to the egg roll mixture. To save time I used a food processor this time. I like hand diced better.

Combine all of the diced items above add seasoning and simmer

Drain egg roll filling in a strainer over a large bowl. A tip to successful rolling is to have a very dry filling. If you leave it moist the egg roll wrappers tend to tear and fall apart in the oil. I drain them on the counter for at least 30 min or longer.

Egg roll filling is still draining... meanwhile prepare your wrapping station. I like to wrap on paper towels. Again to keep the wrappers as dry as possible during the process. I have a little bowl of water for sealing the wrappers once rolled.

Heat your oil. It's times like this I wish I owned "Fry Daddy" It doesn't seem to get as hot as I like on the stove top. We eat so little fried foods that owning an appliance for frying doesn't seem necessary.

Spoon a couple of tablespoons of filling onto a wrapper (don't overfill)

Fold the bottom corner up. Wet the upper left and upper right edges with water

Fold the right side over

Fold the left side over. Just like swaddling a baby.

Fully folded. Set off to the side on another paper towel lined plate.

Prepare a batch for the oil. I like to get an assembly line going so some can be browning in the oil while I continue to wrap. They cook quickly so I don't want the hot oil sitting empty while I wrap. So I try and get a couple of batches fully assembled before I start frying.

Fry in hot oil until lightly browned

Flip once, fry for an additional 3-5 minutes or until lightly browned

Cookie sheet lined with (yep, you guessed it more paper towels) and a draining rack

Finished egg rolls. Don't try this at home. I'm telling you people, you don't want to. Really.

Drain between layers of paper towels

Bon Appetit!!

Heads bow. Cut open so you can see how the filling looks

My husband said I made approx. 4 DOZEN. The accidental (on my part) doubling of the amount of chicken and pork chops. I had to have him run out for more wrappers so I could use up all of the filling I made. Help me Rhonda.

I really don't have a recipe for my egg rolls. I just chop and dice and slice what I thought would taste good in an egg roll. Really lean meats, cabbage, carrots, bamboo shoots, water chestnuts etc. The reason I don't have any amounts for the seasoning and spices is because I add a little bit of this and that until I think it looks and tastes right and usually whatever I had in the house that was Asian flavors I would use. Draining the filling and using the paper towels are tips I learned by trial and error. Egg roll wrappers are very delicate and they don't like moisture. Amen. I haven't made these in a long time and that's why I forgot how much meat I normally use. After I had the filling made I realized I used double the meat that I normally use. 4 pork chops & chicken breasts instead of only 2. HENCE 4 DOZEN EGG ROLLS instead ofthe normal 2 dozen. Anyone want to come over for dinner?

Enjoy

and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Goodbye Christmas, Goodbye 2010

2010-12-31T11:21:00.001-08:00

The holidays and 2010 fade away...

Write it on your heart

that every day is the best day in the year.

He is rich who owns the day, and no one owns the day

who allows it to be invaded with fret and anxiety.

Finish every day and be done with it.

You have done what you could.

Some blunders and absurdities, no doubt crept in.

Forget them as soon as you can, tomorrow is a new day;

begin it well and serenely, with too high a spirit

to be cumbered with your old nonsense.

This new day is too dear,

with its hopes and invitations,

to waste a moment on the yesterdays.

ralph waldo emerson

Happy New Year!

2010-12-27T10:12:00.000-08:00

I was going to wait to post this card but I was so excited about how it turned out I decided to post it early.

Front

Inside

Close-up of bling-bling

Rock Soap Dish Tutorial

2010-12-21T22:35:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited because I am checking another item off of my running to-do list? AND I am also getting some hand-made gifts made. (Look away) Remember the off again/on again and on again/off again, sticky topic, running to-do list that seems like I have kept running FOREVER. I don't know how many times I reminded myself to get-r'-done. Well check out Item 23. The first estimated time of completion, goal date? um yeah February 21st 2010 and then it appears I updated again in August 2010. Holy Mother of Pearl it's now December of 2010. Well, I guess that's the beauty of a list, you can keep after it until complete. Anywho. I am pretty sure this tutorial now officially makes me a bonafied card carrying member of the granola bar, tree huggin', hippiedippie society. But remember I told you? You are going to lerve these!!!

23....(ETA: 20 Feb 2010) Mesh soap dish ...you will love these

For this project you will need

Mesh household screen (the plastic/clothy kind, not aluminum)
Coluzzle oval shaped template (or any shape-cutting machine of your choice that has an oval shape available)
Mini Rocks (I chose earth tone shades because I'm a card carrying member of the hippiedippie society)
Sewing Machine
Soap Rock Soaps These are actual soap that looks like a rock (I chose the "Jade" color which has a cucumber scent because it is a neutral earthtone because... well you know I'm a card carrying member of the granola bar society and also think it goes well with brown)

Coluzzle oval, cutter, two scraps of screen mesh. I purchased a huge roll of the screen at Home Depot. Enough for a thousand soap dishes. It was the smallest roll they carried but for my purposes it was huge. Since this will be a soap dish and used near water you will want to stay away from the metal or aluminum screen material. I used the soft plastic/clothy type. I don't really know what type of fabric it is. But you can feel it when you go to the store and check it out.

I used the largest oval for my soap dish, cutting two pieces

I use these decorative mini-stones. You could use real stones from the ground but I liked these because they have a shiny protective coating on them. These are real stones but they are clean and in a container. Well, you know what I mean? You can find these at Mike's or Wallyworld etc. I got mine from Wally's ($3)

Using a sewing machine, stitch around the edge (1/4 in.hem). I went around twice for strength. Leaving a 1-inch opening to fill the stones. After the stones are filled finish stitching the hem all the way around. TIP OF THE CENTURY: Sometimes the screen gets caught in the sewing machine. To solve this problem I stitched it onto a piece of white printer paper with the printer paper on the bottom layer and then the two pieces of screen on top of that. I stitched all the way around (actually stitching the mesh screen right onto the white paper) then when you are finished sewing you just tear the paper away from the mesh. It gave the mesh screen strength and a backing to sew onto and made it more stable. It prevented the screen from getting snagged into the machine. I know brilliant, right? Come back later and I will take a picture using the paper backing technique. I forgot to take one of that step.

Here is a close-up of the finished soap dish. Isn't it pretty in a hippiedippie tree-hugging sort of way? I just love all of the neutral earthtones.

Jade Soap Rock, Cucumber scent.

Jade Soap Rock, Cucumber scent. Another shot. These really look realistic like real rocks and it is the highest quality soap. They are a little pricey at first glance for a bar of soap. They have color veins through the entire bar. They also have other colors and scents. I think the "Fire Geode", the Sapphire or the Amethyst would pair really nicely with this project also. It smells really really good and they last forever. This is a very large chunk so what I like to do is cut it into smaller chunks so that it will fit nicely on the little rock soap dish on the counter top.

Using a sturdy knife, slice the large soap rock. I like to cut it on an angle like a little pyramid so it keeps an authentic rock shape. Kind of asymmetrical. They cut very cleanly. I cut right through the wrapper, leave the wrapper on while cutting and remove it later.

Keep slicing until you have 4 or 5 even chunks. These were a little big for my purposes. I almost wish I had cut it in 1/5s instead of 1/4s. But its ok.

Close-up. I now have 4 soap rocks instead of one. This makes it go further. More gifts for an economical amount $$. Saving money and making a special gift.

Finished product. I think it looks kind of cool with the "Soap Rock" sitting on top of a "Rock" soap dish. This will go very nicely in a kitchen, bathroom, on a patio or even a mudroom. If you have a spa, Asian or minimalist decor it will go really well with this. OR country, mudroom, mountain themed room. Its such a neutral design I think it will go well with almost any decor. Even an outside patio or garden sink. No? Doesn't the little soap rock look cute sitting on a bed of rocks? These will be really easy to clean, just rinse on occasion under water and set onto the sink to drip dry. It will keep the soap really dry too because the water will just drain away after each use. Helping the soap to last longer.

Ho to the 3

Gingerbread COOKIES!

2010-12-19T22:53:00.000-08:00

They told me I was forbidden to eat cinnamon red-hots ever again. I have a dentist in Tijuana. Don't tell me I can't do something.

I'll finish frosting these tomorrow. For tonight I tarred. We used to decorate the gingerbread cookies with 8 different colored icings, all different colored sugar-shakes, numerous candies. BUT I've learned over the years the PERFECT pairing for gingerbread is cinnamon red-hots. Can you tell which ones I was a bit over-zealous with?

I ice the cookies with a basic white buttercream frosting, turn them upside-down and dip the cookies in this cinnamon red-hot dipping station.

Did I mention my dentist in TJ?

Si I think I deed.

Warmest Holiday Wishes~~

2010-12-18T19:14:00.001-08:00

I hope you likey? I think I am done for today. I almost feel like I have to squeeze a bunch of creating in-between working fulltime and sometimes its ALL AT ONCE. I've had a lot of fun but I may have been a bit overzealous. Time for some t.v., relaxing and maybe a cup of hot chocolate. I haven't had a cup of hot chocolate in I bet...YEARS. But I need to run out for marshmallows first.

***

Dear Santa

2010-12-18T13:19:00.001-08:00

I believe

Another one using the sketch I found over here.

These were so much fun. I will probably make a couple more using this sketch. Stay tuned for more pics. I've been using a lot of stickers this year with my cards. This one is actually no stamping at all. Which is random?!? Oh remind me to tell you about the Michael's excursion where I and the Pr!ssy Pals went crazy buying stickers one day. Yep we pretty much had to have them ALL. It started with the Martha Stewart aisle and went downhill from there. This card uses a Mary Englebreit sticker I picked up at the dollar bins in Michael's (always my first stop, I love me some dollar bins).

May You Find Joy!

2010-12-18T12:56:00.000-08:00

This one spoke to me ,) A moment of silence....

Thank you

Heads bow

Amen

I'll edit later with the dete's after I overcome the shock and awe. Amen.

TWINE

2010-12-18T00:30:00.000-08:00

One more quick post tonight. I S.C.O.R.E.D again in the ~~hoarding~~ bulk-bargain-shopping arena again. I stumbled upon an Etsy shop that sells the bakers twine that I've been using a lot of lately. It's called "The Twinery". They have lots of twine over there and they offer sampler packs with eight colors of twine with 15 yards of each color. So I called on one of my P. R.!S.S.y pals {that's P.aper, R.ibbon, !nk, Stampin', Scrappin' and Y.atayatayata for those of you who don't know this} over at Shadow's Castle Stamps to see if she would like to split one of the samplers with me. That gave us each 7-8 yards of each color. The sampler arrived today... it was a good mail day. Lookie

It comes bundled (the package on the right)with cute little labels. I wound my portion onto some empty wooden spools that I had leftover when I wound all of my other ribbons onto my new ribbon keepers. I wound two colors to a spool because there was room for it. I just love the names of the colors. Maraschino cherry (heart), Mandarin, Lemondrop, Peapod, Cappuccino (heart), Pink Sorbet, Caribbean and Lilac. Get out.

Amen

I feel very reverent lately and shall end everything from here on out with an Amen, a moment of silence OR prayer as necessary.

Right now I just feel holy.

Holy Mother of Pearl help me.

Dear Santa

2010-12-18T00:10:00.001-08:00

I been having a lot of fun finding inspiration all over blogoland this Christmas Season for my holiday cards. The design for this card came from a blog called Mish-Mash. I've been wanting to use the Cosmo Cricket tiny letter stickers on a project and this one was just perfect for it. I used the A Muse 4.25 in. square green & white circus stripe cardstock for my base. Then I used a Martha Stewart Gnome sticker from the "Gnome and Woodland" package. Even though this is a summery package of stickers, when I saw the Gnome I just knew he would make a cute Santa. The manila envelope I made using a Spellbinder's mini-envelope die.

Meet bobble-head gnome (his head is popped up onto a tiny spring). Its pretty cute, making it an action card. As if he wasn't cute enough, I added the little white pompom to his hat. His beard is felt.

Inside the mini-envelope is a tag I embellished with a snowflake sticker and some coordinating ribbons.

I really like how this turned out and I love the colors.

Dear Santa,

I still want an iPad for Christmas. te-he

Merry ChrisMOOSE!

2010-12-13T04:37:00.003-08:00

Another quick card... This one is really cute. I used some felt moose. I picked up a package of these in assorted colors last year on closeout after Christmas at Borders. I think they were 80% off. I knew I was going to use them to create. The sled and the sentiment are both from A*Muse Art Stamps. I stamped the sled onto the card and then again onto a coordinating paper. Then paperpieced it onto the card. The holly was created by using 3 red dew drops and the holly leaves were snipped from a piece of ribbon. I made the snow by tearing a scrap and affixing it with glue along the bottom of the card. I always have to add some glittery shimmer to a holiday card. This was quick and easy!

Envy

2010-12-12T15:21:00.001-08:00

Ha! had ya goin' there din't I? I like to coordinate or customize an envelope (aka envies in papercraft circles) with each of my handmade cards. For each one of these I did a simple punch in the corner of the envelope. When the card is inserted into the envelope you can then see a coordinating color peek through the punch window.

I also like to include a customized signature on the back of each card. Normally I just use a coordinating mini-stamp, initial and date each card. I think it makes each card nice and personalized. I Thought I'd share a snapshot of each of the finished batches of cards. I think I have a total of 30 cards FINISHED and its not even JULY?!?

They might even go out before Three Kings Day this year (Jan 06). My husband and I have a standing joke because normally I am a little late with my cards (NOT). He kind of gets on me and says, "when are you going to start making your cards? If you don't hurry up they will be late." To which I always reply, "If I get them out by Three Kings Day I'm "safe". Te-he. I always say the holiday isn't over until Three Kings Day or July 4th whichever comes first.

HEY haven't you ever heard of.... Christmas in July. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Friends are the true gift of the season!

I thought the star punch was a good coordinate with Santa and Wreath

Close-up of "envy" and back of card (Initial and Year)

With a nice coordinating mini-wreath stamp.

Enjoy the wonders of the season, envelope and back of card.

I like how the snowflake punch and mini-snowman stamp coordinates with Polar Bear

Close-up of and back of card (Initial and Year)

Believe~

I thought the snowman punch and mini snowman stamp coordinated well with this card

closeup

Wishing You Holiday Peace.

The deer punch worked great with this card

It's fun to coordinate punches and mini-stamps to make Envy's. Give it a try and see if someone doesn't envy your creations. Speaking of envy. It was 72 degrees today in the shade. Don't hate.

May you have warmth in your igloo, oil in your lamp, and peace in your heart.. ~Eskimo Proverb

2010-12-07T22:36:00.000-08:00

For this card I used my A*Muse stamps Igloo, Eskimo Proverb, Heart Trio and Love Shack (stove pipe chimney). I just love this sentiment. It was another quick card using all things A*Muse. I stamped the igloo, coated it with some diamond dust glitter and used my yellow Stickles for the glow of my oil lamp coming from the igloo door. I affixed the igloo onto the card with a popdot. I also inked just the stovepipe chimney of the Love Shack stamp to add it to the igloo. This was a quick and fun card to make. 19 down 31 to go...

ENJOY

Close-up

Rudolph the Red Nosed Polar Bear?

2010-12-05T21:37:00.001-08:00

Woohoo two posts in one night! I Love Frosty Nights, Snowy Days and Warm Hearts. I just love this A Muse sentiment. Its on the inside this card. I'm super happy with this card. I designed and dreamed it up. I used the A*Muse art stamp Starry Night background and Polar Bear. I masked off an area and glittered the ground for the snow. I paper-pieced the polar bear and popped him onto a pop dot so he was raised out from the card. I added some bling to the starry night, a red candy to his nose, a puff-ball for his tail (fun) and tied a mix of 3 different color tiny bakers twine for a scarf around his neck. This was a quick card. I will probably make a few more of these because he was so cute!

EDITED TO UPLOAD THE NEWEST VERSION W/SWIRLS AND SENTIMENT ADDED.

I Embellished!

2010-12-05T20:08:00.000-08:00

I was very productive this weekend. See this post <--- In addition to winding 648 yards of ribbon I re-org'd my entire craft room. The first arrangement I had it in was making me tired. SOOOO yep I was organizing my organization once again. Of course its always way more than I expected but once its done so nice. As you can see by the pictures that follow it helped because I really got a lot done craftiwise. I EMBELLISHED.

I'm making great progress on my Christmas cards this year. I C.A.S.E.d these (that's copy and share w/everyone) in case you were wondering from a variety of sources...

***= Link to credits

The haul (so far, I have lots more I want to make. I usually make 30-40 cards every year)

The next ones I used a set "Believe" from Papertrey Ink. I followed the design from the website and tweaked it to use supplies that I had on hand. Oops there's a ribbon on the 3rd one on the right that's out of place. See it?

***

The little wreaths I made from a pipe cleaner and just twisted it around my pinky to make it small enough. I just love this set and am glad that I got to use it this year.

***

This next set of 10 cards I finally finished. I started these last year but they never went out because I needed to finish the glittering. These had a lot of fine details and cutting.

These were quick cards. The sentiment is A Muse. The little houses were from a package of stickers. I'm trying to make more quick cards this year. Read previous caption...

This card I C.A.S.E.d in its entirety from one of my favorite blogger friends Anna Wight over at Sweet & Sassy. I just love all of her things. Hers looks nicer. I need more glitter.

***

Enjoy! I hope you are getting all of your cards for the holidays done too! Making a list... checking it twice. Have fun!!!

RIBBON!!!?

2010-12-04T17:10:00.000-08:00

I thought I'd get up this a.m. and finish organizing my ribbons. I purchased new ribbon spooler's (The Best Craft Organizer, Spool and Store Ribbon storage & dispenser system. <--- I bought mine from Inky Antics. NOTE: this is non-compensated. Me likey and thought I'd give a critique. So listen up!

I'm always looking for ways to store my loose ribbon that takes up less space. I thought to myself... self, this will only take you an HOUR tops. You can spool it while sipping the morning KAWFEE and by the time you are done with your KAWFEE you'll be done. What time is it? Yep almost five p.m. and I am just now finishing up. However, it is all spooled now, color coordinated and I will not ever have to do this again. ~~EVER~~.

I highly recommend this system just start using it before you stockpile 5 years of ribbon. I only spooled the loose ribbon that I have. The ribbon that was already on a spool or greater than 3 yards stayed on the original packaging. If it ain't broke don't fix it.

Organized by color not style.
There are six dispensers per storage tray
6 slots in each dispenser
Each spool/slot holds approx 3 yards of ribbon
Each dispenser can hold up to six, 1/2 to 1 inch ribbon or
12, 1/4 inch ribbon
Each dispenser holds from 18-36 yards of ribbon.
I have 6 total storage trays (36 dispensers)

You do the math. Amen. Apparently I have 480-14,000 yards of ribbon.

A moment of silence please, bow heads. Thank you

Red, Orange, Yellow...

Green

Blue

Purple, Indigo, Pink

Whites, Blacks, Browns, room to grow

Golds, Silvers, Neutrals, room to grow and the spooler tool that stores nicely in the tray. I have one empty tray still in the box in case I get more ribbon.

May Your House Always be Too Small...

2010-11-29T06:55:00.000-08:00

to Hold All of Your Friends... I just love this A Muse sentiment. Just a quick update today

Gobble Gobble

2010-11-25T11:17:00.001-08:00

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE! I thought I'd share one last recipe with all of my family and friends. I hope everyone is having a lovely day. So much to be grateful for. enjoy

Simple Stuffing Recipe

1 stick of butter
2 quarts of organic chicken broth (or favorite broth)
1 cup of craisins (or raisins, I like craisins because they add a pretty color)
2 boxes of cubed herb stuffing (or homemade croutons using favorite choice of bread)

Coarsely chop:
Celery
Onion
Mushrooms
Roasted Pecans (or walnuts or favorite nut)
Apples (or a pear)

Finely chop:
Fresh,
Parsely
Sage
Rosemary
Thyme
Garlic

Melt butter in a large sauce pan on the stove. Add all ingredients. Cook for approx 5 minutes. You just want the onions and celery to become soft. I don't use a specific amount for each ingredient. I just like a good bread to veggie ratio. If I had to measure I would say approximate 2 cups of each diced ingredient to 2 boxes of cubed stuffing mix. Makes enough to stuff the turkey and a side dish.

The usual suspects

Combined

Fold the above mix into bread cubes and use broth just to moisten.
Don't over do it like I just did. Then the bread cubes get mooshy

Run turkey RUN...

PIES Part 2 ~Caramel Banana Hazelnut Pie and a Tutorial

2010-11-24T13:28:00.001-08:00

I've never made this pie before but I saw the recipe over on The Farm Chicks and well lets just say she had me at heller!!! I thought I'd post another tutorial of my process. Lawsy I'm thankful for...

Caramel Banana Hazelnut Pie

Crust:

1 cup flour

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup butter

1 egg yolk

1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Add flour and sugar to a large bowl or food processor. Cut in butter until it looks like sand. Stir or pulse in egg yolk and vanilla until combined. Pour crumb mixture into a 9" pie or tart pan and press evenly onto bottom and sides of the pan. Bake for approximately 10 minutes or until lightly browned and your kitchen smells like heaven. Remove from oven and cool.

Caramel:

3/4 cup butter

2 cups packed brown sugar

1 1/4 cups heavy whipping cream

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Add butter, brown sugar, and cream to a saucepan, cooking and whisking at medium-high heat until bubbling all over. Reduce heat so mixture continues to boil softly. Cook and whisk for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and whisk in vanilla. Set aside to cool slightly. (This is a generous amount of caramel. If you have a little leftover, use it to drizzle on the plate when you serve, or save as an ice-cream topping. Just keep it in a jar in the fridge to enjoy!)

Bananas and Hazelnuts:

2 bananas, sliced (I used 3 bananas)

1/2 cup toasted hazelnuts, roughly chopped

1 Hammer (optional te-he)

Line pie crust with sliced bananas and top with chopped hazelnuts. Gently pour caramel over bananas and hazelnuts and place in refrigerator to cool completely and firm up.

Whipped Cream Topping:

1 cup heavy whipping cream

1/4 cup powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon honey

Add all ingredients into a large bowl and whip until stiff peaks form. Mound Whipped Cream Topping atop pie and serve immediately. Refrigerate any leftovers.

Tower of TREATS Part 1 - Pie crust

Add butter to flour mixture

Mix until the size of sand.

Mine? More like small pebbles but that's how I roll.

Add the egg yolk and mix until forms a dough

RUTRO I was going to shell these last night. I forgot. I was so glad to have found Oregon Grown Hazelnuts. Let the fun begin

In the meantime.... press the crust mixture into a 9 inch pie plate. I only had a 10 inch pie plate hence the crust comes up a little short. No worries, its how I roll (pun intended). It ain't pretty.

Who knew? Ok so transfer the hazelnuts into a ziplock type bag and get your HAMMER out (any ole' hammer will do). Bet ya didn't think I'd be saying that? I completely forgot about THIS. It wasn't as bad as I was expecting in fact once I got started it was kind of fun. They make this cute little popping noise. I almost went out and got another bag. Te-he.

Dump them out onto a sorting station. Separate out the nutmeats from the hard outer shells. I felt kind of squirrely. Might want to take care with this step unless of course you like your dentist.

There they are.

M.A.R.T.H.A

Second act. For the caramel sauce

Bring those puppies to a bubbly boil and then turn down to a simmer for 15 minutes. Whisk

and whisk

Remove crust after 10 minutes when lightly browned

Act 3 for the banana hazelnut filling

Roast the hazelnuts (I used 1 tsp of butter to help with this)

Make sure the butter doesn't burn

I think oven-roasting would be better.

I kind of burned the butter. It's my signature step

Ask ANYONE

Layer the slices of bananas and hazelnuts in that order.

P.S. I added an additional banana making that a total of 3.

It's how I roll.

Pour the carmel sauce over ALL.

There is ample caramel so reserve the leftovers in a jar to use for the plate-up or for ice cream.

Ready for whipped cream topping!!!

Can't wait to try it.

Can I have a moment of silence?

Touch it and you die. Tehe ,)

I hope everyone has a VERY HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Today - PIES ~Pumpkin Pecan Pie Recipe and Tutorial

2010-11-24T09:30:00.001-08:00

I thought I'd share one of my ALL TIME favorite pies for the holidays. Its my goto pie when the mood strikes me to actually do a home-baked pie. I hope you enjoy it as much as my family does.

Liz's Famous Pumpkin Pecan Pie

***

10-Inch Pie Crust (Use your favorite pie crust for a 10-inch pie. I use frozen and transfer it into my "real" pie baker)

For the Pecan filling:

2 large eggs
1/2 cup corn syrup or pure maple syrup (I use dark corn syrup)
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup coarsely chopped toasted pecans

For the Pumpkin filling:

3 eggs
1 3/4 cups of pumpkin puree (15 oz can or less, it makes more than you will use)
1 cup of milk
3/4 packed brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp ground ginger
OR (I use 3 tsp of cake spice (or a smidge less vs each separate spice above)
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla extract

OPTIONAL: 1 Tbsp of tapioca pearls

This provides an ample batch of pumpkin filling, so I pour just enough into the top rim of the pie shell (don't overfill). I found this works the best. Discard or freeze the leftover for use in another dish.

Preheat the oven 400
Prepare the pie crust (Use your favorite). Also, the clay baker I use is bigger than the 10-inch standard pie plate so the crust doesn't go all the way to the rim. No worries, I only like the crust on the bottom anyway AND I never did master the fluting that goes around the edge of a pie. ,)

To prepare the pecan filling, whisk the eggs in a bowl until foamy. Stir in the corn syrup or maple syrup, brown sugar, vanilla, salt and pecans. Spread the pecan filling over the bottom of the pie crust.

Bake about 20 minutes, until the filling is set and puffed. I like to set the pie on an aluminum foil lined cookie sheet in case it boils over.

Meanwhile to prepare the pumpkin filling, whisk the eggs for the pumpkin filling and stir in the pumpkin puree, milk, sugar, cinnamon, ginger, salt and vanilla until well blended. I add a Tbsp. of tapioca pearls to thicken. This is optional. TIP OF THE CENTURY: Use the same bowl to prepare pumpkin filling. Less dishes to wash.

When the pecan filling has set, remove it from the oven. Pour the pumpkin filling over the layer and bake for about 40 mins, until the pumpkin layer is set in the middle.

Decorate by pressing toasted pecan halves around the outside edge of the pie. Cool for at least 20 mins before cutting. Serve warm at room temp. Garnish with a dollop of whipped cream or ice cream!

Makes one 10-inch pie, serves 8.

Enjoy~

Cast of characters:

1 cup of chopped pecans

Favorite pie crust

Pecan filling

Bake pecan filling for 20 minutes

Cast of characters Part 2, Pumpkin filling:

Use the same bowl for the pumpkin filling

Secret weapon adding 1 Tbsp of Minute Tapioca for a creamy thickener

Pumpkin filling all blended

Remove the baked pecan filling from the oven

Pour pumpkin filling over the baked pecan filling

Garnish with pecan halves around the border.

Brush pecans with melted butter/brown sugar mixture

Bake for an additional 40 minutes

Enjoy!! Where's smellivision when you need it?

Will edit tomorrow with a picture of a yummy slice all plated up. Touch it and you die! Te-he. Bonkers I tell you BONKERS!

You Make My Heart Sing

2010-11-23T13:48:00.001-08:00

Just a quick card post today. This card is a Thank-You card for a male-singer-friend. So I thought it was an appropriate sentiment. Crafty Secrets Bird Notes set.

Giving Thanks

2010-11-22T07:20:00.002-08:00

Lord, I do give thee thanks
for the abundance that is mine.

It's Your Lucky Day!

2010-11-13T21:51:00.002-08:00

...because I am going to share a wonderful heirloom recipe with you for Fanny's Heirloom Chewy Raisin Pecan Oatmeal Scotchy Cookies. Fanny was my Grandma. She was a great great cook. I have a lot of her recipes and have tried many of them. I like to think I got most of my cooking skills from watching her during summer visits to her house. She raised six children (5 boys and 1 girl, my mother), lived on a farm in central Wisconsin. She kept a great big garden and canned and stored most of her food for her family. They lived through the depression and had to get quite industrious to feed themselves. Some of her best dishes were her pizza's, cinnamon rolls and home-baked breads (not during the depression, these came after the depression in more abundant times. They had only potatoes and jelly beans during the depression so-told). She made so many wonderful things its hard to pick just a few. She was adopted, lived in an orphanage run by nuns for the first few years of her life. In her adult years she eventually found her birth brothers and sisters who were also adopted and split up. One sister became a sister. I guess when you are raised by nuns that's a natural choice. Anywho, I do digress. There is so much more I could say about my Grandmother and perhaps I will devote an entire blog post to her. These cookies are so good I couldn't quite decide what to name them. Here were my choices:

Liz's FAMOUS Chewy Oatmeal Cookies
Fanny's Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
The Most Bestest Oatmeal Cookie Ever
Heirloom Oaties
Chewy Oatmeal Cookies (original name before I changed it, I can do that you know because its my families SECRET recipe. It my creative license OKAYEE?)

I finally settled on this name because it captured the essence.

Now onto the good stuff

Fanny's Heirloom CHEWY Raisin Pecan Oatmeal Scotchy Cookies

1 cup sifted flour

3/4 tsp soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon (I used 1 1/4 tsp of cake spice which contains both cinnamon and nutmeg and other spices. To me its easier than measuring out each separately)

1/4 tsp nutmeg

3/4 cup shortening soft (I used butter flavored Crisco, I think it adds something)

1 1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups uncooked oats

1 cup raisins

Optional:

1 cup of chopped pecans

1 pkg of Nestles butterscotch chips

Sift together the dry ingredients. Add shortening, sugar, eggs and vanilla. Beat until smooth (about 2 minutes). Stir in oats and raisins. Drop by heaping tsps onto greased baking sheet. Bake in preheated oven (350) for 12-16 minutes. Makes approximately 3 1/2 dozen.

TIPS: I set the timer for 6 minutes and then switch the pans on the shelves in the ovens. Don't overcook. 12 minutes is about right even though the recipe calls for 12-16 minutes. The original recipe called for raisins only. The addition of pecans and the butterscotch chips are mine. All of those items are optional. You can also use cranraisins but I'd omit the butterscotch chips if you do.

TIP OF THE CENTURY: When storing your cookies, did you know that if you put 1/4-1/2 piece of bread in your cookie jar with the cookies they will stay as fresh and chewy as first day you baked them? Try it. It works

Second TIP OF THE CENTURY: Use good baking sheets. Who knew?

BEFORE (See my new cookie sheets from Costco? I have to tell you... invest in quality baking sheets (these were only $14.00 for three, one half sheet and a lid was included). All these years I thought my signature style of BURNT was all my fault. It was just how I rolled (no pun). Turns out my cookie sheet were shit. This batch of cookies .... PERFECTION

AFTER

Touch them and you die. ROFL and shhhhh don't tell anyone this recipe because it's SECRET.

The moon howls and whispers...

2010-10-10T15:24:00.001-07:00

'tis near Halloween...

CLICK ON ANY PICTURE TO ENLARGE

I finally finally finally got crafty and even before the holiday came and went. I'm not big on Halloween images. I love fall and tend to lean towards Thanksgiving-type images and fall images vs. Halloween specifically. But it's growing on me since some of my Pr!ssy Pals love all things Halloween. So I thought I'd give it a try too. It's FUN. I really like how this card turned out except the glitter is a little mangy again. I have a glitter problem. However, the mange look, went well since its a bat.

Hero Arts "Silly Bat" was the stamp I used for the bat. I used the bottom two lines from this A*Muse sentiment. I used Martha Stewart's Goo paper punch for the bottom border of the sentiment tag. It really added a nice detail. Paper: Solid color papers, all SU (Black, Elegant Eggplant, Grey for the tag); Prints paper: American Crafts. Martha Stewart glitter.

See the black crystal diamonds outlining the bat wings and the red diamonds for the eyes? Martha Stewart Halloween holiday clear die cuts for the moon. There is an assortment of 36 fun die cuts in the package. I used the moon. I love these.

This really turned out good and I had room for the sentiment tag. Normally I forget to leave enough space for my sentiment. It fit good this time.

Happy Birthday Hus!

2010-10-02T11:19:00.002-07:00

It's my husbands birthday today and our daughter made a video for him. She is traveling around the world working on a cruise ship so she produced a video having all of her co-workers send birthday well wishes in difference languages. Then she produced a video using one of my hus' favorite songs, "It's Amazing by One Eskimo. I thought it was such a thoughtful gift to send from across the world.

Lyrics:

It's Amazing

I feel sweet
Do you feel sweet?
It’s amazing
I have no skin
And I feel everything
It’s amazing
I feel good
When you feel good
I knew I would
And it’s amazing
I’ve wanted this for so long
Now the deed has been done
We shall rise with the sun
And spend our time as one

Now there is no sin
In anything
And it’s amazing
I love life
I hope you do too
‘Cause I love everything
It’s all amazing
I feel you
Do you feel you?
I understand
When they say we’re born again
“Cause I feel born again
I’m born again
And it’s amazing
And it’s the best thing
And it’s glorious
It’s life changing
This feeling
Is amazing
It’s the best thing
It’s glorious
It’s life changing

This feeling

This feeling
Oh lord this feeling
It’s amazing
It’s in the stars
In the sun
It’s everywhere
In everyone
And it will be every day
From now on
From now on
We are one
And it’s amazing
It’s in the stars
In the sun
It’s everywhere
In everyone
And it will be every day
From now on
From now on
We are one
And it’s amazing
It’s in the stars
In the sun
It’s everywhere
In everyone
And it will be every day
From now on
From now on
We are one
And it’s amazing

It's amazing <-----Click here

Be sure and expand the video to full screen to get the best effect

Off & On... ON AGAIN

2010-08-30T15:30:00.002-07:00

EDITED TO ADD (30 Aug 2010). bump. Time to resume on my running TODO list... woohoo.

...that might be an appropriate summation for how things have gone for me this last year. I feel so on again/off again....AND its so unpredictable when this will happen. Don't know about you but I love this time of year. I know we can get a fresh start each and every day but there is just something about the New Year that says DO-OVER. I love do-overs. Also, it puts me in a cleaning mood. Actually I like to clean, I find it very Zenlike. Not only that, it somehow "orders" my mind. I like that. I am also a list person, list making somehow orders my mind too. (...as in organize). I don't have any pix to coordinate with this post but I thought I'd just pop in and say HI and post the Short List of projects I'd like to work on, finish etc... in no particular order or urgency. This is the list I came up with while taking inventory as I was dusting my artist studio. I am also going to have a couple of items For Sale. I will create a separate post for these things.

Finish

Inchie binder
Journal (Rhonna Farrer inspired)
Artist canvas family collage. Mixed media project
Illustrated Discovery Journal
~~Finish Just Be Journal~~ (Edited to add: completed, in the mail, gift to sister. Amazing what a little space clearing and lists can do)
Brush up on my Spanish
Use Allie stamps
Make shortlist reminder cards
~~Use sheet music with a project~~
Use magic mesh with a project
~~Pine cone elves. (There's always next year)~~
Chipboard village
~~Time permitting...change my blog~~
Hold monthly stamp camps =D
Make 10 Christmas cards a month
School days pages.
EDITED TO ADD (13 Feb 2010) Recipe cards. I'm so glad I remembered this one.
Play w/Cosmo "You Know You're an Artist IF YOU CAN FINISH THIS KIT" 2-album scrapbooks (QVC score).
~~Use my Gwen Frostic stamps (Anthropological Holiday Catalog, I KNOW) & <<<---happy symbol alert<<<~~ 21 Feb 2010 AND stamps from ALASKA. While I'm at it...
Use every color of fun fluff that I own.
Make Card Assortment Gift Sets Xs4
Crafty Secret ANYTHING help me
~~(ETA: 20 Feb 2010) Mesh soap dish ...you will love these~~
30 AUG 2010 Card Assortment Packs

Like I said... its a short list. Maybe I'll have some pix later. Oh and postscript... you can't have a glitter station when there are cats around. ;)

...later

Just Be Journal.... 1 for me, 1 for my sister...

My laptop (Mac) is docked to a larger monitor, keyboard and wireless mouse. I have it propped on a upside down wire basket to keep the air flow. Notice... NO dust.

Left wing of craft space (AKA SHE-CAVE), mainly, notice clear spot on table. This is the main center. The big Kahuna where all the magic happens ;)

Moving to the right....mainly, notice clearing on table. This is my cutting and ribbon center

Moving to the right....mainly, notice clearing on table. This is the idea center. I store all of my idea books and catalogs here.

I Won Some Blog Candy

2010-08-14T20:45:00.003-07:00

a while back and will do a post about it soon. Remind me! Its really funny.

Moving tends to throw a wrench in it....

2010-08-11T21:45:00.001-07:00

FOR EVERYONE!! This little guy has gotten quite used to hanging out with me. Yes, he always does have a little smirk on his face.


He's gotten pretty used to hanging out with ME

because this one's

Yeah her - the cat's mom

been doing alot of this TRAVELING

I KNOW GET OUT RIGHT! THAT'S HOT!

So he's got pretty comfy at my place. Which is COOL because I LERVE HIM anyway. HE'S MINE NOW HE'S ALL MINE. Little does she know.

But when she's back for a visit, he tends to park himself on top of her SUITCASE. He's KNOWS he's a smart cat.


But he always seems to be on high alert for suitcase action

But can you blame her? She's got places to go like HERE:

A girls gotta do what a girls gotta do.

SOOOOO as I was saying moving is hard on everyone. Including the blog action. This blog is the PRISS[Y] Place remember? For those of you that don't know....that's an acronym for [P]aper, [R]ibbon, [I]nk, [S]tampin', [S]crappin' and [Y]atayatayata. I do realize there's been a lot more of ONLY the [Y] in that equation. Yatayatayata. True true. Which is OK because this is my blog RIGHT and I only have 2 READERS TOPS. ROFL. I won't be invited to the Blogher awards anytime soon or Martha's for that MATTER.

SOOOOO Let's revisit <--- click my good luck totem MR. HAWK that came for a visit on my first morning at the new place. Oh yes I was so overjoyed and thought what a wonderful world. Yes? Yeah SURE the Native Americans think he's a symbol of "the dawn and a fresh new day". That's awesome. But personally I think he was MARKING HIS TERRITORY.

This is who came for a visit on the second day of being at my new place. I was all excited and going to go look up what it meant in Native American terms as regarding to "totems" I was sure it was another good omen until.....

Little did I know he was on his way out of this world and his visit would be but a brief one. He was so cute and I was wondering why he was so still and didn't startle when I took his picture. I got pretty close. Shortly after this picture was taken I went back out in the backyard (a couple of hours later). And Mr. Bunny was gone (as in R.I.P.) not as in ran away. I had to pick him up and bury him.

LOOK AWAY NOW IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE A PICTURE OF A CUTE BUNNY WHO IS NO LONGER WITH US AND IS THE LAST DAY OF MR. BUNNY'S LIFE.


Hello and Goodbye =C - Thanks for visiting...

IRONIC that I titled this post <--- click "The Other Side". Singing the praises of Mr. Hawk. What am I prophetic?

Good Omen? I think not!!! MEET THE NEIGHBORHOOD BULLY

TOTEM SCHMOTEM. He's on my $#!( list. I guess a hawk's gotta do what a hawk's gotta do. Which is be a predator. Nice.

One of these day I shall resume my normal programming which requires a lot of GLITTER. K.THX

M.P.D?

2010-08-01T14:47:00.001-07:00

Multiple personality disorder a.k.a Cybil. That's me? On the one hand I love vintage things, I love the 50s theme. I have a lot of treasures collected over many years and I've weeded them out considerably. But there is still a fair bit of Chotzkie hell goin' on.

and drum roll....this is me? Minimalist, zen, spa. Actually, I am moving more towards the "less is more" style.

THEN ya have this me... chotzkie hell. My library wall which I still LOVE was behind my sofa in the other place. Now it's in a more prominent location not behind a sectional but in full view within the room. The chotzkie's from chotzkie hell used to be displayed on a shelf that ran around the perimeter of two walls of the room. Now, they are displayed on top of the library bookcases. I think its a bit busy, but for now they will stay since we don't have the shelf installed and probably wont put it up in the new place. I only pulled out a few. I have other collections apples, cows, tins etc... the chickens made the cut this time. I'm really really trying to thin things out for GOOD.

AND then back to desert sticks sans art I picked up from the desert. I like the texture it brings to a room. I copied this from hotel decor I saw once. Really like the natural colors of an area.

AND THEN THERE'S CYBIL. Oh incidentally, the burgundy wall color is the existing paint. It was the only room I am thinking of changing the paint color of, all of the other room paint colors in the new house were the same color paints that I had in the old house. Lucked out there, what are the odds of that? I can live with this color for now. I probably SHOULD have painted it before I unpacked but srsly did not have it in me. It will have to be done later. I will probably go with the seafoam green (very light) I had in my other kitchen/living area. Still love that color. I'll post a link later. I will add however, the burgundy goes really well with the existing chotkies I have.

EDITED TO ADD: THERE IS A BACK-STORY TO THE ABOVE FRAMED PRINTS. I HAVE ABOUT A DOZEN OR SO DIFFERENT PICTURES TO THIS COLLECTION AND MAYBE I WILL POST THE ENTIRE SET SO YOU CAN SEE. THESE WERE WATERCOLOR PAINTED ON CARDBOARD INSERTS (REMEMBER THE CARDBOARD FROM SHIRT PACKAGING) AND THEY ARE ACTUALLY FLASH CARDS. FOR EXAMPLE: THE TREE HAS THE WORD "TREE" STENCILED ON THE BACK OF THE CARD. I THOUGHT THEY WERE SUCH CUTE FOLK-ARTESCK IMAGES I HAD THE ENTIRE SET MATTED AND FRAMED. MY GREAT-AUNT (NOW DECEASED) WAS A SCHOOL TEACHER. SHE PAINTED THEM ALL BY HAND. I BELIEVE SHE GOT HER INSPIRATION FROM OLD THE DICK AND JANE READING BOOK SERIES. I HAVE IMAGES OF A MOTHER, FATHER, BOY (I'M ASSUMING IS DICK), A GIRL PRINT (JANE?), DOG, CAT, PIG, CHICKENS, BALL, HOUSE, ETC... THEY ARE VERY OLD AND QUITE THE HEIRLOOM. SHE HAD GIVEN ME A "BOX" OF HER OLD PAPERS AND SUCH FROM HER TEACHING DAYS WHEN MY GIRLS WERE LITTLE AND THESE WERE IN A FILE OF THAT BOX. THAT'S WHEN I HAD THEM FRAMED. A SEPARATE POST ON THIS LATER.

I guess you can say I have a very eclectic style. Its a mix of folk, vintage, americana, 50s and minimal, shabby chic, chic shabby and a dash of bohemian too. I don't know I'm a bit scattered. I crave minimal and am slowly transitioning towards that style. Out with the old and in with the new "less is more" theme. I am planning on selling whatever doesn't work for me any more to an Etsy store just as soon as I get through things and continue purging. I will post more after photos as soon as time permits. Hope you enjoy a peek into my new place.

Ciao for now...

Praise of Summer

2010-07-17T19:51:00.000-07:00

Well this heat wave has me cursing summer today. But I like this vintage image. Thought I'd share!

PMA

2010-07-12T13:23:00.002-07:00

...since I have been more M.I.A than I.A lately thought you might like to turn some pages with me (desk calendar). YES, you guessed it I am indeed back to work and back to R.E.A.L.I.T.Y. I always like to get caught up on my calendar pages. It's all part of getting my head back into the game. I will only list favs here so don't go crazy bc a date is missing. It was intentionally left blank.

JUNE

25th

Never let any mistake cause you to stop believing in yourself. Learn from it and go on.

26th

Always affirm there is an answer to any problem and that you can find it; indeed, that you are now finding that answer.

27th

When you get up in the morning, you have two choices-either to be happy or to be unhappy. Just choose to be happy.

28th

Don't waste mental energy brooding over past events or worrying about the future. Live a day at a time and do a job at a time.

29th

God will always take care of those who love and trust Him and sincerely do His will.

30th

Quiet your mind so that inspirations may arise from its depths. An inflow of new thoughts can remake you regardless of every difficulty you may now face, and I repeat-every difficulty.

JULY

2nd

God's peace is medicinal.

3rd

You will never know what great things you can do until you try-really try.

4th

Never take no for an answer.

5th

Ask for directions.

7th

Hold the image of the life you want and make the image become fact.

9th

The positive thinker is a hard-headed, tough-minded, and factual realist. He sees all the difficulties clearly...which is more than can be said for the average negative thinker. But he sees more than difficulties-he tries to see the solutions of those difficulties.

10th

The more problems you have, the more alive you are. (Note: I must be superhuman ,))

and last but not least..... drum roll

12th

Expect generous benefits in never failing supply!

Woot woot we're all caught up on our readings now. Don't you feel great! Don't know about you but I like to renew my mind DAILY.

~later

The Other Side ,)

2010-07-06T15:51:00.007-07:00

I was honored this morning with a visit from this little guy... I believe its a hawk. How beautiful. If you're into hippy dippy airy fairy stuff (hey its Californ.i.a. folks, you know how crazy we are) you can read what a visit from a hawk symbolizes here <---- click. It starts out like this... the Hawk is the symbol of the dawn and the freshness that a new day brings (doodoodoodoo insert twilight zone music here); and the power of recollection. These energies and qualities enable the seer to travel back through the pathways of time; helping to connect us with with our roots and incestral wisdom that lives within our phyches and our culture. Hawk is known for his ability to travel into the past...

how cool is that?

I think it was so appropriate that he came for a visit this morning because it is a fresh new life for me and my family. There are no accidents. Insert happy face here.

Irony alert: a hawk landing on the power lines caused inferno house <---- click remember that day? that was a "sign" that particular house was a NO. ROFL.

He was very still and didn't seem bothered by me at all. I think he was still asleep. The first shot I cropped in a wider panoramic view to show the terrain native to this area. I was sipping my morning coffee standing by the back fence overlooking the canyon that is now my backyard. I thought I'd share some pix of the new place so there's a mix of this and that. CLICK ON ANY PICTURE TO ENLARGE FOR DETAIL.

Here's a close-up of the hawk. He shot me a little nod. Such a poser. Hi there!

Coffee central. One of the first appliances in operation (HELLER). Ever important. Caffeine. Note: vintage Pyrex, I love and use for a butter dish (Tiffany blue) and a sugar dish (red). I used to have a set of matching nested bowls in the primary colors. Remember those from the 50s? I think a daughter confiscated those to one of their apartments.

Close-up

More of my loved vintage items. Not sure if this is their permanent home, just got them out of the box. I used to have these on a shelf in the old kitchen. I love my "Aunt Jemima" cookie jar. I bid on a box at an auction that I went to and she was a treasure surprise at the bottom of the box (S.C.O.R.E.) One of a kind I've never seen another.

Another close-up of the same area. Note: my favorite Good Morning coffee mug <---- click!

Another view from our backyard. Note: the marine layer has hung out all morning... my favorite. These houses are very far away on the other side of the canyon that separates us. I zoomed in. The view is obstructed a bit by electrical wires, unavoidable. They are behind us not right over us. An issue I hadn't considered when looking for a place. Oops. I was going to crop them out but then I would have had to crop the marine layer which was the point of this photo.

Lots of greenery in the back too. Another S.C.O.R.E. We had nothing but dirt in our old backyard <--- click well, and these cute little guys. But the entire hill was covered with what they are standing on... dirt/sand/desert. No trees nada.

Fog, aka marine layer ~I love you. We live on the west side of the mountain now. My old house is literally on the east/back of this mountain. If I threw a stone in a straight line over this hill it would be in the backyard of my old house. As the crow (or hawk ,) in this case) flies. The east side of this same mountain is much hotter and we didn't experience the direct ocean breeze like we do now. It was much more inland and deserty in our old backyard.

This is a close-up of a backyard across the canyon as well. The guy has a putting green in his backyard. That's how we roll in SoCal. Too funny.

Bathrooms unpacked, check; kitchen unpacked, check; library wall unpacked (Picture coming soon), check; bedrooms unpacked, check; l.r. craft room, office, garage pending... HELLO from the other side and cross fingers I will have crafty stuff to post soon. Next up for unpacking.... CRAFT ROOM.

Be careful what you wish for you might just get it!

Stay tuned while we break for intermission...

2010-07-05T14:42:00.001-07:00

I'm so excited to be into the new place and the move is behind us. Whew what a ride. I have the week off (Yosemite on hold, move, in full-swing) so I can make some sense out of all of this chaos and foolishness. I planned on taking before and after shots of all the chaos and foolishness but frankly, what's so interesting about piles and piles of boxes? In fact, this was going to be an all text post just blogging in to say HAY and stay tuned

...until this happened:

I got up for one second (literally) and Bubba Gene was on it like white on rice. Playing fake asleep (sound asleep) now who could dare disturb such a cutey pie. I had to snap a pix. Thanks Bubba Gene for the photo op. (aka Punke but we call him Bubba Gene)

He's so exhausted. During the move he's been carted from house to house for two weeks until we were moved. He was prowling around the new place for days and finally calmed down enough to realize he's home too. I'm fostering kitty again while the daughter travels and such so he's back with Grams (yes I only have furgrandbabies) temporarily.

I'll be back after intermission. Crafty space is still all in boxes so posts continue to be all about nothing and yatayatayata

See ya when I see ya

EDITED TO ADD: As I signed off I looked through my camera and ends up I had snapped one shot of the move in process. Ironically another animal shot. Look at Mr. Dog (aka Prince but we call him Mr. Dog, Doodoo, Monster, Wolfdog, King, Boo, Bubba (jk)) ROFL he sits right at the end of the ramp as if to say HAY where we going can I come too? Animals too dern cute. He's like you ain't goin' nowhere nohow without me.

p.s. HAY intentionally spelled wrong. hehe Prounounced HAY AY with two syllables.

See ya on the other side

Happy Birthday to My Youngest!!

2010-06-24T13:34:00.002-07:00

JUNE 24

Do your honest best,

think prosperity and the Lord will,

for a fact,

provide.

He will do the providing through you.

I just thought I'd publish and dedicate the thought for the day (from my desk calendar) to my youngest daughter because its her birthday!! She's on a world cruiseship job right now so we have been keeping in touch via the internet and facebook. It's really amazing modern technology. She can be out in the middle of the ocean (somewhere in the Norwegian Sea right now) on a ship no less and still get INTERNET. I just love it because I still get to see her and talk with her and she doesn't seem so far away. I know my daughters are grown now but I still like them close though far. She was a big baby 9 lbs 11 oz. As you can see she had a lot of hair.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOO... WISH YOU WERE HERE

Since...

2010-06-21T10:05:00.002-07:00

normal programming is down the river with the donkeys and until normal programming resumes.... I'll just C.A.S.E. (C.opy A.nd S.hare w/E.veryone) stuff that I like instead: 

Definiteness  of Purpose the starting point of all achievement.

By: Napolean Hill

Don't be like a ship at sea without a  rudder, powerless and directionless.

Decide what you  want, find out how to get it, and then take daily action toward  achieving your goal.

You will get exactly and only what you ask  and work for.

Make up your mind today what it is you want  and then start today to go after it! Do it now!

Successful  people move on their own initiative, But they know where they are going  before they start.

Positive People,  Positive Thinking, Positive Results!

CASEd from Mind Power 365 

Happy Father's Day!

2010-06-20T05:34:00.001-07:00

What Makes a Dad

God took the strength of a mountain,
The majesty of a tree,
The warmth of a summer sun,
The calm of a quiet sea,
The generous soul of nature,
The comforting arm of night,
The wisdom of the ages,
The power of the eagle's flight,
The joy of a morning in spring,
The faith of a mustard seed,
The patience of eternity,
The depth of a family need,
Then God combined these qualities,
When there was nothing more to add,
He knew His masterpiece was complete,
And so,

He called it ... Dad

~~Author Unknown.~~

The Seven Seas

2010-06-18T21:07:00.001-07:00

My youngest daughter is off today for a 6-month around the world adventure. She accepted a position on a cruise ship working in the spa on board ship. First, she flies to Copenhagen, Denmark. I like to track their flights, I just feel closer that way.

then she has this itinerary <---click

The first leg of her journey will be a 15-day round trip Copenhagen to Copenhagen. I'll keep everyone posted.

The move is coming along. We are going to move to the new house a week earlier than originally planned, the last week in June as it turns out (instead of the first week in July). Boxes are everywhere and seems how I packed the craft room first.... aaagh. I really really can't wait to get moved now. Have I mentioned, I hate moving? Pretty sure I have. Stay tuned... one of these days my life might resume normal programming I say "might" because somehow I highly doubt it. Waaaaaa.

It's a Good Thing!

2010-06-13T11:09:00.008-07:00

A few of my favorite things...

The morning light

The Macbook (you can take it anywhere)
Listening to music

Coffee mugs
Lists

Me time (its not that I don't like you... its just that I like my quiet better? credits:Sh!t My Dad Says)

$1 altar votive candles (from the grocery store)
Books
EDITED TO ADD: naps

iChats
Ground zero on anything and today it's paperwork.

Thin addictives, almond cookies. Yummo!

Onto another topic... The hus and I had a successful "date night" we headed out again last night to see if we could catch the Red Algea tide. The red algea were out like the waves and the California Grunion Run (<--- read about it here) was in with the high-tide.

(Stock photo)

Its so random, we went out there to see if we could catch the red tide and instead we ran into a Grunion Run? The ocean never dissappoints.

Note to self: do more often!

My cell phone keeps rebooting itself. I wish it would stop.

I'm glad I've got photos of the home I'm leaving. This blog is good for something.

There are some things I WON'T miss from my old neighborhood... the Gearhead's aka Greasemonkey's? on this street. They've always got some engine PROJECT going on, please. Can you say noise pollution hello. Does anybody mind... if I nap. Yeah won't miss that. Then there's this go-cart that starts EVERY year right about this time and runs up and down the street until the 1st-day of fall. Yeah, I guess its cute. I won't miss that or the barking dog next door. There is something about this one house. A while back the first dog barking owners moved, goodie, dog GONE. So the new neighbor's that moved in after that dog barks and bites. Nice. WHAT?

~Ciao for now...

Blue Tide

2010-06-06T22:32:00.001-07:00

A majestic, giant glow stick, lightning, fire and ice, snow bursts are just a few of the ways I could use to describe the phenomenon of the "Red (looks blue or green) Tide". It was raw nature at it's finest for sure. We went out (its best to go late at night when its really dark (deep blue sea dark)) to watch the waves roll in like giant fluorescent blue/green glow sticks. It was really cool and worth the drive out. Its so hard to believe that there is this awesome display of nature right in our own back yards. It was right up there with lightning or the Grand Canyon. The ocean is so massive. The color it throws off even when its pitch black are amazing. The waves really do glow in the dark and its much prettier IRL.

I Can Breathe... Well Sort of

2010-06-05T13:35:00.001-07:00

I found and closed on a house this morning. Now I can breathe and my entire summer won't have to be spent house-hunting. I can get on with the business of living. But first, of course, there's all that purging, sorting and packing. At least I can breathe and I have a plan. The unknown factor just went down to a two instead of a TEN.

**********************

Front of house, a bit pixelated (stock photo and not my autos, google stock photo). But you get the idea. Low maintenance front yard with LOTS more trees than I have now with great curb appeal. (Doesn't translate in this picture) I love TREES. It's really a cute little house. Just perfect for me and my family.

**********************

Walking into the front door and turn to the left is the "Living Room". This room is situated on the front of the house. The pix (all pix below text) makes the room look a bit smaller than it is. And it has a fireplace. I haven't had a fireplace in 10 years. The house I currently reside doesn't have a fireplace and I miss it. I am just beyond that I'll have one again.

**********************

Kitchen wide-view

**********************

View from back and covered patio of outdoor bonus room. Landscaping much nicer than photo.

**********************

Standing in the kitchen looking outwards to the front door. The little carpeted room off the kitchen (just before you enter the kitchen and to the right of the fireplace room) the "Family Room/Den" I will probably have a reading room/library wall here. The carpets are taupe/beige NOT PINK as they appear in these photos.

**********************

This pix makes the kitchen look darker than it actually is. Its about the same size as I have now so that's cool. The light fixtures are nicer.

**********************

Master Bedroom below. If you go out this sliding glass door off the Master and go left it goes into the sliding glass door to the kitchen. Very convenient right off the Master. No disturbing anyone when making a.m. coffee. You don't have to walk through the house to get to the kitchen. Kind of nice. And the patio/"outdoor room" could be considered a bonus room since we have such great climate. More pix of that later.

**********************

Looking out from the master to the hall and other bedrooms. To the left in the pix is the Master Bath. Again similar to what we are currently in, so definitely will fit our needs.

Whew that's a relief. Now I think I can put myself on a "whine" fast. No whine zone. But pretty sure I'll fail at that, since whining is one of my favorite pastimes.

~M!ssPr!ssy

Comments

2010-05-31T11:31:00.002-07:00

I'm still trying to figure out how to shake Mr. spammer <---click and get it to stop leaving comments on my blog. I have comment moderation on and I delete the comments that are spam. I've decided to activate the "word verification" function also, to see if this flushes him out. If its a machine-generated comment, hopefully it will stop the bugger. He's <--- click been bothering me for some time. Everyone else, please do stop by and leave comments. Currently this will inconvenience all totaled approximately 1 person due to the overwhelming number ~~0-1~~ of comments I normally receive on a daily basis.

Thanks

Random

2010-05-30T21:45:00.001-07:00

is it just me?!?!? or does it feel like life can unravel faster than a roll of TP on Halloween Eve? (Where did I hear that?) Some days can just creep me out. Starting lineup FIRST THING THIS A.M. the macbookpro (13 mo. new) just quits. Like nada. I can't do anything with it. Worst timing ever since I NEED internet right now. Two words? HOUSE HUNTING. No sooner do I close the lid on the mac because it was worthless to me at that moment, we proceed out to our first house-viewing appt to find ourselves the FIRST to arrive at the scene of a fire <---click yes you guessed it at the house we were going to perhaps live? It was in the canyon right behind the backyard of the very house went to look at. 911 had not even been called yet. 911 what is your emergency... agh MY LIFE. Like srsly. UNIVERSE?

But then these guys showed up and that was hot, no pun ;) and made everything ok. I'm a sucker for a man in uniform. It's no secret. Hi hus.

This post almost had NO photos with it. I took pictures with my phone but the network was too busy and wouldn't let me send ANY. Go figure. No really? So I found some stock photos on the web.

This thing went right over my head. Of course I missed the shot. I'm fired. Impressive. It has words written on the bottom of it something to the effect, "~~Hotties inside~~ Fire Safety" or something? Let me tell you that thing was close.

THEN, just when I feel completely abandoned by the universe... out of the blue I get phones calls from two people who I haven't spoken with in years and the conversations were refreshing.

Enough said.

Omen aside, the house shouted not me not me. On top of this, I experienced smoke inhalation and it gave me a headache.

We swing on over to the Apple Store (we brought the computer with us - can you say ~~Geek~~ Genius Bar to the rescue) and actually that was a pleasant experience. One word: Geeks. You know how I love my ~~Geeks~~ geniuses. I learned something new and of course I taught the geek something. Always happens. Oh incidentally, they were able to boot the computer right up. Nothing was wrong with it. Huh?

We left there and decided to grab a bite to eat. Again, NO PICTURES, thanks network. I ended up having a couple of nice conversations with complete and total strangers which for me is a stretch. ;)

I hear that Mercury went direct but it feels like retrograde to me. Lies.

I didn't know that cats were THAT territorial over catnip. OK? Oh and I scored some great 50% off deals. And I mean great deals. Well that's a wrap. I told you this was random.

I snapped the coolest picture of a the most perfect rosebud today and NOPE again network wouldn't let me send to my album.

Rambling on

Promise Yourself

2010-05-22T08:34:00.000-07:00

Come on over for a visit....

2010-05-21T21:23:00.000-07:00

...pull up a ~~box~~ chair and stay a while won't you? . No-- I am not through whining about my upcoming, unplanned move. I'm still in the denial phase, the why me phase, and possibly the bargaining with God phase. Please God I promise I'll be real good. Obviously I'm being punished. However, I DO like the "kraft" color of those boxes. They are pretty aren't they?

Give UP!

2010-05-21T15:57:00.004-07:00

I have great friends and some of them (you will go un-named, you know who you are) hate all my mamby pamby sugar wooger rahrah sisbabam boo go team talk. This same friend sent me the cute poster below. Thanks for your support and encouragement. Hellerrrrrrrrrrrr

Thanks for your help <----click

Staying Put, I'm NOT moving, I'm Not moving

2010-05-21T07:13:00.002-07:00

The upcoming move is not going to monopolize my life. Its just a blip on the radar screen, right? I'm way to busy making other plans. k.thx. Move are you listening, boxes? pack yourself and while you are at it.... move yourself too. Oh and new and perfect house for me and mine, please present yourself and forward me my new address.

Thanks again in advance for your help.

I'm NOT moving, I'm Not moving. I'm NOT moving, I'm Not moving. I'm NOT moving, I'm Not moving.

PS: Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Help One Another

2010-05-20T17:01:00.001-07:00

I stumbled upon this image and it made me think about life and how it's been going for so many people right now (including me, more on that later). Tumbling around upside down with so much uncertainty, and how some may just be hanging on by a thread (or a slim branch) for dear life! We could take a lesson from these gentle creatures and all reach out to lend a hand and spread some love. I hope everyone is having a wonderful day. Cheers! Aren't they cute (it's probably photo-shopped but still cute)!

Live with Passion

2010-05-03T10:40:00.001-07:00

Recently, I participated in a card swap with the famous M!ssy Ballance <--- click over at Crafty Carn!val. <--- click So if you're participating in the swap and don't want to see your card, look away now.

If you worked on the cards with me (you know who you are, HI Allison over at "Shadow Castle Stamps") YES I completely rejected the first batch I had started and this is what the ended up being my card!!! I know? Can you believe it? It's a complete and total different card. I just wasn't feeling the other one. So I started to panic. I had to come up with SOMETHING. I ended up using a stamp set from Stampin Up called "Inspired by Nature" The inside reads "live with PASSION"

Here is a front shot. Can you tell which card had an "opportunity for embellishment" (aka accidental ink smudge that needed ~~covering up~~/~~hiding~~ a butterfly and some glitter)

Another angle

Boxed up and ready to go

~Enjoy, do something fun today, M!ss Pr!ssy

Hey You

2010-05-03T07:52:00.003-07:00

Hey you Asian man .... can you please STOP leaving comments on my blog? You're the reason my comments are moderated. Quit trying to sell me toilet bowl plungers or wowsers towels or what ever it is you are trying to sell me? Guess what I can't read Chinese, Taiwanese, Japanese so I don't even know what language is below in my comments section oh and your comments ALWAYS get rejected. Thanks for leaving and not leaving comments anymore.

Good Morning Sunday!

2010-05-02T23:58:00.001-07:00

Yes, there is diesel in that coffee mug (aka Bailey's Irish Creme). I thought I'd share a picture of my famous "Poached Egg Bowl". Its definitely becoming a signature dish around here! Brown rice, fresh spinach and mushrooms sauteed in a little EVOO and a Tbsp of Worcestershire. All ingredients are organic including the eggs. Pretty healthy, no?

Now if I could just stay away from these:

We'd be all set!

We had a busy weekend or "I" should say I had a busy weekend. I finished spring cleaning the kitchen drawers. Blahblahblah, with everything washed and put away. We try to have 50% of our weekend a cat-~~free~~ zone. They get locked in jail (aka art studio, aka craft room) for as long as they will tolerate it so we can open up the windows, doors and generally de-cat the place.

Here is Punke in his jail cell:

I washed every single slip cover (aka sheets to keep the cat hair off of my furniture, have I mentioned that I am fostering these two cats, they aren't mine. I'm allergic to cats technically) on the sectional sofa in our living room and all of the cat beds (no that is not a cat bed in the above picture) it happens to be my stockpile of paper because I love paper. Speaking of HOARDERS. Have you seen that show on t.v? I was just getting ready to judge those people, srsly I don't understand how they can live like that. But then I walked into my art studio and my "little" collections of everything and actually I started to identify with "those" types. So all judgments have been shelved and tucked away in the back recesses of my mind forever. Anybody want to run over to Containers and More with me? That show makes me itch. It makes me want to jump up off the couch and clean out the drawers in the kitchen and throw things away or something. I see a pattern forming here. Enough of all this "cleaning" talk. It's exhausting me already...

Next, the carpets

My swap cards are all done and in the mail. I have a swap post in a couple of days when I have time to do it.

Paint'll Make Ya' What Ya' Ain't

2010-04-29T21:58:00.000-07:00

I put "the hus" on a little project today. I didn't really think he'd DO it. But it was cool 'cause he did. Our cabinets in our kitchen are what you'd call "shabby chic" come on ya'll don't hate. That's my catch all term for "old stuff".
Spring cleaning or spring fever has taken up root. No pun.

It's a good thing too, because according to my horoscope I am going to be useless for all logical and rational thinking until after May 11th?!? Aquarius....This month, Mercury, the planet of logical, rational thinking and communication, will shut down for a rest on April 18 and will resume normal functioning May 11. Apparently, I'll be ok to clean and organize things ...Mercury will retrograde from April 18 to May 11 in your house of home. Aquarius, take time to clean out closets, box up unwanted things for charity, and make needed repairs. Interesting. I put "the hus" on it and he's not Aquarian, he's a Libra. It is interesting bc I was just thinking it was time for cleaning out closets and boxing up unwanted items for donation. Horoscopes aside... pshaw

This is the content of the drawers piled onto the counter. Don't panic these are junk drawer-esck items. Everything will be cleaned before its returned to its rightful place.

I wish I had taken a before pix, thankfully I didn't. All contents were removed and the old drawer liners gone into the trash byebye. I was reassured that the drawers were vacuumed and wiped cleaned. I'm a skeptic, what can I say? A fresh coat of white paint was applied all prepped and ready for new drawer liner. We are going to touch-up the blue base cabinets by the sink area. Wowser it's seems like I just did a facelift to the entire kitchen and everything is just so "shabby chic" already.

I think he did an awesome job. Spring cleaning commences!

See ya'll on May 12th (no kidding, I'm still here) when I will resume normal functioning. Where'd that southern person come from?

RRRRR

2010-04-22T10:39:00.004-07:00

Happy Earth Day! ReUSE, Reduce, Recycle! My DH is a Genius- Yay Yay Yay, the Futon Revisited

2010-04-21T08:00:00.001-07:00

Originally Posted December 2007 but in honor of Earth Day I thought I would bump this up. Try using new eyes to see things differently before you throw things away and fill up the landfills even more. This was a simple wood futon destined for the trash heap. As we were getting ready to load it up for the dumpster, I stopped my dh and look what we have instead? An awesome shelf system just the perfect size for my favorite hobby stamping and paper crafts. Thanks everyone and please enjoy this repost...

I am soooo excited I don't know what to do. This has been the bestest Christmas EVER that I have had in a long long time. I know I am a total dork because I am happy happy (did I say happy) over shelves. First I got my library shelves for the living room for Christmas, so unexpected and wonderful. Then, as if that weren't enough I got 4 count them 4 new CUSTOM made shelving units for (you'll never guess) STAMPERS. Remember the "guess what this is going to be" post? Well they are finished and attached to my wall!! Here are the before and after pictures:

BEFORE:

AFTER:

We recycled an old futon that we were going to just ship off to either goodwill or the trash. We have been cleaning the garage and I got to looking at the futon with my stampers eye. You know if it can be used for stamping or embellished or glittered we always have to keep our eye out for these things. So my genius DH figured out what to do to and did it for me right away. All we did was get some 1x2's, cut the 2 long pieces of the futon (the seat and the back) in half, added ends, nailed the 1x2 shelves to the existing slats of the futon (the stamps are sitting on the added new 1x2 pieces), cleaned them up and walla WE'VE GOT THE CUSTOM SHELVES OF THE CENTURY and we did it by re-purposing a found object. Which to me makes them even more special because they didn't cost me anything and we saved a tree or two. I wanted to take a picture with them empty so you can see the shelves better. I will take more pics when I have them all filled up (that shouldn't take me too long hahaha). Aren't they great? Now off to do more organizing...I get that way this time of year....I told ya'. skipping off whistling happy tunes..no whining even...

and some more after pix click here <----

~best,
misspriss

Turn the Pages...

2010-04-20T11:54:00.011-07:00

I like quotes very much. Anyone who has read my blog for a while knows this and how I love sentiments. Call me sentimental, I don't know? I was catching up with the readings from a daily mini-book calendar (Positive Thinking for Everyday ~Norman Vincent Peale~ ) that I have on my desk and it appears I haven't turned the pages since April 15th. Whew an entire 5-days behind.

I was going to share a quote for a blog post today, but there were so many good ones that I couldn't pick just one.... so I thought I'd share them all to catch us all up. Here they are and I hope you enjoy these and they provide positive inspiration for you too. I don't know about you, but I can use all the help I can get to think positively today and everyday!

April 15th
The magic of enthusiasm can work magic in your life. Its powerful effect can remake your very existence.

April 16th
Life has an if at the center of the word, our world and of our existence as well. Assume control of those variable and uncertain ifs.

April 17th

Realize that you can in and of yourself do much to make yourself a healthy, vital, and alive individual. You can do it!

April 18th

The surest way to avoid becoming tired is to get absolutely enthralled in something about which you have a profound conviction. Throw yourself into it. Be somebody.

April 19th
Thoughts and words form your mental images. And since we become what we picture, be sure your thoughts and words express prosperity and blessings rather than poverty and defeat.

April 20th Today's Thought for the Day:
Believe it is possible to solve your problems. Tremendous things happen to the believer. So believe the answer will come and it will.

~Enjoy

All caught up....now go BE a great day

Wordle?

2010-04-17T10:34:00.001-07:00

Anyone ever try wordle? This is a graphic of my yadayadadayada (a compilation of all words from this blog) Kind of cool!

Let Us Swap Cards - Bonus Points

2010-04-11T13:29:00.002-07:00

A swap and an announcement for Missy about her Kickstart Project:

I love Missy Balance and I love Crafty Carnival. I'm joining the card swap, that always gets the creative mojo wigglin and a wagglin. Run on over and join too if you like? The Dete's to the swap are below. I did want to mention also, Missy has began a Kickstart Project too.

Read all about it here: This is pasted directly from Missy's Blog, her words italics...

I launched a project on kickstarter!

Do you know about kickstarter.com? It's an awesome website where indie artists and people with big ideas can try and get financial backing for their projects! Well I have been dying to make more rubber stamps. As many of you know I licensed some of my artwork to A Muse art stamps a few years ago. It was so wonderful and fabulous seeing my drawings in rubber that I couldn't get enough. The only thing is that they get to choose what does and doesn't get made into a stamp! Well I've had a lot of artwork over the years that I really believed in and wanted to use, but it got passed over. Don't get me wrong, I'm thankful for what they did pick... but now I'm hoping to get to make these decisions all by myself.... grown-up style! LOL! So please, take a look at my project here, and back me if you can! If you can't, no biggee, can you spread the word? By posting this on your facebooks or tweets, you are helping me! I can't do this by myself. I need my friends to help me spread the word!!! Please help me! :) Thank you, and I love you! Missy

She's trying to launch her own line of stamps and that's cool

SWAP DETE'S:

Swap will close at 22 participants

due date: mail cards to me by no later than 4/30/10

card requirements: handmade only, any theme, please include an envelope for each card, and have at least 2 layers and one embelishment

How to sign up: leave a comment here, post about the swap on your blog, and when you leave a comment, please make sure to include your NAME and EMAIL!

Bonus points: For every swapper that posts about my kickstarter project, I will include an extra little goody for you in your swap package as a great big thank you for helping me get the word out :) You can read more about it on this post here.

FUNFUN!

Car Alarm/House (+ other ideas) Alarm? Pretty Good Idea!

2010-04-07T12:44:00.000-07:00

What to take to bed with you - not a joke

I got this in an email (thanks Sally). Thought it was pretty dern good thinking..

Pretty neat idea. Never thought of it before.

Put your car keys beside your bed at night!

I’m telling everyone who reads this here blog.

If you hear a noise outside your home or someone trying to get in your house, just press the panic button for your car. The alarm will be set off, and the horn will continue to sound until either you turn it off or the car battery dies.

This tip came from a neighborhood watch coordinator. Next time you come home for the night and you start to put your keys away, think of this:

It's a security alarm system that you probably already have and requires no installation. Test it.
It will go off from most everywhere inside your house and will keep honking until your battery runs down or until you reset it with the button on the key fob chain.
It works if you park in your driveway or garage. If your car alarm goes off when someone is trying to break into your house, odds are the burglar/rapist won't stick around.
After a few seconds all the neighbors will be looking out their windows to see who is out there and sure enough the criminal won't want that.
And remember to carry your keys while walking to your car in a parking lot. The alarm can work the same way there. This is something that should really be shared with everyone. Maybe it could save a life or a sexual abuse crime.

P.S. I am sending this to everyone I know (HELLO) because I think it is fantastic.

Would also be useful for any emergency, such as a heart attack, where you can't reach a phone. My Mom has suggested to my Dad that he carry his car keys with him in case he falls outside and she doesn't hear him. He can activate the car alarm and then she'll know there's a problem.

Please pass this on even IF you've read it before. It's a reminder.

Happy Monday!

2010-04-05T10:59:00.004-07:00

This & That Easter

2010-04-04T15:00:00.002-07:00

Are these not three of the cutest little Easter bumpkins ever? The two little girls on the left are my daughters, all growed up now. This pix was taken long long ago. The little fella on the right is my nephew. Brings back memories. Carefree and easy times.

I made a birthday calendar book that I was going to use it at the start of each month. Yeah, well the best laid plans... Not so much. But see the little duck? Get it? April Showers bring...? The calendar download is A Muse (I think the one I used here is last years but they have a new one every year and some of the proceeds go to a good cause. This year its Water First International <----click here and read all about it).

Just thought I'd share a few of the spring items I have about the house. These make me happy. Vintage flour sack embroidered towel. Bluebirds of happiness.

Mr. Man scrambling us up some Easter brunch!! Now that's a Kodak moment ya'll.

I just thought these two little bunnies touching each others noses were so cute.

Two baskets for the girls with lots of PEEPS of course

These are really really large plastic eggs a gift from Easter Aunty

Mish and mash. These were some of the garnishes we had. On the Easter Brunch Menu today: Scrambled Egg Mix with Avo and Grapefruit slices for garnish, Cinbuns. Done

CinBuns

My famous Cinbuns of course.

Good Friday

2010-04-02T20:56:00.002-07:00

Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me!

With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, "Surely this man was the Son of God!" - Mark 15:37-39 -

Happy Wednesday!

2010-03-31T17:38:00.002-07:00

Easter Outing

2010-03-21T17:41:00.002-07:00

Another one from CRAFTY SECRETS and using NO stamping. Again, I used a vintage image from Crafty Secrets "Heartwarming Vintage Booklets, Seasonal" and I also used paper from the Heartwarming Vintage "Radiant" paper pack. (non-compensated bragging). I hope the googly-eyes don't make bunny look too scary. He's goofy. I need GLITTER today.

Happy Easter - Joyful Easter

2010-03-21T15:46:00.002-07:00

It's all things CRAFTY SECRETS today. And everyone must know how much I LOVE CRAFTY SECRETS. It's hard to believe but yes, I made a card using NO stamping. It's easy to do with crafty secrets images, see <--- click here...I did it before. For this card I used a vintage image from Crafty Secrets "Heartwarming Vintage Booklets, Seasonal" and I also used paper from the Heartwarming Vintage "Radiant" paper pack. (non-compensated bragging). It was fun just decorating up a pretty image. The only thing that limits you is your own imagination. I made my own chipboard frame (blue glitter) using die-cuts. I also used a mix of epherma/embellishments from my own private stash. The cloth flowers are old "literally" so they are special because when they are gone they are gone. The sheer polka-dot ribbon (I have some in every color) is from pink hedgehog website (again, non-compensated bragging) and truth be told I used it because I had an opportunity for embellishment (yep I dinked the glitter so I hid it with a ribbon). I think it came together really nicely and definitely says Happy Easter and Happy Spring.

All Th!ngs Pr!ssy!

Cranberry Bars Recipe

Good Works...

Coffee Cake with a Twist!

My new room -repost

Organizational Tip

Blog changes

Greetings

Every noble life...

Sunday's Child is Bonny and Blithe, and Good and Happy~

Herbal Flu Tonic

Warm Fuzzy Alert

Happy Birthday to Me!

The Most Pleasant Things...

Betcha Didn't Know That!!!

Fit

Don't ask me WHY? (also info on...God Box and Pennies from Heaven)

Shoot for the Moon You Might Just Land Among the Stars~~~

Fanny's Heirloom Apple Bars

with excellence divine? Especially when I reflect

For auld lang syne, my dear,For auld lang syne.We'll take a cup o' kindness yet,For auld lang syne.

To insure good health...

This Year I Hope To...

Word

Don't Try This at Home Children

Goodbye Christmas, Goodbye 2010

Happy New Year!

Rock Soap Dish Tutorial

Gingerbread COOKIES!

Warmest Holiday Wishes~~

Dear Santa

May You Find Joy!

TWINE

Dear Santa

Merry ChrisMOOSE!

Envy

May you have warmth in your igloo, oil in your lamp, and peace in your heart.. ~Eskimo Proverb

Rudolph the Red Nosed Polar Bear?

I Embellished!

RIBBON!!!?

May Your House Always be Too Small...

Gobble Gobble

PIES Part 2 ~Caramel Banana Hazelnut Pie and a Tutorial

Today - PIES ~Pumpkin Pecan Pie Recipe and Tutorial

You Make My Heart Sing

Giving Thanks

It's Your Lucky Day!

The moon howls and whispers...

Happy Birthday Hus!

Off & On... ON AGAIN

I Won Some Blog Candy

Moving tends to throw a wrench in it....

M.P.D?

Praise of Summer

PMA

The Other Side ,)

Stay tuned while we break for intermission...

Happy Birthday to My Youngest!!

Since...

Happy Father's Day!

The Seven Seas

It's a Good Thing!

Blue Tide

I Can Breathe... Well Sort of

Comments

Random

Promise Yourself

Come on over for a visit....

Give UP!

Staying Put, I'm NOT moving, I'm Not moving

Help One Another

Live with Passion

Hey You

Good Morning Sunday!

Paint'll Make Ya' What Ya' Ain't

RRRRR

Happy Earth Day! ReUSE, Reduce, Recycle! My DH is a Genius- Yay Yay Yay, the Futon Revisited

Turn the Pages...

Wordle?

Let Us Swap Cards - Bonus Points

with excellence divine?
Especially when I reflect

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne.
We'll take a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.