Happy Valentine's Day

First up ~ weekend special on heart items in my Etsy shop (hearts are always nice)  free US shipping (and reduced international). Check out my shop and look under the section for 2/14 special. This does of course include my "I Love To Touch Hot Things" Pot holder! 

Next ~ Love Your Mother (Earth that is).

I created my own mailer for my latest sale. I tried using a cheerio box but my oversized pot holders were too big. I went with the giant folder they give you when you leave the snuggery. The babe is 10 months old (tomorrow) and I think I can finally toss the pamphlets on how to take care of a newborn. 

  (and Happy Valentine's Day to Mom too)

Hope your Valentine's day is filled with lots of love!

Handmade with Love

 

Making Valentines

I love handmade. Handmade is meaningful. I love receiving gifts that someone took the time to make. I love making things for the people I love. Now I face the challenge of raising kids that understand that handmade beats mass produced and store bought.

She's only three but this topic has come up several times now and I know that this is just the beginning. I'm already envisioning the battles ahead. I need to know how to keep handmade cool when she wants store bought.

 

This past weekend I pulled out the heart punch, doilies, red & pink construction paper, and glue. We crafted enough cards for all her little preschool friends and then some to send out to loved ones. The heart punch was a hit and we had a crafty good time putting them together.  

Now I can't help but wonder when she comes home with her booty of cards, will she like that little store bought Dora card the best? Will she wish she had given those out instead? 

I'm hoping to keep the make-it-yourself magic alive and remind her of the fun when she asks why we didn't get cards from the store with her favorite characters on them. I just might have to pull that heart punch out again to get her giggling when those hearts start flying out. 

Thanks Jozie

Jozie has an etsy shop: jewelrybyjozie.etsy.com and also a blog. She has been featuring sellers on etsy that are new and haven't yet been discovered. Yay! I am one of the five that she featured today. Check it out:  Jozie's blog and thanks again Jozie!

Delicious!

Waffle Cookies II ~ Yum!

(the photo might have been a bit nicer had I taken it before we ate them!)

My folks are here for a visit. It's always nice to indulge a little when there are others around (otherwise I wind up eating way more than my fair share). I found this recipe at www. allrecipes.com I go there often and have found some great things to cook. These cookies are made in a waffle iron and for some reason that appealed to me. Here is the recipe for 12 servings which is plenty for us to have for dessert and have some more left for tomorrow (the original recipe at the website is for 24)

Ingredients:

3/4 cup white sugar

1/2 cup butter, melted

2 eggs

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup all purpose flour

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

2/3 cup chopped walnuts  (I used pecans and they turned out great)

I also added about 1/2 cup (or maybe 3/4 cup cup) semi sweet morsels

Directions:

1. In a medium bowl mix the sugar and butter together. Stir in eggs and vanilla. Then mix in the flour, cocoa, and nuts (and chocolate chips if you want). Preheat the waffle iron. 

2. Drop dough by heaping tablespoons onto the center of the waffle iron. Close the lid and cook for about 1 1/2 minutes. It may take more or less time depending on the individual waffle iron. Cut the pieces of cookies while still warm. Dust the confectioners' sugar if desired. 

*The cookies are a bit soft coming out of the waffle iron but the do firm up  and are oh so tasty!

Try them out and enjoy!   

(and I want to give credit where credit is due so once again this is from Laura at www.allrecipes.com) 

confessions of a Pack Rat

These bits of colored threads would  look great in a clear glass Christmas ornament. I think that's what I am saving them for. 

There was a defining moment yesterday and now I think the time has come to admit I may have a problem. 

I am a pack rat. 

It's not like I collect things, I just can't bear to throw things away that I know can be used again or that can have some other purpose. Maybe this wouldn't be a problem if I had more space, or maybe if I was more organized. 

I think my Mom gets it. She brought me a big bag of old denim jeans (and a pair of corduroys to boot). There is just so much you can do with denim! Recently she gave me a bag of old scarves - heaven! She's also trying to reduce her own amount of things in anticipation of moving and has been bringing me all sorts of goodies she knows I could use. 

I really have  tried to let go and have offered some of my things to others on Freecycle - baby food jars, large yogurt containers (with lids!), old magazines. No one seems to be interested. So I keep them.

Maybe this is hereditary. My Grandmother was a pack rat. I could joke about her problem back then, before I could relate to it. She would save old TV Guides, when I would ask her about this she would tell me she was going to read them someday. She lived on her own in Florida and when visiting I would have to clear a space at the table so I would have a place to eat. This was no easy task as there seemed no place to put the pile of things that I had moved. Looking back I always thought it was really funny (before it happened to me). My grandmother sewed all the time. Big time. She made all her own clothes and was always making things for needy children. She passed away before I began to sew. (I can't even imagine if I would have been able to inherit her sewing things). If she were alive today I believe she would be sending me things to add to my collection. I would have looked forward to these packages of her discards with great joy. 

So yesterday's incident made me realize I may have a problem. My husband was cleaning out his clothes. He had gathered together a bag to bring to the clothes drop. When I saw him come down the stairs carrying this bag I felt my heart skip. He doesn't exactly approve of my "clutter" and he wasn't going to let me rummage through first. I knew what was in that bag. All sorts of fabrics that could be used to create things, landscape quilts, batting for pot holders, unlimited possibilities. I couldn't protest, I've already got so much. But he did leave the room for a moment. I couldn't resist. I made a dash for the bag and rescued some of those old clothes. A few pairs of jeans (how could he) and a striped shirt that I know will make the perfect sail for a quilted boat. I stashed them back upstairs and came down as if nothing had happened. What an adrenaline rush!

so this is my confession ... please tell me know I'm not alone!

what shall I do with Fred's pants today?

book marks? did that....

pot holders?                   did that.....

hmmmmm.... 
sewn in place
Stitching detail
I just knew my scraps would come in handy
that last tree is a little wonky...    (what would I do without my seam ripper?)
Getting the border ready


viola! my first landscape!  (click on any picture to see more detail)

 I'll finish the binding tonight. 

true love

Happy February! (now where exactly did January go?)

The little guy is really moving these days. Erin is so impressed with his new ability to pull himself up. It's such a pure joy and love that she expresses when she gets so excited about his new moves. "Mom come look, he did it"! She loves him, she really loves him. Being an only child I love watching these little siblings, their interactions. I know the day will come when they won't always be so lovey dovey but until then I will cherish these moments.