lazy

so i've been lazy lately.

well only when it comes to blogging!

i did some baking, but did not take pictures.

and i'm still working on that swap project (nap times only!).

but more baby steps today {a la six oclock-stitch}

and more time outside today with the little one!

p.s. have you checked out {this} site yet? i just loves it!

National Scrapbooking Day!!

happy national scrapbooking day!

check out {this site} for ideas, giveaways and more!

maybe I'll actually get some done today!

but...there's cooking and baking and cleaning to do.

hhmph. we'll see.

Spring Swap

without giving too much away...

i've started my swap project finally!

it involves:

*yarn

*beads

*green

*brown

*red

and

*yellow!

Cake and Sunshine

Well, I made 5 layers of the cake!

It was delicious and I can't wait to do more baking!

 I haven't had *any* inspiration (or energy, or time) to do any sewing. 

hhmph.

 The weather has just been too nice!

I have gotten some reading done however.

Laundry is on the line, and we're off to walk for a bit.

the Finished Rainy Day Project!

Well, we are on our last rainy day and a beautiful weekend is in the forecast! 

good thing the boy comes home tomorrow :) Here's what we were up to this week...

see his little hand print? notice the footsteps as he ran off down the hall with the paintbrush!!

the supplies we used (all from the dollar store!) except the chalk, it didn't work so well. The paper we used was a roll of white wrapping paper, also from the dollar store!

Art Project

Well, it's suppost to rain the next three days, so I'm glad we walked down and got some supplies for an art project. We'll be making a "we missed you daddy!" banner. even tho he was gone for only a week, it's not cheesy or silly is it? he might think it is. It's not like he's gone overseas. hmm...I'll post pictures of it in the next few days.

Head on over to Little  Birdie Secrets, she's doing giveaways all week. today is earrings. i just love the little blue ones. at the end of the week I'll be making this cake from bakerella as well!

Ol' Tom Foolery

so, I checked my mail friday afternoon and I got my old tom foolery greeting cards!! Thanks again to Vanessa over at maxxsilly for the contest! I recieved 6 cards, here's my favourite..

it works out perfect! I will have to go over to the base and leave this in my B

eau's truck as  a nice little surprise for when he comes back from training! Can you read the bottom? it says 

*except for that stinkhole you call a bellybutton. Or should I say smellybutton? seriously. I can smell it from here.

Heres all the cards with the little note from Vanessa!

I've got playdates coming out of my wazoo this week, but the little one and I have an art project planned this week - a "we missed you daddy!" banner. and the layer cake will be made saturday! woohoo! Please leave comments, I just love when people leave them!!

the Vintage Pearl

have I mentioned how much I just love the Vintage Pearl? I've got money set aside to order myself a necklace, but I just love her blog. Check it out by clicking on the picture! let her know you got there thru here!

Candy Road Brownies

Candy Road Brownies*

1. using pre-mixed brownie mix(I used betty crocker), follow directions on box to make brownies. (optional - mix in 1/3 cup chopped nuts of your choice).

2. For the last 5 minutes of baking, cover brownies with 2 cups mini marshmallows.

bake until marshmallows at golden and puffy!

3. Once removed from oven, immediatley sprinkle 1/3 cup (or however much you like) with chocolate covered candies (I used m&ms).

4. melt icing in a microwavable bowl for 15-20 seconds (a good drizzle consistency) and drizzle over top of the Candy Road Brownies!

5. Enjoy!

*Betty Crocker Original Recipe

It's Official!

Yup, it's official. I have the bestest Beau ever!! I might be a bit biased tho. HE BROUGHT ME HOME BATTERIES FOR MY FLASH!! it was a nice surprise when he came home from work!! I also got some pretty new shoes! So here's the delayed pictures of the bunny garland! I really should've edited these pictures a bit...next time they will be better quality pictures.

These are the ones in the living room. I had these two sheets of scrapbooking paper that I knew I would never use for pictures and they worked out perfectly! pale yellow, pink and blue. I wish I had used different ribbon tho. next year.

these are in the kitchen. you can't really see the full effect without it being

 dark and seeing the twinkly lights.

and these are the little sprouts of green grass in the backyard! we've got quite a bit more since I took this picture! yay for winter being over! I'm baking some special brownies for the Boy before he goes off to work for a whole week (without coming home) so I'll take a picture and post the recipe either tonight or tomorrow!

hhmph.

Well, the batteries in my camera flash died. (Nikon SB-50). and at the moment, they are something I consider a tad...pricey. so, I haven't taken any pictures since my last post. I had to record all the easter events, which worked out I guess because I haven't recorded much of the Little One lately.

And I've started a new job on the weekend, so I didn't get anything done this weekend sewing wise. the Boy is leaving for about a week, so I probably wont get anything done for awhile. Maybe if the weather's nice I'll get a chance to go down with the Little One and get some pictures of the flooded river. 

Ta-Ta for now...

Getting ready for Easter!

So easter is just around the corner, and I haven't really done any decorating. I'm a big scrapbooker and over at Hostess-with-the-Mostess, she shared a really cute and easy idea for a bunny banner! so I'm making one to hang in out kitchen window with some twinkly lights (so you can see them at night of course) and I'm making a few to hang in our "Sharing Board". The sharing board is where I hung all our birthday cards a few posts back. I took a picture of the start of the project to share with you, and I'll post the "after" pictures tomorrow! My little one also slept in till TEN o'clock this morning so I managed to start getting my halloween coins in the order I wanted them sewn in.

I always like to save all the cards we get. Here's all our birthday cards, and they will go into

 my card keeper box from hallmark.

Here's how I layed out the bunnies on 12x12 cardstock. there's enough room left over for two easter eggs that my little one will get to "draw" on to decorate. (how much can you expect a one year old to draw!?)

and this picture is just because I thought the little and big footprints from trekking thru puddles was cute :)

Not much crafting going on lately. lots of ideas are building up for my store tho, lots more will be showing up in may!

The series finale of ER is on tonight! two hours! also, don't forget to check out our families favourite show tonight - SUPERNATURAL!!

the General Store - Grand Opening!

I've opened an artfire store: " The General Store ". I only have photos up right now. all my other photos won't be up until may as they are all located back in ontario (boo!) but check back for some other misc. items to go up!

The General Store

Keep checking back for a give away! I'll be starting the contest next week!

I WON!

i won i won i WON! I've won a pack of greeting cards from over at  Maxxsilly! woo-hoo! cant WAIT to get them in the mail!

Get'er Done

Well, I feel like I've accomplished alot this weekend! I've entered a few contests, getting caught up on my scrapbooking - I'm up to september! 

Here's what I got done with sewing this weekend:

I started cutting my halloween coin stackers quilt. I used two charm packs from Moda - Chic or Treat.

Here they are cut up into strips and sorted into piles. Now I just need to lay them out and get them in the order I want them.

I FINALLY got the border cut for my christmas quilt. now I just need to sew it o

n. I plan on doing four of the small patches in each corner.

this is just a close up so you can see it better. Its turned out nicer than I thought it would!

I also have to do the spring 8x10 swap project. here's what I'll be using (alot with some white fabric I need to buy still). I can't wait to get my return in the mail!

Film Development Idea

my post will be small today. two things.

1. I joined the spring 8x10 swap with 6oclock stitch. check it out!

2. Develop film with instant coffee and vitamin C? really? check it out here.

the boy is working over night today, so nothing creative will be done till the weekend. so for sure I will have project updates for you!

Recipe Time!

Herbed Carrots

8 Carrots

3/4 cup chicken stock

1 tsp grated lemon rind

1/4 tsp each salt and pepper

2 tbsp each oregano or dill, butter, and lemon juice

Peel and slice carrots about 3/4 inch thick.

in saucepan bring stock, lemon rind, s&p to boil. add carrots, cover and cook over medium heat until tender (5-10 min).

Un-cover and cook until almost all the liquid is gone, stirring often (5-10 min).

Remove from heat, stir in oregano, butter and lemon juice.

mmmm delicious! we had it last night, thanks canadian living! (photo credit:Yvonne Duivenvoorden)

Did anyone else watch Jon and Kate + 8 last night? I really hope they work things out and come back for season 5. I just love that show!

Inspiration : upcoming giveaway : Artfire

well, our routines are starting to get back to normal. I finally have dishes to do! I never thought I'd be happy to have those back.

Have you guys check out artfire? I'm signing up for an account. I've got some little things I'd like to sell, some sewn stuff, some paper stuff and some photo stuff. I'll let you know once I get an account (I'll be doing giveaways, so keep checking back with me on it!). In fact, my first giveaway will be to the person who helps me come up wi

th a name, so start thinking and you'll have a headstart once I post the prize!!

I've left the pattern for my one quilt back in ontario, so that one is on hold for now. so I can start cutting up my charm pack for my halloween coin stackers quilt, and start cutting squares for my denim rag quilt! I just love halloween!

I'm also starting to plan easter dinner. I'm not sure if we'll have Ham, but I know we'll be having stuffing!!! and I'm looking for a neat dessert idea to have as an easter tradition, suggestions?

Here's some photos for you guys. Mine and my littles one birthday cards we recieved and a new trick my little one has learned....lil trouble maker!

Spring

Well, there hasn't been much posting lately. I had my little one's birthday party, the boy has gone back to work and we've still got company to play with! I plan on buying some little spring decorations, buying some shamrocks and other little plants for around the house and that's about it. So for now, all I have is a spring-ish background update :) I'll let you know how the irish soda bread turns out!

Denim Quilt

Well, the boy has gone back to work and the little one and I are slowly getting over the flu. Things will eventually get back to normal, right? wait. but then companys coming and then somewhere down the road theres the big move. oy.

well over at Little  Birdie Secrets I've joined in on making a denim quilt. the Boy has just given me a few pairs of jeans and I sure I can come across some more. What a neat idea to snap a tablecloth to the bottom when you want to use it outside!!

I finally finished sewing all my christmas strips together, now it's just the trim and putting it all together. 

I had so many things I wanted to write about in the post, and over the course of the week I've forgotten. hmm....oh wait, here's some things...

over at gooseberry patch they've got this e-letter, check it out. It's got some neat ideas in it (pizza fondue, crafty stuff) and MARCH IS CRAFT MONTH! yay! does anyone else celebrate st. patricks day? I think we're going to this year. I'm going to try my hand at Irish Soda Bread.

Oh, and check out this beautiful quilt!

Ch-Ch-Ch Check it out!

one of my bloggy friends has something she wants you to check out! I really want to win!!! Click HERE

Introducing Roger

WE GOT A BUNNY!!!

I think we've decided on calling him Roger. My little one squ

eals and laughs and chases him whenever we can, it's pretty cute. I was so looking forward to this job that was in the works for me (money = more fabric), but that fell thru, so my quilts will be sitting undone for the next few months. bah. so I'll be stuck to posting different tips I find, recipes and other little tidbits. 

anywhoo, here's a picture of the (white) fabric I chose back in late January for the back of my christmas blanket and the (green) fabric I'm using for the trim. it's kind-of a mismatchy blanket but I totally love it.

Etsy

so, I guess I'm one of the last ones to know about Etsy. but I love it anyways. I found the perfect necklace and I can't wait to look around more. I'm getting so much inspiration from all the blogs I've been looking at!!! I've bid on some fabric to make a dog bed for my lovely Zelda (hopefully I win it!). the Boy is on spring break next week, so hopefully I can get both my quilts done! and maybe I'll get some nice fabric for my birthday on the 11th ;)

I have some pictures to upload, that I'll do later. (zelda, the snow and another favourite!)

the 50's!

Well, I got my little sewing machine (and I mean little and basic). So I've started to sew my quilts again and took some pictures of them being a "Work In Progress". I've become addicted to SewMamaSew (see blogs I follow)! They have SO many cute ideas. I just need a pattern for an apron...anyone? 
I also found a cute pattern called "Coin Stacker baby quilt" that is featured on the moda bake shop. This pattern works out perfectly for the two Chic-Or-Treat charm packs I bought! I'll replace the white with black, and try to find a

cute backing fabric. That one will be passed on to my son, as well as a large red and white quilt I'd like to make (his favourite colour is red). Does anyone know

 have simple patterns? I'm also looking for a march fabric swap to participate in, 

so if someone has information please pass it along!!!!

Also, check out this site for some neat 50's stuff (I stumbled across it looking for diner recipes for my birthday dinner!
http://www.daddy-o.us/home.htm

And here's a link to a 

green comet that you should be able to see in the sky for the next few

 days...http://www.theweathernetwork.com/news/storm_watch_stories3&stormfile=lulin_23_02_2009?ref=ccbox_homepage_top_title

I'm currently playing around with different skins. Comme

nts? Suggestions? com

plaints? let me know.

 

Quilting

I have always adored fabric. Never been taught how to sew, but always been drawn to fabric. So - I've taken up quilting! (even though I don't have a sewing machine) I've decided I *love* sampler quilts, and I want to make a bunch of halloween themed quilts haha. Here a few sites I've stumbled upon just recently...enjoy. I'll post some pictures of what I've been sewing together if I can get the motivation to hand stitch it all again...

http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/?p=736
http://schoolofcrafts.blogspot.com/
http://sentimentalstitches.net/

Valentines Day and Launch!!

well, its the day before valentines day and I'm launching my first post (yay!)

I've been looking for something to do for valentines day and this idea on the martha stewart page hit the spot. chocolate french toast sandwiches! these would also be great for a birthday or a sleepover. Try using cookie cutters to pre-cut the bread before hand for fun shapes! follow the link below for more details.

http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/grilled-chocolate-sandwiches

I've also found a potato soup recipe I plan on trying this weekend. I'll upload the recipe now, and update with a picture and let you know how it tasted after we've ate it! Let me know if you like this recipe.

http://www.canadianliving.com/food/chunky_potato_soup.php