I Sew Cute... and draw pretty nifty also!

I Feel Pretty! Let's Do a Sparkly Glitter French Manicure!!!

2012-02-16T11:21:00.000-05:00

Step 1: Brush a sheer pink or neutral shade polish over entire nail & let dry completely. I used Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Angel Wings SKU #4834-09

Step 2: Mask off nail tips.

Step 3: Brush a metallic silver on nail tips & quickly move on to step 4...I used Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear 'Celeb City' SKU #4860-13

Step 4: Using any craft glitter in silver, shake some onto nail tips while they are still wet & let dry completely.

Step 5: Remove masking tapes & finally brush on a clear coating over entire nail to seal in the glitter & give a smooth finish.

This is currently my favorite way to paint my nails. I've seen other tutorials out there, but made improvements so that the tips are super sparkly without being too thick & dries more quickly since there are fewer polish layers. I use regular glitter vs. the glitter polish which I tried, but found more difficult to get a really really sparkly effect. Anyhow, I hope you enjoyed the tutorial for giving yourself a glitter french manicure & try it out for yourself!

Stay sparkly!

Valentine Jewelry Galore! I've been crafting so many glitter hearts & other fancy resin baubles!

2012-01-16T21:37:00.000-05:00

isewcute has been working hard on casting new & beautiful resin glitter jewelry just in time for Valentine's day!
This fabulous big glitter heart pendant necklace has the most magical blend of sparkly glitter in ruby red with accents of purple & silver added. I'm planning on making rings & earrings to match because I adore this color combo.

Almost everything in the shop is packaged up in these cute reusable heart shaped gift tins! They're perfect for gift giving... or just spoiling yourself a little.

If you would like a custom sprinkles heart with your initials, or a sweetie's initials, please do contact me through etsy! I adore custom orders!
Speaking of custom creations, this "I Love You" heart is one of a kind. I designed it with 4 cherub characters making a frou frou fun design around the letter beads & filled it with sparkly black glitter. It's bold & eye catching & the only one in the world! It would make a great gift for someone who appreciates truly one of a kind items.

Here are some lovely silvery red glitter heart dangle earrings I made which are both perfect for Valentine's day & every day wear for the girl who likes to show off her romantic side.

Now this fresh & flirty ring is one of my latest creations which has a real starlight mint inside...along with glitter & the cutest (kawaii) polka dotted heart. If you like your rings the-bigger-the-better, you can appreciate the beauty of this conversation piece!

Pink is my personal favorite color, so I consider this beautiful glitter heart necklace to be my la pièce de la resistance. It has all the shimmer & sparkle a gal can hope for in a glitter heart.

This darling modern love-heart glitter ring is one of my latest experiments. I often do test pieces to see what would happen if I mix color a with color b & when I popped it out of the mold to see it for the first time, it took my breath away. There is a galaxy of multi colored sparkles dusting the face of this ruby red heart. It's simply magical!

I haven't decided if I have to keep this darling little kitten, or if I'm going to list it in the shop so it can get a new home. Maybe if the right person came along, I'd let it go. She's one of a kind & so cute, but until then, you can find many of my cat necklaces here.

I have even more to come to isewcute in the next few days! New glittery resin heart pendant necklaces, rings, earrings, and more... so come on by & see it for yourself!

*You can also find most of my Valentine resin jewelry listed in this section of the shop for easy shopping: http://www.etsy.com/shop/isewcute?section_id=10637031

Thanks for looking & stay sparkly!

You have got to see this Art by Don Cobb! It's a treat for your eyes!

2012-01-05T11:11:00.000-05:00

Artist Don Cobb grew up in Texas & resides in Louisianna. His art is a reflection of his background & unique vision in a flood of wonderful washy colors layered over one another playing with light & shadow.
The themes of Don's paintings would appeal to a wide variety of folks looking for something comforting & yet sometimes still edgy.
This piece makes me want to pull up a chair & sit a spell!

I once had the pleasure of spending a lovely weekend getaway in a quaint bed & breakfast smack dab in the garden district of New Orleans & some of Don's paintings bring me back to that lovely time with all the spice & culture that New Orleans has to offer in it's food, music, & beauty.

I remember watching rainbows come and go in the mist of water created by the paddle wheel on the riverboat tour we took.

If you ever have the opportunity to travel there, I highly recommend it! If you don't, then Don's paintings may be the next best thing!

I'm attracted to his work by the use of so many colors... makes me think this isn't the way the world really looks, but it's how I want the world to look! It's a real treat!
I also love his compositions & themes. I have my eye on this cherub painting which would look just heavenly in my little girl's room.

You know, father's day is practically right around the corner! What dad wouldn't appreciate one of these fabulous pieces? He doesn't need another tie, or bottle of cologne... give the gift of art because every time he looks at it, he will be reminded of how much he means to you & he will have it forever.
I personally adore the fender stratocaster guitars:

This piece reminds me of all the great western movies I watched with my dad when I was a kid:

The color here in this volkswagen bus painting is another that just grabs me...I love it!

These have been a few highlights that I'm personally attracted to, but you'll want to check out Don's etsy shop to see much, much more! So grab a cup of coffee & sit down to take a moment & enjoy & perhaps even enrich your life by purchasing your very own work of art.

Art is forever~

bunny reflection photo by isewcute

2012-01-05T09:02:00.001-05:00

mirror mirror on the wall ttv cute bunny fancy mirror reflection photo by isewcute, a photo by isewcute on Flickr.

We've made our new years resolutions here. There is always room for improvements & we must remember ever day is a gift.

Happy 2012!

holiday food fancy christmas wreath breads by isewcute

2012-01-03T10:37:00.001-05:00

holiday food fancy christmas wreath breads by isewcute, a photo by isewcute on Flickr.

I hope everybody had a warm & wonderful holiday! Here's to a sweet 2012!

How to Dye Yarn With KoolAid

2011-11-30T20:13:00.001-05:00

I've always wanted to try dying yarn this way & I finally tried it the other day when I came across a couple skeins of yarn a friend of mine had spun & gifted to me last winter.
It was easy as pie! I used 3 packets of koolaid in different 'red' flavors. I had a bucket that ice cream had been packaged in & thought it was a good size for the amount of yarn I had to be completely submerged. I filled the bucket halfway with water...mixed in the koolaid very well & then took a wisk to push the yarn down into the dye until everything was saturated. After about 15-20 minutes of soaking, the water around the yarn is clear!

The yarn is a gorgeous poppy red which smells like cherries! How fun!
To best set the dye, I dumped out the bucket & wrung out the yarn a little & then put it back into the bucket...filling it halfway again with cold water & half a bottle of white vinegar.
I didn't mean for it to soak so long, but after an hour of being distracted by my kids, I came back & rinsed it well, washed it with mild detergent to get rid of the vinegar smell & hung it up on the towel rack in the bathroom to dry.
Now I just have to decide what I'm going to knit with it.

Note that if you would like to do this, the yarn needs to be mainly a natural fiber such as wool, bamboo, etc...not polyester, as it won't take the dye.

Getting Ready For the Holidays - Making Resin Glitter Heart Jewelry Galore!

2011-11-21T09:36:00.001-05:00

I've been crafting, crafting, crafting... getting ready for the upcoming holidays from Thanksgiving through New Years Eve & have some really neat one of a kind resin glitter hearts to show you!
First, there is this whimsical Tom Turkey pin that makes me giggle every time I look at it. The pin back is embedded right into the resin so it won't come apart from the handcast heart. I love the fall colors in the background too. I don't make pins often, but if there is much of an interest, I'll create them more often. I don't wear them much, but do like to pin a few on this retro funky wool purse I have in the winter time.

Both of these Christmas Santa heart necklaces are a relatively new size I've been working in. They're quite dainty & petite ...looking so cute & measure under one inch across.
If you don't like big in-your-face glitter hearts, then you may find these smaller size pendants quite charming! This size looks really great on my little girl & I made her her very own Christmas tree glitter heart necklace to match her green velvet holiday dress. She gave me a big hug around my neck & said I was the best mommy ever! You can't beat that for appreciation of one's work!

This red and green Santa Claus glitter heart has already gone to a new home, but I have similar looking Santa pieces which I will be listing very soon, so stay tuned!

If you're looking for a great statement piece to wear to a New Year's Eve party, then you may be interested in this one of a kind elegant modern snowflake glitter heart in black & silver. It's simply stunning & a piece I'm really proud of.

In addition to all the holiday theme pieces, I've been hand casting new glitter designs in heart shapes like this tie dye look glitter heart where all the rainbow colors run together! Isn't that fun? It would be a great everyday jewelry piece. When the winter is cold & dark & drags on for months on end, who couldn't use a little color & sparkle to put them in a good mood?

Anyhow, that's a sampling of what isewcute is up to as far as resin crafting goes.
Other things on my crafts to do list are knitting socks, crocheting a beard for my Santa-crazed 7 year old, & making soap.
I'll talk more about those crafts in my next post!

Stay crafty!

Looking for a Birthstone Gift? isewcute is making hand cast resin glitter monthly birthstone color rings & more!

2011-11-10T10:13:00.000-05:00

I'm very excited about these rings I've made in my own unique glitter mixes to represent each month of the year! They are so BIG!!! and Sparkly!!! ...and SHINY!!!
I have necklaces coming soon as well in unique heart shapes & of course I could cast any shape with birthstone colors which I already offer in the shop.

I'm the only one making these on etsy ...so you know you'll be getting something really special that you can't find anywhere else! Wouldn't they make a great holiday or birthday gift? I think so!

I'm so giddy... I just had to gush! It's awesome when crafting can put you over the moon with joy like this!

...and the Countdown Begins... How Many Shopping Days 'Till Christmas?

2011-11-05T01:59:00.000-04:00

I was so surprised when I turned on the car radio the other day... to hear the jingle of sleigh bells & Gene Autry crooning "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" ...I wondered if Thanksgiving is going to get skipped this year altogether.

If you have been bitten by the Christmas bug early & want to listen online, here's a link to the station: 94.5 lite fm on iheartradio.

Honestly, I could listen to Christmas music all year long, because I'm weird like that & I admit I've already started Christmas shopping.
I just want to make this holiday as stress-free as possible & be able to stop & enjoy it rather than being caught up in a whirlwind of chaos.

My kids are starting to count down the days & I sort of wish we had a bigger advent calendar so they could keep better track of the days & stop asking me about it. Maybe I'll just have to go ahead & craft one for them!

Halloween has been wonderful this year!

2011-10-31T21:25:00.000-04:00

Yuki shares her thoughts as this evening draws to a close....

final mario kart halloween costume diy handmade from a plain cardboardbox by isewcute

2011-10-31T09:49:00.002-04:00

final mario kart halloween costume diy handmade from a plain cardboard box by isewcute, a photo by isewcute on Flickr.

This is an update to my previous post here: http://isewcute.blogspot.com/2011/10/halloween-costume-wip-its-mario-kart.html
I snapped some pics of the final mario kart costume in case it gets destroyed while trick or treating.
Made with a plain old cardboard box, hot glue, paint, and printed out some artwork for the logos, headlights, and wheel hubs.
Mario suit was a store bought one... I wasn't going to sew this Halloween.

I'm just so glad he's happy with it. That's what really matters.

Happy Halloween!

Halloween Crafts for Kids to Do Part 1 - Halloween Fun Size Candy People as seen on Martha Stewart

2011-10-28T10:27:00.000-04:00

I think crafting brings our family closer together. We all enjoy working on an exciting new project especially holiday-themed crafts.
When I saw an episode of the Martha Stewart show with the cutest little girl helping Martha make Halloween candy people, I just knew we had to try it as a family.

All you need to do the project is:
lollipops for the heads,
boxed candies for the bodies,
and long skinny candies like tootsie rolls, twizzlers, or sweet-tarts for the arms & legs.
Everything is glued together with a low temp. melt hot glue gun.
On the show, they also used halloween stickers to stick onto the lollipops for faces...but I was lucky to find Halloween lollys with the faces on them.

First we attached the lollipop heads to the boxes by attaching the lollipop stick to the back of the boxes with hot glue. The kids picked out their arms & legs in mostly matching pairs... and we glued those to the sides & bottom of the boxes. After a few minutes, the glue was set.

It was such a cute, quick, & relatively cheap craft to do that I just wanted to share with y'all.
My girl took 20 of these 'candy people' to her school's Halloween party and they were a big hit with her friends.

Time to Learn Something New... How to Wire a Flea Market Lamp

2011-10-25T11:38:00.000-04:00

I have this gloriously tacky shabby chic lamp that I bought a few years back at the Kane County flea market in the Chicagoland area.
It has a cute chubby cherub perched on the base. I figured it would make a great boudoir lamp & had used it as my main source of lighting in the bedroom until it started flickering. The bulb wasn't loose, and I figured the wiring must be going bad on it since it flickers when I knock on the bedside table.
I found this complete lamp wiring kit at Pat Catans & plan on figuring out how to do this & I'm going to make it so this week. Just say no to procrastinating right? I hope it goes well! Wish me luck!

Finished DIY Candy - Handmade Lollipop Photos from Last Week

2011-10-24T11:46:00.000-04:00

I'm finally getting around to uploading finished lollipop pics from last week's candy making extravaganza.
After boiling the sugar on the stove until it reached hard crack stage, I added the flavoring & colors... then spooned the mixture into lollipop molds to cure. After the candy cools, they just pop out. I roll them in powdered sugar to keep them from sticking to the wrappers.

It's that time of year again... Candy Making Time!!!

2011-10-19T17:52:00.000-04:00

I've been making batch after batch getting ready for our little church's holiday bazaar. The recipe I use is one of those magical secret ones belonging to our grandma, but if you would like to try making this for yourself & have your entire house reeking of cinnamon & peppermints like mine, the package of candy flavor oils includes a great recipe!
I'm mostly using Lorann oils...and they are yummo! If you can't find them locally...then you may find them here online.

This is the work in progress... reducing the sugar down. I highly recommend getting an accurate candy thermometer. The one I had last year was tricky, but this year I'm using a digital model. Super high tech, eh?

I'll upload pics of the finished lollipops & jars of candy tomorrow. So far, everything I've made is red & I'd love to share a rainbow of candy pics with y'all.

Feel free to comment me any questions & stay crafty!

Etsy Finds Featured my Halloween Resin Glitter Dome Ring Today

2011-10-07T12:10:00.001-04:00

I'm just over the moon about this! ♥♥♥Thank for featuring my ring Etsy!!!♥♥♥

I have a limited amount of these rings available here, so get yours before they're all gone!

Happy Halloween!

Halloween Costume W.I.P. It's Mario Kart!

2011-10-04T10:50:00.000-04:00

This year I wanted to just get a store bought costume for my boy after last year's labor-intensive 'oompa-loompa' getup... so I presented the Mario costume to my boy who has a great fondness for the Mario Kart game. He thought it was ok...but could we please make a car for him to race in. *sigh*
So I didn't get off the handmade hook this year entirely...
but this was more of a 'daddy & me' project for the two of them. *wink, wink*
I think they've done a great job so far by altering a cardboard box with tape & hot glue. Now they only need to add paint & the boy will be race... I mean, 'trick or treat' ready!

Feel free to share your Halloween costume plans!

Another Cute Bunny Photoshoot

2011-09-29T20:40:00.000-04:00

Yuki, our little bunny, enjoyed playing with the yarn during this photoshoot. She kept pushing it around the table & nibbling on it a bit. I may have these printed up to hang in my craft room, but will need to make some new wall space available.

Halloween is Right Around the Corner!

2011-09-27T13:24:00.000-04:00

It's time to snatch these sweet & spooky looking treats right up from my etsy shop!

I have ghoulish glitter rings! Pick your favorite!

Sweet looking candy corn jewelry...not to eat, but looks that yummy!

And...

A variety of whimsical Halloween resin heart necklaces which would look great either paired with your Halloween costume, or your everyday wardrobe to show a little holiday spirit. So fun, so cool...and you won't find these anywhere else because I made them all myself!
I will be listing all of these in the shop over the next few days...so if there is one you have your eye on, let me know and I will reserve it for you.

Happy Halloween!!!

Bunnies in Bowls!

2011-09-27T12:11:00.001-04:00

white bunny in white bowl by isewcute ttv, a photo by isewcute on Flickr.

I have created a new group called 'bunnies in bowls' on flickr, so please feel free to join & add your cute bunny in a bowl!

:o)

www.flickr.com/groups/bunniesinbowls/

Today I've been photographing our bunny in an imaginary lollipop garden. Good times!

2011-09-19T12:02:00.000-04:00

Yuki had a good time licking the props & nibbling on the silk flowers. She appreciated her dandelion greens treat afterwards. You know it's so hard to be this cute!

We have recently welcomed a new member to our family!

2011-09-16T09:16:00.001-04:00

This is Yuki (Yoo-kee)...which means 'snow' in Japanese... our dwarf hotot bunny rabbit!

We've had her for about a week now & it's been wonderful getting to know her. I've done a lot of bunny research for months & months to become the best rabbit mom I can be. We've had cats & I knew that caring for a rabbit would be a completely different experience & a lot of work... and very rewarding.

I lost my kitty last December very unexpectedly on my birthday & there has been a huge hole in my heart ever since. Of course nothing can replace him, but with Yuki joining our family, my heart has grown to be very fond of her & having a pet again has made our home feel less empty to me.

The kids are thrilled with having a pet besides our fish tank...something they can cuddle & enjoy watching. Yuki is all kinds of adorable from the way she eats, washes her ears, & has bursts of energy where she springs back & forth.

I can't stop taking photos of our sweet little bun-bun...so along with recipes, craft projects, and product reviews, you can expect to see some fun bunny pictures here now!

Too Busy to Blog, but I'll be Around Soon!

2011-08-25T12:35:00.000-04:00

I have plenty to blog about, but am tied up with a few projects right now... freelance sewing, trying to fill a couple of tall wholesale resin jewelry orders, & doing some website photography for a friend.
Also, my kids' birthdays are a week apart, & finally we're having a real birthday party with invitations sent out & a date set...so if I'm going out of my mind & seem to not be around much, that is why.
I think September is going to be a little less stressful!

Resin Jewelry Casting Marathon This Weekend

2011-08-22T09:02:00.001-04:00

I'm so glad that the weather this past weekend was agreeable so I could dedicate some serious time to my crafting love of casting resin candy sprinkles & glitter jewelry pieces.

I made rings in star & heart shapes, as well as a few grand bubble domes with my original 'candy baby'

...then also mixed up a delicious looking blend of many different sprinkles to fill giant heart & star shaped pendants!

Hopefully most of the humid weather from this summer has passed & I can have a few more great crafty moments like this.

Please check the shop often because I'll be listing many great one of a kind pieces such as this sweet black kitty glitter heart necklace!

Stay Sparkly & Sweet!

Tropical Coconut Encrusted Rooster Lust (aka coconut fried chicken) Recipe

2011-08-16T11:57:00.000-04:00

Tropical Coconut Encrusted Rooster Lust (aka coconut fried chicken) Recipe

3 lb. chicken pieces... I used boneless chicken tenders
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon hot pepper sauce (Sriracha Hot Chili pepper sauce found in oriental section of food store)
1 (14-ounce) can evaporated milk
1 1/2 c. flaked sweetened coconut
1 c. panko
1 tsp. salt
1/2 c. italian seasoned bread crumbs
1 c. flour in shallow dish
2-3 eggs, beaten

Pineapple dipping sauce:
app. 1 cup pina colada mix
3/4 - 1 cup of sour cream
3/4 cup crushed pineapple drained

Mix ingredients together for sauce & keep cold in covered container

For chicken:
Mix together the lemon juice, hot pepper sauce (I used "Sriracha" Hot Chili Sauce) & milk in a gallon size zip lock bag... place chicken pieces inside & let marinade in refrigerator for a couple hours...while squeezing the bag a few times to be sure all is well combined.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Line baking sheet with parchment paper so the chicken won't be an impossible mess to clean up.
Mix together coconut, panko, salt, and bread crumbs.
Remove chicken from bag & roll one piece at a time first in flour to get coating...then in eggs, & finally coat well in coconut mixture.
Bake for 25 minutes. Turn chicken pieces and continue baking 25 minutes more...or until done.

It should look similar to this:

This was so good...we renamed it! Also, my husband didn't complain about having to eat leftovers!

Cheers!

Mmmm! Handmade Whipped Body Butter!!!!

2011-08-13T15:42:00.000-04:00

If I had known how easy it was to make this stuff...I would've started making it sooner!

This is my first round of crafting handmade whipped body butter & I love how it turned out. It's so skin loving & smells divine!
Want to make some? Sure you do!
Here's how!!!

What you need:
A small electric mixer
bowl
measuring spoons
spoon or spatula
containers with lids ...I used little round gladware containers
microwave

Ingredients:
2 generous tbsps of shea butter
2 generous tbsps of coccoa butter
1 tbsp. almond oil
1 tbsp. honey
2 tsp. grapeseed oil
1 tsp. olive oil
1 tsp. fragrance of your choice

This recipe yields app. 1.25 cups ...just an fyi in case you would like more to share with friends...it can be doubled or if you'd like less, then divide it.

First thing, you'll want to measure the butters & microwave them for about a minute on 'high' until they melt into a liquid state.
Add to this all the other ingredients except for the scent which you add right at the end.
Use your electric mixer on high speed to whip the mixture for several minutes. It starts off looking yellow & oily & just when you think nothing is going to happen, ...it starts slowly to thicken...and also lightens in color. I didn't time how long it took exactly, but I'd hazard a guess it was 10 minutes at least before it really started looking creamy like cake batter.
See thin watery & yellow here:

Turns into thick creamy goodness here:

Be sure to stop the mixer & scrape the sides of the bowl now & again while you are mixing so everything is well blended. When it looks like whipped cream, add in your fragrance...give it another round with the mixer & then spoon into your storage containers!

I used a tropical coconut scent & it smells so dang delicious & My skin feels so smooth!

Rub it on your body & share with your friends who are sure to ooh & aaah!

There are a couple of local places I can purchase many of the ingredients from, but I have also ordered some of my supplies from country soap shack
on etsy. They were very helpful & friendly. I received my orders quickly & they were packaged with care, so if you're going to try this, please check them out!

Stay crafty!

Nominated for The Versatile Blogger Award!

2011-07-24T11:17:00.002-04:00

I was nominated for the The Versatile Blogger Award by Tamra ...a fellow fanatic friend of craftster from Delightfulu. I'm so tickled to have been hand picked for such an honor & it was super sweet of you Tamra!

The rules of the Versatile Blogger Award are:

1 – Make a post and link it back to the person who gave you the award
(and include their website address)
2 – Share 7 random things about yourself
3 – Award 7 recently discovered bloggers with this award and
contact them to let them know they have won.

Here are 7 things about me:

1. I am a toydesigner & got my 2nd BFA in toy design from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City.
2. I started making toys when I was a child because some of the things I wanted to play with just didn't exist at the time ...like a hollow dinosaur that could really eat things, sculpted from play doh.
3. Sometimes I truly get lost in my creative process, losing track of what time it is, & forget to eat... but I love food & probably do spend more time than I should dreaming of the next thing I'll bake or cook up.
4. Speaking of food... I roll my own sushi & prefer it to any sushi I've ever had in a restaurant. Handmade is better!
5. I amuse myself by making up fake band names & songs... such as 'dirty mullet' by "The Grass Cowboys"
6. I have memorized Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog & have teen girl crushes on Neil Patrick Harris & Nathan Fillion.
7. I am a fanatic friend of craftster & love that there is a place out there to help fellow crafters & also to learn new crafts. I finally learned how to crochet thanks to the awesome folks over there! Craftster rocks!

Now here are 7 delightful blogs in random order which I would like to nominate & share the love with you!

1. Dolly Donations - making the world a better place with handmade dolls.
2. A Lovely Little Deer - cuteness, crafts, and giveaways... always a treat to drop by this darling blog!
3. The Sassy Pack Rat - she's a super crafty gal!
4. Single Dad Laughing - makes me ponder parenting & ultimately I've become a better mom from reading this fantastic blog.
5. Funny Cute - katie draws some of the funniest cute things ever!
6. Incipient Wings - her blog is like a fairy world.
7. Faster Kittykill! Blog! Blog! - Pam blogs cute 'scrappy' pups, crafts, drink mixes & more!

Thanks again for nominating my blog!

Free Summer Project - Let's Embroider a Portrait of Dean Martin! C'mon! It'll be fun!

2011-07-20T10:52:00.000-04:00

I know I've been slacking in the blogging department lately, but you can blame the warm weather & having 2 kiddos home on summer break.
We've been spending a lot of time swimming & playing in the sandbox & I've been yearning for a go-to project that I can pick up & do a little work on while keeping an eye on the kidlets. This Dean Martin pattern is the answer to my crafty need & I just thought I'd share so you can get in on the fun too! Call it Christmas in July!

Happy Stitching & Stay Cool!

June Team Challenge - Time to Vote!

2011-06-29T09:25:00.003-04:00

candy from a baby giant handmade resin dome and real sprinkles ring, photo by isewcute on Flickr.

If you're a fan of my work, please do vote for my 'candy baby ring' #6
... there is no signing up necessary!
VOTE HERE:
http://craftingincolor.tumblr.com/post/6632538218/june-theme-challenge-entries-and-voting

Just click & run...or stick around & find many lovely colorful items by the talented 'crafting in color' team!

It would be all kinds of awesome to win my etsy team's blog challenge for June & I'd really appreciate your support!

So I've Been Knitting the Cutest Mitts Ever - Pattern by TinyOwlsMagicAttic on ETSY

2011-06-21T09:08:00.002-04:00

If you love to knit, adore cute kittens, & want to keep your hands toasty, you'll have a hard time resisting the cuteness that is this adorable knit 'meow mitts' pattern by Stephanie at TinyOwlsMagicAttic's on ETSY!

The dictionary should be rewritten so that under the definition of the word 'cute' you come across this pattern as an example!

I think that the difficulty rating that Stephanie gave her pattern is spot on, as I'm not an expert knitter, but the pattern along with the video she provided was actually easy enough to decipher. Stephanie also offers 'knitting support' if you have any questions as you go along. Isn't handmade grand?
I love that personal touch!

She promptly sent the pattern via a pdf email file & I was able to shop for my yarn right away. The only notions needed were the needles, a darning/yarn needle, a couple stitch markers, scissors & a few balls of yarn.

It only took a long afternoon & one evening to knit these up...which is pretty good considering the 4 year old helped me by un-doing many rows & taking the whole thing off my needle at one point. She tells me she's going to knit when she grows up! I bet she will!

I'm also knitting up a pair of these for myself... as I have perpetually cold hands even in Summer. The mitts are perfect because they offer that extra toasty warmth, yet the fingers are free so I'll still have the full use of them.

After that, my next-next project may be the 'sweet robin wristees' or the 'baby lamb cuffs' ...decisions ...decisions! How can you pick when it's all so charmingly cute?

As you can see, my 4 year old is thrilled with her new accessories! She even posed pretty so I could take photos rather than running from the room & hollering 'no pictures Mama!' like she usually does, LOL!

Please check out Stephanie's shop & her other darling patterns that she's offering. I highly recommend her patterns & her customer service is fantastic as well.

Stay crafty & knit on!

double rainbow all the way ttv - what does it mean

2011-06-05T14:16:00.001-04:00

double rainbow all the way ttv by isewcute - what does it mean, a photo by isewcute on Flickr.

It was just before the sun set and just after a rain shower that we were graced with the appearance of a double rainbow! I was so glad to have had the camera with me at the time, because I would've been sad to have missed capturing it's beauty!
I think this one needs to be blown up poster size & hang in a place of honor in our home.

I Scream... You Scream... We All Scream...

2011-06-03T15:43:00.000-04:00

For ice cream!!!!

Summer time is the right time. Somehow it just tastes better when you're trying to beat the heat.

I surprised the kiddos with these earlier this afternoon:

And I'm going to indulge in one of these new Klondike mint chip treats!

What would you do for a Klondike bar?

Baking Cookies Today!

2011-05-18T12:52:00.003-04:00

I was given a cookbook for Christmas when I was 3 years old by my Grammie. At the time it didn't really seem to be an appropriate gift for a 3 year old, but I'm sure appreciative of it now! It's a great Betty Crocker cookbook called, "The Cooky Book".

There are a lot of yummy looking pictures throughout that I've been wanting to try & I must admit I've only made a handfull of the recipes to date.

Today I'm making the first recipe listed... chocolate drop cookies.

I didn't have chocloate squares, so used Hershey's coccoa powder instead & the dough smelled so good & super chocolatey!

When mixing the dough, I changed it up a bit & omitted the nuts & added coconut instead! I can't wait to see how they turn out & will keep y'all updated on what my little taste testers think of them!

I'm going to try every recipe in this book! Doesn't that sound like a sweet adventure to have? It will be like "Julie vs. Julia" only it's "June vs. Betty Crocker"!
I love cookies more than French cuisine, so it's going to be wicked fun!

If baking is not your cup of tea, you can always cruise on over to etsy & see what's cooking there! Here are a few treats that caught my eye this morning!
(warning) Photos will make you drool! Click the link below each photo to be directed to etsy for purchase if you're interested!

I adore these ice cream cone shaped cookies!

Ice Cream Cookies by mjammie

If I had these...I'd hide them from the kids & eat them all myself!

Cookie-Wich Lovers Sampler Pack by Tookies

Tookies' blog is so cute! Take a peek! http://ohmytookies.blogspot.com/

Aren't these the cutest cookies ever? Perfect for gift giving!

Farm Animal Sugar Cookies (12 Favors Bagged & Bowed) by TSCookies

If you are into baking your own treats, you may also like these helpful baking accessories!
Every baker should have a fun apron!

I Speak Cookie Handpainted Apron by Splashin

You need something to store those cookies in! I love these great vintage finds!

Vintage McCoy Little Red Riding Hood Collectible Cookie Jar by ccaappp

VinTaGe...supeR .RARE....CooKie MonSter........Cookie JaR..... by plumberryvintage

You can also find a wide variety of cookie cutters on etsy! I simply adore this tiara! My babygirl would love the tiara cookies!

Pink Princess Tiara Crown Cookie Cutter by CupcakeSocial on Etsy

I hope you enjoyed this post as much as I did! Cheers!

Working on Some New Embroidery Patterns! Fairies Galore!

2011-05-10T09:02:00.000-04:00

The rain has made the grass so tall & green, as well as little buds popping up all over the place adding more color to the landscape. The hummingbirds have returned, frogs from the creek are singing to one another in the evening & buzzy bees have been bumbling around looking for a sweet blossom.
Add to all of this the sweet smell of Spring with grasses, flowers, and the earth on a light breeze & you've got me itching to work on some new embroidery patterns!
I rediscovered this cutie in my sketchbook from back in January & have decided to expand on it & do a series of fairies!

Sketching is my 'go to' craft which helps me to take all those images in my head & get them down on paper before they fade away.
Coming out a bit of a creative schlump, I'm finding inspiration in nature beyond my continuous search for four leaf clovers to make jewelry. Thank Heaven for Spring & the urge to be creative returning once again!

Real Mothers

2011-05-08T13:13:00.000-04:00

Real Mothers don't eat quiche; they don't have time to make it.
Real Mothers know that their kitchen utensils are probably in the sandbox.
Real Mothers often have sticky floors, filthy ovens and happy kids.
Real Mothers know that dried playdough doesn't come out of shag carpets.
Real Mothers don't want to know what the vacuum just sucked up.
Real Mothers sometimes ask "why me?" and get their answer when a little voice says,
"because I love you best".
Real Mothers know that a child's growth is not measure by height or years or grade . . .
it is marked by the progression of Mama to Mommy to Mom.

Author Unknown

Happy Mother's Day to all the beautiful Moms out there!

Tudor Swap Package Update of Crafted Items Sent

2011-05-06T22:02:00.000-04:00

I've been way behind on my blogging due to some family health issues & life in general taking over my free time to liesurely sit with my coffee & put my thoughts out there. I even quit coffee for awhile, but am now happily back to indulging in it again. I have a lot to blog about too...so expect an overflow of posting in the next few days!
I did wrap up the Tudor swap a few weeks ago & received an amazing package from my partner. Here are the things I made for her in case you were wondering how they turned out.

First, I ended up scrapping the x stitch King Henry VIII project because it would've taken a couple months to finish. I still plan on finishing it because it's so dang neat looking, but I need to just dabble at it without stressing over a deadline. This is the replacement project...a mixed media portrait done on canvas in acrylics, oils, and embellished with irridescent medium, feathers and a faux pearlescent gem.

Then we have the charm bracelet in it's entirety. I loved this so much I ended up making a similar one for myself! I adore those portrait charms so much.

I used an extra charm of Queen Elizabeth I to make a coordinating ring.

Finally, here is a resin glitter heart charm with a regal looking crown which I turned into a keyring. I couldn't resist crafting a little glittery something as an extra.

This was one of the most fun swaps I've ever had the pleasure of crafting for & I'm so pleased with how everything turned out...especially after having to scrap the first project & switch gears right in the middle like that.

Tudor Swap on Craftster

2011-04-03T09:12:00.000-04:00

I'm busy as a bee working on a couple of very time intensive projects for the Tudor Swap on Craftster. I hope my partner isn't stalking me here on the blog for crafting ideas at this point of the swap, or it may be a bit of a surprise spoiler for her!
I started my first project...the big one right away & early on had discovered that at the rate I was going it would not be completed in time.
Call me crazy, but this is what I had set in my mind to do:

I'm about one fifth of the way done & it's been slow going. I forgot how long it takes me to do one of these charts!
My back up plan is to do a couple of paintings. My partner has wall space, not shelf space, so I think artwork of some kind is the way to go here. If I don't get at least halfway done by the end of the day today, I'm scrapping it for my paint & brushes.
The medium project I'm working on is my personal favorite. I like to make things for my partners that I would like & can find a use for.
It's a loaded Tudor charm bracelet! I won't show a photo of the whole thing just yet, so if my partner does peek at my blog, she will still be surprised by the rest of the design!
I've got a silly sense of humor in placing a baby carriage next to Anne Bolyn... I crack myself up!

If you'd like to make something similar to this or different...but just really love the look of the portrait charms, you'll want to check out the etsy shop, "marlaot" THE MOON & STARS-Unique jewelry supplies & findings.
Marla makes the portrait charms by hand herself & I must say the quality is top notch! She can make them in a couple of different finishes, so if you prefer antique brass to the silver...you're all set!
I'm so pleased with the charms I received & they arrived rather quickly too for being handmade! Marla was a pleasure to work with. She had to customize one of the charms for me & made a change with some of the hardware & was so courteous & answered my convos in a timely manner. I'd highly recommend her to anyone for these charms!

I can't wait to see what my partner will think of her swap package! It's such an awesome feeling to know you've made someone's day with something you crafted with your hands and your heart!

Little Owl Sculpts...

2011-04-02T11:03:00.000-04:00

I've been having fun playing with some modeling compound & creating these little owls for a friend! I'm not sure if they're going to be glittered or resinated yet...so it's going to be fun seeing what happens from this point on. I haven't sculpted much except for one custom order & then the Simpson's Nativity I made for the wist swap on Craftster. I really enjoy getting my hands into the work like this. It's so different than crafting with resin & wearing gloves, goggles, a respirator & taking care to not get any of it on anything until it's cured.

Making a Meal with the Divine Ms. Clara - Great Depression Era Cooking

2011-03-30T09:31:00.000-04:00

I just stumbled across this wonderful lady, Ms. Clara, on youtube this morning & I wanted to share her with y'all!
She hosts a cooking show & in this one, you'll see her make a poor man's feast from the depression era. It's a simple recipe & a little history lesson too! Enjoy!

She is a true gem & reminds me of my Nana who lived to be 98. I miss her so much.

So I Submitted My Table & Sushi Seat to Ikea Hackers

2011-03-29T16:00:00.000-04:00

It was published today!!! Check it out!

Have you ever heard of ikea hackers? It's this fanastic site where you can submit your 'hacked' ikea furniture, housewares, etc.

I did my hacks last fall, but am just now finally getting around to blogging about it & submitting it to the blog. I have no idea if they will be published & it takes about 10 days or so for a new hack to appear once submitted...so we'll see I guess.

First I altered the ikea "vitamin" stool to make it into a piece of stylized sushi! The seat cover is constructed with sherpa fabric to represent the rice. Various colored fleece was appliqued onto it for the filling as well as the seaweed wrapper in black...which I sewed all around the edge to make the roll.

I love how it turned out so fun!

I then altered my work table. It is a tovik corner table in unfinished wood.

I painted it with leftover interior paint from my babygirl's room.

After the paint was dry, I covered the table top in a thick coating of resin (following the manufacturer's instructions)

...& various pink glitters.

It really has a lot of sparkle! I now use my table in most of my product photograpy for my etsy shop.

Now I'm thinking about glittering my kids' picnic table. I bet it would look fabulous in silver!

Fresh Springtime Fat Quarterly Embroidery Pattern

2011-03-25T08:14:00.007-04:00

Hello dear readers!

My cup of excitement is overflowing this morning & I can't keep it in any longer... so I'd just like to share that I've submitted a fresh new darling embroidery pattern to be featured in Fat Quarterly!

Fat Quarterly is an ezine dedicated to sewing, quilting, & fabric... so if you sew, embroider, or quilt, you may want to check it out!

This is just a tease! To see the whole pattern, you'll have to wait a wee bit!

Whoopie Pie Recipe ...You'll Thank Me Later!

2011-03-23T09:53:00.004-04:00

I just whipped up a batch of these yesterday as we were lacking something sinfully sweet in our cupboard & I didn't have the ingredients to make the cupcakes I've been longing to do on hand. (note to self: pick up some Baileys Irish Creme)

These are traditional New England Whoopie Pies!

The outer part is like a cross between chocolate cake & brownies.
The filling is a cross between frosting & oreo cookie filling.
Any way you slice them, they're wicked yummy!

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

INGREDIENTS:
2.5 CUPS OF FLOUR
1/2 C. SHORTENING
2 EGGS
1 C. SUGAR
5 TBSP. COCCOA
1 C. MILK
1 TSP. SODA
1 TSP. BAKING POWDER
PINCH OF SALT
1 TSP. VANILLA

Cream together everything until it's well mixed & fluffy looking. Drop by spoonfuls onto a well greased cookie sheet. Spread batter out until it's app. 3" across & 2/3" thick. Batter doesn't spread much during the baking process, so the final size will be what you create on the pan before baking.

Bake app. 10 minutes. You'll know when they're done when the surface no longer appears shiny & a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Allow to cool.

FILLING:
1/2 CUP SHORTENING
1 TBSP. MILK
1 CUP OF CONFECTIONER (POWDERED) SUGAR
1 CUP GRANULATED SUGAR
1 TSP. VANILLA
.5 TSP. ALMOND EXTRACT

Cream together filling ingredients & then spread filling onto half of your pies & finally add another pie on top to make a 'sandwich'.

*For a lower calorie version of this recipe you may substitute all sugar with 'Splenda' or equivalent sugar substitute...but seriously with this much shortening, you may as well just indulge!

Enjoy! Please share with friends!

Another Swap Embroidery...A Gift from the Sea... My Own Design of a Mermaid & Sailor

2011-03-22T08:07:00.006-04:00

I was working within the theme of 'through a porthole' ...things one might see when gazing out a porthole from a ship or a submarine.
My partner had given me 2 different fabrics & suggested to either use one or the other or both...even combining them to make a horizon between above & below water. I was inspired by the latter & the pattern just came into being from that inspiration.
I thought it would be very cool to be given a gift from the sea by a mermaid.
I've always been fascinated by mermaids ever since I first saw "Splash" starring Daryl Hannah & Tom Hanks as a little girl. I remember my Nana had gone on a European tour & brought back a souvenir plate from Denmark with the image of the little mermaid statue on it. It broke my heart a few years back to hear that the statue was vandalized several times, but it isn't the original & is always repaired thankfully. One day I hope to travel there & see it myself. Ok, I admit that my babygirl had been watching a lot of Disney's "Little Mermaid" & maybe inspiration was drawn from Ariel & Eric as well.

Back to the embroidery:
I stitched up the sailor & sailboat using a single color & then stitched the mermaid in a variegated floss...to make her a little more magical. I like the contrast of using the lighter color to stitch on the darker fabric & the darker floss on the lighter fabric.

I love how it turned out & it took awhile for me to part with it as my partner can attest to, but as I say "I'm flaky...not a flaker" and always fulfill my swap obligations.
One of the best things about swapping like this is you can end up working on something you never would've created otherwise. It's a great creative exercise...especially to get out of a rut or your comfort zone.

Wait until you see the next piece I've done...it's unlike the other designs I've worked on ...and I did a lot of french knots!

:o)

This Etsy Shop is Stealing from Me & Could be Stealing from You Too!

2011-03-13T12:06:00.008-04:00

UPDATE; Proof that this person has a few undisclosed shops...which isn't rocket science:

You can clearly see that the sprinkles are the same in each gun in the photos by: gunsandsprinkles, fortheloveofdre, and missbates92. I feel like etsy has termites & needs an exterminator!

Each shop has it's share of copyright violations & many of us resin crafters are well aware of it & standing up for our work!

A fourth shop called 'inconsolable' ...which happens to not be selling the candy guns has lifted this...
See the original photo by lunaricsales highlighted in pink...compared to the hijacked image highlighted in green:

Lovely to see they're shilling...meaning to buy from themself with an undisclosed account to boost their feedback. Here they've stolen Athinalabella's original ring photo for thier listing & turned around & bought it from themself:

...and this is the original photo... note that it isn't cropped in like the stolen one above.

When will they learn?

This etsy shop "fortheloveofdre" has lifted photos of my items & has undercut my prices... how low is that?

Check out the 'cropped' image of my original custom sprinkles initial ring she's using here (in green)...compared with my original rings (in pink)

And here, she's cropped my photo of my red glitter heart adjustable ring! (mine is highlighted in pink & hers...the copy is in green)

They obviously have no scruples or conscience whatsoever to be doing this to me...and the thing is, it's not just me! She's stolen photos from other resin jewelry sellers on etsy as well!

Have any of you had this happen?
What did you do?
How did things turn out in the end? I've been thinking of giving my lawyer a call, but wonder if it is worth the bother.

I take great pride in my work & the quality of it & will do all I can within my power to protect it. What Latifah is doing is illegal & I hope she realizes that & changes her ways!

Please Vote for my Jar of Stars Nightlight for the Craftster #60 monthly challenge!

2011-03-09T17:49:00.007-05:00

http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=372380.0

If you love this project I made for my little girl... please show your support & vote for it to win this month's craft challenge on craftster!

This is a jar full of fallen stars I'd made as a nightlight for my babygirl when she was sick. We've been getting a lot of use out of it & now I'm crafting more. I'd like to have a huge jar of them on the dining room table for romantic dinners & also some to keep out on our sunporch for lazy summer night ambience!

I appreciate your vote & hope that I have inspired you as well!

Cheers!

It Goes in with a Sprinkle...Comes Out with a Twinkle - Makit & Bakit

2011-03-08T18:50:00.006-05:00

I purchased a couple of those "makit & bakit" suncatcher kits for the kids to try from Hobby Lobby.
It was a good project for their age(4 years & up). This activity kept both of them interested & busy for a good half hour or so!

I had a lot of fun because I remember making one of these with my mom back in the 80's.
Although we had a couple of re-do's because the frame had lifted off the tray & the plastic crystals all ran together, they were determined to start over & make it work.

They had fun matching the colors to the sections based on the packaging photos & were so proud to see how well they turned out after I had baked the suncatchers in the oven.
They proudly hung them up in their rooms!

If you'd like to do this activity with your kids, you can find the kits at Hobby Lobby or buy them online here at Craft Supplies for Less.

I give this craft kit 2 thumbs up for ease of use, affordability, & great nostalgic sparkly fun!

isewcute has been working on many custom resin jewelry items lately

2011-02-26T07:53:00.003-05:00

London Beauty Queen contacted me through my etsy about doing a unique item for them based on another custom heart I'd made for a girl who loves makeup & fashion.
This piece has their hame surrounded by stars, lipstick, lips, the union jack flag & a London double decker tour bus.
It has oodles of various red glitters mixed in to make the design pop. There's so much depth to this piece.
I'm so thrilled & excited about this pendant!

I just have to share this one even though it's one I did at the end of last year, because it's one of my favorites I've made so far...for a friend who loves to stitch.
I cross stitched the heart pattern & embedded it within the piece, then surrounded it with all kinds of glitter & heart shaped sparkles!
It was a lot of fun to experiment with & a real challenge too...to keep the bubbles to a minimum. They kept appearing within the fabric, but in the end it came out amazing!

This piece is for a special friend of mine who wanted something specific to show her school pride.
I sculpted the icon & glittered it, then embedded it within the resin & tossed in a dash of various glitters & filled it with a gold leaf type of flake glitter.
It's incredibly sparkly in all kinds of light!

Here we have 2 different charm bracelets that were custom orders for folks who are loving my original initial hearts & rainbow candy sprinkles name necklaces.
I may have to make these available in the shop if I have enough requests for them.
;o)

I always have fun mixing & blending different glitters to make a rainbow effect within my resin heart necklaces. This one has a bit of a tie dye look with all the bright glitter going around the pendant.
I do have several glitter hearts ready made in the shop available right now for purchase.

There are a few pieces in the works right now, but I can surely do more!

If you're interested in one of a kind unique resin jewelry, please send me a message through my etsy shop & I'll work with you to make you something fabulous!
Prices are comparable to other items in the shop based on size & materials.
Custom orders are my favorite!

A Bit of Random...

2011-02-25T21:38:00.004-05:00

We have cabin fever here big time...

Today was a 'snow day' for the kids...so no school...

We can't wait for spring.

How about you? What are you doing to keep warm & pass the time?

Making A Sick Child Smile With a Mason Jar of Fallen Stars

2011-02-23T22:33:00.006-05:00

I like looking on the bright side of things way more than dwelling in negativity, however it is sometimes difficult when life throws you those unexpected curves.

My babygirl hasn't been well all winter long it seems. We have undergone a bunch of tests & hope to have some answers this week. A prayer has been answered already in that she doesn't have something I was very concerned about. Once we do find out what is going on, we can then move forward on the road to wellness. Like any mom, I'd do anything to make her feel better. Necessity is the mother of invention!

I thought to take her mind off her discomforts as she's drifting off to dreamland this evening, she might enjoy watching a twinkling jar of stars flickering from her makeshift bedside table.

Best idea I've had all day!

The stars are handcast clear resin with a sprinkling of glitter tossed into a jelly jar along with one of those little battery operated tealights! Voila! Almost instant magic!

She fell asleep in about 2 minutes without worries of monsters!

I think we'll be using the star jar even when she's well!

Valentine Cookies... Hearts and Dogs ...for Puppy Love!

2011-02-11T06:05:00.005-05:00

One of my favorite things about Valentines Day is our family's tradition of making heart shaped sugar cookies together!
What's sweeter than baking and eating cookies with your kids after all? I'm hoping they'll look back on this tradition fondly.
I think I like doing the Valentine cookies even better than making Christmas cookies, because there's less pressure, stress, and we can really just take our time & enjoy the moment.
This year we added dog shapes to the mix because they'll be representative of 'puppy love'...and mom just needed an excuse to use her cute doggie cookie cutters!

Stay sweet & have a Happy Valentines Day!

A preschooler's breakfast dream come true! They Like Them...Green Eggs and Ham!!!

2011-02-10T10:21:00.005-05:00

We are celebrating a milestone at my house. My boy can read! Inspiration came from the latest bedtime story... so I made a promise to cook him green eggs and ham for breakfast.

Mommy thinks this looks pretty gross...but babygirl thinks it just looks pretty!
I colored the ham with liquid food coloring dripped into a sandwich bag & just mooshed the color around until it was covered completely. For the eggs, I tried to make a hole in the shell & drip color in ...which didn't work. I settled on dripping color over the yolks & letting it run down into the whites...where I mixed it a bit with a fork.

I haven't seen smiles this big in the morning in a long, long time!

I can't believe they cleaned their plates!

Felted Bead Charm Bracelet for Craftster Swap

2011-02-10T09:30:00.000-05:00

Hello crafty peeps!

Been awhile since I shared a craftster swap project.
This is a bracelet I made based on an item from my swap partner's wist. I'd never worked with felted beads before, and it was a fun challenge for me to use such a soft, squishy medium after being used to working with resin in my jewelry crafting.

Luckily I found a fantastic supplier on etsy "Macieslacies" for the felted balls...so I didn't have to attempt that part on my own...thank goodness, because I'm sure I'd have botched it somehow!

I searched for a local supplier & was thrilled that macieslacies was here in Ohio, because she had exactly what I was looking for & due to the time limit on the swap, I didn't want to have to wait too long for the beads to arrive.

Barbara was a joy to work with & set up a special custom listing for me right away...even with me bothering her during the busy holiday season!
I now have her shop bookmarked for more felted bead supply orders & you should see all the gorgeous colors she has available right now!

I think it would be great fun to make necklaces & earrings for gifts ...yep, I'm already thinking about crafting for Mother's Day & birthdays!

Necessity is the Mother...

2011-02-08T12:06:00.004-05:00

I've been worried about my kids because this winter has not been the best one for our family healthwise.
With the dryness of winter air & constantly breathing through our mouths rather than our noses due to a cold, we've been going through a lot of lip balm to keep from getting chapped.
My 4 year old girl loves lip balm so much that she practically goes through an entire tube in a day or two...which has had me extremely concerned.
I've thought to myself, "What's in this stuff?"

Deciphering the label on the tube she'd been using most recently, it's practically Greek to me, so I get the idea that maybe I could mix up something here at home with all natural ingredients.
I found a lot of info on how to go about making it from various websites such as craftster & blogs. Armed with the info, I set about ordering supplies & was lucky enough to find most of the supplies I wanted locally & the rest were easily found on etsy!
This morning I whipped up a batch & experimented with various flavors...and my house smells just like I'd made Grandma's Christmas candy!

The lip balms turned out fantastic! They glide on smooth, moisturize well, and taste fabulous! One little batch made so many, that I'm sharing with friends & family. Something this good is hard to keep all to myself!

Looking Back....A House Without a Cat is Not a Home

2011-01-09T06:13:00.006-05:00

2010 ended sadly as many of you who follow me on twitter or know me personally may have already heard.
My kitty boy went home quite unexpectedly on my birthday just before Christmas. I had him for over 12 wonderful years. I wasn't prepared to educate the kids on the subject of death, as my husband was out of town on business & I thought I was taking my cat in for a routine check up for a little problem, but what they found just couldn't be fixed.
Listening to the diagnosis, all kinds of thoughts whirled through my head as I first looked at my kitty & then into the faces of my children who didn't understand fully what was happening & wondering why we couldn't just go home with our cat & get back to the fun of preparing for the upcoming Christmas holiday. It got worse when I couldn't hold back my tears in front of the kids as I told them in a way they could understand, "the Dr. can't make him better."
I decided to just take a break from blogging & everything else online for awhile. You know I'm the type of person who always looks at the glass as being half full & this blow knocked my glass over. I didn't want to bring everyone down with my sadness...especially during 'the most wonderful time of the year'.
I have a big hole in my heart that my 20lb kitty companion used to fill. It was a really bad day & I'm not 'over it' yet, however I am improving. I have some of the greatest friends in the world & my faith has helped immensely.
Maybe this spring I'll look into fostering a kitty that needs some love. I'm not ready to adopt again, but I do have a lot of love to give.

My Legs Look Like Candy Canes!!!

2010-12-08T19:26:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Poppy from her new Artfire shop for making such fabulous, fantastic over-the-top ...well, over-the-knee socks!

I feel so snuggly!
My legs are happy & warm!
Also, hubby thinks they're kind of sexy...so it's all good!

This is my 3rd pair & I'll definitely be buying more! When I find something I adore this much, I just have to share!

Please support this sweet crafty Mama from the Cleveland, Ohio area! She makes great stuff!

Happy Holidays!

bing crosby white christmas embroidery pattern design by isewcute

2010-12-01T12:11:00.001-05:00

bing crosby white christmas embroidery pattern design by isewcute
Originally uploaded by isewcute

Tis' the Season!

Thinking it's time to get cracking on some Christmas holiday projects!
If you decide to stitch up dear old Bing, I'd love to see it! Better yet, post it to craftster!

Happy Dec. 1 everyone!

This 4 leaf clover would fit through the eye of a needle ttv

2010-11-30T06:38:00.001-05:00

This 4 leaf clover would fit through the eye of a needle ttv
Originally uploaded by isewcute

I was working on some product photos outside yesterday...taking advantage of the mild weather before the rain here in Ohio, when I noticed this wee baby clover peeking out from under the dead grass & fallen leaves.
I probably would have missed this one if I wasn't nearly mushing my nose into the ground & taking pics with my macro lens.
I try to photograph all my four leaf clover jewelry outside. I think the photos come out much better in the natural lighting, besides...I'd rather be outside enjoying the sounds & smells of nature. Pretty soon it will be too cold for me to enjoy it & the snow will blanket the earth & all the green leafy smells will hibernate until spring.

What to do with Thanksgiving leftovers...

2010-11-29T06:16:00.004-05:00

This is so easy & incredibly yummy! I always have to come up with different ways to disguise Thanksgiving leftovers, because my husband doesn't like to eat the same thing meal after meal.

Easy Peasy Turkey Pot Pie

You can either make your own crust or take a shortcut & use ready made pie crust shell...like I did.
Cut up leftover turkey into bite sized pieces & put in the crust-lined pan. Add any leftover veggies....that green bean casserole works like a charm!
Pour gravy all over the top & for the upper crust, take a cookie cutter & cut out various shaped pieces to make it wicked pretty.
I used an oak leaf, a maple leaf, and a turkey.
Place them on top & be sure to overlap the edges & pinch together a little.

Cover with foil & Bake at 425 ...then remove foil & bake another 10-15 to brown up the crust.

Note that I did put foil underneath on the bottom rack to catch gravy drip overflow.

It was good & the hubby loved it!

Best Rainbow Glitter Hearts Necklaces Ever - available now!

2010-11-24T06:16:00.002-05:00

I love how this new batch of resin rainbow glittery heart necklaces turned out.

We had a very mild sunny day over the weekend & I was inspired to create something very bright & colorful after all the fog & drizzle we've had in Ohio. I'm so glad I worked on these rather than just sitting at the computer listing other items. As a creative, it's important to create when the inspiration strikes.

I love this photo from when I was giving the pieces a bath after sanding them. The rainbow bubble combination is fun!

Trendy Tykes Online Boutique

2010-11-18T13:36:00.009-05:00

Lori is the talented lady behind Trendy Tykes ...an online boutique for unique hand crafted infant & toddler items.

I was lucky enough to be chosen as a winner of these adorably wonderful handmade baby booties that Lori calls 'Piggy Pouches' ...isn't that the cutest name for baby footwear? As a thank you to Lori, I wanted to share with you her wonderful shop ...especially this time of year when we're looking for that 'perfect' gift for a new baby or toddler.

Trendy Tykes has a couple of fantastic new items that are perfect for Christmas! A cute Santa Claus placemat for the cookies & milk. Also, a lovely ruffle layered apron...perfect for a holiday hostess!

Please check out Trendy Tykes to see if Lori has anything that would be a good fit for your holiday shopping needs. It's important to support a crafty mom's small business & I'm sure you'll be glad you did!

Trendy Tykes is having another giveaway right now for a chance to win a sweet little embroidered whimsical tooth fairy pillow by being their 500th follower on twitter!

www.ttykes.com
www.ttykes.blogspot.com/
twitter.com/trendytykes
lori@ttykes.com

Adding New Resin Goodies to the Shop Daily!

2010-11-16T09:15:00.006-05:00

With the holidays fast approaching, I'm already out there doing my Christmas shopping & have been also listing new items to the shop daily. I have a ton of new designs waiting to make their debut! Most are one of a kind even...so would make a perfect unique gift for that someone special!

Today's newbies so far are my sweet retro 80's unicorn necklace:

This amazing huge silver and gold sparkly resin domed adjustable ring:

...and yesterday I listed this kawaii little violet deer in a sparkly winter wonderland heart necklace.

More to come!
Stay tuned!

Fun Mail Day Part 1... Craftster Hoopla Rd. 2 Swap

2010-11-16T07:13:00.004-05:00

I've been so wildly busy the past couple of weeks from making the Halloween costume & then jumping right in to a few freelance toydesign gigs, that I've been sorely neglecting my posts here!
Well, this is certainly worthy of an update as I had a tremendously fun mail day yesterday! I received my hoops from MizzKodak!!! Aren't they fantastic?!!! I'm going to hang the yellow/blue one in the craft room & the other will go in my babygirl's room. I'm working on a quilt for my daughter & it will coordinate so nicely on her wall!

Here is a link to the gallery on craftster... there are so many fantastic & inspirational hoops in this swap! http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=362394.0

A HUGE thank you to MizzKodak for making these fantastic Alice in Wonderland hoops for me & my girl! We'll give them a good home!

Cheers!

My boy had a handmade Halloween!

2010-11-01T09:58:00.002-04:00

About a month ago my boy was watching our dvd of Tim Burton's Willy Wonka & really liked, or rather, became obsessed with the oompa loompas & their songs & dances throughout the film. In the bonus features on the dvd you can learn to do 3 of the different dances & there's a sequence where you can 'dance forever'. My boy has been dancing ever since and asked begged me to make him an oompa loompa costume. Therein my dreams of him being a mini 'Dr. Horrible' were shattered... and I gave in to his pleading puppy dog eyes.
Good thing Halloween was coming up, so I had a real good excuse to go out & buy fabric.
The pattern was drafted loosely based on some clothes my boy already had.You can see he's waiting oh so patiently while I cut out the pattern pieces:

He's wearing cut off tights as socks...and with the extra fabric not used for the socks, I constructed the cuffs and collar. Sadly the only photo I took during construction was this part where I'm inserting the cuff into the sleeve:

The little triagle thingie on the front is applique & sharpie-colored felt. The whole thing pulls on like a jumpsuit...and has a velcro closure in the back. My little man hates having anything put on his face, but was so excited to have makeup on ...that was scary for me....knowing that eventually we would have to wash that crap off. We were able to wash most of it off that night & the rest wore off by Monday thank goodness...but he's home from school with a fever anyway.

The wig is an altered store bought rockstar wig. I didn't have any time left to knit him a hat as I'd originally planned. Oh well... so many crafts & never enough time!

He had so much fun...it was worth everything we put into it!

Oh, and here's a reference photo...in case you're not familiar with the character:

I posted this over on craftster... and if you'd like to see some fantastic handcrafted costumes...you've got to check out their October craft challenge!

It's very cool! I know we won't win, but the happiness my boy has from living his dream is worth more than winning any contest!

Cheers & Stay crafty!

Almost Done with Vincent Price...

2010-10-25T14:42:00.003-04:00

This piece just came together so quickly! I aldready have the hair & facial features complete. A little shading on his jacket & signing it...it will be done!

:o)

Itchin to get Stitchin Vincent Price!

2010-10-21T14:23:00.003-04:00

With Halloween quickly creeping up on us, I've been in a horror/chiller kind of mood & when I signed up for an embroidery swap on craftster, was delighted to discover that one of my partners is into Vincent Price!
I had just designed a Vincent Price embroidery pattern & sent it around to some of my nearest & dearest fellow craftsters & stitchers the previous week...however I wanted to tailor this piece more to my partner & make it a bit more personal than using a pattern I had on hand, so I took a reference photo she provided & made this sweet pattern of a dashing young Vincent!

I love it & can't wait to get stitching on it, but have a list a mile long of things I must get done first.
This is just a photo of the pattern as I'm transferring it. If any of you fellow readers would like to know how I transfer my images, it's simple with a lightbox or a window.
Tape the pattern down so it doesn't shift...then tape the fabric over the pattern.
I place the hoop over it to be sure it's going to look right & that I have enough fabric all around so I can move the hoop as I stich if I need to.
Then I trace the lines carefully with a pencil. I would recommend a lightbox over a window because you can turn the light off to be sure the design is completely transferred.
Sometimes I miss a few lines here & there when being distracted by the kiddos.
So there you have it! No big secret & easy peasy!

Stay stitchy!

What to Do When a Child is Sick? Distract Them & Love Them of Course!

2010-10-19T03:27:00.004-04:00

There's nothing worse than having a sick child. It can take you straight from being a confident mom who has got everything under control, straight to feeling helpless & lost in the wink of an eye.

So the cold started about 2 weeks ago only I didn't recognize the moodiness & short temper in my normally persnickety-yet-sweet little redhead as a sign that she wasn't feeling well. When the fever came on like gangbusters a couple of days later in the evening, I put two and two together.
Her fever reached 103 before we had it under control...then came other symptoms. The poor dear has had most every discomfort associated with a serious flu.
We've spent a lot of time together cuddling...which I love, but wish her discomfort wasn't the reason for her cuddlyness, and she'd fall asleep in my arms which would in turn also fall asleep & remind me of the days when the kiddos were babies & wouldn't nap unless they were being held.
To pass the time we've looked at picture books together & watched a lot of dvds on a portable little dvd player I could bring in to her room & set up on a chair so she could watch from her bed. When she felt a little better mid day, I'd show her video clips on youtube from sesame street & her favorite 'tarako commercials'...anything to keep her mind off how bad she felt.

When something is wrong with a child, then nothing else seems to matter & has to be put on hold until they feel better. Somehow I managed to get all my etsy orders out, but for now, the shops are temporarily in vacation mode until my girl feels like her playful, smiley self again.
She has been improving...able to keep liquids down for 3 days & food down for 2...so I'm hoping she's over the worst of it.

An Abundance of New Resin Creations Made in a Single Weekend

2010-10-14T08:32:00.001-04:00

This past weekend was ridiculously productive for me in that I got to work for two straight days casting new resin gems for the jewelry I sell on etsy. The weather here in Ohio was amazingly warm, so I just took all my supplies outside... glitter, resin, sprinkles, and worked in the sunshine for hours. I have cast enough pieces to have multiple new listings up in my etsy daily from now until the winter holidays...so if you're looking for something new, different, & unique, please check out www.isewcute.etsy.com.

Here are my most recent listings...actual items for sale now.

This is a very petite little pink resin glitter heart... so sparkly & girly.

I'm already starting to list some of my fabulous original Christmas designs like this lovely Santa resin pendant.

This giant dome ring is one in a limited series for kawaii (cute) animal lovers & Harajuku fashionistas.

You can see from this photo I will be pretty busy finishing these into wearable works of cute art! I'll try to get a few listed daily, so check back often for new designs!

If you would like anything custom made in your favorite color, theme, or even personalized, please send me a message through etsy! I'd love to hear from you & make you something fabulous!

A Little Etsy Love for Jerusha...

2010-10-08T14:09:00.005-04:00

I just wanted to share with you all a fabulous shop I ran into on etsy when looking for cute clothes for my boy. Jerusha - Tree Town Batiks makes batik shirts in a wide variety of styles & designs for boys, girls, and adults too!

My boy was given a train shirt because he's seriously train addicted & it became his favorite. Seriously, if it was clean, he was wearing it. You'd think with all those colors, and being hand dyed with such bold colors, that the color would run or fade, and I can say it held up incredibly well! Since he is outgrowing it, I was thrilled to see that jerusha was still making that design & they made one special for me in a new size for my growing boy!

If you are interested in buying unique fun shirts for your tots, jerusha is a joy... just be sure to give them plenty of turnaround time to get your shirt made. If you're ordering for the holidays, don't do it only a couple weeks before Christmas & expect to have it in time...it takes 2 -4 weeks to work this kind of magic. This kind of quality & charm takes time...so get your orders in early!

It's really worth the wait!

:o)

Tis' the Season to be Spooky!

2010-10-01T20:28:00.005-04:00

So it's October first...and we just decorated last night for Halloween. I couldn't possibly deter the kids from thinking about it any longer. Every day my boy comes home from school saying 'everyone else' has their decorations up.
It's a lot of work setting up the village, but now that it's out ...I'm loving it!

Taking pictures of this is a blast!

:o)

I'd love to see how everyone else decorates for the Holidays! Please share your links & all related comments with links will be published!

Stay spooky!

OMG! Amazing Old Fashioned Pumpkin Bread Ring!

2010-09-30T09:58:00.003-04:00

You're gonna love it! It tastes just like something grandma would bake!

Here are the ingredients:
2 cups flour
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup pumpkin ...I used the Libby's brand of canned pumpkin
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. cinnamon...plus a little more if you love cinnamon like I do!
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. soda
3/4 cup vegetable oil
2 extra large eggs

Nuts are optional (1/2 cup) if you like your pumpkin bread a little crunchy here & there. I prefered to take the 'no nuts' option on the one in the photo.

Easy-peasy... just mix up the dry ingredients in one bowl. In a separate bowl wisk the eggs a bit, add the oil, then mix in the pumpkin. Dump this into the bowl with the dry ingredients & mix thoroughly...but don't overmix.

Bake in a bundt pan... for about 40-45 minutes at the universal temperature of 350 degrees. Poke it with a toothpick to test it's cooked through.

Note that this is super yummy when drizzled with an icing made with powdered sugar, a dash of vanilla flavoring & splash of milk all mixed together. Ice only after the ring has cooled & is removed from pan.

Enjoy & don't think about the calories! It's made with pumpkin...so you're getting a serving of vegetables ...right?

Indoor Kitty Outside, Clover Jewelry, Photography and LOL Cat Speak...

2010-09-30T06:53:00.007-04:00

IM SO FEROSHUS, NOTHIN WILL MES WIF ME!

Yesterday was particularly fun because while I was doing my work out on the front lawn, my 'indoor only' kitty became very brave when he saw me just sitting there on the grass taking pictures of clover jewelry for asluckwouldhaveit & decided to explore the yard a bit. I think I took just as many photos of him as I did the jewelry!

WUTS DAT NOIZE?

I still have about 8 pieces I didn't get shots of due to losing the perfect daylight...but I don't regret it since now we have these gorgeous photos of our kitty! He doesn't exercise much, so no worries about him roaming too far.

IM GOIN 2 GO EXPLORIN NAO! IZ DAT K?

He's like a big purry throwpillow that lays around.
He is not a lap cat... and at 20+ lbs. you wouldn't want that on your lap for long or your legs would go numb!

SOMETHIN SKERD ME OVAR THAR!

I've been working very hard trying to get all my product shots done for the clover jewelry I have been working on this summer. There is a specific look I'm going for in that all my four leaf clover jewelry photos are taken outside...usually on the lawn, but sometimes I move about the yard if there is an interesting patch of sunlight, pretty rock, or some moss under the trees that I think works with a certain piece. I realize that the days are quickly getting colder as well as shorter, and I'm not quite sure what I'll do if I have photographs to take during the winter months when it comes to custom orders and that sort of thing. Perhaps you'll see clover jewelry against a backdrop of sparkly snow! I doubt the kitty will want to join me then.

I had a lot of fun adding the LOL Cat captions to these photos of my kitty...
with the help of this LOL Cat translator: http://speaklolcat.com/ ...where you can translate your own text into LOL Cat speak!

I hope you enjoyed this off the wall post! I have a few recipes I've been meaning to blog, but haven't felt the inspiration. Got to go where the inspiration leads!

O'Hare ...You Made Me Feel Like I was in Tron or the Jetsons' World...

2010-09-21T21:49:00.004-04:00

I must not get out enough, because this past weekend I was truly awestruck by this part of one of the terminals at O'Hare...

The weather was perfect for flying & I soaked up the beauty of the clouds from above.

I just had to take a moment to admire the beauty of things both manmade & nature made around me & capture it on virtual film for y'all.

My "I Heart Heart" Treasury Made Etsy's Front Page!

2010-09-19T13:27:00.004-04:00

I'm so excited about this... my 'I heart Heart' treasury made it to the front page of etsy at around 1 P.M. est. this past Saturday!

Congrats to everyone!

Thinking about Halloween...

2010-09-11T11:40:00.005-04:00

Been working on some new pieces & just added this fun glow in the dark skull n crossbones pendant to the shop this morning.

I'm so torn on whether or not I want to keep using my drawings as the backgrounds for the jewelry. I worry that the drawings may be more attention getting than the actual pieces, however the only times I've had my stuff featured on etsy's front page was with pieces showcased against a doodle background...so maybe this is something that works with the so called 'etsy aesthetic', or perhaps it's more eye catching because it's something I do that other folks are not doing & sets me apart.
I dunno. I love the necklace & I love to draw stuff...so guess I'll just go with the flow & see what happens.
I hate to give up the glitter entirely also...

Please let me know... drawings good/bad ...glitter good/bad ...I'm so attached, I can't judge for myself.

:o)

Sushi Galore! My Big Labor Day Celebration Meal...

2010-09-08T19:29:00.004-04:00

I know this isn't your typical 'end of summer' backyard barbeque extravaganza...but we're not always the typical type of folks that go with the norm.
I was inspired to make sushi for everyone because I've been tweaking my skills & have added 'spice' to my menu offerings. Everyone seemed quite pleased with the results & nobody went away hungry...so I'll chalk this one up to a win!

I'm so proud of my babygirl who got the hang of eating with chopsticks.

Is it just me...or isn't that little hand ridiculously cute?

:o)

Babygirl Turns 4!!! Part 1... the Cake

2010-09-07T08:38:00.005-04:00

She's a big girl now & there's not much left of that chubby, cuddly, ball of baby that she used to be. Now she's all a go-go. I only get hugs when she's tired or hurt except for the occasional leg hug while I'm working in the kitchen. She had a fabulous birthday even while having a bit of a head cold from starting preschool a couple of weeks ago & being exposed to different things.

She helped mix up her birthday cake batter...not to be outdone by her older brother, but she left the decorating to me thank goodness. I had her cake all planned before our summer vacation, but one day while shopping at Michaels Craft Store for supplies, I saw the Wilton Carousel Cake Decorating Kit on an endcap & knew we had to have it.
Babygirl was turning 4 & there were 4 horses!
She adores carousels & anything having to do with horses, ponies, unicorns... you get the idea. We HAD to have it.

The kit is fabulously detailed & super easy to clean up. The pieces are made of sturdy plastic & are not flimsy. My only gripe with the kit is that the poles do not snap into the casings to hold the roof in place very well. The lid could easily be knocked off & it took a bit of creativity & some scotch tape to get it to work for me. It was worth it though! The look on my little girl's face when she saw it was priceless....not to mention that Mama had the best fun ever decorating it with pink buttercream, sprinkles, edible glitter... yes! That is glitter you can eat!!! ...and of course tinkerbell. The original cake I was going to make would have been fairy themed, so tinkerbell was paying homage to that.

It was fun for everyone! Even my father in law ate the cake!

Labor Day Weekend... Sad to see Summer End

2010-09-07T08:30:00.003-04:00

We had a fabulous weekend with some of the family coming from out of town.
The menfolk worked on those last little projects around the house & yard that needed to be taken care of & watched football while us girls went shopping & cooked up some of the best things I've eaten in awhile. We had peach pie, chicken lasagna, and I made over a dozen sushi rolls last night for a huge sushi feed!
The weather was perfect... hot in the sun & cool in the shade and no humidity.
The sad thing about the whole weekend was that it had to end. It's always hard on the kiddos to see their grandparents leave after the fun & games & spoiling. It was the shortest long weekend ever!

Dolly Donations...comforting orphans in Haiti...

2010-08-31T16:22:00.006-04:00

I just couldn't let this rest & had to participate in the doll drive going on right now to send the cutest handmade dolls to an orphanage in Haiti. These kids could really use some comfort & handmade love.

For more info on this, you can click on the button in my sidebar to be directed to the dolly donations blog...or cut & paste this link into your browser: http://dollydonations.blogspot.com/2010/05/active-dolly-drive-free-kids-dolls-for.html

I'll see if the ladies at my church have any free time to whip up a few more. They are in more need of boy dolls than girl dolls & the deadline is fast approaching.

A little info about the craft experience. Each doll only took a couple of hours for me to make & I know they'd go by faster the more I work on.
The pattern is available for free on the dolly donations website.

The cost of materials was minimal. I bought the brown cotton for the doll's faces & arms, & found all the body & legs fabrics in the 'fat quarter' section at my local fabric store, but any fabric would do, I had the black fleece which I used on thier hair as well as the stuffing. It took not quite 2 bags of stuffing to stuff all 7 of these. I had the craft paint too, but if you didn't have anything to start with, this would easily be an under $20 project for one doll.

It was a lot of fun & I'm sure hoping each of these special friends brings a smile to a child that needs it the most. If you have a little free time & would like to try your hand at an easy & fun project, I encourage you to do so!

*oh, and please give Sarah Hanson credit for the doll pattern when folks ask about it...she is very generous to share it so freely!

Cheers!

One Birthday Down...and One to Go! Making Cake Together.

2010-08-29T09:57:00.004-04:00

This is a busy time for us in planning the kiddos birthdays...especially with them starting school this year.
Last week was my son's birthday & we had such a fun time in making his cake together. This week he wants to be a chef. :)

He loves chocolate, so we mixed up a devils food cake in 2 9" round pans. I don't know a kid who doesn't like cracking eggs and mixing batter!

We put chocolate frosting in between the layers as well as on the sides of the cake. The cake was then topped with green buttercream frosting...yes... green! My boy loved it!
He loves anything that has to do with trains, so when I found that cute kitschy plastic train which as a bonus it had 6 cars...I knew it would be perfect for the cake. We tossed on some yellow nonperils & added a ferris wheel...along with some blue edible gitter & a merry go round to make it more carnival/circus themed.
Over the summer we went to a carnival & it was pure magic to the kids & this was a fun way to kind of relive that fun time together.

Finally we added the candles & a couple of sugar trains around the bottom & it was done!

I'd recommend trying to make birthday cake together with your kiddos. It makes a great memory, teaches them to follow instructions, and the quality time together cannot be measured...it's priceless.

Glittery Unicorn Wall Art for My Girl

2010-08-25T15:41:00.003-04:00

My little girl will be 4 soon, so I made this extremely sparkly unicorn for her to decorate her room. She sees so many sparkly things come & go & will feel so special to have the biggest glittery resin thing I've made for herself!

I'll let y'all know what she thinks of it!

:o)

Amazing Mail Day!!! Craftster Swap Fun!

2010-08-20T12:39:00.005-04:00

Hey all!

I just have to share what my super talented partner in the Friend of Craftster Wist Swap made for me!

She crocheted Audrey Hepburn from Breakfast at Tiffanys in pink and black & then quilted it with super fun colorful mushroom fabric!

Isn't it darling? I have to let the girlie know she can't keep it. This blanket is mommy's!

:o)

I am such a klutz! Ouchie!

2010-08-19T08:27:00.003-04:00

This is kind of funny in a 3 stooges way.
I was sitting at my computer in the dark when the phone rang so I got up to answer it.
I tripped over the cat who I didn't know was there... and to over compensate so I wouldn't come crashing down on him, I ended up kicking the coffee table which I'd moved out of position because we've been painting...and nailed my poor baby toe.
It's broke... and broke good.
I kept my leg up with ice & took 3 alieve last night & hubby wrapped my foot.

Today I don't plan on being up on my feet much. I'm so lucky that I ran a big batch of resin yesterday during the good weather...so I can sit & sand (which I hate...sanding not sitting) and maybe finish these sparklies sooner than I anticipated! Maybe.

I think I need another alieve! The kitty is back in his spot again...by my feet. He likes to be close...and isn't a lap cat. I gave him pats & told him he's not to blame for my little accident. I got a head-bump in reply. That's love!

Gearing up for Hoop Up, Round 2! A fairy sweet cupcake embroidery pattern!

2010-08-15T15:30:00.004-04:00

This is my latest creation for the hoop up round 2 swap on flickr...as well as a new pattern I just added to my etsy shop. I'm planning on making more of my designs available due to all the love they've received within the group as well as several anonymous inquiries.
I have fun stitching them & just hope other folks have as much fun as I do!

This pattern would look great done up in a variety of colorways!

Happy crafting!

The Simpsons Made it to their New Home!

2010-08-14T17:37:00.003-04:00

Finally!

So the Simpsons Nativity made it to it's new home today & I can post photos for y'all to see!
It was the most time intensive swap I think I've ever done on craftster, but completely fun & totally worth it! I know my swap partner will enjoy it for years to come!
Here's a top view:

This is what they looked like after they were baked, but not yet painted. Part of me liked them white & could visualize them coated with glitter just like this...but I just knew I had to paint them up in the Simpson's colors! I did toss on some glitter during the clearcoating step at the very end though!

Now I'm on to a new project & cannot wait to share with you my 'fairy sweet cupcake' embroidery!

Photos & pattern soon!
:o)

Shhhh! It's a Secret!!!

2010-08-10T17:34:00.002-04:00

I cannot wait to share with all of you dear readers my latest creation! I'm going to have to wait until my swap partner over at craftster gets her swap package before posting the entire project because I don't want to spoil the surprise for her.
I've sculpted The Simpsons as a nativity!
This is the biggest...most time intensive project I think I've ever swapped on craftster. It took me over 40 hours to sculpt the family plus their dog, Santaslittlehelper. I think painting was another 12 hours because you wouldn't believe how difficult it is to paint up to the edge of one colored area without the paint or bristles of the brush sneaking over on another part. I did a lot of touch ups. To finish it off & make it super festive, they're all clearcoated with a sprinkling of glitter. I love when I can work glitter into a project!

Now comes the really hard part... letting go. I've let them dry sufficiently & taken their 'glamour shots'... so now they're sitting on the kitchen table next to a box & roll of bubble wrap. I'll be mailing these out priority, with insurance, and signature confirmation.
I'm disenchanted with the usps right now...but that's another story & I want to be absolutely sure these reach their new home safe & sound!
I hope my partner & her family loves them!

Will post updated photos of the group after they get there...by Friday if all goes well!

How a Crafty Sewing Type of Person Can Make a World of Difference for a Child in Haiti

2010-08-06T22:18:00.004-04:00

I need to participate in this super charity called "Dolly Donations" sewing adorable dolls for the children in Haiti.
Things are usually pretty crazy-busy around here...I've got kids starting school for the first time soon, we're refinancing the house, I'm running 2 etsy shops & handling the general everyday chaos & keeping the family glued together.
Somehow, some way I must block out some time to make a friend for a child to hug & feel the love they so desperately need.
You can make a difference too!
I believe they are accepting dolly donations until Nov 1.
There are free patterns on the blog with tutorials & tips!

Let's do this!

C'mon now...It will be fun!

:o)

America's Got Talent...

2010-08-04T07:43:00.001-04:00

It's been my summertime guilty pleasure for the past few years & it's reached the point for me that summer wouldn't be summer without the tv show America's Got Talent on NBC.

It's starting to wind down & finalists are being chosen... America is voting for their favorites.

I voted tonight for the first time. It was weird picking up the phone to call in my vote...as if my measly vote would be the turning point for America's next big wonderful talent. I certainly hope so! I called in to represent middle America as they called it after my favorite, Prince Poppycock performed.

He's truly gifted & quite the showman! I think I could watch him for hours.
Tomorrow night the results will be in...and I'll be glued to my tv with my fingers crossed.

:o)

So who do y'all want to win. I promise to not get my knickers in a twist if you don't think PRince Poppycock is the cat's pajamas! Promise! Well, I'll try!

Now for something completely different...

2010-08-02T09:45:00.006-04:00

I've been working on a custom order that doesn't include candy sprinkles or glitter!

I was approached by someone at my other etsy shop, As Luck Would Have It, to make a custom pendant using some plant pieces & sand grains that she sent to me.

I have to tell you this was one of the most fun & unique projects I've had the pleasure of working on in a long time.

'K' was a pleasure to work with giving me details of what she would like the piece to ultimately look like, quick to respond to my questions & updates, and I'm sad to say the piece is now made... so bittersweet that the fun has had to come to an end.

I think the jewelry came out very well. It's both modern and natural looking at the same time!

There are more photos on my flickr if you'd like to take a peek: http://www.flickr.com/photos/isewcute/sets/72157624508240421/

Summer Daze... it goes by so fast doesn't it?

2010-07-29T09:36:00.004-04:00

Been So Busy Here... Filling Orders, Taking Photos, & Making New Resin Jewelry

2010-07-26T09:07:00.011-04:00

It's been a busy July for me here at isewcute... after our glorious 2 week family time vacation, I've been working pretty much full steam ahead. Filling orders for custom creations like these fabulous post earrings:

I'm totally crazy for them & have started to add new sweet looking mini dome post earrings to the shop! I've even made some clip on earrings for a custom order.
As well as filling orders for some shop favorites:

Another adventure I've embarked on has been to photograph product for a super cute website called 'girlzlyfe'. I have sold my sweet resin jewels to them in the past & was totally tickled that they liked my photography enough to ask me to do some of their product photos! My hubby gets such a kick out of me being a 'hand model' ...ha!
You should check out their site if you love all sorts of girly things as well as cute stuff for your special doggie! These are just a few fun items you can find in their shop:

I've also been working my fingers to the bone to build up stock for my other etsy, 'asluckwouldhaveit' ...making unique jewelry treasures with real four leaf clovers.

I'm hoping to have at least 100 new items in 'asluckwouldhaveit' by the end of September.

Did I mention that I'm also doing a swap on craftster & a swap on flickr & also freelancing? July is just a whirlwind & I'm loving it! Chock full of crafty goodness!

:o)

Etsy Sellers... Don't you wish....

2010-07-16T11:45:00.004-04:00

That when you have someone on flickr come right out and say they love an item you made & want to buy it, that you could then give them a link or flickrmail them or something?
I'm so freaked out about even the possiblity of having my account deleted, because I use flickr to participate in craft swaps, post my craftster projects, and blog stuff, that I don't dare take a chance just because of a single possible etsy sale.

To Whom it May Concern:

Yes, the 'kiss me' necklace is still available in my etsy! http://www.etsy.com/listing/20064836/kiss-me-giant-red-resin-heart-shaped?ref=sr_list_1&ga_search_query=kiss&ga_search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_5776012
If you want it...it's yours! Cheers!

Finally Finished! Hoop Up! Round 1 Swap is Done!

2010-07-15T13:53:00.004-04:00

I stitched up this cutie while on vacation for the past couple of weeks. This is for Followthewhitebunny's 'Paris' theme.... and since she likes cats, I designed the gal to be holding a kitty rather than a wee poodle dog!

This was totally fun & I cannot wait for Round 2!

:o)

I Sew Cute was Featured Again!

2010-07-14T19:49:00.005-04:00

Thank you square kitties for the fabulous shop feature: http://squarekitties.blogspot.com/2010/07/isewcute-has-adorable-jewelery-sprinkle.html
...it looks great and I'm so super flattered!

;o}

I'm Delighted to Have Been Featured on 'Must Have Cute'

2010-07-13T20:41:00.002-04:00

check out isewcute's shop for more sweet looking jewelry!

Taking photos of my Niece is so Addictive

2010-07-12T12:02:00.004-04:00

Can you blame me? She is such a living doll.

I think I may persue photography more once my little girl starts school.

Eastern Box Turtle... Nature on the Driveway...

2010-06-25T23:19:00.002-04:00

These turtles are pretty common in Ohio, and are so beautiful in their colors & patterns.

We moved him to the creek. He seemed pretty happy & quite relieved to be put there after hissing at me for picking him up in the first place.

:o)

Good Mail Day!!!!

2010-06-25T08:16:00.004-04:00

Looky what came in the mail today! Super fun summer clothes for the kiddos from Elvisatx! She also sent me tons of kid clothing patterns & yarn she'd spun herself & the most awesome Elvis Christmas ornament!

I should have taken photos of everything, but my camera batteries are dead after a huge photoshoot I've done for a client over the past couple of weeks. I have to remember to put one dang battery in the charger when the other one is in use! Ah well.. I will update with photos of all later...because it's all awesome!

Thank you so much Elvissa for the super fun mail day!

BTW... babygirl slept in that outfit last night. I couldn't get it off of her! Now that's love!

:o)

My next embroidery project... Chipette!

2010-06-21T10:03:00.002-04:00

Isn't this a happy scrappy pup? I saw the original cuteness in someone's flickr stream & contacted the photographer/owner to see if she'd mind if I made a pattern & stitched it up. I'm happy to say she was thrilled at the idea & so I've drafted this pattern.

I can't wait to get stitching!

:o)

Mmmmmmacaroni Salad!

2010-06-18T09:40:00.005-04:00

With hot days becoming more the norm around here, I like making things to eat that don't require me to turn on the oven. This macaroni salad will feed an army & the best thing about it is the longer it lasts...the better it tastes due to the flavors melding, although I wouldn't eat it if it's more than 6-7 days old.

Ingredients:

1 box elbow macaroni, macaroni spirals, or multicolored macaroni twists (which is very eye catching) ...whatever macaroni shape you like...go for it!
1.5 - 2 cups of miracle whip
1 medium onion chopped fine
1 small package frozen peas
1 package cubed ham chunks
1 package cheese cubes ...we like colby or sharp cheddar

Cook up macaroni until al dente. Rinse with cool water & drain well. Put in big bowl. Cook frozen peas in salted water until desired firmness, rinse in cool water & drain. Add to macaroni. Dump in ham, cheese cubes, & chopped onion. Mix in miracle whip. Add a dash of black pepper to taste. Mix well & chill before serving.

Enjoy!
:o)

Wordless Wednesday...

2010-06-16T13:36:00.001-04:00

Just had to share this with y'all...

She's something else!

:o)