Unconventionally Amazing Soap...a Fabulous Etsy Find!

Grumpygirl's lollipop guild soap is a total treat for your senses!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vt_related_2&listing_id=16207163



When putting together a treasury a couple of weeks ago, I knew in a heartbeat that I HAD to HAVE IT!

Just looking at this soap made me feel like a kid presented with a new box of crayons!

Wait! It gets better...


...when this soap arrived at my house it was very neatly packaged in a rainbow of recyclable shredded paper & the bars were carefully wrapped in printed polka dotted tissue! I could smell it as soon as I opened the box...reminiscent of childhood days with a giant rainbow swirled lollipop! The scent was spot on perfection!

It has been such a feast for the senses!
Nobody said baths have to be boring, & I highly recommend it to anyone!

A Preschooler's Imagination...It's a Beautiful Thing!

When you have kids, I believe the secrets of the universe are unlocked for you & you see everything in a whole new way!

Everyday I'm amazed with the things my kiddos come up with....and even though I teach them...they usually end up teaching me something in the process.

This is not a costume for my little girl...it's a whole world of possibility & food to feed her imagination! She actually becomes a fairy when she's wearing it!

This is the beauty of chilhood.

Remember to live joyfully in the little moments that really matter the most!

Celebrating Halloween Early...with Cupcakes!

Nothing fancy here really...just made up a Betty Crocker Yellow Cake Mix...baked it into 24 cupcakes...we used Halloween liners sent to us from Grandma (thanks Grandma!) ...and iced them with milk chocolate frosting, Halloween sprinkles, & festive Halloween cupcake decorations (also from Grandma).

My 4 year old did all the decorating & is proud as a peach!

His little sister really appreciated his efforts...as you can tell by her expression!

We don't keep a lot of junk food in the house ...so this is a real treat!

Bugs...they repulse & fascinate me at the same time!

Just saw this creepy little thing clinging to the window screen & had to take a macro photo. I'm sure I'd pass out if it landed on me...he's pretty big...nearly an inch & a half long.

Does anybody know what kind of buggy this is? Please leave a message if you do! I'll read up on our little visitor!

I'm especially freaked out by the little sharp spiny things on it's back. It reminds me of the art of H.R. Geiger http://www.hrgiger.com/

:¦:-•:*'""*:•.-:¦:-•*STROMBOLI RECIPE*•-:¦:-•:*'''''*:•-:¦:

Stromboli is Fabulous!

Ham, mozzarella cheese, & pepperoni rolled up in a loaf of bread...a real treat & great alternative to pizza!

Ingredients:
For the bread dough:
1 1/3 c warm water
1 pkg. yeast
1 tsp. salt
1/3 c. shortening
4 cups plus a bit more flour

Mix water & yeast...add shortening, salt, & then flour one cup at a time...you might want to use a pastry blender to cut in the shortening. When dough is a good consistency & not too sticky, then you've added enough flour.

Knead it a bit & then roll out to about 1/4 " thick or so.

Filling ingredients:
1lb. ham
1 lg. pkg. mozzarella cheese
pepperoni....usually 30-40 pieces works good

(I've also done a veggie version with sauteed spinach, mushrooms, green pepper, onion, black olives, & pesto...you can experiment with anything you would normally top a pizza with)

lay the filling ingredients on in this order...ham then cheese then pepperoni. I did the cheese as the first layer before...and got a hole in the bread as it baked...& was such a mess!

Roll it up like a jelly roll while pinching the ends & edges closed all around. You can wet your fingers with some cool water to help it stick.

Let rise for 2.5-3 hours.

Bake in preheated oven about 40 min. @ 375 degrees fahrenheit.
When crust is a nice golden color...it's generally done.

Slice up hot & serve with marinara sauce either on the side or poured on top. Delish! You'll thank me for this recipe...it's THAT GOOD!

;^D

Creepy-Cute! Tis the Season of Witches & Hobgoblins!

I posted this little creation of mine over @ Craftster for some feedback.

This is Sin-dy...my Goth doll. She's soft with a bit of wire armature for slight posing...kind of like a rag doll with bones! LoL! (crack myself up with that mental picture) Anyway, I usually sew cute (which is my profile name for everything...isewcute or I Sew Cute, but just had in mind to create a goth softie...so here she is.

I embroidered the eyes...and love how they turned out!


I am currently working on extending her wardrobe as well as making a coffin carrying case.

Hey Elton John...Wanna Buy a Quilt? Got your 'Candle in the WInd' right here!

I don't sew much in the summer months...unless it's something for a swap, freelance toy design projects, or a little something for my babygirl.
To me, sewing just feels like a fall through spring craft to be doing...more cozy like. Now that fall is upon us, I'm feeling pressed to dig out this project of mine from this past spring...to finally quilt & bind it...but when will I have the time?
I might be more motivated say if someone like Elton John called me up saying they wanted to buy it from me. Then I'd have a concrete deadline to get her done by at least!
I love this project dearly...and really couldn't part with it...unless it was going to someone who appreciated Marilyn Monroe as much as I do...and since Joe Dimaggio is gone...well, maybe Elton John might call!

Ironing in my kitchen...why my projects always end up in the kitchen...I just can't explain.


Detail of the back...there were so many pieces to piece!


Hanging on the line...while I tacked the backing fabric to the front....red satin...ooh la la!


Someone on craftster dot com mentioned that I should have an electric fence around my clothesline. I really got a great laugh from that!
Thank you craftsters!

It measures just under 60"

;^D

A Fan Letter to The Tiger Lillies ...and a sketchy inspired by their music

Dear Tiger Lillies,

You all are amazing & wonderful! (of course you are & probably hear that a lot!)

I love the performance art & music you do! (why shouldn't I...you're so talented!)

Being able to meet you all in person a couple of years ago in Chicago was one of the biggest thrills of my life (as it should be), & I've been so inspired that I created this little doodle of you all.

I hope you are flattered by it & that it captures 'Tiger Lillie Essence' since it's more of a cartoony representation rather that a true to life portrait.

Keep doing what you do...I love your work & look forward to your next album!

Kind Regards,
June

To anyone looking for something truly unique to listen to...I'd highly recommend the Tiger Lillies. If you have the opportunity to see them perform in person...you are dang lucky!
To read more about them, click on this link: http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Tiger-Lillies
or visit their official website:
http://tigerlillies.com/2003/index.php

Rice Pudding...making it now and my house smells A M A Z I N G!

This is almost like Heaven on earth!


Ingredients
1 gallon whole milk
1 heaping cupfull of River brand rice (uncle ben's long grain white works too)
1 1/2 c sugar
1 Tbsp. vanilla
nutmeg...to taste...I use at least 1 Tbsp...usually closer to 2 but I like nutmeg!

cook milk & rice on stove top on med. heat while stirring a lot & keep stirring until your hand gets tired!
Add sugar & vanilla ...then stir more.
Sprinkle in your nutmeg... & bake in the oven uncovered for a couple of hours at 325 degrees.
You'll know it's done when a 'skin' forms on top.



You can eat it warm or chill it in the fridge. I like it both ways myself!

I Love Customer Appreciation Photos!

I received a wonderful suprise today from one of my Etsy customers!

This is an adorable baby I did an embroidery pattern of awhile back.

Custom baby & animal portraits are my favorite to do...but I will create a pattern of most anything...if someone has the urge to stitch it up!

It makes me feel validated as an artist/crafter...when folks come back weeks later to let me know what they've done with the patterns I've made for them!

Right now I'm on cloud 9! ;^D