Saturday, June 19, 2010

Wondering Fish

While strolling through the art section in Sisters Oregon a few weeks ago we came across this marvelous item.
I have done a little work in metal but nothing as fantastic as this metal fish.
Look closely at this marvel of patience and skill.
I would love to own this beauty and display it on the table my hubby made but alas it is 2,500 dollars well worth the time and skill,but way out of my tiny art budget.
One can always dream and there are always pictures.
Enjoy the marvel of the metal fish.
.

Banana Lime Cupcakes

The tart tang of lime adds zest to that great banana flavor. Our banana lime cupcakes are a refreshing flavor combo!

Ingredients:

•2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
•1 teaspoon baking soda
•1/4 teaspoon salt
•3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter softened
•1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
•3 eggs
•1 tablespoon lime juice
•1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
•2 ripe bananas mashed
•1 teaspoon lime zest grated
•3/4 cup sour cream

Makes: About 18 standard cupcakes. Each cupcake serves 1.
instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F. In medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside. In large bowl, cream butter and sugar with electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs, lime juice, vanilla, banana and lime zest; mix well. Add flour mixture alternately with sour cream; blend thoroughly but do not overmix. Pour into prepared pans. Bake 20-25 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes in pan on rack; remove and cool completely before decorating.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

FREE Doll E-Pattern

FREE Doll E-Pattern by Shashi Nayagam


Shashi Nayagam of "MoonbeamWorld.com" and "Sewing With Moonbeams" blog offers one of her wonderful dolls "Butternut" as a FREE Doll E-Pattern in .PDF format that you can download yourself.
Just CLICK on the two .pdf links below to view and print the E-Pattern and Instructions for making Butternut.

Pattern - Click here to open [Butternut-pattern.pdf]

Instructions - Click here to open [Butternut.pdf]

Shashi's Bio - “I was born in India and raised in a small hill station. When I was very young I would watch my mother's friend who made beautiful cloth dolls and dreamed of making my own dolls one some day. After growing up, getting married and moving to UK, I was able to make my dream come true. With the help of many Internet doll making friends and on line classes as well as taking classes with some of the wonderful doll artists from and in America, I have been able to develop my doll making skills. Since my childhood pastimes were drawing and painting I have been able to use these skills in creating my dolls.”
Shashi's website is "MoonbeamWorld.com" and Shashi's blog is "Sewing With Moonbeamssewingwithmoonbeams.blogspot.

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Yard Updates Wisteria and Strawberry



This has become almost a weekly update.
We have moved onto the Wisteria and Strawberry Bed.
Rock now crosses the front of the deck so there will be now more mud into the house.
Hubby is working on the trenches for the French drains on this side of the yard. We had gutters put on the house and need deeper trenches on this side of the house. June 13 2010

The benches and cover for the deck will have to wait till next year.
I have almost used my whole garden budget for the year.

Made For Me By Redrooster




This was our handmade coaster Swap over on the Forum Board.
Redrooster was my partner and sent these amazing coasters made of vinyl.

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Christmas in June

Well it's not Christmas but these little fairy  ornaments are so cute I thought I would share.
These were sent to me years ago.
Materials needed:


Aleene's® Platinum BondTM Glass & Bead Slick Surfaces Adhesive
Miscellaneous
Acrylic paint: pink, red and black
Bead, large round red
Brush, small
Chenille stem
Christmas ball ornament, 1” and 3”
Cup or bowl, shallow
Micro beads, silver
Needle and thread
Plastic bead, large green flower shape
Seed beads
Silk flower, large white daisy
Silk ivy, small


Instructions
For best results, please read all instructions before beginning project. Refer to photo for color and design placement.
1. Remove hangers from ornaments.
2. Paint a circle of pink acrylic paint on the small ball and let dry. Mix a small amount of red into the pink to make cheek color and add to face.
3. Add a red mouth and black eyes.
4. Pour micro beads into shallow cup.
5. Squeeze a small dot of adhesive onto large ball and dip into micro beads. As the beads adhere to the glue, press with finger to flatten and re-dip to fill in. Repeat this process one dot at a time, covering the bottom half of the ball with dots. Let dry.
6. Add a hanger with the chenille stem by making a loop and gluing across top and around neck of ornament. Glue in place and let dry.
7. Pull apart the daisy and discard any plastic parts. Use two layers of the largest daisy petals and cut a hole large enough to fit over the neck of the ornament. Glue into place. Let dry. Glue ivy leaves under petals.
8. Use the small petals from the center of the flower to make hair, turning one upside down on top of head, and then two right side up. Hold in place until glue is set. Add green flower bead and red round bead to the center of the top petals. Let dry.
9. Glue head in place and let dry.
10. String seed beads onto thread about 1-1/2” and wrap around neck and glue in place.
 
This year I think I will try the chiffon flowers to make a more delicate look.

Thursday, June 10, 2010

The Little Acorn

Found this little acorn container with instructions over on
Easy to follow and great PDF download.

Friday, June 4, 2010

Yard Deck Update


Well it took a bit between the rain and storms but the first stage of the deck has been done.

Embellish those keys

Well in my long list of things to do with keys.
Santa magic keys,
Keys  as lamp shades,
 even key frames ,
This looks the the best way to use up those extra bags of keys.
Found and posted this some time ago on the forum but for those who missed it.
Here is the link to how to embellish keys
Found HERE

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Bottle cap Jewelry

While surfing the other day I found this cute tutorial on bottlecap jewelry.
She did a great job on the tutorial.
I have a few caps to try out this one .
Found HERE
How to flatten bottlecaps

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Gift Tag Download

Good morning friends.
Today the weather is storming and the deck has been built.
We will wait until the rains pass to get it sealed and waterproof and then next year build a cover.
But today I have a gift tag to share.
Then yard photos and some more crafts found over on the forum. Enjoy


Friday, May 28, 2010

1940 Knitted Sock Pattern


I do not knit but mother made almost all my clothes.
She passed away a few years ago and I still have several pairs of her hand made sock.
They are lovingly  tucked away and saved as lost treasures and fond memories.
I do have all her old patterns and books and share one of my favorites with all of you who do knit.

Cable sock with French heel.




Tuesday, May 25, 2010