New items on Etsy

I just posted some cute little burlap cross body totes on my Etsy site.

Parent's 70th wedding anniversary

I meant to post this last week, on the actual day, but was quite busy with family and all.  I just thought I would post a picture as I KNOW this is rare...my parent's had their 70th anniversary on February 9.  Don't ask me the secret of their success, cynic that I am, I would say it's due to Mom's refusal to get a hearing aid..

Here's a picture.  Not bad for 90 and 88, still walking on their own.  Try and zoom in on the photo of the young newlyweds, they were quite cute!

Etsy Store finally has listings!

Well, I finally did it, I took the time to put items in my Etsy store. I'll be adding more over the weekend, including some items that are NOT jewelry! I've included a few pictures.

Cookies!

I know, it's been a few weeks.  The last few have been a bit hectic, went out of state to help our my aging parents and to convince them to move my me.  Got a summer cold (I really hate those!).  Anyway, I haven't worked on anything new much.  It's been way too hot and with no air conditioning in the house, well, you get the picture!  Before the heat set in, there was a bake sale at work for a charity fund and I made some peanut butter chocolate chip cookies that were a hit so I thought I would post the recipe.  Here it is, along with a picture:

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

1/4 lb. butter (1 stick)
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1 1/3 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
2 extra large eggs
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 10oz. bag peanut butter chips
1 12oz. bag chocolate chips

Cream together butter, peanut butter and sugars.  Add the eggs, one at a time, and the vanilla, until thoroghly blended.  Sift together flour, soda and salt.  Add to the bowl and mix.  Beat in the chips (if your mixer can handle it, the dough can get pretty thick with the chips.  You may have to fold in by hand).  Preheat oven to 325 F.  Drop by handfulls (or use a cookie scoop or teaspoon for smaller cookies) onto a baking sheet and bake until done.  Smaller cookies take about 12 minutes, the large ones about 16 minutes.  Cookies are done when the edges are golden brown and center just slightly brown.

Enjoy!

Anaheim Art Crawl

I thought I would melt.  It was so humid (I know, I know, its nothing like the midwest and the east, but it not something I'm used to!).  My nephew, Blake and one of his friends were kind enough to come and help me set up.  The first couple of hours were a little slow but once twilight set in and it started to cool off a bit, it got a bit busier.  There was a swing dance thing going on, it was nice to see so many people in their vintage dress, lots of cute outfits.  I wasn't able to take many pictures.  Here's one of my spot:

I guess I was a bit crooked with the table cloth :-0

At the table next to me was Erica, who makes really cute bottle cap jewelry.  Her website is www.betsysdrawers.com.  She was very kind in helping me set up my canopy.  I borrowed it from my friend Monica and I had never used one before...and thank goodness for my friend Terri, who came at the end to help me pack up and take down the canopy.  I don't know what I would do without my friends.  Oh!  And here's a picture of Erica's area:

Sorry for all of you ladies who's backsides are in the pictures!
Overall, a good time!  Thanks to all who came out for the event, I hope you enjoyed it, too!

In the mean time...

Well, I was going to work on some more jewelry this weekend, but an order for some needed supplies went astray.  I took the opportunity to work on finishing up another project.  I had had an idea for a purse and had purchased a basic pattern to alter.  I used a McCall's pattern and added pockets and embellishments.  I had coffee died and stamped the pocket fabric a few weeks ago but decided to do the same with the rest.  I just took the photos with my iPad camera so they aren't the best, but here you go:

Here's a closer picture:

It's really hard to see in these pictures, but there's a touch of aqua among the coffee.  The rose is hand sewn with gathered strips of fabric, lace, and tulle.  I put some pearls, aqua rondelles and a round rhinestone bead in the center of the rose:

On either side of the rose, I ran some fabric scraps through my Big Shot with the Tim Holt tattered flower die cut.  I just ran the stamped linen and some tulle through it and sewed them on with a pearl in the center.

I don't know why the pictures turned out so yellow, it's really not that color!  I'll have to take some other pictures in natural lighting and post them.  These were taken indoors at night.  Not sure I'll get them posted before next Sunday, as I'll be at the downtown Anaheim Art Crawl on Saturday, August 11.  I have a table there so if you're in the area, come and say hi!  It's on Promenade from 6-10pm.  Hope to see you there!        http://www.facebook.com/events/117704735038131/

Embracing the Shine

Well, I've finished a piece I had made a focal for.  I fought my usual urge to 'dirty it up' and decided to leave the silver metal shiney.  It's a bit hard to tell from the picture:

So I took it outside and tried the natural light:

I could seem to get an angle without my shadow in it....

While I was outside, my moonflowers were starting to come out for the evening.

Back inside, I finished a fabric rose for another project I'm working on. 

Here's one without the flash:

My cat had to oversee everything, of course.

Apparently he wasn't too impressed!