Etsy...oh my!

I have been so bad about blogging since I decided to start posting creations on Etsy. Not only can I post my own items but I can see and buy items from other AMAZING artists......oh my......its out of control! So in addition to rubber stamping, and crochet, I have added beading/jewelry making, sea glass, and anything else I can put together. Hey, its much cheaper than therapy.....I think......no, maybe

not......but certainly is more FUN! Here are a FEW of my recent creations.....all of which are available here

Sea Glass Dream

My newest addiction.......sea glass! We took a trip last month to the Glass Beach in Fort Bragg off the California coastline and found the Glass Beach. HAD to go back last weekend to see more because I can't get enough! This area was an old dump site for the local residents back in the 1940's - they would take their old glass and pottery to the cliff and throw it over. Little did they know, their garbage would all wash out into the ocean and God would return it as absolutely beautiful polished sea glass.....what a treasure!

This is the view from sitting on the b
beach!


Glass covers the entire beach several inches deep........

Here is a pair of earrings I made out of some of the glass I collected......

Oh my gosh, I really didn't need another craft addiction! 

Search for a smile

Lately I've been a tad on the grumpy side (my husband might report slightly more than "a tad") and when I get like this I try to go looking for things that make me smile. To be honest, those things constantly surround me, but sometimes it just takes a closer look. God's creations are amazing......I found some in my own backyard.

 

Feelin' patriotic

Gotta work this 4th of July weekend (and birthday) so I got out my stash of beads and picked out some favorites and strung 'em up. As you can see, I don't like things even and symmetrical. lol
Except the earrings.....

Have a very happy Independence Day everyone!

Today's Treasures

I can't believe it!! I went to JoAnn's today looking for yarn for my next project and not only did I find my yarn, but I found the FIRST edition of MOLLIE MAKES magazine!! I had just subscribed to the magazine and was able to purchase the second edition online, but the first edition was gone......until I saw it when I was in the checkout line! Fortunately, I didn't have to run anyone over with my cart to get to it.

And not only that, but here are my other treasures: more fabric, two sizes of yo-yo makers (I have no clue how to use them or what I will make, but I had to have them), and a Handmade magazine to add more inspiration to my already spinning brain.

Sigh.....I still haven't done the dishes from the apple pies so I can't play yet.

Carry-on Apple Pies

It all started when I woke up yesterday to this recipe in the newspaper.....

I don't bake very often (because I don't like the mess) but I thought if I could do this, it might make a nice blog post similar to many I have seen and drooled over, so I gave it a try....

I even had the little star cutter on hand from previous craft projects....

I don't believe I have used my handy-dandy Pampere'd Chef crimper yet, so I dug it out of the back of the utensil drawer and presto!.....

A little sprinkle of cinnamon and sugar and ready to bake.....

 I think they turned out every bit as pretty as the ones in the newspaper.......totally excited!!

And since I had leftover dough, I opened a can of cherry pie filling......definitely messier and I found out the cherry limit is three! They were a little leaky after baking but still yummy! The cherry ones got a heart cut-out instead of the star....

And they made it past the taste test.........yessssssssss!

One last picture.....I couldn't throw away all those pie crust scraps to I made them into a mini pie......

Now off to do the dishes.........thanks for looking! If anyone is interested in the recipe, leave me a comment and I will post it.
Ok, here's the recipe:                  APPLE HAND PIES

2/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 tablespoon butter
3 small baking apples, such as Granny Smith, peeled, cored, and diced (approx. 2 cups)
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon water
Two 14.1oz packages refrigerated pie dough (each pkg has 2 rounds of dough)
1 egg
1 tablespoon milk
In a small bowl, combine sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Set aside.
In a deep skillet over medium-high heat, melt the butter. Add apples and 1/3cup of the sugar mixture. Saute for 3 to 4 min. or until just tender.
In a small bowl, stir together the cornstarch, lemon juice, and water, then add to the apples and stir. Cook until the juices thicken and bubble, about 1 min. Set the filling aside to cool.
Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
One at a time, on a lightly floured surface unroll each of the 4 rounds of pie dough. Using a 3-inch circular cutter, cut out 9 rounds from each piece of dough for a total of 36 rounds.
In a small bowl, beat together the egg and milk.
To assemble the pies, place 1 dough round in front of you. Lightly brush around the edges of the round with the egg mixture. Place 2 teaspoons of apple filling in the center of the dough. Top with a second round of dough. Gently press down so the tip round meets the edges of the bottom round. Use a fork to crimp and seal all around the edges. Brush top with more of the egg mixture and sprinkle with the reserved cinnamon and sugar. Use a paring knife to poke a hole in the top to vent steam. Repeat with the remaining dough rounds and filling. Place the hand pies on the baking sheets leaving 1 inch between them. Bake for 18 to 20 min. or until the crust is golden brown. Let cool for 5 min. then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling.
(I used my mini cookie cutter to cut the star or heart in the top round before placing it on top) Enjoy!

Happy Birthday to my husband!

Tomorrow is my husband's 49th birthday so I stamped him up a card. Stamping is another one of my hobbies which has recently been a bit on the neglected side but I enjoy knowing I can pull out my stamps whenever I have the urge or need. I get almost all of my inspiration for stamping from Splitcoast Stampers. I advise you not to look unless you can resist starting another hobby........if its not too late! Happy Birthday Sweetheart!

Award Forward

 It's difficult to pass this award on #1 because there are so MANY blogs I love and I find more every day, and #2 because many of my favorite blogs have already been awarded. I am overwhelmed by inspiration!

The Garden Bell
Sew ritzy-titzy
lovely little handmades
Skymagenta's Crochet

I'm Honored

I woke up this morning to this blog award from 4 Lil' Girls
What a sweet thing, thank you so much! I get so much inspiration from other blogs, I almost feel like I'm cheating. I just asked my daughter to help me come up with 10 things about myself and the first thing she said was "crazy" so I guess she's not a good resource! Ok, here goes:
1-I have so many interests and hobbies I sometimes believe I have adult onset ADD. I have a craft room full of rubber stamps, beads, fabric, friendly plastic, and yarn (well the yarn is spilling out into the living room now). Daily I have to restrain myself from adding another new hobby.
2-This is a weird one, but I know some of you will try it......I love, love, love the smell of dog paws! Try it!
3-My mom is my best friend! (after my husband) We instigate each other into starting new crafts. She makes me put on my big girl panties and deal with things and I want to be just like her when I grow up!
4-My dad is another one of my best friends! We go metal detecting together, target practicing, and I get my love of animals from him. He also inspired me to become a nurse - he retired from anesthesia and loved every day of it.
5-My husband and I are homebodies, our most favorite place to be is at home with each other and our animals (dog and two cats). We recently purchased a travel trailer and are looking forward to getting out to see some of the California coast since we have lived here almost all our lives and hardly seen any of it. We are most contented just being with family.
6-I do NOT like to be called attention to when it is my birthday! I have been known to walk out of a restaurant because someone told the waitress it was my birthday and they were going to sing to me. (cringe) I get this from my dad and somehow passed it along to my son. What's with that??
7-It is my belief that I have the best looking children in the world. My son is now 24 and enjoys anything that has an engine and makes loud noises.....and moves at a fast speed. My twin daughters are almost 21 (sigh) and are complete opposites. One is blonde, one is brunette; one is an early riser, one sleeps in like me. I can't figure out how so many years have disappeared! We've filled our empty nest with a dog and two cats....things are pretty quiet now-a-days!
8-During my husband's 24 years in the Air Force we got to live in Germany, Japan, Texas, and Georgia. Lots of adventures!
9-I just asked my husband for input....he said: "critters love you!" It's probably a good thing we don't have a huge house or lots of land because I would rescue every critter I could and never get anything else accomplished.
10-My favorite food is peanut butter....I believe it courses through my veins!
I will pass this award on once I figure out how. Thanks again to 4 Lil'Girls for the recognition, you made my day!

Wildlife day

Today was our baby shower at the wildlife center.....and shower, it did! Even with all the rain, we still had a great show of people with animal presentations, face painting, crafts, etc. I volunteer with some of the neatest and smartest people I have ever met. I am holding one of our many "orphan" raccoons. We have Super Moms who take them home to raise them so they can be released back into the wild. Animals melt my heart and put a big smile in my heart and they demonstrate how awesome our God and creator is!

Bag progress and Cat-Scan

My Lucy bag is almost done.....couple more flowers, couple handles, and another Cat-Scan or two and I'll be set!

And here is my attempt at adding some "bright" to my room since we have a couple more weeks of rain to go......c'monnnn, its JUNE already! I've grown very fond of polka dots and when I saw this little Mary Englebreit teapot at the Goodwill store, I had to restrain myself from running over other shoppers to get to it!

Owls to tote

I saw the pattern for these owl totes on one of my favorite blogs and had to make them up for the Suisun Wildlife Center baby animal shower coming this weekend! I loved having an excuse to run out and buy bright fabrics......and, of course, a new sewing machine!
Our newest family member, Dolly, kept me company while I sewed.....sleeping on my ironing board on top of a piece of cat fabric!

Crochet Bag

This is the beginnings of my crochet bag. I fell in love with Lucy's bag and had to try this. She designed this pattern herself and gives very clear, easy instructions with photos. I can't wait to get it finished!

Here is the picture of her bag:

If you visit her blog, you will be amazed.

And last but not least, the bouquet of napkins.

And napkins....I wanted them all to be different. I think the lady at Pier 1 imports thought I was a nut case.

And of course I had to get plates, bowls, cups, napkins....

Bright Inspiration

One day not long ago, my daughter and I were looking for crochet patterns and happened upon some incredible blogs, some of which I intend to share once I figure out how to do this blog thing. I'm hooked! I saw beautiful creations and photography and have been anxious to set up my own blog ever since.....so here goes! My first picture is a result of a blog by Attic 24 (I will link to it when I figure out how). She has amazing projects, most of which include instructions......yesssssss! And she even includes pictures with her directions.....happy dance! I went out right away and bought a bunch of bright colored yarn and started making hexagons. Unsure of what to actually do with them once completed, I just kept making them until the idea of a table runner popped into my head. Then I had to find colorful goodies to go with it, and the rest is history!