Pining

Oooo, today seems like a good day to fill a few of these cups with some cake.

I can't because my oven's heating element caught fire over the weekend.

Luckily it was just the element that was damaged--I was nearby and suddenly became aware of a very bright light in the oven as it preheated.

These cupcake liners are cheapo ones that are just paper and will turn brown when they are used. I guess you have to bake in a plain color and slip this on after the cake is cooled if you want to display a pretty liner. Who knew?? :-) 

They are pretty in the glass jar--just to look at.

The floral and strawberry ones are from Michaels in a dollar bin.

Warmly

Boy, I wish I could say I knit this, but alas I can not. :-)

It is beautiful and just what I was wishing for.

Warm enough for the rest of the chilly winter. 

Closely textured stitches!

Yummy!

Calling Spring

Muddy walk in the woods yesterday and there wasn't much happening.

The trees are showing some buds, two robins were out and about

and we saw these skunk cabbages emerging.

They are certainly weird looking things,

pushing up through the fallen brown leaves.

They have a pretty pattern on them though.

I always get a restless yearning this time of the year for

sunshine, warmth and open windows.

Gobbling

From time to time I have featured fabulous illustrators/artists here and Joan Walsh Anglund is one I have shown before. I couldn't resist showing her work again because I just found that she had illustrated this Hansel and Gretel story, published in 1962. I hopped onto Amazon and found a used copy to order. Man, do I love the internet for the used book market. I bought a Palmer Cox, Brownies book years ago and had to directly contact (via snailmail) a bookseller who located a copy for me. I had to send a check in the mail and wait forever to receive the book.

Anyway, Joan Walsh Anglund is on my list of favorite artist/illustrators. I am framing copies of work by each of my favorites to hang in my art room. Sometimes years go by without looking in books that I own to see the artwork of these illustrators. It seems like such a shame to have them hidden away. What are some of your favorite illustrators?

Are there any you haven't thought of for years?

Red Letter Day

Gorgeous packaging from Nest Pretty Things. 

This is what was waiting for me when I got home yesterday.

Ahhh, so sweet!

Sunshine!!

I was shocked to see a crocus open today!

It is beautiful sunshiney yellow.

Put to Good Use

This is a small cloth bag that came with a tablecloth that I purchased a few years ago.

There is one on Amazon that is just like it, no mention of the cloth bag, but it might still come with it.

The bag is made with the same cloth that the tablecloth is made of--very cottagey! :-)

Well, being the possessor of a new Netbook (small laptop) that needed a protective bag, I thought of this cloth bag that had not found a purpose--even as beautiful as it is. 

I added a gingham lining and a layer of cotton batting in between to make a soft bed for the netbook.

The ricrac was already there and I hand-stitched the buttonhole so it would go through all the layers.

I didn't take a photo of the small bag that I also made of polarfleece to place the cord/adaptor into that goes into this netbook bag. There is even room for my camara to slide into the bag. Yeah!!!

The Teenie Weenies

Have you ever seen the Teenie Weenies?

They are small people imagined by William Donahey.

There was a cartoon strip and many books featuring these little people

published between 1912 and 1970.

They are delightful and good fun--though a bit dated in a politically incorrect way.

There is a blog HERE that has many of the cartoons and stories that went with the picture. There is a book published back in 1986 about William Donahey called

"The Teenie Weenies Book: The Life and Art of William Donahey"

but many libraries don't have it anymore and a used copy is high-priced ($100 and up).

In the book it says that he built models of the houses he illustrated.

I wonder where those are??? I would love to see them wouldn't you??

One Forward, Two Back

I have been working on this pair of socks forever!

I love the colorway (RedHeart-Antique Rose) but I keep getting distracted by other projects or just staring into space--like when I had that nasty cold last week.

The picture above is taken with a new point and shoot camara that I just got.

(special "toy"setting on Canon Powershot) 

I ruined my old camara last summer when I tipped over my kayak,

landing face down in the water, along with the rest of me.

(camara in pocket--not in waterproof bag) 

I have been using Em's camara the whole time since.

It is nice to have one of my own again. :-)

Never Too Old

A tiny felt lapel pin that I made for Meg as a kindergartener some years ago.

Em wore it too, a few years back.

But announced in no uncertain terms when she saw it this year that

"she wasn't wearing that to school!"

(hee-hee)

That's alright because I'll wear it. :-)

Happy Valentines Day!

Dutch Girl Valentine

Here is the other valentine I traced to get a working embroidery pattern.

Click HERE if you want the PDF. :-)

Gingham Valentine

This is what I made up with the embroidery pattern I posted.

I was thinking about making a wee bag to carry valentines to school in

but made a small wall hanging instead.

Perfect for a first Valentine's Day.

One of Those Days

I'll be back in a few days--I'm a little under the weather with a cold.

Uggh!

Vintage Pup

Here is a valentine treat for you.

I took a vintage valentine and enlarged it, then I traced the important lines to get a pattern suitable for embroidery.

I got the great idea from HERE.

I am embroidering the pup right now and am almost done.

I have a Dutch girl almost ready from another vintage valentine.

I'll try to post it by Monday.

Have a great weekend!!!  :-)