Lemon Curd

I have finally made lemon curd!

It is something I have collected recipes for and never followed through with making it.

It turned out all lovely and curded. :-)

It has the freshest of lemon tastes. 

Some of my family doesn't care for the tartness of lemon

--I don't understand this--:-)

but Em helped me make a few strawberry jam tarts as well.

The lemon curd recipe I used is from the Glorious Treats Blog-HERE.

The teeny tiny tart shells are made in France for Clearbrook Farms-HERE.

The shells are a bit pricey on the website--yikes.

I bought them locally and not such a high price.

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!!!  :-)

Yarn & Books

Soon to be on its way to a new baby.

These were a ball to make! ;-) 

More books in the stack for 1/2 Price Books.

Toss out Tuesday seems to work for me--I only have to think about it once a week and 7 things--one for each day isn't too hard--at least this week.

A few more than 7 things this week....Yeah!!

Life in the Brambles

I sat down and read each of the little stories about Brambly Hedge this morning.

They are so sweet and happy. No heavy morals or drama--just the way I like children's stories to be. Pure delight! Of course, the stories feature mice and the illustrations are so detailed and cozy, so the book had me right from the beginning. 

The stories were written by Jill Barklem back in the 1980's.

This book of all the stories was just re-released in 2011.

I remember when Meg was little, Target had a clothing line for a short while using the characters from the books. I didn't even know about the books at the time. They are British, but published here in the states as well. There is a website with a small write-up on the books, HERE. 

Don't miss out on this book!

You know me, I want to live in the little homes in the hedge

 and toast my bread by a roaring fire. :-)

Cozy

A cozy morning,

in spite of the rain and chill outside.

Circus Ball & T.O.T.

I made another knitted ball and on my way towards a few more.

They are addictive to make.

The instructions are from a Ravelry free pattern, although I used a different sized yarn--fingering instead of worsted, which changed the instructions a little. I changed the number of color panels as well, from 7 to 6 so I could alternate the colors. I don't know whether that allows me to share what I did or not. What do you think?? 

Here are the 7 or more items for Toss out Tuesday.

What does it say about my in-grained hoarding habit that two weeks into this and I've had trouble coming up with stuff to get rid of. Uh-oh!!

Happy Day

Happy Chinese New Year's! 

We decorated a short light strand with little paper lanterns to celebrate.

The red message banners on the wall,

Em and I made a few years ago out of a red plastic tablecloth.

Now to make some Chinese chicken and break open a few fortune cookies.

A Little Snow

Snow falling on a favorite tree.

Snuggling under a blanket, watching the PBS series "Frontier House"

and knitting a wee rainbow ball.

Stay warm..........

Pocket Booklet

It's time for another pocket booklet.

I love these things to keep little notes in while I'm on the go.

Obviously, I'm low-tech here, but it suits me in this case. :-)

I love the cheery colors and patterns as I jot things down

like recommended books and recipes as well as groceries.

You can find a PDF HERE to print it off.

I found a cool website that lets you make a custom booklet HERE.

There are instructions at that website on how to fold up your pocket booklet

or you can go back to my instructions HERE.

Vintage Display

I strung up a few of my vintage valentines above my bed.

I crocheted a short purple string to hang them on.

I keep forgeting they are up there and then smile when I see them.

Toss Out Tuesday

I am joining some others HERE & HERE

 in cleaning things up around the house this year.

Tuesday will remind me through the year to keep it up.

I will tally up at least 7 cluttery things thrown or given away each Tuesday.

Today's magic seven include the 3 plastic cupcakes above.

* 2 fan books--one on birds and one on mythology

*Microwave book

*Cookbook of apple recipes

*Stack of Cook's Country Magazines

I moved a bookcase this past weekend and got a good chance

to go through some books and magazines.

Out of Necessity

This tangled mess is another kumihimo braid.

I've made it rather long and I used plastic bobbins to hold the floss.

The bobbins are needed so that the really long floss doesn't get all knotted up.

The braid is 8 strands and the foam holder was purchased at a local craft store.

Directions for this braid come with the foam thingy.

This is what I wanted the braid for.

I very much need close-up glasses near me at all times,

so now I can hang them around my neck to keep them close at hand. :-)

The colors used are DMC 321, 603, 158, & 3839.

The black rubber thing that holds the braid

and the glasses together I purchased from an Etsy shop.

The little silver metal clamp is from a local craft store in the jewelry section.

The plastic bobbins I purchased from Knitpicks. Mine are the smallest size and you would need 2 sets--they come in a set of 6--not enough for an 8 strand braid.

l' Escargot

A very special delivery from some very lovely neighbors.

We shared a duplex in Germany back when all our kids were much younger.

They are still in Germany--oh I wish we could visit. 

This is the only way to eat those little snails--a chocolate version. :-)

Big Top

Have always loved the Humpty Dumpty Circus when I've seen it in magazines and toy museums. There was a set for sale at auction, so I got up real close. 

The Humpty Dumpty Circus was made by the Schoenhut Company between the years 1903-1935. I think this (above) is a reduced-sized set or assembly.

A website that has a lot of information about the circus is HERE. 

A short article about the Schoenhut Company and circus is HERE.

My girls think the clowns are creepy--they are a little. :-)

Dollies & Shoes

Meg and I stopped off at another doll auction. This time it was during the preview so we could take our time. I love these china doll heads. Those gently blushing cheeks. 

I love to see the tiny shoes as well. These are much loved blue button-ups.

It looks like the doll actually walked many miles in these.

More walking...... 

I guess I like the dolls that are well-loved, maybe the best. Especially if they are handmade. This doll is about 4 feet tall-wow! I like her polka-dot body very much and the polka-dot dress over it with ric-rac detailing. A dollmaker after my own heart!  :-)

Snow Day

Our first snow--not much at this time but still it is swirling around and making the roads a little slippery. It has kept me home, which is a good excuse to continue on my hat.

The pattern is Debbie Bliss, although I'm using charcoal gray instead of beige.

The fabric basket is my pattern. I figured it all out before Christmas to make presents for the girls. I just finished this one earlier this morning. 

Not very much snow, yet....... :-)

Welcome 2012

We celebrated last night with a party in our basement. 

Em hooked up a ball to drop.

(the pink box on the ball held confetti) :-) 

And it was all cozy with a warm fire.

An excellent farewell to 2011 and welcome to the new year!