cruising

I have been in bed pretty much all day. Sick.  So I have been cruising around here on my computer.



 It's a wonderful way to spend the day.  But only one day! 



So I thought I would share just a little bit of some embroidered beauty that I have found.



Maybe I should be doing some embroidery instead!  All images can be found here.  Enjoy!

a little juice

[caption id="attachment_1846" align="aligncenter" width="360" caption="from Martha"][/caption]

I am a little brain dead these days.  I need some R&R. 

[caption id="attachment_1851" align="aligncenter" width="357" caption="barbie chandelier, from drummbellina"][/caption]

 So last night I stayed off my computer.  But today I was on, looking through my list of blog friends. 

[caption id="attachment_1856" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="amy butler love booth at quilt market"][/caption]

It is just what I needed. A little brain juice. 

[caption id="attachment_1848" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="a quilt to make, from film in the fridge"][/caption]

And a long phone call from my sister never hurts either!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="soda pop from 100 layer cake"][/caption]

So here are some pic's that got my brain working again!  I hope they inspire you a little too.

[caption id="attachment_1854" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="play a record, love the quilt"][/caption]

friends

I had some  fun friends over last week to talk about weddings.  Planning weddings and photographing weddings.  No I am not renewing my vows.



We were talking about ways to cross promote our businesses.  But I really did want to impress these girls with some crafty little vintage touches.



So I cleaned up my house as best I could.  And set a pretty table to inspire.  I am in love with yellow now!



In love with raniculus and vintage florist bud vases. I have been buying these at local thrifts for about $1.50.  I have 6 of them now.  I'm just not sure when to stop buying them.

I hope thes pictures inspire you to add a bit of yellow to your home or wedding!    Happy Day :)

a promise

Is a promise.  And here is one of mine being fulfilled.



Meet Charlie.  The wayward dog that I got to take care of for the day.  Her named turned out to be Magnolia.

I knew that you couldn't wait another day without seeing a picture of her.  Sleep well my friends, sleep well.

bronte along

Sunday evenings at my home are meant to be spent watching PBS.  And that is very often where you will find me after 9 p.m. with a drink (manhatten) in one hand and the rest of me tucked in under a blanket with my feet up on the couch.  And I have a feeling that is where I would find many of you with your own drink of choice.



It used to be called Masterpiece Theatre, but now I see it has been calling itself Masterpiece Classics.  This change came along without me noticing it.  I guess everything is being updated for a new lover of the BBC.

Well now I have found a new way to love and share the love of these classics.  Thanks to Melissa Averinos from Yummy Goods and her accomplished Cape Cod girlfriend Ms. Beth Dunn.  These two wonders have begun the Bronte-Along!  Where we will have a chance to read, watch, blog, flickr, facebook,  and twitter all to our hearts content about these three sisters.

And I do love the wonderful force that is sisters.  To start with, they have choosen Jane Eyre.  And I do have the book already and have read it, seen it, done it.  But now I will do it all again with new eyes.  Maybe adding a few pieces of crafty inspiration.

Please join me in some spring time fun.  And maybe I'll give you my recipe for the perfect Manhatten.

the recipe

katie jean's cookie biscotti aka cookie biscotti sticks



1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

2/3 cup butter (10.5 tbs.)

¼ cup light corn syrup

¼ cup creamy peanut butter

1 tsp vanilla extract

3 ½ cups uncooked regular oats

1 12 oz. Package of semisweet chocolate chips

1 cup butterscotch chips

½ cup coarsely chopped peanuts 

Stir together brown sugar, butter, and corn syrup in a saucepan; cook over medium heat until sugar dissolves and butter melts. Remove from heat. Stir in peanut butter and vanilla. Gently stir in oats. Press into bottom of an ungreased 13 x 9 pan lined with aluminum foil. Bake at 375 for 20 minutes or until browned. 

Melt chocolate chips in saucepan over low heat, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat. Lightly stir in butterscotch chips not letting them totally melt. Pour onto the baked cookie crust, and spread evenly. Sprinkle with the chopped peanuts. Let cool in pan. Cover and chill until firm. Or pop them in the freezer. 

Lift uncut cookies out of pan using foil as handles. Cut crosswise in 1” sticks using a large chef's knife. Cut in half again making shorter sticks.

Thanks for asking for the recipe!  From Christmas with Southern Living 2007, modified.

some new news

Every year at my girl's school they have a wonderful fund raiser called The Dessert Extravaganza.  Each family is asked to make a dessert.  One dessert that is cut up for every guest to taste and one to be sold for $20.  There is also class baskets to be auctioned, a silent auction, live auction, and a raffle.  It is a great time,and  the school raises a ton of money.



This year I was sick and not able to go.  But I did make a momma and daughter apron set for the silent auction.  I just found out that it was sold for $50. vintage dessert cookbook included. Very cool!

And... the really great news.... my cookies that I made won 2nd place!!  I called them "katie jean's chocolate cookie bar biscotti".  It's a modified recipe from a Southern Living cookbook.  I've made these before for a Christmas cookie exchange when I had to make 6 dozen of them!  The recipe will soon follow :)