Sunday, November 29, 2009

art you should see

I received my copy of Craft Leftovers Monthly in the mail yesterday. It's chocked full of so much fun stuff. There are recipes for food, recipes for tea, recipes for salts and scrubs! There's a crochet project, knitting project, an embroidery pattern, and even a paper snowflake template...ya know, for inspiration so the entire house can be filled with snowflakes. I suppose it's time to break out the scissors...closely monitored scissors, of course. What? I know my girls are almost 7 and 4 1/2 but there is a lot of fabric and yarn lying around and very tempting long locks of hair. We've never had a scissor incident and I'd like to keep it that way.
Now, I won my copy of Craft Leftovers Monthly from Regina. She was hosting a giveaway over at her wonderful blog Creative Kismet. If you've never been there you should pop over there and check it out. But be prepared...there's lots of crafty inspiration over there. Regina is a wonderfully talented artist. She paints and sews and creates wonderful mixed media pieces all the time. A while back she was even on the Martha Stewart Show! Anyway, Regina has an Etsy shop called Creative Kismet Studios with lots of great stuff in it. You'll find something irresistible there, I know you will! Her prices are great and her products are wonderful. She's got lots of prints for sale, tea wallets, stationary, ornaments, and pin cushions. Regina is offering free shipping on selected items until December31st, so shop now before it's too late!
(graphic/button from CreativeKismet.com)

Thursday, November 26, 2009

happy thanksgiving

I'm just popping in this morning before the Thanksgiving Day Parade comes on t.v. to share with you some things that I am thankful for today.

*an amazing family
*good health
*a cozy home
* this little girl that is intense and mellow...and funny

*wonderful friends

*freedom

*this little girl that is thoughtful and sweet...and funny

*a merciful and gracious God who loves His children

*the ability to stay home with my children

*and last, but certainly not least, this wonderful husband of mine who is smart and sensitive, a provider and a Daddy, and so, so funny! Now you can see where the girls get their sense of humor :o)

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Have a wonderful Thanksgiving...and remember to give thanks. xo ANG

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

a winner*

Okay, today is the big day! I am ready to announce the ecostore USA giveaway winner! Are you ready? Alright...here we go!
The winner

of the $25 gift certificate

to ecostore USA is...

Rebekah of Sunnybrook Farm Designs!

Congratulations Rebekah! Enjoy the natural goodness that is ecostore USA. Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway. I appreciate you stopping by and leaving a comment.

*Just so you know, there is exactly one month until Christmas. I don't know about you, but my handmade gift list is freaking me out. I need to get busy! Sew, knit, crochet, embroider, but most importantly relax, enjoy, reflect, and appreciate all of the blessings in my life. Happy Wednesday. xo ANG

Saturday, November 21, 2009

a supreme day

Today is Tim's birthday!
A supremely special day here in the Clothesline household.
I am supremely blessed to have a wonderful, funny, supportive, intelligent, patient husband. The girls are supremely blessed to have an energetic, fun, caring, attentive daddy. Here's a little something I made for him. The lighting wasn't so great so the color is off. The scarf is charcoal gray. It is supremely warm and soft (Patons Classic Wool). I used this pattern, which is free, and I've got some matching, manly fingerless gloves on the hook right now. Hopefully they'll be done before Thanksgiving.
And because making a cute card together is so important, here is the supremely cute card that the girls and I made for him. Together we put the toppings on the pizza. Then I gave them each a white triangle of card stock for their individual messages. They asked that I write their message, then they got to draw and color. I then glued the layers together and viola! A supremely cute card for a supreme dad!
Enjoy your weekend! xo ANG

Friday, November 20, 2009

literal translation

This old box that we used when we moved was brought down from the attic to carry some stuff to our homeschool co-op today. It was obviously used for some type of delicious pastries at one time but the only thing that the girls read on the box were the words on the blue label. All they wanted to know was why someone would have so many cats and why would they put cat number 48 in the freezer! hehe! Now, see if you can spend the rest of your weekend with that smile on your face! Happy Friday! xo ANG
also, in other happy news...I won a copy of the Craft Leftovers Monthly from Regina's (of Creative Kismet fame) giveaway! Woot! Woot!

Thursday, November 19, 2009

practice makes pie

I must admit that although I have baked many a turkey for Thanksgiving I have never in my life made a pumpkin pie. I know it's not difficult. This is America after all and all I have to do is go buy a ready made crust and a can of pie mush. Okay, I could make a crust and buy the can of mush but my previous experiences with homemade pie crust were not so great. My solution...just avoid making pie. I do love me some pumpkin pie so I would eat it if someone else made it...I just wasn't making it. I make other delicious treats for the holiday season, so believe me, we are not deprived of yummy treats. And now, in our state of gluten free living I have the perfect out when it comes to making pie....or so I thought. Recently, two things have happened. First, we went for our annual fall fun day at the pumpkin patch with our friends. The girls got to choose cute little pumpkins and paint them then they were off to play and climb and jump. Oh, it was a fun day...see?
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But then, once again we had two little pumpkins whose paint came right off when it rained. Sure we could have painted them again, but why? They were just going to sit there and rot. Hmmm, I bet those would make a great, fresh, pumpkin pie. Oh, but the crust is an issue. But wait!...and here's the second thing...I found a gluten free pie crust mix made by Gluten Free Pantry. I've been pleased with many of their products so maybe I should give their crust a try. It is called "perfect" pie crust mix...so it must be good, right? Well, I took those little pumpkins (after building up the excitement of having pumpkin pie long before Thanksgiving) and baked them in the oven just like an acorn squash. I scooped it all out and gave it a whirl with my mixer to make it smooth and I tell you...perfect.
And yes, I bought the crust mix. It was a quick and easy mix. It smelled like regular crust. It felt like regular crust. It even rolled like regular crust. Our hopes were high for a delicious tasting crust and a delicious tasting freshly made pumpkin pie. The aroma of freshly baked pumpkin pie filled the house. It came out beautiful. Just look at it. Hungry?
Thankfully I made it during the day so by the time we were ready for dessert after dinner the pie was ready to be devoured. The girls could hardly contain their excitement. Okay, I was excited, too. How could I not be? It was all working out just perfectly...like I had made a billion pumpkin pies before. Then I sliced it and ....

we couldn't eat it fast enough! It turned out so good. The crust was a little thick for some...I like it that way though...but it was flaky and buttery and oh so yummy. My first pumpkin pie. Delicious!
Oh, and just the other day in all of the bleakness as the trees shed their leaves, my azalea wanted to show off a little more before it got too cold. The brightness of the one purple bloom amongst the dark, dried up leaves was beautiful. Too beautiful to leave outside. The bloom was quickly rescued and brought into the house for a drink of water.
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Thanksgiving is right around the corner so remember to give thanks. Today as the cold rain comes down and extra layers are worn I am thankful for my little house in the city. It's warm and cozy and we are all in good health. Happy Thursday. xo ANG
Don't forget to go here to enter my giveaway.