SUNFLOWER

When I arrived home yesterday, this beautiful bouquet was there to greet me. Such a lovely and thoughtful surprise!

S.W.A.K.

POETRY IN MOTION

Frannie's class had a poetry tea party. Here she is reciting two of her own poems.

(Frannie loves a microphone)

We made cookies to share at the tea party.

Here's the before.

Here's the after.

My very favorite filled Viennese Shortbread. I have been making these cookies since I was Frannie's age. Of course there were sprinkles!

Viennese Shortbread (adapted from Betty Crocker's Cooky Book)
1 Cup Butter
1/2 Cup Powdered Sugar
1/2 Tsp. Vanilla (I use 1 Tsp.)
2 Cups Flour
1/2 Tsp Baking Powder
Mocha Filling (Below)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cream butter, sugar, and vanilla until fluffy. Blend flour and baking powder; stir into butter mixture. You can use a cookie press if you feel like tormenting yourself. I prefer a pastry bag with a large star tip (Wilton #909). Press out cookies onto a parchment lined baking sheet - about 1 inch apart. (If dough does not come through smoothly, add 1 to 2 tsp. cream). Bake about 7 minutes or until very lightly browned around the edges. Cool. Put two cookies together with filling of your choice. Makes about 2 dozen double cookies.

Mocha Filling

Mix 2/3 cup powdered sugar, 2 tbsp. butter, and 1 tsp. instant coffee dissolved in 1 tsp. boiling water until fluffy. If too dry, add a few drops of water.

You can use any kind of filling you like. In the photo above I used chocolate ganache, which I had left over from a previous cupcake. You could also use Nutella or your favorite preserves, like strawberry or apricot. Maybe you'd just like to leave out the coffee part. Go ahead - the filling will still be delicious. If you don't have any instant coffee, you could also use left over morning coffee or espresso - just don't add any extra water.

These taste particularly good the next day.

S.W.A.K.

P.S. - Happy Father's Day to all you dads out there.

ZING WENT THE STRINGS OF MY HEART

Spring Concert May 2010

(I have no idea who that man is)
Hello Kitty - Never Leave Home Without Her
(She's there, you just can't see her on the necklace)

I made bouquets for two special violinists

Zing went the strings of my heart.

On a lighter note... :)

S.W.A.K.

LET ME SLEEP ON IT

Here's another one, but this does not have a contrasting pocket inside. I used a variegated cotton and crocheted a wider, more lacey edge. Of course, I hand-stitched a precisely measured blanket hem all the way around first - that's just the way I am. Fabric by Tanya Whelan.

S.W.A.K.

Oh yeah, there are more, I just haven't photographed them yet.

SWEET DREAMS ARE MADE OF THIS

A while back I participated in the "On The Edge... Pillowcase Crochet Along". If you're interested, the tutorial is still available here. Now, I didn't follow the directions exactly, because that's just the way I am, but I think they turned out pretty darn cute! Thanks for the inspiration Cassie.

S.W.A.K.

P.S. - I didn't stop with just these two, oh no, not me.

GOING TO THE CHAPEL OF LOVE

Not me - this purse!

This purse is on its way to merry old England, London to be exact, for a bride who is soon to be married. It was knitted with thousands of teeny-tiny off-white pearl seed beads. The interior has a silk lining and vintage gold braid trim. Hope she loves it!

S.W.A.K.