KNOCK ON WOOD

Stacey

Rosey

Something to do while you're waiting for camp to begin. You can find a tutorial at Going Sew Crazy.

S.W.A.K.

Ooh BABY BABY

A friend was hosting a baby shower. I made these topiary centerpieces for the occasion (actually, there were seven altogether, another pink and yellow that are not in the photo).

This photo gives you a better idea as to the size - that's Frannie hiding behind the blossom.

S.W.A.K.

ROLO-VER BEETHOVEN

Can you say ROLO? It's even smaller than a Reeses cupcake topper! I used it for the caramel drizzled cupcake - bottom photo - bottom right. (Note to Thimbleanna - I'm taking my cue from you!)

This is Frannie's sewing box (ME of course). Not much happening in there at the moment. I did make those two pincushions for her.

Another day, another box of cupcakes. (Sigh)

I'd like more ideas for "foodie" cupcake toppers - won't you please share?

S.W.A.K.

HERE

I was sorting through some needlework bins today and came across a few old projects that are finished, but not quite finished. Here's what I found:

A Mary Engelbreit counted cross stitch design. Love the colors. I think I made this back in 1992. It needs to be made into a pillow or picture or something.

This is a small counted cross stitch hatbox - maybe 3" square. This needs to be made into something too - I was thinking a pin cushion.

How about this redwork girl in a bonnet that I did in pink - the stitching is all done. Maybe she would make a nice pillow.

Here's an embroidered square that has been stitched and quilted - but that's as far as it got. Look at those tiny quilting stitches! All by hand - no machine here!

And last, but not least, one of my first quilts. That's me holding up the quilt. :) I must have made this one in the early 1980's. The quilting fabric selection was not very good at that time. All of these dresden plates were stitched and appliqued by hand. I even stitched all the squares together by hand. Take a close at the back.

Not bad, if I do say so myself. I love hand sewing - it's so much more relaxing.

This is the design I had planned to quilt on the blank squares. I know why I never finished this quilt - Y-U-K!

S.W.A.K.

I'M NOT YOUR STEPPING STONE

I painted these stepping stones years ago, and considering all the shoes that have stepped on them, they're still in pretty good shape. You can probably tell that these are Mary Engelbreit designs, although not actual patterns. When I find a drawing I like, I simply enlarge it and use it for whatever purpose I have in mind. I'm pretty sure the paints I used for this were Folkart Outdoor Opaque by Plaid. The cement pavers were first covered with a primer suitable for concrete and then I traced on my design using graphite paper. Next, I simply painted in the outlines using the coloring book technique. There is no need for a sealer when using this type of paint. I added a little number three to the house because that is the number of our address although the rest of the design bears no other similarity.

S.W.A.K.

HOOKED ON A FEELING

When you hold me in your arms so tight,

You let me know, everything's alright, ahahah
I'm hooked on a feeling, I'm high on believing,
That your in love with me.

View entire lyrics here.

One of those inexpensive, unpainted wall hooks that you can find at Michael's or A.C.Moore. I painted it black, decoupaged on white polka-dots all around to create a scalloped edge, and then topped it off with a Mary Engelbreit paper that I cut out in a heart shape. The side edge also has polka-dots on it. I made three of these for Frannie's room and one extra.

S.W.A.K.

MY FUNNY VALENTINE

MY FUNNY VALENTINE

YOU'RE MY FAVORITE WORK OF ART

STAY, LITTLE VALENTINE, STAY

EACH DAY IS VALENTINE'S DAY

Another from the archives. Large oval paper mache box. Painted Folk Art Baby Pink and decoupaged with Mary Engelbreit Valentines. Crepe paper ruffle on bottom. Again, Mary Engelbreit border around lid. Top has large slit decorated with polka-dots and Be Mine letters. Love it!

Tissue paper nosegay sits next to the Valentine box.

Now, I know I usually just put some lyrics here, but ladies and gentlemen, THIS IS TOM JONES! Just have to have a video. Ladies, get your panties ready! :)

Tom Jones
(SINGING)
MY FUNNY VALENTINE

ENCORE!!! ENCORE!!!

Tom Jones
(DANCING - THAT MAN CAN DANCE!)
You've Got To Watch This
TREAT HER RIGHT

S.W.A.K.

P.S. If you ever get the chance to see Tom Jones live, grab those tickets, FAST! He puts on the greatest show. My husband and I have seen him three times so far and we'd go again in an instant. Last time, we brought our son, David, with us (he was probably about 14 years old at the time) - even he enjoyed it. We had third row, center seats at the Stamford Palace Theatre (one of those old refurbished theaters and there isn't a bad seat in the house). David had the pleasure of sitting next to Paul Schaeffer (you know, the orchestra leader for David Letterman). We've seen The Beach Boys and Johnny Cash there as well. Next time we go, I've got to bring Frannie with us, she'd love it!

MR. POSTMAN

PLEASE MISTER POSTMAN, LOOK AND SEEIS THERE A LETTER IN YOUR BAG FOR ME?WHY'S IT TAKIN' SUCH A LONG TIME
FOR ME TO HEAR FROM THAT BOY OF MINE
C'MON DELIVER THE LETTER, THE SOONER THE BETTER

From the archives. Actual plain white mailbox that was purchased at Walmart and then decoupaged with Mary Engelbreit images, stickers, buttons, charms, and ribbon. Feet are made from unfinished cabinet door knobs (Home Depot), which I painted red, polka-dotted and then glued on.

View entire lyrics here.

S.W.A.K.

THE MULBERRY BUSH

Do you remember this nursery rhyme/children's song? Well, that's what I thought of when I took a picture of this:

Revamped this old desk back in 2006 for Frannie's room. Yup, it's pink alright - Folk Art Baby Pink to be exact, with some Wicker White mixed in to tone it down a notch. Had a Mary Engelbreit image that I enlarged and then traced onto the side and painted.

Hand-painted Frannie's name on top with a scallop border of Apple Green and white polka-dots. :) Created the font in Illustrator and traced it on. And just in case there wasn't enough pink, I found some glass knobs in the perfect color. I also re-did the chair (have I shown you that before?). Same pink with a seat I made (original was wicker that was not repairable). Drew a pattern for a plywood base, covered with foam rubber, batting and fabric. Also made some pink stripe piping to go around the edge. Love the fabric! If you'll notice, the desk is under the wall pockets. Someday I'll show you what I painted on the other side. Oh, yes, I decoupaged and painted the heart switch plate too.

THE MULBERRY BUSH

Here we go round the mulberry bush
The mulberry bush, the mulberry bush
Here we go round the mulberry bush
So early in the morning...

...This is the way we sweep the floor
Sweep the floor, sweep the floor
This is the way we sweep the floor
So early Thursday morning

To view entire Mulberry Bush lyrics, go here.

S.W.A.K.

THE MORE THE MERRIER!

Welcome to The More The Merrier Virtual Cookie Swap.

First off, I want to send thanks out to those of you who signed up, and also to all of you who posted the cookie swap icon on your blogs. Secondly, thank you to my son, David, for getting the Peppermint Twist music up and running for me, so please take a moment to enjoy an oldie, but goodie.

Here are your Christmas Cookie (or candy) Swappers:

Miss Punkie Pie
Cranberry Almond Chocolate Bark
Chocolate Covered Oreos
Caramel Peanut Clusters Drizzled with Chocolate
Chocolate Pecan Buttercrunch
Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Krispy Balls
Chocolate Peppermint Fudge
Chocolate Walnut Fudge
Chocolate and Peanut Butter Layered Fudge
Homemade Hot Cocoa Cones

Kritta22

Dandelion Quilts
Pecan Pie Bars
Kid's Favorite Jumbo 3 Chip cookies
Candy Bar Jumbles

Here are my two favorite cookie recipe books. The first one is called Rose's Christmas Cookies. I've had this book for several years and always refer to it. My favorite recipe from this book is Chocolate-Dipped Melting Moments. They really do melt in your mouth. I think the secret is all the cornstarch that is used. I have made this one so many times that the page falls out of the book every time I open it. Everyone loves this cookie!

Chocolate-Dipped Melting Moments
Batter
1-3/4 Cups All Purpose Flour (dip and sweep method)
1 Cup Cornstarch
1/8 Teaspoon Salt
1/2 Cup Powdered Sugar (lightly spooned into cup)
1 Cup Unsalted Butter (room temp)
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
Topping
1/2 Cup Powdered Sugar
6 Ounces Semi-Sweet Chocolate (I use chocolate chips)

Whisk together flour, cornstarch and salt. In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the vanilla. On low speed, beat in the flour mixture until incorporated. Chill dough for at least 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Take small amounts of dough and roll into a crescent shape or use a small ice cream scoop and form small balls (whatever shape you prefer). Place on parchment lined baking sheet about 1-1/2" apart. Bake 10-15 minutes or until they just begin to brown around bottom edge. Allow to cool on sheet for a few minutes. Transfer to powdered sugar and roll. These cookies are VERY FRAGILE, so be gentle. Melt chocolate and dip one end. Place on waxed paper to set. ENJOY!

I have some of this batter already made up and need to get into the oven - hope to have a photo of them later.

One of my other favorite cookie books is Betty Crocker's Cooky Book, and this is because I grew up making cookies out of this book. It has memories in it. My favorite cookie recipe from it is called Vienese Shortbread. It is a sandwich cookie that shaped from a cookie press and has a mocha filling.

Vienese Shortbread
Batter
1 Cup Unsalted Butter (room temp)
1/2 Cup Powdered Sugar
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
2 Cups Flour (dip and sweep method)
1/4 Teaspoon Baking Powder

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Whisk together flour and baking powder. In mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar together. Mix in vanilla. On low speed, add flour mixture. Press cookies onto parchment lined baking sheet using a cookie press (sometimes I use a pastry bag with a star tip - use whatever works for you). Bake approximately 7-8 minutes or until lightly browned around bottom edges (don't over bake). Transfer to wire rack and cool.

Filling (I double this)
2/3 Cup Powdered Sugar
2 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter (room temp)
1 Teaspoon Powdered Instant Coffee (dissolved in 1 teaspoon boiling water)

Mix until fluffy. Spread on a small amount onto a cookie and sandwich together with another cookie (flat sides together). You could also fill with melted chocolate or your favorite jam (just make sure it's seedless). These taste even better the next day.

And the winner of this fabulous prize is Dandelion Quilts! Congratulations!

S.W.A.K.

TOMORROW IS THE LAST DAY TO ENTER!
BOP SHOO-OP, A BOP BOP SHOO-OP!

MELLOW YELLOW

(It even has a an adorable little slice of cake charm attached.)

Donovan
Mellow Yellow
I'm just mad about Saffron
Saffron's mad about me
I'm just mad about Saffron
She's just mad about me
{Refrain}
They call me mellow yellow
(Quite rightly)
They call me mellow yellow
(Quite rightly)
They call me mellow yellow
I'm just mad about Fortean
Fourteen's mad about me
I'm just mad about Fortean
She's just mad about me
{Refrain}
Born high forever to fly
Wind velocity nil
Wanna high forever to fly
If you want your cup o'er fill
{Refrain}
(So mellow, he's so yellow)
Electrical banana
Is gonna be a sudden craze
Electrical banana
Is bound to be the very next phase
They call it mellow yellow
(Quite rightly)
They call me mellow yellow
(Quite rightly)
They call me mellow yellow
Saffron -- yeah
I'm just mad about her
I'm just mad about Saffron
She's just mad about me
{Refrain}
(Oh so yellow, oh so mellow)

S.W.A.K.

It's alright, all night, it's alright
It's okay, all day, it's okay
You'll learn to do this, the Peppermint Twist
Yeah, yeah

If you don't want to make a Cookie Swap post, why don't you e-mail me your favorite Christmas cookie recipe and I'll copy it into my "The More The Merrier" Christmas Cookie Swap. I know you've got a favorite! (CuteStuffInside at hotmail dot com - and please be sure to fill in the subject line with "Cookie Swap").

THE MORE THE MERRIER!!!

P.S. - Get on over to Jennifer Paganelli's blog and check out her Christmas Trees post - you'll see a great holiday card holder made by Marnie out of Sis Boom fabric - notice the photo in the holder on the table (yep - that's Frannie peeking out at you!).

AMERICAN IDOL(S)

What a star studded week the last one was! As I mentioned in a previous post, on Thursday I had the pleasure of attending Sis Boom's Annual Holiday Show hosted by Jennifer Paganelli, herself. She is not only extremely creative, she is also a very lovely person, inside and out.

Martha and Frannie

Then, on Saturday, Frannie and I attended a book signing with Martha Stewart. This event was held at Stew Leonard's in Norwalk, CT. We live within walking distance, so we took a nice little stroll down to the event, and it's a good thing (no pun intended) because there wasn't a parking space to be had. Yes, the book signing line was very long, but Frannie was a trooper and I didn't hear a single complaint from her. We only purchased one copy of her new book, Martha Stewart's Cooking School, but it seemed as if the majority of people were purchasing a half dozen copies each. Although not personalized, Martha did sign each copy while chatting with each person in line. Martha's two French Bulldogs, Sharkey and Francesca, also attended the event, although Francesca did manage to escape for a moment or two. Everyone was yelling, "shut the door, shut the door," so she couldn't escape, and her handler finally managed to catch up with her. Those two puppies are awfully cute. Martha and Frannie even had a little discussion about Francesca, because they share the same name (Frannie is short for Francesca). I was even allowed to photograph Frannie and Martha together. Martha Stewart was very gracious and even invited all those attending with small children to come to the front of the line. Kuddos Martha!

Santa and Frannie
(How About That Hat? - I mean Frannie's!)

We couldn't leave Stew Leonard's without paying a visit to Santa. Frannie wanted to be sure he knows exactly what she wants for Christmas.

S.W.A.K.

It goes round and round, up and down
Round and round, up and down
Round and round and a up and down
And a one two three kick, one two three jump

Don't Be A Scrooge!
THE MORE THE MERRIER!!!

SKY BLUE

And yet, another purse...

Mary Engelbreit Photo Books
(where I keep pictures of everything I create)

With an Eiffel Tower charm

S.W.A.K.

Well, you like it like this, the PEPPERMINT TWIST

The MORE The Merrier (Hint, Hint)

SERIOUSLY CUTE STUFF

I made this clothes tree for Frannie when she was just a baby and she hasn't outgrown it yet. I went to one of those big box hardware stores and purchased an unfinished newel post with a ball cap. My husband, Frank, made the base for the clothes tree. The pattern for the base came from the Martha Stewart Magazine way back in 1999, and the pattern is still available today here. They are actually supposed to be wall brackets, but we did our own thing with it. I enlarged the pattern to the appropriate size and Frank traced it onto some wood and cut it out with a jigsaw and sanded it down. He also attached them to the newel post for me. I did the decorative part. Of course, it's Folk Art baby pink, to match the rest of Frannie's room, with yellow, white and black accent colors. I decoupaged tiny black and white striped pieces of paper around the different sections for a little extra zing. Mary Engelbreit paper doll clothes were decoupaged on both the top and bottom. These doll clothes were from her magazine, a new set of clothes is included in each issue - I've kept them all - you never know how you will use these things. I've also used them to decorate a clothes hamper, but that's another post. At the top, Frank attached a clothes hook right over each outfit. I am really happy with the way it turned out and Frannie just loves it! So here are lots of pictures so you can have a really good look at it.

Side 1 - Complete

Side 1 - Top

Side 1 - Bottom

Side 2 - Top

Side 2 - Bottom

Side 3 - Top

Side 3 - Bottom

Side 4 - Top

Side 4 - Bottom

Did I mentioned that there are polka-dots on the top? :)

S.W.A.K.

IT'S 10 PM - DID YOU ENTER YET?
ONLY 6 GUESSING DAY LEFT