Etsy Shops

If you love handmade and vintage items, or maybe just need supplies for your own crafts, you should check out etsy. Its a fabulous site, for artisan's from around the world.

Today my shop was a featured shop of the day, by a team I belong to on etsy along with these other wonderful shops, I picked an item from each shop, please take  moment to take a look at the items and maybe look around their shops for something you may like or a great gift idea. Enjoy!

First Shop Metal Adornments

very cute blown glass swirl bracelet

http://www.etsy.com/listing/14708890/blown-glass-blue-swirl-bracelet-free


M2M Boutique

adorable birthday applique shirt

http://www.etsy.com/listing/69248775/custom-boutique-birthday-bow-applique

timetotreasure

features a great just married luggage tag

http://www.etsy.com/listing/72486270/wedding-luggage-tag-just-married


and from my shop a wonderful apple blossom 3 piece doll outfit fits American girl

http://www.etsy.com/listing/75349673/pink-apple-blossoms-3-piece-clothes


I hope you take some time and check these out and possibly take a look around other shops  etsy. I have found many unique and beautiful items.

Have a happy and creative day!

My love of fabric

I have always loved fabric. The look, the touch, the textures, I could spend hours in the fabric store. I was taught at a young age not to touch things that were not mine but I can't help myself, I love the feel of fabric textures.

I discovered that I love quilting in the mid 90's. I used to watch PBS series on quilting. I was hooked, I thought I could do this. At first I did all my quilts by hand. My first quilt was a nine patch mini postage stamp quilt. Not realizing that those 1 1/2" squares would take forever to sew by hand. Well forever only last 6 months from start to finish of the quilt.

One summer, my two daughters, niece and sister-in-law took a trip to Amish country in Indiana. We even visited an actual home of an Amish family that were selling there quilts. The workmanship was exquisite. The home was amazing, the garden were picture perfect and after that I decided living simpler was for me. I am not materialistic, I don't fancy jewelry or electronics gadget, the only thing I can never have too much of is fabric.


I have made many many quilts. I have give them as gifts, sold some and now I have a little shop on etsy, that I sell my handmade items. I no longer piece by hand but I still do all my quilting by hand, I just love the look of hand quilting.

The picture below is my latest quilt, using half square triangles and the fabric from seaside rose three sisters, made by moda is my favorite line of fabric thus far. It has my love of the beach, with seashells, pastels, especially pink which is my favorite. I hope you enjoy it.

I would also like to share my favorite place to shop for fabric, which is an online site, www.shabbyfabrics.com . I love the shabby chic and they have a great selection of fabric in florals and vintage look. I highly recommend them.

You can see more pictures of this quilt and other things I have made at http://www.etsy.com/shop/raspberrybutterflies

This photo was taken from my balcony over looking the Atlantic Ocean.

Published on Yahoo!

I started writing for a site on yahoo, and my first item has been published. Its a recipe for Carrot cake I came up with in the mid 70's it yummy and you dont have to like carrots to enjoy! Please take a look,

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/8104335/moist_and_sweet_carrot_cake.html

try and let me know what you think, you won't be disappointed!

Memorial Day

This weekend we celebrate Memorial Day here in the United States. Whether we agree or disagree with the goals of the military and their agenda, we do need to support our troops.

These are men and women who give the ultimate sacrifice for us, to protect our freedom. They leave their family and friends behind and give a few or many years of service to our country. Its a service  don't think I could do but  I am thankful for all the things they do.

These men and women are underpaid and overworked. Seems like when its time to make budget cuts, one of the first things on the list is cutting military pay and benefits. It should be the last thing on the list. Not to get off topic here but we over pay athletics and underpay our teachers and military.

Let us remember those who have given their lives and did not return to their family. My grandfather served in WWII and my uncle in the Korean war. Neither of them are here today, but they did make it home to our family after the war ended.

So this weekend, when your having a picnic, cookout, BBQ with friends and family, take a moment and give thanks to those men and women, present and past who have dutifully served our country.

Proud to be an American!

William and Kate the royal wedding

Tomorrow is the royal wedding. Will you be watching?

I wasn't sure at first but yes I am going to set my alarm for 4 am est. and watch.

I really most interested in the wedding dress. I love weddings. The dress, the flowers, the bridesmaids dress, the handbags. Oh how I love handbags. I love shoes too but I really love a cute handbag. Shabby chic is my favorite style and with layers and shades of white, roses, lace, beads, and flowers and wedding bring all of that and more.

I say I'm a people watcher, but actually I'm looking at their style of fashion, and what accessories they are wearing. Mostly just for ideas for myself to create. I was in Kohl's today and I stopped just to look at a handbag with ruffles to see how they were attached so maybe I could duplicate the item for me.

My main reason for watching the wedding tomorrow is just to see what everyone is wearing.  I will probably turn the sound down I don't really like all the commentary.  I expected to see a lot of hats too, Americans used to wear lots of hats in the 40's, 50's and 60's what happened to that trend. I wish they would bring it back.  I remember watching the I love Lucy show before kindergarten and those were reruns (showing my age) and the one episode I remember was Lucy was trying to hide her hat collection from Ricky. Lucy had some really awesome hats. Ladies even wore house dresses then. They say styles come back around with updates, I'm still waiting I was too young then.

I am also a big fan of the 40's style dresses and hairstyles. Maybe someday they will return.

So tomorrow you know where I will be in front of the TV hopefully I will get some inspiration and ideas.



End the day with Margarita Pie

Today was Easter Sunday, so after the celebrating in church and the egg hunt in the yard, it's time to sit down with the family and enjoy a nice dinner.

Every family has  their own traditions, in our family it's always centered around food. As soon as a  new event is being planned the date is picked then it's time to plan the menu. I always think of Easter dinner of having a nice ham, potatoes, green beans, rolls and a few other side dishes. Lately though since we moved away from our family we started some new traditions.

This Easter we grilled steaks, made a nice garden salad, that's the nice part of being in Florida vegetables are ripe in the spring. We also had a baked potatoes, and deviled eggs. I had to do something with those eggs we colored.

The dessert this year is Margarita pie, I'm going to share my recipe with you. This pie tastes like a frozen whipped margarita. Its so yummy you want to save room for a large slice. You will want to make this the day before to allow for freezing time.

Here's my recipe

1- pre-made graham cracker crust ( you can make your own if you want with crushed graham cracker crumbs, sugar and melted butter)

This filling is as follows:

1 can (14oz) sweetened condensed milk

1 T freshly grated lime zest

2 T fresh lime juice

1 ½ T tequila

1 ½ T cointreau or other orange flavor liqueur

1 ½ c heavy whipping cream

In a small bowl stir sweetened condensed milk, lime zest and juice, tequila, and cointreau  mix well and set aside. Pour cream into a large bowl and beat with mixer on medium high speed until soft peaks form when beaters are lifted. Gradually fold in lime mixture until blended. Pour into crust and freeze uncovered 6 hours. Wrap airtight; freeze at least 2 hours more or up to 3 months.

To serve: Unwrap pie and refrigerate about 15 minutes for easier slicing. You may garnish with lime slices if you wish.

I hope everyone had a nice and happy Easter!

I am starting a new project tomorrow my Chocolate Cupcake Happy Birthday banner I will keep you posted.

Our busy lives

I think we forget in our busy lives all the things that are happening around us. We drive fast, we eat fast, always in a hurry. If just for a few minutes a day, we need to stop what we are doing and take a look around us. What would we see that normally would be overlooked.

The joy and laughter of a young child playing, the grace and beauty of a new flower blossom. the smell of fresh cut grass, these are things we don't even think about. Not everything is happy, people pushing and shoving to get through the crowd, honking to hurry and go at the traffic light, or a mother scolding her children misbehavior.

Tomorrow I am going to say hello to someone I see on the street, hold the door for someone behind me and take a few minutes to see the wonder of the world we live in. Just a little kindness can be passed forward may brighten someones day.

With all the war, crime and evils of the worlds there is also good, lets spread some of this love and kindness tomorrow if only for a moment