OpiNioN NeEdeD..

Hey there!!!... I have to ask you opinion..I am making this for our Humble arts theme of "Alice in Wonderland" and am wondering if is should be a little wall hanging or pillow and what colors to use...

we have the mad hatter, Alice, rabbit and queen of hearts..I am going to seperate the 2 with fabric in the middle and top and bottom and both sides..

here are the ones I have chosen..the greens or..

the reds..Thanks for your help..I am wanting this to look nice..the embroiderys were done in dark gray on off white wool felt..

I watched another good movie yesterday..I had seen this when it came out but was like it was just okay..and yesterday it was really good..Under the Tuscan Sun...I loved it..and we were in those same parts that she was in the film..we loved the scenery and the towns...Our very first trip was to florence and we had to pass Tuscany and it was July and there was these Sunflower Fields as far as the eye could see..but I didn't even!!! think to take a photo of it..but it was glorious..

and the new amish baking book I purchased..I love it..the recipes are super easy..I haven't made anything yet..going grocery shopping today...but I sat and read it and it is a great book...there is also history of the amish and this family has I think 8 kids and they each talk about baking with mom..and their siblings..so if you want a great book..check this one out.:) Okay I will check back when I get home from shopping and hope there are lots of great opinions when I return..

Thanks again and have a wonderful Saturday.:)

UPDATE: our Humble ArTs is Up and Running..:)

My HumBle ArTs OFFeriNg and MiSc StuFF for SaLe...

Hey there Everyone!! sorry it has been a few since I posted..just too busy trying to get something done for the humble arts this up coming month..Hard to believe it is february already!!! I have a few more things to make for our "Alice in Wonderland Theme"..I made this cute bunny Angel named Ester..she just turned out so darling...

I am so happy with the way her face came out..I used pencils for her face..

I also made to go with her a machine embroidered 4x4 pillow stuffed with Lavender..and she has two little wooden carrots..she has a bottle cap "E" that I made that is glued with really strong holding glue along with her wings..She is 26 inches tall and can sit or hang.

there are her bloomers and little lace stockings.;)

upclose of the pillow..the pillow backing fabric is green to match her dress with carrots...how fitting..:)so if anyone is interested let me know..

I got this wonderful book in the mail the other day from my book club..I also ordered Julia childs cookbook but it is on back order..this book has wonderful photos and great recipes and how to ideas in it..I will share more photos as I start making the goodies in them..

My avon lady Debbie came over yesterday and delivered my stuff to me..I got this wonderful smelling perfume ever. iti is called "electrify"..oh boy does it smell good..and I got these beautiful lever back earrings..

a better photo...

and this cool princess cut ring...:) I love princess cut and told DH I wanted one for our 25th wedding anniversary that is coming up this year...white gold is what I would like too..so we shall see..

My good blogging buddy Shirley sent me these the other day..They are for holding hamburger and fries..or sandwiches and little bowl of soup..I just love these..and can't wait to make burgers and fries..which I think will be on the menu for tomorrow..as I am going grocery shopping tomorrow..

Okay for the "Selling Portion" of our program.. I am going through my stuff and weeding out stuff that I am never going to use in my craft room as it is getting too full and whats the point of holding on to this stuff if you are never going to use it..so the soap book is $5.00 + shipping, the other 3 are 10.00 each + shipping.. so if you are interested in any of these let me know and drop me a line with your zipcode so I can calculate shipping..I will also do parcel post or book rate if they let me to make it as cheap as possible..

This is for clear stamping.. you put your stamps on it..position it over your paper and then press..the little orange spongy pads keep it off the paper till you press it in..it is pretty neat...but since I don't make cards..don't need it..:)

Here is a misc bunch of Bethany lowe tinsel to use in your doll making..the purple on the bottom i not bethany low..These are all new and unused..they are 9ft long except for the red one..it is 72 inches long.. I would like $8.00 each for these and $6.00 for the red one and $5.00 for the dark purple..I will list more stuff as I start going through my room...these are light and shipping will be as well..

I watched a wonderful movie last night..it is called "the prize winner of Defiance Ohio" it is pg-13 and is based on a true story...it has Julianne Moore and Woody Harrelson..it is a really good show and a must see..there is a bit of swearing in it by woody..but a great show..it is set in 1956 to the 60's...

Okay I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and thanks for stopping by and saying hi..:)

TRuE AmEriCaN....

TRUE AMERICAN


It is time to change from REDNECK humor to TRUE AMERICAN Humor!

Only it isn't seen as HUMOR, but the correct way to LIVE YOUR LIFE ! If you feel the same, pass this on to your True American friends.

Y'all know who they are...

You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: It never occurred to you to be offended by the phrase, "One nation, under God."

You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if:

You've never protested about seeing

the 10 Commandments posted in public places.

You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: You still say "Christmas" instead of "Winter Festival."

You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: You bow your head when someone prays.

You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: You stand and place your hand over your

heart when they play the National

Anthem.

You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: You treat Viet Nam vets with great respect, and always have.

You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if:

You've never burned an American flag.

You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: You know what you believe and you aren't afraid to say so, no matter who is listening.

You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: You respect your elders and expect your kids to do the same.

You might be a TRUE AMERICAN if: You'd give your last dollar to a friend..

FaBriC & MiSc and A ReCipE...

What a busy weekend!!..I had to go to our Church cannery on Saturday to can up some more food storage for our years supply..(for my non-mormon friends) this is a facility where you can put dried food into pouches or #10 cans to have should an emergency arrise or you lose a job or whatever the case may be...we are told to have a 1 year food supply in case something happens and we can at least have plenty of food on hand..just good commen sense folks..anyone can go..so if you have any LDS (another word for Mormon) ask if you can go along and get your food storage as well.the food last any where from 18 months to 30+ years depending on what you order..and the prices are great..so I was supposed to go and do that on saturday and they have sessions and times alloted for you to choose from..well the earlier group was on a roll and had the morning session and the afternoon session (that I was also in)..well they finished up early and packed mine and cleaned up the place by the time I got there for my session...SWEET!!! all I had to do was help counting some cans on the shelves and pay and I was out of there...so I went shopping to Joanns as they were still having their sales and I needed some batting..bought the two huge boxes of them..and here is the latest fabric I purchased..some heart fabric for some dolls I plan to make and some great plain (prairie) type of fabric for some prairie dolls that I plan on making..:)

I stopped at the dollar store for more hand towels so I can embroidered on them and picked up some flour sack towels to use in my crafting too..

I also picked up some baby bibs to embroider some cute things for my little sisters new baby that is due the end of March..I will post these as I get them done...Sunday we went to a 70th birthday party...Hubbys boss..he just had surgery 2 weeks ago and he looked great..met their family and had a nice time...Monday I worked in the yard..it was great weather..so I raked and picked up leaves that we didn't get and dead headed some stuff..looks so much better..hubby worked on his truck...we had some friends over for dinner and they are so much fun to have over..they are 3 siblings from our church and the 2 boys helped stack a seasons worth of wood that our neighbors gave us because they are renting out their house and said we could have it..so the boys got it all nice and stacked..Happiness is a big stack of seasoned wood..Betsy helped me with dinner...we have a standing invite once a month with these guys and we truly love our time spent with them...any way today is gorgeous...gotta mop floors get Pody Lynn outside so she can do some squirrel and bird watching..and then I have to get some sewing done so I have something for my humble arts update and a swap that I am doing..plus finish some other surprises...have a wonderful tuesday everyone.:)

Here is a Recipe that Mercy requested as I had mentioned it the other day on my blog...you will love this any time of the year...I've had this recipe for 20 years..;)

Chinese Chicken Salad

2 chicken breasts cooked and chopped up

(I make a whole chicken and leftovers are the breast and wing meat) so use however much you need depending on how many you are cooking for. This is usually our whole dinner so you want it to be filling..:)

1-1/2 bags of packaged lettuce again depends on how many you are feeding and how hungry you are..:) we sometimes use 2 bags

4 green onions..chopped

1 cup of sliced almonds or slivered (optional)

The Sauce:

1 teaspoon accent salt

1 teaspoon regular salt

1 teaspoon pepper

juice of one lemon

3 tablespoons sugar

4 tablespoons white or apple cider vinegar

1/4 cup of sesame oil

1/4 cup olive oil

whisk these together until blended and toss over the salad... toss the salad to coat and serve..

Super easy and tasty and makes a great side dish too.:)

ExPlaiNed by ChiLdRen...

Explained By Children

I only know the names of two angels, Hark and Harold.

Gregory, age 5

everybody's got it all wrong. Angels don't wear halos anymore. I forget why, but scientists are working on it

-Olive, age 9

it's not easy to become an angel! First, you die.
Then you go to Heaven, and then there's still the flight training to go through. And then you got to agree to wear those angel clothes.

-Matthew, age 9

Angels work for God and watch over kids when God has to go do something else.

-Mitchell, age 7

My guardian angel helps me with math, but he's not much good for science.

-Henry, age 8


Angels don't eat, but they drink milk from Holy Cows!!!

-Jack, age 6


Angels talk all the way while they're flying you up
to heaven. The main subject is where you went wrong before you got dead.

Daniel, age 9

When an angel gets mad, he takes a deep breath and counts to ten. And when he lets out his breath again, somewhere there's a tornado.

-Reagan, age 10

Angels have a lot to do and they keep very busy.
If you lose a tooth, an angel comes in through your window and leaves money under your pillow. Then when it gets cold, angels go south for the winter.

-Sara, age 6


Angels live in cloud houses made by God and his
son, who's a very good carpenter.

-Jared, age 8

All angels are girls because they gotta wear
dresses and boys didn't go for it.

-Antonio, age 9


My angel is my grandma who died last year. She got a big head start on helping me while she was still down here on earth.

-Ashley ~ age 9

Some of the angels are in charge of helping heal sick animals and pets. And if
they don't make the animals get better, they help the child get over it.

-Vicki, age 8


What I don't get about angels is why, when someone is in love, they shoot arrows at them.

-Sarah, age 7

LoOk wHaT caMe iN The MaiL.....& BaKinG..

Hey there Blog buds!!! I decided to do a little baking today and I love the recipes I get from all of you on line..some are better then others..and this one is a tasty one..I got this recipe from Carmen of waxed out creative life for a stamping club thing I am going to tonight..of course I had to sample them (I only took the smallest ones) and they are super easy and good...Stop by and wish Carmen the best as she is going into surgery on Monday to get her back straightened out and the doctor said she would be pain free..:) so please keep her in your prayers..

Well look what came in the mail today..I ordered these wonderful candle tarts from Early Homestead Primitives and when Tucky and I got back from our walk I found these in the mailbox...the box smelled really good too..she threw in another sample one it is apple something clove...

I just had to try out the sweet potato pie one..and how appropriate in my star candle warmer...I can't wait for it to melt..

I put the rest of them in a little colander on the counter..they look so cute displayed in there and I can smell em as I walk by...

This also came in the mail today...do you all get this catalog? I love it and it always gives me inspiration and lots of ideas..course my favorite is their "fall" one..I also have my new country sampler I have had for a couple of weeks that I need to look through...I have been going through my magazines like crazy cause I have about 7 subscriptions that I get and have about 5 months each to look through...so at night on the couch..I multi task and read and watch t.v....lol..Well I am off to get my makeup on and then get dinner going so I can shovel it down before my ride gets here..we are having chinese chicken salad..I have had this yummy recipe for 20 years...and it is soooooo good..I hope you all have a wonderful weekend..:)

New CurTainS and FloWerS..

Well since I missed yesterdays whatcha working on wednesday, I am posting what I made yesterday...I took down the winter curtains and made some everyday curtains...I stained and baked the flour sack material and then embroidered the word "Crow" on them..

They are actually supposed to be applique but I chose not to do them that way..the crows are holding a little penny rug in their mouths..

Yesterday and Tuesday were odd days for me..just wasn't feeling quite right..so I went to the doctors yet again..and wouldn't you know that when I get there I feel fine..just feeling anxiety and having heart palpitations..and not sure why..so went in and got an ekg and everything was fine..not sure why I was feeling this way cause I everything was fine at home..this happened a couple of years ago and did the same thing..and everything was fine..not sure if it was hormones...I really don't know..but I feel great today....anyway I stopped by the grocery store for some dinner last night and picked up some flowers to cheer me up...:) and look who is helping me.. Pody is smelling the flowers..she is my baby girl....:)

I hope your thursday is a good one...yesterday was gorgeous and I so wanted to go for a walk with Tucker but wasn't sure what was going on with me...and today is looking okay and Mike took him to work with him..guess I will just sew..and watch Return to Cranford on line..if you all saw the first one..you better watch the 2nd one on line.. www.pbs.org

I loved the first one..and was reading someone elses blog and saw that there was a 2nd one out..so I got on line and am watching the first one..the second one is on my DVR...if you like period movies..you will love this one too..another one I highly recommend is "Lost in Austen" you will love this modern day period movie..you can rent this now...I think I would love to buy this one..look it up on Netflix to read what it is about..Take care and have a great day.:)

ShOppInG...

Yesterday I set out and went to Joanns, office Max and shoe shopping..with a Doctors appt mixed in there as well..I had an appt for Tucker for his general exam and it was going to take like 8 hours..and it was too late for us to pick him up...so cancelled till next week..but now we know how long he will be at the doctors..just wish they had told us when we made the appt..but all was not lost..I went shopping anyway..while Tucker sat patiently in the car..(I did try to hurry though)..I went to joanns in search of some fabrics to make dolls and make my seam binding with for my crow calendars..they didn't have much in the above..but I thought these would do...

These 3 are my favorites..Debbie Mum has the cutest fabric and it was on sale..like 50% off you can't beat those prices..and the one on the left is so retro..I love it..I can't wait to make a doll dress out of that one..;)

and of course I had to get some cat fabric...also Debbie Mum..

I picked up some rick-rack and some reflective tape so I can make Tucker some jackets for him to wear..he has one already..but he needs a cute variety..so next week, when I take him in I will look for weather resistant fabric for him..

I picked up some more black paint..(to use in all my primitive painting redos.... and some satin and matte varnishes to finish up those said projects...I also picked us both up an accordian organizer to put in our glove boxes so we aren't searching for documents etc...nice to be organized..;)

they had .99 cent patterns also at Joanns..this sucker retails for 12.00...would never pay that...so hopefully I can follow these..I only like my doll patterns..sometimes these kind throw you for a loop because they are all scattered all over..no rhyme or reason..do you all have the same thoughts on these...they can be so confusing..you have to read between the lines several times..before you get it...

I also picked up more organizers for my machine embroidery designs..they fit nicely under my table and I just labeled them today..I have a boat load of designs..and I catorgarized them into holidays etc..makes it so much easier to find them..

here are the 2 bins filled with designs the bottom also houses misc wood patterns and other misc stuff..the accordian folder finally said enough and was getting too small and I couldn't close it up any longer..so in the trash it goes..;)

we went to the doctors yesterday as Mike hurt his achiles tendon(?) and he was in so much pain..and I went as I had a urinary tract infection..oh happy day..my back was really hurting me..so didn't want to wait any longer..oh and peeing in a cup is a real treat..you have to do so many things before you actually go in the cup..Ladies you all know what I am talking about..but we had success...okay I know TMI...lol..we then went to get Mike some lifts/supports for his shoes and we went to the place where I got my 3 pairs earlier last fall...and I am sold now on you get what you pay for...I will probably always have to wear better shoes now..cause when I don't my left foot still hurts and it ain't fun..so I spyed the cutest pair there..(actually there were alot of cute ones there..but they are expensive so I kept with one pair..I wanted a closed toe pair as in the winter it is just to cold to wear sandels..and I also got a pair of inserts to put in these and my running shoes..(no I don't run) they are just a better shoe for my feet..so hopefully now when we go out walking my left foot won't hurt..

I just love these..and they are so comfortable and make my feet look small..(just wish they made the rest of me look small...;) but I love the round toe in front and they are easy on and easy off..which I love..so we both left the store with a lot less money but with happier feet..Yesterday was also our 24th "church" anniversary...where we had a very small church wedding with immediate family and that was it..we didn't do much because Mike wasn't feeling up to walking etc..so we will put off our dinner out for hopefully next week..maybe even a movie..not sure...anyway that was my day in a nut shell..it was gorgeous too..which was another plus because the night before we had a big wind storm mixed with rain...and we lost power at about 9pm..so we went to bed and red by our little bed lights..and we tossed and turned all night..me cause of the wind and Mike because of foot pain...so it was nice to see a sunny day..and driving and seeing all the tree limbs etc on the road and work trucks out..it was a mess...but our yard was just fine..thank goodness...well I hope you all have a great day...Take care..:)

BeD TiMe...

This is bed time at the Cooper's house..last night this is how our bed looked..both Sunny and Mike were sleeping in the same direction...and I just had to get a picture..

aren't they precious...

Here is little Poe-Poe sleeping on a blanket/afghan that I crocheted..she sleeps on the bed all day long...but this is her place to sleep at night in our bedroom..Tucker sleeps in his kennel in our room and Millie sleeps usually at the foot of Mikes Feet..Gracie sleeps downstairs...so we are a cozy bunch...just wanted to share this picture of the 2 in bed as they looked so cute...Do you think Sunny knows where her bread is buttered? (it is a saying I grew up with)...have a wonderful Sunday everyone..:)

BeFore & AfTers...

Hello there and thanks for stopping by....I finished my bread box and am just tickled with how it turned out..Above is the before picture..I just got tired of this set up..it was okay but just not quite right..

AFTER TTTaaaddddaaaa!! I love my new and improved bread box..I picked this up 2 weeks ago at Goodwill and finally got it painted and primmed up..I sanded it down to rough up the surface for painting..I painted it black then I put a white wash or red iron oxide over it..then I sanded it and put the label on it that I got from my good pal Rene over at Two Mile Creek Primitives and then I sealed it..

Here is a better photo of it..I was originally going to use this for it's intended purpose of holding my bread..but I have decided to put our meds and vitamins in it..no one needs to see what we take each day..and its not pretty..so it just goes so nicely in my kitchen now along with the other black accents and looks so good with that stove cover on the other side of the sink..Its amazing how it dominoed into tweaking and rearranging other things in the house...but thats what keeps it interesting..I have more of that down below..You know I would have passed this bread box up a couple of years ago..because I never would have seen its potential..but since I started blogging and seeing what you all do with TS finds..I love going TS to see what I can remake..I have another bread box that has been sitting for almost year now and it is going to be made over hopefully this week as well..not sure if it will replace this one or not..it is a bit bigger...will have to see and compare the two...

This was dinner last night..This is the only italian dinner that I make that our "italian family" taught me how to do..and this is authentic napliatano recipe..it is called "Pepperoni per Padella...it is so tasty and so easy to make..I also added mozzarella and parmasean cheese to the top..it really adds to this dinner...

It makes alot depending on how many boxes of Farfalle pasta you add..Recipe to follow at the end of the post...

Where the fruit is..is a longaberger basket that was in the kitchen on that little wrought iron rack..so now its on the hutch holding the fruit..and the big turquoise roaster that was there holding the fruit is now on top of the hutch ...

as seen here..I added the lid to give it more depth..love it now..I love that roaster..and the color..

Last but not least I finally finishe embroidering the crow calendar months and I have decided how I am going to finish these out..I am going to back them with muslin and then with my trusty seam binder maker..take coordinating fabric for each month and but binding around the edges to finish them off...

Here is the recipe

Pepperoni Per Padella

1-1/2 pound red peppers (about 6-8) depending on the size and how many you are cooking for.

Parsley

olive oil

salt and pepper

8 cherry tomatoes

farfalle pasta (bowtie pasta)

4 garlic cloves or one huge table spoon or more of minced garlic from the jar. (I add alot of garlic because I love it..so add 2 tablespoons)..

Hot Pepper flakes (1 teaspoon)

2/3 cup heavy cream or 1/2 & 1/2

Cut up the red peppers and put in a huge 10-12 inch pan along with 1/2 cup-1 cup olive oil and add 2 teaspoons of salt and 1 teaspoon pepper and the 8 cherry tomatoes and cook down to where it is like it is wilted and very soft to the touch..(you will know what I mean..it starts out like its too big for the pan then you wonder where it all goes)..If it starts to dry out in the pan and the peppers are sticking add water to keep the pan coated it will help the cooking process..

About 1/2 way through the cooking add the garlic..

Cook the pasta according to the package directions right before the mixture is done..

when it is cooked down say about 30 minutes put all of the mixture through a food mill and grate off as much sauce as you can..( it will leave just the skins of the peppers on top).

Put the mixture back in the pan add the heavy cream and 1-2 table spoons of flour to thicken up the mixture..heat for about 5 minutes making sure the flour has been incorporated.add the parsly and stir..I use about 1 heaping tablespoon...add the pasta and mix well and put in serving bowls and top with parmesean cheese and or mozzerella (optional)...I also add the skins that were left in the food mill..cause they are still tender and add more texture..up to you..Your family will love this dinner..and ask for seconds..:)

Hope you all are having a wonderful 3 day weekend..hubby had to work today..but off on sunday and Monday..monday is our "church" anniversary...so will try to go to lunch after we drop off Tucker for his checkup..got some running around to do..hopefully order a bathroom sink..would love to get it started...but don't think it will happen anytime soon..but I think I will at least paint the bathroom and the cabinet...:)