Happy Mother's Day

Enjoy the beauty of your creations...

NO Cost Chandelier Makeover

We recently made a major move from Florida to Texas.  We decided to rent a house so that we could check out different areas before we purchase a home.  A rental house certainly has its challenges.  Two of those challenges are the chandeliers in the breakfast room and dining room.  Yes, I believe they are the original 1980's generic box store builder grade variety.  Need I say more, they were ugly in 1980 but needless to say they are here.  We will temporarily replace the dining room light with another that we brought with us.  But I didn't want to buy a new one for the breakfast room at this time.  Let me tell ya, I have been racking my brain trying to think of what I could do with it, besides burying it. LOL  Well, today was the day that I couldn't take it anymore.  A light bulb went off and I got busy rummaging through the house and garage.  To the linen closet I ran to dig through fabric and then a bee line to garage to find some decorations and beads.  The Christmas decoration box in particular, I know they're in here somewhere.  The garage must have been 100 degrees but determined I was in trying to find them.  Alas, there they are, but the one I want is on the bottom, go figure... Anyway, I think I turned an ugly duckling into a graceful swan in no time flat.  The best part is that it didn't cost a single penny.  Gotta love that.

                                              BEFORE

                                               AFTER

To see more creative projects, visit Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for another installment of Metamorphosis Monday.

Decorate with all your heart,

Bee hive cupcakes inspired

Sandra Lee has the most amazing and easy recipes.  Not only are they mighty tasty, but they are beautiful for the eye to behold.  These little cakes would be the perfect finish for a simple down home picnic.  The bees are the cutest and so easy to make.  Just makes me want to pluck one off and pop it in my mouth.  I may just have to whip some of these up for my next informal dinner party or just to snack on while relaxing on the deck. 


Enjoy!!!

 

 

Ingredients

• 1 package (18.25 ounces) butter recipe yellow cake mix, Betty Crocker®
• 11⁄2 cups (3 sticks) butter, softened
• 3⁄4 cup water
• 1⁄2 cup plus 3 tablespoons honey, Sue Bee®
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup vegetable shortening, Crisco®
• 8 cups powdered sugar, sifted, C&H®
• 5 drops yellow food coloring, McCormick®
• 1⁄4 cup heavy cream
• 1 tube (4.25 ounces) yellow decorating icing, Cake Mate®
• 48 black jelly beans, Jelly Belly®
• 96 sliced almonds, Planters®

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line twenty-four 21⁄2-inch muffin cups with paper bake cups; set aside.
2. In a large bowl, beat cake mix, 1⁄2 cup of the butter, the water, 1⁄2 cup of the honey, and the eggs with an electric mixer on low for 30 seconds. Scrape down side of bowl; beat for 2 minutes on medium. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups, filling each about two-thirds full.
3. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the centers comes out clean. Cool cupcakes in muffin cups on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Remove cupcakes from muffin cups; cool completely on rack.
4. For yellow frosting, in a large bowl, beat shortening and the remaining 1 cup butter with electric mixer on medium until fluffy. Add powdered sugar, the remaining 3 tablespoons honey, and the yellow food coloring. Beat until combined. Add cream, 1 tablespoon at a time, and beat on high until desired thickness.
5. To create beehives, insert a large round decorating tip into a large pastry bag. Fill pastry bag with yellow frosting. Pipe a small cone of frosting in the center of the top of each cupcake. Starting from the outer edge of each cupcake and working inward and upward, pipe frosting to form a hive shape.
6. To create bees, pipe yellow decorating icing in thin horizontal lines on black jelly beans. Let icing stand for 30 minutes. Insert two striped jelly beans on each frosting hive. For wings, insert an end of a
   sliced almond on each side of each striped jelly bean. 
   
                             Yellow Inspired\
   
   Sunny yellow makes for a perfect combination for summer fun.  A little or a lot makes you just want to smile.
   
   This dress was made for a fun and flirty afternoon. 
    
   
   
   
   
   
    These chairs are the perfect pop of color.  I think this would be outstanding for a roof top deck.
   
   
   
    Yellow can be too lively a color for a bedroom but a little can go a long way.  Choose accents of soft buttery yellow with lots of white to promote sweet dreams.
   
   
   
   Decorate with all your heart,
   
   Kathleen

Crochet School of Fish Afghan

I have had a hard time putting down my crochet hook lately. I finally completed my school of fish afghan last night. Crocheting the strips went fast and then I got bored with weaving the strips together and it sat around unfinished for a few months. Since I am trying to tie up lose ends (so to speak) and unfinished projects, I decided that a cold Florida day would be the perfect time to have a large afghan on my lap while sewing it all together. So, I am happy to say that it is complete, and also very warm to snuggle up in.

Blessings,

Crochet Flower Granny Squares

I taught myself to crochet at a very young age. It's amazing that some of the older crafts are in style again. I have wanted to teach myself how to crochet a flower granny square. So, yesterday I spent some quality time poolside and whipped up a few with left over yarn. I wasn't sure what I wanted to make but I think this pretty tote will be the winner. The squares work up quite fast so it shouldn't take too long. Looks like I may need more time by the pool to finish em up.

Happy New Year

May the cares of 2011 be washed away and the prospect of new beginnings unfold in the coming year,,,

Blessings,

Finding myself again

This is my source for inspiration. Living this close to the Gulf of Mexico is truly a blessing. In times when I need to find some quiet time, this is where I go, In times when I need to quiet myself and pray, this is where I go. In times when I need to find inspiration for my art, this is where I go. Listening to the sounds of the beach quiets my way too busy little head. For those that have followed my blog, you have probably noticed that I have been absent for a very long time. It has been both a very long 2 years but then again it also feels like it flew by. Going back to school, working a full time job and balancing a design business has been quite an undertaking. But I am happy to say that it is finally over. I sat for my board exams 2 wks ago and am very happy to say that I passed on the 1st try. It has been months and months of studying and I'm so happy it paid off. The test was 5 hrs and 40 min long and let me tell ya, it felt like it went by in minutes. I have to say that when it was over my brain turned to mush. I couldn't even put a thought together, couldn't even figure out where the car was parked So, guess where I headed? To the beach to watch the sunset and sip some wine and try to get my groove back. It felt so good to be able to not think... So, now that it is over, I am finally back to my art. Wow, did I miss it. I just escape when I am painting. I spent most of the holiday in my studio, painting, drinking lattes and just relaxing big time.

Recently I have been thinking that it would be so cool to spend some alone time in a little beach cottage on the Gulf. Maybe just a week or two. I would love to have a big table to work on that is directly in front of a large window overlooking the water. Think about all the inspiration I can gather, OH heaven..... The seahorse that you see in my new blog header is a watercolor painting that I completed over the weekend, I am currently working on a watercolor sea turtle. Just having a blast and finding myself again.

I am linking to A Southern Daydreamer, Outdoor Wednesday, jog on over and have a look. Blessings,

Christmas Collage Gift Tags

I think homemade gift tags are little works of art. I have always admired them and thought I would give it a try. So, out came the glue stick, antiquing ink and some glitter. I'm wrapping the gifts in white tissue paper with some aqua ribbon and attaching these special gift tags for two of my girlfriends Christmas presents. I think I will have to make some more, they were quite fun to create. The graphics fairy has the most awesome images.

Blessings

Peppermint Bark

This year I think I am going to make this peppermint and chocolate yummy candy for Christmas gifts. It reminds me of the peppermint mocha lattes at my favorite coffee shop available during the Christmas season. Not to mention it looks pretty darn cute in the shape of a snowflake. A cellophane bag and a sweet little tag is all that is needed for a beautiful presentation.

INGREDIENTS:

1 bag of chocolate chips (any kind you like)

1 bag of white chocolate chips

24 mini candy canes, crushed *do not crush using a food processor – place candy canes in a zip lock bag and use a hammer to crush into small pieces

DIRECTIONS:

Line the bottom of a 9×13 pan with parchment paper. Pour (brown) chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave chocolate chips in increments of 30 seconds stirring the chips each time until chocolate chips have completed melted and mixture is smooth. Spread melted chocolate as evenly as possibly into lined pan. Place pan into freezer for 20 minutes. Repeat the same melting process with the white chips. While chocolate is still smooth, stir in half of the crushed candy cane mixture. Allow the white chocolate to slightly cool for a minute. Remove pan from freezer and spread white chocolate/crushed candy canes mixture on top of the chocolate layer. Spread white chocolate as quickly as possible. Top off with remaining crushed candy cane and gently pat down with the back of a spatula. Return pan to freezer for 20 minutes. Remove from freezer and gently lift the whole mixture from the pan with a butter knife. You should now have a solid sheet of peppermint bark. Remove parchment paper and break into pieces. Store any left over bark in a ziplock bag and place in the freezer. Enjoy!

*if white chocolate chips do not melt smooth, stir in 2 tablespoons of shortening.



Blessings,

Things I want to do more of

Some of the things that I want to do this summer

Write in my art journal
Nap outside
Ride my vintage bike
Spend quiet time writing at my local coffee shop

I just LOVE everything about the lazy days of summer.

What are you going to be up to this summer?

Blessings,

Coastal Poster Art

I am always on the look out for anything coastal. I came across these great coastal posters here. You can download them for free.

I love the whitewashed frames, OH, so beachy.

Blessings,

Reading For Pleasure

It's been a long time since I've posted anything. I am slowing getting back to a normal routine with a little more free time.

Now that school is finally over maybe I can reclaim my life. I have a tiny bit of time before I start studying for my certification exam and it's feels so good to be able to read novels again instead of text books. Last week I finished James Patterson's, I Alex. His books are a quick read and I was able to relax in the pool and read as well. Did I just say relax? Is that word still in my vocabulary? So, since I read that novel so fast I popped over to the library to see what goodies they had that would intrigue me. Well, intrigue me they did, 6 novels later and I was busy stacking my bedside table. OK, two books were for my husband and four for me. I enjoy the writings of Karen White, I read one of her previous novels, The Memory Of Water. In fact I have that book sitting on my mantle. I like to use books that pertain to the sea or have beachy look as lifts for accessories.

Review of The Lost Hours by Amazon.com

When Piper Mills was twelve, she helped her grandfather bury a box that belonged to her grandmother in the backyard. For twelve years, it remained untouched.

Now a near fatal riding accident has shattered Piper’s dreams of Olympic glory. After her grandfather’s death, she inherits the house and all its secrets, including a key to a room that doesn’t exist—or does it? And after her grandmother is sent away to a nursing home, she remembers the box buried in the backyard. In it are torn pages from a scrapbook, a charm necklace—and a newspaper article from 1939 about the body of an infant found floating in the Savannah River. The necklace’s charms tell the story of three friends during the 1930s— each charm added during the three months each friend had the necklace and recorded her life in the scrapbook. Piper always dismissed her grandmother as not having had a story to tell. And now, too late, Piper finds she might have been wrong.

I'm always interested in what others are reading. So tell me..... What book is next to your bed?

Beautiful Contemplation

This music video by Amy Lee is so hauntingly beautiful...

Blessings,

Crochet Shawl Sweater

With the temps on the nippy side here in Florida, my thoughts are turning to warm and cozy sweaters. I still refuse to put a coat on but a fluffy sweater will do me just fine. I figure if I walk really fast from the car I won't be so cold. I love the look of a shawl but wanted some sleeves. I searched and found this little lovely. I think she will be the one...

I think an antique brooch would be perfect to hold the corner in place. I'll have to dig through my Mother's jewelry.

This is the yarn that I have, it has a nice soft feel and I think it will be perfect.

Now, I think it's time to pour a latte, settle into my comfy chair and get this project underway.

I hope your day is filled with comfort....

Blessings,

Sweater Pillows

West Elm - $54 (Award-winning sweater and knitwear designers Tina Lutz and Marcia Patmos. Cable knit and graphic honeycomb pattern. Comes in ivory and heather grey. 14" x 36". Down pillow insert sold separately.)

OK, I'll say it again, it's darn cold here in Florida. These pillows are definitely the cuddle up kinda pillows that a girl needs on a chilly day. I'm thinking a trip to the thrift store for some sweaters and I could rustle up a few of these beauties real quick.

Warming Up On A Cold Day

It is a cold day in Florida, cloudy and bone chilling. The perfect day for tea and a good read. I'm going to snuggle up in my favorite chair and relax the day away. All my candles are lit and it smells divine. I am reading The Widows Season by Laura Brodie. I hope you are having a relaxing day wherever you are.


Sarah McConnell's husband had been dead three months when she saw him in the grocery store....

So begins the story of a young widow who believes that she is being haunted by her husband's ghost. But David, her husband, disappeared in a kayaking accident and his body was never found.

In a mysterious narrative that follows the holiday seasons from Halloween to Easter, Laura Brodie examines the line between life and death, marriage and divorce, grief and comfort, as her widowed protagonist tries to bring to life her own dormant spirit.

Blessings,

Happy New Year

New Year’s ReflectionsLooking back on the months gone by,
As a new year starts and an old one ends,
We contemplate what brought us joy,
And we think of our loved ones and our friends.Recalling all the happy times,
Remembering how they enriched our lives,
We reflect upon who really counts,
As the fresh and bright new year arrives.And when I ponder those who do,
I immediately think of you.Thanks for being one of the reasons I'll have a Happy New Year!

Blessings,

Solitary Mug

I love photos that evoke an emotion. This picture is very simple but very moving to me. What I love is the negative space and the part of the picture that is out of my view. I look at this picture and I want to know more. The mystery of what else there is that I can't see. I want to know what kind of tea is in that mug. Is it a breakfast blend or a sleeptime? Is the mug empty or full and awaiting someones return or did someone go off to bed. This is my vision...

The house is an old stone 2 story
It is a late November day
cloudy, slight drizzle with a nip in the air
It's early morning on a weekday
I have the day off from work
I just finished my tea
It is an Irish Breakfast tea
I'm spending the day alone
Taking a drive to a town outside of the city
Spending the day browsing the quaint shops
stopping at a cozy coffee house
for a latte, a little read and
people watching
Then back home for a late
afternoon tea
My mug awaits.....

I'd love to know what you envision when you look at this photo.

Blessings