Guitar Cases

My two nephews loooooooooooove the guitar.  They love wander around the house strumming, singing, and selling tickets to their concerts.  "Tia Ness" enjoys these concerts so much she decided it was time they have proper guitar cases.   This meant taking the 4-year-old on an outing to JoAnn's to pick out fabric for himself and his little brother.

The cases were not as easy I had in my head...but sewing projects never are.  I even added a gusset which sounds more impressive than it is, but I didn't even know the meaning of the word before this project. (FYI - a piece of fabric sewn into a seam to add breadth).

I was also excited to use a zipper foot for the first time.  I'm not sure I did it right, but it turned out OK in the end and the two rockin' boys liked their cases.

Apricot Magic

Every so often all the conditions and circumstances just come together and magic happens.  I love taking photos and I usually like all the ones I post on the blog...but there are times when a certain chemistry happens and everything just works out better than expected.

That's what happened with these apricots.   George bought 5 or 6 apricots the other day and I just couldn't keep my eyes off of them. Their color was so vibrant and their texture so soft.  I was out on the back porch taking a photo of the beet cupcake when I remembered the apricots.  It was almost an afterthought to take their picture, but the light was really nice so I put them in a blue bowl and voila!  Apricot magic!

I liked this photo so much I am using it as my wallpaper.  If you would like too also you can download a high resolution version here. (Every time I see that little apricot smile it makes me smile too.)

(Have I mentioned I have been gaga lately over pale oranges and blues?  I  may have to do a whole post on this color combo because I am totally loving it!)

Chocolate Beet Cake

My brother-in-law gave us this recipe.  At first I was suspicious about ruining perfectly good chocolate cake with beet flavor, but was I ever pleasantly surprised!  They were so delicious and you can't even tell there are a bunch of beets in it.  I loved these cupcakes!

George halved this recipe and made cupcakes.  Enjoy!

CHOCOLATE BEET CAKE

3 cups beets shredded
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
2 cups flour
1/4 cup oil
4 oz unsweeted chocolate
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoon baking powder

options
sub. 1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla

2 9-inch pans

325 for 40 min or more

Tulip Pods

Age is not all decay; it is the ripening, the swelling, of the fresh life within, that withers and bursts the husk. - George MacDonald.

I collected these tulip pods at the beginning of May.  I just love how they look when they are all dried up...truly wabi sabi.  For anyone who wants to know more about that concept I recommend this book - Living Wabi Sabi: The True Beauty of Your Life by Taro Gold.

Happy Father's Day!

I've been itching to use this new font I love called Museo 300 and this Father's Day card was the perfect time.  I wanted to use it for the large text, but I ended up using Myriad instead because it was bolder.  I used Museo 300 for the smaller text (you can click on the photo to make it larger).  Some project of mine in the near future will definitely use this font (and its free!)

What's inside the box you ask?  Corn hole replacement bean bags!

Happy Father's Day!

Hydrangea Vase

The hydrangeas in my yard are in full bloom right now.  These are Annabelle hydrangeas I cut from the front yard.  At first I only had hydrangeas in this arrangement but then it dawned on me that Mahonia berries would be the perfect accent!  I also used Soloman's seal for some greenery.

Oh, and I found the vase at the flea market.  I love the classic shape and ribbed sides and it goes so perfectly with hydrangeas.  Oooh la la!

Bachelor's Button June!

OK, I know it's a bit late, but I'm happy if I finish by mid-month.  This month I was inspired by the Bachelor's Buttons we got from our CSA (Hazelfield Farms).  At first I thought they were a bit weedy, but then they grew on me.  Apparently they are called Bachelor's Buttons because they were worn by young men in love; if the flower faded too quickly, it was taken as a sign that the man's love was not returned.  No fading around here!

Happy June!

Paper Cut Elephant

When we went to New York we had about 5 hours to wander around New York City.  Of course I had to visit Purl Soho, Kate's paperie, and ABC home (poor George)...but one of the best finds I had that day was in Union Square. Luckily there was an art fair the day we walked through and I found this great booth where a woman was selling Chinese paper cuts.  I bought this incredibly cute elephant and framed it with an inexpensive frame from Garden Ridge.  It now sits on the ledge in the yellow room and I love, love, love it!

Vintage Field Guides

A couple weeks ago we visited George's sister in Geneva, NY.  Every time we go there I love to stop by the Geneva Antique Co-op.  Its a great store in downtown Geneva that has loads of interesting tidbits (although "tidbits" might not be the right word as the first time we went we had to fit a nightstand in the back seat of the car).

Anyway, this time I found these great "little" field guides.  I say "little" because they are only 3.5'' tall by 5.5'' wide. I love the artwork and the descriptions are wonderfully subjective.  For example, when discussing the rose-breasted grosbeak the author states,"  Almost all observers are impressed with the wholesomeness of this grosbeak.  It is seldom nervous and does not permit trivial things to bother it."

This is is dated 1931 and printed in Racine, Wisconsin.

This one was printed in Bavaria and didn't have a date .

This one was printed in 1932 also in Racine, Wisconsin.

This may be the start of a new collection!  (George sighs and thinks, "At least they're not breakable and they fit into the back of the car.")

Party Lights!

I was so excited yesterday to put up these string lights I got at Target (actally George put them up - thanks G).  When we built the porch I knew we had to have party lights so we had the electrician put a special outlet at the top so the cords wouldn't have to come from the floor. 

I also love how it looks from the outside.  It looks like the room glows.

Bleeding Heart

I planted this dwarf bleeding heart last year and I was super excited to see it come back this spring.  I took this photo at the end of April, but it is still in bloom now.  I love the shape of the flower and the delicate foliage.  There is an interesting legend about the flower that you can read here.

Swainson's Thrush

Last week I was on my way downstairs to eat breakfast when George nonchalantly says,"I've got a Swainson's thrush in a box downstairs. It hit the window. Do you want to see it before I release it?"

Now, you have to understand we often have random injured birds in boxes so that was no surprise...but we don't often have a Swainson's thrush! So I got the camera, rushed downstairs and was soon standing in the driveway in my pjs taking photos.

When George opened the box to pick it up it made quite a fuss with loud, "I'm-totally-annoyed" chirps. But when he finally went to let it go it happily perched on his finger and looked quite content to sit there all day. George was worried it didn't want to fly so he put it back in the box to rest. An hour later he opened the box and it flew away no worse for wear.  As my friend John would say, "Schweet!"

Bloodroot May

This month I was inspired by the lovely, curvy shapes of  bloodroot leaves from the backyard.  When I looked it up, again to my surprise it had an "M" class.  So I could have called this month "Magnoliopsida May," but somehow "Bloodroot May" sounded better. (Sorry about the clashing greens of the wall and the calendar.)

Crabapple Tree

The crabapple tree in our backyard is an amazing site to see in the spring and this year was a special treat because of our new screen porch.  It was incredible to sit and listen to the thousand buzzing bees and watch them jumping from flower to flower. 

New Pillowcases!

This weekend I finally made pillowcases! I have had this fabric for a long time.  I bought it because it goes perfectly with our bedroom color and it has birds and flowers on it!  The color might not show up correctly on everyone's monitor, but it's between cornflower blue and dusty lavender.

I used this blog tutorial to help me figure it out.  But I had to adjust the size because we both like really wimpy pillows.  I cut my fabric to 42''x 28.5'' for the main body fabric and 42''x 10'' for the edge fabric. I ended up using bias ribbon for the divider line fabric mostly because it was the only thing I could find in the correct color.  But you could use fabric or ribbon. It is also best to finish your edges now with the zig zag stitch ( I don't have a serger).

I also altered the way she attached the edge fabric. My way hides all the seams. I made a diagram below.

Make sure to pin the bias ribbon only to the top layer first.  It is important to get it even and straight here.

Then go back and pin the main body fabric.  At this point you can pin through all the layers.

After sewing this together it's easy.  Just fold with right sides inside and sew the edges.

Dual Flush Toilet

Recently George and I were watching one of those home improvement shows on TV and they had this show about dual flush toilets and how easy it is to convert your toilet into one.  Of course, we always see stuff like that and say that we want to do it, but in reality we never do.  But as fate would have it I was in Ace hardware a week later and what do I see, but a dual flush toilet converter!  I had to buy it... and it was only $25!

For those of you who are asking what is a dual flush toilet?  It is a way to save water every time you flush.  There is a button for solids and a button for liquids.  Hence, every time you just tinkle you don't use as much water.  If you have an old toilet and would like to convert it, it is really easy.  It took George about 15 minutes.  It is a win-win situation - you save water and money at the same time.

Last day of Daffodil Mania

Phew, I didn't realize how much effort it takes to post something every day.  I almost forgot today is the last day of Daffodil Mania week.  I liked these pale daffodil photos so much I am going to make note cards out of them.  Maybe if I get my act together I will sell them some day on Etsy.

Daffodil Bouquet

I made this little arrangement a couple weeks ago for my friend Mary.  This photo shows another one of my favorite kinds of daffodil.  I love the one right in the middle with the orange center and white petals.  The center has a dark orange ruffly edge and fades to yellow.  Gorgeous!

More Daffodils

So I was just reading about daffodils and apparently you should never eat them!  All parts of the plant contain alkaloid chemicals that are bitter and can be toxic.  That's why they are deer and rodent resistant.

Asparagales April!

When I was trying to decide what to draw for this month's calendar I started off trying to think of something that started with an A.  I thought about Arthropod or Arachnid April but then I gave up because I haven't done it every month and nothing was coming to me.

Then I realized I should draw a daffodil in honor of Daffodil Mania week.  And as luck would have it the Order for Daffodils is "Asparagales!"  I lucked out!  Incredibly, the family is Amaryllidaceae so I had my choice.  Some things were just meant to be.

Daffodil Poem

I would be remiss if I did not include this poem in Daffodil Mania week.

Daffodils by William Wordsworth

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced, but they
Out-did the sparkling leaves in glee;
A poet could not be but gay,
In such a jocund company!
I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

Birthday Daffodils

I made this sweet little arrangement for my friend Jennifer's birthday Thursday.  I was telling her that I normally wouldn't think to combine purple and orange, but I ended up loving the combination.

Its so nice to be able use flowers from the yard.  Although I sometimes curse the previous owners of our house for planting such a huge garden that constantly needs tending, I owe them a big thank you because I love the flowers.

Daffodila Mania!

The day after the daffodils came up two weeks ago we had a big frost and they all fell over.  I was so sad and thought that might be the end.  But they recovered nicely and it has been a great daffodil season.  In honor of them I have decided to have a daffodil related post every day this week.

This photo shows one of my favorite kinds.  It has a double blooming head and I call it orange sherbert.  Every time I see one of these it reminds me of icing and I want to eat it up.  Yum!

Empanadas

Have you ever had a warm empanada on a cold day?  It is pure heaven.  Empanadas are like warm bundles of joy chock full of yummy goodness.  They are my favorite meal in the world! Luckily George has been cooking up a storm lately.

The other day he made them and added a new ingredient that is now my favorite - artichokes.  I happened to have my camera handy so here are the photos.

First he rolls out the dough.

Then he adds the filling.

Then he folds them up into little packages.

Then you cook them and they are ready to eat!

If you would like a copy of George's empanada recipe you can download a pdf here.

New Website

So this is the reason I haven't posted very much this month.  I have been busy building Carole Paine's logo and website. I spent all day yesterday fixing last minute issues and I am excited today to finally say its done.

You can visit the site at CincinnatiAcupuncture.com (let me know if you see anything askew!).

Daffodils

One of my favorite things to do in the spring is to pull out this vase and fill it with daffodils.  I bought the vases and wire holder at World Market a couple of years ago and it is one of my favorites.  I love the vintage look of it.  Happy Spring!

Echinoderm March!

Its Echinoderm March!  OK, I know its a little late, but we went to the Dominican Republic for Spring Break.  I wanted to post some DR photos but I haven't had a chance to go through them to see if they are blog worthy.  However, today I was motivated because I have been making appointments with tub re-glazers and roofers and I needed a March calendar.  My brain somehow went from tubs, to water, to starfish...yeah for echinoderms!!!