Happy almost Thanksgiving...

(via Ireed7649 on flickr)

We're off!

Bread, baked.

Artichoke dip, made.

Veggies, cut.

Bags, packed.

A stack of DVD's for the road, check.

Diapers, yeah.

Toothbrushes...

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing you all safe travels and a very blessed day! :)

Stitching this and that...

Here's a peek at what I've been up to...Friday the girls and I went to the craft store and picked up stack of eco-felt (made from recycled plastic bottles) and few fat round-tip needles. We made a list of recipients and their interests and started snipping. We used little bits of cotton (collected from the top of our freshly opened, enormous bottle of vitamin C) to stuff the insides. Then Rylee and I stitched them up. Viola! Homemade ornaments to adorn all our packages :)

My big girl will turn 5 on Thanksgiving Day! We will be with family in Chicago for Thanksgiving...then Friday her Grandparents are suprising her with a night's stay at a crazy insane fun indoor waterpark resort outside the city! The husband and I are really looking forward to it too... :)

Staying cozy, of course...

Hot Chocolate Lip Balm by Miapella Organics (YUMMY)

Pumpkin Orange Neckwarmer by Evaforeva

Spindley Tree Mug by SkinnyLaminx (perfect for hot chocolate)

Orange Maze Weekender by DrikaB

Stuff 'em...

Mary Jane Stocking by SewLola

Recycled Afghan Stocking by Rethinkcrafts

Up-cycled Stocking (from plastic bags) by CuriousDoodles

Eco-Spun Felt Stocking by Rikrak

Striped Stocking by Missmosh

A fresh take on stockings by fellow Etsians!

(+ a few eco options to make your Holiday a bit greener!)

More Etsy love...

Old Town by AliciaBock

Mary's Lost One by CitrusTree

Carnivale by JKPhotography

Mary Mary Print by Ellemoss

My favorite Etsy fotogs! These would make fetching Christmas gifts:)

Ornaments on Etsy...

Woodland Ornaments by Bezzab

Felt Owlets by Cuore

Joy Bird by PalomasNest

Scented Linen Ornaments by LaPomme

I'm not quite ready to put the tree up, but when I do, these would make lovely additions.

There are tons of sweet ornaments to be found on Etsy this year :)

Flashback Part II...

2008

2008

2008

2008

2007

I wonder what 2009 will look like?

Flashback Part I...

2007

2007

2006

2006

2006

Going through my archives...starting in 2006...I believe I have deleted most of the things I did between 2004-2005...or rather they were lost when our last computer died...before I knew that smart girls back-up their files :)

yummy bread...

My Favorite Banana Bread

4 mashed bananas
1 cup sour cream
1/4 cup butter
1 1/3 cups natural cane sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Crumble Topping:

2 tablespoons butter

3 tablespoons brown sugar

1tablespoon flour

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 cup finely chopped walnuts or pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour two 9x5 inch loaf pans.
Combine banana and sour cream. Set aside. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla and banana mixture. Combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt; stir into the banana mixture. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan or pans. Mix all topping ingredients and crumble across the top of the batter.
Bake for 40 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean.

Enjoy!

Burr....

via imapix on flickr

via Lake.sider on Flickr

via Heidimarierobinson on Flickr


via Suzanne e on Flickr


Really trying to psych myself out for season upon us ...This will be my 7th Michigan winter, and I'm still not quite the snow bunny I'd like to be...more of a house mouse, sipping hot chocolate, baking bread, laying on the couch covered in blankets, running up a heating bill. This year could be different, right? I think I can , I think I can...

Hello creative funk...

This is exactly how I feel. (via www.mariedavies.blogspot.com)

I am in a huge creative funk. It's happened before. Twice, actually. Not just a "I don't know what to draw today" funk...more of a "it's time for a new style to blossom" funk. Do you know what I mean. I have ideas, new things I want to try, but it just isn't coming out. I get bored easily and I feel it's time I take my art in a new direction to challenge myself. It's incredibly frustrating...my husband keeps reminding me that "the funk" will work itself out, and that afterwards, something new and fresh will come of it. I hope so. We watched the first snow flakes of the season fall a few days ago. The temperature has dropped into the forties. The kids have fevers and runny noses. A little painting sure would go a long way....