Mare's nest

Super Easy Lunch or Dinner

2012-01-27T03:28:00.000-08:00

I seem to be in a cooking mode lately.

Nothing too fancy, but shrimp fried rice is such a favorite!

I happened to have both peas and shrimp in the freezer so that makes it even easier!

Here are my ingredients, ready to go.

Rice -check

Shrimp- check

peas - check

green onions - check

diced ham - check

egg- check

hoisin sauce - check

soy sauce - check

I start by making a sort of flat omelet and then rolling it and slicing it.

I know some people mix the beaten egg in with the rice, but we like the pieces of egg instead of the scrambled rice effect.

Then I heat some peanut oil in my wok and start cooking the rice.

I add some soy sauce and some Hoisin sauce and keep stirring and cooking to let the rice soak up the sauces.

Then I add the diced ham. Okay in this case it was cut up Canadian Bacon but I didn't want to create an international incident. shhhh

Then in goes the frozen peas and shrimp...

cook and stir until they are thawed and warmed and starting to soak up the sauce.

mmmmm

smells good!

When it's getting nice and hot and almost ready the green onions go in so they just get cooked a wee little bitty bit. We want the fresh greeny taste to hang in there.

Then the egg pieces go in last so they don't get too smashed up and lose all their integrity.

Because really, I ask you, is there anything worse than an egg with no integrity?

Then Viola! Shrimp fried rice!

and if you don't have shrimp, or ham (or Canadian bacon) then dice up whatever leftover meat you have laying around in the fridge and pretend you totally intended to make chicken fried rice, or roast beef fried rice, or pork fried rice. Heck, regular old American style bacon works!

It's like Chinese flavored throw-together.

SoME yOunG tALenT

2012-01-26T05:33:00.000-08:00

I just want to introduce Miss V's blogs. She has started crocheting and we may have created a crochet monster! She also has a blog for showing off her handmade cards. They are so fun and soooo her.
Click here to visit her........... tell her mom said hi!

What's in your pantry?

2012-01-25T06:18:00.000-08:00

We like antiques and vintage things at the Green-house

I thought perhaps I'd show you a bit of what is on my pantry shelves.

I use the term pantry pretty loosely here, in point of fact these are my kitchen cupboards.

Below are the big guys vintage collection of Snit glasses. A snit for those non beer connoisseurs, is a small glass usually between 4-6 ounces for a taste of a beer. Or as a "sidecar" for a Bloody Mary.

We use his "Snits" for juice. They are the perfect size!

Here we have the lovely Miss V's collection of McDonald's glasses.

She loves the characters and uses these every day!

I think I may have gotten her started on this set when I spotted a Grimace glass and told her about getting one when I was a teenager. I can still close my eyes and see the icy coke in that glass. That was back when if you bought the glass they really did fill it with your beverage.

Clabber Girl.

Seriously who wouldn't use this brand?

Here are some of my Pyrex bowls cuddling up to my flour canister.

Anyone recognize it? Yup, it's a very very old coffee can. My mother used it for flour when I was growing up and somehow I couldn't get rid of it when we cleaned out her house. I am getting in desperate need of a new lid for it though. I know mother went through quite a few lids also. I buy my coffee as beans so I don't know where I'll find a cover!

Pretty plate.

Really pretty plate that I found at Goodwill.

when I was Goodwill Hunting.

and succeeding.

I am in love with the soft colors on this one and I put it on the bottom of the plate stack so that I usually get to use it.

Look at this other sweet plate!

Oak leaves and acorns, and it's pink! I think that is so strange, but I love it!

I found these 2 nifty oval plates at Goodwill also.

They are in pretty good shape, it's actually the gorgeous sunlight coming through my spiffy kitchen window that is making it look like the green bands on them are not all there. There is a black dot on this one, it's underneath the glaze, but I don't mind. I think freckles like that add to the charm of my treasures.

This is one of about 6 of these plates that I have picked up at various thrift shops.

I think they look like something a granny would have had in her pantry. I love that!

I think granny is a totally under used term of affection.

These are my granny plates, and I want to make myself a matching granny apron too!

YuM!! yUM! Really! YUM!

2012-01-23T18:17:00.000-08:00

At Christmas, yes a MONTH ago I bought a big bag of these pretty little sweet peppers.

Since I am ONE of the 3 people in this house, and the ONLY one who eats them they have lasted quite some time............

So this past weekend I decided to see what I could do with them. They were in great shape even though they were a month old!

I rubbed olive oil on them, sprinkled them with cracked black pepper and coarse sea salt, then I added some thickly sliced red onion (that was also hanging around for a few weeks) and did the same with the onion.

then I stuck them in the oven at 325 for an hour or so.....

When they looked like this on both sides I turned off the oven and let them rest until they were cool enough to handle.

I pulled out the stems and got as many of the seeds out as was reasonable. Then I cut up the onion slices.

I added some pasta and some pitted kalamata olives.

It didn't need any extra dressing because there was olive oil and "juice" from the roasting process

This was a fabulous salad! I will definitely be making this again.

It's wonderful at room temperature so it's perfect for me to take to work.

And like all really great food it looks pretty too!

We eat with our eyes as well as our mouths.

Play time!! Finally a Play time for Mare!!!

2012-01-19T14:12:00.000-08:00

Ever since I finished my final last semester I've been hoping for a bit of play time in my room of creation and happiness. Christmas vacation (ha ha ha) was supposed to provide me with a wealth of time for this endeavor.

uh huh.

I had this project all ready for when I had a few hours to play.

Today I decided it was only going to happen if I let it happen. So I (re)gathered all my supplies to make a happy little Pocket Bot a la Jodie of Ric-Rac blog here...

is her great post that got me wanting to make one of these cuties.

My pocket bot pattern all cut out....

there is my pocket...

hers is WAAAAAY better. I'm not sure why my pocket seems too big, I used the pattern.

Here is the body............

ready for stuffing

Here she is finished up and waiting for something to go in her pocket

I stuck a fortune from a cookie in there for now.

My favorite part is her little antenna.

It's made from a purse foot. Brilliant!!!

Winter neutrals in my nest

2012-01-18T13:31:00.000-08:00

Once the Christmas lovelies are packed away, or as packed as they will get with the Christmas closet in an uproar (a post on THAT when I get up the courage) I like to use my blue and white china and milk glass collections.

Winter in Wisconsin just feels like blue and white to me.

My latest finds in the clearance aisle at Hobby Lobby.

I love that store.

I hope to use these in the back hall when that gets finished too, for hanging knobs.

Meanwhile I kind of like them in my white cup.

The fabulous Eiffel tower knob was in amongst the other clearance ones, and even though I told the checkout person that I thought it was there by accident since there were others like it in the regular priced section, she gave it to me for a clearance price.

Have I mentioned I love Hobby Lobby?

Most of my collection of vintage mother of pearl buttons.

in a glass jar from...........

yes, Hobby Lobby.

I love that store.............

My mother had a real "thing" for mother of pearl buttons.

She always thought that Pearl Button would be a good name for a woman.

I think she was a bit disappointed I didn't marry someone whose last name was button.

They are rather lovely.

I'm BACK! and I have a blank wall

2012-01-17T13:51:00.000-08:00

My blog was disabled for several days! poo! But it's back now thank goodness!!

And see below........... the chickens are gone gone gone!!! or the last of them will be by Wednesday! YAY! I was hoping to start playing with my bottles again, but Miss V asked to use it for her WIP and being the good momma that I am.............

Look at who has been visiting my bird feeders. He is just lovely but very camera shy! As soon as he catches the least glimpse of me through the window he is off and running for the trees.

Excuse me? Can I get something to eat around here?

The lovely Miss V and what she wore the other day.

I'll do this like the adorable fashionistas on some other blogs:

Sweater, thrifted.

pin, etsy

earrings, etsy

jeans, Kohls.

slippers,the Honey Pot gift shop.

Isn't that pin just adorable? I got a whole collection of them on etsy. They are vintage Avon ones with compartments for solid perfume. The perfumes smell a bit like old lady, but they are easily washed out.

Radish earrings.

yes, radish.

No I do not know why. She likes them. We had them custom made by a fabulous artist on etsy.

And that's all the fun for today!

chicken lovers?

2012-01-09T16:38:00.000-08:00

Chickens.

Eggs.

Which came first?

The chicken lap quilt or my

chicken lap quilt guilt?

I'm offering this half sewn chicken lap quilt plus some adorable chicken backing to anyone who wants to play with it.

I give up.

I meant to make it.

I have no idea why except that I ended up with loads and tons of chicken fabric and after making several projects I realized I'm done with chickens.

So if anyone out there wants it, drop me a note and it's all yours!

Even the cat is tired of it.

See him sleeping in the book basket?

See him completely pissed off at me for taking his picture and waking him up?

.......................................

It's okay, he's forgotten all about it now and is snoring away again.

My hopes for 2012

2012-01-07T19:52:00.000-08:00

I hope to spend more time with this handsome fellow...

My dad is about 2 hours from my place, and I wish I got over to hug him more often, I hope I have a lot more hugs from him this year. His health is precarious so I don't take any hugs for granted.

I hope to see many more gorgeous clouds.

I love clouds.

I hope to play with some of my UFOs this year.

Making something like this would be kind of fun...

I hope the weddings in our family go well and the marriages are wonderful and healthy.

By the way my good friend Diane MADE this cake for her sons wedding.

Yes, she is pretty amazing.

I hope the brides enjoy their special day.

And I hope I survive the weddings.

This is going to mean a nice outfit isn't it?

Should I be checking out what is expected of the mother of the brides?

I can just wing it right?

I may need some help........

Happy New Year everyone!

2012-01-03T17:49:00.000-08:00

I know New Years has passed, but you can see how up to date I have been for the past several months so I figure my blog friends won't mind my tardiness.

Ready for the party.

Can you believe I found GOLD and SILVER sugar???

Me either, but it was cool.

until I knocked them over and most of them broke.

Only 2 glasses of French Champagne, not enough to use that as an excuse, but thanks. I'm just a bit clumsy at times.

Table all ready to get going.......

Special wish cards for our friends.....

Anybody else think that cats feet are too close to a lighted candle?

Fun beverages..............

Happy New Year everyone.

I hope this year is even better than the last and we can all meet back here again next year.

I'll bring the pretzel rods with sugar and the fire extinguisher. (you know, just in case)

SUPER SATURDAY----Super because I am off!! yay!

2011-12-17T07:04:00.000-08:00

Oh it's lovely to have a Saturday off isn't it? I know I have tons of studying to do. The paper is in and graded, and I have my final to study for now. Thank goodness I have a day off to study!! Actually a whole entire WEEKEND OFF!!!

And I have my very own craft room of happiness to study in..........

um, what is that on my ironing board? I feel a bout of crafting ADD about to kick in.

Oh yeah, when I take a study break I can finish up that bit of crocheting silliness that I re-discovered the other day... I think it shall be a nice cozy neckwarmer.

oops, what's that? oh yeah; a project from the big guy-- ye olde ratty tatty towels to be made into rags.

Well that's a good quick study break.

What's under that bit of crochet silliness? oh dear, 2 tote bags I meant to make up last fall, and some leaders and enders 9 patches to play with. Better close my eyes.....

Back to the books.....

What was I doing there? I don't even REMEMBER starting a dark purple scarf! When did I do that?

Study Mare. Study.

oh darn, I really MUST get those stockings made up before the other silliness, yes, a stocking for future son in law #2 and for fur puppy. Those need to be my first study break project.

oh. my walking shoes. Hmmm I seem to have skipped that this morning in my pure joy of having a weekend off. darn. Are they sticking their tongues out at me?

Goodness, I have terrible ADD today, there is my Christmas tote that I was going to fix up for my work bag. I really need to make the straps longer......... I could just stitch an extra piece in at the top to extend them........ and

oh, why is that quilt top out? Was I doing something with that?

(ADD)

Fleece! Fleece for a blanket for our bell choir director. What on EARTH was I thinking? Why oh why do I always say yes when someone asks if I can finish something? Don't I ever pay attention to my own unfinished projects?

And why do I keep starting new projects? Look at that pretty blue yarn........... and............

oh dear. Study Mare!! Now. Study.

What's on the back of my desk chair? oh yeah, I was going to make a pretty apron out of that for daughter number 2. (about 9 months ago) ADD

and under that fabric............ shorts to be fixed for the big guy. Well, I should be able to push that off for a few months anyway right? (do not check back on this in another 6 months please)

ADD

Study. Yes, whew, there's my lovely book. Ahhhh Viola, J'etudie boucoup!

I should put that Christmas bread away. you know that 6 breads I baked yesterday during a different bout of ADD! along with easy peasy pretzel candy.

Why is the tree staring at me like that?

It's up, what more does it want? Really? lights are good right?

Now there is something I might finish..............

Oh fine. quit looking at me like that!

just.

quit.

and don't remind me again that the half sewn quilt on the design wall has been up there since August.

Cause if you do I'll go back to the last picture and work on that bottle!

Christmas countdowns everywhere!

2011-12-08T05:58:00.000-08:00

Oh we are all ready for Christmas so early!!!!

Viola!

Look at all those ornaments on the tree already!

Bet you are impressed with how well I'm juggling school and family and the holidays huh?

If I happen to mention that these are pictures from last year will you lose all respect for me?

okay, I can live with that.

I thought about just printing these out and hanging them around the house instead of actually getting everything out while I'm trying to write a paper in french and study for two exams.

okay, the paper only has to be 150 words, but we all know me!

even the cats think I am ridiculous.

okay, fine. I'll drag out the 81 Christmas boxes and try to get something festive going on around here.

what if I just bake instead? cookies fix everything right?

right?

I hate it when he looks at me like that.

Now he's pretending he got ran over by an invisible bus.

Fine. We'll have Christmas.

sheesh, the things you do for the fur babies.

laughing at your kids.

2011-11-18T06:09:00.000-08:00

Do you remember laughing at the silly things your kids did when they were little? I just realized that laughing at the silly things they do now that they are grown ups is just as much fun!
Here are Becky and Ben..............
sorry, not one of my better pictures, hang on!

............... yes, much better

And here is there puppy Boo.... with little Miss V

dang, another lousy shot.....

hang on again..........

yes, much better, now you can see her cute face.

So, on to the laughing at your kids part.

Becky is the "momma" of Boo of course and a few weeks ago Boo had some uh, puppy tummy issues.......

if you have ever had a puppy (or a small child) you understand what this means. Lots of washing of bed clothes and racing to get the puppy outside etc. etc.

So, fast forward a couple days to when miss V and the lovely DD#2 where spending the weekend with Becky..... Off to the dog park to let little Boo play with all her new doggy friends. This also means taking along all the puppy accompaniments. At one point Boo did her "thing" and Becky ran over to clean it up, she did the poo bag thing and then happily turned around and yelled across the dog park........... ready for it?

"YAY!!!! WE HAVE SOLID POOP!!!"

Little Miss V and DD#2 promptly turned around and pretended not to know her.

une mois! Mais oui!

2011-11-11T08:28:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it's been a month since I blogged!!! I've really been working at my french class, and believe you me, it's work for someone who hasn't been to school in ahem, 30 years, and who did not learn any foreign languages as a child. Sesame street didn't exist in the stone age so I didn't even get a bit of Spanish! Lest you think I have been toiling away solely on conjugation of french verbs, I have taken to sneaking ahead in the book and finding useful phrases for my future visit to La Belle Paris!
Ahem:
Je suis perdu
- I am lost
Peux-tu m'aider?
- can you help me?
Combien cela coŭte?
- how much is this?
Je voudrais une bouteille de vin rouge s'il vous plait.
-I would like a bottle of red wine please.
Je voudrias un autre, s'il vous plait.
-I would like another please.
J'ai besoin de grandes quantités de vin.
-I require vast quantities of wine.

All useful phrases right?
I found another online...
Aimez vous acheter de moi quelque cheveux voles?
-would you like to buy some stolen horses from me?
uh, oh... perhaps not so useful?

I can call everyone Ma petite chou. My little cabbage.
yeah, I'll stick with that one. That and the wine I think.
and since I don't like to blog without pictures here is a picture of me and my dad in honor of veterans day.
My dad served during the Korean "police conflict" I'm very proud of him!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!

2011-10-29T08:32:00.000-07:00

Little Miss V decorated the house for Halloween at the beginning of October, I am pretty sure this is her all time favorite holiday. These little guys are lounging in the bathroom window. Upon closer inspection I was amazed at the lifelike spider behind the laying down one. Goodness that girl is great at decorating............... seems as though all through the house there are very festive cobwebs and spiders and...... uh, anyone have time to vacuum lately?

And here we have the lovely Miss V modeling her vintage style pajamas that I made MUCH earlier and finally finished sewing the snaps on.

And finally some yummy yummy pumpkin bread!!! Oh this stuff is sooooo good, it's a wee bit dangerous. Of course it has a load of sugar and spices in it so it should be!

PS to give credit where credit is due, and becaue I know some of you will want to make this fabulous bread, the recipe is from the lovely Andrea over at "under a blue moon" go visit her blog, you will not be disapointed!

http://bleulune.typepad.com/my_weblog/

OMG!

2011-10-25T05:48:00.000-07:00

Okay, that is totally not French, but I just realized that it's been a MONTH since I blogged. Ooo la la I am tres busy with this school stuff!!! Homework, tests, studying. And of course all the extra responsibilities I didn't have 30 years ago! Gosh, did I care at 18 if the toilets in the dorm overflowed? Heck NO! that was someone elses problem! (wish it still was) 120 year old plumbing is not a particular joy to live with. sigh, poor me huh? Anyway, I am not the head of my class, but I don't seem to be at the bottom either, and that is fine with me. (I'm pretty sure in my mean little mind that the little 18 year old girl that gets EVERYTHING right had about 4 years of French in high school... grrrr) I have been trying to get my real life people to understand that I can't do everything I used to.............. and I have said no to a few things. GASP! Mare say NO to something???? well I did! (not enough as it turns out) I will be working on a monk costume this weekend, hopefully there will be pictures to follow. Meantime............ check out this most AWESOME link of the Eiffel Tower webcame!!! you can even make it go back and do the last 24 hours, or week or whatever! SOOOOOOOOOOOOO cool!!!
http://www.parisrama.com/toureiffeltowerwebcam.html

Salut mon amis!

2011-09-18T07:14:00.000-07:00

Viola! La Crepe!

Il est petite Nicolas!

Seriously how much do I LOVE LOVE LOVE my class!!!!!! no I did not make the crepe in the picture, but I did eat it! Petite Nicolas is a French cartoon character who is similar to Charlie Brown. He is a happy go lucky little guy, kind of from back in the 50s so very much like Charlie Brown.

Class is going well, but way too fast! Before I know it the hour is over and I have to race to work. Sigh. I hope the traditional students have some un peu idea of how LUCKY they are to do this full time!!!

I will check in with my wonderful bloggy friends every chance I get, but you know us Non Trads (non traditional students) have to study harder than the yung uns!!! ;-) thanks for ALL the wonderful wishes and comments! I do think of my bloggy friends and often tell myself, get a picture of that and share it with them!!

An advance appology for a lack of posts

2011-09-09T09:24:00.000-07:00

There may be a decrease in posts for the near future. I have decided to continue my education! I dropped out of college back in 1983 to raise a family and it seemed there was never a good time while the girls were small to go back. Then it seemed like there was not enough money when they were in high school (catholic) and college to go back. Somehow the time has come! I am starting slow with just one course this semester. But I am pretty excited. I'm (re)taking French 101. Class has CHANGED SO MUCH IN 30 YEARS!!!

The big guy and the girls are all very supportive and happy for me. Which helps a lot. Also, sit down and get out the kleenex............... Daughters number 2 &3 who have careers in their chosen fields post graduation had secretly opened and "moms college account" for me!!!

yes, they really did this for me! They had enough in there for this semesters 4 credit class and one for next semester too! I am overwhelmed and excited and every good emotion you can imagine!!!!

A quick update on the back hall progress

2011-08-28T12:09:00.000-07:00

There isn't a lot on the back hall but I haven't shown off the pictures of what we have done yet, so here goes...

There was a big window here between the dining room and the back hall that we removed. That was a bit exciting, but we didn't actually break the window so it wasn't dangerously exciting!

This is looking into the dining room from the back hall. And the lovely Miss V doing homework....

this is the east wall where I decided we (and by "we" of course I mean the big guy) should put some cubbies for storage and display.

And here we have one brick wall painted in our green choice. yay!

Next I'll show some pictures of the bricking up of the window. Pretty exciting huh? ;-) Hey, it's better than pictures of us watching the paint dry right?

Back home!

2011-08-24T19:31:00.000-07:00

The Green Family is back at home!

I mostly have mountains of laundry, and instead of taking pictures of THAT mess I thought I'd share some nice camping pictures instead. Cool clouds or what??/

Pretty yellow butterfly!

yawn, off to bed now! I have about 12 more loads to do tomorrow.

WhAt'S mAkiNg Me SmiLe ToDaY!

2011-08-23T06:13:00.000-07:00

Vintage happiness........

Pretty appliqued linens

Miss V's vintage, and almost vintage dresses.

miss me yet?

2011-08-22T05:59:00.000-07:00

oh you probably don't miss me because I've been so busy pre-posting for you!

But I have to say I am probably missing all my blog friends by now!!!

well, here we go again........

WhAt'S mAkiNg Me SmiLe ToDaY!

A new project I started a few weeks ago.

I took an old cardboard kids book and painted the pages with Gesso...

Then I started adding things to the covers. Things from my bulletin boards and my (hoarding) boxes...

I did some decoupage on the front so it (hopefully) won't peel off too easily.

Then I glued some more things to the inside pages to make a (nother) inspiration journal out of it.

WhAt'S mAkiNg Me SmiLe ToDaY!

2011-08-21T05:54:00.000-07:00

I love that even though I'm not the one at home taking care of the house and critters, I can still post by setting some of them up early! So while you are reading about what is making me smile at home, I'm probably here....

or here...........

or here.............

doing this..............

or maybe this?

WhAt'S mAkiNg Me SmiLe ToDaY!

2011-08-20T05:49:00.000-07:00

Cute mushroom zipper pull made by Miss V.

A New (to me) Doris Day movie!! yay!

It's so fun watching her movies again now that I'm an adult. My oh my how I love the 60's way of dressing!!!

WhAt'S mAkiNg Me SmiLe ToDaY!

2011-08-19T14:01:00.000-07:00

A black cat charm from my sweet auntie! She got it in Germany at the little village where Zeller Schwartz Katz wine is made. My sweetie and I love that wine! We first spotted it years and years ago back in the dark ages known as college, the Katz caught our eyes because my maiden name is Kaatz. My great grandparents came over from Germany and were told to change the spelling from Katz to Kaatz in the (incorrect) thinking that people would pronounce their name properly. It's Khaats not Cats. Needless to say, it didn't work.

But I love the little black cat. Incidentally, I named the big black cat in the house Zeller because of this wine! ;-)

WhAt'S mAkiNg Me SmiLe ToDaY!

2011-08-18T05:57:00.000-07:00

My vintage potholder. How cute are these two fried eggs?

And the parsley garnish? I ask you, does it get cuter?

And I don't even like fried eggs! I'll take mine scrambled please, or in an omelet, nothing runny or jiggly thanks!

WhAt'S mAkiNg Me SmiLe ToDaY!

2011-08-17T06:25:00.000-07:00

Well I got it yesterday and it's still making me smile today!!

Is there anything better than coming home to find a totally unexpected package in the mail???

A lovely package from a fellow blogger?

With a pretty card and sweet thoughts?

oooooooooooo and the gifty wrapped in batting!!!

a FABULOUS water bottle with a gorgeous cover!!! I love it!!! I want an entire quilt out of those fabrics!! (sorry about the kind of creepy cat eyes in the background, black cats can do that)

Isn't it great! Red is one of my regularly favorite colors!

and oh my gosh! look at the bottle inside that fabulous jacket!

It is tooooooooooooooo CUTE for words!!!

Thank you so much Pat!!!! What a great way to end my day!!!

If you want to visit my friend Pat and see what other wonderful things she is up to in her sewing room, go here: http://bellcreekquilts.blogspot.com/

WhAt'S mAkiNg Me SmiLe ToDaY!

2011-08-16T05:18:00.000-07:00

flowers

flowers and tomatoes

Igor doing some porch sitting

herbs drying over my kitchen sink

WhAt'S mAkiNg Me SmiLe ToDaY!

2011-08-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

rain boot candle holder from daughter #3

Funny vintage juicer, inherited from my mother.

rusty Eiffel tower to remind me of my Paris dreams.

Blue teapot, and blue patterned sugar and creamer.

Some Scrap Busting for Flori!!

2011-08-14T06:36:00.000-07:00

Finally, some scrap busting at the Mares Nest! A while ago Susan from http://quiltyindulgence.blogspot.com/ challenged some of us to bust some of our scraps.

I had planned to make myself a nice warming cozy for my French Press for some time, and now I finally did it.

Here is the back where you can see the pony tail holders I used for my button loops.

How cozy does this look?

Pretty cozy huh?

and how about those pretty pink buttons?

WhAt'S mAkiNg Me SmiLe ToDaY!

2011-08-13T06:04:00.000-07:00

BAGS! Bags are making my smile today.

My crochet tote, a vintage straw bag that I found at a thrift shop. It fits just enough cotton yarn to make some apple sweaters and not too much that I feel overwhelmed, plus it stands up by itself.

A tooled leather pouch my dad made for me years and years and years ago. Dad was very talented at leather work. I am fortunate enough to still have a few of his pieces to use and love.

The MOST adorable workbasket tote made by Flori of http://quiltyindulgence.blogspot.com/

Thank you thank you, I love LOVE LOVE it!

WhAt'S mAkiNg Me SmiLe ToDaY!

2011-08-12T06:52:00.000-07:00

Coffee on the porch.

Coffee bean shaped coffee cubes!!!!

WhAt'S mAkiNg Me SmiLe ToDaY!

2011-08-09T04:19:00.000-07:00

I decided to post some random pictures of just some nice things. Yesterday was the lovely tote bag that Miss V made for me. Today I'm returning the favor.

Some new little turtle beads for Miss V to play with, in a tin bucket with a daisy.

WhAt's MaKinG me SmiLe ToDAy! 8-8-11

2011-08-08T04:18:00.000-07:00

The lovely Miss V did some scrap busting a couple of weeks ago!

Sigh.................

PyRex LoVinG!!!!!

2011-08-05T18:23:00.000-07:00

Today Miss V and I felt the need to go to our local antique mall. Well. I felt the need and Miss V was a willing accomplice. The V not only stands for Vanessa, it stands for VINTAGE.

Miss V found these two pretty Pyrex dishes in a lovely shade of aqua blue. So, now we have started her on her very own Pyrex quest.

I found this pink flamingo rectangle dish later at a thrift shop. It just needs a bit of loving and it will be happily ensconced in my kitchen.... perhaps a cherry cobbler?

I also found this gorgeous olive green mixing bowl!! I love this color! It matches a fabulous casserole find that I scored a couple months ago. The white daisies make me swoon!

Here we have the start of it all. The original rainbow Pyrex mixing bowl collection. (I had to sneak in the adorable red sailbot refrigerator dish too)

I inherited the big yellow bowl and the small blue one from my mother. She preferred her stainless steel mixing bowls since they aren't so heavy. I was always a sucker for colors so I was happy to take these two off her hands when I got married. Thus began my quest to finish my set. I found a pink bowl first, and then the green one so I thought my set was complete.......... then I found the real missing bowl, the fabulous red! Ahhhh, success. Next I put together 3 more rainbow sets for daughters number 1, 2, and 4. Daughter number 3 has yellow in her kitchen and I was able to find an entire set of yellow bowls for her! Can you say FABULOUS???

Is there really ANYthing better than vintage things that you love and use every day? Nope didn't think so! Next time I'll show my refrigerator sets.

The truly lovely Madeline Island!!!!!!

2011-07-26T19:05:00.000-07:00

Here we are on our way to Madeline Island! Madeline Island is a pretty little island just off the shore by Bayfield Wisconsin. We took the ferry ride over along with our friends and two of our vehicles. I love the ferry ride!!!! Lake Superior is so beautiful, I grew up south of this area so the shoreline here was a regular summer destination. I'm so glad that since I didn't get to live near Lake Superior I do get to live right next to Lake Michigan! lucky me!!

Ferry picture, I love the ropes.

One of the beaches on the island.

The post office! I know it doesn't seem all that fabulous to most people, but my great grandmother was post mistress here when my grandma was a young girl. Grandma said that she and her brother used to make little sachets filled with balsam to sell to the tourists. Even back then, Madeline Island drew tourists!

One of the Madeline Island ferries.

There will be more Madeline pictures later, I love LOVE LOVE Madeline Island.

I'll just leave you with one thought, there was a sign at the gift shop:

MADELINE ISLAND

SUMMER PEOPLE

some are not

Thank you Hodag!

2011-07-20T19:13:00.000-07:00

Like all great vacation stops, this one started with the quilt shop here! What a lovely place to pick up souvenirs! Fat quarters are so fun, and take up very little space. Also, when we stopped at a spice shop I opened them up and used them to pad the spice bottles! The shop owner was very friendly and sweet, so if you ever get to Hodag country, go and see them at "Sew Smart" and tell them Mare sent you!

Sadly one entire day consisted of..........

sit down please.

the Mall of America

read that with a sort of echo sound at the end okay?

Anyone who knows me knows that shopping isn't my all time favorite past time. But just look at these beautiful floor tiles!!! I was seeing a quilt here..... Cookie added some human interest with her feet on this one.

Love them all!!!

Luckily I didn't actually trip anyone while I was taking these pictures, or for that matter, I didn't fall off the bench I stood on to get a better shot of this one below.

Yes, I am actually pretty embarrassing to go places with.

So, the mall to end all malls. I had not wanted to go because we will be taking Miss V there this coming weekend, but my good friend cookie had never been there and she REALLY wanted to go. So I told the big guy that if I had to go to the monster of malls twice I had BETTER get lunch out of it. He let me pick and I chose the Rainforest Cafe. Here Cookie and I are with our rainforest drinks. yummy.

Here are the guys with their cokes. yeah, that's my big guy on the right and Cookies big guy trying to get out of the picture. Then after I had them take our lovely photo, they saw how it should be done..............

I guess you can see why we married these goof balls can't you?

And a swell time was had by all.

July camping trip-- part one of several!

2011-07-19T18:46:00.000-07:00

Did you miss me while I was gone? The big guy and I went on a camping trip with 2 other couples. Wow was that different! We have always had kids along before! The lovely Miss V got herself a lovely job, so she stayed home to work and take care of the critters.

One of our first stops was in Rhinelander, home of the Hodags! What is a Hodag? Well, this entire post is going to show you the Hodags of Rhinelander, so wonder no more!

The big guy was gutsy leaning against this one, it was covered in broken glass! Very pretty, but it looked a bit painful to me!

this guy is a pilot!

This one had portraits o local politicians on him, and you could see people in his eyes, as if he was looking at the ones he was going to EAT!!! bwaa haaa haa

He was very helpful though.....

And this one was kinda groovy dude!

The camoflage one above was a salute to our service people.

This is the biggest one of all, he tried to GET ME!!!!!!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

But I convinced him he should be a lover not a fighter. Nice Hodag. Good boy. Now show me where the nearest quilt shop is please?

Getting ready for the 4th of July!

2011-07-03T19:30:00.000-07:00

Are you getting ready for the 4th too? The lovely Miss V baked red an blue cupcakes this morning. She is experimenting with her baking skills. These batches were colored with jello.

Here she is channeling June Cleaver........

Miss V loves vintage style, especially the 50's.

Here she is with some edible sparklers that we made, along with some cake bon bons.

Look at all our sparklers!!!

Then of course we needed to fuel ourselves and the big guy.........

Mmmmmm hot dogs hot off the grill!

By this time Miss V had snatched my camera and was taking pictures of everything in sight.

I may come to regret this one.

The big guy looks more serious than I do! Hot dog condiments are serious business!

Cupcakes are frosted. Tomorrow we will put the red and blue sprinkles on them, we know from experience if we do it tonight they will bleed all over and bleeding cupcakes might be perfect for Halloween, but not so much for the 4th of July.

And here are our sparklers ready to be served in our red tin cans filled with red white and blue candies! How festive are we??

We also felt the need to pause for some root beer floats.

and yes, that IS a fireworks tote bag. The bag lady has a bag for EVERY occasion!

good bye old tree

2011-06-24T16:00:00.000-07:00

Over the winter with the big storms we had we lost much of our big old pine tree. We were very lucky we didn't lose it into the side of the house. It's a bit hard to tell in this picture which I took last month or so, but most of the top was gone and we cleared away what we could.

Then we hired a tree professional to come and take it the rest of the way down since there was no way we could do that without risking life, limb. ours not the tree's, and home.

So there is is mostly cut up. Very wet and very sappy so it's going to wait a while before we attempt any wood splitting.

So, ever find anyone kind of different in your plants?

It happens to us all the time.................

A photo shoot for the Green seniors

2011-06-18T05:08:00.000-07:00

We went camping last week with most of the extended family. Miss V has a cousin the lovely Rachel who is 10 months younger than she is - the Irish twins of the family. They are both now officially seniors so we started on some senior pictures.

We started on the day we packed up to come home since it was rainy and gray and cold for the entire first 9/10 of the weekend!

This is Max, Rachel's chocolate lab. Max is a crazy dog. We did not bring our stinky skunk smelling dog along. The tomato juice baths helped.............. but not entirely.

This is the girls uncle Bill getting in on the act. Bill is the biggest outdoors man hunter guy we know. He hunts with Ted Nugent - I'm not kidding, he does. Anyway, Bill gave me a "recipe" for getting rid of the skunk smell "for ever". Which I tried when we got home.

Which did not work.

Kona has an appointment with the spa ladies at Petco on Sunday.

And here are the lovin cousins. Sooooooooo old already!!!

Go ahead, take a wild guess..............

2011-06-09T11:44:00.000-07:00

Anyone wonder what I was doing with these items at 5:00 in the morning?

Really, anyone wonder?

Remember Gloves?

2011-06-01T12:43:00.000-07:00

Remember gloves? Back in the day when ladies didn't wear white before Memorial Day or after Labor Day, gloves were such an essential part of being "dressed".

As a child I wore gloves to church, but I can't remember if I was as entranced with them back then. I had to wear a little lace doily thing on my head too, and I can tell you that did NOT entrance me, especially the bobby pin stuck straight into my scalp to secure the darn thing!

But I can tell you now, that cotton gloves with little feminine touches entrance me totally....

I have been dallying with them at vintage clothing shops, and antique malls for months.

And, as you can see, I've been buying a few here and there too............

What entrances you?

Miss is confirmed!

2011-05-24T12:11:00.000-07:00

Sorry about the darkness of this first picture, I'm not as brave about walking around during church and taking pictures as the big guy is. When I get copies of his pictures I'll add his.

Here is the lovely Miss V, the archbishop, and Miss V's sponsor who is also her godmother, my dear friend Cookie. I know, she looks like she would be called Cookie doesn't she?

And here is the lovely Miss V with her lovely Gramma Jan. I'm not sure who looks happier. Little V told me later that she wished her grampa Bob could have been there, and I assured her that he most certainly WAS there. (there was huge thunderstorm during the celebration, and he loved thunderstorms)

Mothers day update

2011-05-15T05:48:00.000-07:00

This year for mothers day, the big guy surprised me with my very own digital camera! I have had 3 digital cameras in the past, all hand me downs when someone else got better ones so this is super exciting for me! the kids referred to my first digital camera as the "Flintstones camera" Sadly they weren't too far off the mark on that one.

Here is the first picture taken with it! the big guy and little V

V taking a picture of me taking her picture.

Warning............ this could get boring for you, I'm just sayin.

Becky and a duck I found for her. Don't ask.

Becky examining some pretty embroidered lines I found.

Becky hugging Kona.

Ben working.

Ben walking up the stairs. followed by Ben asking Becky "why is your mom taking pictures of everything we do?"

Becky and Ben in dads den.

Becky and Ben being the power twins.

Becky explaining something to dad. Seriously, I took more than 100 pictures, aren't you glad to know I am not posting all of them...........

Becky "Mom, stop. Seriously mom, stop."

"Dad, this is YOUR fault. make her stop."

"Mom, we are leaving now."

Prom 2011

2011-05-13T17:51:00.000-07:00

The Lovely Miss V had her junior prom last weekend. That's her on the left and one of her bestest buds.

Miss V wanted a short dress so she could wear it for other things too. Such a smartie pie!

The back view, because V loved her hair, and Christine had such a cool back on her dress.

They make my heart skip a beat! Miss V asked our hair stylist for a "Marilyn Monroe" style. I think she totally got it! I love the little curl on her forehead!

Her date...

The grand march at school. Our high school always does a grand march in the auditorium before they all head over to wherever prom is. It allows parents to get lots of good pictures.

I am a shoe disaster waiting to happen

2011-05-05T05:50:00.000-07:00

I like shoes. I won't say I like them as much as the next woman because that would be a big fat lie. The thing I do like about shoes is that there is no shame in sizes. If you gain a few pounds you don't have to sneak over to the women's section to see if they have anything that fits. That being said, I don't have as many shoes as the average woman. That would be because I am shoe impaired. I try. I do try, but I fail so often at this shoe thing.

See these purply pink shoes? These are my latest purply pink fail.

I walked around the store in them. well okay, I walked up and down the shoe aisle in them. Hey, I figured I could still totally rock the high heel thing! I was going to be awesome at Easter. Yeah, I can do this! At home, well they seemed much higher than they did in the store and I couldn't keep the darn things on my feet! hmm, maybe those athletic socks I had on in the store were a bad idea.

FAIL

daughter number 3 is now the proud owner of these.

Blue suede shoes. With peep toes!

and bows on the back! I think it was the bows that sucked me in.

I've had these in the box for about 6 years. Have I worn them?

one time.

to church.

where I sat down the entire time.

Daughter number 2 wants these.

FAIL, Blue suede fail.

LORD! PLEASE LORD!!! TELL ME WHAT I WAS THINKING????

that is a BIG BLACK UGLY FAIL.

No one wants these!

The above ankle boots are my Christmas FAIL.

I think they make my feet look like the fetlocks on a Clydesdale.

sigh, a HORSEY FAIL.

Daughter number 3 wants these too.

did I mention that these were a FAIL.

I know I did, but I had to revisit them

because that toe detail still makes me want to think I could rock them.

These, these Birkies are the loves of my lives! However many lives I have, they are the loves!

No fail here!!!!

These live in the place of honor in the closet when they are not on my feet.

not too bad, I can wear them, keep them on my feet and not feel horrible afterwords. However, they do SOUND like a horse so they are not a total success either. Still they can live in the closet.

ahhhhh comfy, almost as comfy as my Birkies. These used to be white, but when they got stained I dyed them with humming bird food to make them pink. Don't ask I have no idea why, some things you just go with. These live in the closet.

These are a semi fail. They are hand me ups from the lovely Miss V. They are almost comfortable, no arch support so not a real walking shoe. High tops by definition are a bit of a pain to put on and take off, but look at the floral lining! Sigh, I'm a sucker for that sort of thing, so they live in my closet and I pretend I'll wear them some day.

Blast from the past?

2011-05-03T05:35:00.000-07:00

If you tend to ramble around antique malls or thrift stores, or vintage shops you probably have been hit by a blast from your past so you know what I am talking about. One day I was telling Miss V about the ceramic planters her grandma used to keep in the bathroom. A little doggy and a rooster. You took your toothbrush out of the rooster in the morning to brush your teeth, (roosters crow in the morning) then you put it in the doggy (dogs howl at night) I think it was moms way of finding out if I brushed my teeth or not. I was thinking about that little doggy planter and just happened to do a search on etsy. I sort of remembered what it looked like, and when this little guy popped up it was like going back in time!

He is the one! I know, a face only a mother could love probably..........

but look at those wee flowers on his sides! How sweet are they?

and there the one down his chubby little leg? What is not to love?

I am not relegating him to the bathroom though, nope not this momma. He is sitting on my sewing table holding pens for me!

Olympian Art Show

2011-05-01T15:34:00.000-07:00

The lovely Miss has two items in the Olympian Art Show this year. The first is her interpretation of Marilyn Monroe. I really love that she put colors in her skirt. It's so neat to watch your kids grow and use their own ideas isn't it?

This is her second item

Her favorite "Chucks"

Miss V is going through a Very Marilyn stage at the moment.

Well you are a captive audience so I get to show her as many times as I want right? :-)

This picture is for her next oldest sister Becky. Two thumbs up Beck!!!

Offline again!

2011-04-30T04:52:00.000-07:00

We have been having so many Internet problems lately that I never know if I'll be able to sign on or not. And it's different stuff all the time! Little things like a tree falling down and hitting the antenna during the December snowstorms didn't affect it as much as a mouse nibbling on the wires. Why do they do that? Do cables and plastic and copper wire REALLY taste that great? And just what was our brainless dog doing when the rodentia were near the cables outside nibbling? Chasing some birds out of the spilled sunflower seeds? Hey, good job Kona! ARRRRRR and then there were the other 3 times lately when none of the cable guys were really sure WHY it wasn't working. sigh sigh sigh. What is an Internet addicted girl to do then?

SCULPEY clay to the rescue!

Little nothings, for no particular reason, except they are fun to play with.

I made the cupcake for my oldest, and sadly, cupcake obsessed- daughter. The little green apple was for daughter number 2 who is a teacher. They kinda look like candy don't they?

How about that teeny Robins nest? I know, it looks a bit like candy doesn't it? hmmmmm

What should I make next? Ideas people!! Give me ideas!!!

Happy Easter everyone!!!!

2011-04-24T05:41:00.000-07:00

We are all ready for you here at the Green-house!

The lovely Miss V truly enjoys making cupcakes...........

and decorating cupcakes..........

Happy Easter, Happy Easter everyone!!!!!

pink ruffly spring purse

2011-04-13T09:51:00.000-07:00

Spring has been sooooooooooooooooo long in getting to Wisconsin this year, that we are trying to entice it with spring like fabrics.

so, what do you think of the springy purse I came up with? Rick Rack is a bit like frosting don't you think?

Here's a crummy shot of the handle detail. I had this little jewelry flower hanging around in my stash of stuff drawer and it just went so good with this purse. It has no particular function other than cuteness.

The handles were originally pink webbing, but the lovely Miss V told me they just were not doing it, so I covered them with some more of the purse fabric, and I have to admit, she was right! Much better!

Update on the cupcake apron

2011-04-02T08:42:00.000-07:00

Here is the cupcake apron modeled by the new owner herself! hmm, still a wee bit big, but I guess aprons should have a bit of elbow room huh?

There are still a couple patterns from yesterdays post that are available if anyone wants them.

spring cleaning at Mare's Nest

2011-04-01T10:48:00.000-07:00

I seem to be accumulating an excess of patterns lately. I can't part with any of my cool vintage patterns, but I have several tote bag and such patterns that are duplicates, or ones I've already made. So,

I have decided to do a bit of spring cleaning of some of my patterns, and you lovely bloggers are getting the first choice. If you see something here you want, comment or email me and it's yours. No money down, no payments, just enjoy.

This is not a bag pattern, it's an adorable vintage doll pattern that I inherited in a dear lady's stash. I'm not into making dolls lately so this goes out too. It would actually be cute to use the pictures for cards or something.

Two wall hanging patterns.

And a redwork pattern for anyone who is handy with an embroidery needle.

Like I said, I'm not selling them, these are free to a good home.

Apple Sweaters!

2011-03-27T05:37:00.000-07:00

I first spotted some adorable apple cozies on etsy, and I thought, "cute but silly" Then I proceeded to wrap my apple in a paper towel to pad it in my work bag................ umm, not so silly after all!

I decided I could figure out how to make them myself since it seems like a good little take along project. So I took some along last week (with the horrible coffee) to my Saturday job.

Sure enough, I could figure it out! I like to call them apple sweaters though, it makes me feel more accomplished to say I crocheted a sweater today.

Good day for soup

2011-03-22T10:50:00.000-07:00

The other day we found so many lovely mushrooms at the grocery store that I decided it was time for some home made mushroom soup. Here we have some ingredients to get started. Look at the pretty mushrooms, shallots, butter and cream..... mmmmm Wait, where is the dry vermouth?

Oh there it is!

These are the oyster mushrooms, you can tell why they are called that!

Next we have Shiitake. I love Shiitake mushrooms!

Baby Portabellas How cute can a mushroom be?

Here we go, four kinds of mushrooms, two kinds of onions, beef stock, butter, dry vermouth, and fresh ground salt and pepper. The cream goes in after it's been cooked and is off the heat.

oh dear, I forgot to get a picture of it in the nice soup crocks with garlic toast and cheese. Well, use your imagination!

Good Coffee

2011-03-20T05:57:00.000-07:00

As a general rule I prefer my coffee to taste like coffee, not hazelnut sundae's or toffee candy bars. Coffee. However on some rare occasions I like to put a bit of the whipped stuff on top and then sprinkle on some nutmeg and sugar for a treat. Yesterday was going to be one of those occasions. See the coffee below? This is GOOD coffee. What I made yesterday was NOT good coffee.

Yesterday was one of the rarish occasions when I was headed to work on a Saturday, and since it was also National Quilting Day and I would not be quilting I felt the need to make my travel coffee a bit more special. So I topped it with whipped cream and reached for the nutmeg and sugar only to realize that it was empty. Not a problem even though I was in a bit of a hurry by then, there was some cinnamon and sugar left over from the camper. Well, that needed to be used up since it's not been camping season for about EIGHT months. So I sprinkled it rather liberally on top, stuck the cover on and headed off.

Partway to work I took a much anticipated sip of the WORST COFFEE IN THE WORLD!

I have to say that again because caps lock cannot truly convey the HORRIBLENESS OF THIS COFFEE!

GASP! TOOEY!

Heavens above, do not puke in the Jeep! What is wrong with this coffee? Was the new can of whipped cream sour? It must have been. I stopped and poured the steaming cup in the ditch.

sigh.

Once home I checked the whipped cream. What? sweet and good like it should be. What on earth happened? Next I checked the camper container of cinnamon and sugar. Ahhhhh, not only was it NOT cinnamon and sugar............. it was in fact seasoned salt................. RANCID seasoned salt.

I can assure you that rancid seasoned salt is the worst thing to put on whipped cream.

Do not try this at home.

Wine and totebags and aprons............. oh my

2011-03-16T14:48:00.000-07:00

How about a nice bottle of wine? A couple weeks ago I was meeting some friends for lunch and since it was sort of for their birthdays I made them each a tote bag -you can see them in the background, sad to say I didn't actually get a picture of them and they are really pretty green too! anyway, birthday tote bags require something in them, so I found some wine (that I happen to love also) and made little wine bag covers. If you are very clever you will see that there are two tote bags and 3 bottles of wine. Hah! you know me! you think the third bottle is for me! Well, you would be in error there, I picked that extra bottle up since one friend was bringing her daughter along and even though it wasn't her birthday, she is a sweetie, and she loves green, and I love her so she got one too. And the bottle for me is in my wine cellar- so actually you were partly right. Now, looking to the left you see the apron fabric yet again. This has been the longest apron working I can imagine. yards and yards of bias tape- sigh.

I started encasing about a zillion edges with the aforementioned bias pain- oops I mean bias tape. At one point I had to go buy more of the nasty stuff........... so I ended up starting at two different edges and meeting somewhere in the middle ( it felt a bit like Kansas) and oh, yes. Look what happens when I do that. Deep heavy sigh. I had sewn the exact same amount on each side and this is what met me in the middle. I refused to pick out either end and just "winged it" by turning edges under and scrambling around a bit.

Here is the finished, and admittedly, slightly dorky result. I really pictured it much cuter in my head.

The lovely Miss V is obviously a bit smaller than the pattern. Hopefully it will fit her older sister better?

But then I have to admit, the little label I stuck on it is pretty darn cute. Now to go drink my bottle of wine.

Daisy Bag

2011-03-14T03:59:00.000-07:00

I'm back to working on the ruffle bags. I was thinking spring while working on this one.

I need to get a final picture as I put some little daisy trip on the ruffle edge after this shot. It really finished it nicely. Then it went to daughter number 3 as she has a pair of daisy rain boots that I thought it would go perfectly with! Maybe I can get her to take a picture for me, and I'll share that too.

It's a slow blog day here at the nest

2011-03-10T04:01:00.000-08:00

oh man, almost had yet another snow day here at the Green house. A few of us in the winter wonderland area are getting a wee bit tired of the white stuff. But since I managed to fight my way through the white out and crazy drivers to get miss V to school and myself to work there isn't much sewing progress to show so I thought I'd show you a couple pictures I managed to get of my Boeuf Bourguignon. "Julia's Boeuf Bourguignon".

I should have gotten more pictures of the process, but I was kind of busy trying to do it all correctly. Here it is simmering in the oven.

And here is the final product. Note that you clean the pot at one point during this recipe!

And yes, it truly is as delicious as they make it out to be in the movie. I will certainly make it again!

The Marilyn Bag

2011-03-03T13:45:00.000-08:00

the lovely Miss V has an obsession with Marilyn Monroe lately..... A couple of years ago I made her a really sweet totebag out of an old Marilyn t-shirt. As V says, "Her face just does not look good with a bust line behind it"

Well, it was a great bag, but it disappeared somehow. Sigh. So I went on ebay and found a different Marilyn T-shirt and went about making a new bag for her. Here is the shirt getting cut up, along with some coordinating fabric for the bag body.

Marilyn pinned to the bag front........

Marilyn stitched on and trimmed........

handles. Had to go with pink! then I picked off part of Marilyn's hair so I could thread the handle behind it to make it look more integrated.

yeah, how did you like THAT big word?

lining fabric!

My helper laying UNDER the bag as I pin the handles on. Thanks Zeller.

close up of handle detail.

bored yet?

oh yeah, another shot of the fabulous lining fabric.

And Viola! The bag is done! Woot!

My Mug Rugs arrived!!!!!

2011-02-23T17:05:00.000-08:00

Isn't it great to get mail??? There I was snipping along at this apron pattern and the lovely Miss V brings me the mail. Whoopee a package!! and looks what is inside!!! My mug rugs and a cute card and chocolate! wow, does it get any better than that?

Here are the fronts! I love coffee, and by that I mean I consider coffee to be one of the basic gifts of life. The bright fun one says "enjoy" well I sure will! Thanks to Robin from Robin Quilts Etc. can visit her http://robingallagher.blogspot.com/

and here are the backs of them! aren't those birdies cute as can be???? They are the logo on her card and her blogspot. Super cute!!

Thank you so much Robin!!!

Snowstorm Dana

2011-02-21T08:48:00.000-08:00

Here is the start of snowstorm Dana yesterday. I was going to be very diligent and take pictures every hour or so to show you the build up, but not too long after this picture the wind started in and nothing stayed anywhere except me! We ended up with huge drifts sculpted like modern art, and bare spots on the lawn so it's pretty hard to tell how much we actually got. Enough for a school delay which I have already morphed into a snow day since the driveway drifted shut an hour after it was plowed.

This is the cat on a snow day......

and no, I haven't gotten any further on the wine bottle wall hanging, thank you so much for pointing that out!

And the dog on a snow day.......

And lucky lucky me on the snow day! I got mail 2 days ago which didn't get opened!!! WOOT!

My newest book by Laura!!!! yippeee! I want to try some of her cool stitching on some of my smaller things. I love the vibrant colors soooooooo MUCH! And the whimsy of her designs, so fun!

And I got this adorable apron pattern too! I had planned to open it up and use it, but it's in such lovely shape and protected so well................ yeah, I went back on etsy and ordered a more used one for me to cut up! Can you say ridiculous?

Well I'm off to ignore the wind and do some sewing. Hopefully there will be pictures later!

Inspiration or mess?

2011-02-15T19:32:00.000-08:00

I don't seem to be getting much done in my sewing room tonight, so I thought I'd share my cork boards with you. I tend to collage on them so every few months I need to take everything down and start over.

kind of a little of everything huh? The sodoku are supposed to become quilt patterns for me. We'll see....

The yellow and ivory satin are wedding colors for daughter number 3, the leaves are because I really love leaves. Someday I am going to finish the applique on the left. I got some lovely hand dyed threads for more quilting on it, they are made by my second cousin once removed Laura Wasilowski. My second claim to fame! I'm related to a famous quilter!!! how cool is THAT????

Board number two............

Rather eclectic isn't it?

It could be an eye spy actually.

I don't need to take it all down yet, you can still see some of the cork board!

There is the note that Laura included in my thread order. I wish I could be her when I grow up, doing what you totally love to make a living! She even does quilting cruises. sigh!

Whats on your cork board?

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

2011-02-11T10:29:00.000-08:00

Behold a portrait of the yummiest chocolate cake ever.

EVER.

And I made it.

Yes, me, myself, moi.

If it's birthday time for you, let me know 1 day in advance and then come on over so I can make this fabulous cake for you. Oh and bring some fabric so we can play too?

Things that make me smile

2011-02-08T13:36:00.000-08:00

At last I found a spot for my tin doll house. I spent many many hours playing with this when I was a young un! It's in pretty good shape for all that time, just missing the tin porch canopy. I notice these at antique shops and none of those houses have the tin canopy left either, must have been something easy to lose. I did let the girls play with it when they were young too, but now it's back to me and as you can see I'm using it for special fabric storage and my journals. Oh and some lovely hand cream and lip balm that I find totally necessary all the time!

Here is a bit of a close up of the "sewing room"! I love that when I was small. I actually had a little plastic sewing machine cabinet that went under the window there.

here is the nursery and a peek into the bathroom. the pictures on the walls are just too precious!

Mug Rug winners!

2011-02-07T14:04:00.000-08:00

So, I think there were 14 comments on my mug rug blog for entries, and since I really like all of you and I made so many I think if I just pop out a couple more I can give you each one, so.......... email me with your snail addresses and I'll get your mug rug in the mail to you! Now, Skippy mom, just because you left two comments doesn't mean you get two of them though!

Here is my assortment of them, some are pieced some are scrappy, some are silly, but they are all certainly good enough to put your cups or glasses on and spill crumbs and drips from your drinks! So let me hear from you!!!

oh, this one is not pieced but it's kind of my favorite!!! the chickens are so funky and the fabric is called Red Licorice Chicken. I love red licorice!!!

there's a first time for everything isn't there?

2011-02-04T04:43:00.000-08:00

Does everyone around you have super bowl fever? Living near Green Bay you can imagine what it's like around here......

Originally, I come from a small town on the very western edge of WI near the St Croix River and as close as you can get to MN without actually living there. My entire family comes from MN. Around there the Packer fan - Viking fan ratio is about 3-1. So it was not unusual that I grew up as a Purple People Eater. Then I went to college and met the big guy. His family is from the east side of the state, where EVERYTHING is sort of under the shadow of Lambeau. Needless to say we have a mixed marriage. One year for Christmas, in front of his entire family he gave me an official Packer jersey, it has our name on it Green. Well the Green is for some Packer guy, but of course this could not be passed up in his mind. I told him he shouldn't have. No, really, he shouldn't have. Does he listen? of course not, cheeseheads are like that. However, since my team is out of it (and has been for much of the season, thanks a lot!) I now cheer for the Pack.

which leads me to today's picture. Of course it's Packer spirit week at work so we are supposed to wear the green and gold.

So here I am, excuse the picture, miss V is much better at self portraits than I am........ wearing my jersey for work. sigh.

Think anyone will notice my "gold" has a viking on it?

shhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. You're my friends you have to keep my secret!

Some Pretties

2011-02-02T17:51:00.000-08:00

Today, since we had yet another snow day (poor us huh, wink wink) I

decided to share with you some random pretties from our house..............

Isn't this fabric just so adorable? Lady Lee would say it is "stinkin cute"

of course a totebag comes to mind.........

and this fabric............ What to do, what to do....

probably yet another totebag?

Aren't these vintage spice jars the cutest things? My mother used so many fresh spices and herbs that she never bothered with these cuties that I'm sure she got for a wedding present, therefore I got to have them in my play kitchen. Fortunately I didn't destroy or lose them as a child so I have them on my shelf now. ;-) please ignore the horrible paneling on the wall- it will disappear like magic some day.

My last pretty for the day. Those are real Robins eggs in the nest, three precious ones. We found them over the past couple of years after windy spring storms. I just leave them alone in my china cabinet for several months and they dry up on the inside. Miss V found the feathers last spring and we could not bear to toss them. As a child I was told "A feather is a letter from a bird." I have no idea where that little gem is from, but I think of it every time I find a feather.

300 posts give-away and a snow day!!!!

2011-02-01T05:43:00.000-08:00

Early this morning.......... lake effect snow. Doesn't hurt my feelings much!

We were supposed to get about 8 inches of lake effect, however we got at least 10 and it'still coming down.

I'll have to do something about the sidewalk later.........

much later..............

After all, there is sewing to do! See this Andy Warhol style fabric? Little miss V and I are going to make this into an art bag for her today.

and see these adorable karate monkeys? Those are going to become a padded bag for a friends daughters karate stick. I'm sure it has a name, but I don't know what it's called.

And now for the 300 post part, I feel the need to host a give-away in honor of 300 posts! The mug rug you see here is NOT the give-away. Sorry, that one was a lovely surprise gift several years ago from an online quilter friend from Japan! It sits next to my sewing machine all the time. Thanks Yuki, wherever you are!

However, I am going to give away a mug rug. I joined an online mug rug swap and of course I made waaaaaaaay too many mug rugs because they are so much fun! I used to just make mug mats, but mug rugs are wider so there is room for your muffin, or donut or whatever yumminess you plan to snack on with your coffee or tea or wine......... yes, they can be used with a wine glass or a beer mug too! How versatile!!! So, if you want to be in my drawing- leave me a comment and I'll figure out the details by Friday. Scouts honor!

Paris Dreams

2011-01-21T05:58:00.000-08:00

The new year has gotten me to thinking, about Paris.

Sorry the pictures are kind of small, never having been to Paris I don't have any pictures of my very own.

Do you have dreams of "someday"....?

I have wanted to see Paris ever since I was introduced to the Impressionist movement back in junior high. I decided that I don't want Paris to be one of those things that I still dream about in my dotage, you know, sitting there in my nursing home room thinking "I sure wish I could have seen Paris".

So, I am implementing the power of positive thinking.

I am GOING to see Paris. I am GOING to make this happen.

Of course I'm not frivolous enough to think that just wishing is enough, I'm actually saving something from every paycheck, and I am planning to retake my college French starting next fall. I'd do it now, but second semester is French 2 and I'm pretty rusty so I think I better go back to the beginning.

I'm also reading everything my hot little hands can find about Paris, about visiting Paris, what to do, what not to do. Mainly because I will probably do all the stuff you aren't supposed to do too. I'm a rebel like that.

What are YOU going to do "someday"? Do you REALLY WANT to do it? Make it happen! Be a positive thinker and doer, lets do our DREAMS!!!!

2011 - thoughts and such

2011-01-17T14:00:00.000-08:00

I am loving that it's a new year, it always seems like there is a freshness to life at the new year. I feel like I can set goals and there is hope of accomplishing them. If past years are anything to go by, however, I'm probably sadly mistaken. I am still carrying around extra weight, and I'm not as fit as I planned to be 10 years ago. Still, there is always hope.

The above books are my inspiration for this year, I aspire to sit and actually read them on a regular basis. The bottom book is a sketch book and the gorgeous colors in the background are actually colored pencils that daughter number 1 gave me for Christmas.

This has nothing to do with new years. This is an adorable tin barn toy, probably from the 60's since it looks like it matches my childhood dollhouse.

and this is an even more adorable tin chicken coop. I couldn't turn either of them down.

This is a wallhanging that I've been promising the big guy for a while now. He wanted me to do something to go next to our wine cellar/fridge. See that stupid wine glass? The first one I did was so crooked that I gave up after 2 tries and an hour and a half. Then the big guy took pity on me and drew it out nicer for me and made copies, I was pleased to see how un-crooked this one came out. after 3 tries and several MORE hours................ then I looked at the picture and realized that I put the wine in a stripe across the glass instead of actually IN the glass! ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!

so this is where I am headed for the moment. This is my relaxing corner of my sewing room. See the snow coming down out the window? Can't tell? Well it is, and it was enough that I didn't feel overly guilty calling in for a snow day.

now to think about that dumb wine glass....................

Gingerbread house party TWO!

2010-12-04T07:01:00.000-08:00

Here we are with some more gingerbread house parts.................

Every year I make a coffee theme house for my favorite coffee shop. This year I put the beans on the roof, It smells awesome!!!

Here is the coffee house from the other side, with Santa waiting at the door.

Here is Becky's house, well, it's a church.............. could anyone guess that she just got engaged?

Here is little V's pastel house, it looks like the house you would find in Hansel and Gretel to me! yum!

There will be another post when I get the pictures of the houses the 6 nieces and 2 more daughters made.......

The gingerbread housing project has begun

2010-11-20T11:44:00.000-08:00

The first Gingerbread house party of the season. This is the party I get invited to, it kicks off the whole season!

Here is a John Deere theme house, I know, around here people would think it was a Packer house, but check out the little John Deere tractor and hay wagon!

Here is my pastel beauty this year.

Look at this fabulous one with the mirror ice rink!!! I love this idea, I'll have to try that, and see the chocolate rocks around the "ice" how cool is that? The builder was worried about the tall tree to the front here, she thought it might fall over, I told her it's okay if it does, then just put an axe next to it and make a woodpile out of more pretzel rods!

This lovely builder liked the pastel idea so she went with my theme too. ;-)

This builder went with everything candy theme............. yum!

This builder was on a short time limit and she popped this together in about 30 minutes before she had to leave for work!

Love the chimney on this one! tooo cute!

And here is the most fun, a trailer trash theme!!! She wasn't finished when I took this picture, if you look hard you can see a toilet and a TV in the back yard, and then she was working on putting a little car ornament up on blocks!

Come on back sometime after next Saturday when I host my nieces and nephews and all my kids for the big Green Family house party! 13 kids all together, not sure if 2 of the boys will participate, might not be quite cool enough for them, but that's okay, more candy for the rest of them! Then in December I'm doing more houses for the girl scouts!

bag handles

2010-11-15T06:26:00.000-08:00

So, here is the tubing and connectors that I mentioned in a previous post. All this was found at Lowes. Yay for building supplies! (and husbands with a Lowes card)

Here is the handy dandy tool that is most helpful in cutting the tubing without destroying your hands.

Looks a bit like a mechanical dinosaur doesn't it?

Here I am cutting the tubing, well pretending to cut the tubing for your benefit, since it takes a longer piece to make a handle.

It's helpful, though not totally necessary to make Whonk Whonk sounds as the tool cuts through....

And here is the latest ruffle bottom bag, which just happens to be available in my Etsy shop~

Note to Self...................

2010-10-23T12:26:00.000-07:00

Even if ironing Heat N Bond onto the backside of fusible interfacing sound plausible..............

never
try
it
again.

as promised.............

2010-10-16T06:00:00.000-07:00

A few posts back I posted a picture with some black and yellow scraps showing under the current project, so here is the finished bag! Above is the bag with the handles in progress.

Those handles were hard, but worth it! I covered some plastic tubing from Lowe's and the big guy helped me use a tube connector section to hold them together. The bag book suggested taping them and then stitching your fabric tube over that, but it wouldn't have held very well at all. The tube connector was a tough thing to push through, especially with the problem wrist on my left hand, but eventually I figured it out, I took a hairdryer to it to soften it up!

And here is the finished black and yellow ruffled bag! As Lady Lee would say...... "how stinkin cute is that?" I'm working on another one using up scraps that will be in a very springlike colorway.

Miss V loves this bag! The only problem is that I used a solid black for the lining and it's hard to see inside! I could get her one of those little key chain flashlights I suppose! I saw some very expensive bags at a department store once that had a light that went on inside when you opened them up. Of course then I had to wonder if you could get one with a remote too..............

Still bagging along!

2010-10-13T18:48:00.000-07:00

Remember those calendar tea cloths that your grandma probably had hanging in her kitchen? I have been watching them in vintage re-sale shops and it occurred to me that it would be neat to do something with ones that are from special years. Oddly enough, as soon as I decided I wanted to pick some up to do something with them, the first one I came across was one for me! What are the odds on that really?

So here it is as I was starting to cut it up........

Then I added some vintage fabric from my grandmothers stash........... yes I come from a long line of fabric ~~hoarders~~ collectors. Then I found some cute ball fringe in the stash I inherited from a non family member.

And Viola! a new tote.

And the back of the tote. The big guy suggested I embroider a circle around my birthday on it, but I think that might be a bit much. ;-) I never knew I was born on a Thursday, kind of cool!

Tomorrow (or when I get back on here) I'll blog my next vintage textile totes. Bet you can't wait huh???

Bagging it

2010-10-09T12:08:00.000-07:00

I've been working on some bags that a co-worker wanted for some Christmas presents. I forgot to take pictures of the ones for her girls, but here is the one I did for her mother in law.

She said her mother in law likes Victorian things, purses, stuff like that. I dug into my stash of tapestry vests..........remember the 80's? and did a sort of crazy patch tote with those and some antique crochet and beading things that I had in my various stashes. It's so GOOD to use stuff up!!

Then I used my new French manicure kit on my nails.

I am finding it amusing that I painted my fingernails to look like fingernails! Who thought that one up???

and yes, for those observant friends, that is a new bag in parts under my hand......... just wait for it!

Another great retreat!

2010-09-28T16:42:00.000-07:00

I was back at St Anthony's last weekend, so no sewing for me, but here are some pictures to share...

Seriously, could the sky have been any bluer? I did not enhance these at all!

Love the roof lines on the old section of the monastery.

A volunteer came while we were there and brought pumpkins. A truckload of them!

View from the upper balcony. Too bad about the power lines.

It has been such a wet summer in Wisconsin that there are about a zillion varieties of mushrooms everywhere.

I could have taken more pictures, but my camera decided it needed a retreat too. sigh.

My pretties and more baking

2010-09-22T18:02:00.000-07:00

Look at these lovelies!!!! Rumi from the http://luckyfrogblog.blogspot.com/ Lucky Frog blog and I did a little private swap. She offered to knit me those cute red wavy's there on the left. You use them for quick little wipe jobs in the kitchen, I offered to make her a tote bag. I thought that was pretty good, then lo and behold when my package came there were two more gorgeous knitted pretties! See the little brick wall? It's so cushy that I use it in my fruit basket to keep my fruit from getting bruised, and the beautiful white star stays right there on our end table/trunk. Thanks Rumi!!

Then since the weather was so cool, I did some baking.............

pumpkin pie seemed like a good idea since it's fall.

And I made a turkey and broccoli quiche for dinner...............

And since there was crust left, how about an apple pie?

Yeah the big guy and Miss V thought it was a good idea too.

Lovely Lemon Bars

2010-09-05T15:57:00.000-07:00

One of my baking talents is lemon bars. The entire secret (besides cooking with wine- see my glass back there?) is to only use fresh lemons not bottled lemon juice, and (duh) real butter.

What you see here (besides my wine, yum) is enough lemons to make a two pans of bars. I believe in a LOT of lemon.

Here is the crust going together.....

Crust is baked, now to pour in the filling..........

2 pans out of the oven............

ingredients for lemon glaze, more lemon juice, melted butter, and powdered sugar.

and here you go, one for YOU!

some sewing at last!

2010-09-02T20:07:00.000-07:00

I have had this fabric since I inherited my mothers fabric stash a few years ago. I loved the way the two florals play off each other and I always thought it would be a pretty peasanty type blouse.

Turns out I was right!

Here are the somewhat peasanty sleeves. See that lovely edging? That is hand made tatting!!! Not by yours truly, trust me on that one. My great gramma tried to teach me once but all I managed was a very impressive knot the size of a small cat. She gave up.

Happy blouse! And see the necklace? That is my favorite necklace of all time. Miss V bought it for me at a handmade shop, it's a piece of broken china and the chain is totally adjustable and has a green glass bead hanging off the catch. I love that thing!!!

Chair tour 2010

2010-08-30T17:46:00.000-07:00

Here we have a little ice cream parlor chair that was mine when I was a yung un. Mostly it had an antique doll sitting on it. I suppose I should refinish it, this pink is pretty bad.

This picture is to show you how really little it is, the foot, which happens to be mine is a size 8.

My favorite little red chair from my childhood. Isn't it the nicest little thing? I always loved this one, it was quite comfortable too.

Now it makes a perfect spot to set aside a book (please once again, ignore the dust on the rungs) it's also handy when a little one stops by for a visit and they need a spot to sit their little bum on.

Our piano chair, (ignore the shoes and the dog please) This is from a set of 8 that we inherited along with the big guys grandmas Duncan Phyfe table. Harp back chairs and so pretty and graceful, just like the table.

Here is our vintage high chair, this one was used for the big guys dad, the big guy and all his siblings, and all our babies. It has gone from white with red accents, to brown with white accents and back to wood grain. And yes, the upholstery you see next to it is indeed yet another chair in our store room.

And does this chair look uncomfortable to you? Yeah, it kinda is. I found out that it was the chair that novices had to sit in when they were called before the Mother Superior for discipline at a convent. How charming!! again, the dust, you know what to do. Either ignore it, or come over and get a rag out of the cleaning closet and take care of it. thanks.

more chairs

2010-08-24T12:22:00.000-07:00

This is my dads chair from when I was growing up. It's kind of a captains chair, with the arm rests.

here is a back detail.........

This was moms chair which matches dads, but without the armrests.

and the back detail............. complete with dust.

Luckily I got to keep these and now they are part of my chair collection.

Chairs chairs everywhere

2010-08-20T10:44:00.000-07:00

My good friend Susan at http://quiltyindulgence.blogspot.com/ posted about covering her sewing chair seat which got me thinking about my own love of chairs. I don't know why I like chairs, but there it is, I like them. They have to have redeeming value however, such as interesting, a good history, or provenance. heh heh So, here is a tour of some of my favorite chairs............

First we have my sewing chair. This one is a very vintage office chair that is sturdy beyond belief and amazingly comfortable.

here is the pretty bottom of it...........

Then we have my "computer" chair. My computer is a lap top that pretty much stays on top of a very old radio stand (with the guts removed)

My computer chair is a vintage wooden folding chair. It has awesome "bones" and it's also rather comfortable.

This is what the seat looks like under the pad. Isn't it pretty?

If you like chairs tune in for my next post where I'll introduce you to my two very small chairs and one that came from a nun's office.

pre sewing update pictures................

2010-08-19T18:45:00.000-07:00

Since I don't have any current pictures of my sewing projects I thought I'd share a quick couple of camping pictures.................

I tried getting Kona to go in my kayak with me for a few days. She sat on it with me for a little while, but then she jumped over the side and pulled me up river chasing something in the bushes.

Meanwhile, Jim came in from a short kayak trip and she swam out to him and jumped right in HIS kayak!!!

sorry, no new updates

2010-07-25T06:02:00.000-07:00

sorry, I don't have much of an update in the way of sewing, we've been camping, and then catching up on all the chores around home- like mowing and mowing and mowing the lawn in between rainstorms........ so here are some fresh pictures of the lovely Miss V instead.

Update......................

2010-07-05T09:37:00.001-07:00

Here they are today..................

I've got the blues...............

2010-06-23T11:47:00.000-07:00

and some greens..................

and some grays and purples................

And hopefully soon I'll have something to show you that combines them all...............

come on over to my yarden~~~

2010-06-17T17:36:00.000-07:00

Come on over and see how pretty all the flowers are! The rain has done a lot of good, and the weather is perfect today.

The wingless fairy is back again, the pansies are loving her!

The cats enjoy some porch time with us. The big guy made the "cat anchors" to keep them on the porch.

They usually make a lot of interesting macrame knots with their leashes.

This year we have a pair of bluebirds in the bird house! They are soooooo pretty!!!! and so shy!

Porch pots make "walls" on our open decking. Love the purple and the swirly curly greens!

One of the not so real birds in our yarden.

The beginnings of a new flower bed.....

A few new plants............. now watch for a future finished picture!

Meanwhile I'm going to take it easy for a bit and have a nice adult beverage..........

Loving me some summer in Wisconsin!

They annoyed Pluto too................

2010-06-14T16:37:00.000-07:00

If those adorable little chipmunks by the impossibly cute (hack hack) names of Chip N Dale are one of your favorites, perhaps you shouldn't read any further.
Remember how they drove poor Pluto up the walls........ literally, UP the walls?
The real life ones drive our poor Kona nearly up the walls also. She spends hours, seriously hours, watching the trees when they are out and about in the yard. One day we had to actually DRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAG her into the house to get a drink of water and rest for a bit. She hates them, they make her crazy, and even though they are younger and supposedly faster than she is........ she has managed to "get" three of them so far! You go girl! There was a time I thought they were a bit on the cute side to, however stealing the bird food and making a mess of my baby plants has cured me of that.

yeah, point and laugh guys, just remember, as of today it's:

black lab -----------------3

cute little chipmunks---- 0

HAH!