Is Painting Faces Like Painting Furniture?

I didn’t want but had to anyway. It was apparent that I needed an income but I loved having a schedule that allowed me to be available to my family, friends, crafting and decorating and whatever else needed my attention.

But, money was needed and with college payments starting up this year. medical bills a-mounting, and economic issues that are familiar to most Americans, convinced me I needed to find a dependable source of income.

I worked for the cosmetics departments of major department stores in my early 20’s, before I committing  my life to my husband and raising and loving 5 children. I sold Lancome, Shiseido, Halston and Calvin Klein, the last 2 which no-longer exist. It was an exciting and wonderful time in my life. I got to be part of a trendy and dynamic atmosphere. I had access to all the best fragrances, skin care products and latest colors. I supported myself pretty well, in this way.

I  wondered; would the industry want a 50 year old grandmother of 2?

Could I swap out my paint pots for make-up pots? Fabric swatches for lipstick swatches?

Apparently so and now I will write of my adventures returning to the world of beauty. Hopefully, I will still be able to put color to furniture but this is a season of putting color to faces.

Pink Saturday Random Pinkness

Pink Saturday in the middle of April! Go visit for a plethora of pink goodness. Thank you , Beverly, for for hosting this enduring and endearing event. Pink Saturday

Yes, I am the grandma so please indulge me: Is she not pink precious beyond belief?! Tutus and headbands for baby girls is just so much fun!

A friend of mine makes these sweet little sheep with the pink frocks faster than ewe can imagine.

My other friend, Debbie, creates mosaics and sells them along with pretty antiques.

Spring blocks, which I hope to try my hand at making someday.

I went to  an antique auction and won a huge lot of linens including these delicious dresses from the 1920’s. They are so pretty that, even today, the right person could totally rock them. Some Easter sweetness.

That’s all for now. Thanks for stopping by!

Pink Saturday Rose Tea Room & Introducing…

Visit the best group of Pink-o-philes at the Pink Saturday event hosted weekly by Beverly at How Sweet The Sound.

There is a a lovely tea room in our city called “The Rose Tea Room”. It is decorated in Victorian-Shabby-Chic and has so many pretty things to look at. I love how nothing is the same but it all goes together.

Of course there is a lot of pink seen in the vintage linens, china and glasses. The serving platters are the hand made type fashioned by people all over Blogland.What a cute idea for a lamp. I think the owner took a silver tea pot and added the electric lamp apparatus and shade. I heard it is easy to do but I haven’t tried it yet.

Next time I hope to get pictures of High Tea in action. I never get tired of “Tea-Faire”: Cucumber Sandwiches, Scones, Petit Fours, Strawberries and Devonshire Cream…

Now, the best is last. Introducing my new grand daughter, Liliana. She is precious as can be and I am in crazy-love with her! Being a grandma rocks, I tell you!

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  Happy Pink Saturday to you all. I hope to visit as many of my Pink Friends as possible this weekend!

Anthropologie Inspired Fabric Strip Net

 

Click on the buttons to join the fun! These are inspirational events that show you that you can, indeed, do it yourself and whip it right up!

 and My daughters and I always stop into Anthropogie when we get over to the mall on the other side of the city. Last time we were there, we saw a beautiful bed flanked overhead by a net with dangling, random strips of fabric tied all over it. I didn’t have a camera with me so I can’t show it today. Not sure if the “Powers that Be” let you take photos in their store anyway???

Not to worry, my 15 yo, Lilly , was completely inspired to make her own for her bedroom. She bought a fishing-type net for crafts at Hobby Lobby. At Joann Fabrics we found something I’d never heard of; a Jelly Roll of coordinating fabric strips commonly used for quilting. She felt like the designs matched too much so she bought a fabric square in a pop of bright coral for contrast.

She made a nest next to me on my king size bed and got to work. She cut strips in half length-wise to double her supplies. Every once in a while we would ooh and ahhh at the fabric designs. She tied and tied until all the fabric strips were tied on; completely randomly placed.

Then she screwed in some hooks, stretched out the net and hung from the ceiling over her bed.

It is soooo Anthro and so cool. I’m not sure if these are for sale at Anthroplogie or what they must cost. But it sure wasn’t as cheap as Lilly’s design and we all love it!

Her friends call it a giant dream catcher-haha!

Supplies:

Fishing net from Hobby Lobby 4.98 (half price)

Jelly Roll Fabrics 12.99 X 2 (Forgot my coupon ;( ) You can use any fabric you want, just tear into strips about 18” long and 1-2 “ wide.

Fat Quarter 1.50-torn into strips.

Scissors

Pink Saturday Valentine Subway Art & Garland

 

Happy Pink Saturday! Click on the Beverly’s Pink Saturday Button to join the crowd. Pink Saturday is the sweetest event of the week!

Sometimes I feel like I have used up all my pinks so I am glad Valentine’s Day is on the horizon. There’s pink there for sure and I pulled off a couple of pink projects,

Just a few days ago I came across this cool and hip Blog called: 1825, written by 3 sisters who grew up at a house with 1825 as the address, and still reside in Las Vegas. They create Subway Art and this is their latest feature.All you do is download the file and order online at Costco. They are 16 X 20 prints and cost about 6 dollars each.

I wanted to keep it cheap (that’s the whole idea) and found frames at Hobby Lobby for 9.95 and they were 50% off. Great deal! Frames can be so expensive, especially this size.

Not too shabby and quite substantial for about $11 each.I think they will make great gigantic Valentine’s Day Gifts for some Sweeties out there :D

I framed both color versions and am so pleased with how they turned out. I am picturing the framed Subway prints in homes all over Blogland!

My other project is the sweet and simple Ragamuffin Garland. This time I used Valentine ribbons with hearts and messages of love, red burlap strips, strips of fluffy white tulle and pink and red strips of whatever I had around.

I tied 4 to 6 inch strips onto a piece of twine as long as my arm. I watched TV and worked on this for about 3 hours. You have to stuff it really full so it doesn’t look scraggly. You would get crazy-bored sitting, ripping strips and tying for so long without watching TV. I watched TV guilt-free because I had a project going.

I know lots of folks have made their versions of these garlands and they’ve been around for awhile but I still just love the way they look, And, they are very inexpensive to make!

Thank you for dropping by today! I always enjoy your visit!

Purely Delish! Peppermint/Chocolate Mousse

 

It is Foodie Friday and I will be searching the list of all the participants for some meals I will prepare this weekend. I just love seeing what others are up to and trying some new recipes. You will definitely want to click on the picture above to link over to the Foodie Friday Fun!

Bonus: Besides all the recipes and stories that accompany them, there is a giveaway for copper cookware! In my dreams I have copper cookware, not in real life, so far, but some day…ya never know.

I am not a Cool Whip gal. I am a pure cream gal; a natural unsalted butter and not margarine gal. So when this recipe for chocolate peppermint mousse received 5 stars for  taste, ease of preparation and maximum “Impress your friends-ability:, I broke down and tried it.

This looks like 2 cups of chocolate covered espresso beans but it is actually 2 cups of Junior Mints.I doubled the recipe.

In a saucepan, combine cocoa and milk until smooth. Add mints and butter; cook and stir over low heat until smooth. Cool for 15 minutes.

Call for a teenager to come help you since it is so fun and smells wonderful but let her sleep and snuggle with the furry creatures.

Fold in the Cool Whip, even this is beautiful! That’s it! That’s all you do!

  You can scoop it into individual cups or place in a large bowl. You certainly don’t need to pipe it in to the cups but the teenager piped up and wanted to do it this way. So fun!

Refrigerate until ready to serve.

How could this creation occur with so little effort! The white stuff on top? Yep, real whipped cream; just had to use the real thing! I bashed up a lingering candy cane and sprinkled the candy on top. A garnish of mint leaf completes the look.

This was so delicious and rich; small portions at a time is just enough and we all loved it!

I am judging myself for using Cool Whip but I can’t deny how easy and delish this was. I’m thinking this would be a great Valentines Day treat.

RECIPE

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons baking cocoa

2 tablespoons milk

1 cup junior mints

2 tablespoons butter or margarine I used butter!

1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped

topping, thawed, divided

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Fresh mint and additional whipped

topping (optional) Real whipped cream!

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Easy & Best Gift Every Year

Lilly and I have been cranking out these corn packs and delivering them to friends and family all over the place. The following is a repeat post from a year ago: The pictures are current but the instructions are from Dec. 9, 2009.

It is 2 frigid-degrees out here which reminded me of one of my all time favorite things: the corn filled heat pack. I have sent these to many people; my sister and her girls, my mom, my son-in-law, who took it out to sea on a 4 month naval tour in the Middle East(the other sailors wanted it!), my niece and her room mate at the University of San Francisco (they said they are surprised their microwave hasn't exploded from non-stop use); some seriously ill friends, whom these gave non-stop comfort. This is, by far, the most used and appreciated gift I have given.
If you can make a pillow, you can make a corn filled heat pack. Use whatever fabric you desire or cut up an old sheet,towel or table cloth.I found the darling vintage-style Christmas fabric at JoAnn's for half price. Make whatever size you desire as long as it will fit in your microwave.I have often wished I could make a body-sized heat pack that I could lie on but I still haven't found a big enough microwave. Stitch right sides together and leave about a 1 inch hole to pour in the corn. Use a tight stitch or zigzag to hold the corn in better. Turn right side out.
Haul over a 10 or 50 lb bag of feed corn and load up your "pillow". I pay under 10 dollars for a 50 lb. bag and I manage to use it all. You can get 10 lbs for a couple of bucks and the ability to carry it yourself. Don't use your Orville Redenbacher corn kernels; they will pop all over the place and burn up your bag. Don't accidentally take home dried corn cobs like I once did; not comfy. Be sure you ask for FEED CORN.

When your bag is pretty full of corn, yet flexible, whip stitch the opening to close.Sometimes, I sprinkle in lavender flowers for aroma-therapy.
Put it in the microwave for a couple of minutes. You will learn just how long you can leave it in the microwave, to the second, before it gets too hot. My corn heat packs stay warm most of the night; better than a water bottle, better than a rice-filled bag.
Put it on your ice-cold feet, rather than putting your ice-cold feet on your hubby! This is a necessity for cramps; along with chocolate, of course.
I have never done this because I love the warmth and haven't yet needed an ice pack, but, put the corn bag in the freezer for a re-usable ice pack; works like frozen peas but better because it doesn't thaw and drip all over you.
Make a few of these for gifts. I guarantee you will have thankful and warm recipients!

Such a look of concentration! If you want to be super-fancy, you can sew a muslin bag to put the corn in and the decorative fabric on the outside.