Try It Tuesday - Cake for Your Valentine.

Hey!

Do y'all read Craft Gossip?

Why not?

It's a daily collection of short blogs that encompasses almost every aspect of crafting.

I loves it! 

So many ideas, so little time.

The other day I stumbled across this entry:

 "I Heart My Pound Cake"

Well, I do love my pound cake. 

I think I make a mighty fine one indeed.

But look what Toni Dash of  Boulder Locavore did to her pound cake!

Isn't that pretty?

I just had to make this for BillHubby in honor of Yucky Mushy Stuff Day  

St Valentine's Day.

Neither of us ever make a fuss about this "Hallmark Cards Holiday."

But BillHubby has a sweet tooth.

I used two box cakes mixes.

One Red Velvet and one Devil's Food.

Toni's directions are clear and easy to follow.

I did stray on one aspect. 

I didn't cut the red cake into slices. 

I used my cookie cutter to cut one 

big ol hunk of heart shaped cake.

 It was awkward.

It worked but I think if I decide to bake this again -

and I probably will - I will invest in one of those heart shaped baking tubes.

BillHubby also thinks a cake isn't done until it is frosted.

I used canned Cream Cheese Frosting.

Happy St Valentine's Day!!

Thrifty Thursday and Fabulous Friday Combo Day

Sometimes

I love shopping.

When one has enough money to provide the essentials it is fun to shop for silly stuff.

I always love bargain shopping!

BillHubby and I keep a running list of things we need and things we want.

I am so glad that we think on similar wavelengths. 

Last week we went out and about on a few missions.

We stopped at a few places in search of the perfect thermos jug so he can take coffee to work. 

The two travel mugs he was using are leaky and 

the second cup was lukewarm by the time he wanted to drink it.

There were stops at Dick's Sporting Goods, Target (Targhet if ya wanna get all fancy) and Orvis.

Can you believe there were no large thermoses at Dick's!? 

I mean it's a Sporting Goods store for heaven's sake! 

C'mon now.

Targhet had good prices.

But I convinced BillHubby to stop at Orvis. 

Orvis has really top of the line quality products. 

The clothes are fantastic.

The gear is reliable.

The prices are OUTRAGEOUS!!!!!

Isn't this bowl the cutest? 

This is the best type of squirrel. 

Adorable and non-trouble making.

This bowl would look so at home on a shelf in our home amidst my Raleigh, 

The City of Oaks, acorns and pics, right?

 

(See how small it is next to my hand?)

Um, yeah, I don't think so. 

(I really can't take him anywhere.)

After we took this picture we were swarmed with attentive sales folk. 

Guess they don't allow playing with the merch.

Stuffed shirts.

The nice lady showed us a Stanley thermos that would meet BillHubby's needs.

It was sturdy.

It was big.

It had a nice cup.

It was $45!

(Yes, that IS my shopping notebook. It's where I keep our running lists)

A few days later.

Targhet.

Picture taken to send to BillHubby so he can choose.

That Stanley, yeah the green one.

Yeah, the exact same one that Orvis was selling for $45.

$25

SOLD

I still think Orvis merchandise rocks. 

20 years ago I worked in a catalog return store. 

We carried L.L. Bean, J Crew, Orvis, Victoria's Secret and other catalog over run and returned merchandise.

I still have a wonderful Orvis Barn Coat and several J Crew Sweaters and Corduroy shirts. 

Those products have held up to the test of time.

Shopping around either in person or online is the only way to compare prices, products and save money.

BillHubby is happy to report that his new Stanley Thermos is exceeding his expectations in the transport and the keeping hot of his coffee!
FABULOUS!!!! 

Next Week: Local thrift shops that support other organizations and causes.

Happy Hallowe'en

 Happy Hallowe'en!!!!

Yes, I am back. Still unpacking. 

Found my camera - took pics of my Hallowe'en mantel and fireplace - lost my camera again. 

It's here somewhere. arrgh!

Bill and Kat and I dressed up last Saturday to attend a Young Cardinals/100 Yorktown show at Raleigh's wonderful Berkeley Cafe.

Here we are pre-show.

Kat helped us with our make-up. But she wouldn't let us take a pick of what turned out to be her prize winning Tin-Woman outfit!

Bill found a random mustache at the show and borrowed it, creating giggle fits all night. Wish I'd been faster with the camera phone to catch the ear hair mustache!

100 Yorktown was completely in the Hallowe'en spirit. My son, Jordan, is the monkey lead singer with 3 of his 4 banana band mates.

When Bill gets home we're gonna curl up and watch scary movies on Turner Classic Movies or these classics sent by my Sister from another Mister, Pam!

Thanks sweetie! I loves Hammer films!

Hope everyone has a wonderful, spooky, 

candy filled night. 

All treats and no tricks!

 

Love ya,

Becky

Finished It Friday!

 Happy Friday Folks!!!!

One of my friends (Dru) fussed at me this week to post what I have been working on. 

So here's some Finished It Friday Fun!

 This is now finished

and framed!

How do you like my Faux Bois matt? 

Brown paper bag and magic markers.

Kristy Kizzee Miss Zombie USA

Go see her etsy shop - Bombastitch

This beauty is on BillHubby's new shirt. 

Will get him to model it soon ( I hope)

 Sorry this pic is so dark. 

Finished one of a set of stamped pillowcases.

Kat Daughter wants me to make the other for her in pinks.

 I love, love, love the bee!

 Wedding gift

 is finished.

 TarHeel baby blanket

 His name shall be Henri! 

Pronounced "henree" not "on ree."

 Flannel cowboys on the back

 Happy Mommy to be. 

 

Don't forget

Just in time for Dad's Day, Graduations, Weddings and Summer Cook-out Fun. 

 I am offering free shipping in my etsy shop, 

Sew In Stitches, 

now through next Wednesday, June 15th. 

Just use coupon code SMS2011

or use 10OffSMS 2011 for 10% off your total purchase.

I am happy to discuss custom orders too!

Machine embroidered monograms or 

first names are available.

Just $5! 

That's cheaper than the famous catalogues and most stores!

 

BillHubby and I will be in Durham, NC participating in Duke Homestead's Herb, Garden and Craft Fair tomorrow, Saturday, June 11th, 10am - 4 pm.

Stop by and visit with us.

What Have You Been Doing?

I have days that I feel as if I have been so busy but that produce little in the way of "getting things done."
How about you?

I often find myself doing what I want to do rather than what I "need" to be doing.

Lately I have been re-inspired to embroider and cross-stitch.

It is so much more fun than doing the laundry or dusting.

 

I made this one up.

It's a fire in honor of our first ever Fire-Pit party back in December.

I'll show you when it's finished.

 

This is a Kristy Kizzee design. I won

Zombie Cross-Stitch kit by Erika Kern and Kristy Kizzee!

I'm stitching it with waste canvas on black fabric that will soon (hopefully) be a shirt for BillHubby.

I'm taking poetic license with the colors. I just started stitching again and didn't have all the absolute exact DMC flosses. And there's no way BillHubby is goin around 

with a blonde on his shirt!

Kristy's etsy shop - Bombastitch

The Fabulous mr x stitch's review of the kit I won!

The last couple of weeks have been stressful so I escaped into an old habit.

Backtracking a wee bit - in First Grade I determined that my crayons at school and those of my best friend should be arranged thusly - yellow, orange, blue, purple, red, green, brown and black.

I do not know why. 

I still arrange things in this order.

Since 1964!

Anyway, my doodles are most often a design surrounded by progressively bigger outlines of said doodle. If I use crayons or colored pencils or markers I always start with yellow and so on. (Oh please, someone analyze this for me!)

So this flower was born.

When I finished it the other day I felt so happy and cleansed of all 

that had been plaguing my brain.

I leave you with, as Jon Stewart says, 

"your moment of zen." 

Is there anything more peaceful than tired kittehs curled up for a nap?

Kitteh Kitteh Lovey and Stanley

P.S. Coming soon! Blogiversary and new etsy shop items!

P.P.S. Please go check out Jodi's Blog and her fab Giveaway!!!

Super Saturday

As if Thursday and Friday weren't filled with enough excitement!

I was out the door again with my pal Anne to Rising Meadow Farm for 

their annual Shearing Day.

 Rising Meadow is a beautiful sheep farm nestled in the middle of North Carolina.

Some of these sheep have already been sheared. The rest are waiting their turn.

 Not a great pic - sorry.

This guy is a Master at shearing. He uses clippers and his left hand even though he is right handed.

We were amazed at his speed!

 

 This is Emily. She has been hand clipper shearing for 2 years and is as fast as her mentor!

 

This is the fleece once clipped. Natural wool is so very luxurious! The natural lanolins remain and coat one's hands as you card, spin and use the yarn.

 This is a llama 

(or an Alpaca - I can't tell the difference.)

They serve as guards for the sheep. I've been told the coyotes are more scared of them than of the dogs. 

5 years ago when on a Field Trip to this farm we got to meet the animals up close and the llamas were very kissy face with us.

No, they do not spit in your eyes and blind you!

Unless you attack one.

 Anne and I were windblown and a bit chilly so we left the farm and headed for lunch and thrift shopping!

We ventured into Asheboro, NC where there are a couple of amazing antique/junque shops in their Downtown. But we opted for the Salvation Army store, Goodwill and Christians United Outreach Center.

Here are the books I found.

Here are the crafty kits I bought.

And my Fave find of the day -

For those surprises I mentioned yesterday.

Jordan received a turn table for Christmas and has been amassing quite an impressive collection of vinyl. I found this gem in Raleigh and can't wait to see his face when he sees it. He LOVES "Safety Dance."

The Wake Forest mugs are for Kat and me.

And for my sweet BillHubby who loves to photograph interesting buildings and southern history in decay - a bank.  This is from the late 60's and small enough to fit in the palm of one's hand.

Finish It Friday

Oh Yay!!!

It's Friday.

The air is cooler!

Football Season is in!

The Braves made the Post-Season playoffs.

Life is pretty dern good.

I have been finishing projects this week.

Yay!

Apron Swap #1- Forest Friends

It's a wonky Owl.

The darlin Apron I received:

Lots of cute owls!

Who on earth is that? 

And why is he wearing my apron?!

Halloween Tote Bag Swap

What I sent:

 The outside before I sewed it up.

The insides before I sewed it up.

2 pockets - oh yeah.

Why don't I have a picture of the completed bag and all the goodies? 

I do not know.

What I received:

Look at this cute bag and all the goodies!!!

Apron Swap #2 - Halloween

What I sent:

Closer on the pocket

A sneak peak at what I am working on.

 

It's a super secret Color Challenge!

Can't wait to show you what I made.

What are you finishing this week?

(Thank you to my sweet BillHubby for modeling for me!!)

No owls were harmed in the making of these aprons or blog.