Texas Boys in the Big Apple!

Just got back from New York! We did it all...including seeing Jersey Boys. It was a trip we'll never forget! What a magical place...

Now back to real life in Texas...

Happy New Year!

Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays to you! Have a healthy and happy New Year! :) mendy

A Little This and That

Aren't these Pistachio and Tart Cherry Chocolate Candy packages SWEET? I found a great recipe in the December issue of Good Housekeeping Magazine, while I was at my parents' for Thanksgiving. My mom always has an issue of Good Housekeeping on the coffee table. I love reading it!

The recipe is easy and really delicious. Here is the official recipe from the magazine.
Here is the "Mendy" version:

You need these ingredients...
Melt two bags of dark good quality chocolate in the microwave until melted. Stir til smooth. Add 3/4 cup dried tart cherries and 3/4 cup pistachio nuts. You can add more if you like! Pour dark mixture into a large pyrex, lined with foil. Heat 1/2 package of the white chocolate until warm and smooth. Spoon the white chocolate over the dark chocolate in dots. Use the tip of a knife to swirl the white chocolate all around the dark chocolate mixture. See photo below.
Put pyrex in the frig for 3 hours or more. Pull the bar from the foil and break into pieces. I packaged mine and put all the packages in the freezer until I was ready to give them out. Keep a stash for yourself...try not to eat them all!
Have you seen these tiny glitter balls? I use them in many of my projects for holidays and year round. Got them half off at Hobby Lobby. They are perfect for embellishing a gift...Here are the little birdie ornaments for my teacher friends.
I used these ArtChix images for the gift tags.
One last ornament I made with a digi birdie and some dripping pearls...

OOH Cookies!

It's...

Jessi's Annual Cookie Swap!

Thanks for inviting me my friend! Here I am "cooking"for the first time in my bedroom kitchen!

My very FAVORITE cookie of all time?? Peanut Butter Cup Cookies!! I could eat a dozen in one sitting. And who could peel off those little papers and not eat a PB cup, or two???Ready to make a few dozen to eat...and maybe a couple to share :)

INGREDIENTS
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons milk
40 miniature chocolate covered peanut butter cups, unwrapped (don't eat them all!)

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Sift together the flour, salt and baking soda; set aside.
Cream together the butter, sugar, peanut butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Beat in the egg, vanilla and milk. Add the flour mixture; mix well.
Shape into 40 balls and place each into an ungreased mini muffin pan.
Bake at 375 degrees for about 8 minutes. Remove from oven and immediately press a mini peanut butter cup into each ball. Cool and carefully remove from pan.

Warning...they might be gone before you can put them on a plate!

I'd also like to share these with my friend Danni, who is having a cookie swap soon. I won't be able to go...boohoo! She lives near by, but I haven't seen her in forever!! Miss ya girlie!

Thanks again Jessi, for the blogger cookie swap, and for the sweet stash you sent me!!

Love it all!!

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P.S. Have you stopped by Michael's lately? I was amazed at their bead section. I made necklaces, bracelets, rings, and key chains this year. I made this necklace using "felt" silvery beads and a charm combination that was already put together. Simply string the finished charm set on to the necklace!

Glitter, Beads, Pearls and More!

It's that time of year...time to think of something fun to give to fellow teachers at my school. Last year I filled mason jars with a minty hand scrub mix. This year I tried my hand at filling clear ornaments with a birdie scene. Thanks to Somerset Life for the inspiration, and my friends Donna of Under the Red Roof and Lori of Vintage Flair. What fun!

I cut out digital birds and gave them glass glitter eyes. I filled the bottom with shredded vintage early readers and little glitter balls. I tied a bit of tiger tail beading string through a hole in the bird and let the bird hang down. I decorated the top with diamond glaze and glass glitter.

Here they are, all the birdies waiting for a home!
Now time to top them off with a bit of lace, and figure out a way to wrap them up....

A few other huge ornaments I did for friends...I put their childhood photo inside.

Now for a totally new project! I made these stretchy vintage inspired rings last weekend. After I made one, I had to make ten more! After wearing mine the first day, I got lots of compliments and actually sold one off my finger...how funny! They are fun to stack on top of each other.

My friend Sandy of My Lulabelles and I did a swap recently. Look at the goodies I just got!!
Cutie Pink Elephant...gotta love her!
Now WHERE do I start? I have enough goodies to play with for a little while! Thanks so much Sandy!

International Quilt Festival in Houston

It's November, and time for a day long shopping spree at one of my favorite places in the world...
The International Quilt Festival in Houston!!! I always go with good friends and comfy shoes. I had a great time this year!! I bought some fun fibers, trims, vintage goodies, beads, fabrics, glitter sprays, glitter paste, and so much more. Oh, and NO I don't quilt!!

Vintage silks, trims and velvet in my fav colors...YUM!I always hit the wool area, where I buy all their "end" pieces. They are perfect for crafts!
Some vintage flowers and lose petals from the Tinsel Trading Company!
Great fabrics sold in a big quilter's roll. Perfect for tea dying!
One of my freebies from Stampington...Got the year's subscription to Where Women Create.So that's the contents of one of one of my bags...hehe!

Lots of Goodies...

I've made a few canvases lately! This birdie canvas is for a local hospital fundraiser. Let the bidding begin!This one is for my new art friend Sandy of My Lullabelles. We are doing a little trade. She is a fellow puggie lover. I think her Pugsie and my Madeline could be good friends!!

And speaking of PLAYING....I've been making some fun trinkets lately. Here are some key fobs I made using pearls, glass beads, and fun velvet beads. The actual bead strip can be taken off the key ring and clipped on to a necklace! I think they'd also look cute haning off of a zipper on a purse or tote. I fell in love with these vintage milk glass rose cabachons, and wanted to do something fun with them. I made several pinkie rings using clear bands.
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Look at the goodies my good friend Lilia sent me!! Gotta love her!!

Can't wait to start playing!! Thanks Lil!

Halloween Happenings!

It's Halloween Time! My art friend Vanessa of A Fanciful Twist is hosting a fabulous Halloween Party On October 18th!!!Here are some fun Halloween images to get you in the MOOD!

I would like to invite all my friends...all dressed up in "grown up" clothes, ready for action! I am the curly girl in front!

I can't forget sweet Madeline the Pug...

Gotta include Samantha Stephens! Glamour girl one day...sassy witch the next.What should we all wear????

My favorite Halloween Treats....

Peanut butter filled cookie sand"witches" from the Martha Stewart Show. YUM!!!!And some sweet and spicy carrot cake
Here are some wonderful treasures sent to me by my Halloween Party Swap friend, Heather!
Aren't they fabulous!!

Fall Handmade Gourds are on my kitchen table...
Glittered spoons...perfect for a door prize! I made them using the instructions by Natalie Hansen in the latest Somerset Holidays.

Interested in fabulous vintage Halloween collections? Visit this site I found, from watching Martha Stewart last week. I was amazed at all the wonderful goodies from the early 1900's.

Such a fun Block Party!!