Happy Weekend

Greetings dear friends. It is the weekend. Yay! Friday is my favorite day of the week because the entire weekend still stretches in front of you. Fridays are always a bit more laid back at work too. Less stress = a good day. I know we can all agree on that! This is a necklace I made for a special person who shall remain nameless as she may see this before I give it to her.

Take the Quiz

Here is a fun quiz my sister Shelley found. She got Will Smith. Tell us who you get in comments. Should be interesting! Shelley just got a new computer and has graduated from dial-up to DSL - way to go Shelley! Now she can comment and visit all of you too. I'm trying to get her to start a blog. She is a big runner and I told her she can blog about that. Help me convince her that blogging is one of the best things ever!

Happy weekend,

This and That

No doubt you know the magical Vanessa Valencia of A Fanciful Twist but in case you don't I highly encourage you to head straight over to her blog. Really - stop everything and head over! She is such a delight and her posts are full of imagination and vibrancy. She is always super sweet with the freebies as well. She had free Valentine's tags available for download and now has a St. Patrick's Day version. She also created the template and tutorial for these fun shamrock brooches. I whipped up a bunch for myself and some family and friends. I was working a little faster then Vanessa recommended and ended up gluing down some of the leaves but if you go to her blog, you'll see the fantastic results if you are in less of a rush! They have been very well received here.

Look at this cutie by Karla Nathan! A perfect touch of spring now residing in my dining room.

And check out the fun additions she included in the package! Some glare on the Easter egg card but it is adorable and I was drooling over this fabulous Easter cart vignette!

These adorable stickers are from Max and Bella. They are for my mother-in-law, the knitting queen!

And isn't this precious?! It is a darling pillowcase dress that I purchased from Sugar Sandwich (how great is that name?). This is Katrina's photo. I'm having her send this to a friend of mine that just had a baby girl.

Ta ta for now girls!

Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Sandwiches

I have a new chocolate cookbook and wanted to share this yummy recipe!

4 oz. best-quality dark chocolate (I use whatever is available at the grocery store)
1/2 cup butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 eggs, beaten
1 cup all purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 cup cocoa powder
4 oz. milk chocolate, cut into 1/2 inch pieces (I use choc. chips)

Filling:
2/3 cup peanut butter
6 tablespoons confectioners sugar

Preheat oven to 325 F.
Melt dark chocolate with the butter in a microwave oven or in a bowl over hot water. Leave to cool, then add the sugar, followed by the eggs. Add the flour, baking powder, and cocoa powder. Stir well, then incorporate the milk chocolate pieces.

Take a teaspoon of the mixture and form into ball, place on cookie sheet and press down lightly.
Repeat for the rest of the mixture, leaving 2 inches between the cookies, then bake for 12 - 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool.

Mix together the peanut butter and confectioners sugar. Spread on one cookie, then top with second cookie, lightly pressing them together.

Enjoy these yummy sandwiches!

Miscellaneous

Just some photos of some miscellaneous things I've been working on. Most were for Valentine's Day including these nut cups I filled with Hershey Kisses and gave to friends.

A little heart box I made for myself. I love this rose wallpaper scrap that had been sitting around waiting for me to use it on something.

I had this heart pendant - I love the pastel flowers that adorn the heart. I made this necklace kind of quickly one night - I'm not quite sure I'm satisfied with it. I may still rework it a bit.

A friend asked if I could make a bracelet for a friend of hers. My only specifications were to "make it look old." Come to find out - the recipient has the matching earrings and necklace for the vintage leaf I used. They belonged to her mother - it must have been Divine intervention guiding my hand!

The always delightful and kind Mary at Oh Merci sent me this adorable heart as a surprise. I love it! Thank you Mary!

Miss Glitter Fairy Laurie tagged me a while back for a book meme. The instructions are to find the nearest book, go to page 123, find the first five sentences and post the next three sentences. The book nearest to me is In An Instant by Lee & Bob Woodruff. The sentences I am to type are a bit graphic so I'm changing this up and posting from the bottom of page 123 instead of the top. "Our apartment in San Francisco had one of the most magnificent and romantic views I had ever seen. Perched under the Coit Tower in North Beach, its floor-to-ceiling windows and sliding glass doors and deck displayed the scene from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Bay Bridge. Early in the morning when fog coated the bay, the foghorns sounded far out into the water and reverberated off the Marin hills."

Ah, California dreamin on such a winter's day (we have snow in our forecast)!

Be well friends.

Saying Thank You

I recently made a lovely new blog friend, Nancy. If you are not familar with her, check out her beautiful blog and charming crepe paper shoes. She also has a fun tutorial posted today. Nancy's husband Bill also has a wonderful blog called Loving Her Beautiful and writes about life with a creative wife. How romantic is that?! Bill has initiated a wonderful new writing project that he has posted about today and he needs our help to complete it. If you have a moment, please check out Bill's post for today and consider submitting a letter for his wonderful book.

Cheers,

Little Sweetie's Springtime

Hello everyone. First, I want to thank you for all of your kind comments, thoughts, and prayers concerning my friend. I know she and her family appreciate it as do I.

This past week I was fortunate to have some time off from work. I like to take a week off in February every year. It helps to break up the winter blahs. Sometimes I actually go away but most times I putter around the house and relax. That was the agenda this past week. I did get some time to create a few Easter treats. I've named this series of Easter eggs, Little Sweetie because the bunny is such a Little Sweetie here to help us welcome in spring.

I used seam binding and vintage jewels to top off each egg.

The eggs are flowered all the way around and have beaded flowers on the top and sides.

I like pale blue and yellow together. They make me think sunshine and flowers!
Update: Blue is Sold.



This Little Sweetie decided to perch herself on top of the egg to better see all the little Chickie Dears inside - she has to make sure they are behaving themselves!

Update: Sold


All three of these Little Sweetie Easter Eggs are available in my shop.

I'm definitely thinking spring and looking forward to some warmer weather - yeah I'm kind of rushing it. Even though CT hasn't had much in the way of snowstorms as of yet, I still can't wait to get rid of the cold, gray days. There is something about the start of spring - the first smell of warmer weather, the first flower buds, the first day you can run through the grass with bare feet - ah it is my favorite time of year!

Happy spring dreams!

The Ultimate Gift

Well friends, do we get some sort of a sign when the Lord is ready to call us? Can one die from a broken heart? I don't know that we will every truly know the answers and I don't know that it is knowledge we are meant to have. Those of you that have been readers of my little blog may remember my friend that lost her 3 year-old son in October. This morning my dear friend's mother passed away unexpectedly. I think she died from a broken heart. But I do with every fiber of my being think that she crossed into the next world so that her grandson would be looked after and so that her daughter would know he was not alone. Why does one person, one family seem to shoulder so much more then others? We may never know. God does not give us more then we can handle, I have to believe that and I do believe that but this is quite a lot. I ask that you keep this family in your prayers. I also want to send my thoughts and prayers out to all the victims and families in Illinois.

Peace be with you my dear blogging friends.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Hello to you beautiful! Happy Valentine's Day! I'm very excited to reveal all of the fabulousness that has been coming and going from Sugar Bear Central for Jenn and Cheryl's Secret Admirer Swap!

My admiree is Janae! Hi there Janae! I'm very pleased to meet you.


These are some Valentine's tags I made using Glimmer Mist. I used one in my package to Janae and the others went to various hostess gifts.



This is a cherub box I created for Janae.

Here are a few other items I sent. I also included a cherub container and some conversation hearts but forgot to photograph them before I packed up the box!

A close-up of the heart I sent. Janae has an adorable daughter Maya (the namesake for her blog). I wanted the little girl in the heart to represent Maya.

I created similar hearts for Jenn and Cheryl as hostess gifts. This is Jenn's.

And this is Cheryl's. The two lovely ladies represent Jenn & Cheryl collaborating on this yummy swap!

My package arrived last night. I must admit I was getting a bit nervous about whether or not I would receive anything before I posted - well when I got home last night I was in for a BIG surprise. I large box awaited me and inside was this gorgeous basket full of fabulous Valentine's treats. I can't even begin to tell you how wonderful everything is - my admirer REALLY spoiled me. I can't wait to see who she is! Photos were all taken last night so lighting is again, not the best but I knew I wouldn't have time to download everything this morning and I had to share this with you!

A yummy Victorian themed chocolate bar, one of three yummy glitter hearts, and Valentine's ribbon.

My jaw just about dropped on the floor when I saw this! A fabulous large heart rhinestone ring (which I haven't taken off except to go to sleep and is back on my finger as I type this)! I love this ring! It was on an adorable hankie bearing doves and cherubs.

Ooooo! More giddiness - look at this fabulous LOVE banner!

Tissue fringe, a cherub cookie cutter holding a darling glass heart, more glittler hearts, and two of the cutest towels I've ever seen (currently gracing my powder room).

An organza box filled with Hershey Kisses.

Cherub napkins, a heart candle, a Moonlight and Roses Valentine's postcard hanging, glitter birds, and conversation hearts.

A heart lollipop and fun gold letters.

Check out this cookie! Thank you so much to my Secret Admirer! You made my day!

Update: I just discovered my admirer is Kim. Thank you for all the wonderful goodies Kim!

Now go enjoy Valentine's Day and kiss your sweeties everyone!

XOXO,