Easter Door

Today I worked on my spring/Easter look for my front door. I found this great ribbon in town and loved the pink and green together. I put up a grapevine arch first then added lights. The lights were all working when I put them up. Then I used the 2 wide ribbons and woven them around the grapevine. Added a couple of geraniums, some pompoms and there it is. By the time I was through working on my door half of the lights were not working. As much as I want all the lights to work I'm not taking anything down to redo them. Also wanted you to see my roses blooming on my gate. They are an old climbing rose. They only bloom for a short time in the spring but they are so pretty when they do. Have a great Wednesday.

Petit Frere

While in Natchitoches Saturday, we shopped at a boutique on front street. They were having a "back porch" sale in the back of the store. A lady was closing her children's clothing store and had everything for $5.00....shoes, clothing, children's stationary and small toys and games. Not much was left but I did find one outfit for my Grayson...a red seersucker shortall. The brand is Petit Frere which means little brother in French. I'm not familiar with that brand but it must be nice because the price tag listed $54.00. I think I got a good deal! I added his name and it is going in his Easter basket. I love getting a good bargain!

Carrot Cake

Saturday I took my mother and my son's girlfriend to Natchitoches. Natchitoches is always pretty but even more so in the spring. There were many people there shopping and just strolling along front street. After we ate a delicious "girly" lunch we wandered into a cafe for coffee. They were serving carrot cake and boy was it delicious. Our slice must have been 4" wide. Of course we shared it 3 ways. Ever since then I have been wanting to make a carrot cake. I don't bake like this very often but since it's almost Easter I think it is ok. My family loves carrot cake especially my daughter. She always requests one for her birthday. So here is my version of Carrot Cake. It is my mom's recipe and I think it is very good. However, this one is going to my husband's office since we don't need it around to tempt us. I may make another for this weekend. I will gladly share the recipe.

PomPoms!

These pompoms are so easy and fun make. You are going to want to make them for birthday parties, showers and for just about anything else when you need a colorful, happy accent for a table. They also look good hanging. You can make any color or any combination of colors. The only items you need are tissue paper and a little wire. I can't wait to make more. If you want the instructions just send me an email. Fun!!!

New Fabric and Ribbon!

My husband and I went to Alexandria this afternoon to eat out at a nice restaurant and to shop a little. We had a wonderful time. We went to all my favorite stores and did it in record time. I think we are "power shoppers". My sweet husband did "allow" me 45 minutes in my most favorite place....Hobby Lobby. Everything I was looking for was on sale. How great it that? Seriously, I was stocking up on new fabric and ribbon. I love, love, love fabric and ribbon. I have several new designs and ideas I want to try next week. I will share them with you if they turn out cute! The yellow tissue paper is for making pompoms. I have been wanting to try my hand at those. Martha Stewart has them in a kit but I have found a tutorial for making my own. Can't wait to try them and share the info with you. Hope to have some new things soon! Easter break begins at 3:30 tomorrow!!!!

Raina and Noah

Ok I know you are tired of looking at my Easter pails but tomorrow night when I finish all my work I will have decorated 5 dozen pails for little boys and girls. Each one has been fun for me to do and each one has it's own personality. I want to thank each one of you who ordered one for your child or grandchild. I never knew they would be such a hit. Tonight I also finished "Sunday" burps for Raina. The frame is called Lullaby. Isn't it sweet? Today at work we completed Phase 1 of GEE testing. It is such a weight off me that I'm sewing in celebration of that and only 3 days until Easter break. If the good Lord allows it I will finish the rest of my pails and one bunny shirt tomorrow night. Hope you have a wonderful Wednesday!

Pewter Bunny

I love Easter and I love Bunny dishes of all kinds especially pewter. A dear friend brought me a little treat which happened to be a pewter bunny dish. He is so cute. I know I will enjoy filling it every year with special Easter treats. Tonight I needed something quick and easy so I dipped "double stuffed" Oreo cookies in white bark and sprinkled the tops with spring-colored sugars. They look like Easter eggs to me....the perfect treat to put on my bunny. I hope you all have a great week. I will be finishing all my Bunny shirts and Easter pails. I want to finish them all this week so that all the little boys and girls will be ready for Easter and so I can relax and enjoy a much needed spring break. Happy Monday!

Bless This Child

A friend asked for a onesie with a cross for Easter. We had 3 different fabrics that we liked but we narrowed it down to the brown and pink polka dot. Just a little onesie for a sweet baby girl.

Baby Boy Gift

Dear friends I had a busy weekend and have not been able to blog. I hope you all are well and have been enjoying the beautiful weather. It's hard to work when it's so beautiful outside. A friend at work wanted a "blue" gift for a baby boy that will be born later this year so I started it tonight. I will add a matching burp cloth when I have more time. I hope you like the pail and little blue-stripe onesie. Have a good week!

Shirts for 2 Sisters

My children really help me with my business. They show my creations to their friends, take orders and then help me deliver them. These little shirts are going all the way to Lake Charles. One of the girls is turning one very soon so she has an extra "birthday" shirt. I think they are going to look sweet in their matching shirts.

I have a new recipe to share later this week. It is everything I like in a dessert...chocolate, really sweet and fairly easy to make. I hope to post it in the next day or two. Thanks to all of you who email, ask for recipes and stop by and look. I love hearing from all of you. Have a great Wednesday!

Recipe Saturday

After making lots of bunny shirts today I needed a change of pace. Kim at TomKat Studio gave her blogger buddies the cutest St. Patrick's Day circles so I made cupcakes so I could use my toppers. Several friends have asked for the frosting recipe that I use for my cupcakes. It is just the regular Butter Cream recipe that my mother always uses for her delicious cakes. Most of the time I double the recipe so that I can put lots of frosting on my cupcakes...the more the better in my opinion. So here is the recipe that I use. For tinting the frosting I use paste food colors. They are by Wilton and can be found at WalMart, Hobby Lobby and most craft stores. It is a thick food coloring and gives a vibrant color to foods. I use a toothpick to add the food coloring to the frosting and keep using a new one until I get the color that I am trying to get. I use a pastry bag and a 1M tip for doing the swirly look that I like. Cupcakes are fun and each one is a little work of art. Almost always I use a box cake mix....chocolate is my favorite. Today I put a Girl Scout Thin Mint in the bottom of each cupcake paper before adding the prepared cake mix. I haven't tasted one yet but it sounded good so we'll see. Enjoy!

Butter Cream Frosting

8 oz. cream cheese

1 stick unsalted butter

16 0z. powdered sugar

1/2-1 tsp. vanilla extract

Let cream cheese and butter soften. Using a mixer, cream the butter, cream cheese and vanilla until smooth and has very few lumps. Add powdered sugar, mixing until creamy. Add desired paste color with toothpick and blend with mixer. Put into pastry bag with tip inserted. Frost cupcakes and eat one!

Easter Burps

Just a few Easter burp cloths for Emma and Hannah. It's almost Thursday!