Can you tell she hates clothes? She falls over like she can’t move and just looks at me like “Mom please stop torturing me!” Ok. Fine. But she just looks so cute. 

I opened the pantry to do some cleaning and saw 3 very black bananas. They were the perfect excuse to use my jumbo muffin pan. 

Here is the recipe I used from the Food Network. I made a few substitutions of course.

2 cups all-purpose flour 
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda 
1/2 teaspoon salt 
4 overripe bananas  (I only had 3, so thats what I used)
1 cup brown sugar 
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted and cooled ( I never use butter, Instead I use applesauce)
2 eggs 
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (I used Almond extract because I was out of vanilla)
1/2 cup pecans, chopped

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and lightly butter 2 muffin tins.In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside. Mash 2 of the bananas with a fork in a small bowl so they still have a bit of texture. With an electric mixer fitted with a wire whisk, whip the remaining bananas and sugar together like you mean it, for a good 3 minutes. Add the melted butter, eggs, and vanilla and beat well, scraping down the sides of the bowl once or twice. Mix in the dry ingredients just until incorporated. Fold in the nuts and the mashed bananas with a rubber spatula. Spoon the batter into the muffin tins to fill them about halfway. Give them a rap on the counter to get any air bubbles out.

Bake until a toothpick stuck in the muffins comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes. Let cool for a few minutes before turning the muffins out. Serve warm or at room temperature

Yum!

The applesauce makes it so moist, and it is a healthier option. 

Have a wonderful Halloween!

It seems that when I set a deadline for myself I am like a child and procrastinate, but if I just go at my own pace without a goal, I get everything done in record time. This time I am going to try a different approach, I have a deadline, but I am just going to go at my own pace. Whatever I get done is good enough. 

Here are 10 handbags that I am working on right now. 

And the handles…

And the stack of fabric for more bags…

Ah yes, I do have some work ahead of me. But I find that if I push myself to hard that I don’t have fun. I love my job if thats what you want to call it, I do it because I love it and I always want it to be that way. So I take breaks every now and then and work on other projects. Like the skirt and pants I made yesterday. I will post pictures of those soon! 

Oh and of course I always have my afternoon tea which gives me a break to read all the wonderful blogs out there and to give my sewing machine a midday break. 

Cranberry scone with lemon curd and cream, YUM! 

I am off to do some sewing and hopefully get some bags finished today! 

Have a wonderful day!

My Mom has this beautiful pear topiary that she made for her mantle. I decided to make one for myself. However when I was done adding the moss I liked how it looked so much just as it was, that I didn’t add the pears after all. I have never made a tutorial before, so I apologize. I thought I would share pictures of my topiary making process and add a few instructions. This is the first time I have attempted to make something like this, it was a of fun!

Supplies. accents and styrofoam cones. 

pot, or base, glue sticks, pears, sheet moss 

accents for planter base, sticks. 

cut the tip off of the small cone so that it fits into the pot. 

Hot glue cone into place.

push willow branches into base

Glue into place.

Take your sheet moss

glue it around the base and onto the side of pot to give it that overgrown look. 

cut branches to all one level.

use a dowell rod at the center, layout your sheet moss, put the rod in the center. drizzle hot glue onto moss and wrap around rod. 

leave the top and base uncovered

insert into center of willow branches

next take the big cone and stick onto rod and branches, glue into place. Next rip pieces of the moss and start glueing all over the cone. Use your preference here. The possibilities are endless. You can add glitter, artificial little pears, apples, decorations, anything really. 

I added the tiny wreath of gold berries at the bottom and set it up on my mantle. 

Enjoy!

Somedays it is refreshing to stay in your pajamas and putter around your sewing room, especially in the fall time. I like to crack my window just a little to let some of that fresh crisp air in. My hair is all askew, my pink pajamas, I pad around the kitchen making tea and then back into my studio. I don’t answer the door or the phone. I think days like this are good for the soul. And the best part of it all is  the box of Dove silky smooth milk chocolates on my desk!

I like to layer my socks, my feet get so cold!

In the last few days I have finished a few more bags for the shop and the Chriskindlmarkt festival.

The sunlight is becoming scarce here. I tried to get pictures as best I could. 

This is the Loreena Bag: 

I really like working with corduroy. I actually bought a pair of corduroy pants the other day!

Here are two Jane Bags:

This one I have added on an exterior pocket. 

I just love this fabric, although I can’t remember where I got it.. hmm. 

I thinking about doing a giveaway this next week. I will post more soon. 

Have a wonderful day!

As long as I can remember my Mother has been creating gorgeous flower arrangements. And when she is not doing that is creating a unique living environment in her home. She has a gift that one can only dream about. Her home is amazing, from the her wallpapered walls (she has torn wallpaper and placed it creating a one of a kind art) to her elaborate accents that she added her touch to, to her amazing enchanting, over flowing flower beds and her love of giraffes that adds an even more unique touch. She is amazing. I just wanted to share with everyone what an amazing talent she has. Here are some arrangements that she recently made for a friends wedding. The photographs really don’t do them justice, they were breathtaking!

I love you Mom! 

Happy Monday!

I am sorry for posting this late, I tried to get a picture but all of it was gone before I got the chance. I have been trying to decide if I should make another one to take a picture of. I have to say I decided against it for right now, it is waaay to addicting!

Ok, so here is the recipe, 

1 large can pumpkin

6 eggs

1 large can evaporated milk

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar (packed)

1 tsp cinnamon 

1/4 tsp cloves

1/2 tsp ginger

1/2 tsp salt

Mix all of these ingredients (above) together and pour into a 9×12″ pan. 

Now take 1 pkg yellow cake mix (dry, do not follow box directions)

1 cube of butter (4oz) room temperature

1 cup chopped nuts (pecans are my favorite)

Crumble the butter and cake mix together. Sprinkle over top of pumpkin mixture and top with nuts. 

Bake at 350 for 55-60 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean when placed in center. 

Let cool, the longer it sits, the better it gets! 

You can serve it plain, or with whip cream or even ice cream.

YUM! 

I worked on a little project this weekend. I have seen those adorable paper christmas trees, made with scrapbooking paper and they are so cute. I put one together with fabric, it looks like a patchwork christmas tree, I am putting together a tutorial and hope to post it soon. I just need the sunlight back, even for minute to take some pictures!

I have to say that besides my unbelievable addiction to chocolate, (they say admitting it is the first step right?) I am completely addicted to inspiration. I wake up with a game plan of what I am going to get done that day and wham! I end up creating something I never even thought of! Like the other day I went and visited Lisa’s blog  she had this adorable patchwork pear pincushion. I had to have one for myself. So after a few drawings that I had no idea what was on the paper ( i can draw stick figures ) I came up with a template. Wahla here is what I made. I loooove it! And it is all because of Lisa! Hers is so very cute, she is way better at embroidery than I am! You can see hers here.

Here is how mine turned out…

I used some scraps I had tucked away. I used felt for the leaf and stem. 

This is my first real try at embroidery, can’t you tell?

Besides getting my pear done, I also finished two bags! Whoa can you believe it? I did do that right? Maybe I’m dreaming hahah

This is the Gwynn Bag.. 

And this is the Aurora Bag…

This was my first time working with corduroy. It definitely took some getting used to, getting the nap right was well, different. Remember when corduroy was so popular? What ever happened to it? hmmm. 

p.s.

I thought I would share with you a recipe I found. Yesterday I  was digging through my recipes trying to get an idea for dinner. I happen to come across an old recipe from my aunt that my grandmother had given me for Pumpkin Pie Cake! I had to try it out… did I say I was only addicted to chocolate? Ummm edit that and add pumpkin pie It is delicious.

I will post the recipe tomorrow for those of you who want to try it out..

 Happy Friday!

This bag is the product of a pattern I created and have been fussing with for a while now. I am very happy with how it turned out. At first I wasn’t sure if I liked the size or not, but after using it I changed my mind. I have incorporated quilted broad cloth for the lining, added a deeper inside zipper pocket, double stitch on every exterior piece for a more finished look and added a flap for the snap. I think it turned out quit nice, if I do say so myself

Here is the front view, I really like the flap for the snap, adds that little extra something. 

and the quilted inside lining with the zipper pocket… 

Whew.. one down only… ummm only 68 to go! EEEKS! These festivals creep up on you hahah. 

Have a creative day!

A while back my mom had told me that she bought her and I a bird house to use as a decorative accent in our homes. I went to the garage to get the box, but what I found wasn’t a bird house at all. 

I went back and asked… are you sure you bought a bird house? I think you bought the wrong thing. She bought what she took up to the counter, only she thought it was a bird house…. well she was waaaay off. 

It was in fact Martha Stewarts haunted gingerbread mansion! So we decided on a little competition. We would each only spend 20 dollars on props for our house and not show anyone (except husbands) until the night of the unveiling. Which of course is Halloween! 

Here is what it looks like, I haven’t even opened the box yet..eeeek I better get to work.

I am really looking forward to seeing what each of us comes up with! Any ideas ladies??? 

Ooh I also wanted to share something very exciting! The wonderful and oh so talented Bari J designed me my very own button. I received it today! She is so sweet and so talented, it is an honor to have a little something that she created just for me. Well here it is… What do you think?

Isn’t it great! 

Thanks Bari, you are the best!

The more I try to get things done, the more things seem to get in my way. It was all I could do this weekend to try and get some bags put together… and cutting them out was as far as I got. Does that ever happen to you? Please tell me I am not alone here.

This is as far as the bags got, I guess it’s better than nothing. 

These are for the Lilly bag.. 

And these for the Gale bag…

Even though I didn’t get as much done on my bags as I wanted to I still had a great weekend. Jason took me out for dinner and we walked around downtown Leavenworth. It is an adorable little Bavarian town that is about 30 minutes away.

 Ooooh and last night I made the best dessert ever! Alicia Paulson over at Posie Gets Cozy shared this delish recipe for sour cream apple pie! Lemme tell you… to die for! I planned on taking a picture, when I got around to it, it was gone! G-o-n-e I tell ya I just couldn’t catch a break. 

*I did set a piece aside for later* hahah I am learning

p.s. sorry, I am rambling a bit today. I need coffee….pahleeese