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!