New Charms and Lazy Days

I will be adding some new charms and patchwork clay designs to Etsy this week. This one is one of my favorites.



It's a song bird - get it? Anyway, I have also been experimenting with taking pictures of my charms. I felt that the pictures were just not interesting enough, a little boring. So, I gave my daughter the project of separating out all of the white and cream buttons from my huge button collection. I used a vintage desert plate as a base, covered the bottom in buttons and used a couple of little vintage jars for props. I am really happy with the way the pictures turned out. Check out my flicker page to see the pictures and to get a preview of the charms I will be adding to my Etsy shop.


Today has been such a lazy day. I took pictures of my charms this morning, made Taquito Casserole for lupper (somewhere between lunch and supper) and played on the computer. I intended to get more work done today, since I was all sickly yesterday and just laid around. But, it is Saturday and it is hot outside. This combination makes me lazy.

OK, so I mentioned Taquito Casserole. There is absolutely nothing in this casserole that is healthy. It is gooey and spicy and cheesy and gooey. It doesn't look pretty when you pull it out of the oven and each ingredient on it's own(other than the cheese) is not great. But, this casserole is easy to make, comforting, warm, really really good and have I mentioned gooey? I started making it about 6 years ago. I make it about twice a year and today is the first time I have made it this year. I forgot to take a picture before we ate it, but here is the recipe. If the guilt of such an unhealthy meal keeps you from making this dish, just serve it over salad to make yourself feel better.

1 box Beef Taquitos
1 really big can of No Bean Wolf Brand Chili (not the warehouse size can, but the really big one you find at the grocery store) or 3 reg. size cans
2 cans rotel tomatoes ( I use the original)
2 cans chopped green chilies
a whole lot of grated cheese - sharp cheddar is the best for this

Heat oven to 350 degrees, spray a 9"x12" baking dish with cooking spray and spread the taquitos in the bottom. Layer on the chili, then rotel, and then the green chilies. Cook in the oven for about 40 minutes to an hour. The longer you cook it the gooeyer it gets. Pull the casserole out of the oven, raise the temp to 425 or 450 degrees and spread on the grated cheese, the more the better. Place back in the oven and cook until cheesy is melted, bubbly and gooey. You might want to put some foil under the dish in the oven to catch anything bubbling over. Remove from the oven and let set for a few minutes. Server with tortilla chips, salsa, spanish rice, salad, guacamole or whatever. Wait at least 2 months before going to the doctor for a cholesterol test.

Today I am grateful for: no sinus pain!!!, funny movies, Taquito casserole, ice tea and the word gooey.

2 charms are on their way to PA

They left for Pennsylvania this morning.



I've been working on dollops all day. They sell so well at my shows that I am almost out. I haven't figured out how to list them on Etsy yet, because of the initials, but I would like to.

My husband and I are going out for the day tomorrow and taking advantage of our last full free day before the kids are out of school for the summer. I'm not sure yet what we will do. We will probably hit a couple of stores and then eat out, maybe a movie.

Today I am grateful for: a beautiful rainy day and the gift of black berries.

Yay, I made another sell on Etsy - #10 for me. This little cross is going to Houston.


I'm so bored right now. My family is watching a really stupid movie that does not interest me at all. I'm considering getting out a book and reading it. I read a lot during summer evenings. TV is all reruns and there are only so many good movies to watch. I also have plans of getting out my Photoshop Elements for Dummies book and having a go at learning the program. I am very interested in the whole digital photography thing. I want to do it for me and the family, for fun - not to make money. I love creating and playing. When one turns creating into a business, it can sometimes become work. I want to keep the fun in it.

I am also looking into starting my own website. Etsy is great and I will continue to use it, but I would like to do more that Etsy will not allow. I like the idea of being able to do everything in one place - sell, blog, maybe have a page with tips and ideas for home and crafting. I really love this whole Internet thing. There is so much fun to be had.

Today I am grateful for: Greek food, an afternoon at the movies, time alone with my husband, and pj's.

Frogs and Turtles

Life has been so crazy lately. There is so much going on outside of my crafting world that I have been neglecting my studio. Plus, school will be out shortly and my husband and I are trying to make the most of the little time we have left. In just a few days our Fridays will no longer be our own.

I'm back in the studio today and tomorrow, thank goodness. I've missed it so much. Here are a few pictures of my new frog and turtle charms. These little charms are so much fun.



I loved catching frogs and turtles as a kid. I made a pet out of a turtle once. My friend and I caught it by the railroad tracks near my house. I had it for a week when my parents made me let it go. They told me that the turtle couldn't survive as a pet and needed to be set free. They were right, of course, but I was so sad.

Today I am grateful for: my new place to relax, childhood memories, Cafe Max and pleasant scents.

The rusty wheels are turning

This is the banner I painted way back in February to use for my shows.

I had a lot of fun making it and I am quite proud of it. I had so much fun making it that I have been toying with the idea of making banners to sell. I am happiest with a paint brush in hand. I wouldn't necessarily make sign banners for businesses. I was thinking more of whimsical banners for people to hang in their homes and on front doors and such. I would paint whimsical pictures and add lots of detail with lots of beautiful colors.

I have yards and yard of duck cloth and ribbon. The more I think about it, the more excited I get. Painting again, what fun!

Today I am grateful for being able to live life with purpose and on purpose.

Have a great day!

Taking a break

I've kinda been taking a break this week from crafting. I have been working so hard the last few weeks to get ready for the Rockwall show that I needed to take some time away from the studio. So, I cleaned house, did laundry and such. I did work in my studio area, reorganizing, but that was it. Thursday I went antiquing by myself and then yesterday my husband and I went on one of our photo excursions. We drove up to Lake Texoma. I really enjoyed the trip and the weather was beautiful. We walked down to the edge of the water and just stood there awhile. There was a cool breeze blowing and the water was lapping against the shore and some large rocks. I could have stayed there all day.

This is my husband taking some pictures of the lake.

I haven't seen the pictures that he took yet.

I will get back to work this next week,getting ready for my next shows. In the mean time I am adding new items to my Etsy shop almost daily. So, check it out.