I've been finding it difficult to work lately, and decided to make up few fun little fellas in honor of the season. The birds are everywhere in our yard right now, and it pleases me to sit and listen to their chattering.

just more.. HOT.

It's just another scorcher here today.. so am staying in after a brutal walk early this morning... I did snap this pic as it looked cool and inviting as I filled up the bird bath for my little friends.. stay cool anyway you can everyone.. I'll be inside working on a few more orders..

oh toooo hot..

Yesterday got the best of me. It ways almost too hot to think. I finally decided that the only way to cool off way to visit our local county park. Only 3 miles away, and I havent been there since they installed a small water park.. a number of years ago.. Ok, it wasnt Lake Michigan, or the Atlantic, but it did the trick. The smell of hot dogs and suntan lotion was just like I had remembered it.. ahhhh, summer.. hoping that there will be a break in the weather soon tho..

It's just toooo hot, and with no rain for the month of July, things are looking parched..

dew magic...

I love having the luxuary of mother nature on my side at this time of year.. I have this huge bin of antique childrens clothes that I hold all year waiting for the perfect time to remove spots, that are impossible to get out any other way. I've purchased some remarkable vintage clothing for bears that were stained so badly that I would take pity on them, and add them to my bin. Yes, it's true, I do have this vintage clothing problem, but somebody loved them enough to get the stains on them, and I.. yes, love them enough to give them a second chance, by taking the stains out and giving them a new life on a bear..
The sun will bleach out some stains, but the real magic is the "dew" You have to know when there will be a heavy dew at nite, followed by a sunny day.. It wont work if the next day isnt sunny.. My mother in law passed this on to me years ago, and I laughed when she told me... BUT, after trying it, I became a believer..
So here's how it goes...

1. hand wash your garmet


2. lay it out in the evening after the sun goes down..It has to be wet. remember, there MUST be a heavy dew, maybe not when you lay it out, but later on that nite ... like after a good rain, or when there's moisture in the grass(after you water).. ANd also remember, the next day has to be scheduled sunshine...


3. When the sun hits the damp dewy clothes, voila....


4. I leave them lay for the rest of the day (unless it's dark colors)

These clothes were all so badly stained..and now they just perfect.. thank you mother nature...

what's new this week...

I've been very busy here in the studio.... will be sending these out to Earth Angels soon.. and also...
pulling treasures for the Junk Bonanza in September.. so much to do.. no time to garden.

dog days are here.. is this what they mean..

It is true, we do not live on a lake, or even a small pond, but we do have fields in which a good dog can roam to find his own ways to beat the heat on a warm day in July..I just turned my back for a brief moment, and voila.. a very proud and happy green dog... I'm not certain which is worse.. eating deer condiments, or rolling in them... hmmm..

Living in the country with well water always poses a slight problem.. our water is soooo cold... so after much fangling, I hooked up the hose thru the laundyroom. Not a bad hot summer day project... just one that I hadnt planned on.

Yikes, not in my ears...

Much betta..

Happy 4th to you all

Last nite we visited a local fireworks display. Yes, these certainly are amateur photos, but it was very fun and pretty buggy... nothing better on a hot summer nite. I love everything about the 4th Of July.. the patriotism, the red, white and blue, the freedoms that we should never take for granted, and of course the food.. Have a great day everyone....

My project from the Cape

We had such a busy agenda whilst at the Cape. I just now finished my "whale clutch"

This was my first attempt to make a vinyl tote.. I took photographs and re sized them for this bag, and lined it with another paper.. The papers are sandwiched between the vinyl..The sides and bottom have a nice little gusset in them.. Voila my own personalized tote! How cute is the little sailor fella peeking over the bag.... he was a very generous gift from Jody Battaglia...I love him Jody, thanks so much...

Here's the flip side of the tote....

but of course, my 2nd attempt became more elaborate..this one has gussets too with more Soapine kids and whales on the sides and bottom gussets. These are old trade card ads that I find so charming... very appropriate for Cape Cod, dont you think. I hope that Jody will finish hers soon, as she's going to Japan and her collectors will want to see her sporting her new clutch with her amazing characters on it.

Rosanne made a wallet (smart gal), as she did come a few days later in our vacation.. As for slacker Leslie, well, we're still waiting to see what she finishes.... but then, she was pretty busy making us all kinds of muffins... thanks so much Leslie... I had such a great time..

Inside is lined with the sweetest paper with scroll and birds.. I'm quite pleased with my project..

home again, and then some...

My trip to Cape Cod was beyond fantastic, and I am still processing it all...but an hour after returning home, I jumped back into the car for yet another trip to a different airport about an hour away to pick up our daughter Kindra and our 4 year old granddaughter for a very exciting visit..... That said, there's just so much I would like to share...BUT... as my last post was about this amazing Lemon Lasagna, ( which we ate it in Cape Cod ), and then again for Kindra's visit, I thought that I should share that Oscar was also just as fond of it as we all were... in fact, these are photos of the very sleepy fella just after consuming 3/4 of it off the kitchen table... I only wish that I had captured him standing on the table eating it.... not a trustworthy guy when it comes to food... but come on, off the table? So much for the Dog Whisper'er in me.

My new favorite receipe...

It's been awhile since I've posted about food, and I've tried this twice now and it's really a big hit here... What makes it so special are the lemons on the top.. You eat them along with the lasagna, and it couldn't be better... I didnt take this photo, but mine looked just like this...

Sausage, chard (or spinach), and lemon Lasagna ( A Martha receipe )
3 tbsp butter
1/4 cup flour
3 cups whole milk
1 cup grated parmesan
course ground pepper, and salt
5 cups chopped swiss chard or( I used spinach)
1 lb sweet Italian sausage, casings removed
1 lemon sliced very thin
6 no boil lasagna noodles(or you can use the reg ones, and cook them first)

1. Melt butter in saucepan. Stir in flour, cook 2 mins, wisk in milk, bring to a boil, stirring. Reduce heat, simmer 1 min. Remove from heat, whisk in 3/4 c parmesan, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper and the greens.
2Preheat oven to 350. Cook sausage in skillet breaking up into small pieces, until browned and thoroughly cooked.
3. Cover lemon slices with cold water by 3 inches in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 7 mins. That's what makes them special..Transfer to a paper towel lined plate.
4. Spread 1/4 cup sauce in an 8-inch square non-reactive baking dish. Top with 2 noodles, half the sausage, and 1 cup sauce. Repeat. Top with a layer of 2 noodles, remaining sauce and the lemons. Bake covered with parchment-lined foil for 27 mins.
5. Remove from oven. Heat broiler. Uncover lasagna, top with remaining cheese. Broil until bubbling, 2-3 mins. yum......