...cool new stuff...

recycks came up with this cool new idea...wrapping paper! i keep everything, including the smallest pieces of paper, damaged books...etc! finally, an idea to use some of them up!

our daughter's last birthday party we found it cool that both grandma's had bought the exact same wrapping paper...one even stated, "there just was not much to choose from!" hmmmmmm......

now, our packages can stand out from all the rest! measuring 18"x28" they will wrap up a good sized gift!

i even fashioned bows to match out of magazine pages! sure to be the talk of the party - and it's upcycling what you already have! *genious*

..and then there were backpacks!..

my parents, rollie & connie, have worked hard all their lives...business owners, farmers, parents and grandparents. they have earned the priviledge of spending their winters in the warm sunshine of arizona. so how does this pertain to the above owl backpack? well, dad is always 'shopping' for me - thanks to him i have a wonderful cookie cutter collection!!! but, he phoned me and said, "i found a great idea for recycks!' - that night the first owl backpack was designed! it's amazing when you have a passion, whether it's a business or a hobby, how it wears off onto those people around you! friends of mine are always sharing wonderful new ideas...and most of these will be made and travel with me to my 2011 shows! i hope to see you and share my recycled, usable, eco-friendly, repurposed, using what you have ideas!!!

...scrapmarks...

all those little pieces of left-over fabrics & papers get tossed into a basket...some make it into the bird nesting balls and others just sit there waiting patiently for their upcycling purpose. i keep looking at them, seeing their beauty and promising them i will use them. yup, i speak to my 'materials'! and shhhhhhh, sometimes they speak back!

this bookmark was dreamed up on an afternoon when i was upstairs 'piddling' in my sewing room! the tassel is made from t-shirts made into 'yarn'. they are purposeful, beautiful, unique and certainly one of a kind!

they will make their 'de-bout' showing at prarieland herbs sample sunday on march 13th. you really should make the journey to woodward, iowa for this event! truly wonderful! you will not regret it!

and then there were workshirts...

workshirts...an iowa staple! every farm house closet has many stashed into the corners. every farm family has memories of great grandpa - and every generation to follow - wearing their workshirts to do chores, to go to town for coffee & even to wear to church! flannel workshirts - a feel good thing!

so, when i got a call from a cedar falls shop named "Barn Happy" workshirts popped into my head! i offered 2 new items for her - the 'barn owls' whooooo even have the pocket on the back of them! and the 'iowa' mats crocheted from all the parts of the shirt i don't use when making the owls! she loved them both so i added them to the list of orders!

iowa workshirts....a good thing. an iowa icon.

sugar-free?

super-bowl sunday - and i didn't want to fall completely off the 'diet-wagon'! so here was my attempt...and a good one it was! brad's most favorite quick dessert is jello instant cheesecake! i thought i had a box mix in the house but as it was i did not! so research on the computer and i found a recipe for an 'instant' recipe! when i looked at it i thought - hey, that would work as 'sugar-free'! better for all of us! they were amazingly good ... super light and creamy. you could dollap sugar free jam on top instead of the light sugar pie filling. so i have to share the recipe! you will not be sorry...and they are super easy to create!

Crust:

1 1/2 cups crushed graham crackers

2 T. melted REAL butter

2 T. splenda

mix this together. i used small cupcake liners (2 biters!) or you can do a pie plate!

Filling:

(yes, really there are only 3 ingredients!!!)

1 8 oz. container sugar free whipped topping

1 8 oz. block light cream cheese

2 T. splenda

let all warm up a bit. Mix with a hand mixer until light and fluffy. Fill your 2 biters or pie plate. I made a little 'dip' in the middle to hold the filling.

Cool in fridge...ENJOY!!!

time out!

time out of our busy schedules to wish my grandpa joe a happy 88th birthday.

this is the man who:

*taught me how to fish

*gave me a lesson (or two) on hunting morel mushrooms

*built me the most awesome dollhouse for my 9th birthday

*taught us animal respect

*played cards with us

*picked us strawberries and dug us potatoes

*sat on the porch swing and shared wonderful memories

*babysat my girls one summer while i cleaned houses

*worked on math with amanda

*combed my long hair 100 strokes when i spent the night

*played us the harmonica

*owned a rockin' red mercury!

*taught brad how to clean fish

*still gives me 'chicken raising' pointers

*showed me love & taught me respect

~loves to you grandpa~

...miss sophie...

i know i introduced you earlier to our sophie. she is now 8 months old and the love of our lives. she has made it her life goal to please us ... and please us she does! she loves to be right next to us and i truly think if she had thumbs she could crochet! :)


can't wait until the weather warms up for many reasons, but one is to take her on the boat again and introduce her to the water! she loves her baths...just sits down, once even laid down! so i'm thinking she'll be a good swimmer! but for now, the temps are cold (today -3*) so we'll just cuddle on the couch, eat treats and talk!!!