...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!!!

angie meets crochet...

anyone who knows me well enough knows that when angie gets the notion to 'learn' she goes all out. no holds bars! so 2 weeks ago i decided that i needed to learn how to crochet! grandma babe taught me how to 'chain' but after that i was lost!!! my sister.in.law (sandy) got me going and I WAS OFF!!! crocheting everything in sight! what fun and a true addiction! and i truly believe grandma would be proud!

so, long story short, recycks has some new items in her line! the above picture is a dish scrubber. soft on one side and scrubby on the other! soft side is 100% cotton yarn and the scrubby is - you guessed it - plastic grocery bags!!! totally machine washable & dryable and they do their job...WELL!!!

2011 shows will have some new items along with the good ole stand-bys. i'll keep ya posted!

moral of the story ... don't be afraid to try something new...keep your mind young. the internet is the host to many wonderful instructionals to help you along. youtube is an amazing tool. think about what you want to learn to do! AND GO FOR IT!!!

goodbye 2010...

as we prepare for the closing of one year and a fresh start with a new year...i sit and think. think about what an incrediable 2010 i had. recycks just continued to amaze me, i amazed myself with attending shows, meeting new people and making life-long friends. i can't wait to see what 2011 has in store for my little business!

personally - i made some awesome friends this year...you know who you are!! too many to mention ... but kia you are at the top of that list! when you find that one friend that you just click with it's amazing! my girls, well - what can i say? i am so proud of our children ... they continue to surprise me with their beauty and knowledge. they are incrediable. my husband? he's top notch - he supports me with whatever crazy whim i have~at least we survived fall harvest together! love you brad. i am blessed with wonderful parents, grandpa, my brother and his family - and a lovable dog. oh yes, and don't forget the ladies! what more could i ask for?

but every calander year comes with trials and upsets. i wish those times could just be contained to 'honey, the alternator is out of the pick up' or 'my burners on the stove are not working' moments but unfortunately accidents happen, friends are lost, feelings are hurt or money is tight. as we close 2010 we are faced with the fact that this is not a perfect world ... things don't always go as planned...but, we come out the other end stronger. that's what we do when we ... love.

so, hold the ones you love close ... grow in 2011. learn something new! be daring! have fun. smile and enjoy each day.

blessings....
angie