Beaming From Ear to Ear

  This has been a very busy week in our household. We are in the final days up to Elizabeth's graduation. I find it so hard to believe that she can be ready to be off for college already. Not, because she doesn't act like she is but because it seems to have gone by so fast.

Here she is just starting off at Kindergarten Graduation.  It feels like yesterday!

Wednesday night at senior awards night . She received close to $35,000.00 in scholarship money. We are so proud of her! 

So with all this beaming and boasting I still have to find something cute for the party. I cam up with this cupcake idea

http://www.flickr.com/photos/littlecakesformyhappy/with/3581664050/  So cute and in her school colors they will be perfect. Thank goodness for all those talented people in my computer LOL. I am working on invitations using her kindergarten picture, and running out of time. So much to do so few hours.
            I have really been bad about taking photos and listing to Etsy this week. With getting the yard and house ready and the school events it seems the timer just flies by.

Here is a sock monkey from the diaper set on the new doll my sister made for me to use as a model. Our little guy has gotten too big to be able to show off the cute baby hats. So I am off to get some yard work done before the next batch or rain and hopefully get my computer work done this evening in the peace and quiet while the big kids are at work. Wish me luck!

Friday Once Again

  Once again it is Friday. The week has gone by in a blur. Last Friday I made a quick move and had my back pain back in full force. That said I have not gotten alot accomplished, it hurt to sit, stand and lay for any period of time. I did finally find a few hypnosis downloads and am almost back to OK.
  I hate to, and am not very good at tooting my own horn so I thought I would share a few other family shops with you and a wonderful review.   The first is Nanablossom , run by Norine my sister in Tulsa. She makes beautiful Idian style beaded earrings.

Also not yet in her shop, soft sculpture dolls. I was lucky enough to get one which I will be using in my photo shots for my Etsy shop.

  The next is my Mom, Lillian's Handade Quilts . For those who say, I don't think I could get a shop up and running. My Mom did hers herself and in the first week she had items listed made three sales.  Good Job MOM!

This is the review on my hats from an Etsy customer and blogger!  I was thrilled.

High Quality Animal Hats from Gramma’s Gifts

May 2nd, 2011

Many of you know that I have somewhat of an addiction to trading on etsy. I’m a member of Tradeaholics, a group that does a monthly trading event in the forums. Last month at the trading event I made a trade with penguin hat. I had traded others for animal shaped crocheted hats in the past, and while they were cute the quality was a bit lacking. For example, I had a monkey hat made, and left it sitting on the couch one day. The cat walked across the couch and it’s nail was caught in the hat, so it pulled its paw back a few times before the nail was released. Just that simple tugging caused the hat to start unraveling. So, I could tell from the online pictures that gramma’s gifts hats were adorable, but I assumed they would be similar to the monkey hat I had received before. I was pleasantly surprised when they arrived and I laid my hands on them. I could instantly tell that these hats were high quality. The stitches were thick and tight, and I could pull on the hat to stretch it without feeling like the hat was weak in any way. I ordered the frog hat I had ordered for my little sister who is 7 and it seems perfect as well. I was particularly surprised at the quality when compared to the price. The monkey hat I mentioned earlier was being sold for over 20.00, while Gramma’s gifts.


http://www.boosandrawrs.com  Take time to visit her blog to see more great reviews!

This is my latest project and I can't wait to use the new doll for a model. My little guy was perfect for awhile but now at almost 2 and a size 4 those little baby items are far behind him!The rain is really coming down and two little boys are calling for someone to play. These times don't last long so I am off to draw pictures and color!

Finally Friday

  I woke to sun streaming through the bedroom window and the smell of coffee. It WAS going to be a good day. As I sipped my first cup and checked emails I came across a link for this article http://www.leighfazzina.com/2010/05/15/a-blind-man-inspires-strategic-change/  Wow, now that made me think how much we take for granted on a daily basis. With the sun shining, Mother's Day around the corner and a new outlook on the day, I would love to share Sunshine Muffins with you, my kids love these

Sunshine Muffins Recipe


Adapted from recipe by Lick Skillet Bakery in Boulder, CO

Cook time: 15 minutes

Temp: 325 F
Ingredients:
•1 ½ c whole wheat flour
•1 ¼ c cake flour
•¾ t baking soda
•¾ t cinnamon
•¾ t salt
•¾ t c raisins
•1 ½ c carrots, grated
•¾ almonds, crushed
•¾ c coconut, shredded
•1 ¼ c Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and diced
•4 eggs beaten
•5 oz maple syrup
•¾ c canola oil
•¼ c apple juice
•¾ t vanilla
Instructions:
1.Place apples, raisins, carrots, almonds, and coconut in medium sized bowl.
2.Sift together first 5 ingredients in a bowl ("dry bowl").
3.Put eggs, maple syrup and canola oil in another bowl ("wet bowl").
4.Add wet to dry and mix just enough to moisten.
5.Fold in fruit and almonds.
6.Fill muffin cups 2/3 full.
7.Bake 15 minutes at 325.
 I am editing photos and trying to write descriptions, in a new way. To describe them like there are no photos, make each piece come to life for the customer and explain why they need this item or why the item is great for what their current need is.  Much work, I am terrible at TOOTING my own horn , as they say. I need to step back and see the items in a whole new light. This is my project, right after I get some laundry in, and mop. Here are a few item I am going to list today .

check out the shop later for all the ( hopefully) better details.  http://www.grammasgifts.etsy.com/

Like a Ray of Sunshine

You know how when you are under the weather, everything seems to get you down. I was trying to stay away from that when I read a wonderful email one of my customers had written me. She was very happy with the tow hats I had made for her in exchange for some advertising on her blog and two of the cutest little handmade ducks. That was great, but to top it off she sent along a link to a post on her blog about ME!
How very nice and just what I needed today!
www.boosandrawrs.com/2011/05/high-quality-animal-hats-from-grammas-gifts.html
Please check out her blog. She does great reviews and has giveaways and I can't thank her enough!

A Sunny Disposition

I woke up this morning with a pain still in my back. I had a bout of this last year that went on for months. Many doctor visits , pain meds that didn't work, even pain management.  During this time I went to a hypnotism group to lose weight. Some folks there wanted to quit smoking, some for stress, anyway it was a one size fits all class. At the end you could buy the cd's to use at home. I walked down the steps to this session cringing as every step hurt. After the session , I checked out the cd's and found I could not afford to buy them that night. They are available on the website so another day I would surely buy them. As I left I noticed my pain was less on the steps, not wanting to seem like a nut to my hubby...I said nothing. I woke the next day with no pain.  That was in October, and until yesterday I was pain free.I was told I have a bulging disk, did I lose any weight ?  not really but the lack of pain was well worth it. So now I need to find the cd's and be able to move again . No one who knows me could believe I was going to this session, but I am now a firm believer that if we think we are ok we will be ok. So I will mix the cd's with The Secret I am reading and hopefully be pain free, skinny and have a happier life in no time. STRESS beware I am on a mission.


On a happier note, I have a customer who emailed me about making a sock monkey set she had seen. I said sure I can give it a try and it turned out so cute.

This is the one she wanted with the red and blues, then I tried sage green and a raspberry,   I just love it!

I listed them and am waiting to see if they are a hit.  I have some orders to do and then I am beginning some new items that will need to be tweaked and tried before they can hit the shop.

I am also planning a Mother's Day Brunch at my house for Sunday, it seemed much easier before the back pain, but I will get through. I have two grown daughters, their kids and few other grandkids a friend who is staying here and us so it won't be too bad.

Here is one of my menu ideas

4 a.m. French Toast Casserole

This casserole makes for a fantastic breakfast treat. The house smells so sweet the rest of the day after you bake this!


Prep Time 10 MinutesCook Time 50 minutes
Ingredients•5 cups Bread Cubes (I Used Day Old Homemade Sweet Bread)
•4 whole Eggs
•1-½ cup Whole Milk
•¼ cups Sugar, Divided
•¼ teaspoons Salt
•1 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
•2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar
•¼ cups Chopped Pecans
•1 Tablespoon Butter
•2 teaspoons Ground Cinnamon (I Just Sprinkled As Much As My Heart Desired)
•Maple Syrup, To Serve

Preparation Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Lightly butter an 8×8 inch baking dish.
3. Fill the baking dish with bread cubes. In a large bowl, beat together eggs, milk, 2 tablespoons sugar, salt and vanilla. Pour the egg mixture over the bread.
4. Combine the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar with the brown sugar and chopped pecans. Sprinkle over the bread. Dot with butter and finish off with a sprinkle of cinnamon.
5. Bake in the preheated oven for about 50 minutes, until the top is golden. Serve loaded with maple syrup.

http://thepioneerwoman.com/tasty-kitchen/recipes/breakfastbrunch/4-a-m-french-toast-casserole/
I found this on a trip to Tasy Kitchen, I am also going to make cinnamon rolls from a recipe I found on Pioneer Woman, they are amazing and so simple http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2007/06/cinammon_rolls_/.
I made these for the teen when they went camping and they all loved them. Since you can make about 7 pans I froze a couple last time and them on chilly mornings would pop a pan in the oven and the smell is amazing....everyone loves them.
I am still looking for an egg dish that I can bake up and them I am making some almond croissants, buying a nice flavored coffee and I should be done. 
I am of to the heating pad and some tylenol for my back. Have a great day!