Enough, Heatmeiser.

Ok.  It's hot.  I love summer because of the hot weather, but this past week has just been stupid hot.  One of the guys I work with told me there are two designators for how hot it is: Africa Hot, which is for anything 92-98 degrees (but isn't the majority of Africa hotter than that??  Just sayin'...); and Surface of the Sun Hot, which is for anything above 98 degrees.  I told him this was boring, and we need better descriptive words for how hot it's been, and I decided either Liquid Hot Magma or The 9th Circle of Hell.  They seem to be better at giving you a visual as to how hot it's been on the East Coast...and pretty much all over the country this past week.  I'll let you know if he approves of my new terms, because I think they're way better than his.  But, I may be slightly biased.....

On days like this past week (with the exception of Friday, which was just so hot it actually put me into what I'm referring to as a Heat Coma -- I couldn't move off the couch, even though my AC was on cooling down the 1st floor, so I just stared at the tv.  It was even too hot to turn a page in a book or hit the button on my nook.), there is little to do other than stay inside where it's cool and stitch!!

I've been working on a few things -- my Country Cottage project is coming along nicely, but I had to put it in time-out for a bit, since I have to rip out one of the chairs -- it's too narrow.  I'm a square too short.  (sigh)  So, I picked up my Cricket Collection "16 Men" again, and have been feverishly working on finishing that one.  It's going great, and I'm SO pleased so far with the color changes I've made.  Most of the major changes I made to fiber color won't come into play until I get down to the actual ship, but so far, so good!!  Love that moon and the skull flag!!  LOVE.

I also did a bit of work on my Cricket Collection "Spring".  I made a major fiber color change in this one, too.  The "P" is supposed to be a light yellow, but up against the Buttercream Silkweaver fabric, it was too light.  So, I opted for a light orangy-pinky-salmony-color instead, and I think it turned out faboo!

I bought some great fabric for my Little House "Stitch in Thyme" piece that I'll be turning into a needlebook, but I realized I'm lacking brown thread, so I'll have to hit up Joann's this week so I can get cracking on that project.  So many things to do, so little time.

I also, shockingly enough, decided to do a little gluten-free baking last night.  I know, I know, with Liquid Hot Magma temperatures out there, who could think of turning on an oven??  Well, I saw this recipe over at Blacksheep Bakes, and was inspired to make it gluten free!!  I underestimated how much more of the sour cream I'd need in the recipe, so it came out very crumbly, but very good nonetheless.  I'm sure it would be bangin' on vanilla ice cream!!!!  I plan on perfecting this adaptation, and once I do, I'll post pictures and my changes.  I've also adapted it to be refined-sugar free, too!  Keep an eye out!  I promise to post the changes asap!

That's all I have for this blistering hot weekend!  I wish I had more to post, but this week went by so quickly, and the heat made me drag every day.  I bought some nifty stuff for scrapbooking and papercrafting at Michael's this weekend (I had some great coups!), and I have some cool ideas that I hope I can get to before 2015.  I have one specific project involving a travel coffee mug that I hope to finish and share with you all before the fall arrives!!

Stay cool and do something creative!!!

Here goes nothing...

Good morning to you all!  So far, so good...my computer is behaving for the moment, so I'm trying to do this little post as quick as humanly possible in case anything happens.

I've been doing quite a lot around here lately, but you'll have to see it in installments, thanks to my ancient technology.  Bear with me!

Ok.  First up - I fixed the binding on my nook cover.  I got a lil' tip from my mom (thanks, mom!), and it was WAY easier this time around.

Holy guacamole, does this look a million times better or what?!?!  I also think I like the blue I chose this time around better than the yellow I'd originally put on there.

Yep.  This is eleventy billion times better than my first stab at binding.  Pretty sweet, if I do say so myself.

Next up - my Cricket Collection "16 Men on a Dead Man's Ship".  I got this a few years ago, and just didn't have the opportunity to work on it.  I don't particularly care for the fabric used in the model (it's a hideous pea green color.  blech.), and was on the hunt last year for the perfect fabric to do this on.  In my mind, this is a ghost ship.  It needs to be SPOOKY, which pea green is not.  That color just makes me ill.

So, I searched and searched and found THIS.  I hope the link works, but if it doesn't, it's called Haunted by Picture this Plus.  It.  Is.  AWESOME.

Now, I had the fabric, but had other projects going on at the same time, and couldn't fit in a giant project since I was already doing "Sabrina" (stay tuned for her story...she's still waiting for a spot on my living room walls...), and couldn't find time to do another big project.  Not to mention the fact that I was not thrilled with some of the floss color choices, but again, had no time to figure out alternatives.

Well, ladies and gentlemen, I found that time about a week ago, when I decided it was high time I got the ball rolling on this one.  I headed down to The Strawberry Sampler and picked out some faboo WDW and Crescent Colors as alternatives to some of the DMC that is called for in this graph.

In this section, I've only changed one of the colors.  I'll give all the details when I show you the finished piece, but I had to give you a glimpse of this so far, since it's just SO cool --

To really get the full effect of this fabric, you need to see it close up, but it's really dark grey with PURPLE in it.  Absolutely perfect for your Halloween projects!!!

On a separate note:  this past weekend was my birthday, and to save myself from having to eat an entire gluten free birthday cake, I made these coconut muffins instead.  They are to. die. for.  If you like coconut, then these muffins are for you.  Amy Green over at Simply Sugar and Gluten Free is amazing.  If you haven't tried her recipes, you must.  She's extremely talented, and I'm so happy I found her site!

I hope to keep you updated as my computer allows!  I've been keeping the craft room busy lately, and I'm eager to share with you all...it's just that my computer hasn't been friendly.  Thank you all for understanding my plight and being patient!

Do something creative today!  It's supposed to be a gorgeous day!

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood!

Today was an absolutely beautiful day!  It got a little overcast and a smidge chilly by around 5p, but other than that, it was a gorgeous day!  The azaleas in my neighborhood are in full bloom and absolutely gorgeous.  I think spring may actually FINALLY be here!!

I had a Groupon for Cloth and Bobbin, a fabulous fabric shop over in Narberth, which is small town not far from where I live.  Turns out, my cousin had one, too, so we decided today was the day to head on over and pick out some fabrics!  We spent almost an hour perusing all the different patterns, and had to stop ourselves from buying fabric "just because"!  They had so many fun patterns and bright colors to choose from, we finally had to buckle down and decide what we should buy based on what we would be using it for.

I have two patterns which I'm eager to work on, which I will share with you along the way, but for now, here's a shot of the fun fabric I purchased today --

Aren't those colors just so fun?!?!  With the cut pieces, I'll be making something for my sister for her birthday (I hope she isn't reading this right now, or I guess I just spoiled the surprise!)  With the jellyroll (from Moda fabric collection Modern Workshop), I'll be making a cover for my nook.  I already have a case for my nook, but it's boring black leather. Blah.  I want something with a little more pizazz, and what better way to do that than to make it myself!!

After our Cloth and Bobbin fabric extravaganza was over, we headed out on the streets of downtown Narberth, which is about 2 blocks long, since they were having a sidewalk sale.  There wasn't much going on at the sale, which was a little disappointing, but we did find a vendor on one of the corners selling potted flowers and vegetables.

I've been wanting a hanging plant for my shepherd's hook since I moved into my new house, but haven't had the chance to get out and see what's out there this year.  So, this was the perfect opportunity to pick something that would be great in my new backyard!  I knew as soon as I saw it, I had to have this plant --

It's a fuchsia plant!!  HOW COOL IS THIS!!!  I am in love with this flower!!!  I saw one last year when I was looking for a hanging plant for outside my apartment, but learned that they need mostly shade to survive.  Sadly, the front of my apartment got nothing but sun all day long, so I had to go with something else. This year, however, since my backyard has a lot of shade (as evidenced by the moss covering the one side of my garden), I was able to get one of these fantastic plants and I can't wait to have it hanging outside in all its glory!  There was a sign at the vendor that said that the frost date is 15 May, so I'm not risking anything -- as you can tell, I currently have it hanging indoors in my spare bedroom.

I mean, look at these flowers!!!  I love how they're all kinda folded over and just bursting from the bud!!

And there are two different colors -- the purple, which you can see on the left pretty clearly, and the light purpley-pink, as you can see in the picture on the right.  I cannot wait for this to just take over the pot and explode with even more luscious color!!!

The last thing I will share with you all tonight is a quick and easy gluten-free vegetarian dish that I whipped up in my fantabulous kitchen last night.  Being gluten-free sometimes makes it difficult to whip up dinners when I'm somewhat short on time.  My go-to quick dinners usually involve eggs or tuna, since I almost always have both on hand.

Last night, I remembered that I'd gotten tofu at Trader Joe's, and decided to make something with it.  I'll admit, I was never one to go for tofu in the past, but I've come to enjoy it.  Tofu takes on whatever flavors you're cooking with, and is an excellent source of protein.  I also remembered that I'd gotten leeks the last time I was at the grocery store, but wasn't quite sure what I was going to do with them, since I'd intended to get kale (don't ask.).  I also had a red pepper which was looking particularly delicious sitting in the crisper drawer of my refrigerator, so I decided he needed to join in the fun on my pan, too.

I cut up the leeks and pepper and threw them onto the pan with some olive oil from DiBruno Brothers, while I was trying to squeeze out the last drops of water from the tofu.  I cut up the tofu into cubes, and added that to the pan.  Then, I took two cloves of garlic and threw that into the pan.  I sauteed it all up until the tofu was browned and the leeks were transparent.  I threw it all onto a small bed of rice and, taadaa!!!!

Doesn't this look yummy?!  It was quite tasty, so easy, and I highly recommend it. :-)

I really need a new router...

I can't stand not being able to take pictures and upload them to share with you all. I love and hate technology at the same time.  Ha!

I was bored out of my mind earlier today while waiting for something from one of my customers, so I was flipping through the pictures on my phone and found two worthy of posting here on my bliggity blog, because I just think they're so daggone cool.

This picture is of the Wanamaker Building in Center City Philadelphia.  This building hosts the largest playing pipe organ in the world!  Wanamaker's has changed hands a few times over the past 10 years or so, and is now Macy*s.  The ladies in my family go down every Christmas to see the light show -- we all know it by heart :-) -- and to do a little shopping while we're there.  During the Christmas season, the organ's pipes are covered by the Christmas Light Show Spectacular (I think that's what they call it) during the season, and when it's all taken down, this is the view you get while inside the center of the store.  (I will most definitely post pictures of the Christmas show when it's that most wonderful time of the year :-))

How amazing is this?!  And to think it's inside one of the buildings downtown.  Incredible.  If you click here, you can see information about Friends of the Wanamaker Organ, and even purchase CDs if you like orchestral pieces written around organs. (I am in no way affiliated with the Friends of the Wanamaker Organ, I just figured I'd post their site in case any of you are interested in learning more about this incredible instrument.)

There is so much incredible architecture in Philly, it's hard to capture it all while you're strolling the streets.  I particularly love Old City, so next time I'll have to remember to bring my trusty camera and take shots for all of you to see.  I actually took this picture when I was in the city for the grand opening of Paper Source's Walnut Street store, at which I won one of the hourly drawings!

This next picture was taken in Durango, Colorado.  I went on a trip to take a ride on the narrow gauge railway which runs from Durango to Silverton in Colorado.  It was AWESOME.  I did it in the winter, so they only do half the trip (which still takes around 6 hours round trip) since the fear of avalanche is too great.  I'll pass on avalanches, thankyouverymuch, so I was appreciative of their cautionary measures.  Apparently, the summer tour which goes all the way up to Silverton before it turns around, is equally as amazing.  The views are absolutely breathtaking as you go along the Animas River.  One of the conductors pointed out the old telegraph wires which still run along the mountains alongside the train tracks.  I guess it's too remote to even bother taking down the wires!!

I took this picture when the train was stopped to turn us around to head back to Durango.  How cool is this!!!  I highly recommend taking this train ride, and if you'd like more info about it, click here.  (Again, I have no affiliation with Durango Train, I just had such a great experience, I want you all to experience it, too!)

That's all I have for today.  I'm hoping I can either get some stitching in or a few thank you cards made. 

Oh!!  Before I forget!!  Today is "Slightly Indulgent Tuesday" over at one of my favorite foodie blogs, Simply Sugar and Gluten Free, so hop on over there and download some super tasty recipes!

Do something creative today!!!

Happy Hump Day!

Just a short post to let you know that one of my favorite food blogs, Simply Sugar and Gluten Free, has Slightly Indulgent Tuesdays every week (yes, I'm fully aware that it's Wednesday, but I didn't get to check out the blog posting until today).  Amy at Simply Sugar and Gluten Free encourages postings of slightly healthier versions of your favorite recipes.  Your recipe does not have to be sugar or gluten free, just healthier in some way.  This week, someone posted a recipe for gluten free Pop Tarts!!  Pop Tarts!!  I have to download that recipe because I can't even tell you the last time I had a Pop Tart!  I'll have to try it and let you all know if they're as good as the "real" Pop Tarts are in my memory :-)

Also,  I wanted to post the picture of my Double Flips by Lizzie Kate.  This is the first of the Double Flip series that she did - there are (I think) 6 more different sets of Double Flips.  I have one of her Christmas Double Flips (there are 2), and the Halloween set completed.  Since we're all begging for spring, I'll spare you the holiday themed ones until we approach their seasons.  I have all the supplies for the new Christmas Rules Double Flips, and I'll most likely be getting the Halloween Rules Double Flips as well.  I can't pass up on some of her designs...they're just too daggone cute!

I finished this Double Flip series on 27 count stitching band from Mill Hill.  I believe it's called neutral/neutral Pyramid stitching band, referring to the detailed finishing on the edges.  I thought it was a great alternative to framing, and it fits perfectly in a small wall space, such as between two doorframes, like where I have mine hanging. 

All of the words in this series are what we should all be doing each day, and in light of today being Ash Wednesday which marks the holy season of Lent, I thought it was appropriate to post something inspiring.

Do something creative every day. Believe in something bigger than yourself.  Have faith.