current obsessions

nacho

We have decided in these parts that there is nothing cuter than Ila eating nacho chips (look what a bowl hog she is!). When she dips them in the guacamole she says “dip, dip, dip”. It makes me so happy to see my children eating.

Other than feeding my children, I am currently obsessed with:

Elsie Marley… I really want to do her kids clothing challenge

Heather Ross. In my dreams I would sew everything for my kids out of this fabric.

100% rain.

Giddy Giddy.

(Can you tell I have the sewing bug?)

On another note… Stephanie over at The Cross blogged about my paintings.  I don’t know what I ever did to deserve the kindness I receive from these women… they are amazing. If you are even in Vancouver please visit their store, it is really something.

reincarnated as…

reincarnated

This week’s theme over at The Small Fancy is “reincarnated as”.

Is there really any other animal to be reincarnated as other than a cat? You would always be warm and cozy, you would get lots of sleep, cuddles whenever you want and no one expects too much from you.  Man, the cats have it good.

To see the full image and to see Mia’s take on the theme, visit our Small Fancy site.

Happy weekend!

back into the swing of things

swing02

swing03

swing04

We’re slowly get back into the swing of things here.

Poor Ila is taking the longest to recover. She’s sure had a rough month, being hit by 1 thing after another.

I’m sure I’ve said this before, but getting your world turned upside down by sickness sure makes you really appreciate the boring normal-ness of life. So that’s what I’m doing right now, enjoying the boring-ness… and trying to catch up on lost sleep .

“things in my kitchen”

yarn

This week’s Small Fancy theme is “Things in my kitchen”. There hasn’t been much activity in my kitchen this week… we have all been sick with the stomach flu. Nothing to make you feel alive again like a future sweater, all balled up,  the colour of sunshine. Can’t wait to get knitting!

bigfoot

bigfoot

This week’s Small Fancy theme is Bigfoot. Click here to check out Mia’s version.

I will have my shop update done for Monday. I will have 6 little mini barn paintings for sale. I have put my “You are Loved” screen prints on sale. If you want one, now is the time to snatch them up!

See you Monday.

sore

ouchie

This is the reason I missed Easter dinner. My finger somehow got caught in the trunk as I was packing away that lovely pudding. You don’t want to know what’s under that bandage, it is the stuff of nightmares. I only looked at it once, right after it happened… and I still can’t get the image out of my head.

I’m working on a big shop update. I’ve made a set of mini barnface paintings that I’m going to put up for sale. Check back soon!!

crafting and pudding.

mat

Life is getting back to normal. Not only did I get to do some cooking (see the gobbled up bowl of spinach soup?? it’s rare that everyone loves something I make! ) this weekend, but I also got to do some sewing.

This is the first of 4 placemats I am planning on making. It is made from a thrifted linen table cloth and various scraps stitched on. I worked roughly from the pattern in Patchwork Style by Suzuko Koseki. I love it!

pudding01

I also made a batch of our favourite butterscotch pudding for our family Easter dinner (which I actually didn’t make it too… more on that in another post). I found this recipe in the February issue of Gourmet magazine at my local library (sadly this magazine is now out of print). If you like pudding, you have to try this recipe.  It is a great simple desert and only takes about 15 minutes to make.

Here’s the recipe:

Butterscotch Pudding:

serves: 4

Active time: 15 minutes from start to finish

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

2 Tbsp plus 2 tsp cornstarch

1 1/2 cups whole milk

1/2 heavy cream

2 Tbsp butter, cut into bits

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

*Whisk together brown sugar, cornstarch, and 1/4 tsp salt in a heavy saucepan, then whisk in milk and cream. Bring to a boil over medium heat, whisking frequently, then boil, whisking 1 minute. Remove from heat and whisk in butter and vailla. Pour into bowl, then cover with butter wax paper and chill until cold, at least 1 1/2 hours.

See? so easy!

pudding

sweet tooth

yumyum

These past 2 weeks have been fueled by jelly beans and coffee. Not too healthy, but it has gotten me through. Ila is seeming much better. As much as I have missed sleep, I have  missed real food just as much. Hoping to cook something yummy soon!