Welcome to Creative Pigpen's Blog

Not Blue When I'm With You!

2012-01-29T18:17:00.001-05:00

Here is my latest necklace! This is the perfect necklace to wear on Valentine's Day! Add a touch of blue to your Valentine's Day outfit to really call attention to your little ole self! This 19 3/4 inch necklace has 11 juicy Creative Pigpen handmade glass beads! The beads themselves are created by using a very light pink base, rolled in deep pink frit and finished with translucent blue dots! Love dots, don't you? The necklace is finished with a sterling silver stirrup-look clasp. The beads are strung on wire with light blue translucent wafer beads and 1/2 crystals as bead caps. Seed beads complete the look. You know you are going to rock Valentine's Day--- put this on and make a unique heart-day statement!

Jan 1

2012-01-01T17:22:00.000-05:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2011-12-27T10:01:00.000-05:00

My New Scrapbooking Kit

2011-04-08T19:44:00.001-04:00

Are you adopted? Do you have an adopted child or children? It can be tough to find word art designed specifically for adopted children or adults! Here are 4 different and beautiful quotes and 3 words art images to use in your scrapping! Get started today in documenting your adoption journey!

Visit my store at Natural Designs in Scrapbooking!

Creative Pigpen in the Blog-o-Sphere

2011-02-26T09:12:00.000-05:00

CREATIVE PIGPEN: Sustainable Handmade Glass Jewelry | a verynice blog

My jewelry was featured in this blog! Check it out!

Happy Birthday (Feb 8th) to My Wonderful Friend Tinamarie

2011-02-11T21:49:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday to Tinamarie!

Credits for Loverly: Carole Harden's Quick Click Heart to Heart (Feb 7th Chat), Kits from Mi2x, Cowboy, CherylB, Marmain, and Spotty

Winter

2011-01-31T20:21:00.001-05:00

Carole Harden's Quick Click from January 24th Chat
Kits Used:
Moments Created Meryl Bartho
Rainbow Road Created by Carole Harden
Delicious Moments Created by DSP Designers

New Year - New Opportunities

2011-01-18T19:51:00.002-05:00

Sign up for the Newsletter at Natural Designs in Digital Scrapbooking and you'll receive my Quick Page as part of a few freebies this month! Just plop your photo in and you have a page ready to go!

Do you Love a Shelter Cat or a Feral Cat? I do!

2011-01-15T19:07:00.000-05:00

Or maybe you are looking for a new addition to your household? Visit the Greater New Haven Cat Project! That is where are our darling Oreo came from!

Something New in my ETSY Shop!

2011-01-08T18:47:00.000-05:00

The New Year is a time for growth! Wear my Garden Greens handmade glass bead (lampwork) necklace to remind yourself of all your plans for the upcoming year. My handmade glass beads have colored patterns and juicy dots. The base of the beads is dark transparent green glass. The largest, central bead looks almost as if the base color is black. The largest bead measures approximately 1.25 x .50 inches in size. The necklace is strung with commercial transparent white glass beads and light green seed beads and finished with a beautiful swirly sterling silver clasp. Think green, think growth!

Dreaming of France

2011-01-01T20:12:00.001-05:00

I used Cheryl B's beautiful kit for this layout: WINTER SPARKLES created by CHERYL BOYNTON for SNL69. The image is of a stone carving in the town of Pollieu handcarved by Remy DeLorenzi in the Le Bugey, France. We are dreaming of going back and of staying there----someday----

French Fridays with Dorie - Specaloos

2010-12-31T16:54:00.001-05:00

I made Specaloos in December! The raw batter was awesome to eat. They were fun and easy to make, but I liked them better raw than cooked. I didn't really feel that they were that "special". Visit French Fridays with Dorie to find out what other Dorie Greenspan fans are making!

Something New in my ETSY Shop!

2010-12-30T12:00:00.002-05:00

Visit my ETSY Shop!

I Love To Bake

2010-12-19T11:02:00.000-05:00

Has it really been almost a month since I posted on my blog? What have I been doing?

I created this cool word shape on the site http://www.tagxedo.com. I uploaded a custom shape created in PhotoShop and added words from Dorie Greenspan's Specaloo recipe. The resulting cookies are below! Please be sure to visit doriegreenspan.com and French Fridays with Dorie!

My New Digital Scrapbooking Kit Available

2010-11-22T14:59:00.003-05:00

This kit has everything you need to showcase the details of your Thanksgiving dinner or other celebration! We all know family recipes are the best recipes, right? Use the 6 background papers or floral overlay as your background, layering on elements of fresh herbs, a teaspoon, a white flower, and a beautiful multicolored Fall leaf. Word art and a floral frame will help you highlight your family's favorite recipes. Do you like cupcakes? Why not put a cute hand-drawn cupcake image on your layout? You can even add a name on the cupcake's flag! Dress up your layout with a pretty orange ribbon, a rhinestone or two, or a swirly flower bud. Fruit labels on a paper bag, corregated and paper shapes add dimensionality to your layout. Pull it all together and amaze your family!

I Met Dorie!

2010-11-12T18:13:00.001-05:00

I heard Dorie talk at a local bookstore last night. She was charming and just adorable! I waited in line to meet her and she signed my copy of Around My French Table. She said "Look at your name!" and I said "I was named after the movie" and she said "I love that your mother named you that!"--

French Fridays with Dorie: Marie-Helene's Apple Cake

2010-10-29T21:41:00.001-04:00

Here is my version of Marie-Helene's Apple Cake from Dorie Greenspan's beautiful book, Around My French Table. I didn't have an 8" springform, so doubled the recipes, and used a 9" and filled ramekins with the extra batter. Mine came out very moist. I think this was probably due to having to use a larger springform maybe filling it too high. It took about 1 1/2 hours to bake. I really loved using the rum! I think this batter would make an awesome base for a noodle kugel!

Oreo has such great balance, doesn't he?

2010-10-26T19:11:00.001-04:00

No Baking This Week

2010-10-15T21:55:00.000-04:00

I decided to take the week off baking since the French Fridays with Dorie recipe was not vegetarian. I was tempted to bake a sweet, but been eating way too many sweets lately, so a week off will hopefully do me well!

Gerard's Mustard Tart

2010-10-08T23:58:00.002-04:00

Well, I did it! I made Gerard's Mustard Tart from Dorie Greenspan's beautiful new book, Around my French Table. I enjoyed making it and learned a lot of new techniques (although I have certainly not mastered them!). It was a lot of work. The verdict is still out on this one. We will give it a proper tasting tomorrow (midnite was perhaps not the best time for a Mustard Tart tasting!). I read through the posts on the French Fridays with Dorie blog and decided to make mine rustic looking in terms of how the vegetables were arranged.

French Fridays with Dorie

2010-10-01T19:56:00.005-04:00

I love Dorie. She is my Julia Child. I've joined her French Fridays with Dorie group, that cooks their way through Dorie Greenspan's new cookbook, Around My French Table. So,...I'm not the best cook. I really LOVE to bake,...but I'm not the best baker either. I'm inexperienced. I was introduced to Dorie when my husband gave me Julia Child's grand baking book, Baking with Julia. Dorie was the editor. Let me tell you--- Around My French Table is a gorgeous book. Big and beautiful. Being a vegetarian, I know there are plenty of recipes I will not be able to make. But, I will do what I can.

The first recipe is for Gougères. I didn't know what they were, but my Francophile husband did. He can remember where he ate them and what they tasted like. Here is what Wikipedia says: "A gougère, in French cuisine, is a savory choux pastry with cheese. Grated cheese may be mixed into the batter, cubes of cheese may be pushed into the top, or both."

The first recipe in Dorie's new book. I made it a week early figuring I'd screw something up (for a change, har-de-har-har). But no. I didn't. They came out perfectly. Perfectly beautiful. Rustic but cute. Everything Dorie said to do WORKED. In looking at other people's posts, mine look just like theirs! I did it!

I used shredded Parmesan cheese from Shop and Stop, per my husband's suggestion. I certainly could have used Comte, being a major Comte lover,...but went the lazy route and used Parm. I will certainly try this recipe with other cheeses. (Maybe I can make variations when everyone else is cooking meat products). I have a beautiful white Kitchen Aid mixer, but I used my hand mixer and everything came out just fine. I used parchment paper on my baking sheets. I particularly enjoyed rotating my baking sheets, top to bottom, front to back.

I love these little Gougères - this is a no fail recipe and I will make them over and over!

Visit Creative Pigpen Studio's Digital Scrapbooking Store

2010-09-26T09:23:00.001-04:00

Come visit Creative Pigpen Studio at Natural Designs in Scrapbooking--- Here are my two new kits!

3 Glorious Weeks in France

2010-07-19T22:26:00.001-04:00

Everywhere we looked, the scenery looked like something out of a Heidi fairytale book--- We loved Le Bugey, France!

My Little Angel, Oreo

2010-06-20T21:26:00.000-04:00

This was created using scrapbooking kits by members of SNL Scrappers (Saturday Night Live Scrappers), which I am a happy member of!

Thank you CREDITS to:
    ▪    Spotty-SNL63-Art Nouveau (branches green)
    ▪    NOUVEAU SUMMER by Cheryl B (Nouveau Brooch, Nouveau Frame, Tattered Flower, Vines BG)
    ▪    Gilded Nuvo Page Kit Designed by Sara Sherlock / Marmain (Dangly)
    ▪    Art Nouveau Page Kit by Connie Contreras / MrsC (Marble Pin, Journaling Notepaper, Ribbon Corner, Art Nouveau Cap Alpha)
    ▪    PrincessGigi SNL63 Add On Kit (Flower)

Today I Wore My Best Suit

2010-06-07T20:43:00.002-04:00

I used the following items from a group I am a member of (SNL Scrappers) to create this layout. For more info about SNL, go to www.snlscrappers.com

    •    REVISTA DE ARTE by CHERYL BOYNTON for SNL62: Stamp Frame
    •    Here and Now by Limequilla: paint stroke and stapled edge
    •    Journalistic by Pamela McCormack/Cowboy:handwriting paper and Flower Patch
    •    Chez Moi by mi2x: overlay and flower
    •    Spotty-SNL61-LibertyArtJournal - Jo Fletcher aka spotty: pressed fern and torn crumpled paper
    •    The Art in Me by lotte + line design / Stacie Mac: today

May Vacation Shot

2010-06-04T21:37:00.003-04:00

Visited my Aunt in Aventura, Florida with my Dad. This is a (altered) shot from her terrace (shot with my cell phone). Kinda bottom heavy, but here it is.

A Photo-Montage from Today's Walk

2010-05-16T21:55:00.001-04:00

This montage combines 4 photos and a background frame. Hope you like it!

Another Montage

2010-05-14T21:47:00.000-04:00

This one is of the house we rented two summers ago in Mesney, France (just up the street from Arbois, home of Louis Pasteur).

A Couple New Digital Photo Montages

2010-05-13T20:19:00.001-04:00

A Photo-Montage

2010-05-12T07:02:00.001-04:00

My friend Joanie reminds me that when I get stressed I need to make art! This is a digital montage created with 3 different photos, a border frame, and a background paper.

It's "Be Kind To Animals Week"

2010-04-30T21:22:00.002-04:00

In recognition of Be Kind to Animals Week, The Greater New Haven Cat Project, Inc. will sponsor a cat food drive on Saturday, May 1st, from 11:00am-3:00pm at the Center, located at 965 State Street, New Haven.

GNHCP is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, comprised solely of volunteers. Please bring unopened canned or dry cat food which will benefit feral cats.

For more information, please contact gnhcp1@gnhcp.org or at (203)782-CATS (2287).

This is where we got Oreo from!

Distortion Mirror

2010-04-24T20:14:00.001-04:00

I can never resist a maze. This distortion mirror was in a maze we went to in the Jura two summers ago! (yeah, probably the last time those pants fit me too)--- Well, I still have almost 2 months to loose weight so I can gain it back again during our next trip to France!

Oreo perched in a fantasy scene

2010-04-14T21:09:00.001-04:00

This image was created from several different images and montage-d together.

Gorgeous Weekend

2010-04-11T21:28:00.001-04:00

Hope you all had a beautiful weekend-

Sheep in a Vineyard?

2010-04-04T09:31:00.003-04:00

Loving my Photomontage class-- The images are from two years ago in the Jura, France.

Fairytale France

2010-04-02T23:05:00.001-04:00

I'm taking an online class (digital scrapbook place) on montage and am loving making them!

2010-03-12T18:32:00.003-05:00

This layout was created as part of my homework for DSU198 StoryTelling. I used the following artists' work: Heureux Page Kit / Created by Suzanne C. Walker / © 2009 Suzanne C. Walker, Delicious Moments / Created by DSP Designers /©2009 Digital Scrapbook Place, Inc., Baby Papers backpack / Created by LaurenBavin / ©2008 Digital Scrapbook Place Inc. All other elements by Princess Gigi (SNL kits).

The journaling reads: "Those were times when the whole family was together everyone lived near or with each other, worked together, vacationed together. Everyone worked at the family store. Mom worked behind the counter. Mickey did his best to ride on the trucks whenever he could get away with it. At Thanksgiving, Mom and Dad looked like movie-stars. When Mom and Dad moved to Califoria, Nanny and Papa and Gert and Leo followed. They lived in the same apartment building. They did everything together. I'll have to ask my Dad why that ended. I just remember growing up with very little family. Then I moved away for school, Scotty moved away for school. We were never in the same place together again. Now we are spread across the country. It seems so silly to be without family close by."

All Mine

2010-03-10T21:54:00.001-05:00

Scrap Credits to:

Mom's Noteboard 12X12 Quick Click template, Created by Carole Harden, ©2010 Carole Harden

Delicious Moments, Created by DSP Designers, ©2009 Digital Scrapbook Place, Inc.

Glorious Day, Created by Studio PBD Scrapbookgraphics, ©Peta Boardma

My Week in Review Page Kit, Created by Renee Schlough, ©2010 Scrappin Designs by Renee

CherryO Kit, Created by RobbieR

StacieMac SNL56 Elements, ©lotte + line design, (aka ScrapMac aka StacieMac)

SNL49 – April 2009 – Need for Speed, Created by Andrea DiTonno (a.k.a. aditonno)

Typewriter Keys - Letters, Created by Rachael Hudnall

Additional Elements by PrincessGigi - created for SNL

My Darling Oreo

2010-03-03T19:52:00.001-05:00

This layout was created as part of DSU 198: StoryTelling.

The homework was to use a "form of journaling" in a layout. I used the "names and dates" form of journaling in this layout.

The following kits were used:
*Baby Papers backpack - Created by Lauren Bavin

*Glorious Day by Studio PBD Scrapbookgraphics - Peta Boardman
Contact at peta@scrapbookgraphics.com

Flowers in the Finger Lakes

2010-02-27T19:58:00.001-05:00

I always love flowers on the table at restaurants. This was at one of our favorite restaurants, an Austrian restaurant called Dano's we went to in the summer. Fantastic---

2010-01-30T20:36:00.002-05:00

A layout using the following kits:

Thank you so much to all the wonderful SNL members who submitted their kits for use! I just love everything everyone made and it all has such a beautiful, soft feel. I am sure I will use these over and over. THANK YOU! You can check out SNL (Saturday Night Live) at digitalscrapbookplace.com.

I used the following items from the following members:

Flip Jump white frames and sparkle dots: Winter WonderlandCreated by Jamie Endres

Mrs. C's pink ribbon: I Remember Grandma Page Kit
Created by Connie Contreras a/k/a MrsC

SIlver Healer's word art and background gently creased: Reflect Softly page kit for SNL 58

silver lining-months: Silver lining kit by mi2x

Heart 3 by BRK

spotty-snl58-Timeless BG (used in a blend mode over another background): Spotty-SNL58-TimeToReflect

My Beautiful Oreo

2010-01-09T10:38:00.000-05:00

How adorable is he? Look at him just lounging around on our glass dining room table. Its amazing how comfortable cats can get!

Baking with Julia - Recipes

2010-01-02T09:21:00.001-05:00

My husband gave me the book, Baking with Julia, and the accompanying DVD, for my birthday! I love it! Last night I tried my first recipe, Marion Cunningham's Buttermilk Crumb Muffins. They were FANTASTIC! Steve ate 2 1/2 muffins. I'm bring a box of them over to the Greater New Haven Cat Project this morning. We finished all the rest! If you decide to make this recipe, make sure you use extra Pam spray on your muffin tins- Eat warm out of the oven!

Buttermilk Crumb Muffins - Baking with Julia

Here's how cute mine turned out --

Make a Resolution to Help Animals in the New Year

2009-12-31T19:42:00.003-05:00

Donate to the ASPCA

I've decided that in the new year, I will make a resolution to do more toward helping animals. Of course, my favorite organization to support is the Greater New Haven Cat Project where Oreo came from! You can make an online donation to them on their website here. But, the ASPCA does wonderful work nationwide. Another organization I've just become aware of is the Statewide Wildlife Rescue. We came home from Florida to find a very sick wild turkey on our porch. They came and got him and he is rehabbing with them, with hopes that he will recover enough to be released again here. I hope so.

If you trying to think of a worthy New Year's Resolution, perhaps becoming more involved or making a donation to an animal society will make you smile too---

Happy New Year from Oreo

2009-12-31T17:08:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year to everyone! I hope you all had a beautiful holiday season!

Some Really Good Stories about the Snow

2009-12-22T07:03:00.000-05:00

Long night in store: snow strands shoppers | UK news | guardian.co.uk

Check Out Our Glamour Shots!

2009-12-06T21:53:00.002-05:00

You can VOTE for your favorite cat glamour shot!!! Who will you pick?
Add your VOTE in the Comment Area below-

Tutorials for Making Felt Ornaments

2009-12-05T09:31:00.003-05:00

Felt Ornament Tutorials from How About Orange!

Do you guys love felt? I do!

Making Felt Ornaments!

2009-12-05T09:27:00.000-05:00

Check out this post from How About Orange for a bunch of tutorials on making felt ornaments! I love felt, don't you?

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_wXG-O0Gal_o/SxmFhZg5SII/AAAAAAAADnw/3pwL2lAgGxI/s1600-h/felt-skate-ornament.jpg

Cats are connoisseurs of comfort-

2009-12-04T07:47:00.000-05:00

Our little Oreo, who always does look comfortable, no matter what he is doing-

I am grateful for my creative friends--

Enjoy Thanksgiving Weekend

2009-11-28T09:52:00.001-05:00

Enjoy the rest of Thanksgiving weekend!

We continue the hunt for the perfect cabinet knobs for the new china cabinet --- I think we are close! Yesterday we went to 4 different places to look,...and then back to Home Depot to return a set that didn't work!

Mums the Word

2009-11-26T21:29:00.003-05:00

I had a wonderful Thanksgiving and I hope you all did too! My Dad had a gorgeous floral arrangement delivered to the house. This mum is in it. We made Moroccan Sweet Potatoes, Tomato Zucchini Terrine, and Emeril's Bacon and Herb Roast Turkey Breast (Steve made the turkey). Everything actually was done at the same time! We had a Pinot Noir from Shalestone in the Finger Lakes. For dessert, I made my friend Catherine's Lingonberry Squares, but I cut one really big square per person and warmed them up in the microwave and put a scoop of Haagan Das vanilla ice cream with them. They were more like a crumble than a bar. So good! My Dad ate everything! It was a great meal in my beautiful and comfortable dining room that I love so much--

Oreo Is Thankful for His Color-Coordinating Box

2009-11-25T21:44:00.002-05:00

Our darling little Oreo delight! He now has a color-coordinating box to sit on so that he is in the perfect height to gaze at turkeys out the front window. His box is made of the same material as the trim (which you can't really see) on the drapes and the leaves in the drapes.

The history of the box is that it was called "the Helper Box" because as baby Elton got old, he had to use it like a step stool to get up on his favorite chair. I couldn't bring myself to get rid of the box once Elton was gone. And, lo and behold, Oreo started using it! We said, "Oreo is channeling Elton".

Well, now the Helper Box is a very important part of Oreo's life. He loves it. It is like it was custom designed exactly for his size. So cute.

Keep Us Safe During the Holidays

2009-11-25T08:14:00.002-05:00

Here are some tips for keeping your pets safe during the holidays from the ASPCA.

ASPCA | A Poison Safe Home

Happy Thanksgiving

from Oreo and Lola!

Do You Have Tasks to Tackle?

2009-11-21T15:20:00.003-05:00

I certainly do! And, I don't seem to be making a whole heck of a lot of progress. Can't blame pneumonia recovery any longer either! In fact, tomorrow, I'm going to take my lazy-ol'-self to the gym!

Here is a PDF form I created to write down those essential (nagging) tasks that just need to get done. The graphics are public domain images from Dover Publications. Those big to-do-lists scare me. They overwhelm me. But, three things,...I can usually get at least one of them done, so then I feel somewhat successful!

I hope you like it. Click here to go to the Princess Gigi website where you can download the file and use as you like!

What Kind of Hostess Are You? and more entertaining ideas for holidays, special occasions, parties, and every day on marthastewart.com

2009-11-18T21:35:00.001-05:00

What Kind of Hostess Are You? and more entertaining ideas for holidays, special occasions, parties, and every day on marthastewart.com

I came out a "Thoughtful Hostess". I guess that is because they didn't have "Lame Hostess"----

Thanksgiving Is Almost Here!

2009-11-18T19:53:00.001-05:00

I'm taking an online class called Getting Organized for the Holidays at www.simplify101.com. We had to create a statement that would guide our holiday plans. Here is mine!

New Placemats for Thanksgiving

2009-11-16T21:58:00.002-05:00

Okay, I tried. I shopped and shopped the net and the local shops searching for new placemats for Thanksgiving. I order my super-cheapy ones from Kohl's and finally,...they send me an email saying they are out of stock and now completely unavailable. I did see one at the store (and frankly was not too impressed). Now with Thanksgiving upon us,...and none of my new dining room furniture or drapery or chair pads here (except a mirror), I'm freaking just a bit. We convinced my Dad to come so he could see how we re-did the house. At least my table should look nice (especially if I have my old table and chairs). Well, the placemats were on sale, but I upgraded to 2-day shipping since I am freaking out. I got the green ones which should be fun with my bright yellow napkins (12 for $12 at Home Goods)-

56 Things You Can Toss Out Now | Christine Kane

2009-11-16T08:08:00.000-05:00

56 Things You Can Toss Out Now | Christine Kane

This is a good list of 56 easy things,...although I would never personally get rid of my handed down sterling silver! We use good silver every night, even when we sit in front of the tv for dinner (along with pretty cloth napkins and placemats of course).

I actually finally got rid (well, it is in the back seat of my car waiting to be dropped off at Goodwill) of Steve's old turntable. I reorganized the (very ugly, but still functional) stereo shelving thing-ie, and with the turntable gone, had room for Steve's Consumer Reports magazines and French wine magazines. I feel better already!

create change in your life

2009-11-14T22:08:00.000-05:00

Click to read about how to create change in your life from Simplify 101. I love the idea of SECOND chances.

The Drop In - Purseket for small handbags - BLACK & WHITE

2009-11-14T09:46:00.001-05:00

The Drop In - Purseket for small handbags - BLACK & WHITE

I'm tempted,...but I imagining it would still not be enough help for me!

How to stencil with freezer paper | How About Orange

2009-11-12T18:09:00.001-05:00

This looks fun! Check it out-
How to stencil with freezer paper | How About Orange

Tired Today

2009-11-11T21:08:00.004-05:00

I was lucky enough to have the day off for Veteran's Day, but I didn't get a lot done. I've just been tired. I took a 2 hour nap. That felt good. I would have slept longer if I didn't have to take care of the kitties. I guess I will just be tired for a while.

Oreo Balances a Mouse on his Spot

2009-11-10T21:02:00.003-05:00

Oreo is so talented, isn't he?

In other thoughts--- it is sometimes hard to stop "beating yourself up", isn't it? How do you manage it?

Very happy to have the day off tomorrow. Happy Veteran's Day!

Preparing for Thanksgiving

2009-11-09T20:32:00.002-05:00

It is so hard to find exciting placemats and napkins, without spending a fortune. Well, even spending a fortune! I found these cute leaf placemats at Kohl's and am hoping they are cute in person! They were on sale for $4.19 each and then I used a 15% off coupon. Not bad. Make sure to search store "coupon code"s before buying. I always find something worthwhile, whether for Sephora, Lancome, or Kohl's. Next stop,...a Neiman Marcus coupon code! I am eyeing a set of napkins I think will be exciting with these mats!

P.S. I'm FEELING BETTER finally!!!!!

Oreo Surrounded by Clouds

2009-11-08T20:09:00.004-05:00

Here is my darling boy, with a cloud background (curtains in my office). Isn't he adorable?

Having fresh flowers in your home each week is part of the Apartment Therapy Cure. I love this part of the Cure!

New Product Line from Creative Pigpen

2009-11-06T19:48:00.006-05:00

I'm very excited to announce a new Creative Pigpen product line. Soon,...at my ETSY store,...you will be able to find my "These are MY people" epoxy-resin jewelry! My first set of images will be of Helen Keller. They will be appearing in my store soon! If you would like to be notified of when they arrive, just shoot me an email or comment on this post, and I'll let you know when they are available!

FiskarsCrafts.com A new way to look at crafting online!

2009-11-05T19:34:00.001-05:00

How cute is this? Am I too lame to do it?

FiskarsCrafts.com A new way to look at crafting online!

At a Conference this Week for Work

2009-11-05T06:53:00.001-05:00

Whenever I go to a conference, I am reminded how darn hard it is to sit for an hour or two and listen to someone talk!

My Little Darlings

2009-11-03T17:48:00.003-05:00

Aren't they adorable? They have gotten to be such good friends. Soon, perhaps they will be inseperable?

I have been working on some epoxy-resin coated jewelry and getting very frustrated with the epoxy resin I have been using. In the summer,...no problem,...it worked great! No bubbles, just great. Now, the same tubes, mixed the same way,...bubbles. I've just now tried heating up the epoxy-resin with a heat lamp and applying it to my jewelry warm. It felt nice under the heat lamp! I just can't figure out what is going wrong and why. But, I've ordered a new brand and will hope for the best!

Aparment Therapy Book

2009-11-02T22:07:00.003-05:00

Have you read Apartment Therapy: The Eight-Step Home Cure by Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan? I'm reading it now, courtesy of our fabulous local library. You can get it from Amazon here.

One activity in the book in an Interview. You have to list your Favorites, for example,
ACTRESS:
ACTOR:
ARTIST:
WRITER:
MUSIC:
RESTAURANT:
AUTOMOBILE:
TELEVISION SHOW:
CLOTHING (Designer or Store):

Here are the only answers I could come up with at first glance:
ACTRESS: maybe Meryl Streep???
ACTOR: oh that Johnny Depp
ARTIST: probably Diane Arbus
WRITER: no idea
MUSIC: New Wave (like my B52s), Top 40 'Hip-Hop' (like Black Eyed Peas), something you can dance to
RESTAURANT: NiNi's Bistro in New Haven
AUTOMOBILE: don't care too much, but Suburu
TELEVISION SHOW: So You Think You Can Dance
CLOTHING (Designer or Store): Anthropologie (that was easy)

Why don't you copy and paste yours!!!

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-31T19:48:00.006-04:00

This year, because it was rainy yesterday, we decided not to do our usual "flight path" lighting system on our driveway and instead just use pumpkins and light-up bones to mark the path. We think the kids like it better this way!

Well, I'm "certified" to go back to work

2009-10-29T17:54:00.003-04:00

A full week missed. I'm still exhausted,...but going to work tomorrow. I'm sure all my blog readers will be happy I'm back to blogging too--- :)

Bathed in Light

2009-10-24T19:49:00.004-04:00

My New (Old) Chairs

2009-10-22T20:58:00.004-04:00

These are my new dining room chairs. I got them at Madison Stock Exchange, which is a consignment shop, and they refinished them in a distressed Dove White paint. Love them. They will have striped fabric on the seats.

2009-10-21T19:39:00.004-04:00

Will I Win?

2009-10-20T18:41:00.003-04:00

I remember when I was little my Dad went out and got me and my brother store-bought trophies. Mine was for playing the accordion (yes, it's true) and my brother's was for bowling. I remember his said "World's Greatest Bowler".

Interesting Distressed, Rustic Cabinet

2009-10-19T21:48:00.004-04:00

Love this cabinet at Madison Stock Exchange! Love the green glass! Admittedly too rustic for my house, but love it anyway!

Farmhouse Palette - The New York Times Home & Garden Slide Show Slide 15 of 19

2009-10-18T09:12:00.003-04:00

What a cool bathroom! Check out this article with all the beautiful photographs of a colorful, collection-full home!
Farmhouse Palette - The New York Times Home & Garden Slide Show Slide 15 of 19

Fabric for My New Dining Room Drapes

2009-10-17T22:41:00.003-04:00

I love it---Makes me want to put on a fancy little apron and dance around the dining room with pretty little potholders on my hands-

Have You Listened to "The Moth"?

2009-10-15T20:26:00.002-04:00

The Moth Podcast

My fabulous friend, Gail, turned me on to "The Moth". It is a storytelling event in which real people take the stage to tell their own life stories around a particular theme. You can download The Moth Podcasts free in the iTunes store.

My favorite, so far, is "Fighting Chance" by Amy Cohen (funny, but also a MAJOR tear jerker for me). I also loved Steve Osborne's "Mug Shot".

I love how The Moth stories represent such a range of authors,...from an NYPD Detective to a teen coming out in to friends in the Projects in Brooklyn. Fascinating.

Give it a listen-- Just search "The Moth" in the iTunes store.

Sisters in Steamboat Weekend | Mainstreet Steamboat Springs

2009-10-14T19:51:00.002-04:00

If you live in Colorado,...check this out! One of my favorite designers, Elisabethan, will be there! Wish I could go! Check out her website if you can't make it: www.elisabethan.com! Elisabeth Delehaunty creates incredible clothes and accessories from reclaimed fabrics! We showed next to each other at the Westport Creative Arts Festival last year. She's the best!

Sisters in Steamboat Weekend | Mainstreet Steamboat Springs

Trying

2009-10-13T19:40:00.005-04:00

I always try to be thoughtful of others each day. Sometimes, I fall short. I guess we all do sometimes, right?

Finale' night for Hell's Kitchen! Who will win? I hope Dave does! He is the nicest chef and I like his team work.

Monday's Post on Tuesday

2009-10-13T07:57:00.003-04:00

Cheating, I know. I should have posted yesterday-

New in my ETSY Shop

2009-10-11T14:13:00.003-04:00

Order Here

THE HEALTHY PLATE: Taking Pumpkin Beyond the Pie

2009-10-11T09:46:00.004-04:00

THE HEALTHY PLATE: Taking Pumpkin Beyond the Pie

Okay, I know,...I'm not supposed to be thinking or blogging about food and cooking. But, this recipe looks interesting--- maybe I'll make it for Thanksgiving. So, that is STOPPING, right?

Yurgh!

2009-10-10T19:41:00.005-04:00

Can't think of any other reason! I guess the wax coating is coming off when I mix the resin. I just can't figure out any other reason why those puppies are not drying!

Did you know that there is a blog devoted to craft failures? It is called Craft Fail, which you can visit by clicking here. Man, they should showcase me!

Steve's idea is to go the pharmacy isle at Walgreens and see if they have any tiny mixing cups. The kind I'm looking for are the kind you would use for taking cough medicine. You know, the really small plastic ones? Just to tide me over til I can get some from some great ETSY supplier or somewhere else on the web.

Hmm,...

2009-10-10T10:20:00.002-04:00

Is it because he doesn't want to encourage me to keep baking and EATING BATTER? That seems about right. And, yep,...I do need to stop.

I think it all started with my home improvement projects this summer. Decorating the living room and now the dinning room. It made me feel house-wifey in a way I really liked.

And then, I started reading My Life in France and saw Julie and Julia and downloaded Julie Powell's audio book. And, of course, there were Catherine's Lingonberry Squares. Then we started eating dinner once a week in the dinning room (instead of the den), and I make a Potato Spinach Galette one night. And now, the Caramel Oatmeal Bars.

I think after today,...well TODAY,...I will be done with this baking / batter eating / and more eating phase, God help me.

I think what inspired me so much about the Julie and Julia movie, was how Julie Powell came home each nite from work and started cooking, as a release, as a creative project. That is what I was trying to do,...but I must admit I can do other creative things that don't involve hundreds and hundreds of calories------RIGHT?

Fixing Mistakes and Caramels

2009-10-09T19:57:00.001-04:00

I love being able to fix mistakes. Who doesn't? It isn't always possible tho. There are categories of mistakes to fix,...craft fixes,...relationship fixes,...

Not being able to fix stuff sucks. I guess you just keep trying.

One thing for sure, in terms of craft fixes: Don't mess with resin while it is drying. You will just knock something else over and ruin that too, and then have more things to try to fix.

I resisted the caramels last nite, but am contemplating making the recipe tonite!

The Ingredients are Calling Me / Bothering Me

2009-10-08T21:16:00.001-04:00

Well, seeing that I didn't actually bake last nite for today's Bake Sale at work, I naturally have all the ingredients sitting on the countertop, in their white Walmart bags, just calling to me. In particular, the caramel candy is calling to me. My mom used to say that when she had certain tempting food items in the house that they were "bothering her" and she'd have to either eat them or throw them away. How long will I resist the bag of caramel candy?

Not Much of a Post Tonite

2009-10-07T21:56:00.000-04:00

I was so exhausted I barely made it home. I don't know what the problem was. I felt dizzy and weak. I got home, took out the trash, fed the cats and slept for 2 hours. So, I got nothing done tonite. No baking for the Bake Sale. I hope I wake up tomorrow like a little jumping bean-

Just Keep Going

2009-10-06T22:43:00.003-04:00

I love finding people who are kindred spirits, don't you? They are out there-- Sometimes you find them in surprising situations or locations. Sometimes it is just a small thing they do that shows you how you two see the world in the same way. Sometimes you may not find a "kindred spirit" per se, ...but discover someone who has the same struggles or passions that you do---that is pretty nice-

http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/kindred+spirit.html

Julie and Julia

2009-10-05T17:51:00.003-04:00

Loved the movie. I'm also reading Julia Child's "My Life in France". And, today I downloaded Julie Powell's audio book, "Julie and Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen". So far, Julie's book is somewhat self-indulgant, sometimes depressing, sometimes amusing, and sometimes inspiring. Interesting none the less. My drive-time flew by. I am eager to listen to Parts 2 and 3, that didn't fit on my CD. I do love hearing about Julia Child.

It did inspire me to come home and blog.

This week, we have a Bake Sale at work and I will make Oatmeal Cranberry Bars (for the first time). Admittedly, the recipe is from Better Homes and Gardens. I made Lingonberry Squares, from a recipe from a Finnish colleague, and loved making and eating them. So, I am now on to my next type of bar recipe. Not quite Julia Child,...but I bet they will be good!

Been a Long Time!

2009-09-19T09:33:00.003-04:00

It's been a long time since I've blogged (due to my laziness and multiple projects that distract me every which way!).

Barney

2009-07-09T18:08:00.003-04:00

My Dad's beloved Golden Retriever traveled to the Rainbow Bridge this week. He will be missed!

Credits: Rainbow Road Kit by Carole Harden

Cat Watching

2009-06-27T17:43:00.003-04:00

One of our favorite things to do on vacation is to take walks around town and look for cats. This layout features two of our very own cats, Oreo and Lola, and two cats we discovered on our walks.

2009-06-09T10:19:00.005-04:00

CREDITS to the following SNL Scrappers for their gorgeous kits:

Golden Evening Kit by Cupcake (Vicki Anderson)
Bright Imagination Kit by Webfrau (Julia Hall)
Bella Flor Kit by Redrose
Sweet Lavender Kit by Flip Jump (Jamie Endres)
Golden Moments Kit by Greenfingers

Axles

2009-06-01T21:46:00.004-04:00

Oreo

2009-05-02T12:43:00.003-04:00

Wish I Felt this Good!

2009-04-30T19:27:00.001-04:00