Raw Rose Quartz Nuggets Bracelet

Digging through a box I still have not fully unpacked from moving, I discovered a small box with a half finished bracelet! Raw Rose Quartz nuggets...they look almost like rock candy.

I sat down and finished it. I am not sure what my original intention was, it was almost halfway done.

Stamped Pillowcase

THIS POST WAS MOVED HERE.

Peach Melba Freezer Jam

I love a good sale.  Getting things for a great price makes me feel really good inside!  You too, huh?  Well, peaches are in season around these parts.

SPOTLIGHT - Nice Crafts for Any Season

When I get together with a bunch of 3rd graders and want to make some crafts that we can sell at our annual Latern Fest in November - crafts that look good but are simple to make - I almost always turn to one of my favorite sources: www.craftideas.info. For any season they have dozens and dozens of ideas for crafts, decorations and cards/invitations made from paper, fabric, metal, beads, tree and plant materials, etc. They really are a treasure trove.

Here are some of my favorites that I've done:

... and others that I will do soon:

I love Kaftans...

I did an earlier post about kaftans and where they originate, and showed a kaftan I made for my husband. He has, by the way, actually been wearing it around the house when he wants something cool to wear- (cool can be used either way....)

SPOTLIGHT - "Before I Die..."

Cathy Chang asks her neighbors and the world at large what really is important to them. She does this through the medium of a chalkboard wall of fill-in-the-blanks on the side of an abandoned home in her neighborhood in New Orleans.


To read some of the many responses written by neighbors, passersby and people celebrating Mardi Gras, look at her website at http://candychang.com/before-i-die-in-nola/.

For my part, what's important to me is my family and I have been blessed amazingly. So, Before I Die I would like to see my children, nieces and nephews equally blessed.

What would you like or do you want to do before you die? Let us know and check out Cathy's site. Thanks to Dora for this inspirational page!

Chunky Summer Blue Turquoise Bracelet

 I have had these chunky summer blue turquoise nugget beads for a while. I made a bracelet out of them with copper, which I really like. I wanted to make one more. As I was rummaging through my beads, I found some smooth carnelian chip beads. The colors complimented each other so well,

Potholders

A few weeks ago I burned myself while taking out a dish from the oven. I was using a potholder. One that is over a decade old and has been worn thin. A quick look in the drawer next to the oven confirmed my suspicions: ALL of my potholders were in a sorry shape. Time for some new ones!

  At first I was going to knit some, but then a fellow blog author surprised me and got a gift certificate to Fabric.com for my birthday! (Thanks Wendy!!) I got to order some pretty fabric and some Insul-Brite batting and look for a pattern.

CULTURES: Djellabas and Kaftans

When I was little, my dad used to go to Algeria for business trips. He would occasionally bring home gifts especially when he had to be gone for longer periods of time. He has this nifty kaftan that he got on one of his business trips and would (and still does) wear on hot summer evenings. He has also been known to wear his turban in hot, dry weather for geological field trips. My dad let me borrow his kaftan (blue and white) so that I could copy it and make one for my husband.

Pear Butter

I love pears and it is one of the fruits that for some reason we eat more of in the fall. Unfortunately it is still too hot in Texas.


Saturday: picked up a box of Bartlett Pears from Costco, most of the pears were still firm to the touch, too tough to eat.
Tuesday: pears are already too mushy and starting to brown inside, kids do not want to eat them.

We had a couple of pears to eat. The rest of the box? Useless. I had to throw out one pear that was almost liquefied. The rest of the box? Made into pear butter!

 It is easy and simple to make pear butter and I did not really use a recipe, instead I looked at several recipes online and just kind of,

CULTURES - Korea - part 1: FOOD!

Koreans are wild about their food! Mention a Korean dish to them and their eyes will light up and they'll make a sound that is a combination of 'OH', a happy sigh and 'Yes!' It makes you curious to find out what they know.

Bleach Art Linen Table Runners and Tips On Using A Bleach Pen

This post was moved here.

Birthday Cakes Decorated

We used to live near many of my husband's aunts and uncles and cousins. Every month we would get together for a 'family birthday party' on a Sunday evening. Most of the cakes were sheet cakes with canned frosting spread on top. I wanted to make 'pretty' cakes or non-cake cakes- like cookie pizzas with frosting decorations, or 2-layer round cakes. Here are a few birthday cakes I've decorated.

Guest Posting

I get to guest post this week at Skip To My Lou for the Holiday Bake, Craft & Sew Along!

It is a great series full of wonderful ideas to make your homemade Holiday gift giving easier! Head over to Skip To My Lou for sewing ideas, According to Kelly for craft projects and A Southern Fairytale for delicious holiday recipes.

I decided to share an older post. Actually, it is two older posts and a finished project combined. I made over the 2 posts into 1 and took new pictures with the finished project included.

Here is the updated tutorial on how to make these fun reverse applique scarves.

Mini Grasshopper Pies in a Jar

We at Show, Tell, Share were recently invited to take part in a Holiday Bake, Craft, Sew-along! Hosted by three talented bloggers (Rachel from A Southern Fairytale, Kelly from According-to-Kelly, and Cindy from Skip to my Lou), the idea is that if everyone works along with holiday ideas and posts now, December will be a breeze. Since we all love recycling, I massaged the Mini Grasshopper Pie idea I posted here awhile ago into a new gift twist. Head on over to these sites for more fun holiday ideas!

I love the combination of mint and chocolate any time of the year, but especially so during the holidays.

How to make Plum Dumplings -Szilvas Gomboc

 Plum Dumplings! Or as it is known in our house; Gomboc! A few months ago friends of ours moved away and I did not have a chance to show them how to make Gomboc. Plum Dumplings are small Italian Prunes or Plums covered in a special dough, boiled and rolled in breadcrumbs sauteed in butter. They are a beloved dish in Europe, specifically Eastern Europe and each country has their own version with slight differences in the recipe. In our house, it is breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert when I make a large batch.

 I am sharing  the recipe I grew up with in Hungary.

SPOTLIGHT - Baby Footprints

I found this make-it-yourself artwork at Ohcrafts.net who found it from the original source at anestforallseasons.blogspot.com. The creator painted her baby's feet with white paint and very carefully printed the footprints onto a painted board. Doing this every few months shows very sweetly how the little tyke's feet grow.

Such a great yet simple idea! I wish I had thought of this for each of my kiddies, but at least I have a lovely idea for the future grandkids!

August Challenge Winner

It was hard to pick from all the neat Holiday craft and food ideas that were shared in August. I loved all the fun children-firendly ideas from Wendy, though. So, I chose her as the winner! A yummy holiday treat will be heading your way, Wendy! Thank you to all who participated.

Earrings and a New Adventure

It has been a while since I made some earrings. I usually do not wear them, but I do not want my skills to get too rusty. Some turned out better than others. Wire wrapping is a skill that does not come very easy to me. therefore, even though I do not wear earrings, I do make them occasionally for the sake of practice. Then I just put them in a small box and let them oxidize in peace.

I know, my husband thinks I am little nuts.

 I think I finally found a solution to my overflowing jewelry box

SEPTEMBER Challenge

Our children are back to school and are busy learning. This month let us, the parents  "go back to school" and discover the wonderful world we live in, the different cultures, foods and crafts different countries offer. 

 This month's challenge is Cultures. 

Pick a country you are unfamiliar with and explore it. Make a dish,