Today

I'm loving...

1. The fact that I made an appointment to rejoin my old gym. (Thanks for the inspiration, Kristin!)

2. Teaching and loving (and students loving, too) Arthur Miller's, A View From the Bridge.

3. Finding a friend to to go Philadelphia with us over the vacation to see the Cezanne retrospective at the art museum.

4. Napping in the car for 20 minutes before Cub's class finished. Ahhh.

5. Watching one of my favorite versions of Wind In The Willows (there are so many!)with Cub while simultaneously cooking a healthy version of Chili-Mac Casserole.

6. The fact that I could smell spring in the 59 degree air today!

Needle Book Love and Thanks

Thank you so much for your words of kindness and care and for your blessings and prayers. You don't know how much it meant to me to read all of your sweet comments. And all the prayer must have worked...

Miraculously, my grandmother was taken off the ventilator late yesterday afternoon. Last night, we even had a brief phone conversation and it was truly unbelievable. I feel so blessed and so does she!

Just thought I would share this needle book today. I started it on Saturday afternoon and had just about finished it, when I received the phone call from my brother. The only thing I need to add is the ribbon for a tie-closure. I did this entirely free hand. No measuring. I really need to work on developing more patience in life and in crafting.

I know that the lesson crafting has for me involves slowing down and taking time; being okay with taking baby steps towards accomplishing a goal. Oh, it's so hard for me to do!

Thank-you again, for your care and concern.
xoxo

(Best Friends, Grandma and Cub)

I am a firm believer in collective prayer.

So it is in the spirit of this belief that I ask

if you could please send a prayer, good energy, a thought, blessings-

to my Grandmother, Ann.

Last night, she was taken to the hospital and placed on a ventilator.

My Grandmother raised my brother and I from the time I was seven.

She is my grandmother, my mother, and best-friend all in one.

More In Love With Love

Please indulge my infatuation with everything that is Valentine for one more week or so.

I am just so smitten with these recent finds and I think you will be, too.

Tonight's wine tasting was interesting...A straightforward Italian white, followed by a smooth Malbec, and finished off with a "Greek communion wine," he said.

I ended up wondering off as per usual, just looking at all of the lovely labels, when I spied a bottle of Tomasello Red Raspberry fruit wine. I ended up taking that bottle home after reading how it was "the perfect compliment to chocolate and chocolate desserts." Yup. Sold! You see, I have a plan for next weekend that involves flourless chocolate cupcakes and this wine will be the cherry on top of that sundae.

I am a purist in many ways. (Whatever that means!) But since I am a self-confessed walking contradiction, I find many things much more charming in the form of their artistic imitation; jewelry and flowers for sure...and let's not forget about hair color!

These red ribbon roses take my breath away. I love them as much as I love those newspaper roses...maybe even a bit more. I will be making some of these tomorrow, after a trip to JoAnn's.

I wonder if I am the only one that LOVES melt-a-way mint candies? They are just soooooo good.

I can't believe there is an actual recipe, too! They seem so simple to make. We are going to have so much fun squishing this sweet dough around. Toooo much! Can you tell I am just a little excited to make these? Just looking at the plate of these lovelies makes me smile. Thank-you, Florence. Making things makes me HAPPY!!!
I'm easy like that.

And then there are these yummies. A classic, yes? I know my daughter will go crazy for them. Oh, how she loves her Rice Krispie treats! Joy the Baker knows what she's doing.

(Photo courtesy of Joy.)


I think it's going to be a busy but fun weekend. I'm now off to watch Season One of Battlestar Gallactica, thanks to my friend Adam...and to start making a long-overdue felt needlebook.

Happy Weekend, All!

In Love With Love

Here is another stuffie I made for Cub, to be given to her on the 14th. I wanted to participate in "Wordless Wednesdays," but it got away from me this time! Next week, for sure. Just want to say thank you for all the great responses to our postcard giveaway. We are excited to go to the post office on Saturday morning to mail them out together!
And while I'm on the subject of giveaways--Tessa, a favorite crafter-blogger is having a giveaway over at The Milkshake. Check-out all of her sweet creations. I love them all.
I think I am going to have to treat myself to her Cherry Tree pillow!

.

Will You Be Our Valentine?

It's my first postcard giveaway!!!!

There are eight homemade valentines waiting to be mailed to you with love

from me and my girl cub.

Postcards are made from scalloped-edge cardstock, acrylic paints, (bubble-wrap and sponge prints), glitter, and doilies...A real hodge-podge!

(They really don't look like spaghetti sauce, either! They are vibrant pinks and reds...I don't know what's up with my camera!)

If you would like one, please drop a note to my email address:

cyndyava@att.net with your name and (snail) mail address and we'll send you one!

Happy Monday, All!

Getting Ready

I have to admit I was never really into Valentine's Day until I had my daughter. When she was a baby, the presents weren't handmade. I was too tired! I did start a vintage charm bracelet for her one year. Then there were the vintage stamps I thought we could start collecting together (someday). This year I've been making her a lot of fun little things. But first I'd like to show-off the batch of cookies I "baked" for Kristin and her girls. I sent them to her as part of an informal swap that just sorta happened after she was kind enough to send me some of her lovely beads.

This little bean bag was suppossed to be part of Cub's present, but she saw me making it and begged to have a catch. So, here it is, blurry photo and all! These were all a lot of fun to make. I love working with felt. It's so easy and forgiving to work with.
My little one and I have whipped up some Valentines for everyone. I'd like to post them by tomorrow. If you'd like one, (and we hope you do) stay tuned...