One finished Cupcake deserves another...

 I finished putting the beading on to the pink and white cupcake scarf...looks very pretty!

 I hope a certain birthday girl will be very happy with it!

 Next scarf will be chocolate with strawberry frosting!!

 Chocolate "sprinkle" beads for this one...

Looks good enough to eat!!!

Progress on Cupcake Scarf...

 I'm having a good time creating this cupcake scarf...it's progressing very well!

 I also added some cute mini pom poms...soon I'll add the beading too...

 I plan on crocheting some "chocolate" cupcakes as well as some "red velvet" cupcakes...should be fun!

Stitching for the New Year...

 I always make it a point to start a new project on New Year's Day, so I decided it was about time I go back to doing some cross stitch and selected Quaker Faith Hope Love by Midnight Stitching. http://midnightstitching.wordpress.com/

 I'm using The Gentle Arts Sampler Threads in Oatmeal, Freedom, and Cranberry.  The Quaker Faith is done with the blue Freedom color on a more natural fabric than the pattern called for, but I am liking the contrast and think the colours will pop more especially when I get to the white Oatmeal colour in the Quaker Hope which will be the next motif I stitch.

 As you can see, Maggi the beagle dog enjoys it when her mommy stitches as she relaxes nearby.

 My second project is a cute Cupcake scarf I'm crocheting.  It's coming along quickly, and can't wait to add some embellishments.  I purchased some pretty czech glass beads of many colors which I think will resemble sprinkles and mini pompoms for the cherries!

If you would like this pattern, it can be purchased here: http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=1104536

So I hope these projects give me the kick start I need to move on to bigger projects.  I really want to get over my fear of knitting my alpaca sweater.  I think I've become more experienced as a knitter, so we shall see!!  And I don't want to ignore my other love of stitching again!

Happy New Year 2011!!

 We're very hopeful that 2011 will be a great year and better than the one before.  Maggi is hopeful that she'll get more treats this year...but her mommy knows better and will continue to give her a healthy diet so she doesn't get a sore stomach or gain weight again...

 New beginnings for my son Peter who brought over his new girlfriend Catherine to meet us.  I cooked a yummy Chicken Curry Stew over rice which warmed us all on a cold winter night.

 Frank is hopeful that a new job is in his future that is closer to home and that he'll be happy with...

 And I'm hopeful also that I may find satisfying work and learn to be more expertise with my new Canon PowerShot XS30IS camera...easier to take pictures of myself with the swivel LCD screen!

And the poor cooped up kitties are hopeful that their mommy Kara arrives soon to pick them up and take them home to freedom!!

Happy New Year to all...here's hoping each year gets better and better...

Christmas is here!

 The packages are all safely delivered under the Christmas tree...

 And Cookies are made and ready for serving...

 We watched "It's a Wonderful Life" and shed holiday tears...

 And the table is set for the anticipated dinner and cheer...

 Already we did a little Christmas unwrapping when Kara and Ben came calling...

 We shared laughter before Kara went on her Nebraska adventure...while I tried to keep her warm with cowls, gloves, and a felt hat for the upcoming cold weather...

 Maggi the doggy already stealing my slanket...

Here's wishing everyone the Merriest of Christmas...hope you get all that you're wishing for!

Cookies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 Usually, it's my daughter Kara who is so talented in baking cookies, but thought I'd give it a try again...it's been many years since I've made cookies on my own, but was thumbing through my very old Mrs. Field's Cookies cookbook, and thought I'd make these:

 So in the oven they went after mixing the flour, sugar, butter, and eggnog together...

 They didn't turn out too bad...doesn't quite make the picture in the book, but I did sprinkle with nutmeg!

 Cooling them off for the cookie jar...tasted them, and they taste ok to me...a little on the crunchy side for kids, though!

Tomorrow, I'll try to make some cinnamon swirl cookies.  The dough is chilling in the frig.

Christmas is almost here...

 I think I'm almost ready...my basket of completed knit and crochet items...just not quite sure who is going to get what!

 Already Santa has arrived with presents under the tree...the little helper above is guarding so that no one gets a head start.

 Ah, and my Christmas dog keeping warm under her pink baby blanket.

 Mrs. Claus was needlepointed well over 30 years ago by me.

 Christmas candles sure give a warm and cozy feeling.

 And the tree looks so festive along with the lovely live wreath giving off pine fragrance.

So ready or not, let Christmas come!