Cabbage Rose Nails with Gold Leaf

I love me some delicate little rose prints. So I tried my hand at a teensy little one stroke rose nail.

I wanted to try to do a filigree edge but I have no foil, only gold leaf. (I know.... poor me.) 

Here is my very blurry thumb. I didn't have it in me to try the opposing hand. It was late and I'd had a few tipples.....

Beastie and I managed to make some lentils and pork with these delicious molasses pull a part buns! 

This is Baby Beastie and George the cat brushing their teeth together. George is 17 or there about and Beastie is 2. Proving that age is no barrier to friendship.

Waving Goodbye to 2016 With Christmas Krampus Nails

To say that we are looking forward to 2017 is a HUGE understatement. 

There are so many new plans and immense life changes hoped for in this new year that I've been having problems sleeping. 

I've given my notice at the (truly loved) day job. 

I'll be leaving them in July 2017. 

I turn 50 this year!!! 

Really!?! 

50.... 

So, taking that into consideration there will be many many wonderful (and frightening) alterations made to the way we spend our time. 

Thank you for dropping by to hear the news.

I hope you'll be here with me next year to see me through.

I may need a bit of hand holding.

I'll try not to be too needy.

Best wishes to all of you for this shiny new year.

Baby Beast's Bunny Mittens

We've sewn The Baby Beastie some ferocious Bunny Mittens by scaling down one of our very first published sewing patterns. 

Bunny Mitten Pattern

Bunny Mitten Construction

Bunny Mitten Finishing

Squashed a round cookie cutter into a teardrop shape to make these yummy hedgehog sugar cookies. We started by smearing some melty chocolate onto each cookie and loaded broken up sliced almonds onto the back third of each cookie. We made faces with sugar beads. 

New Jimmy Shirt, Burda 6874

Another Great shirt for Grandpa Jimmy!

I'm loving the straight forward directions in this Burda pattern.

It's the second shirt we've made with this pattern and I think it'll be the new go to shirt pattern for him.

As usual he's gone into Fabricland with me and picked out his own fabric. I wasn't sure how well this gradient floral would work as a shirt, but it's fantastic!

We used wooden buttons from our button stash. We also made it about an inch longer than the previous shirt. It'll tuck and stay tucked! Do you have a favorite men's dress shirt pattern? 

Christmas Sewing For Lily

 Hello There!

We've had an excellent Christmas here at our house. We were missing our oldest and my brother. We didn't get to visit with Mom and Pop Corner or the brother in laws either. 

It was very quiet this year. 

We decided in mid November that we should make all the gifts this year.....

If I ever utter that idea in any of your presences again in any month after July...... Just slap me!!!

We made the Baby Beastie soooooo many things!

This is her Super Beastie costume, made from pink lame....

She got a 1950's mini apron.

Foxy Jammies and slippers... 

(They match her Mom's baby doll jammies)

Sweet little mouse jammies and Monkey slippers.

A gnome jumper and silver dot blouse.

Reversible jacket.

So toastie warm!

Grandpa Jimmie's very first Christmas Make!

Lily's Weeee Stove!!!

She LOVED it!

Wouldn't open anything else after she opened this and had to make us all some "food"!

Hope you all had the Christmas that you wished for.

Looking forward to a bright and shiny new year with HEAPS of new adventures!

Teensy Weensy Almond Pointies

These are Maggie's finger tips. She wanted stiletto nails, but she is a nail biter and unaccustomed to wearing nails. She grew her nails out a bit and we kept the pointies short. We'll call them almond nails. For scale I've included a pic of my nail beside her tiny finger. She's a grown woman now, but still has the finger tips of a toddler. Cutie!

The Birthday Shirt Burda 6874

Mr. Jimmy chose this fabric a while ago. Thought it was a fitting birthday shirt fabric.

Looks pretty swank from the back too!

We tried this pattern for the first time and I think it's our new favorite man beast shirt pattern!

We made view B.

The contrast fabric was odd cuts from decades ago. I think it was apron trimmings.

The inside collar, inside cuff, cuff band, under collar and pocket interior are all the mini floral.

Peek! I want to stay up all night and make more!!!

Mr. Jimmy's Birthday and the Traditional Meat Cake

Mr. Jimmy is another year older. We made him his favorite cake!

Meatloaf cake!!!

It's iced with mashed potatoes and the piping is done with ketchup.

Here are some bacon roses before the bake .

And after they were baked. They're beautiful, AND delicious!

I made him some bacon onion jam to go between the layers this year.

It was minced bacon, red onion, balsamic vinegar, honey and butter all stewed and cooked down into a really really yummy jammy meaty condiment.

I think he enjoys it!

Getting Ready For The Big Guy In The Red Suit

I found some time to make myself some toasty pants between Christmas present making.

We showed Lily how to make butter.

If you have the opportunity to try this with a kid, DO IT!!! Fill a mason jar 1/3 of the way with heavy cream and shake the heck out of it. keep shaking even when it feels like the contents aren't moving any more. Eventually it will make a loud sloshing noise as the solids (Butter) and liquids (Buttermilk) separate. That part always impresses. Then you can pour off the liquid and add salt and what ever flavors you'd like. We added rosemary.

Gave Mom a set of natural french nails. Her nails were pretty short. Just a sliver of white edge to build on. Natural looking nails are tough to make convincing.

We had some amazing help placing our Santa and gnome ornaments perfectly.

Baby Beastie is totally loving this decorating thing. She wants to hold and examine every thing we put out. 

This is going to be the best ever Christmas yet!

Fimo Rose Nail Inclusions and a Sunrise Through a Peephole

Here's a shot of the STAEDTLER Fimo mini roses in my gel nails. This is three weeks after application with a fill and re-balance. More on this fantastic nail product soon!!! 

SOOOOOOO EXCITED!!!

And just for shits and giggles, here is a 7 am view through my receiving door at work. It's so pretty out there until the big trucks come and block it out. 

Have a fantastic weekend out there! Play safe and be super kind to each other.