A Short Bloggy Break

We interrupt this blog for a bit of real life happenings. Darn don't you hate it when Blogland collides with real life. I'll be out for a few weeks as I recover from having some surgery (the remainder of a hysterectomy) which is scheduled for October 30th. I will be sitting in my big comfy chair watching movies and stitching away on some fun projects, sipping sprite and feasting on chocolate, (doesn't sound so bad now does it ;), so I'll see you all as soon as I'm up and running again and can make is downstairs to the computer. Until then toodleloo!

Some Halloween Freebies & Fun Ideas

Ten more days til Halloween and still plenty of time for a few fun little projects, so I thought I'd put together a little list of freebies, some vintage images and some fun bloggy links. Enjoy!

Freebie Download Links
(click on the colored text)

Icecicle Favor Box A fun box with a Halloween Hoot Owl on it. Perfect for giving candy in to the kids, friends, co-workers, teachers etc. Don't forget to check out Seneca Pond Crafts website for more awesome printables!

Vintage Halloween Postcard Project Another great freebie from Seneca Pond Crafts .

Halloween Hang Tags Need some fun hang tags to dress up your candy or goody bags. Great for party favor tags or place tags too. Visit Ewe n Me Printables for more great items to print.

Pumpkins to sew and paint. These are too cute! Perfect for your halloween decor. From the talented Karen Nieforth of RK Creations

Crayon Jack This is a really cute project for decorating a kitchen towel. For grownups or kids! From the Happy Zombie

Halloween Tag A vintage/retro owl hangtag that would be great to add to goody bags and more. From Living Locurto

Projects to Make

Cookie Cutter Pumpkin I think this has to be my favorite idea of what to do with a pumpkin! Grab your cookie cutters and create one for yourself. By Making A Home

Glowing Halloween Candles Need some Halloween candles to lend that spooky ambience to your home--or maybe not so spooky. Try these by Molly and Marshall

Countdown to Halloween A really fun project for the kids that will help them countdown their anticipation to the big candy day! It's easy to do and there's still plenty of time to get it ready. From A Day in the Life

Another Twist on the Countdown to Halloween Same idea, different look! Let your creativity take over! From Just a Girl

How about a big Blog Party! That's just what you'll find at A Soft Place to Land There are 190!! blog links to follow to get even more ideas and don't forget to check out her cool pumpkin star. Hope you make it back in time for Halloween!

Now for a few freebie images that you can use however you'd like, just please right click and save them to your own computer. Enjoy!

A Bloggy Yard Sale!

I have got to get my drafting table cleared off, so I can get some work done in my sewing room, so I'm having a bloggy yard sale! If you see anything below just let me know.

Terms: I love Paypal the best(Paypal invoice upon request), but will also take Postal Money Orders.
I will gladly ship international--Paypal only and please email me for the correct shipping.

Shipping: I will gladly combine shipping and make it as cheap as possible. Just email me your zip code with what you want. (I've added weights in case you'd like to get an idea of what shipping would be--my zip is 83427).

If you have any questions or to check what's still available please email me at hazelruthe@yahoo.com and we'll go from there.

Thank you!

Here we go.....................

Mary Emmerling's American Country Classics 288 pgs 3.00 (ship weight 3lbs 10oz)

A little peek inside Mary's Book

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Glorious Country 256 pgs 3.00 (shipping weight 3lbs 5oz)

A peek inside at one of it's projects

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SOLD!

Discovering American Folk Art 96 pgs 3.00 (1lb 15oz)

A peek at a little project in the book

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Patchwork Pantry--it has quilt patterns & recipes. 110 pages 3.00 (shipping weight 1lb 8oz)

A peek at my favorite quilt in the book

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SOLD

Quilters Album of Blocks & Borders 198 pgs 3.00 ( 2 lbs 5 oz)

A look at a typical page in this book

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Your Family Heritage--Projects in Applique 95 pgs 2.50 (shpping weight 1lb 1 oz)

A peek at one of the pages in this book

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One of Kind Quilts 63 pgs 2.50 (shipping weight 9oz)

A look at one of its projects
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Garden Friends 8 projects 11 pages 2.00 (shipping weight 3 oz)

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SOLD

Sweet Seasons 1.00 (shipping weight 3 oz)

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Plain Jane-Roseanne 1.00 (shipping weight 3 oz)

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Tall Skinny Annie is 50inches tall (she is made from an old Ragged Edge Annie pattern). 12.50 plus shipping (weight is 3 lbs)

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Handpainted Americana set of bucket, bread pan, cutting board and stitched pillow. 5.00 for the Lot plus shipping (weight is 2lbs 6oz)

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Very Primitive Doll is 22 inches tall with clay over cloth face. 7.50 plus 4.95 shipping.

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Wool & Velvet Easter Ornie 6 1/2 inches. 3.00 plus shipping of 1.00

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Aqua Texas Ware--melamine/melamac--3 cups and 1 sugar bowl. 3.00 plus shipping (1 lb 5 oz)

Thanks for looking!

Dangerously Divine Chocolate Cake in a Mug

Are you ready for a divinely sinful treat! One that you can whip up quick as a wink and not have to share! This is so rich and chocolate and so quick and easy you won't believe it!

Dangerously Divine Chocolate Cake in a Mug

Serves 1

4 tablespoons flour
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons baking cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips
A small dash of vanilla flavoring
1 microwaveable coffee mug--regular size or soup size

You can mix this right in the mug if you'd like and no need to grease it.

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well
Add the egg and mix thoroughly.
Pour in the milk and oil and mix well.
Add the chocolate chips and vanilla flavoring... and mix again.

Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes on at full power. The cake
will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed! Allow to cool a
little, and tip out onto a plate if desired. EAT!

You can frost it if you'd like, but it's so rich and moist there's no need to. Try adding some whip cream on top. You can also use 2 Mounds or Almond Joy candy bar pieces and push them into the batter to bake or top with Hershey's Kisses or even a Reese's Cup. Other ideas--drizzle top with hot fudge or Hershey's chocolate syrup, caramel sauce, marshmallow cream and then chocolate frosting. Let your chocolate imagination run free and enjoy!!

These little mug cakes also make great gifts for friends and family. Either bake one up for someone and let them keep the mug or package all the dry ingredients and tuck into a mug along with the recipe and let them bake their own.

Here are a few links to some sites with free printable or downloadable recipe cards.....


PDF Printable recipe cards crock w/utensils

Sweet Treats

Berries and Cream

PDF Printable Cornucopia

Sweet Treats II

PDF Retro Fleur

Traditional Old Fashioned Index Card

A Bit of Halloween Decorating

I seem to have been in a fall funk lately, but it looks like it's lifted--yippee! I drug out part of my fall and Halloween decorations yesterday and got a bit of a start on decorating and thought I'd share it with you all.

The Halloween tree--minus the tree topper that is floating around in a box in the basement still....

A look at a few new ornies this year.....this happy little party pumpkin guy was created by Kim Lance of Kim's Prims & Whimsies

Witchy mouse--too cute! created by Nancy Evans

Frankenstein--and he's big! I love big ornies was created by Kathi Rode.

Another good sized ornie, this cute little prim pumpkin dude was created by DJ Collins.

Now for a few alumni who have hung around on the tree for a few years now.....I call this little witch Lucy, because she reminds me of Lucy on Charlie Brown. (she's not signed and I forget who made it--it's on the tip of my tongue too!)

Surprised Boo the pumpkin was made by Darlene Mariano

Ah, now this one is by Phyllis Shows. Phyllis and I have exchanged ornies for years now. I think we are each others best fans!

Smiling as big as he can Tom was made by Tracey/Jeanie Yarbrough of Me and Gabriel

I love this little pumpkin! He reminds me of Groucho Marx! He was created by Marla Milsap.

Doesn't this make you glad that you're not a witch--she's ugly! (made by me)

Wow, what a surprise these two were as they arrived in the mail yesterday while I was decorating. Aren't they awesome! I just love them! They were made by Kelley of With Hook & Needle. Thank you again Kelley! :)

A start on one corner of the mantle in the living room.....

...and in the opposite corner another start. Gotta unpack a few more boxes and see what I have that I've forgotten about since last year.

A close-up of a few ornies on my little feather tree....the little witch in training was created by Kim of Kim's Prims & Whimsies

This little surprised goblin girl-complete with paper mask was created by Tracey/Jeanie of Me & Gabriel.

And the last for today is this oh too cute domino kitty by Phyllis Shows.

Now to go dig out the rest of the boxes and finish up!

What a Huge Honor!

What a huge honor! I've been chosen as a recipient of the Wymzee Arts 2008 Award! They have written up the absolute nicest article--now to live up to it! LOL! I hope if you get a minute you'll pop over to the Wymzee Art Friends Showcase Blog site and read all about it as well as all of the other wonderful artists. I am truly honored. Thank You Wymzee Arts!!