T.........a Da!

February Goal Update:

So far, I'm doing well with my February goals. A final update will be given next week. As some of you may remember, one of my goals was to introduce at least one new product. Well, here it is!!

Friends have been testing these new, heavy duty scrubbies and the results have been a resounding thumbs up! They have two layers of netting and for that reason are thicker and sturdier than ever. Just like their cousins, the single ply scrubbies, they have multiple uses: dish scrubbing, pot scrubbing, glass cleaning, wind shield and car hood and grille cleaning, and heel exfoliating to name a few.


They also wash up in the dishwasher or in a bag in the washer and air dry, so they're eco friendly. They're made from nyon netting that is kind to fine dishes and glasses, but tough on stuck on food. They come in a variety of colors. More will be introduced later.

Now here is the best part....a giveaway!! Anyone who follow my blog or elects to follow my blog, can submit a new use for these heavy duty scrubbies. The person we feel comes up with the best use that is not already listed, will receive a set of these!

So enter as often as you like by posting a comment here (or notifying me personally) through Friday, March 5. The winner will be announced on March 6. Good luck!!

A..........lmost Wordless Wednesday 3

Not to be outdone by her "brother", Katydid shows how she copes with the Wisconsin winter!

C.........elebrate Family!

Each year, to celebrate birthdays of family members and close friends, I try to design a new birthday card that can be made in various colors for them all. This year, using a balloon punch, these "bouquets" of balloons are personalized. One of these is shown below. But the one that to me is most special is the one (to the left) that I made for my great nephew, a Marine serving in Afghanistan. The balloons are punched from camouflage paper and tied with a discreet sheer, gray ribbon. What do you do special for folks who serve in the military?

A..........lmost Wordless Wednesday 2

How Kirby copes with the long Wisconsin winter:

A..........pplesauce

One of my fellow Etsy Bloggers, Mystic Wynd, inspired me to create in a non-crafting way and blog about it today. You can find her shop at http://mysticwynd.etsy.com/ She is doing a series about our five senses and her post today was about smells. So off to the kitchen I went for some McIntosh apples, a paring knife, cutting board and our slow cooker. In about 20 minutes I had the apples pared, cored and chopped and into the water. After draining the apples, I added 1/4 cup of sugar (which for those of you with greater will power could omit), some cinnamon and 1/4 cup of water.

Then the slow cooking, (on low) began. Within a couple of hours, the most fabulous smell was emanating throughout the house, bringing back so many memories of my mom's and grandma's kitchens. After a couple more hours and a stirring or two, it was ready to make a great warm dessert for dinner.

Why not try some yourself? You won't be disappointed! It doesn't take long, and it's s.........ooo much better than store bought applesauce! Other types of apples, especially baking apples, work well too. This makes 4-6 servings and really doesn't take that much time to make. It's heart healthy as well...especially if you add very little or no sugar.

In the first picture, you might have noticed in the upper portion a small part of our wonderful lazy susan. This is from another wonderful Etsy shop: http://woodmosaics.etsy.com/ If you're in the market for one, you can't go wrong with Robin's intricate work!

A..........lmost Wordless Wednesday

If our neighbor's birdhouse and storage shed don't say "Wisconsin", I don't know what does!

P.........resenting: TiLT Creations

Bags, bags, bags...from backpacks to wristlets, clutches to totes, the place to shop for them is: TiLT creations, http://tiltcreations.etsy.com I've chosen to show you a mini duffel bag not only sewn and designed by her, but hand painted with a tree of life! The leaves are fabric and sequins which provide just the right touch of "splash". It is 21" long and 5 1/2" in diameter, a perfect size when you want to avoid a large, bulky bag. It would be so easy to carry! Of course I thought of knitting projects. It would hold all kinds of needles! But it would also work for a shopping trip or a quick visit to the gym. You would certainly never see another like it. She also makes use of fabulous, rich fabrics in her designs and just visiting her shop is a treat. Congratulations to TiLT, our Etsy Blogger of the month!