Crocheted Cupcake Booties and a New Cupcake Painting

Hot off the press!  I just finished, photographed, and listed this painting on eBay.  To view the auction, just click on the title:

"Cupcake Masterpiece"

A dark chocolate cupcake with blue buttercream frosting is painted on top of an old worn and wrinkled recipe decoupaged to the top of a canvas. Tiny orange confetti is sprinkled on top of the fluffy frosting and scatters below the cupcake. Globs of blue frosting leak from the piping bag tempting the taste buds. A decorative black and white cupcake liner adds even more appeal to this yummy cupcake. A wide black and white dotted ribbon wraps around the edges of the canvas and ties in a bow at the top.

Recently on facebook I mentioned to someone that I had crocheted some "cupcake booties" (of course) and she wanted to know where I got the pattern.  Needless to say I couldn't find that message again so that I could share that information with her.  Hopefully she will see this post.  I made these cute booties on craft night using the directions from one of my favorite Etsy stores.  If you like to crochet, this store is a dream and her instructions are easy to follow.  I've used many of her patterns to make slippers for myself too.  I'll try to remember to share those soon.  Check out Holland Designs for the best patterns ever!

Doesn't everyone know some charming little lady who's cute little pink toes would love these! 

A New Autumn Look and a New Cupcake Painting

I decided to cool down by adding a new Autumn header to my blog.  These 100 degree temperatures keep me inside where it's cool. There's lots of gardening that needs to be done like pulling out fried flowers, deadheading, and weeding.  All I've gotten done is watering though.

I've added a new cupcake painting to my Etsy store.

That's what I was doing instead of gardening.  If you're interested, you can check it out here.

A colorful sweet cupcake topped with a bright red cherry is painted on top of an old worn and wrinkled recipe decoupaged to the top of a canvas. Swirls of blue frosting coat the top of this vanilla treat in a red and white dotted wrapper.

What are you doing to keep cool?

New Porch Pillows

Remember those pillows I kept saying I was going to make with my "tea toweling by the yard" fabric?  Well they're done and they are just the touch I needed to finish off the deck and gazebo.  Click on the photos for a closer view.

The perfect spot to sip a glass of lemonade....

or read a good book.

Yes!  They're reversible....

Which side do you like best?

This week I finished a very fun special order that I will share soon.

Next week I plan to spend more time in my garden.

I did take time to make this teacup birdfeeder this summer...

I also plan to spend more time doing this....

I'll also be making time to pick peaches at the orchard.  This was the end of last years peaches.

I'm not taking any more orders for now.  I have one left to finish and then I'll be spending time creating new paintings for my shops. 

Paige's Pink Petal Cake

Paige is my dear friend, Linda's, granddaughter.  She's another very special (13 yrs. old) sweet young lady loaded with talent.  Paige signed up for a cake decorating class and sent me this photo of her first cake: 

I'm so amazed by the talented three young ladies that I have posted about:

Lindsay Grace, Makayla, and Paige

These three ladies have so much talent and vision in their lives!

I did a painting for Paige to honor her first creation:

Pretty Paige's Pink Petal Cake was her first cake decorating experience. What a delight to the eye and a treat for the tummy!

We are all very proud of you young lady!

This little painting is now available as a print in my Etsy and eBay stores.


  

Coffee Cake Cupcake New Print

My new print, "Coffee Cake Cupcake" in now available in my eBay store and my etsy store.

Tucked into the center of this delicious cupcake is a filling made of brown sugar, toasted pecans, and ground cinnamon. This scrumptious treat is topped with a fluffy layer of cinnamon butter cream frosting.

Compare my garden bike to last years photo in my blog header.  I think the cone flowers are about to take it over. Click on the photos for a closer view.

I'll try to get a new photo to replace the above header so you can see the difference between this year and last.

Is anyone having trouble with their Knock Out roses this year?  Mine have been in the ground around 4 years and I've lost several this year.  In the spring they all looked great and bloomed beautifully.  Then one by one they started turning brown (not due to lack of water) and dying out.  I've now dug up 4 bushes.  It's almost like someone is spraying them with Round Up. 

Two Weeks of Pure Joy!

Guess who's home?

Our son, Eric, got home July 1st from Spain.  He will be home for three months and will return there to teach for another school year.  His sister sure looks happy to see his smiling face!

I'm thinking the dogs look pretty happy too!

We've had so much fun with our niece, Makayla, too.  She spent the last two weeks with us and we definitely hope this will be an annual event. 

She made gluten free cupcakes for our "craft night".  Amber is allergic to gluten and Makayla made her a special treat.

I think she could make some money selling cupcakes!

I gave Makayla one of her great grandmother's aprons. She packed it carefully away and then chose this one to wear while she was baking.  My friend, Winnie, gave this cute polka dot number to me.  I love my aprons and wear them all the time. 

Looks like she could have her own baking show!

This is Makayla's "craft night" project.  She had never painted before and decided she wanted to paint this brick doorstop.  This gal is full of talent.  It's amazing how young people aren't afraid to jump right in and learn something new.

Pretty amazing don't you think!

We went to the Lawson Picnic which is where my hubby and I had our first date.  Makayla and Eric had a great time on the rides.

The petting zoo is always a big hit too.

and last, but not least....

she had her first motorcylce ride with her uncle Rick.

We already miss you! 

Scott Cox as Thom Pain

I'm still on my vacation, but had to stop in to let you know that if you are in the Kansas City area, come by to see my Son In Law in his one man play:

Celebrate 4th of July Cupcake Painting

This little 5" x 7" cupcake painting, "Celebrate", is up for auction on eBay. 

Celebrate the 4th with a bang and a sweet patriotic treat! This delightful confection is baked inside a red and white striped paper liner then topped with blue frosting and sprinkled with tiny white stars. A lit sparkler is tucked into the top of the cupcakeand a red and white checked ribbon is wrapped around the edges of the canvas and tied in a bow at the top.

Our son, Eric, will be home from Spain July the 1st, so I'm going to be busy getting his room cleaned and preparing for his homecoming.  The 1st can't seem to get here quick enough for me!

Baby Cakes Chocolate Cake

I finally had time to add a new painting to my Etsy Store. 

Dusted with confectioner's sugar, this two layer chocolate cake is sandwiched between sweet buttercream frosting. Dainty pink and aqua roses grace the top of this treat to the eye and is proudly displayed atop a yellow pedestal cake plate. A pink and white checked bow is wrapped around the edges of the canvas and tied in a bow at the top.

I'm planning to work on a 4th of July cupcake this week and then will probably take a little break from painting.  My niece is coming this weekend to spend a couple of weeks with us.  Yeah!!

Yard Work

This is why I haven't been blogging much lately:

It's great having a husband that has so much talent!  I love how he can turn a mud hole into a work of art.  Thanks honey!

We found these great chairs at Westlake Hardware and bought six just in case they ran out of this color.  On the table are fresh picked peonies from our garden.

Another view of our new stone patio from a different angle.

A view at night showing our ghost.  Everyone who has ever lived in this house tells us it's haunted.  Strange things do happen, but we've been very happy here for nine years now, so I guess the ghost likes us!

I'm sorry that I've forgotten to answer two questions from my readers. 

#1.  Is that your garden in the header?

Yes.  That photo was taken last year and hopefully that area will look even nicer this year so I can change the header.

#2.  Where did you get the "tea toweling by the yard" shown in a previous post?

That has been a secret because I wanted more yardage.  When I went to the website they only had one yard left.  I was being selfish because I didn't want them to sell out before I got more.  They informed me that they had more on order and they would let me know when it arrives.  I feel guilty for hiding this information from you and I'm now going to share it:

Sorry I had to remove this link because it now routes to a porn site.  How awful is that!

A Little Green Thumb Gardening

My daughter thinks I have a green thumb.  So, last month she got her father and I to come visit to help with their yard.  We placed some plants in this cute little area off her kitchen door and placed little saucers in the dirt for edging.  I love her rooster dinner bell!

The wagon wheel was already there and will look great as a backdrop to the flowers.

Last year I painted these chairs for their porch and made them some pillows from an old tablecloth.  Amber and I planted some ferns behind them that we took from our garden.

Amber and Scott love to visit wineriers and have edged a few of their flower beds with wine bottles.

The guys were busy building this raised box for their vegetables.

The house number sign that I made as part of their wedding gift was placed by the front door.


Amber and I got busy planting and mulching everything.

Looks to me like someone else is developing a very green thumb!