Come Out Come Out Where Ever You Are...

Now that my studio has been "re-vamped" I have a hard time leaving here...My daughter comes home from school and yells, "Hi Mom", as she comes in the door...she knows exactly where I am. My other daughter comes home from work, "Hi Mom" as she walks in and heads to the kitchen...and then my husband arrives and hollers to me up the stairs, "Hi hon". They all know where I am...in my craft room of course...creating! I have everything I need up here, my supplies, my computer, my treasures! What else could a girl want?

And then I hear an almost synchronized and familiar call from all three of them..."What's for dinner?" ... hurray for crock pots!

Here are a few of my latest creations available at Cottage Cozy Boutique...enjoy!

It's Puppy Friday!

Did someone say it was "PuppyFriday"? I thought I saw that somewhere...Well here is my tribute to Man's or Woman's Best Friend. It was as fun to make as it would be to give to any "Dog Lover" especially if they have a cute little Westie!

I will be putting it up for sale at my etsy shop...but if anyone is interested in purchasing it just let me know...$10.95...SOLD...By the way...I need a new camera...any suggestions?

Hurray it's Friday and the temperature will be in the 80's here in Portland, Oregon!

SOLD... thanks Judy!

Confessions of an Organizing Junkie...

As you might suspect from my previous post...I love to organize and be organized!

I just feel that if everything has "a home" it is much easier to keep tidy and you can actually "use" what you have on hand! I find myself being more creative when I keep my space "together".

Since receiving so many awesome comments about my newly re-decorated space...I thought I would share a few of the simple & easy organizing tools that I used. Perhaps you can incorporate one of these ideas into your work area. I am sure you have some of the items I used right at home! I rarely go out and buy something new...I find containers & holders at garage sales and thrift stores. In fact most often they were originally meant for a different purpose. I have fun discovering alternate ways to use ordinary objects...
Even more fun would be for YOU to share an organizing tip with all of us...so leave a comment with your cool & creative idea ...and we can all do some "Spring Cleaning".


I use these cupcake tins to sort my flowers...I find bouquets and stems and cut off the blooms I want to use and toss the rest. Then I sort them by color and style.

This is a magnetic spice rack...found in the clearance section at Target for $4.00...Here is another Spice Rack...this one is a turntable style from Goodwill..only $1.99!
I used plain old curtain tension rods placed across my built-in bookshelves to hold my ribbons. Oh my goodness I just love this...they turn so easily and many times I have to grab several colors at one time so this works great! Doesn't it just make you want to start gift wrapping?Does your husband have a garage tool chest he is not using...go ahead and dump out those nails & screws and fill it up with goodies. (He'll never know...)I keep many of my die-cuts in here...by category of course. By the way... I couldn't live without (well of course I could) but I absolutely relish my label maker ( I must admit I have two)...you must get one if you don't have one already. I use it all around my house...one day I will show you my baking cupboard...it is "label heaven"! Now don't go turning me in to "Organizers Anonymous"...I haven't labeled my husband or kids yet...although that's not a bad idea....I forget their names often enough!
Don't feel you have to stick to Mason Jars for storage...I clean out pickle jars, mayonnaise, baby food...whatever...and use them all...To remove the labels Don't feel you have to stick to Mason Jars for storage...I clean out pickle jars, mayonnaise, baby food...whatever...and use them all...To remove the labels (that's crazy...now I am going to take the label off...) well I place the jar in the sink and let the hottest water run over it for several minutes...then I scrap off the label using a sponge with soap. That usually does the trick, but if the label doesn't come off all the way...I use either "Goo Gone", I try this first as it is more mild but if it is still stubborn, I take out the big guns..."Goof Off" (you practically need a gas mask for this one) but it works!
Big Cookie Jars are "way" fun...I find these turntables at thrift stores all the time. Typically used in the kitchen I use three of them in my craft room!
Well there's a few of my ideas...now tell us yours!

ONE MORE THING...My sister Diane at Saturday Finds is having a fabulous 100th Post Giveaway. Go visit her and sign up! Here is a sneak peek...
YOU GO GIRL!

I have been a busy bee...

Sorry to have been away for awhile...but I have been very BUSY! I have been re-vamping and re-orgainizing my Studio! It may not be the most beautiful space...I don't think it would make it into "Somerset Studios"...but I have everything right at hand, out where I can clearly see it. And instead of being hidden away from the rest of the family in an extra bedroom or an out of the way bonus room, I am right in the middle of everything...so I don't miss a thing!

I work from home running my Craft/Party/Ebay/Etsy/Gift Business and my studio is also a creative spot for scrapbooking, sewing, quilting and anything else that gets your creative juices flowing! And the best thing about it is that you can leave right in the middle of a project and return to find it waiting for you! No need to put it all away midstream to use the dining room table! (I did a lot of that over the years!) With a family of seven there was never much "extra" space!

It was a big job! You know how it goes...every time you move one thing around it has a ripple effect...I gave myself until today to have it completed...and it is DONE! Whew!

No excuse now...I must get to work (or should I say play)!
Hope you enjoy the pictures...

This is a picture coming up the stairs to my studio. I try to use that exercise bike...I really do!

Ooops, you caught me with my TV on...I have a Bernina 1090 sewing machine, about 12 years old...it runs like a dream!ooooh fabric...Mason Jars are great for "See-Thru" storage!I hung my ribbon & tulle on tension curtain rods!This window looks out into our Atrium! It is a 4-walled atrium that has windows looking into our kitchen, living room, entry area, and hallway downstairs and upstairs into my studio!
Looking down into the atrium...it was difficult to get a good photo because of all the glare...
This is the view from that same window gazing above the atrium.
My "packing" area...
The view from the window of my packing area...the garden is growing and the Japanese Maple tree is filling out!
This is looking down from the top of the stairs leaving my studio...my african violets are blooming.
In addition to my studio at the top of our stairway...as you come up to the right are my two daughters bedrooms and their bathroom, and to the left is a guest room. My studio is in the center of the upstairs, kind of like a large loft!
Well...there you are...my "Creative Treehouse"!
I hope you enjoyed the tour!

Mom...You're Incredible!

My daughter, Grace, my mom and me!

My mom is incredible. She raised 7 kids all by herself since my youngest sibling was only 2 years old! And despite having to work outside of the home and at times more than one job...you could always count on her. She relied on God and prayer every day and always let us know we were loved! And although there was little money and rarely extras she willingly sacrificed for her children and always put us first!

No politician or CEO or billionaire philanthropist does anything that is more important than what a mother does. There is no special trophy or award given a mother...but the eternal impact she can make is more important than anything else in this world.

I want you to remember, Mom, that although there were many days and nights that challenged your strength and tested your character, and at times it seemed the world worked overtime to minimize your calling...your role as a mother has always been beyond compare...its' importance grander than any other job or occupation.

I owe you more than I could ever truly repay, Mom...but I will continue to try each day to honor you by being the kind of mother that would make you proud!

I love You, Mom...more than you know...you're incredible
I made this for my mom...and I am going to send it to her in California...I hope she likes it!
It swivels around...
...to this side!
I am going to include some Strawberry Scones too!

They are delicious...and low fat!

Strawberry Yogurt Scones

Ingredients:
1 ½ cups all purpose flour
2/3 cup whole wheat flour
½ cup sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. baking soda
¼ tsp. salt
¾ cup diced strawberries
2/3 cup strawberry yogurt
3 tbsp. butter, melted
½ tsp. grated orange rind
1 large egg white, lightly beaten
cooking spray
2 tsp. sugar

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400°. Combine flours, ½ cup sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Combine strawberries, yogurt, butter, orange rind and egg white; add to flour mixture, stirring until just moist.

Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. With hands well floured, knead the dough four times. Pat into an 8” circle on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Cut into 8 wedges. Sprinkle with 2 tsp. sugar. Bake for 20 min

F.Y.I... For all you Shabby & Chic gals...I have this adorable Pink Beaded Little Girl with her Poodle and Matching Flower Basket on ebay right now...it would be a great addition to your "Pink" Decor. Click here Pink Poodle Girl


Happy Mother's Day to all my fellow Blogging Moms!