Create a fast Valentine Love Letter Pillowcase! Sew a Sewing Machine Apron/Oraganizer! Bake the Most Beautiful Double-Chocolate Rose Cupcakes EVER! Make a Valentine Breakfast! Crochet a Summer Shawl! Make an Easy Frayed and Knotted Scarf! Embroider a Branching Out Heart! Piece a Color Optics Quilt Pattern! How to Make Valentine Eggs! DIY a Felted Hot Water Bottle Cover! Sew a Primitive Button Heart! Nail Heart for Valentine’s Weekend! Create a Monogram Topiary! PLUS . . . Recipes, Videos, Inspiration, Creativity, Ideas, and More!

ARTspiration

Artists or art that turns me on and feeds my muse! Like it or dislike it, what about this art inspires your own art or creativity? This is artist Alison Blickle’s “New Keys” done in 2015. Oil on canvas and glazed ceramics.

YOKE DU YOUR 

When a man on the staff of the school became engaged, a friend and colleague offered him some advice. 

‘The first ten years are the hardest.’ 

‘How long have you been married?’ he asked. 

‘Ten years’, she replied.

DESIGNspiration

Look around you. Design is everywhere! How can you incorporate the beauty that surrounds you into your art or craft?

IDEA I LOVE

 

Fiber folks!  I love this Love Note pillowcase! You simply write out your personal thoughts on fabric and whip up a simple pillowcase.  It’s not too late!  Grab some solid fabric and impress your Valentine!  Here’s how:

http://www.brides.com/blogs/aisle-say/2016/02/diy-valentines-day-craft-pillowcase-love-notes.html

IDEA I LOVE

Here’s another pretty sewing machine apron and organizer.   If you’re like me, you’ll need to make two!  One for under your machine and the other to wrap around your neck to catch crumbs and to safely hold your Twix, Hershey Bars, Good n Plenty, and an array of Little Debbies.   Here’s how you make yours:

http://www.sew4home.com/projects/storage-solutions/sewing-machine-apron-organizer-fabric-depot

YUMMY VALENTINE’S DAY BREAKFAST!

RED VELVET WAFFLES with                  CREAM CHEESE ICING DRIZZLE

INGREDIENTS:

• red velvet cake mix, plus the ingredients listed on the box
• cream cheese, softened
• powdered sugar
• vanilla extract
• pinch of salt
• warm milk
• mixed berries
• sugar

FOR THE FULL RECIPE, CLICK HERE: http://www.tasteandtellblog.com/red-velvet-waffles-with-cream-cheese-icing-drizzle/

IDEA I LOVE

Summer is coming and you’re going to need this Vanna White glamorous Summer Sonata crocheted shawl.  It won’t make you sweat but will keep any early summer chill at bay.  Plus, it’s pretty and looks like lace.  Here’s the pattern:

http://www.michaels.com/lion-brand-vannas-glamour-summer-sonata-crochet-shawl/B_80255.html?productsource=projects#start=26

SO DRINK, CHUG-A-LUG CHUG-A-LUG

THE ROMEO & JULIET COCKTAIL

Ingredients:

Patron Silver tequila
Grand Marnier
cherry or Chambord raspberry liquor
peach juice
maraschino cherries
Orange spiral

For the Full Recipe Click Here: http://www.hgtv.com/content/hgtv-com/en/design/make-and-celebrate/entertaining/articles/2012/r/romeo-and-juliet-cocktail.html

 

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IDEA I LOVE

You can look like Cupid this weekend by just grabbing some red fabric, fray  it then knot it, for a Valentine’s Day scarf (and it’s totally cold enough out there).  It’ll take you an hour, max, and it will give you an excuse to go fabric shopping!   Here’s where you start:

www.skiptomylou.org/knotted-frayed-scarf-tutorial/

WORDS TO LIVE BY

 

IDEA I LOVE

 

Here’s a free embroidery pattern called a Heart Branching Out.  I am a simple chain stitch embroiderer. I’d love to see some modern embroiderer take a needle-stab at this.  It’s all about the color and texture.  Floss is cheap. Why not try your hand at it.  Here’s where you can download the design:

http://www.needlenthread.com/2016/01/heart-branching-out-free-hand-embroidery-pattern.html

MAN CAN LIVE BY BREAD ALONE!

APPLE CINNAMON CARAMEL

MONKEY BREAD

 

HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

apple filling
apples
granulated sugar
ground cinnamon
lemon
unsalted butter

dough
milk
unsweetened apple juice
granulated sugar
salt
unsalted butter
bread flour
active dry yeast

brown sugar coating
light brown sugar, packed
ground cinnamon
unsalted butter

icing
powdered sugar
milk or water
vanilla extract

FOR THE FULL RECIPE, CLICK THE LINK: http://userealbutter.com/2016/01/27/apple-cinnamon-caramel-monkey-bread-recipe/

MEMBA?

 

There was nothing better than scoring a Popsicle during a hot summer day.  I remember when they were .50-cents!  It was the wrapper, the red ball, that caught our eye and now brings a sense of nostalgia.  Sometimes the paper would freeze to the popsicle and we’d lick it until it came off.  Trying to seperate the frozen treats wasn’t for the faint of art either. If you wanted to share your popsicle, you had better find a sharp counter top edge or (in my ‘hood) a fairly even street curb. Memba? 

 

And now a word from our sponsor . . .

 MUST HAVE

I must have a piece of this cross stitch furniture by Copenhagen based and educated furniture designer Ellinor Ericsson! A significant trademark is the application of textiles in her furniture, which often root in traditional handicraft techniques.

http://ellinorericsson.com/

COOKIES!

SACHER TORTE HEART COOKIES

Ingredients:

• all purpose flour
• cocoa powder
• almond meal or flour
• powdered sugar
• salt
• unsalted butter
• egg
• marzipan
• apricot marmalade or jam
• dark rum
•  bittersweet chocolate chips or good quality bittersweet chocolate
• heavy cream

FOR

THE FULL RECIPE, CLICK HERE:  http://www.diaryofamadhausfrau.com/2016/02/sacher-torte-cookies.html#more

JUST BECAUSE, I SWOON

These pieces are by Indian designer, Manish Arora, for  Indian couture week in 2014.  His design work just rocks.  There is nothing of his I don’t love.  Take a look.  I’d love to know what you think.  http://www.manisharora.com/

LOL 

IDEA I LOVE!

BE DAZZLED!

 

 Boucheron presented three eagle-inspired Chinha rings in a classic trio of  ruby, sapphire and emerald. This is the sapphire version. Only $75,900.oo (you’re worth it).

http://us.boucheron.com/en_us/chinha-the-eagle-ring.html#details

PATCHWORK, BABY!

Who wouldn’t love this Essentials Color Optics quilt from Wilmington Prints? It certainly looks enough to piece and the different block scales add some fun visual interest and movement.  Follow the link for the free pattern:

http://www.wilmingtonprints.com/projects/essentials-color-optics-project

 

SHOEspiration

Gucci ‘Malin’ Studded Sandal,$1,500.00.The shoe is featured on the inside pages of the new Vanity  Fair magazine, where I found it. Get yours here:

 

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/gucci-malin-sandal/4263112?origin=category-personalizedsort&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=&resultback=370 

 

IDEA I LOVE

Whether you’re sick or just cold, it’s worth making this easy felted wool hot water bottle cover. We have more than several cold weeks ahead of us, cupcake.  Click the link for how to make your cover — while you’re at it, why not applique something wonderful on it?

http://www.purlsoho.com/create/2014/01/12/mollys-sketchbook-felted-wool-hot-water-bottle-cover/

IDEA I LOVE

 

You heard it here first.  I think ‘primitive’ style is on its way back.  Here is a simple Valentine Heart to whip up in minutes.  I love the casual look of prim.  It works almost everywhere. Why not embroider your Valentine’s name on it? Here’s the tutorial:

http://www.lovetosew.com/buttonpillow.htm 

 

 

DESSERT!

A DOZEN DOUBLE CHOCOLATE ROSE CUPCAKES with                                      VANILLA BEAN BUTTER CREAM

HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

Chocolate cupcakes
unsweetened cocoa powder
all-purpose flour
sugar
baking soda
baking powder
salt
eggs
hot water
heavy cream
canola or other vegetable oil
vanilla extract

Ganache filling
chopped bittersweet or semisweet chocolate
heavy cream

Vanilla bean buttercream
unsalted butter, softened
vanilla bean or vanilla bean paste
Milk or heavy cream, optional

FOR THE FULL RECIPE, CLICK HERE:  http://www.sprinklebakes.com/2016/02/a-dozen-rose-cupcakes.html

IDEA I LOVE

Recently, I noticed that Micheal’s Arts and Crafts looks like a letter  depository.  There are aisles full of all sizes and types of letters.  To quote Nancy Kerrigan, “Whhhhhhhhhhy?”  If you are so inspired, immortalize a letter in faux monogram topiary.  Here’s how:

http://www.shrimpsaladcircus.com/diy-monogram-topiary/?utm_campaign=shareaholic&utm_medium=email_this&utm_source=emai

 

 

IDEA I LOVE

These nails are sweet enough to say ‘Be My Valentine’ without looking like a stripper. Here’s a tutorial on how to create this nail art:

http://nailartsdesign.com/valentines-day-heart-nail-art-tutorial/

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