Sweet Finds

Makin' Plans

I'm Over-the-Top ExCiteD!

I'm makin' plans to go to Georgia

for Jenn Hayslip's second event,

Petticoats & Parasols.

 
I attended her 1st event last year, En Le Jardin,

but sadly missed the "art" portion due to my

daughter's dance recital.  However, that won't be

a problem this year.   Tee-hee.

I plan on attending the entire event!

Actually, It seems things keep getting better & better.

Sherry of  Sherry's Rose Cottage has graciously invited

me to her home.  It was featured in the

Country Victorian Magazine,  here   

... and I am dying to see it in person.

I wonder if I'll be staying in her pink & aqua room?  : )

Anyhoo,  I fly in Tuesday.   Sherry & Jennifer Grenko

are planning a day of shopping for us

before we drive to Savannah on Thursday.

-

 I'm getting excited just thinking about it!

Jenn's event will be held here,

at the Ford Plantation.

 And Jo Packham will be attending as the Guest Speaker.

   

It will be great to hear Jo speak again.

She had everyone in tears at Silver Bella.

During the retreat, I'll be rooming with

Bryanna & Cassandra,  which I am also

looking forward too.   Eeek!  : )

Shopping, site-seeing, crafting, vendor night,

cupcakes, Jo & lots of friends...

see why I'm soooo excited???

-
 I think Jenn has a couple of seats open.

You should come!  : )

Christmas Sampler

I've been working on this

"Christmas Sampler".

Little by little.  A few stitches here & there. 

You know... When I have time. When I want too.  :)

I really like the way it turned out!

I'd say, it's my first "true" sampler.

I tried a variety of "new to me"  stitches:

(the knotted stitch to the right of the tree)

The entire piece {sampler} is fairly simple.

But, I really enjoyed seeing it come to life!

 I think it's a cute keepsake...

and it sure to be a nice addition

 to my Christmas decor for next year.  : )

Happy New Year,

Joanna

Christmas Toys

Guess what I picked up today?

I've been wanting one forever!

It will fit in perfectly with the other

Christmas toys...

Give up???   : )

LOL

Today, I found this wonderful, vintage sled!

... and it was only $23.

Can you believe it?

I just wish I had had it yesterday

or on Christmas Eve...

When it was actually SNOWING!

(could of taken some cute pics)

Have a great New Years!

**I'll be back soon to share my Christmas sampler...

It's finally finished!

Holiday Gatherings

Last weekend,  I was one of the many

Texas Bellas that

attended a holiday gathering at "the Church"

... as in Shea & Debbie's Church.

 

 It's taken them a year or so, but they have

renovated this old Church into a wonderful home.

It's AMAZING!

Absolutely breath taking.

Take a look...

 

 

We mingled.

Eat.  And Mingled some more.

 

Then got cozy in their craft room,

 

 

and crafted a little.

After a scrumptious dinner,

we all gathered in front of the fire place

and exchanged gifts "White Elephant" style.

We were all asked to bring a Bella worthy gift.

Hmmm...

which, in my mind,  translates too~

homemade,  bling-ish, and glittered

So, I made a this:

a Pink Sugared House,

which was 'passed around' a coupled of times

and ended up in Debbie's hands .  : )

Anyhoo,  the evening was wonderful!

It was great to spend time with some of

my Bella sisters again...  esp. so close to the holidays.

xoxo, Joanna

learning something new

I've been learning some new stuff lately!

I wish I could say it was a new crafting

technique or a way to help me keep my

craft room more organized,

but it's not.  : )

It's more like a crash course in

Healthy & Unhealthy levels of

Cholesterol, learning to control mine,

and coming up with a game plan for a better ME.

I've spoken to a couple of friends   

about my new situation. 

It's funny.  I'm finding that people

have really strong opinions about

medication,   for  OR against.

And honestly,  it's all

 a little overwhelming.

My doctor wants me to try the

Mediterranean diet before starting

me on medication.

So, that's what I'm going to do.

A good diet and some exercise.

I'm just not motivated!  : (

I'm blaming it on the weather...

and hoping my mind-set changes soon.

After all,  my arteries are counting on it.  LOL 

So,  do you have any good snack  or easy meal suggestions?

hugs, Joanna

Frosted Holiday Trees

Hey Dolls!

How are you?

Can you believe it's already December?

I thought it would be fun to participate

in Jessi's Cookie Exchange

again this year.

 

 I found a "new to me" recipe that

I wanted to share...

 

Frosted Holiday Trees

I know!  It's not much of a "cookie".

But I fell in love with the idea,

and thought it would make a

cute & simple project for

those of you with little ones.

Recipe:

* 1 box Betty Crocker Original Supreme

brownie mix (w/Choc. syrup pouch)

water, veg. oil & eggs called for on brownie mix box

* 2 - 3 drops of green food color

* 1 cup vanilla frosting

* Miniature candy canes (2 in.) unwrapped

* Red & Green candy sprinkles
 

1.) Heat oven to 350 F.  Line a 13x 9-in. pan with foil

so foil extends about 2 inches over short sides of pan.

Grease bottom only of foil with cooking spray or shortening.

 

2.) Make & bake brownies as directed on box for 13x9-in. pan,

using water, oil & eggs. 

Cool completely ( about 1 hr.)

Remove brownies from pan by lifting the foil.

Peel the foil away.  To cut brownies into triangles,

cut lengthwise into 3 rows.  Cut each row into 7 triangles.

3.) Stir food color into frosting.  Spoon frosting into small

resealable plastic baggie (particially sealed).

Cut off tiny bottom corner of bag.  Squeeze bag to pipe

frosting over brownies.  Let your children sprinkle with decors.

  

4.) Break off curved end of candy cane.  Insert straight piece

into bottoms of triangles to make tree trunks.

 

5.)  Serve to your little ones.  Eat & be merry!  : )

Hope you enjoy!

Happy Holidays,

Joanna

A pretty site

Woo hoo!

It's snowing here!  :)

What a wonderful surprise to wake up too!

It's pretty odd for Dallas...

esp. this time a year!

So, I wanted to document it,

and say...

Oh, what a pretty site!

 

Snow, here,  is so odd...

my 14 yr. old son believes school is

canceled.   LOL    But it's not.

The snow isn't even "sticking" yet.

But it sure is a pretty to watch the

white flakes fall!  : )

Wishing you a great day!

Hugs, Joanna 

100 Aprons

100 Aprons...

that was our Silver Bella "Market" theme this year.

The postcard Theresa created said, 

"Just tie one on"

so, that's what we did!

 

Litereately,  I think everyone was sporting

an apron of some sort.

Vintage, kitchy, eye-catching, dolled up...

Being from Texas,

I thought it would be fun to wear

my Grandma's red & white gingham apron.

Nothing fancy.

I rolled my jeans up a little,

threw on a white t-shirt, grandma's apron,

and made some cute pig-tails.

Very "Texas",  I thought!   tee-hee

I loved seeing everyone dressed up...

but the fun part, for me,

(aside from shopping),

was saying...

"it was my grandma's apron!"   : )

 

 

I'm Home!

I'm Home from Silver Bella!!!

A trail of glitter and the cold weather have

definitely followed me from Omaha!

Anyhoo, It's hard to believe...

this spectacular event

has come & gone!

The weekend was long and packed

with tons activities. 

My classes were incredible... 

loved, loved, loved them.

Met up with lots of friends,

participated in some awesome swaps,

and came home very, very tired!  : ) 

Here are a couple of pics from Thursday:

Jessi's Bella Bus Tour:

 

(me & Gina Grable)

 

(Jessi-  passing out gifts)

 

(Stacy McGinnis & Natalie Hansen)

The Glitter Lounge:

 

 

 

(Jenn Hayslip & myself)

(Stacy McGinnis, Suzanne Duda & Tiffany K-Dixon)

(Robin)

 

(Natalie & myself)

Welcome Dinner:

(me, Alisa Noble, & Heather Ales)

(Cheryl Stoneham, myself, & Joy Campbell)

(me & Mendy M.)

 

(me & Maija Lepore)



...more pics to come!

going to catch up on my sleep now.  :)

xoxo, Joanna

A Vintage Texas Mum

Each year, the Texas Bellas

plan a little somethin' somethin'

for Silver Bella Welcome Night.

 

Last year,  it was PJ's & "Texas Bella" shirts!

 This year,   we decided to make

Vintage Texas Mums for each other.

My swap partner is Miss Valita!

(I don't think she reads my blog on a regular basis...

so I'm gonna share my creation!

Valita,   if you are peeking...   this is your chance to turn away!)

hint, hint!  LOL

We were each asked to fill out a short

questionnaire.  There was one comment

that Valita made that stuck out the most:

"I want the mum to look old but new".

So,  I gathered new, floral fabric

which a shabby feel & a doilie...

 and went from there.

 

I tucked little pieces of vintage ribbon 

into the mum for extra color.

For the center piece,   I decided to used this

vintage Frozen Charlotte.

I made a wee apron to tie in

with this years theme:

"100 Aprons"

Using vintage music sheet, I made a wee

crown & place 3 vintage jewels atop.

Every Bella needs a crown, right?

Anyhoo,

The 3 rhinestones represent the THREE years

Valita has attended Silver Bella.

 

I added lots of frayed farbic,

seam binding, ribbon & lace. 

The seam binding is tied in

"friendship knots".

 

I also gathered ribbon by sewing down the

center...   I thought this would add some texture.

And as a special touch:

I took several pieces of fabric,

including burlap & velvet and made

a long strip of "patch work".

Valita loves to quilt...  so, I thought

she would appreciate the added detail.

To ensure safe travels to & from Omaha,

I wanted to "box" the mum.

So, I decorated this photo storage box

 with vintage story book pages

and plan to tie it all together using some

of the floral fabric used in the mum.

 

And that's it!  :)

My Vintage Texas Mum!

I hope she likes it!

until next time,

Joanna