Outlander Coming to Starz!!

Okay, this has absolutely nothing to do with crafting or baking, but I'm soooooo excited!! I read a series by Diana Gabaldon called Outlander. Starz is adapting the novels to a series to air in 2014! Diana just posted this photo of the actors portraying the protagonists, Jamie and Claire. Oh my gosh, I can't wait for this series to begin!! Anyone else a fan of the books?
Hugs,
Nancy

Happy News for the New Year!

 Hello to all! I hope you are enjoying a holiday filled with peace and joy! I am thrilled to report I've noticed some improvement in my back issues. I continue to work hard in PT, and am so very thankful to my amazing physical therapists.
I have some additional happy news to share today. A while back I was honored by an invitation to be a part of the Frilly and Funkie Challenge Blog design team beginning January 1st! This will be my first experience as a regular member of a DT. Though I feel completely unworthy, I am excited beyond belief! I want to send a huge thanks to Linda Coughlin for taking a chance on me. If you'd like to take a peek at the blog or participate in the challenges just click the link on the right side of my blog. The DT will be returning from a short holiday break with all new challenges beginning New Year's Day! Sooooooo....please wish me lots of luck as I begin this new creative journey:-))
Sending wishes for a blessed New Year!
Nancy

New Craft Room Installation Complete!

Hi! I hope you're well and enjoying the happy hustle and bustle of the season. We've been decking our halls and finishing shopping for the children and grankids. My gift arrived a little early this year. For years I've been sharing our home office with my husband, gradually taking over more and more of the space with my craft supplies. He finally gave in and built this lovely room just for me! I wanted to share a few photos. I can't wait to get everything organized and begin crafting! Sending wishes to all for a Happy Christmas, Hanukkah, and Holiday!!
Hugs, Nancy

I can't wait to fill up these slim, slide out drawers with my rubber stamps! It's one of my favorite features of the desk.

Lots of drawers on the inside. I'm already filling them up!

I

The Prettiest Vintage Christmas Photo!

Hello to all my crafty friends! I'm currently resigned to blogging from my Ipad and was having trouble uploading photos here, but finally figured it out (happy day!!) I must admit to being a bit of a Pinterest addict. Yesterday I was browsing and came across a gorgeous vintage photo. This lovely girl decked out in her seasonal finery would be the perfect accent for our Christmas creations! I adore the soft blue hues and that little spray of holly berries she's clutching beneath her cozy furs. I would like to give credit to the original source, but unfortunately was unable to trace it despite all my efforts. I hope this will inspire you as it has me. I wish you the most wonderful of  days and happy crafting!!

Easy Slow Cooker Lentil Soup

Hi! I hope everyone is having a wonderful day! Though I'm still not able to sit at my craft desk, with help I am still enjoying creating in my kitchen. My slow cooker has become my go- to appliance in the past few months. This week we feasted on this hearty lentil soup served with cornbread and a crisp salad. The perfect supper for a chilly fall evening. I hope you'll enjoy it as much as we did! Sending wishes for a lovely autumn day! 

                                    Easy Slow Cooker Lentil Soup

Ingredients:

3 cups lentils, rinsed and picked through

32 oz veggie broth
3 cups water

5 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 medium yellow onion, diced
2 cups carrots, sliced
1/2 cup celery, sliced
28 oz can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 large russet potato, diced
4-6  cloves garlic, minced
2-3 bay leaves (optional)
1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper

Directions: Place all ingredients in your slow cooker. Cook on low 7-8 hours. Enjoy! 

Crock Pot New England Clam Chowder

Hi! I need to apologize for my extended absence. I hurt my back and continue to undergo treatment. It's nearly impossible for me to sit to craft, so my projects have been on hold since February. I am blessed with supportive and encouraging family and friends who keep me smiling. 

My son was home from college for the summer and was a tremendously uplifting and helpful to me. He even took up the hobby of cooking. He turned out to be a natural in the kitchen (states it's no different than following procedure in a lab:-)) so we had some delicious meals. 

When he went back to Clemson in August I was really worried about how I would get by since my hubby is so busy and I am unable to lift anything or stand for very long. Once again I was blessed.
Through a dear friend I was led to hire Fran, the most wonderful helper ever! She has been helping me several hours each day with everything from grocery shopping and laundry to carting me to      physical therapy. 

With Fran's kind assistance I have been able to continue to participate in my other favorite hobby, cooking! I have been cooking my way through Pinterest and trying a couple of new dishes each week. I recently pulled my trusty crock pot out of storage. I load it with something tasty before my appointments and return home to a mouth watering home cooked meal.

Today we made Crock Pot Clam Chowder, a recipe I found on a blog called Baked by Rachel. You can click on the link here for the recipe! This is a made from scratch chowder, so be prepared for some peeling and chopping, but the results are 100% worth it. I followed the directions exactly as written and could not have been more pleased with the results! Once you have everything in the crock you can go about your day and look forward to a creamy, flavorful pot of steaming clam chowder when you're ready for dinner. We had ours with cornbread and a mixed green salad. Dessert was courtesy of another dear friend, Sue, who baked a luscious batch of pumpkin cream cheese muffins. 

A huge thanks to Fran for all the chopping and peeling--you are totally AMAZING and I appreciate everything you do for me. Another huge thanks to Sue for feeding our dessert addiction! 

Handmade Valentine Rose Garden Card for The Shabby Tea Room

Hello, wonderful blog friends! I hope the new year has brought you health and happiness. It's been a busy time in our home, as I'm sure it was for many of you. While I miss the excitement of the holidays, I'm also grateful for the return of normal routines. There is so much joy to be found in day to day life. I think the hustle and bustle of the holidays helps me to appreciate it even more.    

I'm super excited to share this card with you. I created it for my guest designer spot this week at The Shabby Tea Room. The guidelines for the challenge are to use stripes, the colors from the inspiration photo below, and a flower. 

So many ideas  ran through my mind when I saw the inspiration photo. I wanted my project to be shabby and sweet with lots of texture. With Valentine's Day just around the corner, I decided it would be the perfect opportunity to get working on my cards.   

I chose this adorable digital image as my focal point, and that led me to the idea of creating a dimensional rose garden. I cut the frame using Spellbinders Decorative Labels 8, then painted it with Folk Art acrylic paint (my favorite brand.) 

The tiny heart tags were also cut with a Spellbinders die. The pearls are from Prima's e-line. I made the roses using Die-namics Royal Rose dies, then painted them with Folk Art acrylic paint. 

I stitched some ivory lace on the base layer of my card to add extra texture. After choosing patterned papers from Prima's Tea Thyme and My Mind's Eye Madison Avenue, I distressed and layered away to my heart's content.   

Thank you so much for stopping by! It makes my heart happy that you took a few moments to visit with me. May your day be filled with sunshine and laughter, even if it happens to be blustery or rainy in your part of the world! Hugs,