Waste Not

Good morning everyone.

I wish you could be here for banana, pecan muffins and some coffee.

I've been trying harder to waste less by recycling, repurposing and sharing the overflow.

Last night I used up the too ripe bananas and made some wonderful muffins.

I used a recipe from an old vintage cookbook and changed it up a bit.

Very yummy and no wasted bananas this week.

This recipe made 12 muffins and 2 small loaves or 18 muffins.

BANANA PECAN MUFFINS

2 1/2 cups flour

4 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

2/3 cup shortening

1 1/3 cup sugar

4 eggs well beaten

2 cups mashed bananas

1 cup chopped pecans

Cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and beat well. Add flour mixture alternately with mashed bananas, beating until smooth.

Add pecans.

Fill muffin cups 2/3 full.

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes

Sprinkle tops with powdered sugar.

Makes about 18 muffins.

Please don't forget about my Etsy shop destash giveaway.

Yesterday, I posted 3 items here on my blog as a free giveaway.

Please stop in and leave a comment.

I have many more giveaways that I'd like to host and I'm hoping my fellow bloggers will want to participate.

Thanks so much for stopping in.

Have a lovely day everyone.

Karen

Spring Cleaning Giveaway

It's that time of year when most of us are sorting, organizing, and cleaning.

Some people call it nesting.

I've been doing the same.
I also did some Spring cleaning in my  Etsy shop and will be giving away a few of those items.
Three crocheted pieces.

Since winter refuses to let up, I've chosen something to keep you warm, something for your home, and something just for fun to help you think Spring.

Lets think Spring first.

A little crocheted worm on a mossy rock.

To keep you warm, a thick, crocheted cowl.

And for your home, a felted wool, wall pocket.

I will pick a winner on Monday, Feb. 14th.

To enter for the drawing:
Two chances to win.

Follow my blog for one entry and leave a comment for another.

I'd love to see what you're up to and check out your blogs as well.

I've met so many creative people through my blogging and have made some wonderful new friends.

I'm looking forward to more of the same.

I hope you decide to join me and to share with me your creative passions as well.

One clean and shiny corner of my home. A long way to go!

Hugs and best wishes to everyone.

Thank you for stopping in.

Karen

Blue

Blue

Yes I am!

The winter weather and being stuck in this place for months has finally caught up with me.

This is what happens when I start to go off the deep end.

I was sitting in the kitchen last night with paint and glue and fiber and fabric all around me.

I was covered in paint and there were bits of fiber stuck to my clothes.

I think my husband was afraid.

He just looked at me and asked, "What are you doing, dear?".

I told him I was losing my mind, so he  kissed me on the forehead and walked out of the room.

Anyway, here are the results of yesterday's nervous breakdown.

The blue painting is just that...don't ask me how I did it or what it is. It just is.

These next photos are of ribbon that I painted.

That's right...painted.

I wanted to dye them, but I didn't have anything to dye them with, so I use food coloring first and then squished a bunch of acrylic paint into them.

These next photos are of some textile collages of Spring.

Not quite finished.

I thought the bird was a robin, but I'm not so sure, now that I look at it.

Here are a couple of bits of painted paper and fabric.

Things to use in future projects.

This morning I had to clean up the mess from last nights fit.

Is anybody else out there going crazy from the winter blues?

What do you do to fight off melancholy moods?

I'd love to hear your methods of keeping your sanity.

Thanks for putting up with me.

Have a wonderful Monday everyone!

Karen

Limitless

Yesterday should have been my Frilly Friday post, but sometimes there just aren't enough hours in a day. I'm sure you all know what I mean.

I've been working on this necklace for weeks now and finally decided last night that it is finished.

I named it limitless, because of the limitless possibilities that you can wear this piece.

It's 100% cotton thread, crocheted in a freeform lace, around 130 inches of cotton cord.

The ends connect with 2 pearl buttons.

It has a vine of flowers, vintage glass pearls and loops (leaves).

The loops can button onto any of the pearls along the vine.

It can dangle, be wrapped around as many times as you like, or removed and worn as a bracelet.

The necklace itself can be worn long and lengthy or wrapped up tight as a choker.

This is the most versatile, one of a kind piece, I've created so far.

I think you could wear it as a casual piece or all dressed up.

It is available for purchase in my Etsy shop.

I also finished up this bag I've been working on for my stepdaughter, Anita.

She's coming home from TN this weekend and I wanted to have it finished for her when she gets here.

Anita is a potter and also works for MTV.

The huge, beautiful button on the bag was created by her. You can purchase buttons like this at her Etsy shop.

Thanks so much for visiting my blog.

It gets me through the day knowing that you are out there creating just like me.

Have a lovely weekend everyone!

Within

I finally finished the little, mixed media, heart pillow I was working on.

It was inspired by my friend, Sharon.

Sharon makes the most amazing jewelry, and has used the word "within" on some of her pieces.

I'm pleased with the way this pillow turned out, but the photos aren't the best.

I'm really enjoying working with some of the vintage textiles I've been gathering.

The tiny burgundy rose was a broken button, the ladies face was an old broken brooch that I took apart, and the charm was an Etsy purchase.

The lace came from the sleeve of an antique wedding dress and the velvet was from an old vintage dress as  well.

The base of the pillow was made from gray felt.

I crocheted around the edge and added some silver seam binding for a bow.

Almost everything I used for this project was recycled.

Have you made something lately with recycled materials?

I'd love to see your ideas!

Thanks for stopping in!

I hope the sun is shining in your world today!

WITHIN

Happy Groundhog Day From Punxsutawney, PA

That's right...I live in Punxsutawney...home of Punxsy Phil...and apparently he thinks that Spring is coming early this year.  So, today when I drove into the actual town of Punxsutawney to mail out some Etsy packages, I braved the crowds (a small crowd this year due to last nights ice storm), and went into my favorite little junk store, "Chicks From the Sticks".  I've had my eye on a shabby pink table and some chippy architectural pieces which I purchased and will post at a later time. I also found this cute little heart with a baby's image on it. Isn't it sweet?

So, I hope you all had a lovely Groundhog Day?!

Before I forget, I've been listing new things daily in my Etsy vintage shop. Anyone who's interested in antiques and vintage goodies might want to take a peek.

http://www.reconsidered.etsy.com/.

Thanks everyone for taking time out to read my blog or say hi or view the photos here or visit the people on my blog list or...

just

thanks!

I appreciate you all so much!

Just a Little Frilly Friday

Normally I have lots of lace to share with you on Fridays,

but today,

I'm sharing some things that I'm making with some of the frilly stuff.

This is a decorative pillow I've been working on.

It's not very functional, but I think kind of pretty.

 As you can see, it's not quite finished.

I'm hoping to master this project and make these a regular item in my Etsy shop.

This is a finished flower made with the burlap centers that I was working on last week.

This last photo is of some tags that I'm planning to use as Thank You cards.

I love this new stamp.

What new projects are you working on?

I'd love to hear about them.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

I appreciate all your thoughts and comments more than you know!

Have a beautiful, frilly, Friday!