Colorful Fun~

Now that my craft room is all in order, i decided to tackle a few new projects...especially since Jordyn was at grandma and grandpas today. Never mind all the unfinished projects i have laying around...lets create some more! :)
Unfortunately, the photograph doesnt represent the colors well...but you get the idea. Im excited to see what it becomes after embellishing....especially since i purchased some beautiful new threads and ribbons.
Im also working on Ellie's BOM squares, and you can see some of the progress here.

I should become rather proficient with applique after 12 months of these...at least thats what im hoping. For those of you that inquired...this is the method i am using for applique. Though im always willing to try a new technique, so if you have one, please share :)

BQL February Challenge ~

Well, after losing a week to some sort of bug i had, im back on the mend, and ready to create!
This unusual bug going around was new to me...i felt dizzy, anxious, nauseous, faint and exhausted! I was absolutely worthless for the last week...missed a date at the opera, and also missed several perfect weather adventures outside with Jordyn. (and no...im not pregnant). Light bothered me, i had severe headaches and my body felt worn down. Im still a little woozy, but feeling much better, so today...though a little windy, Jordyn and i played outside all afternoon, and then i came in and worked on the BQL Challenge for February.
Ive never really worked with strip piecing before, and it was quick and easy. Its amazing how different everyones project came out with the same pattern. Very versatile!
Ive been interested in combining the black and white fabric with brights ever since i did the crazy quilt swap on about.com. Im fairly pleased with the results, though i wish it was just a little more wonky...curse me for using patterns and rulers all these years, as it was hard to break away from that.
Anyways, i have finished cleaning my craft room.....woohoo...so now i hope to really get creating! Stay tuned!

More Early Valentines...

So, is this kid spoiled or what! Look what came in the mail today from Grandma...coloring books, pajamas, socks, dolls, candy and other misc goodies. No holiday is too small for this kid :)
Nothing crafty to show today...im still organizing the craft room. I sorted thru about 200 magazines (yup...thats right...200), so that was a big step. I am REALLY happy with the way its coming together. Id take photos, but the room is so small, im not sure it would be easy to photograph. At least now Jordyn can come in and play without destroying too much :)
I did finish this piece earlier this week, and im pretty pleased with it. I took this photograph several years ago, and manipulated it in Photoshop. Be sure to click on the image to see the larger size....hope you like it! Cheers~

Tea Party ~

So what do you do on a cold and dreary February day.....you have a tea party! First, you have to have a pretty dress...Jordyn calls this her Thumbelina dress (unless of course, she's watching Cinderella...then its her Cinderella dress). No need to take off the pajamas...just put the dress right over it! (and hair combing was optional)

Then you get inspired, watching Thumbelina, while Mommy gets out the tea set.

Invite some guests...Tinkerbell and Pinky Pie Pony (though Jordyn calls him stinky pie) are favorite teatime friends...

Set the table and pour the tea...

and presto...instant entertainment! She had lots fun dancing around, serving tea and eating crackers. Do you see any similarities between Jordyns hair and stinky pies? Notice, i strategically photographed the tea party so you cant see the toy disaster in the corner :)

All in all, a wonderful afternoon! And what were we celebrating? Big Girl Panties! Thats right...my daughter is finally potty trained, so you can all relax knowing there will be no more graphic poop photos on my blog! The big girl panties did the trick!

See, i have a theory...they make diapers sooooo SUPER absorbent nowadays, that it doesnt make a kid uncomfortable to pee in them all day long. Replace the comfortable diapers with big girl panties (which are cool, by the way), and its not so fun to pee
in your pants. Thats what did it for my little one, and she was trained almost overnight. She loves all her new colorful panties...little mermaid...strawberry shortcake...little pet shop animals! Who would want to soil those? :) So there ya have it...for any of you struggling to potty train...give big girl/big boy undies a try! Good Luck!

Early Valentines...

Haven't blogged in a while, so i thought id do a quick recap of whats been going on at the Black Bear~
I made a quick trip to Denver last weekend for my cousins house warming party and she sent me home with a giant goody bag full of valentines for Jordyn. Here she is hugging two of her new little treasures...a love bug and a fluffy white dog...both happily received! The pictures from the house warming party itself were frightening, so i wont scare anyone by posting them here :)
I made my very first cherry pie last week with the cherries from our sour cherry tree...and it was delicious! I am NOT a baker, so I used a ready-made pie crust, but the filling was my own. I have enough to make one more pie, so i look forward to that soon. Its always great making something from your garden...specially at this time of year!

I have not worked on any projects for the last two weeks :( Instead I've started my spring cleaning...a little early, but definitely needed! I have been working in my craft room, organizing, downsizing, and re-arranging. I'm almost finished...which is good, because the creative juices are flowing and i don't want them to go to waste!
In the meantime, I've been channeling that energy into some new recipes...trying to brighten up our winter doldrums with something new for our taste buds! New things to our menu...Chicken Cordon Bleu, Chinese Pork Ribs, and Mediterranean Chicken with Feta.
I like making simple recipes with ingredients i normally have on hand (since town is an hour away...so these were all great ones in my book!) If you have one you'd like to share, feel free to send it to me :)
Happy Monday!