woot...

This is good news! But don't think this is the end of our concerns. Continue to be vigilant and continue to remind the PTB that we're still here, waiting for a fair outcome.

me? i have some talented friends...

I was up late last night working on my birds when an email reading "for you" popped up in my inbox. Imagine my delight when this greeted me!



Aren't they cute!? Monique (you can also find her here, here, here and a new blog here) made it for me and i just love it. And then, get this, she went and made me a disney-fied version too. Lucky me to have such talented friends!



Thank you again, Monique! You really brightened my day :).

a flock of bluebirds...

Here's the run down on these little birds: I used poplar planks. I cut them out (using the SAME template!) on my new scroll saw, Sawyer. I sanded each of them down, painted them up with acrylics and then sanded them again after that. Each little bird was rubbed with wood stain...some had a more pronounced grain that caught more stain than others. Once the stain dried I burnished them all with a wad of triple aught (and yes, I had to type that out...000 just doesn't read as well, IMO) steel wool.

As far as the packaging goes, with as worn and well-loved looking as these guys turned out I knew I wanted to use a vintage-y mailing label type thing so off I went, scouring the internet to find a ready made vector image. Couldn't find one. So at 1:00 in the morning I took an inordinate amount of time to make my own. I used a old timey typewriter font and my own handwritten font to make the labels and then printed them on grocery bag paper. My original plan was to tuck them into clear cellophane bags with some excelsior at the bottom, but then I remembered I had a stack of these card boxes. I think you'll agree, the boxes do a nice job, right? Anyhoo, I am pleased as punch with the way they turned out and I hope whoever gets them in the swap likes them as much as I do.

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There's still time to sign-up for this year's Valentine ATC swap! Click here for details.

keep contacting your congress people...

Important Message, originally uploaded by Hasenpfeffer Incorporated.

February 10 is fast approaching without much information or change being disseminated so please continue to contact your Representatives and Senators.

As it is written, the CPSIA will kill children's handmades and most all the businesses who support the artists and crafters who make the toys, clothes, accessories, books, blankets and trinkets we love and choose to buy for our children.

The question I ask is this: How hard is it to say, "In our haste to protect our children, your children, we wrote this legislation in broad strokes, not taking into consideration the fatal impact it would have on micro and small businesses. Because we have come to our senses we will postpone enactment until we can amend the law or better yet, repeal it and start over being certain to take into account all the points brought to our attention over the last few months." How hard is it?

molly reaches another milestone with flair and destruction...

Today I am here to tell you not every milestone your child reaches is going to be celebrated in the same way. In fact sometimes the celebration doesn't even come into the picture until after you've put your head back on the right way.

For instance: today Molly learned how to open a twist off lid all by herself. To mark the occasion she opened three jars of fine glitter (garnet, rose quartz and peridot from Martha in case you were wondering) and two jars of embossing powder, dumped them on my computer desk chair and rubbed it all over her hair, body and static clingy blanket sleeper. She then ran all over the house squealing with glee about her accomplishment. I promptly lost my mind and bit my tongue, because even totally pissed off I know it doesn't do any good to yell at a 21 month old.



It's like a fairy dust bomb went off in here! I think, if given the choice, I would rather eat glitter by the spoonful than spend the next three days trying to rid the house of the glitter miasma we currently find ourselves in...sigh.

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Last minute Valentine ATC swap sign-ups going on right here.

getting my fix before 2/6...

See CoralineFilm's channel on YouTube. Also, pay attention to the wallpaper as you scroll down the page. So. Great.

anyone up for a valentine atc swap...

I know it's really last minute...by now you all know how time gets away from me!

If you're game, it'll be just like always: five for five, make how ever you wish: paper, fabric, painted, stitched, cute, funky, vintage, whatever floats your boat!

The dead-line to mail to me will be Friday the 13th and my mail to you date the 18th or 19th.

Whadaya say? If you're in email me (amy at aplcreations dot com) or leave a comment here.

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Need a little Valentine-y inspiration? Go take a peek at Mary Beth. Oh my, is she ever charming! This little dude is adorable. How's a bout a smooching couple? Or this cute couple? I am loving these rescued wood assemblages.

and the winner of the blue bird is...

Katie who said, "missed seeing the sweet little calendar giveaway in time - but what a generous person you are! here in the north of England we rarely see such exotic little birds. it might like to come and live in my shed?"

Congratulations!

Katie, if you catch this news before I can email you, just email me your mailing address and I'll get this little bird bundled up and out to your neck of the woods ASAP.

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I have to say, these last two giveaways have provided me with a ton of links to new blogs to check out. I hope everyone is taking a peek, there are some really great ones I've been missing out on until now!

dear be the thread blog...

Two things:

1. Thanks so much for the traffic you've been sending my way the last week or so! I do appreciate it :).
2. Can(nice grammar there...ugh) May I get an invite so I can check out your blog too? I feel like I must be missing out on something!

Thanks for your time!

i love me some cute mushrooms...

don't you? I figured you did. Is your home lacking in cute, handmade mushrooms? Mine too. But guess what? Knitsonya has come to our rescue! She's hosting a five for five handmade mushroom swap. Hurry now to her blog for all the particulars. Sign-ups close at 11pm PST on February 5th.

and the winner of the notebook calendar is...

Anna of Helylle who said, "Oh, calendar fairy - let it be me!!! Please..." Anna, it appears the Calendar Fairy was listening tonight!

I'll shoot you an email in just a bit so we can talk colors for your cover!

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Wee! That was fun! Don't forget, I have a little bird ornament giveaway going on through Friday right here.

a bird of change exchange giveaway...

I've been putting Sawyer to good work the last few days, mainly cutting out little birds and a couple houses too. The little blue bird above was cut out and sanded last night while hubs played Call of Duty: World at War. I painted her up before I went to bed and then sanded and sealed her this morning.

If you would like for her to dangle from your ceiling fan or maybe a cabinet knob or something all you have to do is leave a comment on this post for an opportunity to win. I'll leave sign-ups open through 5pm CST Friday. I'll pick a winner that evening.

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I also have a give away for a notebook calendar running through today. Click on over if you like :). Sign-ups will close this evening at 5pm CST.

an endangered species sighting...

Raesha reports locating an endangered species today: The Clean Desk. I've heard of this elusive critter...I've even come across them in my day. They are indeed rare, but I suspect if I look hard enough I might stumble onto my own Clean Desk. The potential for such a find around these parts is staggering. I'll keep you posted...

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p.s. if you're still in need of a "handy, dandy" 2009 notebook calendar click here to sign up for a chance to win one I'm giving away on Tuesday.

who's in the mood for a giveaway...

Me, that's who. When I made myself the above little notebook calendar yesterday I printed off a second set of calendar pages in my haste. I don't need two calendars for my purse so I want to give the "bonus" one away to one of you! Now, since this is one of the trial run there are a few glitches...I didn't account for the printing offset causing the months on the bottom of the page to be short changed and as a result I punched a tiny bit of those months' names off in the process. Still perfectly usable, just not perfectly perfect looking. I haven't bound the second one yet so the winner can choose the color of the cover and I can sort through my massive collection of papers to find just the right piece. The calendar measures 4.25" x 5.5"with a little pocket for appointment reminders and receipts on the inside cover and is spiral bound. A selection of random papers are tucked behind each month's calendar page for jotting notes and what not.



To enter just leave a comment on this post. Sign-ups will close at 5pm CST. I'll pick a winner in the evening on Tuesday the 20th.

sawdust and splinters...

So, I bought myself another new toy. The rest of my Christmas and birthday money are now safely reinvested in the local economy.

Ahem. So this new thing? It practically jumped into my cart at the Home Depot last night. Really. You should've seen the scene this thing attempted to make as I tried to resist its siren song.

Ulitmately I couldn't holdout and ended up embracing the idea of yet another power tool taking up residence in our home. Our newest addition has settled in nicely already keeping my brother, Nic, and I happily entertained for a couple hours last night and myself occupied for another half an hour or so today during Molly's naptime.

Meet Sawyer Hewitt Lyons (and my brother's hands):



He's a Ryobi 16" variable speed scroll saw and I love him. So far, between Nic, Sawyer and myself, we've cut out two pinewood derby cars, a bird, a house, a gingerbread man and a heart. Last night I had visions of little wooden critters and sawdust clouds dancing around my brain as I slept. This morning I remembered I have a wood burning tool that my grandparents gave me for Christmas a couple years ago around here somewhere. All I can say is this: little wooden shapes + wood burning tool = fun times ahead for Amy!

getting back into the swing of things...

I could hardly pass up giving this show a whirl. It's in a good location, the promoters (Funky Finds) seem to have an excellent handle on the organization and implementation of it all, and, bonus, the booth fee is only $50.

Now I have lots to do to get ready and plenty of time to do it too. I need to sit down, write out my action plan and then I'll post it here so you all can help me stay on task. Sound good? Good!

I'll get started on all that tomorrow...tonight Logan has a friend sleeping over and the household is currently caught up in a whirlwind of Lego building, pinball whizzing and Wii playing. Lights out is at 10pm and I don't think I'll make it much past that myself!

collaboration...

Take this:

In amongst all the gadgets and hoohaws I bought yesterday was a couple sets of pompon makers and a couple skeins of wool yarn. I was thinking possible birds for Regina's bird exchange, maybe a garland for the small tree for next year, pompon-y things in general.

plus this:

This week Caleb is working on the /sn/ blend in speech therapy and the letter of the week at preschool is S. As a result there's been much discussion of SNow and SNowmen and SNowflakes around this joint.

and you get this:



a pompon dog/sheep/fluff thing. There's a snowman floating around here somewhere too...he's apparently camera shy. If I can sneak up on him I'll add him to the post :).

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Go see what Moki and Jess are up to over at their new blog, Get the Funk Out!

thirty-four...

Happy birthday to me! So far it's been a lovely day. After Molly and I dropped Caleb off at school we ran errands and then spent a good chunk of my Christmas money at Michael's and Hobby Lobby. New gadgets were needed. New gadgets and replacement supplies were acquired.

Lynn and the kids are taking me out for dinner and dessert tonight...I just have to decide where...and since my stomach JUST got back to normal this morning I'm having a hard time narrowing it down. Decisions, decisions.

I'm going to get back to playing with my new toys now...see ya'll tomorrow!

regina's bird of change exchange...

Do you love birdy decor/accents? I do. Lucky for us Regina is hosting a five for five bird ornament swap this month. Go check her blog for all the details.

January is my birthday month and I think wrapping it up with a mailbox full of birds is going to be awesome!

black-eyed peas for good luck...

I'm getting ready to start the black-eyed peas for today's lunch. It's the only time I eat black-eyed peas and oddly, my recipe is really good, if I do say so myself. I'll comeback and post it after I'm done prepping ours. It's quick to make, I use canned black-eyed peas because I can't be trusted to remember to soak and rinse and soak and rinse and soak and rinse the dried ones.

Okay, here's what you'll need for a tasty, quick batch of Amy's Good Luck Legumes:



2 cans of plain old black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed (we like Bush's Best)
1 can of petite diced tomatoes, drained and rinsed
1/2 a medium white onion, diced
2-3 slices of thick cut bacon, diced (we like Hormel Black Label and we like to err on the side of more bacon) if you omit the bacon, use a tablespoon of butter or olive oil in its place.
1 can of beef (or chicken or veggie broth)
1/2 C of white wine (we just use regular old cooking wine)
Seasoning salt to taste (we use Julio's seasoning because it is the best!)
garlic powder to taste

In a pot (large enough to hold all the goodies) over medium heat, render the fat from your diced bacon and then saute your diced onions in the fat until lightly carmelized. Add in black-eyed peas, stir to combine. Add in tomatoes and broth and give it another stir. Season to taste with seasoning salts and garlic powder. Add your wine to the pot and put a lid on it. Bring to a good simmer for a bit (I went about ten minutes today) and then turn the heat down to low.

Somewhere in betwixed all this you should make some cornbread...or you can do like I did and completely forget about the cornbread until you're sneaking yourself an early bowl of black-eyed peas...ahem. I usually make at least a double batch myself and then as we have people coming and going through the course of the day everybody gets at least a few black-eyed peas to start their New Year off right.

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After the traditional black-eyed peas and cornbread for good luck it's going to be a lazy day. We will likely stay home to watch football, play with Legos and doll houses and pinball machines. There may be some letterboxing to do as well. We shall see!