Shop Update

Summer is finally here in MN as the temp. creeps towards 100 degrees today.

To celebrate I have added some new items to etsy this week.  I hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable 4th of July weekend.

Inspiration Thursday - week 4

Spend the day PLAYING is this weeks inspiration from Gussy Sews.

We have actually had quite a bit of playing at our house this summer. Steve got a yard game for Fathers Day, we are all trying to get some exercise in every day, and all 5 of us went on a bike ride Sunday!

We also love a good craft/art project at our house. I have no specific ideas for the summer - but this was our project over spring break. Repurposed plastic bangles, fabric, newspaper, vintage sheet music, a road map and a jar of Mod Podge.

A Tote, A Tuesday

And yes, it is Wednesday. It is also only the second full week of summer vacation at our house, so we are still getting into the swing of "getting it all done" around here!

I love the summer patterns on this tote. It would be perfect for the farmers market or a trip to the beach.

A piece of cake . . . .

This weeks sweet treat are cookies! I am not sure of the origin of this recipe (it has definitely been ripped out of a magazine but I don't know which one).

I would consider these a somewhat healthy cookie as they are made with whole wheat flour and oats, brown sugar and dark chocolate. I don't care that they are topped with a big fat sugary marshmallow. They were fun to put together and yummy right out of the oven!

S'mores Cookies

1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup whole-wheat flour
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, room temp.
3/4 cup light brown sugar
1 large egg
8 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, cut into 30 pieces
15 large marshmallows, halved horizontally

Preheat to 350 degrees
pulse oats in food processor until finely ground. Add flours, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt.
In a large bowl beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg, mix in flour mixture just until combined.

Drop dough by tablespoons, 1 inch apart onto baking sheets. Top each with chocolate. Bake until lightly golden brown 11 to 13 minutes. After all cookies are baked, heat broiler. Top each cookie with 1/2 a marshmallow. broil until marshmallows are lightly browned. Transfer to cooling rack. Makes 30

Inspiration Thursday - week 3

Linking up with Gussy for another fun Thursday of inspiration.

This weeks prompt:  Green

What does GREEN mean to you? It has always been my favorite color but in recent years this word has taken on a new meaning.  I have based a lot of my business ideas on "being green".  Not only do I use repurposed burlap coffee sacks and various other "salvaged" materias in  many of my creations, I make a tremendous effort to control waste in the sewing studio as well as at home.



photo credit

Burlap Pillows

New to the ShaggyBaggy shop this week . . . . .

Repurposed Burlap accented with heavy outdoor cotton. These pillows would be great on a screen porch or a bench overlooking the lake!

Vintage Feed Sack

miss mustard seed has a greet post about grain sacks on her blog this week.

I have a couple in my sewing studio. Totes, pouches and lavendar sachets coming to the shop soon.

Inspiration Thursday, week two

I am linking up with Gussy Sews this week for some inspiration. Join in the challenge here.

This week's inspirational word: Kitchen

This is a great IKEA kitchen. I love the fireplace, brick and big window.

With three teens finishing school for the summer our kitchen will be busy again during the day! I look forward to the help and my kids know their friends are always welcome at our house!

                                                                          photo credit

Sweet 16 (x 2)

Sixteen years ago today . . .

your dad had to put my shoes on for me so we could be at the hospital by 6 a.m.

Sixteen - you two have grown up so so fast. Your dad and I are so proud of all you have accomplished. Can't wait to see what the future brings . . . .(and no, its not a car!)

A Tote, A Tuesday

This week's tote is actually a bucket. But apparently these buckets get used as totes quite often. The original design was for a generous size "project basket" something you could carry from room to room with a knitting or sewing project. They have turned out to be very popular as gift baskets. This one would be perfect filled for the graduate . . . . what would you put in the bucket?

Creating a Blog I love - week one

Today I begin a new online course - Creating A Blog You Truly Love. If you're new to blogging, looking to improve an existing blog (thats me!) or just looking for some creative inspiration check out the class info here. liv lane

I think this will be a great challenge for me. My goals at the time I registered for this e-course were:

1. gain more confidence in myself - yes, I have something to say and maybe someone wants to hear it.
2. write a blog post with more than 3 sentences - but not too long!
3. be sincere, honest, kind to all I meet through this blog.

Menu Monday

FINALLY . . . the last week of school is here. Busy evenings with quick easy meals are the plan this week. I am also planning to put together an egg bake so the teens get a good healthy breakfast with finals every day this week.  I made this great salsa to serve with pita chips so they have a healthy snack right after school.

Salsa

Chop and combine the following:

3-4 roma tomatoes
1 mango
red onion
green chiles
1/4 cup cilantro
juice of 1/2 lemon or lime
1/2 tablespoon diced garlic

additional add-ins:
1 cup corn
1 can black beans (rinsed and drained)
1 bell pepper (or a mix of any color pepper)
1 avocado

Inspiration Thursday - week one

I will be linking up with Gussy Sews on Thursdays! Join in the fun - inspire and be inspired!

This week's inspiration: HANDMADE

Perfect. My favorite topic. From where I sit in my office now, I can see many, many items - all handmade, all with a special place in my home and in my heart!

I have three talented teenagers. Two took an art class last year. Here are two of their many projects. My take on these is a reminder that yes, although they are identical twins, they are both unique.

Next are these great shot glasses made by my cousin, Julie. Love the earthy colors. Cheers!

Last, but certainly not least. This piece was passed around as the white elephant gift no one wanted in the 90's. I finally painted my living room to match it and it is one of the most admired piece of art in my house!

This inspirational challenge is a boost to my minimalist decorating approach. I don't have (or want) a lot "stuff". What I DO have means something to me and I am truly thankful.

A Tote, A Tuesday

This was my entry for the Independent Handbag Designer Awards this year. ShaggyBaggy didn't make the cut but I had fun putting together this "Green" bag. Handbag Designers 101 finalists can be viewed here and you can vote for your favorite in the fan favorite category.

I entered the "green" category. This tote is a mix of recycled materials (coffee sack, jute handles, re-purposed hardware) and had to be completely recycle-able at the end of its life.