Wintery Nights At The Snowy Little Cottage...

YOU are the reason I have The Blog Celebration Week. All of the joy,
fun, prayers, sharing, support... What wonderful Blog friends you are!
Thank You for visiting with me, not just this week but throughout the
year. And For Our NEW friends! Welcome, I think that you will find
many friends through my links :)

I am excited about the holidays approaching as summer winds down.
I will be setting up For Christmas and my Winter Wonderland in
my etsy shop soon :), as well as helping my daughter get ready for
The Renegade Craft Fair in Chicago.
Oh, I will be continuing with posts~ sharing and visiting. :)



And where will this sweet little cottage be This winter???



Who Is the "My" in My Snowy Little Cottage"???
ok, ok, I will tell you :)
Shanae at Speckled Wren!!!
Yippee, Yaaaaya Shoot off the fireworks! * ** **OOO**
{pretend those are fireworks :) }

Thank YOU ALL so MUCH for joining me in a
wonderful week of blogging!!! :)

Hugs,
Mary

Entry Time Has Closed...

Hello! Thank You all for joining in The Blog Celebration Week!
The Entrance Time has closed. I will be returning soon with
The winner!

A Surprise Visit

Spring and Summer I love. You can catch me going barefoot all of the time.
A few years back when the new little kitten heels came out with their "flip flop"
styles out of leathers etc. I was all over that! Soo happy. The shoes in my
closet are mostly for summer. This is a new pair of old fashioned flip flops
from Old Navy... kind of too white. But my very fluffy white and aqua eyelet skirt
looks good with it for ~ for FUN :)

In honor of Summer and the Heat wave that we are about to get here in
Chicago {we have had ONLY one other heat wave all summer, it lasted just
7 days} I am making or rather "re-making" or doing a small twist on a recipe
from Ellie Krieger of the Food Network. She used tuna in a pouch and I
substituted left over grilled chicken. BUT I so want to try this with left over
GRILLED Salmon.



Looks delicious and IS VERY delicious! Even my husband liked it and he
is specific on his sandwiches.

Mediterranean Tuna Wrap
{or grilled chicken or grilled salmon or...}
{Oh, geez, I also used a whole grain bread instead of the wrap}

• 2 (6-ounce) cans chick light tuna in water, drained well*
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves
• 1/4 cup chopped calamata olives
• 3 Tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
• 2 Tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
• salt
• freshly ground black pepper
• 6 cups pre-washed mixed greens(about 3 ounces each**
• 4 whole-grain wrap breads (about 2 ounces each)***
• 2 large tomatoes, sliced

*Substitute grilled chicken, grilled salmon... , 1 - 1 1/2 cups cubed or flaked
**I used spinach
***I used whole grain wheat bread

Directions:
In a medium bowl, whisk together the olive oil zest, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
Pour about 2/3 the dressing over the tuna mixture and toss to combine.
In a separate bowl , our the rest of the dressing over the greens and toss to combine.

Place some tuna salad onto each piece of wrap bread. Top with greens and tomato slices.
Roll wrap and serve.

I like this recipe for it forgoes the usual mayo or whipped condiment for a fresh and refreshing flavor on a H*O*T evening.
Here is my mix with the grilled chicken.



I did not have any olives and in my rush to get dinner on the table for the
restless native, I forgot the luscious tomato from my garden!

Oh MY!
I never let you know when the winner will be announced for the give away!!!
*see here for entering It will be this coming Monday, August 10.2009




Bon Appetit!
OH! If anyone sees the new movie Julie and Julia let me know how it was!

Hugs,
Mary

A Petit Project

The week is going by fast! I so appreciate my blogging friends.
After all, visiting, sharing and supporting one another are just
a few of the reasons why we have our lovely blogs.
You are the reason why I love The Blog Celebration Weeks especially.
I love thinking up and plotting out the projects that we will do
each year... well, this is only the second year but I look forward
to many more years.

I know that many of you are young mothers and this project is for
your children... although Karla's, Chelsea is a wee bit young for this
one. This project is really devised as a jumping off point for YOU. :)
I know that you all can take my idea to the next level and beyond!
Just remember that your children should be Very involved in all
aspects of this. Considerer it your training for the approaching
school year where parents need to let their child do their own
diorama's and science projects.

I think I was influenced some what by Posie Gets Cozy and Posy.
Early projects of garland at Alicia's For the Holidays and Jane's
twinkling lights still shining on her banister and plate rack. I love it!!!

This is also a recycling project if you wish.
Ok already. I will finally let you in on it! I am calling this ~

"My Joyful Garland"

This is a garland to inspire {a.k.a. get our kids to do____{fill in the blank}.

1) Supply your little and not so little ones with your scraps of pretty papers,
newsprint, magazine pages ... what ever is appealing to them in terms of
color or image.





2) With your help, share your punches and get out their own scissors.



3) Punch out shapes and cut out strips.. what ever shapes your children like.
Place a hole punch in one end of the tag { to run the yarn through later}
Of course you can do this for the little ones who want to participate in the
following steps :)
Perhaps they will want to decorate the tags.

4) Give each child their own pretty bowl or cool container OR place the
"tags" all together.

5) You decide or decide together WHAT the THEME of each Joyful Garland
will be.

Will it celebrate:

• each chapter that you read?
• bed you make
• chore that you do
• smile that you give
• kind act that you do
• each time that you walk/play with your sweet pup or cat
• ...what ever inspires your child

This is to be a happy project that can be hung from a door way (especially)
or anywhere that it is going to be highly visible and not forgotten about and
where others can celebrate and congratulate one another on their success.

So gather your pretty markers, glitter... and some nice thick yarn scraps
and hole punch (optional).




6) Cut lengths of yarn that work in your home for hanging and go ahead and
hang them NOW.
{i put some blue tape on the end of mine... you could use clear tape to help
thread the tags}

7) As each accomplishment happens, you or your child can write on the back
of the tag what was done...etc.
Then Your child, children, string it "UP" the length of your yarn {length is your
choice} so it is at the top of the yarn. This way it is easy to keep hanging the
tags as they go along, joyfully through their tasks.




This project is simple. I hope that it does bring JOY to your child as summers
rays of sunshine
spill over your happy home.

hmm, maybe I should make a Joyful Garland for Myself???

Hers


His


Please hop over to sign up for the special give away.



Hugs,
Mary

The Colors Of Summer

Remember to sign up for my special blog give away. Just click
sign up and read the directions at the end of the post :)
* I am excited to award this gift!!!

Today Is the Colors of Summer project! I have been saving my old
t-shirts and wearing some others for gardening. I just could not part
with them. Their colors were still fresh and cheerful and in good
shape... but not really for wearing out. While cleaning out my closet
this spring I found the saved stash of shirts. Having just put away
some winter throws from our living room the idea of a "summer throw"
for my family seemed perfect! Perfectly easy I imagined and I do believe
it came out that way also!

This throw is like a quilt but their are no "insides" to the quilt. Just the
top and it's textured back :) Perfect! You could finish this in 2-3 days
worth of free time!
*** Just think of the cute t-shirts that our children have or teenagers!
Oh the posibilities!
*** Think about the dimensions of the throw you would like to end up with
OR just cut out all of the t-shirts and "wing-it".
*"wing-it" is not a dance that chickens do :) It is a dance that
we/some of us do sometimes or even all of the time! makes life exciting!

Let's get started~

Supplies:
*old t-shirts {with or without decoration/designs}
*thread
*scissors
*square of cardboard {size of the squares you would like your quilt to have and
PERFECTLY SQUARE}
*iron {makes cutting easier}

1) Select your t-shirts, or the fav's of the one you are making this for...
oh! with their permission! heehhe


2) Iron t-shirts. You can do this all at once or one at a time.
*this makes cutting out precise squares much more enjoyable!!!

3) Use your cardboard square template, place it on one of your t-shirts and start
tracing around the template with a soft pencil washable pen.. I used pencil
with an ultra light hand so as to barely see it.
*Place the template strategically so you use the t-shirt fabric with little waste.



4) Keep the squares in nice neat piles so there is no chance of stretching or wrinkling.
*it HELPS to keep the WEAVE {just go by those little lines that all t-shirt
fabrics have} of the fabric in the same direction in the piles.
a techy type of thing but it will keep everything going SQUARE when you start
to sew :)



5) All t-shirts are cut and in there color pile. Let's lay out the squares for ONE row.
Just arrange in a color pattern that pleases YOU:)
*i went horizontal here...rather the width of the fabric.



6) Pin your first row of squares together and use as many pins as you need to get
nice neat squares. Neatness does pay off in this project.



7) First row done.
Layout the next row above the first row until you get a pleasing arrangement.
PIN & SEW the second row.
*YOU NOW HAVE TWO SEPARATE HORIZONTAL ROWS.



8) Continue in this manner until you have the desired number of rows built up.





9) NOW you can start to attach the rows VERTICALLY TOGETHER.
*Match up the seams.
*I matched up and sewed a row at a time and did it in two halves so that
I only had to work with the bulk of the fabric once, when I sewed the final
middle seam. :)



10) You can stop here or continue on with a binding around the perimeter of the
t-shirt throw.
Why did I not move this Gazing ball out of my way!!!???



For the border/binding around the edges, I used some left over favorite fabric that I used here originally :)



This fabric was a perfect match-up for me!
I just cut four strips of about 2 1/4" wide. Two for length and two for width of the finished t-shirt throw.
***OH, cut them each about 3" longer than the sides of the throw.
Pin strips on opposing ends, sew. Sew with a 1/4" or smaller seam.
Then same for remaining 2 sides.
Press under the outer edge of the strips by 1/4".
Fold binding over to cover the seam and press.
pin and hand sew Or machine sew binding around the T-shirt Throw.

You ARE DONE :)
Whew! This project is much easier than my lengthy directions seem to
imply. I tend to like to give a lot of pointers... just ask my daughter and son!
Remember, this is just a bunch of T-shirts :)





I hope that you make this T-Shirt Throw. Now that I have the final photos finally taken I am going to start using it... Just in time for our heat wave this weekend LOL!
I am going to figure out how to start a flickr group for your Celebration Projects :) {just look at my empty side bar... sewing etc. I know, computers~ not so much.
Thank You for playing :)
See you tomorrow :)

Hugs, Mary

Before Your Eyes & My Special Giveaway

Today we have found treasure. Treasure right in our
very own homes just waiting for us to find it.
"What is this!?" You ask?
Yes, you have unfound treasure, only requirement is
to open your fridge or cupboards.

Enjoy the beauty and talent of packaging designers.



A beautiful bottle and a gift from nature.



Hot cocoa containers can live on through the summer
and back into the fall!



Can you imagine a gorgeous Fall bouquet in this cocoa
tin! I just slipped a drinking glass through the opening
that was a tiny bit taller than the tin... so we can re-
treave the glass later.





And the simplicity of a small jar with a beautifully
scribed label in tact.





Let us not forget my "Shabby" bottles!!!



As sweet and innocent as lovely sweet peas.



I went to my own cupboard and fidge and found more
containers... future vases in a pinch or planned. These
are also "vases" that one could easily send over to a
friend and neighbor with blooms billowing over there
tops.





I realized that I have even more objects around my home. All containers
that were oh so lovely and not ready to be confined to the recycling bin.

Anyone wondering what and were the gift give away is? ! Ah, you are going
to be thrilled! Well, I am! :) I hope that you will be also!
Just leave me your name on TODAYS POST comment section OR if you do not have the means to comment you can go to my etsy shop, Oh Merci and leave your name and info in the "contact ohmerci" section of my shop :)


Here it is~



This is my first cozy little cottage design.
I love the slopped roof and the petit round top front door.
You will be set for the winter with this Sweet
Snowman Cottage.
***aqua vase not included***

Have fun spreading some summer joy around your home today
with this simple and fun petit project.
Tomorrow ~ Ah, a very fun project full of summer!!!

Hugs,
Mary

Second Annual Blog Celebration Week!

"She Sells Sea Shells Down By The"...Garden! Well, I do not sell them. But I did make this for our First~
BLOG CELEBRATION Project! Each day this week I will make a new post for this Blog Celebration Week!

My Son Doug loves angel food cake. While washing up the plastic container that it came in, I realized I could perhaps use this as a mold for a stand for my gazing ball. First I placed the gazing ball in the center to see if it fit ~ Success!

Quick Crete/cement (or your choice)
ROUND container* for mixing
Stir stick
plastic mold
Water

*I would use a perfectly round container if you can. Mine was wonky inside and it made for some frustration stirring.



Mixing up the quick Crete/cement in a recyclable container.





Scoop out powder into your mixing container
Slowly add water to the powder to get a peanut butter consistency
work quickly once the water is added
poor or scoop out cement mixture into the plastic mold getting it as full as you wish and
Smooth out top as best as you can, and clean up the edges with a rag
Let dry over night
NEXT DAY:
Turn up side down and mold should come out.


Now for the FUN!
Get out your shells bits of sparkle, ballerinas, pearls etc.

You can set your shells etc. out to gather your game plan. ooo! Did I just say "game plan"! Too much sports "muzac" in my life.

Make sure that your gazing ball will fit into the design.
*I left my gazing ball on the cement form while I did my initial design plan.

I found that Aleene's Quick Dry Tacky Glue worked very well! So happy!!!
I am NOT sure if it will hold up in the rain though. So you can be sure of success and use the E6000 Glue in a WELL VENTILATED AREA~ like outside!



Have fun and add to your hearts content!

on the way~





HINT: stand back and admire your progress so as to make any adjustments along the way!










finishing frosting:
I found a sand that had a hint of sparkle to it naturally.
Brush, spread... any way you can... get the glue around the shells a small section at a time and sprinkle with the sand of your choice :)
* I used a shallow box to catch the sand that fell away.
* I used this glass container that I use for paint water to hold the mold during the sanding process.

HINT: stand back and admire your progress so as to make any adjustments along the way!




This project I have fretted about for MONTHS!!!
Should I go through all of that work?
WILL it turn out?
Will it fall apart?
Will it look... wrong?
Yes, I am a worrier. Even Cailtin said it turned out better than she expected!
In the end, I am sooo glad that I tired it and I do hope that YOU will too!
I am going to figure out how to do a flickr group for this and the other projects for this week. So get busy my sweet friends and let me know when you can show us!!!


Ta Daa!!! ~


Thank you so for coming by and I will see you tomorrow for more FUN! :)

Hugs,
Mary