Candylights ~ They're Here!

Just in time for your holiday decorating! Each strand is 12' long, with 35 sweet, little hand dipped bulbs. Color available: Wedding Cake (white), Buttercreme, Cotton Candy, Kiwi, Bubblegum, Melon and Multicolor.

Some Fun Hand Painted/Decoupaged Candles

Inspiration ~ Finally!

I suppose that it happens to all of us who create, no matter what our particular craft. Sometimes, you just hit a wall.....new and creative ideas for your particular craft just seem to vanish. That's happened to me. For the past year or so, I've focused mainly on my sewing. I love sewing! I'm perfectly happy to sit and sew all day long. At times, I've had so many ideas for sewing projects in my head that I've had to make a list. But lately, the ideas just haven't been there. I haven't picked up a sewing project in almost 2 weeks!

And then yesterday, while going thru my list of bookmarked websites, I came across a website that I haven't visited for quite some time.....St. James Place. This is the website for Connie Parkinson, one of my favorite artists. I like everything she paints.....everything! After spending 30 minutes or so on her site, it hit me. My painting! My painting! I haven't picked up a paint brush in almost two years! I haven't lost my desire to create.....just needed to change direction a bit!

So today, thanks to Connie's website, I will dust off my paints, brushes and canvases, and focus on my new found inspiration! Thanks, Connie!

Here's just a few of Connie's creations that have inspired me!

Coming To Casual Cottage!

I'm so excited to announce that I will be adding sewing tutorials to Casual Cottage and my Artfire Studio. Here's the first one! Keep checking back for many more affordable, quick and easy projects, just in time for Christmas gift giving!

Sew, Mama, Sew!

From the list of their current fans on Facebook, I am really behind in finding this fabulous website! For anyone who loves sewing, you must visit Sew, Mama, Sew! The website, blog and forums are all under one location. What I really love are the great, creative, FREE, sewing tutorials. The Tutorial below is one of my favorites!

Scalloped Fabric Garland Tutorial

If you love sewing, stop by Sew, Mama,Sew! for fabulous fabrics, tutorials, sewing patterns and notions. And, if you are already familiar with this website,.....why didn't you tell me about it???

Playing For Change

If you have a moment, take time to watch the entire video. This is truly inspirational, as well as great entertainment! If you're my age, you will especially love the the music!


Source: Playing For Change
Join Them on Facebook"

Some Shameless Marketing!

Thought I'd share some new pretties that I've been working on lately.

Simply Chic Laptop Bag
Tanya Whelan Fabric Laptop Bag
Crazy Quilt Gadget PouchGreat Stocking Stuffer!

Stop by Casual Cottage and see what else is new!

Have a great day everyone!!

The Pink Slipper Project

I learned of this wonderful project, The Pink Slipper Project, just a couple of days ago through one of my Facebook friends.

Each year, hundreds of thousands of women and children are forced to leave their homes and seek safety and healing in shelters across the country. This year, you can make a difference in the lives of a few of those women and children and remind them that their sisters are thinking of them. We can let them know that they are not alone.



Inspired by Tery Grahl of Enchanted Makeovers.org, The Pink Slipper Project is an endeavor to warm the hearts and the toes of those who will spend this winter living in women's and children's shelters. We are going to provide hand-crafted slippers to as many of these women and children as possible.

Ways that you can help...
Create simple slipper patterns for The Pink Slipper Project

Create slippers using your own patterns

Get your sewing and quilting groups involved
Donate materials - fabrics, yarns etc.

Become a Fanon Facebook.

Spread the word, through your blogs, facebook, Twitter.
Feel free to grab the widget on the top left side of my blog to use on your blogs and websites. And, please visit The Pink Slipper Project for more details on how to get involved!

Think Pink!

Since October is Cancer Awareness Month, I wanted to share some beautiful handcrafted jewelry that was created to raise awareness. This beautiful jewelry is created by Michelle and Cindy of Michabella Creations.

They believe in giving back as much as they can. They are very involved with their community. By selling their cancer awareness items, they have been able to donate to charities such as the PA Breast Cancer Coalition, the American Cancer Society, Children's Miracle Network, and the SPCA. You can feel good by knowing that your purchase of any of their cancer awareness items will have a percentage donated to a worthy cause! Please also take a peak at their blog Michabella Creations.

Think Pink Awareness Bracelet
Sparkle of Hope Bracelet
Believing in a Cure Awareness Bracelet

If you are a blogger, The Creative Bloggers Blog Ring is a great way to support other creative people through blogging. Join me at Creative Bloggers, in paying it forward!

In Case You're Interested....

As I write this, Christmas is only 81 days away. I like to let my family (and friends!) know well in advance, what gifts I would like for Christmas. Now this list will probably change a bit between now and Christmas, mostly, I will be adding to it! :) And, some items might be removed.....because I can't wait on you people and decide to just go out and purchase it for myself.

So, in case you feel strongly that you should really add me to your Christmas list this year.....here ya go!

1) This is a biggie! New sewing machine. I want one with all the bells and whistles....but most important, I would like it to thread itself, wind its own bobbin automatically and sew in a straight line, no matter how much sleep I've had or not had.

2) New Iron - I have a really cheap iron. It spits and sputters and doesn't do a very good job at all. I'd like something space age...fills itself with water, turns itself off when I forget about it, turns itself on with voice activation, doesn't scorch the fabric when I get distracted by the phone....or Twitter, and most importantly, it must either fold or hang the article neatly and put everything away!

3) New Coffee Pot - This really should be at the top of my list, since coffee is the first thing I want when I get out of bed each morning. And, that right there, is part of the problem. I really want coffee before I get out of bed, so a coffee pot that would add it's own water and coffee, turn itself on around 4:30 a.m. and then serve the coffee to my nightstand would be perfect! Refills served to me at my computer the rest of the morning would also be appreciated.

OK....well this is just a start, but it will give you early birds something to shoot for! Keep checking back because I will definitely be adding to the list! :)