Portabellopixie

20 + 11 = Happy Birthday Me!

It's my birthday!  A day I love..  nothing better than being surrounded by friends and family with cake and presents.

And watercolors.. and strike offs of new fabric.. and chocolate..  and gift cards to my second main man.

So far my birthday has been perfect.  Snuggle with the little one in bed this morning, check.  Chat on the phone with Sarah, check.  (Get to see her again in a few short weeks, hooray!)  Thrift store excursion planned for the afternoon, check.  Dustin making Uh-mazing chocolate cake, check.  Loved ones coming over tonight, check.

All in all, today feels like bright yellow flowers.  Which is probably why I painted them.  Looking forward to seeing them pop up outside soon-ish.

xo

Birthday Girl

 

So you want to Design Fabric?

This is big you guys.  Michael Miller is holding a contest to find their next designer!

 
 
The winner of the challenge receives the following:

• Licensing Contract to print their collection with 

  Michael Miller Fabrics

• $1000 advance against royalties 

• All expense paid trip to International Quilt Market Fall 2011 in Houston, Texas.

Ten finalist will recieve the following:

•  $100 Spoonflower Credit

•  10 yds of Michael Miller Fabric  (Chosen by individual finalist)

You can read all about it here!

I've know about this for a while, and can I just say the anticipation of seeing it start has been killing me?  But it starts today!  So work on your design and submit it, this could change your life!

Distractions in Art Form

I've discovered the joy that the world knows as watercolor.  How have I never tried this out before?  I think I always thought it a bit uncontrollable with a mind of its own.  Not the case at all!

This mermaid was my first attempt, many have followed.  Many many more to come, I am sure.

I also have a new sketchbook sitting next to me, begging me to overlook deadlines, but alas - I will be a good girl and wait to play when the work is done.

I've heard nothing but rave reviews about them, so I had to give one a try.  It actually has four colors of paper inside, in varying degrees of white to tan.  I do love the square format.

Distractions.. beautiful distractions.

xo

Sandi

Microwave Kettle Corn

If this image gets your taste buds going, I'm about to change your world.  Yes, big statement, but so true!

OK, let's back up.

A few months ago, I was at my girl Sarah's house.  We were hanging out in her studio chatting about fabric, illustration, art, kids, boys - you know, girl talk.  Her darling husband Ken came downstairs and place his hands on Sarah's shoulders (making me miss my husband because he does the same thing) and asked if we were in need of some Kettle Corn.  Yes please.

What he brought down was not what I had previously experience as kettle corn!  It was something beyond, something insanely taste bud explosive.  I raced home and started mastering the recipe.

Welll.. the other night I really wanted some, but didn't feel like washing the pot and doing the hand shake dance jig over the stove top to keep it from burning.  I vaguely wondered if this was achievable in the microwave.

It IS.

So, now - let me make a statement here.  Sarah and Ken's popcorn rocks.  I love it and will still make it.  There is something very fullfilling about popping popcorn over the stove, old school style.  But do give this a try.  It's just as good, and a bit safer.  (Ken has a popcorn kernel scar on his neck.)  So for when the kids are around and we're in a hurry to watch a Friday night movie, this is the method I'll use.  If the kids are tucked away in bed and Dustin & I want a treat, it'll probably be old school - stove top popcorn time.

A note about the above picture.  I initially tried this out in a large plastic container and it is a definite no-go.

This is not good eats.  (That globular mess is melted plastic.)

This method worked much better..

  
The recipe is over on my sidebar, ready for download.  Or just click here.

OH, and I haven't tried it, but I'm sure you could omit the sugar for a traditional popcorn if that is how your taste buds are inclined.

Enjoy!

 

Happy Valentines, see me in Quilts & More!

Happy Valentines Day everyone!

I hope you find good treats, someone to kiss and memories to make.

I've moved around the blog a bit, feel free to pop in from your reader to see the changes.

Guess what?  A fun feature on me is in the spring edition of Quilts & More Magazine. 

And now my summer of flaming red hair has been immortalized in print. 

I've also contributed a project, this sweet little headband.

The knots are removeable, so you can move them around on the headband or completely remove them if you want.

We're going to put a few kits together and offer them on the website this week, so hop on out and pick up the magazine!

Honestly, equally exciting for me is the Meadowsweet ad that is in it!  Kathy called me a few weeks ago about putting together a spring inspired ad to go in the magazine and I got all excited and started rambling off ideas about cute dresses I could make etc etc..

Then I found out the due date for the ad was THAT day.  I looked outside at the foot of snow that was gracing our yard and came up with a plan B.

I did a fun little sketch and digitally filled it in with color and patterns.  I think it turned out great!

Here was the initial sketch:

And the final design:

Just a fun little peek into the process for you.  I know I always enjoy seeing this type of thing on blogs I read.  It's like being able to snoop around in someones bathroom while they aren't looking.  Not that I would do that sort of thing.  Nope.

Sandi