My Spring Swap gift is here!!!!

It feels like Christmas all over again!  My lovely swap partner, Carolyn, of Lee Prairie Designs (Des Moines, Iowa), sent me two beautiful fat quarters of fresh spring fabric, an adorable spring bunny, and a Lee Prairie original kit!!  As Carolyn is such a quilter/crafter extrordinaire, I chose to crochet the gifts I made for her (ahmmm...my stitching techniques can be called 'rustic' at best)!  Here are photos of her lovely gifts.  Carolyns company, Lee Prairie Designs, designs and sells quilting and applique patterns, and is definately worth checking out.

Chuckeeees in LUVVVVV

Ok, some may find my clown creepy (stop emailing me, I know who you are!!!).  But I LUV clowns, and actually find them to be quite quirky.  So, thats why I just couldnt wait to display my find from two weeks ago.  I had Mr. Loretta hang my shelf, and here's a photo!!  I promise I will add more stuff to my shelf, and rearrange (I used to be a merchandiser), so it looks just right.  The plastic bags did eventually come off their heads.  The same day, from a different thrift shop, I found vintage cupcake toppers with the same clown heads (how freakin insane!!), I'll just have to figure out how to display them!

I shall never drink cold tea again!!!

Yip Yip Yippeee!!  My tea will always be cozy, and warm, for now I have my very own tea cozy!!!  Its kind of snug, but isnt it adorable??  I still have to iron it, but I had to put it on my tea pot unironed cause I was so impatient to see it!  I got the pattern from this book and it was pretty straight forward, but I have to make another one slightly larger...my tea pot may have a thyroid disorder (like myself) cause its on the plump side.  NOT fat, just plump, and it had to be squeeeeezed into the cozy. 

Hi, my name is Loretta, and I have a problem...

I dont know when it started, probably about 8 years ago, and it wasnt really a problem then, just an itch...since then my itch has grown into an uncontrollable, spreading rash...My name is Loretta, and I cant stop buying junk!  I go to any and every thrift store I can find, sometimes a few times a week!  My 'loves' have spread too!  I used to love 'made in japan' cute statues and cookie jars (Pi), kitchenobilia, chenille bedspreads (oooh I really LOVE those!), and vintage anything.  But I used to stop at that!  I knew my limits.  Then, I started buying vintage fabrics, notions and table clothes.  Now I buy old wool blankets too.  And I justify everything!!  I NEED this for my next ________  project (insert quilting, sewing, crocheting, felting, etc...) - did I mention I dont know how to do any of those things?  Okay, I just taught myself how to crochet, and I can mock sew (I call it the 'dont look too closely' sewing technique).  The real problem with my addiction, is that like an alcoholic whose face doesnt hide the long term affects of the booze, my home can no longer hide the long term affect of all that junk!  My basement is only yea big!!  I'm sure its a fire hazzard!!!  I've got to do a huge purging (but I dont want too, I whine)! I love all my crap (thats such a harsh word, isnt it?)!! Also, my stuff is loved, even if its dumped in my basement!  I still see the value, humour, and potential in it!!  I've got to start giving you a brief glimpse into my collections, because I'm sure you would NEVER judge me!  I mean 'let he who is without sin cast the first stone' or words to that effect...Just last week I bought a bag of these beautiful babies (5 large, 2 small).  I mean, who could resist!!  My husband, and kids all thought they were creepy, but I've always loved clowns!  Someone had to save these poor discarded clown heads, didnt they!!!!  I painted an old shelf which I had saved a couple of years ago, just to display them!  My husband just hasnt found it in his wee itty bitty heart to hang it for me!!  He thinks doing income taxes is more important!  Huh!

Canada Gold Medal Apple Pie

Okay, I know this post is late but I've been sooooooooooo sick, its the first crack I've had on my computer (almost) since the Olympics ended.  Sunday afternoon we all gathered at my sisters place for lunch and to watch the final mens hockey game between Canada and the USA, so this is what I baked for dessert:   A maple leaf for each gold won to date, and one for the final game...I know some might think that would be jinxing it, but it worked!!  Doesnt it look good???  And thats before it was baked!    Look at the 'after' photo, covered in sugar and oh soooo flakey.  I'm at work now (shame on me) so I dont have the recipe, but I'll be sure to post it tomorrow.  A truly excellent pie recipe, just like all the Canadian Atheletes!!!  

Country Livings Blackberry Vodka Recipe

Last year we attended my sister in laws wedding in Halifax, England.  It was on September 12th and I'm sure it was the hottest sunniest day of the year (or so the locals swore)!  It really was a gorgeous day and a lovely wedding, and a really wonderful time spent with all of my husbands family both from England and Ireland.  I wont drone on and on about my trip, especially as it wasnt 'perfect' from a truly selfish standpoint.  We hadnt rented a car, and my husband wouldnt get on the train to go to York so we didnt get to a Cath Kidston store.  I know its selfish, but I'd crossed the Atlantic Ocean, was one train ride to go shopping that taxing?  APPARENTLY.  Hmm...

Anyway, on the flight back I bought a Country Living magazine (I think...could've been another UK Country magazine but I'm pretty sure it was CL), and it had a great Blackberry Vodka recipe:

• one part blackberries
• one part sugar
• one part vodka

Thats it!  Mix all in an airtight bottle or jar.  Gently shake, or tip bottle upside down a few times, over the next few days until all the sugar has disolved, leave in a dark place, and forget about it for TWO MONTHS!!  That my friends was the hardest part of the whole thing!   Then you drain and eat the boozy berries (too strong for me), and keep the vodka in a clean bottle for ANOTHER MONTH.  Then you enjoy!  I'm only two weeks away from "enjoying"!!!!

All you need is love...

Ok, so last night the 3 kids (all in the same class by the way) spring on me that their having a Valentines party today at school and they signed me up for popcorn.  I've made Mother Goose Popcorn for them in the past but I couldnt find my tried and true recipe (cause I'm sooooooooo organized).  So I searched for it on the internet, and numerous versions popped up.  The first one I tried was absolute rubbish and turned my 8 cups of popped corn into popcorn soup.  NOT NICE.  The next one was this one http://www.recipezaar.com/Mother-Goose-Popcorn-48667 and it seemed easy enough, with simple ingredients.  So I pulled out all my gear/ingredients and lo and behold I had no vanilla left!!  Well, I like vanilla or some kind of flavour just so its not sugar popcorn.  If I'm baking and I dont have vanilla, I usually replace it with cinnamon, so what was another 8 cups of wasted popcorn if it didnt work?  I always experiment, not necessarily successfully, but that doesnt stop me...

Here is a peak at all you need, including that antique air popper (you can get them for next to nothing at Walmart).

Very basic requirements here.  My tweeked version of this recipe is:

• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 cups sugar
• 1/2 tsp of cinnamon
• 8 cups air popped popcorn
• red food colouring

Directions: 

1. Mix milk and sugar in  small saucepan, and heat on medium till it boils.  Let it boil for a few minutes just to give the syrup some body, but dont let it burn.  This must be watched.
2. Add the cinnamon, and mix well so it disolves into syrup.  You dont want clumps.
3. Now add as much food colouring as you like.   I made it a bit darker, like cinnamon hearts. Mix in well.
4. Pour hot syrup over popcorn (in a large bowl) and mix as well as you can.  Try to coat the popcorn evenly.  The syrup will gather at the bottom of the bowl, so scrape it up and keep mixing, almost like 'folding' eggs.
5. Pour sticky popcorn in two shallow cookie sheets lined with parchment paper.  Place in warm oven.  I usually heat my oven to 200 - 250* F for twenty minutes, then turn it off, and place the popcorn into warm/off oven.  I leave the popcorn in the warm oven overnight. 
6. In the morning (or whenever you're ready) break up the popcorn and place in airtight container, or just eat it!

Just a warning- Remove any unpopped Kernels prior to coating with syrup or they stick to the popcorn and you dont want anyone to break any teeth.  Enjoy!!

Sorry I didnt take any photos of it once it had dried.  I was too busy/late trying to get it ready for school!  But it looked soooo good!