may=bliss...

I'll admit that I'm feeling anything but bliss right now, but I'm confident that when the calendar changes to May tomorrow, the Blissful Bloom will help change that. So, download your desktop calendar wallpaper and enjoy the bliss with me...

file your recipes away...

The recipe file is finished! I've come to love the Food Friends as I've worked on them for buttons, and adding them to recipe cards is the icing on the cake (pun intended). The printable file is available for sale at the Wild Olive shop here. This is the first time that I've offered a file in the shop, usually giving them away here at the blog. But, this one actually took a while to set up (longer than I expected) because you can fill in the cards before you print them. Still, for $5 you get illustrated recipe cards that look all professional when you type them in (or hand write for a personal touch), and you'll never run out because you just print more out!

making bread...

Two posts in one day? Can this be? Well, perhaps inspired by yesterday's celebration, or perhaps because it just needs to be done, I had planned on doing some yard work today. Planting some new shrubs. Transplanting old flowers. Getting the ground ready for more new growth. But the weather fought me on this. The cold and wind just wasn't the kind of conditions that one hopes for. And so my working in the yard kind of day became a baking bread sort of day...



Heidi at My Paper Crane has been making all of their family's bread, which is such an amazing feat. But with a family of 8, it seems neither cost or time effective for us. However, I do want to make more bread and today was a start. Above are two loaves of wheat French bread, about ready to go in the oven. And below are some loaves of Anadama bread. I'd never made either of these, and in fact, haven't tasted the Anadama. But the French bread was excellent. A keeper.



And then, because I hadn't been in the kitchen enough, I made this apple oatmeal crumble to finish dinner off. Thankfully, we didn't finish the crumble off...entirely!

happy [belated] arbor day...

My family isn't huge on Earth Day, for reasons I won't even go into, but Arbor Day is another story. And since yesterday was Arbor Day, we went to the nearby Morton Arboretum (it was free day in honor of this leafy holiday). A brief history: J. Sterling Morton started Arbor Day in 1872 as a means of celebrating planting trees. The Morton family became known for planting trees, and his son Joy started the arboretum. This was just a bit of info shared at the tree planting ceremony.

It was really a beautiful day there yesterday...so much to see, walk through, drive through, etc. This picture is of a walkway in the Children's Garden. The Ash is significant to me because I have an Ash tree planted in our front yard, that was added when I was adopted into the family. We're sentimental about these things...

Anyway, we never got to hugging any trees, but we did celebrate them. And we planted some saplings to bring home and add to our tree-filled landscape.

best music on television...

My family is one that loves old movie musicals. Fred Astaire was a favorite of mine, and I even dressed up as Cyd Charisse for Halloween when I was like, 7 (this involved a vintage children's ball gown and some satin shoes). The new movie musicals like Moulin Rouge, Chicago, and others often based on Broadway shows are good, but just not the same.

But when it comes to television, there are a few that stand out. Sure it's a kids show, but Backyardigans is, in my opinion, one of the most creative shows on TV. The themes are amazingly fresh, and there's some great humor tucked in there for the adults that end up watching over and over. But it's the music that really makes this show unique. If you're not familiar, each episode features a different style of music, ranging from polka to funk to Bollywood. This is really great music!

But then there's the sitcoms that add music from time to time. Drew Carey did it, and others too, but the episode of Scrubs called My Musical is by far my favorite. I've been going through all of the seasons of Scrubs on DVD, and have watched this episode twice because I just couldn't get enough. "Everything Comes Down to Poo"...just too funny! "Guy Love"...a hit! "Friends Forever"...better than than Grease!

So, while I'll never depart from the classic movie musical, these small screen options are very worth watching...

a little help...

Blog Friends, I need the assistance of someone. I've been working on a new item for my shop: Printable Recipe Cards. It will be a PDF file that has 16 cards, each with one of my food illustration doodles...breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert. And the best part is that you can type your own recipes onto the cards before you print them out!

Now, here's where the help wanted comes in. I need someone to test the file for me. Make sure that it is going to be simple enough to use and print. This means actually filling in some recipes and printing. Not too hard. And of course, the file will be yours to keep and use and print (if flaws are found, you'll get a good version, of course!) So will you help me out? Leave a comment or drop me an email if you're interested!

UPDATE: I'm still looking for a few folks to test this for me, so let me know if you'd like to help!

an illuminating stamp...

The Carve Your Stamp group at Flickr has really made me want to carve more stamps. And not just using erasers, but the actual stamp material. But I've been stuck on what to make. I wanted to make something that was in keeping with the other things with faces that I make, but not the same as other illustration doodles I've made. This Chinese lantern is the first of three different shaped Chinese lanterns. And then, I have some other animals and objects in mind. Thank goodness the stampy block is gone!

dies ist so lecker...

German chocolate cake is one of my dad's favorites, so I made these cupcakes in celebration of his return from a very extended business trip. The cake itself is from a mix, but the coconut pecan topping is homemade from this recipe (I used only 3 yolks though)...so tasty! Not many cupcakes are left, but there is an abundance of leftover frosting. And so, I'll be making some more cake to go with it. It's kind of like milk and cereal...you can rarely get it come out even. But with cake, it just means eating more treats!

By the way, the title of this post is German for "this is so yummy!" and it is!

a workbook wallet...

Sometimes I get an idea in my head about making something, and it just doesn't work. Like the keychains that I planned to make. My first shot was quite pathetic, and I won't even show a picture of it, but I still have hope that they could become a valid item.

But the wallet above actually worked quite well, with only minor glitches! (A few more pics are on Flickr) You may remember the old workbook pages that I blogged about before, well this is what I envisioned. I'm also thinking that I need to make a matching coin purse. The question will be, once this is all perfected, would people buy a wallet such as this?

I slept through it...

As an Etsy seller, it is considered an honor to be on the front page. Today, said honor was bestowed on my when jacksprat's Treasury was featured. But seeing as how it was at around 2am, I slept right through this exciting moment...

feeling pathetic...

It almost seems pathetic to be thinking about a time when a lovely Popsicle would melt on the sidewalk, especially with the sometimes nice, sometimes not so nice weather. But June will be here before you know it. If you've downloaded the calendar (see the Fun Stuff section of the sidebar), you know that the June Characteristic is Pathetic Popsicle. He's quite sad lying there all melty.

The above plethora of packaged Pathetic Popsicle buttons are all set to go to the lovely folks at The Sampler. And sets of them coupled with some companion buttons will be available in the shop next week.

an update...

I'm feeling a little un-bloggy, but it'll clear if I keep on. I hope. So here's what I'm up to right now:

• Bitty Breakfast Buddies buttons are done, and waiting on packaging (which I hope to print tomorrow)
• Companions to them, and the Just Desserts, are also done and soon to be buttons (they'll be the Out to Lunch Bunch and the Dinnertime Diners)
• My brain has turned to mush (okay, it has become mushier) as evidenced by some bad accounting (we're talking basic math here)
• At the last minute I've decided to contribute to The Sampler again for the May Sampler, which means hustling to get Pathetic Popsicles all set to go
• The hand carved stamps in the Carve Your Stamps photo group have me hankerin' to make more stamps, and yet, I seem to have some sort of a block as to what to make

That is all.

printing again...

The new printer has been purchased, installed and is now printing things out...

I'm still getting used to some things about it, but overall I'm pleased. And I feel better knowing that it's available now...

like losing a limb...

I'm printer-less right now, and it's making me (and my entire family) crazy! The printer gets used a lot, really a lot, and has held up well. But for the last few weeks it has been on its last leg...we should have been better prepared. Now, the printer is done. The thing is, I haven't needed to print anything important until now. Maybe things still aren't all that important, but knowing that I can't print makes me want to print more...you know how it is. I'm going crazy, I tell ya!

Tonight I started the search and found that new printers use the same cartridges (I have some left over), but in different combinations. I like HP printers, but I think they're out to get me. Grr...

Rant over.

making jolliness...

Jolly Gelatin, part of the Just Desserts, became a little sculpture last night. The brothers and sisters were playing with Crayola Model Magic, and since it was a lovely shade of green, I knew that it needed to become Jolly Gelatin. It's been a while since I've played with the foam-like clay, and I'd forgotten how fun it is. Now the wheels are turning...

By the way, what does Jolly Gelatin say when he answers the phone?

"Jell-o!?!"

you're such a wonder...

A friend was in a skit today, and he was playing "Wonder Woman's biggest fan", and to help him with this, I made this poster. It's been a while since I've pulled out the art projector and markers, so it was like going back to my school days. And Wonder Woman, well, she's pretty cool. My family may not fall into the "biggest fan" category, but we do own all of the seasons of the Linda Carter TV show on DVD. While I worked on the poster, I could hear the show playing in the next room. Of course, that means getting the theme song stuck in my head...

In your satin tights, fighting for your rights, and the old red, white and blue!

a beautiful day for a ball game...

A few years back my brother and I started a tradition of going to the season home opener for the local single A ball team. I'm not much of a sports fan, but from time to time I enjoy watching a game. Single A is often more enjoyable than major league, because it feels a bit more homegrown. Sure the players are hoping to make it big, but for now they are a bunch of guys playing a game.

April opening games can be a bit risky, because you never know if it will a nice day or freezing and rainy. But today, I think it's going to be a beautiful day for a ball game...

Excited Egg printable...

Ahh...today it actually feels like spring outside! Windows are open, there's a nice breeze, and you can hear the sounds of a lawn mower. It's the perfect day for an Excited Egg to become a mobile. Start by downloading the PDF printable. Then you'll need some twigs and string. Then print and follow the instructions. For mine, I mounted the printed pieces onto yellow backing paper. Also, you'll find that you may need to balance it a bit, because no two twigs are alike. But then you'll have a bit of spring hanging around...instead of winter weather!

prints charming...

It's a bit odd, because I love art, I love illustration, I love photography. And yet, I never buy any of these things, at least, not for my personal enjoyment. But in a move very unlike me, a few weeks ago I purchased the above print online. Actually, I fell in love with "Song for You" the moment I saw it on Etsy (mine is the 8x10 version). I marked it as a favorite, left my computer for a short while, and returned to find that it was sold. Disappointed, I took a chance and sent a message to the creator, and very talented illustrator, Lauren Minco. She replied quickly to let me know that she would list more and then I would have this print that I so desired.

My print arrived (along with some fab stickers), and sat, waiting for me to find a nice matte and frame. And so, now it at last at home on my office wall. It hangs over my desk and he makes me happy. He also inspires my 8-year-old brother to try and hum his song.

In other print related news, I've constructed another Etsy treasury, this time all filled with prints that I find charming. Find it here until Monday afternoon. And find Lauren Minco's lovely shop here, hopefully for a long time!

birthday wishes...

...going out to the now 6-year-old MAX! Lucky Dog was finished in time, and was given today at Chuck E. Cheese. He was well behaved, but did drool on the pizza and drink all of the soda.



Also made for the birthday were some super jumbo king size cupcakes...4 inches of yumminess!

breakfast naming contest...

I've taken a few weeks off from creating new doodles on the computer, but have been mulling over some new ideas in the sketch book. Today it seemed like a good time to get them going. They don't really have an official name for the group of them, but these doodles are breakfast in theme and each have their own personality characteristic. Sinuous Cinnamon Roll, Waffling Waffle, Sodden Cereal, and Scattered Eggs are their names.

Now, any thoughts on what I could call the lot of them? Initially I thought "Breakfast Buds" but I'm not so thrilled with that. But it needs to be something to do with breakfast or mornings or something like that.

I'm looking for ideas, so please leave your thoughts in the comments. If I choose yours, I'll send you a set of these doodles made into buttons! Now, be creative, keep it clean, and make it cute!

Update: Lots of great ideas have been shared, most of which can be seen here. But I've decided to go with Bitty Breakfast Buddies. Thanks, alamodestuff and sons!