Archive for the ‘freda marie’ Category

Boring

Monday, May 24th, 2010

I find when Deb is gone I too often struggle with finding something to talk about on our blog that I think you would find interesting.

Unlike Deb, my life is pretty routine, no pets to manage or clean up after or tell stories about.

Kids all grown and the mess in the kitchen is my own.

Laundry only requires a couple of loads a week.

I spend well over 50% of my non-sleeping hours sewing or shopping for fabric.

Me, I am quite content with this new lifestyle as when I wake in the morning I have no schedule, no deadlines, no boss to report to, I eat when I get hungry and too often in between hunger, nap when I am tired.

So I think you could sum me up as saying, “I live a good life” but to most people it would be boring, boring, boring.

Pictures of my accomplishments while Deb was away.

Beautiful napkins that portray Martha’s Vineyard.

Napkins from fabric named for Bar Harbor Maine.

Now in case I have really bored you…Deb is back with lots of pictures from her garden, probably a few stories, and maybe surprises to share …I just know I am glad she is back ….so please drop by again soon and check what she is sharing!!!

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Stalking a Ladybug

Friday, May 14th, 2010

I asked Deb if she had taken any recent garden pictures she would share with me while she was on vacation so I could have something pretty to post.  Look what she sent me.

She said she stalked it quite some time to get all of these beautiful shots.

I think this is an awesome shot!

I am bragging again but what the heck, she takes fantastic pictures!

I am sure this shot scared that little ladybug to no end.

Now I started wondering why are lady bugs called ladybugs?  Are they all females?  How did they get the name ladybug anyway?  Help me out if you have an answer.

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Gnomes

Wednesday, May 12th, 2010

It is my turn to share a while on the blog as Deb is going to be traveling.  And dear readers I am not apologetic in saying my world is pretty small because I am having so much fun with my time, just shopping for fabrics and sewing, so I doubt I will give you any awesome blog posts like Deb’s on Mother’s Day.  There I am bragging again :)

I sew at least 4-5 hours almost every day and never seem to tire of looking at something finished and exclaiming, “wow you are so cute” or touching a fabric and saying,  “you are so beautiful.”  Everyone always said my flower gardens flourished because I spoke only love words to them from the beginning of the season until the end.  A real lesson in choosing our words to bring life and encouragement to others.  Too bad I didn’t know that as well as I do now when raising my children :) Okay, on to what I wanted to share.

Really I am not here to promote our business but love sharing some of the unique opportunities that come our way.  Today I am shipping a custom order for a friend we made while visiting Warsaw, Missouri for a festival last year.  She found the fabric and asked me to make her the apron.  See what you think.

The fabrics are Michael Millers Gnomeville Border and the yellow is Michael Miller Gnomes.  Now this apron looks pretty simple but….the apron top layer that usually takes 1/2 yard took over a yard to get all that border visible.  The little gnome houses are not evenly distributed on the border, another dilemma that was very challenging for a while.  Finished apron will ship tomorrow morning and I hope she loves it.  Take a look at some of the close-ups of this adorable fabric…but please no more custom orders of this fabric…way too much wasted fabric for me.

Thanks for stopping by and hope everyone is having a wonderful week.

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Bragging Rights of Mothers

Tuesday, May 11th, 2010

What do Mother’s love to do most?  Brag about their children.  I am doing that today.

Some of you may recall the post I did on folding an Easter Bunny napkin.  Today I am posting a napkin Debbie made.

Can’t you just see this napkin setting in the middle of a pretty red, green, gold or any color plate?  It would “wow” my guests for sure.

I am “hoping” Martha, you know,  Martha Stewart whose instructions I gave you for Easter Bunny fold sees this so Deb can get her napkin in a national magazine!

Well I am her Mother so I can dream big for her.

I thought they were cute beyond words and loved the fold she put on them and wanted to make sure you had a chance to see how talented she is :)

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Dance Recital Aprons

Friday, April 30th, 2010

I still pinch myself on occasion to think at my retirement age of life I am having so much fun.

Recently I had an inquiry from a lady in Portland, Oregon who teaches children’s dance. She had seen an apron in Creative Chics online store and wanted to know if I could create aprons for her dance recital.  The theme of the performance was an Enchanted Garden and the little 3-5 year old girls would wear scarves on their head and have a feather duster in their hands, remindful of Cinderella cleaning. She only had two specific requests; rick rack and a double layered full skirt.

Well of course, I said yes.  Shopped for fabric sent her suggestions and here is the final result.

Can’t you just see these little angels flitting around the stage?  I asked for pictures and sure hope I get some.

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Dangerous Chocolate Cake Recipe

Thursday, April 29th, 2010

I never seem to never get tired of chocolate!

So thought I would share this fast, easy chocolate recipe with you.

5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE
4 tablespoons flour
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)
A small splash of vanilla extract
1 large coffee mug (MicroSafe)

(It is best if you mix all ingredients in a bowl before putting in a cup)

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well.  Add the egg and mix thoroughly.
Pour in the milk and oil and mix well..
Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again.
Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts.
The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don’t be alarmed!
Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.
EAT ! (this can serve 2 if you want to feel slightly more virtuous).


And why is this the most dangerous cake recipe in the world?

Because now we are all only 5 minutes away from chocolate cake at any time of the day :)

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Mothers Day Giveaway Winner

Friday, April 23rd, 2010

The drawing for the $25.00 gift certificate was announced Wednesday and the lucky lady was Sarah Seitz of Bellevue, Washington….

What makes Creative Chics unique is we do not make the same apron over and over but each design is only created once…or until our quantity of fabric purchased is gone.  Deb and I constantly remind each other that the fun part is creating. We are definitely not producers, we work way too slow decorating with our fabrics. Many occasions we have taken an hour to decide what pocket to use and how to trim it, definitely not productive but allows us to love what we do.

Sarah selected a beautiful Heather Bailey half apron and it will be arriving in her mail early next week.

Beautiful fabric and ruffles made this half apron so feminine and cute besides being totally reversible.  I think Sarah made a good choice with her winnings!

Congratulations Sarah!

I wish you all could have won :)   our inventory has dropped again with Mother’s Day sales so we are busy making new items before we have another drawing…hopefully soon.

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Sore Muscles, Tired Body

Thursday, April 22nd, 2010

When we discussed getting ready for Spring earlier in our blog I think I failed to mention working out and getting the body in shape for all of the lifting, pushing, carrying, squatting, planting, digging…I hope I didn’t miss any of the activities I took part in over the weekend.

Here is my Monday after the weekend tonic:

Maybe tomorrow will be better!!!

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Spring at the Pearson’s

Tuesday, April 20th, 2010

Spring, the season of sudden change.  I helped Deb pick out flowers to make a Spring bouquet for her front door and the flowers laid on her dining room table for weeks before we finally got it completed and hung.

I think the end result was worth the wait.  Do you have a Spring door greeting, please share it with us.

Here was our flower selection from Hobby Lobby when 50% off applied.

Even the worst arranger in the world can’t go wrong when working with this kind of beauty.  Next find all the tools needed for the project, wire cutters, floral wire, flower foam, ribbon, a container, and of course Grandma’s helper, Aria.  She had a blast helping us with her own little cutting and wiring projects.  We found the perfect container hanging in Deb’s kitchen eating area so we decided to empty it of it’s contents and borrow it for a few months.

Nest we need to place the floral foam inside the container, making sure it is solid and we are ready to insert flowers.  Decide what is your main floral ocus and put that flower in first.  Gauge how tall you want the flower to stand out of the pot and get those wire cutters busy.  Continue adding flowers with the focus on your main flowers, usually the larger sized ones.


Once all of the larger flowers are placed we began to fill in with the smaller plants and the greenery…I use every leaf as a filler by wiring it to a wood stick as it helps keep costs down and looks good.

In case your wondering why I didn’t fill that container in and cover it up…well that is what we are going to do with the Spanish Moss.  It gives it such a natural and old fashioned charm as you will see in this next photo.

I was grateful for Deb’s little and young   fingers pushing the moss through the  container…yep I could have put some in first but this stuff is messy! This way it is hanging out of the design of the container and looks like it has aged there naturally too.

I added a bow and Deb figured out with some  duct tape how to keep the Kansas winds from blowing it through her glass and we are ready to show off the final result.

A few final touches.

We thought it turned out pretty fine…definitely looks beautiful on her door don’t you think?

And Aria she never missed a beat she was with us every step of the way and finished by making her bow to fit the arm of the bench on the front step.

What a beautiful welcome to Spring and the visitors at the Pearson’s.

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Mother’s Day Giveaway

Monday, April 19th, 2010

Creative Chics is participating in a Mother’s Day Giveaway at Natalie’s Sentiments.  The list of giveaways is long so please take advantage and get registered.  A $25.00 gift certificate will be given away to shop in our store and many, many other wonderful freebies.  Click on the link above and get entered today!!

To enter:

  • (Required) Leave a comment on this post telling me a few of the specific items you are most excited about and who you would like to give them to. (I won’t judge you if you are planning on keeping them.)
  • For an extra entry, let me know in a separate comment that you are a public follower.
  • For an extra entry, let me know in a separate comment that you have my button on your blog.
  • For an extra entry, let me know in a separate comment that you have facebooked or twittered about this giveaway.
  • For THREE extra entries, let me know in THREE separate comments that you have blogged about this giveaway.
Natalie will announce the three randomly selected winners on April 21st. Good Luck!!!!!!!
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