Just a Little Pre-Easter Humor

Collage...Pincushions

1. Linen pincushion by namolio
2. New Vintage Floral Pincushion by SillyGoat
3. Mini Dogwood in Lilac by TheDailyPincushion
4. Patched Doily Pincushion by mooseandbird
5. Miniature Cathedral Window Pincushion by warmfuzzies
6. Wool Pincushion with Crocheted Flowers by RescuedOfferings

My Terrarium

Okay, so I had to make myself a moss terrarium. I just think they are sooooo pretty. I may even have to make one for my office. The little house inside was my creation too. It's made from polymer clay that I painted with acrylics.

Early Spring Blooms

I always know spring is right around the corner when my lenten roses start to bloom. We have two large patches of them just on the edge of our woods. They like the rich soil there and delight us every spring and fall. The flower begins purple, but then fades to a more subdued light mauve. Beautiful!

Collage...Terrarium Treasures

1. Miniature Garden Urn Set by GardenBarn
2. Miniature Raccoon by RockArtiste
3. Good Fortune Turquoise Sparrow by AdoroMe
4. Three Handmade Birds by SkyeArt
5. Woodland Mushroom Cottage by WoodenTreasures
6. House of Tiny Fairies by Vishnya
7. Miniature Garden Bridge by GardenBarn
8. Little Pink Houses by ALDDesigns

Moss Terrarium Tutorial

I've been busy this weekend making some moss terrariums for Easter gifts. I'm starting to get into gardening mode due to the great weather we had. These terrariums couldn't be easier to make and care for and they couldn't be prettier sitting on your desk, coffee table or kitchen window sill.


To start, you need to find a glass container with a lid. You can also use containers without lids, but you have to make sure they stay moist.



You will also need some small rocks for the bottom layer, some sphagnum moss for the second layer, some cactus potting mix for the third layer and some bonsai soil for the fourth layer. You don't have to have the bonsai soil, but I find that the different colors of the layers add interest to the terrarium. You could substitute sand for the third layer and use the cactus potting mix or bonsai soil for the fourth layer. It is not recommended that you use regular potting mix as it tends to hold too much water.



Be sure to wash your rocks. Place a small layer of rock in the bottom of a clean dry glass container.



Next, put your sphagnum moss into a bowl and dampen it with water. Squeeze out the excess water and place a layer over the rocks. I use about a 1/2" thick layer. This will help to keep the soil from sifting down onto your rocks.




The third layer is your cactus potting mix. You will want to use about a 1/2" to 1" layer.



The fourth layer is the bonsai soil. This is a pretty terra cotta and sand colored mix.



The search for the moss is the most fun part of this project. Especially if you like to walk through the woods as I do. I found my moss in my back yard on the edge of our woods. You will want to have a container and a spatula or large flat spoon with you. Most moss will lift very easily from it's location. You don't want much soil to come up with it, so just put the spoon at the edge and slide it under the moss. It will be the final layer to your terrarium.



Lay your moss out on a newspaper and take the lid of your container to determine the size you will need. Trim the moss to fit the container and place it on top of the bonsai soil.



Now you will want to water it lightly. Don't allow too much water to sit on the bottom. If condensation collects on the inside of your terrarium, you can just remove the lid for 15 minutes or so. You know it's time to water your terrarium when you no longer see condensation on the inside.

You can add a little rock or ornament to the moss for decoration. There are several Etsy shops that sell terrarium treasures, or you can make your own out of polymer clay. Just use the word terrarium in your search. Most popular items are mushrooms, gnomes and little houses.

Aren't these lovely?

New Fobs in Snorkel Fabric

A Puzzle For You

Just something kind of fun for you to do. Have a great weekend!

Collage...Shamrocks

1. St. Pattys Day Hair Bow by andjane
2. St. Patrick's Day Headband by tammaleensbeads
3. Luck of Green Love Print by ajawin
4. Lanyard ID Badge by SewMuchDetail
5. Kiss Me I'm Irish necklace by Faeriedtreasures

New Zipper Pouch...Tree

Treasury...Zing

Thanks to bellavioletta for including my Andalucia tote.

Okay, so my day went like this...

The day started out like any other. But somewhere around lunchtime it took a turn for the worst. My daughter called me at work to say her cat, Grizabella, who has been sick for the past week (see earlier post), had a swollen jaw, her pupils were different sizes and she was walking with her head slightly tilted...oh, and she was walking with a limp. We thought she was on the road to recovery after barium tests, blood tests, x-rays, antibiotics and 2 days in the pet hospital. The whole thing was a real mystery to our vet, until she asked if anyone in our family did needle work. "Why, yes." I replied. So she did some x-rays of Griz's front end. BINGO! It appears that Griz likes to eat straight pins. Three of them to be exact. And, guess who has plenty of straight pins in her sewing room? That's right, you guessed it...ME. I feel incredibly bad for having left my sewing room door open. But, who would have thought she'd eat pins?!? Good news is that now we know what the problem was and it's fixable. Griz will go under the knife tomorrow morning. So, everyone say a prayer for our sweet little kitty.



And, as if that wasn't bad enough, I got in a fender-bender in the Target parking lot. My car got the worst of it, too. Just not my day.



It's definitely a two cocktail evening.

Collage...The Oscars

1. Kiss-lock Evening Clutch by rejenerate
2. Black Tie Affair by houseofpeltier
3. Rhinestone Snowflake Ring by MoonFaces
4. Oscar Jewelry Headpiece by heknowsmyname
5. Ballroom earrings by kalliART
6. Natural Cotton Ruffled Dress by reddoll

Wishing I Were Here

I don't know if I've ever mentioned it, but my day job is as a sales analyst on the marketing team for a toy company. Our division designs and markets games and puzzles. Now, technically, I analyze sales data, work on forecasts and provide sales materials for our sales force. But, I also get to sit in on creative review sessions with our extremely talented design team. The puzzles we produce cover a wide range of themes and we are always looking for new artwork for our different lines. The other day I was introduced to the work of Shari Erickson. I was immediately drawn in by her color palette. I love these bold Caribbean colors. Maybe you'll see a puzzle by her in the near future. If you do, I hope you'll think of me. Isn't she fantastic?

Grizabella is Home

Our sweet little Griz is home from the hospital. Late last week she started looking puny and wasn't eating, so we took her to the emergency clinic and found out she had pancreatitis. After a few days of meds and intravenous feeding, she is much better. Our home just isn't the same without our kitty. So glad she's home.

Every house should have a kitty.