Happy Day!

I got the best delivery this morning from the mail lady! She brought me a package from the very talented Michelle Legler over at Mosaic Cottage (see link on the side under Awesome Blogs) Her work is unbelievable, and I am so happy to own a piece!!





I finished the baby gift last night, at last!! It was really fun to make, and the lady that bought it was really happy with it, and wants to order another piece, so that's wonderful.




Thanks again to Michelle, I can't stop looking at that adorable cupcake!!

Where does the time go?

That's my newest cupcaker, little Miss Bloo. I'm working on a few more, and doing a baby gift (ballerina bear) that has to be done by Friday. Its funny, now that I'm working a bit every day, and joined a gym, the hubby is complaining about the state of the house *insert raspberry tongue* ;) There's just not time for everything, and dinner is always made and the kids are clean, and I think that after being an at home mom for the most part of 13 years (since I was 21) I am entitled to a little me time. Who cares if the closets are dangerously overstuffed? Just don't open 'em! LOL

Two years ago was the best, because hubby started playing the drums, and I joined the Second City Training Center. Every Thursday, my Aunt Edie, cousin Lisa and I would go down to Piper's Alley, and do improv for 2 1/2 hours. I swear we met the neatest people, and we became like a family (not my Aunt and my cousin, we're already like family.) Our Improv group was called "Mud for your Turtle" and it was hands down the best experience I've ever had in my life. Getting to perform on the same stage that Chris Farley performed on was thrilling...anyway...

I love my art, and I've been waiting patiently for years to be able to work on it, but working at home is not the best, because when you are Mom, and you are home, it doesn't matter if you're busy. Oops. I think I just complained LOL Second City was nice because it was out of the house, and watching each other do scenes, every week we would just laugh until our sides hurt. Plus, the kids were already in bed when I got home...ah, the good old days!!

Well, I better get back to work. Peace out ya'll and Happy Monday!

Just listed on Ebay

If you do a search for paper mache lady, only three come up under folk art, one is mine. Blogger doesn't want to let me link, or you can copy and paste this addy

http://cgi.ebay.com/Paper-Mache-Sculpted-Lady-with-Meringues-OOAK_W0QQitemZ120100761056QQcategoryZ357QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem to have a look.





Here's hoping for better traffic than etsy :D

AND THE WINNER IS.........

My son Aidan just picked the two names out of the bowl...



The first one is for the 1/2 dozen cupcakes and he picked... POLKA DOT PIXIE!!!!

The second one is for the pair of cupcakes, and he picked... MIZ SMOOCHIE LIPS!!!

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!HOORAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!WAHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you ladies could email me at Oolagirl@yahoo.com with your mailing addresses, I will send them out asap :D Thanks so much for playing!!!


Thank you all who entered, this was so much fun, and thanks so much again to LisaOceanDreamer for thinking of this very cool contest!!!! I think the anticipation is half the fun. I have had a blast, and found many wonderful blogs that I would not have found otherwise!

More FAKE Cupcakes..ready to go!

Here is the second box of cupcakes for the Giveaway. I just realized that I never posted a picture! They are FAKE as well, the same as the first box, only there is just a pair of them inside this box. Looking forward to Tomorrow!!!!






I made this cake last night for husband and my (14th!) Wedding Anniversary. Anyway, it was so so so good. I have to share the recipe, which I found online at Traveler's Choice Internet Cookbook. I've never really made Red Velvet Cake before, except from a box once) This was too good to keep to myself.

Ingredients:
1 cup shortening (butter-flavored Crisco)
1-1/2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
2 Tablespoons cocoa powder
1 ounce red food coloring
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup buttermilk (not powdered)
2-1/2 cups sifted cake flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1-1/2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
Red Velvet Frosting:
5 Tablespoons flour
1 cup milk
1 cup white sugar
1 cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
Cake: Cream shortening, sugar, and eggs. Make a paste with cocoa and food coloring; add to creamed mixture. Mix salt and vanilla with buttermilk and add alternatively with flour to creamed mixture. Mix soda and vinegar and fold into mixture. Do not beat. Bake in two 9-inch layer pans, greased and floured, at 350 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes.

Frosting: Cook flour and milk until thick, stirring constantly. (This will be as thick as paste.) Let cool until cold. Cream together sugar, butter, and vanilla; add to cold mixture. Beat until the mixture is the consistency to spread. When finished, it is similar to the likes of whipped cream. It makes the cake!

(www.virtualcities.com)

Look what I found!

This is the kind of weekend I need to have more often. Dh and I went to Frankfort where they have the coolest little town square, with antique stores, general stores, tea shops, and super sweet old homes, with the wrap around white porches. I found the little book there, I loved the cover, and I got it for just $9.00 I looked it up online, and it was published in 1900. The illustrations are just so endearing, it was a great find. I want to go back, they had this pair of antique Victorian Shoes (they were SO narrow!!) and I wanted them, but I didn't get them. So many goodies waiting for the right person to find them!!

We also went to the Pickwick Society Tea Room


and had tea and quiche, it was so adorable, shabby chic decor, and we had the table in the sunroom, it was like being on vacation :D :D


Today I went to the Mole Hole, a WONDERFUL gift shop in Orland Park, where I got the Miss Understood, and the cute little sugar angel. I was supposed to be at a craft fair, but the craft fairs are all the same old stuff that they've had for the last 15 years. The gift shop was perfect http://www.themoleholeonline.com/ and the owner was a gem, she was knowledgeable about all of her artists, and I may have plugged a few of you LOL She was copying down websites before I left.

My last accomplishment for the weekend was cleaning out my studio (aka the garage) I could almost go back out and work, a few more days of nice weather, and I don't have to commandeer the kitchen anymore. I may even let the kids out of the closets now.

I have it on good authority that the ladies at Stevens Exhibits are reading my blog. My mom and my Aunt are amoung that group, so unfortunatley, the Artist's Gone Wild series will henceforth cease and desist. So sorry to those whose videos haven't been shown yet :(

Busy wonderful week!

I can't wait til the 21st! I have entered a ton of drawings (all of them, I think!) so I'm bound to win one, right? The response has been so great! I'm adding a second prize, a smaller box with 2 cupcakes inside. It will be very similar to the other one, only not as large. These are so much fun to make, but I'm working on two custom orders right now (coolness!!), and I don't think I'd have time before the 21st to make another large box. But good things come in small packages, right?


Happy St Paddy's day, y'all!



(courtesy of Lonely planet)

Giveaway! 1/2 doz fake cupcakes

Hope I'm doing this correctly!! Anyway, (for some reason, I can't link) LisaOceanDreamer from Heart of the Nest (link located at the side under AWESOME blogs) is hosting a worldwide giveaway, which is just the coolest idea. Everyone around the world of blogland, celebrating together. All of the fabulous giveaways are posted on her site, this is just so wonderful!

Here is my giveaway, 1/2 dozen of my FAKE cupcakes in a papier mache bakery box, they are handmade and varnished and sealed, completely non edible!

Just leave a comment on my site, and you will be entered in my giveaway in which the winner will be drawn on March 21, along with the winners of all of the giveaways. Isn't that cool!! Thanks Heart of the Nest, this is such a truly wonderful thing that you are doing!!

Making the cupcakes

Some more cupcakes, ready to find their homes in their new projects. I had to giggle yesterday, as I frosted these and set them out, my kids didn't even bother looking. My oldest son Aidan told his friend, "If it looks really good, don't bother, its fake." Heehee :D

(I do bake for them, they just never look as pretty as the imposters!)

Had to come back to add, Carrie of Violets are Blue http://www.violetsareblue.net/blog/ is doing the most fantabulous giveaway of goodies!! Make sure to go and sign up if you haven't yet!

I think I need a new camera

Either I have a really crappy camera, or I really stink at taking pictures! Probably both, truth be told. I've finished 2 pieces that I've been working on, and my pictures just arent cutting it for me :( They don't show the detail. It is snowing outside, so I can't shoot outdoors today. My brother's GF is a photographer, and she is going to take some lovely photos for me. Until then mine will have to do.
The first one is a sweet lady who has just finished baking her meringues. She turned out to be a combination of June Cleaver and my Grandma, which is a good thing! Here's a peek







Next we have my shy little Cupcaker. She is dear to my heart, because cupcakes are my favorite thing to create, and she is the keeper of the cupcakes. She is just so joyful that she has these goodies around her!





I am also working on another Cupcaker, and a few other goodies. I am just having so much fun. We are supposed to have a big thaw this week, and it will be sheer magic to be ouside again, working in my studio *YIPPEE!!!!*