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!!!!*

A week of Strep Throat

Three of my four kids and I are just getting over strep. Its been a long week. I haven't managed to get anything done, but everyone is back to school tomorrow. I hate when they're sick, especially in the winter. We've been stuck inside for way too long, can't wait to get everyone back outside, and to be able to go to the park again! We are all getting on each other's nerves being cooped up, especially with the 5 and 6 yr old, they have so much energy and they need to be able to run. Come on, Spring!!

Tomorrow is March 1, the start of the South Side St. Paddy's month. Everyone in my neighborhood (South Side of Chicago) is Irish, and they get to be twice as irish about this time of year. Our parade is one of the biggest in the USA and it started out as just a couple of floats. The entire South side (and even the North Siders) come out (except me!) I know, I stink LOL

I know my kids though, and by the time we found parking and walked the 8 blocks to the parade, they would be crying to go home. I don't understand the draw of standing outside FREEZING brrrrrr especially since there are so many drunken adults, its hard to see anything. We usually have a few people over and play board games, and have Corn Beef & Cabbage, way more fun!! (Except the corn beef part, blecchh) LOL

I do have to admit though, I LOVE Irish Music. When I was forced to listen to it as a kid, I couldn't stand it, but somewhere along the line, I guess it grew on me. We even went to see an Irish band last week, The Larkin Brothers. They are in their 20's and 30's and they play traditional irish music, plus some of their own. They are soooo good :D We've seen them like 11 or so times, if you ever have the chance to see them (and you like Irish music) they are so fun. They are also very entertaining, they're like a bunch of lunatics on the stage, great fun. My kids even like them. My three boys are really into the guitar :)

I have no pictures to share today, need to get to work! Great day to all in blogland!

Last of the birthdays, and free day!!

Dancin' like a fool! I have the house to myself for 3 hours!!!! I am going to turn on some inspiring music, get all my stuff out, and just create. Bliss!

I should have my studio back soon, the snow is melting (Hurray!)and it will be great to work in peace with a bit of space again.

If you haven't seen Jenny's (The Polka Dot Pixie) beautiful fairy, you have to go over and have a look. She is so talented, and this fairy is unbelieveable! Truly unique, and wonderful.

Update: My friend just called and said "How did you get three hours to yourself?? And what inspirational music??" ROFL OK, it was Janis Joplin, not Mozart :p

Have to add this too...My cousin Liz has been making fabulous purses and diaper bags at her etsy ElizabethGwenOrignls.etsy.com and now she is making skirts. I was so impressed I had to share. This is her daughter, the gorgeous Lorelai, modeling Liz's fabulous skirt