Sweet Figments

Time for change

2010-02-11T10:01:00.000-08:00

I'm really sad to be saying this because I love this blog but because of my health and other priorities, I no longer have the time to run the blog the way it should be run. As of today, I will no longer be posting on a regular basis. The blog will not be deleted and I have given the guest writers the option to continue posting. Thanks for all your support over the years. :)

xoxo,
Connie

xo xo xo xo xo

2010-02-10T07:58:00.000-08:00

nothing to really say today. just a *wave*

top left to bottom right:
ClutchThat, Accentuate, kristend12, pawandclawdesigns (alt)
RAGGEDedgeGear, MADART, amberalexander, mysuppliessource (alt)
bubbasgemstones, aosLeather, pottery123, studioDONG (alt)
soundslikerain, poshit1, jwhitney100, theeyesofachild (alt)

--yobo

Vintage Valentine (Part II)

2010-02-04T01:45:00.000-08:00

More inspiration for a very vintage valentine's...

fruit salad vintage I goodwiu vintage

Patina Vintage I Thrush

pirates booty I matilda fair designs

xo, Caroline

Cyan

2010-02-02T09:44:00.000-08:00

I am back! My wicked ear infection is gone! :) I was a the fabric store yesterday and picked up a couple yards of kona cotton in cyan for a project I am working on and then I came home and wondered who else loves cyan as much as I do...? so here are a few of my favs! It's so bright and beautiful.

1. Poppy Garden by JujaCrafts
2. Celebrity Twitter by ThePendantFactory
3. Geometric Tendencies Crochet Necklace by LavenderField
4. Table Runner by knottednest

Be back in a few!

2010-01-28T11:54:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the lack of posting this week. I've got an ear infection and will be back as soon as I am better!

Vintage Valentine

2010-01-28T00:04:00.000-08:00

It's still a little ways off, but here are a few sweet things to get you in the loving mood...

Salvage Nation I Crafty Crow Vintage

Thrush I Lemon Ice Box Pie

Vintage Goodies I Flower On The Wall

xo, Caroline

clutching head

2010-01-27T16:48:00.000-08:00

omg, ow.

from top left to bottom right:
Kathryn Beals, Elegant Rose Boutique, brilliant!, Warm Hugs (alt)
Termite's Campsite, jelene, bedbugs, dance sippy, dance! (alt)
Aztek 721, theplushiefoundry, loaded hips press, doodlebug's fun fabrics (alt)
The Om Intention, good gosh!, portland general store, Love-Me-Knot Creations (alt)

you aren't gonna yell of i make those names into links tomorrow, are you?
*whimpering*
i'm gonna go lay down now.
--yobokitty

edit;
i'm feeling much better today, so the links are all active now. ^.^-b
*hugs to all*

Daily Snapshot: haveitconfections

2010-01-22T10:16:00.000-08:00

Flickr Friday!

2010-01-22T08:59:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday Everyone! I'm seeing lots of florals in the flickr group this week. Is spring coming sooner this year?

1. Bahama., 2. Pink Chrysanthemum Flowers-Silver Plated Adjustable Ring AND Earrings, 3. N12_1, 4. we're not in kansas anymore earrings

Daily Snapshot: lulubugjewelry

2010-01-21T09:14:00.000-08:00

Stay Warm, Go Green

2010-01-21T01:58:00.000-08:00

It's still pretty warm 'round these parts, but I know plenty of you are suffering through the cold of winter. In a season where everything tends to turn grey, it's nice to wear something reminiscent of warmer times. Enter this grouping of vintage coats - warm enough to keep you toasty whilst slogging your way through the slush, but with pretty green hues to remind you that spring will make its way back around eventually.

seams classic I allen company inc.

ainslie wood co I its bella

becky drolan vintage I mad girl vintage

Putting on the Maroon and the Black

2010-01-20T10:53:00.000-08:00

just because i like the colors. ^.^

from top left to bottom right:
Kit Lane, Red Riding Hood, Heathen's Hearth, Ling Glass (alt)
fab gabs, lily's offering, tee gee, solstice scents (alt)
Tocadora Leather, we and the bean, wall decors, queen's spoof (alt)
yatsu, H.M.S. latex, Tangerine Flamingo, wall decors (alt)

have a good day! :D
--yobo

Daily Snapshot: thefuzzymonkey

2010-01-20T08:17:00.000-08:00

Daily Snapshot: minniemiller

2010-01-19T08:12:00.000-08:00

Tsk Tsk..

2010-01-18T22:28:00.000-08:00

Shame on me. I've been super exhausted this weekend and I totally forgot to announce the Paper Pudding Giveaway winner. So who's the lucky one this week? #6 Nancy. Congrats! You should get an email from Esther soon!

Want to relieve some stress?

2010-01-18T10:55:00.000-08:00

Hazelnut Sandwich Cookies by BeesKneesBakery.

Take a whack at some hazelnuts. I love hazelnuts. They are fantastic to eat as is or to use in baking but they are nearly impossible to crack with a nut cracker. Instead we put a couple in a ziplock bag and smash them with a hammer and then dump them on a tray to weed out all the bits of shell and skin we don't want. It's kind of fun :)

Daily Snapshot: wrappedingems

2010-01-18T10:11:00.000-08:00

Daily Snapshot: Marviii

2010-01-15T10:09:00.000-08:00

Knotted.

2010-01-14T10:42:00.000-08:00

I bet you've never seen a knot like this before! It's laser cut from mylar and hand formed by Jenna of jftesser.

Daily Snapshot: RobsVintique

2010-01-14T08:08:00.000-08:00

gimme some greenery, please!

2010-01-13T11:00:00.000-08:00

the snow is driving me insane!
--admittedly, not a difficult task, as i'm about halfway there anyway, but still--

from top left to bottom right:
aj1801aj, Ureshii, thelittlereddoor, gothicreations (alt)
BikeCozy, ElegantSnobbery, NovaofSweden, pamwishbow (alt)
minifolk, VintageChevelle, ladramaqueen, MonsterMadam (alt)
AtelierKanawa, thePhotoZoo, pattydrake, yoboseiyo (alt)

*needing greenies*
--yobokitty

Daily Snapshot: studiocactus

2010-01-13T10:07:00.000-08:00

Paper Pudding Giveaway!

2010-01-12T09:35:00.000-08:00

Happy Tuesday morning :D

I've got a super adorable giveaway from Esther of paperpudding on Etsy (even her shop name is super cute)! Esther (the mastermind behind paperpudding), uses fine paper and her handy dandy shears to make some marvelous cards and clips. She's giving you a chance to win a set of her 3 robot cards and a set of moustache clips!

To Enter:
Take a trip to the paperpudding shop and leave a comment below about your favorite item. Don't forget your email address so we can contact you! The giveaway will run until Jan 17th and then I will announce a winner!

For bonus entries, tweet, blog or post about this giveaway on facebook! 1 additional entry for each one that you do. Just post a comment below.

Good luck!

Daily Snapshot: dkgeneralstore

2010-01-12T09:06:00.000-08:00

My love for caramel continues.

2010-01-11T11:17:00.000-08:00

Unfortunately, it doesn't always end up in sweet success. About a week and a half ago I saw this caramel popcorn post on Smitten Kitchen. I was totally drooling the second I saw it! I gave it a try last week and it was a complete failure. I'm not sure what went wrong... It would have been helpful if there was a temperature to heat up the caramel to but there wasn't and I ended up with these clumps of popcorn that tasted kind of stale and looked like I dropped them in butter and rolled them in brown sugar. It was a sweet mess.

Besides caramel popcorn, I love kettle corn and when I posted about the Smitten Kitchen recipe on my fan page, one of my Facebook fans shared one of her favorite kettle corn recipies with me. It looked so simple I thought there had to be something wrong with the recipe but it had over 8,000 positive reviews! I gave it a try yesterday and it turned out fantastic! My family gobbled it all up before I could take a photo! I think next time I might add a bit more sugar though.

Daily Snapshot: Hindsvik

2010-01-11T10:04:00.000-08:00

Flickr Friday

2010-01-08T09:43:00.000-08:00

Yay! It's finally Friday! Here are some picks that would be great for Valentine's Day!

1. Hand-stictched love note, 2. 4 Pretty Patterned Heart Bottle Cap Magnets with Hand-Sewn Gift Pouch, 3. Alice big heart pendant, 4. Anyone can fall in love, 5. pinkroundcupcake1, 6. pillow detail

Daily Snapshot: KUKLAstudio

2010-01-08T08:16:00.000-08:00

♫in the rubber room.....

2010-01-07T15:01:00.001-08:00

is where i belong..... ♫

from top left to bottom right:
hand-picked necklaces, Little Houses, kelly farrow, sewandsew14 (alt)
yy studio, Jagged Rose, attila design, yy studio (alt)
attila design, ninu, Little Houses, Loretari (alt)
ManyH8800, sand maiden, Alexandra Anderson, ileaiye (alt)

--yobo

p.s., yes, i realise it's a day late. funnily enough, i had one planned all about calendars and timekeeping and going to class in winter. and then i forgot it was wednesday yesterday until i was on the way home today. and then i was in the car for an HOUR in the snow on the highway. so i need a straight jacket now. ^^;-b next week i'll try for more on-time-ness, yes?

Daily Snapshot : finchandforeacre

2010-01-07T09:50:00.000-08:00

January Design Challenge

2010-01-07T09:25:00.000-08:00

Good Morning Everyone!

I'm not sure if any of you follow my Tiny Fig Blog but I wanted to let you all in on a little design challenge I am running this month. I hope you'll all participate in it! It will be fun to see what everyone comes up with. :)

Here are the details:
Go to the new Freebies section of my website and download the box template I just uploaded. The file contains 3 pages: an instruction page, a blank template and a printable orange and pink heart box template (my gift to you) as shown above. Your challenge is to design a Valentine's Day themed box using the blank template provided. That's it. You can use any materials you want (fabric, glitter, glue, paper, pipe cleaners, etc...) and you can design it in a graphics program if you like then print it out and assemble. When you're done, just email me at thetinyfig@hotmail.com with a photo of it using the subject line: "January Design Challenge". You may submit one design per person and anyone can enter so tell your friends or make it a weekend project with the kids! You have until January 31st to email me a submission. On Feb 1st I will sort through the entries, pick my favorite and announce the winner on my blog. The winner will receive a $20 gift certificate for my shop.

If you have any questions go to my original post and leave me a comment.

Daily Snapshot: cotylee

2010-01-06T09:23:00.000-08:00

Chicken Spaghetti in a creamy Bechamel Sauce

2010-01-05T09:27:00.000-08:00

Chicken Spaghetti in a creamy Bechamel Sauce topped with some cheese.

I love to eat pasta and I love Bechamel sauce because it's so versatile. It's perfect for when you want something that's fancy but without all the effort and you can make it with ingredients you already have on hand!

For those of you who do not know, Bechamel is a white sauce that can be used alone but is more commonly used as a base for other sauces. It is formed by making a roux (mixing equal parts of butter and flour) in a saucepan and whisking in milk until it thickens.

Chicken Spaghetti in a creamy Bechamel Sauce in 30 mins or less!
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups cooked chicken, cubed (leftovers work great)
1/2 small onion diced
2 tbsps butter
2 tbsps flour
2 cups of milk or half and half
salt and pepper to taste
enough pasta for 4 - 6 people

Directions:
1. In a large pot, cook your pasta until al dente. Remember to season with lots of salt. I always hear people saying that your water should smell and taste like the sea. Adding a 2 teaspoons of veggie oil to the pot will help prevent clumping and sticking to the bottom of your pot.
2. While the pasta is cooking, dice up your onion and cube your chicken.
3. In a sauce pan melt the butter and saute your onions. Let it sweat for about 5 mins and then stir in your flour. Do not brown the flour!
4. Turn the heat down to medium low and start whisking in your milk or half and half.
5. Slowly bring the milk up to a boil making sure you are stirring constantly (otherwise the sauce will stick to the bottom of the pot). It starts boiling, you can turn the heat back down to medium low. I do this because I'm scared it will burn.
6. Keep stirring until you have a nice thick creamy sauce and add salt and pepper to taste.
7. Stir in the chicken until it is thoroughly heated. If you want to add frozen veggies or something now would be the time to do it.
8. When your pasta is done drain it and serve it topped with your yummy sauce.

Enjoy!

Daily Snapshot : RedLightStudio

2010-01-05T09:11:00.000-08:00

Mad About Patchwork Giveaway Winners!

2010-01-04T10:00:00.000-08:00

Special thanks to Pam from Mad About Patchwork fo sponsoring a lovely giveaway! Congrats to lucky #19 Emily B. for winning fabric bundle 1 and #126 Meet the Browns for winning prize bundle 2. You should receive an email from Pam shortly regarding where to send your prizes.

(Sorry I placed the pictures in the wrong order but wrote the winners correctly)

Daily Snapshot: stephanieteague

2010-01-04T08:10:00.000-08:00

Daily Snapshot: solsticehome

2010-01-01T09:09:00.000-08:00

New Year Wishes

2009-12-31T11:01:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year's Eve! Here's hoping you wear something sparkly and get lots of kisses!
xo, Caroline

clockwise: Hep Cat Clothes I The Vintage Tree House I Erstwhile Vintage I Cool Curios

Daily Snapshot: thetimeisnow

2009-12-31T07:08:00.000-08:00

Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh

2009-12-30T20:40:00.001-08:00

the gifts that the 3 wise men brought to a carpenter and his new wife who had just given birth.
wasn't that nice? they got some money, some incense, and the wife got something to help her heal from the birth of her first child.
(gold is the money, frankincense is incense, and myrrh was used in traditional medicine to help heal the womb after giving birth.)

from top left to bottom right:
catherine filippelli, wiggle perfume, Dreaming Isis, Swedish Sisters (alt)
white magic, Pure Minerals Source, e sightler, Ancient Oils (alt)
nordea soaperie, wiccan magick shack, Make Scents With Nature, chasing clouds (alt)
goose grease, Ayala, sandra'n'dan, natural sundae (alt)

*humming the hymn*
--yobokitteh

Daily Snapshot: MilkGlassVintage

2009-12-30T09:07:00.000-08:00

What's your resolution?

2009-12-29T11:18:00.000-08:00

With the new year fast approaching, have you set any goals for yourself?

1. Letterpress Coaster Set New Years Resolution by luckybeepress
2. Good Riddance Day by RecipeBox
3. Enjoy Life Scrabble Letters Sign by FunCards
4. New Year's Resolution Print by bluebicicletta

Daily Snapshot : MoontsyAndFloontsy

2009-12-29T08:05:00.000-08:00

Caramelsssssss!

2009-12-28T10:43:00.000-08:00

Lately, I've been craving for caramel because I keep seeing them all over everyone's blogs! Caramels seem to be the new chocolate these days. So with nothing special to do on Christmas Eve I decided to make a batch of caramels.

The week before I found a recipe on The Black Apple's blog for Caramels Bittman (from Mark Bittman's How to Cook Everything). I've never made caramel before but the recipe looked pretty easy so I decided to use it. I had my doubts at first that it was actually going to turn into caramel... before the sugars dissolved and the butter melted it looked kind of disgusting and curdled haha but eventually it all became a consistent liquid and after about 30 mins of bubbling my candy thermometer read 245 degrees. I was surprised at how fast it set because my plan was to pour everything into the pan and swish it around until it was even but by the time I finished scraping the bottom of the pot it had already begun to set so the edges of my pan were a bit thinner than in the center. My family really enjoyed them too. I will definitely be making these again. I really wish I had some fleur de sel to sprinkle on top of these.

They were sweet but not too sweet and they don't stick to your teeth when you chew them which I REALLY like. I can't tell you how much I had a big scoop of vanilla ice cream to drizzle over when I was making these. I poured it into a 13" x 9" inch pan and ended up wrapping over 100 pieces of caramels.

Daily Snapshot : dancingintherains

2009-12-28T09:04:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays!

2009-12-24T14:05:00.000-08:00

Wish List

2009-12-24T09:39:00.000-08:00

It's my birthday today, so I thought I'd show off a few of the very lovely vintage goods that have been sitting on my wish list. I hope you like them as much as I do:

Santoki Vintage I Skinny & Bernie

Cool Curios I Mechanical Stag

The Pudding Store I Noble Town Vintage

xo, Caroline

munchcrunch crunchmunch

2009-12-23T14:41:00.000-08:00

oooh, peanut brittle! chocolate chip cookies! snickerdoodles! candy canes!
*dies of sweet tooth*

from top left to bottom right:
ASugarAffair, MarikasBakeShoppe, artisantea, SugarMohawk (alt)
HeavenBakedSweets, HolidayCandyLane, SusanBookerCatering, thecupcakemint (alt)
southerngoodies, HolidayCandyLane, sarahbisher, kandykettlekitchen (alt)
miaMallows, artisantea, tetoncocoacompany, teaman (alt)

*off to eat herself sick*
--yobokitty

Mad About Patchwork and a Fabric Giveaway!

2009-12-21T08:55:00.000-08:00

As a Canadian who loves loves loves to buy fabric, there are several things I consider when I'm shopping for fabric online but the main issue is always shipping! It's hard to find a supplier with a fabulous selection who has reasonable shipping rates and then sit patiently for 3-5 weeks for delivery while those pesky customs officials at the border check our packages to determine if we have to pay duties!

Well, up until recently I didn't know of a single online fabric supplier located in Canada that offered a fun and colorful selection plus carried designer fabrics. Luckily for me (and you), Mad About Patchwork landed in my inbox! Now, let me introduce you so you can get better acquainted!

Mad About Patchwork is a wonderful online fabric shop owned by Pam Denesyk that is located in Stittsville, Ontario. Pam being an avid quilter herself, loves to stock the shop with colorful high quality quilting cottons. The shop even carries a selection of designer fabrics from Amy Butler, Robert Kaufman and more. If you're not a quilter, don't worry! The shop carries lots of 100% cottons which are great for almost any type of sewing project! Pick up some fabric for a dress, a doll project, or even sew some gift bags for your holiday gifts!

Btw, if you haven't caught on to why I'm so excited about this marvelous little shop, it's because all Domestic (Canadian) orders under $100 ship for $5.00, all orders under $100 to the USA ship for $10.00, all orders over $100 ship for free, AND if you're Canadian there are no customs or duties to pay! Hooray!

Now, I am very happy to announce that Mad About Patchwork is sponsoring a giveaway! Pam is giving away two fat quarter bundles from the DelHi Line valued at $19.25 each! Each bundle contains 7 coordinating fabrics (I wish I could keep these all to myself!). Two very lucky Sweet Figment readers will win and the giveaway is open to International residents too!

To Enter:
Visit Mad About Patchwork and leave a comment below telling Pam which fabric pattern is your favorite and leave your email address so we can contact you if you win. You must do this in order for all additional entries to be valid.

Please leave an extra comment below for each of the following that you do:
- Tell us what you would do with the fat quarter bundle if you win it.
- Share this giveaway with your Twitter or Facebook friends.
- Blog about this giveaway
- Let Pam know what other types of fabric you think she should stock.

The giveaway runs from Dec 21st, 2009 - Jan 03, 2010 11:59PM PST. A winner will be drawn and announced on Monday Jan 04, 2010.

Flickr Friday

2009-12-18T08:11:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays!

1. Dandelion., 2. Mini Christmas Stocking, 3. Frosty the Russian Doll Snowman Necklace (328/365), 4. red wine drop , 5. holly jolly pin-back buttons (put on your red suit and rock around the tree), 6. Christmas Wreath, 7. Christmas Nightingales Giveaway, 8. Gingerbread Plush , 9. Home Sweet Home Domino Ornament

Very Vintage Holiday

2009-12-17T10:40:00.000-08:00

Here are some holiday inspired vintage goods for your perusing pleasure:
xo, Caroline

top row: Sally Jane Vintage I Ju Ju Too I Dazzle Ship I middle row: The Sunday Times Market I Adelaide's Homesewn I Ju Ju Too I bottom row: Leamor Vintage I The Sunday Times Market I K Malinka

Daily Snapshot: AntiquesGaloreGal

2009-12-17T08:44:00.000-08:00

washing washing washing

2009-12-16T15:11:00.000-08:00

from top left to bottom right:
RagsByRebecca, RedBerryCrochet, nadjablue, ContinentalCreations(alt)
phylsugarbear, WLrehab, LuckyGirlBoutique, SkyBox(alt)
naturalgrace, MayleesGarden, gitaly123, SmallGift(alt)
MichelleBrusegaard, CozzyCottage, threegreenkids, lapetitevie(alt)

*moar cleaning*
--yobo

Daily Snapshot : Penorus

2009-12-16T09:41:00.000-08:00

Play It Fair

2009-12-15T10:21:00.000-08:00

I'd like to introduce you to Play It Fair, a brand new webshop featuring an assortment of talented artists. Play It Fair's focus is to share wonderfully modern designs that are eco-friendly as well as ethically made and fair trade. They stock a variety of items including accessories, homewares, jewellery, gifts, kids items as well as a bit of geekery. Take sometime to browse though their wonderful selection and maybe you'll find a last minute gift for a special someone or yourself!

Daily Snapshot : thepoppytree

2009-12-15T08:08:00.000-08:00

Inspired by a few of my favorite christmas carols

2009-12-14T10:00:00.000-08:00

I've had the sound of bells jingling and the sound of chestnuts roasting on an open fire playing on repeat in my head for the last few weeks.

1. Brass Sleigh Bells by beckysbriarpatch
2. O Holy Night Paperchain by ormolu
3. Fa La La, Cross Stitch and Embroidery Christmas Tree Ornament by JulieEllen
4. Tiny Retro Snowman by violetpi

Daily Snapshot : NellaDesigns

2009-12-14T08:37:00.000-08:00

Daily Snapshot : TackySmack

2009-12-11T09:36:00.000-08:00

Daily Snapshot : mudpuppy

2009-12-10T07:33:00.000-08:00

That 70s Outfit

2009-12-10T01:08:00.000-08:00

While not all these pieces actually hail from that iconic decade (though some of them do), I feel like this is the perfect outfit to capture the mood of that era. Flirty and free and what I want to be...
xo, Caroline

clockwise: Joy Elizabeth I Throback Vintage I Beta Accessories I Starlet Vintage

click click!

2009-12-09T12:16:00.000-08:00

from top left to bottom right:
Sloth Art, vintage photographic, Sara Anntiques, tebone (alt)
Pola Emporium, Boombox Blitz, Sloth Art, Pot-Kettle-Black (alt)
vintage suburbia, Fancigirl, Johanna Vidaur, Line of Sight (alt)
Vintage, Etc. , Vintage Venatic, Silver Crow, Clyde Keller Photo (alt)

*snapping pix*
--yobo

Daily Snapshot : dillondesigns

2009-12-09T08:32:00.000-08:00

Mmm... Toffee!

2009-12-08T09:23:00.000-08:00

For those of you who don't know, I read a lot of cooking blogs. The other day, I stumbled on this drool worthy recipe for Coffee Toffee on Smitten Kitchen and I just wanted to share it with all of you. It would make an awesome homemade gift too! I'd show you a picture but the FAQ's section on the site says I can't so you'll just have to click and see for yourself.

Daily Snapshot : FavorCakes

2009-12-08T08:46:00.000-08:00

Daily Snapshot : JapanKawaiiYa

2009-12-08T08:30:00.000-08:00

Moment In The Sun Giveaway Winner

2009-12-07T09:32:00.000-08:00

The lucky winner is #10 littledeadmommy. Thanks to everyone who participated and special thanks to Tracey from Moment In The Sun for sponsoring!

Daily Snapshot : Happyment

2009-12-07T08:36:00.000-08:00

Don't forget to enter!

2009-12-04T10:04:00.000-08:00

The Moment in the Sun giveaway ends on Sunday night!

Flickr Friday

2009-12-04T09:59:00.000-08:00

1. Tropical Tartlet Hair Pins, 2. Cupcake Pouch, 3. The Red Polka Dot Birds on a Wire Clutch, 4. Turquoise. Bubbles - Necklace. Adorably Sweet. With mini ring charm., 5. Waiting for you - Handpainted Pendant, 6. maya , 7. Key to the Kingdom Vintage Rosary, Button Necklace, 8. Pirate Betty - Print Set, 9. Lady Luck Necklace

Daily Snapshot : Minty Fresh Fusions

2009-12-04T08:54:00.000-08:00

A spoonful of goodness

2009-12-03T11:41:00.000-08:00

I got an email last week from Anthea the editor about a brand new zine called Spoonful - A happiness companion. It's a wonderful little pocket book that shares the beauty of words and images from everyday life. It can be read in a short train/bus ride and will make you feel happiness, contentment and help you recover from your failures. Support Spoonful and up your copy of Issue #01 at http://spoonfulzine.com It is perfectly sized for gift giving!

Daily Snapshot : It's Beautiful

2009-12-03T08:06:00.000-08:00

Brighten Up

2009-12-03T00:15:00.000-08:00

I'm nursing a brutal head cold at the moment, and it's got me feeling all clouded and grey. I think some cheery accessories might speed the healing process (or at least make me feel a little better about the situation).

Vintage Fine China Coffee Cups from Retro Active Treasures

vintage molds from lady listen

vintage pottery from Hindsvik

xo, Caroline

NEONS~!

2009-12-02T14:48:00.000-08:00

♫ she's always buzzin' just like neon, neon! :D
*dancing*
from top left to bottom right:
Holiday Candy Lane, fuss jewelry, modern art everyday, sleeks (alt)
Pistoles Press, UNEARTHED, penny people, Totus Mel (alt)
Licia Beads, a.j. couture jewelry, Ikow Designs, Tocadora Leather (alt)
Zygopsyche, She Gets Bored, Gracie Designs, Barbara Lou's Boutique (alt)

*dancing away*

Daily Snapshot : Yes You Maigh

2009-12-02T09:41:00.000-08:00

Daily Snapshot : Genuine Article

2009-12-01T08:40:00.001-08:00

Giveaway with Moment in the Sun

2009-12-01T08:40:00.000-08:00

I'm happy to announce that we're starting December off with a cute giveaway from Moment In the Sun. Tracey the owner of this adorable shop stocks lots of pretty paper and fluffy stuff so be sure to drop by for a visit!

Description:
Christmas gift boxes in retro blue and pink with reindeer, snowflakes and Santas. Set of 5 gift boxes. Perfect smaller gifts, jewelry or stocking stuffers.

To Enter:
Just leave a comment below with the name of your favorite item in Tracey's shop. The giveaway is open to everyone and will end on Dec 6th, 2009 at 11:59pm PST

Toblerone Cookies

2009-11-30T10:46:00.000-08:00

Did everyone have a good Thanksgiving Weekend? I think all of us up here in Canada were drooling over the thought of turkey and all the fixings! The thought of the holidays got me thinking about cookies and when I want cookies I make cookies! But what type of cookies to make? Well, that wasn't so hard to figure out because I had 5 bars of Toblerone chocolates in my kitchen. Toblerone + Shortbread = heaven!

Here's a link to the recipe I'm making later today! http://www.robinhood.ca/recipe.details.asp?prcid=49&rid=3775 If you give it a try let me know how it goes!

Daily Snapshot : rikrak

2009-11-30T09:33:00.000-08:00

Daily Snapshot : Catzilla Crafts

2009-11-27T09:20:00.000-08:00

Daily Snapshot : Ferntree Studio

2009-11-26T08:37:00.000-08:00

Give Thanks

2009-11-26T00:00:00.000-08:00

It's Thanksgiving here in America which means family, friends and a lot of food. With that in mind, I've searched out some cute vintage cooking items for your viewing pleasure -
xo, Caroline

clockwise: ME2 Designs I The Pudding Store I Hindsvik I Skinny and Bernie

TURKIEEEESSS~!

2009-11-25T09:46:00.000-08:00

*gobble gobble gobble*! :D i love turkey day!

From top left to bottom right:
iWood crafts, Ferntree Studio, daffodillies, meg's creations (alt)
Icky Dog Creations, bug bites play food, creativitae, bucks county frames (alt)
pepper apothocary, peace-blossom candles, Bea's Boutique, E.M.J. Design In Paradise (alt)
BROOM CHICK, must love home decor, rebecca kier, the pink koala (alt)

*off to eat more turkey than jesus knows what to do with!*
--yobo

Daily Snapshot : twoinspireyou

2009-11-25T08:07:00.000-08:00

Toonie Tuesday!

2009-11-24T10:42:00.000-08:00

Because it's cold outside and you know you want it! All for only $2 each :)

1. Chocolaty Rich and Creamy Gourmet Style Hot Chocolate Mix Recipe ericabstudios
2. Tea Bag by ideachic
3. Marshmallow Snowmen Pops by MandiesCandies
4. 2 Chocolate Chip Cookies Sample Sized Package by simoneshomebaked

Daily Snapshot : Sugar and Flour

2009-11-24T08:06:00.000-08:00

Ma Lai Goh!

2009-11-23T09:34:00.000-08:00

You're probably wondering what that is right? It's a Malaysian Steamed Sponge Cake (Well, I assume it's of Malaysian origin since Ma Lai means Malay in Chinese). Anyways, I grew up eatting this sweet but not too sweet sponge cake at local dim sum restaurants and in Vancouver's Chinatown. Sadly, it doesn't seem to be as popular as it use to be and the regular dim sum haunts don't serve it though some of the higher end places still do. Well, I was craving for it out of no where the other day and so I googled and much to my delight there was a recipe on Epicurious.com and it had a 4 fork rating!

Here's a slice of my cake. I'm pretty sure I beat the eggs too much trying to get all the lumps of sugar and flour out (even though I sifted) cause the cake is suppose to be light and fluffy but it turned out really dense. Also, the recipe didn't say what temperature to steam it at and for about 10 mins the water was boiling so I think that's another reason why it didn't turn out so fluffy. Would I make it again? Definitely! It was so quick and simple and tasted really good despite my mistakes. I used 1/2 c. brown sugar and 1/2 c. white sugar but really I don't think you need all of it because it was pretty sweet.

Here's the original recipe if you want to try it out!
Ma Lai Goh Recipe from epicurious.com
Ingredients:
4 Eggs
1 Egg Yolk
1 c. Sugar
1/2 tsp. Vanilla
1 c. Sifted cake flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt

Prep:
Beat eggs until light and foamy. Slowly add sugar while beating constantly. Add in vanilla. Mix remaining dry ingredients and fold into egg mixture. Pour batter into slightly greased pan. Steam for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Daily Snapshot : suzoom

2009-11-23T09:05:00.000-08:00

Daily Snapshot : Masaoms

2009-11-20T09:21:00.000-08:00

Daily Snapshot : Bohtieque

2009-11-19T09:32:00.000-08:00

Starry Night

2009-11-19T06:27:00.000-08:00

A couple nights ago I set my alarm for 3:00 am and woke up hoping to see a good show of shooting stars. The Leonid meteor shower was supposed to be a big one with reports saying we could expect to see anywhere from thirty to fifty shooting stars each hour or more. Unfortunately for me, the sky in my neck of the woods was cloudy that night with not even one star visible.

That night may have been a bust, but I still have a super fondness for shooting stars. I love this meteor shower costume donned by Missa of one of my favorite vintage-y blogs, Thrift Candy, for Halloween. Indeed, it's one of the most clever costumes I saw:

This pretty costume got me thinking about the possibility of pulling together an outfit using the same inspiration, but making it more suitable for regular wear. I hit up etsy, and here are just a few of my favorite vintage items that remind me of a night sky:
xo, Caroline

clockwise from top left: gary pepper vintage I lisa zain I gary pepper vintage I twice the charm

Poppies

2009-11-18T11:33:00.000-08:00

From top left to bottom right:
yatsu, soradesigns, wolfartglass, luizavizoli (alt)
happyfamily, LuzDesigns, MarciG, idotakeu (alt)
supplier, LinenLuluCottonZuzu, neverfeltbetter, schemata (alt)
ChloeANDMaddie, edithandlulu, printmakerjenn, DreamGallery (alt)

poppies! :D
--yobo

Daily Snapshot : Bijoutiful

2009-11-18T08:02:00.000-08:00

Toonie Tuesday!

2009-11-17T09:26:00.000-08:00

I wish Etsy had a feature that let you shop by price without actual search terms. I guess I will just have to do themes for our toonie tuesday picks. This week's picks are all scarlet colored!

1. Hand Dyed Cotton Embroidery Yarn by therainbowgirl
2. Ruby Glass Pendulum Earrings by BuckNEar
3. 2x2 Mini Card Set of 6 by easternsky
4. Beautiful Scarlet Cardinal Bird on the Wing by msAnthrope

Daily Snapshot : Tsuru Bride

2009-11-17T09:01:00.000-08:00

Sponsor Spotlight: Lizzybeth's Felties

2009-11-16T10:04:00.000-08:00

Look at this adorable felt brooch from Lizzybeth's Felties! There are more cuties in Liz's shop so be sure to stop by and take a peek! These would make awesome stocking stuffers or a great secret santa gift!

P.S. This is located in the UK so be sure you order early for guaranteed shipping times.

Kitchen Lovers

2009-11-16T09:13:00.000-08:00

I've been doing some baking related posts on Mondays lately and since I haven't been baking much the last few weeks I thought I'd showcase some handmade things for the kitchen. These make great gifts for the host/hostess too!

1. Birch Bark Kitchen Spoon Basket by NHWoodscreations
2. Rustic Serving Trio Maple Brown Olive by firewoodfurniture
3. Colorful Collection of Magnets by chARiTyelise
4. Yum Kitchen Kit by missjenniferlowe

Daily Snapshot : Beehive Kitchen Ware

2009-11-16T08:17:00.000-08:00

Flickr Friday

2009-11-13T10:09:00.000-08:00

I'm starting to find all sorts of festive things in our Flickr group :)

1. Precious Christmas Tree
2. Christmas Tree Plushies
3. Vintage Style Chenille Snowman Ornaments
4. Christmas Countdown Calendar

Sweet Figments

Time for change

xo xo xo xo xo

Vintage Valentine (Part II)

Cyan

Be back in a few!

Vintage Valentine

*clutching head*

Daily Snapshot: haveitconfections

Flickr Friday!

Daily Snapshot: lulubugjewelry

Stay Warm, Go Green

Putting on the Maroon and the Black

Daily Snapshot: thefuzzymonkey

Daily Snapshot: minniemiller

Tsk Tsk..

Want to relieve some stress?

Daily Snapshot: wrappedingems

Daily Snapshot: Marviii

Knotted.

Daily Snapshot: RobsVintique

gimme some greenery, please!

Daily Snapshot: studiocactus

Paper Pudding Giveaway!

Daily Snapshot: dkgeneralstore

My love for caramel continues.

Daily Snapshot: Hindsvik

Flickr Friday

Daily Snapshot: KUKLAstudio

♫in the rubber room.....

Daily Snapshot : finchandforeacre

January Design Challenge

Daily Snapshot: cotylee

Chicken Spaghetti in a creamy Bechamel Sauce

Daily Snapshot : RedLightStudio

Mad About Patchwork Giveaway Winners!

Daily Snapshot: stephanieteague

Daily Snapshot: solsticehome

New Year Wishes

Daily Snapshot: thetimeisnow

Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh

Daily Snapshot: MilkGlassVintage

What's your resolution?

Daily Snapshot : MoontsyAndFloontsy

Caramelsssssss!

Daily Snapshot : dancingintherains

Happy Holidays!

Wish List

*munchcrunch crunchmunch*

Mad About Patchwork and a Fabric Giveaway!

Flickr Friday

Very Vintage Holiday

Daily Snapshot: AntiquesGaloreGal

*washing washing washing*

Daily Snapshot : Penorus

Play It Fair

Daily Snapshot : thepoppytree

Inspired by a few of my favorite christmas carols

Daily Snapshot : NellaDesigns

Daily Snapshot : TackySmack

Daily Snapshot : mudpuppy

That 70s Outfit

*click click!*

Daily Snapshot : dillondesigns

Mmm... Toffee!

Daily Snapshot : FavorCakes

Daily Snapshot : JapanKawaiiYa

Moment In The Sun Giveaway Winner

Daily Snapshot : Happyment

Don't forget to enter!

Flickr Friday

Daily Snapshot : Minty Fresh Fusions

A spoonful of goodness

Daily Snapshot : It's Beautiful

Brighten Up

NEONS~!

Daily Snapshot : Yes You Maigh

Daily Snapshot : Genuine Article

Giveaway with Moment in the Sun

Toblerone Cookies

clutching head

munchcrunch crunchmunch

washing washing washing

click click!