Guest Posting at Sassy Sanctuary!

Today's my day to share my take on the Wood You Like to Craft? April project.   Come on over to

 Sassy Sanctuary 

           See how I took this...                                                                                     ...to this!

 

Melinda, Nicole, and Candace will share their versions tomorrow and Thursday and then the linky party starts Friday! Just a reminder, the party is to link up your version of Krystal's Candlestick Rabbits. Then be sure to check out the showcase on Sunday, the top 5 projects are highlighted with the Top Pick receiving a fun prize!All this takes place over at Sassy Sanctuary, don't miss it. 

2011 Ultimate Blog Party...I'm Partying Too!

I was made aware of this "small" little gathering of fantastic bloggers the other day, and well, as I'm always up for making a few new friends I'm joining in! So this little party is better known as Have you heard of it? Are you part of it?I think it is seriously genius!!! What a fun way to get to know so many other great and amazing bloggers out there!If it's new to you too, go check it out!(Click HERE!) The directions are simple, write a post about you and your blog, then link it up for others to find you, and you them! So here we go... HOWDY! Greetings to you all from the great state of Texas!(I'm quickly learning that's the proper way to greet people around these parts.) My name is Wendy and I'm not a Texan, just a transplant that needed someting to do after a BIG move from the Pacific Northwest. I started blogging here in October of last year as a way to stay connected with my friends, to (hopefully)make a few new ones, and to give myself a creative outlet!On the home front... 

I'm the wife of a busy, brilliant, sarcastic, and super fun man. The momma to 5, yep, 5 beautiful little ladies that are growing up far faster than I like!

The master choffeur, scheduler, housekeeper, chef, landscaper, laundry folder, soccer/softball mom, school volunteer, and basically, just the mom!

The rest of the time, I run my Esty Shop

...Well Good! and I am happily achieving what I set out to do last fall-

making friends and having fun along the way through this blog.

Craft Goodies gives me a place to share what I love!

Cooking, baking, sewing, painting, re-finishing, re-purposing, just creating!

It also lets me find new ideas and inspirations from others...

such a wonder this little bloggy world is! 

Thanks for stopping by, hopefully you'll be back again.

Enjoy the party!

 

Fruit Salad with Sweet Orange Cream...Summer Salad Linky Party!

I am craving all things summer right now! Warm days, late nights, no alarm clocks, and simple, light lunches and dinners cause it's to hot to do anything else! Here's my problem, I only know like 2 salad recipes.

I love salad, it's my favorite thing to order when we go out to eat, but I just don't know how to make any really good "meal" salads. I'm hoping you'll help...

I'm opening a "Super Summer Salad" linky party!!! 

I'm leaving it open indefinitely, hoping that we can all benefit from it's spoils!

Please, please, share your recipes for quick, easy, light, summer meals and salads...I know I don't want to spend my summer over a hot stove, do you?

I'll get us started...

This is by far my FAVORITE salad, ever! It makes a perfect lunch on it's own or goes so well with a chicken salad croissant sandwich. It's so quick and easy, 15 minutes max. And made with fresh, yummy fruit that is often on hand.

{I served this at my oldest daughter's baptism-it was a super hit! I get asked  to make it all the time.)

Ya, my mouth is watering...give it a try.

I won't think any less of you if you end up drinking the dressing (only because I've done it myself!)

Fruit  Salad with Sweet Orange Cream

makes 8 1/2 C servings

Dressing

1/2 cup sour cream

1/4 cup frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed

1 tablespoon honey

Salad

1 cup strawberry halves

1 cup red apple slices

1 cup seedless green grapes

1 (11-ounce) can mandarin orange segments, well drained*

Mixed salad greens

Directions

Combine all dressing ingredients in small bowl with wire whisk; mix well.

Combine fruit in large bowl.

To serve, divide greens among 8 salad plates; top with fruit and dressing.

*Substitute 1 cup canned pineapple chunks in juice, well-drained.

VARIATION: Omit salad greens. Prepare dressing. Place fruit in large bowl. Add dressing; toss lightly.

 

Alrighty ladies, now it's up top you!

 Share your favorites, make my summer that much lazier, I'll love ya forever!

I'm Back...

Isn't it amazing what a little down time can do for a person? Thanks for indulging my need to do nothing for a few days, I can't tell you how much better I feel!And thanks too, for sticking around, that means  more than I can say. Alrighty, so back to the business of blogging. My week of nothing left me with a list of somethings a mile long. I've got some fun things brewing in my crazy little head, I'm really excited to share them with you. So here's what's coming this week...1. Long over-due tutorials (last month's Blockhead kits, some fun Spring projects, and yes, I'm working on tutorial for my Standing Floor Mirror) 2. The Rabbit Romp Easter Basket Exchange is here!


<a href="http://www.wmcraftgoodies.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n563/Wendy_Gardiner/rabbitrompbutton-1.jpg " border="0" alt="Craft Goodies"></a>
 Sign-ups will officially start tomorrow, but if you've played before, you know the drill. Just shoot me an email letting me know you want in. 3. Wood You Like to Craft? is back with a super fun Easter project! Krystal from Sassy Sanctuary is hosting-the tutorial goes up today, my version will go up later in the week. 4. May Word...of the Month kits will be out this week! Check back to see the word and blockhead kits as well as something super fun and new to celebrate the end of school... 5. I've got a great giveaway happening on Friday along with the T.G.I.F. linky party, you won't want to miss it!And last, but certainly not least...THANK YOU to all of you that voted and kept me in the One Month to Win It Contest! I ended up finishing in 2nd place! Wa-Hoo!!!  

Okay, so lots to do, but lots of fun to come! Have a great Monday...recipes will post later today!

Until then...Happy Crafting!

 

A Bloggy-Vacation....

Hello to all fantastic people that stop by to visit me! I don't think I've mentioned in awhile how much it means to me that you do take time to stop by and say hi!I really, really think you're awesome. Just wanted to let you know I'm taking a little bit of a bloggy-vacation. I'm feeling a need to decompress a bit, to get caught up in my shop and around my house, as well as here. I've got some "Spring Cleaning" to do. I'll be back re-charged and ready to go next week! Thanks for sticking with me, I'll see you soon-

Hoppy Easter Banner...

I have to be honest. I haven't been a fan of all the banners and bunting floating around of late. That is until I saw one that wasn't pennant shaped! Crazy, I know.I LOVED that it was more square, does that say something of my personality?Any way, I decided to give it a go. Here's how it came out... My "Hoppy" Easter Banner: 

The images are painted on canvas with a ruffle sewn on bottom...

 ...the eggs and end bunnies are just reversed images so you only get close ups of one each!Might need a little something still, but not to bad for a first try.I think my opinion of banners has officially been changed! Happy Crafting!  

National Craft Month...at Kirstikoo!

I'm clearly not quite back to completely normal-or at least as close as I get. I mentioned the Simply Create contest going on over at Kirstikoo Thursday and forgot to share the link.And well, it's probably a good thing cause I was wrong about the entry deadline.YOU HAVE UNTIL TOMORROW!!! Yeah for more time....
 I'm also feeding a few selfish needs to post my entry...I want to play, there and here: 

  I happily introduce you to what used to be my curtains... 

So this was my first time ever attempting pleats, I'm pretty sure it will also be my last!

Those buggers are NOT easy.

Funny thing though, after I got it all done and gave a pleased sigh of relief I pulled out the pleats and liked it even more. (Of course it would go that way!)

But no matter, I got it done and I like it.

And I gave the flower technique shared by Baby Bizzles on Tuesday a try-super easy, love how they came out.

And even better, I got an accidental bonus project out of my pleated efforts...

I measured my pillow wrong and ended up with my pleated (sewn!) fabric being to large.

I cut down to the correct size and ended up with a 3 inch strip of sewn pleats.

No way I was wasting all that effort!

  Now I have a super sassy pillow AND a flirty little headband...sometimes it pays to screw up!Have a great weekend, I'm off to my first Texas Rodeo...Giddy Up Y'all!Happy Crafting...