A Lego Birthday Theme {So many cute things}

Source: karenpie.blogspot.com via Kristen on Pinterest

Aren't these cookies cute.  I plan on making these for Will's class.

Source: frugalchristianliving.wordpress.com via Kristen on Pinterest

And these cupcakes have chocolate lego that were made in a silicone ego ice cube mold.  Cute or what? You can find the ice cube tray HERE.

Source: amazon.com via Kristen on Pinterest

These candles are perfect.  All I will need to do is add them to the cake. You can find the candles HERE.

 

Source: speckledfreckle.com.au via Kristen on Pinterest

And last but not least, some adorable decorating ideas. I am not sure who will have more fun at the party me or Will. 

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Amaretto Bundt Cake (reposting because it is that GOOD!)

This Amaretto Bundt Cake made our entire family so H-A-P-P-Y!!! My sister-in-law made it a few weeks ago and so kindly shared the recipe. What really makes it is the Amaretto glaze.

Amaretto Bundt Cake

Cake batter:
1 package (18.25 ounce) yellow cake mix {I used one from Trader Joe's}
4 large eggs
1 (6 serving) package vanilla instant pudding
6 teaspoons amaretto
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon almond extract

Frosting:
1/2 cup amaretto
2 cups powdered sugar

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
2. Combine cake mix, eggs, pudding, water, oil, almond extract and 6 teaspoons amaretto;blend together well. Pour batter into prepared pan.
3. Bake for 40-50 min.

4, While cake is cooking prepare the Amaretto icing: Sift powdered sugar and remaining 1/2 cup Amaretto and blend until smooth with a hand mixer.

5. Remove cake and leave it in the pan, while it is still hot poke holes in the bottom and pour the amaretto icing over the bottom of cake. {I used a straw and put several holes around the cake and it soaked in perfectly.} Let cool for at least two hours before removing from pan.

Enjoy!

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Memorable Jewelry by Lucia Antonelli

There are moments in life

when one sees an image and that image
lingers forever in one's memory.

One of those iconic moments

occurred several years ago when I saw a
cover of Ornament Magazine

featuring work by Lucia Antonelli.

That image stays with me to this day.

I was instantly smitten

by elegant design

and abundant detail.

All of her work is just as

 opulent and elaborate as this.

With harmonious color selections

 and detailed textures, the eye can't help but

dance around her necklaces.

In many of her pieces she allows

 color to take a supporting role as she

encourages texture to take the mainstage.

This is best seen in her necklaces that

 incorporate a labyrinthine

braid-within-a-braid effect.

On the other hand, when color does take centerstage,
this artist tends to work with warm tones -
golds, coppers, bronzes.

They add richness and depth to her work
and radiate a mellow, burnished glow.

She also adds delicious tidbits of visual intrigue
by including splashes of pearls
and dashes of gemstones.

Truly, each multi-strand piece
dramatizes energy and movement.

This broad variety of effects all come together
to create pieces with a lot of visual and
tactile appeal.

All that textural design is rather
sweeping and majestic.

And difficult to resist.


No wonder that original image
from so long ago
resides in my memory.
And always will.


You can see more of these pieces
at the artist's website.

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New in the shop God is Good necklace

Wear the God is Good necklace as a reminder of how very good God is or perhaps give it as a gift to someone special.

The Good is Good necklace is a 7/8th inch sterling disc that has been hand stamped around the outer edge, the piece is adorned with a beautiful gray pearl and both charms hang on a 18 inch sterling silver bead ball chain.   You can find the God is Good necklace HERE.

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Romance in Metal - Valerie Ostenak Jewelry

Sometimes I dream about

the gorgeous jewelry created

by Valerie Ostenak.

Her work is so beautiful

it takes my breath away and

 sets my unconscious mind

into overdrive. 

It's easy to interpret my dreams --

I want to wear this jewelry!

 

Fluid and flowing designs are

brought to life in metal.

Her collections celebrate

the contours and shapes suggested by all sorts

 of complex forms found in nature,

such as raging rivers, swaying branches

and delicate tendrils of flowers.

Also, one can see Art Nouveau

influences in her work.

 

 

 

Her Elemental Collection features

silver, argentium silver, 14k gold, freshwater pearls,

gemstones and Swarovski crystals

in myriad curvilinear designs.

 

 

 

 

 

Each piece overflows with movement and energy

and an enchanting play of light on metal.

 

 

 

 

Skilled as both a blacksmith

and as a metalsmith she combines techniques

from both disciplines

to create this sculptural jewelry.

 

 

In her Garland Collection she incorporates

freshwater pearls, glass and/or Swarovski crystals,

silver and/or 14k gold with mild steel.

The steel gives this collection bold

emphasis and structural design.

Her work is an ongoing dialogue between

her blacksmith forging techniques, her

silversmith craftsmanship and her

design skills in art jewelry.

Each is superb.

 

Much of the charm and beauty of

these pieces lie in the wonderful variations

of form, shape and feel

that this artist offers.

These variations are seen in

her bracelets and earrings also.

But most of all,

this artist infuses her work with

the essence of romance.
And you can't go wrong with Romance.

For many more images of this

lovely work you can visit her

website.

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Happy Birthday To The Old Man

Our Greyhound Kane just turned 11, he is a old man.  He isn't normally allowed on the couch but we made an exception on his special day.  Happy Birthday old man! 

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Exhibition - Terra Nova: Polymer Art at the Crossroads

Every so often something truly

groundbreaking occurs.

The Polymer Collection at the

Racine Art Museum will make its

debut this weekend.

To celebrate the establishment of

this permanent collection

 RAM is showing a group exhibition

of polymer artists who are considered

 the groundbreaking,

early adopters of this specific material.

The purpose of this exhibit is to highlight

 the history and development of polymer

 art and craft over the last 30 years.

Terra Nova: Polymer Art at the Crossroads

reflects on the history of all things polymer.

Featuring a comprehensive collection of

over 200 objects made of polymer,

it includes jewelry, sculptural objects,

 and furniture.

This exhibition features exemplary pieces from

34 artists. From this large group a smaller group of

 "8 Boundary Breakers" are being showcased.

These artists are recognized for their

extraordinary contributions to the field.

The "Boundary Breakers" are Bonnie Bishoff and

J.M. Syron, Jeffrey Lloyd Dever, Kathleen Dustin,

Steven Ford and David Forlano, Tory Hughes,

Cynthia Toops, Pier Voulkos, and Elise Winters.

Each will be represented by new work as

well as historical pieces showing their

experimentation with polymer.

Other participating artists include: Jamey Allen,

Kathleen Amt, Rachel Carren, Dan Cormier,

 Debra DeWolff,  Gwen Gibson, Linda Goff, Michael Grove,

Ruth Anne Grove, Lindly Haunani, Carl Hornberger,

 Donna Kato, Ronnie Kirsch, Judy Kuskin, Maggie Maggio,

Wendy Wallin Malinow, Sandra McCaw, Linda Pedersen,

Nan Roche, Sarah Shriver, Carol Simmons,

Barbara Sperling, Melanie West, and Amy Zinman.

 Additionally, this exhibition will be memorialized

by an accompanying

illustrated hardcover 140-page book,

 "Terra Nova:  Polymer at the Crossroads"

published by RAM.

It includes portfolio sections highlighting

each of the exhibition's "Boundary Breakers"

with images of their work, a brief artist statement

 and a concise exhibition history. 

The exhibition will run

October 21, 2011 through February 5, 2012.

For more information see the

Racine Art Museum website.

All photos via Polymer Art Archive

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Free Shipping Friday Kristen's Custom Creations

Please enjoy Free Shipping until Monday October 24th.  Enter code FREESHIPOCT for this special offer.

Happy Shopping!

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How to make Chocolate covered pretzels

Will wanted to make some Halloween treats with his special Halloween sprinkles so we had to make chocolate covered pretzels.  These are the perfect combination of sweet and salty and are very easy to make.

Ingredients:

• Chocolate chips (We prefer Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate)

• Pretzel Rods

• Sprinkles/candy corn or whatever you would like to decorate

• a Pyrex bowl to melt chocolate in 

These are so simple to make.  Follow the melting instructions on the package of chocolate. We melted ours in the microwave.  Dip the rods in the chocolate and then decorate.  We let them harden on a silpat mat, which works really well and is easy to clean up.

Enjoy!

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Not Your Every Day Knots - Jewelry by Barbara Natoli Witt

Jewelry created by

Barbara Natoli Witt features

color, texture, micromacramé

and lace-making techniques. 

Working methodically she

creatively combines textural elements into

elaborate designs.  An extraordinarily

time-consuming process produces work

that is imaginative and evokes

a sense of lush richness.

Working in her signature style, this artist

mixes gemstones with found objects and beads.

With an eye for intricate designs and soothing

color combinations she creates pieces that

mix traditional knotting concepts with

modern flair.

The final result is colorful and unique.

Her inspiration is derived from a life-long study

of symbolism, history, and diverse cultures.

 These exquisite pieces of jewelry

 begin with simple concepts yet

evolve into highly patterned tapestries.

As the subject of a new book,

"Adornment, the Art of Barbara Natoli Witt"

by Lois Sherr Dubin, this artist will be

participating in a lecture and signing of the book

featuring her tapestry necklaces.  It will be held

Sunday, October 30, 2011 at 4:00 PM

at Museo ItaloAmericano, in San Francisco.

She will elaborate on some of the stories included in

the book and plans to show some of her latest

pieces as well as some vintage necklaces.

 You can see more of her work on her website. 

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Meet Jack Sparrow and Indiana Jones

Meet Jack Sparrow and Indiana Jones.  My nephew is Jack Sparrow and Will is Indiana Jones.  Will wanted his costume to be "authentic"  so we searched high and low to find the pieces to his costume.  We had luck on ebay for the jacket and boots.  We went to Hallowe'en in Greenfield Village and it is always fun for kids and adults.  If you are local be sure to check it out at least once.  We have three more Halloween events to go! 

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Mason Jar Pumpkin Candles

We love Halloween around our house and especially love to make our decorations.  This year we made Mason Jar Pumpkin candles and I was inspired by this post over HERE. at Not So Idle Hands, Emily has a lot of fun projects so be sure to check her site out.

Happy Crafting!

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So Many Rings, So Little Time - Nora Rochel Jewelry

Sometimes it's all about

combining a love of vibrant texture with a

passion for botanical design.

Jewelry created by Nora Rochel

overflows with textural elements.

And it celebrates her vision of hidden gardens

 and botanical domains. 

Her exploration of these themes leads to

jewelry that, as the artist says,

"turns one‘s hands into small landscapes and gardens."

These are like country gardens where the

vegetation is allowed to grow with

wild abandon in secret corners.

Secret corners of those unkempt gardens

tend to shelter the most exquisite

specimens. Discovering those hidden gems is where

curiosity meets delight. That sense of

discovery exists in her jewelry.

 

 

The golden warmth in this ring

is almost luminous.

She uses different metals and several types

of patination to achieve

different effects.

The key to

 expressing one's inner vision

is to experiment and play.

And throw caution to the wind.

This artist definitely succeeds.

This work has a sense of playfulness

and discovery and enchantment

that's not easy to resist.

Each piece holds a tiny treasure within

its recesses

that begs to be explored.

It's jewelry that's off

the beaten path - where

being an adventurous tourist can be

rewarding.

You can explore more of Nora's

work at her website.

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Cutest Tigers Fan I know...

Go Tigers!  Who are you rooting for?

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Silent Auction

We raised $736 for the Humane Society & Food bank with our silent auction!

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Exhibition - LOOT 2011: MAD about Jewelry

The Museum of Arts and Design in NYC will present

"LOOT 2011 Gala Event: MAD about Jewelry,"

its annual juried exhibition of contemporary

jewelry created by more than 50 international

studio jewelry artists.

Now in its 11th year, LOOT: MAD about Jewelry,

has become known as, according to the museum,

“the ultimate pop-up shop for contemporary

art and studio jewelry,” where the public can acquire

pieces from some of the world’s most innovative

jewelry artists in a social setting while contributing to

a worthy cause. Proceeds from the sales will benefit the

Museum’s exhibition and education programs.

International in scope, multi-disciplinary in technique,

and diverse in style each of the pieces offered are

characterized by excellent craftsmanship, originality of

design, and a broad range of creative

and exciting materials.

Some of the participating artists include:

Sara Abramson, Eleanor Bolton,
Anastasia Azure, Lucia Corral,

Sara Basch, Elaine Cox, Lia di Gregorio, 
Jacqueline Cullen, Susan Green, Emanuela Duca,
Danielle Gori-Montanelli, Suzanne Golden,
Susanne Klemm, Nicole Landaw, Ute Kolar, Anna Ruth Henriques,

Mia Hebib, Liz Hamman, Jan Huling, Gilly Langton, Jina Lee,

Alba Polenghi Lisca, Asagi Maeda, Margherita Marchioni,

Maggie Meister, Sabrina Meyns, Laura Michaels, Carolyn Morris Bach,

Giuliana Michelotti, Iris Nieuwenberg, Simonetta Starrabba,

Rebecca Myers, Yoon Ah Paik, Olga Prieto, Kara Ross,

In Hwa Yu, Rossella Tornquist, Liz Schock, Lynne Sausele,

Andrea Williams, and Elise Winters.

Eleanor Bolton

Maggie Meister

Sara Basch

Liz Schock

Carolyn Morris Bach

Elaine Cox

This exhibition will run from

October 11 through October 14.

Proceeds benefit the Museum’s exhibition

and education programs.

For more information about this exhibition and

 items available for purchase

you can visit the MAD website.



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