Gift+Card for a Domestic Goddess

Happy birthday to my sweet friend Robin, Domestic-Goddess-Extraordinaire. Seriously, she's amazing--she even has her own very successful chocolate/cake/candy business--see it here.

A homemade pleated apron is the perfect gift for such a friend. Don't you agree? Looking forward to giving her this gift tomorrow! (Nanny's vintage rolling pin not included.)

Snagged this apron pattern and tutorial free online here. If you've never been to Darby Stickler's blog, prepare to enjoy and add her to your "Favorites" list forever. While you're visiting, you'll find an entire list of fun tutorials. Don't you just LOVE the blogosphere!

A handmade gift needs a handmade card, right? And since Moxie Fab World is having an Around the House challenge, this sewing machine card fit in just right. Click here to see the amazing entries. You just might be inspired to enter the contest, too!

Summer. Make it Last.

Pineapple Whip tonight. Summer goodness. Make it last.

And a mini-layout/whatever-ya-wanna-call-it I made for the Moxie It's All Green to Me challenge. Bonus: today I discovered it matches this color challenge, too. If you've never checked out kwernerdesigns, you're in for quite a treat! It's a pretty place.

So, there ya have it--two birds, one stone. Here it is:

The challenge was to use the green theme plus display typography in a unique way. I played in Photoshop today and figured out how to make my words look like an overlay. It's exciting to learn new ways to amp up my digital muscles.

Also fun? Taking care of Mother Earth. I get teased a lot by certain friends over my obsession with recycling (you know who you are, girls).

By the way, the top collage was done by Master Nathan. Looks like he was inspired by my Photoshop effects, eh?

Speaking of that top photo, maybe he was channeling his inner insect or bird instincts, but while we were enjoying our Pineapple Whip treats tonight, Nathan walked up to the window, thought it was open, reached in to get napkins, and -- ouch! Rammed his hand right into the closed window.

Red-faced, he returned to our table saying, "It's SO clean!!" Rest-assured, the teenage kid working at PW is still laughing . . .