The Lightkeeper's Daughter

The Lightkeeper's Daughter
by Colleen Coble
Thomas Nelson Publisher

Addie had lived her life in a lighthouse with her parents on the coast of California. She recently lost her father who adored her to consumption while she had never felt loved or accepted by her mother. One day a stranger showed up and told her she wasn't who she thought she was. So, Addie began her quest to find her true identity and find a family who would love her.

In her search for her true identity, Addie Sullivan was attacked, members of her new found family were attacked and the woman that raised her was murdered. Who could she trust in this new world where she didn't know anyone? Who was she really? Where was her real mother?

I was pleasantly surprised with this novel. Originally, I thought that it was going to be just another rags to riches story, but it was so much more. With love & romance and mystery & intrigue filling each page it was difficult to put down. It kept me guessing until the end about who was behind Addie's hidden identity and how things would turn out. The fact that this is a historical fiction novel was pleasing to me, I found it interesting to know that the events in the book were set in a real place, Mercy Falls. I would recommend this book if you enjoy romance and suspense.

Christmas Gifts

Can you believe that I forgot to take a picture of a Christmas gift I made? (O.k. I can too.)

I made my brother's 3 boys (a set of twins age 11 and a 4 yr. old) each a pillowcase out of flannel in camo, with safety orange trim with their names embroidered in safety orange also (you can find my inspiration here). I also used the scrap camo fabric and made them each a stocking ornament and put a little cash in it.

I hope to have a tutorial on the stocking ornament soon. (It's never too early to start making gifts for next year - I mean don't do like I do and start at Thanksgiving -or later - to make all your Christmas gifts.) I have been known to stay up in the wee hours of the morning to finish a project that I procrastinated on. (I mean I wouldn't do that on a regular basis or anything, that is just in extreme cases - you know, really it is, you believe me don't you? Forget it, I knew you wouldn't buy it.)

Hope you had a very Merry Christmas and I hope you have a Happy New Year!!!!!!!!

smile.ly—Be Heard. Be Happy.

smile.ly—Be Heard. Be Happy.

Sock Snowman

A girl in Anthony's pre-K class made this (or rather her mother and grandmother actually) snowman for all the kids in her class. It is made from socks (turned inside out for a 'snowy' texture), with a baby sock for the hat with a fabric accent on the hat. It has cute googley eyes, a fabric scarf, orange chanille stem for the nose, pom poms for buttons, a painted on mouth and is filled with rice (I assume - could be bean bag filler from the craft section). Very cute!!!! I think he is just adorable.

Another Pregnant Belly Cake

A friend of mine (she was also Lee's first grade teacher and Champ's first and second grade teacher and I sincerely hope Anthony and Rance both have her when they get in school) asked me if I would make the pregnant belly cake for her baby shower. She already has 2 girls and is expecting a boy this time and she chose the colors blue and brown. (I love those colors together!) They looked great together on the cake. I am glad that she picked those colors out.

It is not a very big cake so I made some cupcakes to go with it. I was not very pleased with the cupcakes. I iced them in blue and attempted to put brown dots (to go with the dress on the pregnant belly) on the blue icing (I couldn't find brown confetti sprinkles - that was my first choice). I did not get my brown icing dark enough. I had also thought of doing the reverse (brown icing with blue dots) if I could find blue confetti sprinkles - which I couldn't find those either. Oh, well - at least the cake turned out o.k.

This is such a fun cake to do. Maybe it's because of the occasion, but whatever the reason, it is definitely one of my favorite (if not my very favorite) cakes to make.

To see my first attempt at the pregnant belly cake and what I used to make it, you can click here.

Girl's 3 Piece Christmas Outfit

I just finished this cute outfit. I saw the adorable red and green polka dot fabric and couldn't resist buying it. Then I saw the cute ruffled pants and thought I had to make an outfit using the fabric and the ruffled pants and hoped it turned out as cute as I had imagined.


The top can also be worn alone as a dress. Don't you think it would be just sweet with a white, long sleeve, turtle neck under it? I got the dress pattern from a Martha Pullen book (you can view it here).




And I have also been wanting to try the korker bows (but with boys didn't really have a reason to), so I used this as an excuse (you can find the directions here). I made it out of grosgrain ribbon (I absolutely love the stuff). Their harder than you think to make them. Maybe I just need practice or maybe there is a little trade secret that would make it easier, who knows? (If you do, let me in on it.)

Poodle Skirt

I made this poodle skirt for a friend of a friend (her daughter is in a school production). It is red with a black poodle on the front. I got the pattern for the poodle here (but of course I modified it slightly - I've got to be me). I also found directions on how to make the skirt here. I hope she likes it.

What I've Been Up To

A friend asked me if I would embroider some names onto a couple of stockings for her cousin. I said sure. Her cousin bought these very cute hunting style stockings at Wal-Mart. The names are embroidered in "safety orange." (It doesn't show up well in the pictures.)





I also have been busy (not really) making super hero capes for lego men.