I Could Hear the Dull Buzz of the Bee in the Blossoms

Well, Spring Break is right around the corner, so hopefully I'll be able to spend more time on blogging. I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend so far! It's about 7o out right now and sunny, so I've got spring fever :]

Here's a card I made yesterday for a friend. It's a birthday card based off of the book cover for Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta. Unfortunately, I have not had the opportunity to read this book (although everyone says it's amazing), but it's one of this particular friend's favorite books. Ever.


I chose paper from my paper pile (it's about 2 feet high), but I don't know what paper pads they came from. I drew and cut out the flower and used stickers from my sticker pile (alas, those I also do not know what pads/company they are).

Item of the Week

Cock your hat - angles are attitude.
Frank Sinatra

I love hats. A lot. Baseball caps, beret, bucket, fedora, straw, or floppy. Not to mention a bunch of others. I, personally, feel this is an amazing hat.


I found this in my Etsy daily email. Click here to visit LouiseGreenMillinery Etsy shop which is filled with more fantastic hats!

Cheers!
Rebekah

Open Up Your Mind and You Can Have Everything

Gah! It has been SO long. I am dreadfully sorry. Since I have been waiting for the energy to charge my camera battery, here are some things to entertain yourselves with:

Currently Reading:
The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley

Current Project:
1000 Paper Cranes
and here for the legend

Creative Outlet:
Author Michelle Zink's Blog

Giveaways:
Signed Books at Elana Johnson's blog
Craft Supplies at Jane's Lovely Cards and again

Topic of the Week:
Genocide in Rwanda (1994)

Musical Artist(s) of the Week:
Dido
Eminem
The Clash
Madonna

Movies of the Week:
The Secret Life of Bees
The Hurt Locker
Notorious

I hope to (eventually) elaborate on every thing listed. However, that will only happen if I get my life back from the evil clutches known as high school. In the meantime, enjoy! I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Rebekah

Item of the Week

I got the idea from Amanda at Ulixis Crafts who does an Item of the Day. Anyway, I've seen this gorgeous ring several times, and have loved it every time.


What I love about it is the simplicity. And that the diamond in conflict-free.
You can find it on Etsy here.

The Falling Leaves Drift by the Window, the Autumn Leaves of Red and Gold

Gah! Sorry it's been so long! First the whole losing power/internet thing, then a bunch of school work. Anyway, I managed to take pictures of a recently finished card before my camera batteries died.

These are the draw-up and the half-way finished product.

This is the final with detail!

I made this card for a family friend who once (and hopefully still is) considering coming to beautiful New York.

Cheers,

Rebekah

Just Remember Darling, All the While, You Belong to Me

Sorry! We were in the middle of a massive, record-breaking snowstorm, so we lost our power. It's taken me a bit to get back to the computer (no internet for 3 days?! WHAT?!?!?). Anyway, I have several craft projects just itching to be shown, but no pictures. I shall have those for you soon. Very soon.

Anyway, since there are no crafts to post at the current moment, I figured I'd post this iconic picture for thoughts. While being snowed in, I thought often of the movie Singles, in which this could be considered a basis for said movie. It's really stuck with me; do you believe in love? Love at first sight? What IS love? Can you stop loving a person?

I believe there is love, in various forms: friend-love, family-love, my-life-would-be-SOOO-different-without-you-love, I-could-spend-my-life-with-you-love, I-only-love-you-sometimes-love, etc. Love at first sight? Only if you feel trapped and are desperately seeking a way out without doing the hard parts. I do, however, believe you can be around someone and share a sort of bond. Maybe a past-life relationship? Pure chemistry? Who knows? And that's just it. No one.

That person is bound to look flawless, perfect, magnificent, etc. Eventually, if you hang with them long enough, their quirks show. Some may be manageable (i.e. leaving the occasional dirty dish lying around). Some might be horrendous (i.e. clingy-ness, not saying "Bless you" when you sneeze). Others could annoy you to the point of screaming and not wanting to be with the person, but something about them keeps you there. What is it about (what we call) love? Is it their smell? The way they look at you across the room? The way they hold you?

Being a part of a love where you stick by someone through hard times (such as the above woman) is a love that will hopefully last a long time, if not forever. Most people deserve that love. Anyway, I just wanted to share this photo that I have been thinking (okay, obsessing) of for the past while. Maybe it'll provoke some sort of realization or comfort, maybe it'll just be nice to think of from time to time.

Cheers,

Rebekah

No Parachutes or Safety Nets Here

While deciding to forfeit some of my College European History homework, I attempted to sew a bear from a pattern I created. Never again. Not only did it come out horribly wrong (I can't even begin to describe it), but I spent a precious amount of time creating this monstrosity of a teddy bear.

Due to this failure (I'll have to try again when my hopes aren't so crushed), I'm going to post some pictures of the cards I make.












I find inspiration, draw it out, and hand-cut the pieces. The one below was inspired by Noah Biorkman, a 5-year-old boy dying of cancer. He passed in November after celebrating an early Christmas with his family.

A Good Book Has No Ending

Hmmm.... Good books, unfortunately, have to end somewhere. Although I wish this weren't true!

I have read quite a few books, between children, middle-grade, young adult, and adult. I recently finished Graceling by Kristin Cashore and will start the companion novel, Fire, shortly. Graceling is a YA (young adult) novel set in another world, in which some people are Graced with special abilities, be it something small like swimming or severe like fighting. Katsa, the main character, a girl in her late teens is Graced with the ability to kill. Cashore's story was enticing. Slow at first, it took me a bit to get into it, but once there, I was hooked. The storytelling and world building is gorgeous; every picture is painted and every page is fastly turned. I suggest you read it! Here's a link to Kristin's blog: http://kristincashore.blogspot.com/












On another note, I'd like to pull some attention to an author I find very enticing, especially if you like gothic books and are more of a sophisticated YA reader.

Michelle Zink is a debut author who recently released the first book in a trilogy. Prophecy of the Sisters is about twin sisters who find themselves on opposite ends of an ancient prophecy in 1890. The lyrical writing and fascinating story based off a biblical legend kept me turning the pages fast. The characters are three dimensional and the writing is truly unforgettable. Ms. Zink can be found at her fun, entertaining blog, http://michellezinkbooks.wordpress.com/

Chocolate is Nature’s Way of Making up for Mondays

Spoken so truly! So what better way to make up for the beginning of the week (be it occupied with work, school, or other activities) with some yummy chocolate?

There's no better way to tide yourself over till the weekend. I decid

ed I would tide myself (and my family and friends) over with some amazing Peanut Butter Chocolate cupcakes (aka rich, chocolate brownie batter with Reese's Peanut Butter Cup peanut butter in the middle)! I pulled this recipe out of Martha Stewart's book, Cupcakes. The recipe below I copied from

a blog, Half and Halfs, created by two cooks, Dana and Stevie (http://halfandhalfs.wordpress.com/2010/01/06/peanut-butter-filled-chocolate-cupcakes/). My pictures leave a lot to be desired, but Dana and Stevie's are wonderful!

These were melt-in-your-mouth good. True, they were a tad dry and crumbly, but only around the heavily peanut butter parts. However, whenever you cook/bake peanut butter, it gets a tad dry and crumbly, so no worries. My family said they were a keeper and would love to have them again!

What I Would Do Differently

• When doubling the batter, I'd quadruple the filling
• Add a little bit of oil or one more egg to stay away from dryness

Peanut Butter-Filled Chocolate Cupcakes

Adapted from Martha Stewart Cupcakes

Makes 12.

Peanut butter filling ingredients:

• 1/2 stick unsalted butter, melted
• 1/2 cup confectioner’s sugar, sifted
• 3/4 cup smooth peanut butter
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp vanilla

Cupcake batter ingredients:

• 2/3 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 stick unsalted butter, cut into pieces
• 4 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
• 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line a standard muffing tin with paper liners.

Stir ingredients for peanut butter filling together until smooth and set aside. (Note: We might have eaten some on toast… it was yummy)

Next onto the batter. Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Melt chocolate and butter together in a heatproof bowl over simmering water (do not get any water into the chocolate!). Stir until melted, then remove from heat. Once it has cooled slightly, whisk granulated sugar into the mixture. Add eggs and whisk until smooth. Add vanilla, then flour mixture. Stir until well incorporated.

Spoon 2 Tbsp batter into each liner, then 2 Tbsp of the PB filling. Follow with another Tbsp of batter and 1 tsp filling. Swirl the top with a toothpick. Bake for about 40 minutes, rotating half way through. Cool completely in the tin before removing cupcakes.

Welcome, Valentines!

Well, hello dear readers. I'm Rebekah; I love everything crafty along with awesome music! I hail from the ever-gorgeous Hudson Valley, NY. My favorite bird is the chickadee, a common favorite due to the quaint size with a puffball body. I don't have a favorite color and love art. This blog is to help others with various projects and occasionally recipes for treats.

This first blog post will be in lieu of Valentine's Day (sorry for being late!)

For my sweetheart, my wonderful boyfriend of 2 years, Anthony, I constructed a container from an old Quaker Oats container wrapped in decorative paper (found in a paper pad, but any will do!); the lid I covered with plain white paper and glued a ribbon around the edges. Inside I filled it with homemade fortune cookies (recipe found at the bottom of post), thanks to Martha

Stewart. They contained little notes saying "I love you" in 20 different languages.

I found with the cookies to start with two at a time and move to three or four after I got the hang of it. The flavor is amazing and they will keep for 1-2 weeks in an airtight container! I also used granulated sugar instead of super-fine; I couldn't tell a difference! Perfect for holidays, birthdays, or just because.

http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/fortune-cookies

Listening to: The Cure Greatest Hits