The Crafty Mama's Guide

Still Here and A Whole Lotta Craftin' Posts this Weekend!

Hi All!

I'm still here and will update you shortly on my current projects.

Happy Tuesday,

Traci

Sidewalk Drawings!

Here we are, enjoying a day of sidewalk drawing on our balcony.

We don't have a backyard to root around in, but we do have one of the largest chalkboards ever!

Soon we'll have a house with a backyard and swing set to play on.

With fruit trees, a stone fence, and a garden...

but until then, it's fun to be creative and get a bit chalky!

Framed Art!

I'm a proud mama and it shows.  Veronica expressed an interest in drawing with crayons when she was quite young--before she was one--and now that she will be two in July, we started letting her paint with watercolors.

Notice the form, the transition of colors, the total composition.  Never mind that mama helped (only with Veronica's assistance), I think we have an artist on our hands. 

Oh, and you should see her dance ;)

Father's Day, and Snacks to Go!

Happy belated Father's Day to all of you papas out there!  Lamour and Veronica and I got up for some early morning bowling, then Lamour and Vee went swimming in the afternoon while I caught up on the bridesmaid's dress that I was sewing for commission.  It was a lovely day and I appreciate Lamour's support and his dedication to his daughter ;)

Yesterday I had the day off and decided to stroll around Whole Foods for a bit and came across the bulk section.  Veronica has a snack box in the back seat of my car to satiate her as we trek across town and I normally toss in the healthiest snacks I can find at our local grocer, but now that I have sampled the tasty tidbits at Whole Foods, I think Mondays will have to be my snack buying days:

Instead of the sugar-laden treats that I often wince at when I hand them to my daughter, my little girl will enjoy berry trail mix, veggie chips (complete with potatoes, carrots, and green beans--yum!)  cheddar sesame sticks, and low-sugar animal cookies.  I just zipped them up in snack-sized baggies and tossed them in the car.  Buying small quantities was actually cost effective, considering the variety that Vee will enjoy.  Now, if only I had the will power to keep my paws out of the baggies...

A Toss and Go Doll.

So I've been doing some research on activities for toddlers and I came across this great puppet that I will offer as a freebie shortly!  More on that later...

After a Saturday marathon of walking to the grocery store, buying my husband's Father's day gift, and washing, sorting, and folding and endless mountain of clothing, I had a chance to sneak into the craft kitchen and paint three doll heads and placed them on my desk to dry.  When Lamour came back with Vee after a quick trip to the store, Vee spotted the dolls-in-progress and squealed with delight.  I am so happy that she is enthusiastic about this project and I decided that we should make a little dolly of our own.  Her facial features, bow, and apron were drawn with the aid of my two-year old, but the polka dots were all Vee!

We were both proud of our accomplishment and after Vee deemed the aproned dolly, "cute!" she put it in her shirt (a substitute when she has no pockets) and I made us a bowl of butterscotch pudding.  Dolly then found a new home in the Jell-O box--and then the trash can.  Poor dolly, drawn with care, but tossed away and out of Vee's mind and sight.

I rescued her from the wilted peonies and decided to take a picture of our collaboration before she would wind up lost again tomorrow.

A Walk, Some Flowers...and a Breakdown.

Vee was so sweet to me today and let me sleep past eight.  She's getting to the age where she actually plays with her baby dolls, so when I went in to get her this morning, she      and her dollies are sitting in a row, share a juicy two-year-old's secret. 

We took a walk today and bought some beautiful peonies, which the buds were closed in the store, but after walking home, opened fully and gave off a beautiful and rich fragrance.  I placed one stem in Vee's room, hoping that her and her friends will enjoy it when they pow-wow tomorrow morning.

And though I made the wonderfully moist coffee cake a couple of days ago, I ran out of soymilk and was in desperate need for a latte...from Starbucks.

It was good, but my willpower needs to be better ;)

Material Girl!

What's great about being a girl?  Endless color choices, unnecessary fabric splurges, and excessive adornments.  While boy's clothing is limited to stripes or no stripes and the occasional plaid, I justify my flannel purchases in the dead heat of a Texas summer with the fact that Veronica will need to cozy up to a warm, soft, insulating fabric that just so happens to come in a variety of designs one day.

I bought not one, but three pretty flannels, the last reminding me of sweet winter nights in Laura Ingalls's cabin on the prairie.  To further justify my buy, I stuck in a swatch of cool blue cotton.  After paying for these unnecessary buys, I left the store, greeted by a burst of one-hundred-degree wind, and drove away giddy for Christmas.

Judging from this picture, I'd have to say that Vee has adopted her mother's overly-adorned tendencies--and I couldn't be happier.  Who wouldn't prefer the cupcake with too much icing over a plain old bran muffin?

Whole Wheat Coffee Cake and a Must-Read Blog for Moms

After becoming a mom I gave up my occasional sips of Cabernet Sauvignon at night for early mornings that start at five (I try to squeeze in Bible time, writing, and sewing in before Vee wakes up).  I am proud of what I can accomplish in the wee hours of the morning and find my body more willing to walk daily.  Vee and I make our rounds to the local HEB grocery store and eventually, to my favorite: Target.  We pass two Starbucks on this trip and although I could always go for a peppermint soy latte and a hunk of coffee cake or lemon bar, I find that this treat is counterproductive to my new exercise and budget regimes.

This morning I was craving the moist, cinnamon taste of such a breakfast treat and decided to make it at home instead.  Adapting from a Better Homes and Gardens recipe, I replaced all-purpose flour for wheat; added a splash of vanilla extract to disguise the bitter taste that wheat flour gives off when sweetened; increased the milk and vegetable oil to add to the cake's moisture; and smothered the batter with a quadruple topping of streusel.

I have a feeling that it would have been healthier to have picked up a piece at the coffee house as they do not give their customers seconds, but it was definitely cheaper per piece, and most importantly, it was yum; Lamour ate it up and Veronica called it delish.

Traci's "I-will-not-go-to-Starbucks-today" Coffee Cake

Ingredients:

Coffee Cake

1 1/2 c. of whole wheat flour
1 c. of sugar
2 t. baking powder
1/4 t. salt.
1/2 t. cinnamon
vanilla to taste

1 beaten egg
1/2 c. of soymilk
1/4 c. cooking oil

Streusel:

1/2 stick of butter
4 T. flour
1/4 c. brown sugar
1/2 t. cinnamon

This coffee cake is so simple that you don't need to pull out the electric mixer; a whisk will work just fine.

Mix dry ingredients for the coffee cake in a bowl and set aside.  Mix the wet ingredients and pour into the dry.  Mix until batter is smooth and pour into an ungreased glass baking dish. 

Combine the streusel mixture into a separate bowl until crumbly.   I find that a potato masher works splendidly.  Sprinkle over the batter and bake for 20-25 minutes at 370 degrees.  The coffee cake should be a bit spongy as it will dry up a bit as you let it sit and cool off.

After you try the recipe, serve yourself a generous slice with a cup of coffee (or in my case, soymilk)  and comfort your mommy soul  with an exploration of the healing process of both the mother's body and spirit after birth:  The Shape of a Mother

My House Boutique's "Felt Play Food Fun!" is Green!

Hi All,

I am back on the blogging horse with gumption!  Back in January, the felt manufacture that I use started going green with using 100% recycled bottles and I am happy for it.  Living in Austin has inspired many to live eco-friendly and V and I have joined the camp.  We now take our walks to the grocery store and I've even stocked up on enough reusable totes that I don't miss the mountain of plastic grocery bags that spill out from underneath the sink every time I hunt for the dish washing detergent.

More on this, a bridesmaid's dress I've been sewing, and cute fabric later.

Interview on the WAHM Spot!

Hi All,

I've been interviewed on the WAHM Spot, a great online resource for moms working at home and those who are seeking to.  If you are looking to become featured, or to collaborate and write articles; check out her site. 

Thanks, Marie, for your tireless support!