Create a fast Valentine Love Letter Pillowcase! Sew a Sewing Machine Apron/Oraganizer! Bake the Most Beautiful Double-Chocolate Rose Cupcakes EVER! Make a Valentine Breakfast! Crochet a Summer Shawl! Make an Easy Frayed and Knotted Scarf! Embroider a Bra (2024)

Artists or art that turns me on and feeds my muse! Like it or dislike it, what about this art inspires your own art or creativity? This is artist Alison Blickle’s “New Keys” done in 2015. Oil on canvas and glazed ceramics.

When a man on the staff of the school became engaged, a friend and colleague offered himsome advice.

‘The first ten years are the hardest.’

‘How long have you been married?’ he asked.

‘Ten years’, she replied.

Look around you. Design is everywhere! How can you incorporate the beauty that surrounds you into your art or craft?

Fiber folks! I love this Love Note pillowcase! You simply write out your personal thoughts on fabric and whip up a simple pillowcase. It’s not too late! Grab some solid fabric and impress your Valentine! Here’s how:

http://www.brides.com/blogs/aisle-say/2016/02/diy-valentines-day-craft-pillowcase-love-notes.html

Here’s another pretty sewing machine apron and organizer. If you’re like me, you’ll need to make two! One for under your machine and the other to wrap around your neck to catch crumbs and to safely hold your Twix, Hershey Bars, Good n Plenty, and an array of Little Debbies. Here’s how you make yours:

http://www.sew4home.com/projects/storage-solutions/sewing-machine-apron-organizer-fabric-depot

INGREDIENTS:

red velvet cake mix, plus the ingredients listed on the box
cream cheese, softened
powdered sugar
vanilla extract
pinch of salt
warm milk
mixed berries
sugar

FOR THE FULL RECIPE, CLICK HERE:http://www.tasteandtellblog.com/red-velvet-waffles-with-cream-cheese-icing-drizzle/

Summer is coming and you’re going to need this Vanna White glamorous Summer Sonata crocheted shawl. It won’t make you sweat but will keep any early summer chill at bay. Plus, it’s pretty and looks like lace. Here’s the pattern:

http://www.michaels.com/lion-brand-vannas-glamour-summer-sonata-crochet-shawl/B_80255.html?productsource=projects#start=26

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You can look like Cupid this weekend by just grabbing some red fabric, fray it then knot it, for a Valentine’s Day scarf (and it’s totally cold enough out there). It’ll take you an hour, max, and it will give you an excuse to go fabric shopping! Here’s where you start:

www.skiptomylou.org/knotted-frayed-scarf-tutorial/

Here’s a free embroidery pattern called a Heart Branching Out. I am a simple chain stitch embroiderer. I’d love to see some modern embroiderer take a needle-stab at this. It’s all about the color and texture. Floss is cheap. Why not try your hand at it. Here’s where you can download the design:

http://www.needlenthread.com/2016/01/heart-branching-out-free-hand-embroidery-pattern.html

HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

apple filling
apples
granulated sugar
ground cinnamon
lemon
unsalted butter

dough
milk
unsweetened apple juice
granulated sugar
salt
unsalted butter
bread flour
active dry yeast

brown sugar coating
light brown sugar, packed
ground cinnamon
unsalted butter

icing
powdered sugar
milk or water
vanilla extract

FOR THE FULL RECIPE, CLICK THE LINK:http://userealbutter.com/2016/01/27/apple-cinnamon-caramel-monkey-bread-recipe/

There was nothing better than scoring a Popsicle during a hot summer day. I remember when they were .50-cents! It was the wrapper, the red ball, that caught our eye and now brings a sense of nostalgia. Sometimes the paper would freeze to the popsicle and we’d lick it until it came off. Trying to seperate the frozen treats wasn’t for the faint of art either. If you wanted to share your popsicle, you had better find a sharp counter top edge or (in my ‘hood) a fairly even street curb. Memba?

And now a word from our sponsor . . .

I must have a piece of this cross stitch furniture by Copenhagen based and educated furniture designer Ellinor Ericsson! A significant trademark is the application of textiles in her furniture, which often root in traditional handicraft techniques.

http://ellinorericsson.com/

Ingredients:

all purpose flour
cocoa powder
almond mealor flour
powdered sugar
salt
unsalted butter
egg
marzipan
apricot marmalade or jam
dark rum
bittersweetchocolate chips or good quality bittersweet chocolate
heavy cream

FOR

THE FULL RECIPE, CLICK HERE: http://www.diaryofamadhausfrau.com/2016/02/sacher-torte-cookies.html#more

These pieces are by Indian designer, Manish Arora, for Indian couture week in 2014. His design work just rocks. There is nothing of his I don’t love. Take a look. I’d love to know what you think. http://www.manisharora.com/

Boucheron presented three eagle-inspired Chinha rings in a classic trio of ruby, sapphire and emerald. This is the sapphire version. Only $75,900.oo (you’re worth it).

http://us.boucheron.com/en_us/chinha-the-eagle-ring.html#details

Who wouldn’t love this Essentials Color Optics quilt from Wilmington Prints? It certainly looks enough to piece and the different block scales add some fun visual interest and movement. Follow the link for the free pattern:

http://www.wilmingtonprints.com/projects/essentials-color-optics-project

Gucci‘Malin’ Studded Sandal,$1,500.00.The shoe is featured on the inside pages of the new Vanity Fair magazine, where I found it. Get yours here:

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/gucci-malin-sandal/4263112?origin=category-personalizedsort&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=&resultback=370

Whether you’re sick or just cold, it’s worth making this easy felted wool hot water bottle cover. We have more than several cold weeks ahead of us, cupcake. Click the link for how to make your cover — while you’re at it, why not applique something wonderful on it?

http://www.purlsoho.com/create/2014/01/12/mollys-sketchbook-felted-wool-hot-water-bottle-cover/

You heard it here first. I think ‘primitive’ style is on its way back. Here is a simple Valentine Heart to whip up in minutes. I love the casual look of prim. It works almost everywhere. Why not embroider your Valentine’s name on it? Here’s the tutorial:

HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

Chocolate cupcakes
unsweetened cocoa powder
all-purpose flour
sugar
baking soda
baking powder
salt
eggs
hot water
heavy cream
canola or other vegetable oil
vanilla extract

Ganache filling
chopped bittersweet or semisweet chocolate
heavy cream

Vanilla bean buttercream
unsalted butter, softened
vanilla bean or vanilla bean paste
Milk or heavy cream, optional

FOR THE FULL RECIPE, CLICK HERE: http://www.sprinklebakes.com/2016/02/a-dozen-rose-cupcakes.html

Recently, I noticed that Micheal’s Arts and Crafts looks like a letter depository. There are aisles full of all sizes and types of letters. To quote Nancy Kerrigan, “Whhhhhhhhhhy?” If you are so inspired, immortalize a letter in faux monogram topiary. Here’s how:

http://www.shrimpsaladcircus.com/diy-monogram-topiary/?utm_campaign=shareaholic&utm_medium=email_this&utm_source=emai

These nails are sweet enough to say ‘Be My Valentine’ without looking like a stripper. Here’s a tutorial on how to create this nail art:

http://nailartsdesign.com/valentines-day-heart-nail-art-tutorial/

Just cut and paste this into an email or post on your Facebook andTwitter pages:

I LOVE this blog and think you will, too! Check it out:https://marklipinskisblog.wordpress.com