Friday Funnies ~ I just have one question...

When is lunch served today?

It looks like these guys have been waiting for a long time! :)

Actually, my momma is busy in the kitchen today making us all something special to enjoy!

She said the recipe is for the Summer 2013 Newslettter that will be released soon!

If you would like a copy of the Newsletter to be emailed to you every quarter, please just email me anytime or sign up in the green outlined box at the top left corner of the blog. :)

We would also love to feature your pugs and recipes in the upcoming newsletters so please send them anytime you want to!

I am my momma's official taste tester, and I am ready to put in a full day of work today!

Have a super day and weekend everyone!

xoxoxox

R-Chee

Meet The 1st Artist to ever Inspire Me!

Glass on Porcelain Pottery ~ circa 1980

Happy Wednesday everyone!

I have a very special post to share with you today!

I want to introduce you to the 1st artist to ever inspire me...

My Grandma, Stella Cole.

She loved to make gorgeous pottery like the piece above.

I am so blessed to have this piece.

She also liked to weave and made these gorgeous pieces below...

Wool Weaving ~ circa 1979

Wool Pillows ~ circa 1979

Grandma always shared her love of life, art and family with Melanie and me.

She had a special way of loving you that made you feel how much she adored you and that has carried me with a warm hug my whole life by just thinking about her.

Grandma was the most special and talented person I have ever met, and I am so grateful for everything she taught me...

• To love unconditionally
• To create what you love and love what you create
• To cherish those around you 
• and to laugh with and hug the ones you love everyday!

xoxoxoxo

Melissa

Ollie Loves his Snuggle Hut!

Happy Monday everyone!

It is me...

Cousin Ollie!

I am reporting as a guest host today from my kitchen table!

I wonder what is in here!

I am so excited about the new Birdy Snuggle Hut that my Auntie Melissa just gave to me!

It matches the one she made for Gilbert based on her Barkclava Dog Hat Design!

Oooo! 

I think it is a little aqua fleece bed for me to snuggle into!

I cannot wait to try it out!

Oh my gosh!

What time is it?

I fell asleep in my new snuggle hut as soon as I jumped in and slept the afternoon away!

What a great way to spend a Monday afternoon!

Now I am all refreshed for dinner and ready to eat!

Mommmmmm...

What's for dinner?

I'm hungry!

Yum!

What a great way to start the week!

What are you doing on this bright & Sunny Monday?

Please leave a note and let me know!

I cannot wait to hear all about it!

xoxoxo

Cousin Ollie

(Refreshed Parrotlet Guest Blogger)

Friday Funnies ~ We Are Works of Art!

Happy Friday Everyone!

It is me...

R-Chee!

My momma is having so much FUN with the neat Free phone app she showed you on Wednesday...  PicsArt Photo Studio that lets you edit, crop and embellish your photos right on your smart phone!

She said it makes it easy to make us into little works of art right on her smart phone in about 2 minutes or less every evening before bed.

They make her smile and we cannot think of a better way to end or start your day than with a smile on your face! :)

Here are just a few that she has made of me and Gilbert...

We are ALL works of art...

You, me and everyone you meet!

It is the best part of life is to see & appreciate the gifts we all have to offer each other!

We are soooo lucky to have all of you!

Thank you so much for always sharing and playing with us!

You make our world a very happy place to be!

Have a super weekend everyone!

Please leave us a note and share what you are doing!

We cannot wait to hear all about it!

xoxoxo

R-Chee, Gilbert & Melissa

Crochet Tiny Gorilla ~ Meet Abe the Ape

Happy Wednesday everyone!

I had FUN making this pocket sized primate for us to enjoy!

I saw this Free Pattern for a pocket sized gorilla, and I just had to make him!

I changed his features just a bit a to make him my own creation, but the basic pattern for the head, body and limbs are from the two links provided in the pattern.

(Collage made with Instagram)

(Collage made with PicsArt)

I just love how he turned out!

Please let me know if you make one too!

I would love to see!

I also found a neat Free phone app ...PicsArt Photo Studio that lets you edit, crop and embellish your photos right on your smart phone!

I made the second collage above in about 2 minutes with it last night.

As seen in the first collage, I also love Instagram, but I wanted another tool to make more varied effects!

It was so fast & fun to learn and use!

Please let me know if you decide to try it too!

Have a super day everyone!

xoxoxo

Melissa & R-Chee

Crochet Chicken Basket ~ Henny Penny Free Pattern from Drops Yarn

Happy Monday everyone!

I am so excited to show you the new project I just finished!

Cluck! Cluck!

It is a Chicken Basket!

I made it from this Fabulous & FUN Free Pattern from Drops Yarn!

It is a simple and very well written pattern that I just added a couple of ideas to to make it more of my own!

I will show you the photos of what I added below.

As you can see from the first photo, it is a basic basket shape that easily increases in the round as you go.

I love the simple design, retro colors and European feel the project has!

Drops Yarn has a USA Superstore  - Nordic Mart - in CA that has a wonderful website & service!

Drops yarn and prices are incredible, and they are running a 35% off sale for the month of May 2013 on all of their wool yarn!

Here is the "wing" that is attached to flap over the top opening.

I made mine a bit bigger because...

I changed mine up a bit by inserting a basket inside to give it structure and a handle!

It is easily removed by just opening the wing flip top and pulling it out.

I also added an extra flower in the center of the wing with a vintage yellow button sewn inside for extra texture, interest and retro feel.

It matches the...

... vintage red & yellow buttons I sewed together to make a button closure that attaches to  one if the flower petal loops sewn on the front to the basket so that it will stay securely closed around the basket.

The last thing I added to the design was to close off the head opening that they left open in the pattern to keep the polyfil stuffing from falling out of the head.

To do this, I just crocheted a granny circle and chose yellow and white to look like a slice of hard boiled egg. :)

R-Chee was an excellent helper!

He asked if it could be a picnic basket filled with Fried Chicken!

What a good idea R-Chee!

Now you know what we will be doing today!

What are you up to?

Please leave us a note and let us know!

We cannot wait to hear all about it!

xoxoxo

Melissa & R-Chee

Friday Funnies ~ Helloooooo Down There!

Happy Friday everyone!

It is me...

R-Chee!

I am helping my mom today!

She is busy making a FUN new project to share with you!

...and I get to inspect it each step of the way!

We will be writing a post for you with lots of photos this weekend so please tune in on Monday to see it all done!

Until then...  

I am seeing what is inside of it ~ Maybe there are some treats down there for us!

Hellooooooooo down there!  

Hmmmm...  

Nothin' yet, but I know... 

This creation would make a perfect picnic basket!

Maybe it will be filled with our FAVORITE thing on Monday...

Fried Chicken!

A puggy can dream can't he?

I will close my eyes real tight and make lots of wishes for CHICKEN!

Let's see if it works!

What FUN things are you doing this weekend?

Please leave me a note and let me know!

I cannot wait to hear all about it!

While I am at our wishing...

What side dishes would you like for our picnic lunch on Monday?

I will include them on the order!

xoxoxoxo

R-Chee

(The Wishing Chef :)

Having a Ball ~ New Rolly-Poly Bears!

Hi everyone!

Happy Thursday!

I am so excited!

My wonderful twin sister, Melanie, has been filling her Etsy Shop with new creations!

Introducing Rolly-Poly Bears!

They come in...

Cashmere

Fleece

... and 

Felt!

I love them all!

She is an amazing teddy bear artist who takes unwanted wool sweaters, blankets and fabrics and turns them into loved works of art!

In addition to her new Rolly-Poly Bears, Melanie also upcycles treasured materials into dolls and makes fully jointed mohair collectible teddy bears in a rainbow of colors!

Please check out her Etsy Store, Shop Moe Moe, often as she is always adding new ones for you to enjoy!

Have a super day everyone!!!!

xoxoxoxo

Melissa & R-Chee