Days of Chalk and Chocolate - All Post

Summer Dress and Features

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Hi all!  I have been itching to try my hand at sewing something a bit more complicated than a skirt or pillow lately. So I used a dress that Molly already owned and used it as a pattern!  I added some length to it because it was a size too small and then just winged it (wung it? wanged it?).  I didn't do a lick of measuring either. I'll never be a terrific sewer because I don't measure.  Anyway, she's decided to wear it as a beach cover up. Truthfully, I don't think she's digging the material. Frankly, neither am I but I had it left over from sewing the playroom curtains. You just thought about Scarlet O'Hara, didn't you. Or you thought of Carol Burnett as Scarlett with the curtain rod going through the shoulders, right?  HA HA HA!  awesome.

I got this ladder shelf at a flea market for $20! Shwing!


Ok so now here are some features from last week's party!

The Velvet Door
Game Room Reveal



Lake Cottage Dreams
 Bathroom Storage



Design Dreams by Anne
Bathroom Makeover



The Space Between
Rooftop Bed



Cooking on the Front Burner
Limoncello Cupcakes



Thanks for linking up!  See you all tomorrow!

Cheers!
Jenny

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I'm at Fireflies and Jellybeans today! Plus some cool blogs.

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Fawnda over at Fireflies and Jellybeans is hosting a series on sewing children's clothes. Great idea, right?  So I am over there today with my tea towel skirt post!  Come visit!

Browsing though some link parties I came across this screened porch at Decorate With A Little Bit. Isn't it wonderful?  I love all her pretty details like the outdoor rug and the lighting. Visit and check out more of her pictures and be green with envy!





And check out this awesome island transformation at I Should Be Mopping The Floor!  Builder blah to beautiful!



See you all tomorrow!  Off to story time at the library!

Cheers!
Jenny

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Blueberry Cheese Pastry

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I'm so into blueberries right now!  They've always been one of my favorite foods and I adore them in just about anything or just out of my hand. I made up a little breakfast pastry to use up some blueberries and it was pretty yummy!  I do recommend eating them the same day you bake them though since crescent dough doesn't usually stay flaky/crispy once it's a day out. But I still ate them and they were still pretty good!



Ingredients:
Fresh blueberries (about a cup or so)
1 can crescent dough (I used reduced fat)
3-4 oz light cream cheese (or full fat, whatever you're doing that week..ha ha ha. I used 4oz and had some left over)
2 Tbs sugar (or to your taste)
Dash of vanilla extract
Powdered sugar for garnish


Directions:
Stir together the cream cheese, vanilla, and sugar until blended.






Separate the crescent dough into 4 squares (2 triangles each). Gently seal the seams together and roll them out a little larger and flatter.  I used a bottle of beer since it was handy.



Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly onto the squares of dough.




Press the blueberries onto the cream cheese.




Fold the points of the dough up to meet in the middle. They don't have to be completely sealed. They look pretty with the berries peeping out.  Next time I make them I would sprinkle them with granulated sugar at this point.


Bake at 375 for about 13-15 minutes or until gold brown. Remove and let cool. Sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving.





Oh and guess what!  I got a new end table today!  I found it at home goods for $69.99 and I just love it. It's a tad too big but I really don't care. I have been looking for a metal or glass end table because everything seems so dark and heavy and wooden in my living room. I'm trying to add something different.   I may Rub-n-Buff it to be a bit more gold and less yellow. We'll see!







Cheers!
Jenny



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Blue Hydrangeas and Playing With PicMonkey

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Today was Molly's preschool graduation. It was adorable! They sang a mess of songs, got little diplomas, and then we had doughnuts and fruit in the fellowship hall. Perfect! I was proud of my little graduate (even if I think preschool grad ceremonies are a tad ridiculous). She is so excited for Kindergarten and I'm excited she'll have a full day of school! She is super ready.

Anyway, we have two potted hydrangeas in our backyard right now. Jim picked them up for me at Costco because he knows I just can't live in a house that doesn't have a hydrangea or two or 4 or 12. They are gorgeous but the forced blooms are starting to fade. I love them even more now since they've deepened from a brilliant blue to a darker, moodier blue/green. I clipped a few of the faded flowers to dry and have them all year. I used to do this in our old house and it was so nice to see my garden all year long. All you do is cut, bind them together, and hang them upside for a spell. So pretty!


So I snapped a few pics to show you all but then I got into playing around on PicMonkey which is my new go-to photo editing site now that Picnic is gone. It has most of the same great features and is as user friendly as Picnic. I used a couple of different effects and such.  Want to see what I did?

 I think the second picture is the closest to the actual color in real life, by the way.  The differences though are subtle among all the pictures. But I like subtle.



This is the the Gritty effect which I faded and lightened.



I think this is using the Cross Process.



This is the paint texture added to the background. I erased it from the flowers so it would just be in the back.


This picture is using the Tranquil effect and photo corners. Cute.

 It was oodles of fun to try different things!  I'm addicted I think!

Hope you are all having a great weekend!  Mine started with a small cone of black raspberry ice cream with dark chocolate chips.

Cheers!
Jenny

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