Autumn Splendor

Half-Pint Creations has been on vacation for the last month with a Grand reopening on September 1st. There are some new goodies and I'm bringing back some old favorites! My new Averi swing dress will be a perfect transition into fall with a sweet long sleeve t-shirt and leggings. They will soon be available in Halloween and Christmas prints to add a little comfort and sparkle to the holiday season.Also coming back are the Half-Pint ornaments collection that I have lovingly named "Snowed In". They are always personalized free of cost and make a great gift for a teacher, grandparent, or loved one on your list.Autumn is coming soon, school is starting soon, yes, it's the most wonderful time of the year! Pop on over to Half-Pint Creations on Sept. 1st and check out the new look and all of the new surprises that will keep your little one stylin' through the holidays!

The countdown begins.... I need goodies!

We have all seen the commercials of parents dancing through the aisles of school supplies as the countdown begins. You may not physically have done this yourself, but let's be honest, we all get a little giddy at the sight of bookbags and #2 pencils. As a work at home mom, the schedule changes drastically around our house as fall arrives. Living in a cabin in the woods affords us a front row seat to the arrival of autumn, my FAVORITE time of year. I enjoy buying all of the lovely school supplies, shopping for school clothes, and waving as the school bus pulls away. My youngest is 2.5 and will be home for a couple more years. She is growing so fast I am enjoying every moment with her. I will be a sobbing mess the day that she boards the big yellow monster and speeds away. Yes, I'm choking on the thought as I write.
Along with the start of the school year comes many, many "celebration" days. Holidays, birthdays, and lots of special "bring a yummy to school" days. When do we remember this necessity? 7 pm, the night before the goodies are to go to school. We ponder the run to the store, but feel the twinge of guilt at sending storebought mini cupcakes- again.

I have a sweet, sweet little secret!!
http://www.LipSmackinCreations.etsy.com

These cookies are AMAZING! I can speak from experience, I have made the ooey gooey chocolate chip and they went off the plate faster than you could possibly imagine. Having a few of these jars in your cabinet is a little "home baked" insurance policy for those "Mom, I need to take a treat to school- tomorrow" blues. If you figure out the cost to buy all of the ingredients, the time spent measuring, these babies are a lifesaver. It also adds to the "Yes, I am supermom" appearance. Allow me to share my favorites with you.....

Dreamy Chocolate and Cream

Sassy Cinnamon

All of her jars have decorative toppers of fabric with a detail of ribbon around the jar. She uses super fun, out of the ordinary fabric toppers that make them great for gift giving. Special orders are always welcome and encouraged! They are ideal for a rainy day with the kids, a quick home baked gift for your holiday party, or maybe a pick me up for that friend that needs a little home baked hug.

LipSmackinCreations understands the importance of family time, and tries to make baking / cooking as easy as possible without the "boring" long task of measuring ingredients.
You can even make these with your little "tippy toes" helper. Imagine the fun they will have just dumping the jar in a bowl and being able to say I helped mom or dad bake these!
So hop on over, and yes, wipe the drool off first, and grab some of these delish cookie creations. She offers a variety of sweet and savory confections. You will be so glad you did when you hear "MOM, I need something special to take for snack time tomorrow!"
Peace, love, and chocolate chips,
Amber, Half-Pint Creations

Coconut? Strawberries? Peaches?

Have you ever come upon a store owner that has gone way beyond what you would ever expect with customer service? I had the extreme pleasure of stumbling upon "Mylingy's Purrfect Candles" http://www.Mylingy.etsy.com , owned by a fellow Etsian. I had been looking for some tarts for my wax burner and found that she had hearted MY store. I always try to check out the stores of people that "heart" me, and found her store full of yummy scrumptious scents meant to tease and tantalize.

All of her candles are homemade and hand-poured. They are half soy and half paraffin, the best of both worlds. They burn cleaner because of the soy and they smell fantastic due to the paraffin. She has over 700 fragrances. How can you possibly go wrong with scents like "Blueberry Cheesecake" and "Coconut Lime"? I opened my package, which arrived pretty quickly (mine was even a custom order), and inhaled deeply. She included many extras, all packed safely with care - one scent even more enticing than the last. Pure Heaven!

I can't wait until the seasons change because I will be back to purchase some pumpkin scented candles, and yummy christmas time scents.

I encourage you to make a visit to http://www.mylingy.etsy.com/ and just TRY to choose your favorite. As I sit here enjoying her "Bahama Coconut", I am being whisked away to the tropics with my mango banana smoothie in hand, cool blue waters lapping at my feet. Let her scents carry you away after a tough day. You'll be glad you did!

Bubblebums?

Ahhh.. the joys of toddlerhood. My baby is beautiful and smart, kind and compassionate, funny and intuitive. She is also fiercely independant, and even at two, thinks she knows it all. In the same breath I am frustrated by her and in awe of her. Since the beginning of this year, I have done all my photos with a black backdrop and a dressform. I feel they are sharp, colorful, and different from the masses. However, while designing my new bubble bloomers, I had an outside photo shoot in mind.

I wanted something cute and "foofie", something meant to be worn on it's own and also under dresses. The new "Bubblebum" line was created. Soon to be joined by "Rufflebums", baby bottoms will never be the same. It was only natural that my little one model these new bloomies.

They are currently available at http://www.halfpintboling.etsy.com/ in different prints and sizes. They are fun and functional, comfy yet funky! I am always happy to do custom orders, so if you have something in mind, please don't hesitate to ask. As a collector of fabrics , I have a special fabric for every Half-pint. Keep an eye out for "Rufflebums", coming soon!

Summer Celebration time!

Can you feel the warm summer sun on your face? Can you hear the cool waves splashing on the shore? Can you smell the freshly cut green grass? No matter where you are this summer, the new additions to my Half-Pint Creations Etsy Shop http://www.halfpintboling.etsy.com are meant to wrap your gorgeous little ones in summer whimsy. The fabrics are light and summery and will make folks smile at their down home, yet funky combinations.
This ruffled halter top is designed with summer past times in mind. The amazing fabric will bring back all of the wonderful memories that made summer so magical.

Beside the Seaside is a funky colorful combination of hot pink, lime polka dots, and an amazing Alexander Henry print. Full of dolphins, turtles, crabs, and lots more sea creatures, you'll be able to hear the seashore as your little one runs on by!

Super talented Jennifer Paganelli 's fabric is as bright as the summer sunshine. This print is very popular, not to mention vibrant! It just begged to be turned into a ruffled halter for a sweet lil' Half-Pint.

Lastly, I found this amazing fabric at an Amish quilting shop here in PA. I put it back several times before I decided that I liked it. The print is very retro New york. Scenes from 1940 New York make this a dress/top like no other for celebrating the 4th of July holiday.

There are many new hand sculpted buttons as well as new "Mama made It" Kits in the shop. So grab a cup of coffee (or herbal tea if that is your thing) and stop in for a browse:)

Have a blessed weekend and enjoy your little ones this summer and always.

My Mother's Day Gift

This Mother's day has quite possibly been the most emotional, eventful, and blessed Mother's Day I have ever had as a mother and a daughter. Monday of this week arrived uneventfully as just another Monday -until mid morning when Mom could'nt remember a simple recipe that she has made a million times. As a cook, that was very odd. She could'nt answer basic questions -the brain and mouth just could'nt work together. An emergency trip to the family doc and then immediate ambulance ride to the hospital confirmed that Mom had had a stroke.

We were blessed to find that her limbs had not been affected, just the part of the brain for organization and memory. After a long week in the hospital, I filled Mom and Dad's freezer with food, got the house cleaned and cozy, and awaited my father bringing her home. She is now home in her own bed, with more meds than I can count, and a hovering family that just wants to wrap her in bubble wrap.

I am incredibly lucky to still have my Mom after the things her body has been thru. I am also lucky enough to call my mother my best friend. I would move mountains for that wonderful woman. After many answered prayers and happy tears, THIS, my friends, is the best Mother's day I will ever have- my Mom is here to celebrate it with me.

You never know when a stroke will affect someone you love. Here are the signs to look for:
Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
Sudden, severe headache with no known cause

If you or someone with you has one or more of these signs, don't delay! Immediately call 9-1-1 or the emergency medical services (EMS) number so an ambulance (ideally with advanced life support) can be sent for you. Also, check the time so you'll know when the first symptoms appeared. It's very important to take immediate action. If given within three hours of the start of symptoms, a clot-busting drug called tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) can reduce long-term disability for the most common type of stroke. tPA is the only FDA-approved medication for the treatment of stroke within three hours of stroke symptom onset.

Life is too precious to take for granted. If you are lucky enough to still have your Mom, give her an extra hug tomorrow. Make that weekly phone call an extra long phone call. If your Mom has passed on, close your eyes and remember all of the wonderful things she's done for you and the timeless love that you will always carry for her.

I wish all Mothers a happy, fulfilled, and healthy Mother's day! Enjoy your day!

The Village Tinner

Spring is here! Many of us are doing our spring cleaning and if you are anything like myself, I also tend to redecorate. I add a few new pieces on the fireplace mantel; maybe a new set of candleholders on the dining room table, something new and different.

My mantel is full of beautiful tinware handmade by "The Village Tinner"


http://www.thevillagetinner.etsy.com/ . He is by far one of the most talented tinsmiths I have ever seen. Ok, so maybe I'm a little partial- he's also my Dad!

For more than 25 years, and as long as I can remember, tin, copper and brass have been his passion. Having a home based business for nearly that long, I remember waking up to the sounds of the hammer striking the awe and pounding our beautiful tin punch panels. My mother was usually lovingly wrapping the finished pieces at the dining room table and carefully packing them up to be dropped off at the store that would find them a new home. I was probably one of the only ten year olds that knew the difference between a brake and a shear- and could tell you all about hot dipped tinplate. Cool huh! As a teenager I took metal shop with confidence- not just to meet boys.

This particular piece will always have a special place in my heart. It is a cheesemold that can actually be used. It includes a recipe for a German Egg Cheese that resembles Cottage cheese. The cheesemold is made with lead free solder. I made one for a history project that "WOWed" the teacher. I may have had a "little" help from Dad. To this day, that teacher still has that cheesemold!




All of these pieces shown are available in three finishes, which will match anyone's decor.

-The Antique finish simulates aged tinware. It is hand rubbed to highlight the patina and coated with a metal paste wax to give the metal a soft sheen. An occasional dusting with a soft cloth is all that is needed.

-The Rust finish is actually a painting technique. Each piece is primed and painted to give the feel of real rust. It has the appearance of rust without the devastating effects. Please clean with a soft dry cloth.

-The Natural tin finish is the look of shiny tinware when new. Each item is washed and hand polished. Over the years, the tinware will develop a rich patina. Clean with a soft dry cloth.


This particular item- the perfect gift for the history buff- is a Tinder Box. Before matches were introduced in 1830, a fire would have been started with flint and steel. This unit would have contained flint, steel, charcloth, tinder(strips of cloth), a candle stub and a dome shaped extinguisher.The flint, steel, cloth, and candle stub are not included. This is a great item for living history reenactors! I encourage you to check out this brand new etsy shop at http://www.thevillagetinner.etsy.com/ for excellent craftsmanship, wonderful customer service, and a great shopping experience. Custom orders are always welcome, as are antique restorations. Please do not hesitate to ask any questions you may have. Have a wonderful day!

The "Spring Sugar" Collection

Color can inspire, calm, energize, and soothe. Jennifer Paganelli has an amazing eye for such design and color. It has been such a pleasure to work with her "Sis Boom" collection of fabrics. The vibrant colors jumped off the fabric store shelves and wanted to be made into little girl's dresses and skirts. My own daughters will be getting their Easter dresses from the same fabrics.This ruffled peasant dress is made solely from the fushia and lilac combination damask. Add tights and maryjanes or a little pair of sandals and it is complete!







My own personal favorite, this damask is a combo of pretty pinks.
It is warm and girlie- perfect the little princess who loves to bathe herself in pink!

Lastly, this peasant dress reminds me of hyacinths and lilacs. With it's crisp white hem and sleeves, the belt doubles as a hair tie. It's a month of color, so stop in to www.halfpintboling.etsy.com for some "Spring Sugar!" Have a wonderful colorful day!

Spring - Bold and Beautiful!

The daffodils are slowly making an appearance as the early signs of spring arrive. The bright and beautiful colors of nature invoke feelings of renewal, freshness and newness. Living in a cabin in the woods, we can hear the birds constantly chirping their sweet songs. The layer of ice has melted off of our pond and the bright orange goldfish have shown their little fishy faces to soak in the warmer water that lies at the top. My little girl is fascinated at the hundreds of baby orange swimmers - having just learned the color orange. It is these simple pleasures that make one rejoice at the sight of spring.

Along with spring's arrival are the bold and beautiful hues of the flowers. The sunshiny yellows, bold hyacinth purples, and sweet deep pinks can lift your mood and wow your senses. Inspired by these deep and richly colored flowers, I have decided to make April a month of color- bold, saturated, "make your soul smile" color.

Living in Amish Country in PA, I am lucky enough to have access to amazing fabric and quilting shops full of the boldest richest colors that just beg to be made into little girl's dresses. All of this month, additions to my store will be made with color in mind. Tomorrow I will be adding my "Raspberry Sorbet" , "Strawberry Sweet" and "Lilac Dreams" outfits. Stay tuned and have a wonderful colorful day!

Spring Flowers....cupcake style!

As cupcake month comes to a close, I wanted to share a few more Etsy Artists' scrumptious creations as well as a recipe that will make you rush into the kitchen to start baking! These beautiful spring flowers will tempt your eyes and your taste buds. Make them with different colors for a Spring Garden Party!

You will Need:
1 (18.25 ounce) package white cake mix
1 cup boiling water
1 pkg. (4 serving size) Strawberry Flavor Gelatin
1 (8 ounce) tub Whipped Topping, thawed
Few drops food coloring, any color
24 marshmallows
24 Miniature Marshmallows
1/4 cup colored sugar or colored sprinkles

Cooking Directions :
Prepare and bake cake mix as directed on package for 24 cupcakes; cool completely. Pierce cupcakes with wooden skewer or large fork at 1/4-inch intervals. Stir boiling water into dry gelatin mix at least 2 min. until completely dissolved. Spoon 2 tsp. of the gelatin over each cupcake. Refrigerate 3 hours.
Tint whipped topping with food coloring; spread about 2 Tbsp. of the whipped topping onto each cupcake.
Cut each large marshmallow crosswise into five pieces with clean kitchen scissors to resemble flower petals. Arrange five of the petals in flower shape on top of each cupcake; place a miniature marshmallow in center of each group of petals. Sprinkle each with 1/2 tsp. colored sugar. Store in refrigerator.

Yield: 24 servings

These yummies will be going to my daughter's class this morning! Have fun!

As promised, I am sharing another edition of Cupcake Crafters. Please be forewarned, you may have the impulse for something sweet and cakelike if reading on an empty stomach!

Sweet Southern Design

http://www.sweetsoutherndesign.etsy.com/

With such an array of colorful yummy treats, Sweet Southern Design will WOW you with a collection of beautiful hair goodies fit for a princess. You'll find hair candy for all ages of little girls that are well made with love and quality.

This precious cupcake bow is made of 1.5" brown grosgrain ribbon and has a jumbo discit featuring a cupcake with 'cutie' in the middle. Measures 4.5" wide, is sealed to prevent fraying, and is attached to a french clip. It is currently on sale, so be the first to give it a home!

SWEET! This adorable key fob will have you driving to the bakery for scrumptious icing covered confections.

These are perfect to loop around your wrist or stroller handle to keep them close, and they also won't get lost in the bottom of your purse!

For many more beautiful handcrafted bows and goodies, please visit http://www.sweetsoutherndesign.etsy.com/ !

My Little Lady

http://www.mylittlelady.etsy.com/

This is a shop that makes me wish my little one had hair! You can tell while browsing this gorgeous shop with amazing pictures that each hair yummy is made with care and a great attention to detail.

I had SO many favorites but had to choose just a couple to show. The color combination of this cupcake band is also super trendy and would match many outfits.

I also have a true fondness for hot pink combined with zebra prints- and it's hot in girl's clothing this spring.

For a headband for your lil' princess,please stop on over to http://www.mylittlelady.etsy.com/ and try to choose just one:)

Honeybee's Creations

http://www.honeybee69.etsy.com/
Would'nt your little tea party hostess be suprised with this set of cupcakes? Cradled in a cupcake tin, this beautifully made yummy set will provide hours of make believe fun. They all have heart buttons sewn on the tops. They are filled with polybeads on the bottom, so they sit nicely, with fiberfill on the top so they are soft. The tin measures 10 1/2 inches by 7 1/2 inches/ Each cupcake is 3 1/2 inches wide and 3 inches tall and would make a wonderful addition to any little one's kitchen! For more kitchen additions and beautiful handmades, please visit http://www.honeybee69.etsy.com/ and browse to your hearts content!

Creations By Charity

http://www.creationsbycharity.etsy.com/

Tasty, whimsical, and imaginative are only a few of the words that crossed my mind when I came across Creations by Charity. Everything is made with such care! The choices are endless and will truly make your little lady feel like a princess.

This is such a sweet little cupcake- the pink ribbon is also accented with glitter and would look super sweet in your gorgeous girl's hair. There are so many delicious things to browse in this store, so please go take a peek!

I try not to feature hair candy from different shops in the same post, but these talented Cafemom Etsy Moms each offer something a bit different from eachother. Thankyou for taking the time to read about these wonderful women and their craft. Time for a Springtime cupcake and a cup of coffee! Please have a wonderful day:)

Simple Pleasures

As I sit here sharing lunch with my little girl I am reminded of all of the little pleasures that life has to offer. I just recently lost a friend in a car accident and attended the funeral with a heavy heart. His young widow was full of grace and poise- very hard to sustain in such a situation. She has three boys for whom she is a rock. Sitting in the church listening to his handsome , strong boys read poems and tell stories, the memories came flooding back-I was in her same situation 4 years ago. I was a young widow with a 5 yr old. I had also lost my husband in a car accident. It was almost too much to bear.
Moving on thru that time in my life and watching my friend's boys tell stories of their beloved Dad Shawn was such a strong reminder to stop and enjoy the little things that seem unimportant at the time. Rejoice in those bedtime snuggles. Let the dishes go and have tickle fights with your kids. Kiss your spouse slowly and tell them you love them- every day. For these are the things that they remember.
As a feeling of warmth and love washed over me I decided to run with it and make cupcakes- yes, you knew I'd work that theme into this post- with my two year old. Hah! What an adventure and a huge mess! But what fun we had. There was icing on her bald little head, and batter on the floor. My little love had so much fun that she needed a bath and a nice long nap. I need some coffee and a cupcake. No naps for this mama!
Need something to do with the kids this weekend? Make a memory and try these- A bit healthier , but oh so yummy!

APPLE BANANA CUPCAKES
INGREDIENTS
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2/3 cup shortening
1 1/4 cups white sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup buttermilk
1 cup ripe bananas, mashed
2 apples - peeled, cored and shredded

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F . Grease and flour 24 muffin cups, or use paper liners. Sift together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Set aside.
In a large bowl, cream together the shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla and buttermilk. Beat in the flour mixture, mixing just until incorporated. Fold in the mashed bananas and shredded apples. Fill each muffin cup half full.
Bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow to cool.

I didn't have the time to make the icing too, so we drizzled cream cheese icing over the top. YUM!
Looking for cupcakes with a few less calories? I just added this fridge magnet to my store http://www.halfpintboling.etsy.com/ - and it won't add width to the hips! It can be personalized with your name, your kid's names. or anything that strikes your fancy. SWEET!

I have some MORE- yes more- cupcake crafters to share with you today! Their stores are full of beautiful hand-crafted items that will wow your senses!

RKDSIGN88 CUTE AND FUN ARTS

http://www.rkdsign88.etsy.com/

Perfect for a young ladies bedroom or for anyone who is a cupcake enthusiast, "My Lovely Cupcake" is a joyous expression of sweetness! This is a print from an original painting. It is a 5"x7" including the 1/4" white border around the picture. It is signed & titled by this amazing artist. She uses high quality Epson matte paper & archival ink, and also prints & hand cuts all of her work. So it is truly handmade by the artist!

Aren't these cupcake gift tags yummy and adorable? This Cupcakes Gift Tag Set is a PDF File. You can print this as many times as you need!*** Right now, the artist is having a Special offer, buy one get one FREE of "Gift Tags Set" Printable PDF of your choice from her shop! It includes 6 of 2”x4” tags or 6 of 2”x2” folded cards, and features 3 cupcakes design. She includes an instructional sheet too. If you need something special to add to a gift or maybe a thankyou for a customer, these cards are perfect. Please stop in for a visit- her designs are a treasure of sweet hand crafted goodies!

SMOX Unique Children's Items

http://www.smox.etsy.com/

My little one loves to paint or create with anything that seems to make a gigantic mess. I hate stripping her down to a diaper, because our old cabin can get drafty. I found something beautiful and practical that will protect her clothing! SMOX! When I'm shopping for my girlies clothes, I want clothes that are hardy and will last awhile, or at least until they outgrow them. Especially in today's economy, keeping costly kids clothes looking good for as long as possible is a good investment. This beautiful SMOX is available in your choice of sizes in pink, adorned with the cutest little cupcake, lined with pale pink flannel, and bound with pale blue. All seams are double sewn for durability. SMOX are eating aprons originally designed over 20 years ago. Quality and durability- you can't go wrong! Please make a visit to http://www.smox.etsy.com/ and shop all of the beautiful choices. She has something for everyone's taste!

SHELLEYBEANS BOWTIQUE

http://www.shelleybeansbowtique.etsy.com/ue.etsy.com/
For handmade bows with an amazing attention to detail with high quality materials, this Boutique is the place to shop! My little one does'nt have hair yet, but when she does, I'll be purchasing this cupcake print pinwheel bow! The bow artist will also custom make your bows to your specifications. Upon request, alligator pinch clips can be semi-lined with coordinating grosgrain and a non-slip strip for extra grip on super-fine hair at no additional charge. These bows look especially sweet on babies when added to a headband! Bows come professionally packaged on bow cards and carefully wrapped in tissue, perfect for gift giving!

I also had to share my absolute favorite bow in this sweet lil' Bowtique! As you can tell, animal prints are a fave in our household. This mixture of pink and zebra has me wanting to make outfits in these colors by the dozen. Beautiful! The quality and attention to detail is quite obvious in this gorgeous creation.
For more beautiful hair candy,please visit http://www.shelleybeansbowtique.etsy.com/. Be careful, you'll want one of each!

Have a wonderful day and please remember to make some memories with your loved ones today! Amber