Happy Holidays!

My Etsy shop is currently closed for the Holidays! A big Happy Holidays to you! To view some of the my creations feel free to view here. Thanks again to all the wonderful customers who shopped Playing Hookey!

Out the Door Organizer

Recently, a sweet customer requested an organizer that could store cell phones, sunglasses, keys, and some credit cards. After some creative thought I came up with this as an initial design.

Conceptual Design

!!!!And The FINAL Product!!!

Two pockets for cell phones, two hooks for keys, two hooks for sunglasses and two elastic bands for credit card storage, sweetly embellished with fabric flowers. Functional and Fabulous!

To the Market we must go...

The leaves are falling, the morning air is brisk...to the market we must go. Our local Farmer's Markets are sadly coming to a close at the end of October. My little munchkin and I headed to a larger one this weekend.

I thought I would let the little guy walk with me through the market since he had been in the stroller a good part of the morning(shopping for fabric...he is such a trooper). I did, not so much shopping but a whole lot of chasing. He a had a grand time. I was able to quickly snatch up some Johnathan apples, green peppers butternut squash and two tiny little white pumpkins. The farmers graciously offered to hold him, but I fear it would have been a loss cause...the only thing to satisfy him would be the embracing of freedom.

The tables were piled with fall crop in beautiful warm colors.

My little munchkin on the loose with a tiny white pumpkin!

Pumpkin Possibilities

All that talk of Pumpkin Roll made me want to seek out Pumpkin Possibilities on Etsy. These are just a few...

Who can resist these sweet pumpkin hats lovingly made by L.A. ORIGINALS just kidz. Other fruit designs available.

The sweetest little pumpkin...by The Daily Pincushion. This is just one of many spectacular felt creations.

I would love for my little man to be sporting one of these polka dot pumpkin Ts. Can be found among other cuties at veryKIKI.

Pumpkin Roll

Recently my hubby turned the big 3-0. One of his favorite deserts is Pumpkin Roll, so I made that instead of cake. I wouldn't say it is a healthy alternative to cake but is sure is yummy! I am still working on making mine look as delightful as my mom's.

Pumpkin Roll
Ingredients

3 eggs

1 cup sugar

2/3 cup canned pumpkin

1 tsp lemon juice

¾ cup flour

1 tsp baking powder

2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp ginger

1 tsp nutmeg

½ tsp salt
1/2 -3/4 cup. chopped walnuts (I would chop them up more than I did)

powdered sugar for dusting towel.

Filling:
6 oz. Cream Cheese
4tbs Butter
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 cups. powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 375. Grease and flour a 15 x 10 baking pan. Beat eggs on high for 5 minutes. Gradually beat in sugar, pumpkin, and lemon juice. Mix together dry ingredients, fold into pumpkin mixture. Spread in greased and floured 15 x 10 pan. Top with chopped walnuts. Bake at 375 for 15 minutes. Turn out on to dish towel dusted with powdered sugar and roll with towel. Let cool completely. Beat filling ingredients together until well mixed. Unroll and spread filling evenly. Roll and Enjoy!

Fun Fall Decor

While browsing through my pictures I came across these lovely fall photos. They are of a home that was on display in a Fall Parade of Homes.

I formerly worked at a furniture store that sold beautiful handcrafted Amish furniture. I loved working there and was able to participate with another Interior Designer in decorating and furnishing homes for the parades. In this particular home we used a lot of mission style furnishings.

An easy fall decoration...A basket filled with real and wooden apples sprinkled with fall leaves.

This was a fun project...a glass vase with fall twigs then filled with candy corn. Yummy!

Sneak Peak

A sneak peak of fabrics that are being used on new items coming to the shop.

First, coordinating fabrics by Joel Dewberry that will be used on a Mega Jewelry Organizer ( jewelry rack with earring frame below) . I just love the taste of fall these fabrics give you, the birds are cute too.

Second, Tortoise Plaid fabric by Sandi Henderson to be used on a jewelry rack. This fabric has become a favorite.


Third, A lovely fabric by Amy Butler. This fabric is a designer weight fabric making it thicker than a standard cotton. The pattern is gloriously big and the colors are serenely inviting. It will be the back drop for a crazy big jewelry rack.

Hope to have the items completed and listed within a week or so.

Pink Houses on Etsy

As a new beginning to my blog, I thought it was only appropriate for me so see what kind of Pink Houses are being made by talented Etsy peeps.

So warm and cozy is this little pink felted house, done by the ever talented felter Foxglove's.

Little birds like to be warm and cozy too, what better way to be toasty then in their very own shabby chic pink bird house. Crafted by Bacon Square Farm.

If pink bird houses don't suit your fancy how about a sweet little gratitude necklace on a scrabble tile by deciduous soul. I love the little button!

My First Post!

I have had such an enjoyable time creating items for my Etsy shop. It has also been fun to explore other shops and see some of the most amazing, cute, charming, colorful, peaceful, thoughtful handmade items.

So how did I learn about Etsy you say? One morning while playing with my sweet 11month old at the time, I caught a Martha Stewart Episode that featured an Etsy seller. It definitely peaked my interest so I headed to the Internet and there it was a hidden treasure Etsy.com. A treasure full of handmade goodness. The seed was planted. Thanks Martha! I am sure she will be reading my blog in the near future. Ha! Ha! I hope to share with you some of my discoveries on Etsy as well as maybe some other handmade goodness.