It's Coming....

That time of year that is.  I'm so excited. I think because we now have a wee one in the house.  Emily's not aware of the magic yet but it's still fun.  Next year will be really exiting with her.  I'm gearing up for Friday, that's usually when I take our fall decorations down and decorate for Christmas.  The tree will be a challenge with a walking 13 month old.

It's been super busy in the shop getting orders complete and shipped in time for the holidays.  I have another craft fair Dec 7 & 8, I'm no where near ready for and I don't think I will be. Other than trying a bridal expo next year I think this is it for the fairs.  Not the right venue for my products.   I wanted to have more inventory painted... Oh well maybe some secret elves will visit my office at night and help me out  (a girl can dream can't she?)

Here are some of the customs I've been working on....

This fox was a non custom just felt like making one

He's the first is a new woodland creatures series.  

A raccoon is on my desk half finished 

Sophia the first and Merida from Brave

I  have a Sophia pendant in the shop now

2 sports fans

Siblings who have their own custom superhero capes

An expectant couple

Custom ornaments for a gang of friends that 

get together once a month

Hope your enjoying your start to the holiday season.  Can't wait for Turkey Thursday!

XO,

K

Matinee Monday

I missed a few I think?  Its getting crazy in the shop trying to finish orders and get stock ready for my craft fair the first week in Dec.  I have to get all this done during nap time and at night!  It's all good.  I am going to take it easy December.  I really want to savor the season this year with Emily.  Starting the first week in December, each monday I will post a favorite holiday movie for Matinee Monday

Now on to this week... A really good film I happened upon netflix 2 years ago.  It's been on twice this month on the Movie Channel.  If you have Xfinity/comcast for your cable provider check out channel 243 a really great mix of movies.  On Saturdays night late night they do film nior genre.  If I could stay up all night I would.

Laura

Staring.....

Gene Tierney.............. Laura Hunt

Dana Andrews............Det. Lt. Mark McPherson

Clifton Webb..............Waldo Lydecker

Vincent Price..............Shelby Carpenter

Plot:

Detective Mark McPherson investigates the killing of Laura, found dead on her apartment floor before the movie starts. McPherson builds a mental picture of the dead girl from the suspects whom he interviews. He is helped by the striking painting of the late lamented Laura hanging on her apartment wall. But who would have wanted to kill a girl with whom every man she met seemed to fall in love? To make matters worse, McPherson finds himself falling under her spell too. Then one night, halfway through his investigations, something seriously bizarre happens to make him re-think the whole case.

Images courtesy: Google Image search

Plot: courtesy IMDB

Matinee Monday

In honor of all our Veterans..... Thank you for your service.....Yesterday, today and tomorrow

Anchors Aweigh

(a light hearted salute to the troops)

Staring......

Gene Kelly................... Joseph Brady

Frank Sinatra................ Clarence Doolittle

Kathryn Grayson.......... Susan Abbott

Plot Summary (courtesy IMDB)

Joe and Clarence, two navy sailors who have a few days leave in Hollywood. All Joe wants to do is to have a good time and meet up with his girl, the unseen Lola. Clarence on the other hand just wants to get a girl. They soon meet a little boy who ran away from home and wants to join the navy. They take him home and soon meet his young and beautiful singer-wannabe aunt Susan. Clarence develops a crush on her, so he asks Joe to help him get Susan to like him. Soon Joe gets himself caught in between a promise to Susan to meet a big time music producer and trying to get Clarence ready for their date. The only problem is, Joe doesn't know the music producer and he's starting to fall in love with Susan himself. So what's a guy to do?

Images courtesy google search

TGIF

Happy Friday!  Popping in to show off a few recent customs....

Adorable families ready for their new homes...

We are officially sold out of this style doll (Peg Doll)  I don't think I will be re-ordering any as I am retiring them in 2014

A cold front has joined us in the Garden State, I couldn't be happier.  This weekend is all about a warm fireplace, cup of tea, snuggling with a good movie, a trip to the park and glass of wine!

What are your plans?

xo,

K

Food Glorious Food.....

I was thinking of making a weekly feature on the blog......what were cooking?.  For example yesterday Emily had her year check up.  The appointment was in the early afternoon so I wanted to do something quick and easy since we would be in and out of the house.

I decided on chicken patties from Morning Star Farms  ( we get the big pack at our local BJ wholesaler) as a side I was going to do french fries but alas we had none in the freezer.  I decided to make a quick bean salad.  In making it I utilized some left overs we had in the fridge.  I was pleasantly surprised in the end result........

Anything you got bean salad....

1 can red kidney beans

1 can chick peas

** utilize any beans you have on hand**

1 cup mozzarella cubed

1 cup cooked elbow macaroni or any small pasta you have on hand

1/2 cup balsamic vinegar or red wine vinegar

1/2 cup olive oil

1-2 minced garlic cloves.  I love to use the pre minced jar garlic from Goya.  If using this use 1tsp

1/2 small onion chopped/diced

1 table spoon of Italian seasoning or your favorite herb combination.

salt and pepper to taste

Combine everything into a bowl and mix well.  I actually forgot to add salt and pepper and still found it came out tasty.  We don't use a lot of salt when we cook so for me it doesn't make a difference.  For best results let it marinate for at least an hour in the fridge so the flavors marry.  It's really good the next day.  

Let me know what you think!

XO.

K

Matinee Monday

Key Largo

Staring....

Humphrey Bogart...................... Frank McCloud

Lauren Bacall............................ Nora Temple

Edward G Robinson.................. Johnny Rocco

Lionel Barrymore....................... James Temple

Plot:

Frank McCloud travels to a run-down hotel on Key Largo to honor the memory of a friend who died bravely in his unit during WW II. His friend's widow, Nora Temple, and wheelchair bound father, James Temple manage the hotel and receive him warmly, but the three of them soon find themselves virtual prisoners when the hotel is taken over by a mob of gangsters led by Johnny Rocco who hole up there to await the passing of a hurricane. Mr. Temple strongly reviles Rocco but due to his infirmities can only confront him verbally. Having become disillusioned by the violence of war, Frank is reluctant to act, but Rocco's demeaning treatment of his alcoholic moll, Gaye Dawn, and his complicity in the deaths of some innocent Seminole Indians and a deputy sheriff start to motivate McCloud to overcome his Hamlet-like inaction

Pictures courtesy Google image search

Synopsis courtesy IMDB

And then came ONE

Happy 1st Birthday 

Happy Birthday to my sweet girl.  I can't believe a year has past since you entered our life.  It's been a exciting and wonderful journey.  I'm so blessed to be able to watch you grow as each day passes.  Everyday is an adventure.  You are pure joy... happy, silly, adventurous, cuddly, patient and so so loving.  

Your dad and I can't imagine how we got so lucky.  We love you so much and can't wait to see what adventures lie ahead of us.

XOXOX

and one more picture for Halloween.....

Happy Pre-Halloween

I wanted to share some pre Halloween pictures Emily took with her cousin JJ today.  My niece and I had so much fun dressing them up and watching them play, really Emily playing with JJ and JJ smiling his adorable smile.

I bought Emily's costume last year on clearance at Babies R Us. $7.99!  Emily was only  3 or 4 weeks old but I couldn't pass up a bargain.  Luckily I guessed right on the size.   She tried it on for the first time today and it fit!!!

This picture kills me.  

Emily is a pacifier kid (she calls it a nee nee)

if you look closely you can see she's checking out

JJ's pacifier.  Wondering : why do you like this kind and 

not the stand issue green hospital one like me?

BTW how adorable does JJ look as a pumpkin!

Happy Wednesday!

XO, K

Matinee Monday

This movie is one of my top 10.  It just so happened to be on last night so of course I had to stop and watch it.....

Mr. Skeffinton

Staring.....

Bette Davis......... Fanny Trellis Skeffington

Claude Reins...... Job Skeffington

Walter Abel........ George Trellis

Plot:

It's 1914 in New York City. Adult brother and sister Trippy Trellis and Fanny Trellis, whose parents are now deceased, were once wealthy, but Trippy squandered away the family fortune, about which no one knows except their cousin George Trellis and their many creditors. Fanny and Trippy still put on the façade to the outside world that they have money. The beautiful Fanny can have any man that she wants to marry, but she sets her sights on Job Skeffington, the son of Russian-Jewish immigrants. Job's wealth was self-made in finance. They met as Trippy was once employed by Job in his brokerage house. Fanny and Job, who is now aware of the Trellis' financial straits, ultimately do get married, much to the consternation of Fanny's many suitors, but most specifically to Trippy, who knows the reason why Fanny married him. Job also realizes that Fanny does not love him, but is unaware of the real reason she agreed to marry him. After their marriage, Fanny's suitors are still around with more

Images courtesy : Google Image search

Synopsis courtesy : IMDB

New Designs and Changes.....

Hello ! I recently finished a new Large Kokeshi Nativity Set if you follow me on Instagram, facebook or twitter you probably are sick of seeing it and the various stages of it in process.

It's finally done and available in the shop.  Right now this particular one with the palm tree is a one of a kind.  That was my last palm tree.  I don't think I'll be ordering any more.  I'll make another but some thing else will replace the palm tree.  Maybe a cloth manger?

 The dolls are loose on the stand so you can pose them as you wish.  It also makes it easier for shipping.  Now I'm working on some wise men as an add on to the set.

I also wanted to share some changes going on in the shop.  Our Original Peg Doll Cake toppers and dolls will be discontinued as of Jan 1, 2014  I haven't been happy with the quality of the dolls I've been getting from my supplier.  They aren't the same smooth dolls with nice round heads as they were before.  Soooo, I decided to retire them and focus my attention on these Kokeshi dolls.  I really love this style doll and the sweet expressions I'm creating as my signature.

Here's the good part.  From now until Jan 1, 2014 the Original Peg dolls that started it all are now $45.00 until they are gone!  I've rolled back the prices to 2010 the year I started creating and selling them.

Don't miss out!  Once my stock is depleted they will be gone forever.....

XOXO
K

Matinee Monday

My husband and I caught this movie about 3 years ago on TCM the day before Halloween.  I was flipping through the channels always checking TCM to see what gem I could find.  It had already started but we were hooked.  I haven't seen it from the beginning yet as TCM has replayed or I haven't caught it when they have.

If you are a Vincent Price fan check this one out.  I love the old hollywood style of mystery/horror they don't have to show all the gore to get the fright across.

The Mad Magician

CAST:

Vincent Price............Don Gallico/Gallico the great

Mary Murphy...........Karen Lee

Eva Gabor................Claire Ormond

John Emery..............The Great Rinaldi

Donald Randolph.....Ross Ormond

PLOT:

Don Gallico is a master at devising magicians' illusions and tries to establish his own stage show as Gallico the Great. His performance is interrupted mid-show by his employer Ross Ormond who has obtained a court injunction to stop him. Gallico had long ago signed an exclusive contract with Ormond to provide him with any illusions he might create. Gallico sets out to get his revenge against those who have wronged him, including Ormond, his ex-wife Claire, who happens to be Ormnond's wife and magician The Great Rinaldi who is Ormond's business partner and the main beneficiary or Gallico's new magic tricks. A clever young detective, Lt. Alan Bruce, uses a new identification technique, fingerprints, to identify the killer. 

**IMAGES COURTESY GOOGLE IMAGE SEARCH.  SYNOPSIS COURTESY IMDB**