Seriously Sewing

                       Well I had gotten back into doll making from admiring all the cute dolls on Pinterest, going back in time, when I use to make dolls. I had lost most of all my old things in Hurricane Irene for my basement got flooded, but I was happy to discover, these sweet dolls survived. I  guess I made these in the mid 1980's.

                                  The fabrics were made from some old gowns that I had
shortened after a few fabulous parties..those were the days!! My motto has always been, "don't throw it out, u can always find a use for this.." Strangely, I wasn't really devastated when my basement was flooded. It was strange how I had been. I had thought, that was yesterday, tomorrow is another day :)

But 2 years ago, I really got into seriously sewing dolls from a friend at work that asked me to make a doll for her, before that I was just procrastinating about designs in my head..But Bernadette asked me to make a doll for her, and since, a new hobby came about.  It was a really fun project and she was very pleased at the end result, and I was too, because I discovered a long ago past time, was something I'd like to get back to and do again.

Since AnnaBelle I had made a series of other dolls for customers and friends

                                                                   

  

                                                                     

Kingsley came with her own little Box which is decoupaged with book pages from Beatrix Potter.

But I must say, my prettiest doll ever is a multi colored blonde haired beauty I named, Sara, after the Fleetwood Mac song which I was listening to one night while designing. She won first prize at the 2014 Monmouth County Fair. Of course you could only enter one doll, so the little black haired doll had to stay home. I let her get into the picture though! 

                                           

Foxes in the Snow

 It appears the last few weeks, it has been so cold here in NJ. It snowed again last night, and luckily today the sun was shining. I didn't even want to get up because I heard the snow plows passing by outside, and I just knew it was going to be another day I was trapped in the house. But that isn't always a bad thing, I can always find things to do. I came into my studio to see if my Mod Podge jewelry holder was dry, and there he was again, the fox out in the backyard in the snow! The last time I saw him was a month ago, but he wasn't alone..

 But today, Mr. Fox was by himself. But by the time I got my boots on, he was already gone into the woods.

 For a good month, I was seeing the fox almost everyday, and because Cindy was always talking about that fox song, I decided to make a fox doll, and I didn't realize how cute he really would be.

And because he was so cute, I decided to make another one.

Diane's Decadent Peanut Butter Pie

This is a decadent dessert, if you really like peanut butter like me!

You can make this recipe with just these few simple ingredients:

Now with cream cheese, and cool-whip, I used the 1/3 less fat brand. I mean it, you really can't tell the difference, especially when you have a mixture of other delicious ingredients, peanut butter is a strong flavor, it really does overpower the dessert. Best would be no fat, but I don't think I can be that daring!!

Diane's Peanut Butter Pie

Crust
22 whole peanut butter filled Oreo cookies
4 tablespoons melted butter

Filling:
1 1/4 cup Peanut Butter
1 package softened 
1/3 less fat cream cheese 8 ounce
1 1/2 cup Powdered Sugar
1 1/4 less fat Cool whip 8 ounce

First melt the butter in a bowl and crush the Oreo's in a food processor until they are fine crumbs. I used my mini processor. 

Add the crumbs to the bowl and mix.

Pat into a pie pan and bake for at least 8 minutes or until set, but not burned. I used my handy counter top oven.

Now meanwhile while its baking, mix together the peanut butter, room temp. cream cheese, confectioners sugar until well combined

Add the cool whip and gently mix

After crust is cool, add mixture to pie dish, carefully not to mix loose crumbs into mix.

 Refrigerate peanut butter pie at least 2 hours to set. Resist the urge to lick the bowl and spoons!!

Now, this is one decadent dessert, absolutely delicious, I hope it wont all be gone when I'm at work tomorrow!!

HAPPY COOKING AND ENJOY YOUR DESSERT!