I am back!

Whew! Almost a year later I am back to my blogging adventures, I have been so busy!
And now, I am sorry I didn't make time to blog about all the things I have been doing...

I am working on a big hotel project and that takes a lot of time, of course, but also great experiences and places visited. I have been to New York, Dallas, Miami and several other places for trade shows and vendor meetings and I have taken in so much beauty.

If you have time I invite you to visit our website: www.jademanuelantonio.com

Let's see if now I can really commit to the wonderful archives of life that blogging provides.

Easter Cookies

I baked a few cookies for Vicente's Easter party at school today.

I prepared my trusty rolled sugar recipe from Wilton, cut them out in egg shapes and baked them until golden brown.

Next, I prepared Royal Icing and decorated them in a teal, orange and white color scheme. It was very useful to first read the technique explanation at the website, because as anything you want to make nicely, there's some tricks of the trade.

I hope the kids enjoy them, I sure loved making these and will definetely make them again!

Cake Disasters

Today I stayed at home, feeling a little bit sick to my stomach.
So what do you with your time when you are sick and you can't stand food? Well, you read FOOD BLOGS! I know, that's not what normal people would do, but that's what I did.

Anyway I ended up in this HILARIOUS blogspot: wreckcakes, you gotta check that out! I laughed my heart out and went back like 10 pages in "older posts"...Made my day definitely.

And now, after looking at all those cakes, I don't feel as bad for my own cake wreck, and so I will share it with you. HINT: It's supposed to be a lightsaber... What? What do you think it looks like? awww c'mon! ;)

Easter Bunny Placemats

A few years ago I made this placemats for my kids. I saw the idea at a Pottery Barn catalog and decided I could pull it off, so I got to work. I decided this will also be a good example for my first attempt of a tutorial, even if I don't have a pattern to share on PDF right now. But let's make a deal: if I get any replies to this post I will post that pattern for you guys.

Now, this is what I did:

The first thing I did was trace the outline and details of the bunny in cardboard, I hired my husband for this.

Then I used this as template to cut one piece of muslin, one piece of batting and one piece of contrasting fabric (for the backing) for each.

I cut out an ear center, a circle for the tail, and the nose from the contrasting fabric and set them in place with some "heat n bond".

I made a fabric sandwich by placing the fabrics right side together and the batting on the back and then I sew around the edges, leaving a small gap for turning.

I turned the bunny out and topstitched around with some nice stitches from my very basic sewing machine. I also stitched around the apliqué.

I hand embroidered the whiskers and the paw detail with a running stitch, going through all the layers of the placemat, and then I hand embroidred the eye, being careful to catch just the muslin and the batting.

I made one for each of my kids, and they sure enjoy them every Easter Sunday when we sit down for lunch and thank Jesus for His sacrifice and the miracle of resurrection.
God Bless you all!

Chat Amour

Today, my girl has been a little bit under the weather with an upset tummy...and guess who has kept her company? The cat, yes ,the cat, who as if it were a dog has stayed by her side and wouldn't let her be alone.

Now who says cats are aloof and self-centered? Not me...Certainly, not me.

Grateful

Sometimes you have one of those days when you just feel that even with some troubles and tribulations, you still have so much to be thankful for.
Today is one of those days...
Thank you Lord for my family: my husband, my healthy children, my sister and my parents.
Please keep them well.
Amen

Busy and a new Venture...

I have been so busy lately! No time to craft anything special in more than a month.

I am making some "entrepenurial experiments", that's what's got me tied on...

Even with the global economic crisis my interior design business is good, but I got so freaked out that I started some other things just in case... Some friends and I started a small event planning company and I am very happy about that. My first carreer is P.R. so I get to use those skills long forgotten in a corner of my mind, with the added pleasure of adding my crafting, and of course, decorating skills in the mix...

Please, if any of you stops by and can lead me to good party planning blogs and sites (besides Martha, of course) please drop a note, don't be scared, I won't bite you...