Handmade train stocking

Handmade Train stocking, originally uploaded by lefleurpixie.

This is my little boy's very first Christmas so I wanted to make him a special stocking. We have a train theme going for him so naturally it had to be a train stocking! It didn't turn out as wide as I would have liked but I think it came out rather cute nonetheless.

A question

Is it ethical for a vegan to eat non-organic produce knowing that many insects, birds, frogs and other critters were probably injured or killed from the spraying of pesticide?

Just a thought.

Our very first Tofurky Thanksgiving!

This was the first Thanksgiving we didn't have to see or smell a dead
animal on the table. As an added bonus, we had more to eat than just
side dishes! We tried the Tofurky feast this year, and it wasn't too
bad for packaged food. I didn't much care for the apple/cranberry
dumplings, but Mike really liked them. The Tofurky took much longer to
cook than stated, and I think I could have made a better homemade
gravy. The only things homemade were the biscuits and the apple crisp.
(not pictured) It was still decent enough that we are probably going
to make it again for Christmas.

It was also Vinny's first Thanksgiving, and his 9 month birthday! As a
special little treat we fed him a little pieces of biscuit. He doesn't
quite know how to chew yet; he just keeps the food in his mouth until
it dissolves.

Baby leg warmers

Easier diaper changes and that sexy 80's look. :)

Pei Wei is closed!

:( We just went there last week and all of a sudden they are out of business today! This is a sad, sad day. They were my favorite quick food place and they had the best tofu....chewy on the outside but soft on the inside. I'm really going to miss that. There isn't another place that can compare to their tofu. If anyone knows what kind of tofu they use or how to make it that way please let me know! I've tried taking extra firm tofu and stir frying it in hot oil but it doesn't turn out the same. I've tried using baked tofu in the same manner and still a different outcome than Pei Wei. I have always hated the taste of tofu and soy products but their tofu didn't taste like tofu. Where am I going to eat now when I don't want to cook?! /cry

Vegan Mattar Paneer

Made with Potatoes instead of Paneer.

Chloe cattus

Chloe cattus, originally uploaded by lefleurpixie.

Sweet innocence

altered letters

altered letters, originally uploaded by lefleurpixie.

I only had about 10 minute free a day so this project took much longer than I would have liked. Now to drill holes and hang them up!

Random thought

Where does the fuzzy lint on the bottom of the mice come from? I clean my desk with a microfiber cloth everyday and I clean around the little cushions on the under side of my mouse. Even still, I clean up multiple clumps of fuzziness a day. Every mouse I've ever used has had this build up so I know it's not this particular mouse. I have a theory that little portals open up underneath the mouse when I'm not looking and faeries deposit their used toilet paper. Makes sense doesn't it? I thought so.

Vinny's first feeding

Today I fed Vinny his first teaspoon of organic rice cereal and he spit about 75% of it out. It didn't smell very good so I don't blame him. He stares at me when I eat and if I put my food close to his mouth he opens wide for it. I felt it was time for him to start trying some solids but he just didn't have the same reaction with the rice cereal. He clearly has good taste! Solid foods are a lot messier to clean up. I can see myself going through dozens of bibs and burp cloths a week now. Just a random post to remember the date. :)

My 5.5 month son playing the keyboard

My 5.5 month son playing the keyboard
Originally uploaded by lefleurpixie

The most talented baby on the planet.

aceo rose drawing

2.5"x3.5" Graphite drawing. Image is grainier than the original because my scanner is still broken. 01/11/09 - Uploaded a better image.

Blooming in July 2008

Some of the plants I've managed to keep alive this year.

Pansies that I planted about 4 months ago. This is the longest I've kept pansies alive in our hot weather.


Coleus 'Fishnet Stockings"


Echinacea 'Bright Star'


Echinacea 'Magnus'


Echinacea 'Magnus'


Geranium of unknown variety.

Handmade scarf for Ruth's Birthday.

I rushed this project and it didn't turn out as well as I would have liked. I hope she likes it anyways. I started it the afternoon before her birthday and worked on it until her party. I should stop doing things at the last minute . . . maybe one day. Hand sewn scarf with a flannel back. The ends are hand embroidered with some beads as embellishments for the stamens. It's my very lazy attempt at cherry blossoms.

A mouthful of Luna

The neglected puppies

I haven't had much time for the poor doe eyed creaters ever since the human baby came. I feel really bad for them. Gimli has something wrong with his ear and it started bleeding. The vet thinks he has allergies but the medication he's been given so far haven't worked and so he's still suffering. It looks like he might be allergic to grass or something at the soccer field we take him too. He's a cattle dog that can't run or play without getting really itchy. My poor baby! His eye also turned red and closed for a day or two and we had to take him to the doggy ER but they couldn't do anything for him. He also ended up eating a bottle and vomiting plastic and blood. We had an x-ray done and he's ok. I guess he threw it all up. Better the way it went in than coming out his back end. We are also having one of his premolars extracted in a month. It broke in half about a year ago and we have yet to do anything about it. We are such neglectful parents! I actually didn't know you could do anything until recently when I found articles about it online. His nerve is exposed and so I'm sure he's in a lot of pain. I hope that this doesn't have anything to do with his eye and ear problem which are both on the same side as the broken tooth. Could anything else go wrong with him?





Luna is the same . . clueless. She has the brain of a styrofoam peanut.

Spring Garden photos 2008

red nasturtium


Felicia


Gaillardia


Osteospermum


I can't remember what this is.


Purple pansy

Log cabin pillow covers for spring

I tried to incorporate my favorite teacup fabric into the new spring pillow covers. I think I added a bit too much pink/coral for my taste but they turned out cute nonetheless. The picture is taken in low lighting (the colors are a little off) because I do everything at the last minute. :)



Side view. . well I suppose it's laying down.

Recycled pencil box

I needed a pencil box to hold my mechanical pencils, but couldn't find one that I liked or that had enough compartments. After much thought, I decided to make one myself out of wood but my hubby wouldn't allow it. He thought I was going to saw off my fingers. hehe With very few choices left, I was scrounging for alternative materials to build my box with. We had just put together a galant unit from IKEA and had a ginormous cardboard box in the garage. With my trusty razor blade (and this was safer?) in hand, I cut pieces of cardboard to the dimensions I needed. After I had all the components cut out I glued them together, covered it in masking tape and then fabric. I attempted to cover up the seams with ribbon, cording and flowers to make it a little more attractive. The bottom of the compartments are filled with batting and leftover felt to protect the tips of the mechanical pencils. I made little signs with the hardness/softness of the pencils so it would be easily readable for me. I think it turned out ok considering it was cardboard and best of all it was FREEEEEEE!

Teacup cloth napkins

Teacup cloth napkins, originally uploaded by lefleurpixie.

Cloth napkins sewn for me! I need to make coasters to go with it now. I just wish I had more of the fabric so I could have made at least 6 napkins.

puppies, napkins and framed art

Gimli's first laugh at 8 weeks old.


Another photo of Gimli at 8 weeks.


Cheesy cloth napkins. Only the ugliest fabric for my honey! He's a very messy eater.


Framed kitty felt art. I thought this frame went really well with the colors in the felt.

It's Gimli!!

I can never take too many pictures of him. Here he is sitting next to me this morning while I organized. I'd post more picture of Luna but she never sits still.

Puppy applique wip

This is the beginnings of another baby quilt. I plan to make 20 different panels (19 more to go) of varying puppies. The pattern is a drawing I made loosely based on my cattle dogs. The diamond is a Bentley mark. Hand appliquéd and embroidered.



I finally started taking down the Christmas ornaments today. I miss the ambient lighting from the tree.

Finished baby drawing

11x14 graphite on bristol board. The mother wanted me to block out the name so that is why the heart is there. Detailed shots on the right. The scan is horribly washed out. There are a lot more subtle tones that aren't showing up. :(

baby drawing wip3

I worked on it a bit more today and finished the shirt.

Baby drawing progress

I spent an additional 12+ hours today on the drawing bringing the total close to 27 hours. I'm almost done blocking in the tones. I started adding shadows and highlights to the left sleeve. About 45% of the way done now. Yay! I miss my art table but with our new office/craft room layout it won't fit in here! Instead, I'm drawing on an art board propped on my knees. It's very uncomfy and the angle is flatter than I'm used to drawing. I've been trying to think of a solution to this. The image below is slightly skewed as I have to stand on my tippy toes to try and take the picture. I'm short. :)

WIP - Drawing of a baby

Work in progress of a wittle baby. This is the first baby I've ever drawn and I'm really trying to get the skin smooth. I've just blocked in the base colors of the arms, shirt and face, but I have to go back and even out the color. It will probably take at least a few more layers so I'd say I'm about 20% of the way done. I wanted to get it done before Christmas but. . . . :) I hope I get this drawing done. I seem to be jinxed. Whenever I post a WIP I never end up finishing that drawing.

Drawing is 11x14 and done in graphite. Approximate time so far 15+ hours.

Totoro Thank you card

Drawn with pastels and colored pencils.

Custard felt art

I couldn't sleep so I made a little felt piece of Custard, Strawberry Shortcake's cat. Made with wool felt and sewn by hand. I still can't sleep so I'm off to start another project.