(almost) wordless Wednesday...what the?!

anyone know what the hell these things are?!?!

they appear to use the cocoon thing sort of like a hermit crab would its shell...they climb around on the trees/bushes with what looks like only 4 front legs...then, if u get too close, they'll pull back inside the cocoon to hide...some of our bushes are covered in them! & they're doing a good job of killing those bushes too...Curt's been knocking them off & my dad's been dusting the property...but there's even some on the side of the house...& i'm just curious as to what they are...anyone know?

weekend cakes...

Saturday, i delivered this Twilight cake to Alexia...she actually designed this cake...giving me the specifics on color & design...she knew exactly what she wanted! ;0)

it was 3 small tiers of fudge cake...all iced in buttercream & covered in my dark chocolate fondant...all accents are made from fondant, & i hand painted the Eclipse moon logos...the #11 topper was not edible...pics never pic up the shimmer when i use luster dusts - u can't tell, but this one was quite sparkly & pretty!

when i showed up & the birthday girl spotted her cake, she squealed a little...then as all her friends came in the room, the noise level went up...then the cell phones & DSi's popped out for pics...it was quite entertaining...also, very rewarding ;0)

last Friday, baby Jake turned 1! Jake is the son of a friend...and about the cutest baby ever!

because i was a little pre-occupied on Sunday, i totally forgot to take pics of these cakes before sending em out the door (Curtis delivered them in the pouring rain for me...thx hun!)...thx to Steph (Jake's aunt - the girls' old daycare provider) for taking these pics for me!!!

the top monkey cake was a 2-layer 9x13" marble cake...iced in buttercream & topped with a big chocolate fondant monkey face :0)

i also made a matching "smash" cake for Jake...also in marble...at first, Jake gently began eating fingers full of icing

but within a few minutes, that "smash" cake earned it's name...it was too funny!

thx for looking!

it's a sickness...

i've always loved tattoos...i went out & got my very first one AS SOON AS i turned 18! it was just flash...nothing custom...& not something i regret...just kinda wish i'd given it more thought

each of the 3 i got later, meant something...& i'm still thrilled with them - love em!

but i've always wanted more...& when i say more, i mean MORE!

i didn't know what, exactly...that's why i never went for it...i always knew that i wanted some art to represent my children - but i didn't envision that tat being the BIG piece that i knew i'd eventually have...i just knew that one day, it would come to me

then a few months ago, it kinda did...

Jaden was commenting on that 13 year old tat on my back - the one that always makes me wonder if it started Jaden's dragon obsession...he was saying how cool it would be if it grew & went down my arm...&...well...uh...

light bulb!

what better way to represent my amazing son, than with an amazing dragon! & a dragon design could definitely create the beautiful 1/2 sleeve i envisioned having one day!

i still wondered how i'd tie in the girls...i wanted something just as amazing & special to represent them too...& just like that, it seemed to come to me as well - fairies! something that they do indeed love...sticking with the whole mystical/fantasy theme...even a good representation of the beautiful, magical beings that they are! :0)

& so - the idea slowly came to life...

i talked to my friend, David...he lives/works about 2 1/2 hours away, but comes home to visit regularly...i described to him what i had swirling around in my head...i sent him pics i had found online, to give him an idea of what i liked & what i didn't...we tentatively scheduled a weekend a few weeks out...& he drew up some sketches

& then the countdown began!

i continued to save my pennies & beef up my i'm-finally-gonna-do-something-for-myself-and-not-feel-guilty-about-it-tattoo fund...then a bonus at work also came right on time...when this weekend finally rolled around, i felt like a kid on Christmas eve...i was sooooo excited!!!

i'm not gonna show u full shots of both tats just yet...cause it's hard to see our final vision...it's all just outlining right now...JUST 4 1/2 hours of outlining! ~lol~ the basic set up for David to come in & work his magic with shading & color next time...& probably another time after that...chances are, i'll have 2 more sessions - one to finish the fairies with color/shading (they're on my other arm) & to begin the fill-in/shading/background of my sleeve...then one last sitting to fill in all the color for the dragon sleeve

don't i look thrilled?! ~lol~

David came to do the work in our dining room...& Curtis was able to sit & chat with us for a lot of the sitting...i had my cell (FB & Twitter) to keep my mind off the pain...but honestly, it wasn't as bad as i thought it would be - u kind of zone out after a while...well, at least until he gets to that tender, fleshy skin right around ur armpit - ouch! ~lol~

it really is a sickness...a need...an addiction if u must ~lol~ but one that i'm definitely not ashamed of...& hey, it could be worse, right?! ;0) now, another countdown has begun...i'm sooo stoked to get these 2 pieces finished! i'm not planning on stopping after that either...sorry Ma! well, i will chill for a while...but i have plans for at least 4 more in the future - they will be more of the smaller ones, but still kick-ass art on their own...& who knows after that? i'm always getting inspired & thinking up more designs...i just drew this cupcake the other week - looks like it could make a pretty 'sweet' tat, huh? ;0)


so, tell me...

do u agree?
do u have tattoos?
are u now addicted?

{this moment} what tha?!

{this moment}
"Photos - no words - capturing a moment from the week.
A simple, special, extraordinary moment.
A moment I want to pause, savor and remember."

inspired by SouleMama - a Friday ritual

i can't stop thinking about it!!!

i've got big plans this weekend! any guesses?

ok, if u're friends with me on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter, then u already know...& by now, u're probably tired of hearing me talk about it! ~lol~

but i just cannot wait!!!

i totally know how Jaden feels now...u know, when he has some amazing (to him) event coming up...& it's all he can talk about...over & over & over again...he asks me a million times how many more days until...& when i appear frustrated with his constant jabbering, he'll say, "but Ma, i just can't help it! i can't stop thinking about it!!!"

i totally get that!
;0)

wordless Wednesday...Silly Bandz much?

weekend recap...

Friday eve, Curt cut down all the corn for me...& helped pick beans...

growing a garden is so rewarding!

i've gotten such great satisfaction out of helping put food on the table...& doing it with my hands, not my paycheck

speaking of food on the table...

we'd planned to take the boys out on Sunday - one last meal together before Curt Jr heads off to Cali...& at the last minute, Curt's parents (& his mom's sister, Aunt Faye) decided to drive down to join us! it was soooo nice having everyone together & getting the chance to squeeze on Curt a few more times before he leaves...the kiddos are gonna miss him like crazy - especially the girls! they adore their big brothers!!!

Gabby's got something in common with her big bro too - they're both ice cream fiends!!! ~lol~

Corinn is a shrimp lover...i swear she ate at least 20! ~lol~ & get this...insisting on peeling them all on her own! ;0)

one last shot...i told ya, the girls are crazy about those boys ;0)

(btw, check out the build on Corey now! where did that man come from?!)

other than that, & the cake orders i had...nothing too eventful happened this weekend...daddy worked...& we cleaned house...enjoyed some time outside...& then finally took the evening to relax once Sunday rolled around

how about u?

weekend cakes...

i started off this weekend with a brother combo...3 year old Rourke loves construction (i also made Rourke's 1st birthday cake)...& his little prince of a brother, Connery, is turning 1

they got a joint cake - as well as matching smash cakes...all in butter yellow & iced in buttercream, & accented with fondant

then later Saturday evening, i delivered this wedding cake for a co-worker's niece...

it was almost all yellow too, but the 8" tier (2nd from the top) was fudge chip...

all iced in buttercream & accented with sugar flowers in the wedding colors...

& today, i delivered this cake for a special birthday girl...one that is an angel now...living with the Lord, & looking down on her family...i was VERY HONORED to create this cake for her!

it was 3 tiers of yellow cake (once again!), iced in buttercream & accented with sugar flowers...

on top, was a little baby dressed in a ladybug costume...all made of fondant (except for the antennae - they are not edible)

thanks for looking!

{this moment} outdoor kitchen

{this moment}
"Photos - no words - capturing a moment from the week.
A simple, special, extraordinary moment.
A moment I want to pause, savor and remember."

inspired by SouleMama - a Friday ritual