Shout Out to Posh Creations!

February 6th, 2012

Here at Trendy Tree we are always happy to give a shout out to our “crafty” customers! It’s always such a pleasure to see how some of the products we sell are turned into such fabulous creations. Corinda Toy is one of these gifted people and we hope you enjoy browsing through some of her recent handcrafted wreaths. Corinda has an Etsy shop called Posh Creations where she offers her wreaths for sale and also on her Facebook Page Posh Creations Online.

Burlap is a very hot item this year! Corinda has several different colors of burlap wreaths and she’s happy to customize them for you.

Corinda Toy - poshcreationsky - Etsy Shop

This is a chocolate brown burlap wreath. Really rich warm color to this burlap. Its made on a 14 inch base but measures 19′ x 19″ when finished.This one has a beautiful burlap bow but custom hand made felt flowers could be added instead. There is also a mini chalkboard for writing phrases or notes.

Corinda Toy - poshcreationsky - Etsy Shop

This is a beige burlap wreath with handmade cream and tan flowers. It measures 19″ x 19″

Corinda Toy - poshcreationsky - Etsy Shop

 

This is a sage green burlap wreath with tan burlap flowers and cream felt roses……just the description sounds lovely without even seeing the wreath! It was made on a 14″ base and measures 18″ x 18″. Burlap wreaths are very full.

Easter is just around the corner and Corinda can fix you up! These pretty wreaths sure say “Easter Bunny Please Stop Here!”

Corinda Toy - postcreationsky - Etsy Shop

This wreath is made from the new Vertical Line style of mesh. Very rich colors, a matte like finish and a great texture. It’s available in several colors here at Trendy Tree and we have more on the way! This wreath is highlighted with tufts of pink and yellow Saxon mesh which is a wide open weave natural fabric with a nice texture. Easter egg picks accent the wreath and there’s a nice big RAZ Easter Egg in the center.

In the Easter wreath below, Corinda has chosen a purple foil mesh along with a multicolor striped mesh. This wreath also has a RAZ Easter Egg in the center.

Corinda Toy - poshcreations - Etsy Shop

 

This is a gorgeous springtime wreath using the curly method. It’s made of several different colors of mesh and has a big pink glittered Happy Easter sign. This wreath is so full you can hardly tell there is an opening in the center! Nice job!

This is just a small sampling of Corinda’s handiwork. Please drop by her Etsy Shop or her Facebook page and browse through her creations. She would be very happy to assist you with a custom wreath or make any sort of changes that you need. Be sure to tell her Trendy Tree sent you!

Thank you Corinda for sharing these photos with us!

 

 

 

 

Showcasing Facebook Friends Valentine Wreaths!

February 5th, 2012

Valentine’s is just around the corner and if you’re still in need of gorgeous decorations for your home or office, browse through this collection of adorable Valentine displays created by Trendy Tree Facebook friends. Many of them are for sale in Etsy shops, on Facebook pages or word of mouth. Most any of these talented folks will create something custom for you too. Some are not for sale and are here for your inspiration and shared because of the creator’s love for crafting)))

So grab a Diet Coke, cup of coffee….box of chocolates…..whatever is your poison and be inspired!

Karen Harrison - Etsy Shop lilmaddy12

Karen created this silver wreath with red mesh ribbon, trimmed in zebra ribbon and red hearts ribbon. It also has pink glitter heart picks and hot pink flex tubing throughout the wreath. The wreath has a red trimmed in black Valentine’s sign in glitter in the middle if the wreath. Wreath measures around 28″ and this is already made, ready to ship. You can also see more of Karen’s creations on her Facebook Page Custom Wreath Designs and at her Etsy shop lilmaddy12

Wreaths by DeDe Facebook Page

DeDe created a red and white striped mesh on a 30″ Work Wreath, trimmed with 4″ and 2.5″ mesh ribbon, silver Deco Flex Tubing and silver glitter picks. Heart sign in the center is made of metal. This Valentine wreath was created by DeDe Hilbun and you can see more of her beautiful wreaths on her Facebook page Wreaths by DeDe, just browse through the photos.

You know, at Christmas time when all sorts of red styles of mesh is plentiful, we’re really just not thinking about Valentine’s day. But it’s always a good idea to stock up on red/white stripe, solid red of course in all sizes, red/white checks, pinks and chocolates…..all perfect for Valentine creations.

Hunter Burrier CarolinaMoonCrafts Etsy Shop

 

Hunter’s wreath was crafted using a grapevine wreath, assorted Valentine ribbons and red and white ball ornaments.  It has hearts accents and a wooden heart with “love” on left as accent. Wreath measures 18 inches. You can also see more of Hunter’s creations on her Facebook page CarolinaMoonCrafts.

 

Corinda Toy - Posh Creations Online

This is Corinda Valentine oval shaped wreath made with a base of red foil mesh and accented with red and white stripe, and white contrasting mesh and the wider open weave white mesh is Saxon mesh which really adds another dimension in texture to the wreath. It also has some glittery hearts and picks. Here’s another creation by Corinda.

Corinda Toy - Posh Creations Online - Facebook Page

Huge wreath made of a base of red and white check mesh netting, accented by tufts of red foil mesh and again, there’s that nice textured Saxon in pink which makes an interesting contrast. More glitz and shine with the picks and a shiny word sign in the center. You can see more of Corinda’s creations on her Facebook Page Post Creations Online.

Jordan Llanez at Designs by Jordan Facebook Page

Jordan’s wreath was made of red foil mesh base with contrasting polka dot, Valentine ribbon and black and white animal print ribbon. Accented with glitter balls and large red and white hearts. Here’s another of Jordan’s wreaths.

Jordan Llanez at Designs by Jordan Facebook Page

This wreath is a combination of  white, red and pink mesh, some curly style mesh and contrasting ribbons in sheer black and red, and another in black and white. Wreath is accented with large pink hearts. You can see more of Jordan’s handicraft on his Facebook Page Designs by Jordan.

Barbara Ulicny - Facebook Page

Barbara’s Valentine wreath has a little bit of extra sweetness with the pink stuffed animal)) The wreath was made pink and red foil mesh, contrasting red and white polka dot ribbon and a bit of red, silver tinsel and ornaments. Bow is swagged down from the bottom giving extra length to the wreath.

Here’s another of Barbara’s creations.

Barbara Ulicny - Facebook Page

This wreath is made with a combination of hot pink and white foil mesh, decorative red tinsel hearts in the center, contrasting bow and lots of shiny embellishments. You can see more of Barbara’s handcrafted items on her Facebook Page.

Lynne Carey at wreathartist Etsy Shop

Lynne’s Valentine Wreath was made from Deco Mesh and sculpted to look like an adorable Valentine Bear! This is an EXTRA Large wreath measuring 35″x24″x10″. Yards and yards of white deco mesh were used to sculpt the design. Glitter hearts were added to his round belly in shades of hot pink/red. His ears have red glitter heart centers and he lifts his arms to be hugged showing off the white glitter heart paw pads. A hot pink polka dotted bow finishes him off easily visible from the curb. See more of Lynne’s creations at her wreathartist Etsy Shop and her Facebook Page Wreath Artist – Monogram Unity Candles.

Here are a couple more examples of Lynne’s creativity.

Lynne Carey at wreathartist Etsy Shop

Valentine Wreath is a very large grapevine heart with a basket style design, Hot Pink and soft pink deco mesh is used as a backdrop to frame the overflowing pink and white flowers, pink dew drop roses, glitter hearts and metallic heart ting ting sprays. This wreath is LARGE and heavy measuring in at 24″ x 28″ and VERY visible from the curb of your street. The hanger at the top is created using hot pink glitter wire and will solidly anchor to your door/wall. See more of Lynne’s creations at her wreathartist Etsy Shop and her Facebook Page Wreath Artist – Monogram Unity Candles.

Lynne Carey at wreathartist Etsy Shop

HOOOOOOOO needs something different for this Valentine’s Day to decorate their door? Lynne specialize in “sculpting” with Deco Mesh as opposed to the typical round wreaths most people make. Locally she am known for my unique creations using Deco Mesh and fill custom orders. This Valentine Owl Wreath is HUGE and ONE OF A KIND . It measures 34″ across x 31″ tall and about 10″ thick. It would also be adorable in a little girl’s room. It is made of layers and layers of deco mesh, glitter accents, and ribbon. Nearly 30 yards of mesh was used to create the wreath! See more of Lynne’s creations at her wreathartist Etsy Shop and her Facebook Page Wreath Artist – Monogram Unity Candles.

Sherry Roberson - Facebook Page

 

Sherry’s wreath is on a grapevine wreath form, white foil mesh with some lime green, pink flowers and glittery pink heart and sprays. The contrasting black, pink, red and white ribbon really gives it a pop of color. You can see more of Sherry’s creations on her Facebook Page.

Kathi Layfield

Kathi’s wreath is made from hot pink or fuchsia foil mesh with contrasting white mesh with an additional heart ribbon on top of that. Glittery pink open heart picks, Deco Flex Tubing and shiny heart ornaments add to the sparkle and a big Love sign in the center. If you’re interested in Kathi’s wreath, just contact us at Trendy Tree and we’ll put you in touch with her.

Gloria Uzzell - Facebook Page

Gloria created this gorgeous wreath for the entrance to a boutique……looks like my kind of place to shop! Wreath made of red and black poly mesh with a contrasting black and silver ribbon….lots of Bling on this wreath!

Here’s another couple of wreaths from Gloria.

Gloria Uzzell - Facebook Page

Triple colors of mesh with red, pink and hot pink – accented with glittery heart picks and heart sign. Looks like a really large, full wreath.

Gloria Uzzell - Facebook Page

Another great use of red and black for Valentine’s. Contrasting ribbons in black and white patterns and notice the wording. Frilly little black hearts really add a nice touch. Thank you Gloria for sharing! Visit Gloria at her Facebook Page.

Susan Blandford

 

Beautiful wreath created by Susan Blandford for the sheer joy of creating. Nice job and thank you for sharing! Full base of red foil mesh, contrasting pink mesh and red and white ribbon, accented with glitter heart picks. Notice the personal touch with the heart shaped from Deco Flex Tubing and wire. If you’re interested in Susan’s creation, just contact Trendy Tree (link at the top of the page) and we’ll be happy to put you in touch with Susan.

Rhonda Vega Emanuel - Facebook Page

 Beautiful creation by Rhonda Emanuel. Wreath is a base of red/white striped foil mesh, wire edge solid ribbon, red Deco Flex Tubing, and a nice accent of animal print ribbon, heart picks with curly-q’s and a great big red bow. Love the heart and the box of chocolates)))). You can visit Rhonda at her Facebook Page and see more of her creations.

Poly Brown - Facebook Page

 

Polly Brown created this wreath made of a red foil mesh base, pink mesh then a 10″ red and white striped mesh. Again, most of the time I’ve thought of this red/white striped mesh as a Christmas product and when I reordered it for this year….I really wasn’t thinking about needing more in January…..live and learn so to speak))) The wreath also has some contrasting ribbon in polka dots and pink with some nice big heart accents and one in the center. Polly has many more creations on her Facebook Page.

Leah Blum - Facebook page

This is Leah Blum’s Valentine wreath made of pink foil mesh, contrasting white wire edge ribbon with red glitter hearts,Waffle ribbon and heart picks as an accent. Waffle ribbon is a Craig Bachman Imports product that has been renamed Deco Flex Ribbon, so if you starting searching for it later, you might need to check both names. We’ll be stocking it in many colors when it arrives in May. You can visit Leah at her Facebook Page for more photos.

Janice Wilson - G & J's Handmades

This wreath was crafted by Janice Wilson at G & J’s Handmades using a base of red and silver foil mesh, white mesh, contrasting white edge ribbon with whimsical hearts and heart tinsel and picks for extra glitz and a big pink heart with kisses in the center. You can see more of Janice’s creations on her Facebook Page G & J’s Handmades.

Kristina Gardea - Floral Creations by Kristina - Facebook Page

Kristina Gardea’s Valentine wreath is simply chocked full of ribbon. Pink base with at least three different contrasting ribbons with tons of loops and bows. Big loops and heart shapes made from glitter sticks. You can see more of Kristina’s handiwork on her Facebook page Floral Creations by Kristina.

Here are a couple more of Kristina’s wreaths.

Kristina Gardea - Floral Creations by Kristina - Facebook Page

Beautiful wreath in red with all sorts or contrasting Valentine ribbon, big glittered heart hanging from the bottom of the wreath.

Kristina Gardea - Floral Creations by Kristina - Facebook Page

This is a unique wreath by Kristina with the use of the ABC blocks to spell out the word Love. The blocks really add a nice dimension to the wreath and just leads the way for more ideas in using blocks! Baby shower decorations….primary color wreaths for children…or birthday parties. Again, you can see more of Kristina’s creations at her Facebook Page Floral Creations by Kristina.

Jennifer Snyder - A-door-able Designs Facebook Page

Jennifer used the curly wreath technique making this Valentine wreath – all pink and white red……it’s just cheerful just looking at it! Here’s another of Jennifer’s creations.


Jennifer Snyder - A-door-able Designs Facebook Page

This wreath by Jennifer is made of red foil mesh, with contrasting white and black animal print ribbon. Love the big letters in the center. You can see more of Jennifer’s creations at her Facebook Page A-door-able-Designs.

Nickie Cagle - Facebook Page

Nickie Cagle’s Valentine wreath is made of pink and red foil mesh with glitzy heart picks and contrasting black and silver ribbon. Here’s another Valentine wreath made by Nickie.

Nickie Cagle - Facebook Page

Nickie used a grapevine wreath as a base and the ribbon tie technique with assorted styles of Valentine ribbon. The wreath is accented by shiny balls and spray and a big glittered Happy Valentines Day sign in the center. Visit Nickie at her Facebook Page for more photos.

Becky Hans - Facebook Page

This Valentine wreath was created by Becky Hans using a red foil mesh and black with silver stripe. A wide assortment of Valentine ribbons were used on this wreath…..I can’t imagine how many yards went into this finished project))  Small red hearts and some glittery picks add sparkly touches along with the big red heart in the center. To see more of Becky’s creations visit her Facebook Page.

Brandy Adkins - RedWithEnvyDesigns - Etsy Shop

 

This is Brandy’s “Heart of Heart’s” Valentine’s Day Wreath. She used red and black deco mesh, red and black ornaments, and random glitter hearts. She also used a red sequin ribbon throughout the wreath and accented with pearls. You can see more of Brandy’s designs at her RedWithEnvyDesigns Etsy Shop and on her Facebook Page Red With Envy Designs.

 

Karen Harrison - Custom Wreath Designs Facebook page

 

Well we started off with one of Karen Harrison’s wreaths and we’ll finish this post with one of hers)) This beautiful wreath is a base of red/white mesh with contrasting wire edge ribbon and mesh ribbon, red and pink heart picks and a big heart in the center. You can see more of Karen’s creations on her Facebook Page Custom Wreath Designs and at her Esty Shop

Thanks to all the talented folks who shared their wreaths with us for this post, we appreciate it so much! All of these stunning creations were handcrafted by folks across the nation and from all walks of life…..some are stay at home moms, working men and women, teachers, health care workers, retirees, grandmothers, decorators, business professionals and many more. But they all have one thing in common, they love to craft and make beautiful things for their homes, friends and family and most of these items if not all….are for sale! Crafting is a great way of earning extra income and it’s fun!

Most of the folks who sent wreaths for this post are Facebook fans of Trendy Tree or members of two fantastic crafting groups on Facebook – Angela Davis’  Prettify Your Life and Gina Carter-Small’s  Bluegrass Kraft Korner. These are both “closed” groups so an invitation is required. All you have to do is click on the link at the top of the page and ask for an invitation, but if you need any assistance, just let me know and I’ll be glad to contact the page managers for you.

Angela also has an outstanding blog that is chocked full of decorating ideas, crafting tips and video. It’s Prettify Your Life also.

If you’re interested in crafting, have questions or ideas you want to share….or just want to show off your creations to persons with the same interest…..please drop in on these groups and ask for an invitation…..they would love to have you.

I hope you’ll drop by the personal pages, business pages or Etsy shops of these creative folks and tell them how much you admired their handiwork….and it’s still not too late to get one of these unique wreaths before Valentine’s Day. When you drop in, be sure to tell them Trendy Tree sent you!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Christmas Tree Storage Bag

February 4th, 2012

A few weeks ago I posted a Blog about a Christmas tree storage bag from treekeeperbag.com. At that time, we had positioned the bag around the base of our Christmas tree and covered it up easily with fabric gathered around the base of the tree.

Well, we were all set to try out the bag once Christmas over. Course one thing led to another and we really didn’t get our tree down as quickly as I had planned. But, my daughter and I went to the market in Atlanta and low and behold….when we returned my husband and son in law had taken down the tree! So, I wasn’t there to take pictures along the way, but I’m sure not complaining)))

They said it was relatively easy once they figured out to loosen the draw string around the bottom of the base)) It took both of them to maneuver the bag up over the tree which I was expecting, because this is a large 9.5 to 10 ft flocked tree.

They each got on one side of the tree and pulled the bag up slowly as far as they could reach, then tilted the tree over on it’s side and finished going all the way to the top of the tree. The bag contained the tree just like the folks at treekeeperbag.com said. It took the both of them to take the tree out to the garage for storage…..like I said, this is a large tree. But just think! Next year when we bring it back it…..all we have to do is unzip it….slide the bag down and tuck in around the base…..any flocking that comes off will still be in the bag))).

This isn’t a great photo, but here’s the tree all snug as a bug in my Christmas tree storage bag.

This is a high quality, well made storage bag…..two thumbs up!

Carrots for Easter!

February 4th, 2012

Well….you just can’t talk about carrots without giving a little history. In doing some research for this Blog, I ran across a website that simply has everything you could possibly want to know about the history of carrots! Right….I bet you’re saying…..who wants to read about carrots….but really, just check it out….you’ll be surprised at how very interesting the website is.

Course….can’t have Blog post about carrots with at least one carrot goody!

 

These are “The Best Ever Carrot Cake Cupcakes” from the smithfield.com site and Paula Deen. Just click on the photo to go site for the recipe and instructions.

And if you need glass ornaments in the form of carrots….check out these mouth blown, hand painted carrots..

This Carrot ornament is from Inge-Glas of Germany, hand made in Germany and even has a little tuft of green leaf at the top.

This ornament is from Merck Family’s Old World Christmas and is a whole bunch of carrots! The hang tag on this ornament reads: The glass Carrots ornament is truly a decoration that can bring a tear to an old woman’s eye. Long ago carrot ornaments were very popular as traditional gifts for brides. They were believed to bring the bride good luck in the kitchen.

Now, if you need a Carrot decoration for your home around Easter time….check out this lovely creation))) This is one carrot your kids will love! Can you say “Easter Bunny Please Stop Here!”

This jumbo carrot was created by Brandy at RedWithEnvyDesigns. This cute carrot decoration is HUGE as you can tell by the way it covers over half the door! Brandy also makes on a bit smaller than this too and sells them at her Etsy store RedWithEnvyDesigns.

This whimsical Easter decoration would be perfect for inside or out. Course Deco Poly Mesh® is water resistant and holds up well on exterior doors, lamp posts, mail boxes etc.

Brandy’s whimsical carrot is made using orange Deco Poly Mesh® on a frame made from wire. The leafy top is two different styles of green mesh that really give a nice texture and unique look.

Be sure to check out RedWithEnvyDesigns and browse through Brandy’s creations…. cute Easter wreaths, Valentines, St. Patrick’s Day, Mardi Gras, Collegiate and more……

Drop in on Brandy’s Facebook page, also Red with Envy Designs and let her know that Trendy Tree sent you! We’ll be featuring more of Brandy’s creations soon so be sure to book mark us.

RAZ Imports has this special carrot this season. It’s very large at 13.5″ and made of tiny paper hydrangeas topped off with a green top…..perfect addition to your Easter decorations.

 Stay tuned for more Easter decorations!

February 2012 Coupon!

February 3rd, 2012

Just a reminder! We have a discount coupon of 10% off orders of $50 or more during the month of February, 2012 (sale items excluded). Check out our February Newsletter page for more details.

New 5 mm Glitter Glamour Rope

February 2nd, 2012

Hot Pink Glitter Glamour Rope 5 mm

Glitter Glamour Rope is a new product from Craig Bachman that just arrived to Trendy Tree this week. We’ve had Glamour Rope for a while and just recently LOWERED our price on them! We’re doing our best to buy in as large a quantity as we can which results in savings for us and we’re passing them right along to you.

The Glitter Glamour Rope is available in beautiful fresh colors perfect for your Spring and Summer creations. Glitter Glamour Rope is a smoother, glittery,  texture than the typical Laser Glamour Rope which is crusty with sequins or large glitter pieces. Glitter Glamour Rope is 5 mm or 8 mm in diameter. The 5 mm is round shaped and the 8 mm is triangular shaped.

Glitter Glamour Rope contains a wire, so it can be shaped, curled, or twisted into any form and will retain it’s shape. You need wire cutters to cut it. It comes in a 25 ft length. Colors include: Orange, Hot Pink, Lime Green, Yellow, White, Lavender, Blue, Pink, and Red.

Glitter Glamour Rope and the regular Glamour Rope are great products to use in wreaths, floral arrangements and all sorts of decor. You can cut pieces and spell out words…..make shapes….just coil it or wind it through wreaths. One easy way of shaping it is to wind a piece around a broom handle and slide off……instant curly-q!

Deco Poly Mesh® on a Twig Wreath

January 31st, 2012

This gorgeous chocolate copper wreath was created by Polly Brown of Pace, Florida. Polly used a grapevine wreath, wide foil mesh and a wire edge animal print ribbon. The accent initial was hand painted by Polly also.

The mesh is a nice contrast to the grapevine and I really like the way she just used the mesh on one side of the wreath. Mesh was secured in loops with chenille stems and a bit of Deco Flex Tubing was added in for another dimension of texture.

The mesh is a nice example of the wide foils from Craig Bachman Imports. The wide foils are just that….practically solid foil color. Typically the more foil in the mesh the higher the cost. Using the mesh on just one side of the wreath like Polly did would really make an expensive roll of mesh stretch farther and do more projects which is always a plus.

Thanks to Polly for sharing this wreath with us….excellent job! You can see more of Polly’s handiwork at her Etsy shop PollysPinkTurtle. Drop in and browse around….be sure to tell her that Trendy Tree sent you! And, if you’re in the Pensacola area…..stop by and visit her booth at Alyssa’s Antique Depot…plan on spending some time))))

Luminara Candles

January 31st, 2012

Luminara is a candle for everywhere. An attractive, realistic flame effect candle which can be placed anywhere, without the worry or risk associated with real candles.

 

 

Features:

Flickering fireless flame – different from any flameless candle on the market

Pillars are made of real, lightly scented wax

Timer funsion: 5 hours on/19 hours off

Runs on 2 D alkaline batteries

Battery life averages 240 hours

Luminara fireless candles are superior to LED flameless candles which do not show flame, but instead have a random glowing light pattern hidden inside a wax or plastic shell.

Safe for pets; safe for children’s bedrooms – great as a night light.

Timer function means never worrying if you blew out the candles before leaving the house or going to bed – set it and forget it!

Great for home decor ideas; use insidse of fireplaces, as a table centerpiece, line a stairwell, inside a lantern, etc. (info via Bethlehem Lights)

View the video! (click on the link and open with Windows Media Player)

 

Luminara Clip

These candles will be arriving to Trendy Tree in just a few weeks! Quantities will be limited.

Pineapple Upside Down Cake

January 29th, 2012

Sunday lunch today just seemed to call for Pineapple Upside Down Cake. Haven’t made one of these in a long time and they always remind me of my mother and grandmother. Pineapple Upside Down Cake was a frequent dessert for us….maybe because it was so simple and ingredients could always be found in the pantry. So, today I made it for lunch.

Ingredients are simple:

Cake mix (white or yellow, makes no difference)

Sliced Pineapple (large can)

1 Cup Brown Sugar

1/2 Stick Butter or Margarine

Maraschino Cherries

Diet Coke…..oh wait……that was mine…not part of the ingredients))

Pineapple Upside Down Cake can probably be made in any sort of pan, but being a country girl……it has to be made in a black skillet. This particular black skillet is one I got as a wedding gift over 40 years ago. You cannot break, destroy, or ruin a black skillet…..you might lose it or you might have to “season” it at some point…..but once you have one, you have it forever. Many skillets last longer than husbands! It’s true….but both of mine are still around)))

There is a sweet elderly lady in my community and many, many years ago any time a young girl got married…..Mrs. Sallie B would always give them an iron skillet. No one else would buy you one, because they knew that Mrs. Sallie B was going to give you one)))) I need to remember this the next time I see her and mention that I’m still using my skillet))) She’s well into her 80′s by now…..and probably still giving young ladies black iron skillets)))

Now my mother and grandmother most of the time probably did not use a cake mix, but lets face it….it’s so EASY. So mix up the cake mix according to the directions on the box…..doesn’t matter if it’s white or yellow. Mix the batter up and set aside.

Melt the butter or margarine …..I used margarine for this cake since it’s what I had in the frig. You can start with 1/2 stick…..and my Cardiology friends…just look away at this point…..use 3/4 to a whole stick if you like…..we’re from the South remember.

Position the pineapple slices in the skillet on top of the melted butter/margarine and put the cherries in the centers. Isn’t this pretty!

Sprinkle about a cup of brown sugar over the pineapple, be sure to get it nice and thick around the edges and between the pineapple.

Pour about 1/2 to 3/4 of the cake batter on top of the pineapple. You can take the remaining batter and make cupcakes or something out of it. I put the rest of this batter in mini muffin tins with a few chocolate chips…..grand kids will love them and think you’ve really done something special just for them today)))

The cake mix box calls for an oven temp of about 350 degrees for around 30 minutes. I adjusted this down a bit and baked around 325 degrees. With all the brown sugar in the bottom of the skillet it seems like it just cooks quicker….so slow it down a bit.

Once it has baked, set it out to cool a bit…..and hope for the best! You wouldn’t think a cake would stick with all that butter, but it can….or you can let it cool too long and the sugar causes it to stick in the pan. So just let it cool for 5 minutes or so and turn it out onto a plate or platter.

And there you have it! Homemade Pineapple Upside Down Cake……okay, okay…..partly homemade……making it will a mix still counts!

And you might wonder……reckon why she’s only showing one slice……..you guessed it.  Had my plate…..had my pot holders….#&@*(# plate slipped when I was turning it out of the skillet and I only caught half of it on the plate! And this was one cake that came out of the skillet with ease….go figure……if I hadn’t been planning to Blog about it, it would have been a perfect landing!

And Matt loved the chocolate chip cupcakes…..told ya)))

 

 

April is Autism Awareness Month

January 29th, 2012

In order to highlight the growing need for concern and awareness about autism, the Autism Society has been celebrating National Autism Awareness Month since the 1970s. The United States recognizes April as a special opportunity for everyone to educate the public about autism and issues within the autism community. (from autism-society.org)

The Autism Awareness Puzzle Ribbon is a recognized symbol of autism. According to the Autism Society, one child in every 110 is affected

Autism-Society Org

with autism in America.

 

In honor of her son, Samuel who was diagnosed with autism at the age of two,  Martha Kerns Cochran made this beautiful wreath for her mother.

At first look…..you admire this beautifully colored wreath with it’s primary colors, it’s fullness…..and the crafting expertise that it must have required to create such a thing……then you look a little closer and notice the puzzle pieces on the fabric.

The puzzle piece was chosen in 1963 by the National Autistic Society as a logo because it helped to explain that autistic children are handicapped by a puzzling condition that isolates them from normal human contact and therefore they do not ‘fit in’.” (National Autistic Society). And as with any organizational logo or mission statement, there is controversy over the symbol.

But for today, we’re giving a shout out to Martha and her son Samuel who live with autism every day, every night, 24 hours a day. I don’t know Martha personally, but we are friends on Facebook and I read her posts that are everything from sharing the incredible difficulty raising a child with autism can be from the sleepless nights to the situations Sam can get into……to the awe inspiring achievements, sweet moments and overall unconditional love that a mother has for her child.

Martha shared the Temple Grandin Facebook Page with me that has become a resourceful community for families affected by Autism. So many posts there of encouragement, inspiration and people reaching out for help and being helped by others who understand the daily challenges faced by families.

So please drop by Martha’s Facebook page and say hello and admire some of  her handiwork. She is very creative and talented. She makes custom wreaths…..just give her an idea of what you’re looking for and she’ll be glad to work with you.

Post note: When I started making this blog post, it was about the wreath. It’s not about the wreath, it’s about Autism. Thank you Martha for enlightening me today.