Read about our little cover girl...

Click on the "Emaline's Update" tab!




...then click on the Emaline Headband tab to see more headbands!

Babycakes...

This is my newest "tool" or "accessory" for the kitchen.

Shortly after I started my job, I decided it would be nice to make birthday treats for those in the office.

 

...13 years later....

I'm still making treats for twice (at least)

the amount of office people.

 

I thought this babycake maker would add fun & a nice variety.

The night before I needed treats, I thought it would be a good idea to try it out first so I made these using a regular cornbread recipe.  They turned out great...in just 4 minutes!

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These are the babycakes I made for Ed's birthday

using the chocolate cake recipe

that came with the babycake maker.

I need more practice on getting the frosting the right consistency

but they turned out good anyway.        

Here's a close up showing how I used

using coffee beans & glass marbles

as an anchor.



I love instrumental music...

We purchased Greg Howlett's CD "Seasonal Spice" for ourselves & for a gift! 

Beautiful instrumental piano...with a little sax, cello & violin. 

I'm sure I can listen to this CD long after the "Christmas season" is over.

You can check out his website here:

www.greghowlett.com

Craig's update December 2011...

My nephew Craig had to miss a few treatments because of the counts but he is looking good & strong  &  has been attending college this semester!

Here's an update...

From the Canape family...

"Hello Everyone! Craig has his last scheduled treatment today. (December 5th)  His counts were awesome and they proceeded with the chemo.  He has a scan scheduled for December 19th.  We are expecting amazing results.  He will have the port removed shortly after that as it will no longer be needed.  Thank you for all your continuing support! "

Thank you to all who have been praying for Craig and the family!!  <3

for my friend...

In the middle of my piles of headband makin' goodies,

I managed to make this card for my good friend!

It always feels so good to stamp...especially for a friend! 

Montana Leis...

...if you can't wear a Hawaiian Lei...wear a Montana Lei!

I was asked to sell my scarves at Jen's Gallery again this year!

The opening for the winter show was tonight...one scarf sold and another one ordered in a preferred color!  Good start & I sure hope it continues!

I like the title she gave me..."Textile Artist"...

Here I thought I was just a knitter.  Ü

It does have  more class than "Knitter" & better fitting for a gallery.

* * *

This is one of her window displays near her gallery.

Each one is tied with a ribbon, tagged with my logo

& a "to/from" card ready for gift giving.

Christmas card swap...

I couldn't believe it this week. 
Our mall has the Christmas garland up!  I think this is the earliest yet.

Too early...

             ...unless we have things to make for Christmas,
then now is a good time to start.

Here's what I made for a Christmas card swap.  I like the color combination...different from the usual red & green.  With knitting, other card making & making headbands every spare moment, I needed a rather quick card.

After thinking all day about different layouts,

this is what I made...even though it wasn't in my thoughts during the day.



A variation on step card

I love the dimension of step cards...fun to make!

Getting ready for a "Gathering"...

A friend of ours has been wanting to have a "Gathering" in her home to show & sell my "Ema*Line" headbands.   I'm almost ready!  Since keeping one blog current requires so much time & rather than starting a new blog or site for the headbands,  I learned..by lots of trial & error, how to make pages at the top of the blog to see just the headbands.  (Although I do love when you take a look at all my posts!)  So, hopefully, when you click on 'the Ema*Line tab', you'll be able to see what I have there.

The proceeds from selling the headbands will help pay for Ema's therapy & other medical expenses....I have really big dreams here!  : )

I'm almost finished with my brochure for them, too....again, lots of trial & errors but I'm so excited about it.

***   ***   ***

This is the headband my friend ordered from me...



Now....no more computer time!

Time to make headbands!!!

Stair step cards...

These cards take me quite a bit longer to make...mostly in deciding the combination of stamps I want to use.  I think the time is well spent!

Made for our (coffee lovin') daughter....

This beautiful paper (Stampin' Up!) is called MOCHA MORNING SPECIALTY...

with flocking on the black part of the design.

I added wire for the 'steam', pearls, and metal heart beads.

...thanks a latte!

I've been wanting to send several thank you cards to people

who have been extra thoughtful.

This is a card I gave to one person...who said she felt like she should send me a thank you card for the thank you card.

She also said the card was a gift.

When they are that touched & happy...so am I!

That's the reason I love spending the time

to specially design my cards.

 

The flowers were stamped separately, cut out and attached with Stampin' Dimensionals.

~ ~ ~ * ~ ~ ~

We have a generous family at church who shares the bounty from their garden.

This is for them...

The pumpkin is made from the small oval punch & the leaves

from the Bird Builder punch.

Lovin' the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punch!

I still have another person to make a thank you card for.

stay tuned...

I love card orders....

I have a friend that orders cards from me every now & then.

She requested 4 sets of five cards.

Besides using cards I had on hand,

I made new cards specifically for her.

These are the new cards I made...

~~~     ~~~     ~~~

Her only specific request was to make one set of cards with bees...

I didn't want to just give my friend four stacks of five cards

so I made little

gift bags for each set along with a gift tag,

ready for her to give away as gifts.

She was as thrilled with them as I'd hoped!!!

S'more please!

I was gathering items to take camping...
thinking of roasting marshmallows
and came up with this term...


S'MORE-GASBORD


Too hot to stand over a fire or no fire available for s'mores? 

Make a S'moregasbord using Marshmallow Fluff
(Cost Plus World Market),

or marshmallow cream on Graham crackers.

Add a 'buffet' of toppings! Toffee bits, caramel bits,

chocolate, butterscotch, peanut butter chips, etc.,
shredded coconut, nuts....

I made one last time we went camping
(using real roasted marshmallows)
and the Fluff for our family gathering on the 4th.

My favorite...
Fluff, Coconut & dark chocolate chips!

Craig's update

Craig has had his 3rd treatment

& has been feeling pretty good!!!

Pitt's Pizza in Laurel sponsored a team for Craig in the Relay for Life.

I'm not even sure how many were on the team

but there were many.

This was our first experience with Relay for Life &

it was very encouraging to see how many people participate.

Last year, Billings had the 9th largest event world wide!

Here's the front & back of our shirts...

 

 

Luminarias could be purchased to honor or in memory of a loved one or friend.

Both sides of the track were lined with them.

 

On the bleachers, they used luminarias to first spell out
HOPE then CURE.

It was even more special to walk in the dark with the

luminarias lighting the track.

Amy, Jenny & I walked for 8 hours...mostly non stop!

The time went by quickly so it didn't seem that long at all.

If we would have been more familiar with the event,

we would have planned to stay all night & watch the sun rise!

There were special features they do throughout

the night to help pass the time.

"Up" was shown on a big screen.

Next time!

We were able to honor Rick's Mom who passed away from cancer.

~~~~~   ~~~~~   ~~~~~

This is the first lap...the Survivor lap!
Craig is the tall one in the black hat &
beside him in the red hat is his
Grandpa Canape...a cancer survivor!






~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~

Craig really wanted to see his cousin, Amy!

She flew in on the 4th of July & surprised Craig
& the rest of the family! 
Amy knew that Craig had been craving root beer since his surgery.
She walked in carrying some & went to Craig...
"Hear you've been wanting root beer!"

It was very, very good for all of us to have her home for a week.

Craig really doesn't care much for having his picture taken,

(I don't know why...as good looking as he is!)

but agreed to this & what a great picture it is!

So thankful he was feeling good!

***     ***     ***

Laurel celebrates the 4th of July in style!

Approximately thirty thousand people come

to our town to watch our fireworks
presented by the Laurel Volunteer Firemen.

They do a superior job!

Dynamic Design, a store in Laurel,
decided to sell 1,000 helium balloons

that would be released at the park before the fireworks.

These balloons were in honor of & to benefit Craig.

All the balloons were sold...many people

gave much more than the $1.00 they were selling for.

One man from out of town,

went to the booth saying his name was Craig, too,

& wondered what was going on. 

He also has had cancer & was glad to donate.

Seeing the balloons being released all at the same time
was SO emotional!!

...I can hardly write about it!

It just sinks in again that it is real.

The Canape family is so blessed with many

friends & a town that has really shown support!

We're so blessed to see God provide for them in many ways.

Thank you for keeping Craig in your prayers!

Success Story...Emaline Musson...

Our precious granddaughter was featured in the booklet printed for a Gala Benefit for the Good Shepherd Hospital in PA. where Emaline

spent two months.

The hospital wants to do a follow up story on her, too!

Since leaving the hospital, Ema continues weekly therapy.

While Emaline's Daddy is at work, her Mommy spends a huge amount of time doing therapy at home.

There are different things she does to stimulate

the muscles in Ema's right arm & exercises to

encourage her to use her right hand.

Her right hand is mostly in a tight little fist

especially when she is concentrating on

holding onto objects with her left hand.

A cast (beautifully decorated by her Mommy)

was put on her strong (left) arm to

encourage Ema to use her right arm.

From under the cast,

she was able to sneak movement with

her little fingers so next time, the cast will go further on her hand. 

The plan is to have a cast on three more times this year.

Emaline is a very happy baby now that the spasms have remained under control.

She readily smiles all the time...until she is tired...then she wants to be done with everything, get comfy & sleep!

(Hmmm...sounds like some other people I know!)

We just cannot get enough of seeing her smiles &

hearing any little sounds she makes.

It is such a JOY to see her Mommy (our daughter-in-love) & Daddy (our son) so very lovingly, gently & continually taking care of this precious little one!

Ema went to Castle Rock Baptist Camp this past week.

She loved being around all the campers who mutually loved her!

Her first little tooth peeked through at camp!

The following are a few pictures I adore!

See the change in our little Bundle of JOY!?! 

 ~~~     ~~~     ~~~

This little poochy lip picture was taken at her

Aunt Maria's wedding in April. 

I imagine she was getting pretty tired by the time this was taken.

I love it!

~~~ ~~~ ~~~

Ema in her tutu. 

I always notice her right hand. 

She is grabbing her left hand as if posing in her tutu! 

Any time her right hand does that, it is exciting!

 

happy, happy, happy...

The latest in sunglasses!!

 

Daddy told Emaline to give Gramma kisses...

Such a sweetheart!

Recently before falling asleep, I saw Ema holding a little, soft stuffed frog.

She would look at it in the eyes, speak softly to it & put the face to her mouth.

I KNOW she was saying, "I love you!  You're so pretty."

& was giving it kisses

since that's what she hears all the time!

All of a sudden, she's losing her "baby" look!

Just a couple more weeks and she'll be 1 year!!

It is very hard narrowing down the pictures to post.

They are all absolutely lovable & everyone melts my heart again & again!

Look at previous posts to see how much Emaline has changed. 

(Especially from those taken in January!)

Thank you for continued prayers!!

Praise God for so many answered prayers already!