Nana Brown's

Banana Waffles

2012-02-15T16:08:00.000-07:00

We do a big breakfast one day almost every weekend at our house. We always change it up. One weekend might be french toast, pancakes, or one of our favourites WAFFLES!! I usually make a double batch and save some in the freezer for quick & easy weekday breakfasts or bedtime snacks.

I make them from scratch using the recipe from the Purity Cookbook . My mom bought it for me for Christmas one year. We love it - It has all kinds of easy to follow recipes. There are no pictures in it but we have not had any trouble with any of the ones that we have tried out.

We always have lots of bananas in our house so we frequently use them up when we make waffles or pancakes. You can put in your favorite extras; berries, raisins, dried fruit, chocolate chips, whatever you like!

Follow their recipe along here Banana Waffles.

Project of the Month - February 2012

2012-02-07T19:54:00.000-07:00

This is a quick and easy project of the month for February.

We went to visit my husbands family over the holidays and I was inspired by a project that my sister-in-law had completed during the summer.

She bought the pattern in a quilt shop in Saskatchewan and made both the 24” and the 18” gum drop pillows. She showed me the 18” pillow that she made in a 2 decor weight fabrics in pinks & greens, a floral print & a plaid stripe print. The pillow was gorgeous and seemed very durable as well. The kids had a lot of fun jumping on it and playing with it. The 18” pillow is the perfect size for a chair for kids or a footstool for adults.

I promised that I would make one for my daughter as soon as we got home. It was a very fast project - about 60 minutes from start to finish. The pattern was very clear and easy to follow. It was a great project - very fun and easy to do. I can see me making more of these as gifts for friends and family.

I used a paisley corduroy fabric that my daughter picked out. We made it a family project and my daughter help me put the stuffing in it. We used a whole bag of stuffing that we bought from Wal-Mart.

The info on the pattern is on Amy Butler’s website and it is available to purchase on Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Amy-Butler-Pillows-Ottoman-Cushion/dp/B001762PUY

You can also buy it at independent quilt & Etsy shops. Check Amy Butler’s site for Where to Buy information.

Fleece Rag Quilt

2012-02-02T21:28:00.000-07:00

This Fleece Rag Quilt is quick and easy make yourself. It makes a great quilt to snuggle up in on a cold night or a fabulous gift for someone.

I had some fleece leftover from another project and needed a baby gift for a friend of mine. After some brainstorming and a little experimentation I made this super cute Fleece Rag Quilt. The fleece that I used was on sale when I bought it for my other project so it was a very frugal gift as well.

Click on the link to see the tutorial in Google Docs Fleece Rag Quilt.

I am also going to be expanding this blog beyond recipes, projects and tutorials. I am often asked to share my tips & tricks for all kinds of things from saving money to saving time and I am going to share them with you too.

Snickerdoodles

2012-01-15T20:23:00.000-07:00

I LOVE Snickerdoodles!!! I loved them before I even knew what they were called.

I tried them for the first time ever on a trip to Leetsdale, PA many years. The trip was a 2 week long business trip and I certainly did not know what I was going to do when I was not in training or working on the getting the information ready for an upcoming operating system conversion. Leetsdale is located by Pittsburgh, PA, I am from Alberta. I didn’t know the area and only knew a handful of the people that worked at the office there. I was a little worried going to an unfamiliar place for so long.

Turns out that I had nothing to worry about. The business part of the trip went really well and I got to spend sometime with some wonderful people there too.

Some of those people became friends that I will have my whole life. A woman who was to become one of those lifelong friends, took me on a tour through Amish Country and to see some wonderful shops. I had a great time seeing the countryside, doing some shopping and getting to know her better. We were thick as thieves by the end of the day. I got to have dinner with another good friend while I was there too. We shared some good food & laughs together. I even got to watch some football, the game in 1996 that put the Steelers in the Superbowl.

Lunch was catered into the office while we were all working and one day there was this delicious looking plate of cookies. I tried one and they were amazing. I had to ask what they were called and spent a lot of time during the following years trying out recipes looking for the right one.

I subscribe to the Robin Hood newsletter and one day the recipe appeared in my email inbox. I wasn’t sure if it was “The ONE” but I didn’t waste any time trying it out. This is a great recipe to make with kids. My daughter helped by rolling the dough balls in the sugar/ cinnamon mix and was very excited to lick her fingers when she was done!

It is “The ONE”. The recipe I have been searching for. The cookies are light & sugary, puffed up in the middle and oh so delicious!

The recipe for Snickerdoodles is here on the Robin Hood.ca website Snickerdoodles

Or you can follow along here:
* I used my KitchenAid mixer to do the hard work for me. I started with Step2 and creamed everything together first, then added the dry ingredients that I had mixed up in a different bowl.

Project of the Month - January 2012

2012-01-05T19:17:00.000-07:00

A new years brings all sorts of new projects to try.

I am looking forward to making some of the things that have been on my "To Do" list for awhile and to trying out some new projects.

The first project of the year is a sewing project for my daughter.

Something warm and fuzzy for cold winter nights.

Here is a picture of the 2 micro fleece fabrics that I got.

Check back at the end of the month to see the completed project!

Project of the Month - June 2011 - Finished

2011-12-20T09:22:00.002-07:00

Okay - this definitely took longer than 1 month to complete.

I did make the top in about 1 month - then I sent it to my Grandmother to be quilted by her quilting group.

I got it back about a month ago now and it looks fabulous! I love the bright colors and great patterns. It really makes my bedroom a bright happy place to be.

Take a look and see for yourself!

Thanks to the Rimbey International Historical Quilters for hand-quilting my quilt for me. I love it!

Cinnamon Sugar Pastries

2011-12-12T14:44:00.003-07:00

We had never made them before but the picture on Robin Hood’s website looked good so we decided to try!

They did take a little while to make but using the breadmaker made the stirring and waiting much easier. We enjoyed them warm from the oven and they were delicious. They were also good the next day.

The recipe we used for Baked Cinnamon Sugar Flats is here on the Robin Hood.ca website http://www.robinhood.ca/recipe-details.aspx?rid=4618

OR you can follow along here Cinnamon Sugar Pastries.

Placemat Cosmetic Bag

2011-11-18T20:37:00.004-07:00

I love it when I find something great and get that bolt of inspiration that fuels me and keeps me creating.

I was wandering around a shop in town and saw these fabulous placemats. It was love at first sight, but we don’t use placemats on our kitchen table. Instead, I had a vision of something fabulous and useful instead, a new cosmetic bag. My old one has been with me for more years than I can remember and is in a very sorry state. It needed replacement and I was inspired - what a great combination!

I bought several placemats made with all kinds of different fabrics and interfacing. I found the easiest ones to work with had lighter interfacing in them, otherwise it makes it too hard to get the zipper in.

Here is an easy tutorial to make your own cosmetic bag from a placemat.
Placemat Cosmetic Bag Tutorial

Leave a comment & let me know how yours turns out.

If you love the way they look but do not want to make your own they can be purchased in my Etsy shop too.

Project of the Month - June 2011 Update

2011-09-23T22:05:00.001-06:00

In June, I posted my project of the month which was a Queen Size Quilt Top for my bed.

I love the bright colors and fun patterns in the fabrics.

I did finish the quilt top in the month of June and then took it to the Rimbey International Quilters to be hand-quilted. They don't quilt as a group in the summer so the top didn't get on the frame to get quilted on until September 19th.

Here is a picture of the quilt, laid out on my Grandma's floor as she was marking it for the hand quilting. There are no windows in the room she was working in so it looks a little dark. When I get the quilt back and it's finished I will take some brighter pictures to show off.

Spicy Apple Bars

2011-08-14T15:29:00.002-06:00

We have sort of a tradition in our house for trying new recipes. Every couple weeks we like to try something new. Sometimes it is a new main dish recipe, sometimes a side dish, sometimes dessert. There is no real rhyme or reason to choosing which type of new recipe to try. We just pull a bunch out and pick one. Over the years we have added lots of new favorite recipes to our rotation, we have also had some epic failures.

It was my daughter’s turn to pick the recipe this week and fortunately these spicy apple bars she picked fall into the first category, new favorite!

They are moist and delicious warm from the oven and just as tasty a few days later. We found them to be more like cake than a traditional bar - but whatever we call them, they were delicious.

The recipe is from a February 1979 issue of Canadian Living. I tried to put a link to the recipe on their website but I could not find it there. I guess 1979 is a little before anything was routinely put online for everyone to access. No matter - here is the recipe for you to try. I hope that it becomes a new favorite for you as well.

Just click on the link or the title to get to the recipe and try it for yourself!

Spicy Apple Bars

Project of the Month - August 2011

2011-08-04T16:47:00.001-06:00

I have a project for myself this month and plan to use up some fabric from my stash.

It's a gorgeous, navy and white bordered fabric. I am excited to see how the project turns out.

Check back later for some photos of the finished piece!

Christmas in July Sale!

2011-07-14T20:07:00.000-06:00

Nana Brown's is having a Christmas in July Sale along with many of the other members of EtsyKids.

Check out the EtsyKids website for a great shopping guide and start your Christmas shopping early this year!

There is also a list of shops having Christmas in July sales on The Handmade Gift Guide

In our shop use the coupon code FIFTEEN at checkout for 15% off your order.

Grilled Pizza

2011-06-12T21:52:00.005-06:00

MMMM Pizza!!!

We love it at our house. We are really good at making pizzas in the oven but there was always something I wanted to try.

The idea of making pizza outside on the barbecue intrigued me and I figured with a quick search on the internet I could find out how to do it. Turns out there are LOTS of posts on making grilled pizzas. All of them are different and have different tips and tricks on how to make it work out just right. We tried a few times and finally found a combination that worked for us.

This recipe is a combination of the ones we tried. It is really quick and easy. It uses frozen bread dough (which we keep in our freezer now) and you can use up leftover lunch meats and toppings that you have in your fridge or pantry.

It works for lunch or supper and is a great recipe to use for parties or just a night at home with the family. If there are more people at our place for supper we let everyone make their own personal pizzas. If it is just our family then we make personal pizzas for the little ones and a big one for the grownups to share.

Pepperoni pizza is a favourite in our house so that is what we usually make. Feel free to add your own favourite toppings when you try this on your own.

Click the link to the recipe here Grilled Pizza Recipe

Project of the Month - June 2011 - Queen Size Quilt

2011-06-01T14:49:00.001-06:00

The recent sunny days make me think that Spring really may be officially here! The snow has finally melted, revealing the grass, flowerbeds and garden underneath. There are lots of puddles to splash in and we have even made a few trips to the park, in our rubber boots, in the last week.

Here is a sneak peek at my project for the month. I am making a queen size quilt for my bed. Once I finish the quilt top I will be sending it out to the Rimbey International Quilters to be hand quilted by the lovely ladies there.

I have had the floral panel fabric for several years now and I was able to find some more of the floral panels and matching fabrics online. The fabrics are all designed by Holly Holderman of Lakehouse Fabrics.

I love the bright colors and am so excited to get the quilt all put together so I can use it!

I will post some pictures of the finished quilt once I get it back from the ladies in Rimbey.

The Place to go for great tips & inspiration

2011-05-30T23:09:00.000-06:00

The internet is a treasure trove of hints, tips, tutorials and endless inspiration.

Have an idea for something in your head but not sure how to translate it into reality?

Google it and see what results you get back. You may find nothing but often you will find inspiration and if you get really lucky you will find some instructions on how other people have done things themselves.

One of my favorite websites for inspiration and great How-to's is Fave Crafts

I subscribe to the newsletter and love all the great projects that find their way to my inbox every week. The newsletter connects the reader with Fave Crafts and also with a network of other talented crafty bloggers.

The site is full of great patterns, tutorials and inspiration for crafters of all kinds. I found a few crochet patterns for dolls to make for my daughter and her cousin (I can't crochet but my Grandmother is great and is making them for the girls).

The sewing patterns are great! I have been inspired by many of the baby and children projects as well.

There are lots of simple crafts that kids can do and many eco-friendly projects to choose from too! I have a tutorial post coming soon that was inspired by some of the ways to re-use old glass canning jars that I received in a newsletter.

Stop by, stay and browse - You'll love it!

In memory of a dear friend

2011-05-18T13:54:00.002-06:00

I have been working on keeping this blog more updated and useful for readers. Some of my favourite blogs have a little bit of everything and I guess that mine does as well.

I am making a bit of a departure today from tutorials and recipes to write about something close to my heart.

This month I am making an extra post in honour of one of my dearest friends. She passed away four years ago and I am thinking about her and her family today.

Today I am missing my friend. We met as roommates in Residence at SAIT many years ago. I didn’t know at the time that a random assignment made by the Residence directors would bring one of my very best friends into my life.

The first time we met I was struck by her vibrancy. Brandi seemed to radiate with energy, exuberance and life. She lived every experience fully, every day and was willing to take a chance if she needed to. She could make a person feel like a million bucks with just a few words and almost never missed the opportunity to do it. She would flash her brilliant smile and it was infectious, you could not help but smile back.

I think we were both a little nervous, each meeting the stranger we would live with for the next 8 months of our lives. We had a few tests of our combined patience in the first couple weeks; faulty plumbing on day 2 resulted in a flood of our apartment & several below us, a broken refrigerator and a few other adventures that make me laugh when I think back on them. We laughed about them then and we became good friends. We kept a carton of Oreo ice cream in the freezer in case of emergency – If either of us had a bad day or needed a pick me up we knew we could pull it out, grab a couple spoons and sit down to eat ice cream and have a chat. Ice cream and good company always seemed to make things a little better. To this day I cannot eat Oreo ice cream without thinking of Brandi.

I will be forever grateful that I got to spend those 8 months as her roommate and the years after that as her friend. She taught me how to embrace everything that life gives us and to take a chance and try something new. She challenged me to step outside my comfort zone; however I am glad that she liked my more timid self too!

After she graduated from SAIT, I was in awe when she said she was moving to Hay River, NWT to work at the radio station. I thought she was so very brave going off to follow her dreams that way. At the time, I was working at a job I did not particularly like and was dreaming of taking a chance and trying something new myself. I was very excited for her and wished that I could be as brave.

I visited Brandi in October that year – I shopped for weeks for things that she asked me to bring with me and I brought all the trimmings (complete with instructions on how to cook everything from my Mom) for Thanksgiving dinner. We had a great time! The dinner turned out great and I was so glad to get to spend time with my good friend. We talked for hours, checked out the town, she introduced me to her friends and we even checked out the nightlife and made a few new friends of our own.

I loved to see her whenever our paths would cross. It was not always as often as we would have liked, but we tried to stay in touch with phone calls and letters in between. It often seemed like no time had passed in between visits, even if it had been a few months or longer. She stood up with me at my wedding, I was grateful to have her and my friend Julie by my side that day. We made a beautiful trio that day, my girls and I.

I was in Saskatoon the weekend she passed away. I had the feeling that something was terribly wrong all weekend. I could not place exactly what it was but I could not shake the feeling. When her Mom tracked me down a few weeks later and told me I was shocked, but I knew immediately what had been wrong that weekend. That was the weekend I lost one of my best friends.

I am not the only one who misses her and thinks of her often. Her passing affected everyone she had known in her life, her family, friends and community.

Her mother set up the Brandi Costar Memorial Endowment Award at SAIT as a legacy to her daughter. The story is here http://sait.ca/alumni/givingtosait/makedonation/impactstories/index.shtml under “Labour of Love”.

Tonight I will hold my daughter a little closer, a little longer and let her know how much I love her. I will embrace every moment today and every day and take a chance sometimes just to see what happens. I will remember my friend and all the fun we had together.

Brandi, I wish that I had the chance to say goodbye and tell you how much you and your friendship meant to me. Actually, I sincerely wish that I had not had to say goodbye at all, until we were old ladies but unfortunately that was not to be. Thank you for all the late night chats, all the fun that we had and everything that you taught me. Thank you for being my friend. I will never forget you.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

2011-05-15T09:12:00.000-06:00

Mmmmmm Cookies! We love cookies at our house – I can’t for sure say if we have a single favourite type of cookie but we do make these chocolate chips cookies quite often.

My daughter and I love to make these together. They are quick and easy to make. We use our KitchenAid mixer to do all the heavy mixing for us. We just pour in the ingredients and turn it on.

We got the recipe from the September 2009 issue of Chatelaine. My daughter insists that she gets the first taste of the cookies, still warm from the oven, with a cold glass of milk.

Here they are cooling on the rack. The empty spots are from the cookies that we just could not wait to try.

Here is the recipe from Chatelaine’s Website

Ingredients

21/4 cups (550 mL) all-purpose flour
1 tsp (5 mL) baking soda
1/2 tsp (2 mL) salt
1 cup (250 mL) unsalted butter or magerine, at room temperature
11/4 cups (300 mL) lightly packed brown sugar
1 egg
11/2 tsp (7 mL) vanilla
2 cups (500 mL) dark chocolate chips or coarsely chopped dark chocolate chunks (** We use mini chocolate chips)

** We made a double batch of cookies this day to send some home with a friend **

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350F (180C). Lightly spray a baking sheet with oil. In a medium bowl, use a fork to stir flour with baking soda and salt. In a large bowl, using a wooden spoon or an electric mixer, beat butter with sugar until creamy, about 1 min. Beat in egg and vanilla. Gradually stir flour mixture into butter mixture, until just combined. Mix in chocolate chips.
Scoop about 1 tbsp (15 mL) of dough and place on prepared sheet. Repeat with remaining dough, placing at least 2 in. (5 cm) apart. Don't press down; they will spread as they bake.
Bake in centre of oven until cookies are golden around the edges, from 8 to 10 min. Remove sheet to a heatproof surface and leave for 2 min. Then remove cookies to a rack to cool completely. Cool baking sheet or use another one and repeat with remaining dough.
If making ahead, form dough into a thick disc and wrap well. Refrigerate up to 2 weeks or freeze up to a month. Cookies will keep in a covered container at room temperature up to 2 days - but we doubt they'll last that long.

Nutrients per Cookie

1 g protein
5 g fat
12 g carbohydrates
1 g fibre
8 mg calcium
92 calories

Project of the Month - May 2011 Kimono Slippers

2011-05-01T08:09:00.003-06:00

This month I wanted to do a project that was just for me. I regularly make gifts for other people and items for my shop, but rarely take the time to make something nice for myself. I figured that it could be my turn to get a wonderful item handmade by me!

I was searching on Etsy for some inspiration and found a wonderful shop, Lena’s Patterns. Lena has a great selection of patterns for babies, children, and adults as well as some home decor patterns.

I saw the pattern for the Kimono Shoes and wanted a pair of my very own. I also thought that they would make a lovely gift for some dear friends of mine so I bought it.

The pattern was delivered quickly and was very clear, easy to read and follow along. The pictures that accompanied the instructions were very great.

It is still cold here in Alberta so I used anti-pill fleece as the lining instead of cotton and I did not add interfacing because the fleece made the shoes stand up enough. I also used my serger instead of my sewing machine to finish off the edges.

I think it took me about 90 minutes to cut out and put together 3 pairs of adult shoes. I think I could have completed them faster on my own but my daughter wanted to help so we went a little slower. We had fun together and made some great shoes.

My pair was pink fleece on the inside and green cotton on the outside.

Once my shoes were done, my daughter took them and wore them all over the house. They were loads to big, because her feet are much smaller than mine. She declared that she loved them and wanted a pair of her very own, that were made just for her.

So, back to Lena’s shop I went and bought the children’s pattern for the Kimono shoes. Thank goodness she had one.

We picked out some fabrics and about 30 minutes later my daughter had her very own kimono shoes. She is so pleased with them!

Thank you for a fabulous pattern Lena and for letting me share my project with everyone!

Lena’s Patterns are available in her Etsy shop.

Etsy Alberta Team Spring Sale 2011

2011-04-28T16:55:00.001-06:00

The Etsy Alberta Team is having a Spring Sale - check out the shops on the list below for great deals from April 29 - May 5, 2011

*Please check all Shop Announcements for Specific Sale Details*

Accessories, Bags and Purses
www.etsy.com/shop/barefootclips 15% off (code SpringSale)
www.etsy.com/shop/frogprincessdesigns 10% off (code SPRING)
www.etsy.com/shop/j2studios 10% off (code SPRING)
www.etsy.com/shop/kabukikreations free shipping
www.etsy.com/shop/dearange 10% off excluding shipping (code teamsale)
www.etsy.com/shop/bumblebeeetuna 10% off
www.etsy.com/shop/everydaydiamonds 10% off (code albertateam2011)
www.etsy.com/shop/nanabrowns 15% off (code FIFTEEN)
www.etsy.com/shop/handmadetherapy 10% off (code albertateam10)

Art, Fine Art, Photography, Home Decor and Housewares
www.etsy.com/shop/jenndphotography 50% off (code SPRING2011)
www.etsy.com/shop/taibossigai 15% off all items (code SpringSale)
www.etsy.com/shop/bellissimadesigns 15% off excluding shipping
www.etsy.com/shop/sandistone 15% off
www.etsy.com/shop/ljangphotography BOGO prints
www.etsy.com/shop/niknaksglass 20% off entire order (code ALBERTA20)
www.etsy.com/shop/glasscircus 15% off (code Alberta)
www.etsy.com/shop/Sybillinart 15% off (excludes chains)
www.etsy.com/shop/j2studios 10% off (code SPRING)

Bath and Beauty
www.etsy.com/shop/Maplecreeksoap 10% off for the month of April (code Spring)
www.etsy.com/shop/KCSBathhouse 15% off (code ALBERTA15)
www.etsy.com/shop/Claracoco 15% off

Ceramics, Pottery , Glass, Crochet, Knitting, Needlecraft and Quilts
www.etsy.com/shop/thewickedpotter 15% off (code WICKEDSALE)
www.etsy.com/shop/sixbabygirls 20% off entire order (code teamsale)
www.etsy.com/shop/glasscircus 15% off (code Alberta)
www.etsy.com/shop/niknaksglass 20% off entire order (code ALBERTA20)
www.etsy.com/shop/kabukikreations Free Shipping
www.etsy.com/shop/ufer See shop announcement for details
www.etsy.com/shop/hdawnparratt 10% off excluding shipping (code abteam10)
www.etsy.com/shop/wickedpendants 10% off (code WICKED10)
www.etsy.com/shop/barefoottams 15% off (code SpringSale)
www.etsy.com/shop/knittymaxx 10% off (code ABSPRING)
www.etsy.com/shop/irishknitz 10% off entire order (code Spring10)
www.etsy.com/shop/hilaryshats 10% off (code alberta10)
www.etsy.com/shop/minibytes 10% off (code M1N1S)
www.etsy.com/shop/magpiequilts free Canadian shipping

Children and Toys
www.etsy.com/shop/barefoottams 15% off (code SpringSale)
www.etsy.com/shop/barefootclips 15% off (code SpringSale)
www.etsy.com/shop/handmadetherapy 10% off (code albertateam10)
www.etsy.com/shop/Maplecreeksoap 10% off for the month of April (code Spring)
www.etsy.com/shop/littlejumpingbeans 10% off (code maysale10)
www.etsy.com/shop/thebellefleur 15% off excluding shipping (code SPRING15)
www.etsy.com/shop/mamaswoodshop 15% off
www.etsy.com/shop/minibytes 10% off (code M1N1S)

Jewelry
www.etsy.com/shop/jewelsbyjasmin 10% off (code SPRING)
www.etsy.com/shop/bellissimadesigns 15% off excluding shipping
www.etsy.com/shop/dearange 10% off excluding shipping (code teamsale)
www.etsy.com/shop/rozzie 10% order excluding shipping (code ABSPRING10)
www.etsy.com/shop/tinged 10% off (code SPRINGFEVER)
www.etsy.com/shop/wickedpendants 10% off (code WICKED10)
www.etsy.com/shop/kabukikreations free shipping
www.etsy.com/shop/stonewillowjewellery 20% off (code SALE20)
www.etsy.com/shop/overtherainbowbridge 10% off (code SpringSale)
www.etsy.com/shop/heretodaybeadworks 20% off (code TeamAlberta2011)
www.etsy.com/shop/sixbabygirls 20% off entire order (code teamsale)
www.etsy.com/shop/niknaksglass 20% off entire order (code ALBERTA20)
www.etsy.com/shop/glasscircus 15% off (code Alberta)
www.etsy.com/shop/bumblebeeetuna 10% off
www.etsy.com/shop/junquete 15% off (code sale15off)
www.etsy.com/shop/3urbanmonkeys 15% off excluding shipping (code Spring15)

Paper Goods
www.etsy.com/shop/mygrandpaspen 20% off (code springsale20)
www.etsy.com/shop/hdawnparratt 10% off excluding shipping (code abteam10)
www.etsy.com/shop/craftedbylindy 10% off entire order excluding shipping (code SpringSale11)
www.etsy.com/shop/ljangphotography BOGO prints
www.etsy.com/shop/j2studios 10% off (code SPRING)
www.etsy.com/shop/stampedtreasures1 15% off excluding shipping (code Spring15)
www.etsy.com/shop/irishknitz 10% off entire order (code Spring10)
www.etsy.com/shop/kojozo 10% off (code ALBERTA10)

Supplies, Vintage and Wedding
www.etsy.com/shop/squirrelstock 10% off
www.etsy.com/shop/MyGrandpasPen 20% off (code springsale20)
www.etsy.com/shop/tooaquarius 20% off (code Spring1120)
www.etsy.com/shop/claychicks 20% off (code Spring1120)
www.etsy.com/shop/sixbabygirls 20% off entire order (code teamsale)
www.etsy.com/shop/cestlaviedigital Get 4 digital kits for the price of 2 (see announcement)
www.etsy.com/shop/j2studios 10% off (code SPRING)
www.etsy.com/shop/junquete 15% off (code sale15off)
www.etsy.com/shop/suzie2q 10% off (code ABSPRING10)

Blueberry Muffins

2011-04-15T13:45:00.002-06:00

My daughter and I LOVE blueberries!!!

It’s not blueberry season yet, in fact it is months away. However, we have lots of blueberries in the freezer from the summer so we decided to get them out and make some muffins today.

The recipe is from Flavors of Home by Patti Shenfield. My grandmother bought me this cookbook years ago and we have been working our way through it, trying the recipes out as we go.

Searching for the perfect recipe, we have tried MANY different recipes for blueberry muffins over the years. I think that this one may be the winner, hands down.

The recipe was easy to make and you can substitute other berries or chopped fruit for the blueberries. I think that the next time we make them we may add some chocolate chips to make them super, extra yummy!!!

The recipe makes 18 – 24 muffins which are lots to enjoy right away and extras to put in the freezer until later when you are looking for a quick, nutritious snack. These were light, moist and truly delicious!

Ingredients

2/3 cup butter or margarine

2/3 cup white sugar

2 eggs

1 ½ tsp vanilla

2 1/3 cups flour (you can use white or whole wheat)

2 Tbsp baking powder

½ tsp cinnamon

½ tsp salt

1 1/3 cups milk

1 ½ cups blueberries

Directions

1. Preheat over to 350F (180C)

2. In a large mixing bowl, cream butter & sugar.

3. Add eggs & vanilla and beat until light and fluffy.

4. In a small bowl, combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon & salt.

5. Add the flour mixture to the egg mixture alternately with the milk. After each addition, stir until everything is mixed.

6. DO NOT OVER MIX

7. Fold in blueberries.

8. Pour into 18 to 24 greased muffin cups.

9. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes (We put BOTH muffin pans in the oven at the same time and baked for 30 to 35 minutes)

ENJOY!!!

Decorative Bulletin Board

2011-04-01T20:23:00.004-06:00

We finally got rid of all the old, beat up, college dorm style furniture from our home office. I am so excited to have an actual grown up desk that looks really nice and works the way I need it to.

Our old desk was quite tall and took up a bunch of the wall space. I had pictures and favourite quotes taped on it in various places where I would see them when I looked up from working.

The new desk is all one level which left me with a big, blank open space right above the computer monitor. It was really not very inspiring and I missed looking at my pictures. I looked at it for a few weeks and decided something had to be done so I enlisted my daughter to help me make a custom bulletin board for the space.

I was honestly not sure how it would turn out because we had never tried anything like that before.

We made 2 different bulletin boards. One hangs in my office above my desk and the other one hangs in my bedroom beside my bed. Both are filled with pictures, quotes, aspirations, inspirations, artwork from my daughter and other things I love to look at.

The project turned out really well and was easy and inexpensive too. It was easy enough for my 3 year old daughter to do and fast enough to keep her attention from start to finish (not including the drying time).

Supplies

1 framed, unpainted cork bulletin board in your desired size

Black acrylic paint

Little dish or plate for paint

Foam brushes

Glitter Glue

Spray adhesive

Piece of fabric the same size as the cork part on one of the bulletin boards

Directions

1. Prep the bulletin board by taping around the frame to keep the paint off the cork.

2. Paint the frame of the bulletin board black on the front & sides. My daughter had a great time helping with this. Allow to dry.

3. For the glitter glue board pick your favourite colors and make a pattern with the glue on the black frame. Allow to dry.

4. Spray frame with clear acrylic sealer. Allow to dry.

5. Remove tape and hang up your new bulletin board.

6. For the fabric bulletin board, after the acrylic paint has dried, spray the frame with clear acrylic sealer and allow to dry. Remove the tape.

7. Cut your piece of fabric to the same size as the cork part of the bulletin board. Try to get it as close to the same size as possible.

8. Following the instructions on the can, spray the cork board with spray adhesive and leave the time recommended for it to get tacky. Try not to get it on the frame – it will make it sticky until it dries.

9. Starting on one side and going slowly, smooth the fabric, right side up, onto the cork board. It is like putting on wallpaper, go slow and try not to get any bubbles between the fabric & the cork. I used a ruler to do this so I could make sure I got it all stuck down with no bubbles. It did take me a few tries so if it doesn’t work quite right the first time, be patient and try again.

10. Once it is all pressed down the way you like it, allow it to dry according to the instructions on the can. We left ours to dry overnight to make sure that it was good and dry.

11. Hang it up and fill it with your favourite things.

Pasta Fagoli Soup - Quick & Easy Lunch on a Cold Day!

2011-03-12T11:13:00.002-07:00

Today is yet another cold day, in a string of very cold days. It snowed again last night and the wind is whistling, sharp and cold.

It’s not a good day to play outside in the snow, too cold to build snowmen or snow forts.

I am not complaining, really. I have lived in Canada most of my life and am used to winter. I like to look out the window and see the clean white landscape right after a snowfall. There is nothing like stepping outside on a crisp, cool day and taking a breath of cool, winter air.

Today the cold weather has inspired us to make some soup for lunch. We found a recipe online several years ago and have changed it over the years to make it our own.

It is a fabulous recipe to use if you are participating in a pantry challenge – you can use ingredients that you have on hand in your pantry. Change it up any number of ways to make it your own. You can use vegetable stock to make it vegetarian, add extra beans or some cooked meat if you prefer.

It is quick, tasty, nutritious and inexpensive. It is a hearty soup and this recipe makes about 6 servings. We always have leftovers for lunch the next day or to put in the freezer for later. Both my 4 year old and my husband like the soup, which makes it a winner in my house.

Ingredients

1 – 1.5 cups small uncooked pasta (we used rainbow shells & macaroni)

2 – 398mL cans Tomato Sauce (any brand will do – not spaghetti sauce)

3 Pkg chicken bouillon

**(You can use chicken stock instead of the bouillon & water – just use an equivalent amount)

2.5 cups Water

1 – 540mL can beans, drained & rinsed (we used white beans but you can use your favorite)

1/8 tsp ground oregano

½ tsp salt

Sprinkle pepper

1 clove of garlic – crushed (we left it out because my daughter does not like it. Sauté it with the oregano in a splash of olive oil for a couple of minutes FIRST if you use it)

Directions:

** If you are using a clove of garlic, sauté it in the pan first, for 2 minutes with the oregano and a splash of olive oil.

In a large saucepan combine

Tomato sauce
Packages of bouillon
Water
Beans
Oregano (if not added first with garlic)
Salt
Pepper

Bring to a boil and then turn down heat to simmer.

Cook for approximately 10-15 minutes until it starts to smell delicious and everything is heated through.

Add pasta and cook until pasta is tender – another 8 - 10 minutes

Remove from heat and serve.

Delicious!

Personalized Applique Bath Towel or Beach Towel

2011-02-19T20:25:00.006-07:00

My daughter was invited to a birthday party for a friend of hers this weekend – a little boy.

She wanted to get him a present that she knew he would love and something that was unique and “special just for him”

Something that he would love – no problem – he LOVES Thomas the Train so she picked out a train for him.

Something unique and “special just for him” was a little tougher to find so I turned to my sewing machine and made a personalized bath towel. I made several of these towels last year for my daughter and some of her other friends. I figured out how to do them based on trial and error. There were quite a few errors before I got it right!!

These personalized towels are great to take to the beach, swimming lessons and on holidays. You always know which towel is yours at a glance.

This is an especially great gift for those people with unique names.

Depending on your choice of towel and fabric these can also be a very economical gift. They do take time but supplies are not very costly and should be easy to find. Make your fabric choices based on the person the towel is for, OR use it as a stash buster project and use up what you have on hand. The small amount of fabric needed makes it pretty easy to do both.

My daughter picked out the fabric for each of the letters in this example and kept me company while I sewed it. She was very excited to give her friend a special, personalized gift and she said that he was very excited to receive something with his name on it.

Here is a quick and easy tutorial on how to make a personalized appliqué bath towel.

Supplies:

1 bath towel (We used a large bath sheet but you can use whatever size you want)

HeatnBond iron on adhesive

Assorted cotton fabric scraps for letters

(You can experiment with different types of fabric if you want, BUT cotton washes really well)

Scissors, pins, iron, marking pen & thread

Decide what size and type of letters you want – I photocopied some from an old craft book I had at home. You can draw some freehand or find a template on the internet to use.It is easier to sew larger block style letters than small, swirly ones!

Cut pieces of fabric slightly larger than the size of the letters you want to use. I cut my pieces in squares.

Follow the instructions on the HeatnBond to attach the fabric pieces to it.

Basically, arrange the fabric pieces, right side up on the HeatnBond. Run your iron over them to activate the adhesive on one side.

Once the pieces are all secured to the HeatnBond – trace your letters onto the fabric and cut them out.

Lay the towel out and find the middle. Mark it with a pin so you know where it is.

This name had 6 letters. I positioned the letters 4” from the top of the towel, with 3 letters on each side of the centre line. I put these letters all in a straight line but you can space yours out any way you want. Make them wavy, diagonal, curved, whichever way you want.

Once you have the spacing figured out, peel the back off the letters. Recheck your spacing to make sure that it is just the way you want it.

Iron the letters to the towel. Make sure that they stick well so that it will be easier for you to sew. If you don't secure them well here they will move when you begin sewing around them.

Once all the letters are ironed down your towel should look something like this.

The next step is to stitch around each letter to seal the raw edges and make the letters stand out a bit.

It is best to go slowly to make sure that the stitches are even and neat.

This is the time consuming part, especially if the name is a longer one.

I use a basic zigzag stitch with a stitch length of 2.5, and stitch spacing of 1.0. On my machine it makes a very nice satin stitch. I recommend you try a few test runs to get the setting right BEFORE you start stitching on the towel.

Stitch slowly around each letter, covering up all the exposed edges.

Once all the letters are stitched around, clip any loose threads and VOILA!!!

Here is the finished towel.

Fabric Dollhouses

2011-01-15T14:25:00.003-07:00

Finally, my work on my bachelor's degree is done and now I can concentrate on some fun things. I have a whole list of great blog posts to write and I hope that some of them are useful and fun for others as well.

Every year I make my daughter something special for Christmas. This gift is something just from me and it has become a cherished tradition in our house. As soon as Christmas is over for the year I start dreaming and looking for next year’s gift.

I saw this tutorial from UK lass in US sometime during the summer and thought that a fabric dollhouse would make a great Christmas gift for my little girl.

I got the first one about half done and thought that if my little girl would love it, so would her friends. I figured out how many of her girl friends we would need birthday gifts for this year and cut out 4 more – one for each of them and 1 spare just in case I needed it. They are all different and have their own personalities, just like her friends!

It was a little tough, at first, to figure out how all the pieces were supposed to go together but once I got the first one done the other 4 came together quickly. I used felt to make the details like windowsills, a fireplace, complete with a toasty fire, and the door. I cut little pieces of fabric and positioned the pattern so that someone was looking in or out each window.

The first dollhouse I sewed the felt details onto and that took a very long time! The other 4 houses I used fabric glue instead. It worked great and was much faster too. I used some rick rack and sequins to fancy up the doors as well. I also bought some little dolls to go with each dollhouse.

My daughter loved her little house and plays with it nearly every day. It has gone on car trips, trips to the grandparents and even the grocery store, though we only brought one doll along on that trip so there was less for me to keep track of.

Check out the tutorial yourself here and make one for yourself!

http://uklassinus.blogspot.com/2008/08/fabric-dollhouse-tutorial.html

Thanks so much for the tutorial! I had a great time making it and my daughter loves it!

Reusable Shopping Bags

2010-10-23T17:11:00.000-06:00

I had a request to make some reusable shopping bags with longer handles that a person could carry over their shoulder.

They still needed to be folded up small enough to fit in a little pouch in the person's purse so they were easy to carry & store.

After some trial and error This is what I came up with.

Right now they will be available in my shop by special request.

Summer Wedding Showers & Chocolate Cookies

2010-08-26T16:59:00.006-06:00

A friend of mine is getting married next month and I attended a wedding shower for her on Tuesday night. It was really great to meet some of her oldest friends and it was really neat for me to be included in that group of friends :)

Her friends put on a "Something Blue" wedding shower for her and it was great! Her friends did a great job and everyone had a good time. There were games and prizes, good conversation and of course great things to eat, blue cupcakes and even blue punch!

The weather was perfect for this outdoor party and the garden setting was gorgeous. I sure wish that my yard looked that nice!

I found a great serving dish at Pier One, for part of her gift, and baked some delicious cookies to take to the party. The recipe is from Martha Stewart Everyday Food (click on the title for a link to the recipe). My daughter helped me bake the cookies and we had a great time! We used chocolate chips instead of chunks and used a cookie scoop to make them just the perfect size for a decadent treat!

Here is a snapshot of our picture perfect treats.

Thanks for a great evening!

At long last ......

2010-08-19T12:49:00.003-06:00

At long last the much anticipated purse for my friend is DONE!!!!

I am so happy with the way it turned out!!!

It is bigger than I anticipated but now she will have lots of room to carry all of her most important things with her.

I am delivering it in September when we got out to visit her in Victoria, BC.

I am really looking forward to seeing her :)

Here is a sneak peek at it's total fabulous-ness!!

INTRODUCING - my brand new Auto Bag!!!!

2010-06-24T23:30:00.007-06:00

A stylish and durable bag for your vehicle.

Use it for a trash bag, on it's own, or lined with a small plastic bag.

Use it to keep toys, snacks, maps and all your other goodies organized and easy to find.

8.5"H x 8.5"W x 4"D with a 24" strap

100% cotton outer fabric, middle layer of heavy duty interfacing and lined with laminated, water-resistant canvas.

These will be available at my table at the Bentley Farmer's Market, this Saturday, June 26. I will be listing them in my shop next week if there are any left.

Click on the title to be sent to the Facebook album with all finished ones to choose from.

My little assistant made the fabric choices and I think that she did a wonderful job!

If you see one you cannot live without, send me a message and we'll work out the details.

Mommy's Summer Savior Giveaway Contest 2010

2010-06-17T22:45:00.006-06:00

Kelsey of Polished Productions is hosting a great summer giveaway on her blog

Click on the post title to go directly to her blog to enter!!

Check out Mommy's Summer Savior Giveaway contest to win a prize package valued at $200.

Prizes include a wonderful apron from Nana Brown's :)

Contest Deadline is June 30th

The Project continues

2010-05-29T20:28:00.003-06:00

POCKETS, POCKETS, POCKETS!!

I took a little break from my friend's purse to make some things for my daughter and some more things for my shop. I still have lots more projects in the works but really wanted to get to work on this purse again. I am still totally in love with the fabric and really want to see the finished results.

I added pockets to the inside and outside of the purse today. The outside pocket has a flap that closes with a magnetic snap to keep everything safe inside. It is big enough for a cell phone, a set of keys, chewing gum, CD's, a small notepad, or whatever else a person needs close and easy to access.

There were only supposed to be a few small pockets inside but I really like lots of places to stash things when I need to, so I added extra big pockets to the inside and then split them up in a few places. The result is lots of places to keep all kinds of great things.

I got the rest of the lining finished too and am hoping to put together the rest of the outside over the next week.

I bought some leather handles, which will look really sharp. They arrived a couple weeks ago and I have been getting anxious to put them on the purse and see the final effect.

Etsy Alberta Team May Madness Sale

2010-04-29T14:57:00.002-06:00

May Madness Sale

May 1 - 7, 2010

Stop by the participating Alberta Team shops for some great deals!

New project in the Works

2010-04-10T15:38:00.004-06:00

Here is the first picture of a new project I am working on:

I am working on a new project for my very good friend.

She picked my absolute favorite fabric and asked me to make her a handbag with it.

She picked the style and I started cutting out pieces this week.

I just have the outside fabric left to cut - a striking Black & Red Batik.

I confess I am a little bit nervous about cutting it because if I mess it up there's no going back. There is no more of the fabric at the shop where I bought it in Salmon Arm, BC.

I am thinking of posting some updates here as I work on her bag - then she can see how it looks as I work on it.

I will post some more once I get some sewing done

Insulated Grocery Cooler Bags

2010-03-13T15:40:00.003-07:00

Need a stylish, lightweight cooler for a picnic or road trip?

How about to take your groceries home from the store?

This bag is perfect!!

Folds flat when empty, so you can tuck it away until you need it next time.

Available by custom order at Nana Brown's - pick your favorite fabric and I will custom make a cooler just for you!!!

New today at Nana Brown's

2010-03-06T15:26:00.002-07:00

New and exciting today at Nana Brown's

Baby Bibs - a stylish baby (and mommies) favorite accessory

Check them out!!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/nanabrowns?section_id=5774011

Hearts for Haiti

2010-02-06T17:04:00.004-07:00

Etsy artists from around the world have come together for a great cause.

Check out the Hearts for Haiti shop on Etsy

All proceeds go to support Doctors Without Borders.

http://www.heartsforhaiti.etsy.com/

Even more NEW today at Nana Brown's

2010-01-23T17:09:00.001-07:00

NEW today at Nana Brown's

2010-01-20T22:41:00.001-07:00

NEW in Store

2010-01-16T17:24:00.002-07:00

NEW IN STORE

New fabrics and designs

All new for 2010

Come and check it out

Wee Folk Art Gift Guide

2009-12-15T15:01:00.002-07:00

WOW!!!

What a great place to check out many different shops and find the perfect gift for everyone on your holiday list.

Wee Folk Art supports Handmade Holidays and has put together a wonderful Gift Guide full of fabulous stores and items.

Get your holiday or special occasion shopping done without having to find parking and fight the crowds in the stores this time of year.

Check it out here

http://weefolkart.com/content/support-handmade-holidays-directory-2009

Reusable Holiday Gift Bags

2009-12-03T23:08:00.004-07:00

It's that time of the year - the Holidays are here!!

We are all busy shopping for and wrapping the perfect gifts for everyone on our holiday lists.

Who says being green has to be boring? These bags are functional and they look great!

Enjoy the holidays and help look after the environment. Avoid sending all that gift wrap, tape and ribbon to the landfill.

These reusable bags make gift wrapping a breeze - just open the bag, pop in your gift, pull the ribbons closed and you are done.

Use for wrapping holiday gifts or storing decorations

Smart alternative to gift wrap or plastic gift bags

The perfect way to beautifully wrap all the gifts you get for everyone on your list

Compact & lightweight

Double satin ribbon drawstring closure - bags are made of 100% cotton fabric

100% Canadian Made

These bags are a great way to avoid using mountains of gift wrap and tape for all your holiday gifts.

Use one of these handy Reusable Fabric Gift Bags in place of expensive paper gift wrap
OR
Wrap your gifts and use one of these bags to keep multiple gifts for one person all together.

After the holidays these bags can be used year round to store toys, books, DVD's, CD's, beauty products and anything else you need!

The bags come in 3 standard sizes: Medium, Large & X-Large.

These bags are also available in custom sizes to accommodate any sized gifts. Let me know the size bag that you need and I will be happy to create it for you.

Machine wash, tumble dry – these bags are handy and easy to use.

All seams are serged / overlocked for extra durability. These bags are not lined.

Fabulous Etsy Find!

2009-11-26T16:30:00.004-07:00

I just received the most stunning pair of Swarovski Emerald and Pearl Crystal Earrings in the mail yesterday!

They were sent from Patch at PatchFirstShop, a wonderful jewellery shop on Etsy. You can check out her other stunning pieces in her shop at www.patchfirstshop.etsy.com

I had stumbled across her blog last month and won a contest that she was running. Here is a link to the gorgeous pair of earrings that she sent me
http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=477663

Mine are done all in silver and I love them. They arrive beautifully packaged in a pink velvet, embroidered bag tied with a beautiful pink ribbon.

I was so excited to receive them and look forward to wearing them and showing them off often.

Thank you so much Patch for the lovely surprise.

EtsyKids Santa's Sleigh Ride Promotion

2009-11-09T15:12:00.003-07:00

EtsyKids is a diverse group of talented & dedicated Etsy shop owners making items for babies, toddlers, and children.

EtsyKids is having a Holiday promotional sale called "Santa's Sleigh Ride".

The sale runs from November 1 to December 24, 2009 and there are great deals and fabulous items to be had everywhere for everyone on your holiday list.

Santa will be making his way across the globe taking advantage of all the great sales in the EtsyKids Members shops. Check in often to watch his progress and take advantage of the great deals!

This week, he's starting his journey in Canada. And those Canucks know how to craft. See for yourself...

http://etsykids.blogspot.com/2009/11/santas-sleigh-ride-team-holiday-sale.html

Prairie Harvest Sale & Blog feature

2009-10-05T19:07:00.003-06:00

The Alberta Team Prairie Harvest sale is still going on from Oct 3-9

There are all kinds of great deals to be had. It is a great opportunity to get started on your Christmas shopping :)

Thanks very much to Leilani of Heavenly Flower for the great blog feature on her blog at
http://creativityinspired.wordpress.com/2009/10/04/artist-inspired-double-duty-diaper-buddy-diaper-bag-and-change-pad-by-nana-browns/

It is fabulous to be featured by such a wonderful artist.

Alberta Team Prairie Harvest Sale

2009-10-02T17:44:00.002-06:00

Multiply your savings at Nana Brown's
during the Alberta Team Prairie Harvest Sale
October 3 - 9

(Discount refunded through PayPal after purchase)

Buy 1 item get 10% off your order
Buy 2 item get 15% off your order
Buy 3 or more items get 20% off your order

See all the participating shops at http://etsyalberta.blogspot.com/

Heavenly Flower - Great Jewelry Giveaway contest

2009-09-09T23:28:00.005-06:00

One of my favorite Etsy artists and fellow Canadians is Leilani from Heavenly Flower.

Located in Quebec, she makes the most wonderful and unique jewelry.

I have a pair of stunning turquoise earrings that she made that garner loads of compliments whenever I wear them!! I LOVE them!!

She is having a Great Jewelry Giveaway Contest on her blog to win $100 in your choice of her fabulous jewelry.

Full details of the contest are on her blog
http://creativityinspired.wordpress.com/2009/07/26/the-great-jewelry-giveaway-contest/

You can check out her Etsy shop
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5759216

Or her Artfire shop
http://www.heavenlyflower.artfire.com/

Or her website
http://heavenlyflower.com/

Stop by her website to enter the contest and stop by her shop to find that wonderful piece of jewelry just for you or someone you love.

I am very proud to support this wonderful artist and fellow Canadian!

END OF SUMMER SALE at NANA BROWN'S

2009-08-20T17:38:00.000-06:00

We are having a END OF SUMMER SALE -
August 21-23
20% off all in-stock items (custom orders are excluded)

Great deals - come and check it out today

NEW!!! Insulated Lunch Bags

2009-08-13T16:11:00.004-06:00

Brand NEW and in time for back to school -

INSULATED LUNCH BAGS

Available in ready to ship or custom options

Who says being green has to be boring? These bags are functional and they look great!

Stop taking your lunch to work or school in a plastic shopping bag or brown paper bag.

This reusable lunch bag will hold large food containers, cutlery, drink bottles, fruit, snacks, etc.

The bag is 100% cotton fabric on the outside, are lined with Insulbrite® and have an inside water repellent lining.

Top zipper closure - Handles are approximately 14" long

100% Canadian Made

Great as gift bags, lunch bags, & travel coolers

Smart alternative to plastic or paper lunch bags

Compact & lightweight

Approximate Measurements: 10"W(at top) x 10" H x 5"D

This insulated lunch bag can be reused indefinitely. Fill it up with your reusable sandwich or snack bags.

Wash it and reuse it over and over again - The inside easily wipes clean.

For the outside: Spot clean and air dry.

To freshen up the whole bag machine wash & hang to dry.

Check out my shop for additional colors and for coordinating sandwich and snack bags.

Warm Sunny Days

2009-08-07T14:57:00.004-06:00

Ah - there is almost nothing like it. I love warm summer days.

To feel the warm sunshine on your skin and see your children running and playing -

- laughing with wild abandon.

For a minute you can almost feel like a kid again - caught up in the fun.

We made a trip to Salmon Arm, British Columbia this week to see a friend of ours. It was great to visit with him and to enjoy the wonderful weather as we checked out the local attractions.

He owns the MOST FABULOUS coffee, sandwich and dessert shop I have ever set foot in. Check it out online here http://mypinkcherry.com/Home.html or jump in the car and go for a holiday of your own. The scenery on the way is fabulous and everything on the menu is worth the drive.

I am working on lots of new and exciting things for my shop as well as trying to finish one of my last courses towards my Bachelor of Management degree. It will be a busy couple months here but I am looking forward to having some fun as well.

New fabric selections are available on our Facebook page. Check them out here
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Red-Deer-AB/Nana-Browns/91515596235

You can choose a custom made option and pick your favorite fabric for nearly every item in our shop.

Vote Now for Nana Brown’s to be Canada's top Mom Entrepreneur!

2009-06-09T15:14:00.001-06:00

Mom Entrepreneur of the Year 2009

Vote Now for Nana Brown’s to be Canada's top Mom Entrepreneur!

Nana Brown’s entered to win $15,500 and we need your votes to help us win.

Red Deer, Alberta, May 30, 2009 – Our name has been put into the ring to win The SavvyMom Mom Entrepreneur of the Year Award, a readers' choice contest designed to find Canada's top Mom Entrepreneur. The winner will be announced in the fall, and will be rewarded with a $15,500 that was designed to help take that business to the next level.

Owned & operated by Nicole Lulchak – Canadian stay-at-home-mom of 1 fabulous daughter
100% Canadian made unique products for everyone

Launched April 2008

Available worldwide, online at www.nanabrowns.etsy.com

I am excited about the opportunities that winning Mom Entrepreneur of the Year 2009 would give Nana Brown’s

I was inspired to start Nana Brown’s by my daughter. She inspires many of my creations and her big smile is my biggest reward. Founded in April 2008 in Red Deer, Alberta we have gained a dedicated local following and are hoping to expand to a national and international level. Winning this contest would give us the opportunity to use the prize money and expertise to take our business to the next level.

Throughout the contest period, Savvymom.ca will be hosting a 'Mom Entrepreneurs Gallery' at www.momentrepreneuraward.com.

Nana Brown’s can be viewed by clicking on this URL http://momentrepreneuraward.ca/MomBio.aspx?momID=142

Voters are also eligible to win prizes provided by Mabel’s Labels, Starrytime Keepsakes and Joe Fresh Style in the voter sweepstakes that accompanies this award program.

Thank you for your vote!

Anti-Skid Socks & new PJ's

2009-05-25T16:11:00.006-06:00

I spent some time last week working on new things for my daughter.

First she needed some new Pj's for summer and I could not find any I liked. So I made them myself. 3 new pairs of Pj's which she loves :)

Next - she has had a growth spurt and outgrown most of her "little girl" socks. I looked all over to find bigger anti-skid socks for her but could only find them in small sizes.
I decided to try making my own "grippy socks". I read somewhere that it was possible to do it with fabric paint. I tried it and am sharing the results. I hope that many of you can make good use of the very easy instructions.
Materials needed:
Fabric paint (I used the clear dimensional kind that kinda sticks up)
(I got a tube on sale for $1 - I have made 35 pairs of socks so far and have not used the whole tube up - this is WAY less expensive than buying pre-made "grippy socks")
Socks (pre washed)
Directions:
Fold the socks so that the entire bottom is facing up.
Paint or Dab little dots of paint over the bottom of the socks. I tried several different patterns (squiggles, dots, straight lines) and the dots seemed to work the best. I made my dots in lines but you could use any design or pattern you like. You can make the dots bigger or flatter depending on your preference as well.
FYI the dots did not "lift off" after washing several times but the straight lines & squiggles did.
Allow paint to dry according to package directions.

Enjoy!!
They are not quite the same as store bought ones but they have definitely kept my daughter from sliding all over the tile & lino.
She thinks that they are fabulous because now she can wear some of her favourite socks during the day to run around, instead of only wearing them to bed at night.
I made 25 pairs of her non-"grippy socks" into "grippy socks" this weekend. I ran out of room on the table so there are only 20 pairs shown in the picture.
Leave me a comment and let me know how it works out for you.

Polly-wolly Polliwogs!!!

2009-05-17T14:45:00.007-06:00

Ok - I have had lots of requests to see the bucket full of polliwogs so I took some pics this morning after they had warmed up in the sunshine!

The cloudy part in the middle is the egg bunch that they came out of - not all of them have hatched so I am leaving it in the bucket.

I really do not know what we are going to do if they ALL turn into frogs!!! It will be A LOT of little froggies.

Sunny Afternoons ..... & tadpoles

2009-05-16T14:57:00.006-06:00

It is a beautiful, warm sunny afternoon here in Red Deer and we are loving it.

Been for a little drive around town this morning and checked out some parks in other neighborhoods - my daughter had LOTS of fun trying them all out.

Last weekend we acquired am ice cream bucket of tadpoles from the farm and have been watching them grow all week. My daughter thinks that they are her pets and greets them every morning, talks with them and then says goodnight before bed time every night. They are sunning themselves on the front step now. I am hoping that they do not get too big yet ....... I do not think that I want a bunch of baby frogs all over my step. We will have to take them back out to the farm and let them back into the pond.

Here are some pics of the project that I just finished for some very nice people (some family members). They are a gag type gift for some messy sisters :) Personalized, adult sized bibs with a fun embroidered saying. I hope that they like them and get a giggle!!

Next project is to photograph the new diaper bag that I made last week. It is fabulous!!!

Another Day - another project

2009-05-08T14:46:00.002-06:00

Well the Alberta Team May Madness sale is officially over now. I think that most of us did OK - but I also think that some of us may have bought more than we sold!!!

I have a project on the go for some family members - pretty neat. I will post pictures when it is finished - if I can.

I also have several ideas running around in my head for a new all-purpose bag. I am tired of carrying around a boring black diaper bag everywhere and am craving something with a little more color and style. I am thinking bright colors, lots of pockets and total fabulousness of course. I will have to see how the design translates from my head - to paper and then to my sewing machine.

If it works out I will post some pictures - if not ....... I guess I will have to keep trying.

Happy Mother's day to all the Mom's out there.

Hope you have a great day!

May Madness Sale Participants

2009-04-30T14:06:00.004-06:00

Here is a full list of all the participants in the Alberta Street Team May Madness sale!!!

Happy Shopping Everyone!!

Starts May 1st at 12:01PM
Ends May 7th at 12:00PM (Etsy Time)

http://asecondtime.etsy.com - 10% off plus free shipping to US and Canada
http://BarefootTams.etsy.com - 20% off everything
http://bellissimadesigns.etsy.com - 20% off everything
http://BodyDelights.etsy.com - BOGO on everything
http://BouncingOffTheWalls.etsy.com - 20% off everything
http://charliebaby.etsy.com - 15% off everything
http://cindylouwho2.etsy.com - 15% off everything
http://craftedbylindy.etsy.com - 10% off everything plus free matching gift tags
http://dearange.etsy.com - 20% off all jewelry
http://frogprincessdesigns.etsy.com - 20% off everything
http://glasscircus.etsy.com - 20% off all glass
http://hdawnparratt.etsy.com - 10% off everything and a free gift tag
http://impedimenta.etsy.com - 15% off everything
http://jsanderso.etsy.com - 15% off everything
http://JewelledTrellis.etsy.com - Pendant sale plus free shipping
http://jewelrybyirene.etsy.com - 20% off any jewelry item
http://LeanneDesigns.etsy.com - visit the “May Sale” section in my shop
http://LiliesbyLisa.etsy.com - 20% off all custom orders
http://littlejumpingbeans.etsy.com - 20% off everything
http://loopdiloops.etsy.com - 15% off custom orders
http://lorijaclynsjewels.etsy.com - 20% off everything
http://maceme.etsy.com - 20% off everything
http://mailled.etsy.com - 20% off everything
http://MetalMind.etsy.com - 15% off everything
http://my3littlemonkeys.etsy.com - 20% off everything
http://MisticalAcScents.etsy.com - 10% off and free shipping on 3 or more items
http://MyGrandpasPen.etsy.com - 25% of everything
http://nanabrowns.etsy.com - 20% off everything
http://OffTheHooks.etsy.com - Free Shipping to US and Canada
http://paint1chris.etsy.com - 15% off everything
http://rozzie.etsy.com - 15% off everything
http://splurge.etsy.com - free pair of earrings with every order
http://stampnstuff.etsy.com - free shipping US and Canada – International orders free shipping on 3 or more cards
http://tiabossiqai.etsy.com - 20% off everything plus free shipping
http://TwoStrayCats.etsy.com - 20% off everything plus free shipping everywhere
http://WildRoseJewels.etsy.com - 15% off everythingng

Time for a May Madness Sale

2009-04-29T15:57:00.003-06:00

The Etsy Alberta Street Team is busy getting ready for a May Madness sale!!!

The sale runs from May 1 to May 7.

There are lots of shops participating - that means that there really is something for everyone.

Nana Brown's is offering 20% off the price of all items (shipping not included). The discount will be refunded through PayPal or through a revised listing if you convo me prior to purchasing.

For a list of all the shops on the Alberta Team check out:

Etsy Profile Page http://team.etsy.com/profilest/ab.shtml

OR

our Team Blog http://etsyalberta.blogspot.com/

Happy Shopping!!!

Hope

2009-04-27T15:52:00.002-06:00

The following quote was in the April 2009 issue of Canadian Living

I liked it and thought I would share it:

"There is no medicine like hope, no incentive so great, and no tonic so powerful as expectation of something better tomorrow."
Orison Marden

Here's to hope :)

Shop Update

2009-04-22T23:38:00.004-06:00

Well, I spent some time the last few mornings and my daughter's nap time today working on updating my shop pictures, descriptions and banner.

It took awhile for me to figure out the program - but I think I got the hang of it. I had a lot of pictures to do - but I am pretty happy with the result. My shop now looks much lighter and brighter and ready for Spring. The pictures also give a better representation of the actual product - which is great!

Now if only Mother Nature would comply and hold off on the snow - until it gets closer to Halloween :)

I am thinking of doing some profiles on some of my favorite Etsy shops.

Stay tuned to see more.

Sunshine and Rainbows

2009-04-16T16:00:00.003-06:00

The sun is out and my daughter danced around the house today singing "Sunshine & Rainbows Mommy!". It was pretty cute and I think that it made my day.

We looked and looked but could not find a rainbow - lots of sunshine though. We are all dreaming of Spring :)

Just listed a new hat in my shop this morning. I love the fabric - it is so bright and reminds me of a starry sky at night! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23772821

I have also been checking out Etsy Teams today and became a member of the Custom Boutique Design & Creations Team and applied to be a member of some others.

Check it out: the link to the teamCBDC site is http://cbdconetsy.ning.com/

New Blog

2009-04-14T16:28:00.000-06:00

It's a good day to spend inside.

Snowing, blowing and cold outside - inside we are peeking out the windows at the snow and hoping that Spring returns soon. We already miss the sunshine that we were enjoying last week.

This is the first post on my newly minted blog.

Follow me as I have fun creating new things with my sewing machine and as I learn how to do some new things with this blog.

Nicole