Long time no see :)

I know..I know..I have been very inconsistent with posting on my blog.Mainly because I feel like I have nothing to say that hasn't already been said before and also because I haven't really made anything that was so awesomely outstanding that I felt the need to share. But lately I have felt the tremendous desire to share anything and everything probably because I pretty much love looking at various random things and figure..hey..why not post some of my own randomness. So I was asked by one of my kids teachers to make their wedding favors.I was so happy and honored to have even been thought of and asked. The bride to be was very open to anything and just requested that whatever it was that it just be handmade. I took a great leap of faith and decided to make lollipops. I have never made any sort of hard candy before and while I consider myself to be quite the whiz around a kitchen I've never used my candy thermometer nor have I used lollipop molds. I didn't take photos of the process..but here's the end result..

The bride was so happy and to me that's all that matters...

Spring is in the air!!

Theres just something magical and awesome when you start seeing the trees gain some greenery.. hearing the birds start chirping and of course when the flowers start blooming. There is a tulip farm about 40 minutes away from me that is in its second year of being open to the public. They typically supply local florists with their pretty buds but they have opened themselves up to the public. Theres nothing that makes me smile more than taking photos with such a beautiful backdrop and the subjects are pretty beautiful too :)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

My my my how quickly a year goes by :) I haven't been active at all on my blog and that is about to change..Cow and Pig Designs has gone through a slight hiatus I've been filling small orders here and there but nothing to the extent that I have been in the past..creatively my mind has been on vacation. Since C&PD was conceived I have been working non stop so this past year I have spent the time trying to get re energized to bring new creative ideas and items to you :)

Since I was about 8 years old I have had a love of photography and that was a passion that I had lost since other things have gotten in the way..new creative outlets..new ideas..but I have ALWAYS seemed to find myself grabbing the camera over and over again!So I am hoping to put some of my photography into the art that comes out of C&PD.

I love being able to have time off to refocus and now...its time to get this started..HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone..to 2013 may this be the year that dreams are made of..

-Leona
Owner/Creative Designer of Cow & Pig Designs

Nothing says the holidays like wearing a top hat!

Its that time of year again..classroom parties often means making some sort of treat to share.

Snowman cake pops are on the agenda! French vanilla cake pop with a vanilla candy coating..and a rolo and a chocolate wafer finish off his sophisticated look!!

His smile is simply contagious!

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It's the holidays :)

The one thing that I look forward to every year is making gingerbread houses with my boys.My second grader had a gingerbread house making party with his class so I had an opportunity to watch him and his awesome decorating skills! Every student had to bring in a box of graham crackers,a tub of icing,a plastic knife and some candy to share with the class..here is the product of his hardwork!

The front of his gingerbread kingdom..



Back of his kingdom..



The holiday season brings with it a lot of stress but please remember to take some time out to just enjoy the people that you love..

New blog features...and ongoing lifestyle changes

Hey everyone..
After living in TX for 11 mos my boys and I have moved back to the DC area..and with the move comes a very much needed simplifying of my life. Pairing down the non-essentials and slowly building up a surplus of necessities or as some call it 'prepping'.

So I thought I'd share my new journey with everyone..and this will also serve as a journal to chronicle this amazing adventure..

I'm in need of furniture and household things so I'll be scouring the thrift stores and flea markets and finding new uses for old things..I'm excited to be blogging more and in sharing more creative things with everyone..wish me luck on my new adventure!! :)

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an apple for the teacher

a sweater for it anyways :)

For teachers appreciation week everyday was a different theme..on Wednesday it was bring an apple for your teacher..so while I know that they would love an apple I thought..hmm..that seems like a momentary gift..they'd eat it and it was gone..then I remembered the apple sweater-usually wrapped around the apple so that it wouldnt get bruised while in transit in a lunch box..eureka!! so off to knit I went..






I took the photos without the apples in them..but the apples I did get fit perfectly..and who wouldnt LOVE a purple apple sweater :)

Glittered zebra resin pieces

I've been playing with resin for a few years..here's some pieces I recently made..




My favorite one is the yellow glitter..it just sparkles!!

Making Easter more personal

I received some stamps from Stampoutonline



and I came up with some ideas for using them and was soo excited to play with the stamps so I used what I had in my studio..and here's the fruit of my labor..

a card that I made using some eyelets and glittered butterfly cardstock..trimmed out with a scalloped edge..



a gift hang tag..I stamped onto linen textured cardstock..my current obsession..



the whole group..I also stamped the inside of a card..just to see if I liked it better stamped on the outside or on the inside..


I'm IN LOVE with these stamps and the owner Lisa is so nice to work with..her creativity is limitless..

I can't wait to come up with more ideas..

My first hot process soap adventure

I normally make cold process soap..and decided to dive into some hot process soapmaking. I used my crock pot and heres what I made..




I was surprised how smooth it came out and how quick the process was..This one is scented with 'The Little Black Dress' from Aroma Haven!

Maybe now I'll have some fun doing the laundry!

I have been reading for years about making your own laundry detergent.But,I always wondered..why?? When theres a LONG line of them just waiting for you to buy..but it seemed to me..just like EVERYTHING else.. that it was getting more and more expensive to just purchase them at the store..So since I already make handmade soap,why not venture into making my own laundry soap.

I seen powdered..liquid..but since I used powdered anyways THATS what I went with..and REALLY it just seemed easier to make..what I used



Some washing soda, borax and soap..in this case I used both my own handmade soap and some Zote soap.ALL of the ingredients I found in the laundry isle at my grocery store.

I used a mixture guideline of 2 parts shredded soap:1 part washing soda:1 part borax

I placed the all ingredients in a plastic zip top bag..and shook it until it all got mixed together..I then placed the mixture into a reclosable plastic tub..



Use 1Tbs of the mixture for top loading machines..and 2Tbs for regular machines..I havent ventured into vinegar rinses-thats my next journey :)

Lessons learned:
-to use a mask when mixing the powders...fly aways will get you coughing..

-meet a neighbor and give them the gift of your new laundry soap since YOU'LL make TONS
of laundry soap with just one bar and the boxes of washing soda and borax that you
bought..

-feel the sense of awesomeness as you skate right past the laundry isle since..you KNOW you dont need to lug those big bulky containers and boxes home..

*The next thing I am going to do is breakdown the cost per load..just to impress myself even more*

Because Valentines day is right around the corner

I just started experimenting with making some personalized polymer clay conversation hearts since its almost THE BIG DAY!! My favorite time of year-next to Christmas of course..all of the hearts-MY FAVORITE shape! and pinky goodness as far as the eyes can see..

So what other confection is reminiscent of Valentines Day other than conversation hearts..Shane is my youngest son's name..and VIOLA!! his own personal heart was created!

I LOVE THE ZOO!

I love the zoo..Everytime I go it seems like I get inspired.Whether its looking at the different shades of colors of feathers on a bird..or just hearing the questions that my boys ask me as we make our way through the different displays..I just love how their curiousity makes everything so new and exciting even if we've been there more than once.

I love ANY and ALL animals..But I HAVE to say that the alligator/crocodile display HAS to be where my love gets tested the most.WHY?? Because this is one of THE ONLY animals that can chase you in water as well as on land..theres just no where for you to hide!

But I love watching how still they can be..and how patient they are..I guess aside from being visually inspired..I can be emotionally inspired too..

My first marshmallow fondant creation..bwahahaha!

I have been fascinated with the marshmallow fondant recipe..I have been DYING to try it out on something..ANYTHING!! The teacher appreciation luncheon seemed like a great chance..it was held right before Halloween..so drum roll please...







the cupcake itself is a strawberry cake..I used paste coloring for the fondant.

I CANT wait for the next project..

Glass Tile pendants make me happy!!

I have a bunch of glass tile pendants that have been sitting in my studio for a few months..I have made some here and there and they just seem to keep multiplying :)!







They are strung on leather cords and the backs are sealed with resin!

Mango & Ginger soap..swirls of whirls!

I have some Ginger fragrance oil that I was looking to use with something..after some consideration I was thinking-grapefruit...then the husband came up with mango & ginger.Sounded interesting enough..so here it is with some liquid soap coloring..



and since it was nice and pretty outside..I took the 'troops' outside!






turns out the husband can come up with quite the AWESOME blend!

Looks like fudge

I used beer as my liquid and this is how the soap turned out..the bars seriously look like fudge..

Beer Soap is brewing..

This one is scented with Sandalwood..





This one is scented with a 'manly' scent..

Birds,Birds..they are EVERYWHERE!!

I have recently made some polymer clay bird pendants..

Who NEEDS a pocket ninja????

Everyone!!

Who doesnt NEED a little boost of courage that fits in your pocket!!




She's swift and stealth.While staying VERY stylish :)