Afternoon Delights

"The earth laughs in flowers"- Ralph Waldo Emerson

My mom bought gave me these carnations which have been sitting on my bedside table for the past week and are just now dying. I love fresh flowers so much. They brighten my day just by looking at them. I know a lot of people who look down on these flowers as being boring but I love them :)

They are ruffled little beauties to me...

My bed seems happier with my tree pillow from Little T Jane :)

...until Schatzi decided to take a nap on it.

I recently bought a new little Japanese juniper bonsai, complete with a little elderly fisherman.

Sheila likes to snooze in this corner of my room. She looks so cute like this!

Here is a photo of my in table complete with flowers and all.

I have been listening to this song quite frequently lately. I really like to listen to Jason Aldean and actually went to go see him in concert last Rodeo. Enjoy!

XOXO, Callie

the magical bean

P.S. Sorry this post is kind of random! hehe.

Knit and Crochet WIPS

I have been working on these two projects on and off for a while now. The first is a green scarf and I am proud to say: I can now do cables! The pattern is a free one from Hello Yarn called Irish Hiking Scarf. I loved it the moment I saw it and knew I just had to make it! I even blogged about the first time I saw it all the way back in November :)

I am really happy with the way it is turning out, although the color of the real thing isn't exactly like it is in the picture. It is more of a dark forest green....

The other project I have been working on is a large white shawl which has this really beautiful sparkle in the yarn but ended up being really hard to photograph :(
It's really pretty in real life, and I'll try to take better pictures of it later.....so for now you'll just have to take my word of it.

If you look close you can kind of see the shiny, sparkle I was talking about.

These are what I have been up to while driving to school, while watching movies, in the morning when I first get up and before bed.

Anyways, I would like to thank everyone for all the well wishes on my birthday, it made my day that more wonderful :)

Thanks again and I will do a post soon about the details of all that, but for now have a great weekend everybody!

XOXO,Callie

the magical bean

P.S. I recently did a drawing for my sister's blog header of her and her cat Leonardo, shown below.

She liked it, so be sure to stop by her blog and check it out in person!

Music to pass the time...

Hello! Why yes, I did procrastinate somewhat on my three page paper! Thanks for asking...

Ahem!

Anyways...

I have been listening to Ingrid Michaelson on and off all day today while trying to write a really annoying paper...still at it actually...but I do enjoy her music very much so that has made it somewhat easier. Today was spent *trying to write this paper* and thinking about all the things I would rather be doing like:
1. Drawing
2. Crocheting my sparkly white shawl that just keeps growing and growing
3. Making new dolls and pins
4. Cooking up some chocolate chip cookies
and the list goes on...

But goodnight for now and I'll try and do a better post tomorrow :)

XOXO, Callie the magical bean

Happy 101 Award!!

Well, my little sis has granted me an award!!!

How lucky am I?!!!

Thank you very much Jessica. It means so much to me :) I am supposed to pass it on to ten other bloggers, so if you are given this award all you have to do is write a list of 10 things that make you happy.

1. Making things

2.Laughing until I cry

3. Getting unexpected letters or packages in the mail

4. Drawing

5.Blogs and bloggers

6. Friends

7. Cinnamon chocolate cake with cold milk

8. My family and pets

9. Good weather: blue skys with a touch of wind
:)

10. Walking in the woods

...and as for the nominations I would like to nominate all my wonderful followers and anyone else reading this!!

Thank you so much Tracy and Sylvita!!!

Gratitude and amazement would have to be the two words that came to my mind upon receiving these two wonderfully thoughtful gifts in the mail.
The first one I received was the letter from Sylvia of Sylvita which I consider to be the best and most creative letter I have ever received. Imagine my surprise when I opened up the envelope (more like ripped it open with excitement!!!) to see Frosty the Snowman looking back at me. The world felt like it was in slow motion as I gingerly turned it over and read the list on the back and then come to find out it was a handmade record album complete with a note written on the back!!!

Sylvita you definitely win the award for the most creative and all around crafty inspiring card!!

The next package I received was from Tracy of Little T Jane. It came in a nondescript white package which made me wonder who it was from...and as I hurriedly tried to open it with my hands and failed, went furiously looking for some scissors. Luckily I found them and then after opening it, stared in wonder, at the sweetest little pillow shaped as a tree ever!! I wondered quickly if I had won something but after reading the note I learned the truth. I can't still believe how kind these two wonderful bloggers are. It still makes me happy just thinking about it.

I love January because...

It's my birthday month!! That's right my birthday is next Tuesday the 26th!!! I am excited :) (in case you couldn't tell)

Anyways I was strolling through my favorites on etsy, admiring all the talent and wishing I or someone I knew had enough money to buy me everything I wanted...alas since this is not the case at the moment all I can do is admire and dream...these are some of my favorite things right now.
So so so cute!

I find this bear rather endearing. Don't you?

I love squirrels!

An octopus? Knitting? And ADORABLE? Almost too good to be true

This picture above totally suits me because, number one I have red hair, number two I always listen to music while knitting or otherwise getting crafty. What's not to love?

Not so secretly I love Misako Mimoko. I love her dolls and wish that I could have one custom made just for me, maybe next birthday?

Also this song has been in my head ever since my sister Kaitlyn gave me a CD of Joni Mitchell hits for Christmas, and I have been singing it and humming it just about everywhere :) No joke. I just love it, and I am left wondering how in the world I could have gone so many years without ever knowing about Joni? Thanks, Kaitlyn, you seriously got me hooked.

P.S. Click on the pictures to see where I found them.

Daily Doodle

Hello everyone,

Here is another little bird inspired drawing for today. It was done last night in between trying to do my annoying Macroeconomics homework.... grrr...but anyways I am really glad I finished early and now can enjoy the rest of my weekend. Wishing you all a happy weekend!

XOXO,

Callie

the magical bean

Trip to New Braunfels

My sister Kaitlyn and I took a little trip last week to New Braunfels, Texas. We hadn't been there since we were little and thought it would be fun and it was!

Although the town wasn't at all like I remember we had a fun time taking random pictures and going into the antique shops. The above photo is one thing that we both loved because they used to be in all the old McDonald's when we were younger.
There were many murals all over the town, many German inspired...

The lion below was supposedly a water fountain?!? We couldn't believe it, so we had to take a picture to show you.

Can you believe this was some one's house?

This lady's expression kind of scared me ;)

All in all it was a wonderful trip to remember!

XOXO, Callie the magical bean

Aarrgh!!! I'm a pirate!!

Or rather my new doll is. Meet my newest little creation: a pirate parrot complete with skull hat, bandanna, peg leg, and eye patch! He was so much fun to make... Enjoy!