...fleur blanche - white flower

...pure

white

flowers...

early morning

over my fountain...

even the centers are beautiful!

see the tiniest heart pistils within??

heavy rose flower heads

watching petals floating by...

wild snap dragons

gracefully caught...

and lovely lilies

in a cabbage vase 

so many beautiful textures are at our fingertips

 in our surroundings...

all we have to do is

~ pause ~

to see and appreciate them...

most especially if they are nearby something tasty!!

don't they look delicious?!

would you like a warm cookie?

well,

here's the recipe ~ all for you!!

* 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

* 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

* 1/4 teaspoon salt

* 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened

* 1 1/4 cups smooth, natural salted peanut butter

(don't use hydrogenated like Skippy)

* 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

* 1 large egg

* 1 cup bittersweet chocolate chunks

(1/2 inch) about 5 ounces

* 1/2 cup salted dry-roasted peanuts, chopped 

1. whisk flour, baking soda, and salt together in a small bowl.

2. in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed,

beat butter until creamy, about 2 minutes.

add peanut butter and beat until smooth.

add brown sugar gradually, beating until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes, and scraping down bowl once or twice.

beat in vanilla, then egg. add about one-third of flour mixture and mix on low speed. gradually add remaining flour mixture, mixing just until blended. stir in chocolate chunks and nuts.

cover with plastic wrap and chill 2 hours or overnight.

3. preheat oven to 350 F. line 2 cookie sheets with silpats or parchment paper.

4. drop chilled dough by generously rounded tablespoon, 2 inches apart onto prepared sheets.

flatten cookies with a fork, leaving tine marks. bake until edges and tops just begin to turn brown, about 15 minutes. place sheets on racks to cool for 5 minutes, then remove cookies from sheets and place directly on racks to cool.

yields 30 cookies

NOTE:

i did NOT smash my cookies down, i like them fat!!

if you can't/don't eat peanut butter,

switch the "peanuts" out for almond butter and use roasted almonds instead :)

enjoy!!

sharing this with:

Faded Charm's: White WednesdayWhite Wednesday

here's to fleur blanche and warm cookies!

...have you ever met a seaweed farmer??

...hello there ~

may i present to all you fabulous,

supportive readers,

my new friend: cecil

cecil,

these are all my dear readers...

* cecil says  "enchanting to meet you all!"

he is my new sea silk ribbon foreman!

he will be a great help!!

as harvesting all those luscious ribbons is quite time consuming

although sooo very worth it :)

i knew when i saw an ad in the daily sea times,

for a seaweed farmer looking for work.

(looks like us land creatures aren't the only ones just trying to earn an honest days wage!!)

anyhoo,

as i was sayin'

i saw his ad

HERE

and knew right away,

he was a perfect fit:)

so i contacted him with my proposal

and he was more than delighted for a career change!

* i adore his tiny crown

* i gave it to him as a welcome gift

with the promise that he may come and go freely to the beautiful sea

...just as long as he let's me come along!!

* he happily agreed

* he also changed the spelling of his name to * seacil *

* he figured now that he was working with silks, it just sounded a little more elegant!

* i think it sounds the same, but i humor him and tell him it's fabulous!!

he has been helping me create a few new pieces in the studio this week

pretties to wear to the sea...

but first,

seacil wanted to show you his new bed

it's a bed of sea silks of course!!

* i love that he is so easily entertained!

here is a lovely cuff braclet

that i shall wear on my birthday...

i found the silver Rumi focal piece at

Urban Farmhouse

i am charmed by what it reads...

i dyed some silk in a muted sea rose shade

and sewed freshwater pearls and sequins in the same shades...

they remind me of sand bubbles...

what do you think?

very often,

i find a really lovely item

that i can embellish a little further

so that it becomes my very own

and a one of a kind...

i actually dyed my cuff ribbons to match this jacket

because at the sea,

it is breezy

and find i almost always need a pretty little something to wear extra

love, Love, LOVE the scalloped collar

and the ruffled edge pockets...

i added this ruffle peplum to the back...

for that little something extra.

 i used a vintage slip

* it was just how i envisioned it!

* i also tried ironing this jacket

* and steaming it!!

* i even bought special ironing spray

IT * DID * NOT * WORK

* did i mention i ironed this??!

so,

i have come to accept the wrinkles...

 besides, i figure

if every one else is busy looking at my jacket wrinkles,

they probably won't notice mine!

* i have come to accept those too

* seacil says i don't have any!!

* ahhh, seasil, you already got the job!!

LOL!!

the rosettes with freshwater pearl centers

are like icing on the cake:)

i can't wait to wear my new pretties!

and seacil says

he'll show me a most tasty restaurant by the sea to wear it to after a day at the beach!

* thanks seacil!

i just know we are going to the best of friends!!

sharing this with:

Common Ground's: Vintage Inspiration Friday

French Country Cottage's: Feathered Nest Friday

Freckled laundry's: Air your laundry Friday

here's to ~ seacil and pretty little somethings!!

...creatively "lost at sea"

hello my dears!

i hope you are enjoying the last of these glorious summer days

there is already a bit of cool breeze in the late afternoons

my how time goes quickly!

i have been creatively "lost at sea" in my studio lately ~

(that's a good thing!)

next week is my birthday,

and

i shall return to the beautiful sea!!

(you know how much i love that!!)

so my thoughts have been of those ruffled waves

and the fizzy salty air...

sea inspired,

i've dipped some gorgeous new hues of silk ribbons

waiting to be sea washed

and

have been making these...

~ sea silk ear adornments ~

  

~ sea ballerina ~

~*~*~

~ dancing sea mist ~

  

~*~*~

 

~ charmed sea horse ~

  

~*~*~

~ shooting sea star ~

  

~*~*~

i envision a lovely mermaid finding favor with these:)

as this is also my white wednesday post,

here are a few white pretties which surround me

that through my eyes,

 are in the jeanne d'arc living style ...

an enchanted birds nest vignette...

  

glass hurricane candle...

love, Love, LOVE white feathers!!

they are so ethereal to me

an embellished french spritzer bottle...

  

an eyelet lace wire heart...

  

a graceful ceramic statue... 

and wire wings i've been designing.

i just never know where my muse will lead me...

there are so many wonderful things to discover in blog land!

wouldn't you agree??

i'd also like to share that one of my creations has made it to print!!

which just so happens to be my lacy ship!!

(what better way to be lost at sea??)

~ Creative Vintage Charm ~

i * am * beyond * thrilled!!

you can see it *HERE*

she is also having a giveaway:) 

thank you Sonia:)

sharing this with

Faded Charm's: White Wednesday

here's to sea ruffles and being lost at sea ~ creatively!