Oh the rain...

I woke up to a gloomy day of rain.  The sun is poking out, but it just keeps on coming, drizzling, misting, sprinkling down.  I'll take rain over a tsunami anyday, but still...  Rain can be inspiring...

Gotta love this cute robot in the rain by mleighdurgins at http://www.mleighdurgins.etsy.com/

Whoa! Inspiring... This makes me want to quilt and find beautiful fabrics, the rains not looking so bad now...

btaylorquilts at http://www.btaylorquilts.etsy.com/

Unique and totally fabulous!  These clouds could be rain or shine with these moveable fabric stickers from minimaestore at http://www.minimaestore.etsy.com/

Rain in a big city.  This is kind of how I felt when I thought I had to get on my moped at 7 this morning in the rain... DANGER...  Find this at http://www.kecky.etsy.com/  (kecky)

This girl is decked out for the rain, I am envious of her preparedness... She probably would have had a tsunami emergency kit yesterday...  :)  Unlike most of us, thanks geelizzie for sharing.  This would be a stunning pin for those rainy days.

http://www.geelizzie.etsy.com/

I leave you with one last rain inspired item...  If your dog doesn't need one of these, where do YOU live??  ;)

http://www.acmecouture.etsy.com/

Hawaii Tsunami Warning February 27, 2010

Last night when I went to bed I watched the news and heard about the massive earthquake in Chile, and that we were under a tsunami advisory.  I set my alarm to wake up early and check the news for tsunami updates/alerts.  At 5:30 my boyfriend's dad called from the mainland to tell us about what was going on-that we were under a tsunami advisory and that it would arrive around 11:15.  ! Yikes! 

I have lived in Hawaii for 8 years and have been lucky enough not to have experienced a hurricane, tsunami, or other major disaster.  So we started filling water bottles, packed our freezer with ice packs, showered, washed dishes, etc.

We don't live in an evacuation area, but we live on the other side of one.  (Pretty much right on the line...)  Eventually some of my neighbors decided to go up Diamond Head to see if they could see anything.  We decided to go up too to try and get some pictures or just get a view of the tsunami.

There were so many people at Diamond Head!  News crews, people who had evacuated, people drinking, laying out, everyone was just waiting...and waiting...and waiting.  People started double parking and triple parking so we decided to go back home.

We had a small surge in water levels, and Hilo experienced the river like rushing on it's shoreline, but nothing major. 

At 2:00 this afternoon, they called an all clear!  Yeay!  Disaster averted, Hawaii made it through without major damage/flooding.  I am relieved and happy that we won't have to deal with flooding and the mess that can be caused by a tsunami.  Here are some photos that I took while we were at Diamond Head today...

People lining up on the wall all the way down the lookout

The cars were 2-3 deep everwhere

All of the boats went out to sea to avoid damage

Watching the shoreline for changes...

Beautiful, but a strange site for Diamond Head...  Not a surfer in site, but hundreds of boats.

Softie Book Review

Invasion of the Plush Monsters:

This book is great if you need inspiration for faces, shapes, and really unique patterns.  There are patterns for slippers, cell phone cozies, a seriously amazing hat, and tons of other cute toys.  I used this book most for inspiration and ideas for shapes and face designs.  I would totally recommend this book for your plush library because of the variations of plush items that are included.

Cute Dolls:

If you have ever read any of these books by Aronzo Aranzi, this one is pretty much the same.  It has great pictures, amazingly detailed patterns, and easy to follow instructions.  This is a great book for first time softie makers and people who want to make dolls for infants/children as well.  Out of all the books I have looked through and used, this one has the best patterns.  They are easy to follow and are well labeled and organized.  If you have no clue where to start, start here, with this book.  You can't go wrong. 

Fun Dolls:

Fun Dolls is just that, a book of fun dolls.  Again, the patterns are fantastic, but between the two books, cute dolls is much better.  The patterns aren't as cute and there are a lot more "teddy" type toys.  (like the ones on the cover)  This would be a good book to purchase if you are making lots of toys for infants though as all of the parts are felt/material. 

Plush-o-rama:

Plush-o-rama is a great book for ideas and inspiration.  The patterns are not nearly as detailed, but they are workable.  I use this book when I get stuck and need help for shapes, mouths, or sizes.  This book is a great addition to any plush library for the pictures in the back of the book.  There are tons of pictures from the artists that contribute to the book/patterns and they share a lot fo awesome softies! 

Bubbies Ice Cream

Bubbies Ice Cream is by far the best ice cream I have ever had!  (Coming from someone who ate ice cream daily for a period of 8 years, that is not bad!)  The double dark chocolate chip is my personal favorite, creamy, rich, and crunchy.  There are huge chunks of chocolate chips mixed with the creamiest chocolate ice cream you have ever had.  I am not the only one that loves Bubbies, even Opera featured Bubbies mochi ice cream.  (I knew I had good taste..)

This is a picture I took of the Bubbies in Hawaii Kai.  There is a huge ice cream cone out front so you can't miss it!  It is located in Koko Marina Center next to Split Obsession and Zippy's. 

Here's the famous mochi ice cream.  There are 20 flavors available with a special flavor offered each month.  My favorites are passion fruit, sakura, and strawberry.  I got this picture from their website where you can order mochi ice cream, pints, t-shirts, and pretty much anything else you want!

http://bubbiesicecream.gourmetfoodmall.com/

Locations on Oahu::

Varsity Center

Across Varsity Theater on Coyne Street
1010 University Avenue
Honolulu, HI 96826
Hours:
Mon-Th 12 PM - 12 AM
Fri - Sat 12 PM - 1 AM
Sun 12 PM - 11:30 AM

Hawaii Kai
Koko Marina Shopping Center
7192 Kalanianaole Hwy D103
Honolulu, HI 96825
(808) 396-8722
Hours:
Sun - Th 10 AM - 11 PM
Fri - Sat 10 AM - Midnight
"Enjoy Bubbies Ice Cream, homemade specialty desserts and premium mochi ice cream whenever and wherever you find gourmet products, knowing it is made from quality raw ingredients but mostly because it tastes so good.......possibly better than any other ice cream you have ever eaten."  http://bubbiesicecream.gourmetfoodmall.com/

On their website you can order a 16 piece pack for $55.00 with free shipping.  If you are craving Bubbies Mochi Ice Cream on the mainland, now it is all possible!  To order click the link below.

http://bubbiesicecream.gourmetfoodmall.com/

Watching the Surf at Sandys

I took a visit to the Windward side yesterday and stopped to watch the surf at Sandys.  They were ripping it up and I was seriously regretting not bringing my board.  I probably would have ate it and gotten worked, but it looked so fun!

These two were so cute!  Dressed for a day on a midwest farm the grandpa had a radio, full pants, and look at the mat under their feet!  I wonder what they were doing at the beach??

Bob's Pizzeria Kailua

Do you like pizza?  Really good pizza?  Than you are sure to love Bob's!  It is right by the beach in Kailua next to Island Snow.  Picture this: A day on the beach, shave ice, and Bob's pizza for dinner.  Why not?

Bob's on the sign....

The pizza counter and oven.  You can watch them toss dough while you wait for your pizza to be made.

Spinach, Garlic, and Tomato (my favorite)

Pepperoni, Calzones, Cheese, Veggies, Meat Lovers, you name it!

Check it out at 130 Kailua Road in Kailua next to Island Snow and Kailua Beach Park.

http://www.bobspizzeria.com/

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Easy Muffin Recipe

Here is a great easy recipe for muffins.  This recipe is great because all you need is a bowl, whisk/spatula, and an oven!  You can make them as muffins, mini muffins, bread loaf, etc. 

Add whatever you like to make them your own.  Cranberry walnut, blueberry, raspberry, coconut pineapple, banana nut, poppy seed n lemon, lilikoi, raisin nut, pecan n chocolate chip, the list goes on!

13 oz. flour
8 oz. sugar
1T baking powder
1/4 t salt
-add dry together

1 1/2 eggs
1/1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup oil
1 T vanilla
-add wet together

(1 T lemon zest) optional

-add wet to dry and mix until combined (by hand)

Add 2 cups(or more) berries/nuts, fill em up!  I love slivered almonds and blueberries.  So juicy and crunchy!

Bake at 375 until a toothpick comes out clean.

Top with coconut, sugar, streusel, etc, before baking for a crispy top.  Cinnamon sugar and coconut are my favorites.  :)

(This is the recipe from the muffins I posted previously!)

www.barefootbeadshawaii.blogspot.com/2010/02/muffin-madness.html

Muffin Madness

Yesterday I made two different kinds of muffins, well... mini muffins.  I made coconut banana and blueberry almond.  They were pretty tasty!  I really wanted to make banana nut, but the coconut was super good.  Next time, pineapple coconut and banana nut...

Banana Coconut

Blueberry Almond

My Etsy Shop

I have been more into sewing and knitting lately than beading!  My favorite things to make right now are the little plush dolls.  I can't get enough.  I have 3 made so far.  My last one was a really awesome owl!  I had some design help from my boyfriend who told me owls don't have arms, they have wings... ooops!  So now my owl has wings, I knew that, but he looked really cute with arms and legs too...

I will post him as soon as I sew up his stuffing hole!  I also really like making the fabric coasters.  They are really fun to quilt and I love finding fabrics that will look great cut up into small squares.  Some things just look better small.  :) 

A Day at Diamond Head

Plenty of whale watching, surf, and sun!

Oh Valentines Day... a day or two ago

Happy Late Valentines Day!  :)  Not that I celebrate, but I am in the business of helping others celebrate.  Thus... I am happy for another holiday to create a reason to celebrate!  Here are some small treat boxes that the bakeshop made for the special day.

Raspberry Marshmallows, Lilikoi Truffles, Green Tea Truffles, Heart cookies, and Caramels dipped in chocolate!  YUM YUM!

Sakura Inspiration from Etsy

I love sakura flowers.  I browsed etsy listings for sakura flower items to brighten my day.  I thought these items were particularly beautiful.  I love the hair piece and the painting.  Another great stamp shop too.  You gotta check it out!  They are all fantastic shops.

http://www.artwallproject.etsy.com/

http://www.littlecookie.etsy.com/

http://www.zombieirish.etsy.com/

http://www.stampsbysachi.etsy.com/

http://www.moxieandoliver.etsy.com/

http://www.meekssandygirl.etsy.com/

http://www.saudadestudio.etsy.com/

Meet Dale

Softie Dale is kind of a quiet guy.  ...Get him to open up by talking about the weather, farmers love that...

Hi... my name is Dale. When I’m not working on the farm, I watch re-runs of *M*A*S*H* on the old television set. My weakness is rocky road ice cream, I have it every Friday night, (and sometimes for breakfast in the summer). Something about the chocolate and marshmallow-y crunch always gets me. I feel most at home in the country, but I love to travel. Just make sure I have black coffee at 5 am and I am good to go.

New Softies for my Etsy Shop

I had a day off on Monday and I sewed all day.  I made a couple of softies and I am pretty happy with the results!  :)  Look for them in my etsy shop.  I can't wait to make more.  They are made of fleece so they are super duper soft!  All I want to do is cuddle them... but I resist. 

Introduce yourself, don't be shy!

Hi my name is Vito. I am the "watch dog" of the softie land. Keep me close and I'll keep you safe. I like speed boats, fast cars, and late nights in the city... but I am a sucker for a movie night at home. Just make sure I get plenty of popcorn...

http://www.barefootbeadshawaii.etsy.com/

He keeps sneaking into my market bag, but I keep telling him he is easy to see through the fishing net...

Here is a sneak peek at Dale.

Natural Buttons on Etsy

Browsing through etsy this morning I found this amazing shop for buttons!  I think I will be adding to my growing collection... I love the engraved buttons and the horn and bone.  The shipping is really affordable too, (bonus).  I think these birdies are my favorite, but they certainly have some competition... 

http://www.naturalresources.etsy.com/

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=39840814

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=37331615

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=33575648

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=38480063

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=37813175

http://www.naturalresources.etsy.com/