Weekend Baking - Blackberry Crumb Cake

My mom is such a bad influence. Yesterday afternoon, I'm trying to be extra studious and work on my papers when she starts begging me to help her bake something for a dinner at a friend's house Monday evening. Haha. Ok she didn't really beg. It is quite possible that I volunteered because...I'm just so tired of studying! All I wanted to do was relax, mix together a few ingredients and attempt to keep my brain from turning to complete mush! Ok, maybe I'm being a little dramatic. Let's blame those end-of-semester emotions again...

My mom clipped this recipe from Real Simple ages ago and we finally decided to give it a try. We both realized that neither of us have baked with blackberries before this crumb cake. Boy-oh-boy were we missing out! It is SO good. Thankfully we made two of these lovely little crumb cakes, one for my parents to take to dinner and one to stay at the house, so I could try a piece. It is delicious! I definitely look forward to studying with a slice of this blackberry goodness and a cup of tea.

There's nothing like a little baking to take my mind off of school stress.

Also, you guys are so right, an "I break for baking" bumper sticker would be amazing. ;-)

Have a great Monday! Have you baked anything new lately?

Study Breaks + Dowdy Studio Winner

Happy Sunday friends! I had a very productive weekend and successfully moved out of my apartment. I miss it already. It's time to move on though. I am just so excited and nervous to see what comes next. Hopefully something good! 

Since my final papers are due in a few days and final exams start this week, I have done my best to take necessary study breaks whenever possible. Earlier this week, I grabbed some coffee from my favorite restaurant in Dallas, Oddfellows. It's nice to get out of the house and away from the books for a little while. If I don't...the shadows on the wall become a little too interesting and cabin fever ensues. I've been going on long walks and jogs around the neighborhood to stretch my legs and refocus. Also, one afternoon this week I started on the Mollie Makes crochet flower, but didn't get very far. Hopefully, I can work on it a little bit at a time as I make my way through this week. 

This afternoon, I decided to take a break from my paper and help my mom bake a blackberry crumb cake for a dinner she and my dad are going to this week. Hopefully I can steal a piece before they take it to their friends. ;) I always break for baking. Haha. I will share our beautiful-baked-blackberry goodness with you tomorrow! 

P.S. - Thanks so much for all of the entries on the Dowdy Studio giveaway! Congratulations on winning Amanda! I will contact you about the details soon! 

P.P.S - Two weeks until graduation. Oh my. 

Goodbye Little Apartment...

And so it begins...the season of change! Today is my last day in my apartment after three years. There's no better way to end a stressful week than with a big move before final exams, right? Ok...that was a little sarcastic.

I experienced ups and downs in this little place, but I am so thankful for the time I spent here. I was really able to grow and learn how to be myself. I studied like a mad woman, shuffled around in my socks when I had a cold, knit my fingers to the bone for my first craft show and watched a lot of Netflix. I can't believe my time here is over! For now, I am back at my parents house as I finish up final exams. I can't wait to see where I end up next! I'm sure that place will be just as important to me.

I will always remember the blog posts and knit projects I dreamed up while sitting on that couch. Most importantly, I will never forget that I finally found myself during the time spent here and how I learned to appreciate the kooky-colorful-knitter that I am.

Thanks little apartment! It was fun!

P.S. - I just wanted to thank you all again for being so supportive during these next few weeks. My mind is running in circles and your kind words really help me slow down and smile...if only for a moment. :)

A Pen Pal + Cupcake Break

For whatever simple or nostalgic reason, I'm a huge fan of mail. Anything from a magazine to an invitation gets me excited and curious about what is inside. It's like an unexpected gift. During a week when my stress levels are going berserk (I've had pretty realistic nightmares three nights in a row) a letter in the mail from my sweet pen pal Kim was exactly what I needed. Kim is an art student in London so I was immediately giddy to see the Queen's silhouette on the postage. ;-)

So, I decided to push my books aside for a minute and enjoy the letter. I love the postcard and her lion drawings so much! Earlier that afternoon I picked up a red velvet cupcake from Sprinkles because...I wanted one. Haha. I haven't been there in forever and I am trying to appreciate Dallas while I can before school is over. I'm not leaving Dallas forever, but who knows where I will end up when I graduate! I'm trying my best to seize the day! Or seize the cupcake at least. ;)

There's nothing like a cupcake and a letter from a far away friend to take your mind away from reality, even if it's only for a moment.

I hope you are all having a great week. Do you have any pen pals or other fun ways to take your mind off what stresses you out?

CLOSED - Giveaway // Choose Your Favorite T-shirt from Dowdy Studio!

Back in October I received the grand tour of my Etsy Dallas friends' super cool mobile handmade shop, the Dowdy Studio Wagon. The lovely couple behind the magic, Dylan and Pamela Dowdy, are quite the dynamic duo. Dylan is a pro at making their unique, hand drawn tees and Pamela's art skills are simply wonderful. When you put those skills together you get their lovely shop! The Dowdys would like to offer you a choice of any t-shirt from Dowdy Studio! They were kind enough to send me my favorite, the "Super Ride" tee. I wore this outfit to the craft store on Saturday and it was the perfect shirt for a warm spring day.

Here is how you can enter to win: (This giveaway is open to international readers!)

Mandatory Entry:

- Visit Dowdy Studio and check out their handmade awesomeness, like their shirts, wood jewelry and art prints. Come back here and leave a comment telling me your favorite t-shirt that you hope to win in the giveaway! Please leave your email address so I can contact you if you win. If there is no way to contact you, your entry will not count.

Bonus Entries: (Leave a separate comment for each entry.)

1.) Follow @DowdyStudio on Twitter

2.) Tweet about the giveaway! Please copy and paste this tweet: "Enter to win your favorite t-shirt from @DowdyStudio on @sheepishknit blog! http://onesheepishgirl.blogspot.com/2012/04/giveaway-choose-your-favorite-t-shirt.html"

3.) Like Dowdy Studio on Facebook and post the link to this giveaway on your page. Please tag Dowdy Studio in your link.

4.) Share this giveaway on your blog or tumblr. Please include the link to your post in the comments

There are a total of five ways to enter this giveaway. Don't forget to include your email address!

That's it! This giveaway will end on April 28 and I will announce the winner over the weekend. 


As much as I love supporting the handmade community on my blog, I really love spreading the love for the Dallas handmade community. These two are just so inspiring! :)


Have a great day! 

Sponsor One Sheepish Girl in May!

I'm not ready for it to be May yet! It's too much! Too soon!

To put it lightly, May is going to be pretty exciting and crazy. I graduate from college this month...which is basically the epitome of all of my life's achievements. No big deal.

If you want to join the ride in May and sponsor my blog, I would love to have you! I have all ad sizes available including the XL, which is placed at the highest spot for the most traffic. If you would like to advertise your blog or shop please visit my sponsor page here for all of the information!


P.S. - This is my last full week of class until final exams....*dun-dun-dun*. <---That is supposed to be dramatic music. ;)

The Blush List - Flower Power + A Wooden Tree Winner

Knitting // Daisy shift dress from ALL Knitwear

Crochet // I can't get over how much I love Danielle's beautiful crochet bedspread! The colors are so perfect! (Found via Love, Elycia)

Etsy // Flowers and scallops...a perfect combination! This floral petal necklace from Ampris Loves is definitely on my wish list. 

Style // Amanda's floral blazer is simply lovely. 

Art // All of the flowery art by Chipmunk Cheeks is so sweet and delicate. 

Food // I would like to bake with lavender more often and this Lavender & Lemon cake recipe looks like a great place to start!


I guess I was inspired by Earth Day today with my flowery picks! I'm a bit obsessed with floral patterns actually.

Well, I am finally feeling relaxed and rid of last week's unpleasantness. However, I have quite a bit of studying and paper writing to consume my time this afternoon. I won't let it ruin my weekend though! I just need to remember...it's almost over!!!

P.S. - Kirsty from A Wooden Tree wanted to say thank you to everyone who entered her giveaway last week and would like to offer a 15% discount! Please use the code ILOVEFOXES in her shop to receive the discount. This code will expire a week from today!

Congratulations Salvaged Strawberry! You won Miss Foxette! I will be contacting you shortly. :)

I hope you all had a somewhat relaxing weekend. I think I will go out and take a little walk before I get started on this pile of papers...it is Earth Day after all!

Happy Sunday!

Weekend Plans 4/20 - 4/22

I wish I could give this weekend a hug. The past few days just would not give me a break...I stayed up way to late working every night, got lost while driving after a long day, pulled over and broke down crying, and found out that two of my final papers are both due on the same day. Ugh. A few good things happened this week too. I had to go see one of the Dallas Film Festival movies for a class, so I officially went on my second solo movie date! I feel like such a pro now. ;)

This is why I am so very happy for the weekend. In between papers and what not, I plan to...

- Wear my cozy socks because it is surprisingly chilly and cloudy outside right now. My favorite weather!
- I hope to have time to work on a knit bow ring tutorial that I toyed around with last weekend. I plan on putting some in my Etsy shop too!
- My mind is so full that I need more than my "one line a day" journal to pour everything that I'm thinking. I just have the writing itch, so I decided to get a new, shiny, red journal to hold all of this buzzing in my brain.
- At Barnes & Noble this afternoon, I found a few books to read on my trip to England and Paris! This one, Paris My Sweet, looks like it will make me especially hungry for croissants and macarons. Planning and dreaming about this trip will definitely help as I make my way through the next few weeks. I am so excited!!!!
- To accompany this cool weather, I think I will bake a batch of raspberry oat squares. Mmm.

That's all, that's it! I hope you all have some wonderful weekend plans too! Anything exciting happening over the next few days?

Enjoy the weekend!

New Records, Same Stress

Last Friday I went over to Half Price Books to find some records to listen to during the next few weeks. My apartment has officially become "study central" as I prepare for final exams and finish up this semester. Actually, as I finish this...degree. That statement won't seem real until I have the diploma in my hand and even then...weird. So, I was really happy to stumble upon these great albums to help me focus and relax instead of typing away in stressed-out-silence. Quite a variety of music, huh? Surprisingly, I do listen to other music besides my beloved Frank and Dean. Haha. West Side Story, James Taylor, The Beatles, and The Sound of Music...I wouldn't exactly listen to all of these at once, but I do like each and every one. I hope The Beatles aren't offended to be in such company. ;-)

As I make my way through the next few weeks of anxiety, I just wanted to let you know that I appreciate your kind words more than ever. I am always blown away by your sweet and thoughtful comments, but this week they are really getting to me. I actually cried a few happy tears in the hall before class when I read a lovely reader email. 

I'm going to try and not let my stress about school consume the blog, but that is my world right now. I am so thankful to use this space as an outlet for my nerves and will probably appreciate these posts some day when I am far beyond college...

...Because I'm not exactly appreciating it now. Bring on the music, tea, and I'll try to put a limit on my doodling.

What do you listen to when you study? I'm also a fan of the Downton Abbey and Pride & Prejudice soundtracks when I read for class. For those of you in the same boat, or who have already made it through a time like this, please share your wisdom.

For me, music and a good cup of tea are always a good combination, even when it includes a research paper.

What I Wore - The Finished Fawn-cho!!

Ta-da!!! I can't believe this day is finally here! It definitely came a lot faster than I expected. The fawn-cho is FINISHED, leaving me plenty of time to stare at it longingly until the cool weather returns. I am just so darn proud of this fawn-cho. I truly can't believe that I knit it and that I get to wear it out in the world. To be honest, I'm mostly excited to have the following conversation with friends and random strangers on the street:

"Hi!" 

"Hello!"

"What an incredibly incredible fawn poncho, no wait, fawn-cho you have there!"

"Why thank you very much!"

"Where ever did you buy such a sweater?"

"Actually, I knit this myself."

"What??? My mind is officially blown."

...Or something like that. Haha! The Tiny Owl Knits pattern was wonderful, clear, and explained beautifully. I was a little nervous to tackle something so inctricate, but I conquered the pattern and offically have my very own, hand knit by me, crazy, animal sweater to join my ever-growing collection. ;)

Outfit details: *Everything I wore revolved around the fawn-cho of course*: Glasses - Warby Parker // Shirt - Old Navy // Jeans - Lucky Brand // Shoes - I'm not sure. I found them buried in my closet and they just happened to match the fawn-cho perfectly! // Doe necklace c/o Cortalito A deer necklace to match...so perfect! 

This sweater is definitely my favorite piece of clothing. I will cherish it always and take pride in each stitch. I made it through the mistakes and now I have a beautiful sweater to call my own. Thanks so much for all of the support, pushing me to get this finished! I could not be happier with the result!

Now...what should I knit next? ;-)

CLOSED - Giveaway // Win a Miss Foxette Plush from A Wooden Tree

Happy Monday! I am excited to bring you this wonderful giveaway from one of April's sponsors, Kirsty Anderson and her shop A Wooden Tree. Kirsty is based in Edinburgh, Scotland where she creates her fantastical, nature inspired accessories and art for the home. She uses reclaimed fabric from "granny's linen closet" and gives the vintage objects a new life. Miss Foxette is not a toy, but a beautiful and unique ornament for the home. Each foxette is one of a kind and would look great perched in a sunny corner of the house.

Here is how you can enter to win: (This giveaway is open to international readers!)

Mandatory Entry:
- Visit Kirsty's shop and check out her other lovely creations, like Mr. Stag and Mr. Roe. Come back here and leave a comment telling me your favorite item! Please leave your email address so I can contact you if you win. If there is no way to contact you, your entry will not count.

Bonus Entries: (Leave a separate comment for each entry.)

1.) Follow @awoodentree on Twitter
2.) Tweet about the giveaway! Please copy and paste this tweet: "Enter to win a Miss Foxette plush from @awoodentree on @sheepishknit blog! http://onesheepishgirl.blogspot.com/2012/04/giveaway-win-miss-foxette-plush-from.html"
3.) Like Wooden Tree on Facebook and post the link to this giveaway on your page. Please tag Wooden Tree in your link.
4.) Share this giveaway on your blog or tumblr. Please include the link to your post in the comments


There are a total of five ways to enter this giveaway. Don't forget to include your email address!


That's it! This giveaway will end on April 20 and I will announce the winner over the weekend. 

Good luck and I hope you all have a great day! 


P.S. - Thanks for settling my tea questions in the last post. It's nice to know this Texas girl is doing it right. ;-)