Time To Put Away The Decorations

Yes, I'm working on putting away decorations and cleaning up the house today.  It's a little sad to see the holiday season coming to an end, but on the other hand we have a whole New Year to look forward to.  I want to wish everyone a Happy and Healthy New Year!

Here's one of my favorite photos from my Christmas celebration.  Love the wonder of children!

My grandsons, Dillon and Shawn.

Family Christmas Get Together

We had a wonderful family get-together at my daughter's house.  My brothers and their family members were unable to make it because of the threatening storm.  But we still had quite a large group to enjoy the excellent food and to exchange small gifts with each other.  The pot luck dinner is always something to look forward to. My sister made delicious homemade rolls using our mother's recipe.  We need to teach the next generation how to make these!  The food was scrumptious. We had baked ham, chicken pie, french pork pie, lasagna, smoked salmon and so much more.  We had a fun suggestion for this year's party.  It was requested that we all wear or bring silly socks.  Most everyone did and here's one of the photos I took.  Have a good week. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Enjoyed some fireworks last night in Alexandria. I took some photos with his new camera and Ronnie set the fireworks off.  It was freezing out and the wind was blowing.  I'd forgotten how cold winter can get!  But what a good time!

So far he's pleased with his new camera, I know I like it but I don't really need another one.  I can always "borrow" this one.

It's Time For Making Cookies!

I made a batch of cookies this week but today had to find time to make more.  I made Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies, one of my family's favorites so I'll share the recipe here if you would like to give them a try.
Very easy, pretty and delicious!  First picture is the raw dough with cherries waiting for the frosting on top before baking.  Second picture, they are cooling and almost ready to eat!  But have to save some for Seamans Family Christmas on Sunday!

Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies

Ingredients:

1 1/2 C. all purpose flour
1/2 C. cocoa powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda

1/2 C. Butter
1 C. sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
48 maraschino cherries (1 jar drained, save juice)

Frosting
6 oz. chocolate chips
1/2 cup of sweetened condensed milk, approx. 1/2 small can
5 tsp. cherry juice

Directions:

Stir together flour, cocoa, salt, baking powder and baking soda.
In another bowl, beat butter and sugar until fluffy.
Add egg and vanilla to butter/sugar mixture and beat well.
Gradually add dry ingredients to butter/sugar mixture and beat until well blended.

Shape dough into 1" balls and place on ungreased cookie sheet.  Push down center of each ball with thumb.
Drain cherries, reserve juice.
Place one cherry in center of each cookie indention.
Heat oven to 350 degrees F

For frosting, put chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk in a small saucepan.  Heat until chocolate melts.  Stir in 4 or 5 teaspoons of cherry juice.  Mix with spoon.

Spoon 1 tsp. of frosting over each cherry.  Spred to cover cherry.
Bake 10 mins and do not overbake.

Remove to wire rack and cool.
These cookies freeze nicely.

Makes 2 dozen

Happy Holidays Everyone!

A Fun Holiday Dinner

Craft Time!!!

I invited a few of my friends over for holiday dinner and craft.  Many thanks to Kathy and Donna for their help in the kitchen!  We all had a good time catching up on news and sharing stories from our adventures as youngsters.  I made my pork chop skillet dinner this year (recipe in archives) and a Lemon Trifle for dessert. My friends also provided appetizers, tea  and dessert.  It's my pleasure to do this and it's a great excuse for me to decorate for the holidays!!

Lemon Trifle Recipe

1 can sweetened condensed milk
12 oz. lemon yogurt
1/3 C. lemon juice and 2 TBS. grated lemon peel
Fold in 2 C. whipped topping

Angel Food Cake (home made is best) cut into 1" cubes.  Place half of the cake in a trifle bowl and top with half of lemon mixture.  Repeat layers.

Top with Fresh Fruit, I used Raspberries.
Cover with plastic wrap and chill in refrigerator 3 hours.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!

May Your Christmas Be Happy!

The time is here!  The last weekend before Christmas.  I'm having some friends come over for dinner tomorrow night and I'm very busy getting things prepared but not too busy to post this recipe I found on line today.


RECIPE FOR CHRISTMAS JOY




1/2 cup of Hugs

4 teaspoons Kisses

3/4 cup of Smiles

4 cups of Love

1 cup of Special Holiday Cheer

1/2 cup of Peace on Earth

3 teaspoons of Christmas Spirits

2 cups of Goodwill Towards Men

1 sprig of Mistletoe

1 medium size bag of Christmas Snowflakes



Mix Hugs, Kisses, Smiles and Love until consistent. Blend in Holiday Cheer, Peace on Earth, Christmas Spirit and Goodwill Towards Men. Use the mixture to fill a large, warm heart, where it can be stored for a lifetime (it never goes bad!). Serve as desired under Mistletoe, sprinkled liberally with Special Christmas Snowflakes. It is especially good when accompanied by Christmas carols and family get-togethers. Serve to one and all!

It's A Busy Time For Everyone!

Christmas is right around the corner.  I have most of my shopping done but now there's lots of wrapping to do.  I use gift bags for many of the gifts, but I have a few that will be best wrapped.  And it wouldn't be Christmas without wrapping a few myself.  This week is the Christmas Luncheon at work with a gift exchange.  I haven't purchased my gift to exchange yet and will probably do that just before the party.  I'm last minute with those kinds of things because I really don't have a good idea of what to get this year.

We have been busy making more jewelry and it's looking good!  We've had a good response to the necklaces and earings and have sold some of them to happy customers.  I hope the trend continues.  They are made with sterling silver, deer antler slices and genuine turquoise or gems.  I have listed some on my Etsy shop at www.etsy.com/shop/dsigns but I haven't sold any there yet.  When people see them in person and see how beautiful and original they are, that's when they sell.  This week we will have them available in some local shops.  More on that later.

I have taken some photos of the jewelry and since we have some new designs, I'll be taking a few more tomorrow to post in the shop.  I took some pictures of my amaryllis that is blooming like crazy!!  I paid only $3.89 for it in Lowe's and it's beautiful.  Three blossoms on it now with another bud almost ready to open.  Of course I'm offering it as a note card or photo for sale in my Etsy shop.  Stay warm, freezing weather is here, next to come SNOW!

Craft Fair Season

As most of you know, this is craft fair season.  I was invited to a fair in Nashua and did that fair last Saturday.  Today I got an invite from Oyster River School in Durham and I'm considering it.  I had a good response to my photographs and the deer antler jewelry and hope to get the word out a little more.  So since I have all my "stuff" ready, why not do another one?  I'll think about it over this holiday weekend.

People had positive things to say about my items and that helps motivate me I guess even though I do this as just a hobby and don't really intend to make it my full time business.  I love taking photographs and making things with fabric, paper, my sewing machine and many other items!  I've included a couple of photos of my set up at the craft fair this past Saturday.

Something New For Sale In My On Line Shops

I'm offering something quite different in my shops I think you'll find interesting.  We are making jewelry using whitetail deer antlers found in the woods of New Hampshire!  For now we have pendants for sale, some with genuine AZ turquoise.  Silver findings are used in the pendants and an 18" rawhide cord is included.  Earrings and pins will be available very soon, so stand by.

Take a look at the photos posted on Artfire and Etsy shops.  No, the mounted deer head isn't included. : )

We'll See How It Goes

Election Day Today.  I voted as did lots of you.  We'll see how it goes.

Back to sewing on the Log Cabin Quilt, it's getting cold outside and it's time!

I've been busy getting my photographs and note cards ready for a holiday fair I will be participating in on November 20th in Nashua.  Again, We'll see how it goes.

 I still have a lot of organizing to do around the house before I can settle in for the winter and enjoy sewing and crafting.  Today I registered for an Art Get Away Weekend in July/August.  Something fun to look forward to!  It's in Maine so I'll be driving saving on airfare.  So many of the retreats I'd like to attend are in too far away or I'd have to stay in a hotel for several nights costing more $$$$!  This retreat is an adult "camp".  Out in the country but close enough to stores and Dunkin Donuts to make people happy.  It's all inclusive and sounds like a good time.  We'll see how it goes.

A Day Of Play

Yesterday was a "day of play" at my house.  My good friend, Kathleen joined me in doing some creative play.  She worked on the cover of a journal and I worked on another small wallhanging.  I used my Wizard tool to burn around a transfer print I had made then considered the fabrics I'd use in the piece, with lots of consultation with my friend.  Kathleen used the Wizard to burn the edges of her beautiful paper/fabric journal cover and we both like the result. It's the first time I've used this tool and it won't be the last.
 I took some photos, as usual, but the one I took of her shows I didn't have a very steady hand at the time and I'm sorry about that because I like this picture of her.  So here are some pics from the fun we had yesterday.  Happy "Creating and Playing" everyone.

Blue Skies and Sunshine

Haven't we been lucky?  Lots of blue skies and sunshine the last few days.  The leaves are beautiful but going fast!  I saw a small bear yesterday enjoying some apples that had fallen from a tree at my friend's house.  I attempted to get some photos but they didn't come out very good.  It was such fun to watch him/or her.  The bear got up on it's two hind feet to smell the air, just facinating to see up close. 

We heard some good news today, they have gotten some of the miners out of the mine in Chile with more rescue on the way.  Great news!

I'm not working on much art right now and sewing is calling my name.  I'm working on rearranging my spaces to make them more enjoyable for the long winter ahead.  It takes work, first make a mess, then clean it up!  Not much fun but very satisfactory when finished.

Soy Wax Batik on Silk Scarf

I finished the scarf today and I'm quite pleased with the results.  I can't get the exact color green background to show correctly on photos but you'll get the idea.  This was a first for me in using a tjanting tool to apply the wax.  It takes practice but I'm getting the hang of it and will try another. 

#1 Soy Wax Applied
#2 Background painted
#3 Painted Leaves
#4 Ironed Out Wax
Finished Scarf!

I've learned since I did this one that it's best to start with lightest colors first.  Comments appreciated.

Time to Play with Fabric Again

Today is a good day to wash, dry and soda ash soak some cotton to prepare for dyeing.  I have a silk scarf that I'm going to paint today too so I'll get busy.  I had a nice frame made to fit the scarf so I can pin it to the frame before painting.  I found out in my first experiment in painting silk that this would be a good idea, hence the frame.  We'll see how this goes and I'll be back with some "after" photos.

This Is The First Day of Fall

I thought it was the 21st but I guess I got that mixed up with the first day of winter??

This is a very busy time of year.  I'm working to get the yard in some shape before snow (guess I have a few weeks for that), preparing for the fair I'll be doing in November in Nashua and trying to finish up some unfinished work.  I'm a terrible procrastinator as my family will attest to.  Why do it now if I have a few more minutes, hours, days, weeks, years???  The thing is we really don't know how much time we really have.  My dear friend Trisha lost her oldest nephew to a drowning this week in Mississippi.  He had done three tours of duty and made it home.  He went fishing and that was it.  It just doesn't seem right but so much we see and hear is that way.  I try and stay upbeat but sometimes things just get me down and this was one of them. 

On to happier thoughts.  I'm going to be making an apple pie (yes, food always makes me feel better)!  I'll be making my pork chop skillet dinner tonight for supper (recipe on my blog for Jan. 10).  Tomorrow will probably be apple day.

Grandson, Shawn had his 10th birthday on the 16th and he's a great kid!  So happy times are appreciated around here and I'm looking forward to many more.  My knees are better, work is okay, kids are doing well, grandkids and busy and well, significant other (Ron) is busy making things in his woodworking shop and we'll be going to an Auto Show and Flea Market this weekend. 

I'm still offering note cards and photos on Artfire and Etsy so if you're in the market for some nice fall note cards take a look!  I also have a website at http://www.dsignsbyds.zenfolio.com/

The Adirondacks-Wonderful Weekend!

Mountains, tall pines, deer and lakes!  A Beautiful place on earth to be.  We stayed a few days in the Adirondack Mountains and attended the 23rd annual Adirondack Furniture Fair.  It was excellent and I really felt like we were away on vacation!  We got help finding our way with my new GPS and it worked great!  Stayed in a little cabin with a nice view of Long Lake.(last photo)  We enjoyed the area and hope to return next year.

The Hopkinton Fair 2010

It was a hot one this year at the Hopkinton Fair!  We went on Friday and it was so humid I didn't want to stay long.  We walked the grounds, saw some displays and garden tractor pulls, took a few photos then headed home.  I'm sure I'll enjoy the Sandwich Fair coming up soon since the weather has finally cooled down a bit.  Here are a few photos from Hopkinton Fair.

Fall Feeling In The Air

This week has given us some beautiful weather.  Warm days, sunshine, some clouds and cool dreamy nights.
Fall housecleaning is on my mind now but I would rather do some fabric dyeing or painting, sew on the log cabin quilt or make some little wall hanging with my "new" rusted fabric.  I know I will feel better if my place is cleaned up and "put together" much better than it is now.  So I guess I should start there.  In between times I can play with fabric and my camera.

I hope everyone has a wonderful fall and enjoy the beautiful weather!

I'm preparing some of my photographs for a craft show I'll be doing in Nashua, NH in November.  (Lot's of N's there!)  I plan on having my note cards as well as some matted 5x7's and maybe some 8x10's.  There are quite a few people selling photos now with digital photography being so much more affordable than print film was.  I like taking photographs and sharing with others so I will continue even though there's not much profit in it right now.  I hope you will consider some of my work for upcoming holiday gifts.  I have a website at http://www.dsignsbyds.zenfolio.com/ where you can order the size you would like as well as the type of paper including canvas!  The store also gives you the opportunity to choose a frame and matting once you add a photo into your basket to "buy".  If you're not happy with how the photo looks with a white mat, change it to black before ordering.  It's easy!!!  I still have shops on Etsy and Artfire and plan to continue with those for another year.

Now to get on with that housework!!

Etsy Treasury

I have been notified that my photo note card has been included in this fun treasury.  These are apparently things that were/are her father's favorites.

www.etsy.com/treasury/4c7c0a5cd98e6d9193761f35/for-my-motorcycle-riding-elvis-loving?index

Nice, hot day today but Hurricane Earl may hit the East Coast.  I sure hope not. 

We went to a Crusie Night last night and saw some pretty nice local cars.  We'll go again I'm sure and I'll post some photos.  The first of Sept. is tomorrow!  Summer flew by didn't it?

Fun Painting Silk Scarf

Today I painted a silk scarf with fabric paint.  I'm not thrilled with the results, I think a pre-schooler could have done as well.  Anyway, here's the photo process of what I did.  The scarf what white to begin with.  I painted on the indigo blue then the green.  Added some salt and let it dry.  Shook off the salt and let the scarf "rest" for awhile.  I ironed the scarf and tied it in a loop to take a picture.  I'm liking it better now.  I enjoyed the process but hope for better results next time. I think I'll dye one next time!
I'm donating this to the "Enduring Earth" challenge.  Sales of the scarves will be donated to The Nature Conservancy.  http://www.nature.org/.  This challenge is sponsored by Fiberarts Connection a nonprofit 501.
The scarves entered will be exhibited and sold to raise funds at Wilson Community College, Wilson, NC.  After the show the scarves that do not sell will be sold online or possibly in another venue.  Photos of the entries will be posted on the Fiberarts Blog.  I'll keep you posted. 

World Quilt Show, Manchester, NH

I attended the World Quilt Expo in Manchester last week.  I'm always impressed with what people  thoughout the world create.  Beautiful workmanship and Creative Spirit. The quilt above, "Medea Escaping" is by Marilyn Belford of USA and she won a blue ribbon!  Congratulations Marilyn!  I missed the Images show in Lowell, MA this year, sadly, but just can't do everything, everywhere, can we?