NEW POST - "Caylee-ism #1

Saturdays are usually pretty hectic around our house.  Seems like I put things on hold, thinking that I'll have all day Saturday to get them finished, or started, or at least thought about.  But the one thing I look forward to is having lunch with my kids and their kids.  In case you don't know, I have the smartest, cutest, funniest grandkids in the world.  Having lunch with them is a crack-up because of the conversations that go on while we eat.  Miss Caylee and her twin sister, Kylie run on high octane 24-7.  To get them to sit still for 5 minutes is a miracle.  Their favorite place for lunch is anywhere that has chicken nuggets or tacos or french fries. Today we graced Taco Bell with our presence.  We love to go there.  The girls ate tacos, nachos, Doritos, and washed it all down with fruit freezes.  As soon as we got back home, Caylee wanted chocolate - her favorite food group.  She told Auntie Leslie that she wanted a chocolate heart (Valentine's leftovers).  Leslie said, "Isn't your tummy full?"  Now comes the Caylee punch line:  "My mouth still works."  We're still chuckling over that one.  Here are my darlings:

Painted Angel Ornament

Christmas in February!  Don't you love it?

I used to do a lot of tole and wood painting.  In fact, the walls in the spare bedroom/office/storage room are painted burgundy and have shelves filled with Santa Clauses I have painted, crafted and collected over the years. Yep, it's the Santa Claus room for sure.  I like to be in this room.  It's cozy and happy.

I have been missing the paint and brushes and the satisfaction of completing a project.   Then I discovered Megpie Designs on the internet.  She has a couple of very cute Christmas ornaments that I fell in love with. Here is my version of her wonderful Painted Baby Jesus Ornament.  Click here:  Megpie Designs  to view her complete tutorial.

Wooden Christmas Angel

The Finished Product

Here is the supply list:
2 1/2 " x 3/8"  egg cutout
3/4" round head plug
1" wood circle
1/4" eye screw
fine point permanent marker (Sharpie)
acrylic paints:
White
Flesh
Green
Red
Metallic Gold  (I used DecoArt Dazzling Metallics Glorious Gold)
Wood Sealer (I like spray sealer so I used Krylom UV-Resistant Clear Acrylic Coating)

Start with these wood shapes.  I could not find what I needed at my local craft store so I ordered these from craftparts.com.  Click here:  craftparts.com to go directly to their website.  I had the order in about a week. 

Paint the shapes accordingly.  I used both Americana and Ceramcoat paint, since that is what I had, but any brand of craft paint will work.  After the pieces dried, I smoothed the surface with a piece of brown paper grocery bag (if you can still find one) or even a paper towel, to remove the little "fuzzies" that appear when the grain is raised on the wood.

Next, drill a small hole in the top of each egg with an electric drill and a small drill bit.  Insert a small eye screw in the top.  *Make sure your hole is deep enough, almost the length of the screw or your egg will crack when you try to screw in the eye screw.  I learned this the hard way.

Here is a close-up of the faces.  I dipped the end of a brush in the black paint for the eyes.  After the black paint is dry, do the same with white or you can just leave black if you like that look better.  Blush the cheeks with some powdered blush and a Q-Tip.  I spray sealed the faces at this point because I didn't want the blush to rub off in the construction process.

When I painted the halos, I left a portion unpainted so the halos would adhere better to the egg body.  Sometimes glue will dissolve the paint.  This way I know I will have good adhesion.

Using a flat brush, shade the folds of the angel's robe.  Make a little puddle of gold paint on a piece of waxed paper. Wet your brush, dab off on a paper towel, then dip the tip of your brush in the gold paint.  Stroke the brush back and forth several times on the waxed paper to distribute the paint, then shade the folds.  Rinse your brush after each application then repeat the steps.  To shade the outside edges of the egg, I did one half at a time and reloaded the brush after each half.

I used a brass stencil and a piece of graphite paper to trace the holly.  You can free hand this easily, as well.  Paint the holly leaves with green paint.  When the green has dried, add the berries using the same method as you used for the eyes - dip dots.

Glue the head to the front of the egg with a good glue.  I used Beacon Adhesives Fabri-Tac glue.  Even though it is made to glue fabric pieces together, I have used it a lot to glue wood and it always makes a strong bond.  I got mine at Michael's Crafts & Floral.  Wait a few minutes for the head to set, then tie about a 7"- 8" length of ribbon through the eye screw for hanging.  Glue on the halo and you've got yourself a sweet little angle for the Christmas tree.

Have fun making some of these for your Christmas Tree or to give as gifts.  And thanks again to Megpie Design for her step by step instructions.  Check out her blog.  She had a lot of really cute stuff.

Please leave a comment. I enjoy hearing from you. 

Until next time...

New Post - Chicken Bliss

     I have two sisters-in-law, Jana and Rozanna.  We found out early on that we all loved to sew and quilt.  Jana was instrumental in declaring that we should establish a "Sisters Week" once a year where we could get together and just let loose...no meal fixing, husband tending, house cleaning or early wake-upping.  I grew up in Utah but now live in California, so I used the "homesick" excuse.  Our Sisters Week get-togethers were either in North Ogden or Park City.  
     In June 2008 we decided to meet in Park City at Jana's. At that time, Jana was a few months shy of being a 5 year breast cancer survivor.  We celebrated by going on a quilt hop and visiting every quilt shop within a 50 mile radius.  Good times. 
     Fast forward to early 2009.  The cancer was back with a vengeance but Jana insisted that we continue the Sisters Days tradition. She usually picked out our project and would mail a pattern with instructions to gather supplies and come prepared.  This year in the mail we got the "Chicken Quilt".  I remember thinking that this was going to be interesting.  I have to mention here that Jana's taste differed immensely from we other two.  She was not a girly girl and hated the color pink.  She liked bright and funky (hence the chickens). I like traditional and Rozanna not only likes, but loves gray and black.  Still trying to convince her that a pop of red never hurts.
     In July we met at Rozanna's in North Ogden.  Jana's sons drove her from Park City because she couldn't make the drive herself.  She was fighting a hard fight but she was slowly loosing.  Now the concern was whether to push on with our project or take it easy. Jana would have none of that.  We set up the sewing machines and got to work.  We laughed and cried and when Jana got tired she went to bed.  This was probably the most emotional, sweet, fun time we ever had together.  
     We named our quilts "Chicken Bliss".  The 3 chickens represent the three of us, dancing and twirling and having a good time...for the last time.  
     
     Jana passed away November 21, 2009.  

     My quilt hangs near the door to my sewing room.  Every time I pass it I think of the good woman who brought us closer together and taught me about courage and faith in the face of unbeatable odds.  I love you, Jana, and this quilt is truly one of my favorites.

Oregon Morning Muffins

     My friend, Nancy, (Nancy of the Thrift Store adventures) lives in Montana.  Before she became "Montana Nancy" she was "California Nancy" and taught Home Ec at the same High School where I worked.  Nancy is an amazing cook and taught me how to make sushi and biscotti among other taste bud delites.  I've continued in the biscotti making (almost every week) but my sushi skills are another story.  Best to leave the sushi making to the pros.
     Nancy is also a published cookbook author and today I would like to share her recipe for Oregon Morning Muffins.  Don't ask me where the name came from.  Maybe an Oregon pioneer woman who lived on a mountain woke up one morning and decided to make some muffins.  All I know is that these muffins are amazing.  Here is the recipe:

2 cups flour                                                                           1/2 cup chopped nuts
1 1/4 cup sugar                                                                     1/2 cup shredded coconut
2 tsp. baking soda                                                                 1/2 cup carrots, grated (1 large carrot)
2 tsp. ground cinnamon                                                          3 eggs
1/2 tsp. salt                                                                            1 cup vegetable oil*
2 cups grated apples (about 2 apples)                                     2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup raisins, dried blueberries or Craisins

* You can substitute 3/4 cup of either plain or vanilla Greek Yogurt for the oil.

In a large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, making soda, cinnamon and salt.

Stir in apples, berries, nuts, coconut and carrots.  Mix well.

Beat eggs with oil (or Greek yogurt) and vanilla; stir into flour mixture just until combined.  Spoon batter (I like to use and ice cream scoop.  Much easier than a spoon.) into greased muffin tins or use cupcake liners, filling 3/4 full.  Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until springy to the touch.  Cool in tins on a cooling rack for 5 minutes.  Remove from tins and serve warm.

I hope you will try these delicious muffins.  Betcha can't eat just one.

Until next time...