Wire, Fabric, Beads, Cooking, Decorating, and lots of other stuff....

Nail polish, it's not just for nails anymore

2011-07-07T21:09:00.001-04:00

I decided that I would paint my nails for the first time since 1985...okay maybe more like 2000 for my wedding...anyway...I get myself ready, do everything I need to do before my nails are wet and begin...

Something isn't right... all of the polishes are thick, sticky, and a completely different color than what I'm sure I purchased. We're not talking about 1 or 2 bottles, oh no...we're talking a container.

So, what do you do? Why you grab some of your blue jean stash and go to work!!

The pouring and splattering begins!

A few thoughts....

Sooooooo glad I did this outside, although you can smell nail polish throughout our entire house....

There's really very little polish in those bottles for the amount of money you spend...

And finally, my color choices of nail polish are pretty boring and conservative...lots of pinks and pearls...next time I'm taking a walk on the wild side.

Of course, that depends on whether or not we pass out from the fumes.....

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It began life as a baseball

2011-06-19T22:33:00.001-04:00

It was a baseball that I had thrown out as a first pitch at the Hudson Valley Renegades game...I saw an article in Flea Market Style and got my really sharp scissors out.....

The assembly begins.......

Thankfully, I had purchased waxed linen thread for bookmaking..perfect for this!!

A few stitches, an old button, some inks and a stem, and we're done....

I now need alot more baseballs......anyone want me to throw out the first pitch...pretty please......- Posted using BlogPress from my IPod

Technology and the simple life....

2011-06-18T10:22:00.001-04:00

I used to have dial-up Internet.....I know we all did, but I had it wayyyy past it's prime. Case in point, my Mom came to visit us and was frustrated because she couldn't get to her favorite websites. When your technology is older than what your Mother is using, you gotta step up your game.
Hello Broadband and a new computer. We were flying down the informational and creative highway. Then I got a wireless router and that totally changed my world. Weather maps, sports scores, emails at my fingertips within a second or two. Netflix movies on our TV thru Roku could be the greatest thing since sliced bread. I could check my Facebook page and update my status from our back porch... I'm even on Twitter now, it's a great source of info and a cool way to quickly share all of the creativity going on!
So, with all of this connectivity at my fingertips throughout my house, you'd think I'd be like.."Wow how can I get my blog at my fingertips, so it's less formal and more fun and easy to update"...today I finally asked the question, found an app and here I am on my back porch blogging away on a Saturday morning with Bella and Pepper sleeping in their favorite spots.
It only took me 4 years...and combined with updating my Facebook page & Twitter...I may never look up from my IPod again, but at least my technology is no longer behind what my Mom is using and really that is the most important thing!

Old Board Games and treasured memories

2010-11-05T14:39:00.000-04:00

I have alot of great memories of my childhood. One of my favorites is watching Mom and Dad play Scrabble, seeing Mom play in a Scrabble club, and witnessing almost every new Scrabble board they bought. I think this may be one of the reasons why I love word games to this day.

When Mom and Dad asked me if I wanted one of their older scrabble boards for myself, I was thrilled. That game, with it's beat up box and old yellowing score papers, moved with me more times then I care to remember. I always had to find a special place to keep it. I worried if it would get smashed, or damp, or otherwise damaged.

I did this for many years, until one day it hit me. If I loved this game and all of the memories it contained, then why was I keeping it in a box, in a really safe place that I couldn't get to that easily? It didn't add up. I wanted to look at it and share it. Really enjoy it.

So, I made this....I actually found this fabric on a trip home in an upholstery warehouse with Mom & Dad and I thought it would be great for a bulletin board. So glad I never got around to that project!! I couldn't make this fast enough...it was all finished in my head...... I could see it hanging on my wall!

I did a little quilting around the letters on the fabric first and then just dumped out the scrabble tiles, started making words and glued them down. I loved the score cards, it's Mom & Dad's handwriting and I always want to be able to see that.

When I have a bad day, looking at this piece is really comforting. It reminds me of Mom & Dad. I can almost hear them tell me that no matter what I'm going through at the time...it will pass and I will be okay no matter what.

And of course, no piece is complete without being inspected by Bella, my sewing room kitty. I think she gave this her paw of approval.

Knee surgery, crutches, and 40 years

2010-09-26T23:18:00.000-04:00

When I was in high school, I had 3 surgeries on my knees. I spent almost 2 years in either a knee brace, a full-leg cast, or some kind of a bandage dressing thingy....all of which prevented me from bending my knee, for a long time. I remember my parents having to drive me to Physical Therapy, doing exercises to build my muscles back-up which had seriously atrophied, and wearing a TENS unit-which was to help relieve the pain by sending little electric shocks from my knee to my brain ( and yes this was as much fun as you think).

I didn't learn to drive until I was almost 20...it's tough to pass a Driver's test, when you can't bend your knee enough to be able to sit in the driver's seat, let alone be able to push important pedals, like the brakes...they typically frown on giving folks driver's licenses when you can't do those things, although lately I've begun to wonder where their standards went, but I digress.....

I've had Doctors tell me that I couldn't wear high heels (which really isn't good news when you're only 5'4" and weigh abit more than you should-heels would give the illusion of being taller and thinner(or so I thought), shouldn't dance, and activities like skiing and jogging are out. The no jogging thing was pretty okay with me to be completely honest here, but the rest was sort of depressing. I went from being a teenager to feeling like I had aged 40 years...

So now here I am 40 years older and guess what..... I've just had knee surgery. The bandage dressing thingy hasn't changed, crutches are still crutches (although they are nice and shiny and metal now-no longer the good ole wood variety), and I couldn't bend my knee for 5 days. Sigh..... And even though I have my Driver's License, I can't drive right now, because I can't push the clutch or the brake pedal enough to either put the car in gear or stop the car when necessary.

I don't mean to complain here. I mean I know I did wear high heels for awhile (I couldn't help myself), but I didn't take any dance classes ( & I really wanted to), and I've also never gone skiing (not too upset about this one-it left me more money for fabric and really cool threads-not to mention my Bernina!!!!!) It's just that I once again feel like I'm 40 years older...and that's just downright disgusting, frustrating, and any other word that means crap, %$^*), or @#%$^.

I am doing my exercises, beginning to use only 1 crutch when I'm home to help me get back on both legs quicker, and elevating my leg while I'm sitting. I'm trying not to act or feel, like I'm 40 years older than I am, but when I look in the mirror and see so many gray hairs, plus crutches, it's a tough image to overcome.

So, here's what I think I'm going to do.....I'm gonna get my hair cut in a cool and funky style and remember that, just like in high school, I will get my leg back. I just have to be patient........Now, where is that DSW Shoe Wearhouse catalog...I think a pair of red high heels would be just the thing to make this 40 something feel a little better.......

Cookbook Challenge of 2010...a refresher course.

2010-04-24T18:23:00.001-04:00

I began this challenge in December of 2009 after being tired of worrying all the time about money and jobs and the economy, and fill-in-the-blank-here. You name it, I was probably worried about it. So, I thought I needed to change my focus, remember to be grateful for all that I have in my life. I counted my cookbooks, 117 of them. How many did I actually use, probably 10. Here I was worried about what might happen, when I was missing a chance to learn new recipes, new techniques, and keep growing in my life-with things I already owned. So the gauntlet was tossed, 1 new recipe from each book before December 28, 2010.
I currently have 102 more to go.

Check that, make it 103, my husband bought me a new book for my Easter basket. Someone at work said that Don's no dummy... keep buying me cookbooks and all the good food from the challenge will never end! The new book is "Julia's Kitchen Wisdom" by, of course Julia Child. It's a great book with tools, techniques, and many ways to change a base recipe into all sorts of wonderful things! I made a creamy Leek & Potato Soup and I was amazed at how simple it was to make and how good it was to eat.

Next up, a French Potato salad w/Bacon from "The Silver Palate Cookbook", the 1st one. I have often said that I get tired of mayonnaise encrusted salads once the weather warms, but I wanted a little mayo in this..maybe it's just cold-weather talk longing for the tastes of summer, but something felt like it was missing.

Onward and upward I go! What's next, you ask? I'm wondering the same thing...thinking about potato dumplings from my 1 cookbook in German-boy I'm hoping that language comes back to me pretty quickly!!! Come to think of it, my family's probably wishing for the very same thing! Where is that German/English dictionary anyway..........

A rainy Monday in New York

2010-03-22T21:43:00.000-04:00

can mean only 1 thing...homemade macaroni & cheese.

No low-fat, skim milk, pretend it's creamy stuff...I need the real thing. A mix of sharp cheddar, muenster, an English goat milk cheese, and a few ritz crackers finely mashed.

Yep, ritz crackers tossed in after the cheeses and milk have mixed, mingled,and melted into an ooey goodness can take it to a whole other place. Elbow macaroni cooked in a beef broth, then tossed into the golden cheese goodness.

It was thick and creamy and comforting...just what a rainy day in New York ordered......

I think I just made Cheese-Its..from scratch!

2010-03-13T22:37:00.003-05:00

I have a confession to make. It's not an easy one, but here it goes........I am afraid of pie crusts. Don't get me wrong, I am fine when it comes to eating them, but I get freaked out when it comes to making them. I learned to make them by hand, and that's where the trouble began. The part about cutting it all together so that the dough resembles small peas was the part that got me. It always fell apart or else became permanently attached to the rolling pin. I have always bought pie dough. It was easy and I could just grab it and go.

But no more, thanks to Cookbook #105 "The Modern Family Cookbook, copyright 1953 AND my really cool KitchenAid stand mixer! I followed the recipe for Cheese pastry. It was simply a pie crust with shredded cheddar cheese added in. I have to admit, I was abit nervous. But it worked, it looked like real pie dough, it rolled out like real pie dough, and I could handle it like real pie dough!

I cut it in strips, put it in the oven, and kept my fingers crossed. When my husband ate them, he looked at me and said 'Hey these taste just like Cheese-Its!" He was right, they do except they don't have the MSG, all the chemicals, sodium, and other yucky stuff! So, as I was crazed with excitement, I made another batch and using a little canape cutter made a lot of little squares.

I started the Cookbook Challenge of 2010 because of all the fear and negativity in my life. Instead of focusing on what I didn't have, I would focus on what I did have and some very cool things are beginning to happen. I am finding a new independence of sorts, learning how to make things from scratch with better ingredients and less chemicals. Plus, I am actually helping our budget, because it always cost more to buy things that are pre-made or pre-packaged.

Who knew that a little flour, water, and shortening could teach me such a valuable lesson......

"Look at my Shorts", the winter storm of the century, and Roasted Red Pepper Soup...

2010-03-13T18:38:00.003-05:00

So, what's been going on lately...hmmmm...let me think....

snow, snow, snow....wait not done yet...and more snow. We were actually very lucky in that we didn't lose power like a lot of towns all around us did. These are the days when I feel like I actually do some good on the radio, because we can tell folks very quickly what's going on, or not happening, and give real time power outage updates and road conditions. After a week like this though, I come home and I don't want to talk anymore....my parents are probably laughing right now and would tell Don to enjoy it...my silence may not come around for another century!!!!

I also had a chance to get back on stage for the first time in 11 years. A very good friend, David, called and asked me to be part of a very special night of staged readings as a benefit for the scholarship fund in his wife's memory. Her name is Maria and if it wasn't for David and her, I wouldn't know Don. It was the two of them who thought we might hit it off. They were right!! It was also David and Todd, who wrote all of the short plays we performed, who gave me a chance to be on stage when I first moved here in 1996. I was so scared to get back up there, but it was great and I was very honored to have been a part of this special night!

Then there's the roasted red pepper from Paula Deen's first collection of cookbooks. I am sure that when Paula made it, it was delicious. When I made it, well how do I put this, it was a pinkish-orange, runny, grassy tasting concoction..doesn't that sound delicious. Don opted not to give any to his Mom, he was afraid if she saw that she would not want me to cook for her anymore and she'd go back to eating nothing but pizza.

I'm not sure what happened, but I don't think this one goes on the wall of favorites, especially since my husband, while trying to make me laugh, said ""hey maybe we can use this as a salve for a flesh wound."

So, it's time to get back to the Cookbook Challenge of 2010. I bought a really cool pan and a new knife. They are beautiful tools to work with. I made mushroom risotto and a few other favorite dishes to break them in! I think I'm once again ready to try something new...but I think I'll stay away from roasted red peppers and thyme for awhile.......

2010-02-16T22:29:00.002-05:00

just a little top stitch piecing with a bit of leather thrown in....
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2010-02-16T22:13:00.001-05:00

jeans...pastel oil sticks..and a plastic onion bag..just seeing what could happen

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Craving, craving, craving......

2010-02-15T17:47:00.001-05:00

I had a bad day at work last week, it's not the first and it won't be the last. But, on this particular bad work day I needed some comfort, I wanted something to help smooth the edges of a rough day, and a visit to Michael's Arts & Crafts just wasn't going to cut it. No, this called for something much more serious. This called for a plate of Fettuccine Alfredo.

That's all I could think of as the day progressed. I could see it, smell it, and taste it! I thought of which restaurants around the Hudson Valley had the best, were the closest, were open. I was completely crazed. I even went an entirely different way home to drive by Antonella's. I had every intention of pulling in and calling my husband to meet me there. I swear I felt the car start to turn on its own into the parking lot.

That's when it hit me....hello... Cookbook Challenge of 2010...remember. Perfect! Surely, I thought, I would have a cookbook which would contain a recipe of Fettuccine Alfredo. After scouring through 15 books I was begin to get a little panicky. The craving was still there and I had passed up a chance to have immediate gratification in exchange for learning something. What could I have been thinking!? Then, I found it.

It was a little book, I had completely forgotten that I owned it. Cookbook # 108 is "Patsy's Italian Restaurant Cookbook", published by the family that owns Patsy's on West 56th Street in New York City! It was the easiest dish I have ever made. I would have broken down in tears over how much money I've wasted on those little tiny sauce packets in my lifetime, but that would have slowed my eating down.

In spite of the crazy day, in spite of just how badly I just wanted to be served what I wanted without having to do any of the work, and in spite of the time it took to find the recipe, it was worth it. I am finally free from the little sauce-mix packets, you know the ones... they start with "McCor..."

In fact, when I was at the grocery store this weekend, I walked abit smugly past the big display of those little packets...until my eye caught a new one.... a four cheese with sun dried tomato..as my hand started to reach for it, I stopped myself, if I can make Fettuccine Alfredo from scratch, I can learn anything!!!! I just need the right cookbook, good thing I have 117 of them!

2010-02-13T12:54:00.001-05:00

Mushroom risotto

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2010-02-13T12:52:00.001-05:00

a Crabcake Quiche

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Meatballs, Coffee Cakes, & Migraines

2010-01-31T18:25:00.001-05:00

Nobody would ever order anything like that from a menu. I mean really good meatballs and a light, moist coffee cake are always good choices; but nobody wants a migraine. Neither do I, but during the month of January I've had 8 of them. They kind of wear me down and I'm usually left pretty drained the next day, so the Cookbook Challenge of 2010 has slowed abit, but it has by no means stopped!

On to cookbook #111, I have used this book before and I've always liked the results. It has pretty simple, really tasty dishes in it. So, when I wanted something sweet on a Saturday afternoon, this is the book I grabbed. "Quick Coffee Cake" was the recipe, and it was very quick, very light, and very sweet. A perfect combination, it hit the spot. The only problem with the "Quick Coffee Cake" is that I can never again make it when it's just Don & I eating it...I could not stop eating it, so the next time I make it, here has to be at least 10 people here, or I have to take it to work, it will definitely disapper there!

After two weeks of headaches, I thought I would make my selection for Cookbook #110...this one took a little longer than the previous selections, I think the migraines played a part in that. I landed on a book I remember just absolutely having to have, I couldn't bear to leave the bookstore without it. That was 5 years ago and I've never used it, until now. I plucked "The Complete Book of Sauces" from the shelf and proceeded to actually read it! What to make...hmmmm. I settled on a "Sicilian Sauce", bought the ingredients and we were off! Part way through though, it felt as if steps or ingredients were missing. When all was said and done, it was okay, but it tasted alot like canned sauce-without the "tinniness", not really what I wanted after 1 1/2 hours of work. So I was bit bummed, then I found the chapter on fresh sauces. I made a Pico de Gallo which was really good. Did I mention that it also has an entire chapter on flavored and whipped butters....yummmmmmmmm!

Cookbook #109, or should I say #109, #108, and #107. You see when I orginally counted my cookboks, which is how this challenge started, I thought I had 3 different versions of this particular book, but as it turns out, they're all the same and all from 1954! The drawings are very cool to see, and the section names are too fun..."Teenage Gatherings", "Dessert Parties", & "How to pack a 4-star lunch". So, I'm thinking that 3 new recipes from these books should keep everything on the up and up, challenge-wise! Today it was "Lazy Daisy Meatballs", I couldn't resist a title like that! I had to modify this recipe abit though, because I didn't think I had enough salt in the house to fulfill the recipe requirement...it was crazy!!!! Not bad, almost a stroganoff taste to them, and not as heavy as I thought.

So, this week it will be onto the next two recipes from this book..I mean books! Maybe I'll use the chili recipe, I have a Chili Cookoff at work on Thursday! Tonight though it's the Grammy awards, I am a sucker for award shows! Our snackies are made, Lazy Daisy Meatballs, Paula Deen's Crab Cakes, and good 'ole hot dogs and sauerkraut, add a favorite beverage or two and I'm all set!

It ain't heavy...it's just the pierogi lasagna.....

2010-01-16T12:06:00.000-05:00

Lift with your legs, not with your back...okay hotpads in hand, open oven door, slide the oven rack out, remember lift with your legs and not your back.....okay got the casserole dish...lifting with legs-why is the dining room table soooooooo far away-okay she's down, whew! I think I heard the tabel groan abit when I set the dish down. Which dish you may ask... why the mighty pierogi lasagna. Don't get me wrong, it was really good, but quite filling and now no reps needed on the weight machine at the gym! My lunchbucket could have been used as a lethal weapon with just one small container of pierogi lasagna inside.

Moving on to Cookbook #113 "New York Cookbook", this is a great book. I've made several really good dishes from it, plus it has info on Culinary landmarks in NYC. So, I confidently picked the recipe for Pasta Fagioli. Now, in all fairness it did say that this particular recipe was more of an "old-world" version of the dish and not what we were used to today....that is an understatement. It turned out to be the color of grayish brown-not my favorite color combo(I don't think there's even a paint chip with a color like that on it). Don loved it, he said he just closed his eyes and it was fine..I couldn't do it and I made a REALLY big pot of it. Lesson learned here, don't make a REALLY big pot, dish, pan of anything unless you're SURE you can eat it.

Cookbook #112 is "Cover & Bake", it's from the editors of Cook's Illustrated. Don got this for me for Christmas about 2 years ago and it is a very cool book. It's all about casseroles and pot pies, true comfort foods! In the Cook's Illustrated tradition, it has chapters on all equipment needed to successfully make the dishes, even discussions on variations of ingredients. I made, as the photo below shows, the Creamy Chicken & Rice Casserole with peas, carrots, and cheddar. This I loved, and it wasn't a grayish-brown color. It looked much like a dish that you could find on the back of a Campbell's Creamy Chicken soup can, with a couple of really big differences. This dish has very little sodium (have you read the sodium content on the back of any soup can!!!!), and I used Smart Balance instead of butter-'cause I'm trying not to kill my husband or mother-in-law with this challenge! It was light and creamy and perfect for a winter's eve. I will definitely be making this again. I am tempted to try another dish from this book, but I will move on!

So, it's on to book #111!!! I don't know which one that is yet, so I better get reading!

2010-01-14T22:37:00.001-05:00

Creamy Chicken & Rice Cass w/ peas carrots and cheddar from "Cover & Bake" cookbook 112!

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Zippers and Pasta Fagioli......

2010-01-13T23:01:00.001-05:00

I put a zipper in!!!!!! I actually put a zipper in!!!! Wait, just one more time...I put a zipper in!!!! Just to make sure we're on the same page, the zipper I put in wasn't in a dress, a shirts, or a pair of jeans...it was in a bag. You know... the ones you carry around in bigger bags to hold alot of small stuff! I have made, or attempted, to make zippered bags before, and I tried to follow every step in the directions(for those of you who know me realize how challenging that can be for me) They always came out looking as if they had been run over by a car, they were crooked, uneven, and didn't really sit right.

But that has all changed now! (I say with much excitement after successfully making only 1 bag!) I bought the latest Quilts & More magazine, and there it was.... an article with pictures that I actually understood, that made sense to me. The previous pattern had you putting in the zipper as the last step(not pretty!) but this had it as the first steps. Then my Mom gave me another hint to press down the seam allowance on each half of the bag and simply stitch down onto the zipper, then put the rest of it together( which is just the side seams and the bottom...the possibilites this has opened up. Zippered totes, zippered pockets in zippered totes, zippers...zippers..zippers.....guess what everyone is getting THIS Christmas!!!!!

There is just one problem. Which zippers do I use? I have a drawer full of zippers I was collecting for a new piece I wanted to work on...all funky colors, some with teeth missing....guess off to the store I go. Sometimes one must sacrifice for one's art!

2010-01-13T22:56:00.002-05:00

This is the bag! It actually sits flat and opens and closes!
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The Great Challenge of 2010...

2010-01-04T22:31:00.001-05:00

It's Monday, January 4th..so how's it going-you may ask...well... here's the scoop...I made crab cakes from Paula Deen's cookbooks for New Year's Eve, and I thought, coolness here's another cookbook off the list,and on a holiday to boot! Then Don said "I thought you said the recipes had to be new ones, not ones you've made before...grumble, grumble, grumble...okay he's right(someone has to keep me honest!)

So I moved forward, made a mushroom risotto from the book "Linda McCartney On Tour" on New Year's Day, it was pretty good..I think it could become a staple...but what was really cool is that I really read this cookbook...I looked at alot of recipes,checked out the index,looked at supporting websites, and it is really cool. It has alot of simple recipes from all over the world. What a great book...and there it was just sitting on my shelf. It used to belong to Elizabeth, and I know I loved it beacuse of that, but man I was missing out! But no more!!!

The count as of today is I have 114 more cookbooks to go, and I believe I have picked the next one. It's the "Buffalo Presbyterian Church Cookbook", it was a Christmas gift from my parents in 1984, and I don't think there is anything even remotely healthy in here..not that that is a pre-requisite for this challenge, I'm just trying not to kill anybody who has high cholesterol, sugar, etc.....so tomorrow night we'll see how the pierogi lasagna turns out..can anyone say carbs!!!!!!!

New Year's Eve 2009

2009-12-31T13:20:00.005-05:00

Wow, I can hardly believe it..another New Year's Eve is here. Another year to look back on, take stock of, and use to move forward with. I lost another dear friend this year, in October..we lost Elizabeth in October 2008..and my Gram in October a few years back....I'm beginning to not really like October.... The radio industry has certainly taken a hit in the past year, we've had rounds of layoffs, mandatory furloughs, and no raises in site. When I look back at this past year, there's a wash of fear and worry over almost everything...which needs to end before it just keeps taking and taking the joy from my life.

I think that's why I am enjoying challenging myself with cooking something from each of my cookbooks in the coming year and learning new techniques from my fiber arts/sewing books. It is a good reminder of what I already have, what's been sitting on my shelves all the while I worried about "what if they lay me off...". I am very lucky with all that I have, I don't want to take it for granted, and I want to keep learning and growing no matter what happens in my job or in my life. As my dear friend Esther, who we lost this past October, always said..."none of us has ever had control over our lives...so why the panic now..nothing has changed." I'd like to think that Esther would approve of my little challenge to myself.

The other thing I like about my challenge is that it brings back memories of those I've lost or those who are back home. When I make green beans..I can hear Gram telling me to cook them in beef broth..it will make them taste great. If I make spaghetti with lots of green peppers..I feel like I'm back in her kitchen in Gibsonia. When I roast peppers or try my hand at seafood, I can't help but think of Elizabeth who taught me so much! She was an angel...if you got close enough to her you could almost hear her wings.When I make anything from scratch, without a mix, or bake anything..I always think of my Mom...looking back she was amazing while we were growing up..(she is still amazing!!!) of course I don't think I appreciated it at the time...Homemade everything and even though I didn't pay the closest of attention while she cooked..I did pick up a few things and I can remember watching her do things, plus she is always ready to help me out whenever I call..and she doesn't leave ingredients out of the recipe like her Mother-In-Law did to her-can you imagine!!!

So, this challenge helps me in so many ways and even though, so far, all of the recipes have been successful, that may not always be the case. But, I'm not too worried, because it already has done me good and I think that will only increase as the year goes on and maybe, just maybe, on next New Year's Eve there will be a wash of joy, love, and laughter over almost everything.....

Happy New Year

Creativity in all parts of my life.....

2009-12-28T17:20:00.003-05:00

I have always told people that you should look before you leap...know what your goal is or where you want to go before you walk down one path or another...apparently I missed that little step with myself and my goals for 2010. You see upon closer examination of my cook books and my fabric arts books, I have discovered a few interesting things......

1. I have 2 cookbooks from 1934...1 book from during WWII-which took into account all of the various food shortages. I also have one that the main ingredient is beer...1 from England that is all in metrics...I knew I should have payed attention that day they told us about conversion between the two systems. I have 1 in German..I used to be able to speak and write in German...but that is long gone. I pick up a fashion magazine in German every now and then to give the language a go again, but I'm not so sure my family wants me to guess what the recipe calls for and how it should be cooked......

2. In my sewing studio I have discovered some interesting titles there as well....1 is "Quilting with the Muppets"..really what was I thinking...another, which was a gift and I know was given with the best possible of intentions, is "Mirror Manipulations"..there are points that have to be met all over the place in this book..scary stuff..I mean they want you to use binding for goodness sake!!!! Has anybody seen my work? Trust me when I say there isn't any binding on anything...in fact most people think my stuff is unfinished :) I also apparently own an Upholsterer's book...oh that should be fun...I'm going to have to measure. Don't get me wrong, I own measuring tapes, several as a matter of fact, but I always looked at them more like cat toys than tools. I wonder if you can still read the numbers through the chew marks...

Day two of my challenge and I've already learned a couple of lessons....one really should know what one already owns. If you don't, I don't think you should buy more stuff...just think Muppet quilting....the other lesson is mathematics can really be useful in life after school...and finally maybe I should have just given up eating chocolate for the New Year........

Cooking Goals

2009-12-27T18:30:00.002-05:00

117 Cookbooks..making one recipe from each book by December 27, 2010......

Tonight made Chiles Rellenos from "Rick Bayless's Mexican Kitchen"...my husband is a huge fan of the dish, almost always orders it when we go to a Mexican Restaurant...by the way "La Puerta Azul" in Millbrook NY is AMAZING!!! I'm not saying mine compared to theirs, but Don liked it and that works for me...although I do think I left the poblano peppers under the broiler a little too long to be able to remove the skin..I almost removed everything! A little re-shaping of the pepper with the filling was necessary!

Last night I made Onion Soup and Chicken Breasts with Mushroom Cream Sauce from "Mastering the Art of French Cooking"..I was scared to death to cook anything out of this book..all of a sudden I was back in Jr. High in Home EC with my teacher, who I was certain hated young people and Home EC. But when I just read the recipe through before I started and took it one step at a time...I did it..I was having fun...Don loved them both!

So, now 115 cookbooks to go, 1 recipe from each by 12/27/10.....I hope my Mother-In-Law likes this!!!!

thoughts on cooking and sewing goals for 2010

2009-12-27T18:05:00.003-05:00

I usually write a list of goals for myself around this time every year. they aren't typical goals like...lose 10 pounds or stop eating chocolate or try to de-stress...no these are goals I think I can actually attain (or at least have a better shot at attaining!)
Usually I write this list on a really BIG sheet of paper and hang it in my sewing studio, aka Beth's clubhouse, but this year I thought I'd write it here. I think the fact that I have recently watched "Julie & Julia" may have helped that decision a bit! I was really impressed...to give oneself a really specific goal, with a time limit. I though that's a great idea...how can I use this and apply it to my own life...this is what I came up with....

Cooking:
(since I not only cook our meals but all of the meals for my Mother-in-law, this where I thought I'd start)

1. I own 117 cookbooks, the most recent one a Christmas gift from my husband, "Mastering the art of French Cooking" by Julia Child, Louisette Bertholle, and Simone Beck---this book is amazing, but I digress...back to the point...not only will I not buy another cookbook this year, I will cook 1 recipe from each book by December 27, 2010.

Sewing:

1. I will not buy any new fabric in 2010..I will use what I have for any project I work on...however gifts of fabric can and will excitedly be accepted!
2. I own approximately 60 books on fiber art, sewing machine techniques, quilting books, etc. therefore I will actually read these books and will try 3 techniques from each book by December 27, 2010.
3. The only items I will buy this year for my sewing in the coming year will be needles; sewing machine maintenance items..ie oil, cleanings etc.; and threads.
4. I will allow myself to have 1 night every week in my sewing studio..even if all I do is rearrange fabric! I can't create if I am not in my space.

Okay, I think that's it....hmmm maybe losing 10 pounds, not eating chocolate, and trying to de-stress would be easier!!!!! I'll let you know how it's going!!!!

Entries

2009-10-01T00:58:00.002-04:00

"If you would like to enter a quilt or try your hand at our Fabric Book challenge, that would be great, submission deadline is September 17th. Remember all you need is a photograph..the item need not be finished until drop-off on Sunday, October 4th" I know these words, I've written these words, I've told other people these words......why did I never really READ these words! The item must be finished by...all you need is a photo right now....this is like a credit card for the Artist!
You see, I've been in a slump, a creative drought, lots of stress in my life, a few health issues, etc. So, I really wanted to enter a fabric book, except that all the pictures that normally float around my head with completed projects, seem to have vacated the premises.
And what do most of us do when we find ourselves short at the end of the month...or in a creative vacuum...we pull out the plastic, or our digital camera whichever is closer and we say "put it on our tab!" I've been pulling fabric, dis-manteling silk flowers, trying out fabric paints, free-motion stitching, all in an attempt to force the creativity. This could leave a mark, and not the fun, funky kind normally found on your latest piece!
So, here's what I think...I need to remember to breathe..I need to remember to trust myself...and I need to remember to Never Ever do this again, after all I've got to pay my tab in full this Sunday,and I'm a little afraid to see all of the creative IOU's in there!

2009-09-26T01:13:00.001-04:00

more de-stressing...

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2009-09-26T00:42:00.000-04:00

de-stress thru art

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Root Canals...inspiration?!?!?

2009-08-05T15:02:00.003-04:00

Root Canal today at 12:15...inspiration quickly following! Okay, maybe quickly isn't the best word but it does follow! When I get nervous, which even after 3 root canals I still do, it helps me to change my focus, think about something else.

I remember listening to an interview, can't remember who it was, but this struck me.."The quality of our lives depends largely on what we choose to pay attention to..." It's true, we all know that if we are certain that there is something negative about a situation-we'll find it no matter how hard we have to look, and while we're looking so hard for the bad how many really nice things have we ignored, not noticed...because we were only focused on the negative. The joy is missed.

I've missed alot of joy in my life, I am sad to say. I get caught up in the worry and the "what if's" and I forget that while I am focusing on the scary or unknown or negativity..I am missing the laughs or the words of comfort or the moment at hand.

Plus, while I am worrying I am NOT creating. Well, let's correct that, I am creating but it's bad stuff like headaches and sleepless nights, hours of stress. I want to create the good stuff, like hand created Christmas gifts, or a sketch of a wall-hanging, selecting colors for a new piece, things that help me de-stress, breathe easier, actually help me deal better when the real problems arise!

Which brings us back to the Root Canal. I was so nervous and anxious that I didn't do myself or my husband any favors. I didn't really enjoy last night and I walked around like a mope this morning. So while in the chair, I thought you have to calm down, you have to think of something else..and slowly images of my sewing room came into my head, then projects that I haven't touched in awhile, plans for an Art Day with some of the girls from work started to materialize and before I realized it my hands weren't clenched together so tightly, my shoulders dropped, and my breathing got easier.

Changing my focus to something creative changed the quality of my life at that moment in the Endodontist's chair. I just wish I could remember to do that a little earlier...I'm working on it. After all, just like so many projects in my sewing space, I am also a work-in-progress.

2009-07-26T10:42:00.015-04:00

Colors, love 'em, am reminded of the words to a Harry Chapin song "Flowers are Red"
the little boy on his first day of school colors flowers in all colors and the teacher tells him that he is wrong, that flowers are supposed to be red and green leaves are green. But he sees all the colors...she doesn't really appreciate that. In the end, the hope is that we can teach our children that "there are so many colors in the rainbow, so many colors in the morning sun, there are so many colors in a flower so let's use every one"

A new Mantra

2009-07-25T15:17:00.005-04:00

What happens when a blog seems to "go dark"..when there aren't any updates..nothing new on the page for months and months....I was always bummed when I had found really cool blogs that I read at least once a week, and then waited for new entries that never seemed to come. I've done the same thing here.

I'd like to say that a lack of motivation or creativity had nothing to do with it, that it was just the craziness of life, working longer hours, trying to take care of our household and my Mother-in-law's at the same time..you know being responsible..but it's all of it...it becomes a vicious cycle...I am tired after work (I know going into my sewing space would really help-but have to take care of so many other things...maybe tomorrow), then tomorrow comes and before I will let myself do something for me..I have to take care of everyone else, cook, manage the bills, house chores, so then I finish with everything I'm supposed to do and it's 11pm, I could go upstairs to my space for my time...but man am I tired....

I could add to this, but I think we all get the picture. It's time for me to break this vicious cycle!!! Yes, I have a lot to do-we all do- but I have to make sure that I take care of myself because pretty soon I may not have anything left to take care of anyone else.

The best thing I can do for me, is to go into my sewing space, my creative place, Beth's Clubhouse, a my husband calls it. This is where I remember how to breathe again. I can feel my shoulders relax. I love looking at all my fabric and threads, the colors and textures, the bits and pieces I collect. Slowly, I am reminded who I am, and when that happens my imagination comes back, I start to sketch or knit or sew or anything else I can think of. I remember pieces that I are all done in my head, I just need to get them into fabric and thread and beads and wire and plastics and all sorts of fun things! You should see the portfolio in my head, I just wish it were in my hands.

I realize how important creativity is to my life and who I am, therefore it is on the same level of importance as eating, sleeping, and breathing. So, this is my resolution, my challenge to myself, my new mantra, if you will....I will do something creative every day-no more putting it off until tomorrow-even if it's for just 5 minutes. Jot an inspiration down in a notebook, capture images with my digital camera, get out my numerous sketch books and just color, write on this blog...... it doesn't matter what I do, it matters that I Do!
Who says you have to wait until New Year's Eve to make resolutions? By this New Year's Eve..I want to be well on my way to being less stressed, healthier, happier, and holding more of my pieces in my hand than in my head. :)

Salt, crayons, and irons..oh my

2009-02-16T20:01:00.005-05:00

I love experimenting...looking at something and wondering what else can be done with this object.. ."What would happen if..." just may be my favorite phrase. And, if you're like me, you've used adhesives, a variety of water soluble stabilizers, inks, paints, seemingly un-necessary plastic objects, and wire. No, not all on the same piece, but hey you never know. And something is sagging, fading, or just not looking very happy. (I experience this personally on certain days when I look in the bathroom mirror, but I digress.)

I found out that no matter how much time, effort, and sweat you put into a piece, not every product does what it says it will do. I've also learned that sometimes you really SHOULD read the directions, and sometimes maybe you just shouldn't have gone there in the first place.

So, here's a few things that you probably already figured out. It always takes me a little longer.......

1. Using Seta Color paints(which I love and highly recommend.) Be careful if you use salt and the paint. Table salt is so fine that after you've gotten the effect you want, you think you have it all off, you don't. If you sew with that piece, as I did, and that fine salt goes down into your sewing machine-which you can't see, and let's say you have one of the worst weeks in terms of humidity, it isn't pretty what happens. Rust forms quickly. I was shocked when I saw the damage. After a visit to my sewing machine repair shop, I had to buy a new bobbin case, and although I always cleaned my machine after a project I have to do it more often. I was very lucky. If you use salt-use a bigger grain of salt, or just quickly rinse the piece. I have friends who have been to classes where they show you this technique and don't tell you to make sure you get rid of all of the salt. (Funny side note, my friends said that with all of the experimentation I've done with my machine, sewing metal, wire etc, they were shocked that I hadn't done damage before!
2. Old kitchen appliances are not always the best sewing room tools. I know this may sound funny, but I try to look at things in a different light. Not always successful. So, when my old food processor had only 1 blade left, I thought.."Wow imagine how fast I can crush crayons up in this! I'll be melting these suckers onto a piece in no time" Once the ringing in my ears subsided and my sense of smell returned-who knew crayons could be so potent-the last thing I wanted to do was add heat-I wasn't sure I could take anymore. It's also tough to clean crayon wax off those sharp blades, the little spatula they give you really isn't up to the task......
3. In our house, we have 2 irons. This is very important. After using fusibles, ironing over paints and inks, or using the iron to help heat wire so you can manipulate it easier, it isn't good to use the same iron for, let's say dress shirts before a big meeting at work. Plus, having two or more ironing board covers you can switch out is good too, stuff just seems to spread and seep when heat is applied and it never stays on the protective sheet you put down on the board. You just have to remember to switch them....all I can say here is..... my poor husband.

I love experimenting with fabric, and wire, and plastic, and all sorts of fun things. It's my way of recycling and creating something new all at the same time, plus I ilke things that have a history! So, I think I'll just keep on experimenting, and learning and finding space on my walls for my own little gallery. My poor husband....hey does anybody smell crayons....

Flowers, paints and photos...oh my

2009-02-12T19:53:00.004-05:00

Morning Glories are one of my favorite flowers...they always make me smile...so I picked some leaves, placed them on top of blue jean squares I had painted with Seta Color, put them in the sun, and waited. This is what it turned out to be, I simply stitched around the outline of the shadow of the leaves! Seta Color Rocks...it so cool to paint with it, then you just place objects on top of it, set it in the sun and watch as shadows of those objects appear on the fabric! I like to take photos of my flower gardens, or flowers on the side of a road, or well anywhere actually. (Isn't that one of the great things about a digital camera, you can take as many pictures as you want, see what they look like right away and delete the yicky ones!! What did we ever do before!) Once I have the photos in my computer, I either print them on paper and stitch them down or I print them on fabric and then add to a piece.

For this piece, I printed a photo of my lilies onto Fabraganza- a special printable organza by Jacquard-which I love----then just added some stitching to it to bring out some of the details. Just having fun and seeing what happens if.........

A new work in progress...

2009-02-10T21:46:00.002-05:00

These are panels of a new piece I am working on...the inspiration is women and how we look at ourselves and how we think others look at us. Some cover and hide, others flaunt, some embellish, and still others are sort of trying to figure it out.

I've only posted four of the panels, but there are 16 of them. The piece above has a "dress" of knitted wire.

I wasn't going to include any words on this piece, this is the exception. It says worth. I think women struggle with their own worth and the worth that society tells us we have.

I wanted to learn to knit just for this piece, so my friends Karen, Stacy, and Meeghan, all patiently helped me and supplied me with needles and yarn...and then I said I wanted to not only knit with yarn, but I also wanted to knit with wire. They know me well enough to pause for just a second, laugh loudly, and then help me out!!! They are the best!

Sewing Room Kitties!

2009-02-08T17:48:00.003-05:00

I can't show you my work without showing you our two sewing room kitties. As you can tell, they are eager to get to work, helping me create a new piece, or simply adding the good vibs every sewing space needs!!!

Having fun!!!

2009-02-08T17:32:00.003-05:00

This is an unfinished piece, I loved the fabric, wasn't sure what to do with it, so I just started sewing. The bottom is nothing but a zig-zag stitch with a varigated thread over and over, and then the star-bursts above. This was the stepping off piece for me for the washer piece, seen on a previous blog.

This was done because of a challenge by my friend Karen. It was a summer challenge and it was the M challenge. To make a piece inspired by an artist whose name begins with M. I chose Joni Mitchell and the song "The River"..."I wish I had a river I could skate away on..." that was the inspiration for this piece..the river is actually a Christmas ornament I got at Eckerd's for 25 cents and then I took it apart and spread it out. When the piece was displayed, along with the other challenge pieces, it is rumoured that one kind lady said it didn't fit, because the inspiration for the piece wasn't an artist, just a singer...I wonder what Joni Mitchell would think of that??

This is a close-up of a piece that was done after a visit to the dentist. It is called "Novocain Flashback". The background is denim, with twisted yarns and threads couched down, and another Christmas ornament taken apart and sewn down. It is comforting to touch over the couched yarns and then your hand hits the bits and pieces of the ornament...Novocain Flashback

Old Postcards

2009-02-08T17:24:00.003-05:00

This is a close-up view of a piece I made after buying postcards at an antique/flea market. I thought they were so pretty, they had been hand tinted and they have a texture to them, you can feel the design. I didn't want them to just sit in a box. I thought they should be on display.

I had a piece that my Mom made, showing me how to create chenille. So I thought it would work for the postcards...a combination of my history and someone else's together...out of the box and up on the wall.

What to do with all those plastic grocery bags..Sew with them!!!

2009-02-07T20:04:00.003-05:00

After staring at bags of bags..which made no sense to me..I had to figure out how to use them in a piece...so I twisted them and couched them down on a mini quilt...

They're easy to sew with and I found myself searching and searching for all the holiday shopping bags as those were different colors!! The other benefit of sewing with plastic bags...the piece already comes with handles for easy displaying!!

Using objects that already exist and are about to be thrown away as always interested me...

Sewing supplies at the hardware store? Yes!

2009-02-07T19:56:00.003-05:00

This pieces was made by free motion quilting on the front of the fabric and then using the back...

Each "flower" center is made of a metal washer wrapped with yarns and threads...the piece became very heavy very quickly...I will use plastic washers next time!!!

I free motioned the "petals" first and then hand-stitched the covered washers on...

I also cut into the quilt to create slits. In these slites I placed plastic tubing covered with jeans and random threads from my sewing studio floor.....

The shape of it, is the shape of it...It comes out as it comes out....

Rock in Roll quilts #3

2009-02-07T19:48:00.003-05:00

Handsome loves The Band....printed photos on muslin.......
Printed some photos on paper and just stiched them down.....

Used Free motion sewing to create all the words on this piece.....

Also burnt some art papers in various shapes to add to the piece....

He really liked it...I just have to figure out how he can hang it in his office!!!!