Worktable Wednesday - Scratching the Surface

I'm trying my hand at scratchboard, whenever I have a spare moment.  (HA!)  Drawing my mandalas into the scratchboard (board covered in clay and ink) is so very relaxing and fun!  I'm coloring it as I go with watercolors.  I'll be looking forward to seeing how it looks when it's done.

Worktable Wednesday Almost Ready

 "A Creative Mind"
This painting is almost done.  Just one or two more gears to get onto it, and the hanging wire on the back.
I think I would have been more satisfied with it if the gears actually spun, almost continually of course.  After all, that's how a creative mind works:  always moving, but the gears don't always mesh.

Until next week, keep your sand blue!

Hanging My Paintings: The Good and The Bad

Nerve wracking.  Yep.  It was nerve wracking (and still is).

Now, knowing about me and my business, I've made jewelry and painted silk scarves, and created cards, and painted tee shirts, and crocheted stuff, and sold it (or tried to) at craft show after craft show after craft show.  I've also tried selling it online in my Etsy shop.  Somehow, none of this has ever been as nerve wracking for me as my latest attempt: hanging paintings for sale at the Fluvanna County Public Library.

I'm not sure why, but I feel like I have a much more personal attachment and connection to my paintings and collages than I do to my jewelry, scarves, and other works of art.  When hanging these paintings on the wall, I felt like I was opening part of my soul to the public.  

These paintings were created with specific days in mind, like this one:

This one was done after Father's Day this past June.  We spent the day picking cherries at a local cherry orchard.  Lots of cherries.  More cherries than you could imagine.  Or maybe you could imagine 17 lbs of cherries.  I couldn't until we picked that many.  

Two of the paintings are recreated from my past:

My giraffe painting, from when I was in elementary school, taking summer art courses.  The eyelashes are even sparkly, just as I envisioned them all those years ago.  And, of course, Sand is Blue.  That one was a real challenge to paint.  It was hard, but a lot of fun, because I could just let myself go.  I wanted it to have a "coloring book" feel to it, which I think it does.  The small child in my felt vindicated and proud when I hung that painting on the wall of the library.  

There are several more paintings to be finished, priced, and hung.  I hope I can overcome all the feelings of insecurity I have when those paintings go up.  I hope I can get past seeing the faults, and seeing them through the eyes of the art teachers I had so very long ago.  

Until next time, 

Keep your Sand Blue

Worktable Wednesday - Ready to Go!

Small paintings and collages ready to go to the Library!

This is it.  I was getting ready for my first public show of my art.  Not my jewelry.  Not my scarves.  But my real Hanging-on-the-Wall, Used-Paint-and-Stuff paintings and collages.  These are now adorning the walls of the Fluvanna County Public Library, along with some other paintings.  And there are a few more to come, too.  How does time get away from me so quickly?  I don't know.  But slowly, the desk is clearing off, and the tubs will be getting empty.  Maybe.  If I don't take on any more projects.  ;-)

Worktable Wednesday - Sand is Blue

Several years ago, I posted a story here in my blog about sand being blue.  Lately, I've felt compelled to recreate the paintings that were lost so many years ago.  They were lost due to frustration, anger, and a lot of hurt.  This is all part of my rebuilding of my self esteem  Here is one of the first paintings, almost done.  There will be more coming in the future!

Until next time, keep your sand blue!

Worktable Wednesday - Pendents, pendents and more pendents

I have quite a collection of really cute pendents.  Quilts, flowers, and Art Nouveau.  I'll probably be adding some of my own mandalas once I get some free time.  I love making them.  Next step is to figure out where to sell these little beauties!

Worktable Wednesday - Resin Pretties

When I get a few minutes, I love playing with my resin!  All the colors I can create, swirling colors together to make something new and different.... The only problem is this:  what on earth do I do with all the resin pretties that I make?  Some are turned into pendents, some are turned into buttons.  But mostly, they get thrown into a box, and forgotten about for awhile.  Shame on me!  ;-)

Summing It Up Sunday - A week in review

Another Sunday rolls around.  Time for rest, relaxation, and reviewing the accomplishments of the week.  And what a week it has been.

To start with, if you remember my blog post from August 6, I was wondering what to do with the piles of stock I have laying around my living room.

Well, I've started to take care of that.  I'm doing a slow listing in my Etsy shop.  Just one piece a day or so, but it will slowly start to rebuild my shop.  

Admittedly, these pieces are actually being re-listed.  But you know what?  That's okay.  New and fun things will be added soon.  As soon as I can get my camera set up.  

New scarves are being painted to be added to the stock that is going to Over the Moon Bookstore and Artisan Gallery, located in beautiful Crozet, Virginia.  It's a great independent book shop, with lots of beautiful artisan-crafted jewelry and lovely works of art.  Art and books.  Books and art.  Can't really go wrong with that combination!  

Until next time, make sure your sand stays blue!

Worktable Wednesday - Silk Scarves Everywhere

This week, I'm busy fulfilling an order of 10 silk scarves, that will (hopefully) arrive at Over the Moon Bookstore on Friday.  Each scarf can take upwards of 4 days to complete, from start to finish.  It's a long process, but one that I love.  

Worktable Wednesday-More than just a photo

Normally, this would be just a photo.   However , a little explanation is in order.  This is just one plastic tub of stock I have made.  I really need to stop making things until I get some sold or something.  This is the problem with being an out of control crafter.  And being caught in a Catch-22 of epic proportions.  How do I list stock when I have neither the time or finances to do so?  Any suggestions are welcome!

Rich Turkey and/or Chicken Broth Again

This is the second time I have posted this recipe, but it's worth it.  This time, I have included pictures, and some helpful hints.

This recipe came to our family from my darling dad's brother, Linford.  What a great uncle!

Rich Turkey or Chicken Broth



INGREDIENTS:
Chicken or Turkey carcass (bones, neck, giblets, all that stuff leftover from dinner and what is pulled out of the bird before cooking)
Just enough water to cover bird parts
1 Chicken bullion cube
1 teaspoon salt
12 whole peppercorns
4 whole cloves
1 stalk celery, cut up
1 carrot, cut up
1 small onion, cut up

Turkey/chicken pieces in slow cooker, peppercorns, chicken broth, veggie broth, carrots,
celery, onions, whole cloves

Poultry parts in slow cooker

I don't always use chicken bullion cubes.  On the right side of the picture, there is a container of previously made poultry broth, and underneath it, some vegetable broth. I use that instead, and reduce the amount of water, too.  

In the middle of the picture there are two freezer bags.  One has chopped up frozen celery, and the other has a chopped up frozen onion.  I a lot of chopping and freezing of vegetables ahead of time, to make life a little easier.  I haven't had a chance to blanch and freeze my carrots yet, so those are straight from the refrigerator. 

INSTRUCTIONS
Place all ingredients into your slow cooker.

EVERYBODY IN THE POT!

Cover, cook on HIGH 3 hours, then drop to LOW for an additional 4 hours.
Let it cool for a little bit before initial straining.

Ready for the first strain!  

I use very high tech equipment for straining my poultry broth.  

Large bowl,  strainer with large mesh.

1 cup measuring cup 

The purpose of the first straining is to get all the large chunks of carrots, onion, and poultry carcass out.

EVERYBODY OUT OF THE POOL!

After the first strain, put the broth into large covered bowls and put it into the refrigerator overnight.  A lot of the fat will rise to the top, and slightly harden (yeah, it's kind of gross, but stick with me).  This makes it easier to remove the excess fat from the broth.  Just keep in mind, the more fat you remove, the more flavor will be lost too.  

The following morning, remove the bowls of broth from the fridge, and remove however much fat you want.
Now it's time to move onto the second straining.  This will get rid of the last of the spices, and little bits of stuff left in the broth.  

I said EVERYBODY OUT!  (Bits of fat, meat, spices, veggies)

Comparison of strainers:  right hand, first strainer, left hand, second strainer

Once you have strained the broth, it's time for dividing it up and getting it into the freezer.

Almost done!

My high tech storage supplies

I measure the broth into 1, 2, or 3 cup segments, and freeze.  This way whenever a recipe calls for a certain amount of broth, it's ready to go, no measuring needed!

Just a small sample.

Once the broth is frozen, I can transfer it to freezer bags (sandwich size) so that it stacks better in the freezer.  Now I have a bunch of poultry broth that will be used throughout the coming year.

Art Class Masterpieces

In August 2013, I started a whole new adventure.  I volunteered to teach art at my children's school.  Two afternoons a week, I am up at their school, introducing a wide range of children to all different kinds of artists and techniques.  I can honestly say it is one of the most fantastic experiences of my life. 
I'm sorry I missed taking pictures of the fantastic "Braille Paintings" the kids did a couple of weeks ago, but I am making up for it by having pictures of their GORGEOUS vinyl window clings that they created.
We talked about the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright, his buildings, furniture, and all the wonderful things he created, including his wonderful stained glass windows, or "light screens", as he liked to call them.
The children in the school either colored in a vinyl cling that already had one of his designs traced onto it, or designed their own using a view from one of the windows of their home as inspiration.
Here are the beautiful, unique results of two weeks worth of work!

Until next week, make sure your sand is always blue.