It's almost here...

Are you ready? Are the gifts sent? Has the list been checked? Twice? Are the stockings hung? With care?
Are you enjoying the hustle and bustle of the season?

Happy Holidays to you and yours.

(Image from Dover Publishing.)

Inexpensive gifts

At this time of year, in this economy, we are all looking for an affordable gift. Our studio can help you out with that quest. One of our many affordable gifts are these beautiful keyrings. We love them so much; the colors and textures are fun. They also make life a little bit easier, they slip over the wrist so you can keep your keys handy when you have your hands full!

Key Fob - $5

What's more, they are handmade. Stop by the studio Tuesday or Thursday to pick one up.

Why Buy Handmade?

You may ask, why buy handmade for the holidays? Why buy handmade for gifts? Why buy handmade for yourself?

The website buyhandmade.org addresses those questions. This is what they say:

"Buying Handmade makes for better gift-giving.
The giver of a handmade gift has avoided the parking lots and long lines of the big chain stores in favor of something more meaningful. If the giver has purchased the gift, s/he feels the satisfaction of supporting an artist or crafter directly. The recipient of the handmade gift receives something that is one-of-a-kind, and made with care and attention that can be seen and touched. It is the result of skill and craftsmanship that is absent in the world of large-scale manufacturing.

Buying handmade is better for people.
The ascendancy of chain store culture and global manufacturing has left us dressing, furnishing, and decorating alike. We are encouraged to be consumers, not producers, of our own culture. Our ties to the local and human sources of our goods have been lost. Buying handmade helps us reconnect.

Buying handmade is better for the environment.
The accumulating environmental effects of mass production are a major cause of global warming and the poisoning of our air, water and soil. Every item you make or purchase from a small-scale independent artist or crafter strikes a small blow to the forces of mass production."

Conveniently, Kerry and I make homemade. We have lots of artisan friends who make homemade, too. We also have links to lots of other blog and Internet friends that make and sell homemade. If you want to buy homemade, too, come to the studio on one of our open studio days. Or check out our website or our Amazon store. Or look further and find your own local artisans to support. Even if you can't buy entirely homemade this season, try to find just one special gift that's handcrafted. Maybe you will be lucky and receive handmade.

Enjoy your holidays!

December Studio Events

Amid the hustle and bustle of the season, with company coming, and special dinners and parties to host, with shopping to do and baking, too, we have both been so busy. You have too, I'd bet. We can help you out, we hope. With affordable, handcrafted gifts, check out the specials at the studio. And if you want to make your own handcrafted gift, we can help you do that, too.

We've planned a special sale item every week. (Purchases must be made at the studio for special prices to apply.) This week:


Stone pendants on a leather necklace, only $10. Mix and match to create your own combination.





Do you want to make a gift to give? Join us for Drop-in workshops.Come to the studio to make a gift for someone special. We are open on December 2, 5, 9, 12, 16 and 19; 9:00 – 11:30am. Come make Gypsy Bracelets, Collage Journals, Glass Ornaments, or Gypsy Journals. Other projects may be available, just ask.

Summertime...

Good friends...

good food...

good cheer...

lots of fun...

How was your weekend?

Friday Freebie

Happy 4th of July!

In the spirit of patriotism, here are a few snippets from a vintage color poster titled, "Uncle Sam's Family," by Luis Davila Madrid in 1936. The critique printed on the poster says, "Madrid had the keen and understanding insight into the very spirit of our national affairs to depict our past Presidents with such humorous faithfulness to history. ..."

Enjoy your weekend!

(right click the images to save them to your computer)

Eggs, eggs, eggs

With Easter fast approaching, Kerry and I were looking for a fun project to do in the studio. We were looking for something that encompassed creativity but could also serve as a decorative item. So we started looking for ideas, turning to the trusty Martha Stewart, we found several ideas in the Easter section of her website.

We purchased wooden, Styrofoam, and papier-mache eggs from Michael's and Hobby Lobby. We pulled various stickers, rub-ons, origami papers, printed tissue papers, paint and glitter from our stash of supplies. Of course we added the ever-present Mod Podge, and a few foam brushes. We gathered our materials, and started a round of speed crafting.

With one set of Martha's directions at hand and lots of other ideas, we got started. Here's what we came up with:
As soon as we got started, we were on a roll. We could make monogram eggs, eggs with dresdens, butterfly eggs, painted eggs, and glittered eggs. Won't they all look pretty in a centerpiece? Using a little faux nest or a pretty glass bowl, they will be a nice addition to our Easter tables.

We want to invite you to join us for this project, next week. Come to the studio for a FREE class.

Here are the details:

• Wednesday March 19 or Friday March 21
  


• 9:00 am - 11:00 am



• We will provide collage and decoupage materials, paint, glitter, glue, paper, and lots more!
  


• You bring your own eggs and decorate as many as you wish. You may bring wooden, papier-mache or Styrofoam eggs. If you prefer real ones, please hard boil or blow them first.



• The class will be at the studio. Leave a comment with your email if you need directions.

For the love of cranberries

I love cranberries! It's too bad we only really think about them during Thanksgiving and Christmas. I don't know about your area, but we can only get them fresh this time of year, too. Here are two recipes using fresh cranberries. So, get them while you can and try out these two tasty treats.

Frozen Cranberry Martini
1/2 cup cranberry juice
1/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup fresh cranberries washed and frozen
3 oz. fresh squeezed lime juice
3 oz. Vodka
2 oz. Grand Marnier

Pour all ingredients into a blender. Fill with ice. Blend until smooth. You can add reserved sugar syrup (below) to sweeten to taste. Serves 4. Note: This recipe can be made ahead and stored in the freezer. Serve in a martini glass, garnish with a sugared cranberry and enjoy!

Sugared Cranberries (from Cooking Light December 2003)

2 cups granulated sugar

2 cups water

2 cups fresh cranberries, washed and picked

3/4 cup superfine sugar

Combine granulated sugar and water in a saucepan over low heat, stir until sugar dissolves. Simmer (do not boil), and remove from heat, let cool slightly. You do not want the cranberries to pop. Stir in cranberries, pour into a bowl. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Drain cranberries in a colander over a bowl. Reserve the sugar syrup for mixing drinks (see above). Place the superfine sugar in a shallow dish. Add the cranberries, roll to coat with sugar. Spread the sugared cranberries in a single layer on a baking sheet; let stand at room temperature until dry. Store in an air tight container in a cool place for up to 1 week.

They look so pretty in a holiday bowl. They pop in your mouth, and are a surprizing sweet treat. The contrast between the sweet, candy like shell and the tart, juicy berry is nice. These are great to put out when entertaining, to use as a unique gift, or serve at a cocktail party.

I hope you enjoy these recipes. What are your favorite holiday recipes?