Bracelet/Fabric Swap

I don't often meet someone with the same name as me, but recently through Flickr I met Amy Schimler who not only has my name, but is an amazing artist as well! I asked her if she'd like to do a swap with me? - one of my bracelets for a few yards of the fabric that she designed.

Read the story and her blog & find out why I made her a bracelet that says "Kerflendable" on it here. And see more of Amy's wonderful work here.

.

These are the fabrics that I chose. Are they too cute, or what?

.

I made these aprons in anticipation of a visit from my niece, Elena. We always bake when she comes & I thought we needed some spiffy new aprons for our adventure into making something from Elena's new Honest Pretzels cookbook by Mollie Katzen of Moosewood fame.

.

We made the Giant Baked Pancake Puff (due to hunger, no photos exist) which was quickly renamed Puff the Magic Pancake!

.

Eggshell Candles

Seven years ago I found and printed out the instructions for these candles from marthastewart.com. I finally got around to making them for the first time last year.

Get the instructions here.

.

Start saving eggs in January. Crack the tops carefully and save the rest of the shell. Make and eat lots of quiche.

.

Stash the dyed eggs upside down until they dry.

.

Of course it's always more fun to do these sorts of things with youngsters, so I imported a couple along with some friends.

.

Jak provided his brand of, well......Jak.

.

The girls had a sleepover the night before! The white ceramic egg cups are from orientaltrading.com.

Get them here. .

. The wicks go in last.

.

. .

.

. P.S. ~ Happy Birthday, JOOLS!!

Lemon Squares

Lemon Squares

.

preheat oven to 350 degrees

.

2 c flour

1/2 c confectioner's sugar

1 c butter

pinch of salt

Mix together until it becomes a ball and pat evently into a 10 x 13 inch lightly greased pan. Bake for about 20 mins until it is just hard on top.

.

As the bottom is baking mix together, but do not overbeat:

4 eggs

6 tbsp flour

1 1/4 c sugar

5 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice (1-2 lemons)

grated zest of 1 lemon, if desired

Pour over partially baked crust. Bake 15 minutes more, or until the top is set but not brown. Cool completely, sprinkle with powdered sugar (if you'd like) and cut into squares.

These freeze beautifully between layers of waxed paper.

.

I heard this recipe on an NPR holiday cookie program. The original called for about double the sugar that I use here and I thought they were WAY too sweet.

But these ARE awfully yummy!!

Two Portraits

Late one Saturday night when I was a youngster, I went out my front door to take a walk and as I did, I glanced back at the house. What I saw were 2 framed photos waiting for me to snap them. My mother and father were having a dinner party that night, she sitting at one end of the table and he at the other. There is a whole table and a few people between them, between the 2 windows.

.

.

I went back in to get my camera and snapped a bunch of photos on b & w 35mm film that I later developed and printed. The painting on the wall is one that my dad painted and the cabinet at the left is one that he designed & had built and I now have it in my house.

.

. This was one of those ah ha moments, unexplained, unpredicted, wonderful!

Five Triangles Necklace

This is a necklace that I made to wear to a wedding a couple years ago. But mostly I wanted to post this photo which I just took.

Quilts

I also like to make quilts.

These are some that I've done over the past few years.

.

Nine Patch

.

Log Cabin .

Bear Claw?

My Portrait

This week my 4 1/2 year old friend, Tommy came to spend an afternoon with me. I was lucky enough to be asked to sit for a portrait, which I happily consented to do. Take special note of the bracelets on my left arm!! .

Tommy, keeping me company from an earlier visit.

.