This and That

I know I am a bit late for Halloween but I thought I would share my decorated front entrance.  We had a cold and raw night for Halloween here in New England and I had to shovel the walkway earlier in the day for the trick or treaters.  We had a few hundred despite the cold weather.  Tough Yankee kids too...some just wearing sandals and no coats to show off their costumes.

Same photo with Picnik's cool spooky textures which I love!

I didn't have any carved jack-o-lanterns this year (gasp!) because I waited to long too to get my pumpkins and I think the snow storm ruined them all.  I had bought these beautiful gourds earlier.  The little ones in front are called "Turks Turban".   I love the varieties of all the different gourds available.

Again, some cool and creepy textures.

And for something more cheerful and upbeat,  here is some WIP.  I am making a series of flower dolls inspired in part by Elsa Beskow's wonderful illustrations.  I will share more later.

Pretty White Stuff

Waking up this morning to this beautiful sight.  Although I was running around like a maniac yesterday trying to get all the pots inside, hoses rolled up, leaves raked and garage cleaned out (so we could park inside!), I am enjoying the lovely albeit very early wintery wonderland.

I love that pale weak sunshine of winter.

Luna protests that this is a bit early and couldn't we please shovel her a path?   She is a bit of a Diva.

And in keeping with white here are some new creations in my favorite color (or non color)...

This wreath is the second I have created using old muslin sheets (hundreds hand-tied) and various old ivory laces and vintage millinery.  I am donating this to our local school endowment auction and hoping it fetches a pretty penny.

And a couple of linen and lace pillows for the shop.

Blue Peacock

Finished work on a new peacock this time in blues and greens.  I worked on the face to make him look a bit more realistic and am very pleased with the results.  

A little vintage bling for his chest

I love the way his tail looks among the colorful foliage

This was made for a fellow artisan swap.  I am getting a lovely quilt.  She is getting this peacock and some vintage fabric garlands.   Hope she likes him!

Production

I have been in production of goods for the shop since this is our busy season for leaf peeping tourists.  Here are some cute wooly pom pom flowers I made with some wool I had in fallish colors attached to natural sticks from the surrounding woods.  I attached little flags of vintage wallpaper for an added touch.

These are some of the "tiny book" cards I sell in the shop.  They are printed from original collage artwork that I make.   They are unique because I make little pouches of vintage fabric to contain each one and then they are mailed in a regular envelope.  I have made them for all sorts of holidays and my customers seem to really like them.  They are such fun to create.

These are another fun thing for the shop.  These garlands are everywhere these days but people don't seem to tire of them.  They make a nice simple gift for a friend or perhaps a graduate?  

Thought you might like to see a picture I took the other day of our local artisan shop/gallery where I sell most of my work in Walpole, New Hampshire.

If you are ever in New Hampshire, stop by and get some handmade chocolate across the street at the famous Burdick's and check out our shop!  And if there is ever anything I post about here that tickles your fancy and you cannot make it to the shop, please email me.  I am happy to sell on-line too.

Peacock Pride

Here is the latest from my bird phase.  I am having fun with the patterns in Abby Glassenberg's The Artful Bird.  I have certainly gotten my use from this enormous beautifully embroidered tablecloth.  It had a big hole in the center so I didn't feel guilty cutting it up.  Can you spot it here?

Some more peacock pictures....

Portrait of a Crow

It's been a while since I've posted.  I have had a busy summer and early fall but am back home and getting a bit of studio time.  Here is a tiny crow that I appliqued from 100 year old black woolen shawl material.  I have always been fascinated by crows for some reason.

We Are Neighbors

We do not live in a terribly transient neighborhood.  People tend to stick around here.  So it is unusual that in the past month, I have gotten two new neighbors on either side.  I thought I would welcome them with a loaf of my moist Pumpkin Orange Tea Bread wrapped carefully in white paper and topped with a handmade tag.   I had this brainstorm for a cool tag when saw my old first grade reader lying about.  I just love the graphics in this old book and thought the cover would make an excellent tag.  Here is the image for you to use in case you have new neighbors to welcome.

And here is the recipe for a wonderfully moist pumpkin orange tea bread.  I love that it make two loaves one for you and one to share..unless you have two neighbors moving in at once!

Incredibly Moist Pumpkin Orange Tea Bread       from Loribeth’s Kitchen

Makes 2 loaves

Beat these ingredients in the mixer:

3 eggs 1 15 oz can pumpkin

¾ cup canola oil ½ cup water

1-3/4 cups sugar

1 whole orange processed in the food processor (skin and all) until it is soft pulp

Sift these ingredients together and add to the above mixture:

2-1/2 cups flour 1-1/2 tsp baking soda

1-1/4 tsp salt ¾ tsp nutmeg

¾ tsp cinnamon ½ tsp ground cloves

½ tsp ground ginger

Pour into 2 well greased and floured loaf pans.  Bake about 55 minutes at 350 degrees or until toothpick comes clean in center.  Cool completely and wrap up in saran.  These always taste better after they have aged overnight if you can wait that long.   The secret is that ground up orange!