Patchwork Beauties

Color, pattern,and shape can be found in every aspect of our lives. This almost sounds like a lead in for a lecture on the basic elements of art. But instead it is an introduction to the two lap quilts I found on our holiday road trip.

This is going to go over the back of my chair to insure I am cozy while reading.

I just love anything patchwork and even though these are not antiques they are pretty. This one may be used as a table runner. It was quilted but there is no batting between the layers.

Patchwork pieces in

Red and Blue and another hue

Sewn and fastened together patiently

With faith, hope, and love.

 

 I'm in my chair under my quilt, a pumpkin muffin and a fresh cup of coffee...

And a book that's sure to make me smile and laugh.

Enjoy your evening.

Girl's Week goes to Chalkfest

Girl's Week took us to Chalkfest.  A wonderful creative adventure for all who participated whether artist or critic, visitor, or creative muse...

May your creative juices flow!

Recipes and Reminiscences with Mrs.Tudor

The Tasha Tudor Cookbook

Recipes and Reminiscences from Corgi Cottage

I have decided to prepare one Tasha Tudor recipe a week.  The cookbook is a beautiful collection of recipes, reminiscences, and artwork.  She was a wife, a parent, a teacher and an artist. She was a woman I have grown to admire. I started at the beginning, Appetizers and Salads and will make one recipe a week and then post the results on the following Monday.  It's a kind of "Julie and Julia" process! Corny maybe but fun! The recipe for this week was "Nancy's Hot Cheese Rounds".  (Mine however, are rectangles!) Nancy was a friend of Tasha's.  She was a mathematics teacher at St. Paul's School.  Tasha'a grandfather was one of the first students at St. Paul's, in the 1860's.

1 loaf of Pepperidge farm or other good quality bread (I used whole grain bread)
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 3-ounce package cream cheese, softened
1 farm-fresh egg yolk, beaten well
1 cup Vermont sharp cheddar cheese, grated
1 clove garlic, minced
salt and pepper

Heat the broiler.
Cut rounds (or rectangles!), butter the bread well and fry them on both sides in a hot skillet
until browned
In a bowl, cream together the cream cheese and egg yolk, then add the grated cheese, garlic, and salt and pepper
spread the cheese mixture on the toast, place them an ungreased cookie sheet and broil until cheese is puffed and brown.

I left them in the broiler a minute too long but they were still delicious. The cheese was very creamy.  I served tortellini and chicken chowder and salad along with the toast points.  It was a rustic meal perfect on a cold winter evening.

Next Monday: Stuffed eggs and Fresh tomato salad with French dressing

May all your meals feed your body and the company you share them with feed your soul.

Queen for a Day Continues...

It is 7:30 and I am on my second cup of coffee.  I would normally be at the door of my classroom greeting students as we settle in to begin our day.  However, weather has made it impossible for the school buses to run safely.  The roads are all ice covered and extremely dangerous to navigate.  So, I am home and need to decide how I'm going to spend my day.

I could spend the day being creative.  I have sewing projects underway, new dollhouses to assemble, button jewelry designs to execute, and fairy dolls to take off the sketch book pages and bring to life.

Then there is the whole organization project I have planned.  What"s a girl to do?

I could skip all the other ideas and write.  I love to write annd am in the midst of a project.

I am currently writing a story about a young girl who has grown up on a farm, lost her parents, and has to cope with the loss of her parents and the home she has known, moving to the city, living with an aunt and uncle she barely knows, and all the pressures that teens are confronted with today.

Or...

I could play with the dog and just do nothing!  I'll let you know how my day unfolds later.

For now let me wish you a day filled with activity you can immerse yourself in having the best day ever!

Be Your Own Travel Guide

You know how I love to travel. The idea of a new place, new people, culture, cuisine, and all the special things to be discovered has such a strong draw. But, alas I can not always hop a train or a plane and go. However, the images here can take you to anyplace you'd like to go!

The trolley car is beautiful. The seats comfortible and the scenery captivating.
Come on take a seat, relax, and enjoy the ride!

This beautiful trompe l'oeil trolley is the entrance to a unique little mall in Frankfurt, Illinois.
Since I'm on the topic of travel I'd like to move onto another opportunity for travel.

A good book is like taking passage on a fantastic trip.

Reading has taken me to England while absorbed in Pride and Prejudice, to any junior

high school in Zen and the Art of Faking It, or on a journey across America with the photography book by Jake Rajs.
There is nothing better than a cup of tea or fresh brewed coffee, a comfy quilt, and a book to get lost in.

Where will your travels take you? I'm on my way to a rural community in small town USA with Things I've Learned Lately, by Danae Jacobson.

Until later...read on and enjoy the journey.

Art Fair at Prairie Crossing

This past weekend I was able to attend a wonderful art fair at a venue called Station Street at Prairie Crossing. The artists tents covered a number of city blocks and the court yard of a community building. The temperature was perfect, the artwork was inspiring, and the company I was with wonderful.

Along with the artwork and conversation we were able to enjoy the gardens along our path.

The colors were awesome. It was like walking through a still life painting.
This chicken was the greeter at the Farmers Market portion of the event.
I purchased wild rice, apples, tomatillos, and parsnips. There are some yummy recipes on the menu for the upcoming week.

Visits, adventures, old friends, new acquaintances, images that inspire, all these things made for a weekend that has filled my head with ideas! I'll share more as the days unfold.

Take in nature, create an image, visit a friend, create your own adventure, and enjoy every moment of it!

What do Doodles and Damaged Books Have in Common?

Doodles and damaged books, just how are they related? I have recently pulled out my scrap booking supplies and have felt a renewed sense of interest in creating some memory pages. It was spurred by a book I ordered a few weeks ago. It is called, The Doodle Formula by Adrienne Looman. It is a step by step guide to creating the perfect doodle.

Adrienne uses concepts like balance, shape, depth, and filler to achieve the perfect doodle which is then incorporated into scrap book design and collage. The above is my first doodle using her concepts.

I also doodled a few characters I hope you will enjoy!

Crazy bird...
An artist's companion...
The writer's muse...

Confused !

Where do I go from here...Oh! the damaged book connection!

Along with books I recently purchased for my classroom library I
came across a few damaged books. There were books with beautiful illustrations,

lovely type, and I just couldn't leave them there. Reuse, recycle, rejuvenate!

Although damaged their parts will work nicely in a collage and

the covers will become small portfolios for finished artwork.

I love the colors and broad strokes used to create the following illustrations I was able to salvage.

This will make an awesome background.

The next couple examples really appealed to me.

Here is Adriene's book. It can be purchased through Bluegrass

Publishing at http://www.bluegrasspublishing.com/ .

I promise to share my finished work very soon!

P.S. I thought you might like to see the pillows I made from that piece of fabric I picked up the other day.

Take a seat, relax, and leave me a comment!


I will leave you with this quote:

"Creative activity could be described as a type of learning process where the teacher and pupil are located in the same individual." Arthur Koestler