Studio video

Well....I went to the studio again the other day to spend the afternoon trying to tie things up for the weekend open studios show at Shady Lea Mill. Before I left, I decided to take a video to help remind me of what I need to finish up and have with me when I go back on Sat. for the show. Then, I thought, even though the video isn't anything to write home about....it may be of interest to my friends who can't make it there. Sooo....here you are....a look around.

I tried to add the video directly to the blog but kept getting errors....so here it is on youtube... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHa2EKD7Ykg

Shady Lea

Happy December everyone. Wow...is it just me or does it get here faster every year??

Well....I've been up to my ears trying to get ready for an "open studios" show this coming weekend. Not sure if I mentioned it earlier, but my dear friend Janette has given me the use of her yoga studio to take part in the wonderful art weekend in her studio building. The Shady Lea Mill.

I've posted a pic of the postcards for the show. It shows the wonderful old mill building that this is in. It's located in No. Kingstown, RI, so it's only about 20mins out of Providence and about 10mins from Newport or Jamestown.

If you're in the area on Sat or Sun between noon and 5pm ...stop by and enjoy all the art!!

A Butternut gift to you.

As a Thanksgiving present...I'm going to share my Butternut Squash recipe.

If you're wondering what to do with your side dishes and have always wanted to do something different with a squash...enjoy!

Pick a good-sized butternut for your meal.
(It’s soooo good and goes sooo quickly that you may need extra!)

Peal and cut off ends. Cut down the center lengthwise and scoop out the fibers and seeds.
Cut a V shaped canal down the middle of the long part, but don’t throw away the part that you’ve cut out. You can cut that into chunks and throw into the hollowed out round section.

I normally place these into glass oven dishes, but feel free to use what works.
Peel and chop a couple of nice McIntosh apples….more if you like as they get soft as they cook. Toss these all over the squash.
Cranberries…..lots of lovely cranberries!!
Chop a bunch as well as add some whole ones. Use as much as you like!!

Raisins…..I sometimes use one or two of the small snack packages.
These are optional. I don’t use them all the time.
Check to be sure there are no stem pieces. Toss them all over the squash as well.

Since I have no real measurements for anything, just done by sight…..place small chunks of butter all around this.
Liberally sprinkle dark brown sugar all over everything. Add a good sprinkle of cinnamon and a touch of nutmeg if you have it.

Cover the dish with foil and bake in preheated oven at 350 degrees.
Start checking on it after about 40 min.They are done when thickest part of squash is soft when poked with a fork.

Christmas Postcards

Whew...finally a bit of art. Not that there hasn't been anything "art related" going on. I've been up to my ears in trying to prepare for an upcoming show in just under two weeks. Lots of framing to finish and things to be done.

Sometimes, however, I need to step back and do "other" art. Something on the smaller side.

I'm involved in a Christmas postcard swap in a private group I belong to. The postcards I've been working on started by way of a stamp I carved. It's a stamp of a pine cone....and I'm pretty pleased at how it came out.

At first I wasn't sure what I'd do for the background...but then I realized that the cardstock I wanted to use had a very slick surface....perfect for taking on alcohol ink. I had a fun time mushing up the colors on that.

I also had gotten a new thing to play with....Martha Stewart glitter. It is sooo fine and sooo beautiful in the range of colors it comes in. I used a beautiful bronze color to edge the pinecones and a lovely antique silver green shade on the needles.

They are really striking...but I'm afraid that the pictures do them no justice.

I also decide when I'd finished that I wanted to try to protect the surface a bit so the glitter wouldn't take too much abuse, since we mail them "naked" (without an envelope), so I tried a spray sealer. I wasn't sure what would happen by doing that and if it would play nicely with the alcohol ink...but it did!!!

I'm having such fun with these that I may send some off to friends this year as well.

a closer look

Here's one more pic of that maple out front. My husband took several really lovely shots and this one is a little closer.

It'll be sad to see all of this beautiful color gone soon.