Rose

Chloe

One of my cats, Chloe (aka Fat Kitty)

Pizza Peel #2

I just finished this second pizza peel for Chartreuse Spring Market Days (15-17 April).

I started with this dirty rough pizza peel.  The peel was covered with baking soot. I wiped it down with bleach water to get most of it off the peel.  I weighted the board down so as it dried it would not warp.

I used the Typography Coffee Sign from The Graphics Fairy.  I used the enlargement method to get the sign big enough for my project.  The Graphics Fairy has a section on the different ways you can transfer her free graphics.  Her graphics and information are invaluable!

After enlarging the image, I taped it onto the pizza peel:

I then used a pen and pressed hard onto the paper to outline the lettering. (It's a big graphic, I had to bandage my thumb from the blister forming <hint>)

I peeled back the paper and used chalk to help see the outline from the pen markings:

After I finished tracing the sign I used chalk all over to highlight the graphics:

I used a pencil to trace over the pen engraving; then filled in the letters with a black sharpie.  I wiped down the peel with a sponge to get rid of the chalk.  After it dried, I used a rough grit sand paper to "age" the graphic.  I finished with rubbing lemon oil all over the pizza peel.

Et voila...finis!

Green Chair

Getting ready for Spring Market Days at Chartreuse!  Painted this chair with Annie Sloan chalk paint (White, then Antibes Green); distressed it; and a coat of clear wax.  Re-covered the chair in a fun modern polka dot.

 

Peanut Butter Blossoms

I love to bake cookies.  Peanut butter cookies are favorite in this house and with friends.  And! peanut butter cookies with chocolate...woohoo!

This is an easy and yummy recipe:

All ingredients need to be at room temperature.  Preheat oven 350˚ fahrenheit.

Cream together until fluffy:

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter 

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

Add to butter mixture and mix until combined:

1/2 cup smooth peanut butter

1 large egg

1 tsp vanilla extract

Add to mixture beat until soft dough forms:

2 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

Roll tablespoon of dough in your hands until a ball forms.  Roll dough in sugar.  Place on greased cookie sheets about an 1 inch apart (or use silpat sheets).  Bake for 8-10 minutes.  Let cookies cool for 5 minutes to press a chocolate kiss on to each cookie.

Enjoy

Dessert for Breakfast

Sometimes a girl just wants dessert for breakfast.  No excuses.  Just wanted dessert with my morning coffee!

Riley Girl

Miss Riley wants my coffee!

Football Ticket Pillow

I'm on a roll with making pillows!  I had a vintage football ticket and I enlarged it and printed it on fabric (thank you Spoonflower).

I think this would be great in a man cave!

Ottoman Makeover

My first re-upholstery project!  Yes, I've impressed myself!

Sewing Project: pillows!

About 3 weeks ago I signed up for a sewing lesson.  3-hour session and I made 2 envelope-style pillow covers.  A big Thank You! to Finch Sewing Studio.  This is a lovely store located in historic Leesburg, VA.

I made 6 pillows with the extra fabric that I purchased at Finch.  Getting ready for Chartreuse's barn sale in April.

Pizza Peel Sign

I took a long break from the blog...too much life going on!

I've got some great stuff to share....starting with this trash-to-treasure!

I took this very used pizza peel (destined for the dumpster) and turned it into a very cool sign.

BEFORE:

AFTER!! 

Pretty Scrolled Table

Next weekend is Chartreuse's Spring Market Days.  I've been a busy bee and been painting like Van Gogh's painting frenzy in Arles. (I still have both ears!)

Just finished this table this morning:

Geranium

I brought my geraniums indoors for the Winter.  They're thanking me with beautiful blooms! 

They're now outside enjoying the Spring sun and rain.

Red Rooster Stool

Winter's snow and frigid temperatures kept me indoors.  Lots of baking and refurbishing thrift finds kept me from doing the iconic scene in "The Shining" (think "Here's Johnny!")

When I saw this stool, it was not pretty, but underneath all the dirt and grime, I could see red.  I decided to paint the wooden seat black.  I ran out of Annie Sloan charcoal chalk paint, and decided to wing it and used an old can of black chalkboard paint.  And guess what?! It worked like a charm!!

Josie

Wow...no posts since October....it's been a rough Winter.  I lost my beloved lab, Josie.  She was a wonderful girl.  Very talkative and loving.  The house is so quiet without her.

"Matisse Dog"

Josie loved to sit in the middle of my flower garden

Maddie and Josie

 

Josie loved the pool - she'd do a couple of laps

then sit on the ledge and hang out

Homemade Granola

Most mornings, I awaken to 2 cups of coffee in a very large polka-dotted mug.  Add a splash of milk and hazelnut creamer and I'm good to go for about 2 hours. Breakfast is cup of vanilla yogurt, a handful of raspberries (fresh/frozen) and for crunch...granola.  It's like dessert for breakfast.

Store bought granola is expensive and fattening.  I can make a large batch of granola for less than a $1...seriously.  And it is yummy!  My daughter goes through a batch every other day.

GRANOLA - basic recipe
pre-heat oven to 325˚F

1/3 cup maple syrup
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
4 tsp vanilla extract
cinnamon (optional)
1/2 tsp salt
5 cups old fashioned rolled oats
1/3 cup unbleached flour (can use wheat flour, or bleached flour)
Optional: 2 cups nuts, dried fruit, etc.

Combine maple syrup, brown sugar and oil into a large bowl.  Stir until the brown sugar is dissolved (no lumps).  Add vanilla extract, salt, and cinnamon (optional).  I like cinnamon, so I'd guess at least 2 teaspoons (1 tsp in the liquid, 1 tsp after mixing the dry ingredient(s).  

Fold in the rolled oats and flour.  Remember! old fashioned rolled oats.  Not the instant oats.  Not the steel-cut oats.  Old fashioned rolled oats...like the kind that has the Quaker on the front of the box.  

After thoroughly coating the oats with the oil/sugar mixture, you can add nuts, dried fruit, or a combo of the two.

Dump mixture into a sheet cake pan that has either been buttered/floured or sprayed with baking spray.  Pat down the mixture so that it is even throughout the pan.  

Lick hands.  Wash hands...with soap.  

Place baking pan in the oven (middle rack) for 40-45 minutes.  Halfway through the baking, rotate the pan 180˚ and finish the last half of baking.  

Take out of oven and let cool.  Break off a corner of the granola as it is cooling...come on..you know you want to!  

Once cool, break granola into chunks and place in airtight container (mason jar with clamp).  Granola will keep for up to 2 weeks, but you'll be baking a batch in about 2 days!

Boo!

I'm all about holiday decorating, and recycling.  Found the perfect solution!

ASCP and wax, cutout letters, mod podge, and some black glitter!

Alaskan Brown Bear (Holly) Adopts an Abandoned Cub

I am a huge fan of explore.org's live cams.  One of my favorites are the cameras following the Alaskan Brown Bears.  An Alaskan brown bear is the genetic twin of a grizzly bear, but with the abundant food source on the Alaskan coast, the brown bears are significantly larger (1200lb ready-for-hibernation male Alaskan brown bear vs 800lb ready-for-hibernation male grizzly).  There are 3 cameras that are remotely operated by volunteer camera operators (I am one).  Those 3 cameras are:

Brooks Falls
Lower River West
River Watch (Lower River East)

A fourth camera (Dumpling Mountain) is a stationary camera.

Today, NPR aired an interview with Ranger Roy Wood, from Katmai National Park.  Katmai has the largest concentration of Alaskan Brown Bears.  The interview was about a female bear (sow) with a spring cub who adopted an abandon yearling (1.5 years old) cub.  We, who have been watching the brown bear cams, have witnessed this drama playing out since July of this year.  It is an amazing story and I encourage all to listen to it.

And! Go visit explore.org and look at all the live cameras! If bears aren't your cup of tea,  there are rescue kittens and dogs, African wildlife, service dogs/puppies, etc.  It is an incredible website!

2 Ugly Set of Twins!

Yup, found 2 sets of ugly chairs...it's my calling.

Can't decide that all 4 will have the same paint/fabric or both sets will be different.

Any suggestions?

Glitter Pumpkin

I've been busy with pumpkins! I sold all of them at Chartreuse's Market Days 2 weeks ago!