Holiday a.r.t.

I love this time of year...it's more fun in our first home and planning for the holiday season. The Christmas decor will be going up before Thanksgiving.

I took a class a few weeks ago with Tim Holtz.

He designs fabulous art and craft supplies. We made this blue canvas with his supplies and a holiday theme. I LOVE his addition of feathers to the canvas. It started as a white canvas and with his techniques, including fake snow pictured above, it developed into a wonderful 12x12 Holiday GLORY scene...

We selected our own words. GLORY. It is a beautiful word. The numbers 2 and 5 were silver leafed - that was FUN! I had never done it and was impressed by how easy and MESSY it was!! MESSY! I am desperate to find more projects to do this with - it's expensive but I'm worth it.

After I got home (nearly 11pm), I was really inspired to be creative....so the next day....

I started another canvas using left over supplies from the class and things on hand. OF COURSE I have feathers on-hand! You never know....

They are actually left over from making Chicken Hats for our sales meeting 1 year ago..have you seen those? I'll have to dig up pictures and show you... I knew I'd use the left over feathers sometime..so glad I had them. Both sets of feathers are slighted dyed a color - just rub them against an ink pad.

I love the dimension and multi-media of these canvas art pieces. It was FUN. Seriously, I had that beaded fringe on hand too - NO IDEA where or when that go added to the Craft Cave (that's what hubby calls my crafting/working out room - the elliptical is in that room too...)

This is the SANTA canvas. I plan to do one more in green with additional supplies on hand and MORE feathers! You know, decorate in odd numbers... Look at the CUTE bells hanging of it too..

This is my craft for the annual Girls Holiday Craft Off. It too is inspired by a Tim Holtz piece shown here.
I love that lighted box he did too - shown on that page - I started a project similar to that this weekend. It has morphed into something completely different but that is the inspiration. Once it's finished, I'll get you pics.

This mirror was a plain pine mirror from Ikea. It was like $2.99. I used papers and supplies on- hand to collage it into this holiday display. Mine does not have the perfect 3D like Tim's but it is a bit more busy which I know the recipient will like. I add some BLING and SPARKLE too..and a bell. I tried feathers too...I removed them, I like this better.

I need one of these for home too -it too is started, it won't be this busy but will have a similar scene. I'll post it next weekend when it gets finished. No crafting today. Since I fired the housekeeper, I actually need to clean myself. :( Oh well, such is life...

And, once this house is clean, the Christmas tree is going up! WOOT WOOT.

Love you, Miss you.

Punky.

just stuff....

The Hubby and Boys got a Halloween Treat Box...Isn't it CUTE! It is a small a box that I crafted into this sweet little guy....Spooky Sweets for my sweets.This is my new love...an orange chick. I move him everyday to a new place is the house. I love him. Wish he was real...do they "make" orange chickens?

Love you Momma,
K

Rue-ga-Wha?

Rugelach
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Rugelach רוגעלך

Rugelach (Hebrew: רוגלך‎). (Other spellings: Rugulach, Rugalach, Rogelach, Rugalah, Rugala.) A Jewish pastry of Ashkenazic origin. The name is a Yiddish diminutive form of the Hebrew, רוגלית (roglìt), meaning "creeping vine," perhaps because of the rolled-up shape of the cookie.
It can be made with a cream cheese dough, though the dough is more typically pareve (no dairy ingredients), so that it can be eaten with or after a meat meal and still be kosher. The different fillings can include raisins, walnuts, cinnamon, chocolate, marzipan, poppy seed, or apricot preserves which are rolled up inside.

You had me at "cream cheese dough".........

This is the TWD pick of the day. I had NEVER heard of this and I am pretty sure I have NEVER had it. Do you know what this is?

I finally conceded and bought a rolling pin. Am I an adult now? No picture needed, it's your standard Vermont Oak nude wood rolling pin. Now, where the HELL do I store this thing?

On to the recipe....this is the SOFTEST dough ever. Once you touch it, it's light and pillowy....so much different than any other dough I have rolled. I was in love.

When I had all the ingredients in the food processor - I pulsed for 6-8 times - I didn't have any "balls". None. I worried but kept pulsing. Then instantly...the dough came together and I stopped. Seriously, it went from blah to done quick-step-2-3-4.....

During research I read Dorie's blog about this recipe and she mentioned something about Goat Cheese...

You had me at "cream cheese dough" filled with "goat cheese"....

Do you like goat cheese?

I used my favoritist goat cheese - the dairy/creamier is in Hubby's home town. We are going for a tour over the Thanksgiving holiday. The dairy doesn't know that yet but I plan to sweet talk my way in....

Cypress Grove Chevre

My all-time fave is the Dill Fresh. I ran across Purple Haze today, tasted it and can't stop thinking about it....it's fennel pollen and lavender..oh. my. gah. It wa used in the making of one of today's savory Rugelach.

There are some many of these cheese I must have...the Truffle Tremor..the Lamb Chopper..

I think the Humboldt Fog is the most available - I see it the most in grocery stores - if you see it, pick it up. It's worth it.

any whoooo.....

So many cheeses, so little time...

Here are the 3 kinds of inside goodness my RUGES this week...

1. Sweet: peanut butter, chocolate chips and toffee chips. - not too original but good.

2. Savory Pizza: Tomato paste, sundried tomatoes, fresh basil, fresh mozz cheese

3. Savory Goat: Purple Haze Goat Cheese, craisins, fresh spinach and canadian bacon.

good. all good. rolled up in various sizes and shapes...just because..

love

k

We're celebrating a birthday....

Tug-a-licious turned 9 today.... he's getting a little gray and crabby, but we ALL are...

we had MORE 3-Bowl Pancakes. it rained ALL day so I let the boys go play in the water that has pooled in the back yard. They LOVED it. I even let them back in the house - muddy and wet - after all, we are celebrating a birthday (and the cleaning lady comese Monday morning - but, don't tell Tug.) They had another pancake for a snack and are taking naps in their crates....

Seriously, I am THAT person.

I am back to knitting...it's beautiful, can't wait to show you the finished project.

Lv,

Kat