Sunday, October 27, 2013

Cream Cloth Pumpkins

 Over at MAMA, Marie Antoinette Mail Art Group, Teri of Designs by Terri Gordon hosted a Cream Cloth Pumpkin Swap.
 My partner was Melanie of Artful Interludes (and wait till you see what she made me!).
I had this gorgeous key pin that I thought would be a perfect addition to the pumpkin but I was worried because of the aqua.  So I contacted Melanie to see if she would be okay with some color on her pumpkin.  She said yes and I was thrilled, so off to creating I went. 
The pumpkin is made out of a raw silk, I used tea stained bakers twine to make the shape. The stem is a luscious brown silk.  Along with the key pin I added some vintage lace, velvet leaves, a wonderful cream flower and some coordinating ribbons.  I really like how it turned out, I hope she does also. 
 I had so much fun creating for Melanie that I decided to make myself one.  I didn't get the shape on this one quite as good.
I went with autumn browns and kept to a French theme.  The pumpkin is made out of the same materials as Melanie's. 
I wish I could have created more, but alas I am out of the gorgeous cream fabric, I will have to find more. 

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

My Happy List: Family and Friends

 photo ArtatHomeButton_zps18898da7.jpg
Hello all and thank you for stopping by.  My friend Ricki Jill hosts a fabulous weekly link up party that everyone should try.  I don't get to take part too often but when I do I always feel so much better about everyday life.
 
So without further ado,
my happy list
 
1.This one is all thanks to Pinterest
Photo From: I Believe I Can Fry
I found a fabulous tutorial on how to clean and season cast iron.  When we moved into our house one of the things the previous owners left behind was a cast iron pot.  It was disgusting and covered in rust but no longer.  I followed the instructions (click the image to go to the post) and yes, it worked just like that picture shows.  I was so excited that I even planned a meal so I could use it and oh my it was the best Beef Stew I have ever made. 
 
2.  Friends
This Thursday I will be packing the car and heading to Atlanta to spend a fabulous weekend at Sweethearts on the Homefront.  This will be my first ever art retreat.  But what makes it even more special is that I will finally get to meet my friend Tabitha.  Tabitha and I met through MAMA and chat on the phone just about everyday.
 
3.  Family
A few weeks ago my husband and I decided to join a class for Marriage Enrichment.  It is held at our church and revolves around the book Happy Together by John Bosio.  The church serves dinner before hand and it has become a wonderful middle of the week family outing.  The girls love going to eat and then playing with all the other children and it is nice for Mr. Glitter Tart and I to meet new people and explore our marriage more. 
 
Well that's it for me this week.
Come join us!
 

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Broomsticks on the Bayou Beignets and Mocha Voodoo Coffee

Welcome to my Broomsticks on the Bayou post, a fabulous blog hop hosted by Frosted Petunias.
Please sit back, relax, grab some Voodoo Mocha Coffee and a Beignet or two.   
 I'll start with the Beignets.
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups lukewarm water
1/2 cup turabian Sugar
1 envelope active dry yeast
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1 cup evaporated milk
7 cups bread flour
1/4 cup crisco
Nonstick spray
Oil, I used vegetable 
3 cups confectioners' sugar
Tools:
Mixing bowls
Stand Mixer with bread hook
fryer (not necessary but much easier)
paper bag
Rolling pin
 I will put the complete recipe at the end of this post.
 Start by pouring your yeast and sugar into the warm water.
This need to sit for 10 minutes.
Measure out your flour into a bowl.
Beat your egg, salt and evaporated milk together.
Add egg mixture to yeast mixture.
Transfer to stand mixer and add 3 cups of the bread flour.
 Add the shortening.
 Continue to mix.
Add remaining flour slowly.
 Mix, mix, mix (aren't you glad your using a stand mixer).
 Prepare a surface to pour dough out onto, sprinkled with flour.
 Remove dough from the mixer and knead until smooth.
 keep kneading.
 and a bit more.
 Okay that's good.
 Spray a large bowl with nonstick spray. Place dough in bowl and cover. 
 Let stand for 2 hours.

 Looky looky...so pretty.
Now it's time to start heating up that oil. 
You want it to reach 350 degrees Fahrenheit.  
If using a fryer follow the manufacturers instructions.  If frying in a pan put about five inches of oil in and attach a thermometer (make sure it isn't touching the bottom of the pan).
 Pour dough out onto clean surface.
 Start rolling it out.
 Try to keep it in a square/rectangle.
 Keep rolling until it is about 1/4 inch thick.


 Cut 1" square pieces.



 Deep fry flipping once until they are golden.
Make sure you let your oil temperature to come back up before placing the next batch in.
 Oh yum...fried dough!
 Put some confectioners sugar into your paper bag.
Drop in a few Beignets and toss them around.
Continue until done.
Now it's time to make some Mocha Voodoo Coffee to go with the Beignets.
 Ingredients:
2 cups heavy cream
6 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
1/2 cup spiced rum
2 tablespoons sugar
2 cups strong brewed coffee with chicory, or espresso
Basic Whipped Cream
 Warm the heavy cream until steaming.
Mix spiced rum and coffee together.
Once cream is steaming add chocolate and sugar.
Reduce the heat to low.
 Now add the coffee and rum.
Stir until smooth. 
Mix up some whip cream to top the coffee with.
 Okay now it's time to enjoy.


 
 
Beignets
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups lukewarm water
1/2 cup turabian Sugar
1 envelope active dry yeast
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1 cup evaporated milk
7 cups bread flour
1/4 cup crisco
Nonstick spray
Oil, I used vegetable 
3 cups confectioners' sugar
 
Tools:
Mixing bowls
Stand Mixer with bread hook
fryer (not necessary but much easier)
paper bag
Rolling pin

Mix warm water, sugar, and yeast in a bowl and let sit for 10 minutes.

In another bowl, beat eggs, salt and evaporated milk together.

 Mix egg mixture into the yeast mixture and transfer to a stand mixer.

In a separate bowl, measure out the bread flour.

Add 3 cups of the flour to the yeast mixture and stir to combine. Add the shortening and continue to stir while adding the remaining flour.

 Remove dough from the bowl, place onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth.

Spray a large bowl with nonstick spray.

Put dough into the bowl and cover with a towel. Let rise in a warm place for at least 2 hours. (Have a cup of Mocha Voodoo Coffee to pass the time.)

Preheat oil in a deep-fryer to 350 degrees F.

Add the confectioners' sugar to a paper bag and set aside.

Roll the dough out to about 1/4-inch thickness and cut into 1-inch squares.

Deep-fry, flipping constantly, until they become a golden color. After beignets are fried, drain them for a few seconds on paper towels, and then toss them into the bag of confectioners' sugar. Hold bag closed and shake to coat evenly.


Mocha Voodoo Coffee
 Ingredients:
2 cups heavy cream
6 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
1/2 cup spiced rum
2 tablespoons sugar
2 cups strong brewed coffee with chicory, or espresso
Basic Whipped Cream
 
Warm the heavy cream in a saucepan (on the stove, not in the microwave) until steaming hot but not boiling.

Reduce the heat to low and add the chocolate, rum, sugar, and coffee. Stir until all ingredients are incorporated.

Pour into warm mugs, top with softly whipped cream,

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Death of the Mad Hatter by Sarah J Pepper

The Jack prophesied: If the king loses his head, then the Queen with a Bleeding Heart would rule the Red Court until Time ceased to move forward. When a second carried on for infinity, every creature in Wonderland would tip their Hat to the misfit girl with a Boy’s name (or was it a boy with a Girl’s name?) who’d end the Reign of Terror. However, it all hinged on the One-Eyed Hare being able to convince an uninspirable Heir that the impossible was indeed possible—like stopping time—and that Love was worth a Beheading.

Heads would Roll…
Hearts would Break…
In the end, would it matter who Reigned?
Sarah J. Pepper specializes in dark, paranormal romance – think “happy ever after” but with a twisted, dark chocolate center. Real-life romance isn't only filled with hugs, kisses, unicorns, and rainbows. True-love can be more thoroughly described in times of darkness and tribulation. It’s in those harsh moments where you see what a person is truly capable of – both the good and bad. Sometimes prince-charming isn't always on time, and the glass slipper is a little snug. However, it doesn't mean Charming is not Mr. Right, and who says every shoe is the perfect fit?
 
And that is exactly what she gives us with Death of the Mad Hatter (available for pre-order).  This is a wildly imaginative book filled with rich quirky descriptions, strong characters and a believable romance line.
 
Death of the Mad Hatter answers the question of what happened after Alice's trip to Wonderland.  This isn't the Alice you know, she is now a teenager and has been drastically changed after multiple visits to Wonderland. Alice is but one of the many characters from Lewis Carroll's work that Sarah develops.  There's of course the Mad Hatter, The Queen of Hearts is still the nemesis and a book with Alice in it isn't complete without the White Rabbit.  However the book isn't about Alice, it's about falling in love, surmounting obstacles and defeating evil.  To do this Sarah adds her own characters. Ryley is a down to earth kid who's got a bit of a daddy issue, his friends Dax, Irwin, Mick, Becky and Courtney are each individual in their own way and help carry the story without spending too much time on them (because after all the book isn't about the minor characters).   
 
The romance line is more of a tug of war, none of that falling into each other's arms at first glance.  For those of you not keen on romance, don't count this book out.  Sarah balanced the romance line with action, rich descriptions (that are tight and concise) and her magical world.  It makes for a well rounded book.
 
"Wonderland was an intoxicating, magical world where the most farfetched dreams could come true and the impossible was possible.  Conversely, it was a realm where the most daunting nightmares could haunt us until the end of time." Sounds like love doesn't it.  I really enjoyed how Sarah mixed her magical story with real life lessons. 
 
This is a fun, must read for anyone that knows the story of Alice and Wonderland - boys and girls alike (and of course those adults who love Alice in Wonderland). 
 
Still undecided (how could you be!) check out some of the other reviews.  I think you will see a common trend, you should read this.

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Altered Witch Shoe

 When the Altered Witch Shoe swap came up on BlissfulART swaps I jumped on it. 
 Immediately I knew I wanted to use this shoe. 
It was my Grandmothers.  She was always a great supporter of my art and I know that she would love that her shoe was used by me in this manner.
Yes, I know it is supposed to be a witch...but can't some witches turn into bats? 

 I crackled a Bat image available from Alpha Stamps to embellish the toe, along with some seam binding flowers.
A few sprigs of black and glittery green twigs around my witch.

A black glittered bat hiding under the shoe.

And that's that. 
I hope my partner likes it.