Fixed it!

Here is the picture of the cloche I bought with the cute little winter scene on a box from Skippy Doodle Designs and Sue Parker
Love it!


As I said in my last post. I stopped by a friend's house to do some scrapping of sorts. I am not a scrapbooker, but I love paper and making things...so I made Christmas ornaments for my tree! Here are the pictures....

As you can see, I have a love affair with glitter! hehehehe...

Some more of my holiday creations are on my FB page

Time for me....

Yesterday I went back to my old stomping grounds in Saratoga County, NY to visit a fabulous store,
Schuyler Pond Home & Garden
727 Route 29 East
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

I had visited before, but yesterday was special because there was an event featuring some artists I have admired online for many years from Earth Angels

After quickly surveying the beautiful eye candy, I made a second round to decide what would come home with me. I had been looking for a cloche to put on my table and I found one at Skippy Doodle Designs.
. I also purchased another little winter scene that is now highlighted in my new cloche. I chatted with Sue Parker, of Skippy Doodle and Jen O'Connor of Earth Angels. Both woman were delightful.

I also snagged an angel ornament I have admired online for awhile now from Debbie Thibeault . It now holds a spot center stage on my tree.

On my way home I stopped by Miss Ellies, a family friend who was doing a weekend scrapbooking event with my mom, sister and niece. What fun making things, watching Christmas movies, and eating homemade chicken & dumplings. I made 4 Christmas ornaments to add to my tree. I'm enjoying decorating this year. Last year I wasn't able to because of an accident I was in. I was lucky I even had another Christmas to see. It was, however, a catalyst for change and change has happened, all for the good. So the tree went up right after Thanksgiving and decorating has been an ongoing thing since then.

To finish off my weekend,I am going to go for a ride on Jerry, and come home, watch movies and cook my kids a nice dinner. My son is home from college and I have both my children under my roof. I'm a happy girl!

As soon as I can fix the issue of not being able to upload pictures...UGHHHHHH!, I will post more pictures.

One of my preces sold on ETSY!!!!!

I am so excited that my adorable little bee pendent sold on ETSY. I have offered some of what I make for sale to support my art habit. I wish I had more time to promote and fine tune my ETSY shop, to maybe sell more. I was ecstatic when I got the e mail that this necklace sold. I packed it up and shipped it out immediately. I hope the buyer enjoys it as much as I did making it.

I am considering taking a PMC certification course in January. It will be an investment, but I will get discounted silver and other supplies. It works out that I already have the time off from my new job. Maybe it is a sign????

Lately, I have been busy making Christmas ornaments and decorating my home. I need to get some photos to post. I have made some very cute things!!!!!

Bread Pudding Recipe......Yum!!!

It's fall and time for some comfort food and of course apples! Here is a way to have both. Add a bit of coarse sea salt to the caramel sauce and have a swanky, upscale dessert being served in high end bakeries and restaurants. Enjoy!

Apple Bread Pudding with Caramel Sauce

9 cup stale bread cubes (about 12 slices)
1/2 cup raisins
1 1/2 cups milk
4 medium apples
1/2 cup granulated sugar
4 eggs
1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted

Caramel Sauce:
1 cup cold water
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3 tablespoons butter or margarine
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Heat oven to 375 degrees F.

Cut bread into small pieces and place in bowl. Add raisins. Pour milk over bread and raisins. Peel, core, and slice apples. Cut apples in quarters and place over bread mixture.

In bowl combine sugar, eggs and melted butter; whisk until smooth. Pour egg mixture over apples and stir to combine. Bake for 50 to 55 minutes.

Sauce: Combine water and cornstarch in microwave-safe dish, stirring until blended. Add sugar and cinnamon and whisk until dissolved. Microwave on HIGH for 2 to 3 minutes or until thickened. Check and stir halfway through cooking time. Remove; add butter and vanilla extract. Stir until butter is melted. Serve sauce over bread pudding.

Follow the signs!

Here is recycling /re purposing at its best. I found this old wood in a pile in the back. They were the perfect size to make painted signs. I sanded them lightly, painted and distressed them. I thought long and hard on how to put the wording on. I finally used my sister's Cricut and made word stencils. I copied the stencil with a pencil and then hand painted them in. Then the fun began...the distressing! I sanded, crackled, hammered, scratched, stamped, until I had the worn chipped look I love. I used a walnut stain to further deepen the patina and sealed with a polyacrylic. I am very pleased with how they came out. I gave a couple as gifts and have a few more pieces of wood to work on when the inspiration strikes me. These were a lot of fun to do and urge anyone who wants a vintage looking sign like the ones you see in catalogs and in stores, for a lot less money.

Fall Vignettes....Better late then never.

Here are a couple of my Halloween/Fall vignettes. Included in one of the pictures is my DIY Mercury Glass lamp I made from a Goodwill find. Find the link to making your own faux mercury glass here.
http://www.kelleymaria.com/2011/04/diy-mercury-glass.html

Lots of DIY projects in the works. I am finally motivated to make my house a home that shows off what I love and that makes me happy. I will share as I finish them in future posts. Happy Fall!

Words to live by................................................

courtesy of