Jul 26, 2013

Crafting of a Different Sort

 
Today I made chowder from the 2 butter clams I picked up on a beach walk earlier in the week.  First I steamed open the clams, and, frankly, was a bit put off by the appearance of these large cooked clams.  Then I cleaned them up, because they were full of "stomach contents".  It all left me wondering how restaurant steamed clams are so clean and consumed right from the shell?  You would NOT have wanted to eat these creatures straight from their shell.  I digress.  In 10 years of living at the beach this is the first time I've cooked the clams that populate our shores.  It won't be the last.  


I intended to make a butterscotch banana pie, using butterscotch pudding from a mix, layered over banana slices.  I had the graham cracker pie shell made and baked by the time hubby got home with milk for the pudding.  However, he also brought home lots of fresh berries.  I offered him a choice;  butterscotch banana or lemon raspberry cream.  I guess you can deduce his selection.  My cream pies are simply a jar of lemon curd stirred into fresh whipped cream, with a little sugar added to the cream. 


In addition to the 2 dishes I cooked up today, and 2 loads of laundry, and trying to wash the stains out of the new guest room carpet, I finally got the cafe curtains made.  Okay, made is an overstatement because here we have a no-measure-no-sew result.  I started with a lovely bark cloth drapery panel I bought for $20.  If not for tension rods and clip-on curtain rings, there would be no window coverings in my home.  Now it's time to feed the horses, and fix dinner, with a wee nip of wine for the cook. 

Jul 22, 2013

Bada Boom

 
I was jolted awake the other morning - Bada Boom - with the thought that I am turning 65.  Because I do not feel 65, I feel 50.  I'm one to joke that 60 is the new 40 ha ha but when the big 65 came up for me, I wasn't laughing.  My BFF from high school had undergone this milestone two months ahead of me.  I decided to make a card for our shared shocking experience.   


Good ol' Graphic 45 papers and stamps brought it all together in a fun way.  I stamped that adorable zeppelin face on clear plastic to layer on top of the same image stamped on paper.  I cut out a circle on the front panel of the card so that the stamped image showed.  I just love these two new collections, Steampunk Spells and Bohemian Bazaar. 
And, yes I did buy myself a birthday present.  These fierce Sam Edelman sandals that I first saw months ago.  Got them on sale from...wait for it...Amazon.com. Bada Boom. 

Jul 13, 2013

Intersection

 
It has been a really long time since I've posted anything, anywhere.  Today was an intersection of free time and inspiration.  I got a little bit ahead on my chores, hubby is traveling which means I don't have to cook (or pick-up...let's not get started thinking about it).  But the real motivation came from HSN.  Yes, the Home Shopping Network; actually it was Anna Griffin on HSN.  I just happened to catch her show a couple days ago.  Nah, I didn't buy anything.  However I have some of Anna's light weight double-sided papers from years ago that were just what I needed to follow her examples.  Actually, the card above uses only 1 of Anna's patterns.  While her designs are full of exuberant color, I grabbed that beige background text paper and the faux bois paper for starters so I stuck with that scheme.    

Now this card is all about Anna's patterns.  And when I needed a little something extra, where do I need to go except Graphic 45?  I'm sure there's an easier way to make paper pleats, 'cause this was a bit tedious.  Hmmm, not really.  Paper, scissors, glue...it's a good thing.