Sunday, October 11, 2015

Waffle making with the twins!

This was such a fun day with the twins, Addison & Olivia!!  I just got a waffle iron and we're making waffles.

Addison mixing the dry ingredients 

Olivia mixing the wet ingredients

The girls watching me whipping the egg whites

Addison is helping dress up the waffles with a dust of powdered sugar, slices of fresh strawberries and whip cream!

Olivia eventually ate her waffle

Addison loving her waffle creation




Thursday, October 1, 2015

Monday thoughts on Wednesday...

I've become a faithful follower of Super Soul Sunday.  I usually DVR the episodes so I can watch and absorb what the conversation is about.  I've watched the episode with Thich Nhat Hanh, He is a Zen Buddhist Monk, he's so spiritual and wise.  So much of what he talked about has resonated within me.  He talks about listening..."compassionate deep listening"  Helping him/her to suffer less.  And then at another time give your thoughts/advice.  I will work on this kind of listening.  I need to read some of his books, too.  Check him out.


He also has four mantras he spoke about.  
1.  Darling, I'm here for you. 
2.  Darling, I know you are there and I'm so happy you are there.  
3.  Darling, I know you suffer and that is why I'm here for you.  
4.  Darling, I suffer, I am trying my best to practice, Please help me.

Happily ever after....


I made an embellishment for one of the boxes.  It was a bridal gift.  I love love love how it turned out!




Glued it to the top of the cement box.  Add a tea candle and wrap it nicely and it becomes a gift.  Hope the bride likes it as much as I loved making it.



Making boxes!

Making more cement boxes!   Getting box molds ready.  Spray with vegetable spray after reinforcing the boxes with tape.   


I used a differnt cement mix this time.  It used sand instead of gravel.  It was a finer texture.  It was easy to mix and simple to use.



I used glass tea candle holders as the mold for the hole.  The key here is spraying with the oil spray and to remove the glass holders after the cement sets but before it's totally set, otherwise you will not be able to remove the glass.


The tops came out perfect and fits nicely


In order to make the pendants I needed some background paper.  I had fun creating these sheets!  I used an idea from a book by Sally Jean.  Make a list of different things like, use paint, words, magazines, chalk, pencil, photograph, smudge, stamps, etc.  Put these in a bowl and as you pick out a work you do that to the paper.  Easy way to get your creative juices going.  I new I wanted light colors and lots of blues!



My work space as I make the charms and solder them.


I decided I also wanted to use stamped words on the lids.  I learned to anneal the metal to make it softer and easier to stamp!  Best tip I've learned.  You mark it with a sharpie and heat it until the sharpie mark disappears.  Remember it gets super hot so have a shallow container of water to dip and cool the metal strips.


I wanted to experment with other shapes and other wires.  I flattened some copper wire and shaped it into a heart.  Soldered it to a brass metal square flooded with solder.  Love love love the outcome.  


I have 30 boxes to finish!!