Easter treats

 I checked out Pinterest and found these two Easter treat ideas.  One using pretzels and the other using rice krispies.

The first one I make was the preztel flowers.  Square pretzels, white chocolate melts and pastel m&m candies.   

 

I put 12 pretzels on a mircowavable place and then set a candy melt on each.  I mircowaved for 55 seconds, just enough to soften the melts.

Once the melts were softened, place a center candy and then six around to make the flower.  It helps to sort the colors.  This isn't as easy as you think....steady hand helps.

Aren't these the cutest!

I placed three in each bag and tied a banner flag using some bakers twine. 

Second treat was a rice krispie treat with a Easter twist.  Four bowls = four colors.  On some recipes I found you can use Peeps, but I didn't have any so I used liquid food colors.  Melt the butter first and then add the  marshmallows.  I used the microwave but you can make this on the stove top.

Once you have the marshmallow/butter mixture I added the color.  Easy easy and sticky.

I doubled the recipe.  I used bread pans lined with foil.  Sprayed with vegetable oil and set the rice krispies in layers color by color.  Let cool.

Winston and Maximus stepped into the kitchen to see what was going on...

Using a serrated knife I cut into 1x1 inch pieces.

I decided to make them into to pops, so I stuck a popstick into each piece.  Easy easy.

Used the printing software to make my banner strips.

Love how it all turned out!

Sent out two boxes of these treats to family.  Also, have enough left over for a few friends and a Palm Sunday dinner dessert. 

HAPPY EASTER!

Hawaii trip!

I'm heading to Hawaii next month to dog/house sit for my friends, Kate & Jennifer!  I'm going with my young friend Christine!  We're going to Honolulu and anywhere else from there!  I thought I better do my research so we can maximize our time.

Got two books at the used book store and they're full of lots of ideas of fun shit to do.  I can't wait!!

I've been making some little books for some of my trips.  The book asks "where I'm going", "what to pack", "what food i ate", "who i met", etc.....  I get an vintage postcard image off the Internet and then I use my vintage typewriter to type on notebook paper.  Cut it all down a quarter page size and put it all together with a ring.  So fun.

Starting on my Hawaii book and making an extra one for Christine.

Organize, Storage, Portable, all in One

As I put together my portable studio I decided to make some fabric roll up holders.  I used a  nice natural cotton fabric I had laying around.  It was enough to make three holders!   I didn't use a pattern, pretty much winged it by measuring the supplies it would hold, pencils, brushes, etc.

 Things the rolled holders need to fit these paint supplies.

I turned under all four edges and sewed 1/4" edge.

I set some of the brushes/pens/pencils to measure out the size of the pockets and the width of the slots.

Marked the lines with a pencil, the average width was 1.5 cm for pencils and brushes, 1/2" was too tight.  the other supplies needed their own width, so it really it's not an exact science.  The pencil marks made it easier to sew straight lines.  Easy quick sewing.

This one will hold my water brushes and paint filled brushes.

Watercolor pencils holder...really love this.

I love how this project turned out!

This one I made to fit my small watercolor paints and various brushes.  Love that I can keep the paints and brushes together.   I can see this rolled holder going with me everywhere.

I used a soft leather tie and it works out perfectly!   The only thing is I will probably paint the outside of the holder....too boring leaving them plain.  This was an easy sew project with big results!   

Portable art studios?

I've been working on a portable art studio to take along with me when I travel or just take a moment to make some art without having to sort through my stuff to take along with me. First thing to tackle was what to take along.  Next thing to tackle was what to put it in.  One thing I notice some artist take their things in a bag and also some kind of paint brush or pencil carrying roll thing.  I looked around my things to see if I had a bag to fit stuff in.  Of course I didn't so I got fabric out of my stash.  I have this "Dick and Jane" fabric which I love. Found some striped fabric and a zipper.  Searched on-line for some ideas and came across a tutorial that had easy to follow instructions and photos.  The biggest challenge was keeping the inside and outside fabrics in the right direction when sewing on the zipper.  I'll be sewing all day making more bags.  I want one for pencils and a bigger one for supplies.  I also want to make a brush roll thing.  I also found a really cool journal.  I just need to make time to paint!

Dream catcher

Finished Amelia's dream catcher!  I have enough supplies to make three more!

Making Pasta

On my recent trip to Lucca, Italy (Yes. I went to Italy...still working on editing my photos!)  I ate a fabulous creamy mushroom pasta dish.  So I got the idea to make my own pasta and try to find a creamy mushroom recipe.  There are many pasta recipes on line with great instructions.  Here's the recipe I used.  I also used my mixer even though you can make it by hand.  It was well worth the effort.

HOMEMADE PASTA RECIPE

Yield: 1 1/4 lbs dough

INGREDIENTS:

• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose unbleached flour, sifted (plus extra flour for preparing)


• 1/2 teaspoon salt


• 4 large eggs, beaten


• 2 Tablespoons water
• 
  
• 
  

I mixed the flour and salt together then added the eggs and water.

Once mixed together it was drier than I thought.

Take the dough and make it into a ball and wrap with plastic wrap.

After the dough rests I ran it through the pasta machine.  Now I didn't have a food pasta machine, but I had a craft room pasta roller.  It's all I had and it worked okay, but tough to secure to my counter top.  I'm going to look into a real kitchen pasta machine.  I ran it through the machine a few times to get it the thickness of 1/4".   

After passing it through the pasta machine I rolled it and cut it into 1/2' strips.

This was the fun part.... figuring out how to dry it.  I used a clothes hanger to hang the pasta to dry.  I did find a creamy mushroom recipe but I didn't like it...too thick and not much taste.  Then again I'm trying to match the pasta dish I ate in Italy....  The pasta was good and I will continue to make.  I'm on the hunt for a pasta machine.

Dream catcher

My great niece Amelia told me she has bad dreams....dream about not getting homework done.  I asked if she knew what a dream catcher was and she sorta knew.  I told her I would make sure she gets one.  So here I am making her dream catchers.  I've never made one before but it turns out they aren't  difficult.  Here's what you need....

Check this out

My Facebook page..... www.facebook.com/the.brokenwing/

106 Vintage Co.

While in Nebraska I visited a local shop.... 

Check out their Facebook page
facebook.com/106vintageco

The owner, Cammie Metheny told how she bought this old building on main street in Coleridge, Nebraska.  It has been a grocery store.  Once she started removing the drop ceiling she found this beautiful tin ceiling.  One the walls she found fresco painted murals.  

Inside her shop you will find many treasures.  She makes furniture out of her finds.

When I was there she was working on a large window, trying to remove the glass.  Her parents were collectors so she's been doing this her whole life.  She also let me got through her other building where she has so many cool things.  

I told her I wanted to come play whenever I was in the area.  She then said she was going to be taking down a barn....I laughed and said when, I'm in!   She said when it was warmer weather, I'm like I'll be back in May!  What a great find and I will be back every time I'm back in the area.  

I'm also presenting my jewelry to her with the hope she'll sell it in her shop!  Stay tuned Coleridge area.  If you ever find yourself in the Coleridge area make sure and stop in her shop.  Also check out her Facebook page.

 I found some treasures myself.  A religious portrait, fruit baskets, turquoise painted wood strips, card holder, wallpapers and the best thing was my ledger!