Cowland Studio

Spice Up Your Vinegar

2012-09-02T15:46:00.000-04:00

This simple and easy to make Spicy Vinegar is created by my husband, the chef, and we wish to pass this recipe on to you.
The herbs can be anything you choose, but the more spicier and pungent, the more your vinegar will pack a punch! The peppers used in this recipe are the mild jalapeno, and as with the herbs, the peppers are your choice. Use distilled white vinegar, and always clean and sterilize your canning jars beforehand.

Ready? Here we go!

Prepare your peppers, as shown below.

Rinse your fresh picked herbs, in this case spicey globe basil and purple basil, and let drain.

Pour the vinegar into your clean canning jar, leaving approximately 3/4" space at the top.

Transfer the vinegar to the pan and bring to a boil.

As you are waiting for the vinegar to boil, place your peppers in the jar.

Add your herbs, in this case, basil.

The amount is up to you, but the more herbs, the spicier your vinegar will be!

If you are adding a lot of herbs, pack them in gently. Try not to break the leaves.

When everything is in the jar, add the hot vinegar, leaving room in the jar. What you previously measured might be a little more than what your jar can hold, but do not fill the jar to the top. Leave some breathing room.

There is steam coming out of the top, so be careful!
Stir gently to remove any air that might be caught in between the peppers and herbs.

You're almost done.
Place the canning lid on the top of the jar.

Screw on the ring.

Make sure you've screwed the ring down tightly, and be careful! The jar is going to be HOT!
Did you make it through? Okay, great!

Let the jar sit for one week in a place where it can't be tipped over or dropped, like the back of the counter.

Once a day, gently turn the jar upside down, then right side up. Do not shake. After about a week, your vinegar will be the talk of the town!

Enjoy this little recipe and feel free to change around the peppers and herbs as you might like. We gaurentee, you will like it!

Toodles.

Regrowing Celery

2012-07-05T08:49:00.000-04:00

You can regrow your celery! It's easy, fast, and oh, so cheap. This is our happy little celery plant this morning, sitting in the sun. Here's a quick step-by-step on how to make this happen.

First, start with the base of your celery, leaving about two inches of stalks from the base. The base of the plant is where your roots spring from. Find a glass container (this is a votive holder) small enough to fit the whole base in snuggly. The glass will hold the celery up, suspended in the water you will put in, like so:


3rd day in water

Celery is a thirsty plant. Make sure there's enough water in the jar each day. This is the process to start the plant rooting, which will take about 7 to 10 days.

This is 7 days later, and the roots can be seen coming down from the base.


stalks!

Hubby waited four more days to make sure the roots were formed enough to plant.

Being satisfied with the healthy roots, it was time to plant this little experiment. The plant was put in a pot, hoping to keep the celery growing, cutting as we needed. And hopefully, it will keep growing through the cold season. Wouldn't that be nice?


freshly potted

Now the plant will get the needed nutrients to grow tall and strong. We are anxiously waiting for a stalk to get tall enough to see how it tastes! I'm really curious about that! This seemed to be a great way to get the stalk or two we need for certain dishes when there's only two people to feed. I'll be doing a follow-up post after harvest, so stay tuned to this channel.

Here is a healthy, happy celery regrow.

Happy Planting!

Toodles.

Cowland Studio

Soft Molasses Cookies

2012-06-09T13:59:00.002-04:00


ooey-gooey goodness

This cookie recipe has been in the family for a very long time. All of us grew up eating these cookies, usuallly with freshly made butter slathered over the top for good measure. Five generations have had the ultimate pleasure of these cookies. They were always ready for us, sitting on their own special spot of the pantry shelves. I couldn't find my great aunt's cookie cutter that she used, which was heart breaking, but one day I found a replica in the store and promptly bought it! Now the cookies taste like they should! But that's just me (and Mom).
There's a lot to this recipe and you have to put the batter together the way it's written, or they won't taste the way they should. So, to start off, here's the list of ingredients:

1 cup molasses (I use Grandma's Robust)
1/2 cup lard (or Crisco)
1/4 cup butter, melted (not margarine)
1/2 cup boiling water
     Mix together and add to:
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ginger
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
2 cups flour
     Blend all ingredients together well, and add 2 more cups of flour, mixing thoroughly.
     Cover and let stand in the fridge for one hour.
     Roll out 1/4" thick, use cookie cutters for shapes.
     Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes.

This picture shows the 4th cup of flour added:

Here the batch is almost all mixed:

Here, the batch is ready for the fridge:

The dough, at this point, as like working with clay. The last cup of flour is hard to mix in, so make sure you've got it mixed thoroughly. When making cookies, roll out the dough on a floured surface. If you don't, you won't like the consequences! Ugh. What a mess!
Besides being the best cookies on the planet, you can use them for holidays and decorate them with frosting and sprinkles. Cut the dough into squares, then put two together with a creamy spread in the center. There seems to be no ending to what you can do to them- well, besides eat them!

Here is the recipe, written by my great grandmother, that I use. Looks like a mouse decided the paper was pretty good, too!

Now it's time for a cup of coffee and some cookies (I've already had two, nice and warm from the oven).
You are going to love these. I promise!

One more time:

Toodles.

Cowland Studio

Fabric and Paint Combination

2012-06-09T13:20:00.000-04:00

This dollar store bag has been waiting patiently for me to 'see' what was going to be on it. The poor thing has already been around the block quite a few times, but it's still in great shape. And now, it has some jewelry all its own.
It looked like this when I purchased it.

The fabric for the strip on the front flap has been hanging around for a while, too. The design was easy enough to cut- I just cut 1/2" on either side of the individual strip for hemming, which was done with the iron.
Here it is, taped in place and ready to sew:

Stuffing the bag under the sewing machine was no treat, but I've managed worse. It was at this point that further embellishment came to me.

The darker triangle on the strip is where the inspiration came for the next part. I sketched out how I wanted it to look, at the exact size that would fit neatly on the webbing, on graph paper. From there, it was transferred to a piece of cardboard, with tiny holes to mark certain lines in the design, then transferred to the web. I started with fabric paint, but the colors weren't bright enough, so out came the acrylics. As you can see, they shine quite nicely.

As I was working on the web painting, the final front design shouted out. It's the same as the small web design, only larger, and done in the same acrylic paint.

These few simple things really transformed this dollar store bag, and it holds all my junk, I mean stuff, including my computer. Here's a close up of the front:

It's amazing how something so simple can turn out so satisfying.

Toodles.

Cowland Studio

Perfect Iced Tea

2012-05-20T12:20:00.000-04:00

The best thing about having chores done early, before it gets too hot, is sitting down with an ice cold glass of iced tea, home brewed with your own special touch.

Yup, it's that time for me here on the farm. These first couple days of hot weather and clear blue skies brought out the hankering for my own special iced tea, but this year it has a twist. Actually, they're chunks!
Here's how I make mine:

Heat 6 to 8 quarts of water. Do NOT boil the water and do not boil your ingredients. Once the water is steaming, take it off the heat and drop in 3 Lipton (or your tea choice) tea bags, 2 tea bags of Camomile tea, and a couple of chunks of peeled, fresh apple. Boiling the water with your ingredients will make your brew bitter. This recipe will taste more like sun tea.
Let your brew steep for a least two hours, letting it cool down naturally while soaking up the great flavors you have added.

After your brew has cooled, pour it into a jug and added water. You will have about 2.75 quarts of iced tea after it has refrigerated overnight.

I'm sure most of you think my glass looks plain, but I assure you, the taste is totally yummy! You can add many things to your brew as it's steeping. Fresh lemon and orange slices, of course, will add a definite splash, but there are also your home dehydrated strawberries to pop in. Fresh mint from your garden will perk that glass right up! Any fresh berries will snap up your drink. As a matter of course, I dehydrate as much fruit as I can for those times in the winter where you need some extra something in your hot tea, so if you have them on hand, by all means, drop them in! The more berry, the more merry.

Or, you can just brew up regular tea with camomile thrown in just for the taste. The possibilities are endless, the combinations unique to you.
Do you have your own special recipe for iced tea? Do you keep it the same, or change it every time?

Let me know in the comment section below.

Going back to this now!

Toodles.

Cowland Studio

Making Rocks

2012-05-01T08:16:00.000-04:00

Yes- you can! Anything you can paint can become a rock, just by a few easy techniques. You can create beautiful and one of a kind pieces for your home or work place easily and at a fraction of the cost. Say, for instance, you wanted to remake your counter top (which I have thought of doing!), or you need some earthy placemats for your deck table- paint it in stone! Make matching votive holders, candle plates, napkins (using fabric paint, of course)- you can do it just about anywhere.

First, assuming you've picked out what you want to paint, find the type of stone that you'd like. Do a little research. Sedimentary rocks, with their veins of color, are really the very easiest to mimic in painting. They have no set pattern (you know how Mother Nature is), so a flub here or there isn't going to make a difference, because maybe that's how it was supposed to be. But, you can use any stone style that fits with your needs.

Now that you've studied your stone, visualize your starting point. Start with your lightest shade of color. Basecoat if you'd like, but that depends on the surface you are painting. If it's originally hot pink, you definitely want to basecoat first. After your basecoat is dry, start laying down your veins of light shade. Vary the thickness of the paint, using water to thin for a more natural cast. Below, I started with a plastic tray and spray painted it with a Stone Accent spray (this was an experiment). I wanted to use the speckleness for the background.


Desert Jasper

With the basic veins in place, I started adding speckles in their special shades of color. This is where a specialty brush comes in handy if you don't want to paint dot by dot. My brush is an old filbert whose bristles are now all bent and curled, making it the perfect brush for dots, bushes, and trees. This old brush has seem more painting than you can imagine! So, if you have a brush like this, do some dots. Some spots are a thicker grouping than others. You can add some in dot by dot later, too. Keep checking your reference material, but let your hand do the work. It's fun once you get into it!

Now, start bringing in your final, darkest color for the deepest colored veins. Liner brushes are excellent for this. Follow the veins of lighter shades, but don't stick to it strictly. Those deepest veins will form wherever they will in the evolution of the rock. Thin down your paint if you need to, but I've found that the denser the color, the better the vein will look.

Here are two close ups:

That's all there is to it. Simple. Effective. Unique.

Sandstone is another easy stone to mimic in painting. These are a few beads I've painted-

This is a glass votive holder, basecoated:

And finished in Desert Jasper.

These are look-alike Purple Sea Sediment Jasper-

The bracelet in the following picture is real Desert Jasper. The bead is painted to look like it is.

Turquoise is a tough one, but I stuck to it. The copper accents come from copper metal powder suspended in a gloss varnish medium so it wouldn't oxidize while I was waiting for the paint to dry.

A plain, large bangle bracelet turned itself into turquoise:

After making this polymer clay bowl, it needed to be decorated. Here is how the 'making Sandstone' looks in the beginning stage:

It's not difficult to change something to what you want it to be. Painting is a marvelous medium to use, and with some practice, you can use it anywhere. Don't let it intimidate you. With a paint brush in your hand, You are the creator! Make it your way.

I sure do!!

Let me know what you think by leaving a comment below. Tell me what you have turned to stone!!

Toodles.

Cowland Studio

Garden Markers- Recycled

2012-04-07T11:19:00.000-04:00

This is a quickie little project that will not break down in damp soil, and that you can reuse over and over again. You can even get the kids involved to do the decorating, or you can just save all the fun for yourself! Here's what you will need:

empty, cleaned plastic milk jugs
heavy duty scissors
a water proof marker
your imagination!

I use the long sides of the milk jug and cut as much of the flatness as I can get. Usually, a sharp knife will start the cutting process, and the heavy duty scissors take over from there.
Here is where your imagination comes in. As you can see below, I made a simple 'exclamation mark' cut for my markers, but they can take any shape you'd like, from squared to T shaped. They could be little clouds or balloons! More fun shapes equals more fun for you and the kids!

All you have to do now is write on them! I have found that Sharpie markers work well for me because we use a mister bottle to moisten the soil, but I have found that crayons work, too! When you want to reuse the markers for next year, a little isopropyl alcohol will help remove most of the writing.

All that's left is sticking them in their little pots!

Cutting your markers tall enough will allow you to elevate the plastic wrap, making a greenhouse for your seedlings, and the near-transparency of the marker allows more sun to get through.

Have fun with this little project and Happy Growing Season!

As always, feel free to leave a comment in the section below. I'd love to hear from you!

Toodles.

Cowland Studio

Sprouts Follow Up

2012-03-20T07:46:00.002-04:00

This was one of those pictures that just had to be taken this morning. Hubby made himself a salad, topped with his own purple basil vinegar (which has the most delicious smell), adding in a healthy helping of fresh homegrown sprouts!

Is this yummy looking, or what?

A wonderful Welcome to Spring, for sure!

Have a happy, healthy, and warm First Day of Spring!

Toodles.

Cowland Studio

A How-To on Growing Sprouts

2012-03-19T16:11:00.000-04:00

Growing and eating your own vegetables has come back to life, and at no better time. What's not to like about going out to your garden and picking a basketful of veggies for a stir fry meal? How can you resist a stroll around your garden, smiling, remembering how much fun you had playing in the dirt? And what did playing in the dirt get you? Healthier!! Yummy, flavorful food loaded with vitamins, nutrients, and best of all- no chemicals!

In many places, it's too early to get out and plant. I know the feeling of wanting to go out and will those seeds to grow. You can picture the plant loaded with produce, can't you? You gaze down the row of fresh turned soil, willing those little seeds to pop through and give you what you've been drooling for all winter. Right?

Well, if it's too cold to plant outside, try growing some green inside!

When you just have to have some green, there's nothing better than sprouts to help curb that craving. There are many kinds to choose from and you've probably had them at least once in your life. Here's a simple little tutorial on growing your own.

You will need:
a wide mouth quart glass jar (you want to get them OUT when they're done)
a square of nylon stocking to cover the open end
a large, strong rubber band
sprout seeds
clean, fresh water

Make sure your glass jar is very clean: rinse it out with very hot water and let it air dry. Next, add two level teaspoons of sprout seeds and about a cup of room temperature water. Cover the open end of the jar with your nylon square, holding it down with the rubber band. I use the stocking piece because the seeds have less of a tendency to stick to it. You'll understand why in a minute.
Pull the stocking piece taut, making sure the rubber band won't come off accidentally. Let the water and seeds sit together for about an hour or so. There is no exact time to this step, but the seeds don't need to sit in the water for a long time, just enough to get them started.
Next, tilt your jar carefully, emptying almost every drop of water out. That little bit of water will keep the seeds from drying out and stopping the germination process. Now, lay the jar on its side on a clean paper towel or cloth, making sure to keep it out of the sun. Your counter top or a shelf will do nicely.

For the next three to five days, rinse your seeds with fresh, clean water two to three times a day, laying your jar back down on its side after you have drained the water out. If the seeds bunch up near the nylon, gently tap them back into the jar. They need space to grow and air to breath!

If you find different types of sprout seeds, you can mix them together at the start of the process of sprouting, and if you are familiar with sprouts, you know they are great everywhere and on just about everything! My favorite is a tuna sandwich on toasted marble bread, with a huge splash of sprouts inside!

This post is the first of many that I hope to be writing in the future, to pass along my experience in living as healthy as possible. Did you like this post? Any thoughts or suggestions? Pass them on in the comment section below!!

Toodles.

Cowland Studio.com

A Busy Time Lately

2012-03-10T08:35:00.001-05:00

We have a lot to catch up on here in Cowland. As always, projects are being created, techniques are evolving, and there always seems to be something to do. With a change in my dialysis schedule, I'm finding much more time to be in the studio, and even manage to find time to do nothing but read a great book. It's not easy getting up at 3am three times a week, but being home very early (in fact, before I used to leave) has marvelous benefits.

I love cows. I have cows across the street

that like to watch you shoveling snow, and cows that sit quietly in the kitchen, like Daisy, featured in this next photo.

Do you have cows?

Still in the farm category, food comes to mind. What's better than fresh cow's milk for breakfast, but bacon. Right? Who doesn't love bacon? So, in honor of our favorite food (not necessarily for breakfast), I painted up this Tshirt the other day.

A close up of my work:

Eventually, I'm going to make a new backsplash for the kitchen, so I've been experimenting and playing with faux finishes that I might paint on it. This is a recycled plastic tray that I painted to look like wood-

And a close up:

These river cobbles were painted on a 5x5" tile (it was handy and cheap). It's my first attempt at these little guys, and I'm not sure if I like them or not, or if they would fit well in the kitchen decor.

Marble is a wonderful surface to recreate and I've repainted a small three legged table top to resemble gray marble (which has since met it's demise), but this green tinted bottle needed some green marble to jazz it up.

Then, to break up the faux painting, I painted this hawk one day. I might just give it to a friend who was instrumental in getting me an earlier on-time for dialysis.

We've had a shelf in the kitchen for a long time, and it was a nondescript dark brown with no interesting grain, as you can see:

I had so much success painting glass votive holders to look like bamboo, that this shelf just had to change. My husband calls this his 'shrine'. His favorite chef knives are above the shelf, attached to a bamboo magnetized rack. The 'bamboo' votive holders house battery operated votive candles, and the shelf just sits there beautifully, happy to have a new image!

The small cutting board is actual bamboo. Below, on the counter, is a bamboo knife block, and we also have a bamboo napkin holder. It's an eco-friendly product, but it's also FUN to paint!

The little creek is up from snow melt, but the weather is supposed to warm up into the 60s this coming week. It's almost time to plant some seeds and build some raised garden bed sections.

As always, feel free to drop a note in the comment section below. I love to hear from my readers! You can also catch me on Cowland Studio's facebook page.

Toodles

Cowland Studio

A New Name

2012-02-21T09:47:00.000-05:00

As you can see, Knowing Fancy has become Cowland Studio!

Much thought has gone into this change and I really do hope that you, my readers, will like it, because I know I do! Please, feel free to drop in your comments in the 'comment' section below. I would truly love to hear from you all.

I have been working on something new and I really like the way the projects have been coming out. My 'Make It Wood' series will be posted here, and it has already been partially posted on Google+. Slowly, I am trying to wrap everything up under the Cowland Studio name, so please bear with me. A computer geek I am not! If I've goofed up somewhere, you now know why.

I would like to close this little post with a huge thank you to you, my readers. Thank you for stopping by, for reading my babble, and viewing the simple things I do to make my world just a teeny bit brighter!

Toodles.

cowlandstudio.com

Denim Does It

2012-02-07T09:42:00.000-05:00

What says 'Country' as much as cows and hay bales, horses and barns, or tractors and gardens?

Denim and Patchwork.

Whether you're talking about coveralls or quilts, a peaceful country scene seems to come to mind. And, what can be better than combining the two?
Painting something to look like it!

The first time I tried this technique, I fell in love with it. It started many years ago when I was painting a large wood scarecrow with denim overalls. The knees came out kind of worn and ragged looking. Forgotten for years, it all came back when I started a new project for my granddaughter, who's learning how to sew. The small box was originally going to be something totally different, until I started painting. There's where it decided to be different. At the step pictured below, something more needed to be added.

Remember FabCopy? It was just the thing to be added.

Some glue, and then some hash marks for accent brought this little box to completion.

With something to hold her thread and little whatnots, there needed to be more. I flew by the seat of my pants on this pincushion, but how hard could they be? The fabric was all ready to go- just paint, stuff, and glue came to be this:

And then two pieces didn't seem like enough. My stash yielded a dry erase board waiting to be decorated. Projects and measurements must be marked down, so here's where she can do that.

Now complete, all I have to do is get it to her.

The denim/patchwork bug was burrowed in and there were more items in my stash, and my hand was itching to paint more. Slowly, I have been decorating the kitchen, trying to come up with a basic I could work off of and still have a large color palette theme to choose from. Having circled around a lot of options, denim and patchwork fit the bill more than anything.
First up on the work desk was this box, with it's random placement of 1/2" squares.

Originally, I had painted stripping for under the cabinets, but it just didn't fit with the decor. Denim did.

Here's a closeup.

The spring and summer curtains, with cows and barns and Country Blue ruffles will fit right in!

Now that this kitchen project is under way, I've got a focus point. I'll have to be patient and wait for more ideas to pop up about future denim decorations.

Potholders come to mind, but they'll be the real McCoy! If you have any ideas, be sure to leave them in the comment section below. I'd love to hear them!

Toodles.

Cowland Studio

Mod Podge Decals

2012-01-24T17:05:00.000-05:00

Mod Podge hasn't been a part of this studio very long, but it has played many parts in that short period of time. Right away, it became apparent that if left to dry in a palette cup, it is easily peeled out in one little blob. That little blog is tacky. A little light went on. That tacky little blob stuck to the glass of a brush cleaning jar.
Hm.
It didn't take long for the wheels to spin madly. Where can this go? Truthfully, I can't give you any solid explanation of how this method I developed came to be. Let's just say- it did. And it was maddenly fun while it worked itself out.
To hike this trail you will need:
Mod Podge (I use gloss)
clear, heavy plastic sheets (i.e. report covers)
acrylic paint (your choice of color/colors)
craft knife
a design (with a good outline)

First, place one sheet of the clear plastic over the design you would like to copy and tape down the edges so it won't move around. Spread a smooth coat of Mod Podge over the design, going about 1/8" outside the design. I have found that using Qtips for this method is the easiest way to spread the MP and save your brushes. Let this dry. Sometimes, you can start transferring your design in an hour.
I did not take pictures of the actual process, so you'll have to visualize as I explain. Meanwhile, there'll be pictures to help you 'see' what I'm talking about. Look at each picture carefully (click on it to enlarge) so that you see the problem areas that can arise when applying your final decal, such as on a curved surface.

If you choose to outline your design, do this first. I tend to outline in black, then add in the color. Straight acrylic paint works well, but make sure, no matter what color you are using, to put down a heavy coat. If you're not sure you have, try this: after drying, hold the work up to the light. If there are 'holidays' in your color, apply another coat. If you are making decals for windows, you will see those lighter spots, so make it consistent.

Next, apply your choice of color or colors. I found that metallic paint will usually need 2 or maybe three coats. Glitter depends on how glittery you want it to look. The two butterflies are in metallic (note the wrinkles!), and darker colors need the most attention.

Is it looking the way you wanted? No holidays? Great! The end process is simple: three solid coats of Mod Podge, with drying time in between each application. Here again, Qtip application works wonderfully.

It will get a teensy bit tricky from here on out. Use a dedicated sheet of plastic strictly for cutting around your completed design. Gently peel off your design from the first plastic sheet and place it on the 'cutting' sheet. Use your craft knife to trim around the design. Peel away the excess dried MP. Prep your glass or plastic by cleaning it with isopropyl alcohol, making sure there's no grease on that surface and let it dry.

If your decal is going to be placed on a flat surface, your task is easy. Lift it from the cutting sheet, place it on, starting at the edge and working your way until it all lies flat. Stand back and look. It won't come off that surface unless you take it off. If you plan on keeping it for another time, store it flat on an extra sheet of plastic. Placing wax paper over that should keep anything from sticking to your decal. Don't fold your decal. You'll NEVER get it apart.
If your decal was made for a curved surface, you'll have to be extra careful when applying it. I started in the center and worked my way slowly, in tiny increments, around the globe until it was all down. You can try to reapply it- just be careful. Always try to get it right the first time so you don't have to pull your hair out making it right. Many decals ended up in a wad before they became halfway presentable.

Your decals can be made from many things, just don't make them large. This decal is made with scrapbook paper, with a little acrylic paint for some splash. Same MP application. It's on my little laptop and hasn't budged since I put it there.

And for another twist, this decal is on my cell phone. It's an embroidered patch, using the same Mod Podge application: the first coat, and then three coats for stability. My cell doesn't get a lot of abuse, but it makes its rounds, merrily sporting its own decal. You can do some amazing, one of a kind decals with this simple little process and of course, Mod Podge!

So ends this journey, but it's really just the beginning. You just never know where Mod Podge will take you.

Have fun. Leave a comment, let me know you stopped by. Tell me about your decals!

Toodles.

Glitter Drips

2012-01-24T15:56:00.001-05:00

Sometimes you have to crawl outside of your comfortable little niche and do something, anything, different, just to break things up.

And sometimes realism is absolutely not on the agenda.

This is the result of one of those days. Having a blank Tshirt around, for me, is like not having frosting on a cake. Okay in some circumstances- like when I'm wearing a colorful broomstick skirt that makes its own statement, but in others, something needs to talk. Ya know?

This particular far-outness came to life compliments of the glitter bug. All through Halloween decorations, I played with glitter, experimented, and played some more. Christmas decorations took on a whole new look this year. Almost everything had its own twinkling glow. Some things got a little accent of glitter just around the edges. Needless to say, glitter is now a new tool in this little studio.

To start out, I had a basic idea of how I wanted the shirt to look. Kind of melty, drippy. Between the front and back of the shirt is a piece of heavy cardboard; the pins hold it in place to keep it from shifting. Making marks with chalk ensures that the marks won't hang around when you're done painting.

From here, I let the piece tell me where it wanted to go. It's hard to tell, but the first color is a fabulous purple glitter paint that allows you to add more layers to brighten it up.

After the first step, the top part of the design appeared, bringing the whole design around to some kind of closure.

One color wasn't enough, so I added on the turquoise glitter paint for a little contrast. That brought me to the last marking, where one last glitter splash was to go.

There was enough color, so the last step is its own color- diamond. It goes with anything, and breaks up the design enough to keep it alive and moving.

You've already seen the final design, but I'll show it again. See the big drip? That starts out as diamond and fades down to turquoise for a final, final completion.

Did you like it? Please feel free to leave a comment or three below, in the comment section. Let me know you were here. Say hi. Don't let me feel like I'm blogging to thin air. OK?
Now- get out there and glitter something. Catch the bug~

Toodles.

Landscape Diversity

2012-01-03T09:03:00.000-05:00

There is one thing in this world that is constant, and that's the many changing landscapes that surround us. Whether we're in the city, or the country, or the deep woods, even the desert- a landscape is around us. It's even inside us, if we know where to look and how to see it. One can travel the same route everyday, but the landscape will never be same each time. Certain scents can be associated with certain landscapes. Amazing insights can be associated with them, too. The changing of the seasons brings spectacular landscapes, often only lasting long enough for a brief glimpse. But the scene remains, nonetheless.

Tributes to landscapes have been permanently recorded throughout history, from the simplistically lifelike cave drawings clear up to the present day landscape artists, each using their own unique style to interpret what their eyes have seen. Here you will see my particular style of landscape. My interpretation.
Let's take a little walk...

Winter is here. Snow inevitably shows up. It falls on the hills, clumps in the trees, cascades off roofs, only to melt into the streams and rivers. Snow piled up on a barn roof always makes me think of cows snugged down inside, softly breathing in the earthy smell of hay. This landscape happened to end up on a Christmas tree ornament this year.

After getting the snow out of my system, it was time for something a little warmer. And again, it appeared on an ornament.

A young family member saw this ornament and promptly declared that he wanted one. This landscape was a labor of love for a special young lad.

After the holiday 'make it' rush was over, I decided to break my suspension of painting landscapes after a handful of years. Over thirty years ago, I started seriously painting, and landscapes was where I started. Many brushes and canvases were devoured and ruined until finally, landscape painting became a ghostly presence. Now, with more experience from working with other mediums and styles, my 'landscape eye' has sharpened. First off the easel was this 5" by 5" tile (of the peel and stick variety).

Did I watch a lot of Bob Ross? Oh, yes. And before him, William Alexander with his 'happy little clouds'! After much splattering and many muddy canvases, I gave up on the oils. Acrylics and I are much better friends. Even though the learning experience that came with oil painting was excellent, acrylics are much easier to handle. But, that's just me.
Hubby, of course, likes everything I paint, so I did this little tin for him. It's an easily transportable landscape!

Fridge magnets are an attraction, so this tiny painting graces the front of mine.

A friend of mine has recently opened a fabulous new restaurant in town. For the holidays, an eight foot tree stands majestically, supporting ornaments of every shape, size, and color. My contribution adds to the southwest theme of this unique establishment.

Being one who will paint on almost anything, it was time to spiff up the kitchen now that the Christmas decorations were gone. The trim under the cabinets came out fairly well, but there just seemed to be something missing. It needed to be removeable. It also needed to be cheerful. The idea formed and started like this:

The big reveal---- Toaster Art !!

Are your feet sore? Well, let's just sit down and enjoy this quiet little pond. The birch leaves are gently rattling in the warm breeze...

Don't look out the windows! You'll ruin it!!

Toodles.

Snowflakes in the Round

2011-12-12T17:12:00.000-05:00

I'll be the first to admit it- my wreath talent is pretty much nonexistent. The general ideas are there, to be sure, but when they're done, they are just missing too much. So, I've faced the fact that wreaths and I are just not going to be BFFs. We barely know each other and that's that.
So, why do I keep trying?
Wreaths are just so cool, so neat, so simplistically homey. Who doesn't like a wreath?

A few packages of cute snowflakes from the dollar store called my name, with a blank grapevine wreath whispering at me from home. The idea for a Christmas wreath was born.
This is a simple project, and it didn't tax my tired brain so much that I gave up. It was Plain Jane from the start.

To start, I spray painted the wreath white, then added my silver glitter/Mod Podge mixture, just to give it a little more zing.

Adding some tiny snowflakes from a strand of garland to the center of the snowflakes was almost too easy. I cut off the silver strings and put them aside for my homemade tags.

When the glue was dry, I added more glitter to the tiny centers, this time a color more like freshly fallen frozen snow in the early morning sun.
After everything was dry, I placed the snowflakes around the wreath until they looked right. Out came the glue gun. One by one, the snowflakes got glued down. A small length of heavy cord is the hanger. Done!

I know fancy, and this isn't it, but it gets the job done.
And everything came from the dollar store!

Toodles.

Cowland Studio

Make a Glittered Ornament

2011-12-10T08:38:00.000-05:00

the fast and easy way!

Here is what you will need:
      a blank ornament (glass or wood, plastic, or handmade)
      Mod Podge Gloss
      glitter of your choice
      a brush to apply your mixture
      a toothpick to stir your mixture

You can make your own design and transfer it to your ornament, or you can just use your imagination and let the brush go.

Ready?
Let's get started. Christmas is coming- fast!

Pour some Mod Podge into a small container that has a tight fitting lid, so that you can use your mixture again. You'll be surprised at all the places you can put a little glitter on to spice up the holiday.

Add some glitter to the Mod Podge. I always use half Mod Podge and half glitter for that full on shiny effect!

Great! Now, stir them together with your toothpick. Does it look like the right consistency to you? Will it be enough? Don't worry. If you don't get the coverage you wanted the first time, wait for it to dry and apply a second coat. It's so easy!

Okay! Before you start to apply your glitter, make sure your ornament is clean. If you are painting on glass, use isopropyl alcohol to wipe it clean and let it dry. That only takes a few minutes. Make sure you don't have any grease on your hands, unless you intend to wear latex gloves. You don't want all your hard work to slide off the glass, now, do you?
If you have a design that you want to paint, transfer it to the ornament. With glass ornaments, I recommend resting the ornament on a soft surface while you are painting, and have something to set it in to dry. Paint small sections at a time. Let it dry (say- 15 minutes), and then paint another section. It might sound tedious, but the end result will make you smile! You'll be glad you put in a little extra time for drying in between painting.

Here's the ornament I started.

The design goes all the way around the glass, and there's room for more around the middle. Don't feel obligated to paint the bottom of the ornament if you don't want to. I don't recall anyone turning them to see what's on the bottom! You're going for effect here. Glitter is the key, and that's what you concentrate on. For a little splash on this one, I used gold metallic for the dots, just for something different and to accent the glitter. Metallic pens work, also. The type of glitter pens I have come right off, so I reserve them for tags and cards.

Mod Podge can tend to be tacky, even after it's dry, but with a half glitter, half MP mixture, I haven't felt any tackiness to worry about, and the glitter hasn't lifted off at all. A rainbow of color mixtures, all ready to use, line the back of my work desk. And, there are so many places you can use this simple little mixture for some major flashy effects. I put some on a Snowman nightlight. Here's a picture of gold glitter just around the edge of a candle holder.

Once the glitter bug bites, you are all set and ready to go!

And your ornament will look stunning on your tree!

I hope this little post helps you along with your special projects this holiday season. Let me know what you've glitzed up!

Toodles.

Cowland Studio

This Doesn't Happen Often...

2011-12-07T17:14:00.000-05:00

But, it did just a few days ago. Normally, when I see something in my head, the project comes out almost exactly as I pictured it. Trial and error, experimenting with paints and mediums, and all sorts of other activities can go into something that I've thought of. Thinking of all the in and outs, ups and downs, and major booboos that can happen take up time, often to the point where I just put the project aside and move on. The discarded project will 'float' around in my head. Either I find a way to do it, or I don't.

Usually, I do.

Not so this time. Here's a picture of what I had hoped would look more like an icicle than it does.

Pretty sad, huh?

Ah, well. The hook didn't do what I wanted it to, either. I'll leave it around for a while to remind that not everything I think of is a good idea!

I hope your handmade Christmas ornaments are going well!

Toodles.

Cowland Studio

Recycling Solves Simple Problems

2011-11-30T17:57:00.000-05:00

More and more, I find myself finding uses for items that have already been purchased and used once. Is there another use for the used? Everyone seems to be coming up with some ingenious ideas for things that would ordinarily end up in the landfill, and that's a great happening!

Here is the dish with the stone spray, now sporting a coat of gold metallic glaze.

In a pinch, use it for wrapped candy or shelled nuts. Who doesn't have shelled nuts in a dish hanging around at this time of year? Somehow, without one bristling with nut crackers and picks and shelled walnuts (that no one eats), it's just not the holiday season. Sort of lower case and dull.

We have a love affair with bath soap in this house. The lower ledge of the tub had been filling up with pieces and parts that hadn't made it to the soap sock (made with a real sock!), and the risk of them spilling into the tub had been growing daily. Finding a soap dish to hold all those pieces and parts was a lost cause, and I gave up looking. I didn't want to chance getting a glass dish. None of the plastic bowls suitable for the job matched my bathroom. So, I went into my 'zoning' mode and let my brain sort it out without me.
It finally did.
My stash of gently used, fairly heavy plastic dishes is towering in my studio, filling up an apple tote. One day, I pulled out a round bowl and immediately decided this would make the ideal soap dish for the tub ledge. But, it needed some decoration. There is a narrow dividing wall in my bathroom with a pretty glass panel painted with art nouveau flowers. This design has been in the back of my mind for a long time, and someday I intend to decorate the shower curtain and toothbrush holder with those same flowers.
Why not start now, just to see how it goes?

The 1st step

Matching colors was easy, so I started with the bronze metallic for the petals. Copper metallic was the shading color, with expresso and royal gold for the remaining parts.
Here is the finished soap dish:

Disjointed, I know, but who said I had to follow the flower pattern exactly? There is no clear spray on the tray, so we will see how long it lasts. And who needs more chemicals on their skin? Certainly not me!

This little project isn't recycled, but it wanted to be featured on this post.
I purchased a package of small Christmas sun catchers at the dollar store. They were cute. I didn't already have them. And I knew just what to do to spiff them up.

Cute, aren't they? They came with their own tiny pots of sun catcher paint, but that wouldn't do. Nope. Not for these cuties destined for the bedroom window- to catch the sun!
I used some metallics, but I wanted glitter on them, too. Their window faces south. Enough said. All of my many pots of glitter clutter my work desk right now, and they fit the bill. Using tiny paint pots I had recently bought at the dollar store, I starting mixing. Over the past couple of weeks, I have discovered a few mediums to suspend glitter in, but this time I used Mod Podge Gloss as the medium. Each pot is half MP, half glitter. More glitter, more bling! They're now ready, sitting on the shelf waiting for decorations to be hung.
It was one of those 'I need to do some no-thinking painting' days, especially after a major disaster with a frosted glass ornament.

Can you guess what this will be?

One hint- the middle piece is cut from an empty milk jug. Note the paper clip.

You'll see the completed project in the next post.

Toodles.

On Thanksgiving Day

2011-11-24T06:55:00.000-05:00

You've raped our Dear Mother,

degenerate child,

And you've done it for dollars

     with a lie and a smile.
You've poisoned her breath
     and polluted her blood
With your urban erections
     and the scars that you've dug.
In arrogant homage,
     for pillage you pray.
Tell me- who thanks the Red Man
      on Thanksgiving Day?

Is it you, mister banker,
     or your well padded son?
Is it you, mister lawyer,
     for some appreciation?

For the Nations you've leveled,
     for your plastic display-
Just who are you thanking
     on Thanksgiving Day?
                                                                                Copyright 2011 W. D. Ahl

This poem was written by my husband, and given to me as a gift. It is the most profound and moving gift I have ever received.
Thank you, baby. I cherish it always.

Have a wonderful day, everyone!

Toodles.

Cowland Studio

Experiments and Projects

2011-11-13T09:06:00.000-05:00

Clay is fascinating.
Clay is fun.
Clay is frustrating.
But I keep at it. And now with Stroppel Cane on the scene, it doesn't matter how absolutely awful my canes are! They can be put to use in the process called Stroppel Cane, developed by Alice Stroppel. Thank you, Alice! After playing with cane and nearly throwing it at the wall, I tried Alice's method and here is what it looks like:


Right or wrong side


Wrong or right side

When I decide how to apply it, I'll get back to it. Until then, clay is on a vacation, cooling its jets in the cabinet.

Ever since I read a post or two on making stamps, I've been on a journey of experimenting and testing. Pictured next are the finals I have found to be the best for me.

All they need is mounting, which will be on hard packed styrofoam.
Wanting them only for backgrounding, I started going through my millions of designs, both new and from my tattoo artist days. Talk about unlimited! I've drawn my own Native American designs for decades, and they're all compiled in a few file folders neatly tucked away in my file drawer. They'll be wonderful for making leather projects. Here's a little shot of some that are ready to make:

As always- the possibilities are endless...

Sitting still in dialysis is hard on me and very cold for my left arm, so I set about crocheting an arm warmer. After finding my favorite purple shade, I got right to it and finished it in time the next morning for a trial run.
Chaining 30, I used half double crochet stitches across and for all successive rows until the piece reached from my finger tips to elbow.


The hook size- 'J'

Now it's ready to stitch two sides.

A few minutes later, it was done.

The Arm Sock- aka The Purple Flipper.
It works for me.

Hubby likes the Marie Callender meals on those days I'm too tired to cook (bless him!), and I started washing them to keep for anything they might be used for. Who knows? I happened to look at my stock of spray paints, and the Stone Spray caught my eye. Hm. Why not?
Two coats, and here is what it looks like now:

It seems to want something more, so I think I'm going to try a gold metallic varnish over the spray. What do you think? Any suggestions? I'm open.

Working on a Christmas order, I got to the point where I had to wait for paint to dry, so I decided to see what could be done for Christmas tags. Grabbing some leftover recycled paper from a card I made, the contoured (?) scissors went to work. Only two of the four I bought work well enough to use, but all four were only a dollar, so no complaints here! I had just picked up a tiny snowflake punch, so it went to work, too. This is what I whipped up in five minutes:

It's a start. The labels I designed will be put to use on this end. Don't you love double duty?

Not long ago, I came up with a simple process of applying glitter. It's been under evaluation for about two months now, and it hasn't lost any glitter or shine. Finally!! Something simple and fairly cheap to use on ornaments. It also works on fabric, because I tested it there, also. Can you guess what I'll use on my two new purple Tshirts?
So, here is a start on an ornament I'm working on. It's more or less experimental, as I'm testing graphite papers for transfers. I'm looking for the easiest way to transfer a design and have the lines disappear during the painting process, even if I'm using transparent paint. So far, it looks like the grey graphite paper, when traced very lightly, is the winner. Take a look:


Click the picture to enlarge to see the detail.

And so, experimenting goes on and on. I don't think I'll ever exhaust all the possibilities in my studio. There are so many things to paint on and so many things to paint with! And I love it.

Today is cookie day for me- great grandma's Soft Molasses Cookies are on the menu. Then, I need to take some pictures, now that my old Singer and Shiny Brites are here. How did we accumulate so many boxes of Christmas stuff? Really- it was a truck load!

The sun is out.

Toodles.

Cowland Studio

A Leather Story

2011-10-30T08:27:00.000-04:00

This picture is slightly blurry, but it's of my favorite bag. It's deerskin and painted by yours truly, and there are no machine stitches holding it together. Only deerskin lacing and knots do that. I added an antler button on the shoulder strap, enabling it to become a waist pouch in a flash. I like to wear this at the county fair. It frees up my hands, takes weight off my shoulder, and shows off my work! You just can't beat that!

The next two leather shields I picked up at a dollar store. The leather was blank and cried for an image, so I painted my own interpretations of Kokopelli on them. They and a handful of dream catchers grace to walls of our hallway.

Luckily, there's been a long stretch between birthdays, Halloween is tomorrow and the decorations are done. Now, it's time to figure out what to do for my Mother's birthday. This is always a very tough nut to crack. I like to make it a personal gift- not like Christmas where almost anything goes. So, this year I decided to try something different. I'd make her a card. How hard could it be?
Thinking fast, I picked some recycled paper from a sketch book I had in my 'go' bag. This is a beautiful, almost paper bag-ish color, mixed with delicate fibers throughout. It would lend itself well to the delicate lettering I wanted to use. I have about 700 fonts at hand, but I knew just the right one, and it didn't have to be enlarged. We're cookin'.
I won't bore you with details, but the card came out fairly well. At least I think so. I used only metallics on the design and lettering, which complimented the paper nicely. Here's the card:

The design is mine. Lettering, not.
Now for the gift.
Mom reads alot. I do, too. So does my sister and my husband. Books are either at my house or hers. We're constantly juggling them back and forth. Our favorite authors write 'The People of' series. Superb reading. The next book-switch is coming up soon, and that thought led me to an old leather coat I recycle by making small pouches, earrings, whatever is needed at the time. That leather circled back to the book, and a leather bookmark would be the gift. I know she needs one. And I've made them before.
I started off with this piece:

This is a trial run. To see what I could do.
Pardon me, but I used someone else's art as a guide for this bookmark. There was no way to draw and transfer it to the leather, so it was freehand all the way. The progression of pictures show it's evolution.

This was all play while my mind was bouncing around ideas for Mom's bookmark. Her design just popped out of my hand to the brush, from the brush to the leather. I looked up and saw this out my studio window-

As is the first one, this bookmark is freehand. Nothing fancy or ornate. A bookmark serves a purpose and needs to be durable. What better than leather? And why not make it nice to look at?
Here's the progression of pictures to show it's creation:

Stopping here, I wanted to come up with something different, so I started trimming the leather. Rectangular is fine. It's predictable. My scissors seemed to naturally glide around the flowers and leaves. The bottom became the bottom of a leaf. A little more...

Gold metallic did the trick, and it was the same color I used on the card. Bingo! Out in the mail it will go to reach her on time. Happy Birthday, Mom! I love you.

Meanwhile, it's still snowing! Somehow, Halloween decorations and snow just don't mix!

Toodles.

When Did October Get So Busy?

2011-10-16T08:06:00.000-04:00

Geez. October. Half Over. Sounds like a sad country song. And since when did it get so busy and go so fast I can't get caught up? When the garden was in full swing, October was canning month. Not so in our new place. Not much grows in clay and rocks. The deer like the produce, but I do not. But, at least the apples put in a good show this year. Enough lamenting.

My Halloween projects are coming to a close, finally. I've loved making each and every one of them. If the weather holds, I will set up the front porch on Tuesday, adding a few more embellishments during the next two weeks. I put the skull on hold when the Bead People sent in the swat team to wake me up. Now, these little creatures have taken over the work desk in full force. And I've let them. Yes, indeed. May I present them to you?

The next three are here, with three more enroute to my location. They range in personality like we humans, but don't like to travel much after they've landed on their chosen perch. But, their numbers are dwindling due to lack of water and proper food. Their lifelines have been cut, so they need a place to call home for the rest of their short lives. They want to have fun, make people smile, and watch the pretty leaves blowing around in the cool air. Lighting, to them, can be soft or brilliantly glaring- it's all the same.
All this they have told me as they materialize into our world for their last hurrah.

Today is a day that I am looking forward to, if only for the scenery on the road north. The Transplant Seminar is this afternoon and I must attend this meeting if I am to complete everything needed to be done before a kidney transplant. And if I don't do it now, I'll have to wait until spring next year when the weather clears. So today is the right time. The tourist trade has slowed down enough to allow my husband the day off. He will be the one to handle things if a transplant does happen and must be there for this seminar. Things are getting complicated, but I'm managing to hold it all together so far. My artwork, constant experiments, this blog, and Bill all contribute to the brain power I need (both left and right!). I'm bringing my camera in case I see anything interesting, which I probably will considering we haven't taken this route in many long, long years. I love watching the scenery, don't you?

I must cut this post off early. It's time to be getting ready. My coffee is tasting mighty good this morning, too! Breakfast, as always, was yummy and healthful with lots of protein.
Anyway, I will be posting again soon.

Have a wonderful day. Get your nose in the air and fill it with all the fabulous scents of Fall.
The 's' word comes all too soon.

Toodles.

First Frost, a New Tool, and Our Extended Family

2011-10-08T08:18:00.000-04:00

The first frost here in central New York State effectively put the gardens to sleep until next year. As a matter of fact, it was closer to a freeze than a frost. Everything was crunchy. It was expected. It always comes this time of year. The leaves left on the trees will now start falling like this summer's rain- not gently, but in buckets. And on my calender, Christmas is tomorrow. At least it feels that way. Apples are landing like bombs on the porch roof, creating a growing puddle beneath their trees. I found out that now is not the time to try to pick them unless you want to do the whirly-legged dance like a cartoon character! The fallen ones are round, and they roll if you step on them, and you can't help but step on them if you come near a tree. But, at least it smells great outside. The last hurrah before the 's' word starts.

After much reading, thinking, experimenting, and frustration, I have finally figured out how to make my own stamps. There are times when I need a certain something for backgrounding, and many times a little stamping would work to fill in backgrounds, or embellish a border. You get the idea. Now that the stamp problem was solved, I needed a tool to apply the paint to the stamp. Brayers are commonly used, but I didn't want to buy one, and really didn't feel it would suit my purposes. So, I decided to make my tool.
Tools, for me, are fairly easy to make. I've made them for many years. I even trim my brushes for certain paint applications (tedious). Thinking about the different types of foam I have collected, I decided to use a dollar store foam kneeling pad. Here is how the assembly starts:

This type of foam is fabulous for rounding its own edges when it's cut with a pair of scissors. No trimming at all. The foam does not suck up paint, so clean up is easy and fast. You are able to apply the exact amount of paint you need on the stamp. If you need to use a different color, you can wipe off the applicator and go on without muddying up the next color.
Next, trim your foam, making sure you leave it long enough to insert your handle and insure stability. Use your craft knife to make a slit in the foam, just wide enough to hold the handle snugly.

Put the nozzle of your glue bottle down into the slit and gently squeeze in some glue.

Then insert your handle. Be careful not to push too far- just far enough for stability, but not so far the bottom and edges of the foam are distorted. That area should stay flat for proper paint application.

Let the glue dry and you're done!
The wonder of this foam is that you can cut it into any shape to fit any occasion. Size is up to you. They are so quick and easy, you can have a few done in about five minutes. And they can be used in other ways- not just for stamping. For example, I have a handful of them in different sizes for dotting tools, placed on the ends of dowels. I've also used them for shaping clay. They're cheap to make, easy to use and clean, and most of all- you make them!! How awesome is that? Go ahead. I'll wait while you make some...

Our extended family came close enough to the house to get some pretty good pictures. I thought you might enjoy seeing them.
This is 'Momma'. She had twins this year. Her grown daughter had a baby and then adopted an orphan (Orf), so at any given time I've got 4 kids running around the yard!

She's sniffing the new bird feeder! It seemed to fascinate her.

Momma was right outside the kitchen window.
Here's one of the twins in the front yard, very close to the front porch.

And here are the twins at the porch, wading through the pool of apples!

Aren't they cute? They've gotten so big and have lost their spots. I hope they stay in the area and come back with their own babies. Here, we humans are IN the zoo! I swear they like to watch us through the windows. With a parting camera shot, I must say TOODLES for now.

Eat lots of apples!

Shuffling Along

2011-10-02T09:03:00.000-04:00

I wanted to post this picture first. It's the only candleabra I have, and I'm glad to have it. It's a flea market find- a little dented and bent, but mysterious and fascinating in it's simplicity. The super thin tapers came from a gigantic dollar store and have been wrapped up and waiting to be put to use for some time. A moment of ingenuity tried to sneak past, but my crafty hand caught it in mid-pass. So, I took a small ball of older clay, flattened some pieces and wrapped it around the bottom of the tapers. They now sit upright, taking notice, gracefully accenting their distressed host. Bad thing about those tapers- they burn too fast! Ah well. It's the beginning of the seasons where something likes this adds to the mood. So, I'm good. It's all good.
Here's a brighter picture so you can see more detail:

This little jack-o-lantern (little because there's a 'tiny') is almost ready for the wreath.

Two gems and the finish is all that's needed.

The glass pumpkin jar is coming right along. Usually if I wait long enough, it will tell me how to go on with it's pattern. I waited. It spoke. 'Nough said.

Much placing, gluing, fussing over, and three handles later... the BOO Bags are done! I think I was almost sad to see them completed, I was having so much fun! This was a new project type for me. Painting has always been my passion. And so it shall remain. But some side projects like this can fire up the juices and bring different angles and perspectives to light. And it did.

Without any further ado- here they are:

A close up of my granddaughter's bag:

There is glitter paint, glow in the dark paint, a spray-over, stickers, and flashy purple bats on them. They're not too large or too small, are washable with a sponge, and just overall functional. Would I do them again? You bet!

Here's a little sign I painted up a little, just to make it different.

It's a very good thing it's only the 2nd of October. The spooktacular special effects are still in the making. My husband and I joke that the day after July 4th is Christmas, and lately, that's how it feels! So much to do and I'm just one elf, all alone in the workshop. The smell of snow is in the air. Gotta fly!

I really do hope, friendly reader, that your weather is drier and warmer than mine.

Toodles.