Monday, November 28, 2022

T Stands for Arting

 Greetings!

Today I am linking up with  
Bleubeard and Elizabeth for the weekly Tuesday party.
We didn't do much this weekend. I was absorbed in my art room and Mr. M. in his. Then of course all day Sunday Football. Now, I am not a sports person. I mean watching it. However, this year I decided to watch more football with Mr. M. Some of it is very boring to me. But some of the amzing plays, I see why people get excited. Then, there is Patrick Mahomes and who can NOT like that little cutie, plus he is a great quarterback. :)
I played with molds this weekend and am happy with these.
I am also working on some NON skull art pieces and will show them when I am finished.
Purging again. I rally don't know how we as human collect so much stuff. One of the items I found is this wax melter batik pen. I have only used this once, and that was to test it. It is a very nice tool I just never had use for it. So I am selling it for $25.00. They are running around $50.00 these days.

 

Hmm... this feels like a boring post so I will close with my drink. I made fresh lemon aid but forgot to take a photo so here are some substiutes.


Nicole
 

Friday, November 25, 2022

Friday Face OFF 11/25/22

 Hi Everyone!

I hope all my US friends had a nice TG and everyone else a just a nice day overall. Ours was small and quiet. Talked to my family on the phone and watched football with Mr. M.  As you know today is Friday Face OFF. The place where anyone can show any kind of face in any medium. My face today, you got it, is another skull creature. hee hee hee. I made boils ready to blow. OK don't get sick. It's all in fun and art. And I did have so much fun making this one. Oh what am I writing, I have fun making all of them. LOL

 This starts with a light layer of crinkle skin and painted with a base coat of acrylics.


 Cover the eyes, mouth and start makeing the boils.


 I love this skin so much!


 Shaping the yese and lips.


Starting to paint the boils. I did a lot of research on what inflamed boils really look like. I made these so when touched they feel soft like a real boil. It is so cool.....
 

 I wish I could get a better shot of the detail in the boils.

 
This one is oozing. 

This weekend I will be making a one piece silicon mold from one of my plastic skulls so I can cast more skulls. Ya know since I can't buy any in the stores. Amazon is too expensive and the wrong sizes. I prefer to make my own anyway.

My daughter and her husband. Tonight.


This weeks featured artist is.
Make sure to translate to read his amazing writings. As well as his incredible art.
I am also linking to Gillena
That's it for me tonight.
Now it's your turn to show your face.

Nicole

Wednesday, November 23, 2022

TADD Jungle

 Hi Everyone!

I had to laugh at Rain's theme this week. Jungle. I don't know why but my first thought was, the jungle that makes up my brain. LOL
It feels to me that time and the world are moving so fast that my brain can't keep up. Plus my brain is filled with art ideas. Thus, the jungle of my brain. LOL. 
In the meantime I did get all of my clay piece painted and off my art table. YaY!
However, I have them all put away and forgot to take a photo. There are about 50 pieces.
Let's forget about art right now because I want to share with you one of the best cookies I have ever eaten... and you know I make a lot of cookies. :) These are called, Whipped Shortbread Cookies. OMG good!
A thin skin of crispy and a melt in your mouth inside. Season them, top them or just eat them as they are. 
These are just out of the oven. I know, they look raw. However, they are not. I added lemon to the batter too. 
 I made lemon curd to top the cookie with. 


One night I made Sweet n Sour Pork over rice. Not my favorite meal but Mr. M. loves it.
 

 I mentioned last week I was in lemon mode. How about pumpkin lemon cake?

 

 I will admit I did make the lemon forsting a bit strong. So only a thin layer of frosting to seperate the cake layers.

 

 I did get some shrimp on sale and made shrimp fried rice. Mr. M. could eat rice everyday. Me.. not so much. I ust ate the shirmp.


 Now this I could eat more often than we do. The well toasted bread is Mr. M's.


 And pizza I could eat everyday. LOL


 I try to save money where ever I can. Cooking is one of them. When making potatoes and, in the case, Brussels sprouts. I cook them together. Boil the potatoes in the water while I am steaming the veggie.

 

 These turned into mashed.


 oops not cauliflower... Brussels sprouts  :)


 TG dinner will be Manicotti. It's all ready to go into the oven.


 I place scewers, that I broke off, into the backing dish so when I place foil over the dish sauce and cheese doesn't stick to it. Off to the fridg for this.


 


Now for the Whipped Shortbread Cookie recipe. Sooo easy.
You will need; 1C soften (not melted) butter. 1/2C powdered sugar, 1 1/2C APF, 
1/4C cornstarch, 1/4t salt, 1t vanilla.
Preheat oven to 300°F/150°C
In a large bowl beat the butter and powdered sugar for at least 5 minutes. You want the mixture aerated. Mix in APF, cornstarch, salt and vanilla. Dust your hands with some cornstarch, then form about 1T of dough into balls. Place on lined cookie sheets and press down on the cookies with your fingers or a fork. You will have to dip the fork into water so it doesn't stick to the dough. Bake for 14-16 minutes. 
APF... all purpous flour.
Note;
300°F was not hot enough for my oven. The first batch took WAY longer than 16 minutes. I did bump up the temp to 325°F and that was better. The cookies do not brown on top but are golden brown on the bottom. 
I used lemon juice instead of vanilla and they were perfect. You could add any flavoring and even add some spices. 
I hope you try these and let me know if you do. 
That's it for me. Be sure to stop by Rain's
 
Nicole

Monday, November 21, 2022

T Stands for painting clay

 Hi Everyone!

Today is the T-party over at
Bleubeard and Elizabeth's. It's a fun place to visit so be sure to drop by.
My week just seems to have flown by. I have been busy in the art room besides all the other things I do. A trip to Coos Bay to do a bit of shopping before it gets to crazy busy. No, not for a turkey. Our TG dinner will be manicotti this year with homemade bread. I can get it all made the day before and just pop it in the oven. What are you plans?
 
I got some of the clay pieces painted. It doesn't show in the photos but all of these are irridescent with paint and mica. They don't look like much now but once they get attached to spirit dolls and wall hangings they will shine. 


 

 



How lucky am I? Mr. M. saw that I was strugling to create something with the wrong materials I have on had. Today, he hands me the mail. Now, I didn't order anything from Amazon. He just gave me one of those, look what I did for you, smiles and shrugged. I opened the box and OMG!!!! just what I needed (and wanted)
Liquid Latex. Ya know to make creepy things. LOL!!!!
 
 Last Thursday I mentioned I am in lemon mode. LOL. I eat lemons like oranges too. 
Nothing like whipped lemon shortbread cookies with homemade lemon curd. 
I will share the recipes on Thursday. Oh soo easy to make.
To get into this party I have to show a drink.
I don't drink pop very often but when I do a diet  A&W Rootbeer hits the spot.
That's it for me. Time to close shop and see what Mr. M. is doing.
 
Nicole