I attended Michelle Hill's Whimsey Crop a couple weeks ago. I had a great time, and she was a super hostess.
I actually got some scrapbooking done. I know - you guys think I do a lot of scrapbooking - but turns out I haven't done so much this year. Actually - NONE. I end up spending my time attending classes or events or working on gifts or cards or something like that. Was so good to get some things done. Here's some of it ---
Love this recipe - and it is awesome for using some of that leftover turkey (instead of chicken). Aside from eating in a salad it's great as a sandwich too. Enjoy!
Thanksgiving is a little different here at Val & Lori's. My Valentine enjoys the idea of cooking something different and the time off work to do it. This year he experimented with a Turducken. What's a Turducken you ask ? It's a turkey, stuffed with a duck, stuffed with a chicken. Val put stuffing between each layer, and then stuffed the chicken with spinach and sausage. We had all 3 birds thawing for the longest time - hidden away in the bathtub. (We closed the door so no kitties got a tounge stuck to the frozen birds.)
Each bird had to be de-boned. Took Val a large part of one day just to do that. Then the next day he had to piece them all back together and stuff each one into the next. I heard "now I know why these cost $80 online". and a bit of other grumbling. :-)
I was going to post photos of the deboned turkey, but it looked a bit like a bird in a blender. Then the photo we took after slicing it open wasn't that appealing either. (not much of a turducken fan here).
But I think in the end Val enjoyed the challenge. How did it taste ? Well - like turkey. To me, lots of trouble for nothing - but hey - he was happy doing it.
**** from Val - "this is not for the faint at heart".
Thanksgiving has come and gone, and I am still sitting here counting my blessings.
I came across this doodle from Stephanie Ackerman and it has grabbed me. I keep finding myself going back to it, I think it is so beautiful.
She sure has a way with words doesn't she ?
My Valentine and I had a fabulous Thanksgiving. (and now Val is working on a Turducken. More on that later......)
My heart (and belly) are full and I have such a full life. There is so much to be thankful for.
Wishing a belated Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.
Just a few photos from the Santa Clarita Fine Craft Show this past weekend. Georgous weather and beautiful creations by local artisans. Fun Fun Fun!!
Kelly McCaleb led a fabric class at Spark. Gotta say I love Kelly because she gave us the freedom to play with fabric without breaking out the sewing machine - now that speaks to me!
She had us all embellish t-shirts with little rosettes we put together using Beacon's Fabri-tac, which is seriously the best thing since sliced bread. I embellished a blue shirt in class - but did this brown one at home the other night while watching t.v. Seriously easy!!
In class, there were piles and piles of fabrics to choose from that Kelly had brought from her own stash. (A girl after my own heart.)
This class was held in another of the vintage buildings, the hospital, which is now a quilt museum.
This is one of the shirts that Kelly had made and brought as examples - isn't it cute ?
NOW - what else can I put rosettes on ???
Margie Romney-Aslett and April Meeker led a super-fun and inspiration-filled class at Spark. Margie had designed this cute necklace. We were to bring a tiny photo of ourselves (many brought a childhood photo - I may go back and change mine).
Then we used some Tim Holtz memory glassand Tim Holtz fragments along with an incredible "bar" of goodies to choose from.
Buttons and tulle and glitter and stamps and paint and ink and even a vintage typewriter if we wanted to type something to put on the necklace.
There was even a teeny tiny little birdcage to put on the necklace (my necklace is far from finished - so it's not on it yet). The idea of the birdcage is that we could write a tiny message to ourselves and roll it up and put it inside the birdcage. Inspiration for sure !
Now - the other thing about this class - I got to learn more about April Meeker. I already knew she had a super talent at carving stamps - look at this stamp she carved with the Spark logo. Incredible isn't it ?
Well, I had been eyeing some earrings that were for sale in the booths the local artists had set up. Went back to them several times, and then learned that April had created them. I love how artists usually have a story behind the items they create. April said she called these earrings "Vincent's Siesta". She said the color of the stones (citrine briolettes) reminded her of Vincent Van Gogh's painting Siesta, which the background is a hayfield. I can see that - very similar color.
And now - they are mine ! Check out other pieces she has created at her Etsy shop.
When was the last time you played in a photo booth ?
We all broke loose and cut it up a bit in the photo booth at Spark. So fun - and a good reminder to let your personality shine through!
My friend Erin and I were having a blast in this set - with only 4 seconds between photos - was quite hilarious changing glasses/hat with only 4 seconds to spare !
Next time you see a photo booth - stop in and have a little FUN.
