Classes today

Watercolor wash background to inspire a collage today in my class.

Dripping reminds me of roots. Something growing? Something colorful.

On to quilting in the afternoon. Here is the shape of the Christmas stockings we are making. The interfacing.

And here is the colors of the strip quilting that will make up the front of the stocking.

Fun and almost done!

Stormy weather

Scary stormy weather last night. Lying in bed, I could see the constant flashes of lightning going on and off like flash bulbs. Kind of like heat lightning, but no heat. I was in bed early as usual because I get up with the chickens! At ten o'clock, my husband woke me and the dogs and said we needed to head for the basement. The sirens were blaring! We got downstairs, dogs and all, and the storm passed, short-lived, thank goodness.

Creative Spirits!

We "Creative Spirits" had a wonderful day of creating at The Center. Our "leader" for the day, Marge, showed us how to do an altered book on canvas. She, so kindly, always has a wonderful presentation and lots of handouts and instructions in a special folder for each of us.

Here, busily working, are Nancy and Gai. MaryAnn was in here somewhere - how did I miss her?

Sandy and Harriet, with lots of ideas and having fun!

Carolyn, concentrating on her piece.

Mary is always confident. On the left of the photo is Marge's sample piece that she did ahead of time to inspire us on.

Here is mine, on it's way. It's a little altered board book, on a 5x7 canvas board, hung on a 12x12 stretched canvas.

Company coming!

My cousin and her husband, who live in Indiana, will be coming for the day today. We look forward to the visit as we have not seen them in a while. I decided to make a good fall supper of pot roast, mashed potatoes and gravy, and our farmer still has corn on the cob and fresh tomatoes. For dessert, I am making "Frosted Lemon Bars". They are quite yummy and so thought I'd share the recipe with you.

Frosted Lemon Bars

Crust:
2 cups Corn Flakes cereal, crushed to 1 cup (sometimes I use Special K)
1 cup flour
1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/3 cup butter, softened

Bars:
2 Tablespoons flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1-1/2 cups shredded coconut
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup chopped nuts

Lemon Icing:
1 cup powdered sugar
1 Tablespoon butter, melted
1 Tablespoon lemon juice

Crust: Combine corn flakes, flour, brown sugar and butter; mix well. Press evenly in bottom of 13x9 inch pan. Bake at 275 degrees for 10 minutes. Removed baked crust from oven and set aside.

Bars: Mix together the 2 Tablespoons flour and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Set aside
Combine eggs, brown sugar, coconut and vanilla in mixing bowl, beat well. Add flour-salt mixture and nuts, mix well. Spread over baked crust.
Return to oven and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until bars are lightly browned.

Icing: Combine powdered sugar, melted butter and lemon juice; beat until smooth. After bars are baked and still warm, frost with icing. (doesn't have to cover the entire top; put dollops of icing on here and there and spread a little. It kind of melts a little) Cool and cut into bars.

Drawing continued...

Decided to do my two leaves together that I found. A lovely little Halloween twosome. Now to name them.

Thursday's drawing class

I didn't get very far drawing today, but these are my two models.

This oak leaf caught my attention because it has a face. Two eyes and a sort of howling mouth.

This mushroom had already opened up all the way and it's tiny pleats are so pretty. Ah Nature!

Wednesday's collage class

A really nice day seeing my class. They are finishing this project faster than ever. I think next week, the fourth week of the session, most will be completed. I will present a new project for the last two weeks. These gals are gems and I am happy to know them. Lunchtime and I brought my fresh mozzarella, a plum tomato and a spring of basil from my garden. Add a little balsamic vinegar and it's a yummy little salad. Had lunch with my good friend and quilting teacher, Denise. Then on to quilting class in the afternoon. I am one step away from finishing my Thanksgiving runner!

The sliver of a moon is absolutely enchanting tonight.

Fall Leaves

Yesterday, Danielle and I collected some fallen leaves to use for a stamping and painting project. She painted the "rib side" of the leaves with white paint and pressed them down on black construction paper to make the image of the leaf. Then using small pieces of sponge, she dabbed all around the leaves with other colors.

Aren't they pretty? Thanks to "Deep Space Sparkle". www.deepspacesparkle.blogspot.com .

Things

Okay. Here goes. You may find this silly, but I just have to do it. http://www.aprilsthings.blogspot.com/ . Some "things" are just too important. And you never know when something seen will bring back a memory for someone else. I hope it does for you.

Critters!

When she was little, my daughter made little creatures out of little pom poms. Not having been reminded of them in a long time, I was taken by surprise when one jumped out as I was cleaning cabinets yesterday! He told me he was separated from the others, and it was so warm and dark in the back of the cabinet that he fell asleep. He said, when he heard me in there, that he knew I was looking for him. Well..."hello, little fella"! It' s fun to be reminded of days way back when.

I have to tell you that I was going to put this story on my other newer blog, but I can't understand how to put pictures on there yet. I am wondering if it is as user friendly as blogger is. I think it will be all about memories anyway. We'll see if it happens.

Eggplant Parmigiana

Remembering to pass on this wonderful recipe that Suz asked for. I found it in the newspaper in October of 1975. I love this version best!

Eggplant Parmigiana
(four to six servings)

2 medium eggplants
2 cans (1 pound each) stewed tomatoes
2 teaspoons each: flour, sugar
1 teaspoon each: garlic powder, salt, paprika
1/8 teaspoon each: pepper, basil
1 package (8 ounces) sliced mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

Cut unpeeled eggplants into 1/2 inch slices. Simmer, covered, in small amount of boiling salted water 10 minutes. Drain. Combine tomatoes, flour, sugar, garlic powder, salt, paprika, pepper, and basil in a 2-quart saucepan. Cook over medium high heat until slightly thickened. In lightly greased 2 quart baking dish, layer eggplant, mozzarella, and tomato mixture; top with parmesan. Bake at 350 degrees 30 minutes, or until slightly browned.

Mangia!

Music Dogs Love

Today, while everyone was gone, I went down in the basement to sort through some things that needed to be sorted. I put in a cd for the dogs. "While You Are Gone" music dogs love by Bradley Joseph. It works! You can see how relaxed they are. I was down there for a long time until the cd was done and the yappy radio popped on in its place. Yipe!

Oh my goodness, I've got a secret. Shhhh. I've started another blog. Reading "The Toymaker's" blog this morning and I was swept right in. I don't know what I want to do with it though. It needs to be different from this one. I will let you know when I know.

The Fabric Stash

Still sorting through much long-saved stuff, I organized all my quilting supplies this morning. And...Denise!...I have sewn my three blocks together for my table runner. I was able to use fabric that I already had in my stash and that was a good thing.

It looks like I've even sewed the squares approximately the same size!

Well, that much is done until quilting class on Wednesday afternoon, and then I can put it together.

Thursday is for drawing and painting

Still looking at all the leaves with galls on them and interesting holes. Started this drawing in pen & ink, adding colored pencil, this morning in class and then finished it when I came home before the leaves changed more.

I brought another leaf home that was just asking to be a watercolor and continued on with a quickie of that.

Friendship

A night out to "La Dolce Vita" in Lemont for dinner last night with our dear friends Karen and George. We have not seen them in a year, maybe two, but we can sit down and say "okay, where did we leave off" and continue right on just like we saw them yesterday.

The food is scrumptious at this restaurant. Karen had "Eggplant Parmesan".

George had "Spaghetti Olio w/Mushrooms".

Rich's choice was "Chicken Milanese".

And my weakness is pasta, so I had "Homemade Rigatoni w/sausage, mushrooms and tomatoes", a special of the night. Yum! Good food with good company.

I have always been in love with the violin, ever since I was introduced to it in grammar school, resisted practicing as many youngsters do, and it was put on the wayside. Now, when I hear the music of the strings, it brings tears to my eyes. The other evening when it was getting late and I was getting sleepy, waiting to take the dogs out for the last time, and with lack of anything better to do, I turned on the television and on channel 11 there was a wonderfully handsome young violinist in concert. His name is David Garrett. The concert was "Live in Berlin". He plays everything from Mozart to Metallica. Wunderbar!

It's Wednesday

Collage class today and here is Maryann's beautiful fall paper she created to use in her collage.

Peggy decided on blue and Denise green. Denise is still thinking summer!

Teri is using the subtle colors of underwater. Judy, the oranges of the fall garden.

My collage has begun, but the focal point is still in question.

In the afternoon, it was on to quilting class and this is my first block of a table runner, not sewn together yet. It will consist of three squares like this and I see that the background has to be a lighter color to make the other squares stand out. I will do that with the other two and this will be the center square. It'll be okay. It's just for me and my Thanksgiving table.

Birdie drawing lesson

Following the instruction for a birdie drawing lesson on "Flipflops and Applesauce", http://www.flipflopsandapplesauce.com/ , from circles and triangles this wonderful birdie developed.

Then trees, the sun, a nest full of eggs...

... and water were added. Absolutely the sweetest birdie! And an absolutely sweet day!

Monday

Some cause happiness wherever they go. Oscar Wilde

"Sing"

Always want to do a collage a day. I started this one yesterday. I have been contemplating over different things to add, but think I will leave it that way. A whisper. Simplicity. That's all it needs.

Froggie

This morning the sky is as clear as a bell, but yesterday morning it was a very foggy one and someone had moved in with Froggie! There were spiderwebs all over everything. Apparently it's because of the cool weather and the dew makes them more visable. The spiderwebs have been there all the time, it's said, but I really can't say that Froggie has been sleeping with a spider all summer!

The Woodcarvers!

Yesterday, we had a happy gathering of some of the woodcarvers at our house. Here is ...oops missed getting Dan in there on the left, John, the "chief chiseler" Keith, and Rich.

John is "Henri's" new best friend.

And the ladies! Lois (my art teacher and designer of the carved scenes at The Center), Audrey, Ronnie, and Sonya.

And here is Pat, Lois and Audrey. A joyous time with a fun bunch! And if you are curious about what is on the table, there is "Sunflower Cheeseball", "Bacon-wrapped Dates w/cheese and an almond inside", Vegetable Chips and Lightly Salted Roasted Peas (www.lehmansorchard.com) and nuts. For dinner, we had Italian Beef Sandwiches, Eggplant Parmesan and Romaine & Walnut toss w/a honey mustard dressing.

September 11

"Happy Anniversary" to Julie and Rob... 21 years!

Thursday's art class

Today was the first session of the Fall Art Class at The Center. These darling mushrooms greeted me as I walked down the path to class. I wish I could identify them. Short-stemmed Russula?

Isn't this a cutie?

Also, along the way, I found so many oak leaves with galls on them, and great acorns. Here is the painting I started and will finish at home.

And I brought all my inspiration home with me.

First day of class

Today we are making "color sheets" to use in collages that we will begin to create next week. Here is Denise. She made one paper in greens and this one yellow, using colored tissue to "color" other bits of papers used.

Judy and Mary Ann, concentrating on their colors.

Teri, scrutinizing her paper. Yes! Done! Now to use these papers in our collages that we will begin next week.