Well Done, You Will Be Missed. Queen Elizabeth Has Died on This Day.

Ten years ago on the occassion of her Diamond Jubilee, I posted this collage image of Queen Elizabeth sharing her love of dogs, in particular, corgis.  

Today, after a 70 year reign, the beloved Queen died.  She will be sorely missed by her family and friends.   I imagine the British public and people around the world have their own special memories of her.  

As people gathered outside Buckingham Palace today, a double rainbow appeared over Windsor Castle and the palace.  Seems like a lovely and hopeful sign for this moment in history.

Hoping all your rainbows in the sky are good signs for you.

 

   

Another Year Older

 Happy Independence Day to You!

Be well, stay safe, best wishes to you.

This Is a Cleat Towel Treat, Easy Towel Holder and Inexpensive, Too!

 Are you familiar with cleats?  I've seen them, but didn't know their name until I started looking for them online.  

If you sail, you may have seen these simple looking items holding ropes.  They look a bit like skateboards or skiis with a stand.

This is the simple design I made to make towel holders.  

Here is what you need to buy to make this version or a similar style to suit your style:

•   Cleats  They come with the mounting screws. 

I bought mine from Walmart.  They are rubberized. I liked the rubber/plastic version instead of the metal versions which need serious scrubbing to remove the protective oils they are shipped and sold with to the stores.  The oil has a strong odor, too, which is a particular turn off for me.  Also, I thought the rubber type would hold up better (not rust).

• Photo frames.  Mine were from Dollar Tree.  I removed the glass and saved that for another use.  These frames are 5x7.

• Placemats.  I found these at Walmart to match the silver/chrome finish of the frames and the bathroom fixtures.  As a bonus surprise, the placemats are that pretty opalescent  finish (like a mermaid's tail.)

• Power or Hand Tools to attach the frames to the wall.  

• Ruler or Tape Measure.  Pen or Pencil.  Craft Knife or Sharp Razor Type Knife.

How I made the towel holders:

• Remove  the cardboard backing  and the "mat" from the frames. 

• Safely remove the glass from the frames and set aside. Use the glass in a different project.

•  Place the cardboard backing over the placemat and cut to fit the frame.

• Put the cardboard over the placemat and make "starter holes" through both for the mounting screws to drill through into the wall. It's probably easier to make the holes with a manual tool such as an awl or knife.

• Make sure you place the cleats in the direction you want to hang your towel- vertically or horizontally.  Also, center the cleat on the frame if that is the look you want to see.

• Reassemble the parts:  Mat, Placemat, Cardboard Backing into the frame. 
• Mark on the wall where you want to hang your Towel Holder. 
• Drill carefully and that's it.  

After using these towel holders with the original paper mat (as in the photo) for a few years, I am surprised that the water has not damaged the paper mat as that it can be noticed.   

For a change, I have added a new edging "mat" which is a woodgrain look fabric placemat, a bit more protective than the paper mat.  Also, the new placemat looks better with the vanity and contrasts nicely with the opalescent placemat.

Thanks for reading.

 

 

 

So Easy Just Get Weaving Your Own Table Cover

With so much "decluttering" happening these tables have served their purpose well.  With time on my hands, I decided to ditch tablecloths and make something new. 

 

Originally, the idea was to make this into a wall clock.  But, with some vinyl unused in a box, I thought I would see if I could weave a covering, and so that's what I did.

It's easy.  Gather a marker, ruler or tape measure, scissors or rotary cutter (and something to protect the cutting surface ie countertop) heavy duty stapler, masking tape, and clear off an area to work on.

Measure the length needed for each strip giving yourself extra length for stapling the strip to the underside of the table.   If you are covering a round table, square table, rectangular table, etc.  the length of the strips will vary according to which design shape you are covering.

My strips were 3/4 inch wide.  Calculate how many strips you need for the weave by deciding which color(s) you will be weaving in the under - over pattern.   How many long, how many wide?

I placed my strips on the countertop and taped at one end.   If your strips have a good side, be sure and place the good side facing away from you. 

Weaving the pieces together on a flat surface, then placing the tabletop on the woven strips gave me more control over the tightness of the weave and less chance of the pattern coming apart. It seemed logical at the time!
 

Once the strips are all woven, I put the tabletop on them, carefully lifted the tape from one end and started stapling the strips to the table.  I pulled each strip tightly, but gently so there are no gaps or spaces.  

By this step, you are almost finished, so go slowly.  You can check the strips  for being inline and wrinkle free as you staple.  If the strips are too long once you staple, just scissor off the extra.

I did glue some felt to theottom of the tabletop to hide the staples, but it's not really necessary. 

I made these coverings and used the tables for some time and next I think I will make these over into wall clocks.   I've got plenty of paint to declutter on these, just have to decide which to start with.  

Thanks for reading.  

Free Printables for Valentine Fun

Happy Valentine's Day, here are some sweets to tide you over until the 14th or the weekend after.

I made these Free Printables for you.

These new printables are letter sized sheets of One Inch Circles of acronyms plus Valentine sayings and images. Two different printables for the same holiday.





Some ideas for using these tags*

Stick on the bottom of foiled kisses
On the top of wrapped candies
Threaded on a party straw
Message on a frosted cake
Wrap a present
Cut into strips and encircle a beverage
Tuck into a Lunch bag
In an Art Project
As Confetti
As little happy reminders to yourself on a mirror

*For Personal Use









Free printable
Valentine Sayings and Acronyms on white background.

Click the link to open the file for a full page printing sized image.

Free printable
Valentine Sayings and Symbols on black background.

Click the link to open the file for a full page printing sized image.



If you make something, please leave a comment with a link, I'd love to see it.

Happy St. Valentine Day ...




This blog post was first published February 2016.

DIY Egg Cozies, Easy Egg Casserole, and Happy Easter Greetings

Happy Easter!

I like easy recipes, and this one is for fresh eggs as opposed to the hard boiled ones from Easter.  The weather here is very changeable, so one day it's 43F and the next it's 72F.  Which makes me want to use the oven on the cooler days.  Here is the recipe for the egg casserole.

If you have a couple of minutes to spare, you can make these egg cozies with fabric scraps, ribbons, or what you have handy.  Here is the post where they first appeared on the blog.

I hope you all have a very Happy Easter.

Gloria

2016 A Merry Christmas Wish

Before all the cookies are eaten and the tree decorations are wrapped in their boxes for next year...
Remember... Dream... Enjoy... Share.  That is all.  

Merry Christmas.  

Easy Put Together Leather Cord, Charm, and Large Bead Necklace

I saw my friend liked to wear large bead necklaces and her favored colors were neutrals and shades of brown.  So, in a pinch, I put together this leather cord, charm, and large bead necklace.

There is a wing charm with a star and I put small glass beads on the jump ring.

Everything can slide on or off the cord if she wants to switch things to a different order or add something she already has to the cord.

Totally customizable and quick to assemble.  

The acrylic and glass beads have a glow in person and the silver beads complement the wing.   

Quick Bacon Cooking Tip

Here's a quick tip for bacon on the go.  Bake it!

Whether it's standard bacon, turkey bacon, veggie bacon, or other varieties, you can get a nice crispy bacon by oven cooking.

If you like you may crisp it even further in a pan or microwave before serving, or cook to perfection in the oven alone.

  
Line baking sheets/pan with aluminum foil, arrange bacon slices, and put the pan in a COLD OVEN.

Turn oven to 400 or slightly higher.  Cook for about 17 minutes, may be a bit longer, just keep an eye on it.

Carefully remove pan and put strips on paper towels to pat dry.  After a minute or so, the bacon is cool enough to put in the storage container with paper towels to cover/between- your choice.

Wrap the foil in on itself or pour off bacon grease (not in your drain) and dispose.

Keep cooked bacon in the fridge.  

Oven cooked bacon has a good flavor and is convenient too.   That's my quick cooking tip, enjoy.

Mid Year Review and After the Clear Out the Freedom Room

See that date over on the bottom of the collage?  Yep, I am seriously late in posting that one.  Only by eight months, but who's counting?

Sometimes there are 3 things going at once!

After a major clear out from when the house move was supposed to happen, I have less "stuff" in the craft room. From paints, to glues, to things for upcycling, they've all gone to the charity shop or the trash.  That made me consider just what to do with what is left.

Embroidery hoops on a tension rod in the closet.

Do I want to focus on making Art?  Jewelry?  Crafty things?  Needlework?
Yes.  Yes.  Yes.  And Yes.  See, how easy that was?

Seriously, supplies multiply like rabbits and yet, there is usually one special piece missing or needed, so shopping commences!

Here and there I toss something that I know is not to my liking.  When I shop for supplies, I really do try to write down what I am looking for and be more discerning as to the quality and value of the items for purchase.

I shop in person.  Online shopping may have a better range, but I would be like a "kid in the candystore." One day I will try it, with a budget and a list.

It's tough being a tightwad, but it feels good to not hoard.  Freeing.

I started a little collection of interesting feathers from my travels or wherever I find them when out walking. They don't take up much room!

Pretty feather illustrated tin.

I even have a feather tin, bought for tea, but I put rubber/acrylic ink stamps inside.

Rearranged room, nice and tidy.

The furniture, craft carts, and bookcases have been rearranged.

At first I did not think it would be comfortable sitting in the middle of the room, with no window or wall at the front of the desk- you know, to hold up all the things crowding the desk.

This arrangement makes me keep less stuff on the desk and to move projects to the shelves and racks as needed.  It also helps to focus on one project without the others asking for atttention.

I took the curtains down to let in all the light, which is wonderful. This is the only room in the house with good sunlight for most of the day.   That light is very good for seeing what I am painting.

My smaller liquid paint collection after the clearout.

Watercolors, paint pens, and more.

The last thing I will show you is this newspaper clipping which I taped to one of the closet doors. I try to follow this advice, but do fall away from it with all things going on.

Sweeties Marks and Almost Time to Paint the Trim

I have two spots on the wood trim in the kitchen where my #1 Sweetie who passed in 2007 left his mark. He would lean in and peek around the corner.

I refused to wash and repaint the trim.  But, now that I am getting closer to moving I have decided I will paint over it.  It is his mark and he is my dog and no one else will paint over that reminder of him.

Lucy left her mark, too.  Hers is a bit higher up on the wood frame.  She would have towered over #1 Sweetie. He, mostly Beagle and she, mostly Yellow Lab.

I noticed a smudge on the mirror, where she got up close to see what she looked like.  That memory makes me smile.


Well, if any one is thinking I am a terrible housekeeper, that is not the case.  I leave their marks the same as others carve initials.  Small and precious reminders of two whom I love and miss.

Do you keep reminders?

Challenge Won! Orange Marmalade Yum.

Truth.  Since the good old days weren't really good old days, I decided to challenge myself to make orange marmalade.

Why?  Ever since I was a young girl, I did not like the stuff.  Too many hard bits.  Too sweet.  Too thick.

Some years ago a national brand sold an orange fruit spread.  Lovely stuff. That company disappeared.

Another company sold a similar orange spread.  The product went through lots of mutations and it got to a point that the spread/jam was pretty much not recognizable as an orange marmalade type of spread.  This happened with a couple of companies.  Yuck.  

Now that a national brand stopped selling their version of orange marmalade, I had to find a replacement.

Don't these look pretty?  I was over the moon that I could make orange marmalade and enjoy the fruits of my labor. Pun intended!

What I give you here is not a detailed recipe. Oh, no.





I read several recipes online and found that their versions reminded me of the stuff from my childhood; hard, dark and thick.  Sorry, not my preference.

I took the basic ideas and morphed them into these golden, glorious jars, filled with orange goodness.   It was a several hours long process, but so worth the effort.

Two large seedless (not Naval) oranges.  Zest and tiny bits of lemon along with some lemon juice.  Water and not a lot of sugar.  Boil away until the peel and orange is soft and lovely.  Pour into jars. Leave to cool with the lids off.  Then put the lids on and store in the fridge.



This is an image of the jars and lids in a big stainless steel bowl with boiled water.

See that I cut away the white pith, which makes the marmalade less bitter tasting.

I put on a couple of cds and got to work.  Patsy Cline didn't think I was crazy! lol  You know the song?


Dive right in!  If you have a personal challenge decide to go for it too!

Autumn. Where Have You Been?

Hello Autumn, what took you so long?

Let summer be a nice memory and give a welcome to this brand new autumn.

My 2016 summer was all that summer stands for weather-wise.  Not sorry to see it give way to cooler temps, orange and red leaves on trees, falling into big wet piles on the ground.

Oh, the squirrels are very busy this week.  I think they were trying to cool off somewhere waiting for the lower temps to ride in on the winds of the latest storms.

The front door wreath is wrapped in green lace binding and autumn colored vintage ribbon.  The muted colored flower blossoms of celery green and light coral do not want to give up their summer dreams.

Take care to enjoy our autumn, soon enough the days will be darker earlier. Mugs of hot chocolate and ginger spice cookies will be a sweet treat.  Happy Autumn!

The Lost and Found of Art and Memories During a Mid Year Review, Turtle and City

The post on growing lettuce on the windowsill had this image tucked into the collage.  Didn't realize at the time that this aceo hadn't been shared in its own post.  It was made years ago with acrylics on cold press paper and gotten lost in the image folders for a while.

When I painted this, I was remembering my little turtle from my childhood.  That was back in the day when you could buy tiny turtles at the Woolworth store.

Whenever I think of him or her? I see shell, tiny head and legs which he used to full advantage while he explored the grass in my backyard.  Lost him once!  Green turtle in all that green grass wasn't easy to find him.

Let free from his turtle house, my tiny turtle would walk pretty fast for a turtle.  It was as if he was born to roam. The same way I enjoy myself on a trip to NYC or other city.

This aceo is city, buildings, lights, traffic, taxis, and turtle shells altogether.  It's dark and striking, confusing, congested, slow and fast at the same time.  Best of all, it's full of opportunities to explore and enjoy.

It's nice to sometimes find myself renewed through bits and pieces from the Lost and Found.

If you liked this post, check out some other aceos by clicking the Art Label in the sidebar or typing aceo into the Search bar.  You may like this one, a paper and collage plus digital version Love Always Hands Theme ACEO.

Grow Lettuce On Your Windowsill to Harvest for Sandwiches, Salads, and Snacks All Year

Lettuce Be Clear, Gardening is Usually Hard Work.  (unPunny ...)

This Way is Cooler, Cleaner, and Oh So Delicious and Easy.  

Why not grow lettuce on a windowsill and keep harvesting for sandwiches, salads, and snacks anytime?

Growing lettuce in a glass or container of water didn't appeal to me.  Until now.  I thought I would give it a go and see what happens.  So I did.

I've been buying the bagged mixed greens and couldn't find any in my local stores.  There wasn't a recall, so I don't know the reason for their disappearance.

Instead, three romaine lettuce heads in a bag came to my rescue.  (Heads?  That sounds odd, but I didn't name it.)

When the lettuce was down to nearly nubs (hearts) I put them in juice glasses after not finding anything else suitable which would prop them up and which would fit on my narrow windowsill.  (I long for a deep windowsill in my next home.  Even a box seat would be welcome, or a bay window that I can fill with all the plants I wish.)

After about 3 days the lettuce was growing deep green leaves.  I changed the water every couple of days and snipped off any mucky looking bits at the bottom of the lettuce.

Now, with the leaves growing I anxiously awaited the leaves to reach harvesting size.  The day came, about the seventh day, and my sandwich was excellent!

I overdid it on the first sandwich as you can see from the photo.  Subsequent sandwiches had fewer leaves, all very good.

There's something delicious about growing fresh, free from pesticide, and free from the long transport from grower to distribution center to stores to me salad leaves.  It saved money, too. There's almost always spoiled salad leaves that have to be thrown out in each and every bag I buy.

I know this isn't making a dent in the ozone, but I'm glad to have tried it and will do so again. Next time, a bigger head of lettuce, which I will keep in the fridge and harvest as it produces.

If you enjoyed this post, you can find more Tutorials and Tips or Recipes by clicking the label in the sidebar or typing in your search terms in the Explore bar above the Archive.  Thanks for reading.

Here's something you might like,  Two Ingredient Angel Food and Pineapple Cake Sweet and Easy to Make.


I've shared this post in linkups at Bowl Me Over, Sincerely Paula, and Crafts a la mode.

Food is Love. This Apple Cake which is Awesomely Easy To Make and Will Have You Drooling Before It's Out of the Oven.

Food is more than nourishment isn't it?  We get to taste what was once out of reach, what is different, exotic, in short supply.  Those things which we are tempted by. New things, old favorites, strange combinations we risk trying.

Food is simple and complicated, too.  Sort of like opening a door to see what's behind it. Food is shared, coveted, desired, repulsing.

What we do with our food choices says, What?  

I  like you, here, try this.  

No, I don't eat fill in the blank.  

I can't eat that I'm allergic.  

Ewww that's gross.

Lick your fork and spoon if cooking is more than a chore sometimes.  Just hang up your apron.








I admit to getting takeout or a frozen pizza when I'm short on time to prepare a good meal, or just tired and frazzled from the details of life.  But, I often make the effort to cook Something From Scratch.  

With this recipe the house smells like a 

High Ranking Food Fairy 

spilled her 

Magic Meals Glitter 

all over me and soon the mouth starts salivating, no, DROOLING because 

This Time I Have Surpassed 

All Previous Efforts in Cake Making 

without even trying to.

WAHOO!!!

I share this recipe with you and hopefully you should have a napkin or two at the ready to wipe your face and fingers.  The fragrance of the apples, sugar, and butter will cause you to dab at your chin.  Bib time?

Apple Cake which is Awesomely Easy To Make and Will Have You Drooling before it's out of the oven

Here is what you need:

(Video) Mini Collection Mixed Media, Collage, and More from New End Studio

I like texture, color, and humor and so selected art for the video with those as the focus.   This mini collection was made with images and a catchy melody from YouTube.  The desk in the video and the arrangement in the room has been moved multiple times since that image was made.  I no longer work long into the night. Daylight work is a present to my eyes, and they appreciate it, too.

So here you go- a peek at some of my mixed media, collage, and more.  Most of these can be seen in posts by clicking on the "Art" label in the sidebar.




Want to keep in touch?  Leave a comment and follow so I can see where you are on the web.

Have you made art videos?  Leave a link in the comments and thanks for visiting.

It's Time for Second on the 2nd, Plane to Sea At the Beach Aceo

Waking Up to Rainbows

Water is on my mind.  

An immense, unmeasured body of water that seems to go on forever and is so deep that it's a challenge to navigate, explore, and impossible to control. 

Ever since going on my trip last year I daydream, more than a little bit, about going on another ocean voyage.   If wishes came true, I'd be posting this while looking out to the horizon, where only waves, waves, and more waves surround the ship.

I'm entertained by their songs.  The waves are more than chaotic, small ones, huge ones, little ones being pushed forward and side to side.  They confide, no brag their secrets to the wind and offer to protect the treasures of the third world many fathoms below the hull.

I don't succumb to their calling, more or less their temptations, because I have miles to sail, or is that, cables, before I close my eyes to rest for a while.

It's Groundhog Day, so ocean wistfulness is a far away scheme.

I'm sharing Plane to Sea At the Beach Aceo  with you for Second on the 2nd  linked at Altered Book Lover.  It's a chance to share an older post once a month, on the 2nd of each month.

My aceo was first published way back on  July 25, 2011.  Thanks for visiting.