Baking: smart cookies

Just putting a normal batch of cookies in the oven, right?

Wrong! These are totally non-normal and awesome cookies. Because they came out of the freezer. But they're homemade. I know it's confusing but just hold onto your hats and I will explain my brilliance. Honestly it was super simple, I just like to make it sound more fancy. I made a big batch of cookie dough and then I took some of it, rolled it up in parchment paper and layered them in a zippered freezer bag. Now, whenever I've got a cookie urge (which does happen more than I'd care to admit) I just take out one packet of cookies, slice off circles (each one make approximately a half dozen cookies) and bake the right up.

And it was a really good batch with fancy vanilla, studded with pecans and chocolate chunks. Yum.

Making:celestial party favors

With my friends bachelorette party fast approaching I've been nose-to-the-grindstone trying to finish the last project in time for the festivities. It was asked that I make some sort of accessory for all the attendants like a hair clip or brooch and it was important to come up with an interesting theme of some kind. I've many times seen groups of girls with matching flowers and I just wasn't feeling feathers, and then while trying to come up with things which would justify large amounts of glitter I came up with it.......stars! Fittingly enough the bride and groom to be met at an establishment called moon.

First I cut out what seemed to be a million stars and coated them in glitter. I used one large star as the base of the hairclip, and cut short wire pieces to attach smaller stars to radiating out from the middle. I tried different patterns, there are some that are bigger and some with all the small stars grouped to the side.

I was very happy with the end result, and hopefully the silver will be basic enough to go with what everyone is wearing (don't want to upset anyone or mess up a bridesmaids vegas bachelorette party now do I) but they will serve well as fun party favors and sparkley identifiers for all the girls.

Now of course the beautiful bride to be couldn't be left out of this glittery extravaganza, and while brides at bachelorette parties are typically seen wearing novelty veils of some kind, I figured why not make her a star headpiece too........only bigger! and more sparkles. This was built onto a headband as she has shorter hair and I wanted to make it more elaborate and didn't want to risk it slipping off. I added a small veil in the front onto which I glued more mini rhinestones. Then I misted the whole thing with a thin layer of spray adhesive and shook another layer of smaller iridescent glitter for some more depth and of course added sparkle.

I know it's a bit over the top but I really like glitter. Alot. And I feel like I even help back a bit, I mean I didn't make an enormous moon with shooting star for the top so I think I deserve a pat on the back for staying my own hand when it comes to my desire to make everything just a little bit more........wild. I do love these kinds of projects, where people who know I am 'crafty' come to me with interesting requests and then let me go wild and wield my glitter with pride, it's very rewarding.

So here is to a weekend of frivolity and champagne, and then a lifetime of love for two wonderful people.

Baking: soup basics

I've been asked more than once how I make soup. Do I follow a recipe? Do I have a plan even or am I just going about this all willy nilly? The answer is all of the above but without the recipe part. So I decided to take a photo of each stem as I made a pot of soup from whatever I found in the fridge and pantry. I figure if a picture is worth a thousand words I don't need to write anything about these ones:

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What I ended up with was an amalgamation of things, sort of a tortilla soup/mexican chili/lentil stew type mess definatly 'fly by the seat of your pants' but super tasty.

As I've always said, soup is easy, you don't need a plan just leftovers. And it is perfect for rainy days.

Making:bridal chickens

Sorry for the absence again. No real point in my grovelling apologies, it just happened my computer was hospitalized again. Critical and near fatal after two agonizing weeks without I have my technological safety blanket back.
However do not fall under the false impression that due to lack of computer nothing was happening in my world. I have actually been getting up to all sorts of shenanigans. The biggest and most exciting project I am unfortunately not able to discuss at this time but I did have some fun with rubber chickens!!!

A bachelorette party is swift approaching and my friend called upon me to make some party favors, decorations etc for the event. One idea was to decorate a rubber chicken (due to personal significance, long story)and I though, I can do you one better, get me two rubber chickens and I will make little bride and groom accessories. I mean, bridal chickens has such a nice ring to it right?!
This project resulted in what was probably the most entertaining supply buying excursion I've ever experienced. Me and my friend wandered around Joanne fabrics bemoaning the fact that they did not have an impressive enough array of glitter options. Then we stood at the cutting table where we had asked the assistant for 1/8th of a yard of white sparkly tulle, and when she asked if it would be enough I said "oh yes that's more than enough for a nice full skirt" and when the woman gave me the you're crazy look, I said "it's for a rubber chicken" Much hilarity ensues.

So I got my supplies, and sat down at my desk and made a tiny rubber chicken hat. It was so cute everthing sort of snowballed from there. If the rubber chicken had a hat and his vest needed tuxedo lapels and rhinestone buttons. Then I felt something was still missing so I made a bow tie for his scrawny chicken neck. Perfect. The bride got a full ballarina skirt and a star hairpiece with veil to match the theme of the batchlorettes (more on that later).

My friend who will be bringing this cute couple to Las Vegas for the main even is over the moon excited with them. I think they look a bit like Abe Lincoln and Giselle but they are so clearly in love that it's perfect!

Making: a new project

So I've been super busy working on...stuff. Not really able to reveal what is going on in my studio but does involve piles of reference books and therefore multiple trips to the library (there is a branch just blocks away). The other night I was drawing with ink so furiously I had ink in my eyebrows!
Hopefully I can share more at some time, but right now I have to keep working. Hope everyone is staying dry, it's pouring here but I love working for hours at my desk with a rain soundtrack so fingers crossed have a productive day!