A Fanciful Twist

Eye of Newt and hairy wart, Lizard Tails & Wildebeast snort...

Throw it in a cauldron and watch it bubble.  A perfect potluck treat for the party!  Missing the Bloglandia Halloween bash is simply not an option!  I am ready to do a little Skeleton Rhumba and of course the Devlish Cha-cha-cha...  The lights in the Witches mansion are all nicely lit... The Witch waits inside, anxious for the strike of midnight...

      

A spooktacular Wicked banner from the wonderful Sadira (she made it) hangs proudly above my Halloween mansion.  I made silhouettes for the windows and filled it with lights.  Mr. Lovee and I will carve pumpkins tomorrow.  He left me the most charming surprise pumpkin.  Hiding in a super secret special place for me to find, it made me stop and smile and swoon.  In the meantime (until we carve tomorrow), I have a cheesy plastic one plugged in, but I like it all the same...

      

Okay, back to the Witch...  She has her lovely shoes and stockings ready to go, her broom all polished, ready to take flight...(You remember my Halloween love that started in September, with the Pirate ship & the stockings!)

      

The Halloween mirror is almost fully alive, to jump on a broom and fly right inside... Where a Halloween bash ensues, filled with glitter and carmel apples...  Carousel rides on masked horses and cotton candy swirling in the air like snow...  Would you like to jump into the mirror with me? 

      

The other Witches are waiting, the book is on hand, to practice turning mushrooms into men from romance novels, you know, average Witch stuff like that...

      

The spooky music is playing from the ever thoughtful Amanda Button, just perfection!!!!

      

With songs like Eyeball in my Martini and Wormy Figs!! Alfred Hitchcock and more!! I have on my hat, I am the Witch on the left, with the crazy yellow locks, Waiting for tales, got any??  This photo is from last years Witches party and I must say, I am wearing my grandmother's velvet cape because it was cold.  Now today it was almost 90' here.  Pretty scary weather stuff, I'd say...

      

I have a stash of treats to share with you for the party...  The real life treats I sent out for the giveaway are still making their way to places quite far...  Miss Mary and Miss Cherie, both enjoyed theirs! Yipeee!Oh and so did Dave and his lovely wife!  There is one treat floating in oblivion.. I think it might be sitting in customs due to real and fake edibles...

      

Off on my broomstick for now!!! I hope you can some how squeeze through the screen and grab a few treats! Back in a few days... After the madness!!  YYYEeeeeehhheeeeheheheheeeeeeeeeee cackle!

Oh and one more thing, take a peek at my friend Lou's (of ArtandGhosts) creation of Vanessa Hallows!! Love it!

OCTOBER 31st Update...  I had to come back and share this, it was wayyyy too funnny.  I just stopped by at GypsyMermaidLife, and she had this AWESOME link to create your Monster Profile!!! What amused me the most was the fact that, my profile states, I LOVE to Torment British People!!!! Hahahahahaha!!!  Now my British friends, do you find this to be true?? heheheheeeeee My profile Below... HA!

***Your Monster Profile***

Hungry Enigma

You Feast On: Armadillos

You Lurk Around In: Roller Rinks

You Especially Like to Torment: British People

Babbling & Rambling

My limbs feel like feeble branches that were run over and scotch taped back together.  My fingers are raisin nubs and my hair has grown so long, the ends blow in the wind, quite like those of a cackling witch.  I wake up in the morning and my glowing face has turned into a tired sad case of, showtime.  Mr. Lovee and I have been going non-stop getting the gallery ready...   I am so sore and tired...  But I am not complaining.  I am taking the pain as punishment.  Punishment for something so greedy, you may never look at me the same.  You know how I posted those white and red mushrooms a couple posts ago???  And I was swooning over them, and you all were so happy for me and my shrooms?  Well, I failed to admit that, umm, I have others.  Yes, the mushroom hoarder of the century.  In my room I have these guys...

      

So, I take my sore and sad punishment, and accept it wholeheartedly, as long as I get to keep the shrooms of course...  I was going to avoid blogging as to not bore you with whining about the show and preparations and so on and so forth...  But it feels so darn good to whine, how can I not... The one thing I am looking forward to this week is, Halloween in Bloglandia. 

            

I am sadly going to miss one of my favorite days in real life.  And, I have to say, I am so terribly sad about it.  I feel like Halloween has already passed me by... (I told you this would be pitiful, caccccckle caccckle)

      

You see,  I have not done my yearly carving of the wonderful Halloween pumpkins.  No major decorating...  All I did was plug a little Halloween pumpkin doo-dad in...  Although, he ain't half bad...

      

My skull has been hanging around all year, so he was ready to go!

      

And of course, the witches hand is out and partying with candle skulls...  Alas, they all waited for the witches party this year, that never was...  But hey, I can have a witches party any old day right??

      

I made you some turtle brownies, just to help you get through this with me...  I knew I could get to you through your belly!!!  I just have to bake them!! HA!

      

And then I made you some orange food, carrots and yams, in my cauldron of course...

      

The only thing is, I think the neighbors are wondering why this cross in a pot is right in front of our front gate (I think some of them were spying on me building it).  The fact is, I never did finish that scarecrow, who was going to hang on this wooden structure...  Perhaps I should build him on Halloween???  What do you think??

       

Well, I am off to do more shroom penance...  You see, the main reason I am so sore is, I decided in my insaneness, that I wanted to repaint the entire gallery in the same color it was already in, Vanilla Cream.  That meant, everything off the walls and then me with a can going up and down a ladder (and then you wonder where the heck I have been??).  Now, I have to rehang everything..   I purchased 49 frames today (I am making poster size canvas prints!!).  Due to the frames, I have no more coins in my piggy bank.  I just handed the guy my entire piggy bank.  It cost the actual ceramic pig too...Sheesh... 

I am feeling the freshness of white these days so I ironed this white tablecloth today...  I think I am going to use it.  I am not in a black tablecloth mood when it comes to the gallery/shop right now...

      

OH MY!!! Before I leave I almost forgot to tell you...  Sweetie-Pie himself is one of a few featured Etsian prints (animal prints)  in Domino Magazine online.  Chosen by the lovely Holly Becker of Decor8, I was surprised and overjoyed when she told me!!!  The best news to a girl like me!!!  Click here to visit him at DominoMag.Com.  He makes his Momma proud...  There are so many wonderful artists included here (lucky me!).  Swooon!

      

Okay I really am off to do shroom penance now... Oh and, thank Corey and Lou if my blog is loading faster for you! 

I promise I will visit you when all this is over!! Pinky Promise!  See you soon!!!! V

Little Slices of Magical Berry Cake...

Now, this post has no focus.  However, I was missing you all.  Just under two more weeks and I will be back to Bloglandia.  I have been creating away, as you well know and are probably totally sick of hearing...  Last night at midnight I had a little visitor.  Tugging at my white cotton nightdress, whispering in my ear, "Come and find me if you can..." So, I did....

The Enchanted Hiding Tree...

      

Hiding in a little tree trunk, escaping from her daily chores.  I wish you could see the print in person.  Anyhow, she is in my shop...

I have also been very sneaky, adding postcard sets to my shop as well.  I am so delighted with the results.  I have had them for about 2 weeks, but I am slow in sharing.  I also designed the back sides, with graphics that I created.  They are a little gift in themselves.  (click on any photo to enlarge)

      

      

There is also a Thank You Postcard set and some other treats... Take a peek if you get a little chance. 

I did get all my little giveaway treats into the post office last week.  People got them in just 1.5 days.  It was wild.  I don't know if my Candian girls got them yet??  But, I feel it is safe enough to share... Each winner received 2 packages.  One with tricks and one with treats...

      

Some of the tricks included non-edible super tricky cakes.  I am so tricky... hee heee....

      

Into the padded mailer they went, and Presto, the wait for the reactions...

      

Miss MarmeeCraft blogged about her parcel of goodies from me, and I have to say, her photos are incredible.  Her cake really does look real.  And the photo with the cat... Maybe I can sneak it over here.... Off to sneak the photo, but you must see them all! Okay, I got it!!! Can you believe her photo of her darling puss Marmee, and the cake???  That is contest quality!!!

      

What I intend to do in the next couple of days is get the gallery all spruced up...  It is a bit of a wreck, does that surprise you?? Hahaha.

      

Funny enough, in the midst of sheer madness, I find myself wanting to cozy up...

      

And just draw...

      

You know, I still can't bring myself to paint this work bench.  Is it silly that it has sentimental value to me in its raw state?  Mr. Lovve made it, using two really lovely pieces of natural wood and one piece of white... And there is just something in me that feels like I will cover up his little aura lingering in the wood, if I paint.  Have I totally lost it??

Haste Luego, for now!  My berry crisp is ready!

Come into my house, to myyy house, I want to give you some...

Nope, no candy.  However, I will give you a set of chores if you dare let yourself be coaxed with toffee covered in chocolate (oh wait, that is candy!).  How about home made, extra long, french fries???  Hmm, that isn't working is it?  Okay, umm, I'll let Mr. Lovee do a mannie chore for you?  Then you have to HELP me (say fresh squeezed orange juice or perhaps all your grocery shopping?).  All I have to say is...  I am living in my studio day and night.  I am stiff as a corpse (perfect for Halloween), and working like a mad woman for the show...

      

I know you might think the place looks out of control, but really it isn't.  Everything is where it should be for what I am working on.  When you have 9 paper dress girls, 10 little oil paintings, and 50 pieces of jewelry going at once, the place is bound to look like someone turned it upside down, shook it all around, and that's what it's all about. HA!

      

So, I am going to share pure photos of what my days have melded into.  Good thing I adore my studio to pieces. I sit at this little table only to do oil painting.  My easels are all in the gallery getting ready for the show.  I don't really like painting on them anyways.  I like the painting door with its 12 different heights for working at, and like I said, this little table for oil painting...

The happy oil desserts, fruits & veggies are always popular at the show.  They are cute and fun and textured, and easy on the eye.  Perfect for gifts or home decor.  I think I need a few of the desserts myself...

      

I had one of my prints near me for inspiration.  I made several.  For the desserts, I decoupaged the canvas with vintage dictionary pages first.  So the outline you see around the cakes is actually a bit of the paper.  I just love how that looks.  I don't know why, but I do.

      

The door that I paint on leads to this whole other little area where I have rolling bakers racks to put all these critters on to dry.  They take so terribly long to dry.  Even with all the goop for quick drying.  You see, I use ALOT of paint... 

      

Then I have paper dress girls flying about. They are so dramtic and full of emotion, they go on and on with their dancing all day.  Flutter, flutter.  I warned them I'd cage them if they didn't sit still...

      

They didn't listen...

      

I just finished a night time dance scene.  With some lanterns that are so lovely in person, I will bring you a better view as soon as the print of it is ready. (This photo does it no justice)

      

I better get back to work... If I go for too long I will lose my momentum.  Plus, it is really really cold here right now.  Did it get cold wherever you are in the states today???

Here, let me open the door to my "Jewel Case Pantry"  a little peek, just for you...  Perhaps we could cut a deal if you decide to help me with chores... hee heee...  You know, Rubies, Swarovski's, anyone, anyone...

      

Okay, I am off.  Back to being a busy bee!!! Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

      

Tell me something wonderful about your Autumn filled days.  Or anything else you are up to...  Oh, and if you want a sneak peek into another wonderfully mad studio, you must visit Consuela!!!

The key to all wealth is...

Yes, we have all heard it before.  Or maybe you didn't hear this over and over, "The key to all wealth is a savings account."  I know dad, I know, but, there were these giant mushrooms, and I had all these coins saved in my cookie jar and and and....  Brigitte, the Littlest Pierrot made me do it!

      

Then of course, there were those other treasures I just had to have, and then... Oh I can hear my dad now, again, "Save your money kid."  Oh golly, don't tell him that I spent the rag money on shrooms! Please!!! (hahaha)  Oh wait, I am a big kid with no parental supervision, Yeeehawww, Yippeeee. You mean, It's my very own rag money?  Oh yay, I can do whatever I want with it you say? Okay, I'll take ten more. hee heeeee.....  The man at the shop said, "Wow, you are buying really weird stuff."  Umm, Mister, it's your shop.  You bought it first. Hahaha.

      

And while I was at it, I visited small stump... Another Fungilicious purchase!!

      

You all know how I adore the Fungi.  However, I have some precious fungi creations of my own being cooked right now.. Clay, in the kiln! Ya, that's right.  Let's hope they live through the process, so my shop can get some more treats...  It only seemed appropriate to bring more fungi treats in to live with me...

Oh have you been over to Thrify Goodness??? She sells such fun things... Scroll down in her shop & take a peek...

   

   

I still have Fungi girls in the, A Fanciful Twist shop too, don't forget to visit them, and tell them how well behaved they are....

      

Back to ponder the madness & to head out to the pottery studio. As I am already running late....Here is a snippet of some of what I am up too....

      

      

I have been getting sooo many calls about the paper dress creations... Questions like, will I have many at the show, can they come for a sneak peek, will I make more... I guess that is a sign that I better keep making them? 

Good thing I have a stack started.... Off to work in dark red clay...

      

See you soon!!!! ;)

A Cackle, a Winner, a Warlock, No good excuses & POOF!

I was all spooked out, when real life got even spookier!!! I mean really weird things are happening.  Lights are going off and on, alone.  I heard kittens in my studio, loud ones... And, my radio that was unplugged, turned on...  Okay, white lie... The radio was plugged in, but it still turned on on its own. And it was off. I mean totally off...  The lights in my bathroom, have been going off and on by themselves since a family member passed away.. Hmmm....  Verry Verry Intristink.  Coincidence? You be the judge... Hee heee....  The girls are so excited about all the paranormal activity... They can hardly stand it!!

      

So, the girls and I are doing "giveaway choosing duty."  Mr. Lovee is out at Monday night with a bunch of hot 60-something years olds.  No, really, I am serious.  One of them said he'd come and pick me up and take me away and pack up all my stuff.  Mr. Lovee offered him money... Well I oughta!!!!  I told Mr. Lovee, I am like mold, almost impossible to get rid of... hahahahaa.  He laughs, nervously.  (joking)

Anyhow, everyone is waiting with bated breath around here to see who the giveaway winner is...  So pile up in the chaise and lets draw a name!!!!  I want to get some new fun pillows soon.. Alas time is not on my side these days, but soon!!  If you see any in the internet shopping world, let me know... Bright and fun pillows...

      

So Mr. Warlock says the winner is.....

      

Oh no, I felt so guilty just choosing one.  I get all anxious for you!!! Anyhow, it went like this....  The magic was brewing all around...  As I dropped all the hand-written names in...

      

Into the pot, they get twisted and turned...

      

And the first name I pulled was.... Wait, I couldn't do just one, I had to do three...

      

But, I couldn't stop there, I decided to pull 5.  I decided 5 is a good number, I think it is my lovely friends lucky number??  So 5 it is...

      

So, there you have it.  5 winners.  Cherie, Joy, Marjorie, Mary & Dave.  FUN!!!  So, each one of you will get a fun goodie bag!! It will be silly, Halloweenie, Kookie, and Spooky. A little treat... (e-mail me your addresses, please)

I am so so sorry for those of you who didn't get picked.  However, I will have another giveaway soon, so keep playing, please!!!

I have to say, things are getting a little crazy in my world getting ready for my show.  It seems the pottery process is sooo slow. So many steps, glazing twice, 2 weeks in between.  Paper dress girls, prints, cards, real-job, art-job, jewelry-making, cleaning up gallery... Oh my!!!  I love the madness though. 

Anyhow, I want to ask you all to forgive me for being so slow in visits right now.  I love your comments (I live for them really) & am sure all of us who blog adore visitors... So, please be patient with me. I could use all the good vibes I can get.  I promise to be back to normal after the show (it is in 2.5 weeks or so).  I don't mean to be a blog hog, but I looove your comments!

Now, I leave you with a story.... Twisted Sistahs

      

I just adore having holiday themed books, that I can whip out during different times of the year. Love this book!!!

      

Have a lovely week!! I will be back very very soon!!!  Now, tell me, any spooky things happening in your world????? xooxox

Poof!  I am off on my broom....

Unexpected, Love at first sight...

Isn't it always the case with whirlwind love.  You are fulfilled in your little life.  Everything feels cozy and happy.  Warm and wonderful...  Then BAM! LOVE.  It falls out of the sky, crashing down, smacking you right upside the head.  Of course, it doesn't happen when you are prepared and in search of it... Not when your heart was lonely and in dire need.  No siree, it happens on a day when you are baking turtle brownies & the witches are officially making their entrance...  Sometimes love happens when your basket is already full...

      

I went to visit the witches in town for 2 days this week, to finish up some pottery, and get the house ready for some super secret fun.  We were scurrying around. Impromptu baking for visitors & cleaning up to go to the pottery studio...  That is when he arrived. 

A sleek salt and pepper haired, handsome creature.  I found out he had asked my sister if he could move in with her and me, and she said YES! What??  Well, in truth, she told him he could find a cozy place on the porch (reasons to follow).  He was a cross between George Clooney, Tom (of Tom and Jerry) &  Sean Connery .  His name, Larry.  His game.  To be charming and funny and so very unusual...

Larry.  Our new love. 

      

You see, I am very allergic to cats.  However, I have always loved them.  I have tried to have a cat or two. But two nights of swollen lips and hives in my youth, forced me to realize, it would be no pets for me...  However, Larry was going to simply live in  the yard and is being cared for and loved by my sister Kristen.  He appeared when he was a wee bit younger... See here...(I didn't know him then)

      

The sad part is that Larry's owner left him behind when she moved.  Poor Larry was left to roam, without food or a home.  Thank goodness my sister let him move into the yard.  He fits in just beautifully!  The yard is totally walled in and gated. So, Larry is safe from Havelinas and Coyotes...

      

Now, there are some things about Larry that make him extra special.  I learned them while visting my house in town this week.  I just could not help falling in love.  First of all, he loves water.  Yes, I know, strange but true.  The guy loves to get into the hose, head and all, and roll in the water...  I was fixing the fountain and he even helped with that...

      

He has the longest tail I have ever seen on a cat.  Now the second strange thing is...  Larry likes dogs.  That helps because Kristen has a miniature Pincher.  Larry walks up to Douglas and kisses him on the nose...

    

They are great friends.  Isn't that just precioussssss???

      

So, it is official.  We are in love with Larry.  Larry seems to love all the treasures in the yard.  He roams around as if he owns the joint...

      

So that is the story about love & Larry...  Now we are headed into our first round of pumpkin carving (we always carve a few throughout the season, as they rot so quickly).

      

We are also planning our witchy-poo costumes, whether we go somewhere or not, we will be wearing them...  Perhaps I should replicate this little witches ensemble??

      

I took out the giant Halloween decoration bin this morning...  Sooo much to choose from...

      

Maybe I won't go overboard this year...  The wonderful Sadira sent us the perfect gift... 

      

You will see mine later (gold), however, here is Kristen's in silver. Can you make it out?  It says "Wicked."  Is that perfection or what?? We are overjoyed!! Not only that, she made them!!! Thank you Miss Sadira!!!!!!!

There is my sis with hers.  She loves it!!!

      

Oh, and Sadira made us some charming cards too.  I made my sister wear a witches hat while she read hers. She had just woken up and was kinda thrown into the whole thing...  She might kill me later for these photos.. So if you don't hear from me for a while...

      

Well, off I go to unpack the neverending bags... From one home to the other, like a gypsy I roam... A bag-ladie's bags...

      

Oh, and, I was thinking, I would love to put together a super fun fall/Halloween goodie bag...  Leave a comment & I will put those names in a hat, and let Mr. Lovee choose a Halloween gift bag, for one of you... xoxo

Madness...

Has everything started getting all weird, or is it just me? Do things get strange & unusual in October naturally, or do we simply perceive them to be that way?  Do you get all crazy for baking and making stuff?  I do!!  I love the scents from the kitchen in fall and winter... Baked goods and such...

      

All the fun spooky things start peeking out... And, the famed strange things start showing their faces also!

      

For example, I go to a thrift store, and being a girl obsessed with oval frames, I see this lovely Victorian oval brass frame.  It has a poorly painted pine tree and stream painted on it...  Now, most of you know by now, that I am curious.  I pick at perfect paint, hoping to find fantastic wallpaper underneath.  And I do, luck indeed. 

However, what on earth possessed me to take a wire brush to this bad oil painting?  It was a bit lumpier oil paint than normal, and I just started with no rhyme or reason.  What ensued was the shriek only major treasure seekers would let out, when making a discovery.  There were faces under this painting...  Exciting?  Yes, until I decided to hang it on a wall.  It was like the twilight zone.  The room started spinning, and the whole thing felt really uneasy.  Am I hallucinating? You tell me??? Why would someone paint over an old oval photo?  Creepy?  I don't know?  Do you think it is safe to hang???  Will they get me in my sleep?  For now, it is leaning on the wall, where I can't see it...

      

      

The cooking is also on overload. I have to slow this down a bit though.  Too much goodness equals, well, too much goodness (if you know what I mean).  Anyhow, I made simple Potato Latkes... Mmm, the best ever....

      

Mr. Lovee was pleasantly surprised (being raised Jewish, he adores such treats).  Some were served as a meal with gourmet ketchup and fresh Basil. Soo yummy, I can't even tell you!!!  I love cooking on Mr. Lovee's gas stove.  At home I have one of those electric flat high tech stoves (not so fun)... I have to say,  there is nothing like real flames!!

      

Others were served with a bit of sour cream and a dollop of Bon Maman Raspberry jam right in the warm center... YUM!!!  Light extra virgin olive oil makes them so crispy and wonderful.  Not heavy and oily...

      

As if we had not been bad enough for one day...  I had bought one of those Halloween candy packages full of mini heath bars for Mr. Lovee... As I was watching Little Women, I got this huge urge to bake...  Soooo, I thought, there has to be a heath bar cookie right? Umm, HELLO?  Yes, there is, and it is unreal.  I simply put all the heath bars in the freezer for 10 minutes. Then took them out, smashed them to bits, and VOILA!

      

Here is the link to the recipe.  However, I will say, I baked two batches without the parchment paper lining the cookie sheet and the only difference was a little less butter in the parchment lined cookies.  Also, I used SALTED butter.  Not unsalted.  As I don't like utterly sweet desserts.  I have to say, I like them alot.  I can't imagine how sweet they would be with the unsalted butter...

      

So, Salted Butter and No parchemnt is A-O.K.  They are unreal.  You will be speechless.  Of course, you should have seen me running around the yard at 6a.m. yesterday and today... Oh my aching lungs...  Oh and, have you ever tried doing a jumping jack?  Okay I don't mean as a kid, I mean as an adult.  Oh me, Oh my, I am up to 100.  My liver feels like it will fall out and my, well, other things feel like they will fall off too... hahahaha!

As I was doing all the cooking and baking, Mr.  Lovee had gone out for some dinner ingredients, and when he came back, as my back was turned to him, I caught him doing this...  Boy is he racking up brownie points...

      

So, there have been some very busy days, with much needed goodness in between.  I can live like this.  Bliss is easy to find.  It's what we make of it.  Now, if I can just hold on to that and let my road unfold without getting all nutty, things will be wonderous...

Roses, Cookies, Movies, Books...  Ahhhh, life is good...  Even just snippets of the goodness here and there in the evenings is so important.  It refuels my heart and soul...

      

See you very soon!!! xxo

Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo...

Would you like to come in for a little story or two?  Some treats and perhaps even a super secret recipe.  I will share my recipe with you if you promise never to share it with another soul??? (Thrift store find doll, Catherine The Great)

      

Okay then.  Come take a seat in my chair that has become known as "the treasure chair."  Any treasure I bring home sits in the chair before becoming a part of my strange little family.

      

So, you get to cozy up now too.  Now,  when you wake up, emerging from your private boudoir quite early in the morning... And you find that the Mr. Lovee in your house has brought home wonderful goodies, without being asked to, without you having to give him a list even, you might feel compelled to be extra nice...(see those curtains and yellow walls? Well, they were like that before I came along.  And, yes, he did choose it all himself.  Giggly cute, right?)

      

You will want to be especially nice, when the man brings home extra good stuff.  Where on earth did they grow him, and can I get an extra one just in case?  This is too wonderful...(Just don't tell him I said that, I mean the man was a peacock in his past life, so no need to fluff the feathers anymore...)  He makes it so easy for me to never want to go to my own home.  Makes me a private boudoir,  a studio,  a little space to call my gallery.  Trust me I am thankful.  But sometimes, you just miss home.  Your big luxurious shower, your stuff.  It's just that with such goodness here, it's no shock that I stopped going home regularly a very long time ago.  (A tiny snippet of home below)

       

Anyhow, back to the reason you are here...  It got kind of chilly today.  Can you believe it, heat since May.  And really today was the first true break in the heat.  I am actually wearing a cardigan.  So, with the good behavior as mentioned above and the nice weather... I started the fall/winter regime of regular fruit crisps.  Today it was a berry crisp... (sorry we nibbled in the right side before the photo)

      

There is really no measuring in my recipe.  I created it myself over two years of trial and error. But, there might be some cookbook out there that makes it like this, who knows...

The first tip I have is, the filling can be anything you want it to be. Apples, Peaches, Raspberries, Blueberries, Strawberries.  And you can add cinnamon to any fruit mixtures that might taste good with it, Apples, etc...

Here we go.  We had some left over strawberries, so I sliced them.  There were about 20 small strawberries or so.  The way I measure it, is I only use enough fruit to fill the bottom of a pie plate.  If you are using apples, peel them, core them, and slice them rather thin. I also like using peaches in heavy syrup(drain before using). You can use a glass or metal pie plate. Your choice.

      

You will need two bowls. One for the fruit and one to make your topping mixture in.  Put your sliced fruit (use the whole berry if using blueberry or raspberry) in a bowl and sprinkle about a tablespoon or large spoonful of granulated sugar over the fruit.  Then put it aside while you make your topping. (Preheat your over to 350' F)

      

The only other ingredients you will need are brown sugar, a pinch of salt, 1.25 sticks of real butter (salted) & oatmeal.

      

In another bowl you will make your topping.  Now, this is easy, for every two handfuls of oatmeal you use, you will use one handful of brown sugar & half a stick of butter.

For one pie plate you will use, Four handfuls of oatmeal and 2 handfuls of brown sugar.  Add a pinch of salt to the brown sugar and oatmeal, and mix it all up with your hands.

      

Slice a stick of COLD butter.  Now, if you want it to be really buttery & carmelized, you can use 1.25 sticks of butter (feel free to only use 1 stick if you choose).  Cut it up into little squares and dump it in your bowl.

      

The next step is to mash the butter into your mixture really well. Mix it in until the mixture is like a lumpy dough and there are no dry bits of oatmeal or sugar lingering in the bowl.

      

Now, butter your pie plate really well and throw in the strawberries. 

      

Next put the topping on top of the fruit without squashing it into the fruit too much.  Layering it evenly.

      

      

      

      

Now, its time to put your crisp into the oven for about 35 minutes.  Make sure to put a piece of foil or another pan in the bottom rack of your oven, so that any fruit that might boil over won't fall into the bottom of your oven.

      

Let cool for 10 minutes or so & enjoy! (Mr. Lovee ate the whole thing almost!)

      

So now that you have some treats to nibble, come sit down and I shall read to you from my book.  This book was a major find.  The reason?  There is a story in this book that my Mammie and I have been searching for, forever.  My Grandmother has been telling us a story about 6 swans since my mom was little.  It is engrained into my childhood memories.  Guess what?  The story is in this book I found for one dollar.  My mom and I were screaming about it!  How exciting right?  My mom took my grandmothers giant silver lined fairytale book in a velvet box, to school, when she was in 5th grade, and someone stole it out of her desk.  That is how long the search for this story was on....

      

I am also sitting reading this with my magical necklace from MaryContrary, in my lap.  I love it!  I have worn it twice now...  Her blog is pretty darn fun, she works at Etsy in NYC, and she is just a doll!!

      

Sadly, I have to go now... But I will be back soon.  Did you have fun?? 

Back to my studio, to work...

      

What is it about...(Pears, Puppets, Dolls & Clay?)

How delightful, to open your eyes to a lovely gift, left by your bedside.  This lovely pear brought such a wonderful feeling to my morning.  Perhaps it was the shape, or the color, or even just the stem.  It reminded me that fall was being sprinkled here and there... Yep, lovely Mr. Lovee at it again...

      

I have had a busy and fulfilling week.  I am like a mad woman, making pottery as I have realized my show is only a month away.  Yesterday I had the most delightful conversation with Sarah Cotten.  She is a pottery instructor, a yoga instructor, mom to the adorable little Lucy (such a character) and wife to Matt Cotten, a master puppeteer (one of the proprieter's of Tucson Puppet Works). Matt Cotten photo, borrowed from his website, puppet section.

      

We were talking about the hugely attended, "All Souls Procession" here in Tucson, and the masks and puppets her husband is working on in preparation for the event. The posters for the all souls procession are done by different artists every year.  One of my favorites was 2005's(below), by Daniel Martin Diaz.  I forgot to mention Daniel's music as well (Blind Divine), found here...

      

I am eager to see this years... Last year's poster, by Sam Esmoer was pretty wonderful as well.  Sam's work is incredible in person. 

Back to puppets.  So, Sarah was telling me a bit of what Matt is up too, and I was encouraging her to get him to start a Puppet Blog.  Can you imagine?? I would certainly love that!!  She then shared the cutest little booklet with me that her friend Charles Swanson made.  "How to Make a Giant Puppet." 

      

I was going to share all the instructions with you, however, they are a bit tough if you do not have access to clay. Miss Marjorie put a link in comments for some fun puppets to make!!

      

If you want to join in the Mask and Puppet making workshops in Tucson, which are currently underway, call Tucson Puppet Works at (520) 770-1533.

Thursday pottery included a bit of glazing the popular little bowls and dishes (45)... I also threw some ring holders in one piece.  Oh, and of course, some more Jelly bean holder lady heads in the works...

      

Made her last night...

      

You remember last years....  Sadly, I did the one thing every artist hates to do.  I forgot to take pictures of all the others from last year.  The show opened, and they sold, and once it was over, I realized, no photos...

      

      

Last night, the high fire kiln was roaring, and there were these beautiful green reduction flames shooting out through the brick openings... Can you spot them?

      

I stayed at pottery until 9 p.m.An 11 hour pottery day.  I am still recovering today...  However, the most lovely thing is that, the Tucson Museum of Art, where Romero House Pottery is, is located in the most wonderful historic neighborhood.  Movie quality.  There is this one corner barrio house I drive by all of the time.  Usually the window coverings are all seeled up...

      

However, last night all of the plantation shutters were open, sharing a peek of.... 

      

I can't even believe I snapped this shot as I drove by this house... Not only that, but as I was passing my favortie Tudor mansion, I snapped a photo and got this...

      

Talk about Halloween in the air!!!!!I have so much more to say, but this post is getting out of control so I will talk about dolls and such next time...  And, I have to say a sincere thank you, for all your kind words about me weeding out.  I did it, I made my move and weeded out.  I have decided that I will weed out an advertising program for my other job.  Also, after much conversation with my darling friends Carolyn and Diane, they have supported me in the decision not to have my annual Witches party this year.  Just taking away those two things makes me feel so much better.  I am not going to lose my head now.  Deep breath... xoxoxo (and as Diane stated, I can have a witches party after the show and October deadlines)

PS: My darling friend over at E.marie Arts, is having a giveaway, join in!!  Trust me, she is an amazing gift giver!!!!  She is responsible for my key necklace and the most unreal treasure ball, made of crepe paper.. Remember that??

      

Okay, off to the studio, see you soon!!