We had a fun evening last night creating these “April Showers” banners as we continue our series of monthly quilted banners. These ladies did an awesome job on these. Love the little ducks!
Archive for the ‘Holidays’ Category
Lasting Valentines
Posted in Art Class, Holidays, kids class on February 11, 2024| Leave a Comment »
These girls created lasting Valentine’s yesterday at The Studio. Nice work Mariah and McKenzie!
Flying Flag Quilt
Posted in Holidays, Quilting, Serendipity, tagged American flag, Blue, flag, red, stars and stripes, white on January 23, 2024| Leave a Comment »
I’m really pleased with the way the Flying Flag Quilt turned out. I just finished it yesterday. It’s from Amy Smart’s Diary of a Quilter’s pattern. It’s so easy and super cute. While hers is a traditional quilt I made mine as a Quilt as You Go. This may have to be a class soon. It would be great for beginners. And it is perfect for upcoming Memorial Day, 4th of July and Veteran’s Day holiday display around your home. Or if you know a veteran you would like to honor, this would be a perfect gift. Watch for a class soon or contact Kelly if you want to order a quilt.
Mama’s Strawberry Cake Was a Hit
Posted in Holidays, Recipes, tagged strawberry cake on December 26, 2023| Leave a Comment »
As a kid my favorite cake was my mama’s Strawberry Cake. I always asked for it for my birthday. I haven’t made one in years but for some reason I got it in mind lately to make one. At Thanksgiving my granddaughters asked if I would make Carrot Cake for Christmas and I said sure. They like my Carrot Cake….it’s my Big Mama’s recipe and it is really good! You can find that recipe here. But I thought maybe I would two cakes for Christmas. :-) And I did! The Strawberry Cake was a big hit and after posting a photo of it after I made it yesterday I got requests for the recipe. I am sharing it here. I was surprised when a couple of people said that they had never heard of Strawberry Cake. WTH???? Where have they been living? Or is it just a Souther thing? I don’t know….but what I do know is that it is a GOOD cake! I hope you will give it a try and enjoy it too.
Mama’s Best Strawberry Cake
Ingredients:
1 box white cake mix (18.25 ounces)
4 large eggs
1 small box strawberry-flavored instant Jello (3 ounces)
1 15 oz. package frozen strawberries in syrup, thawed and pureed (hold out ¼ cup of puree for frosting)
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup vegetable oil
For the frosting:
7 cups confectioners’ sugar
1 package cream cheese (8 ounces), softened
1/4 cup softened butter
1/4 cup pureed frozen strawberries held out from packaged used in cake
1/2 teaspoon strawberry extract
Instructions:
1. Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
2. In a mixing bowl, combine cake mix, strawberry Jello, pureed strawberries, eggs, vegetable oil, and water. Mix well.
3. Pour the batter into the prepared cake pans and bake for 25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in center of cake.
4. For the frosting, beat softened butter and cream cheese until smooth.
Add 1/4 cup strawberry puree and strawberry extract to the cream cheese mixture. Mix until combined.
5. Gradually add confectioners’ sugar, beating until smooth and creamy.
6. Once the cake layers have cooled, frost the cake with the strawberry cream cheese frosting.
7. Garnish with freshly sliced strawberries.
Merry Christmas Everyone!
Posted in daily painter, Holidays on December 25, 2023| Leave a Comment »
Wishing everyone the Merriest Christmas Day!
The True Cost of a Handmade Christmas Gift
Posted in applique, Collage, Crochet, Drawing, Embroidery, Felting, Furniture, Holidays, Knitting, Paper Art, Pet Portaits, Portraits, Quilting, Recipes, Sculpture, Serendipity, Sewing, Small Town Life, Still Life, The Studio/Classes, Weaving, tagged gifts, handmade on December 24, 2023| Leave a Comment »
It ‘s Christmas time. The family is all gathered together. The gifts are beginning to be passed around. And you see it…there it is…. right there… all wrapped up…a gift from Grandma or Papa or Aunt Noreen or Cousin Virgil. You know exactly what it is before you open it. It’s a handmade something ________ (you insert the item here….a knitted hat, a crocheted scarf, a painting, a bowl cozy, a quilt, a vest, a pottery mug, etc.) They always “make” you something for Christmas. Well, this year when you open that handmade gift hope you will think of this.
You should consider yourself extremely special and loved….and here is why.
First, making the gift requires much consideration and thought to choose just the right project and design for you. The giver wants it to be something special that is specific just for you. Often this takes hours of research and thought to find the right design and colors. A handmade gift is NOT an afterthought.
Next, the materials must be assembled. Sometimes they are easily found but other projects like quilts require that the designs are drawn, yardage is figured and fabric is ordered and purchased. Again, this can take many hours and quite a bit of expense. Based on the size of the quilt a conservative estimate of the supplies alone is at least $125.
Then the actual project begins to be made. Depending on what the object is this could take a few hours to several weeks. What you need to know and remember is that the giver is willing to give up this much of their life for you….to make something special for you! And while they are making it they are often thinking of you and the fun times you have had together. Again, in the case of a quilt a conservative estimate for an small quilt is 25-30 hours.
So when you consider the time plus the cost of supplies that goes into a handmade gift you begin to see the real value. It would be so much easier for the giver to go online to Amazon or Walmart and order a cheaply made object that would cost less in money and time. But because they obviously love and care for you they gave you their time and made you something that is one of a kind…just like you!
So this holiday season when you receive a special handmade gift from your creative family and friends whether it’s a quilted banner, knitted mittens or crocheted sweater or scarf or a painting, a table runner, a wooden bowl, a pottery mug, etc. be grateful to the person who cares enough for you to give you hours of their time and thought to make something special just for you! Be grateful for something handmade!
Merry “Handmade” Christmas!
The Cutest Snowmen
Posted in Holidays, Paint Party, tagged snowman on December 22, 2023| Leave a Comment »
Could these Snowmen be any cuter???!!! We think NOT! They are just adorable. Everyone did great and we especially enjoyed having our guests from Brazil with us last night.
Family & Friends with Highland Cows
Posted in Animals, Holidays, Paint Party, tagged Highland Cow, holiday, private party on December 18, 2023| Leave a Comment »
Yesterday we had a private party with family and friends painting the highland cow. Everyone did an awesome job and they all chose different embellishments from Christmas lights to Santa hats to mistletoe to wreaths to a daily in it’s hair. So much creativity! Great job everyone. Merry Christmas!
Beautiful Blue Poinsettias
Posted in Flowers, Holidays, Paint Party on December 17, 2023| Leave a Comment »
Yesterday we had two of our favorite painters, Kelly and Susan, return to The Studio to paint along with four new painters creating blue poinsettias. They did awesome work. These will look amazing decorating their homes this holiday season. Just one more Paint Party this year. Are you registered for it? Check it out here.