New Life for Old Piece

Inspired by the kitchen re-do I decided to get serious about perking up the dining room. I needed a piece of furniture that would hold napkins, candles, etc., plus store all that "stuff" on the kitchen counter that served as my desk- files, pencils and pens, envelopes and such.
As luck would have it I found the perfect piece in a little clothes/used furniture shop in town. It didn't look like much at first glance, but I saw POTENTIAL!!
Here are 2 shots just as I started to sand off the varnish on the veneer. Fortunately the thin veneer was over good hard wood. The grooved details were a little tricky to clean out but I persevered.

Voila! I used semi-gloss red paint from another project to paint sides and polyurethened the top (even though it is a veneer it was well done with a good wood base so it almost looks solid). The knobs are recycled from my old kitchen - I love them.

This piece is absolutely perfect in our dining area- the drawers hold all that office-type stuff, appliance manuals, placemats, etc. and one cabinet holds a wine rack and the other some vertical files. The top is a great space for displaying favorite pottery and other treasures. I love the color contrasts between the red cabinet, yellow wall, and teal stairway behind.

Husky Hugging in Maine

In early February I had the honor and pleasure of accompanying my friend Lidia on a mushing weekend. She was competing in a 30-mile race in Greenville, Maine, with her team of freight dogs (not the small Siberians but BIG dogs - 8 of them!). My starting assignment was to be the "husky hugger" but I was able to learn the routine of taking dogs in and out of the truck, feeding and caring, etc, so I was promoted to assistant handler :)
It was an all around great weekend meeting wonderful fellow mushers, getting to know Lidia's dogs, and learning more about her passion. And the 5-hour long trip each way was filled with conversation, yummy treats, and laughs.

The best part of the weekend was being trusted to take the dogs into the starting shute and hold them until "take-off" and then meeting them at the finish to lead them back to the truck. The photo above made it into the Bangor newspaper!

Here's the team crossing the finish line, ready to go another 30 miles!
Check out more photos and details at Lidia's mushing blog  Angels in Fur Coats

Where or Where Have I Been?

Whoa, a whole month has gone by with no news. Crashed laptop + major kitchen renovation + lots going on at work = no blogging. I got so used to the convenience of sitting at my kitchen counter to write that any other computing options (like the PC on the third floor loft) just didn't work for me. Still waiting on the laptop recovery, but will try to provide updates on my projects.

A major goal this year was to focus on the home, making it more soul-full and welcoming. Well, the kitchen re-do was a huge step in that direction. Out went the laminated cabinets and countertops, circa 1980, and in came beautiful natural oak cabinets and granite countertops. The new goes so well with the old we kept- lovely mexican tile backsplash, butcherblock peninsula and quarry tile floor. And I have tons more storage, pull out shelves, drawers galore - yahoo! I've been cooking up a storm with new and favorite recipes from Smitten Kitchen and Vegetarian Times websites.

It took 2.5 weeks from demolition to completion - no glitches, no major problems. Really good vibes in this heart of my home.

I'm Smitten!

Elizabeth sent me a bean soup recipe from the Smitten Kitchen, and now I'm hooked! I signed right up for updates and have not been disappointed with the great photos, yummy dishes, and upbeat writing by Deb. Even though she isn't vegan, many of her dishes are, or can be easily adapted by me. Here's my first try at her Smashed Chickpea Salad/Sandwich Spread. The lemon and olive oil give a fresh zing, a nice change from my usual vinagrette.

As I'm stuck at home during a rain/ice storm I had to use what was on hand, so I used dehydrated parley and my new best friend, dried red bell pepper flakes from Penzeys Spices. I confess, fresh parsley enhance this salad, but I actually like the dried red pepper add  a sweet/hot touch. The red pepper is my tweaking of the recipe as I'm using this dish as a salad not for sandwiches (Deb suggested garlicky pickled red peppers as a sandwich addition).
Easy dish, delish, a new favorite!

Embrace the Winter Season

It would be so easy to hunker down and "suffer" through the winter months - stay inside, complain about the cold, wish I was somewhere warm. But a better way is to embrace the season with friends. Here we are out for a ladies walk in the woods. Lots of laughs as we did a little slipping and sliding, and the exercise and comraderie put us all in good moods.

What goes down must go up,

 then down again as we navigated a small stream. Yahoo - no one fell in!

What a treat at the end to find a welcoming snowman made by other hearty souls!
So, bundle up, go outside, and then enjoy that cup of something warm on your return, gathered around the fire with great friends.

Weekend Projects- Satisfaction!

It doesn't look very glamorous and "arty" but I dug in and cleaned out the storage space off my sewing studio. Check out the before and after- here is my new, lean and mean storage area.

Where did it all go? Well, 2 huge bags went to the dumpster and a large cardboard box filled with paper went to recycling; another box full lots of pillows, unused frames, a flagpole, and odds 'n ends is headed to our local charity shop while a laundry basket full of paints, canvas, brushes, etc. is headed to my "wet" studio in a diffferent location; two plastic crates will serve me well in my office at Squam Art Workshops- perfect to file all those registrations that will be coming in February. I actually have some unused space on one shelf, and the toilet and shower are now accessible.

 I was surprised that it only took half a day to do (lesson learned- don't procrastinate on the nasty jobs), but amazed at what I had saved and buried....half-finished projects, bits and pieces of batting and fabric too small to really be of any use...and what I found, like a glue gun with lots of sticks that I didn't even remember having!
Ahh, such satisfaction to complete a project so early in 2010 - let's here it for "De-Clutter"!

Can This Space Be Saved?!?

A lot of bloggers are choosing a word for the year - Kathy picked "Delicious" and Mary Beth chose "Spread" ....well, my word would be "Clutter" or rather "De-Clutter"!
Since summer I've been struck by urge to clean out, pare down, simplify my home and space. I've cleaned closets, sorted through the cupboards in my kitchen, tried to organize the paper that comes into the house via the mail (letting magazine subscriptions lapse, shifting to automatic bills and statements, recycling catalogs immediately). But one area I have neglected is my sewing space. I've just kept piling up the stuff until it has overwhelmed me.

Well, thanks to a challenge in the January AARP magazine, I'm ready to tackle this black hole.

What you see is a small bathroom/closet on our third floor that has become my storage area- you may just be able to make out the toilet under a pile of burlap and stuffing! And see the 3 layers of plastic bins blocking the shower?

We don't use this bathroom unless overflowing with company so ....well....I kinda took it over.
So, stay tuned for a makeover which no doubt will entail lots of trips to the trash bin and secnd hand shop.

OK, OK, I'm back.....

Dropped off the blogasphere while battling a wicked cold, so nothing interesting to report except that night cough syrup works- for about 4 hours - and watch the ingredients lists of multiple products as many have acetamitophen and you DON'T want to take too much of that! Pleased to report that I'm on the mend and hope to be back with some news soon. Happy New Year to all, Peg

Diane's Fudge Cookies with a Peppermint Twist!

In preparation for a Cookie Exchange party I dug out some of my favorite standbys.  About 30 years ago my friend Diane gave me her recipe for the BEST FUDGE COOKIES ever! I've made them over and over again, and they are always a big hit.  Super easy, with minimal cleanup due to mixing in a pan and baking on aluminum foil, and you can even safely nibble on the dough as there are no eggs. This recipe makes approximately 2 dozen:
Di's Fudge Cookies
Preheat oven to 350'. Melt 1/2 stick butter and 12 oz package of semi-sweet chocolate chips over medium heat in a heavy fry pan (don't skimp on quality here-use real butter and Ghiradelli or better chips), stirring to mix well until smooth. Turn off the heat and mix in 1 cup white flour, 1 can sweetened condensed milk and 1 tsp vanilla. Optional to add chopped nuts at this stage. Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil and drop 1 heaping teaspoon of dough for each cookie. As these cookies do not spread much you can postion them closer together than other cookie doughs. Bake 7-10 minutes- do not overbake!! For Christmas this year my variation was to add a peppermint candy to the center of each cookie before baking. These are soft and chewy and oh, so good.

SUPER EASY TOFFEE:  Another fun, nostalgic recipe with just a few ingredients is this one for TOFFEE: Place approx 35 saltine crackers in a single layer on a large cookie sheet that is lightly greased. In a small saucepan melt 1 stick of buttler and 2/3 cup of brown sugar and bring to a boil. Pour over the crackers (I spooned a little over each cracker then spread this around with the back of the spoon). Bake in 350' oven for 7 minutes-watch closely to keep sugar from burning. Sprinkle on 12 oz of chocolate chips, put the cookie sheet back in oven for 1 minute to melt the chips, then spread them around to cover all of the crackers. Sprinkle on about 1 to 1.5 cups of chopped nuts-I used pecans. Chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour (no more), then break apart into serving pieces. Doesn't this sound like an old-fashion 50's style recipe- you know, from the Campbell soup era? This is real comfort food, and  great emergency recipe for when you need something easy and fast, and other than the hot sugar-butter stage, a good one to make with children.
No wonder I gain 5 lbs at the holidays!

                                       HAPPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL!

A Spiced-Up Christmas

Between the cold weather coming in and the holidays approaching I decided to get cozy in the kitchen and make up some gifts for friends. What better way to spend a snowy Sunday afternoon! Gathering my packs of spices from Penzeys I set to mixing up some Berbere Spice Mix, a wonderful blend of 9 delicious and aromatic elements: cardamon, coriander, cinnamon, allspice, cloves, tumeric, fenugreek, paprika, nutmeg, plus a little cayenne and black pepper.                               

Four ounces of each filled my biggest mixing bowl so I'm madly searching for small jars and expanding my list of recipients! Each jar comes with a card listing the ingredients and a recipe for Ethiopian Inspired Red Lentil Soup from Susan V's Fat Free Vegan website- love her recipes!                              

                                                                                                        

I cut 6" squares of fabric to decorate the jar tops, and put then in small gift bags covered with fabric (wonderunder fused-yes you can do this on paper!).  Ribbons secured the gift card with recipe information.

My kitchen smelled sooooo good! And my friends will have a healthy holiday gift to get them started on their New Year's resolutions to eat better.

Cloth, Paper, Scissors and Me!

I'm so excited to share the news that my August submission to Cloth, paper, Scissors STUDIOS magazine has been published in the Winter 2009 edition! Elizabeth MacCrellish of Squam Art Workshops encouraged me and helped with the photos, so many thanks there. I wanted to show what could be done in a very small space (6'x12') as so many studios featured are larger than many of us can manage. Laurie Coyle's little red bird is seen in 3 photos, and one of my favorite books, a gift from Mary Aarons at Craftside is front and center on my desk. I love being surrounded by my many treasures and can't wait to get cozy in it again this winter.

Back in the Game of Blogging!

Well, I'm back! What wonderful experiences I had this past month globetrotting to see my girls. I just spent the morning catching up on my favorite blogs and decided I'd better get back to my own. I uploaded all my photos to Shutterfly so I won't overwhelm you with them, but here are just a few of my favorites from China.
On my first day in China there was a snow storm! Newspapers reported that the government had seeded the clouds to bring rain due to a bad drought, but cold temps produced several inches of snow instead.

I felt very brave venturing out on my own, taking the very-easy-to-use subway to the Forbidden City and Tiannemen Square. I visited a beautiful and tranquil garden just before entering with the masses.

A side trip from Shanghai took us to a beautiful canal town of TongLi. We wandered the alleyways, stopping in at lovely gardens, watching people go about their day. It was cold and rainy, so lunch at a small noodle shop was a warm respite.
Now it's back to the piles of mail, suitcase to unpack, errands to run as I re-enter life back home.

Follow My Adventures !

FYI: I'm posting photos and short logs of my travels in Turkey and China at
www.turkeyandchina2009.shutterfly.com open access
Visit me there for more news and views. Photo here is Galata Tower built by the Genoese in the mid-14th century.

4,000 Miles for a Hug

It's been over a year since our daughter Sarah left for the Peace Corps in Central Asia. This week we were able to pull off our one and only visit during her 27-month commitment with a rendezvous in Istanbul, Turkey. How wonderful to be able to hug her again! And what a treat to be in this city for 8 days. All the adjectives are true- exotic, colorful, bustling, crowded, and a shoppers paradise.
We've mixed little adventures with lots of down time to just sit and visit. Rick Steve's Istanbul book has been an invaluable help in getting around and feeling comfortable. We rented an apartment from Istanbul Holiday Apartments in a perfect location on a small alleyway filled with little shops, cafes and local color. We are a short tram ride away from the Blue Mosque (see photo above), Hagia Sophia and other sites in the Old Town across the Golden Horn. Our 1885 building is next door to a small mosque so we awake every morning to the call to prayer.
Trip Highlight: Sarah's host family planned a business trip here at the same time so they could meet us. What an honor to meet Chary (Dad), Towshun (Mom, and Kemal (little brother).

Just What I Needed!

The Universe knows just what I need-how can I doubt it? On a trip to Borders, after I picked up the gifts I was after, I was aimlessly wandering around. One part of my brain said, "Get a coffee or leave" and the other asked "What am I looking for?" I turned, and there right by me was Gretchen, a cabin-mate from Squam! We had a mini-reunion, caught up on our lives, gave hugs, and both were cheered by the chance (oh, yeah?) meeting. Gretchen, a fabulous photographer, took this shot. Great picture of both of us, and what a great example of vanishing point! And this meeting sparked a whole re-connecting with the other Eldorado Eleven online. Gotta love the internet for keeping friends together. FYI-check out Gretchen's artwork at www.winterharborpress.com. Her paintings are like stories without words. Each time I look at one I see a new treasure.

Finding Solace in Everday Beauty

Heart aching, feeling overwhelmed trying to make decisions for an ill and aging parent. Feeling so alone and missing the loving, capable mother, the artistic soul who took up quilting at age 80, still pushing herself to have something in her hands to work on even though it is so hard now. And then I recalled Jenny Doh's talk at Squam about making something from nothing and using creativity to help yourself through hard times. But, no time to start a project even if I had one in my heart. What to do?
I decided to give myself one hour to walk around my home and really look at the beauty in the everyday, what I was too busy to see as I rushed here and there. And what beauty I found!
I never noticed the extra - ordinary fungus growing on a tree stump just off my driveway.

And the fall leaves came in so many shades and variations of red and yellow. I decided to gather some glorious red ones and make a heart to send my love to my mom so far away right now.

One Hour, just looking around me, just being present.

I'm So Lucky!

The last morning at Squam a few of us woke up early just before sunrise, ran out onto the dock in our socks and jammies and stood in awe of the sight around us- mist rising off the water, clouds above the distant hills, the glow of the rising sun expanding. There was a reverent silence as we watched the day begin.
I am so lucky to live in this beautiful place where I can have these moments often. I need to remember this when life gets busy, I'm feeling stressed about getting things done, hurrying on to the next task. Stop, breathe, look around, be present, say "thank you" for my life.

The After Glow-Life after Squam

A week's gone by since I returned from Squam Art Workshops-September edition. My classes exceeded my expectations. Eventhough I've made lots of books the Book a Day class with Christine Mason Miller and Marisa Haedike gave me some new tricks (including the new "MM" -Mason Miller-way to easily bind multiple sections). My memory book about my grandmother is a new treasure. I felt her great love all the while I worked on it.

And Mary Beth Shaw's class was just the right activity for the last class when we were all a little tired- kind of like finger painting in kindergarten. Again, I've done lots of paste painting but her take on it was entirely new and I came home with a stack of paper to use for book covers and face pages.

Sarah Ahearn's class Text and Image was so good for me as she encouraged us to use a wide variety of materials and techniques. She had a terrific class activity that took us out of our comfort zones. My "P" piece was the class activity- chalk pastels are my new find! The One True Love piece uses another photo of my grandparents on their honeymoon in 1927-sigh....


And my cabin mates? The best! We laughed, shared our lives, drank wine well into the night, then met up in front of the fire for early morning coffee to gear up for the day. It was show-and-tell at night as the eleven of us took a wide variety of classes. Mary Beth was a fabulous roommate in Eldorado- the little sister I always wanted!
And can I just say that having Jenny Doh as a cabin-mate was a true pleasure and honor. She IS the person behind the welcoming letters in Somerset magazines, a champion for all of us trying to live more creative lives.

Here's me with little sis MB :)

Countdown to Squam Art Workshops!

Just 13 days to go until the fall Squam Art Workshops. I feel so blessed to be going AGAIN! June classes were terrific, my cabin-mates were the best.
This time I'm in a larger cabin with 12 other soon-to-be new friends. We are right on the water with a wonderful porch looking off across the lake. I'm already imagining early morning coffee on the dock, late nights on the porch listening to the loons calling out to each other.
And oh my, my classes! I start off with A BOOK A DAY with Marisa Haedike and Christine Mason Miller, using long cherished photos of my beloved grandmother as inspiration. I met both teachers in June and am really looking forward to this class. Then on Thursday it's TEXT & IMAGE with Sarah Ahearn-I love her work!! Saturday morning I'm working with Helene Finizio in CONNECTING WITH YOUR ESSENCE-I'm so ready for this one! In the afternoon I'll be with Marybeth Shaw in NOT YO' MAMA'S PASTE PAPER. I've done paste paper before (self-taught) but know I'll learn new techniques and approaches, plus it is so much fun, like finger painting in kinderarten. And on Saturday night I'll be at the ART FAIR with my handmade books and journals.
I live nearby Rockywold-Deephaven Camps and have been there several times this summer already visiting friends so I can tell you that SAW has a glowing reputation there. They are ready and waiting for our return!

Postcards from New York

I've just finished making these postcard journals for a friend - a great project to use all those postcards from trips and collected at art fairs. These pocket-sized journals make terrific gifts. I reinforced the spine edges with cardstock, then bound the covers and page sections together using a coptic style stitch. I love the look of chain stitches across the spine.
I couldn't resist snapping a photo of these fun sock toys at FAO Scwartz in NYC. They were the best thing I saw there. To be honest, I was a little disappointed in the displays- too much of the same style of media-driven toys from movies, games, or TV. Even the books all looked the same- same style illustrations, binding, size, content. I didn't see much to inspire imagination in children.
I just had to take this photo in Central Park! The pidgeons were quite at ease eating out the feedbucket with the carriage horse.