Focaccia and Picnik

Vintage Focaccia with picnik.com

Here is another picture I altered on picnik.com. I used the vintage option because the stone bakeware and cutting board reminded me of the 60's. But the best part is the recipe from Martha Stewart, that I use for my FOCACCIA bread. I have been using this same recipe for many years and love it.  It's also great for pizza crusts. The only changes I've made over the last couple of years is I use

ROBIN HOOD'S BEST FOR BREAD flours.

And Since my family does not want to eat any white bread these days, I found using the Whole Wheat variety very successful. The wonderful thing about this flour is it always rises. I'm not sure about the science of it, but it is different than your typical flours (t's on my list of things to read up on).

Robin Hood best for bread whole wheat

Here's the recipe.............

FOCACCIA

recipe from marthastewart.com

Ingredients

• 1 pinch sugar
• 2 3/4 cups warm water, 100 degrees to 110 degrees
• 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for bowl, baking sheet, and drizzling
• 6 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon coarse salt, plus more for sprinkling
• Fresh rosemary (optional)

Directions

1. In a large bowl, stir sugar into 1/4 cup of the water, and sprinkle in yeast. Stir well; let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
2. Add remaining 2 1/2 cups water and the olive oil, and mix well. Add flour a cup at a time, mixing well. Add salt, and knead dough until smooth and elastic, 4 to 5 minutes in an electric mixer fitted with a dough-hook attachment, or 8 to 10 minutes by hand.
3. Form dough into a ball, and place in a lightly oiled bowl. Cover with plastic wrap, and let rise at room temperature until doubled in bulk, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
4. Spread dough evenly onto an oiled baking sheet. Cover with a damp towel, and let rise for 30 minutes.
5. Dimple surface of dough with your fingertips, leaving deep indentations. Cover with towel again, and let rise until doubled, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
6. Heat oven to 425 degrees. Drizzle oil on top of dough, allowing dimples to fill. Gently spread oil over surface without deflating dough. Brush lightly with water, then sprinkle with salt and rosemary, if desired.
7. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from oven, and slide onto a wire rack. Serve as soon as possible.
   Enjoy!
   
   

Summer Break and Restful Nights

Charcoal sketch edited with picnik.com

Since my "Art in the Park" art fair ended, I have been on an extended vacation of sorts. No real concrete comittments until the fall (I'll chat about that later), only fun and optional ones for the summer. So that gives me some free time to explore a few new thingamajigs roaming around in the universe. One being, the photo editing site picnik.com.  It's a really cool and powerful site with a lot of free photo editing tools with the option of paying a monthly fee to expand those tools.

My first attempt was this charcoal sketch I did a while back. Here it is in it's original state.....

Original charcoal sketch

I know this site has been around for quite awhile, but I just never seemed to have the time (or really knew what it was) to explore it.

BUT NOW......

oh no!  I already spend too much time on the internet...now this! 

I really need to make a daily plan.....

that's what my dear husband says anyhow

 I think he is right and I actually have put it on my to do list 

(somewhere, kinda right in the middle). 

I will do it because I know I need too, especially now without the commitment of that day job I quit back in November 2010

(that's another story). 

Anyhow, I wanted to share this with you all just in case you haven't heard about it and have been wanting to do some editing on your photos but didn't know how to go about it. 

And me, well I am just happy I discovered this "fabulous photo editing tool" so I can manipulate some of the sketches and paintings I have done to use in my jewelry and sewing projects.

I hope you are enjoying a 

restful

 creative

 and 

eventful 

summer.

Practice Run

my new favourite stamp "What I love today"
for a crocheted bracelet

I thought I better do a bit of a practice run today. I was having a bit of anxiety wondering how I was going to set up for an out door show, only having done it one other time about 10 years ago and not remembering much about it. It really did help. 

Nice Dirt bike in the background, eh!   :)

My Pink Stuff

Still have some tweeking to do (like putting on a bit of spray paint on the ugly gold shelve I bought at a flea market) but it seems to be all coming together.

Ugly gold shelf

I've officially stopped crafting today..... Cut myself off..... Done......Two more days to make lists and gather up all the necessary items........can't forget change. I keep having nightmares about that. Weird!

few little crocheted gadget bags

It's so nice having my mom (nana) here visiting again. She's one of  my biggest fans! She loves everything I make, even if she's not sure what it is, hehe!

Thanks mommsy!!!

Count Down

Cards for Art in the Park

It's official, count down starts today. Ten days till "Art in the Park" an outdoor arts and crafts sale that I will be in. I have been busy working for the last couple of months, in between grad stuff, gardening, and of course just life in general. So of course, I have not come anywhere near what I wanted to accomplish by now, but alas, there is ten days left.

I think my biggest problem is staying focused. I tend to be scattered all over the place, with a brain full and swarming with ideas. Oh my....I think I am the best re-grouper ever. I must do it 20 times a day.

Magnet is attached to the card

I love making these cards

Tomorrow I will finish up the necklaces and earrings I've working on, then on to some more sewing.

Bottle Cap Earings

She's not so scary when she's on your ears..really

My little fairy necklaces

I have been neglecting my poor little purses and I must give them some attention. "Hold on little ones, I will see you on day 8."

a little clutch

Babies No More

Well the time has come for my last child to graduate from high school. Like so many parents have said before "Where does the time go" I now find myself echoing the phrase. 

Where does it go......... it goes way too fast that's what! 

My husband, Bob and I have been blessed with three wonderful children and I thank God for them everyday. 

Ali, 25, Megan, 22, and last but not least, my baby,  Liam, 18  is ready to set forth in the world.

 My wish for him is 

Happiness and Health and to 

laugh at least a dozen times everyday!

District Honors Night

Fairies, Fairies, and More Fairies

I had such a fun couple of

 days creating some Fairy necklace and earring sets for my 

niece Alana. 

They are for her older dance students who have 

helped out with the little dancers 

while they are getting ready for their production of 

Peter Pan. 

Alana owns a dance studio that has about 

120 dancers. 

I really liked how they turned out and have decided to do a few sets for the

 Art sale I will be participating in on July 1.

Fairies in a row

Packaged and ready to mail

It's starting to look like a factory here at the 

little house on Tuxford Drive.

I have not been doing a very good job of staying focused. 

My head is swarming with ideas..... 

scrabbling with frenzy to jump out, after being harnessed

for the last 5 years.

I will indulge myself for another week

 of artistic craziness, 

then I will put it all into a somewhat organized endeavor.

Here's some pictures of a few new purses 

I put together last week.

 I'm still working out a few of the kinks, but I'm getting close.

5 x 10 inches with velvet shoulder strap

Inside of Clutch

Clutch about 4 x 9 inches with wrist strap

And last and most important of all

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

to all you wonderful 

mother's!!!

XOXOXO

My wonderful Mom
Happy Mother's Day!
xoxo