Etsy Freethinkers

Variety is the Spice

2011-12-18T22:36:00.000-05:00

CLICK HERE TO GO TO INTERACTIVE TREASURY PAGE.

Holidays Gifts

2011-12-16T00:55:00.000-05:00

If you are looking for something for a special friend or family member, you have come to the right place. Just click on the images on both sides of this blog and you will be taken right to the Etsy shop of your choice to see a large and varied selection of wonderful things. Go ahead... give a click.

All Creatures Great and Small - an Etsy Treasury

2011-11-16T21:56:00.002-05:00

Click on picture to go to interactive Treasury page.

Treasury created by spongetta.

A Tour of Fall Foliage

2011-11-15T09:19:00.001-05:00

A last hurrah before the first snow! A street in Delavan, WI, mid November.

The Recipe Corner - Homemade Applesauce

2011-11-13T00:35:00.001-05:00

Sometimes the best things in life are the simplest. For years my grandmother and I made this together every fall.

Peck of apples (preferably Cortlands)
1/2 cup of water
Pinch of cinnamon

Quarter, core and slice apples into heavy bottomed pot. Pour in water and bring to boil, turn down and simmer until all are mushy. Run through the larger blades on a food mill discarding the peels. The pink color comes naturally. Add cinnamon if desired. Will keep up to a week in the fridge and freezes well so you can make it now and enjoy it for Thanksgiving.

Recipe compliments of Spongetta.

The Recipe Corner

2011-11-11T17:07:00.002-05:00

Garlic with a Side of Chicken
(adapted from a recipe in Everyday Food that I have long since lost, so it may not resemble it anyway)

1 or 2 heads of garlic, smashed, peeled, and coarsely chopped
1/2 cup olive oil
Lemon sliced into rounds
8-10 skinned chicken thighs
Fresh chopped tarragon (parsley and basil work well too)

Heat garlic in pot with olive oil. Bring to bubbling then simmer 10 minutes. Allow to cool. Toss oil with chicken, lemon and herbs. Season with salt and pepper. Let sit a half hour. Heat oven to 400. Dump chicken mixture into a roasting pan and bake until cooked through, turning once, about 40 minutes.

A great entree for even the most picky eater.

Recipe compliments of Spongetta.

A Tour of Fall Foliage

2011-11-09T21:09:00.000-05:00

Blue sky, yellow leaves and all wrapped in sunlight: the perfect Autumn day Long Island. This was taken in Rockville Center, New York, a town about three miles from mine.

2011-11-06T10:46:00.000-05:00

Our member, ClayImages, was feature on the Creative Sprinkle blog this week. Follow this link to read about her and what she does.

Terra Nova at the Racine Art Museum

2011-11-05T21:59:00.002-04:00

Living in Wisconsin has its perks. Not only do we have wonderful fall foliage, but the Racine Art Museum is within driving distance for me. My husband and I took a day trip on ouranniversary. It was well worth it.

The museum is a very modernsleek building full of light near Lake Michigan right on Main Street.Two other exhibits downstairs were also very inviting and interesting,but my goal was the upstairs. This is going to be a very subjectiveaccount of my impression of the Terra Nova exhibit and not meant to be an artcriticism in any way. For those not familiar, Terra Nova is the first exhibit of its kind solely dedicated to the art and craft of polymer clay.

Even though the square footage wasrelatively small, the architecture was light and airy. This made theroom seem very spacious. We spent about three hours all in all (with alunch break) and I still did not want to leave. It was a spectacularexperience. With only three other art lovers in the building, we hadthe playground to ourselves.

Entering from the elevator side, tothe right and counter clockwise the show started out with the furnituredisplay by Bishoff and Syron. This work was new to me and gave a wholenew meaning to the word "veneer". The "do not touch" sign had to beignored for a split second.

Thework of a chosen group of featured artists called "boundary breakers"was displayed in several show cases in the middle of the u-shaped roomand on the walls. Supplemented with that, there were showcases and walldisplays with one or two pieces by other artists from the museum's ownand private collections.

It was absolutely spectacular to seeworks of so many wonderful artists in person. Even the best photographyI have seen does not do them justice. The depth and the texture, thescale and the dimensionality cannot be conveyed in photos. The layersand shiny finish of Dustin's purses (not to be touched behind glass),the matte sheen of Dever's installations, the tiny detail in many ofthe beads and mosaics, the contrast of colors and textures, all thiswas a feast to behold.

Naturally, I have my favorites andpreferences which will be different for every visitor, and there iscertainly something for every taste. Some pieces I found a bit over thetop but I certainly could appreciate them as art in their own right.Some work I simply did not understand. For example, I am not sure whyPC would be the medium of choice in a picture which could just as wellbe painted. The exhibit certainly served its function of attempting toexpand my horizon.

Some of the smaller pieces like brooches wereespecially appealing to me because of their simpler shapes and focus onsurface treatment - I find less is often more. Meanwhile, I would haveliked to have seen a little less jewelry (there were so manynecklaces!) and more sculptural work. I found the choice of artists abit arbitrary and was missing some boundary breaking names I thinkshould have been in the collection. I also wished I could have seenmore work of those who only had one or two pieces represented. It mustbe hard to be a curator.

I learned how refined PC can be, andhow the attention to the smallest detail is of the essence. I learnedeven more how free and boundless the medium is, how it can be combinedwith other materials, how it can be whimsical or serious, gaudy orprecious, and most of all unexpected.

If you can't make it to Racine, I do recommend to get the book.

The Author Berit Hines has a BfA in Ceramics from the Royal Academy of Art andDesign in 's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands. She has written articleson Ceramics in several publications Europe in the 1980's. She hasworked with Polymer Clay for a little over two years.

Berit's Polymer Clay on Etsy

RAM

A Tour of Fall Foliage

2011-11-05T18:50:00.001-04:00

November in Vermont brought 16 inches of snow!

Green River Covered Bridge, Guilford, Vermont

River Road, Guilford, Vermont

A tour of the fall foilage!

2011-11-05T17:53:00.004-04:00

November in New York!

Happy Halloween to all the Bats and Belles Free (with nods to Walt Kelly)

2011-10-26T02:03:00.012-04:00

Fuschia Moon Cat by Chatnoirstudios.etsy.com

There was some discussion on etsy about the use of the phrase "With Bated breath". Do you use the correct word bated, or the common word baited, did any of this have anything to do with the original conversation, does any of this give you more sales and really who cares?
That and this lovely soft sculpture creation by ChatNoirStudios inspired the following bit of nonsense.

I baited my breath
to attract the bats
to move into the belfry
along with the cats.

My breath has abated
my brain has been batted
The belfry is scented
with an aroma that's catted.

GOOOOO MARMOTS!

With love,
Kristi Smart

An Etsy Treasury with our member TrueNatureYoga

2011-10-24T15:30:00.000-04:00

Click on Treasury to go to shops.

Red Onyx Wrist Mala by TrueNatureYoga

2011-10-21T16:44:00.000-04:00

15 Vibrant Red Onyx gemstones strung on elastic beading cord finished off with a focal bead of black and cream color. The Onyx are approximately 10mm in size and the focal bead is 3/4 of an inch long. The mala is about 8 inches around and will fit comfortably on 7 - 8 inch wrist.

Onyx is a protective stone that repels negative energy. As with all of my items it is strung with mindfulness and metta loving kindness!

Lunch in NYC

2011-10-14T22:25:00.000-04:00

I had the pleasure of having lunch with tofunutloaf, creator of the 'bots and the monsters, and her husband, Bob, in NYC. She had the stars of her movies with her and would you believe it, I forgot to ask for autographs.

Tuesday Tinker- Zephi

2011-09-27T20:47:00.000-04:00

The Girl Who Leapt,

"Over time I have come to realize that art is more than just what makes us different from other creatures. Art is a human right. Something we all need, just like food and water. It is nourishing. I want you to be nourished by my artwork."

To enter Zephi's artful world, visit her Esty shop! You will enter a place of peace, thought, curiosity, and magically soft colors and images. Just like Zephi, the sentiment is elegantly and beautifully simple, pure of heart and a with a witty sense of humor.

The Sunday Supplement - Artful Giving

2011-09-25T23:11:00.003-04:00

Many artists on Etsy donate part of their proceeds to a charity that touches their hearts or supports a cause they believe in. Several of our Freethinkers team members have done the same!

TrueNatureYoga donates part of her proceeds to an organization called YogaHOPE. This organization was "created to facilitate access to yoga and meditation education specifically for women experiencing debilitating life transitions – those establishing independence from domestic violence, self-sufficiency from homelessness, recovery from drug addiction, or rehabilitation after mental illness." Learn more about their mission and ways you can help by visiting www.yogahope.org.

Zephi contributes 5% of her shops earnings each year to a different organization. This year she has chosen to donate to the Heroic Imagination Project (HIP). It is a program to help youngsters learn what it takes to be a normal person doing extraordinary things to help others. Get HIP and check out all the wonderful projects currently in the works at www.heroicimagination.org.

GoodOldBooks donates 50% of her shops proceeds to Doctors Without Borders and Heifer International. Both of these organizations are doing amazing work to provide medical care and economic sustainability in impoverished countries around the world. Check out these causes at www.doctorswithoutborders.org and www.heifer.org.

Somalia - Doctors Without Borders

Heifer International -Bringing an end to world hunger.

What could be better? Artists supporting others through their most beloved craft!
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Sunday Supplement -Remembering 9/11

2011-09-11T11:40:00.003-04:00

We all remember where we were that day. Each of us in the middle of a tasks when someone told us to turn on the TV. We collectively, as a nation and a world, watched as events unfolded before our eyes. Surely this isn't real. Surely something this horrific cannot be happening. But it was.

We spent the rest of that day glued to the TV screen, watching scenes that would haunt our dreams and waking hours for a long time to come. We watched the TV screen to feel connected to a nation that was hurting and numb. We called our loved ones to hear their voices and make sure they were ok, even if they lived no where near NYC, DC or on flight 93. All of us woke the next day to a changed world.

This day, an amazing 10 years later, our hearts hurt once again for the families who lost their loved ones on that tragic day. Our hearts hurt for a world that is less trusting and more fearful. Today we cry fresh tears for old wounds.

In whatever way you choose to commemorate this day, whether by watching all the memorial coverage on TV, spending time with loved ones, or quietly sending up a prayer for our world, do remember the heroism shown that day, the coming together of communities across America, the collective tenderness we treated strangers with for the days following, the increased patriotism, the hundreds of thousands of men and women who serve our country everyday, and most especially, the souls that paid the ultimate sacrifice on this day, with their lives.

For the families, the firefighters, the rescue workers, those in the towers, pentagon, and planes, our nation, our world.

Tuesday Tinker - beachcomberscove

2011-09-06T11:43:00.001-04:00

Beachcomberscove lives on the shore of the Gulf of Mexico from which she draws her inspiration. Besides prints of her art work, she also makes cards and jewelry.

Visit her shop and see her many creations.

The Sunday Supplement - On Location with Our Next Tuesday Tinker -Beachcombers Cove

2011-09-04T10:24:00.002-04:00

Many of our team members take their Etsy shop on the road to local Arts and Crafts shows. Many times they report back to the team that they had a great show, sold a good number of items, and made some new friends. Other times they brings reports of slow sales, sunburns, weird neighboring vendors and exhaustion. With it's 50/50 chance of being great or really stinking, what keeps them going back for more? For some it seeing customers eyes light up when they really like their work, having a face to face conversation with their buyer, and building relationships within their community. For others it's a way to support a favorite cause, reach a greater audience of buyers than selling on Etsy might allow, make a larger chunk of change, and to just experience something new and different. Whatever the case may be, as a team, we all enjoy hearing about each others latest show excursions.

Beachcomberscove just completed a mini set up at the Treehouse Art Collective, in Galveston, Texas, where she is a member.

Should you not be able to get to a beach anything this summer, stop by BeachcombersCove's Etsy shop. Her marine inspired jewelry and tropical art pieces will soon have you feeling like you are walking down the beach, collecting shells, hearing the breeze, and smelling the fresh salty air!

The Tuesday Tinker - Altar Space

2011-08-30T09:47:00.000-04:00

Grow, Transform and Fly Magnets

We all have a place in our home where we keep our most precious things. It could be the crayon drawing your now grow child drew when she was three years old, it could be a favorite picture of you and your dad, it could be a knick knack you picked up on a family vacation. Altar Space has several of these spots and collections about her home, including a handmade altar table where she keeps her favorite crystals, rocks, and any other trinket that has special meaning. She tries to carry this theme of sacred and special things in her shop, hoping to allow others to find something lovely to add to their collection.

The Sunday Supplement - On Location with our next Tuesday Tinker

2011-08-27T21:59:00.002-04:00

Most of the country, and particularly those of us on the East Coast, have been glued to the coverage of hurricane Irene. We have several Etsy Freethinker Team members who live in her direct path. I, altarspace, am one of those! However, I live in Vermont, so it won't be as bad for me as for others. The whole teams thoughts and prayers go out to MarthaHorman who is really really in the direct path of Irene and deciding to ride it out. She has made good preparations and made sure she had all the beads she would need to weather the storm and complete the beading project she started. In an effort to get the Sunday Supplement created and on the web before our power goes out, I figured I would share pictures of the preparations we have made for Irene.

Water storage! We filled every container we had in the house. Don't worry, this isn't all we have, there are 6 large jugs of water on the kitchen floor. We are keeping these cold to help cool the frig when the electricity goes out.

Weather radio, lantern, flashlight. We have candles too.

Our makeshift altar, where lot's of praying is being done to protect us, our house and those we love.

We know we will lose power so we plan to spending the day making art, playing cards, and praying that the river by our house doesn't flood over it's banks, the trees behind the house don't fall on us and that the road to civilization doesn't get washed away! So while we are riding out Irene, you can visit my etsy shop for all your spiritual decoration needs. Stay tuned for aftermath pictures!

Tuesday Tinker - AuntMartha

2011-08-23T11:37:00.001-04:00

AuntMartha used to be an Antique and Collectibles dealer. When she closed her business, she just packed up her stock and put it in her basement and her attic. Now she's started to open the boxes and put the pieces up for sale in her shop. It's a good idea to check her store often because she tries to list at least one new piece a week.

The Sunday Supplement - On Location with our next Tuesday Tinker

2011-08-20T22:09:00.002-04:00

As a larger part of the country is still baking in the summer heat, we all dream of the cooler weather, colorful leaves and pumpkins of October! Our Etsy Freethinkers Team member AuntMartha, to fill our longing for fall, has shared some vacation photos she took while hiking in the Loire Valley of Central France several years ago.

The Loire River

The house on a little creek running into the Loire where they stayed

A picturesque building near the trail.

Bluebeard's Castle - apparently the man who owned this in the 15th century went
through more children than the neighbors thought was acceptable.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilles_de_Rais

Should you be interested in other items with European flair, visit AuntMartha's Etsy Shop. She has a lovely assortment of antique plates, figurines, cups and other fine haberdashery.

The Recipe Corner -Chicken and Mushroom Soup

2011-08-18T01:52:00.001-04:00

These measurements are all approximate; it's your soup - wiggle the ingredients around to suit your taste.

1 Cup Chicken Broth (I use College Inn when I don't have home-made, which is most of the time.)

1/2 cup of cooked chicken cubed or in hunks - you can use more if you want.

1 oz of uncooked pasta (I used spaghetti when I made the soup in the picture.)

1/4 cup frozen peas

1/4 cup dried mushrooms or 1/2 cup fresh mushrooms. What kind? Any kind you want. I have used Black Trumpets, oysters, portabella, morels, porcini, shiitake and chicken mushroom. You can also use those uninteresting white mushrooms that you see in every grocery store.

Basil

Olive oil

If you are using dried mushrooms, reconstitute them with boiling water to cover. Don't throw out the mushroom water; it's a good addition to the soup.

If you are using fresh mushrooms, saute them for about 5 minutes in a little olive oil and basil.

Bring broth to a boil, add basil if you are using dried mushrooms, and cook the pasta. When it is al dente, add the frozen peas, and the chicken. Bring back to a boil and add the mushrooms with the basil and oil or with the mushroom water depending on what mushrooms you are using.

Oyster mushrooms in the wild.

Serves 1.

Recipe compliments of GoodOldBooks.

Tuesday Tinker - ManicManx

2011-08-16T12:38:00.002-04:00

If you go to ManicManx's shop you will see an "On vacation" sign and none of her wonderful jackets, coats and vests. I'm here to tell you that this is not true - she's at a show! and shows are fun but they are too much work to be "vacations". She should be back by this time next week.

Go to her shop and click on the button that lets Etsy alert you when ManicManx is back. You won't be sorry.

Sunday Supplement - On Location with our Next Tuesday Tinker

2011-08-14T19:02:00.003-04:00

Our Freethinker Etsy Team is made of of lots of wonderful people, all very different, with all kinds of different views, hobbies, senses of humors, and beliefs. But the one thing we all love is a good poem or story from ManicManx. The Freethinkers Team calls her MM, the world calls her Kristi Smart, we all call her funny! This Sunday she has graced us with one of her poems about her beloved cat Henry:

I woke up this morning with a feeling of dread.
I found Henry’s rectum was glued to my head.

It wasn’t his usual choice of repose.
The artful arrangement, his torso, my nose.

I wont be surprised if I break out in a sty.
Due to new sleeping habits, his anus, my eye.

I hope he goes back to his chest, my ear.
My armpit is willing to snuggle his rear.

The first light of day is now up my cats butt.
In considering trading him in for a mutt.

I love little Henry with all of my heart.
I'm ever so grateful he cant pass a fart.

Kristi Smart

Henry, having a laugh.

We are also lucky enough to have Kristy write for our Recipe Corner, where she always has a wonderful spin on every yummy concoction. Not only is she a gifted story teller, but a gifted seamstress as well. To view her eclectic and beautiful hand made coats and vests, visit ManicManx's Etsy Shop. MM, when is your first book of poetry coming out? Stay tuned.....

Thursdays Recipe Corner

2011-08-11T15:19:00.004-04:00

Beachcomber Pasta Salad
Brought to you by Beachcobersgrove
Paintings and jewelry with a sandy point of view. Its only appropriate that the first ingredient in this recipe is shells.

1 lb pasta (sm shell)
1 handful black olives, pitted
1 c. sun-dried tomatoes in oil
1 c. broccoli crowns (firm cooked)
1 bunch fresh basil
1 c. corn/peas
1/2 red onion chopped(or green onions)
1 bottle italian dressing
Optional: parmesean cheese & bacon bits
Salt, pepper, thyme to taste

Beachcombers Cove, Your Oasis of Fun , Tropical Art

The peaceful spirit of the seahorse is represented here for your wearing pleasure. Handmade in 16g. sterling silver wire and combined with natural, bone beads, it is approximately 8" long and fastens with a handmade clasp.

Tuesday Tinker - tofunutloaf

2011-08-09T20:33:00.000-04:00

Introducing one of tofunutloaf's robots.

One might think that, with a clock on her chest, Leota would be punctual to all events. This has not proven to be the case, however.... for more details of Leota's life and problems check out tofunutloaf's store.

Sunday Supplement - On Location with Our Next Tuesday Tinker

2011-08-06T22:49:00.001-04:00

Tofunutloaf, who lives in Urbana, Illinois, might be best known to us all for creating her super creative and potentially world dominating, cute poly clay robots, but Tofu beats the summer heat by making paper in her basement!

Basement set-up, complete with new crappy blender!

"As you can see, we have kind of a functional basement. It has a low ceiling, is unheated, and floods easily, so we don't spend much time in it. It's the coolest part of the house in the summer, and making paper gives me an excuse to hang out down there, so I tend to restrict my paper making activities to heatwaves, says Tofu.

The heat hasn't been Tofu's only challenge this summer. "My old crappy blender decided to stop working altogether, so I put it out on Facebook that I needed a new crappy blender for making paper. One of my friends had one, so I picked it up the next day and finished my paper batch. I now know the true value of FB: finding used crap in a hurry."

Old crappy blender - Tofu pushing the button to no avail!

Stop by Tofunutloaf's Etsy shop and stay tuned to see the results of all this summertime paper making. In the meantime, you might find a new robot friend to spend the summer with!

Thursdays Recipe Corner

2011-08-04T17:15:00.001-04:00

Today's tasty toast recipe is brought to you by the appropriately named Tofunutloaf on etsy.com. If you are a fan of breadyness, she has a mascot for you. Meet the Burger Bott who is cute enough to eat.
And now for the eats.

Yeah, I'm writing up how to make toast. But, this was really awesome toast, and really awesome toast is not an everyday occurrence. You will not find this toast at any fancy brunch, or on a high-class continental breakfast buffet, or in any fancy breakfast spot anywhere. It can only be had by searching out (or making) the best local food around. To have this incredible toast experience, you will need:

1 thick slice of amazing bread
really good fresh goat cheese
The best honey you can muster

Toast bread. Spread with the desired amount of goat cheese, and drizzle with honey. Eat.

If you happen to be near the Greater Champaign-Urbana Metropolitan Area, and would like to experience this toast as I did, you will need:

1 thick slice Mirabelle honey walnut bread
Prairie Fruits Herbs de Provence chevre
honey from Sasse's Apiary

Toast bread. Spread with the desired amount of goat cheese, and drizzle with honey. Eat. Toast more bread, spread with goat cheese, and drizzle with honey. Eat.

Tuesday Tinker - AltheaP

2011-08-02T12:11:00.000-04:00

AltheaP, an outstanding artist, who paints with dye on silk scarves and pouches, such as the one shown here.

Check her shop to see her other wonderful creations.

Sunday Supplement - on Location with our next Tuesday Tinker

2011-07-30T21:18:00.002-04:00

Though the official heat wave of several weeks ago has passed, some of us are still in the hot grip of the summer sun. Freethinker team member, AltheaP, says that she can't really beat the heat, so she tries to deal with it all by keeping her sense of humor. On a recent excursion around her hometown of Raleigh, North Carolina, she came across a sign that made her laugh. She thought she would share it will all of us. Could there be a better reason to get our oil changed?

Need a summer hat to wear while getting that oil change? Visit AltheaP's Etsy shop where you can also find hand painted and dyed totes to take to the beach or a lovely scarf to complete your summer evening outfit!

New ETSY Treasury Featuring AUNTMARTHA

2011-07-29T16:41:00.001-04:00

For more information, just click on the item photo:

Tuesday Tinker - CircleANaturals

2011-07-26T05:00:00.030-04:00

Anne and Paul from CircleANatures specialize in making handmade natural and organic products, but in the near future will be taking the shop in a new direction.

Anne explains, "We are adding a whole new area to our shop. Vintage jewelry and vintage jewelry repair or repurpose items. I love jewelry and am forever looking for interesting pieces. A lot of times, I find great pieces that are missing a crystal, or pieces that are broken that have a ton of potential, and were basically going to be thrown out. I thought, instead of throwing these out, why not offer them for parts or for rebirth? The idea that such beautiful things were headed for the dumpster because they weren't perfect just bothered me. So, we're going to offer a large spectrum of 'perfect items', as well as, pieces that hopefully will fit into someone's vision, and they will give them a new life, or be able to take a piece from them, to give life back to a piece they already own. I can promise there will be lots of cameos, as they are an addiction of mine. I've also recently become drawn to micro mosiacs and have bought several to offer in our shop. They are truly tiny pieces of very intricate art. We think the new items will complement what we already offer and hopefully find a niche among artists looking for supplies that they won't find other places. We want to be the go- to shop for artists looking for inspiration for repurpose and for people who need that one crystal to fix their favorite brooch."

Samples of vintage jewelry and repair parts.

Along with vintage jewelry and supplies you'll also find handmade organic and natural soaps, moisturizers, healing salves, and body creams.

Lilac Soap

Visit CircleANaturals and find something to soothe your soul and bling your fingers, ears, and neck!
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Sunday Supplement - On Location with the Next Tuesday Tinker

2011-07-24T05:00:00.000-04:00

This week we asked Anne and Paul from CircleANaturals who live in Steven's Point, Wisconsin, how they beat the heat:

"My least expensive and low calorie way to deal with the heat and humidity of the summer months, is peppermint. We farm, so there's always chores to do whether it's 90 degrees or 10 below zero. I really enjoy the cooling tingle of our peppermint soap after doing chores, and I keep a atomizer with peppermint water in it, to mist myself with when I feel like I'm in the last stages of melting. It's also a natural bug repellent and masks the wonderful aroma of our all natural fertilizer producers (also known as cattle). I also believe that if it's over 85 degrees, the calories in ice cream evaporate!

I am so blessed to be surrounded with so much peaceful beauty here on our farm. No neighbors or traffic. The first photo is of a truly beautiful sunset we had recently. It was actually raining and I drove the truck down to get clear of the tree line so I could take photos. Like an idiot, I stood in the beam of the headlights and got eaten alive. These will be on new original photo art cards coming out in our Etsy shop. Then we have ones of our new babies. I never get tired of following our chickens around. They have so much personality!"

If you would like to try out the refreshing peppermint soap after a hot day, visit Anne and Paul's CirleANaturals Etsy shop.
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The Recipe Corner - Almond Delights

2011-07-21T22:52:00.003-04:00

Today's Thursday treat comes from WhimseyFish. An artist with a range of talents. From large jewelry to tiny knitted sweaters. She has wonderful sense of color and texture which is well represented in her cooking.
Enjoy.

Almond Delights
Makes 50

The Cookie:
½ cup Slivered Almonds
1 cup Butter, softened
½ cup Confectioners' Sugar
2 tsp. Almond Extract
1/8 tsp. Salt
2 cups Flour
Chocolate-Almond Filling

1. Bake the almonds for 5 minutes in a 350° oven until they are lightly browned. Let cool, finely chop and set aside.
2. Mix butter and sugar until smooth and creamy. Add almond extract, salt and flour. Mix well.
3. For each cookie half, roll a rounded ½ tsp. of dough into a ball the size of a marble. Place 1½ inches apart on an ungreased
baking sheet and bake in a 350° oven for 10 to 12 minutes until firm, but not browned. Cool completely on a wire rack.
4. Put together 2 cookies with about ½ tsp. of the filling. Don’t skimp, as you want the frosting to ooze out the sides so the nuts have something to stick to.
5. Generously roll the exposed chocolate frosting edge in the chopped almonds.

Chocolate-Almond Filling:
2 tbs. Butter
2 tbs. Heavy Cream
3 oz. Semisweet Chocolate Chips
½ tsp. Almond Extract
1 cup Confectioners' Sugar

1. Bring the butter and cream to a boil. Remove from heat and add chocolate, stirring until smooth. Mix in the remaining ingredients.
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Tuesday Tinker - MarthaHorman

2011-07-19T00:17:00.001-04:00

MarthaHorman sells Original Paintings, Photographs and digital prints of her fine art work.

This is an original limited edition linocut print and it is now for sale in her shop.

Sunday Supplement - On Location with the Next Tuesday Tinker

2011-07-17T00:00:00.003-04:00

We thought it would be fun to create a themed Sunday Supplement for a change of pace. Since most of the nation is suffering from heat wave after heat wave, we thought we would ask the question of our Etsy Freethinkers members:

How do you beat the heat?

MarthaHorman is a team member who lives in Valley Stream, New York. While it's not as hot as Texas, it still gets way hot and humid. Martha's way to beat the heat? A biggo double dipped ice cream cone! She said she doesn't do it often, but this being National Ice Cream day and month, we think she has every right.

We hope that you will try Martha's way of beating the heat and while your at it, check out her wonderful paintings, drawings, and photography at her Etsy shop, MarthaHorman.
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The Recipe Corner. Homemade Peach Ice Cream

2011-07-14T21:48:00.003-04:00

Your list of ingredients.

1 pint half and half
1 pint whipping cream
1 14 oz can condensed milk
Fresh peaches.
I use 3 large ripe peaches because I like lots of peach flavor.

Mix all ingredients together except the peaches.
Peel and chop peaches or run through food processor depending on your preference of chunky or smooth ice cream.

Mix the pieces with the milk/cream mixture and freeze according to the instruction on your ice cream freezer.

Find a shady tree on a summer day, sit under the tree and consume.

Visit TextstyleTextures online shop for the linen dress that goes perfect with peach ice-cream, summer days and shady trees.

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Tuesday Tinker - altarspace

2011-07-12T09:00:00.000-04:00

altarspace creates original one of a kind journals. In addition to treating yourself, they make thoughtful gifts.

Visit her store to see her other journals... and the other lovely things she creates.

Sunday Supplement - On Location with our next Tuesday Tinker

2011-07-09T23:39:00.004-04:00

Altar Space just moved to Vermont, a dream in the making for about 6 years. She knows that all the beauty that now surrounds her will definitely inspire her paintings and craft work. Not only is she happy about this, so is her bulldog, Pete, who now has a huge yard to play ball in!

Need some spiritual inspiration yourself? Come visit Altar Space's shop or check out all the great artists that make up our Freethinkers Group!
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The Recipe Corner - Popcorn, Main Course

2011-07-07T11:26:00.000-04:00

Popcorn is an economical thing to eat providing you don’t break a tooth on it. Then it gets expensive. Be careful. Please.

Cook your popcorn in olive oil. This helps with the illusion that you are eating healthy food. I pop up a double fistful of popcorn in olive oil and throw into a large shallow bowl. Large and shallow is important for the mixing technique used later on. That and carefully washing your hands.

In the pot you just used, swab out any bits of hull, pour in the amount of olive oil you are going to put on your popcorn (still healthy) and then pour in some more. (oops.)

Crush three giant cloves of garlic into the oil and saute lightly. When the garlic turns lite brown and the house reeks, let it cool a bit. Then pour over popcorn while occasionally digging both hands into popcorn and tossing gently (into the air like the falling autumn leaves. No, no. Don’t do that).

Generously sprinkle Brewers Yeast powder over popcorn till you think you have enough. Yes, we are still keeping with the illusion that we are eating healthy. Then sprinkle in some more. Yes, folks, Brewers Yeast. It has a very nutty flavor that blends well with the garlic and olive oil. Its available at your local health food store. Give it a try.

Sprinkle a bit of lawry’s Seasoning Salt. Its got to be Lawry's. I don't know why. The only thing that you could season your popcorn with that would taste better would be a thick cut of rare to medium steak also seasoned with Lawry's.

You don't have to go too crazy with the salt. Again. The illusion of health.

Sprinkle in some Parmesan cheese. That's the protein part of the meal. When you think you have sprinkled in enough, sprinkle in some more.

Push your sleeves up to your elbows and start dredging up the popcorn, grease and powdery stuff. Get the seasonings nicely distributed and call the neighbors over for a taste test.

I was going to get a glamorous fashion shot of the finished product but I turned my back on the neighbors for what I swear was no longer than three seconds. When I turned back this is what I found. The empty bowl is testimony to how good it is.

Recipe compliments of ManicManx.

Tuesday Tinker - Suwanee

2011-07-05T00:37:00.001-04:00

Suwanee has a whole shop full of vintage jewelry.

Click here to check out the treasures in her her shop.
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Sunday Supplement - On Location with Our Next Tuesday Tinker

2011-06-20T09:00:00.001-04:00

Due to problems with the internet connection, there will be no Sunday Supplement this week. With a bit of luck, there will be a Tuesday Tinker.

The Recipe Corner - Plaintains

2011-06-16T09:00:00.001-04:00

You need at least 1/2 a plantain for each person.

Melt butter and olive (or vegetable oil) in a frying pan. Turn your heat to medium or medium low. Add the plantain, sliced about a quarter inch thick, to the oil. Shake sugar and cinnamon over the top of the plantains. fry until golden, turn plantains and add sugar and cinnamon to the other side. Before taking them off the heat, flip the pieces back for about 30 seconds just to set the second sugar and cinnamon coating. Serve hot with ice cream for dessert or, my favorite, as a side dish to jambalaya.

Recipe compliments of MarthaHorman.
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Tuesday Tinker - TiffanyTeske

2011-06-14T02:20:00.001-04:00

TiffanyTeske specializes in creating one of a kind Polaroid transfer prints.

You can find out how TiffanyTeske creates her prints by reading an explanation on any one of her listings.
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Davy Lettercat in Wisconsin

2011-06-13T00:30:00.000-04:00

Two cats sharing a box.

Davy, out Freethinkers' mascot is currently visiting clingingimages. He has settled right in and made friends with the resident feline, Charlie. Cling makes beautiful window cling decorations. She is also a polymer clay artist and sells those creations in her ClayCenter.

SUNDAY SUPPLEMENT - On location with our next Tuesday Tinker

2011-06-12T02:26:00.000-04:00

TiffanyTeske lives in Banff, Alberta, Canada. She sell Original Transfers and Prints. (This is a photo shows a Banff Street. It's not one of her own photos.)

The Recipe Corner - Tasty Chicken and Super Sweet Tamales

2011-06-09T09:00:00.004-04:00


I used to live in Mexico, and was a home health nurse in L.A. for Cubans. Both have their own way of making tamales.  I sort of combined them and added my own takes. We made both the sweet and the chicken tamales the other day and they were fantastic. Also, now that there is the maseca, which is tamale corn flour, you don't have to spend four hours just boiling the corn meal, then another 4 hours boiling the tamales.



For the Chicken Tamales, follow the Maseca package recipe, but add a can of creamed corn to the tamale mix; the final mix should be thick enough that you can form it.  All the maseca recipes say steam the tamales, but we just boiled them covered with water for 1/2 hour and they came out great!
You do have to add more spices because both the boiling and steaming will somewhat diminish their strength.

Chicken filling for tamales:
Slow cook chicken (thighs are best)  in a crock pot set on low with chicken broth, fresh bay leaf, garlic, fresh rosemary, fresh or dried thyme, splash of white wine and an herb mix such as Cavender's Greek Seasoning. I slow cook the chicken over night.

After boning chicken fry in pan with olive oil, white wine, onion, red bell pepper, garlic, fresh bay leaf, fresh or dried thyme, Cavender's Seasoning and a bit of fresh ground nutmeg. Salt to taste. If you would like your tamales hot add a chopped hot chili of your choice. 


SWEET TAMALE RECIPE
2- cups tamale flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2/3 cup butter (margarine), whipped
1-1/2 cups liquid
1/2 can pineapple, crushed
cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, grated nutmeg
nuts
Mix dry ingredients, add in butter  then liquids. Let sit for a few minutes; should be consistency
of thick peanut butter; need to form and put channel in for the filling.

Filling:  1/2 can pineapple (crushed)
             1 tsp of each allspice or pumpkin pie spice; cinnamon; 
             1/2 tsp grated nutmeg
              a dash of rum
              1/2 cup of pecans (small pieces)
              2 tbsp brown sugar
              1/3 cup of raisins (preferably soaked first in pineapple juice and rum!!!)

Put about 2 tbsp maza in the lower third of shuck, towards skinny end.
Put in about a tsp or 2 of filling; add another tsp or so of maza to cover; fold  and tie with
string.
Boil for 1/2 hour. (better than steaming!)We ate some of each then froze the rest with our old vacuum sealer. They last for 6 months easily.Recipes compliments of FlowersForRealJewelr.

Tuesday Tinker - fatdogbeads

2011-06-07T01:22:00.001-04:00

fatdogbeads creates wonderful jewelry with sterling silver and lampwork beads.

Click here to go to her shop for more information about this bracelet and her other creations.
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Tuesday Tinker - ImagesbyJer

2011-05-31T09:00:00.001-04:00

ImagesbyJer makes wire-wrap jewelry and lamp work beads and pendents. She lives in King of Prussia, PA.

Check out the other wonderful things she has in her shop.

The Recipe Corner - Salmon Salade Composee

2011-05-26T09:00:00.001-04:00



This is my mash up of Salade Niciose and Salade Composee (Composed salad).  Composee salads are beautiful, and great for big groups when everyone is on a different diet!  Finally the Paleos and the Vegans can agree!

8 to 16 oz.  cooked salmon, or tuna (canned is OK)
3 hard boiled eggs peeled and either sliced or quartered
8 oz  (a big handful)green beans stem ends trimmed
8 small red potatoes (each about 2 inches in diameter, about 1 1/4 pounds total), each potato  scrubbed   and quartered
1 small red onion sliced thin
3 small ripe tomatoes, cored and cut into eighths
2 medium heads butter lettuce, or mixed salad greens, leaves washed, dried, and torn into bite-sized pieces
1/4 cup niçoise olives 
2 Tbsp capers, rinsed
4 oz. blue cheese and/or feta
1 small lemon cut into eighths

Vinaigrette

1/2 cup lemon juice 
3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium shallot, minced 
1 Tbsp  thyme 
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Whisk lemon juice, oil, shallot, thyme and mustard; season to taste with salt and pepper and set aside.
Bring potatoes and 4 quarts cold water to boil in a large pot. Add 1 tablespoon salt and cook until potatoes are tender, 5 to 8 minutes. 
Bring green beans and enough water to cover them to a boil. Cook until bright green.  They should be tender but crisp, 3 to 5 minutes. Drain beans, transfer to cold water, and let stand until just cool, about 30 seconds; dry beans well. 
This is the fun part: Place the salmon in the middle of a large platter. Gently break it into bite sized pieces and top with capers.  Arrange the other components around the fish in an attractive way.  I like to serve the lettuce in a separate bowl.  Pass the vinaigrette, and a nice, dry white wine!

Recipe compliments of ClockworkCrow.

Tuesday Tinker - lacypants

2011-05-24T09:00:00.000-04:00

lacypants makes custom panties out of wonderfully patterned fabric. The pair shown here are made of a 4 way stretchable fabric and are very comfortable. They are machine washable.

Stop by her store and see what she has for you.

SUNDAY SUPPLEMENT - On location with our next Tuesday Tinker

2011-05-22T09:00:00.001-04:00

lacypants got into business by making panties for herself and friends. She realized that other larger ladies might be interested and opened her Etsy shop. The rest, as they say, is history.

She is also a bird lady and is shown here with her little friend, Maxi, feeding him one of his favorite foods: Cream of Wheat.

Come to lacypants' shop and treat yourself.

the Recipe Corner - Black Bean Chili

2011-05-19T00:01:00.000-04:00

Ingredients:
1 1/2 pounds boneless pork, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
2 15 1/2-oz. cans black beans, drained
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped yellow bell pepper
1 cup thick and chunky salsa
1 15 1/2-oz. can diced tomatoes, do not drain
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper

Directions
Combine all ingredients in a slow cooker.
Cover and cook on low heat setting 7 to 8 hours.
Serve with avocado, onion, diced tomatoes, etc.
Bread bowls are a nice touch.

I love recipes that I can set and forget and have dinner prepared when I get home from work. You can even put all the ingredients in the slow cooker at night, put it in the refrigerator and take it out in the morning and set it to cook before you leave for the day.

Recipe compliments of beachcomberscove.
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Tuesday Tinker - tofunutloaf

2011-05-17T00:40:00.001-04:00

Presenting one of tofunutloaf's famous robots.

Leota is, sadly, a robot who is never on time.

Browse Tofunutloaf's shop and meet her other robots.
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Sunday Supplement - On Location with Our Next Tuesday Tinker

2011-05-15T09:00:00.000-04:00

tofunutloaf, who makes and sells robots, block prints, cards and paper, enjoys canoeing on the many lakes and rivers around her part of the country, the Republic of Urbana. Here are two picture she took while out on one of her canoe trips.

Visit tofunutloaf's shop and enjoy her creations.

The Recipe Corner - Grandma's Sponge Cake

2011-05-12T01:36:00.000-04:00

6 large eggs, separated
1 cup sugar
Grated rind of 1/2 lemon
2 tbsps. lemon juice
1 cup flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking power

Beat the egg yolks until thick. Add sugar slowly, still beating. Then add the grated rind, lemon juice and one half of the beaten egg whites. Mix well.

Fold in flour, baking power and salt. Add remainder of beaten egg whites and mix lightly.

Bake in an ungreased tin (cake pan) in a moderate oven (350〫F) for 35 to 45 minutes. Invert pan to cool.

Grandma always used an angel food cake pan for her sponge cake. She would also substitute orange rind and juice for the lemon. It depended on what she had in the house.

Recipe compliments of MarthaHorman.
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Tuesday Tinker - Bebopgirl1969Jewelry

2011-05-10T09:00:00.002-04:00

Bebopgirl1969jewelry picks a great assortment of beads and puts together wonderful necklaces. Plus right now, $6 from *every* necklace purchased in the Buddha For Japan section of my ArtFire shop will go to help Japan via the Red Cross Tsunami Appeal.

Stop by her shop and see all the luscious colors that she uses in her creations.

SUNDAY SUPPLEMENT - On location with our next Tuesday Tinker

2011-05-08T16:46:00.000-04:00

Bebopgirl1969Jewelry originally came from Wisconsin. She shares some flowers from Scotland where she now lives and creates her wonderful necklaces.

The Recipe Corner - Sweetened Condensed Milk Caramel

2011-05-05T16:05:00.001-04:00

1 can sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated)

Remove label from can. Place unopened can in the bottom of a very deep pot.. Cover with water so that the water is 3 to 4-inches above the can. Bring the water to a boil and boil steadily for four (4) hours.

You must make sure that the can is always totally covered with water. Never let the water level get down to the top of the can, because this could cause the can to explode. You can boil it with the lid on to slow down the evaporation. You will have to add water (hot hot hot) as you go.

After four hours remove the can from the water and allow it to cool. When can is cold or at least cool to the touch, open and you will have soft caramel; even the color is caramel. Keep it refrigerated.

Great as a fruit dip. Warm in a microwave and pour over cake, Service with crispy cookies and ice cream. Or just get a spoon.

Recipe compliments of TexstyleTextures.

Tuesday Tinker - MarthaHorman

2011-05-03T00:24:00.000-04:00

MarthaHorman does all kinds of drawing and painting and she does photography. She sells a variety of her own work plus the work of the late printmaker Jessie Fuchs and WPA artist Sidney Gotcliffe. Also available are digital prints of some of her pieces.

She would be very pleased to have you visit her shop.

SUNDAY SUPPLEMENT - On location with our next Tuesday Tinker

2011-05-01T09:00:00.001-04:00

MarthaHorman works in oils, acrylics and pastels. She also sells her photographs. Although she lives on Long Island, she gets into Manhattan at least once a month. These are photos she took in 2005 when the artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude had their installation of 7500 gates in Central Park.

The Recipe Corner - Smoked Salmon Quiche

2011-04-28T00:58:00.000-04:00

Preheat oven to 375F.

1/4 pound of thin slices of smoked salmon (I use lox.)
4 whole eggs plus 2 egg yolks
2 cups heavy cream
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup grated Jarlsberg (Imported Swiss cheese may be substituted.)
Salt, pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg
Pastry for one pie shell
Butter

Line a pie plate or a quiche dish with the pastry.

Arrange most of the salmon on the pastry. Save one or two pieces to decorate the top.

Sprinkle the salmon with the Jarlsberg.

Beat the eggs and the cream together and add the Parmesan cheese and nutmeg. Season to taste with the salt and pepper.

Gently pour the custard over the salmon and Jarlsberg. Dot the top with the butter and lay the saved slices of salmon on top.

Bake 35 to 40 minutes until the custard is lightly browned and the custard is set. Serve at once.

Recipe compliments of GoodOldBooks.
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Tuesday Tinker - realisationcreations

2011-04-26T11:33:00.000-04:00

realisatincreations has been making jewelry for over ten years. She loves to play with beads.

Browse her shop and find a pretty for yourself.

SUNDAY SUPPLEMENT - On location with our next Tuesday Tinker

2011-04-24T00:10:00.000-04:00

realisationcreations lives 'down under' in Australia. She shares these pictures of the Barossa Valley, a major wine producing area northeast of Adelaide. She says "We are very lucky to live in a gorgeous part of the world. I love it here."

Mengler Hill Lookout with its sculpture garden and a view of the valley below.

A shearing shed at Pindarie Wines.

William, her youngest son, feeding kangaroos at Whistlers Wines.

Meet Up in Texas

2011-04-23T19:47:00.000-04:00

Members Berit (ClayCenter and clingingimages) and Norma (beachcomberscove) met for dinner in Texas. Berit was taking a well deserved vacation and Norma lives there.

The little pink chap is Pinky and he's always ready for a party.

The Recipe Corner - Oven-fried Zucchini Sticks

2011-04-21T09:00:00.003-04:00

Ingredients:

Cooking spray
1/2 cup whole-wheat flour
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 lb. zucchini (about 3 med.) cut into 1/2 X 3” sticks
2 Tblsp cornmeal
2 egg whites lightly beaten
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper

Directions:

Preheat oven to 475 F.
Coat a large baking sheet with cooking spray.

Combine flours, cornmeal, salt, & pepper in a large resealable plastic bag. Dip zucchini in egg white, shake in bag to coat, and arrange, not touching, on the baking sheet. Coat all exposed sides with cooking spray.
Bake on the center rack for 7 minutes. Turn the zucchini and coat any floury spots with the cooking spray. Continue to bake until golden brown and just tender, about 5 minutes more.

Serve hot.

Recipe compliments of Beachcomberscove.

Tuesday Tinker - ArtistVanda

2011-04-19T09:00:00.000-04:00

ArtistVanda sells both prints and original paintings. Her sleepy little dogs in Pillowland are a great favorite. She is currently taking orders for a limited amount of commissioned portraits for 2011.

Browse her shop and find something wonderful for yourself or as a gift.

SUNDAY SUPPLEMENT - On location with our next Tuesday Tinker

2011-04-17T09:00:00.012-04:00

ArtistVanda lives in Placerville in the Sierra Nevada foothills. She writes, "Because weddings have been a big part of my life for the last 6 months I am including pictures from my own in August.
Because my animals are so special to me, my dogs were included in the wedding, with their very own hand crafted weddings collars. Rose wears the collar wih roses and Taz wears his wild west sherrifs star badge collar.

The second picture is from the Hotel Leger, pronounced "Le-shey" in Mokelumne Hill, a semi ghost town, where the wedding was held. The hotel is notoriously haunted, and my husband, Dr. William R. Cameron and I first went there for a ghost hunt with Dave Mace, from Everyday Paranormal. This is me in my old west bridal attire, all hand crafted.

The last picture is of myself in the middle and wih my son, Benjamin Goodloe, who is in the Coast Guard to the left and his bride to be, Danielle Rogers, who also proudly serves in the Coast Guard, is to the right. They are getting married themselves this weekend and good ole Mom, is making the wedding cake. So far I have hand sculpted 24 beautiful, large red fondant roses. I am so proud of them both."

ArtistVanda sells commissioned portraits of people and pets in her shop. She also sells prints of some of her finished paintings. She works in oils, acrylics and pastels.
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the Recipe Corner - Banana Nut Bread

2011-04-14T09:00:00.001-04:00

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter - Softened
2 eggs
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3-4 over ripe/ripe banana's - mashed
1/2 pecans - chopped (optional)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease a larger/regular size loaf pan.

Combine sugar, eggs and butter. Beat with mixer until well blended. Slowly add in 1 cup of flour, mix until incorporated.

Mash the bananas in a separate bowl, then add to mix and blend. Slowly add the remaining cup of flour, baking soda and vanilla. Chop the pecans, add to mix and blend one last time.

Pour mix into loaf pan. Cook for about 1 hour and 15 minutes, careful to not overcook. Once out of the oven, let cool coompletely, remove from pan and store wrapped in tin foil or your choice of covering.

Recipe compliments of altarspace.

Tuesday Tinker - AltheaP

2011-04-12T09:00:00.001-04:00

AltheaP sells silk scarves, shawls, wall hangings and purses. She paints or dyes (sometimes both) each piece by hand. No two are alike. She also has a line of cotton sun hats that come with their own little pouch to store them.

Browse her shop and find something lovely for yourself or to give as a gift.

SUNDAY SUPPLEMENT - On location with our next Tuesday Tinker

2011-04-10T00:57:00.001-04:00

AltheaP has been a silk painter for over 20 years. She makes her items one at a time; each one is a unique work of art. Below are two photos of Lake Tahoe taken when she and her family vacationed there.

AltheaP sells hand painted and dyed silk Scarves, Shawls, Purses and Wall Hangings.

The Recipe Corner - Not-Too-Godawful-Sweet Mango Chutney

2011-04-07T09:00:00.003-04:00

3 ripe mangoes
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
chopped garlic
chopped ginger
cloves, cayenne, and cinnamon to taste
a bit of brown sugar
1/2 tsp salt

Peel and cut mangoes into small chunks. Put all ingredients into a saucepan and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for maybe 40 minutes, or until the vinegar and sugar have turned into a bubbling mass of caramelized goodness and the mangoes are nice and soft. Serve it hot or cold. Serves 3-4 if you're lucky.

Recipe compliments of tofunutloaf.

Tuesday Tinker - AuntMartha

2011-04-05T09:00:00.002-04:00

AuntMartha sells Vintage, Antiques and, now and again, supplies. Her Mother was an antiques dealer so she grew up with an appreciation of the history of old things. She followed in her Mother's footsteps and was an antique dealer also for over 25 years.

Browse her shop and see if you can find a treasure.

SUNDAY SUPPLEMENT - On location with our next Tuesday Tinker

2011-04-03T14:02:00.000-04:00

AuntMartha likes climbing lighthouses. "It's a grand view when you get to the top usually. I think the best thing I ever saw was a flock of Blue Jays going south. I was above them looking down on all those intense blue backs and wings. There must have been about 40 of them. It was in October at the Cape May light."

Buffalo, NY harbor light - Buffalo is AuntMartha's home town.

Fire Island light - the nearest lighthouse to where AuntMartha now lives.

The interior of Ponce de Leon light just south of Daytona Beach, Florida.

AuntMartha sells Vintage and Antiques on Etsy.

The Recipe Corner - Bear Logs

2011-03-31T09:05:00.004-04:00

Peanut Butter Banana Granola Rolls - aka - Bear Logs

You will need:

1/2 medium banana

1/4 cup Peanut Butter (almond butter/cashew butter - smooth to crunchy -whatever you like best)

1 cup unsweetened granola (I used a organic store bought brand, which tend to be sweetened, but that has cranberries, almond, sunflower seeds)

wax paper

Mash and mix all ingredients together.
Dump out onto a piece of wax paper and form into a log. Place in freezer for about 90 minutes. Take out and slice into 1 inch slices.
We cut off a slice to eat and kept the rest in the freezer. You can put a slice in the microwave for 10 seconds if it's too frozen. They have a nice creamy crunch and are very filling and addictive.

Recipe compliments of alterspace.

Tuesday Tinker - BlytheHorman

2011-03-29T09:15:00.000-04:00

"I grew up helping to band birds on the amazing barrier beaches of the Atlantic Flyway."

Blythe carries original art and collections of vintage print PDFs to download for collages or other art work.

Click here to go to her store.

A New Treasury - Wild Hyacinths

2011-03-28T20:09:00.000-04:00

Click on any image and go right to the shop where it's being sold.

Created and shared by LaughingShadows.

SUNDAY SUPPLEMENT - On location with our next Tuesday Tinker

2011-03-27T09:00:00.003-04:00

BlytheHorman lives in Shoreline, Washington, close enough to Seattle so she can enjoy the amenities of a large city and far enough away that she's close to nature. This week end she's headed out for a whale watch with a friend of hers. She is a self-taught artist who has been drawing and painting animals since she was a little girl.

Work area.

The view from her balcony.

A new Treasury - Spingtime in the South

2011-03-24T17:35:00.003-04:00

Click on any image to go right to it's shop.

Created and shared by TexstyleTextures.

The Recipe Corner -Cheesecake Cookies

2011-03-24T09:00:00.004-04:00

Preheat oven to 350

1 box cake mix, yellow or butter
1 8 oz pkg cream cream or reasonable substitute
1 stick butter or reasonable substitute
2 jumbo eggs (if you don't have jumbo or extra large you might add an extra egg)
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla or almond flavoring (optional)

Soften the cheese and butter to room temperature, blend with the eggs and sugar. add cake mix a little at a time until thoroghly blended.

Drop by teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 12-15 minutes depending on oven and how brown you like your cookies. The less done they are the more they taste like cheesecake.

Let cookies cool on sheet until they can be removed without scrunching up or tearing.

Recipe compliments of TexstyleTextures.

Tuesday Tinker -TrueNatureYoga

2011-03-22T09:00:00.001-04:00

"Yoga and meditation have brought a true sense of peace and balance to my life that had been missing. I hope that my malas can bring a small bit of that to others."

Click and Browse TrueNatureYoga's shop

SUNDAY SUPPLEMENT - On location with our next Tuesday Tinker

2011-03-20T09:00:00.000-04:00

TrueNatureYoga lives in the Boston, Mass. area. She recently graduated from a 200 hour yoga teacher training course and has been teaching yoga and making malas part time since February 2010. A mala is a string of beads used to help meditation. The first picture shows her work area where she creates her wonderful malas. The second photo was taken by her in Ipswich.

The Recipe Corner - Grandma's Spanakopita Redux

2011-03-17T09:00:00.008-04:00

My Grandma isn't Greek, but she was an adventurous cook for her time, and her Spanakopita was always one of my favorite dishes. Grandma used cottage cheese, butter and very subtle spices, and the result was lovely. This is my version. I am really interested in Mediterranean cuisine, and I have adjusted the ingredients with those flavors in mind.

1 box phyllo (filo) pastry thawed in the refrigerator according to package directions.

½ cup or so of olive oil in a small bowl (grandma used butter here-you can do a combo if you'd like)

1 cup ricotta

1 chunk plain feta (8 oz.)

1 bag frozen spinach (14 oz.)

1egg, lightly

½ tsp nutmeg

½ tsp aleppo or other red pepper

I also add ½ tsp of Penzy's Turkish Seasoning blend which includes garlic, cumin, and sumac berries. This isn't necessary, but I am addicted to the stuff!

Thaw and drain the spinach, then squeeze out excess water. I press it against my strainer with my knuckles to get all of the liquid out. Lightly chop the spinach, and then toss it into a large bowl. Add the feta and crumble it into fine chunks with a fork. Add the ricotta and the egg. You want the mixture to be moist, but not runny. Add the spices. Blend well and set aside.

Clear a surface to make a space to fold up the spanakopita. You need at least about 1 ½ by 1 ½ feet to work in. With a pastry brush or a folded up paper towel wipe down the surface with a thin layer of oil. Take out a large sheet pan and have it ready. Wet a clean dish towel with water, and wring it out thoroughly. (It should be damp, not wet.) Once you have everything in place you can open the phylo package. Unroll the roll of phylo sheets and place one sheet on your oiled surface. You want the long edge of the rectangle to be horizontal. Put the damp cloth immediately on the remaining sheets. Brush the sheet thoroughly with oil especially at the edges. Place another sheet on top, and oil it the same way, and then a third. You can layer 4 or more sheets, but I wouldn't do it with less than 3.

Notes on phylo: The only tricky thing about working with phylo is that you can't let it dry out or it breaks. Just keep every sheet under a damp cloth or oiled and you will have no problem. BTW, don't stress if it does break a bit. Just stack the next layer on, and it will be fine!

Back to assembly. Take a sharp knife and cut your rectangle horizontally into 3 long, even “ribbons”. Now take a scant tablespoon of filling and put it at one end of a ribbon. Avoid using too much filling-just a dab will do it. Fold the ribbon up just like you fold a flag. Fold the top corner next to the filling down to the bottom edge to form a triangle, and enclose the filling. Then fold again and again along the triangle shape until you get to the end of the ribbon. Brush lightly with oil and put it onto the waiting sheet pan. Ta-da! Now repeat with the other two ribbons. Brush your surface lightly with oil and repeat the whole process until you run out of filling, or phylo, or time.

The assembled pastries can be refrigerated on the sheet, covered with the damp cloth and plastic wrap for up to about a day. To bake preheat oven to 375 degrees and bake until golden brown. This takes about 20 to 25 minutes.

You can also do this dish in a casserole like lasagna. Just use 4 or 5 sheets for the bottom layer, letting excess phylo run up the side of the casserole . Add half of the filling, 4 or 5 more sheets, the second half of the filling, and 4 or 5 sheets for the top. Fold any excess phylo over the top to make a smooth package. Any broken bits of phylo will look pretty scattered on top! Bake at 375 for about 40 minutes, until the top is golden brown.

Recipe compliments of ClockworkCrow.

Tuesday Tinker -spongetta

2011-03-15T09:00:00.002-04:00

spongetta's designs are not earthshakingly new, but rather twists on the traditional reinterpreted with unexpected material and shapes.

Browse spongetta's shop.

SUNDAY SUPPLEMENT - On location with our next Tuesday Tinker

2011-03-13T09:00:00.005-04:00

spongetta was that pesky child who could not (would not) follow directions. As an adult living by the rules, this is her creative outlet. These photos show her studio, and the country around where she lives in central New York State. The one with the snow was taken this past winter. It is the road she lives on.

The Recipe Corner - Stove Top Cabbage

2011-03-10T09:00:00.002-05:00

Serves Two - double the recipe if you want leftovers.

½ head of green cabbage – chopped into 1” squares

½ onion - diced

½ apple – diced

1-ish Tablespoon of Olive Oil

2-ish Tablespoons of Butter (Use more olive oil if you don’t want to use butter)

2-3 Tablespoons of Apple Cider Vinegar (or whatever flavor you like and to taste)

1-2 Tablespoons of Brown Sugar (to taste)

1 vegetable bullion cube (can be chicken or beef if you like)

½ cup of water

Salt and Pepper to taste

Add oil and butter to large frying pan. Heat while chopping onion and apple. Add to pan and stir. I put the salt and pepper in at this point too.

Chop cabbage and add to pan. Stir to coat all the cabbage. Cook on medium heat and let cabbage reduce just a bit and start to get transparent.

Add the vegetable bullion, water, vinegar and brown sugar and stir well. Keep on medium heat stirring on occasion, but let everything reduce and the water reduce out as well.

Taste to make sure your vinegar and sugar levels are to your taste. Cook until the cabbage is tender and to your desired level of texture.

Serve with chicken or turkey sausage, spicy mustard and a hard roll or as a side. Excellent accompanied with sweet potatoes and ham as well. Enjoy!

Recipe complements of altarspace.

Tuesday Tinker - TexstyleTextures

2011-03-08T09:00:00.002-05:00

TexstyleTextures has developed her bag and tote designs over the years to produces a quality product that is as good looking as it is useful. They are great for a gift and you should treat yourself to one also.

Click here to browse her shop.

SUNDAY SUPPLEMENT

2011-03-06T09:05:00.003-05:00

TexstyleTextures has been sewing for over 35 years. She learned from her Mother. She started making bags after Katrina hit because it kept her at home and didn't require gasoline. Bags are small, functional and offer almost instant gratification.; same reason she likes making pillows. These are photos of her night blooming ceresus, a member of the cactus family. It was grown from a cutting of her Mother's plant and her Mother's came from her Grandmother's. (Oh yes and the dog is Gretchen).

The Recipe Corner - Tea Party Cookies

2011-03-03T09:00:00.003-05:00

Prep time about 30 minutes plus freezing.

Bake time: 10 minutes.

Makes about four dozen cookies.

1 1/4 cups flour

1 cup yellow cornmeal

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Pinch of salt

2 sticks (8 ounces) unsalted butter

1 cup of sugar

2 teaspoons grated lemon peel

2 large egg yolks

1. In a medium bowl combine the flour, cornmeal, cinnamon, and salt.

2. Using an electric mixer, beat the butter, sugar and lemon peel together, starting on low speed and increasing to medium high, until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in the egg yolks. Reduce speed to low and beat in the flour mixture just until combined. The dough will be crumbly.

3. Press the dough together with your hands and divide in half. Place the halves on a sheet of wax paper and form into 2 equal sized logs; smooth with damp fingers. Wrap the logs in the wax paper and freeze until firm, about 30 minutes.

4. Preheat the oven to 400̊. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Cut each log into 1/4 inches slices and arrange each circle 1 inch apart on the baking sheets. Bake one sheet at a time, moving the pan from the back of the oven to the front about half way through, until the cookies are lightly browned.

Recipe compliments of Beachcomberscove.

Tuesday Tinker - rarebeasts

2011-03-01T09:00:00.001-05:00

rarebeasts does music. If you buy something from his store you too can do music. All his electronic instruments were are build by hand from his own designs.

Browse his shop abd enjoy.

SUNDAY SUPPLEMENT

2011-02-27T09:05:00.002-05:00

rarebeasts is located in Canberra, Australia. It was started in 2007 as a part time business selling musical gadgets that were played in their own bands. In 2009, rarebeasts became full time to put more energy into new designs and making popular items available for sale. rarebeasts shared some photos he took of local sunsets.

The Recipe Corner - Spicy Pepita Brittle

2011-02-24T09:00:00.002-05:00

½ tsp. Vegetable Oil
¾ cup Pepitas (hulled Pumpkin Seeds)
¼ tsp. Cinnamon
¼ tsp. Cayenne Pepper
¼ tsp. Kosher Salt
1½ cup Sugar
¾ cup Water
1 tbs. Light Corn Syrup

1. Place vegetable oil in a small skillet and set over medium heat. Add pepitas and toast, constantly shaking the pan, until they turn golden and start to pop. If you stop moving the pan they will burn. Remove from heat and mix in cinnamon, cayenne pepper and salt. If pepitas are already salted, omit extra salt. Set aside. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

2. Lightly rub the sides of a 1 quart pot with vegetable oil. Add sugar and water and set over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the the sugar dissolves. Stir in corn syrup. Cover and cook for 5 minutes undisturbed.

3. After 5 minutes, uncover and continue cooking. Do NOT stir during this process. Place in a candy thermometer in the sauce pan and cook until the temperature reaches 350°. The mixture will turn an amber-brown color when it is done. This will take about 10 minutes.

4. Immediately pour the brittle onto the prepared cookie sheet. Spread the brittle thin and distribute the pepitas evenly.

5. Once the brittle has cooled, break it into pieces.

This recipe compliments of whimseyfish.

Tuesday Tinker - altarspace

2011-02-22T09:05:00.002-05:00

altarspace began making intention charms for friends. “I had a friend who just broke up with a boyfriend and I thought it would be nice to give her something pretty and positive, so she could find her true love. She not only found her fiancé, she rekindled her love of music and art”, says April Judd of Altar Space. “I made another for a friend who was pregnant with her third child and was feeling a little down about not having time for herself. I made her a charm full of feminine energy, self confidence, and love. If anything, it’s a reminder for the people I make the charms for that I am thinking of them and that they have someone on their side.”

SUNDAY SUPPLEMENT - On location with our next Tuesday Tinker

2011-02-20T09:00:00.002-05:00

altarspace was born and raised in Dallas, Texas, but now calls Connecticut home. She has a degree in Studio Art, with an emphasis on painting. “Nature has always been my church and I try to paint the essence or spirit that my painting subject holds”, says April Judd of Altar Space. This philosophy made its way into the crafts that Altar Space now creates for her Esty shop.

The Recipe Corner - Cold Shrimp Soup

2011-02-17T09:00:00.001-05:00

1 quart buttermilk

12 medium cooked, cleaned shrimp

1 cucumber

Fresh dill (dried may be used if you can't find fresh)

Serves 6.

The night before serving, put 1 1/2 Tbsp. chopped fresh dill into the quart bottle of buttermilk and place back in the refrigerator.

The day of serving, pour the buttermilk into a bowl. Peel the cucumber, cut length-wise and remove seeds. Cut the cucumber into thin slices and add to the buttermilk. Cut the shrimp into about 4 or 5 pieces each and add to buttermilk mixture. Chill at least 2 hours more.

To serve, ladle soup into bowls and top with a small sprig of dill.

Recipe compliments of CabArray.

Tuesday Tinker - storybeader

2011-02-15T09:00:00.032-05:00

storybeader is a frustrated writer who likes to put words and colors together to create usable art. Each of her journals and notebooks come with a haiku, written by her specifically for the piece!

Browse her shop and see her other wonderful items.

SUNDAY SUPPLEMENT - On location with our next Tuesday Tinker

2011-02-13T09:00:00.002-05:00

storybeader likes to travel. Here are some pictures she took while she was visiting Ireland. They were both taken on Greater Blasket Island which is the westernmost island of Europe.

Etsy Freethinkers

Variety is the Spice

Holidays Gifts

All Creatures Great and Small - an Etsy Treasury

A Tour of Fall Foliage

The Recipe Corner - Homemade Applesauce

The Recipe Corner

A Tour of Fall Foliage

Terra Nova at the Racine Art Museum

A Tour of Fall Foliage

A tour of the fall foilage!

Happy Halloween to all the Bats and Belles Free (with nods to Walt Kelly)

I baited my breathto attract the batsto move into the belfryalong with the cats.My breath has abatedmy brain has been battedThe belfry is scented with an aroma that's catted.GOOOOO MARMOTS!With love, Kristi Smart

An Etsy Treasury with our member TrueNatureYoga

Red Onyx Wrist Mala by TrueNatureYoga

Lunch in NYC

Tuesday Tinker- Zephi

The Sunday Supplement - Artful Giving

Sunday Supplement -Remembering 9/11

Tuesday Tinker - beachcomberscove

The Sunday Supplement - On Location with Our Next Tuesday Tinker -Beachcombers Cove

The Tuesday Tinker - Altar Space

The Sunday Supplement - On Location with our next Tuesday Tinker

Tuesday Tinker - AuntMartha

The Sunday Supplement - On Location with our next Tuesday Tinker

The Recipe Corner -Chicken and Mushroom Soup

Tuesday Tinker - ManicManx

Sunday Supplement - On Location with our Next Tuesday Tinker

Thursdays Recipe Corner

Beachcombers Cove, Your Oasis of Fun , Tropical Art

Tuesday Tinker - tofunutloaf

Sunday Supplement - On Location with Our Next Tuesday Tinker

Thursdays Recipe Corner

Tuesday Tinker - AltheaP

Sunday Supplement - on Location with our next Tuesday Tinker

New ETSY Treasury Featuring AUNTMARTHA

Tuesday Tinker - CircleANaturals

Sunday Supplement - On Location with the Next Tuesday Tinker

The Recipe Corner - Almond Delights

Tuesday Tinker - MarthaHorman

Sunday Supplement - On Location with the Next Tuesday Tinker

The Recipe Corner. Homemade Peach Ice Cream

Tuesday Tinker - altarspace

Sunday Supplement - On Location with our next Tuesday Tinker

The Recipe Corner - Popcorn, Main Course

Tuesday Tinker - Suwanee

Sunday Supplement - On Location with Our Next Tuesday Tinker

The Recipe Corner - Plaintains

Tuesday Tinker - TiffanyTeske

Davy Lettercat in Wisconsin

SUNDAY SUPPLEMENT - On location with our next Tuesday Tinker

The Recipe Corner - Tasty Chicken and Super Sweet Tamales

Tuesday Tinker - fatdogbeads

Tuesday Tinker - ImagesbyJer

The Recipe Corner - Salmon Salade Composee

Tuesday Tinker - lacypants

SUNDAY SUPPLEMENT - On location with our next Tuesday Tinker

the Recipe Corner - Black Bean Chili

Tuesday Tinker - tofunutloaf

Sunday Supplement - On Location with Our Next Tuesday Tinker

The Recipe Corner - Grandma's Sponge Cake

Tuesday Tinker - Bebopgirl1969Jewelry

SUNDAY SUPPLEMENT - On location with our next Tuesday Tinker

The Recipe Corner - Sweetened Condensed Milk Caramel

Tuesday Tinker - MarthaHorman

SUNDAY SUPPLEMENT - On location with our next Tuesday Tinker

The Recipe Corner - Smoked Salmon Quiche

Tuesday Tinker - realisationcreations

SUNDAY SUPPLEMENT - On location with our next Tuesday Tinker

Meet Up in Texas

The Recipe Corner - Oven-fried Zucchini Sticks

Tuesday Tinker - ArtistVanda

SUNDAY SUPPLEMENT - On location with our next Tuesday Tinker

the Recipe Corner - Banana Nut Bread

Tuesday Tinker - AltheaP

SUNDAY SUPPLEMENT - On location with our next Tuesday Tinker

The Recipe Corner - Not-Too-Godawful-Sweet Mango Chutney

Tuesday Tinker - AuntMartha

SUNDAY SUPPLEMENT - On location with our next Tuesday Tinker

The Recipe Corner - Bear Logs

I baited my breath
to attract the bats
to move into the belfry
along with the cats.

My breath has abated
my brain has been batted
The belfry is scented
with an aroma that's catted.

GOOOOO MARMOTS!

With love,
Kristi Smart