This and That

 As autumn starts creeping in (even though it still feels like summer here:) I start thinking about autumn colors, and autumn foods. Like these muffins I was making this morning:

 Molasses muffins with delicious spices -  ginger, cloves and cinnamon. Hubby loves these! And I got this quick and easy recipe from Bleubeard and Elizabeth at Altered Book Lover which she shared on her blog during one of our T Stands For Tuesday gatherings. Thank you Elizabeth!! Oh, the house smelled so good and as you can see I all but finished my coffee before the muffins even got into the oven:)

 Soon I will be making pear bread and pear tarts too. And speaking of pears, I made this tag for Tag Tuesday (pears and apples), Moo Mania and More! (use a stamp), and the Simon Monday Challenge (monochromatic):

 The pear is from a napkin. Other products- manila tag; Distress Vintage Photo ink; postage rubber stamp; fabric tape; tiny buttons.

 I have a card for the Simon Wednesday Challenge ( Bling It On):

Really difficult to get the metallic shine on the patterned cardstocks (and the black is just a backdrop not part of the card) so here's a detail shot:

ha- I guess this would work for the Simon Monday Challenge also:)

 Products:ivory note card and envie (The Philadelphia Group); clear stamp-Forever After set, and heavy vellum (Simon Says Stamp); Archival Jet Black ink; patterned cardstocks (DCWV the Natural Mat Stack); heart punch (McGill); Stickles glitter glue (Ranger).

And this journal page I will share with Art Journal Journey (Polka dots/ Stripes/Plaids or Patterns):

 Tim Holtz Typography, Symphony tissue papers, Paper Dolls, Snarky Small Talk stickers, washi tape, Linen stencil. Dina Wakley: paints- Lime, Lapis, Cheddar, Mini Favorites stencil, Media Journal.

 A note: I just found out that tinypic.com (which I used to resize badges to correct sizing for my blog) will no longer host their website free for anyone to use so I just lost most of my sidebar badges and links:(:(:(. I am NOT tech savvy, so anyone have any suggestions?

 I will be taking a short break again beginning at the end of the week. Be well, be happy, be creative!

" When you get a hint of your own creativity or potential, you already feel this bright shimmering quality of joy."      Michael Ray

A Beautiful Time

 So how's your September coming along? We are lucky to live in an area where the month is so beautiful, and I'm taking advantage of that.  I'm really enjoying having our friends' dog Riley again for the week:) Little walks throughout the day and art time and reading outside in between!

 Lots of art to share so I'll have to pick and choose what to post this week. I'm starting with some pages from my Dylusions Creative Dyary Journal.

 This one's meant for T Stands for Tuesday:

 The background paper is a rice paper I got from Joggles. I added some extra coffee stains using Distress Vintage Photo ink and a stamp from the Coffee Time Darkroom Door set. The coffee cup is a napkin. Sentiment is Tim Holtz Snarky Small Talk stickers.

 A few more pages from this calendar journal:

 The page was covered with Antique White paint. I then sponged on Distress Oxide inks in Pistachio and Fossilized Amber. For some reason the Amber looks peachy here. I then splattered a bit of it too. The window frame image is an oldie from Stamper's Anonymous and the sentiment is from the Wall Art clear stamp set by Wow!Stamps (purchased at the Simon Says Stamp online store) . First I stamped off the page with  Archival Sepia ink before stamping on the page for a very lucid effect then stamped over the images with the full strength ink. Butterfly is from Tim Holtz Botanicals . I'll share this page along with the next one  with the Simon Wednesday Challenge (Stamp It); the Simon Monday Challenge (Stamp It); and Moo Mania and More (Use a stamp).

 And this one I will also share with Art Journal Journey (theme is Polka dots/Stripes/Plaids or Patterns) and Try It On Tuesday (Boys/Girls/Children).

 Products:Girl- Inky Antics Long Hair Flair stamp set; washi tape heart- Dina Wakley; sentiment stickers- Tim Holtz; Archival Jet Black ink; Altenew Morning Frost ink; Carabelle Studio Bulles stencil; dry chalks; assorted markers; Stickles Diamond glitter glue (Ranger).

 Yet another calendar page:

 and this will work for some of the challenges as well:) Many of the pages in the Creative Dyary (on the right side of each spread) have preprinted backgrounds. I always like to add some extra stamping and carry a bit of it over to the left page where I fill in my calendar each week. Here I added extra stamping using Dylusions Basic Backgrounds stamp set and Archival inks I chose to pretty much match the colors in the background that were already there. That beautiful floral image is from Dina Wakley's Collage Collective book. Sentiment is Tim Holtz Small Talk Occasions sticker. I added some extra splatters with black ink too.

 Lastly, this is another page done in a similar series of abstracts I began making earlier in the year. You can see the others here, here, and here if you wish. I'll have one more to post next time.

  Joining Paint Party Friday this week too of course:) Wishing you all a fun, happy and creative week!

" Be a full bucket, pulled up the dark way of a well, then lifted out into the light."  Rumi

Changing Seasons

 First off, I'd like to send out prayers for all those in Hurricane Dorian's path and wishing everyone safety.

 Here in the Northern Hemisphere we are welcoming the coming of Autumn and in the Southern Hemisphere Spring is coming. I won't lament Fall approaching because at least where I live summer usually extends through September- minus earlier sunset times, so I'm OK with that!

 Going to start off here with a party, food and drinks which I will share with T Stands For Tuesday:

 We, our friends Lynn, Andrew and baby Warren, along with Todd and Kyra had another fun, fun record/vinyl party Saturday evening and these were the records we took to play. I have every Hall and Oates album made and specifically searched fervently for this one album from our vast record collection because it has a song on it titled "August Day" and I wanted to hear it our last day of August:)  Some of you may remember my sharing a few other record parties we've had. SO FUN!!

 Andrew and Lynn hosted and provided pizzas, drinks and popcorn to snack on. Kyra made a buffalo chicken dip-yum! and for the first time I made falafels. I knew they'd be gracious guinea pigs. And.... the falafels turned out so good so I will share the easy recipe at the bottom of the page. Definitely making these again- they make great sides or appetizers!

               Falafels (Recipe at bottom of this post, and I will also link it 

under the "recipes" tab under my blog header.

 I made them just before leaving, and served them with Tzaziki sauce.

For the Simon Wednesday Challenge(Anything Goes), and the Simon Monday Challenge (Something Clear) I made this card, along with a matching envie: 

 Products: patterned notecard and white envie (the Paper Studio); Clustered Leaves die, heavy vellum, Moonshine Sequins (Simon Says Stamp); sentiment- Label love set (Altenew); Adirondak  Eggplant ink (Ranger); Tim Holtz mini stapler. On the envie- Floral Shadow stamps (Altenew; inks- Adirondak Eggplant, Currant ; Archival inks- Leaf Green, Sunflower.

 There is a new theme for the Art Journal Journey Challenge for the month of September! Erika is the guest host and she has chosen the theme of  "Polka Dots, Stripes, Plaids , or Patterns". Here is my journal page (it's 9" x 12"):

 A Detail shot:

 and the colorful rainbow background I painted to start the page with:

  This page was inspired by a You Tube video I watched by Julie Kotenko. I grabbed my most vibrant paints for this page and had a blast splattering, dripping, and finger painting!

 As always I will join Paint Party Friday this week. Have a super week!

"By all these lovely tokens, September days are here. With summer's best of weather, and autumn's best of cheer."    Helen Hunt Jackson

          Falafels (recipe courtesy of The Minimalist Baker)

1 15oz. can chick peas (rinsed, drained and patted dry)

1/3 c. fresh parsley                    4 cloves garlic (minced)

2 medium shallots, minced       2 Tbsp. raw sesame seeds

1 1/2 tsp. cumin                         1/4 tsp. each of salt and pepper

1 healthy pinch each of cardamom and coriander

3-4 Tbsp. flour                          3-4 Tbsp. vegetable oil

Panko breadcrumbs for coating (optional)

Add chick peas, parsley, shallot, garlic, sesame seeds, cumin, salt, pepper, coriander and cardamom to a food processor and pulse to combine, scraping down sides as needed. Add flour 1 Tbsp. at a time and pulse to combine until no longer wet and you can mold the dough into a ball without it being sticky.  Cover and refrigerate up to 2 hours to firm up.

Form dough into 12 patties. Optional: sprinkle on Panko breadcrumbs and press to adhere- both sides for crispier outsides.

Heat a large skillet over med. heat and add enough oil to just coat the pan. Cook 2-3 min. til golden then flip and cook 2-3 min. more.( you may need to add a Tbsp. or two more oil). Best eaten fresh. Leftovers will keep in fridge 4-5 days. Can also freeze. Serve with your favorite hummus and/or Tzaziki sauce. 

Diving Into Art Challenges

 How have you been? Has the weather been OK in your parts? Our heat wave has finally ended and it is now quite delightful-even a bit cool in the early AM! Sadly the next season is sneaking in- leaves are falling, and the sun is setting a good 20 minutes earlier now:(. I'm still hanging on to summer though.

 Today (Monday) is Kyra's birthday so Sunday we had her, Todd and my Mom over for dinner. Her request was a steak and rice stir fry. We also had a salad and fresh baked Tuscan garlic bread before having the chocolate cake for dessert. A few pics:

 Kyra loves her dry red wine (that's my girl!) so we got her a nice bottle and a bottle aerator.

 She adores "Baby Groot" (it's a character from a movie but I don't recall what movie as I hadn't seen it-maybe some of you know) and was thrilled I found a Baby Groot online that she can use as a planter or pencil holder!!

 and besides wine, this girl loves her chocolate! So I made her a dark chocolate cake with mini chocolate chips, and a chocolate glaze. Happy birthday Kyra!!

 I'll share our drinks with the gals over at T Stands For Tuesday :)

 Finally getting back into the swing of things by entering some of my favorite blog art challenges. First up this card is for the Simon Wednesday Challenge (CAS) which I made for Kyra:

 Products: large white notecard; Neenah Classic Solar White #110 card stock; Tim Holtz Plaid Layering stencil; Altenew Peony Bouquet stamp and die set, Label Love set; Inks: Archival - Rose Madder, Sky Blue, Leaf Green. Distress ink - Mowed Lawn; Colorbox Fluid Chalk ink - Prussian Blue; Versafine Onyx Black ink; Simon Says Stamp Moonshine Sequins.

 For the Simon Monday Challenge ("S" is for...) and Tag Tuesday (Purple) I made a Halloween tag:

"S" is for my Sassy witch! Manila tag sponged with Inkadinkado Pearlescent Purple spray ink. The witch collage ATC is one I designed for ARTchix Studio some time ago. Other products: Marabu Black Art Spray; Archival Jet Black ink; spider ribbon (Celebrate It!); sentiment (Tim Holtz Small Talk Occasions Stickers); bat sticker, and black enamel dot (Recollections).

 And a journal page meant for Art Journal Journey (theme is Anything With Eyes), and Paint Party Friday:

     These were just the beginning layers to my page-lol

 The finished page in my 8" x 10" Dina Wakley Media journal. Other products: Dina Wakley Collage Tissue Words and washi tape; acrylic paints; gesso; stencils; music sheet and dictionary papers; Posca Pens; Stabilo All black pencil. The face is one I've painted before and made a photocopy of the outlines to trace and to recreate on this page.

 Enjoy the last of our August days my friends!

"In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures. 

For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed”.

- Khalil Gibran 

Back From The Beach

 Hello peeps! I know it's been awhile since my last post but we spent a full week away in Fenwick Island, DE with our usual group of friends as we have been doing for some years now. And it was great as always!

  We had a super fun night when one of the couples gifted us each with bags of goodies! The girls all got similar cover ups like the one I'm wearing along with a hat, flip flops with a gold starfish charm, and a starfish lavender sachet. The guys all got a shirt with little sharks on them, fun sea themed socks, and hats too. Too bad I can't share other pics as some didn't want themselves posted...

 We had our traditional lobster and champagne dinner -yum. Cheers to the T gang over at Bleubeard and Elizabeth's blog where we gather each Tuesday and share a drink related post- I've missed you guys! We went across to the bay side one evening to catch a lovely sunset:

 When we returned home from our vacation I found a most lovely bit of mail from Eileen from our 6 year T Stands for Tuesday anniversary ATC swap:

 She made an ATC triptych with beautiful teacup images, and the Eiffel Tower :). And what wonderful, generous bits to play with too! Thanks so very much Eileen- and sorry for the long delay in posting!

 For this month's theme at Art Journal Journey (anything with eyes) hosted by Gill I have this journal page from my Dylusions Creative Dyary Journal:

 The background was an under paper I used from other projects but I liked all the colors so I glued it onto my page. I then added the Dina Wakley collage face from the Dina Wakley Collage Collective book and added some pencil markings to extend some of the lines of her drawing. Faux stitches(Whimsy Stamps) were stamped with Versafine Onyx Black ink, and the quote is Dina Wakley Collage Words tissue papers.

 Finally I'll share the last of the index cards I made for the Index Card a Day Challenge held June 1- July 31:

#54/61

#55/61

#56/61

#57/61

#58/61

#59/61

I'll also share this with Moo Mania and More (theme is butterflies).

#60/61

#61/61!

 It was a fun challenge and certainly kept me on my creative toes for sure!

 That's it for me for now. I'll also share this post with Paint Party Friday. Really looking forward to catching up with you all again!

"Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you."  Frank Lloyd Wright