Me and my Mod Podge

One of the many thing I've been slowly working on for a couple of months now is my second checkerboard collage. The process is long and tedious, but can be meditative and the results are worth it. Here's the first one, which I completed last Spring and was one of my first craft projects ever. I've been displaying part of it in my profile picture.

It takes forever because after cutting out all the little squares, I had to arrange them in a contrasting checkerboard pattern - draw the hearts and then go back and very carefully cut the pieces along the outline . . . meanwhile . . . rearranging the entire row to get the shades right.

At this stage I think Andy really thought I'd gone off the deep end. Now when he sees me reading a needlepoint book, a quilting book, and a folk art book in bed it's no big surprise. Thank you honey.

The final stage of course is gluing it all down in place and painting it with layers and layers of Mod Podge.

The gluing process on this was especially challenging because I used paint sample card stock for the squares (thank you Benjamin Moore) and the thickness of made it hard to glue down the

curling corners.

My work in progress is a seashell image, mirrored as well. This time I just used different shades of blue craft paper and a fabulous little gadget that punches squares out like an over sized hole punch. It's truly amazing all the craft goodies that are out there - I could roam the aisles of Hobby Lobby for hours. Funny, I used to be embarrassed to shop there much less admit I enjoy it - don't ask me why. The craft revolution has allowed all of us tomboys to come out of the pink closet. Does that even make any sense?

Anyway . . . I have the squares cut and the image oulined but have only just started the cutting. I'm writing about this to inspire myself to get working on it again. It's actually collecting dust . . actual dust bunnies - which really isn't saying much here in Santa Fe; things get dusty here in a day.

Finally, a recipe: Best Ever Currant Scones

Well, another night of next to no sleep . . . maybe the room switch wasn't such a good idea after all. But at least for now the boys are both happy eating their french toast and watching a movie.

So, I think I mentioned that I made a batch of scones while we were in Houston - three to be exact, two of which I strayed from my original recipe a bit to see if I could get them a little more like my dad prefers them. You see, these scones are incredibly tender and just melt in your mouth - but consequently they tend to fall apart in your hands as well.

I am, however, returning to the original because, to be honest, I like them just as they are. And I like to slice them, butter and jam them and eat them with a fork - they may be a bit difficult to slice cleanly, but I'm willing to sacrifice aesthetics for awesome flavor.

And, by the way, I think dad would now agree . . . he found some fig preserves that taste like those his mother used to make from fig trees in her back yard. He likes to slather sour cream on the scones before spooning the whole preserved figs over them. I must say, the figs are amazing; I may have to request a jar in the mail.

Helen's Currant Scones

2 1/4 cup All purpose Flour

1/3 cup sugar

1 tsp kosher salt

1 Tbs baking powder

zest of 1/2 lemon

6 oz unsalted butter, chilled and diced

1 cup heavy cream, cold

1/2 cup dried currants (or other dried fruit if you prefer something else)

Preheat over to 400 degrees. In the food processor bowl, combine the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder , and lemon zest. Pulse a few times to mix. Add the cold, diced butter and process until the largest pieces of butter are the size of small pebbles. Add the currants and pulse a few more times.

At this point I prefer to dump all of this into a large mixing bowl and complete the dough by hand or with the paddle attachment of a Kitchen Aid mixer. Either way, add the cold cream and mix until just combined, pressing the bits of dough together to form a ball, being careful not to overwork the dough. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and press into a disk shape.

Lightly flour a board and place the dough on top and roll or flatten it with your hands until it is about 1 1/2 inches thick. Cut rounds with a biscuit cutter or slice it with a knife into triangles - I find the rounds work better for these particular scones.

Place on a parchment paper lined sheet pan and brush the tops with cream and sprinkle with sugar. Bake for approximately 20 minutes on the middle rack until golden brown on tops and bottom. Best eaten immediately.

(playing with Picnik again . . I can waste a lot of time on their site)

When all the fam came over to eat the scones the day before we left to return home, we were also lucky enough to enjoy my sister in law Debbie's Meyer Lemon Marmalade. Wow, it was incredible! Bob and Debbie have a flourishing Meyer lemon tree in their back yard with huge, luscious meyer lemons littering the branches right now. Apparently Debbie made Meyer Lemon Gift Baskets for a fortunate few, which among other things included a jar of the marmalade and a bag of candied meyer lemon zest ( I tasted my niece Emma's vigilantly guarded stash which was so delicious - the sweet Meyer lemons really make a difference; absolutely no bitter pith flavor).

Have a fantastic weekend everybody!

Plans and Promises

We've been back home in Santa Fe a week and I can't seem to get back on track with my blog and other projects that are lingering on my work table. One thing I have accomplished is moving the boys into their shared room - previously mine and Andy's room. It was a huge ordeal and now I realize just how much stuff (junk) they have. The transition has been somewhat rocky . . . I've slept with Graham in his bed 4 of the 6 nights they've been in their together. But I think they like it so hopefully things will get a better with time.

The other major thing going on is that I'm considering relaunching my blog under a different server . . . host, whatever you call it . . . and narrowing my topic to my dessert making. I'd like to feel like I'm actually offering up some useful information instead of just blabbing on and on about my random thoughts and activities. I'm sure I will sprinkle it well with personal anecdotes and the occasional craft project because it would be impossible for me not to share all these new things I'm learning and experimenting with. I'm also wanting to add some new items to my etsy shop - not more birds, however ( a little burnt on those right now) - but I have to learn how to needlepoint first. Should be no problem right? I know it seems like my eyes are a little bigger than my stomach but that's just how I roll I guess.

So just so I don't lose anyone in the meantime I'll definitely try to post a recipe or two this week so keep an eye out. Thanks for bearing me for a few weeks.