Imperfection is beautiful!

I recently had the pleasure of taking a KC Willis class at one of my favorite little shops here in OKC, Paper Crown! I met KC online last year when I took her Collage Camp workshop. We became friends on facebook and the rest is history! Finally getting to meet her, in the flesh was such a treat. We both feel like we've known each other a long time...kindred spirits!

I titled this piece "Imperfection"...it just seemed to fit!

Me and KC...LOVE her!

The beautiful thing about this class was... KC just put a blank canvas in front of me. I added the background fabrics, she gave me some direction and let me
SOAR!

Crazy patchwork hearts!

After I machine stitched all the little pieces in place. This was time consuming, but well worth it.   

I added vintage buttons and lace....

More do dads! I wish you could feel all the different textures.

KC said, "there are NO seam rippers in class...no ripping out stitches." You get what you get. I LOVE  that. A lesson in letting go and seeing the beauty in the imperfect. 

I had to add in a few "clumpies", strips of fabric, an old doily, and millinery flowers.  Clumpies are what you get in your washing machine when you wash canvas and the edges fray. You're left with this AMAZING ball of clumped up thread!

There it is...my BEAUTIFUL "imperfect" wall hanging! It measures 29"x 21". 

Thank you, KC, for a WONDERFUL day! For sharing your secrets, your knowledge, your amazing talent and your heartfelt stories!

Just Like Grandma Used to Do...

I've always enjoyed hand embroidering. My mother did it, her mother did it, and I'm sure my great grandmother did, as well. There's just something soothing about holding a threaded needle in your hand and turning out something beautiful!

I took Home Ec in junior high school and of course we had certain sewing projects we had to complete. When we were given a free for all project, I chose embroidery. I embroidered all over a pain of denim jeans. And I mean ALL OVER!!! This was the 70's, so it was a hot stuff! In high school, I embroidered roses on denim shirts. I even had a guy pay me to embroider a shirt, yellow roses, for him. Still, one of my favorite things were the kitchen t-towels, as my mom called them. White cotton flour sacks great for drying dishes. 

I came across a pattern at our local quilt store awhile back for these t-towel patterns. One for each day of the week. Cute cottage flower pots! Then you add a scrap of your favorite fabric to a corner and stitch it with a blanket stitch all around the towel. I'm so in love with these! I've collected these "days of the week" towels over the years from antique shops. When I hold one in my hands, I can't help but wonder what the women were like who took the time to sit and stitch and maybe reflect on their life. Here I go getting all nostalgic and sentimental! Where's my kleenex? :)

Monday

I Should Have Flipped This One Around

Tuesday In The Works

There's a Lot of French Knots!



HAPPY STITCHING!

The House That Love Built

I made this collage for my sweet step-daughter, Tori, for her birthday. I didn't have a plan in mind when I started it. I wanted to try some new techniques, well new for me, for the background. I painted the background and then did some "glazing."  I added a page from an old book and removed part of it and glazed with another color. I wasn't too sure I liked it until I turned the canvas around and suddenly saw a tree evolving. It was then that I got EXCITED!

The rest just took off from there...

The House That Love Built

The tire came from a model car my hubby was building.
It was a "spare!"

My Grandsons, Riley and Blake
Aka: Rooster and Hootie Bob!

Tori and WONDERFUL hubby, Chris!

Eldest grandson, Jon!

So happy you like it, Tori!

                                                                                 

Lemons and Blueberries Make My Heart Sing!

There's just something about lemons and blueberries mixed together that make me happy! Maybe it's the vibrant colors or the way the flavors dance around on my palate, but I can't get enough of these two. Anytime I find a recipe for this delightful duo, I've got to try it.  Hence this 3 layer cake....

It's a LOT of work, but well worth it, so here we go...

THE CAKE

2 cups plus 6 tbsp flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt

Sift all together and set aside

In a small bowl, mix....
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup whole milk
2 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 tsp pure lemon extract
1 tsp lemon zest

Three cups of fresh blueberries tossed with 1 tbsp of the flour mixture                        

Fresh lemon zest

THE CURD

6 large egg yolks, separated
Zest of one lemon
1/2 cup of lemon juice
3/4 cup of sugar
1 stick of butter, cold, cut into pieces

Fresh lemon juice and zest

Cooking the lemon curd

Combine egg yolks, lemon juice, lemon zest and sugar in a small sauce pan.   Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until thick. The curd should be thick enough to cover the back of the spoon, about 5-7 min.

Poor the curd into a shallow pan and cover with plastic wrap; directly on top of the curd to keep a film from forming.  Wrap tightly with plastic over the top and refrigerate until cooled.

FROSTING

1 cup softened butter
2 tsp lemon zest
5-6 cups powdered sugar
2 oz fresh lemon juice
6 tbsp whipping cream
1/2 tsp pure lemon extract
2 tbsp water
Pinch of salt
Yellow food coloring, optional

Cream the butter and lemon zest in a bowl, about 3 minutes. Slowly add the powdered sugar, mixing on low speed about 2 minutes.  Add remaining ingredients and mix on high for 3-4 minutes until fluffy.

Layer the cake with the lemon curd between the layers. This is kind of tricky. I frosted the edges as I was doing this to keep the curd from oozing down the sides. Finish frosting after you've layered it all. Garnish as you please. I was so tired from being in the kitchen all day, I just sprinkled with some yellow sugar and added some lemon rind. Worked for me!

ENJOY!
It's SO good!