No Apology

So, it has been almost a month since I have posted on either blog.  Without apology.  The end of summer vacation was a stronger draw than the uncomfortable office chair in our warm and stuffy office.  Plus, I have found that if I blog with the sense of obligation, it will feel like a job, a duty, a chore, a chore worse than doing laundry.  So, I blog without obligation, without apology. 
The end of summer was filled with bike rides, a trip to Elitch Gardens Amusement Park, trips to the farmers market, back to school shopping, afternoons at the local pool and making s'mores.  No regrets.
But, I am back.  To share more art, more recipes, more about my little town.

I found this little man of an eggplant at the Isabelle Farm Stand at Thomas Open Space in Lafayette, Colorado.
I asked the farmer who grew the eggplant, how he got "arms" to grow.  He told us he talks to them.  That made me smile, thinking of this young man stooping over to cajole the eggplant into growing appendages.  I am going to have a hard time cutting this one up.  I think he's so cute with his two arms and little hat. 

My favorite way to prepare eggplant is to slice it and grill until soft.  I usually salt the slices and let them sit for a few hours before grilling, that will take out the bitterness.  Grilled eggplant is decadent served with a smear of goat cheese and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar.  But, I like it plain, too.

I may just have to start with the two Japanese eggplant and save the little man another day!

Hearts on a Hike

Last week the girls and I went on a hike.  We went to one of my favorite hiking places, Marshall Mesa Trail.  It's a fairly easy, scenic trail head about 20 minutes from our house.  When we're hiking, we look for things, flowers, birds, and animals.  Just for fun, I suggested we look for hearts.  (inspired by another blogger - who posts Random Hearts - I told my girls that we should take photos of all the hearts we see).  A fairly odd thing to look for, but you would be amazed... I am not sure if we see what we want to see or if they are always there.  Call me crazy if you want, but this is what we found that day. (Be prepared - this is a photo heavy post)

 We spent a few minutes making hearts - and then looking for them. I was surprised at how many hearts we actually found on our hike. We looked for hearts in the rock, leaves, shadows, flowers, and sky.

Petal hearts fallen from this wild rose.

  

Look at the top of this mal-formed flower.

The sightings didn't stop there.

Shadow heart.

Lots of hearts in the rocks.

Graffiti heart in the sandstone.

Lichen heart on a rock.

Look between the girls, a heart worn away in the sandstone.

Take a closer look at that heart.

Worn away in the sandstone.

We found too many rocks and pebbles on the trail - here is just a sampling:

And finally, a heart shaped pool or water as we end our hike.

So, we found some hearts on a hike.  A little cheesy, yes.  A little silly, yes.  But, the proof is in the pictures.

Vacation -

Enjoy vacation -
If you'd like to see more vintage postcards, check out my other blog - Postcards, etc.
Have a great week!

Honored

I am so honored to be recognized by two fabulous bloggers today!  Leah @ Creative Everyday, and Clytie @ Random Hearts, both chose to use a photo of mine on their posts today. 
Thank you, both, very much. 
Check out their blogs for some great inspiration!

(Letter images above from Spell with Flickr)

Recipe - Birthday Cake

I made have made some extra work for myself this year.  I made a "silent" vow to not use boxed cake mixes.  hmmmm.  A challenge, certainly.  Not that I have anything against Betty or Duncan, but I do find that the cakes can be a little boring, a bit too airy if you're getting fancy with carving (as one might do with two girls in the house), and certainly predictable with the 1 cup of oil and three eggs.  I thought, there have to be better options for the modern cook. 
The request was yellow cake and chocolate frosting.  Sounds easy enough.  I turned to the trusty Internet to find a recipe.  I found one for "Best Yellow Layer Cake" at Smitten Kitchen.  I have found other recipes at this site with great success.  This was one to try.

I got out the trusty Kitchen Aid and got to mixing.

Smitten Kitchen's Best Yellow Layer Cake
(adapted from and reprinted following Smitten Kitchen's guidelines.)
Makes two 9-inch round cake layers

4 cups plus 2 tablespoons cake flour (not self-rising)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
4 large eggs, at room temperature
2 cups buttermilk, well-shaken

Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray or butter two 9-inch round cake pans and line with circles of parchment paper, then butter parchment, as she recommends.  I recently ran out of parchment - it's on the grocery list - so I used the old spay and flour method with good results.
Mix together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. In a large mixing bowl (yes LARGE), beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer (here's where the Kitchen Aid came it) at medium speed until pale and fluffy, then beat in vanilla. Add eggs 1 at a time, beat well and scrape down the bowl after each addition. At low speed, add buttermilk until just combined (mixture will look curdled). Add flour mixture in three or four batches, mixing until each addition is just incorporated.

Pour batter equally into cake pan, then tap pan on counter several times to remove air bubbles. Bake  at 350 degrees until golden and a wooden pick inserted in center of the cake comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Cool in pans on a rack 10 minutes, then loosen cake from pan and invert onto rack. Let cake cool completely before frosting.

Cooked Chocolate Frosting

The frosting I used I found last year from Country Living.  It reminds me of my Grandmother's frosting, a bit like buttercream, but not as heavy.  It has a silky, smooth texture and is not too sweet.
1 cup milk
3 tablespoons flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
8 ounce) of dark chocolate or white chocolate
2 sticks butter
1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa, (for white chocolate frosting, omit cocoa)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Whisk 1 cup milk, 3 tablespoons flour, and 1⁄8 teaspoon salt in a small saucepan over medium heat until the mixture bubbles and thickens.  This will take several minutes. Transfer to a small bowl and let cool.

Melt 8 ounces of dark chocolate or white chocolate in a glass bowl in the microwave. Be careful not to scorch it. Set aside to cool.

Beat 1 cup butter, 1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar, and 2 tablespoons cocoa (for white chocolate frosting, omit cocoa) together until light and fluffy. Beat in the cooled chocolate and add milk mixture and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (dark chocolate frosting only) until smooth and fluffy.

The Result
The baked layers were sunken a bit in the middle.  I am sure there is a reasonable explanation for that: the humidity was wrong, or the altitude, or I didn't sift the flour well enough, or the cartwheels I did in the kitchen while baking sunk the middles.  Baking is still a bit of a mystery to me.
My handy dandy solution is to trim the cake a bit, then I spread the bottom cake with a layer of raspberry jam, and then frosting.  A nice and sweet surprise. 
The birthday girl liked the cake.  We all liked the cake.  It did seem a little dense, that's what I was looking for, right?  Yes, I bought the cake flour, maybe the plus 2T was more than I needed.  But, I didn't sift.  I never do.  Is it reall that important?
It was not too sweet, but had a great "yellow cake" flavor. 
I love this frosting.  I started using it last year, when I banned tub frosting from the house.  It can even perk up box mix cupcakes.  The white chocolate version is my favorite.
This is definately a cake I will make again.  And a frosting I will make again.
If you decide to ditch the box cakes, these are two worthwhile recipes to try.

I've linked to Full Plate Thursday and Foodie Friday.  and Sweet Tooth Friday.  Check them out for some more great recipes.

Project - Collage Freebie

Are you making Valentine's Cards this year?  I wish I was, but what a busy week... and my studio is too cold with our temperatures below freezing again.  I always have the best intentions to make cards and mail them out.  Another year, perhaps. 
This is one of my fun, quirky images - from a vintage postcard.  They look a little awkward, don't they?

It would be a cute one to use in a collage or on a card, the postmark on the front reduces its collectible value, but makes it more interesting in a piece of art.  This one is vintage, but was mailed to me in the 80's. To borrow this image for your own art or craft usage, right click and save to your computer. Personal use only, please. Feel free to use it for your collages and Valentine's cards. 
For more post cards, check out my other blog: Postcards, etc.

Blank Canvases

It occurred to me that the name of my blog is art + food + friends.  I haven't talked a lot about art lately.  Er, I haven't talked about my art, lately.  Reason #1: my studio is cold.  That little one room, standing in my back yard, can get pretty darn cold in the winter.  Reason #2:  the holidays sucked up all my time and energy.  Ok, those are excuses.  Maybe even good excuses, but excuses nonetheless.

I have been sneaking time in my studio when I can find a glimmer of a warm-ish afternoon and crank up the space heaters. 

5 x 7 canvas, with woman theme - assembled from inchies. 
I want to add the right quote or word or element in the space above the bottom row. 

I have a gazillion ideas but I  have started on 3 or 4  6 or 7 canvases.  They are still "blank" canvases.  I have a background, I may even have some elements, but they are not finished.  They are all in progress.  I am waiting to find the right word or quotation or element or image to make these come together.

5 x 7 a Cheery canvas, background made from paper inchies
Looking for the right kistchy image and quote

Just to give you a peek, so you'll really believe that I do work on my own art, here's what I've got.

8 x 10 assembled from black and white inchies of various papers.

 I will keep you posted as these canvases evolve.  I hope to get some more time in the studio - but the forecast isn't looking good.

Resolutions

I am not good at making New Year's Resolutions.  Or should I say, I am not good at keeping New Year's Resolutions.  I suppose I am like most of the crowd in that way.
I like to take a different approach.  Make lots of them, then there's a chance that I will meet some of them.  I took this approach with my friend Kerry several years ago.  We made 30 resolutions, together.  I think that we kept most of them.  Well, truth be told, most of them were easy - many even silly.  But actually it was fun to make the list and have something to shoot for - even if it was silly. 
Maybe I will take a more serious approach - ok, somewhat serious approach as I compile a long list of things I want to do this year.
In the year 2011, I want to:

1. make more artwork.
2. hang some of my own art in my home.
3. try new and different recipes to expand my cooking horizons.
4. eat less cheese.
5. exercise on a regular basis - and not get frustrated with the scale.
6. sew some things to use in my home.
7. drink less wine.
8. use up some of the art supplies and fabrics left from our business.
9. be positive.
10. have my daughters do some art projects in the studio.
11. use the things I sew on a more regular basis.
12. not argue with my daughters about the little things.
13. not complain about doing the laundry.
14. find a way to take calories out of cheese.
15. be kind.
16. spend less time on the computer.
17. spend more time in the studio.
18. save money by not shopping.
19. get better at taking, posting and/ or printing photographs of my family.
20. eat more good cheese.
21. find great deals by shopping the sales.
22. send more letters and cards, in the MAIL, to the people I care about.
23. make the cards I send and use.
24. spend more time with extended family.
25. spend more time with special friends.
26. put art into my daily life.
27. be grateful.
28. use special things, everyday.
29. share art.
30. drink more wine.
31. walk with friends often.
32. gracefully handle the fact that I have a middle school aged child.
33. travel.
34. appreciate the people and things around me. And tell them.
35. sell at least one piece of art.

Ok, so it is not a lofty list.  But if I do these things I will improve the quality of my life.  I could also improve the quality of life for my family.  It is not lofty, but it is meaningful.  Isn't that what a resolution should do: be meaningful and improve your life or the life of another? 
So, my goal is to make my world - and that of my family and friends - a kinder, gentler, more artful place.
Happy New Year!

Discovering the undiscovered - Vivian Maier

Do you ever go to yard sales?  Sometimes I do.  Do you ever flip through someones forgotten stuff at an estate sale or flea market.  Sometimes I do.  What if you saw this photograph?

What if it was only in a negative?  Or maybe unseen, in a film canister?  And if there were boxes of them?

Would you recognize the quality and talent?  Would you take a second look?  Would you ask who had made these?  Would you want to find out more?

This is the story of the amazing discovery that John Maloof made as he was at an auction one day.  He found some old photos; and he realized they could be important.

He looked for more from the photographer. He has now accumulated over 100,000 photos, negatives, and film canisters from the until now unknown photographer, Vivian Maier. Maier may turn out to be one of the best street photographers of all time.

Working as a nanny and domestic in Chicago in the 1950's, 60's and 70's, Vivian Maier lived a seemingly uneventful life, but took photographs of everything. Her body of work, still being discovered, is being acclaimed as one of the best collections of street photographs ever compiled.
Eccentric, private and quirky, Vivian Maier was an amazing photographer. I am excited to see her story unfold.




What would you do?

(Photos printed with permission of John Maloof)

Omnivore 100 - re-visit

I first came across this foodie list when I was writing my first blog several years ago.  I completed it - I even had to look up a few of the foods.  This list has traveled foodie blogs worldwide - I thought I would revisit it so that I could see where I stand. 

The Omnivore's 100 came from Jill and Andrew's UK blog Very Good Taste. 
From their blog:
"Here’s a chance for a little interactivity for all the bloggers out there. Below is a list of 100 things that I think every good omnivore should have tried at least once in their life. The list includes fine food, strange food, everyday food and even some pretty bad food – but a good omnivore should really try it all. Don’t worry if you haven’t, mind you; neither have I, though I’ll be sure to work on it. Don’t worry if you don’t recognise everything in the hundred, either; Wikipedia has the answers.
Here’s what I want you to do:
1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.
4) Optional extra: Post a comment here at http://www.verygoodtaste.co.uk/ linking to your results."
The VGT Omnivore’s Hundred:
1. Venison
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn, or head cheese
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects
43. Phaal
44. Goat’s milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
46. Fugu
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs’ legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant.
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake
(PS. The list has generated a lot of questions, so I’ve created an FAQ for it over here!)"

I left their text intact (including the instructions - you'll notice the British spelling), and I left their wikipedia links intact for easy access to information and definitions.  Their list is very thorough.  I wonder if an American foodie list would be a bit different from an UK foodie list?
So, how did you fare?  I had 60 out of 100.  What's your favorite?  What's your least favorite?  Which item would you never try?
If you post your own Omnivore 100, post a link to your blog in my comments section, I would love to see how you did!

Creative Every Day

I strive to be creative every day.  I do this with my cooking, my home, my family, my art.  I even try to devote time every day (even if it is just a half hour) to making some art.  I have been following the Creative Every Day blog  and have wanted to hop on board... until now, I have been too busy to take time to write about it... and some days too busy to be creative.  But, here on day 15 of Creative Every Day Month, I am joining the movement.
So here is today's creativity.  A brief stint in the studio to work on some inchies:



Inchies, in progress.  Some are easy to complete,
others are waiting for the right word or detail to be finished.



These ones are done, I think. 
They will someday be part of a bigger collage or maybe a card. 

10 Things I Learned

Fall is that funny time of year, I look forward to all that it is, cool, colorful, changing, crisp, cozy, but it has its bittersweet bits as well. It is a nostalgic time of year for me. Each fall I find myself thinking about all the things my mom taught me. I never got to thank her for these lessons. With my gratitude for her, I will share them with you:

1. Save everything, you never know when you will need it. I think my studio was meant to be. When we were moving our business into the studio, Kerry and I certainly had a head start getting it set up, with all the wonderful art supplies that my mom had collected over the years. Now it is where I have set up my things: art, sewing, collage, painting.

2. Surround yourself with beautiful things, in the garden, on your walls, in your home. Those things don't have to be expensive, just put care in what you do and how you do them.

3. Never save the good china, silver or crystal for a special day. What is the point of having all those special things if they are hidden away in a cabinet, or in a box?

4. And, if it breaks, that’s okay. After all, they are just things.

5. Always have enough good food and drink in the house to entertain at the drop of a hat.  Anyone who knows me, knows I can throw a party in a minute.

6. Everyone is beautiful, in his own way. This one drove me nuts as a teenager. I actually think it was part of a song lyric from the 70's that my mom tormented me with--does anyone recognize it? Always the optimist, my mom could find beauty in anyone or anything. I appreciate it now.

7. Be inclusive, the more the merrier. Holidays and parties were grand affairs at our house!

8. Never turn away a friend. Whatever a friend or relative needed, my mom was sure to try and accommodate.

9. Laughter is necessary and contagious. My home was always filled with laughter and happiness.

10. Be kind, it’s that simple.

************

I wrote that post three years ago and posted it on the blog I shared with my friend and business partner, Kerry.  I can’t believe that time goes by so quickly.  With just a few minor modifications it still applies today.  The only change is that since then, Kerry and I have closed our jewelry business and no longer run it out of my backyard studio.  The Schoolhouse, as it is known by many, was my mom’s studio dream, and today is where I house all my art supplies and work on collages and such. 

I miss her more than I could express in words.  Sometimes it is too raw and bitter, other times that pain has mellowed.  I hope that I can honor her memory and the lessons she passed on and shared.  Sometimes I need reminders.  Numbers 6 – 10 are so important and so often overlooked in today’s society.  They are a good reminder to me about how I want to live my life and who I want to be.

It has been 12 years since my mom died. It was too soon, so sudden, and we had way too many plans for her to go. But her legacy lives on in so many ways. And I hope that I learned enough of her lessons so that I can continue her vision.

Diabetes Awareness Month

Last year, a very dear friend of ours was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes.  She was 11 at the time.  While I have had several friends who've also have Type 1 Diabetes, I have learned more about this disease in the past year than I had known before.  As the CDC is releasing information that numbers are rising for Type 2 Diabetes, it is important to be aware of Type 1 Diabetes as well.  They are different. 

Our friend, and her family, have learned the ins and outs of Type 1 Diabetes.  They have experienced how people react, how schools handle kids with special circumstances, and how to maintain a healthy and happy lifestyle.  They are now on a life-long journey of living with diabetes.  You can follow their story on the blog Type A Mom Type 1 Kid.

In the meantime, take a look at the information.  It is important to know.  November is Diabetes Awareness Month.  Share what you know, pass this along, spread the word.  Information is the key!

Information from the JDRF – Basic info on type 1 diabetes.  
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. While its causes are not yet entirely understood, scientists believe that both genetic factors and environmental triggers are involved.
Affects Children and Adults
Type 1 diabetes usually strikes children, adolescents, and young adults, but it can be diagnosed in adults as well. It comes on suddenly, causes dependence on injected or pumped insulin for life, and carries the constant threat of devastating complications.
Needs Constant Attention
To stay alive, people with type 1 diabetes must take multiple insulin injections daily or continually infuse insulin through a pump. They must also test their blood sugar by pricking their fingers for blood six or more times a day. While trying to balance insulin doses with their food intake and daily activities, people with this form of diabetes still must always be prepared for serious hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) and hyperglycemic (high blood sugar) reactions, both of which can be life-limiting and life threatening.
Not Cured By Insulin
While insulin injections or infusions allow a person with type 1 to stay alive, they do not cure diabetes, nor do they necessarily prevent the possibility of the disease’s devastating effects, which may include: kidney failure, blindness, nerve damage, amputations, heart attack, stroke, and pregnancy complications.
Difficult to Manage
Despite paying rigorous attention to maintaining a meal plan and exercise regimen and always injecting the proper amount of insulin, people with type 1 diabetes face many other factors that can adversely affect efforts to tightly control blood sugar levels. These factors include stress, hormonal changes, periods of growth, physical activity, medications, illness/infection, and fatigue.


Statistics

• As many as three million Americans may have type 1 diabetes.
• Each year, more than 15,000 children – 40 per day – are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in the U.S.

Warning Signs
Warning signs of type 1 diabetes may occur suddenly and include:

• Extreme thirst
• Frequent urination
• Drowsiness or lethargy
• Increased appetite
• Sudden weight loss
• Sudden vision changes
• Sugar in the urine
• Fruity odor on the breath
• Heavy or labored breathing
• Stupor or unconsciousness

Collage Mistake



Vintage Postcard Collage -
can you find the mistake?

   Yesterday, I posted a collage I made using one of my vintage postcards.  I made this collage a number of months ago, it has hung in the studio for quite a while.  I even had it for sale at our last studio sale.

What is wrong with this picture?

Can you find it?  I attached the quotation in the wrong order.  A simple mistake, surely enough.  What I am embarrassed about is that I never noticed.  I even tried to sell it that way!  Mortified!

What's even more silly is that no one else noticed, or had the nerve to point out my mistake.  I didn't notice until I sat down to write a blog about it.  I have since fixed the collage, and posted a correct photo in yesterday's blogpost. 

Good thing collage is a forgiving medium.  Any mistake can be changed or fixed to suit your every whim.  I used an Exacto knife and cut and scraped the original quote off the collage.  I did cause some damage.  But, the dents and leftover paper bits were easily covered by the new quotation.  A few coats of Mod Podge smoothed everything out.  Good as new!

Treat or Treat!?

I guess I am not the only one who makes mistakes like that.  This is one my daughter noticed as we were putting away Halloween decorations.  It sat in my yard the whole month of October, just like this... none of us noticed.  I have had it for several years... none of us has ever noticed.  It was sold in a store and purchased, and no one noticed.

It's funny how the brain will make those automatic corrections when something is not quite right. 

The lesson I have learned:  Proofread.  I should have known about that one, being and English major and former English teacher.  Proofread.  Proofread. Proofread.  Then have someone else read it, too.  Another pair of eyes never hurts.  I guess I never have thought about needing a proofreader for my art, but it wouldn't hurt.

(And yes, I do proofread my blogs.  But, should you ever find an error, please tell me.  My husband does.)

The Studio, continued

The story unfolds:

As the years passed and the winters came and went, our business had its thriving happy moments. There were times when we could barely keep up with the orders rolling in from our Amazon account and our fingers ached from beading as fast as we could possibly bead.    It was good when we had to borrow chairs from the house to have enough seats and squeeze just one more person to our collage journal class.  Things were thriving when the yard was filled with people for our annual wine and cheese fall party or the annual arts and craft sale where we hosted other artists to sell their craft.  For seven years, two friends ran a tidy little business, making jewelry, teaching art classes, and hosting events.  It was good. 

And the studio has had its sad and lonely lows.  We were disappointed when no one showed up for our holiday sale.   And when we found out that a local mom hijacked one of our classes and taught it at her own home, we were mad.  And as the economy made its downward turn, so did our sales.  Who has money for jewelry, when they are trying to pay the bills?  The message became clear, it was time to move on. 

Through many long, sometimes painful, discussions, Kerry and I decided it was time to close the door on Milagro Jewelry.  It was the right thing to do.  We called the accountant and filed the paperwork.  That was the easy part. 

The hard part came next.  Our very full studio, packed to the rafters with treasures, (papers, beads, blank canvases, ribbon, ephemera, stickers, stamps, embellishments of all kinds) had to be divided.  Like a divorce, but on friendly terms, we have spent many long hours sorting and dividing.  Fortunately, never squabbling over who wants this special paper or that treasured ephemera, we often pass it along to the other.

And now it is done, almost.  And I am reinventing myself and my art in the warm studio that Kerry helped me build.

Kerry continues to create art and craft in her new art and sewing room at her home.  She has her own writing project, too.  You can see what she's up to at Type A Mom Type 1 Kid.

I am excited to see what will happen next.