Weekend Journal

Christmas Commission

We're slowly putting the Christmas holiday behind us as the approaching new year takes precedence over those festivities, and I can finally share the painting commission I completed as a holiday gift.  I know the recipient, Julie, reads these posts, so I certainly didn't want to spoil her Christmas present from her sweet hubby!

This sugar skull painting is a 24" x 36" acrylic on canvas and has found a home in Julie's purple dining room.  It looks fantastic in it's new home, if I do say so myself!  I love doing commissions for them as I'm always given complete freedom of creativity with minimal parameters.  This is the fifth painting I've done for their new home, and it's beginning to look like an "An'Angelia Museum".  They're excited to have them and so am I!

Grandma Gertie's Sour Cream Cookies

Remember the sour cream cookies I made for Keith from his grandmother's recipe?  Well, Cynthea kindly asked me to share the recipe, so here it is.

                                 1 cup butter                                      2 cups sugar      
                                 3 eggs                                              1 cup sour cream
                                 1 Tbsp baking powder                        1 Tbsp baking soda
                               *5 cups flour

Preheat oven to 350.  Cream butter and sugar together until nice and fluffy.  Add the eggs, one at a time, until well blended.  Add the sour cream and stir until well blended.  In a separate bowl, add the baking powder and baking soda to the flour.  Gradually add the flour to the butter mixture and incorporate thoroughly.  Drop by big spoonfuls onto baking sheets. (I use parchment paper).  Bake for 10-12 mins.  (My oven runs true to temperature and I bake for 10 mins.) Makes approximately 4 1/2 dozen. Grandma Gertie always rolled these cookies, but Keith's mom used the drop method and so do I.  To roll them like Grandma, use *6 cups of flour.  Enjoy!

MORE Paper Beads!

My muse is a bit of a maniac, but I love her anyway!  It seems she's obsessed with making these paper beads now.  She just wouldn't be content until she painted her own paper for cutting and rolling.  I have to say, I love them!

She actually used glitter glue on these beads, and bright yellow and purple paper is currently drying to make more.  I have NO idea what we'll do with all these beads, but I'm sure they'll be used for something wonderful.

Pillows, Pillows Everywhere!

My Thursday morning art journaling class began making fabric pillows to make Teesha Moore inspired art journals.  Have you seen her wonderful creations?  Have a look HERE.  We've exchanged fabric with each other, and it's been a lot of fun sewing and stuffing our little pillows in class.  I can't wait to see what everyone does!  Meanwhile, I'm just enjoying my bright, cheerful, quilted bundles of colorful goodness and wondering what direction my muse will take with mine.

Looking Back/Looking Forward

I like this week between Christmas and New Year.  It's like taking a long bubble bath after an invigorating day in the hot sun.  Relaxing in the warm bubbles soothes the soul and offers time for reflection of the day's activities.  Snuggling into clean, fresh pajamas lifts the spirit and is the next step towards restful sleep and new beginnings.

My girlfriend, Heather, sent me an email to 2 wonderful worksheets for reflecting back on 2011 and looking forward to 2012.  I think that you'll like them, too!  They come from Eileen at Transformaginal.com. and I hope you'll have a look as I think you'll find them to be great inspiration for journal pages.  The links for the worksheets are towards the bottom of the page.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I hope each and every one of you has a wonderful 2012 filled with good health and prosperity.  I hope you seize each moment as an opportunity for something wonderful, and I hope you overcome any obstacle placed in your way.  I hope you journey with me through another year of Angelia's Art Journals, and I hope our relationship continues to blossom through our sharing.  I hope you "Celebrate, LOVE, and Create!" EVERY day in 2012. ♥