Direct checkout on Etsy site

Guess what ? I am so excited, the Artsy Clutch now offers Direct Checkout and excepts Etsy gift cards. If you don't know what this means , I'll tell you.
Instead of going through an off site account like Papal you can make your purchases in one place with your credit card at my Etsy site. For me that is Big, I have been on the fence about changing up who I went through, don't really know why as I trust Etsy for purchasing items this way, I guess I thought it would mean they would get more money, which they do sort of, but in today's age who doesn't.
Craft shows are over,Thank Goodness... a lot of effort, not big in rewards;YET, I am getting my name out there I suppose.
I can't believe Thanksgiving is next week. Happy Thanksgiving!!!!
The year is winding down, what will 2013 hold. A new year , a new start, new adventures etc. Kind of exciting.

I now have 46 items listed on my Etsy site. Just getting them there have been an effort. I tried making a catalog with my purses, descriptions , prices etc.  in WORD, then I could copy and paste to make it easier when I am listing a new items, but this just isn't working. An easier way has to be out there. Suggestions?

Its Friday, the start of a new weekend, tomorrow I am taking my mother-in-law Christmas shopping & for a girls day out while the boys are building a glass closed in porch at the farm. (Such a small area, its best to stay out of the way.) We started doing this about four times a year when they moved to TN, its a good way to bond , I enjoy it I think she does too.
We haven't been out at the farm in the last month, I miss seeing the woods changing colors for the season. Looking for new sink holes or seeing which ones have sunk even further in.

If I can get it to work I'll leave you with a fun picture from this time last year.
You really need to watch the "varmints" coming off the hill at Twilight, they'll a little crazy at times.
Hey JAMO this ones for you.... AA

-TNfrmgrl

Biscuits Baking Old vs .New

Biscuits, brown and buttery. who doesn't like a good one.

A few weeks ago I had the chance to try a late 1800-early 1900 biscuits recipe. I like to cook but,what I really like is to read about the histories of old recipes and try them if I have the ingredients. ( which I confess isn't often)

 Anyway, I set off and got the ingredients, made the dough like it said, called my mother-in0law for the oven temps, because this old recipe was for a wood stove, cut out these perfectly even circles with m y new wooden cutter and proceeded to bake. They rose a little, browned a little, smelled yummy, took them out and guess what they were very dry, not too bad tasting and defiantly not hard as rocks, but a good buttery biscuit, Alas No they were not. more like eating a really, really thick cracker.

Here is the recipe note the items in () are today's ingredient equivalents, other wise it is written like it was given to me.

Soda Bisquits circa 1890-1920
ingredients: 1 cup flour, 1/2 tsp baking powder , 1/4 tsp soda ( baking soda), 1/2 tsp salt ,
 lard (Crisco) , sour milk (buttermilk)

Sift all ingredients in a small bowl with spoon. Add a good rounded TBSP of lard (Crisco Shortening). Mix it with flour with a spoon. Add enough sour milk (buttermilk) to make dough stiff enough to m kae dough, pat out on floured board and cut out  into bisquit shape.

Now what isn't added is to cook today set oven to 400 bake until brown about 12-14 minutes.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you want a more modern take try this one out, though it was listed as and old fashion recipe, take not of the measurement of the ingredients used  a big difference in looks and especially in taste.
Flaky, Buttery Biscuits

ingredients: 3 cups flour, 4 1/2 tsp. Baking powder, 2 TBSP Sugar, 3/4 tsp. Cream of Tartar
1/2 tsp. Salt, 3/4 cup cold butter ( I used unsalted) , 1 whole egg slightly beaten,
1 cup whole milk ( I used 1/2 milk 1/2 buttermilk)

Heat oven 400-450

Mix all dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Cut in cold butter until pea sized.
Mix egg and milk(s) in small bowl then add to dry ingredients. Combine until mixture forms a soft ball, ( I mix with my hands as this is the easiest for me.) Turn out onto a floured surface and pat down until it is about 1/2 -3/4 inch thick, using cutter or open end of glass jar cut out your biscuits and place onto ungreased baking sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes until golden. Enjoy!

I got this recipe from www.tastykitchen.com

This is an awesome recipe and I hope you enjoy both. I will try the first one again, just make some modern day swaps in it though. Have fun... until we talk again. - TNfrmgrl

Craft shows ???!!!!

Okay, we know the first craft show of the 2012 season was a bust, but here we go again,,Tomorrow I have sent several pieces with my father in-law to Alabama for a show at Our Lady of Sorrow Church and school craft show. He makes wooden toys and thought my washer necklace's and needle felted clutches would be a nice soft factor to help sell his toys , breaking down the hardness and all. Kind of a hard and soft look if you will.
I am presenting at the Elzie D. Patton Expo in Mt. Juliet , TN next weekend. This is looking to be a fun filled day for everyone. I was quite impressed and surprised when I received a call earlier this week from the chairperson to make sure i was still attending and to answer any questions I would have. That was awesome.

A view from inside my craft show tub

A new  fun necklace made for Fall from felt scrapes

Craft Show

Don't you hate it when you get so excited about something, then the let-down happens.

This craft show that I have been working getting stuff made for was a real disappointment, we drove 1 1/2 hours with stop over night at the farm , got up and on the road by 6am to travel another hour, I sold NOTHING!!!! Lots of lookers, talked to several, told them about my craft, but didn't make one sale. HK sold two monkey fist key fobs & my father-in-law sold several items.

Disappointed big time, we all came home, ate dinner and were in bed before eight o'clock PM.

Of course it started out raining but by the time we set up and the festival opened the rain was gone and the day, while on the cool side turned out very nice. We had a great spot as we were the second to the front where everyone had to pass by to get in or go out.
Here are a couple of pictures of our booth.

Lots of color, maybe I should have made more different levels.

the other side of my table.

 

 

 

This was Pops side of our booth, we even added another table for him after the rain passed.
He builds wooden toys for all ages.

Nine days later

It's been nine days, since my last post, and I have been a busy bee.

64+ Washers inked, 10 new clutch wallets ( to the 40 I already have done); 3  (2 necklaces + 1 purse)  donation to our church  annual youth fish fry,One week of revamping the book store I work for ( we are rearranging every book row, kiosk, etc. in 5 days, we are on day three...) The craft show sale is 16 days and counting. I'm pooped!! Many, many,  many more to make.





After two years on my inspiration board It hit and I finally made this one into a clutch.

This one is called Fireworks, It was free form machine stitched in a firework pattern then beads added onto each burst point.

Swirls, Swirls and more swirls

Power of the PINK ! Pink is so happy and feminine.

Starfish, Poinsettia.. you decide it just FUN!


Anyway, Thats it for today.

Oh yeah a little political humor to lighten up your day..