New Offerings on Early Work Mercantile!

I'm excited to announce my new offerings on Early Work Mercantile! 

Come on over and check them out!  Don't forget to visit the other wonderful artists!Early Work Mercantile

My New - Old Shelf

Here are some pictures of the new shelf that my son Sam made for me. It was definitely a family project. After Sam sanded it, it was my turn!  First, I painted the shelf with olde ivory paint. After it was dry, I rubbed it with beeswax anywhere I wanted it to show wear, especially the edges. Next, I painted it black all over and let it dry again. Now for the fun part! I used a heat gun to melt the wax and quickly rubbed it off with a lint free rag.  (Not the scrapbooking kind of heat gun, that would take too long!)  It takes a while to do but it is so much easier and less messy than sanding!



Mr. M added the hooks and hung the shelf!  I loved the shelf I had here before but it just wasn't functioning well for the space.  This new shelf gives me more room for decorating on top and a place to hang coats in the winter.  Not that I'm talking the old shelf down.....It could hold a lot of keys!

Don't feel bad for the old girl, she has a place reserved out in the cabin.

( The lantern lights hanging on the shelf are by Chris Mathis of Walnutridge Primitives

The milliner's head is by Norma Schneeman of Schneeman Folk Art  The black gloves left there by one of my sons?......Priceless! )

Pumpkin Cake

Also known as pumpkin squares.  I love pumpkin in most any incarnation but always found pumpkin squares lacking in flavor.  This recipe has more of a pumpkin pie flavor and is pretty quick and easy to make!  I hope you enjoy the recipe!

Pumpkin Cake

15 oz can of pumpkin

2C. sugar

1/2 C. canola or Veg. oil

1/2 C. apple sauce

4 eggs beaten

2 C. flour

2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tps. salt

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

1/8 tsp. ginger

1/8 tsp. ground cloves

(Set aside 1 stick of butter and an 8oz. block of cream cheese to soften. This is for the frosting!)

Beat pumpkin, sugar and oil.  Add eggs, mix well.

Mix together the dry ingredients and add to pumpkin mixture.  Mix until well blended. Pour into greased 10x15 sheet pan and bake for 25-35 min at 350° Cool and frost with cream cheese frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting



1 stick of butter

8oz cream cheese

1 1/2 tsps. vanilla

2 1/4 C. powdered sugar

1 - 4 tsp. milk

Beat softened cream cheese and butter until well mixed.  Mix in vanilla.  Add powdered sugar.  Add milk to desired consistency.

The little jack O'lantern's are marzipan.  If you want to make them,  just buy a package of marzipan dough, some orange paste food coloring and a little tube of black frosting.

Color part of the marzipan with the paste food color.  Roll into small balls and add details using a toothpick.  I also used the toothpick to get the black frosting into the facial features.  I used a little plain marzipan to add a stem to the top.

Tuesday Display Chain

The theme of today's "Tuesday Display Chain" hosted by Misi of Gable House Musings, is "Make-Do."

There is a saying: "Use it up....wear it it out...make it do or do without."

In modern times we often have the advantage of buying something we need to accomplish a specific task.

In times past people didn't have a store around the corner or perhaps the money to buy new things.
People would re-use, repurpose and mend the things they had.

My first two pictures are of a true make-do.

An apple butter paddle repurposed as a scrubber to clean the kettle.

 

I made this seed bag in true make-do fashion. Repurposed from a timeworn quilt, it is made from antique calico.

The patch was copied from an old feedbag and the drawstring is a piece of cotton cording.

 

I found this box at my favorite antique mall. I didn't have a specific idea what I would use it for but I had never seen one like it before!

 I finally decided that it would make a fine towel holder in my kitchen.

 

Next, we have a wonderful make-do pincushion made by my dear friend Teresa of
 Aunt Polly's Attic.

The make-do is attached to a wooden base and stuffed with scraps. I added my collection of antique picture pins.

The last two pictures are make-do quilt racks that I made using apple butter paddles and old wooden tools.

I wanted something unique to hold my quilts and coverlets. The instant I saw the wooden tools, I knew I had found my brackets!

I hope you enjoyed today's theme!  Check out all the fantastic displays at:
 Gable House Musings.

Fall Update on Picturetrail

I will be having my last Fall 2010 update tomorrow 10/15/10 at 12:00 pm Central time on my picturetrail site.

I want to say thank you to all my customers and friends who take the time to look at my Picturetrail site and my blog, it means so much to me.

Have a great Fall evening!

Catherine

Two Colors

Misi over at Gable House Musings is doing a display chain.  This is new to me but I will give it a try!  Can you guess what my two colors will be?  LOL

Halloween Shadow Box

Here is a picture of my old window shadow box revamped for Halloween.

I kept some elements of the original display and added to them. I added witches hats and shawls to my Art Fabric Mills dolls and a black cheese cloth drape and candle to my silhouettes.

Crows on the loose!

I went out on the porch this morning and what did I find?  The crows had gotten loose from their cage!  I soon found them hanging out in other spots on the porch!  I figured that they were happier that way, so I left them to their own devices.  If you want a pet crow of your own check out the Great interpretations page on my website! 

Just Be-Caws!

I know the title sounds a little corny but..... I Found this amazing, HUGE cage in the barn and thought it would be a great decoration filled with my crows for Halloween!  Unfortunately my cabin loft was just an inch or so too short to accommodate it.  I decided to take a picture anyway.  I think it would also be perfect in a cavernous hall as a light fixture!