Signs of Spring - Spring Paintings

The signs of spring are all around us. The birds are chirping and are busy building nests at our home. Every year, we have a persistent bird that insists on building a nest in our front door wreath. This year I decided to forego the wreath until a later date, so that we don't scare the bird or vice versa. However, she wasn't daunted by the missing wreath and has decided to build her nest on the ledge above the door. C'est la vie.

Also with the arrival of Spring, I have been working on some bowls for Old Country Store and the People's Place Quilt Museum located in Intercourse, PA along with a few spring paintings for Dutchland Galleries also located nearby (in Kitchen Kettle Village).

When I'm not painting, I enjoy gardening. Yesterday, my husband and I planted our potatoes and carrots in our vegetable garden. We will also fill our butler boxes with new strawberry plants this year for next year's harvest and plant some blueberry bushes. I also sowed a long row of sunflower seeds on the side flowerbed along the house in hopes of producing a sunflower painting this summer.

Snowman Sugar Cookies - Art & Recipe

If you are a last minute baker like me, why not try my new sugar cookie recipe. This soft and chewy cookie is a great crowd pleaser. If you don't have time to decorate them with the craisins and candied orange peel, simply scoop them with your smallest cookie dough baller, shape them in a ball and roll them in sugar, place balls on ungreased baking sheet and bake for 6-8 minutes.

Snowman Sugar Cookies

1 C butter, softened

1-1/2 C white sugar

3/4 C Brown Sugar

3 eggs + 1 egg yolk

1 t vanilla extract

4 C all-purpose flour

2 t baking powder

1 t salt

additional white sugar, for rolling

craisins, chopped in half (optional)

candied orange peel, cut in triangles (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter and sugars together. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Add flour, baking powder and salt. Chill at least 1 hour. Form dough into small walnut-sized balls and roll in sugar. Press down slightly on ungreased cookie sheet to decorate with craisins and candied orange peel. Bake on top oven rack for 6-8 minutes or until tops crack and are just turning color. Cool on pan for 2-3 minutes then remove to cooling racks. Makes 5 dozen.

You can purchase this keepsake recipe art card at http://zazzle.com/starlitestudios*

Red Folk Art Houses and Barns

There's something about the color red. Two new paintings are now available at S. Clyde Weaver Cafe in East Petersburg, PA. Each feature red barns and houses. Paintings are available at the Cafe until the end of the year.

December 2011

At our house we have been busy getting ready for Christmas. I am doing a lot of baking for gifts. I also just finished creating and testing a new soft and yummy recipe for my "Snowman Sugar Cookies." I have created art to go along with the recipe. This first collectible art recipe card is now available in my zazzle store (see store below). It includes a beautiful photo of my painting with the ingredients and the full recipe inside the card. The art recipe note card size fits perfectly in a 4x6 file. You can also purchase extra cards of the recipe, make a batch of cookies and give the card and cookies as a gift for your friends and neighbors. Watch for other art recipe cards to come in the near future. They are a nice and affordable way to collect my art and recipes that you can enjoy for years to come. I will offer 12 collectible cards per year. The first collection is "Comfort Food" recipes.

I have also finished several new paintings for Dutchland Galleries (see photos above) and my art is still showing at S. Clyde Weaver Cafe in East Petersburg, PA. throughout December. I have several new winter original paintings available for sale along with prints. "Help The Fight" fundraising print is still available. Contact me via email at starlitestudios.art@gmail.com for more info. Blessings to you all at Christmas!