halloween decor

Yay, I did it!!! Not quite as extensively as I could have but the house is lookin' very Halloweenish ;) I still have a lot of pieces that didn't make the cut this year and I didn't take pictures of everything that I put out this year (gotta save stuff for next year's blog post, right?) but I am sharing some of my faves. I hosted a Mary Kay party last night and took the entire day off to clean and make food. I was so mad at myself this morning when I realized I didn't take pictures during the party or of the delicious food that I made and my wonderful friends made...all displayed in Halloween dishes! Oh well, like I said...save some stuff for next year's post, lol!

I can't forget to show you Buster and Daisy sporting their Halloween bandannas. They were groomed yesterday for the party.....they enjoyed the guests too.....although by the looks of Buster, he must have gotten into the wine!

Last but most importantly, I'd like to share with you one of my favorite sweet treats that my dear Grandma Terry use to make. Hello Dollies were just one of the delicious treats Grandma showered us with when we went to visit her. It was also one of the many hors d'oeuvres last night. (I even ate a couple this morning with my coffee!)  Another down home Missouri recipe.........

Hello Dollies
by Grandma Terry

1 stick butter

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs

1 1/2 cups flaked coconut

1 1/2 cups chocolate chips (I just use the entire bag)

1 cup chopped nuts (I use walnuts)

1 can (15 oz) sweetened condensed milk

Melt butter in 9 x13 pan. Sprinkle graham cracker crumbs, coconut, choc chips and nuts on top and in the order given. Pour milk over all. Bake 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Cool and cut into squares. Enjoy!

happy 74th

Happy Birthday! We love you Dad!

We celebrated my Dad's 74th birthday with a delicious dinner and a yummy coconut cake (& pumpkin pie, too!!). My Mom went all out! Of course while eating seconds of EVERYTHING, I remembered there would be dessert........as you can imagine I was stuffed!!! Speaking of stuffed....I want to share with you my Aunt Marsha's crock pot stuffing recipe which was on the menu for Dad's birthday.....it is THE MOST amazing comfort food on the planet!!

CROCK POT DRESSING

(I always say "stuffing" instead of "dressing"......must be a northern vs. southern thang)

2 or three chicken breasts, boiled and chopped

1 small pan corn bread, crumbled

2 to 3 cups chicken broth

4 eggs

1 can cream of celery soup

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 onion chopped

1 cup chopped celery

1 stick butter (or enough to took onion & celery in)

4 slices of bread, crumbled

1 Tbsp sage or poultry seasoning

salt & pepper to taste

Saute onion & celery in butter. Combine all ingredients. Mix well. Pour into greased crock pot. Cook on high for 30 minutes. Stir & cook on low 3 to 4 hours. Moist & Delicious!! (thank you, Aunt Marsha)

3 out 4....

"Do for Yourself"

18"x 24" acrylic over collaged papers

©Teresa Kogut, all rights reserved

So my goal this week was to paint 4 acrylic paintings.......3 out of 4 isn't too shabby. Above is just one of the three I painted......a good ole' Abraham quote again. This is a quote we all need to live by and I find it a good one to remember as a Mom. I find satisfaction in doing things for my children (now 18 and 13)....I can't help it.....but it is more than satisfaction, it is a natural instinct of wanting to take care of them, nurture them, make their life easy and enjoyable. I've been doing it since they were born and the transition from "doing for them" to "doing for themselves" is not an easy one, but I'm workin' on it :)

it WILL happen......

No Halloween decorations as of yet!!! I have been busy every night....including tonight (quilt class with Mom and Renee). Seems almost ridiculous at this late date to even put out Halloween decorations! However, I must, and here is the reason....well reasons.....1) I didn't decorate the past two years because of being "too busy" and I have some awesome Halloween decorations! I miss seeing them!! 2) Our boys (ages 18 and 13) are getting older and some day (sniff, sniff) will be out on their own and I want them to have fond memories of the holidays 3) I am having a Mary Kay party next Friday and would be great fun to have the house all decked out!!  Good reasons, right?!?!? 

So this weekend somewhere amongst the laundry, house cleaning, cooking, developing classroom projects for the school's auction dinner and studying for Sunday evening's Edge youth group meeting I WILL decorate!  Oh, and now that I posted it here for all the world to see......consider it done :)

another grungy halloween

"All Hallows Eve"

10x10 acrylic on cradled board

©Teresa Kogut, all rights reserved

I love painting Halloween images....and I am really lovin' the grungy process on my last two paintings. Now I just need to take the time to get our house in the Halloween spirit!! I am so late with decorating this year! I plan to start tonight just doing little by little each night til it's done.....I am hoping by the weekend it is finished. I will share photos when I am done :)

lovin' some grungy primitive.....

"Merry Halloween"

10x10 acrylic on cradled board

©Teresa Kogut, all rights reserved

Ok, blogger friends.......those of you who follow my blog can see that my art is all over the place!! I use to worry about this.....thinking maybe I should be more focused on a "look" or "style". As far back as I can remember, I have loved all kinds of art. I can appreciate different mediums.... oil, acrylic, pastel, watercolor, collage, mix media and different styles......landscape, portrait, whimsical, primitive, realism, etc. It only makes sense that I like to dabble in all different kinds of art as well.

One of my favorite things to do is visit art galleries. It's a delight for the eyes...... I stand in front of a painting for several minutes to look at the brush strokes and detail, just soaking it all in while everyone else is moving on. Recently, while on our anniversary trip, Kevin and I were visiting a gallery in Sutton's Bay and we were admiring a talented artist's versatility. He painted in different mediums and in a few different styles.....all done very well. It made me feel more at ease with the fact that I do the same thing.....so now instead of feeling like I should focus on a specific "look", I am embracing my versatility. 

look who's 50.....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY WONDERFUL HUSBAND

& BEST FRIEND!!

Kevin celebrated his 50th birthday yesterday surrounded by family. He never wants the traditional birthday cake so I make his favorite...pumpkin pie! We also had apple crisp......so yummy! We shared many laughs due to the funny "over the hill" type cards and just enjoyed each other's company.

Here's to another 50!!

blessings to ewe....

©Teresa Kogut, all rights reserved

Another fun Christmas pattern done! I LOVE sheep and this lil' guy is so darling sporting his winter hat. This punchneedle actually could stay out all winter.... it doesn't "scream" Christmas, right? Available at my website. Also, just a head's up,  I asked Rich to make some of these little cutting boards (pictured above) to attach your finished punchneedle to......that seems to be the question I often hear......what do I do with my finished pieces? 

Here is my "finishing" routine......I trim the extra weaver's cloth leaving approximately 3/4", then put fabric glue around the back edge of the punchneedle. Start with the corners and fold them at a diagonal,  hold until it "sticks", then fold over the four sides. Next, I put a piece of plastic, such as a ziploc bag, on top of it and place something heavy on it so it dries flat. I usually let it dry or several hours......then using a permanent marker, I color the edge of the weaver's cloth that will be showing when you adhere it to your wood, purse, etc.  Most of the time a black permanent marker will work but if not, I try to match the marker to the color of the last punched row of floss.

There are other ways to finish the edge but this works very well and it the easiest way I have found to finish a piece. Finally, using the fabric glue again, I cover the back of the punchneedle with lines of glue along the edge of the piece and center as well **Be careful not to get too much glue toward the edge as it can squeeze out and will show.....not a good look** Then flip the piece right side up and center it on your substrate whether it is a wood cutting board, antique butter paddle, cradled board (available at Dick Blick), felted purse, a piece of wool (then frame without glass), etc. Again, place something heavy on it until it dries, and viola!!! you have a beautiful finished punchneedle embroidery to display in your home or give as a gift :)

HAPPY PUNCHING!!

new wood products on Etsy

I am soooo excited to finally have Rich's wood products up on Etsy! Rich is my dear friend's nephew. He is a self-taught talented craftsman paying close attention to quality and detail. Once Rich is finished making the piece we finish them here in my studio using a special painting technique to give the piece a worn antique look. You can check them out here.

October give away

Christmas cards!!!! It's never too early to start writing out your Christmas cards.....maybe I should start now to ensure I get them all done this year!! These cards were created from my original watercolor "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" that I painted for the 2012 From the Heart calendar published by Legacy Publishing Group. You will receive 20 cards and 20 coordinating envelopes (notice how cute the envelopes are ;) in a keepsake box. In the past I have used the box to put a present inside the following Christmas. All you have to do to enter the drawing is post a comment below or on my facebook page. Good Luck! Drawing will be announced by November 1st.

Tis the season.....

©Teresa Kogut, all rights reserved

to start making Christmas gifts!!!!  Love this patriotic Santa. I tried something different this time. I randomly punched four colors of floss for the background....reminds me more of a hooked rug....which we all love, right? Adding this little guy to my website today if you are ready to get punchin'!! Click here.

Tomorrow......announcing the October give away!!!