ANGEL TREASURE BOX

NOSTALGIC CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS

Time to open the Christmas Angel Box.

One day, way back in about 1973, I found an enchanting pattern for Victorian dolls. Back then, patterns were sometimes placed in the inside sections of magazines. I can’t recall which magazine it actually was in but when I first saw them, I knew I wanted. to embroider a set of these delightful dolls. I turned them into tree ornaments for each of my children.

Embroidered Victorian ornaments, representing each of my children

Kelli's ornament

Charlie's ornament

Kirsten's ornament

Cam's ornament

I even embroidered the back side

These Victorian ornaments have been placed on our Christmas tree every year. I can’t even imagine decorating a tree without them. This year I had an idea as I took them out of the box I made for special ornaments.

Why not create another set for my grandchildren? Tightly woven off white material can be purchased from a fabric shop. Embroidery thread is also easily found in every color imaginable. Stamping was not heard of when I created the original dolls but now there are hundreds of exciting rubber stamps available. Stamps of children or adults, not necessarily Victorian this time, can be used with an ink stamping pad to create the base to embroider.

Linen fabric, rubber stamps, pad and embroidery thread.

The front and back can be stamped and sewn together and then embroidered.

I have started making the ornaments but it is doubtful I will finish them for this Christmas since there is so much yet to do.

There is something almost supernatural in the way the week before Christmas unfolds. Each year is magical in it’s own way. I hope to capture a bit of that enchantment to share with you. I know most are busy creating their own special Christmas but I hope you will visit me again in a few days for “The Magic of Christmas.”

ARTISAN BREAD

5 MINUTES A DAY NO - KNEAD METHOD

Crusty, crunchy crust and soft interior!

I passed by the magazine rack at Lowe’s the other day and spotted an issue of Mother Earth News. I hadn’t bought a copy of that magazine for many years but the caption and picture on the front cover prompted me to turn the pages. Here was an article about how to create healthy, no-knead bread. After reading a bit I immediately purchased it.

The article features Jeff Hertzberg and Zoe Francois and how they developed the idea of creating these tantalizing no- knead breads. They have a book out titled Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day. The breads featured in Mother Earth are from their new book, Healthy Bread in 5 Minutes a Day.

I googled the books and found that the twosome are featured all over the internet. King Arthur Flour Company also has printed the recipe on their site.

After watching the video of Zoe and Jeff actually making the bread on one site, I was sold.

I tried to follow the recipe given. I don’t own measuring spoons so almost everything I do involving recipes is educated guesswork from decades of baking. I also didn’t measure the flour as accurate as I probably should have but I have to tell you, my bread was remarkably delicious.

Dough mixed and ready to rise

Dough rising on pizza peel

Dough after being sliced with sharp knife

The finished product.

And to think, all I have to do at this point is take the bowl out of the fridge and pinch off as much dough for as many loaves as I need for the day. I then let the bread rise 45 minutes and bake.

Bread ready to be placed in refrigerator for future use

I can’t wait to try the healthy versions of this base recipe.

I plan to purchase the new book soon.

Here is my version of the recipe but for more details you may want to go to King Arthur Flour. Double click for a better view.

CHRISTMAS VILLAGE

CHRISTMAS VILLAGE

ROANOKE THROUGH THE AGES

Roanoke through the ages snow village

When my grandchildren were young, yet old enough to remember, we started another family tradition. We decided to create a unique Christmas Village. The village is of our own town of Roanoke. The children and I decided to make it not only a winter village but one that depicts Roanoke in various time frames. It is Roanoke through the ages. In creating the village, we also strive to add items to our collection that represent our own lives.

Every December we all load up in my art car, B-dazle, and begin our search for a new treasure.

B-Dazle

The Christmas store has an entire array of many different styles and themes for Christmas villages. It is there we visit every December in anticipation of finding something new and exciting.

Zack, Beth, Alli and Marcy

One year we found the Hotel Roanoke, which is an exact replica of our historical hotel.

Hotel Roanoke

Another year, we purchased the famous Roanoke star.

Mill Mountain Star

There was the year we found a zoo and called it Mill Mountain Zoo.

Mill Mountain Zoo

Happy's Flea Market

We found a flea market and named it “Happy’s” which is where I spend a lot of time looking for embellishments for my work.

Here is our Ferris wheel

Santa's workshop with Santa and reindeer

Santa’s workshop is always placed in the higher elevations with Rudolph leading the way down to help deliver toys.

Skater's pond

This year we found what might be the most unusual scene for our village yet. It is a depiction of a flying saucer landing! It is equipped with an FBI truck, yellow sticker tape, policemen, green aliens and an astronaut approaching them. The saucer lights up as well as the capsule with a green alien.

Alien landing

After the trip to the store, we assemble the item and place it in the village. The village is only brought out once a year by my oldest granddaughter, Marcy, whom I lovingly call “Miss Christmas.” Marcy walks in the door, flips on the Christmas music and begins decorating Woodloft, my home. She enjoys decorating the Christmas table, that is filled with angels, but the village is her favorite challenge. At the end of Christmas, Marcy carefully repacks each piece.

Marcy creating the village

On the day we shop for our Christmas Village addition we traditionally also make my great Aunt Myrtle’s sugar cookies. I’m sure these cookies are pretty much like any sugar cookie but there is something special about pulling out her old recipe and paying homage to her that adds to the cookie making.

Can you imagine what my kitchen looks like after the cookie baking each year?

More cookies-another year

My hope for the village is that someday, when and if I ever downsize (which seems unlikely since I’m still upsizing) the village will be divided among the children. Each will take turns in choosing those precious items to take home to their own families. Each child will have a memory associated with the village and a memory of our time together.

Here is my Aunt Myrtle’s recipe for Rich Sugar Cookies.

Alli and Bubba

"Miss Christmas" at work

Decorating tree

Christmas table

CREATING GODDESS MAGIC CREAMS

CREATING GODDESS MAGIC CREAMS

Goddess Magic Creams

In a previous blog post I jokingly said I feel like Madam Curie whenever I start to concoct my creams. As a sculptor, I never expected to be creating face and body creams but when I found some beautiful glass jars with lids, the inventive side of me kicked in.

Goddess Magic Cream with turquoise accents

I sculpted faces out of stoneware clay and added interesting embellishments to each jar. I experimented with various butters and oils and It took me over two years of research and development to finally decide my creams were worth selling.

Ingredients

I finally settled on almond oil, shea butter, bees wax, glycerin, silk protein, grapefruit seed extract, panthenol, essential lavender oil, emu oil and coconut oil. and water.

More ingredients

I heat the oils and butters until they are completely dissolved. I also heat the water. Next step is to whirl the mixture in a food processor set aside strictly for the creams. I first add the liquid ingredients and water, then slowly drizzle in the heated oils and butters.

Cream being heated

I place the cream in a freezer for about an hour. I then re-whip it in the processor until it becomes creamy and fluffy. This is probably the hardest part because everything I’ve done prior to this step depends on what the texture will be like. I was disappointed by a bad batch when I first started making the cream but seem to have perfected it now. The cream batches are now consistent.

Whipped cream

The one ingredient I am missing right now is the Holy Water that I collected from the sacred grotto of St. Bernadette from Lourdes, France. I brought the water back two and a half years ago and decided to add small portions of it to my cream. I am surprised that the water lasted so long! Now, I am out but have good news. A friend of mine is headed on a pilgrimage to Israel and has promised to bring me back Holy water from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, if that is possible. I guess the tradition of the Holy Water will live on when he returns in January.

Filled jars

Close-up of filled jar. Yum, it looks good enough to eat-but don't!

Large Cream Jar with amethyst

Turquoise jar with horse embellishment

Hematite Turtle and embellishments

Antique looking jewels

Brass and intricate beadwork

Antique beads

Antique broach placed on top of medium size jar

Refill jar

Labels and Scrolls awaiting the finished jars

Each cream comes with a scroll listing all the natural ingredients. If you’d like to purchase one of my jars of cream, just e-mail me and we can work out the details on availability and shipping. I just know you’ll love them. They also make fantastic gifts. cherdolby@cox.net.

PS: It’s December 4th and my snapdragons and geraniums are still blooming! Maybe I won't need to purchase a poinsettia this year!

Snapdragons

Geraniums