Home Made Pop-Tart (r)
Recipe from Feb 16, 2012 Hartford Courant
by Leah Eskins

Prep: 1 hr
Bake: 30 min
Makes: 8 tarts

1 3/4 c flour
1/4 c corn meal
2 tbs sugar
3/4 tsp salt
12 tbs butter, cut in small pieces
2 eggs
5 tbs milk
1/2 c jam or Nutella


1.  Mix together flour, cornmeal, sugar and salt.  Using a pastry blender, cut in the butter until the mixture looks crumbly, with chunks of butter no bigger than kidney beans.
2.  Mix the eggs and milk together in a separate container, then add half to the dry ingredients.  Stir with a fork until the dough starts to hold together, then divide the pastry into two equal parts as you push each portion together into a ball or rectangle.
3.  Roll one of the dough balls into an 8x12 rectangle, dusting the top and bottom with flour.  Even off the edges with a knife or pastry roller, and brush the pastry with the remaining egg mixture.  Cut the pastry into four 8x3" strips.  Place about 1 tbs (or a bit less) of filling onto one side of the pastry strip leaving 1/2" all the way around.  Fold the rectangle over and seal the pastry on all four sides.  Push a fork gently into the sides, then prick the top to vent it with the fork. 
4.  Repeat with the remaining dough.  Transfer the pastry onto a greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes.

5.  If you want (we didn't) make a glaze for the top with some powdered sugar and milk...

So very good, my kids will never go back to the store bought kind again!

There hasn't been much time for sewing lately... or blogging, for that matter!  December was a full month:  we had visitors from Maine, Vermont, and California who spent the holidays with us as we rang in the new year.  School parties, cookie swaps, and Christmas shopping were also part of the festivities.  On top of that- as many of the readers of my blog may know - I started a new job as Editor of Quilting Arts Magazine.  So yes!  December was a busy month!

As part of my editorial duties at QA, I will be blogging through the Quilting Daily website, so this, my personal blog, won't be updated very frequently.  However, I just had to do a little show-and-tell from my early morning sewing this morning...

As Seen In Stitch magazine, Winter 2008

Last night I was surfing the web, knowing I should be writing my post for today, but totally underwhelmed by my own attempts at marking the season of Advent.  I've started pulling my boxes of decorations from the attic, hanging some lights, and arranging my collection of nativity sets, but I was still feeling uninspired.

Wait a minute... what is that... could it be...

Yes.  The most creative and spectacular Advent Calendar I have ever seen... and a tutorial to boot!  One of my favorite blogs, Stuff You Can't Have, features the work of Catherine McGeaver from Oakland, CA and she has come up with a great idea for an Advent Calendar that puts us all to shame.  It combines so many things that I love:  secret boxes, sequential artwork, prayer flags (at least their shapes and the hanging of a garland), vintage textiles, and mixed media.  Go to her site linked above for the full tutorial, and let her know that you saw her work here.  What a treasure...  and it is time to open the first box on your own Advent Calendars!

Once again, Virginia Speigel has organized a fund raiser for the American Cancer Society which will take place on Feb. 15 & 16 of next year.  I was so pleased to be asked to make a donation of three small packets to be given as "premiums" to people who donate to the cause.

Here is a quick "sneak peak" of part of my donation...  I have made three ATC's using vintage maps, stamps, papers, and millinery flowers for some lucky donors.  The full packets will contain vintage papers, stamps, and other ephemera to use in artwork.  The three pieces honor the memories of my parents and a close friend, all who died of cancer.

Thank you, Virginia, for allowing me to share my artwork and honor those whom I have loved and lost. And thanks to all of you who will make donations in February and receive mementos from the many artists who have donated their work.

Music For Turkeys to Cook By... how I love that phrase!   This turkey will be baking dozens of rolls, making a pan of apple crisp, and roasting several pounds of brussel sprouts today.

And the music?  I'll start with something classical:  Bach Preludes or some of Yo-Yo Ma's cello pieces will make the dicing and slicing go faster.

I'll be peeling apples to Arlo Guthrie's Alice's Restaurant, remembering happy times in my childhood kitchen.

Bread rises best when accompanied by quiet jazz, so my favorite pianist, Cyrus Chestnut, will encourage the yeast with his album "Blessed Quietness".

We will be celebrating the holiday in a home that was built not long after the first Thanksgiving on the shores of the Connecticut River...




What are your plans?

Detail

Fall Interrupted 18.5"x18.5"

Open Studios Coming Soon! New Work:

Cardinal with Dogwood Framed to 14"x18" $375 *SOLD

That question just drives me crazy.  Inevitably, each time I show my work, someone asks me how long it takes to make one of my pieces.  I know that some people want to initiate a conversations with me, and that is an easy way to do it.  Others ask because they see the price tag of my work and think either a) it is a bargain (not usually!)  or b) it is overpriced (also not something I hear often) or c) it-must-take-a-long-time-to-ask-that-much-money-for-such-a-small-piece (the usual justification).


Research on Robin Pose: (ahem...  staring out the window, surfing the net, sifting through photos, then staring out the window again)...  1 hour.

Drawing and Designing Said Robin, Making Pattern:  2 hours.

Research on Mountain Laurel: (Walking outside, sketching, surfing the net, sifting through photos, then going back outside)... 1 hour.

Sourcing Map of Connecticut:  LOTS of time on Ebay one night until I found a seller in Canada with a whole stack of great maps whose Copyright had expired.  This map is a 1917 original (the back is actually the state of Florida) from an atlas.  Since I bought about 15 maps from one seller over the course of 3 days, lets say 30 minutes per map.   1/2 hour

Choosing Fabrics for Collage:  Ugh.  That took quite a bit of trial and error, probably 2 hours in the end.


Collage of Bird:  2 hours.
Collage of Background:  2 hours
Sewing project together:  2 hours
Framing:  This includes ordering the custom mat board, picking it up from the framer, matting the piece, cleaning the pre-made frame, and getting the piece ready to show.  2 1/2 hours.

Total:  15 hours

What is not included in that time?  Learning and perfecting the technique, for one.  So far, that has taken five years.  How about sourcing fabric (16 different pieces of fabric for this collage), thread (15 different colors in this piece), frames, and matting materials?  Does anyone consider just "thinking" about a project and ruminating for hours and hours in their design time?

How about the phone calls and studio meetings with clients preparing proposals for commissions?  I know that lawyers are paid for these types of activities, but artists rarely even consider them when pricing their work.

The real answer to the question of "How long does it take?" is "It takes a lifetime"*.  A lifetime of experiences, learning, creating, and experimenting.  A lifetime of collecting materials, preparing proposals, and mastering techniques.  A lifetime of errors in judgement, celebrations of success, and moments of inspiration.

I would welcome any advice on helping the public understand just how long it takes...


And by the way, "Robin With Mountain Laurel" will be matted, framed, and ready to purchase at my next Open Studio Nov. 19th and 20th at the Guilford Art Center, in Guilford, CT.   The Price is $400.  And it took a long time to make :-).


*I am not the first person who said, "It takes a lifetime" - I have no idea who coined the phrase!

Stoned, Ruby Western

Take a look at her artwork HERE.

Jane Sassman's Card Set

For the past several years, the Shoreline Arts Trail Open Studio's group supports a local charity, partnering with them to increase awareness for their cause and raise money to support their organization.  Last year we raised funds for Roses for Autism which is both a local business and a wonderful group that employs autistic adults with meaningful work.


During our Open Studios on Nov. 19 & 20 this year, we will be supporting the Community Dining Room of the Shoreline.  In their own words:

"The Community Dinging Room is committed to serving the community by feeding the hungry and helping with other basic human needs.  We strive to promote public awareness of the impact of hunger and isolation in our society.  We are dedicated to helping our guests with their practical needs through referrals and fellowship".




These sweet little owls will be available as "thank you" gifts to patrons at my Open Studio at the Guilford Art Center on the weekend of Nov. 19 & 20.  For a suggested donation of $10 or more to the Community Dining Room, 20 (or more if I have time!) lucky donors will receive a small stuffed owl - because anyone who gives a "hoot" about hunger should be rewarded...

Thank you to Quilting Arts Magazine Editorial Staff for permission to use this pattern in a fund raising capacity.  Pattern designed by Lynn Krawczyk.

What a great weekend - the last of the summer weather, two days outside in glorious sunshine, and a successful art fair.

Congratulations, Connie!  Shoot me an email with your address... your notification has been sent to you.

Have a great Sunday, everyone!

A little bird told me...

... to post a reminder!

Don't forget, I will be picking a winner for the Digital Collage for Quilt Design DVD by Diane Doran on Sunday morning.  Don't forget to enter for a chance to win HERE.  I'll post the winner tomorrow!

Diane and I are holding her award winning "Gackel" quilt. Diane is the one with her eyes open!

This past February, I had a wonderful opportunity:  I flew to Cleveland Ohio and taped three segments for Quilting Arts TV.  Not only was it great to meet Pokey Bolton, Helen Gregory, Lindsey Murray, and the whole "behind the scenes crew" at the studios, I also became friends with award winning fiber artist and quilter Diane Doran who was taping at the same time.  Her work is a unique blend of photography and quilting as she uses digital technology to create the images on her quilts.  I could NEVER in my wildest dreams figure out how she does it, but we are fortunate that Diane is sharing her methods and techniques with the greater fiber art community.

Here's a short preview of the video which gives a taste of what Diane teaches.




Would you like to have your very own copy of the DVD?  It can be purchased through Interweave, or you can win your very own copy here by leaving a comment below.  I will use a random generator to choose the winner on Sunday, October 19.

Here are the rules:

1.  Leave a comment below.  Remember to leave your email address so I can contact you and send your prize!
2.  If you are a follower of this blog, you get a second chance at the drawing.  Let me know in the text of your comment so I can count you twice!
3.  I will contact the winner  by email on October 19, and your DVD will be mailed directly to you by Diane herself.
4.  For other opportunities to win, visit the other participants in this blog hop.



Good luck, and get your cameras ready.  You will want to try these techniques on your own!

Lots to do, lots to do...


Cutting mat board for these...


Stitching sweet nothings like these...




And getting ready for three of these...

It is Open Studio and Art Fair season for me...

Come join me at the following events:

Killingworth Arts Trail
October 8-9
Madison Green
Madison, CT

Our Lady of Mercy Christmas Boutique
Nov. 4-5
149 Neck Rd.
Madison, CT

Shoreline Arts Trail
Nov. 19-20
Guilford Art Center Location
411 Church Street
Guilford, CT