2014-12-17







YOKE DU YOUR

A woman goes to the post office to buy stamps for her Chanukah cards.

She says to the clerk, “May I have 50 Chanukah stamps?”

The clerk says, “What denomination?”

The woman says, “Oh my God. Has it come to this? Give me 6 Orthodox, 12 Conservative, and 32 Reform.”

ARTspiration

Artists or art that turns me on and feeds my muse! Like it or dislike it, what about this art inspires your own art or creativity? Bathers by artist, Yuri Gorbachev.

DESIGNspiration

Look around you. Design is everywhere! How can you incorporate the beauty that surrounds you into your art or craft?   Latvia.

OH SHIT!

IDEA I LOVE

I love taking an inexpensive glass plate and transforming it into a colorful platter. Follow the tutorial instructions and come up with your own design ideas and color choices. You can even personalize the plate for holiday gift giving or special occasions. Start here:

http://jaderbomb.com/2012/09/13/mexican-folk-art-glass-paint/

IDEA I LOVE

Yes, it’s another cowl, only this time using the simple brioche stitch.  Here’s the pattern:

http://milk-shed.com/2014/12/14/simple-brioche-cowl/

YUMMY DISH!

BAKED BRIE WITH APRICOT CHUTNEY

INGREDIENTS:

brie or Camembert cheese

dried apricots

granulated sugar

rice vinegar

water

fresh ginger

sea salt

FOR THE FULL RECIPE, CLICK HERE:  http://www.cherylstyle.com/simple-food-recipes/baked-brie-with-apricot-chutney-recipe/

IDEA I LOVE

Here’s how to transform a flat piece of fabric into a textured duvet.  Don’t let the fact that this thing looks like the inside of a a coffin freak you out. LOL  Here’s the Anthropologie hack tutorial:

http://neroliblossoms.blogspot.com/2011/11/anthropologie-cirrus-duvet-diy-tutorial.html

IF YOU HAVEN’T SUBSCRIBED TO THIS BLOG YET:

For well over 2 years, I have been posting up to 20 links per day or every other day, on the Mark Lipinski’s Fan Pageon Facebook. Of course, in Facebook’s never ending quest to make lots of money, Facebook seems to have abandoned their mission of a real social networking site and it has become more about Facebook revenue.

Several months ago, Facebook, without warning, had implemented a new business model. As a result, the vast majority of “LIKErs” who have been faithful readers of this Fan Page have been blocked from receiving my posts, time and time again, from getting all or a few of the postings onto their timeline feed.

The reason is, Facebook would like pages like, Mark Lipinski’s Fan Page, to pay money every day, and on every post, in order to advertise and lure readers like you, onto the Fan Page.

With out “BOOSTING” a post, only about 5% of people who clicked LIKE on the Fan Page are actually seeing anything I post — and it could be random – sometimes you get a post, and sometimes not. Basically, it sucks for all of us. I am finding that we are all better served if I posted my tips, ideas, links, and jokes, etc. to my blog. You can subscribe to my blog (only if you wan to) and get an email each time I post a grouping of ideas, links, etc.

I AM NOT shutting down Mark Lipinski’s Fan Page on Facebook and you are welcome to follow me there, too. What I am doing is putting everything that used to be on the Fan Page individually onto my blog, AND there will be a daily link to the idea blog on the Fan Page, just as there were multiple links to the various blogs that I’ve always linked to in the past. It’s not that different, really. It will save me a lot of time, and guarantee those who want to see the creative posts will actually get to see them. And Facebookers, will STILL have to click on “GET NOTIFICATIONS” in your Facebook Settings if they want to see what I post on Facebook (sometimes that works, but not all of the time).

Actually, my new model gives you at least TWO ways to get all of the ideas, etc. PLUS you can PIN them and they will be TAGGED so you can find them again in the search bar even years later. – through the FACEBOOK FAN PAGE and YOUR CHOICE (not mandatory) to subscribe to the blog and get email postings that way.

BREATHLESS INSPIRATION!

Nigerian fiber artist, Victoria Udonian

WORDS TO LIVE BY

MAN CAN LIVE BY BREAD ALONE!

HOLIDAY BREAD

HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

flour

sugar

baking powder

salt

butter or margarine

ricotta cheese

dried tart cherries or other dried fruit, coarsely chopped

pecans, toasted and chopped

vanilla extract

grated fresh lemon peel

eggs

Confectioners’ sugar (optional)

FOR THE FULL RECIPES, CLICK THE LINKS:  http://www.delish.com/recipefinder/holiday-bread-ghk1207

MEMBA?

The Pinecone People Orchestra

And now a word from our sponsor . . .

COOKIES!

EGGNOG THUMBPRINT COOKIES

HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

Cookies:

unsalted butter

sugar

light brown sugar

egg

vanilla

flour

salt

Frosting:

unsalted butter

powdered sugar

spiced rum (or ¼ teaspoon rum extract)

Ground nutmeg, for garnish

FOR THE FULL RECIPES, CLICK THE LINKS: http://www.whitelightsonwednesday.com/eggnog-thumbprint-cookies/

IDEA I LOVE

Getting a pair of socks for Christmas is a drag.  Getting a sock monkey for Christmas is a SCORE.  Make a monkey and/or his friend for guaranteed smiles on Christmas morning.  Start here:

http://www.abeautifulmess.com/2012/04/sock-monkey-and-friend-diy.html

BE DAZZLED!

Chanel Ruby Pate de Verre Holly Brooch: Goossens, $3,850

PATCHWORK, BABY!

Winter Roses from the Maywood Studios Collection, Seasons Greetings!  Here’s the pattern:

http://www.fabshophop.com/downloads/freepatterns/winter-roses_maywood.pdf

SHOEspiration

MANOLO BLAHNIK, Alaleone Pumps, $1,135

DESSERT!

BERRY CHRISTMAS PAVLOVA

HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

Pavlova

eggs whites

Pinch of salt

fine sugar

cornstarch

1 tsp white wine vinegar

Raspberry Coulis

fresh raspberries

lemon

fine sugar

brandy (optional)

Topping

cream – whipped

pomegranate

Raspberries, cherries and strawberries to decorate

Bunch of holly or fresh mint

FOR THE FULL RECIPE, CLICK HERE: http://www.mysquarefryingpan.com/berry-christmas-pavlova/

JUST CHRISTMAS CUTE!

Quick! Find a store that sells strawberries!

http://www.prakticideas.com/diy-christmas-dessert-mini-strawberry-christmas-tree/

ORNAMENT COUNTDOWN!

I love love love these.  Yes, they take a little more elbow grease than a run of the mill DYI ornament but these are so cool.  Just imagine the kind of scenes you can create inside . . . 50 Shades of Santa?    Ah, go for it, scaredy cat!   Here’s how:

http://www.mysocalledcraftylife.com/2014/11/21/diy-vintage-inspired-diorama-ornaments/

IDEA I LOVE

Nothing beats the smell of a beeswax candle burning in your home.  I think these would make a fantastic gift (I’d love a few).  Hurry up and make a few before all of the bees are dead!  Here’s how you make them:

http://www.abeautifulmess.com/2012/09/homemade-beeswax-candles.html

Did You Miss Saturday’s Book Reviews?

Check it out here:  http://marklipinskisblog.wordpress.com/2014/12/13/book-review-saturday-december-13-2014/

MUST HAVE

Ever wish your food had a bit more flair? Man, me too. I find myself longing for a home-brewed cup of coffee that’s artfully presented, say topped off with a doodle of a mouse or something.

The CinniBird – “the world’s first and only spice pen” — might be the answer. The pen lets you decorate dishes and drinks with ground materials like cinnamon, paprika, cocoa powder and sugar. It funnels the materials into a thin stream, making it simple to add a little pizzaz to pretty much anything. To use it, just fill the little gadget with the ground ingredient of your choosing, press the button and voila! With a steady hand, you’re ready to create a doodle, write a message or play tic-tac-toe with a pal if you like. You could even fill it with colored sugars and compose pretty designs on your cookies and cakes.

CinniBird  The kitschy kitchen tool has already exceeded its goal of $5,000 goal on KickStarterand is currently available for purchase for $34.90.

SLOW STITCHING

SLOW STITCHING GUEST BLOGGER, Kelly Martinez, talks about Slow Stitching as a “maker.” She says, “Slow stitching means setting aside time to find myself somewhere in the thread and spread myself out on a piece of fabric.”

https://theslowstitchingmovement.wordpress.com/2014/12/14/slow-stitching-means-setting-aside-time-to-find-myself-somewhere-in-the-thread-and-spread-myself-out-on-a-piece-of-fabric/

Gail Pan, Australian designer and author of “Patchwork Loves Embroidery: Hand Hand Pretty Projects,” discusses Slow Stitching and The Slow Stitching Movement. Listen here: http://www.slowstitching.com/podcasts.html   Listen to her podcast here:

http://www.slowstitching.com/podcasts.html

The Slow Stitching Movement Podcast’s are sponsored by Aurifil and GloriousColor.com

STASH SLASHING!

One creative’s hoard is another creative’s treasure . . . read on:

When I began The Slow Stitching Movement I asked stitchers and quilters to reduce their impact on the planet and their creative psyches by letting go of the stash of books, papers, patterns fabrics, and tools that they have been collecting over many years and haven’t used.  I have been preaching to myself.  So, in an effort to put my money where my mouth is, to open my creativity by being less boxed in by ‘stuff’, I have begun posting boxes of book and fabric bundles on eBay for various charities.

Here’s how I price the packages . . . I research the amount an individual could buy each of these books or fabricss, pre-owned, at their lowest online price.  I total the price, split it in half and add Priority Mail Flat Rate Shipping (about $12.65).  Then I add a little surprise from my stash as a bonus (it could be extra fabrics, a book ,or notion).

I WILL BE ADDING  NEW PRIORITY MAIL BOXES FULL OF GOODIES OFTEN!

Please visit my eBay store to do me, you, and a few of my local charities a favor and check out my eBay store for what I’ve listed each day:

http://www.ebay.com/sch/toughnj/m.html?item=111525554371&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562

Here are the current listings:

Quilting and Fiber Books from Saturday Book Review! FREE SHIPPING

If you’re liking this blog Please tell your friends about it!

I’d really appreciate it!  xoxom

Just cut and paste this into an email or post on your Facebook and Twitter pages:

I LOVE this blog and think you will, too! Check it out:  https://marklipinskisblog.wordpress.com

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