Happy Holidays

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Lights

Last weekend the family was putting up all the decorations outside our home. What a delight to see all of the unique Christmas decorations of my neighbors, as I am driving back home. It is this time of year that we especially celebrate the Light of the world Jesus Christ. Hopefully our light will shine in us all throughout the year as believers. This is my Christmas prayer.

Christmas Gifts

I recently purchased some coasters from this shop for our home. After some thought of what to give neighbors, and possibly teachers as Christmas gifts. I decided why not try to make some coasters myself using decopauge and stamping. The first is an image of my painting using the decopauge method.

I stamped this coaster with blue using Stayz On.

This coaster is also decopauge of one of my doodles. All I have to do now is put the pads and seal them.

The winner of the art block is Jamifie! Congratulations.

December Giveaway

Christmas art block.

inspirational art

Last year I started selling these blocks at a local arts festival, and received great response. It is a print of my original mounted on painted wood. The block can be placed on a desk, shelf, or table top. It would be great as a hostess gift, stocking stuffer or holiday decoration for your home. You can place it on a mini easel or stand up on its own.

I am offering one of these art blocks to one of my readers. Just leave a comment of which one that you like best for a chance to win. The winner will be announced next Monday.

Thanksgiving Holiday

Just before dinner.

Here are a few pics from the table after dinner.

My mom and I ate at a yummy New Orleans style restaurant.




There were lots of paintings on the wall of jazz muscians, Mardi Gras, and Katrina momentos.

Me at the table.

Mom and I both ordered a bowl of gumbo, jambalaya, crawfish pie.

We took the kids to a place called Fun Spot. They had an arcade, several different race car rides, and the bumper cars.

Handmade Soap

I was so excited to take a workshop on how to make your own handmade soap. I have purchased handmade soap at my local farmers market and online on Etsy. I decided to see how it is all done. Little did I know that it is part chemistry and part baking.

( I just got the soap out of the mold)

I was a little intimadated by using lye, but the teacher gave us great safety instructions. We wore gloves and safety goggles while preparing the mixture of cold process soap.

I used my cutting board and kitchen knife to slice the soap.

My husband purchased a shelf at our local thrift store for the soap to cure. I didn't realize that handmade soap takes four to six weeks to cure. I look forward to using our first batch. The instructor gave us a few supplies to make a batch at home this week. Hopefully I will be brave enough to give it a try. Thankfully, she is open for us to calling her for help.

Hudgen's Holiday Show

I wanted to show a few pics from my holiday show this past weekend.

I had some really nice neighbors on both sides.




My smaller paintings.

My Collection

I wanted to share with you my fall collection of ornaments that I started to hang on my mantle last year. I look forward to adding new designs each year to my line. I think this is such a beautiful time of year. Even though the summer time have slowly faded away. There is so much to look forward to as the end of the year slowly approaches. Parties, friends and family gatherings are things we are going to cherish as we look back. Enjoy this special time!

Hand painted Pumpkin

I got some inspiration from my Thanksgiving card. I decided to paint my design on this pumpkin. Instead of going the traditional route this year I decided to change it up a bit. I also was thinking of adding dimensional paint to accent the lines. What do you think? I also admire Alisa Burke's creative fall pumpkins here.

These cards are available in my shop.

The winner of Katies Pastries is #15 Jus and Kat. Congratulations!

Blog Feature: Kate's Pastries

sweet potato bread

This month's shop is not only one shop that I admire on the internet, but I have also had the pleasure to meet in person many times at my local farmers market. Kathleen Moka of Kate's Pastries has been baking every since she was twelve years old for her friends and family. However, she started creating pastries as a business since September 2009.

peanut butter cookies

Kathleen bakes a yummy product of mouth watering mini pastries. She also creates a line of gluten free products including a variety of sweet breads and cookies, sweetened with brown sugar, stevia and or raw organic honey. Her recipes are made with only natural and organic ingredients, free of bleached flour, additives, preservatives, artificial flavor or food colorings. Kathleen decided to make gluten free products after many of her customers asked her if she would consider making gluten free products so their family members could also enjoy. She listened and is glad she did, so their loved ones can also enjoy healthy and delicious baked goods without compromising taste!

chocolate hazelnut cookies

Kathleen's other hobbies which include reading her bible, cooking with exotic ingredients and spices, watching family movies, and spending time with her family.

Before starting her business, Kathleen worked in education as a family development specialist and a preschool teacher.

original nutmeg

She bakes her products in a commercial kitchen that is certified and approved by the Department of Agriculture.

Kathleen advice to someone consdering starting their own food business, first of all, make sure you have a passion for food, do your research on starting a business, ask questions from trusted professionals in the food business, have faith and work smart!

Kathleen has generously offered to give one of my readers a bag of one of her yummy cookies. Leave a comment of which flavor of cookies you like for a chance to win. The winner will be announced next Monday.

Autumn is here!

Finally the trees are starting to slowly turn into beautiful shades of red. In honor of this beautiful season I made this ornment that will be available in my shop this week.

Festival Time

For those of you who live in Atlanta area, I will be at the Lilburn Daze Art Festival 9 to 5p.m. today.

Fall Pumpkins

My local grocery store and craft store are carrying pumpkins and all the beautiful fall decorations. I look forward to the cooler weather, and I'm noticing the trees are slowing changing colors.

Suwanee Day Festival

Here are a few photos of our cities festival this past weekend. My daughter Bethany was of course on the other side of the street. She is the third on the right hand side with the ponytail.

Miss. Georgia

Iwo Jima tribute. They didn't move.

You see that little guy in the front with the orange cap peeking his head out? That is my Jordy!

Michael and I enjoyed a yummy cupcake at the festival. They had arts and crafts and other businesses with booths.

Chocolate Sauce

Do you ever get those chocolate cravings at night? Well this little treat is delicious, but zer0 the guilt. I have been making this yummy chocolate sauce over my ice cream that was not just tasty, but low in sugar.

I use Hershey's cocoa, agave nectar, and vanilla.

First you add 2 to 3 Tbsp. of butter or margarine to the pan.

After the butter is melted I add about 3/4 cup of cocoa.

Then I add about 1/4 cup of milk. I might add a little more if it is to thick.

Once the milk is mixed in well with the cocoa, then I add the agave to taste. It is probably about 3 Tbsp. of syrup. I also have made this with soy milk for my daughter who is allergic to milk to add with her soy ice cream. The sauce should be stored in the refrigirator. It should last about two weeks in the refrigirator. Ours never last that long. Enjoy!

Mini Pillow

I purchased to get a thermofax of one of my designs made. I am still trying to get the hang of the screen as far as having a consistant color on the fabric. I'll show you my other attempts soon.

Sunny Day

Finally I have taken some time to paint a new landscape to my collection. I at first struggled over the background probably because I got a little rusty over the summer break. I decided to repaint the sky

because it didn't look just right to me. The end result to me looks better on the second try.

The winner of the PS Its in the Details cute little strawberry lemonade collection is Kitty Cat!

Blog Feature: Patty Schaffer

When you first get a glance at Patty's designs you're immediately drawn to the color and orginality. Patty started designing her Etsy shop PS It's In The Details in September of 2008. She is a stay-at-home mom with a degree in Graphic Design and Etsy was the perfect fit for her. Patty could do what she loves while still being home with her children.

Patty truly gets inspired by paper and all its pretty patterns. She worked part time at a scrapbook store a few years ago and would literally get so excited when the new orders would come into the shop. It was like Christmas when she opened the boxes of new product! She keeps an inspiration notebook as well. Patty rips out images from magazines that inspire her and tapes them into her notebook. Maybe a color combo strikes her as pretty, or a technique someone used. Anything at all that sparks an idea. She uses those ripped out images as a springboard for her own designs.

In addition to designing her beautiful paper products, she also loves photography and is known affectionately by her family as Paparazzi Patty. She also loves gardening. Patty grew up around her family's greenhouse business and has always had a love of flowers. She enjoys working her herb garden and planting container gardens and perennials. Patty lives on seven acres and has dreams of lots and lots of gardens filling her yard someday!

Patty's studio is nestled in a corner room. She has lots of supplies stuffed into drawers and closets. Patty hopes to one day have her own separate studio built.

Patty is generously offering these Strawberry Lemonade Collection Trees to one of my readers. Just leave a comment for a chance to win. The winner will be announced August 29th.