Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Are YOU one of my strange friends??

This was sent to me in an email. I found it very interesting and thought I would share it with you. And yes of course I COULD read it..ok ok I already knew I was one of the strange ones but how about YOU????

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To my 'selected' strange-minded friends:

Only great minds can read this.....

This is weird, but interesting!

fi yuo cna raed tihs, yuo hvae a sgtrane mnid too

Cna yuo raed tihs? Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can.

i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? Yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!

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This first started going around the internet September of 2003. If you want to learn if this is actually true and what has been discovered about this strange email please go to the following link and check it out for yourself. MRC CBU, Cambridge » Matt Davis I just posted it so you could have a minute of stress free reading...ok maybe not stress free trying to figure the words out but at least you had a minute or two to think about nothing else!!!!

Saturday, August 22, 2009

It's Eton from Resyculbinz







He's been sleeping so sound way deep in the ground....but decided today he would come out to play. His bones they rattle as he dances around...a well dress man no other to be found. His top hat is tilted and his cane is a pumpkin. His name is Eton and he's ready to get this place a jumpin.
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Eton is another town folk from Resyculbinz. His body is a light bulb that has been sealed and then covered in batting and covered in fabric. His face, hands and feet are sculpted from Sculpey clay without the use of any molds. They are all hand painted with acrylic paints using a rubbing technique for that vintage look. His outfit is a black silk ribbon...his arms and legs are wrapped in a black wool yarn. His cuffs are felt. His top hat is a black silk ribbon and felt. His pumpkin and snake cane are made from Sculpey clay as well. He stands on a hand painted wooden block with the words "S is for Skeleton" painted on with a stamp of a skeleton, moon and bat. The block is signed by the artist, that's me, on the back.

 Thank you for looking. Check back often as more towns folk are venturing out.

Friday, August 21, 2009

Buzzzzz Buzzz Buzz went the honey bee!!!

Did you know that Honey Bees filter out environmental toxins? They die if they come into contact with toxins so they don't bring any into the hive. No toxins in the hive means pure, toxin free HONEY for us. What could be better!! Raw Honey has been a long used remedy for it's healing properties...so long that I can't just call it a Southern remedy (although I did find all this information out from a sweet Southern lady that use to keep honey bee hives...so there ya go)
Honey got its name from an ancient Hebrew meaning "enchant". It has been used for centuries as a sweetener and for it's healing powers. Treatment with honey is referred to as apitherapy and includes replenishing energy, enhancing stamina and strengthening those weakened by illness or stress. Did you know that honey can help calm the mind and promote rejuvenating sleep? It can also be used as a skin healer.....apply a thin coat to the skin to disinfect and heal minor skin irritations and chapped lips. According to my Beekeeper friend the best pure honey to buy is from keepers that you know don't feed their bees refined sugars or use harmful pesticides. If you don't know any beekeepers check your local health food store or check out Honey bee swarm removal throughout the United States, beekeepers around the Un Also, if you suffer from hay fever, honey that has been harvested locally (that's in your area) has the grains of pollen that over time may have a desensitizing effect. Now that's something all us Southerners know....you should hear all the sneezing and Bless yous and someone saying "Honey, ya better go buy some HONEY".
A note of caution when it comes to buying unpasteurized honey (unpasteurized is honey that has not been cooked...like you get from a beekeeper or the health food stores) it is recommended that children under the age of one year should not eat or be given raw honey due to the bacteria that is in it....good bacteria for older children and us adults, or bigger kids as some of us might be called.
Something my Great Grandmother Nina use to say " Raw honey is medicine and cooked honey is nothing but a sweet treat" Cooked honey is what we find in stores...granted it is good and sweet but since it has been pasteurized (cooked) it has lost all it's nutritional substances, such as antioxidants, vitamins B & C, minerals and enzymes, ones that give our old pancreas a much needed reprise.

Are you stressed? Do you need to find a way to relax? Well, pull out the honey, honey!!! Honey in hot tea is a wonderful stress reliever....just remember this one simple rule..don't add the honey until it's safe for that tea to pass those lips and go into the tummy. If the tea is to hot and you put the honey in then you just COOKED all the good benefits out. Need a bit more relaxing cause your stress is a bit more elevated, well, try a relaxing honey bath. Put 2oz of honey in a glass with 5 drops of lavender oil. If the honey is to thick, heat it by placing the glass in warm water (not HOT...just warm) Add 1 to 2 tbsp of the honey lavender mixture to your bathwater to help you relax. This will also help you sleep better....it's a great way to combat insomnia!!!!

SO the next time you get ready to swat at that tiny lil bee buzzing around, maybe you should just walk around. He might be doing his job in collecting pollen to make an old time remedy just for you.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Some Southern Comfort......

Now I know some of you probable got really excited when ya saw the "Southern Comfort" in the title...LOL!!! It's not a drink, so sorry guys....but some old Southern remedies for this nasty cold and flu season that is upon us. I'm thinking it actually never left us from last year and since my lil man Chaz has come down with a nasty case of the flu, I decided to hunt through my book of remedies to see if I could find a few to pass on down to ya'll. These are some passed down to me from some wonderful older Southern moms and grandmoms (I really shouldn't say "Older" cause I'm getting there really fast myself) So sit back...read a little and maybe some of these can just help ya out a bit. (remember....these are just old remedies passed down...if you have some real medical issues that need attending to or addressing then PLEASE call your doctor)

Herbs & Spices...ohhh so nice!!! Did ya know that chives are a member of the family known as onions, scallions and garlic. Chives grow from small bulbs and have a long history in the culinary world as well as being used for old time Southern medicinal purposes. A long long time ago it was thought that chives could promote a cure for melancholy and was also believed to drive away evil spirits. Of course, I always thought that garlic was the only herb that could do that...peeuuu but as a matter of fact, chives have a high concentrate of sulfur compounds and other essential oils that give it that tangy and aromatic taste. These are what are believed to help give chives their healing properties. Chives ease stomach distress and promote good digestion, reduce flatulence (that's a nice way of saying farting) protect against heart disease and stroke, clear a stuffy nose and prevent bad breath and many believe may help the body fight bacteria due to it's antibacterial properties. That's a GOOD thing!!! Today, we know that chives and the chive flower are high in vitamin C, folic acid and potassium. Just 3 1/2 oz of chives supplies enough vitamin C to meet your daily requirement of 60mg. Chives would be oh so nice to add to some of your recipes to help restore vital nutrients lost in cooking. Don't overlook the chive flowers either. They have a milder taste than the leaves and add a decorative touch to salads and herb oils. Yes, that means they are edible!! Here's a few Old Southern recipes for using Chives:

**Chive-Flower Oil**
Add 1 1/2 oz of the blossoms to 1 quart of vegetable oil. After a week, the oil will turn lilac
and take on the smell of the flower. Use the oil in salads or in cooking when any oil is called for.
Just keep it refrigerated when not in use.

**Chive Salt**
Add some chives to some salt. Bake the mixture in the oven to dry leaves and blend flavors. Store in an airtight container or jar. Use this to add some zip to all sorts of dishes.

**Cottage Cheese with Chives**
What you will need: 8 oz cottage cheese
1 tbsp mustard
1 shallot
1 bunch of fresh chives
1/2 tsp paprika
Salt
White Pepper

Blend the cottage cheese and mustard. Peel the shallot, chop finely and mix with the cottage cheese blend. Wash and dry the chives and snip them finely. Stir about two-thirds of the chives into the cottage cheese mixture. Season the mixture with the paprika, salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle the remaining chives on top. Makes 4 servings. Taste great on top of some good vine ripe tomatoes.

In case you don't know how to handle chives, here are a few helpful kitchen tips for ya'll.
*Don't heat them (unless you are making the salt recipe above) or they will lose their valuable vitamin C as well as their digestive properties.
*Cut them right before you are ready to use them. Chives are very delicate so to prevent from losing any of the essential oils, snip yes I said SNIP them with kitchen shears instead of chopping or grinding them.
*Grow them at home in a pot right in the windowsill. Wait until the plant reaches about 6" before cutting. Harvest the leaves frequently unless you specifically want to use the flowers...remember I told ya they were edible. The leaves become much less flavorful once they start to bloom fully.
*Freeze chives for future use because frozen chives retain more flavor then dried chives. Snip fresh chives into small pieces, then place them in an ice-cube tray and fill it with water. To thaw, put a chive cube in a strainer and let melt.

I hope you might be able to gain some useful information from these Old Southern post. I love passing along information that can be used in our everyday lives. So ya'll come back again here real soon...Ya hear!!!!!

Hugs,
Regi

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Hagatha...Bulb'z Witch







She lives near an old oak tree...in a thatch hut not far from the sea....her name is Hagatha and she is as blind as a bat...but be watchful for if she wears her hat...she will hear you laughing at how ugly is she and before you know it, it's ribbet you'll plea. The frogs are many in this part of town, so hear my words and go way around...away from the thatch hut that sits by the sea. Take the stone road to town and no where by the old oak tree.... so it's not Hagatha that you will see.


Hagatha is one of my Bulb'z characters. Her body is a light bulb and her legs and arms are made from a wire armature. Her face, hands and boots are hand sculpted from Prosculpt clay without the use any molds. Her hair is Tibetan lambswool (sheared). Her face is hand painted using acrylic paints. Her arms and legs are wrapped in chenille wool. Her outfit is adorned with glass beads and tassels. Her boots are hand painted with acrylic paints using a rubbing technique to given them an old fashion appeal. Her poor victim that did not hear my warning is hand sculpted from sculpey clay without the use of any molds. He is hand painted using MICA powders. His eyes are tiny glass beads. Hagatha's base is a wooden block that has been washed in orange and purple hues and then sanded in places to give it that worn old look. A stencil was used for the star/hat motif and then painted with acrylic paints. She stands 14 inches from base to top of her hat.


Price:$85 plus travel fare from Resyculbinz to your town

Thank you for looking....if interested in Hagatha or any of the ooaks please email me.

Monday, August 10, 2009

WIP photos of Hagatha..the Bulb'z witch

Meet Hagatha...ok ok the start of Hagatha! You might recognize her....she has a famous brother. Uncle Fester from the Adams family!! Not really...I don't think...but she sure does remind me of him. They say beauty is in the eye of the behold...well...poor Hagatha will need everyone to be blind to see the beauty in her. Shhh just don't let her hear you say that she isn't the most fairest in the land cause she might just turn you into a "FROG"!!!!! Muahhhahahahaha (evil laugh)
Now I told ya not to let her hear you...see what someone went and did...got themselves turned into a frog.

Here is Hagatha all in pieces...head..hands, shoes and that one unlucky soul that laughed.

I'm working on getting Hagatha all put together so check back often...and remember don't let her hear you say.."OMGOSH...what an ugly witch I see there today"


Thursday, August 6, 2009

Felix...the CAT from Resyculbinz!!!

Felix the CAT is a mischievous cat...his big wide grin and emerald green eyes...pondering who is waiting just inside...behind the big door on this Halloween night...will it be a treat or a trick that Felix gets to act....ohhhh noooo don't let him come in...don't let him inside or all your goodies will end up in his bag!!!




Felix is a one of a kind design made out of Sculpey clay. He has a strong light bulb body with a wire armature for his legs and arms. He is washed with acrylic paints to give him more of a ceramic or old Halloween character look. His cat pumpkin is made from Sculpey clay as well and then washed with acrylic paints and MICA powders. The handle has tiny little glass black beads.
His base is a wooden block that has been hand painted with acrylic paints and then sanded to give it an aged look. It was ink stamped with a Halloween scene of a black cat, witch's pot and moon....with "C is for Cat" painted on. It is signed on the back by the artist and my artist mark imprinted on the back of his head. This piece is for sale. If interested please email,with characters name in the Re: section. Thank you for looking!!!
Price: $85 plus Travel Fare from Resyculbinz to your home!!!


Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Another Starving artist tip....

I have already explained how I do things a bit different than others...yes yes I know..my methods seem a bit quirky but HEY they work...LOL!!! I have always been one to recycle...for several reasons...1. to reuse something in place of throwing it away 2. to help keep our planet clean 3. because I couldn't afford to go out and buy materials at the craft store. It is amazing what you can use to design with, items that have served their main purpose in your home, ready to become something else entirely. So begins the adventure to the small township of Resyculbinz.
(pronounced Recycle bins...get it..hehe)

You start with a block of wood....a throw away from a inside remodel job....maybe from a new deck or maybe one of a long ago block play set. You have the base to their strength. Their, being the Bulb'z from Resyculbinz. No one pokes fun or laughs at the other because they all have the same body shape....that of a light bulb.
A few wraps of florist tape....a few twist of some wire and the Bulb'z starts to come to life. They are a humorous bunch. So much fun to look at....more fun to collect.

From the simple block of wood....the used light bulb...the twisted wire....here comes Santa. A jolly ole member of Resyculbinz.
There are so many other characters from Resyculbinz just waiting to show themselves. Theirs is a holiday town....characters from every holiday can be found. I see in the distance some of the Halloween Bulb'z coming town. Come and visit and don't be scared....they are just fun loving BOO characters stirring around.


Monday, August 3, 2009

S is for Santa and Shortbread......

Seeing how I have gotten into the Santa season a bit early...LOL...I thought that I would go all out and pull out some of my favorite Christmas recipes. Of course, you can use this shortbread one for so many other holidays...so use your imagination....try this recipe and see what variation you like best or even share one that you whipped up. Anyone can do it...shortbread only has three basic ingredients....give it a go!!!

Basic Recipe (Tasty plain too, especially with a cup of hot peppermint tea)

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup butter (no substitutes)

**Combine flour and sugar in medium mixing bowl. Cut in butter until mixture resembles fine crumbs and starts to cling together. At this point, the dough may look dry, but the next step will take care of that. Form the mixture into a ball and knead until smooth. The heat from your hand softens the butter slightly, that is what makes the butter become so smooth.

**To make wedges, pat or roll dough into an 8-inch circle on ungreased cookie sheet. Press with your fingers to scallop the edge. (FYI:According to Scottish tradition, the scallops represent the rays of the sun) Cut the circle into 16 wedges, this will keep the bread from crumbling or breaking when you cut it after baking. Prick each wedge in it's center with a fork.

**Bake in a 325 oven for 25-30 minutes or until bottom just starts to turn brown and center is set. Cut circle into wedges in the same place as before while still warm. Cool on cookie sheet for 5 minutes. Transfer to wire rack and cool completely.

**If you like you can make these into rounds instead of wedges. Roll dough on a lightly floured surface until 1/2" thick. Use a 1/2" thick cookie cutter to cut out 24 rounds. Place them 1" apart on ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes.

Variations to try:

Cornmeal Shortbread (great with soups and chili)
Prepare basic recipe as directed, except substitute 1/4 cup cornmeal for 1/4 cup all-purpose flour and add 1/4 cup cheddar cheese...or 1/4 cup dried cranberries.

Lemon-Poppy Seed Shortbread
Prepare basic recipe as directed, except stir in 1 tablespoon poppy seed into flour mixture and add 1 teaspoon finely shredded lemon peel with butter.

Oatmeal Shortbread (great for breakfast with a bit of jam, jelly or marmalade on top)
Prepare basic recipe as directed, except reduce all-purpose flour to 1 cup. After cutting in butter, stir in 1/3 cup quick-cooking rolled oats.

Spiced Shortbread
Prepare basic recipe as directed, except substitute brown sugar for sugar; stir 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger, and 1/8 teaspoon ground gloves into the flour.



I hope that you try this recipe....it is such an easy and changeable recipe for so many treats. The spice one would be great for Halloween...add some orange or red food coloring and you have Werewolf or vampire treats....LOL!!!!!

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Santa and Chester completed!!!! ;)

Santa just had to put on his spectacles so he could get a really good look at Chester. His master toy maker, Erin, took such time and care in designing this marionette.
Santa just had to show off his snazzy leather belt and shiny belt buckle.....by the time Christmas Eve rolls around he will be so round and jolly that no one would even know he has a belt on much less see the buckle....HOHOHO!!!!!
He is holding Chester up to inspect him and he can see that Erin did an amazing job....of which Santa had no doubts.
Santa and Chester.....one of several Santa ooaks that I will be designing for this year's Santa collectors. Santa is made with a strong wire armature and soft needle felted body. His head, hands and feet were sculpted by hand (no molds are ever used in my ooaks) out of Prosculpt clay. If you have been following my WIP blog on him then you will have all the other details.
Santa and Chester are for sale. There will be a COA that comes with them.....for my Santa ooaks I use a tiny old thyme Christmas book with the certificate pasted to the back inside cover. Thank you for following the making of this ooaks. Please email me if you should have any questions about this piece.
Price: $ 325.00 plus travel fare