It's been awhile and not all good things have happened to us.  In October, we put both our old dogs to sleep because their quality of life was getting worse and worse so we let them die with dignity.  Then in November, a coyote came into the neighborhood and killed Bill the Cat, all of the outside cats are missing, and our 8 month old kitten Lucky went missing, too.  All out searches, newspaper ads, rewards, house to house inquiries yielded nothing, other neighbors' cats are missing too, no new neighbors in the 'hood, and I saw a good sized coyote twice at the end of the street.  From there is an open field and ranch land, it's so dry there is no water and food so the wild animals have started coming into the neighborhoods.  Then Christmas was busy as always, work was plentiful this summer and into the winter (we actually had a couple of days below freezing), which we are grateful for.  And of course, church keeps us happily busy.  I am now teaching guitar through the prestigious Harmony School for the Creative Arts and have 9 students.  It keeps me on my toes, I'm blessed with some really great students that are easy to teach.  Who'd a thunk it - me a guitar teacher?  Our Praise Band that we have nicknamed New Beginnings is doing great and I'm still the bass player.  With the addition of an electric guitar, we have an even bigger sound.  I rejoined the Highland Art Gallery and the Friday Art Bunch is going strong.  Check us out on Etsy.  www.fridayartbunch.etsy.com and me www.joyceweaver.etsy.com.  Now that I'm able to get back into my blog, I'll try to stay more current!

Big Wins at the County Fair!

This doll was just one of the handful of ribbons I won at the Burnet County, Texas Fair last week.   My teddy bears (Mr. & Mrs. Ted E. Honeypot) made from an upcycled, vintage, faux fur coat and sitting on a hand made, refurbished doll bench - got another blue ribbon.

A drawing I did and a mixed media painting each took a third place ribbon and my famous peanut butter blonde brownies got second place in the baked goods division!  It was a fun time and I'm so glad our Master Gardener group has taken over running the fair every year.

Gift Bags from Scraps

Mom gave me some leftover "cheater quilt" pre-printed fabric blocks and I made these gift bags out of it.  I used a super stiff iron-on interfacing, lined the inside and even put a blank tag with a fabric tie on the inside to use.  The picture was taken at my huge patch of cilantro, which is blooming and going to seed.  The butterflies and bees love it and it smells like a Mexican restaurant around that part of my yard!

Recipe for my AWARD WINNING Blonde Peanut Butter Brownies

Below is the recipe that won 2nd place in the baked goods division at the Burnet County, Texas Fair 2012 - but if you don't want to cook them yourself you can buy a freshly baked batch on Etsy:  www.burnetcreativeart.etsy.com.  And, you'll be supporting Burnet Creative Arts, Inc.'s school art programs!

Blonde Peanut Butter Brownies (aka Old Folks' Delight)

This makes a 9" square pan - so grease one up for this recipe and heat the oven to 350 degrees.

1/2 stick butter
1 1/2 cups brown sugar (not packed)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla (or to taste)
1/2 cup (approximately) crunchy peanut butter
1 egg
1 teaspoon baking powder
pinch salt
1 cup all-purpose or cake flour

You'll need your mixer for this recipe.  Start by beating sugar and butter until well mixed - or fluffy as the cookie recipes call it.  Add vanilla, egg, mix that together, then add peanut butter.  Mix all that until well blended, in the meantime, blend baking powder, salt and flour in a bowl, add that to your mixer bowl, blend all that - it will be a stiff dough.  Then add as many chocolate chips as you want - I usually add half a 12 oz. bag (then I eat the other half!).  Dump that in your greased pan, spread it out with your hands & fingers (AFTER you wash them) until even in the pan, bake for about 18 minutes - until light brown around the edges.  Take it out, let it cool, cut into squares.  That's it!  Enjoy!

Happy Valentine's Day Everybody!

My Art Doll is all ready for a Valentine's Day celebration.  I hope everybody has a wonderful Day!

It's Fall Festival Time in the Texas Hill Country

Artfire Certified Handmade Artisan

My Artfire.com studio has been awarded the Certified Handmade Artisan Badge - that means everything in my studio was handmade by ME! I already know that, looking at broken fingernails, sore muscles, unfinished projects (aka UFOs) but now the world can see (haha). Thanks to everybody for their support! Check it out - www.artfire.com/users/joyceweaver

I am Featured Artisan this week!

I'm the featured artisan for the next couple of days at www.artfire.com - check it out!