Happy New Year to everyone! I hope 2015 brings you all happiness and joy! To start off the new year properly, one needs chocolate and lots of it 😃 so here is my recipe for chocolate mousse. Cheers!
Chocolate Mousse
Ingredients
2 cups 60% Cacao Bittersweet Chocolate Chips
2 cups heavy cream
4 large eggs, at room temperature
1/4 cup granulated white sugar
1/4 cup strong brewed coffee
1/8 cup rum
Directions
In a large chilled bowl, whip the cream to form light peaks. Set aside in the refrigerator.
Melt the chocolate chips in the top of a double boiler over barely simmering water, stirring occasionally till smooth.
In the meantime, whip the eggs with the sugar, cooled coffee and rum at medium-high for about 10 minutes, until very fluffy and thick.
Stir the melted chocolate into the beaten eggs (the volume of the egg mixture will reduce, don’t worry about it!)
Fold in the whipped cream.
Spoon mousse into cups or pretty glasses. Decorate with shaved chocolate and enjoy!
It’s official, I have gone chain maille crazy! I love the effect of joining metal rings in a variety of ways to form interesting pieces. (Admittedly, it’s tough on the hands but I am ablsolutely compelled! Obsessed is probably a better word LOL!)
Chain Maille Necklace Simple and elegant this necklace is made with special square wire formed into multiple rings and hand woven.
Chain Maille Rosette Necklace A variation which adds a lovely melody to any outfit!
Chain Maille Grande Large rings make a definite statement!
Here they come! Can you hear the holidays rushing towards us? Wasn’t it just summer?! Well, to start the season off right, here are a few new pieces of jewelry to add a bit of sparkle to your life 🙂
Art Nouveau Earrings A rainbow of hand tinted earrings that are elegant for any occasion!
Victorian Ornate Scroll Bracelets Each bracelet is colored and shaped by hand. These can be dressy or worn casually.
Hi folks, I just wanted to update everyone and let you know that I am now selling my jewelry in a new venue, Studios in the Park in Paso Robles. Check it out, it’s full of intriguing and diverse art pieces plus plenty of gorgeous handcrafted items in a variety of media! There are always artists and craftsmen in residence who demonstrate their art and are happy to answer questions. A terrific place to visit!
The sky recently has displayed so many rich and vivid shades of blues that I just borrowed a few, mixed them with golds and bronze tints, and voila! Feast your eyes on these ladies:
Star Goddess Bracelet in Sapphire This lovely one rests on a pierced filigree bracelet cuff which has been hand painted in shades of cornflower, periwinkle and sapphire, then highlighted with a bronze tint.
Side view of the Sapphire Star Goddess Bracelet A flowered clasp and Czech sapphire crystal add a finishing touch.
Well, as far as I am concerned, you can never have too much color so I developed new variations for two of my favorite necklaces. Cheers!
Art Deco Angel Necklace in Blue This lovely angel is securely fastened with micro screws to a winged filigree scroll which is tinted by hand with a variety of paints and gilders paste. Love the varied hues!
Masthead Maiden Necklace in Burgundy Hand-tinted in burgundy, cherry and gold using paints and Gilders paste, this lovely maiden is ready to sail!
Of course you need earring to go with all these new necklaces, but of course not matchy-matchy (do you remember “What Not to Wear? 😉 ), just an echo of the hues in the jewelry.
I have an current obsession with Czech glass buttons! They are beautiful art pieces handmade by skilled glass artisans whose techniques have been perfected and handed down for generations. I can’t resist making them the centerpiece for more jewelry pieces so here we go!
Radiant Emerald and Wine Necklace The rich palette of this glowing Czech glass deserved equally sumptuous hues to complement it. The chain is handmade with squared rings.
Summer Peach Bracelet Golds, peach and cherry tones highlight this delicate offering.
Orchid Spiral Bracelet Layers of antique brass and hand painted emerald hues frame this lovely Czech glass spiral button in an orchid color palette
We live in the path of the monarch butterfly migration and are lucky enough to see vast numbers of them on the coast of central California. Though we see lots of monarchs, there have been plenty of varied colored butterflies flitting about our garden lately. Felt like I must make something to reflect the joy they inspire, so voila!
Sapphire Butterfly Bracelet This amethyst and sapphire butterfly flies through lush foliage amidst colorful flowers and leaves.
My husband’s birthday was this week and the only gift he wanted (besides his dream of owning a Tesla, LOL!) is Chocolate Lush for dessert. So in the spirit of the 4th of July, I declared independence from calories for the day (don’t tell my hips please!).
Chocolate Lush, yes!
Chocolate Lush
Crust layer:
1 1/3 Cup flour
1 1/3 sticks of butter
1 1/3 C. chopped nuts (I use slivered toasted almonds, chopped)
1/3 C. powdered sugar
Mix together, and press into 9×13″ pan.
Bake at 375 until golden brown for about 15 minutes, let cool.
Cream Cheese Layer:
12 oz. cream cheese (softened)
8 oz. Cool Whip
1 1/4 Cup powdered sugar
Whip the cream cheese until soft. Mix in the powdered sugar until blended. Fold in the Cool Whip until mixture is smooth and well blended. Spread over the cooled crust.
For Chocolate Pudding Layer:
3 small packages of chocolate instant pudding
4 1/2 Cups of cold milk.
*You can use any flavor of pudding you prefer, but seriously, the chocolate is phenomenal!
Top Layer:
Spread 8 oz Cool Whip over the top of the pudding layer.
* You can whip your own heavy cream, and sweeten it with confectioners sugar & vanilla.
Refrigerate overnight. I also like to sprinkle mini-chocolate chips, chopped nuts, shaved chocolate and/or chocolate syrup over the top, because there is no way you are counting calories with this dessert. It is definitely and completely over the top, yummy!
Isn’t she strong and lovely? I can see her on the prow of a ship, sailing through stormy seas and brilliant blue skies alike. She is secured and just awaiting to set out to sea and keep to the wind! (Okay, I have no idea what I just said but it sounds seaworthy 🙂 )
Masthead Maiden Necklace Hand-tinted an ultramarine blue using paints and Gilders paste, fastened with micro-screws and epoxy, this lovely maiden is ready to sail!
I love using interesting chain and clasps like these:
Masthead Maiden Necklace Beautiful chain and a bold clasp add elegant finishing touches to the necklace.
Really, making a complete mess of my home shouldn’t be this much fun! I love this gorgeous vintage brass Art Nouveau Star Goddess set on a large filigree which I painted in burgundy and bronze patinas then shaped into a wearable form. Having spent hours figuring out the best way to securely fasten this lovely lady, I discovered tiny screws and bolts work well. She looks so serene and peaceful. Makes me want to go take a yoga class right now! Namaste.
Star Goddess Bracelet This lovely one rests on a pierced filigree bracelet cuff which has been hand painted in burgundy and wine and highlighted with a bronze tint. A chain and clasp add a finishing touch.
Here’s a companion to keep her company 😉
Garnet Goddess Necklace This special lady is layered onto two pieces of embellished and painted filigree. Garnets add a deep accent to the chain.
I am absolutely entranced by this exquisite vintage brass Angel! Such a lovely face. She is fastened to a wonderful vintage brass Art Deco piece which I hand tinted using a variety of methods and layers of color. Hah, I just may keep it for me! (I can just hear my husband saying, “Is that anyway to run a business?!”) places hand over ears, not listening…
Art Deco Angel Necklace This lovely angel is securely bolted with micro screws to a winged filigree scroll which is tinted by hand with a variety of paints and gilders paste. Love the varied hues! (It is 86mm x 55mm)
You heard me clearly, I want a magic wand ala Harry Potter, the sooner the better! I may be a bit late to the game but I have become completely enthralled by the Harry Potter series. Spellbound and bewitched! big grin Yes, I have become one of those fans, throughly wrapped up in the Harry Potter series, relating daily life to the hero’s journey. I admit it. I know, I “should” be reading something deep, meaningful, with thematic visions of love, friendship, good and evil, discrimination, and loyalty. Oh wait, I am! And in doing so I have discovered an entire world developed by a huge fan base around the series, full of music, videos, and activists who are moved by the series themes and are determined to find ways to give back and pay it forward. Just think of it, how many books make you want to go out and do something good for other people? This is one of them. There’s a network called The Harry Potter Alliance (http://thehpalliance.org) which does just that. Check it out. Just one of many ways to participate. Riddle TM, a lovely Wrock band who write extremely evocative music, explains it the in this song, Phoenix (lyrics at http://riddletmmusic.wordpress.com/lyrics/phoenix-lyrics/). And for those visual folks, heres a delightful video to go along with the words that an enthusiastic young lady put together with her friends:
Since I love music, wizard wrock groups have been a blast to explore! Some of the funniest, moving, and exceptional songs are out there, performed by many diverse folks. If you have read the books, try 16 Years Ago and Draco’s Christmas Wish by Riddletm or More than Enough and Accio Love by Ministry of Magic. Oliver Boyd and the Rememberalls are great, especially Open at the Close and End of an Era. Oh and for good measure, checkout The Butterbeer Experience, Let’s Lumos, Romilda Vane and the Chocolate Cauldrons, Gred and Forge, The Moaning Myrtles, and House of Black. Oh there are so many good bands it’s hard to pick just a few! Most have music you can listen to on Myspace or iTunes. Check ’em out!
Okay just one more video just because 🙂
This has been a total joy to discover and thoroughly immerse myself in. Give it a try!
Okay, this will have to serve as my magic wand for now 🙂
Having found another new technique to go crazy with, I am proceeding with careless abandonment and wielding my paintbrush and tools with recklessness. Beware, anyone who walks into the workroom better be prepared for flying bits of metal and paint!
I have aimed for a vintage look with multiple layers of stamped brass and filigree topped off with Czech glass buttons.
Floral Embellished Necklace Various shades of purple patina provide an elegant background for a glass Czech button with cobalt blue and violet metallic hues and gold luster accents.
Winged Filigree Nouveau Fan Bracelet This romantic cuff has a vintage look to it with layers of stamped brass painted with shades of amethyst and aqua. Rivets are used to fasten the layers together.
