Art Beads Muse Contest IV

The 'Use the Muse' kit 4 beads and treasures were mailed today. I expect to receive mine Thursday or Friday if the Post Office doesn't get it hung up somewhere along the way. I think my mail lady enjoys my beading magazines, because quite a few never arrive.

Except for County and State fairs, this is the first contest I have ever entered. I know there are far better beaders out there, but I'll try not to embarrass anyone. ;o)

If you should see a strange woman hanging onto her mail box, it will probably be me!

Ruth Ann
beads@bledsoe.net
http://r2swanger.etsy.com

Orientation to Beads

I just found a fabulous site for learning about beads, threads, wires, metals, etc. Be sure and click on:

http://www.blog.landofodds.com/orientation-to-beads/

to read all the details. Fabulous!

Ruth Ann
http://www.r2swanger.etsy.com
http://www.beadkits.etsy.com

Haloween Bracelet

My Halloween Bracelet
is now available completed
at
http://www.r2swanger.etsy.com
or
as a kit
at
http://www.beadkits.etsy.com

This bracelet is
a pleasure to make
and a
delight to wear!

Enjoy!
Ruth Ann
http://www.r2swanger.etsy.com
http://www.beadkits.etsy.com

Beads and Beading Supplies

I have been asked by several people what beads, tools, stringing materials, etc. are needed to start a business.

Let me tell you, you are treading on dangerous ground! I am a beader with no bead shops. How sad! The closest one is about 200-250 miles away. I have only had the opportunity to visit 4 bead shops in my entire life. So, my answer to your questions is to buy everything you can get your hands on. Know what the online shops have and look for it in stores so you can see what the bead really looks like, then buy online because the prices are so much better.

I like to buy my focal pieces from shops, so I know for sure what I'm getting. I'd hate to tell you what my bills are at one of the shops! Thank Heavens it's 600 miles away and doesn't have a web site.

For tools, buy one of the kits at Hobby Lobby or Michael's. Use these until you know which tools you really need and like, then buy the best you can afford.

For delicas, I try to keep about 50 colors on hand, but there are still some that I need desperately and have to order. The same with the Miyukis. For gem stones, I rarely know what I'll need, so I try to keep lots on hand. I would much prefer to buy them in person, even if they
do cost more, but this isn't a viable thing for me to do.

The Best of Luck to You - and your bank account!

Ruth Ann
http://www.r2swanger.etsy.com

Turtle Cookies Recipe

Chiqui's Turtle Cookies N'Orleans Style

Chiqui Collier, who teaches at The New Orleans Cooking Experience, writes to share her recipe for this special cookie.

Makes 36 cookies

3 cups sifted all-purpose flour

½ teaspoon salt

1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

2 egg yolks

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 tablespoons water

2 lightly beaten egg whites

2 cups coarsely chopped pecans

Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Sift together flour and salt.

In another bowl, cream together the brown sugar and soft butter until light and fluffy, about three minutes. Blend in egg yolks, vanilla and water. Add the dry ingredients and mix well.

Place egg whites in a shallow bowl and chopped pecans in another bowl. Using a 1-inch cookie scoop, form 1-inch balls of dough, flattening slightly on one side. Dip the flattened side in the egg whites, then into the pecans.

Place nut-side-up on prepared baking sheets, about 1 1/2 inches apart. Press down lightly on the cookie, being careful not to crack the dough balls.

Bake for seven minutes. Reverse pans and continue baking eight more minutes. Remove from oven and let cookies cool on racks.

When cookies are completely cool, cover with mounds of chocolate icing.

Chocolate icing

¼ teaspoon salt

6 tablespoons unsweetened Hershey's cocoa

1 pound confectioner's sugar

1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

¼ cup (or more) milk or cream

Place salt, cocoa and confectioner's sugar in a food processor. Blend well. Add remaining ingredients and blend until well combined and fluffy.

Place icing in a pastry bag fitted with a large plain tip. Top each cooled cookie with a generous dollop of icing.

Store in a covered cake box.

Enjoy!
Ruth Ann
http://www.r2swanger.etsy.com
http://www.beadkits.etsy.com

Kit - New Purple Shadow Ring Kit

Purple Shadow Ring Kit

We are now offering our
Purple Shadow Ring
as a kit.

Look for it on our Etsy site -
http://www.r2swanger.etsy.com

Now you can say
'I made it myself!".

Have a fabulous day!
Ruth Ann
http://www.r2swanger.etsy.com

Kit - New Bracelet Kit

Our beautiful teapot bracelet is now available as a kit from
http://www.r2swanger.etsy.com

The kit consists of
Full Instructions
Swarovski Pearls
Sterling Teapot Charm
Sterling Spoon and Teapot Toggle
Crimps
Stringing Material

You can proudly say
"I made it myself!"

Peanut Brittle Recipe

2 cups sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1 cup water
2 cups raw Spanish peanuts
1/2 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. butter
2 tsp. baking soda

Heat and stir sugar, syrup and water in a heavy 3-quart saucepan until the sugar dissolves. Add salt. Cook over medium heat to soft ball stage (234 degrees). Add peanuts at 250 degrees. Cook to hard crack stage (290 degrees), stirring often. Remove from heat.

Quickly, stir in butter and soda. Beat to a froth for a few seconds. Pour at once onto 2 well-buttered 15-1/2x10-1/2x1-inch pans, spreading with spatula. If desired, cool slightly and pull with forks to stretch thin. Break up when cold.

Yield: About 1-1/2 pounds of peanut brittle.

I usually use the specified
Spanish peanuts
for this delectable recipe.
For special gifts,
I use mixed nut.
And if I'm feeling really extravagant,
I use cashews.

Experiment and enjoy!
But don't blame me for all those extra calories that you consume!


Ruth Ann
http://www.raggbaggs.blogspot.com
http://www.r2swanger.etsy.com
http://beadkits.etsy.com

Before
the voices
of the Earth's
choirs were raised
in praise... there was
a silent night. Before the
strings of lights were wound
around the world, and tinsel
strung... there was a single star.
Before the wide eyed wonder of a
child on Christmas morn... Before
the gifts... there was a child, born in
Bethlehem, who showed the world
the greatest
gift of all is
LOVE

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Warmest wishes to one and all for
the happiest of holidays and a
prosperous new year.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ruth Ann
http://www.raggbaggs.blogspot.com
http://www.r2swanger.etsy.com
http://www.beadkits.etsy.com

Christmas Dinner

W.C. Fields once said, “I cook with wine. Sometimes I even add it to the food.”

Muddle headiness and laziness has lead me to spend the morning
learning about wines to serve with
Christmas dinner.
Christmas dinner being the semi-private dinner that
Ray and I host for just a few close friends.
The dinner is rarely on Christmas Day.
(On Christmas Day, we tend to goof off,
playing with the new toys that Santa brought!)

Christmas Dinner includes a mix of friends.
Most don't drink, but don't object to a bottle of wine
being served.
Since we have a group of wonderful, religious friends,
our parties don't usually include alcohol,
so our private dinner is one we look forward to all year.

I will offer more notes and recipes for our
special Christmas Dinner
as time allows -
and when I find the camera!

Ruth Ann
http://www.raggbaggs.blogspot.com
http://www.r2swanger.etsy.com
http://www.beadkits.etsy.com

Muddle Head

"My dear, if you could give me a cup of tea to clear my muddle of a head, I should better understand your affairs."

~ Charles Dickens ~


I had read this quote by Dickens before in

Mrs. Lirriper's Legacy

but was reminded of it this morning
while reading the blog from
La Tea Dah
at
http://www.gracioushospitality.blogspot.com

It seems that it is my own head that is muddled this morning.
Too many hours with too many doctors
with too many tests yesterday.
The Albuterol that was required for one test has made me shaky.
Driving over the mountain twice and
walking from one office to another
has made me tired.

As for a muddled head,
most of you who know me
realize that I'm muddle headed
most of the time.

The camera with vacation pictures
is still missing.
Poor Ray is trying to do all of the laundry
and put everything up by himself.
How blessed I am to have that wonderful man!

I have made several custom jewelry orders this week
and had hoped to put up pictures,
but, alack and alas...................

The weather is a warm 53 degrees
and there are storm warnings out.

We plan to put up our Christmas tree tonight
without our cheerful fire.
Rain and strong winds are expected for the next several days.

I have more jewelry to make today,
which thrills me.
Maybe I'll do some embroidery, too.

But first, a cup of tea to, perhaps,
clear my own muddled head!

Ruth Ann
http://www.raggbaggs.blogspot.com
http://www.r2swanger.etsy.com
http://beadkits.etsy.com

Herbed Batter Rolls

I'm sorry that I don't have a picture for this one, but it's on the menu for dinner tonight.
I'll let you know how it turns out!

Herbed Batter Rolls

1 tablespoon active dry yeast
1 cup warm water
1/2 teaspoon sage
1/2 teaspoon dried tarragon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 tablespoons white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 egg
2 tablespoons butter, cut into small pieces
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, divided
In a large mixing bowl dissolve yeast in warm water. Add the sage, tarragon, nutmeg, sugar, salt, egg, butter or margarine and 1 cup of the flour. Using a wire whisk, beat until smooth. Stir in remaining 1 1/4 cups flour with a wooden spoon and beat until smooth. Scrape batter from sides of the bowl, cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place for about 30 minutes or until doubled in volume.
Deflate batter by Stirring with a wooden spoon. Lightly grease one 8 cup muffin pan. Scoop batter into the prepared muffin pan. Fill each cup slightly more than 1/2 full; set aside in a warm place and let rise for about 15 to 20 minutes or until doubled. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

Bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden. Serve warm.


If the rolls live up to my expectations,
these will be on the menu for
Christmas Day!

Warmest Wishes!


Ruth Ann
http://www.raggbaggs.blogspot.com
http://www.r2swanger.etsy.com
http://www.beadkits.etsy.com

Thanksgiving Day

Happy Thanksgiving!
A little late!!!!!

We spent Thanksgiving morning preparing our usual
'Sinful Mashed Potatoes'
to take to the family dinner.
For the last couple of years, dinner has been in the
'party room'
at the local funeral home,
because there are so many of us now.

I strongly dislike this new custom -
though, since there are
40 something of us,
it seems a necessity.

The meal is uncomfortably noisy
and we only have the opportunity
to speak to a few people.

Everyone grabs a paper plate,
piles it so high with food that the plate collapses,
eats, and leaves.

The leaving part suits us fine,
as we spend the evening visiting friends,
sampling desserts around town,
sipping eggnog,
and enjoying the comany
of dear friends.

We return home to
the first fire of the season -
even if we have to open the windows
to be cool enough -,
a bottle of champagne,
and special olives that I buy only once a year.

Then, the hassle is over until Christmas Eve
and the most special time of the holiday begins.
Ray is off work for two weeks,
returns to work for two weeks,
and is off another two weeks.

We spend our time decorating, shopping,
attending parties, and wrapping gifts by the fire.
Best of all, we are together for a full month
with few interuptions -
except for the dreaded dinner at
the funeral home on Christmas Eve.
There are very few changes in the menu
from Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve,
but it is a command performance
and we MUST attend.
Ah, well.....
I guess one must do things for family.
And I have a wonderful family,
it's just that they are very demanding.

The week following Thanksgiving was spent
on Panama City Beach in Florida.
Pictures will follow -
just as soon as I find the camera!

Wishing you all a blessed and happy
holiday season!

Ruth Ann
http://www.raggbaggs.blogspot.com
http://www.r2swanger.etsy.com
http://www.beadkits.etsy.com