Harlequin Kitchen

You may remember a small art niche that I featured recently. Well, I went back and did a larger niche which really tied it all together nicely. Harlequin on this scale is pretty difficult to master. The easiest way to do it is by using a chalk line. This is a string that is covered in a chalk powder. After you decide the size diamonds that you want, you can mark off your measurements and then pop the chalk string on the wall. This will make your lines nice and strait. Then you must tape it off. Here is the result.

Make it a great Wednesday!

XOXXO
Née Née

Buffalo Hunting

Tonight after work I went buffalo hunting. Got me a good one too!

Luv ya,
Née Née

Stuffed Bell Peppers

I have a friend named Linda, that is a fabulous cook.  She is Italian so of course she ROCKS the meatball, but she can cook anything.  She catered my nieces wedding shower

Beautiful layout for my nieces wedding shower catered by Linda

...and I have eaten her food on a number of occasions.  She participated in cook off's and contests regularly, so I guess you could say, she is an award winning cook!  I asked her to share a couple of recipes with me, and this is the first.  Let me start by saying, I LOVE stuffed bell peppers.  She said you can fix this dish in a relatively short amount of time, and the good thing about it is that you can serve two-four guests easily.

Let me also say....I tried to pry her meatball recipe out of her, but it is a family secret.  She has catered several parties I have attended, and there have NEVER been any left over meatballs!

This is an actual photo she took with her phone.  This is what she served her husband for lunch!  YUMMY!

STUFFED BELL PEPPERS

 1 ½ LBS OF GROUND BEEF

4 BELL PEPPERS (GREEN OR COLORED)

½ CUP CHOPPED ONION

1 SMALL CAN MUSHROOMS (OPTIONAL)

4 SERVINGS OF COOKED WHITE OR BROWN RICE

1 LGE CAN DICED TOMATO WITH JUICE

1 SM CAN OF TOMATO SAUCE

1 CUP SHREDDED CHEDDAR CHEESE

TOPS OF BELL PEPPERS CLEANED AND CHOPPED

CUT THE TOPS OF THE PEPPERS RESERVING THEM. CLEAN PEPPERS REMOVING VEINS AND SEEDS. REMOVE STEM AND CHOP TOPS. PLACE PEPPERS INTO A POT OF WATER TO BOIL UNTIL TENDER.

FRY MEAT WITH SALT, PEPPER, ONIONS AND CHOPPED BELL PEPPERS USING AS MUCH AS YOU WISH. DRAIN IF NEEDED.  ADD DICED TOMATOES AND SAUCE.  STIR IN RICE AND MUSHROOMS.  ARRANGE STANDING PEPPERS IN BAKING DISH THAT HAS BEEN SPRAYED WITH PAM. FILL COMPLETELY PUTTING THE EXCESS RICE MIXTURE AROUND PEPPERS.

TOP WITH CHEDDAR CHEESE, COVER AND BAKE FOR 45-60 MINUTES ON 350DEGREES. 

Thanks, Linda.  

Luvyameanit!

Nee' Nee'

Vampire Valentine

This may be my all time favorite Valentine that I have ever received! Let me start by saying that I ADORE vampires. My mother and I have a standing date to go see all of the Twilight movies when they come out. That being said, you can understand why I was so completely tickled when I checked my mailbox and found the below card in it. Thank you, Mama! I love you!

Mirrored Vodka Bottle

My niece, Maycee, is somewhat of a "card".  I am showing you this picture, as a craft project, but it is pretty darn funny too.

This is her cat, Lola.  What I want you to look at, is the crafty little vodka bottle.  You can buy these mirrored tiles at Michael's, and you just have to glue them on.  Isn't that cute?

I also this was an appropriate Friday blog!  Lola says, It's five o'clock somewhere!

Have a great weekend!
Nee' Nee'

More Painted Wine Glasses

I absolutely LOVE to paint wine glasses ! I am constantly inspired by things I see around me, so I collect jewels and ideas all year long. I paint them for gifts and events that come up throughout the year. If I am in a creative rut, picking up a wineglass to paint, seems to get my creative motor started.

These are my latest glasses. I hope you can draw inspiration for your own projects from this. Get your motor running!

Luvyameanit!
Née Née

Create Your Own Art

It might surprise you to know, that you don't have to know how to freehand to create art.  I always wondered how the "real" artists do large scale murals,and I learned that they sometimes trace the items onto a surface so they don't have to worry about scale.  This cuts down on the time, especially when working on a tedious project.  Another trick they use, is to create the artwork on canvas, and then install the pieces like wallpaper.  This particular project is a cross between the two.  These are canvas panels, that are being used in a den above a couch as artwork.

First I went to Jerry's Artarama to purchase the canvas.  They have a variety of shapes and sizes, so I like to shop there!

I base coated the canvases with Annie Sloan's chalk paint, Old Ochre.  I then troweled on some joint compound for texture.

The next steps were just a series of layering different paints with a trowel.  The colors used here are Annie Sloan's Emperor's Silk, and Primer Red. 

I let the layers dry in between coats.  I took a stencil and used Old Ochre to apply the pattern.  I then used the Annie Sloan soft wax in dark for sealer and to add depth.  After that, I added some Iridescent Gold and Antique Bronze from Modern Masters to highlight and low light the scroll work.

I am very happy with the results.  These are going to look GREAT above the couch I designed them for.

Create some art of your own today!  It is super fun!

Have a wonderful "hump" day! 

XOXXO

Nee' Nee'