Tuesday, August 31, 2010

ETSY TREASURY TUESDAY

Today is ETSY Treasury Tuesday curated by gnormyle of Glenna's Garden http://www.gnormyle.etsy.com/

"1st Anniversary AWEteam"

Our first year anniversary will be coinciding with Firstfridayartwalk September 3, 2010 on Etsy to find shops that participate use the search words aweteam, firstfridayartwalk and ffaw fine art on Etsy if you want to join contact me at my shop, all Etsian shop owners are welcome.

Here is my treasury for AWEteam Pretty in Pink in celebration of our one year anniversary!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4c7d32eca5948eefed419829/aweteam-pretty-in-pink

The following is a favorite of mine!


Pineapple and Banana Nut Bread


Two mixing bowls: one small and one large

Ingredients

3-cups all purpose flour

3/4–teaspoon Salt

1-teaspoon baking soda

2-cups sugar

1-teaspoon ground cinnamon

1-cup chopped pecan

3-eggs, beaten

1-cup vegetable oil

2-cups mashed ripe bananas

1-(8-ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained

2-teaspoon pure vanilla extract

In the large bowl...combine the first five ingredients; then stir in pecans.

In the small bowl combined remaining ingredients; then add this to flour mixture, stirring by hand just until dry ingredients are just moistened.

Spoon batter into 2 greased and floured standard size loaf pans. Bake at 350 for 1 hour and 10 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans for 5 minutes; remove from pans, and let cool on wire racks.

Enjoy!

Something I read today and I am just passing this along to you~

Rejoice for the people who God brings in your life; Be thankful for those that He removes. Everybody isn't suppose to be a permanent fixture. You are a work in progress, so don't get upset when God changes the tools (people) He's using to build you. Circumstances, situations, and things are going to come and go as you grow. Transformation can't take place without change. by Relationship Expert, D Ivan Young

Sunday, August 29, 2010

TOGETHER SATURDAY

“Together we can do so much.” Helen Keller

“…groups are very important because they force us to progress. If you’re all alone, all you can do is laugh at yourself, but if you’re with others, you’ll laugh and then immediately act. Groups challenge us. Groups allow us to choose our affinities. Groups create a collective energy, and ecstasy comes more easily because everyone infects everyone else.” – The Witch of Portobello by Paul Coelho

 
Yesterday was so very nice for me. I cared for my 2 month old and 2 1/2 year old grandsons. I was there all day while Mom and Dad worked. We had fun while the baby slept. My older grandson even napped for 4 hours. He woke up in great spirits. The three of us had fun "together". The younger grandson has discovered that he can see many things now and screeches in delight at his own will when something particulary interests him most often a face he sees. I love being a Nana such a wonderful gift from above...thank you God!
 
Every Sunday I receive email from Lori Koop at http://moveupword.com/ She sends you one word to inspire you throughout the week. This week the focus word is together. I am thankful I am together with my sons, DIL and grandsons. The Hellen Keller quote and the words of Paul Coelho I borrowed from her email she sent me today. I wanted to share them with you! I also wanted to share pictures of my grandsons having fun with Nana.


Have a wonderful Sunday!
Glenna from Glenna'sGarden

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

BIRDWINGS BUTTERFLIES WEDNESDAY

Wow these are big butterflies check this out

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birdwing

I found it while reading about how swallow tail butterflies have made such a fantastic come back in the Eastern US this year. Two hard winters 2009/2010 killed off their predators perhaps scientists are thinking. I have always loved butterflies since I was a young girl and have had butterfly gardens where all of the plants were specifically planted to attract butterflies.

Well let's watch the gardens grow it is cool 66 today and rainy again. We have been like this for a few days now. It frustrates me because all of my pictures for my shop are done using natural lighting. I haven't seen sun since Sunday. So sales jumped at the shop check it out I did using google analytics. See my sold items at http://www.gnormyle.etsy.com/ some items are available in multiples all of my art is original though. Most of the jewelry is glass, stones or crystals and real silver. I have many choices for beads and a really cool ring idea I found recently. I have many new ACEO's to list in my shop I was looking through them today. I am always amazed at what I create then I have to choose ones to list in my shop. That is hard because I love them all and would love to list all of them for sale. I have a couple of new greeting cards I made recently and some vintage to list just as soon as the sun comes back. So meanwhile I have more time to create too. YAY!

I have spent my time wisely so far this week. I am all caught up on mail, feedback, and now working on organizing supplies. Setting up for Fall and all other supplies are stashed away, well except for Christmas what little I have of that and well now I know that I need to find some Chistmas materials soon.

In my studio main desk:


Yes we have purple and orange going on here early with pink flamingos.
Indoor Basil Garden 2010
Nothing beats fresh basil! Especially when it is growing this well indoors!


Excellent recipe courtesy mentioned:

Popcorn Shrimp Salad Sandwiches Recipe
From The Shrimp Council and SeaPak Shrimp Company

Woman's Day Magazine March 12, 2010

Active Time: 7 minutes Total Time: 10 minutes

Recipe Ingredients

1 (12 oz) package SeaPak® Popcorn Shrimp or SeaPak® Jumbo Popcorn Shrimp, frozen

1 cup mayonnaise (add more if desired)

1/2 cup fresh onion, finely diced

1 - 2 cloves of garlic, finely diced

1 large hard-boiled egg, diced

2 Tablespoons dill pickle relish (or substitute diced dill pickles)

2 - 3 hoagie rolls or panini bread

Recipe Preparation

1. Prepare the shrimp according to package directions. Set aside to cool for 3 minutes.

2. Add mayonnaise, onion, garlic, hard boiled egg and pickle relish to a large bowl. Stir to incorporate ingredients.

3. Add warm shrimp to mayonnaise mixture and stir until shrimp are fully coated. Spoon onto hoagie rolls and serve.

ENJOY! Courtesy of Glenna's Garden

Serve with light refreshments like iced tea or lemonade.



Glenna's Garden studio purple wall Ninja!








Monday, August 23, 2010

RAINY DAYS AND MONDAYS TOO

Cool 63 rainy and windy. Today was a stay indoors day. It was actually nice to feel the warmth of the studio! Just yesterday it was so hot you needed AC! Too drastic! So I have been busy catching up with mail and working on my orders. Tomorrow morning I brave the cold temps out there and go to the PO. We need long pants and a jacket. Wow I really wasn't ready for this. Too gloomy to take pictures. So I have a backlog of creations and I am not complaining. Better to have a little too much than not enough. Tomorrow I will be working on more jewelry. I am creating Fall pieces now. I just got some topaz beads in today and so I am ready with all of the necessary supplies to create some beautiful earrings. I have a combo of dark purple, amber and green in mind. More like topaz, aubergine and olive green. Classic with silver! Here are some pictures of jewelry currently available for sale at Glenna's Garden. All Handmade in NH!

All glass beads and .925 silver ear wires!

Eye Candy!
Topaz colored shapes!
Crystal blue persuasions!




For more jewelry check this out www.etsy.com/shop/gnormyle





Lucious plum drops!

Sunday, August 22, 2010

SUNDAY SUNDAY

"Goals are a means to an end, not the ultimate purpose of our lives. They are simply a tool to concentrate our focus and move us in a direction. The only reason we really pursue goals is to cause ourselves to expand and grow. Achieving goals by themselves will never make us happy in the long term; it's who you become, as you overcome the obstacles necessary to achieve your goals, that can give you the deepest and most long-lasting sense of fulfillment." Anthony Robbins

What do you have for a breakfast cereal? I love a few of these! Especially Kashi cereals.

http://shopping.yahoo.com/articles/yshoppingarticles/417/supermarket-standoff-healthy-cereals/


Courtesy of Dover Publications


Mary Engelbreit fans alike check out this cute store I found




I love mandalas this one is courtesy of Dover Publications.

What do you do with all of those tomatoes?

Chilled Tomato Dill Soup from Stonyfield Farm


Makes: 4 servings

Ingredients

2 pounds ripe tomatoes, seeded and coarsely chopped (about 8-10 tomatoes)

1/2 cup red onion, chopped

1/2 cup fresh dill, divided

2 tablespoon lemon juice

1 cup fresh corn (2 ears, uncooked)

1 cup ice water

1 teaspoon sea salt

1 cup Stonyfield Farm Low Fat Plain Yogurt, divided

Directions

In a food processor or blender, combine tomatoes, red onion, 1/4 cup dill, lemon juice, corn, ice water, salt, and 1/2 cup yogurt. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours until chilled, or prepare ahead of time and refrigerate overnight. In a small bowl combine remaining dill and yogurt and gently fold. Refrigerate mixture until ready to serve. Divide soup evenly between 4 bowls and garnish with a generous dollop of dill yogurt. ENJOY!


Friday, August 20, 2010

FYI FRIDAY

Dates in September to Remember

September is known as National Honey, Classical Music, and Self Improvement Month.

August 11 - September 9: Ramadan

August 30 - September 12: U.S. Tennis Open Tournament

September 6: Labor Day

September 7: Brazil's Independence Day

September 9 -10: Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown

September 10: Eid

September 10: Sewing Machine Day

Sept. 11 Say a prayer day! Never forget!

September 12: Grandparents' Day I am a Nana Yay!!!!!!

September 13: National Peanut Day

September 15: Make a Hat Day

September 16: Mexico's Independence Day

September 18: Oktoberfest

September 18: Yom Kippur

September 19: Talk like a Pirate Day

September 22 Sunset: Sukkot

September 22: Chinese Moon Festival

September 23: Autumnal Equinox

September 26 International Rabbit Day

September 28: Confucius's Birthday

So many days to celebrate different events. So many reasons to stop by and check out all of the cards, tags, and gifts available at Glenna's Garden http://www.gnormyle.etsy.com/
 
These are going to get a makeover courtesy of Moo.com. I won their contest for a personal makeover of my business cards with one of their designers and will be getting started Sept. 8, 2010. I am so excited!

Always wanted to know all about watercolor pencils well here it is!

http://rubberstamping.about.com/od/supplies/p/Watercolpencils.htm

I am using them now, I am learning and it is a lot fun!

MORE FYI

One of my favorite blogspots I wrote awhile ago so you don't have to search here it is

http://glennasgarden.blogspot.com/2009/12/vintage-findings-true-age-known.html

Thursday, August 19, 2010

TASTY THURSDAY

If you have a shop, website and blog well now you can bring them all together in one place and also work on them from that one place too. Please check out http://www.soopsee.com/

I did all that was required of me with this site in less than 30 minutes. You externally import your shop, blog and/or website information. It does the work for you with the push of a few buttons.
One of many cards available for sale at Glenna's Garden http://www.gnormyle.etsy.com/

Try this one, I know it is early but this is a favorite year round.

PUMPKIN DIP

Ingredients

3/4 cup lowfat cream cheese
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
2 tbsp maple syrup
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
apple slices
pear slices

Directioms

1. Place first 3 ingredients in a mixing bowl and beat with a mixer until blended.
2. Add maple syrup and cinnamon and blend until smooth.
3. Cover and chill for at least 30 minutes.
4. Serve with slices of fresh apples and pears.

ENJOY!

We are still experiencing high day time temperatures and not much cooler at night 10PM and it is still 81 degrees outside. I love Fall and wish for it to arrive soon.

Here is another good one:

Shrimp and Avocado Pasta Salad


With crisp vegetables, creamy avocado and sweet shrimp, this cool pasta salad is a meal in itself.

Makes: 8 servings

Ingredients

1- 16oz package penne pasta

1 pound of cooked shrimp (16-20 count), peeled and deveined

1/2 cup shredded cheddar

1 avocado, peeled and diced

1 cup Fat Free Plain Yogurt

Juice of 2 lemons

2 tomatoes, seeded and diced

1 cucumber, peeled and sliced into 1/4-inch-thick half moons

1 cup green beans, blanched and chilled

1 teaspoon crushed red pepper

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Cook pasta according to package instructions. Rinse pasta under cold water and drain. In a large bowl gently toss together pasta, shrimp, cheddar cheese, avocado, yogurt, lemon juice, tomatoes, cucumbers, green beans, crushed red pepper, and salt and pepper to taste. Serve chilled.
 
ENJOY!
 

This is an example of my Garden Tangle bookmarks!

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Tutorials Tuesday

Many How To's for You to Check Out and Use

Please visit: http://linda-considerations.blogspot.com/

How to use StumbleUpon, for Etsy sellers

How to create good photos for your Etsy shop

How to promote your Etsy shop

How to navigate a Ning site

How to use Kaboodle

How to make use of the Etsy Treasury

How to have unique Business cards

How to use Flickr for silent promoting

How to understand and use SEO. 1. Keywords

How to understand and use SEO. 2. H1 Tags (Item titles) and Meta Descriptions

How to understand and use SEO. 3. Shop title

How to find and use Free advertising

How to use macro and close up photos in your listings.

How to encourage customers to stay in your shop.

How to set up Google Analytics for your shop



Vintage pages from children's literature! Will be available soon for purchase at Glenna's Garden http://www.gnormyle.etsy.com/



Sunday, August 15, 2010

SPECIAL SUNDAY

I am full of happiness. I have been asked to watch my grandsons next Saturday for a few hours. One is 2 1/2 and the other 6 weeks. I hope the week ahead goes fast. I have been busy making things at Glenna's Garden studio. Tomorrow I will be doing picture taking and then listing the new items in my shop. I have a lot of earrings I just made.


My Mermaid ACEO I created recently in response to a challenge! Not listed yet at Glenna's Garden http://www.gnormyle.etsy.com/



Some real jade earrings not yet for sale!




Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Websites to Explore Wednesday

I love to read! I could never afford to purchase all the books I read. I use my public library do you?

Looking for a library...looking for a book....check out this website:

http://www.publiclibraries.com/


This is a journal I have that is being passed around the world. When you request it you will add to a page in it of whatever you want however please keep it clean. I drew a pencil sketch of a hummingbird and added it to the journal. Now I am ready to pass it on. It will be available to purchase in my shop soon. It is a PIF so it will cost nothing to the buyer and I will pay shipping in the USA only and that is how it is passed along from one person to another. The person to end up with the last page to fill in gets to keep it. They will have to start a new one #39. This is journal #38 so this journal project has been going for a long time.
  •  

  • I love to make bookmarks. I have joined a swap group where we make bookmarks for each other. I have created some nice ones and received many nice ones as well. This set of art bookmarks I created have been featured in many Etsy treasuries. They are available to purchase at Glenna's Garden http://www.gnormyle.etsy.com/


    Vintage peacock playing card and vintage lace on a lovely linen texture cardstock (bookmark left) and handmade paper with real pressed flowers in it and beautiful multicolor fiber. (bookmark right) 

    Tuesday, August 10, 2010

    Twice Baked Potatos Tuesday

    This is a wonderful site if you like to bake and if not well then just dream about having some large frosted animal cookies and so much more.
    http://bakeat350.blogspot.com/2010/07/frosted-jumbo-animal-cookies.html

    Another love twice baked potatos:

    Original Recipe Yield 8 servings

    Ingredients

    4 large baking potatoes

    8 slices bacon

    1 cup sour cream

    1/2 cup milk

    4 tablespoons butter

    1/2 teaspoon salt

    1/2 teaspoon pepper

    1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese, divided

    8 green onions, sliced, divided

    Directions

    1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

    2.Bake potatoes in preheated oven for 1 hour.

    3.Meanwhile, place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain, crumble and set aside.

    4.When potatoes are done allow them to cool for 10 minutes. Slice potatoes in half lengthwise and scoop the flesh into a large bowl; save skins. To the potato flesh add sour cream, milk, butter, salt, pepper, 1/2 cup cheese and 1/2 the green onions. Mix with a hand mixer until well blended and creamy. Spoon the mixture into the potato skins. Top each with remaining cheese, green onions and bacon.

    5.Bake for another 15 minutes.

    The Aweteam is going to participate in the ETSY pillowcase campaign. I might buy some children's pillowcases already made or I had an idea. Buy some plain pillowcases and send along washable paints in kits. Maybe or maybe not?  I can't sew right now but I want to be a part of this!

    I filled up my shop again! Check it out at http://www.gnormyle.etsy.com/ will you please let me know if my pictures are bright enough and clear to you.

    Tuesday, August 3, 2010

    TRULY GREAT TUESDAY


    A strong woman knows she has strength enough for the journey, but a woman of strength knows it is in the journey where she will become strong. ~Author Unknown

    Today is a wonderful day. I am spending it all day long with my son, my newborn grandson (30 days old) and 2 1/2 year old grandson. Oh boy am I going to be tired! It is so worth it though! I am looking forward to taking some great pictures. YAY!

    Yesterday I posted The Presidents' Own White House Cookbook to my shop listings. It is now for sale at http://www.gnormyle.etsy.com/ Glenna's Garden shop. Not just a cookbook, it is filled with pictures of Presidents from Washington to LBJ including our beloved President John F. Kennedy. It is dated 1968. That makes it 42 years old to date and very vintage. This lovely vintage cookbook also has many historical facts written in it making it such a pleasure to read.

    Sunday, August 1, 2010

    FIRST DAY OF AUGUST 2010

    In Manchester, NH Ahhhhh relief with humidity low and the temperatures starting out below 60 this morning...yes I saw 58 degrees early this morning now with the sun breaking through I feel mildly warm a good warm with the fans actually producing a chill though my mind is thinking refreshing and this recipe is it. I thought I would start out with sharing this first thing with you. I love cucumbers and the seedless variety is the best tasting I think. They are sometimes called European cukes too!

    Little Cucumber Boats

    Vegetarian Times Issue: November 1, 2004 p.100

    These are simple to prepare but look fancy. Use the long, ridged cucumbers (known as English, Dutch, hothouse or seedless) because they contain less water and fewer seeds.

    Ingredient List

    Makes 8 dinner servings, 24 appetizers

    1 seedless cucumber, about 1 foot long

    7 oz. feta cheese

    1 Tbs. sour cream

    2 Tbs. orange juice

    1 Tbs. finely chopped mint

    1 Tbs. finely snipped chives

    1 1/2 tsp. orange zest

    Salt to taste

    Chopped chives for garnish

    2 juice oranges, thinly sliced and pitted for garnish

    Directions

    Trim ends of cucumber, and cut in half crosswise, then lengthwise. Scoop out seeds. Blot cut sides with paper towel.

    Crumble feta into bowl. Add sour cream, orange juice, mint, chives, orange zest and salt; mash with fork. Add a little water, if needed—mixture should be more creamy than crumbly.

    Mound filling into cucumber halves. Cut stuffed cucumber into 1-inch pieces.

    Place on orange slices, and garnish with additional chives. Divide among 8 salad plates, or arrange on party platter.

    Nutritional Information

    Per SERVING: Calories: 25, Protein: 1g, Total fat: 2g, Saturated fat: 1g, Carbs: 1g, Cholesterol: 10mg, Sodium: 95mg, Fiber: g, Sugars: 1g


    Cucumbers 2010

    Everything is flourishing outside at Glenna's Garden. This was a particularly good year so far and we still are only a little more than half way. The heat from **** didn't help! We survived. Higher than normal electric bills and water bills. Even the indoor plants took it hard because they are in a room off the studio and some are in the studio near big windows and not in an airconditioned space so while the humidity was nice it really was a bit too much for these Northern plants of mine. The pomegranate bush is so nicely filling out and is doing great this summer. The avocado tree went crazy and the cacti loved the heat of course.

    The next ETSY event is coming up in just a few days firstfridayartwalk on August 6, 2010 use the search words aweteam, firstfridayartwalk and ffaw while shopping at ETSY to find all the great shops like mine www.gnormyle.etsy.com that are participating. I am on the AWEteam so if you have any questions you can always ask me. Free to join and lots of fun. All Etsy shops can participate at level 1 and use the tag word firstfridayartwalk on their items they list in their shops. We are a yahoo based group for which I am a co-moderator. Visit our blog at http://www.aweteam.blogspot.com/