Parts of Art

Peppermint snowballs 1 c butter, softened 1/2 c confectioner’s sugar 1 t vanilla extract 2 1/2 c all-purpose flour 1/2 c ground nuts, optional filling: 2 T cream cheese, softened 1/2 c confectioner’s sugar 1 t. milk 3 T crushed peppermint candy topping: 1/2 c crushed peppermint candy 1/2 c confectioner’s sugar In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in vanilla. Gradually add flour. Stir in nuts if desired. Knead dough until pliable. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour or until easy to handle. In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, milk, and candy. Roll tablespoons of dough into balls. Using the end of a wooden spoon handle, make a deep indentation in the center of each. Fill with 1/4 t filling. Cover with 1/4 t of dough, seal and reshape into balls. Combine topping ingredients: roll balls in topping. Place 1 inch apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350 for 12-14 minutes or until firm. Roll warm cookies in topping again; cool on wire racks.

One of my customers at a show picked out a necklace but wanted a few changes done to it. The day she picked it and tried it on, I once again got to witness what I call the "perfect marriage", where the piece is perfect for the woman.

Being serious salsa lovers, this past summer we planted a salsa garden in our back yard. We had many tomatoes and several types of peppers that grew in abundance in our sandy Florida soil. We had one habanero pepper plant that went crazy. Out of necessity I found this great recipe for hot sauce so we could use up some of our peppers. It was so good we ate it with everything: fish, chicken, eggs, on sandwiches, with chips and salsa. I wouldn't be surprised if my sons even added it to their breakfast cereal! Please try it and let me know what you think. We still have so many peppers in the freezer I'm thinking of making this sauce and giving it as holiday gifts.! 12 fresh habaneros 1 ripe mango, peeled and finely chopped 1 cup yellow mustard 1/4 cup packed brown sugar 1/4 cup white vinegar 1 T curry powder 1 T ground cumin 1 T chili powder salt and pepper to taste Wear rubber gloves to cut habaneros. Trust me on this. And don't rub your eyes or touch your face with the

Twenty years ago when I started cutting paint off of old palettes there was no such thing as internet. Not too many people were even using computers. It baffles my brain to think how much has changed since then. And now...I am so proud to say I have an online store. And a blog spot. And I can even send an email! I am more computer savvy than I ever dreamed possible.

This is a good question and I am so glad you asked. We are in the business of art, my husband and I. He does sparkling Florida landscape paintings and murals of Italian countryside. When he is done with a painting, he gives me his palette. Sometimes I come to my work table and there is a freshly pulled film of paint sitting there waiting. Heart, be still. Here is an example of David's art. So that's one place the paint comes from.

Many years ago I had a little store, about the size of a large walk in closet. In this store I sold hand painted clothing and art. I hand painted the clothing using acrylic paint. This type of paint is wonderful, bright and colorfast, BUT it dries quickly and once it does, it cannot be mixed back into paint. Ever. So, it dries on the palette and starts to layer. Occasionally I would peel the dried paint off the pallette and start afresh. One day I had just cleaned off my palette and had this glorious mess of schlokked paint that just beckoned to be upcycled into something. Right then, in walked two dear friends of mine, my minister and his wife. I held up the paint and said, "This is too pretty to throw away, but I don't know what to do with it. He said (Note: HE) "Well, you could always cut it up and make it into jewelry!" Oh, we got a good laugh out of it that day. Imagine, making paint into jewelry! But later I thought, wow, that idea could've been f

      Finally!! School is back in session and that means one thing: AUTUMN is almost here! I can just taste the apple cider. So we are going to get really inventive and make an autumnal scarecrow for our veggie garden. It may or may not scare off crows, but every time I look out my back window and see him standing guard out there, it will make me smile. And that is important. 

Welcome to Sandyartparts!  You are now in my living room. Let's have coffee! I am a huge fan of coffee. Coffee of all kinds. It can be the good old Maxwell House or Jamaican Blue Mountain. As long as it has caffeine I'm happy! Coffee has been my constant companion ever since I decided to be an artist. I think they go hand in hand, coffee and art, art and coffee. I would love for you to have  coffee with me. Then we can see my studio. Talk about stuff. Drink more coffee. Try on jewelry, which is what Parts of Art is all about. But more on that later. Let's talk about you now.