It is officially Christmas time! My husband and I put up our tree, I just love how beautiful it looks. I look forward to this time of the year just for the tree. All the lights twinkling and the ornaments that we have collected since we were babies. It just sparkles with Christmas delight. There is nothing better to do when in the Christmas spirit than to bake cookies. I decided to make many different kinds but my favorite this year were "Chocolate crackle tops" the recipe follows.
"Chocolate crackle tops "
Makes 38
7oz semisweet chocolate chopped (or chips)
1/2 cup unsalted sweet butter
1/2 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups plain flour
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/2 tsp baking powder
pinch of salt
1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar for coating

1. In a pan set over a low heat, melt the chocolate and butter together until smooth, stirring frequently

2. Remover the pan from the heat, stir in the sugar, and continue stirring for 2-3 minutes until the sugar dissolves. Add the eggs one at a time beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla essence.

3. Sift the flour and cocoa powder, baking powder and salt into a bowl. Gradually stir into the chocolate mixture in batches until blended.

4. cover dough, chill for at least 1 hour, untill the dough is cold and is able to hold its shape.

5. Preheat the over to 325. Grease two or more large baking sheets.

6. Place the confectioners' sugar in a bowl. using a small ice cream scoop or a table spoon. scoop out the cold dough and roll it into a ball between your hands.

7. drop in the confectioners' sugar and roll to coat. tap off excess sugar using a slotted spoon. place on cookie sheet about 1 inch appart.

8. Bake for 10-15 minutes, until the tops feel slightly firm when touched. let cookies sit on cookie sheet for 2-3 mins to cool, then remove cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.

Merry Christmas!

Unfinished brooch, Coral sea polyp - 2"x2"x1.25" Also a trial and error pic

What have I been doing lately? Well making stuff of course. I've begun to make my sea creatures again, only all in cold connection. Having no studio makes a person very creative.

For a while I was crocheting a blanket but when I was bored of that (about 1/2 way through) I decided I wanted to see how small I could crochet. I remembered that my great grandmother used to crochet lace. So I went out to the craft store and bought the smallest hook I could find and corresponding string/yarn. I started out making some horrible looking flowers and then I began making these little lace hat like things. Then the brain gears began to turn and fun ideas started to pop in to my head. This is what happened, it is in no way done I am still beside myself about the creature within (as you can see I've made more than one). I sometimes tend to over embellish. I think I need some time to see where I'm going with this but this was my favorite one until I burned it with he heat gun... damn! So I will continue to think... lots of thinking. I will post a picture when it is done.

I want to try crocheting sewing thread and see how small that is next. I'm going to go do that now. Fun fun!

I just don't want to work at Walmart!

Time just seems to keep passing me by. I am waiting to here about a particular jewelry job and I am starting to get annoyed. I applied 2 weeks ago and I called twice about my application. They just said nicely that they have about 500 applications for all the different jobs that they are hiring for and someone will let me know after they have processed all the applications. ugh! what about I need a job now and I would like it to not be at Walmart please. Oh I am starting to get desperate as I dip into my savings fund. Time to apply for as many jobs as i can I guess. I just don't want to work at Walmart..... Oh yeah there is always Disney World duh! I'll just work there doing princess makeovers all day. Samantha got a princess makeover! I could do that just slap the kid with as much gritter as possible, add a fancy hair extension, and a tiara! *poof* done! and look how happy she is!

Well I am pretty much settled in here. The apartment looks cute and feels like home. I am missing a studio. It just did not fit into the apartment. At first I was really bummed and started looking for studio spaces but I just could not find anything close or affordable. Now I have decided it's ok and I will just wait. I am only living here for a year and then we are planning on buying a house. I will just make sure that there is an excellent place for my studio. So for now this gives me time to read lots of books and do lots of research. To be perfectly honest, I think that it is better than jumping right in and not knowing what I am doing entirely. So I will just take a deep breath and move on with life. I will leave this post with a tranquil picture of Clearwater beach FL that my mom took.