My Seasonal Inspiration-Day Five-31 Day Blog Writing Challenge

Good evening,
It has been a busy day, so I am posting a bit late.Today I am sharing some of my seasonal inspiration.We have a wonderful Pecan tree in our yard, and it is Pecan gathering season again. We shake the branches a bit, then pick up the nuts. The fun is hunting them on the ground, they tend to blend in with the grass and fallen leaves. It is like a little puzzle hunting for them. Some have holes in them, since the crows (ravens) like them too. We call these nuts "crow nuts".I will update this blog with photos tomorrow, and also with ideas for using pecans! (I had second thoughts about the recipes, I may enter some in contests, so I will wait for now, before posting them.)
Update, here are the photos!

Great use for extra pecans: Leave some for Santa, they are much healthier than cookies, and these thin shelled pecans can be cracked by the reindeer!

One of my favorite things to make is Pecan Butter. It is delicious, I never get tired of it! You can easily make it in your food processor, adding a dash of canola oil helps the pecans blend a bit easier. 

Pecan photo shot: All pecans are from our tree, except for the round one! 

Pecan pancakes with salad, and #FrenchsKetchup.

Close up view of pecan pancakes (my husband makes them)!

Yummy chocolate cake, with pecans used for decoration.
They are great for decorating Pumpkin Pie, too.

Pecans and Pecan Butter

Our Pear and Pecan tree in the distance. Pecan tree is on the right.
This is before we planted additional trees in our yard.

Hope you have had a good day and have a good night!

Denise Buchwalter-Losczyk


#31dayblogwritingchallenge2018

Decorating and Holiday Ornaments - Day 3 - 31 Day Blog Writing Challenge

Greetings of the Season!

I have been busy decorating a bit more for the holidays. Decided it would be nice to have a white tree this year. Thought I would share the results with you. The tree is not a fancy one ($10 on sale at #DollarGeneral), but I think the ornaments dress it up quite a bit. I decided to go over the top this year and fill out the tree with decorations. 

I have been collecting glass ornaments for a long time. Now I no longer collect them, I just enjoy them each December. I also added ornaments to the tree which my mom had made. It is a great way to remember her each year. Also included are some of my handmade ornaments.

A Pink Shiny Brite "A White Christmas" Ornament, one of two that I have, pink tatted flower I made, and a machine and hand needle-felted circle ornament I made in the background.

Second Shiny Brite "Shooting Star" Ornament in my collection, with another of my machine and hand needle-felted ornaments to the right.

A treasure my mom made, a felt and sequined red bird ornament, with couched gold cord on it. I have always liked this bird! I believe I saw reprinted instructions on how to make this ornament in one of the Piecework Magazines from Interweave. There is also another one of my needle-felted ornaments to the left, with crystals applied.

Some of my glass ornaments with one God's Eye Ornament I made to include in holiday cards one year, I kept two for myself. They are made from toothpicks, ready-made glittered gift tags, perle cotton embroidery thread and pens for decoration.

Holiday Gift Tag Ornament I designed and made one year to include in my cards. See the end of my post to see where you can download my free pattern instructions to make your own!

One of my machine and hand needle-felted star ornaments next to a little elf my mom made. My mom would make ornaments for holiday bazaars each year with her woman's church group. (In the 1960 - 70s) She would often show me how to make ornaments and we would make them together. We made God's Eye Ornaments one year out of yarn and wooden dowels.

Another view of Mom's bird, with one of my needle-felted ornaments on the left, and a God's Eye Ornament I made at the top. I like how the white of the tree shows off the ornaments.

You can find instructions to make the God's Eye Gift Tag Ornaments here on my blog at: https://dbl-art-design.blogspot.com/2015/12/update-completed-gods-eye-gift-tag.html

Free instructions for my Holiday Gift Tag Ornaments can be found on the Craftsy site at: https://www.craftsy.com/paper-crafts/patterns/holiday-gift-tag-ornaments/258622

Another Ornament I designed, my Yo-Yos Cubed Ornaments and Pincushion Instructions can also be found for sale on the Craftsy site at: https://www.craftsy.com/sewing/patterns/yoyos-cubed-ornaments-and-pincushion/217496  Check it out too, if you like!

I was fortunate to have an article published in the Holiday 2013-2014 Quilting Arts Gifts Magazine on how to make the Machine and Hand Needle-felted Ornaments shown in the photos above. A digital copy of the magazine can be found here: https://www.quiltingcompany.com/store/quilting-arts-gifts-2013-2014.

Hope you have enjoyed my Show and Tell! Some years I don't get much decorating done, but I do like looking in the magazines and online to see how others are decorating. O.K. to keep it simple some years and go all out on other years!

Visit the other bloggers taking part in the #31dayblogchallenge2018 at 
http://muppin.com/wordpress/index.php/the-2018-31-day-blog-writing-challenge

Happy Decorating and a Happy Holiday Season to you!

Denise A. Buchwalter-Losczyk

#31dayblogchallenge2018 

Good News: my Quilt has been Published and Day 2 Blog Writing Challenge!

Greetings,

It is Day 2 of the #31DayBlogChallenge2018, though I confess, I am writing this post ahead of time!

I have some good news to share:

My entry in another challenge, the Quilting Arts June 2018,  "I've Got a Notion" Reader Challenge was accepted and has been published! It is exciting to see my little quilt printed in the recent December 2018/January 2019 Quilting Arts Magazine.

Here are two photos of my quilts, the first one is a detail, and the second is the completed quilt:

Detail - My Notions: Imagination, Needle and Thread, by Denise A. Buchwalter-Losczyk Copyright 2018

Full view - My Notions: Imagination, Needle and Thread, by Denise A. Buchwalter-Losczyk Copyright 2018

It took me about 2 weeks to complete the little quilt. I used leftover bits from previous projects, charms, buttons and a little spool of vintage silk thread to embellish the quilt. My father gave me the little brass thimble with a tassel charm, which I included on this quilt.

The Reader Challenges in Quilting Arts Magazine are a great way to challenge yourself and keep yourself creating on a regular basis. In the past I have entered some of the challenges, but had not been chosen, which is always a bit disappointing. But now, when I think of it, taking part is actually a way to keep yourself growing creatively (DUH!). I may try to enter most of their challenges this following year. I also like that you do have the chance to have your art published and it is another way to share your creations with others.

You can find the December 2018/January 2019 issue of Quilting Arts here.

To see what other bloggers in the #31dayblogchallenge2018 are writing about visit here.

Stay Creative,

Denise A. Buchwalter-Losczyk

2018 - 31 Day Blog Writing Challenge - Day One!

31 Day Blog Writing Challenge!

Happy December everyone! Hope you are enjoying any Holiday Celebrations you are having and/or preparing for. 

I love challenges and this is my first writing challenge:

I am celebrating December by taking part in the 2018 31 Day Blog Writing Challenge. Thanks to Cheryl Sleboda of www.Muppin.com for setting up this event. It is my first time participating and I am hoping it will help me become a more consistent and regular blogger. 

If you would like to participate in the challenge or visit the blogs of the other participants go to http://muppin.com/wordpress/index.php/the-2018-31-day-blog-writing-challenge/. It should be a great way to make creative connections with other artists, writers and bloggers, too!

Have a wonderful December and please do come back and visit my blog!

Blessings,

Denise A. Buchwalter-Losczyk

#31dayblogchallenge2018