~Re-create from the past...or forge your own path??~

Good afternoon. Gracious, what an unpleasant bit of weather we've been having. It started yesterday afternoon as a wonderful snowfall, falling fast and heavy, it turned our previously brown world white in no time. When Mark and I headed off to bed around 9:30, we had three beautiful inches on the ground and it was still falling. This morning at 5:30 I went to the window, turned on the outside light and all that was left was an inch of snow covered in slush and a thick coating of ice!!! I'm not sure what's going on with our weather this Winter..but it stinks. It's quite odd and I am not enjoying it in the least!!!! COME ON SNOW......

It's suppose to look like this!!! The photo above is from January 24th...LAST YEAR!!!)

stupid jet stream anyhow...
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Anyway...back to the topic at hand....Creating from history..or making your own.

As I mentioned in my last post, I recently took a pattern design class. At the start of the class, we had to design a traditional bear so that we could see and learn how they should look if we choose to re-create traditional bears
~Young Winter Wolcott...A Traditional Teddy Bear~

and then we were asked to think outside the box and create something different..still a bear..but not in the traditional way..we needed to tweak it and make it our own.

~Mr. W.T. Wells...A Non-traditional Bear~

I love both of these guys, but I especially love the little green fellow above..he isn't a traditionally shaped bear..but I LOVE his somewhat silly shape..his too big head and skinny limbs..chubby tummy :) It's funny, just when you think you are a completely traditional person, you find out, it's not such a huge part of who you are.

~Re-create from the past or forge your own path....I imagine it will always be a little bit of both~
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Since the design class I have been designing my little fingers off. I actually took the class because I wanted to branch out past bears and start creating other animals..

cats in particular, I was having a devil of a time trying to figure out the nose, head gusset and the correct paws...thankfully, because of this class..I now know how to figure all that stuff out!!!
~Cat & Mouse...:)...my new cat ...having a little visit with a mouse moppet~

That being said...it's still a challenge for me and I am sure it will be quite some time before I am able to design something without having to redo it fifteen times..which is what I've been doing all week...but until then, I am having a lot of fun learning as I go and sketching these nasty, icy, cold, rainy winter days away.

Now I must run as it's time to get dinner going. Baked ham, cheddar mashed potatoes, popovers and carrots are on the menu this evening.

ps..they say this rain is due to change back to snow this evening..IT BETTER!!!

Wishing you a great day ;~)
doreen

~Lesson's Learned~

"I choose…to live by choice, not by chance. To make changes, not excuses. To be motivated, not manipulated. To be useful, not used. To excel, not compete. I choose self-esteem, not self pity. I choose to listen to my inner voice. Not the random opinion of others".....Author unknown.

Good morning. Tuesday has dawned stormy here in Vermont, with an inch of new snow having fallen overnight & yet another crazy winter storm on the way. It seems we can not have a storm this winter without the dreaded mixture of snow, sleet and freezing rain. It has certainly been a strange Winter... well, weather wise anyway...... home and business wise....it's been wonderful....

On the home front...

*Jenna & Ben are engaged!!!!! We are SO happy for them and I can not tell you how excited I am to fly out there for our first trip to look at wedding dresses!!!*
&
*Kurt headed back to Paul Smith's College on Sunday and yesterday he started his very last semester ..he will be graduating in May!!!* Yesterday he sent me a text, in the afternoon after classes were over, and he was headed up Whiteface Mtn on the gondola for his first skiing since last winter...he was in heaven.



And...business wise....

*On Sunday I finished my pattern design class. I am so happy and pleased with having taken this class....it was a LOT of work and quite challenging..(especially in the time frame which we were given..which seemed a bit short for the work involved)... but I am so thankful for the lesson's learned in this class. I feel empowered and very well equipped to move forward with my designs. Everything seems so clear and makes so much sense to me now.



Teddy bears (and other animal moppets) are challenging..there are gussets and paw pads involved..basting and seam allowances that matter. All these things need to be considered when designing them and you really need to have a good foundation of knowledge or they are just going to look wonky!!! Which sometimes is a good thing..but sometimes is isn't..if that's not the look you are going for :)

I also just received my first three grades for my "Writing Short Stories For Children" class...92%, 100% & 100% :)I can not tell you how GOOD that feels!!!


With my work schedule, class schedule and family life...things have been busy and keeping up with everything has, at times, been a bit challenging....

thankfully, Mark has taken over quite a bit of the cooking..he's mastered spaghetti and meatballs this week, which are simmering in the crock pot as we speak...they smell fantastic. It seems we are all learning here in the Frost's household :)


I'm off now to pack & ship three orders that must go out today and then it's back to moppet making for this weekends web show. Wishing you a joy filled day.

Doreen

~Welcome 2012...a Year of Exciting Things ~

Good day to you. I hope this second day of the New Year finds you well and rested after a busy Holiday Season. Indeed, it does find me this way....happily sipping a cup of cocoa, house tidy, fire tended, bird feeders filled, pea soup simmering on the stove, bear pieces and parts scattered about on my work table.


I am feeling so inspired, recharged and happy after taking some much needed time off during the Christmas & New Years Holidays. Our holidays were just WONDERFUL... spent with those that are most important..our family and friends. Now..the house is quiet once again..Mark is back to work...Jenna flew back home to Oregon yesterday :( Kurt is visiting with friends..and I am back in the studio full time.

Truthfully....even though my website's "closed for vacation" sign was up...I was still working.....I sketched several new creations, wrote a 2012 business plan, started a couple of short stories and took care of all the "behind the scene's" stuff that I hadn't had a moment for over the past three months of crazy busy work.


One EXTREMELY exciting thing that took place while I was on "vacation"....I was interviewed by Romantic Prairie Magazine!!!!!!!!!!!
I was one of the artist interviewed for their "Modern Pioneer's" Story..I can not tell you how exciting and unbelievably honored I am...Imagine..me..a modern pioneer!!!!


Another exciting thing I took care of while on "vacation"..I registered for a pattern design class.
I am so excited about this class!! I obviously know the basics of pattern design.. ...but I want to really branch out, get more realistic with my bears as well as perhaps get a little "out there" with them and this class will teach me how to do that.

I've realized (and I may have said this before)..but I think I am one of those "forever students" I LOVE taking classes..currently I have this new class starting January 5th as well as three creative writing classes...lol...this could perhaps be the reason I fall into bed exhausted each night..but..I've never been so happy, content or excited in my life..so it must be the right thing.

These wee moppets...they're making my dreams come true!

I'm off now to get back to work on a sweet bear who refused to wait until I was back from Vacation....He insisted on me sneaking away when I had a free moment and working on him..another thing he's insisting upon...he wishes to be green..I'm not sure why yet..but he assured me he has a plan...

I think it has something to do with this wonderful brushed flannel fabric...this was a Christmas gift from my sweet girl..isn't it lovely. The bears and I have festive plans for it!

In closing...I wish for you in 2012...a year of wonder, good fortune, peace, harmony, laughter and joy.

Until next time, Doreen

~Merry Christmas~

~Christmas Eve was a night of song that wrapped itself about you like a shawl. But it warmed more than your body. It warmed your heart… filled it, too, with a melody that would last forever.

- Bess Streeter Aldrich ~

~WISHING you all A Merry Christmas. May the Joys of the season fill your heart with goodwill and cheer.

Much love and happiness to all of you.

Hugs, Doreen~

~Packages, Boxes, Bows & Baking~

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. ~Norman Vincent Peale.


Good morning. It is rather dark and gloomy here in Vermont as a nasty wintry mix makes it way into our sleepy little town. I love these cloudy days, everything seems so cozy and lovely. These last couple of months have been a whirlwind for me but I have finally found my way to the bottom of my order pile. I am sooo happy to say....Yesterday, I took the last of my orders to the post office!!!! Gosh what a good feeling that is! Jackie, our postmaster commented, "my God, you've brought more packages in here in the last few weeks than the entire town has."...lol. It has been a busy season to be sure and I have enjoyed every single second of it..but I must say, I am, most definitely, looking forward to hanging up my "On Vacation" Sign. :) ~I do have a little something special I am working on....but more on that tomorrow.


To my utter shock and amazement...I have actually managed to finish all most all of my Christmas shopping (Mark and I will be completely finishing it on Sunday) AND..last weekend we trudged out into the snow and cut our Christmas tree and decorated the outside of the house.


I have ALWAYS...ALWAYS...ALWAYS wanted to have a wreath on all of our front windows and this year we finally did it. I absolutely LOVE the ribbon on these wreaths..I think my sister and I took a half hour pouring over all the ribbons they had (Browns in Castelton, VT) and then I found this one..it's flannel!!!! I LOVE it.


After hanging these wreaths last Saturday morning, Mark and I got to chatting and we have decided to paint the blue trim mossy green!!! How great will that look..especially at Christmas!

I have also been making holiday gifts for our family and friends.


:) This one I made for my sister's Birthday..which was yesterday..I just love that Santa image!


Okay...I must run but before I go..I promised my FB friends that I would share my Orange Chocolate Chip Shortbread recipe....they are scrumptious..I am actually eating one at the moment as I just made a fresh batch yesterday.

Orange Chocolate Chip Shortbread
(From Better Homes & Gardens Ultimate Cookie Book)

.

1 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup sugar

2 teaspoons finely shredded orange peel

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour

3/4 cup chocolate chips

Orange glaze (recipe follows)

*Preheat your oven to 325*

In medium mixing bowl, beat butter on medium speed for 30 seconds. Beat in sugar and orange peel, until completely combined. Beat in flour until crumbly.

Stir in chocolate chips, pressing the dough together until smooth. If the dough is just too crumbly to pat together, try putting it in the fridge for a few minutes. Pat dough into a rectangle (about 1/4 inch thick) on an ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake for 25 - 30 minute until bottom is just beginning to brown and the center of the cookie is set. Cool on wire rack.

Make your glaze;

Orange Glaze

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 tablespoon butter, softened

1 tablespoon orange juice

Whisk together powdered sugar, butter, and orange juice. If necessary, stir in extra juice, one teaspoon at a time, until desired consistency is reached.

Spread glaze over cooled shortbread. Let the glaze stand for about 30 minutes, until set. Cut lengthwise, then crosswise, making 24 rectangles.

Enjoy!


Wishing you a wonderful day. :~)Doreen

~Brown Paper Packages Holiday Booklet & A Yuletide Merriment~

Good day to you. Tis a cold December Monday here in Vermont as I sip my coffee, enjoy a cozy fire and a bit of blog writing..which I am so very far behind with.... I would report what is happening outside my window however, it is still dark, so I've no idea what might be taking place out there in the chilly darkness of the morning. I am hoping the birds are waking and preparing to visit the feeders and the deer are on their way to the apple tree which they have been visiting daily as of late.
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I wanted to share a few things with all of you......

Brown Paper Packages

~A Collection Of Original Short Stories, Patterns, Recipes, Traditions & Thoughts For An Olde Fashioned Holiday~

I am so excited about this booklet.

Inside you will find three original short stories written expressly for the book, two new patterns, three of my favorite holiday recipes and two tutorials. You will also find quotes, musings & traditions as well as simple, heartfelt, homemade gift giving and decorating ideas.

(I was VERY excited about including Miss Winter in the booklet..I have received so MANY request for her pattern and for the finished doll and decided it was time to share her with all of you)

I had SO much fun creating this ..deciding what recipes to share, incorporating the stories with the recipes and patterns so everything blended and it had an overall theme to it. The response to this booklet has been amazing. I am so very grateful to all of you for being interested in my writing and work and I hope that you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed creating it for all of you.

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~A Yuletide Merriment~
~Thank you all SO VERY MUCH for another amazing web show~ All finished pieces have been sold :)~

~Young Winter Warren~


~Merry Morgan~

~Wondering Wilder~

I had originally set out to make more traditionally colored creations for this show (red, brown & deep green) the moppets however had other plans..It's my own fault...I should have never shown them the box of vintage mercury glass ornaments!!!Well, I've chatted so long that dawn has now arrived..pink skied and cold...oh I do so hope those pink skies mean snow is on the way..I'm growing impatient for it.

I'm off now to try out a new cinnamon bread recipe and then I've booklets and moppets to pack and ship. Wishing you a very lovely and cozy December day.

♥doreen