Gourds From the Garden December Newsletter

I wanted to do a little something
different with this newsletter, since it
is the holiday season. I hope everyone
will enjoy the neat ideas and even a
recipe. I do actually take time cook
sometimes. I especially love to cook for
the holidays.

MAKING YOUR GOALS
How many of us actually think about
what we want to accomplish each
year? I must say in the past I haven't
been too good about setting my goals.
Last year I did much, much better
and actually accomplished a few of
them.
I hope that each of you will reflect on
what it is that you want, write it
down and keep referring to that list
often throughout the year. It really
does help.
I would love to hear what some of you
would like to accomplish in the up
coming year.

                    MY FAVORITE RECIPE
A lot of my friends think I'm nuts because I don't care for
chocolate, but I love many, many other things and this cookie with
cream cheese is one of them. I always double the recipe!
              CREAM CHEESE SUGAR COOKIE
1 C. white sugar                                        1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
3 oz. cream cheese-softened                    1 egg yolk
1/2 tsp. salt                                              2 1/4 c. all purpose flour
1 c. butter

In mixing bowl beat the sugar, butter, cream cheese, salt, vanilla,
and egg yolk until smooth. Gradually add the flour and still well. Let
chill at least 6 hours.
Preheat oven to 350, roll the dough on lightly floured waxed paper
to 1/8 thick and cut into desired shapes. Bake 1" apart on
ungreased cookie sheet for 7-10 minutes and enjoy. I sometimes
place a cookie stick into the bottom of them to make special
treats.

              WHAT'S NEW THIS MONTH
                "FAUX GOURD TUTORIAL"
This month has gone by so quickly, however I've been busy making many gourd
baskets for presents. One thing I've been doing for a while and have now put
into tutorial form is what I call "Faux Gourd." Some may think of it as faux
leather, but to me it looks more like a really nice skinned raw gourd. Here's a
couple of examples. It's really not hard and makes a gourd look really nice.
I will send you the tutorial with 4 color photos for $5.00 includes shipping.
Has easy step-by-step directions
    Before                                     After                          Complete

     Click below to order

ANOTHER NEWBIE
Upon a request from a friend who
already knows how to coil, she
wanted some sort of directions for
the twisted handle that I also add
to my baskets. So, I've completed
an easy step-by-step tutorial for
those who are familiar with basic
coiling to add these great handles.
This will NOT explain the beginnings
of a basket with pine needle coiling
just the steps to get your handle. It
is also $5.00 which includes shipping
and will have 3 color photos.

SPECIAL OF THE MONTH
Okay, it's obvious what my special should be for
this month. If you want to get both tutorials-
"Faux Gourd" technique and"How to do a
twisted pine needle handle," here's your chance.
Get both by clicking the order button below.
You can get both for $2.00 off ordering them
seperate. $8.00 which includes shipping charges

           QUICK AND EASY GIFTS
We've all been there, think of someone in the last minutes of the holiday
that maybe we should give a little something too. I'm the world's worst
for that, but I'd like to give everyone something and I would if I could.
To me nothing is more special than something that has been hand made.
All of the following suggestions can be made in an hour or less so what
have you got to loose?
**Hand painted soaps: a good hypo-allergenic soap can be found at the
dollar store. Let the soap air for 24 hrs, apply a coat of sealer,
(I use Decoart Multi purpose sealer). Let that dry then transfer
your pattern, paint as usual, then apply 2 good coats of semi-gloss
varnish.

**If you don't paint, how about decoupage a pretty design Christmas
     napkin. Prepare and finish the same way. The finished soaps fit
perfectly into bags found in the candy section of your craft store, or
just wrap with sheer fabric and tie both ends with holiday ribbon.
**Paint an ornament-one can't have enough ornaments for their tree
and what better gift to give. Made from the heart. Snowmen are so
quick and easy and you can do so many different things with them.

DO YOU HAVE A HOLIDAY FAVORITE?
What's your favorite for christmas, is it snowmen,
santa, gingerbread men, angels or what? I must admit
that St. Nick is my most favorite. Here's a picture of
part of my collection. Click photos to enlarge

EVER TRY TEA DYING? I tried it this year and this it's a great way to
make gift tags or tags for your art work. Here's a sample of what I did.

Now here's what I did: I didn't use tea, I use instant coffee.
I put 3 tbsp. into a small pan of water and brought to boil, then cut off.
I placed the tags in the water and let them set for 10 min. They
weren't dark enough for me,and I wanted a mottled effect. So I placed
them on a plate on top of some paper towels. Filled a spray bottle with
the coffee I had in the pan. I placed the tags in front of the heat vent
and let them dry partially. Then sprayed them randomly. When dry, I
sprayed them again, let dry.
Then repeated for the other side. They dried fairly quickly in front of
the vent. If the tags curl as mine did, just iron with hot no-steam iron.