My New Taxidermy Chicken

I think all of you know that I collect weird things.  Taxidermy chickens is one of them - (I have no idea if I'm spelling or even saying that right...but, you know what I mean).

Ethan, is a boy from our church.  He is all boy - loves to do boy things.  His grandpa has been teaching him the art of taxidermy - and this is an art!  This was his first chicken and he made it for me.  I actually bought it - as you always want to reward hard work!  I love it Ethan and great job.  Now can you do a mouse and red squirrel for me?  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Fried Apple Tortilla Napoleon with Carmel Sauce

Oh this was so good.  I was frying tortillas for the haystack part of the creamy chicken chilli  read here:  http://dickybirdsnest.blogspot.com/2015/02/creamy-chicken-chilli-with-haystack-of.html

and decided to try a dessert.  So this is what I came up with.  Here is how I made it:

I used this antique square biscuit/cookie cutter - excellent for scones as well - and cut out the tortillas - extra sides were fried for haystack noodles.  

Fry the squares in some oil - this doesn't take long - while hot sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.

For the fried apples, I put 1/4 stick of butter in a pan, when melted add the sliced apples.  I added cinnamon sugar and apples pie spice.  Cover, leave on low and let apples soften.

How I made the carmel sauce:  I put 1/2 stick butter in pan, when melted I added 1/2 Cup brown sugar.  Cook till bubbly add 1/4 C heavy cream and a splash of vanilla - stir till smooth.  Turn heat to low - use when ready.  

Assemble your napoleons - first a crust, pile on apples and drizzle with sauce - repeat - make 3 layers.  This was so good, Al loved it!  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.

Linked to:  http://www.oakhillhomestead.com/2015/02/homeacre-hop-109.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed:

http://designsbygollum.blogspot.com/2015/02/foodie-friday-and-everything-else-link.html

Creamy Chicken Chilli with a Haystack of Tortilla Noodles

I baked extra chicken thighs so I could make this today.  With that in mind, I sprinkled taco seasoning on them before baking.  I wanted a taco flavor for the soup.  

Here is how I made it:

Put the thighs in a kettle and cover with water.  I added some diced onion.  You want to cook this to a boil and then simmer till meat falls off the bone.  Drain the chicken - look at that gorgeous stock.  

Cut the meat off the bones, discard the skin and dice up the chunks - add to the stock.

This is all I have left of my dehydrated peppers and carrots I did last fall - read about it here:  http://dickybirdsnest.blogspot.com/2014/09/dehydrating-vegetables.html

I added them, a can of beans and some diced onion.  When veggies looked rehydrated...I added a slurry of cornstarch   

A slurry the consistency of white glue...pour it into the kettle and stir till thick.  I added chilli powder, S & P, at the very end I added 1/4 Cup heavy cream.  

Then I made some tortilla "noodles."  You just slice up flour tortillas into strips and fry them - that easy.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Linked to:  http://www.mittenstatesheepandwool.com/2015/02/the-homeacre-hop-109.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed:

Flash Friday Sale - Costume Jewelry

I'm on the 3rd Flash Friday sale.  I post something I want to "flash" sell (inventory reduction) on my social media sites; the first person to say SOLD buys it.  Remember, you can go to the bottom of my header and link to my other sites if you are interested.  

So far the buyers have been people from around here - but, I am not opposed to shipping items for the actual cost.   

Here is what I will have tomorrow at 7 a.m.  (they will only be $5 a lot....)

I will have 2 lots - 7 pieces in each.  One for him and one for her.  

This has been fun - winter is long up here in Wisconsin - so, until I can "pop up" and set up at a sale, I will post some items.  Thanks.  

Blessing from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Vintage Shop Hop

One of the 3 shops I sell at will be a part of this Vintage Shop Hop.  Water Street Vintage, LLC in New London, WI - is the shop at the top....literally, it is the shop that is as far north as this "hop" goes.  Here is a link to the shop's page:  https://www.facebook.com/waterstreetvintage?fref=ts

I sold some large pieces there this month and this past Saturday, Alan and I restocked.  I needed the "muscle" to make it up those stairs....have I mentioned lately....I'm getting old.  I plan to add maybe a small table and lots of smalls next week.  I want to make sure my booth looks full for the hop.  Here is a current picture of my booth there.

I know many of my followers love to thrift or vintage shop - so here is an opportunity to do so.  Even if you don't make it for that particular weekend, go to the facebook page and download the map - these shops are always there waiting for customers.  Vintage Shop Hop:  https://www.facebook.com/VintageShopHopEvent

It would be nice if someone made a Vintage Shop Hop for areas north....(wink, wink...)

Jackie from:  https://www.facebook.com/JackiesAntiqueMall?fref=ts  

 or Chrys from:  https://www.facebook.com/anothertime.eagleriver?fref=ts


I hope some of my vintage followers go over and follow these pages and vintage shop hop.  Have fun!

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

What's at the End of my Felting Needle?

I have been felting - we all have had a L O N G winter...  I thought I would show you how to make those little mushrooms.  I plan to felt them to maybe a "penny" patch and attach to a slab of wood.  Here is how I made them:

Start with raw wool - this was a wool quilt bat I found in a bag at a thrift shop for $5.  Pull apart enough to form into a ball and felt into the mushroom top.  

It is really simple.  All you do is punch the fiber together with a felting needle.  Use your hands to roll the fiber into the shape you desire.  

At this stage you cover the raw wool shape with roving.  This is the wool taken to the next stage - carded and dyed.  Felt on the color to cover the white.  Add the spots. 

You make the stem the same way.  Start with a piece of raw wool, rool it into a "log" and start felting it tight.  

Once in a stem shape, cover and felt with roving.  I combined white and brown to make it look more realistic.

When felting the stem to the top, I left extra roving on the end so that I had plenty of fiber to felt them together with.

That's it.  If you try the project and have questions, please message me or leave a comment.  I will see if I can help.

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin. 

Linked to:  http://strangersandpilgrimsonearth.blogspot.com/2015/02/the-art-of-home-making-mondays-please_23.html

http://houseofhipsters.com/2015/02/home-decor/#more-2892

http://www.create-with-joy.com/2015/03/inspire-me-monday-week-165.html

Social Media Links

Hello friends and welcome new followers.  I have added my social media sites - at the bottom of my header.  If you want, go over and LIKE my pages or follow me on Pinterest and Instagram.  

I didn't realize until I filled out the application to the show in Rockford, IL - Urban Farm Girls - just how important linking these sites to your blog are....not for bloggers.....but, for selling my stuff.  

My blog won't change - as I write this for me - sharing my feelings, recipes and repurposing projects on here.  

Speaking of that....I have been working on cutting up those blazers for the penny rugs....

I also cut up this old quilt and plan to make some flag pillows.  I pinned the idea on my True to the Red, White and Blue board on Pinterest.  I plan to make them look like this:

I plan - well hope - to post a tutorial on how I made these.  I also plan to pin a card to each of my repurposed items with a before picture of each project with a link to my blog so that the new owner can see how I did it....I hope to anyway....

Sometimes I have bigger plans than what I actually accomplish.  However, this is what keeps me going. 

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

A New Adventure

I have always wanted to do a market or upscale show in another state.  I have been happy doing the shows close to home, however, I would hear about other shows in other places from friends, and it sounded like such fun.  In the past, I didn't go because I had my girls home and responsibilities here on the farm.  Now that my nest is empty, I have the freedom to just pick up and go if I want.  I will have to find someone to do my chores...(Justine & Josh)...so that Al and I can go together as a couple.  We never did things like that when our girls were home.  We focused our time here and on them.  So, doing a show somewhere else, I feel would be an adventure we could do together.  

So, with the help of perusing the Internet and other blogs, I decided to apply to a show in Rockford, IL.  It was a new process for me, as the application was based on your social media sites.  I remember the good old days when you had to send in pictures.  Anyway, I was accepted.  Rockford is about 3 1/2 hours from us.  Our daughter, Anna, is going to come over from Milwaukee and help me on the show day.   I'm excited to try a new adventure.  Here is the link to the blog:  http://urbanfarmgirlandco.blogspot.com/

I also look forward to meeting some of my followers who might live down around Rockford.  If you do, come on out to the show and introduce yourself to me - I would love that!

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Penny Rugs

image compliments of:  https://www.etsy.com/listing/175691906/primitive-folk-art-inspirational?utm_source=Pinterest&utm_medium=PageTools&utm_campaign=Share

Wikipedia:

In the 1800s, starting around the time of the Civil War, thrifty homemakers would use scraps of wool or felted wool from old clothing, blankets and hats to create designs for mats or rugs. Using coins as templates, they created circles and each piece was then stitched in blanket stitch fashion. (Thus, the name "penny" rug). Sometimes, the mats or rugs were backed with old burlap bags or feed sacks. Sometimes a penny was stitched inside the mat to make it lie flat.

Penny rugs are not actual rugs for the floor, but decorative coverings for beds, tables and dressers and mantles. Sometimes they are used as wall hangings or pillows. Most designs include circles and some include images from everyday life such as cats, flowers, birds and shapes such as stars and hearts.

Penny rugs are made by selecting good quality 100% wool. It must not be too thick. It may be hand-dyed or overdyed to give the piece dimension. The wool is felted then circles are cut from the wool in varying sizes and then stitched together concentrically using complementary colors. The circles are stitched to a wool backing in a pleasing design. When finished the entire piece should have a backing to cover the stitches and to protect it. The backing may be wool, linen or burlap.

I consider myself a folk artist - I have not attended any arts college - hands on training is my definition of folk artist.

I have always loved wool!  I've been drawn to all types of fiber arts.  The February class here at The Hobby Farm - was to be penny rug mug mat.  However, with the frigid negative temperatures I had to postpone the class until March.  I found these 2 brown blazers at Goodwill and think they would make cute rabbits - so maybe the March class:  penny mug mat - will have a Spring twist.  

I always look for wool while thrifting.  Felting - shrinking - the wool is easy.  It seems that the wool blankets felt up better than these blazers, however, the blazers have the smaller print patterns.

I have washed these blazers 3 times in hot water and dried them.  I plan to cut off the interfacing edges and cut the wool into chunks or squares.  I will add the buttons to my button box.  Vintage buttons are so much better than the new plastic ones!  

I plan to post more about penny rugs and how to make them.  Till then, I have some felting to do.....

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.