Always a Big Job

I don't necessarily dread it, but revising my catalogue twice a year always seems to take much more time than I think it will.

I no longer mail full catalogues en masse to customers.  The cost is just so high.  Instead I send out a twice yearly booklet to everyone on my list (yup, by real mail!), hoping something will catch someone's fancy.  It usually does.

The full catalogue can be downloaded from the website:  www.mumscreations.com/prca.html
I still have to update it regularly so that part of the job remains.  I do include a copy with every order shipped and also upon request, so it must be kept up to date.

This spring's booklet update has just been delivered to the Post Office.  I always feel a "whoosh" of satisfaction when I deposit my lettermail trails on the loading dock at the downtown Canada Post location.

Watch you mailbox for this spring's updates.  Hoping something will catch your fancy.

Two New Patriotic Prints

I'm always on the lookout for unique vintage images that strike my fancy.  In particular I look for items that highlight our Canadian heritage.  That's why I snapped up these two recently and have added them to the website.

This image is undated, but the uniform is WW1, putting it in the 1914-18 period.  It was the flute that caught my eye!

This one dates from 1906-1907.  I love her outfit!

The Times They Are A-Changing (with apologies to Bob Dylan!)

Three years ago, when I got the (brilliant) idea to transform historic images into serving trays I never thought they would be so popular. 

Rather than bore you, reader, with the evolution of this idea, suffice it to say that I soon bought out the entire stock of blank trays from one wholesaler, and upon not finding anything else suitable out there began making my own trays from scratch.  I have had to learn woodworking and finishing skills along the way.  Maybe not my fort-ay!

Well, it's time to change again.  While I love the look of the hand-crafted trays with the glass handles the cost of the materials has reached the point where I can no longer make them at a reasonable price.

The new trays will be a gorgeous black colour which makes the ceramic tile images really pop.  Another piece of good news is the fact that turn-around time will now be considerably less.  I can abandon my work as a carpenter and focus on the artistic end!

I've updated the website and welcome you to browse the selection of beautiful old maps and images that can be made into a truly unique gift for yourself, or someone else.

Fire-King

According to Wikipedia,  Fire-King "was originally produced in the 1940s for everyday use, rather than display. It was often sold in bags of flour as a promotional item or was given away at gas stations. Fire-King could also be purchased at local grocery and hardware stores.

Today, Fire-King is an affordable collectible found in antique stores, garage sales, flea markets, and thrift stores, as well as on the Internet."

I recently found a piece of Fire King at a thrift store and have made it into a Chalkboard Plate by painting the middle with several layers of chalkboard paint.  It's for sale on my website along with other vintage plates.

This oval platter is a piece of white milk glass in the common Shell pattern.  Based on the backstamp on the rear, I have estimated that it dates from 1970.

A New, Yummy, Healthy Recipe

I think I'm in love with these.  I pulled out an old magazine the other day that had a recipe in it which  I make about every five years.

Later as I flipped through it I came across a recipe I had never tried, but which actually sounded good.  On my next grocery shopping trip I picked up the ingredients and whipped it together.

Absolutely delicious!  Thought you may agree.

Orange Fruit Balls

3 cups vanilla wafer crumbs (one box, crushed)
1 cup finely chopped dried fruits
1/2 cup shelled sunflower seeds
1/2 cup thawed frozen orange juice concentrate
1/4 cup corn syrup
Sifted icing sugar

In a large bowl, combine all ingredients except icing sugar.  Mix well until all ingredients are moistened.

Shape dough into 1-inch balls and roll in icing sugar.  Store in airtight container in refrigerator. Makes about 50.

Nutritional info:  57 calories, 2 g fat, 1g protein, 11g carb, 1g fibre
From: Canadian Living Harvest-Time Cookbook Special, 1984

This Morning's Garden Harvest -- Yum!

What to make...what to make:  carrots, peas, cauliflower, raspberries....

Miss Piggy, I've Been Waiting So Long!

I love Oriental Poppies.  Gardening is a huge part of my life and  I lean to both the vegetable and flower sides.

For many years I have been collecting Oriental Poppies.  These are the large brightly coloured (usually orange) flowers we see in flower beds in the spring time.  And no, they are NOT the Opium Poppy (an annual plant which self-seeds but does not return from its root each year as the Orientals do).

While I have several of the orange variety ('Allegro' is a common species) I am always on the lookout for others.

About three years ago (or maybe it was four!) I bought by mail order a pink Oriental Poppy called 'Miss Piggy'.  Well, I thought I lost her the first year.  A few shoots came up and then disappeared.  The following year there was a bit of foliage but no blossoms.

It seems these flowers, native to Turkey and Iran, like the cool wet winter/spring we have this year because not only has Miss Piggy bloomed (three flowers!) for the first time but her cousins are also putting on a glorious display.

Here is a photo of 'Miss Piggy'.  The blooms are six inches across, and fully double in a very light pink colour.  Please pardon the brown spots which I am certain are due to all the rain we have had in the past week!

While I'm at it, here are a couple of others from this year's crop:

This one is 'Picottee'.

 Two varieties:  'Brooklyn' and 'Staten Island'

Sadly, some of my old favourites have taken this year off.  Missing in action are:  Patty's Plum, Pink Ruffles and Harlem.  There's always next spring!