We interrupt this blog for...Cookies!!

Thank you for joining me on this Cookie Swap Day! Don't you love these cookie platters? Me, too. This one was a wonderful free image that I downloaded due to the fact that I am photography challenged...but enough about me. Pour a glass of milk or a cup of tea and have a few cookies on me.

My first recipe is one of my all time favorites that my mom made for us when I was younger. I can't make it anymore due to the fact that my youngest is highly allergic to nuts. So please enjoy these in your home and think of me when these little blossoms grace your table. There are shortcut versions to this recipe but from scratch is best!!!

Peanut Butter Blossoms

1 ¾ cups flour

1 tsp. soda

½ tsp. salt

½ c. margarine

½ c. peanut butter

½ c. sugar

½ c. brown sugar

1 unbeaten egg

2 T. milk

1 tsp. vanilla

1 package of chocolate kisses

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. . Mix flour, soda, and salt. Set aside. Cream next 4 ingredients. Add the last 3 ingredients Mix well . Add dry ingredients gradually. Shape into balls and Roll into additional sugar. Place on an ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake for 8 minutes. Remove from oven and immediately place a chocolate kiss in the center. YUMMY!!!

Recipe #2 isn't a cookie but isn't a Chex Mix swap..so enjoy!!

Chex Muddy Buddy Mix (or in Texas we call this Puppy Chow)

9 cups of Chex Cereal

1 c. chocolate chips

½ c. peanut butter (**I have left this out for Presleigh and it is still great!!)

¼ c. margarine

¼ tsp. vanilla

1 ½ c. powdered sugar

Pour Cereal in LARGE bowl. Combine next 3 ingredients in a microwave safe bowl and microwave on high 1 to 1 ½ minutes. Repeat in 15 second increments until smooth. Stir in vanilla. Then pour cereal and stir until coated. Pour sugar over “Coated cereal” and stir. Then store in an airtight container.

**This is a great gift giving treat. Place in a holiday tin lined with wax paper and your recipients will love you!!

Thanks for stopping by ...I hope you have many wonderful holiday treats and holiday memories and most of all, love to last long past the cookies on your platter!!

Blessings,

Chantal

Where have I been.....Part 2

Oh my, the last post was on the 24th. I left y'all thinking that we are still sick--SO many wonderful things have happenend since then. Actually, nearly a month has happened. It's amazing, some of my dearest friends blog everyday...I think about blogging everyday..Does that count??? Well, let me catch you up on all that has gone on. (However, I will skip the dailies of life- such as laundry, cleaning, cooking, taking and picking up girls at school and trying to put all things in their place---)

Halloween happened. Presleigh decided to be a CHA CHA Dancer. When we went trick or treating, someone called her Carmen Miranda. We went straight to google- She does look like her and was so happy to see her and all of her beautiful costumes. We had a great party for Presleigh's friends. It is amazing to me how some of these children had never bobbed for apples. I will let the pictures speak for them. They caught on real quick. The mummy wrap game is great...Lots of toilet paper but oooooh such fun!! The boys got carried away and teepeed (sp???) Presleigh's play house. Savannah was great- She still loves to dress up and help out. This year she was a Jeanie's "evil" cousin -from I dream of Jeanine. Next post will be on the fun getting ready fro Silver Bella and then the few pics and many memories I made while there. I promise I won't wait another month...maybe a few days!!

Lysol anyone?

Lysol anyone?? I just finished spraying Lysol disinfectant spray all around our house. Can you guess why??? The crud germs have found their way to our house. 3 appointments to the doctor yesterday and 1 trip during after hours indicated 2 with viral/sinus crud and 1 with a strep type infection that produced mammoth hives, fever, sore throat---Then today, hubby came home from a golf game with 101 temp....Looking forward to a fresh week with hopefully, well bodies and eager minds. On the bright side, while sitting with my youngest, I worked on some embroidery for a big project that must be finished by November 9th...It is a reward to work with our hands and to hold our loved ones close!! May the germs not find their way to your house and may this week be happy and healthy for all!!

Tidbits and Tassels 2 - an art gathering August 2010

Mark you calendar...save the date!! We are planning another awesome Tidbits and Tassels 2 Art Event on Saturday, August 28th 2010!!!

It will be held in my home and art studio in Rowlett, TX. If you are interested in being on the email list to reserve a spot or for further info. leave a comment or contact me at chantal515@verizon.net---- Look for more details in the coming months. We are going to have good food, loads of fun, great friends and incredible art workshops!!

To take a look at this first Tidbits and Tassels Art event, look at jodie's wonderful blog and Sarah's fun blog and of course, past entries from here!!

Hope to hear from y'all soon and see you in August!!

where have I been.....

So sorry that my last post was in early September....So let me catch you up just a bit. Once my Art Event "Tidbits and Tassels" were over..I relished in all the fun and art that we had created for a few days. That came to a quick end when I was asked to do a "simple" project for the 3rd grade hall at our school...Decorate 5 enormous bulletin boards. My reply. .."Of course, I would love to." Indeed I did, but it was a huge undertaking but had a blast gathering and creating all of the symbols and of course painting a faux finish on butcher paper for the background. (Just a few pics of some of the boards!!!) And of course, in between getting these ready was the typical school work, swim team practice (for Savannah of course), a few doctor's appointments, teaching a Women's Bible Study(Tuesdays) and 3rd graders on Sundays, house cleaning (when it would fit) and getting ready to teach at Paper Cowgirl Altered Retreat which is tomorrow in Waxahachie, TX. Life is fast and fun...enjoy the ride!!!

Tidbits and Tassels - an art gathering

Tidbits and Tassels - August 29, 2009

All I can say is WOW!! I can't believe our art event is over...I just finished cleaning up the studio. With the bits of paper and ribbon strewn all over the work table and trinkets here and there, I knew we had a great time creating together. Thank you to all of the wonderful, creative women that came to share the day with me. It actually started out on Friday night where a few of us were able to meet at Chili's (you know it is like no place else:))...It was fun waiting in the front area for women I had never met...and wondering how I would find them. I spotted creativity the minute they walked in the door!! For the next 2 hours we talked, laughed and ate and shared like lifetime friends. It was a great feeling!!

Saturday arrived with the coolest weather we have had to date...a nice breeze and low humidity (good hair day in Texas), we began creating for the next several hours. We once again, talked, laughed, ate and created. The tassels and alpha cards that were made were all beautiful and unique to the artist.

It was great to be with like-minded women who understand the ribbon-overload, the paper supplies that keeps growing ( it must be the water:), and the many trinkets, charms, and the pure joy of running your hands through typewriter letters to find just that right letter!! The sharing of supplies, knowledge and ourselves made this day one I will never forget!

Let me take the time to thank each one of you ladies that came. I was honored that you chose to spend the day with me. It was fun to be with all of you and I look forward to the next "Tidbits and Tassels"--Be looking for more info in the coming months. Until then, Happy creating in whatever genre you enjoy... I truly loved sharing this day with all of you!!

Blessings,

Chantal

P.S. If you couldn't join us this year, make plans for next year. We would love to have you!!!

Fall Paper Cowgirl - Come and create!!

Come join me for a Artevent-full day in Waxahachie on October 3rd. This event features 3 unique classes using different genres, different textiles, paper, ribbon, fabric,...you get the idea!! I will be one of the teachers for the day. We will be making a fabric cuff....I really like to call them fabric collages that you can wear on your wrist, hang for display, add to a journal cover...anything your heart and mind can imagine. We will focus on good technique as well as creative possibilities. To let you know a little about myself, here is a mini-bio (I think it is always hard to write about yourself)..So here is what I gave

Tina,

Chantal Johnson has had her hands in the "art jar" since she was "une petite fille" ( a little girl) Her french-born and raised mother instilled a love affair with needle and thread, paper and crayon, paint and brush and the list goes on. She loves all things creative and has combined many mediums into her art and home. She has been published in Somerset Studio and is 9 time ribbon winner at our Texas State Fair (in the areas of embroidery, collage, decoupage and crocheting..just to name a few). She has also been published as a writer in devotional journals as well as an inspirational author for her church publications.

Her love of the arts is brought together with her love of teaching. For this fall Paper Cowgirl, she hopes to give the student a knowledge of good technique with freedom to create what is in the heart.

Chantal has been married to her wonderful husband, Scott for 23 years. They have 3 awesome children (19, 15, and 8). For Chantal, her children are truly the work of her heart!!

So please join the whole gang on October 3rd for our fall paper cowgirl event. Check these blogs for more info...Happy trails!!!

Cindy
Joanna
Papercowgirl official blog
Sandra

***I do not know why somethings are underlined...this was my first time linking everyone together--Thanks to Sarah and Jodie for teaching me how!!!! oops i think I should have linked their blogs....next post...