The ArtsyGirl Connection: 2011-10-02

Beautiful {❤Saturday Mornings...}

Good morning artsy friends stopping in today...

How's your morning..? It's SO beaUtiFul here in Boston today!!

I am up and SO upbeat way too early.. I went out on the deck for tea and of course

brought my camera with me.. Here's a little something I took this morning..

Hope you enjoy my lens view..

Have a terrific Saturday & catch some rays while you can..

....Off to the flea market...
**By Requests, I'm bringing back "Perfect Pixel Aisle" This Week**

Linking Up With
**Flowers On A Saturday**
~The Hollie Rogue~

~Stay Artsy~

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...House Keeping.. {Fun Friday}

Good morning artsy friends stopping in today..

It's officially FRIDAY!! I have a LONG weekend and I'm I'm

really feeling like a pocket full of sunshine!! Saweeeeeeeeeeet!!

Today, I'm going to share a few things with you.. A fun comfort food

recipe, and a glimpse of an interview that was so swell about me!!

Hopping to it with smiles..

~Recipe~ {Oven Roasted Cornish Hen

W/ Garlic & Rosemary}

Ingredients

Cornish game hens

salt and pepper to taste

1 lemon, slices

4 sprigs fresh rosemary

3 tablespoons olive oil

5 cloves garlic

(Chopped to pieces)

1/3 cup red wine

1/3 cup low-sodium

chicken broth

4 sprigs fresh rosemary,

for season & garnish

*Lets Get Cooking*

Rub hens with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Lightly season hens with salt and pepper. Carefully place 2 lemon wedges and 1 sprig rosemary in cavity of hen, and arrange in large roasting pan. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). I smeared garlic and rosemary all around the hen. Add a slice of lemon on top. Roast in preheated oven for 25 minutes, reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

While hen is roasting, slice up some potatoes into very thin slices. Season well

using a mix of salt, pepper, olive oil, concord potato seasoning and garlic. Layer on baking sheet and bake alongside the cornish hens until crisp on the outsides and tender. When potatoes go in, grab a mixing bowl and whisk together wine, chicken broth, and remaining 2 tablespoons of oil together. Carefully pour over hens and allow to continue roasting about 25 minutes longer, or until hens are golden brown and juices run clear. Baste with pan juices every 10 minutes. When hens are ready, transfer onto platter and cover with foil to stay warm. If the is any juices within the cavity, drain into roasting pan before setting aside. Pour the pan juices and garlic cloves to a medium saucepan and boil until liquids reduce to a sauce consistency (For about 6 minutes). Arrange your potato slices on a plate, cut hens in half lengthwise and place on top of potatoes, spoon sauce and garlic around your hens. Garnish with rosemary sprigs if desired..You are ALL SET FOR DINNER~!! TADAAAAAAAAAA!!!

Hope you enjoyed my delish recipe here today! We certainly did!! YUMMY!!

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A FEATURED FUN ME DAY

In other news, I was featured per an interview today over at the lovely Lisa's..

Please stop in and check it out. It really made me smile.. I HATE interviews,

but her questions where playful and fun, and for once I enjoyed writing about ME!

You can visit Lisa's and read my awesome interview HERE...THANK YOU LISA.

Hope you are all having an exciting and wonderful start to your long weekends..

ANy fun plans..? Do Share!!! I'm hoping to catch some zzZZZZ's.

Thanks as always for stopping in today..Toodles...

~Stay Artsy~

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"Pinspirations"... Pinterest & Inspirational Fun Day 1!!

Good morning artsy friends stopping in today!!

It's "Officially My 1st Pin'Inspirational Thursdays" here today!!

I'm really excited to see all the wonderful inspirational and

creative crafts and more that every one's put together and is ready to show off!

I can't wait! A MUST DO for your blog is to help us all share your wonderful

features via a "PIN IT" button If you aren't aware, you can simply add a "Pin It"

button to your blog photo's HERE! I will do my best to pin as many as I

can and feature the top 10 out of crafts, photo's and recipes that are

linked up!! Grab a button & spread the word.. Every Thursday,

I'll feature my favourite findings, so please SHARE!

Here are some of my favorite findings this week from in the blog world!!

You guys are SO creative & buzz worthy!! Lets pin away!!!
Show Off Via Linky Below!!!

Anthropologie Knock-Off

Dinnerware Rack Via LadyBird Ln

This amazing knock-of tutorial made me SMILE!!

I am super in love and really have it HIGH on my "to-do list"

So beautiful & artsy!! My favorite finding today!!Pin HERE

"Cover It With Lace"

I absolutely LOVE this idea!! It's so chic and randomly over the top!!

You can pin it here..

"Walk With Me : Fall In Seattle"

Her photography is AMAZING & I Love this fall series!!

I Especially LOVE the touches of blue, most of us do not relate blue to fall!

lol - I sure don't, but I've seen it much more this year & LOVE it.. Pin Here!

Pasta's Got Your Goat....Cheese

Via Tracy Cooks It Right.. How Yummy!!

I'm trying this soon!! Pin It Here!!

Waxed Dipped Leaves

Via My Good friend Jen from I Can't Stop Crafting!!

How Creative, festive and FALL fun?! Pin Here!~

Aren't these lovely ladies inspiring..? I love how easy and creative these picks are!

Totally pin and buzz worthy.. Hope you take a moment to add to your pin boards!!

It's time to LINK UP!! Show Off What you got!!

Pin"Inspirational Thursdays - Every Thursday!!

Crafts, Recipes, Photo's ~ All in Pinterest Fun!!

Please Make Sure it's ALL your creations!

Please include my button (below) or at a minimum a link back to my blog.

Please link up to your blog POST and not your main blog page..

Please feel free to blog hop around and comment on the other entries! This makes it fun for everyone.

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Wordless Wednesday & Edit Me Week 21

Good morning artsy friends stopping in today..

It's mid-week and I'm counting down to the LONG weekend!

What's everyone getting into..? I'm a bit on the sick side and very under the

weather today. Sia has a cold, and chances are, she's sharing~~YUCK..

Hope you are staying warm, it's really getting chilly here in Boston :(~!

Wordless Wednesday

My Wordless Wednesday / Or Wednesday With Words Shot!!

I heart Scrabble! It's a fav family pasttime of ours!

......Fun way to express my love..

Pin It Here

Linked With Create & Share, The Perfect Line, Pixel Dust Photo Art &....

Edit Me "Week 21"

It's officially week "21" and as always, I'm linking up!!

Edit Me Photo From Amy..

My Edited Version

Thanks SO much for tuning in today.. Hope you enjoyed my photo's..

**Don't forget to link up your projects for October's "Up'Cycling Contest"!!**

Please be sure to stop in and say hello to my artsy guest
Anne From DesignDreamsByAnne!!!

She's awesome and her post below ROCKS!!!
If you've yet to see her post, please hop in and show some love~

**THE ARTSY PIN BOARD**
It's also Inspirational Thursday's Here TOMORROW!!

I would LOVE for you to stop in and share your projects & photography with me!!

Top 5 photo's, crafts and recipes will be added to the Artsy Pin Board on Pinterest!!

Have a wonderful Wednesday With Smiles..

~Stay Artsy

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Artsy U ~Featured Guest ANNE

Hello Artsy Friends Stopping In Today,
I am very pleased to have Annie visit me here today and would love
for you to take a moment to welcome her.. She's going to give us TWO
wonderful tutorials today - super excited.. Please join me as I indulge
in Anne's Wreath and Salsa How to's.. You can find Anne at her
wonderful blogspot over at Design Dreams By Anne

I've just made a new friend! Marilyn from The Artsy Girl Connection

and she asked if I could feature a project from my blog this week

so I've created a fall wreath in honour of this request :).

This wreath is super easy, all you need is a few flowers of a single

type (I chose silk flowers so my wreath would last for more than

just this season), a few yards of ribbon, a wreath of your choice

(I chose a pre-made grapevine wreath) and a glue gun.

your wreath with glue. Cluster your flowers in the lower right hand

section, as many or as few as you like. Tie a really simple bow in

the upper right hand section and VOILA! Easy,

peasy wreath for your front door.

SALSA TIME

I also have a recipe for you to try out. This is a biggie cause usually
I just throw together everything I have on hand willy-nilly without
paying much attention to what I've done. For this batch, I actually
wrote down what I did here - OMG!! Good thing
I did, this one is a recipe I'd like to repeat.

I had a great tomato harvest on my single tomato plant this year.
As most of the tomatoes reached the ripe stage at the same time,
I did my trusty spaghetti sauce recipe (that is always different because
I don't follow any instructions...) and then I came across a Salsa
recipe from An Oregon Cottage that started me on a
Google quest for the perfect recipe for me.

I combined a bunch of ingredients from different recipes

that I found to come up with my personal favourite, chunky,

tasty and mildly spiced salsa that isn't runny.

Salsa It Up
8 large tomatoes, cored & chopped
1 medium red onion, chopped
1 medium green pepper, chopped
2 jalapeños (add more for spicier salsa) chopped finely
1 clove garlic, squashed with a knife & minced
Juice of 1/2 a lime
3/4 can of Herb Tomato Paste (the littlest can!)
1/4 cup white vinegar
1 tbsp fresh cilantro
2 tsp Greek herb mix
1 tsp gourmet pepper
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp sea salt

Throw everything in a pot and cook over medium heat

stirring often, until boiling, then simmer for 30 minutes or so -

keep stirring!! Cool & serve. Makes 3 cups. I made a big batch

of this, put it in one-cup mason jars and froze it so I

don't have to can (I'm such a lazy cook!).
Fresh is so much YUMMIER. Serve with sea

salt rice chips or tortilla chips.

Fresh is so much YUMMIER. Serve with sea salt rice

chips or tortilla chips. Hope you all are enjoying

this fabulous fall weather!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

How awesome is that salsa recipe?! I have to try it sometime..
I'm truly honored to have Anne stop in and really hope you enjoyed
her tutorial's here today.. Please stop in and check out all her terrific
creativity and awesome posts over at Design Dreams By Anne ,
she's some kind of wonderful...Love it..
Thanks so much again Anne, hope to
have you back sometime soon!
So long folks...Have a terrific day today..
~Stay Artsy!~

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Sweet Sponsor’s, UpCycling Contest, Freebies & More!!

Good morning artsy friends stopping in today..
I can’t believe how fast October came around.. I’m officially FULL on fishing
through costumes for the kids.. What are your little ones going to be this year..?
1 2 Many cute costumes out there! I love it!! Have you seen the
“angry bird kids costumes?” SIMPLY HILARIOUS!! S M H

THE BUZZ AROUND ME!!
There is quiet a bit going on around here this week and I
wanted to take a moment to share!! Hopping to it...
*SPONSORS *UP'CYCLING CONTEST/GIVEAWAY!*

My New Sweet Sponsors

Recently, I took the sponsor plunge full on!!! I am very excited to get to share and officially

welcome my new sweet sponsor’s with you today. I have some fun new ad’s in my
sidebar that I’m loving!! If you haven’t noticed and know who they are, please
check them out and have a looksey!! They all simply ROCK!! I have a few more to
add so you’ll notice more changes in the next few days around here.. *SMILES*

**Coming Soon “BLOGHER”
**SUPER THRILLED, THANKFUL & LOVING IT!!**

PICK YOUR PLUM

Today's Deal - Engraved Coasters - SO CUTE!!! * 4 personalized coasters - $11.50 *

I am very excited to be an affiliate of Pick Your Plum, as I actually L♥VE all the products.
If you are not signed up, you certainly should!! They offer amazing deals on beautiful
and one of a kind craft items, hair accessories and more.These deals will be featured
in my right hand side bar for you each day from Monday through Friday as the “Plum
Of The Day” is announced every morning.. GET IT QUICK! They sell FAST!!
I’ll certainly share everything I splurge on when I catch a great deal..
Sign up for Instant Alerts so you always know 'The Deal'
Can’t wait.. Stay tune and SHOP along!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
VINTAGE GWEN!!

Please take a moment to scoot on over and visit the lovely and sweet
Jennifer from Vintage Glenn!! Jenn enjoys baking, crafting, reading, photography
and shopping (My kinda Gal!! Heehee!!)..Her blog features amazing recipes,
tutorial’s, fun redo’s and some awesome rocking photography.

Some Random Fun Facts About Jenn!!
She loves riding four wheelers and motorcycles! (I’m sold!! SHE ROCKS!)
Jenn’s been featured on a billboard before!! How COOL!!!

One of my FAV projects of Jen I MUST DO is her
“Printed Fabric Key chain” Amazingly Creative.

So beautiful… SO MANY FUN projects!!

Stop in and say hello & don’t forget to enter to win her
GIVEAWAY (150 Fall’ower Giveaway!!)
Head on over, you are bound to love her as much as I do!!

I am open to trade basis sponsorships right now.. This will also include a feature
post by me welcoming you to my reader’s, some Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook
love as well.. if you have an Etsy Shop, I would be happy to host a giveaway
for you or item’s per your blog criteria that best fits my blog categories. If you
are interested, please contact me via theartsygirlconnection@gmail.com!!

October UpCycling Contest!!!!!

I’m officially trying my hardest to go as GREEN as I can around here!!
Recently, I up'cycled some Vodka and Izze bottles to create some awesome
Halloween decorations for my kitchen.. *Vintage Candy Corn Bottles*

I also created a *Book Page Pumpkin* using
an old tattered book that was in bad shape thanks to my lil daughter..

How darling..?!!
I’m on the hunt to see how many of you have been recycling via UPCYCLING!!!!
I figured, this month will be a great month to show your creativity and green miles
by creating awesome OCTOBER projects (Halloween Décor, Party
Favors, DIY around the house crafts and more) using RECYCLABLE
materials available to you. I will have a linky open tonight till October 30th
for you to link up your UPCYCLED projects for viewing and voting!
YES – This wouldn’t go without notice!! Link up your projects,
collect votes and win some sweet awesome prizes!!
*A $25 gift card to Michael’s & *A DIY Craft Kit sponsored
by the lovely Kimberly via http://kimbas2cents.blogspot.com/*
Are you Ready..? The link will be open tonight and posted with buttons & rules!!
Hope you can join in.. I’m very excited to see all the CREATIVITY!!!
Who’s In?!???? Don't Just RECYCLE~~~UPCYCLE

Thanks SO much for joining me today!!
SO much to digest & I hope you can participate!!
**I have an awesome guest feature tomorrow
Anne From DesignDreamsByAnne!!!**

A Lovely Fall Wreath Tutorial

Also stay tuned tomorrow for "Edit Me" & Wordless
Or With Words Wednesday, however wacky I'm feeling!! Love It!!
~Stay Artsy~

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My Festive Hallway & Photoberfest PLEASE VOTE

Happy Monday Artsy Friends!!!
How's your day so far..? I've been BZ BZ & this weekend I re-did our fall hallway!!

Yesterday marked the END to our fall crawl season!! it's bitter sweet as
I absolutely am SO thankful to all the ladies that played along.. I will be having a
lovely giveaway tomorrow for a "DIY Craft Kit" and some treats!! Hope you
stop in and apply!! You can always look around and read up on all
the link ups via our FALL CRAWL POSTS!

Ushering In The Season

Bits of My Home This Fall!

~My Very Festive Hallway~

This week, I decided to decorate my hallway entrance, and very inspired by all the

different pumpkins and Halloween decor' all around, I decided to do something a little

different and had a little fun putting this festive hallway together..
**My Star Pumpkin**

As you can see, I decided my star pumpkin deserved PEARLS!! HA.. I love it..

It was really simple putting this hallway together and decorating my pumpkins. I went

to Michael's, found some crystal patterns (about $2 a pack, which came with about 3 to

four patterns each). I grabbed a roll of pearls from my local Sewfisticated fabric store for

a good buck (literally $1!!!), some ribbons, my glue gun and went with the flow.

I glued everything in place from top to bottom carefully. The ribbons and the pearls.
Where everything met up top the pumpkin, I hide it with the ribbon to look presentable.
I didn't want to overdo it with too many crystal patterns so I split a long one in half and
added it to the pumpkin on one side as you can see in the photo (only the front).
I added a crystal pattern to the black pumpkin as well. I added a single one to the
candle in the photo (caramel colored one on holder, and to the picture frame)

I printed out a Halloween printable from online via a google search for my frame.

TADAAAAA~!! I absolutely LOVE IT!! I am on the hunt to find pumpkins

adorned with pearls.. Have you seen any..?!! How have you decorated your
pumpkins this year..? Do share.. I am falling into fall
around the house and loving it!!

*My Pumpkins Before The Hallway*