Tuesday Tips: Easy Christmas DIY "foodie"Gift Ideas

Yes, it's time to start thinking about Christmas gifts as Black Friday looms at the end of the week.  For me personally, unless I HAVE to hit the stores this weekend I'll avoid them. 

That aside, I've found for this week's Tuesday Tips a few DIY ideas for some cute and easy "foodie" gifts that would be appropriate for teachers, neighbors, co-workers or service providers.  

Please visit by clicking on the link below the photo for wonderful ideas for creative Christmas gifts.  Some more labor intensive than others, but am sure most of you crafty types can manage. They're all fun, festive and fairly easy.  

Clever, beautiful, easy and tasty, this tutorial has great step-by-step photos as well as a printable recipe card to include with your gift. I will definitely be making some of these!!

Caramel Apple In A Jar by The Gunny Sack

A cute idea for a Hot Cocoa Kit for those cold winter nights! Brrrrrrrrrrr

Hot Cocoa Kit

Reindeer Noses.  The site just has photos and a brief explanation, no template to download, but I thought it was just so cute!

Reindeer Noses

As always, thanks for stopping by and please leave a comment below to share one of your favorite DIY "foodie" gifts ideas.

Jan

Visit Jypsy Studio on Etsy

Tuesday's Tips: Three Great Blogs & Sites

Welcome to Tuesday's Tips where each Tuesday I will share great finds with you.  Being true to the nature of my blog, these will focus on arts & craft tips, DIY how-tos, unique finds or stunning photos & art.  An occasional recipe might sneak its way in there as I love to cook. 

This is the inaugural post and I decided to go with three great blogs/websites I ran across that have not only great ideas, but beautiful photography as well. And there's even one for you guys.

Guys first!!

The Blog: Uncrate/ The Find: The Beambox

Guys, this one is for you so be bold and check it out.  It's all about where to find the "stuff" guys like. Links to purchase sites, unique items and a place to "stash" stuff you want to remember for later.  Cool site for the guys.  (Send a link to your sweetie if you find any cool Christmas ideas we always ask you for!)   Here are the headings if you're still unsure: GEAR - STYLE - CARS - TECH - VICES - BODY - FOOD.   'Nuf said...

The Blog: A Beautiful Mess/ Project : Foolproof Turkey & Gravy Tips

Written by Elsie and Emma, A Beautiful Mess is a lifestyle blog written to focus on simple ways to create a beautiful and inspired lifestyle. Elsie and Emma share craft projects, recipes, fashion and decor ideas and DIYs on their blog daily to help make your life a little bit sweeter. Seeing as how it's Thanksgiving next week, I figured we could all use Turkey Tips. If you're looking for something new to try this year, read about how Emma brines her turkey for added flavor and moisture. Make sure and look around their blog for more beautiful photography and great ideas.

The Blog: Alisa Burke/ The Project: Doodle Platter

Written by Alisa Burke, she is a self-described artist, author, teacher, wife and mom.  She is always looking for new ways to redefine creativity. She draws inspiration from street art, graffiti, art history and fashion and it is not uncommon to find unique recycled items in her art.  This is a great DIY Doodle Platter...create your own for the holidays.  

That's it for today.  Share your cool sites in the comments below. 

As always, thanks for stopping by!

Jan

Jypsy Studio on Etsy-check out the new vintage fashion illustrations available in my shop. 

Surrealism In Art

Salvador Dali "Slave Market and Disappearing Bust of Voltaire"

What is surrealism in art? I thought I knew but wanted to do a little more research to understand its origins, its key ideas and the "why" behind how we see it interpreted in art.  So, I thought I'd share what I found here with you and provide a few examples.


According to several different internet resources, the origins of surrealism are based in Paris with a small group of writers and artists who sought to channel the unconscious as a means to unlock the power of imagination.  Disdaining rationalism and literary realism, their thinking was that the conscious mind represses the power of the imagination.  Officially founded in 1924, it has come to be seen as the most influential movement in twentieth century art.


In my words, if you can turn off the conscious mind and just let what's in your head flow out naturally....it may not make sense, but it is what it is.

Some historic names that you would associate with this type of art include:

• Salvador Dali-artist
• Man Ray-photographer
• Andre Breton-photographer
• Joan Miro-artist
• Marc Chagall-artist
• Alexander Calder-sculptor

"Tears" - Man Ray 1936

Joan Miro-"Summer" 1937

Marc Chagall

Alexander Calder

The concept is still alive and well in art today and with such tools as digital cameras and Photoshop the possibilities are endless.  I have a few modern day artists that you  may have never heard of but that I really enjoy and would like to share with you.

Nicoletta Ciccoli

Tom Haney-Kinetic Sculptures...one of my favorites!!

Mark Ryden

Linda Herzog

Greg Brotherton-Sculpture

Abelardo Morell-Photographer. Turns whole rooms into Camera Obscuras.

"Woman" - Jan Partain

Other definitions I found:

Dictionary:  Pure psychic automatism, by which one proposes to express, either verbally, in writing, or by any other manner, the real functioning of thought. 

Encyclopedia:  Surrealism is based on the belief in the superior reality of certain forms of previously neglected associations, in the omnipotence of dream, in the disinterested play of thought.

Wow, aren't you glad I cleared THAT up!  Whatever the definition, the work is often intriguing, whimsical, eerie and thought provoking.  

So, those odd thoughts you have that you think nobody else could possibly have.....maybe they're just unexpressed art.....hmmmmm.

As always, thanks for stopping by! I enjoy reading your comments below. 

Jan

Jypsy Studio on Etsy

NATURE'S CANDY: Harvesting Pecans on the Hightower Farm

Last week I had the pleasure of visiting the Hightower Farm near Ralston, OK.  Mike's dad has a grove of pecan trees that are his hobby and passion.  I had the opportunity to see and learn from the master the process from harvesting to the fun part....eating.  Of course what I share here is after growing the root stock, grafting on the desired variety, growing for several years and fighting pests, disease, weather and crows.  A BIG thank you to the Hightower family!

Below are a few photos of the process and a short clip of the "tree shaker" in slow motion that Mike took.  Enjoy! 

I'm just sorry I can't share the eating part with you...sorta. 

This shakes them down.

This picks them up!

Our harvest prior to the final cleaning and shelling processes.

The video file of the shelling process was too large for the blog so here is a You Tube link.

The video is a little sideways wonky near the end..sorry about that.

Pecan Shelling Machine

Laid out to dry before we do the final cleaning process by hand!

A bag made it into my carry-on luggage for the trip home.  I'm trying to save some for Pecan Pie for Thanksgiving but it's REALLY hard! And, bonus, Mike's mom is sending me her recipe which we got to sample while there. Yay me!

Okay, okay...so I've eaten a few!!

So, if you find a local pecan farmer and he's selling shelled pecans for $4, $5, $6 a pound, or more, now you know why. Support him and buy them. They're soooooooooooooo much better than what you'll get at the grocery store, I promise. 

As always, thanks for stopping by! Comment if you LOVE pecans!

Jan

My ETSY shop - JypsyStudio    (sorry, no pecans)

NY Fashion Illustrator: Ernest Gross

Sometimes you just get lucky at an estate sale.  Back in the back in a tiny bedroom I found a box of fashion illustrations done on tracing paper, drawing paper, vellum, etc., that were just wonderful! They were definitely from the 40'-60's.  Many of them had attached fabric swatches and some were signed by either Ernest and Elsie Gross.  Elsa was his sister who passed away about a month ago at the age of 97, and these were in her house. 

After a little digging and some help from my online art buddies (Thank you Dani) I finally found a little info on Ernest Gross.  Very interesting stuff, I just wish he'd signed all of them.

In any case, here are some photos for you to enjoy.  Some of them are just amazing and am going to frame them somehow.  Some may go in my ETSY shop as I have quite a few. But, wanted to share with you guys.  Evidently his family treasured his life's work.  I will try to do the same.

The little rhinestone trim on this one is fantastic!

Ernest Gross, (American, New York City, 20th century) 

Fashion designs for Hattie Carnegie, Pauline Trigere, and other fashion houses with designs appearing prominent magazines and newspapers.  Gross was a New York fashion designer from 1939-1979.  Gross was a prominent artist in the fashion world with illustrations preserved at Pratt Fashion Institute and others. 

He was born in 1919 in Pennsylvania and I found him listed on the 1940 Census in Beaver Falls, PA, at the age of 21. His occupation is listed as "costume designer" and he is living with his parents, Adam & Ethel, both born in Hungary, and his two siblings, Elsa age 22 and Eleanor age 13.  Elsa eventually married a man named Kasunick and Elsa Kasunick was the name on a shipping label of the box of drawings I purchased.  Ernest passed away about 5 years ago at the age of 90. 

As always, thanks for stopping by.  If I find out any more interesting information on Ernest I'll post it.  I would love to have a photo of him.

Please leave a comment, I always enjoy reading them!

Jan

My ETSY shop-JypsyStudio