Friday, July 16, 2021

John Brunsdon, Printmaker with A Video Biography


I came upon this printmaker quite accidentally and I love his work. After he passed, all of his plates were destroyed so that all of his prints offered for sale by the Estate were printed during his lifetime. The print above called Valley in The Hills has been sold. I thoroughly enjoyed his video biography on youtube where he takes you through his entire life with archival footage. It's really fascinating. I have embedded the video below but it's also available within his website where you will see many more examples of his artwork and gain a bigger understanding of printmaking from start to finish. His color process, done all at once, is on the film too.
JOHN BRUNSDON 1933-2014
British Artist, Printmaker, and Painter

JOHN BRUNSDON -- THE PRINTMAKER. This YouTube Video is offered by The Tate Gallery -- Watch when you can set aside 20 minutes of viewing time. I promise you will enjoy the film. xo

Thursday, July 15, 2021

My Attic Office Showing New Printer


There have been a few questions about the actual size of my new printer so here are two photos that might answer how it compares with the Apple iMac desktop computer in my attic home office. This is what is called "selective" photography with areas in the photo tidied up but not the rest of the space, if you know what I mean.😂



Here it is all in a closer view, ready for printing and scanning. I didn't realize how much I have missed my old scanner either. I have used it quite a few times and I remain very happy with my purchase. Are you sick of hearing about it yet? This is my first all in one printer that just happens to be wireless. I wasn't even shopping for that feature but it's very handy.
xo

Wednesday, July 14, 2021

Cookie Recipe for My Cookie Mold

 I found the perfect recipe for my Hessian Soldier mold thanks to a comment from @kathiquilts suggesting he would make Springerle cookie. I searched and found a recipe but I like the same auther's Traditional Speculoos Cookie better (also called Windmill Cookie). She illustrates how to use a mold like mine only hers are wooden.




The recipe calls for Baker's Ammonia (Ammonium Bicarbonate) and I have never heard of this but it's an essential ingredient to prevent the cookies from becoming too hard. I searched google and Whole Foods has it. She explains this on her blog post with recipe here. She walks you through every step with numerous photos. Enjoy. Save this recipe for the holidays.
xo

Tuesday, July 13, 2021

Hessian Soldier Cookie Mold from Williamsburg


I purchased this Virginia Metalcrafters item hanging on my wall long ago at an estate sale. It turned out to be the perfect size to hang in my pantry/office on a narrow space beside the front window. He is a Hessian Soldier made of Aluminum (called Silvertone) and was copied from an old mold used in the Bake Shop at Williamsburg. The impressed stamp shows the Virginia Metalcrafters’ familiar Betty Lamp hallmark.
I have never made a cookie with it but I would use a shortbread or maybe a gingerbread recipe if I ever tried.
I have seen a similar design on fireplace andirons too. There are wonderful items out there and it's up to people like you and me to find them, display them, brag about them, and love them again.

UPDATE: I FOUND A RECIPE TO USE WITH THIS MOLD HERE.
xo

Monday, July 12, 2021

Another View of My Pantry Home Office


This is another view of my home office in the pantry showing the hanging cupboard with yesterday's blog post's photo printed and hanging on the side. I have baskets on top full of  loose light bulbs of every description, a small portable paper cutter, and wooden rulers to the side. Bills waiting to be paid when they are due are in a standing organizer on a table below the chalk board. It really is a working office in this small space. Once bills are paid, the receipts go into a large filing cabinet in my attic office. This works beautifully for me. When I open my mail, the junk goes into a recycling bin and the important stuff goes into the proper divider until it is needed.







THANK YOU
xo

Sunday, July 11, 2021

HOW TO GARDEN


I made this illustrated quote years ago on a computer that died along with the software used to create it. I am finding/learning new ways to "doctor" my photos using only Snapseed and the iPhone editing software. 

I added an UPDATE to yesterday's post about my printer. I tried to answer all the questions you had and added a photo of the box it came in. 

♡thank you♡
xo

Saturday, July 10, 2021

Adventures with My New Printer


Three agonizing weeks ago I got a new printer and yesterday I finally got it to work properly without really knowing what I did! As you know, I am technically oriented but it wasn't at all easy because the printer is wireless and I had a very hard time getting it to work with my laptop and I haven't even tried it with my phone yet. Yesterday I tried printing the alphabet photo in my living room from my laptop and it magically printed upstairs in my office where my desktop computer and printer reside. I liked the print so much I hung it on a cabinet wall in my pantry office off my kitchen. I still don't trust the printer completely and need to practice more so I will be a confident operator when I really need it. I loved my old wired printer but it decided to stop working quite abruptly and I couldn't fix it and you know I tried! I think I'm going to end up loving the new one, fingers crossed.🤞 Wish me luck.☘️ NOTE: The alphabet I printed is on regular computer paper. The angle of the picture makes it look much larger.


HP DeskJet 4155e -- a photo of the box above
If you sign up for an HP+ INSTANT INK plan within 7 days of installing your printer, you get 6 months of free ink and one more year on the warranty which brings it up to 2 years. I decided to bite the bullet and sign up before I mastered THE MACHINE. I can do unlimited printing (up to 700 pages) the first 6 months and they sent replacement inks right away and the cartridges are twice the size of the ones that came with the printer. I signed up for 100 pages per month after the first 6 months is over and that is when the first billing begins. I think that will be fine and if I go over it doesn't cost very much. You have to sign up with a credit card and my plan is $4.95 per month. I can cancel at any time too. So it sounds like a win win to me. I think all of the newest HP wireless printers come with this plan. Click to enlarge the photo to see the box. 
I watched countless YouTube videos and each one had a helpful hint assisting me with the installation. The most interesting hint that the setup never mentioned was a little slider you have to push up against the left side of the paper to hold it in place!!!! You have to change it when using smaller sizes of paper for note cards or photos. I NEVER would have found that by myself and there was no mention in the instructions.
If there is a hinge on the scanner for thick items like books, I have yet to find it. 
You have to download the HP SMART App too. I have it on my laptop, my desktop computer and my phone as well. I am still learning about this.
The printer was $99 at BestBuy. This is not a recommendation or a paid ad in any way. It's just a review of the one I bought. You can spend more or you can spend less. This seemed just right for me.








THANK YOU

Have a great weekend.
It rained most of Friday night.
Today is nice and cool.
 xo