This year’s bounty is quite colorful. Happy Halloween, everybody!
Group picture
The one that got away… (it was gifted to a good friend of mine)
craft
Carnevale Masks & Sugar Paste
While writing the recipe for the castagnole, I was looking for some pictures and I found those Carnevale masks I had almost forgotten about. I made them for a Carnevale party I hosted five or six years ago. I made the big one with the intention of decorating a cake with it, but then decided to use the small ones instead. As usual, my friend C. helped me putting the cake together.
Christmas Tree Felt Ornaments
It isn’t even close to Easter yet and we have already put down the Christmas ornaments. Italian humor aside, my husband bought two light boxes to take some pictures at my felt creations. Here are some of my Christmas ornaments.
I felt It
A few years ago, I discovered the wonderful world of felt craft a` la Japanese. Instantly hooked. Eventually, I made several dozen decorations all dessert and sweets themed to decorate the Christmas tree.
Buon Natale, Merry Christmas, Feliz Navidad!
In Italy, for Christmas, it is customary to display nativities around houses, stores, offices, pretty much everywhere. Thanks to Francesca, who sent me a picture of a Panettone Nativity, this is my last minute project with some leftover cold porcelain.
How I made my Panettone Nativity:
I modeled the figurines—nothing more than cones and spheres put together—and let them dry for a day. I used the same dough I originally made for the wedding cakes bouquets. It was very hard to work with, and I was worried it was going to crack while drying, but the figurines turned out fine.
I painted the figurines with acrylic colors—it took forever to paint the eyes because I didn’t like how they came out the first ten times—and let them dry for one hour. Meanwhile, I cut a small chamber inside the panettone. I positioned the figurines inside the grotto and finally sprinkled powdered sugar on top.
2012 Painted Pumpkins And The Big Mystery Revealed
Better pictures will soon follow, but after three days of working on them I can’t wait to post something.
At the beginning, there wasn’t a lot to look at…
A Halloween Mystery Picture
Going to paint this pumpkin, but couldn’t help to have some fun with it first.
The Big Mystery of Fall 2012
All the possibilities! Stay tuned for the big reveal.
Ten Years of Painted Pumpkins
Shown in no particular order.
Zero Calories Sweets
Would you eat those chocolates?
I don’t remember how, but a few years back I discovered the incredible world of Japanese craft. The wondrous discovery sent me on a buying frenzy on eBay. Not knowing the language didn’t discourage me in the least. I bought several books about felt craft and then I proceeded to study the pictures and interpret the instructions by looking at the images. One of the funniest project was decorating the Christmas Tree with felt goodies. I found working with felt relaxing, because it’s easy, fast, and the rewards are immediate.
Painted Pumpkins
When I first moved to the United States, twelve years ago—can’t believe it has been so long already—I was exposed to the American art of pumpkin carving and decorating. Once I painted my first pumpkin, I realized I didn’t want for it to go to waste and be forgotten. So I started buying foam pumpkins to paint them with acrylics. Since then, every fall I paint at least one pumpkin—usually around three or four. Now, I have quiet a collection lying around the house all year long. Here are a few pictures of some of my special pumpkins.
Monica La Porta 