baby foxes

here is a photo of vintage fox cubs.  very cute.  enjoy!!

freebie butterflies

hopes everyone likes these...enjoy!

my new fan page on facebook!!

hello everyone,

i would just like to tell everyone that i started a new facebook fanpage.  here's the link......http://www.facebook.com/MaudesMisfitFactory    it's a little easier to keep up with rather than actually having to put whole thoughts and topics together like on this blog.  alas i wish i had the time to devote to this, but i don't.  so without further ado, happy memorial day weekend and please don't drink and drive.

p.s.  i can't wait to eat some bar-b-que this weekend!

my lovely tshirt designs

well i've been very busy lately.  my tshirt business is almost officially open for business.  nothing big for now but very soon i will be posting listings for my tshirts in my etsy store.  it's going to be mostly kid's clothing, specifically for girls.  my second design is my favorite so far, but that's all i'll say about it.  hopefully it will be online by next week.

also, as soon as i remember i am going to take my camera over to my all handmade tshirt studio, with working dark room, even a handmade exposure unit.  i am pretty proud of myself.  haha.  and since my studio is in my dad's basement, totally takes me back to being a teenager, well almost, i have named my clothing line cellar dweller gear.  though i may have to change this, i'm still not completely sure of it, but for now that's the name.  this is very exciting for me and has been a great experience so far.

it's cold in pennsylvania

it's freezing in my apartment.  i just found my snuggie from last year and i love it all over again.  it's perfect when i'm on the computer...and it's cheetah print.  oh, by the way, i think my apartment is haunted.  my eyes hurt so it's time for me to go.

new music!!

I love the Black Keys!!!!!!  they are one of the best new bands out there in my opinion.  every time i listen to them i still can get over how good they are.  this post is dedicated to their musical awesomeness.

here's some of their albums, check them out. 

raspberry pie

i found this recipe online and loved it, so i will share it with you.  some lady named carolyn sent it in and i thank her for this awesome recipe.  i've made it a dozen times and everybody loves it.

here are the ingredients:

• 1 (9 inch) prepared graham cracker crust
• 3 cups raspberries
• 2/3 cup water
• 1 (.25 ounce) package unflavored gelatin
• 1/4 cup cold water
• 3 egg yolks, beaten
• 2/3 cup white sugar
• 3 egg whites
• 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1/3 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1/4 cup fresh raspberries

the only i did different is i used two pie crusts, this makes enough filling to fill both.  i bought one prepared crust and made one from scratch.

and here are the directions!

1.  In a medium saucepan combine 3 cups raspberries and 2/3 cup water. Simmer over low heat until raspberries are soft. Press mixture through a sieve or strainer to remove seeds and obtain raspberry pulp.

 

I always used fresh raspberries but it would probably be ok to use frozen.

also i did not know what a sieve was, but pretty much it's a very fine metal strainer.  this part of the recipe is the biggest pain in the butt, but it's well worth it.

2.  Place gelatin and 1/4 cup cold water in a small bowl. Set aside and allow gelatin to soften.  i do this while i'm straining the raspberries, so the gelatin has time to set up.

3.  In a medium saucepan whisk together raspberry pulp, egg yolks, and 2/3 cup sugar. Bring to a full boil, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. 

4.  Add gelatin to raspberry mixture and stir until dissolved. Place pan in a cold water bath to cool completely.  this was also a little tricky, but this is what i came up with.  it worked well enough.

 5.  In a large glass or metal mixing bowl, beat egg whites until foamy. Add cream of tartar. Add 1/3 cup sugar a little at a time, beating constantly until whites are stiff and glossy. 

6.  In a separate mixing bowl, whip cream until stiff. Gently fold together with cooled raspberry mixture and meringue. Spoon mixture into graham cracker crust. Chill at least 2 hours before serving. Garnish with whole raspberries.  i didn't take a picture of folding the raspberry mixture in with the whipped cream.  i also just used cool whip, it turns out fine.

 

and here's the finished product.  it's absolutely delicious and a fairly easy recipe.  

i topped my with extra graham cracker crumbs and a dollop of whipped cream.  mmmmm....


enjoy!

chirstmas banners

hello everyone,

well i've come to report on how things are going with me.  my halloween banners were amazing, it's the most sales i've had on etsy and i was totally psyched.  i started making christmas banners thinking (hoping) the same thing would happen, but alas nobody liked my christmas ones.  granted i got a late start on them and it took me a little bit to get into the swing of christma.  my first couple ones are horrible now that i look at them again, lol.

but i got to look at it as christmas was not my artistic thing.  i probably will make a couple more just for the hell of it, but i am going to be happy to just make some.

i'm going to get started on some now...
till next time,
maude

where did october go?? i've seemed to have misplaced it...

at least that's how i feel.  halloween was pretty cool this year.  took the girls out trick or treating and they loved it.  my little girl was a pirate, totally cute, with a wooden sword i painted for her.  now the decorations are down and want to get the christmas ones up and getting ready to cook a huge dinner for thanksgiving. 

my screen printing is going really slowly.  after a small break in set up, which was horrible, i am now back with a  vengeance. the basement is about done and now i am almost ready to start messing with exposure times and the elmusion.  when i get to it i will try to come back and write about it.  also i would like to take some pictures but just haven't had the time yet. 

until then here are some etsy christmas banners i have been working on.  hope you enjoy.

next i think i'm going vintage all the way, or maybe a little retro also.   so far my favorite one is the pirate with a parrot reading a map. 

maude

my absolutely lovely brother

well tommy came to the rescue again.  my computer was completely messed up.  i haven't even been on etsy in a couple days because the issues were so bad.  he has spent countless hours trying to fix it and tonight he finally reformatted it.  well, its like i have a new computer.  he is awesome!!!!  i am so grateful to him because a big part of my life revolves around my computer. 

but now starts some new problems i have to find answers to.  i need to find a good, SAFE place to download pictures for my digital collages.  google image searches may have been how i infected my computer and i do not want that to happen again.  so now i have to find an answer.  i am a little scared to do too much on the computer.  i am strictly going to sites that i know are safe...for now.  like i have mentioned before shutterstock, which always have the best pix, is $250 a month so that is out.  hopefully there is a cheaper alternative out there. 

for now i am just going to bask in the glory of my computer that is problem free and try to keep doing work from the photos i already have on my computer, which is a good amount.  so my seven followers, if anyone out there knows of a good site let me know.

bye bye

lesportsac zoinked....grrrrrrr

i am absolutely pissed about this, really i am.  i went to ross the other day to get a purse.  i don't just shop for purses for the hell of it, or because i want something trendy, i need one because my 10 year old purse's zipper broke about a week ago and it is essential i get a new one. 

now i haven't shopped for purses in a long time so naturally the style i like is nowhere.  there are all these crazy buckles and studs and leather and big and gaudy purses.  i like gaudy rings, not purses.  i spotted this purse almost exactly and liked it.  i said this outloud while some girl was on the other side of the rack.  but i wanted to walk over to marshall's just to make sure this was the purse i wanted.  i went over there and after scouring the racks found nothing remotely i liked.  so i went back to ross pretty excited to purchase my new purse.  i went to where the purse was and there was nothing there.  i looked at the other racks because maybe i was mistaken but again there was nothing.  MY PURSE WAS GONE!!  i was only out of the store for 15 min at the most and i have a pretty good feeling that girl zoinked my purse!!  i am still mad about it. 

it was a good deal, and i missed it.  i looked up online for this purse and i can't find it anywhere for the price it was at ross.  i am really bummed about this.  i went around looking at other stores and there are no more.  so the purse hunt continues...

ps.  i hope that girl spills something red on it and it won't come out.   grrrrrr.