Free Gift of Shakespeare Tea with the Purchase of My Art Piece

Special This Month: My darling sister Andrea's Etsy Shop, Storybook Artifact, is offering a free gift of her Shakespeare Tea Blend (packaged by the ounce in a decorated wax-sealed bag), with the purchase of my hand-painted upcycled decoupage canister "Shakespeare's Muse" (a wonderful combination gift)!!! Please note that this is a limited time offer: good through the month of May.You can view her Shakespeare Tea Blend and my "Shakespeare's Muse" decoupage canister here:

Shakespeare Tea Blend

"Shakespeare's Muse" hand-painted upcycled decoupage canister

Also, please check out a recent treasury my sweet sister Andrea of Storybook Artifact created that was inspired by this offer and features my "Shakespeare's Muse" decoupage canister titled "Within the Mind of Shakespeare".

The Etsy STAT Team Exposure Game!

The Self Taught Artist's Treasury (STAT) Team has created a fun-filled way to spread the word about team member's shop items...The Exposure Game! Each team member participating in the game lists one shop item that they want to promote with a complementary catchy phrase along with copying and pasting all of the other participants selected item links and phrases and shares them any way they can (blog, facebook fan page, twitter, treasuries, etc.). Here is an example here on my sister's, Andrea of Storybook Artifact, blog:

http://storybookartifact.blogspot.com/2011/03/self-taught-artists-expose-their.html

Below are two treasuries that I created today featuring all members of the Etsy STAT Team; those participating in the Exposure Game and a few other lucky ones!

Eternal Playfulness - STAT Team EXPOSURE GAME Treasury 1:

Earthy Gypsy - STAT Team EXPOSURE GAME Treasury 2:

Pretty Pin-ups and Sensational Treasuries

This alluring image is a set of "7 Vintage Pin Up Girls from Esquire Magazine 1950's" by Songbird Industries.

I am smitten over some sensational treasuries on a Sunday afternoon...this first one is titled "Green and Orange" and is created by Ottupura. She features my Vintage 60's Playboy Pinup Print.
My Vintage 60's Playboy Pin-up (pictured above) is also featured in this other lovely treasury titled "The Bold & the Beautiful" by Etsy STAT Team member Yifat Bareket Jewelry Designs.Darling Etsy STAT Team member Yifat Bareket Jewelry Designs has also created another treasury with my newest upcycled decoupage tin "Sunshine on a Rainy Day", that features a pretty pinup girl, in her treasury "And the OSCAR goes to...".
This alluring pinup is an "ELVGREN - BURLESQUE SHOWGIRL PIN-UP FINE ART GICLEE PRINT" by VANGUARDGALLERY.
Now it's time to take a trip to the old west and gaze at my treasury titled "At the Ole Saloon". I feature my sister's, Andrea of Storybook Artifact, original sketch "Man Behind the Story" and four other members from the Oklahoma Disciples of Etsy Team in this treasury!

My Latest Work of Art in My Shop!

Sunshine on a Rainy Day - Hand-Painted Upcycled Decoupage Decor Tin/Canister:

"Save up for a rainy day" with this precious, meticulously handcrafted, one-of-a-kind money tin. This upcycled tin once contained cookies, now it has been painted and decoupaged with this lovely scene of a woman who has saved up for that rainy day. She sits upon a vintage trunk as she is surrounded by her savings, umbrella, and reminders that everything is going to be okay. The lady featured holds a sign with the "You Are My Sunshine" lyrics and is displayed behind a young girl with an umbrella looking towards a flying golden kitten which represents the sun rising from the clouds after a storm. This tin is covered with many inspirational yogi tea tags as well as charming, vintage twenties inspired images. This elegant piece can hold an array of desired items such as tea, candies, and sentimental items...and most definitely money or a coin collection! In these pictures, the shine on the canister is from the glossy Mod Podge finish. I applied two coats of Mod Podge to this canister so the images are protected, yet you can still feel the fun texture of the freckles!The eco-friendly recycled materials used in this item are: a tin/canister with fitting tin lid, magazine clippings, and yogi tea tags. This tin measures 3 inches tall and 7 inches wide. The interior of this tin is painted a shiny, luxurious gold!
My darling sister, Andrea of Storybook Artifact, featured this newest upcycled decoupage creation of mine "Sunshine on a Rainy Day" in her Etsy STAT Team treasury "Bee Wealthy, Wise, and Whimiscal".

I also created a Etsy STAT Team treasury today titled "The Pearls of Penelope"; with a play-on-words title, I pay homage to one of my favorite classic cartoons of all time "The Perils of Penelope Pitstop". This glamorous treasury features elegant beauties embellished with pearls. I feature Mademoiselle in Pearls, a lovely sketch from Andrea's Storybook Artifact; I also feature six new members of the Etsy STAT Team!

Become a Milk Maid in Your Kitchen!

The darling image above is a "Milk Maid Vintage Linen Tea Towel" by Big Yellow Taxi Vintage. Please check out this lovely Etsy shop!
My sweet sister, Andrea of Storybook Artifact is now selling Milk Maiden Heirloom Kefir Grains...You can become a milk maid in your own kitchen with these babies!

She explains the wonderful benefits of kefir in her item description as follows:
Kefir is full of beneficial bacteria that aids as a natural probiotic for your intestinal flora, and thereby builds up your body's immunity. It has been found that kefir is an effective immune stimulant and antimicrobial against a wide variety of harmful gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Composed of around 400 strains of beneficial bacteria found in the intestines, kefir's microbes serve as a natural clean-up crew for your intestines, and are essential for the proper absorption of many vitamins and minerals. Kefir also has an abundance of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and enzymes. Some of the more noteworthy of these are calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, vitamin B2, and B12, vitamin K, A and D. Tryptophan, an essential amino acid found in kefir, has been found to have a relaxing effect on the nervous system.
Please check out Andrea's cozy little Etsy shop "Storybook Artifact" filled with delightful vintage finds, original paintings and sketches, and yes...probiotic heirloom kefir grains!!!Also speaking of Storybook Artifact's Milk Maiden Heirloom Kefir Grains, these healthy little cultures along with her Antique Rabbit Tea Pot Set are featured in this pleasantly pink STAT Team treasury created by CALLACosmetics titled "Vintagely Pink".My hand-painted, upcycled decoupage canister "Little Miss Cupcake" is also featured in this adorable treasury!

Gleeful Grandma and LightMine Etsy Shop Review

Andrea's and my mother, Vicki, was so very elated to see her first and only grandchild, Bobby (Andrea's baby boy) during our visit this week. In her cozy room in the nursing home, we celebrated a happy belated Valentine's Day the day after the holiday. We opened up her Valentine's gift which she loved a "Vintage Avon French Telephone filled with Charisma Perfume and Bubble Bath". I got this adorable vintage find from the Etsy Shop "LightMine"...Please check out this stunning Etsy shop full of alluring gifts for yourself or someone you love!

Bobby even enjoyed playing with his Grandma's vintage Avon french telephone..."Hello, Grandma?! I love you!"

For a tribute to my darling mother, Vicki, this blog article features treasuries will all items that remind me of her. :-)

This is my (Eco-Friendly Freckles) latest treasury titled "Lady Chatterley's Poet". I feature six members of the Etsy STAT Team including my sister Andrea of Storybook Artifact! This treasury reminds me of my mother because of her love for romance novels..."Lady Chatterley's Lover" by D.H. Lawrence is one of Andrea's favorites.

Here is a fun and vibrant Etsy STAT Team treasury from Hippie Chic Jewelz titled "That 70's Shop Item" and naturally it reminds me of my mother because she was a playful young lady full of sunshine in the seventies! My hand-painted upcycled decoupage canister "Little Miss Cupcake" is featured in this STAT Team treasury.


This treasury is titled "Natural Beauties" and is created by Etsy STAT Team member Aunt Carrie's Cottage. This colorful treasury reminds me of my mother's love and fascination for birds; she used to have a pair of parakeets that she loved very much and she also enjoyed watching cardinals outside of her window. My Vintage 60's Morton Salt Print is featured in this treasury.

Sipping on Cocktails and Admiring Some Beautiful Treasuries

That's exactly what I'm doing this evening! The sunny, eye-catching image above is an original painting titled "Odette" by Cozy Little Cave...Please check out this fun, feminine, and fanciful Etsy shop!

First let's enjoy some beautiful treasuries and then I will share my cocktail recipe for the evening!

This first treasury is titled "The Colours of Life" and is created by Percival Road Designs...my Provocative Vintage 60's Kraft French Dressing Print Ad is featured in this treasury!


Here is a treasury that I (Eco-Friendly Freckles) have created for the STAT Tuesday Team Treasury Challenge! Please vote for my treasury this Saturday as the "hottest" treasury! The challenge word for the theme of all of the contestants' treasuries is "shallow"; thus the name of my treasury is "The Bumbling Blue Crab in Shallow Waters" and the theme corresponds with the word "shallow" too. ;-) In this treasury, I feature my sister's (Andrea of Storybook Artifact) Vintage Avon Cancer Necklace. I also feature six members from the Etsy STAT Team and as for the rest of the shops featured, all but one is a new or undiscovered Etsy shop...isn't that awesome?!


This is the treasury that my sweet sister, Andrea of Storybook Artifact, created for the STAT Tuesday Team Challenge. She features my hand-painted upcycled decoupage canister "Paulie's Confession" amongst many other STAT Team members and new/undiscovered Etsy shops. This treasury is titled "A Shallow Viewpoint"; I love the vibrant colors and hilarious sexual innuendos she integrates into this awesome treasury...she does an excellent job portraying the meaning of the word "shallow". Ha ha, if you don't vote for me in the STAT Tuesday Team Challenge, vote for my sister Andrea of Storybook Artifact! The voting will take place on Saturday on the STAT Team Blog. :-)

Alright here is my cocktail I have been seductively sipping on...yes, it is such a amazing cocktail it is seducing me! Ha ha!


Baileys and Kahlua Root Beer Float

The Kahlua in this recipe adds a pleasant coffee undertone to the cocktail that is surprisingly irresistible.

* 1 shot of Baileys Irish Cream
* 1 shot of Kahlua (I used homemade Kahlua my grandmother gave me for Christmas!)
* Your favorite brand of root beer (I used Boylan Brand Natural Root Beer)

In your chilled mug or glass, combine the Baileys and Kahlua, and then fill the rest of the mug with the root beer. Vwa la, you have a simple seductive cocktail...Now lets admire some more dazzling treasuries!


This treasury is titled "This is a luck T..all you need is to click and comment and U will have a lucky day.." and is created by STAT Team member Room of Your Own. She features my hand-painted upcycled decoupage canister "Little Miss Cupcake".


This final ravishing treasury is titled "Lip Service" by Groovin Tuesday...my Provocative Vintage 60's Kraft French Dressing Print Ad is featured in this sexy treasury with lots of red lips!

Jamary's Vintage & Handmade Items Review and Bourbon Bread Pudding Recipe

For Christmas, I got this elegant vintage cake server set from the Etsy shop "Jamary's Vintage and Handmade Items" for my sister, Andrea of Storybook Artifact. Andrea and I both adore this lovely cake server set; it is in excellent vintage condition and with its exquisite floral design and 22 Karat Gold embellishments, it is a luxurious set of china to have! I suggest you all check out Jamary's beautiful vintage/handmade Etsy shop full of little treasures like this one. ;-)

http://www.etsy.com/shop/jamary92My darling sister Andrea from Storybook Artifact used her vintage cake server set last night to serve one of her favorite dessert recipes "Burbon Bread Pudding", and she so kindly gave me her recipe to share here with everyone! Thank you Andy! :-*

Andrea's Bourbon Bread Pudding Recipe:

Soaking the raisins in the whiskey for a couple of days is essential. Be sure it is enough to just cover them. "the secret ingredient"

3-4 slices of bread (any old bread will do: from homemade to left-over burger buns)
4 Tbsp. sugar
3 1/2 cups milk
4 eggs, separated
1 Tbsp. vanilla
pinch of salt
1/2 stick butter melted
bourbon whiskey soaked raisins

1.) Break bread into ovenproof dish (casserole glass dish)
2.) Beat sugar and egg yolks
3.) Add milk, and mix well
4.) Add vanilla, butter, and salt
5.) Pour milk mixture over bread
6.) Strain bourbon whiskey from raisins, and set aside
7.) Fold raisins into soaked bread in baking dish
8.) Place baking dish into large pan filled with water (broiler pan)
9.) Bake at 300 degrees for 40-50 minutes or until knife inserted comes out clean
10.) Make meringue adding 2 tablespoons sugar to each egg white. Spread and return to 350 degree oven until brown.Raisin Bourbon Whiskey Sauce:

1/2 stick butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
However much bourbon whiskey was strained from raisins

Dissolve sugar in the water in a small sauce pan over medium heat. Whisk in butter and heat until melted. Cool before adding the bourbon whiskey.

Whiskey Preference: Black Velvet

Andrea of Storybook Artifact and myself of Eco-Friendly Freckles have each created treasuries that express the beauty, femininity, and grace of women...as well as convey how amazing they are. During this time of Valentine's celebration, let's take a moment to appreciate and thank all of the incredible women in our lives (wives, mothers, sisters, and grandmothers) and gaze in amazement at these elegant and very feminine treasuries.
This first treasury features members from the Etsy STAT Team and is titled Rustic Valentine Beauty. Created by Andrea of Storybook Artifact, she dedicates this treasury in a beautiful way as follows:

"A dedication to the women who nurture our world's children, work hard in making a house a home, love and care for their men in sickness and in health, and, can't forget, makes something out of the food dad puts on the table. You are the ones who truly make our world flourish, and create a cushion of security for that solid foundation our children desperately need to thrive in our world. We are blessed; thank you. <3" href="http://www.etsy.com/teams/6362/etsybloggers">EtsyBloggers Team and it is titled "Mademoiselle Stops to Smell the Roses".