Easter Bunny Tutorial... Or How to Make a Marshmallow Bunny

Easter and Easter bunnies always bring to mind my momma's Easter cake...and cupcakes. The cake itself was just a "box cake", usually yellow, but the decorations were so very special. Momma never relied on store-bought Peeps (my absolute favorite Easter treat) for her bunnies, she made them herself, using a single large marshmallow, some frosting, and a tiny bit of pink crepe paper.

To make Momma's Bunnies:



1 large marshmallow
scissors (spray with a little bit of non-stick spray, such as Pam)
pink frosting
pink crepe paper (i don't use this anymore - too much trouble to remove before eating!)




Cut the marshmallow about 1/3 down from the top. DO NOT CUT ALL THE WAY THROUGH!!!









Fold the cut edge until it stands up. This makes the face/head.











Where the marshmallow bends, either make a tiny cut or pinch a tiny gash and press the "face"onto the raw, sticky gash. The head is now standing up a bit.






With the scissors, cut a V into the top of the face...just a short way down. This makes the ears.






Use the little cut piece to make the tail...press it onto the "butt".








Make little pink eyes and nose with the frosting. (Put a little frosting on the backs of the ears if desired.)



Frost a cupcake with Chocolate frosting (it's the dirt)...or any flavor you wish. Place the "bunny" into the frosting. Sprinkle a little coconut (tinted a light green) around the bunny. Press a few jelly beans (eggs) into the soft frosting. Let stand for a little while so the bunny and eggs have a chance to stick. Enjoy!

After years and years of making these special Easter Bunnies for all of us...and our kids...Mom has continued the tradition, by making these adorable treats for all of her friends at her retirement residence. She is now 91 years old! Since she moved into the residence, she has baked cookies, put them in little bags, and passes them out to all of her friends. She is called "The Cookie Lady". However, at Easter, she makes these cupcakes for all...and her name changes to

"The Easter Bunny Lady".

Wishing all of you a Blessed Easter.
Jane

HE IS RISEN INDEED!

It's All Over Except for the Cleanup...

It's over...Art at Home was a success!

Thank you to all of you who encouraged me and prayed for me. I truly appreciate each and every one of you. Consider yourselves HUGGED!

Both Becky and I sold many items...more than we expected...and we both picked up orders for custom work. That's GOOD!!! We're going to do this again, in the fall. And we hope to add a few more artisans and crafters to the event.


Here are a few photos from the event.


These are a few of Becky's pieces. And the display board shows items she has made. The red, white, and black quilt is gorgeous!!! The purple quilted throw is a collage of purple fabrics.









This is one of Becky's baby quilts. Don't you just love the unusual use of color and design? This quilt can truly be used for either a boy or a girl.




















Now this is my favorite of Becky's quilts. She is designing a seahorse for my guest bath... We're searching for the colors and fabrics right now.




















These are some of my paintings. I received orders for a customized Blue Angel (fish) and the Mangoes (on wood, for outdoors).














These two were also big hits!



For the rest of the week I am resting my hand and my eyes, and trying to catch up with all my blog friends. I have truly missed seeing all your posts.

After that... on to my new project...

FLOOR CLOTHS

See you all soon...
Jane

Art at Home...this Saturday!

Paints and brushes are all over my desk. Canvases are propped in every available space. The bulletin board is filled with sketches. Sand dollars are drying on the kitchen table.... Fliers are out, emails are sent...and I think we're about ready to stage the house.

Art at Home is this Saturday!!!

For those of you in the Tampa Bay area, you are invited to stop by. (Use my email to receive information and directions.)

As promised, here's a little preview of some of the paintings which will be on display...
(Each painting is an original... If sold, I will take orders for similar paintings.)






"Here Comes Peter Cottontail"
(sold)






"Funky Chicken"



















"Red on Black"













"Clover Patch" (sold)



















"Colorful Crab"














"Red Skies at Night"












(I will post some of Becky's quilted pieces later this week. She has used some beautiful fabrics on her creations. You are going to love them!)

Wish us luck!

In Honor of St. Patrick...

This past weekend, I attended the Kappa Delta sorority annual Shamrock fundraiser for the Help a Child Foundation. My dear friend and neighbor, Becky, is in charge of providing the prizes and gift baskets for the raffles and silent auction. Becky is really good at recruiting help...it's almost impossible to say "no" to her. For the past 5 years, several of the Landmark Ladies (neighbors) have been helping her with this event...and having so much fun doing it! In fact, it's because we had so much fun over the years, that we started the Landmark Ladies Bunco nights.

This year, Becky asked me to paint a shamrock to be used as one of the Bunco prizes...this is it. (The photo truly does not do it justice.)

The Shamrock event was well-attended. More than 50 women of all ages enjoyed the wonderful luncheon, followed by 2 rounds of Bunco. With all the tickets sold for the luncheon, tickets for the raffles, and the silent auction, the sorority raised quite a bit of money for the children...and all who attended had a marvelous time.



This is another shamrock painting, plus a small tulip painting for the Art at Home show next week. (The tulips have already sold!)

As you can imagine, I am spending enormous amounts of time in my studio...getting ready for next week's show. I think my hands are permanently stained with paint. But I am having such a wonderful time!!!

Have a wonderful day filled with Green! Dance a jig! Enjoy some corned beef...or Irish stew...
Find a Blarney Stone to kiss...or at least someone who's Irish!

Hugs,
Jane

Thank you!

I am HUMBLED...BLESSED...TOTALLY BLOWN AWAY... by all of my blog friends!
Thank you for all of your sweet comments, prayers, and encouragement for my new adventure. As you can imagine, I am using all of my free time to paint as I get ready for Art House. So, for the next couple of weeks, I will try to keep up with all of you, but will probably not be posting for awhile. I will, however, post photos of some of my contributions to Art House as we get closer to the date.

I appreciate each and every one of you...
Jane

A New Adventure!

Mid-Fifties and rediscovering who I am...
WHAT AN ADVENTURE!

Now that my nest has completely emptied with my 3 sons settling into their adult lives and my dear husband traveling with his business again, I finally have the time to figure out what I want to be when I grow up. I have tried several different businesses...jewelry, skincare, natural wellness products...and have worn many different hats while working for the youth minister at a former church. I have taught Bible studies, craft classes, tablescaping, and first graders. I've even been on TV! Although I enjoyed teaching and sharing knowledge with women and children of all ages, none of these experiences have truly fulfilled me. Now, I am painting...and I love it!!! I look forward to seeing where this passion will take me. I must admit, though, I am scared.

At the end of this month, I am taking a BIG RISK and offering my paintings for sale. A big risk because I do not know how my work will be received. I am afraid that others will not like what I do. I am afraid that I am not good enough.

My family has been encouraging me to show my paintings for some time, now. So have my friends. But these are people who love me, no matter what. So that little doubting voice in my head keeps pecking away...But I am going through with it anyway! I will say, the more I paint, the better my technique gets. Those who have received paintings from me have seemed to really like them. And, yes, I have sold a few and have had requests for more. The ladies at our annual Christmas exchange were even fighting over one of my snowman paintings! This should have given me some confidence. But there is that voice again...

So I pray...and continue preparing for the show.