The Leibster Award

The Liebster Award takes its name from the German word meaning Beloved, Dearest or Favorite.

This award is given to bloggers who inspire you and have less than 200 followers.

It is an honor to be nominated for the Leibster award by Ellen at http://ellengetscrafty.blogspot.com/. From quilting and painting to gardening and cooking Ellen is an inspiration to me with the wide variety of talents she shares on her blog. She brings me “back home” when I see pictures of her lovely garden and read about her excursions in the San Diego area. Thank you Ellen.   

To accept the award, you must:

1. Link back to the person who gave it to you and thank them.
2. Post the award on your blog.
3. Give the award to 5 bloggers with less than 200 followers that you appreciate and value.
4. Leave a comment on the 5 blogs to let them know that they have been offered this award.

These are my five nominations:

http://lauratwotina.com/
I look forward to each and every post from Laura and Tina who collaborate and bring their blog together in the most unique way. They generously share from their years of experience as artists and educators. They are open with their views and ideas and encourage everyone to join the conversation. 

http://printmakingwithoutapress.blogspot.com/
A friend sent me a link to Linda’s blog when we were first experimenting with and trying to make gelatin prints. I learned so much by watching the video tutorials she shares about this unusual printmaking technique. Visit and I am sure she will inspire you to give it a try yourself. If I lived closer I would be taking one of her workshops for sure.

http://leenieworld.blogspot.com/
I first met Ilene when we were members of a book club in California. I was thrilled to catch up with her again in the blogging world after moving to the east coast. She is a most talented seam stress who has appeared several times in Altered Couture and Belle Armoire Magazines. I loved seeing her sketches as she participated in the Sketchbook Challenge last year. 

http://milliedonovan.blogspot.com/
There is much I am inspired by and admire about Millie. She is a painter, graphic designer, photographer, poet, writer and mother of 2. So full of beautiful color her paintings always make me smile. I encourage you to visit her blog and enjoy the art, photography and wonderful stories.

http://lawendula.blogspot.com/ 
Lawendula inspires me with stories and pictures of her life as mother and artist by the Baltic Sea in Germany. The beautiful collage and journal works she creates are always a joy to see. It has been great fun taking part in several of the Paper Swaps that she organizes with participants from around the world.

Two Tuesdays - Collage #6

2012 Collage Challenge

© K. Johnson 'Quiet Morning' - 7" x 5" collage on paper

Some of the materials for this piece were gathered while having a coffee and the most delicious whole grain cranberry pecan roll at Whole Foods Market in Glastonbury. Wayne and I enjoyed a peaceful breakfast sitting by a sunny window in the cafe before the Saturday shopping crowd arrived.

I knew I wouldn't be throwing the paper coffee cups away when I saw their rust and green color - earthy tones I just love to work with. Home they went to be cut up and used as the base layer. I know I said I would be stretching myself and trying some new color palettes but I couldn't help myself here. I still have nine months to play, so lots of time for new colors.

PS: The cut off rims of the coffee cups make great cat toys - kept Tigger and Belle happy and busy for a good long time.


All the collages in this series can be seen here.

Two Tuesdays - Collage #5

2012 Collage Challenge

©K. Johnson 'Promising Forecast' - 7" x 5" collage on paper

Inspired by the warming weather telling us that Spring is on the way. The greens are always so fresh and purple is one of the first colors I see in the garden as the crocuses start to bloom.

All the collages in this series can be seen here.

'Carve it Up'

It was so long ago I had forgotten that I sent an entry to the Cloth Paper Scissors Magazine 'Carve it Up' reader's challenge back in November. It was an unexpected thrill to see my entry (the pink Bleeding Heart relief print) as I flipped through the pages of my recently received March/April issue.

I love Bleeding Hearts. I have quite a few of these plants in my garden and it won't be long before they will be in full spring bloom. They reseed so easily that every year I have plenty to give away to friends and can share the love.

© K. Johnson 'Dicentra' - 4" x 6" relief print

As I turned to the next page (86) I recognized a name from a blog I've been following for the past six months or so. The black and orange fish print shown below was made by Kim Henkel.  More of her creative endeavors can be seen at her blog Letting in the Light where she generously shares her artwork, ideas, techniques and experiments. Some of the truly unique and beautiful pieces Kim makes with tea bags are highlighted in her "Tea Bags and Creations" post from March 3rd. The inspiration of her warm and earthy palette stands out in these photos from where she lives through the long winter's of Canada.

Two Tuesdays - Collage #4

2012 Collage Challenge

© K. Johnson, 'Rusty Warmth' - 7" x 5" collage on paper

All the collages in this series can be seen here.

Two Tuesdays - Collage #3

2012 Collage Challenge

© K. Johnson 'Bountiful' - 5"x7" collage on paper

All the collages in this series can be seen here.

Happy Valentine's Day

K. Johnson

World Nutella Day

Yes, I know it's Superbowl Sunday but did you know today is also World Nutella Day? I had not heard about this "holiday" until last February when I was browsing some of my favorite food blogs. It's described as "a day to celebrate, to get creative with, and most importantly, to eat Nutella."

I have to be honest and say that I am really not that big a Nutella fan. I could never eat it out of the jar with a spoon like I do peanut butter (tell the truth - you do it too!) but...
It is absolutely delicious in this recipe I found in an old Better Homes and Gardens Magazine!

I have only made these cookies a few times because they are so rich and decadent but World Nutella Day was a good enough excuse to turn on the oven and get baking.
Superbowl snack? Valentine's Day treat?

Chocolate Hazelnut Cookies

2 1/2 cups All-Purpose Flour
1 Tbsp. Cocoa Powder
1 tsp. ground Cinnamon
1/2 tsp. Baking Soda
1/2 tsp. Baking Powder
1/4 tsp. Salt
3/4 cup Butter, softened                   
1 cup granulated Sugar
1 cup packed Brown Sugar
1 13 0z. jar Nutella
2 Eggs1 tsp. Vanilla
1 cup chopped Hazelnuts (toasted and skinned)1 cup Semisweet Chocolate Chips
5 oz. White Baking Chocolate, melted                                  
                
              
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a medium bowl combine flour, cocoa powder, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium for 30 seconds. Add granulated sugar and brown sugar. Beat until all combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Add Nutella and vanilla and combine. Add eggs one a time, beating until combined.

Beat in as much of the flour mixture into the chocolate mixture as you can. Stir in any remaining flour mixture. Stir in chocolate pieces and hazelnuts.

Drop by rounded tablespoons 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheet. Bake 10 minutes or until edges are just set. Let cool on cookie sheet for 2 minutes. Remove cookies onto wire racks and cool completely.

Drizzle melted white chocolate over cooled cookies. Let stand until set.
Makes 4 to 5 dozen cookies.   

See more fun and interesting Nutella recipes at the Plain Chicken blog.               

Sketchbook Challenge - Doodling

I haven't written about the sketchbook challenge in the past few months but I have been following along - reading about it more than sketching though. I was glad to hear that the hosts decided to continue this challenge into 2012. January's theme was Doodling. What could be more fun - just play and make random unplanned marks on a page using any tool you like and see where it leads.

This last one was done using Jane Davies ink doodle technique. Drop ink on a page, lift and move the page around letting the ink draw the lines. Then when dry you can go back in and add some paint or pencil. 

Two Tuesdays - collage #2

2012 Collage Challenge

© K. Johnson 'Cup of Tea' - 5"x7" collage on paper

All the collages in this series can be seen here.