Oh Asheville...how I love you so.

I'm back in Asheville for another winter stay and finally getting into the groove of this crazy city. From N.H. to N.C., there is definitely a bit of an adjustment period, but I am finding myself falling right back into the aweseomness: great people, uber creativity, beautiful sights, stunning architecture, delicious local food and random happenings. I'm still getting my feet wet and exploring the town, so I'll have more to post later. But for now, I just want to let y'all know that I am here (sans one mudflap) and will share more stories sooooooon! :o)

So long, NH!

Janis is fixed, she has new new windshield wipers, HEAT and is road ready! I'm hitting the road for Asheville this morning and looking forward to another winter adventure in that crazy city. I will of course be blogging religiously when I get there and sharing lots of stories, so stay tuned! Thanks to all my fun friends who came out for 2 nights of silly goodbyes, game playing, sandwiches, belly-aching laughs and hugs. I will miss you all and see you in the spring when I return! :o)

Last call for hoop making!

Before I hit the road for Asheville and right after the New Year, I will be featuring a final hula hoop making class. This one's on location at The Studio in Laconia, NH and will run from 1:00-3:00 on Sunday, January 3rd. The cost is $15.00 and you will come away with a homemade, sparkly, swirly, twirly hoop of your very own! Space is limited in the class, so please e-mail me at veggieartgirl@gmail.com to reserve a spot!

Help get me to Asheville! :o)

Looks like I will be heading back to Asheville, NC for the winter again this year! Yippie! The dilemna: I am trying to raise money to fill Janis to get me there! As part of the Open Studio (at 'The Studio in Laconia, NH), I am silent auctioning off a GIANT painting I created. It's about 4x6.5' and organically hung with hemp twine from a giant found piece of driftwood. I hand stitched a pole pocket so it hangs straight and makes an instant mural! The bidding is starting at 49 cents at noon today and will go 'til 6:00 on Sunday. Swing on by 'The Studio' (see previous wall post for more info!) to place a bid, attend the Open House, listen to some live music and check out some FABULOUS artists! We're there all weekend! :o)

OPEN STUDIO WEEKEND!

OMG...I am SO excited. (I "OMG-ed"...THAT'S how excited I am!) The Studio, a FANTASTICAL, magical, creative place in Laconia (right on Union Ave., above 'Too Good To Be Threw') is opening their doors for a super duper Open House all weekend and I am going!

Melissa McCarthy is the magic behind this operation and I am so excited to have gotten to know her. She's shaking things up in Laconia...changing minds and lives and inspiring and you should come check it out! My good friend Jim Tyrrell (who you may remember from the hoppin' Holiday Open House at my shoppe!) is going to be the featured musician on Saturday from 3:00 & on. Come rock out and get your art on! Pass along the invite to ANYONE you think would love to be a part of it all and swing by from noon to six EITHER Saturday OR Sunday!

OMG.

Ho ho ho!

Yeah, I did. I switched my blog music player over to holiday tunes (regular tunage will resume post-holiday). My apologies for those who dislike the Christmas tunes.

I wanted to share a few pics from the Holiday Open House at the Veggie Art Girl Boutique last Thursday. It was quite a success and a fun way to kick off the holiday season! Special thanks to Jim Tyrrell for playing some great music and all that came to show your support!

Meat pie.

So I'm not all that much of a pie eater. And I will generally opt for a vegetarian option on any menu. But the marriage of both meat and pie is a beautiful one...especially when you look through the cabinets (late at night, in your pajamas) four or five times hoping for something to make itself for dinner. I got creative and this came out. And it was guh-huh-huh-hoooood. Because of it's awesomeness, I will share the recipe (it is probably a great one to make with Thanksgiving leftovers!):

Ingredients:

Meat (I used chopped cooked chicken, sliced pepperoni & a few chopped slices of ham)

One can of Cream of Chicken soup (though any old Campbell's Cream of whatever will do)

1/4 cup milk (Cream, soy milk, hemp milk...whatever)

One can crescent rolls

I mixed all the meat, soup, milk and a generous sprinkling of ground pepper and garlic in a bowl and poured into my favorite pie plate. I simply arranged the crescent triangles on top of the pie and baked it according to the temp. on the can until it was golden brown. (375 degrees for about 20 minutes).

It smelled really good as it was baking, and surprisingly tasted even better than that! I know...not a healthy meal....but it sure hit the spot on a cold fall night AND I didn't have to go to the store!