Joyful Abode

So, here at my Joyful Abode, we’ve dipped cherries and clementines in chocolate.

And we’ve made chocolate Ritz sandwiches.

So I guess this is the third edition of the chocolate-dipping extravaganza.

First, I gathered my materials:

Chocolate for melting, pretzel rods, crushed Oreos, sprinkles, and marshmallows (regular and cocoa).

I actually used milk chocolate, white chocolate, and dark chocolate.

First, melt your chocolate in the microwave by setting the power to 50% and microwaving 30 seconds at a time, stirring between each zap. Then, add some non-heated chocolate and stir it in until it melts (don’t microwave again). If I’m doing it right, this is to temper the chocolate so it doesn’t end up tacky and gross when it “dries”… it’ll be like a hard shell.

Set up a couple cookie sheets with waxed paper, and start dippipng!

Ahh… the anticipation.

I found that if you let the chocolate excess drip off before you roll/sprinkle it in toppings, the toppings will stick much better. Otherwise, if there’s too much chocolate, the toppings just slide off.

For me, the most fun part was drizzling everything with contrasting chocolates. I just got a little bit of the chocolate on a spoon and sort of swung it over whatever I was drizzling on… and it makes little fun lines!

For the marshmallows, normally I would use toothpicks for dipping… but I ran out! So I had to come up with a solution, and I ended up liking that solution BETTER than toothpicks.

I dipped one side of the marshmallow, and when the chocolate on that side hardened, I flipped it and dipped the other side in another chocolate.

I served these at the craft night I hosted for our SOSA craft group I’m helping to start.  The leftovers went to work with my husband, for the student naval aviators to gobble up.

These would make fantastic hostess gifts or gifts for teachers or anyone else who deserves a sweet treat. Just wrap them in pretty cellophane and tie them with a ribbon. The pretzel rods are also pretty served in a clear wide-mouthed vase.

More pictures in my flickr.

Tell us about what we see in your photos.

My creative space is - for the most part - tucked into the closet in our fourth bedroom. The room also serves as our tv-watching space and guest room on the rare occasion we have overnight visitors.

I hired electricians to install a ceiling light in the closet, a switch (obviously!) and two outlets. Painted it a cheery aqua and then bribed my husband into helping me build a work desk using 2×4s topped with a piece of pre-cut 6′x2′ melamine shelving from a home improvement store. We drilled a hole in the top for the sewing machine cord. After that, I was on my own (the husband is NOT handy). I installed brackets and three rows of shelving against the wall above the desk, once again using pre-cut melamine shelving.

THEN came the fun part! Organizing and decorating my space with little treasures I’d been collecting over the years. Fabric scraps, buttons, trims and ribbon are stored in cracker jars from Target, sewing pins in a vintage red tulip bowl, machine feet and other miscellaneous sewing notions live in a vintage sewing basket I picked up at a thrift store, paintbrushes and pencils in an old duckling planter, patterns in decorative storage boxes … you get the picture. I pinned up some old doilies on the wall and use the space behind my sewing machine as an inspiration board of sorts. And I love having my fabric stash on display. It helps keep my fabric addiction in check and is pretty to look at. A free-standing three-drawer unit on the desk holds paper goods and rubber stamps. I don’t do much paper crafting anymore, but it’s nice to have materials on hand when the mood strikes.

Of course, the closet doesn’t hold the ironing board or my dress form, so I’ve incorporated these into the room decor. Okay, just the dress form. There’s no good way to decorate with an ironing board! I’ve included a picture of my dress form and the embroidery hoops behind it that display some favorite fabric remnants. Oh, and a view of my sewing closet from the ironing board’s point of view.

And because this is also our tv room, there’s the mod-style chaise lounge in the corner, featuring pillows made by moi.

What do you create in your space?

Aprons, purses, tote bags, spring and summer dresses for myself …

What advice do you have for others who are trying to put together their own creative space?

If you sew, try to at least find a spot where your machine can be set up all the time. It really helps keep the momentum going.

What has your biggest challenge been in creating and maintaining your creative space?

Keeping things neat. In preparation for taking these photos, I lugged out a garbage bag of fabric scraps. I tend to just throw them in a corner when I’m sewing and cutting. Baaaaaad.

What do you do when you’re NOT creating?

Although I have a degree in journalism and worked in the field for several years, I’m currently at home with my two boys, 6 and 3. In the end, I didn’t much like the journalism field, but I liked the creative outlet it provided and have always enjoyed making things. Recently I decided to sell my stuff. It’s been a challenge building up a shop with the distractions of kids and all, but I’m patient. I’m not going anywhere. I’m not looking to be an overnight sensation! I just like having my “thing” that’s unrelated to Star Wars, Legos, kung-fu fighting and time-outs.

What is your next “move” for your creative space? Do you have plans for its future?

The entire room needs to be pulled together more. I need an interesting way to store my finished items. I guess Rubbermaid totes do the trick, but they’re not pretty to look at.

Do you have a website we could visit?

I have a website that also directs shoppers back to my etsy shop.

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