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Fruits of The Spirit

4/21/2012

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Florida Oranges painted for the Fruits Of The Spirit series
Another painting completed today for the Fruits Of The Spirit series I'm creating. This series has been commissioned by the beautiful Lefler family. Thought it would be fun for our RagTag Ruby fans to help us decide which fruit says which spirit. 

So far I have the following fruits painted:

Oranges
Strawberries
Apples
Pears
Blueberries
Lemons
Tomatoes
Pomegranates

We could use your help matching the paintings up with the following fruits of the Spirit:

Love
Joy
Peace
Patience
Kindness
Goodness
Faithfulness
Gentleness
Self Control

Additionally if you think of any fruits that especially conjure up particular Fruits Of The Spirit let me know! We discussed painting some biblical fruits but dates and figs look too creepy to me. I'm thinking grapes or olives next!

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Italian Easter Bread

4/5/2012

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Italian Easter bread fresh from the oven
For as long as I can remember, the woman folk of my family have made an Italian Easter Bread. There is something about smelling that warm, lemony, yeasty goodness that reminds me of why Easter is my very favorite holiday!

My mom, sister-in-law and I debate how if at all we should change the recipe (should we add in some whole grain flour, let it rise overnight, add extra lemon etc...) Ultimately we decide not to mess too much with a good thing. We've had these same conversations each year, and I relish them!

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My nine year old daughter, Mia was brought in and was initiated this year as an Italian bread lovin' woman!

Since I've had a few requests, I've decided to share our family recipe. Hope you find as much joy as I do in the messiness, the waiting, the hoping and the rising ... just like Jesus' followers did when he rose again!

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Little hands can help by kneading the dough

Italian Easter Bread

- 2 packets of yeast
- 5 cups of Unbleached bread flour
- 1 1/2 cups of sugar
- 2 sticks of butter (unsalted)
- 2 tsp of fresh lemon juice
- the rind of 3 lemons
- 1 tsp of pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 3 eggs
- sprinkles for the top and colored eggs for decorating


Dissolve two packets of yeast into 1 cup of warm water. Add 1 1/2 cups of bread flour. Let it rise 1 1/2 hours or more covered in a warm place.

Meanwhile, cream butter, sugar and 1/2 tsp. of salt. Separately, beat 2 eggs and 1 egg white. Save the yolk. To this egg mixture slowly add in lemon juice, lemon rind and vanilla. Add all of this to the risen dough. Mix in about 4 to 5 cups of flour as needed to form a nice dough. Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 8 minutes. Let it rise covered again for at least 2 hours. Cut the dough in half as this recipe makes two loves. Each half can be braided into a rope, a cross or whatever shape you like. Brush with egg yolk then top with colored sprinkles. Press in colored and boiled eggs for decorations.

Let it rise once more over night covered with a clean cloth in the oven. This step can be skipped ... The bread can go straight in the oven once it is decorated but I think it makes the bread much more light and fluffy to give that third rising. I also love having the fresh bread hot out of the oven on Easter morning.

Bake at 325 degrees for 25-35 minutes.
Italian Easter Bread ready to go into the oven
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something old....something new....

2/26/2012

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Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged.  It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.  Love will last forever... I Corinthians 13: 4-8

....a beautiful heirloom to commemorate a beautiful moment.....


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Pomegranates!

1/16/2012

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Let us go early to the vineyards to see if the vines have budded, if their blossoms have opened, and if the pomegranates are in bloom— 
there I will give you my love.

- Song of Songs 7:12

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Blueberries!

1/2/2012

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Just took on a commission to paint the "Fruits of the Spirit" for a precious family that Missy and I both love dearly. Not sure yet which fruits will represent what but I knew that I had to paint a bowl of blueberries!  

As I'm working I'm reminded of one of my favorite verses ... "Be strong and courageous and get to work for the Lord my God is with you! He will see to it that everything gets finished correctly ..." 1 Chronicles 28:20

May God bless the work of all our hands in this new year!

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I promise you....

11/7/2011

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"...for I know the plans I have for you", says the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  Jeremiah 29:11

....what a beautiful promise.... 

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Change is in the air.....

9/30/2011

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We're gearin' up for our fall shows and we've got some exciting news!!  Not revealing anything just quite yet, but be on the lookout for a fabulous announcement from us.....in the meantime, here's a sneak peak at our 2011 Oviedo Christmas ornament.  We don't have them on the site yet, but if you'd like to pre-order one, please contact us at order@cupcakesandkeepsakes.com . 
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Silver linings.....

6/1/2011

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This....is Willy and Nola....aka my Grama and Grampa T..... They were married for over 60 years...... Almost all of my memories of them involve creating.  Grampa carved up apples and dried them into tiny, little gnomish faces....and he could take an old tin can and with some cutting and twisting create a lovely little sitting room of doll sized furniture.....I remember always finding a project extravaganza on my Grama T's front porch.... crocheted afghans, sewing projects, dolls - yep, those fabulous old toilet paper dolls, too....she had too many grandkids to count (over 50) and I think we all have one of her quilts.....My grandparents were the original and ultimate repurposers...."green" before it was cool, by virtue of practicality and necessity.....I think they'd appreciate this little necklace made in their honor.....Thank you for the legacy, Grama and Grampa T.....

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New?....Old?.....FUN!!!!

4/26/2011

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Some "new/old" designs are rolling out of the makery.  New designs, made with some fun, old, vintage elements, that is.  These necklaces are an eclectic assortment of vintage earrings, pendants, brooches, and beads combined with some fun and bright new flowery bits as well.  Truly one of a kind necklaces - kinda classic, kinda not - with just the right amount of fun!!!!  

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Kaffee Klatsch

3/8/2011

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Cupcake Caryn here. Just finished working on this fun wall art for my dear friend German friend, Stacey. What could be more fun than painting on the back of a repurposed serving bowl. I enjoyed the project so much that I thought I would share the process...
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    Vintage & Upcycled Art and Accessories
    At RagTag Rubies You’ll find everything recreated for yourself and your home ... from game boards to scrapbooks, vintage windows to wall art, grocery sacks to greeting cards and junk to jewelry... all previously used items lovingly turned into whimsical unique gifts.

    Have a a look at some of our wearable creations or watercolor art for the house and home.

    Call 407-617-5144 or contact Missy or Caryn

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