I had originally loaded this on Facebook, but when I wanted to point it out to someone else, I thought this would be a better place to have it.  If you’re interested in purchasing my window tins, but aren’t sure how sturdy the plastic window is, I understand!  I’ve bought tins myself with those flimsy windows that seem like they’ll fall off in a slight breeze.  So this video is for you!  I poke at my window tins, demonstrating that they are pretty sturdy!

For some reason, it won’t let me embed it, so just click here to see it!

http://www.funkydreams.com/largetinvideo.AVI

I was in Boston last week and we walked across the Charlestown Bridge to get to the USS Constitution (which I highly recommend visiting).  After crossing the bridge, we stumbled upon the Paul Revere Park.  It’s a gorgeous park.  And the entrance to the park had some beautiful mosaics.

Now that I’m home, I’ve done a little research to find that there were a few mosaics that I missed, unfortunately.  I also learned that the mosaics were created by artist Susan Gamble, who also created many of the wonderful hand made tiles included in them.  Since I do both mosaics and create tiles, I found these mosaics inspirational in numerous ways!

If you are ever in Boston, make time to stop by the Paul Revere Park.  And spend more time exploring than I did!

Meanwhile, here are a few photos to enjoy:

I use a badge holder at my day job.  I had created the one on the left several years ago, and it has taken a beating!  So it was time to create a new one, especially since I’m in a bit of crafting withdrawal at the moment!  (I haven’t been able to craft for a while!)  I really like the colors on the old one.  They always seemed to go with what I was wearing (which is typically jeans).  We’ll see how the new one works out.  I may have overdone the ribbons….. Wait, can you over-do ribbons?? 

For the 4th of July party I went to last night (yes, on the 3rd), I made some delicious Raspberry and White Chocolate Fudge Blondies.  The recipe from Cooking.com calls them “brownies”, but to me, “brownies” means chocolate.  Brown chocolate.  Not white chocolate.  But whatever you call them, they are good! I forgot to take a photo of them, but the photo on the recipe is pretty accurate:

This is the second time I made them.  The first time I made them, I undercooked them a little.  Not that undercooking is necessarily a bad thing when it comes to cookies!  But they were a little too wet, not quite gooey.  So in this case, they were too undercooked!  I was using a glass pan.  I know that can throw recipes off a little.  I was also using frozen berries, which the recipe takes into consideration. But I think they were part of the reason for the “wetness”.  So what I did this time was to lower the baking temperature to 315 and bake for about 55 minutes.  They were much better this time.  Chewy and good.

I like berries for summer treats.  Doesn’t everyone?  And the mixture of the raspberry and white chocolate makes these really yummy, yet not too heavy.  I think these would be good with other berries, especially blackberries, or a berry mixture.

By the way, I also made these with whole wheat flour.  (I make everything with whole wheat flour.  I don’t own any white flour!)  That may have also played a part in the recipe not turning out quite right the first time, though whole wheat flour will usually absorb more moisture than white flour.

These got lots of raves at the party, and you can make these ahead of time.  So I highly recommend them!

I just put together a gift guide for the guys over on the Made in Vermont Street Team blog.  It’s full of great ideas for both men and women, made by Vermont artists.  It includes prints, iPad covers, and coffee cozies.

And the MIVEST blog has links to all the members’ stores, where you can find even more wonderful gift ideas.

Find the blog post here:

http://vermontetsystreetteam.blogspot.com/2011/11/gift-guide-for-guys.html