Some people asked me to make this, so I did. No comment to be offered.

Medieval Inspired Cutouts/Book of Lael CONTEST: Week 4

The medieval inspired pseudo-hiatus continues! As previously noted I will be posting early medieval (in some cases LOOSELY) inspired works each Sunday through January 4th.

These works will also constitute another Book of Lael CONTEST! For each piece, send me a private message with your guess as to what work/related works inspired it. Whoever guesses the most correctly will win his or her choice of any one item from my etsy shop! I'll announce all of the inspirations on January 11th.

Note: Partial credit for any guess that amuses me!

--LJE

Holiday Bonus Post: Making Holiday Candy

Howdy, Readers! I said I might post some of the projects I've been working on this holiday season in lieu of regular comics, so here I present some holiday candy making. You may recall a similar post on On the Side After Five if you are a long time reader. That post clearly suffered from a lack of home photos, so I have plenty for you, today!

Supplies:

-3 plastic molds (I used Make'n Mold molds--2 break apart bar molds and 1 mold with stars and trees)
-parchment paper
-double boiler (microwave works fine with an appropriately sized bowl)
-candy melts (I used Make'n Mold melts this time: 2-12 oz bags of Milk, 1-12 oz bag of Dark, 1-12 oz bag of White, 1-12 oz bag of Red, and 1-12 oz bag of Green)
-Pretzels Pieces (I crushed these up myself.)
-Peppermint Pieces (I bought these at a craft store pre-crushed)
-Walnut Pieces
-treat tins and boxes

The directions for making are actually on the packages, but the basic idea is that you clean your molds, put in any mix-ins, melt the candy, spoon in the candy, chill for 10-20 minutes, tap/pop out of the molds, package. In my case there was also a step where I broke apart the bars. I experimented with a bunch of combinations of peppermint, pretzels, and walnuts. 

Here's a shot of my double-boiling in action:

I mixed one bag of Milk and one bag of White, here's the mid point of that process: 

Here's what my batches looked like after coming out of the molds:

You can see that the parchment paper started to get quite messy! 

Here's one batch after I broke up the bars:

Then, I assembled my tins and boxes:

I had a wonderful afternoon, and really enjoyed doing this. It was very easy. What I need to work on is pouring neatly and getting the amounts in the molds right. Now, what combinations to try next?!

--LJE

Medieval Inspired Cutouts/Book of Lael CONTEST: Week 3

Don't forget that until 12/24/14, you can use the coupon code HOLIDAYSALE14 to receive $3 off your purchase at my etsy shop! 

The medieval inspired pseudo-hiatus continues! As previously noted I will be posting early medieval (in some cases LOOSELY) inspired works each Sunday through January 4th.

These works will also constitute another Book of Lael CONTEST! For each piece, send me a private message with your guess as to what work/related works inspired it. Whoever guesses the most correctly will win his or her choice of any one item from my etsy shop! I'll announce all of the inspirations on January 11th.

Note: Partial credit for any guess that amuses me!

--LJE

Medieval Inspired Cutouts/Book of Lael CONTEST: Week 2

Don't forget that until 12/24/14, you can use the coupon code HOLIDAYSALE14 to receive $3 off your purchase at my etsy shop! 

The medieval inspired pseudo-hiatus continues! As previously noted I will be posting early medieval (in some cases LOOSELY) inspired works each Sunday through January 4th.

These works will also constitute another Book of Lael CONTEST! For each piece, send me a private message with your guess as to what work/related works inspired it. Whoever guesses the most correctly will win his or her choice of any one item from my etsy shop! I'll announce all of the inspirations on January 11th.

Note: Partial credit for any guess that amuses me!

--LJE

Medieval Inspired Cutouts/Book of Lael CONTEST: Week 1

Don't forget that until 12/24/14, you can use the coupon code HOLIDAYSALE14 to receive $3 off your purchase at my etsy shop! 

Let's start off the medieval inspired pseudo-hiatus right! As previously noted I will be posting early medieval (in some cases LOOSELY) inspired works each Sunday through January 4th.

These works will also constitute another Book of Lael CONTEST! For each piece, send me a private message with your guess as to what work/related works inspired it. Whoever guesses the most correctly will win his or her choice of any one item from my etsy shop! I'll announce all of the inspirations on January 11th.

--LJE

It's super easy to make a Gmail filter! OR How did I get on some of these lists?!

Don't forget that until 12/24/14, you can use the coupon code HOLIDAYSALE14 to receive $3 off your purchase at my etsy shop! 

As noted last week, starting next week I will be taking a pseudo-hiatus to work on holiday projects. I WILL be posting early medieval (in some cases LOOSELY) inspired works each Sunday starting December 7th and lasting through January 4th.

These works will also constitute another Book of Lael CONTEST! For each piece, send me a private message with your guess as to what work/related works inspired it. Whoever guesses the most correctly will win his or her choice of any one item from my etsy shop! I'll announce all of the inspirations on January 11th.

--LJE

PS. I just, as I posted this at 5pm got another email! Gah!

UPDATE: 4 more emails by 12/7/14!

UPDATE: 2 more emails by 12/13/14!

UPDATE: 2 more emails by 12/18/14!

UPDATE: 1 more email on 12/28/14!

If you can't figure out what to get ME for Christmas... :wink wink:

Howdy, dear Readers! A few announcements for you.

First, as the holidays are upon us, be sure to check out my etsy shop for that special medievalist on your list! Until 12/24/14, use the coupon code HOLIDAYSALE14 to receive $3 off your purchase! 

Secondly, expect a regular (and seasonal) comic next Sunday, but after that I will be taking a pseudo-hiatus to work on holiday projects. I may or may not post some of those results. HOWEVER, I will be posting early medieval (in some cases LOOSELY) inspired works each Sunday starting December 7^th and lasting through January 4^th.

These works will also constitute another Book of Lael CONTEST! For each piece, send me a private message with your guess as to what work/related works inspired it. Whoever guesses the most correctly will win his or her choice of any one item from my etsy shop! If you know me, it probably won't be too hard because most of my old standbys are represented! I really wanted to make some pieces inspired by my medieval friends, but with some of the new techniques I've been trying out. I'll announce all of the inspirations on January 11^th.

On to the comic!

--LJE

Why is being an adult sooooo hard?!

I had to go to DC for 3 days in October. 

Comic!

--LJE

In case you couldn't tell, most of my social media connections are 30-something liberals obsessed with British actors OR Maybe he should marry that girl who called him “Yummy”...

If you were out of the loop on that girl who called him yummy. ;-)

Also, I got a request to go old school with my style again, so thought I'd give it a shot today. :-)

Comic! 

--LJE