DECK THE HOLIDAY'S

I recently developed a new recipe for a sculptural material I call “paper mache clay.” This material is so easy to use and so easy to make that I now use it exclusively for all my paper mache sculptures. It might be a bit more accurate to call this material “home-made air-dried cellulose-reinforced polymer clay,” but that’s way too hard to say (or type!), so for now, let’s just call it paper mache clay. The first video below shows how to make the paper mache clay, and the second video answers some common questions that I’ve received from readers since I first developed this recipe. Below the videos you’ll find the recipe written out, and a few comments about how it’s used. (This recipe is the basis for my book “ Make Animal Sculptures with Paper Mache Clay .”) I usually make mine fairly thin, so it can be spread over an armature like frosting – but you can also vary the consistency, and make it thicker, like this, when you want more control over the modeling process. A ver

     Australia Day (previously known as Anniversary Day, Foundations Day and ANA Day) is the official national day of Australia.  Celebrated annually on January 26th, the day commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove in 1788.  The hoisting of the British flag there, and the proclamations of British sovereignty over the eastern seaboard of New Holland.    Australia Day is an official public holiday in every state and territory of Australia, and is marked by the Order of Australia and Australian of the Year awards, along with an address from the Prim Minister.    Although it was not known as Australia Day until over a century later, records of celebrations on January 26th date back to 1808, with Governor Lachland Macquarie having held the first official celebration of the formation of New South Wales in 1818.  In 2004, an estimated 7.5 million people attended Australia Day celebrations and functions across the country.      The da

   This recipe comes from www.make-it-do.com  .  Is there anything that doesn't go great with a bowl of vanilla ice cream?  Maybe a little hot fudge to go on top! Today is not just Cyber Monday, it’s  Green Gift Monday  too.  I’m so happy to be joining the good folks at  the Nature Conservancy  to celebrate Green Gift Monday by making some green gifts for some of my favorite friends. I’m making Chocolate Fudge Sauce to give in Mason Jars. Oh, how I love Mason Jars- useful, reusable, and charming.  They were green before green was cool. Here’s how I’m making my gifts: You’ll need Mason Jars:  This recipe makes about 1 – 1/2 cups or 3 half pints.  Most of the gifts I’m giving today are going into half pint wide mouth jars.  I’m also making a few pints jars full, like the one I’m sharing here. For the hot fudge sauce you’ll need: Hot Fudge Sauce 1/2 cup of butter (1 cube) 1 cup of good quality semisweet chocolate chips 1 (12 ounce) can o