Sweet and Spicy Chicken Kabobs

1 1/2 c. pineapple-orange juice
1 c. orange marmalade
2/3 c. teriyaki sauce
1/4 t. ground cloves
1/2 t. ground ginger


1 1/2 lb. boneless chicken breasts
1 green pepper
1 (16-oz.) can chunk pineapple
Salt and pepper to taste
4 t. cornstarch

In saucepan, combines ingredients for marinade. Heat until sugar dissolves. Let cool.

Cut partially frozen chicken breasts into thin strips. Place chicken, green pepper and pineapple on 4-5 inch skewers. Salt and pepper lightly. Place in marinade for 2 hours. Grill about 10 minutes or until chicken is done. In a small saucepan, dissolve 4 teaspoons of cornstarch into remaining marinade. Cook over medium heat until sauce boils and thickens. Spoon over cooked chicken kabobs and rice on serving plate. �

Shelia Caney of Folk Friends to be at Sturbridge!

Shelia of Folk Friends has been working away getting ready for our Sturbridge, MA show this weekend. Shelia has been a doll maker and doing shows for over 20 years now. It all started after showing her cousin a doll she had made; her cousin loved it and encouraged her to try a local show. Her little hobby turned into a career,  she’s been busy with her doll making ever since. Here’s some cool step by step pictures of her Halloween cats that she’s been working on!

Shelia draws the doll on a muslin fabric, cuts them out and sews them together. They are stuffed and faces are hand sculpted with needle and thread.

The cats here are weighted with pool filter sand.

They are painted with a black acrylic paint mixed with coffee, dried in oven and then aged.

Shelia’s favorite part in doll making is the decorating; making their clothing and accessories. This is when her dolls truly develop a personality of their own.

Shelia has a great following of customers and usually sells out at all our shows. She is normally one of the first torn down on Sunday after the show... leaving with only her display! You can’t miss her booth, she is in the hallway, just down from the Exhibition Hall.

Pat Gazaille Folk Artist

It’s been a busy day at the office today with artisans calling up to sign-up for shows... 

I had a chat with Pat Gazaille of Sidney & Company, she is so sweet. Anyhow, she said she’s been painting away trying to get ready for our Sturbridge, MA show. 

I’m always curious as to how artisans have gotten into this business. Pat told me, after 22 years of marriage she was able to quit her full time job to stay home and take care of things there. At first she had a lot of little projects to get caught up on. But once she had done that, she decided to get out all her old paint brushes and join a local oil painting class with some lady friends. She had always liked to paint as a child. Before she knew it, Pat found her artwork beginning to accumulate all around her home. One day while looking through the local newspaper, Pat saw an ad for a craft show nearby; she decided she would give it try. Well, Pat and her husband Paul came home from the show with $300, they thought they had hit the jackpot. As the business took off, she turned to acrylics because they dried quicker and she was able to get a lot more work done. She misses painting with oil and would like to get back to them again. 

Pat is a very talented and a phenomenal folk artist and has now been in the business painting and doing shows for over 20 years. She admires painter Rufus Porter and his painting has been a big influence in her work. Pat enjoys painting pastorals; Vermont scenes with livestock grazing in the country throughout the different seasons. You will find her hand painted primitive scenes on everything from framed art to old furniture or anything else she can get her hands on. All of her pieces are original!

Once Paul retires (her assembler, finisher, set-up man and wonderful husband) they plan to retire to their second home in Cape Cod. At that time they plan to travel more, doing shows and just touring around the country in between. 

I hope your able to take the opportunity to meet Pat in person at the Sturbridge Host Hotel & Conference Center - July 15-17, 2011. Pat’s booth will be located in the Ballroom. You will love her beautiful paintings and collecting her wonderful artwork!

Angel Food Strawberry Delight

1 box Angel Food Cake Mix
1 (16-oz.) container Cool Whip
3.5 oz. box Instant Vanilla Pudding
4 oz. Milk
1 quart Strawberries (sliced)


Prepare cake mix by directions on box. Let cool then cut cake horizontally. Mix instant vanilla pudding with milk until thick. Fold pudding mixture into whip cream. Spread part of whipped cream mixture on bottom half of cake. Layer with sliced strawberries. Place top half of cake on top of strawberry and cream mixture. Spread remaining whipped cream on cake. Decorate with remaining strawberries. Refrigerate.

Enjoy! �