Sweet paul

Sweet Paul's Holiday Countdown Nov 28th

Today is all about the birds.
When I had a garden I always fed the birds.
One year I made this nut star for them.
Its a store bought ready made straw star.
Not only was it great for the birds, but it also looked pretty hanging in a tree.
This is how you make it:
Melt about 1/2 cup lard in a pan.
Let it cool off enough that I could use a brush and sort of paint it on to the star.
Then before the lard cooled I stuck walnuts, hazelnuts etc into the lard.
The nuts are great for the birds as are the lard.
Hang it in a tree with a metal wire.
When the nuts are all gone you can always take it in and fill it up with nuts again.
Photo by Studio Dreyer Hensley

Sweet Paul's Holiday Countdown Nov 27th

I created this photo wreath for the latest issue of Country Living.
I though it was a really nice way to display your photos.
You need a wire wreath, photos( if you don't want to use your originals, make photo copies on thick craft paper) and a hot glue gun.
Place the wreath on a table and add the photos, so that you can move them around and see what looks best.
Then glue them on and your wreath of memories is ready.
Photo Victor Schrager

Happy thanksgiving!

I hope you all have the fab'est thanksgiving ever!
Love
Paul

Sweet Paul's Holiday Countdown Nov 26th

I made these lollipop cookies for my niece one christmas years ago.
After that its been a tradition in my family to make these.
They are the perfect holiday gift. 4 of these wrapped in cellophane with a pretty ribbon.
Such a cute gift.

Maple syrup stars
Makes about 25

2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 egg
3 tablespoons maple syrup
powdered sugar
water
25 lolipop sticks

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside.
In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in egg and maple syrup. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients. Roll out the dough to a thin layer and cut out stars, and place onto un-greased cookie sheets.
Bake 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden. Let stand on cookie sheet two minutes before removing to cool on wire racks.
Mix powdered sugar and water to a thick frosting.
Fill in a piping bag with a small tip and frost all around the stars.
Sprinkle with décor sugar.
Melt a little sugar in a pan and use that as glue to glue the sticks to the back of the cookies.
Photo by Alexandra Grablewski

In the paper!

I was asked by the Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet to pick out 3 advent candles for their sunday magazine.
Advent candles is something we do in Scandinavia. Its usually a candlestick with 4 candles and we light up one candle every sunday before christmas.
I wanted to find some alternative sticks this time.
Not all of us have the need to fill our home with to much christmas junk, so I though these 3 was a good mix.
I really want those dolls heads.
Maybe a christmas present for little old me?
I have been a very good boy!

Sweet Paul's Holiday Countdown Nov 25th

Im very proud to welcome you all to Sweet Paul's Holiday Countdown.
Everyday until dec 25th will be a new fun craft, recipe or something even more fun!
Todays craft idea is for all of those of us that don't have that much space and still want a tree.
You need 34 white paper cupcake liners, double sided tape and a glitter star.
Tape the cupcake liners to your wall in a tree formation and finish it off with taping a star on top.
You now have a very modern and might I say so, a fab christmas tree.
Photo by Alexandra Grablewski

Only one day now!

Only one day boys and girls to the start of Sweet Paul's Holiday Countdown"
From tomorrow I will post a new fun craft idea, recipe or something fun everyday.
So make Sweet Paul your pal now in the holiday season.

Also want to say thank you to Bradford over at "The bedlam of beefy" blog.
Thanks for a great design.

Into the wild!

This is the story I shot last week with Colin Cooke.
I wanted to create this dream like story about a table in the middle of the forest and all the good food you eat in fall.
Was really inspired by the colors of all the leafs on the ground.
Nothing beats nature!
This is my last post before SWEET PAUL'S CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN that starts wednesday.
New colors, a new idea everyday, a brand new tote bag and lots of fun things.
See you there!

What's up sweet paul?

I will tell you what's up dear friends.
"Sweet Paul's Holiday Countdown" starts november 25th.
Everyday until December 25th I will give you a new and fun Holiday idea.
It can be a craft project, a yummy recipe or just something fun.
I will also introduce a brand new Sweet Paul tote bag that will be for sale.
(Maybe some will be given away to, so bee good kids!)
So make Sweet Paul an everyday read while preparing for the Holidays ahead.
I can't wait!
Photo by Alexandra Grablewski

Where the wild things are..........

Yesterday was a fun day. We shot a food story in the forest of Yonkers.
I wanted to create this fall feast in the middle of the forest.
We found the perfect spot with this old huge tree that had fallen over.
Very "where the wild things are".
We didn't see any wild things, except a dog and a cat.


Little old me setting the table while Colin tries to find the best angle.


Mr.Cooke doing his thing.


My lovely food assistant Summer


Most of the food was made the day before and just needed to be heated up and styled.


My partner Anthony was there as well. Here he is blocking the sunlight with a branch.


I will post the final shot story next week.