1January2009

In 1984, when we started making things for a living, our first act as a wannabe business was to name ourselves. Thus we became PUTTO & GARGOYLE. In our studio on the eleventh floor of an old Deco building in Los Angeles, we made angels, gargoyles, and putti (cherubs), out of plaster that we tinted, colored, and gilded. We kept that name when we moved from Los Angeles to Sebastopol, and by then also made pottery and handmade paper books. When pottery became our main focus, we shortened Putto & Gargoyle to P & G Art. Along the way we added hats and pillows made out of "geecloth"- cloth fashioned by piecing and stitching bits of fabric and ribbon and trim. After 25 years, we are dipping our toes into the blogosphere ocean, and can't resist the opportunity to transform our name (and hopefully ourselves) yet again, into PEECLAY & GEECLOTH...

Our tiny studio shop P & G Art in Sebastopol, California is a gathering place for a beloved community of family, friends, fellow artists, and visitors. Since 1991, we have been putting down roots in this off-the-beaten-path but, as it turns out, wonderful-for-us location. We are finding our way by slowly bumping along, adding and changing our work, and making a life of making things...

Every month we will be posting a SECRET SALE on this blog only, and January is no exception...In honor of the Lunar New Year in late January, we offer 8% off everything in our shop to anyone who mentions the SECRET SALE. For the Chinese, eight is considered a lucky number because it sounds like the word for expansiveness, so perhaps this will bring luck to us all...


DECEMBER 2008
At our annual winter sale we were joined by Carol Cole of Bee Garden, a local maker of 100% beeswax candles. Many years ago, Carol, an avid reader, happened on our studio after leaving the Sebastopol library, which is right across the street. Her candles are long-burning, with that natural and exquisite honey fragrance, and are sought after and cherished. Joining our annual sales together created a welcome synergy!

Every year after our winter sale/party, I get a flurry of requests for the recipe of Peter's Pecan Squares (a decadent and unforgettable cross between cookie and candy), so I am including it here before it is rendered completely unreadable by another year's accumulation of butter spots, carmelization stains, and various ingredient spills...

Peter's Pecan Squares

Crust
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
2/3 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 sticks chilled, unsalted butter cut into 1/2" pieces

Topping
1 1/4 cups packed golden brown sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/2 stick unsalted butter
4 cups coarsely chopped pecans
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions

for crust: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 13x9x2 inch baking pan with foil, leaving 1 inch overhang on all sides. Butter foil. Blend flour, powdered sugar, cornstarch and salt in processor. Add butter and process until mixture begins to clump togetther. Press dough evenly onto bottom of foil-lined pan. Bake crust until set and light golden, about 25 minutes. Remove from oven. Let stand while preparing topping. Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees.

for topping: Stir brown sugar, corn syrup and butter in heavy medium saucepan over medium-high heat until sugar dissolves and mixture boils; boil one minute. Add pecans and cream; boil until mixture thickens slightly, about 3 minutes. Stir in vanilla. Pour hot topping over warm crust.

Bake nut-topped crust until caramel is darker and bubbles thickly, about 20 minutes. Transfer pan to rack. Cool completely in pan (topping will harden). Lift foil out of pan onto cutting board. Using heavy sharp knife, cut crust with nut topping into 1 1/2x1 1/2 inch squares. YUM!!!

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Contact Information:

P & G Art
7202 Bodega Avenue
(High Street entrance)
Sebastopol CA 95472
(707)829-8701 (ask for Gerrie)

Hours:

Wednesday-Sunday
10am-5pm
or by appointment


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To receive an email reminder of new SECRET SALE postings, just send an email request to: peegeeart@gmail.com