twenty-sixth

In the midst of moving & being completely consumed with watching Lost (perhaps a terrible mistake where productivity is concerned) I have actually been working on some new stuff.

I got a bunch of gift cards for half price books over Christmas, and on one of many trips there I picked up the book Hex Signs:Tips, Tools, and Techniques for Learning the Craft. I've always been quite enamored with hex signs, for some reason. Perhaps it was the girl from Pennsylvania I lived with a few years back, or that trip to Pennsylvania I took when I was just a tiny little thing. Whatever it was, I don't really know. But something about the shapes, colors, "meanings" behind each part, and the pure simplicity of them is just so interesting to me.

After perusing the internet for a while reading the history and looking at lots and lots of classic signs, I decided to start making my own. Expand colors, add my own characters, use patterns instead of flat colors.

I started with making some valentine's for friends with the classic distelfink bird.



After making about 20 of those, I was ready to go for it. I went to a few thrift stores and found some old melmac plates to use as my "canvas" instead of a piece of wood. I rooted around my house and found all the paper scraps I could find, and picked up some more in the discount bins.

This is my new favorite thing, and I can't wait to move in (today!!) to the new house and create one to protect us & keep us happy.











Craft fair season is coming up, & I hope to have more than enough of these for people to take home & enjoy.

twenty-fifth

Have you heard of the INDIEana Handicraft Exchange? If you're anywhere near the midwest & the crafting world, you probably have.

How about Homespun? Oh wait, you probably haven't. That's because they wonderful brains that bring you the INDIEana Handicraft Exchange, Amanda & Neil Taflinger, are trying to open Homespun. And they need your help, and my help, and your friends help, and your families help, and your enemies help, to get funding!

Please, take a second a hop over to the Pepsi Refresh Project and vote for Homespun. They're in the running to win $5k to help get Homespun off the ground. You can vote once, or vote as many times as email addresses you have!

Their plan is to open a store and classroom devoted to modern handmade goods. Some of their goals are to "help revive Indianapolis' east side, serve as the hub of Indiana's artisan community, to offer low-cost arts education to our community, to help working artists support themselves."

This is really a store that would be the first of it's kind in Indianapolis. Similar to Renegade Handmade in Chicago, The Makery in Louisville, or MagPie in Boston.

Please help Amanda & Neil realize their dreams. You'll make a lot of local artisan's happy.



refresheverything.com/Homespun

twenty-fourth

I made THE BEST curried vegetables last night.

I've always had bad experience when I've ordered dishes with the word "curry" in them out at restaurants. I've been hesitant to make my own. But, I'm glad I finally did.

I found a vegetable curry recipe on allrecipes.com to serve as a guide. It sounded okay, but I figured I could make it better. And I did.



Sweet & Spicy Vegetable Curry

2 tbsp butter (can easily be omitted to make a vegan dish!)
2 tbsp vegetable oil (increase this a bit if you skip the butter)
1 medium onion, finely diced
4 carrots, chopped
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 tsp fresh ginger
3 tbsp curry powder
salt & freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 tsp red pepper flakes
2 tsp agave nectar
5 red potatoes, chopped
1/2 cup water
jasmine rice

1. Heat the butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and carrots, cook for about 5 minutes. Add garlic and fresh ginger, continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until onion and carrots are tender.
2. Add curry powder, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, and agave nectar.
3. Add the potatoes to the pan, and stir to coat with spices. Reduce heat to medium-low, add water, cover, and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender. Stir occasionally.
4. Serve over jasmine rice.

Please adjust agave & curry to taste...mine was just the right amount of spice for me!