oh, come on!

veggie biter

2011-12-07T00:03:00.001-06:00

Head over here (veggiebiter.com) to keep up with my food adventures. I'm just starting over there, so you won't find much yet - but hopefully soon.

As far as this site goes, I'll (hopefully) be able to get back to making & crafting when school is over! I've been super busy with trying to balance school full time, work, and a social life!

food fight!

2011-08-30T23:08:00.004-05:00

I need to come up with a really classy/creative/descriptive/fun/funny name for a food blog/business name/etc. I'd appreciate any suggestions. Ideally, I would like to use food fight, as it was the plan for a make up line I will (eventually, sometime down the road) be creating. It’s very fun, playful, and descriptive for a majority of the things I want to do.

So, I've been in school for 7 days now. Not too long at all! We've been doing a lot of technical things - "serve safe" classes, knife skills, broths, and today - sauces. I'm not going to be sharing many recipes yet (as I'm not creating a ton of things that you can't figure out yourself), but I am going to share some photos - because who doesn't love looking at photos of gorgeous food?!?

After creating homemade stocks in class - we were allowed to take home mirepoix from our knife skills class. I decided to make a homemade broth that night, and utilize it in my first EVER risotto. It was a scallion, lime, and basil risotto - rich, creamy, and sweet! It was a Monday, the night Hell's Kitchen is on, so it was only fitting. (By the way, Chef Gordon Ramsay is coming to Austin THIS WEEK to film an episode of Kitchen Nightmares. I emailed for reservations over 2 weeks ago, unfortunately, I was never contacted. I would have been so beyond stoked to get a chance to say hi to him or try something he had a hand in making.)

Today, we made sauces. Pesto is considered a "contemporary" sauce, and that's what I made this evening. I sauteed eggplant in a pan every so slightly coated with oil and bits of garlic, then garnished with a pesto made of purple basil, arugula, olive oil, salt, pepper, and CASHEWS. It turned out very nicely - not what you would expect of a common pesto, that's for sure. I served it with an arugula salad with olive oil, apple cider vinegar, and agave nectar dressing. It was still very yummy though.

Tomorrow, we start talking about dry & wet cooking methods. I'll have to work after school, so I won't get to experiment 'til the weekend. Bummer city! I'll be holding dinner parties soon with the very FEW friends I have in Austin, so expect more photos & foodie updates. (Funny enough, most of the friends we're making here are from Indiana. It's just easier.)

School

2011-08-21T23:01:00.001-05:00

Tomorrow, I start school. This hasn't happened in about 10 years. It is a very strange feeling.

On Being Homesick

2011-08-01T01:36:00.001-05:00

It's true! (made by rararpress)

I think being homesick is probably just about one of the worst things ever. You might have your stuff from "home" around, your loved ones, but it still isn't "home." Everything you know, memories at every corner, that sort of stuff. Having recently moved, I am really starting to suffer from this terrible feeling. It took 2 months, but I suppose it must take a different amount of time for it to sink in for different people.

I don't really know what to do to squash this feeling, either. I'm sad, I don't feel like doing things, I can't sleep well, I literally feel sick, and I just feel myself sinking further. It's pretty bad, and it's not good when you need to go out and meet people and explore your new town.

It's been a rough few days, since it's really been settling in my heart. Here are some tips that I've found just in the past couple of days to help me feel a little better. Please, share any tips you have - I can use anything you can think of!

???? (made by bopeepbaby)

1. Call your mom/dad! I know, totally lame - but sometimes just hearing a completely familiar voice can help.
2. Hugs - if you're fortunate (like I am) to have loved ones with you, hug them. Alot.
3. Call/email friends - I know you're feeling forgotten/left out, but they more than likely still love you & miss you, too.
4. Create to-do lists. Yep, give yourself things to do so you don't waste your whole day lying on the couch. And keeping busy will help keep your mind off of it.
5. Take a shower every day. There's nothing like a good cry in the shower, and wallowing in your own dirt doesn't help anything/anyone.
6. Plan a visit home. If it's in one week or 4 months, anything, just something to look forward to.
7. Remember why you're there. Refocus on your goal & remember that you're there for a purpose.
8. Write postcards/letters/send packages. You might think people should be sending you bits of home, but honestly, sending others you love mail helps, oddly enough.
9. If it starts getting really bad, do something! Take a bath, cook a meal, take your dogs on a walk. It should help the feeling pass.
10. Stay off of facebook/twitter for excessive amounts of time. Reading about what all your friends are doing at home (i.e. what you would be doing) only will make you long for home even more.

So - what do you suggest? I'll try out any suggestions you have, cause I really gotta stop this feeling!

Matt's awesome Indiana patches. Check him out here (& buy one!)

A Weeknight Project

2011-07-22T20:40:00.001-05:00

Do you have a t-shirt you absolutely adore, but just doesn't fit you properly? You know the story; it's too big, it's not a feminine cut, but you still want to wear it every day. I was faced with this problem when my friend Martha from Sunday Afternoon Housewife gave us a pair of her Indie Loves Indy silk-screened t-shirts as going away gifts. These shirts are great to show our Indy pride, but the cut didn't suit me in the hot Austin weather. It was too heavy & covered too much to keep me cool. After scouring the internet for ideas, I came up with this super-easy shirt reconstruction plan. I'm sure you've seen it before, or it's printed in some book, but I'm still going to share it with you.

Step 1: Grab your favorite t-shirt. Make sure that it's a shirt that is at least a little too big, too small won't work!

Step 2: Cut off the arms, following the seam. Cut around the neckline, as I've marked here. You may cut straight across or a bit diagonally, both work and both are cute. Make sure that you're cutting through the front and back of the shirt. You may cut off the bottom hem as well, if you wish. I pretty much only do this if a shirt is too long.

Step 3: You're almost done already! Stretch out the arms, collar, and bottom (if you cut it) so it kinda curls up a bit and doesn't look freshly cut. Next, cut off the hems of both sleeves.

Step 4: Take the hems you cut off the sleeves and cut in half. You will have 4 short pieces of fabric. Take a piece and tie 2 or 3 knots near the collar on your front strap. Repeat this again on the front, and then on the back of both straps. Done!

How easy was that? Now you can salvage any shirt that might be just a little to big for you with a pair of scissors and 15 minutes!

Sailor Shorts

2011-07-13T02:52:00.000-05:00

I want to make these shorts like nobodies business. Unfortunately, I am not a very proficient sewer. Sure, I can do small things, simple things, but this seems like a hard project. Especially since the pattern is for little girls.

Would anyone like to do a sew-along, or at least help me out with the project? I would be forever grateful!

Food News

2011-06-24T21:54:00.001-05:00

I wish I could eat Sugar Mama's cupcakes every single day.

Light, delicate, full of flavor!

I've been posting some food-related things on my food-related blog. You can read that over at ieatfood.wordpress.com! Tell me what you think!

One more piece of "food news", if you find yourself in Austin, don't visit Guero's Taco Bar. I did a completely honest review of a meal we had there on yelp, and received a very rude and childish response from the owner. It's bad form to negatively respond to an honest review of your business. Perhaps, instead, you should be concerned as to why so many customers are saying the same things over & over about your food.

The Kitchen Window

2011-06-20T19:45:00.000-05:00

Today, I finally got a job! That means bills will be paid and I will have somewhere to go. I am beyond excited.

I don't know too much yet about the place, but the place is called The Kitchen Window. It's a food truck that is located behind Thom's Market at Barton Springs Road & Jessie Street. I am beyond stoked to not be working in retail and to have a chance to work with food.

Check it out - they're working on a new menu, which should include 3 vegetarian items!

I start Thursday :)

I have a really great plan on another project to work on over the summer when I'm not working. Details on that later...

Frozen Desserts

2011-06-16T20:57:00.000-05:00

It's been over 100 degrees the past two days in Austin. Before that, I don't think there has been a day since we've been here that it's been under 98 degrees. Frozen treats to the rescue! Here's my first favorite:

Strawberry Sorbet:

‎1 cup sugar
1 cup water
2 pints strawberries
2 tbsp lemon juice
2 - 3 tbsp vanilla extract

1. Bring sugar + water to boil over high heat, stirring constantly. When it starts boiling, turn to low, and let cook 5 minutes (stirring occasionally). Remove from heat, cover for 10 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, wash strawberries, dry, then cut into quarters. Put in blender (or food processor) & process with 1/4 cup of sugar/water mix. Process until you can hardly see the seeds anymore.

3. Mix everything else together in a container that can be frozen.

4. Let that mixture freeze overnight. In the morning, I let the sorbet sit out for about 5 - 10 minutes, then used a spoon to mash it and mix it up. Return to freezer. Eat after a couple hours!

(I suggest letting it sit out for a few minutes to soften up just a touch before eating. This recipe should make around 6 - 8 servings.)

This one goes delicious with Banana Soft Serve that my friend Lilly turned me onto from choosingraw.com. Bananas + strawberries!?! How could it get any better?

internet!

2011-06-15T23:34:00.000-05:00

I was 18 days without the internet. It was a crazy time...not really. But, I've been thinking about all the things I've wanted to post about our adventure down to Austin. With being currently unemployed, I'll have plenty of time for that. For now, I want to share a few observations.

1. Texas drivers are CRAZY! They're always in a hurry, or going way too slow.
2. There is always something I want to eat down here. Always.
3. The heat is hot, but the humidity is nothing compared to Indiana, which makes it completely bearable.
4. I forgot how to make friends/meet people. Ugh!
5. Most everyone down here is so nice!
6. Getting a job = knowing someone.
7. Being unemployed is hard & requires many naps.
8. A lot of the natural food stores down here are just glorified Marsh/Krogers.
9. The dogs don't like males just because of their deep voices.
10. I miss you.

We've been filling out a ton of applications in the hot Texas sun. I've been wearing dresses! Well, twice I think.

My first batch of resumes. They've since been edited & ribbons exchanged for little owls. I'm handing these to everyone I pass on the street. (Well, not really. Yet.)

I'll try to write a much more interesting post soon. Right now, I'm going through caffeine withdrawal.

It's voting season.

2011-05-12T12:20:00.000-05:00

Everyone is asking for votes and donations this month. Seriously, everyone. Check out these projects:

Sunday Afternoon Housewife is trying to raise cash for her "Culture of Craft" documentary over on kickstarter. Martha wants to travel to a variety of craft conferences to share (in her words) "the story of a culture." If you don't know Martha, she is an amazing entrepreneurial gem. She runs a blog, teachings classes, is a summer gardener, and a constant inspiration and great friend! She has set up so many donation levels with great gifts. Let's help her raise the $12,000 she needs to realize her dream. If anyone deserves it, she does!

Homespun: Modern Handmade is up for another Pepsi Refresh Everything Grant. They were blessed with one last year which provided them the ability to open a truly unique store for Indianapolis. They were aiming for a retail space that would also provide a gallery and classes. Unfortunately, the gallery & class space was not able to be realized; so they're up for another grant to finally make it happen - and even bigger than the initial idea. Voting is open through the month of May, and you can vote once each day.

Nuvo is running their annual Best of Indy poll, voting is open until June 1st. Focused on " shining a light on what is outstanding and unique to our city, neighborhoods and neighbors", this contest is not for chains - but for local favorites. There is pretty much every category ever to vote for, and you can write in your favorites if you don't see 'em listed! I have a few suggestions (of course!), like Deezen for best punk band, Georgetown Market for best local food vendor, Vanilla Bean Bakery for best sweets, and indySwank for best shopping for women's fashion.

Happy voting, y'all!

I sure hope Kickstarter accepts her!

2011-05-04T20:41:00.000-05:00

Check out Martha's (Sunday Afternoon Housewife) video submission to Kickstarter.

I LOVE IT!

things for sale!

2011-04-13T22:38:00.001-05:00

Moving requires money - lots of it! And moving requires a big ol' expensive moving truck. Did you know that most moving trucks only get 6 - 10 mpg? With gas up to $4.00 a gallon right now - we are going to be spending a ton of money.

So, we're selling some items to save space, and hopefully a little weight to get better mileage. If you're in the Indianapolis area, and interested in any of these items - please leave a comment! All items will be available for pick-up in Fountain Square, and payment arrangements can easily be made.

Schwinn Mixted Frame - Hand Painted

Crafty Book Collection

Colorful Set of 3 Chairs

Vintage Corona Seventy Typewriter

Cupcake Stand - 5 Available

Please keep your eye on this Flickr album for new items, and I'll try to keep the blog updated as new items become available!

Critters & Cretins

2011-04-01T11:58:00.002-05:00

Critters & Cretins, new works by Mamus! opens tonight at IndySwank! Come hang out with us in Fountain Square & check out Mamus' last show in Indianapolis (for a while, at least). While you're there, you can also check out handcrafted jewelry by Something Monumental and Sunday Afternoon Housewife. Busty's Fun Bags can be found throughout the store. My paper flower hairclips and vintage inspired headbands are also available. There is also a bunch of awesome vintage dresses, ties, jackets, and shoes available. IndySwank is just about one of the most eclectic stores in the city, and if you can't make it tonight - I highly suggest you do so soon.

After you visit us, hit up New Day Meadery to check out Mike Altman's show. Cardboard + paint at it's finest. Oh, and delicious handcrafted wines.

If this doesn't sound like your thing, or you want to do something else awesome while in Fountain Square, check out Pat's Eat Something Fest tonight at the Hoosier Dome. This is also Indy Vegans Do Something Zine 2 release show, and a vegan pitch-in. These are always so fun, as you get to try a bunch of food, and there are a lot of great pop-punk bands playing. If you go, remember to bring a dish and a plate & fork for eating!

sorry for the silence.

2011-03-29T21:47:00.001-05:00

Things are moving right along for the move to Austin. So well, in fact, I've been neglecting my blogging responsibilities (for this site, indiana, it's over and indyvegans.com).

I returned from my last visit to Austin for Commodore Von Keepsie's Craftacular Music Carnivale & apartment hunting with a bit of a sunburn & complete confidence I was making the right choice. I found (and got approved for!) an apartment. I found my new favorite vegan dish. I got a chance to drive in Austin traffic for the first time (they're a little scary). I ran into 5 people during my 3 days in Austin. And the day I got back to work, I was introduced to a fella who represents a supplement company & is from Austin, who wants to help me find employment when I get to town! Could things be going any better?

Here are some awesome shots from my visit.

Commodore Von Keepsie's Craftacular Music Carnivale

Hot & Crunchy Avocado from the Mighty Cone

KimChi Fries from Chilantro BBQ

Hopdoddy Hempseed Burger

Potbelly Pig Friend

Lamps!

commodore von keepsie's craftacular music carnivale preview!

2011-03-09T17:01:00.000-06:00

We'll be leaving in one short week for the 18-hour drive to Austin! I decided to give you a little preview of the items I'll have available for Commodore Von Keepsie's Craftacular Music Carnivale! (Did you RSVP yet? You really should! There's even going to be a 20 ft party robot!)

Looks like temperatures are going to be in the 80's and mostly sunny during the craft fair, but I'm still bringing my new leg warmers! It still gets cold at night, right? And what goes better with a pair of cute flats & a short skirt?

I will also be bringing a variety of colors & sizes of vintage inspired headbands. These headbands are knit in two colors, and fastened with a button & elastic at the base of your head.

This might be my favorite. Flower clips. Hand-crafted flowers made out of old magazines, story-books, or how-to guides. These flowers have been sealed with clear gloss to give them extra stability, then attached to an alligator clip. They ARE still made out of paper, so being delicate & keeping them out of water is crucial!

I'm excited to vend my first craft fair in Austin - I hope it's the first of many!

indiana, it's over.

2011-03-01T19:21:00.000-06:00

Just in case you haven't heard yet, I'm moving to Austin, TX, to attend culinary school.

It's quite expensive to move cross country, so Mamus & I came up with a fundraiser idea. We'll be creating custom pieces for anyone that donates to our moving fund. Head on over to indianaitsover.wordpress.com to find out more details!

first friday - march

2011-02-28T23:34:00.001-06:00

My top three picks for First Friday: March edition.

1. My favorite guy & gals over at Two-Thirds Studio are opening up their studio for The Outsiders Show. Two-Thirds residents Daniel Del Real, Lauren Ditchley and Katherine Fries are taking a break from showing their work and are lending the walls and floor space to their close friends. With 10 guests, free snacks, and Traveling Sideshow crafts - you can't go wrong!

2. First in Line at the Indy Indie Artist Colony. This exhibition& sale will feature original works of art on sale for just $100 each. But get there early, cause it’s one night only, and it’s first come, first served.

3. Harmony at the Artspace at the Athenaeum. This project is one that I am participating in. Each artist was assigned a shape and color for their piece. The combined works will form the letters of the word, HARMONY.

What will you be doing?

designer knitwear

2011-02-24T23:59:00.002-06:00

If I had my way, I'd knit unique pieces for everyone's birthday. Unfortunately, I don't have that sort of time right now. The next best thing - luxurious handcrafted knit goods. Something like John Smedley Knitwear strikes me as a nice place to start.

John Smedley has been creating designer knitwear for both men and women for over 225 years. Made in England, each piece is handcrafted in their mill in Derbyshire from only the finest natural fibers. No one would be disappointed in such a finely made knitwear garment.

A few of my favorites in men's knitwear:


Men's Polo Shirt - Aiden Men's Cotton Shirt - Alen

A couple of women's knitwear favorites:

Women's Merino Sweater - Opal

Women's Cotton Sweater - Hollie

I'd love to be able to purchase something from John Smedley someday soon - if not as a gift, maybe for me!

commodore von keepsie's craftacular music carnivale!

2011-02-23T10:42:00.000-06:00

I'll be taking another trip down to Austin, Texas - this time to vend at Commodore Von Keepsie's Craftacular Music Carnivale! Standard Recording, Handmade Promenade, Hello Craft, and Yudu have teamed up to put on this awesome event during South by Southwest. Your ears will be filled with music, your eyes with handmade crafts, you'll be able to take home a new shirt to wear, and even make your own crafts!

RSVP if you can make it - the party is free and open to the public, but space is limited. They'll try to let everyone in, but those who RSVP will be given preference.

I'll have all NEW items - which I'll give you a preview of soon. I'm knitting for spring!

looking for a new project?

2011-02-18T16:50:00.001-06:00

How about 365 projects - one for each day of the year?

365 projects are gaining more and more steam every year. From food photos, to vector characters, to - yes - crafts! 365-crafts.com is a handy little website to get you crafting an item each day of the year (you wouldn't need to by any birthday/christmas presents!) There are all kinds of neat items like the soda coin purse, decoupage stool, and even a candy belt (although, I would recommend letting someone else eat all that candy).

365-crafts.com is a great jumping point to get your DIY spirit inspired. Not only are the craft projects available here quick and simple, a lot of them use materials you already have lying around your house for recycling!

valentine's day dinner

2011-02-13T21:29:00.000-06:00

Our Valentine's Day-a-day-early plans were foiled by Cheesecake Factory when they told us they don't take reservations. I'll gladly take the meal I made over Cheesecake Factory any day. This meal was made from ingredients we already had, and with no particular plan in mind until it started putting itself together.

Potato, Pear & Onion Gratin and Sauteed Polenta served over Mixed Greens with Tomato-Ginger Sauce. Serious Business.

Don't worry. I'll share my recipes. This was probably the best meal I've made this year - and only solidifies the fact that culinary school & I are a match made in heaven. (ps. this was all made in a toaster oven & with a hot plate)

Pear, Potato, and Onion Gratin (adapted from this recipe)

6 tbsp Earth Balance Buttery Spread (seperated)
3/4 yellow onion, sliced
2 tsp dried thyme
2 - 3 garlic cloves, chopped
2 tsp sea salt
1/3 c water
1/3 c balsamic vinegar
2 tsp cane sugar
3 medium to large red potatoes, sliced
2 pears, sliced

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Melt 3 tbsp buttery spread in pan over medium heat. Add onions and thyme, and saute until onions are tender, about 8 to 10 minutes. Add garlic and saute for a couple minutes more.
3. Turn heat off, add remaining 3 tbsp buttery spread. Melt. Add salt, water, balsamic vinegar, and cane sugar and stir well. Let cool.
4. Place potatoes and pears in glass baking dish. Add cooled onion mixture and mix well. Cover with parchment paper, then cover with foil (shiny side down).
5. Bake for 40 minutes - or until potatoes are tender. Remove cover, and baked 15 to 20 more minutes, until things are bubbly.

Tomato and Ginger Sauce

Olive Oil
1/4 yellow onion, diced
3 - 4 garlic cloves, chopped well
1 vine-ripened tomato, chopped
1/2 cup ketchup (I had 1/4 cup ketchup + 1/4 cup spicy agave ketchup)
1/4 cup water
2 tbsp Ginger People Ginger Spread

1. Heat olive oil in medium sized pan over medium heat. Add onions and saute until soft.
2. Add garlic and saute for a couple minutes more, until garlic is fragrant.
3. Add tomato and saute for a couple more minutes.
4. Add ketchup, water, and Ginger Spread. Mix well, then turn head up to medium-high. Bring to boil & let cook for about 1 to 2 minutes.
5. Remove from heat, cool, and serve.

We followed the meal with Blondies topped with Jeni's Ice Cream Reisling Poached Pear Sorbet (it's vegan!). The sorbet tasted as if a frozen pear was just melting in my mouth. If you have yet to try Jeni's, I'd highly suggest hunting some down. This artisanal ice cream is made with fresh ingredients from the Ohio countryside. This was my first taste, and it blew my mind.

Well, I know Valentine's Day is actually tomorrow. Do you have any plans?

First Friday - February

2011-02-11T21:43:00.000-06:00

I forgot to post a look at our failed couples show.

check out more work from Nathaniel Russell and Katie Coles.

collaborative piece with mamus.

At least all the pieces were mega awesome!

ice storm! day 2.

2011-02-02T23:04:00.000-06:00

Day 2 at home. A window shattered over night, leaving an opening for the cold wind to travel through the building. I slipped for the first time on the ice tonight while trying to get something out of the car. Lucky for me, I am still stuck here for one more day. I don't need to break any bones right now.

Today was my baking day. Here is a recipe for my Chocolate Coffee Cookie Pies.

2 cups unbleached flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 - 1 teaspoon cinnamon (to taste)
1 cup vegan chocolate chips (you can add more if you like)
2 - 3 tablespoons ground coffee
1 tablespoon raw cacao nibs
1 cup sucanat
1/2 cup canola or coconut oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup + 1 - 2 tablespoons water

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Mix flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon well. Add in chocolate chips, coffee, and cacao nibs.
3. In a separate bowl, mix sucanat, oil, and vanilla until well blended. Mix in 1/4 cup water.
4. Slowly add wet ingredients to dry ingredients. If mixture seems too dry, add 1 tablespoon of water until dough is no longer dry and all ingredients are mixed well.
5. Place dough into un-greased, single-serving pie pans. Place in oven and bake for 10 minutes. Turn pans 180 degrees, and bake for 3 to 5 more minutes. Pies will feel soft when done, making a little "whoosh" sound when you press on them. If you want to be sure, stick a toothpick or knife in the center and if it comes out clean, they're done.
6. Let pies cool for a couple of minutes - they'll harden up a bit. Top with ice cream, or my current favorite, Tempt Hemp Frozen Dessert.

ice storm!

2011-02-01T21:29:00.000-06:00

The midwest is in the midst of an ice storm right now. It's pretty quiet around & outside of the Murphy Building - businesses closed up, people staying home. The perfect excuse to be "stuck" at home (although, I already had the next two days off).

Looking out the window.

I'm busy working on finishing up our project for First Friday. We have a "couple-theme" going - we've asked some cute, artistic couples to create either a collaborative piece or separate pieces to show the differences in artistic style. It should be neat! Here is a little preview:

First Friday is this Friday, February 4th. We're on the second floor in the Murphy Building: 1043 Virginia Avenue!

moving!

2011-01-30T20:37:00.002-06:00

Moving to Austin.
Accepted to school.
Working my ass off trying to find scholarships and writing essays.

austin, texas

2011-01-18T17:18:00.000-06:00

You couldn't have given me better weather. See you soon!

saturday lovin'

2011-01-15T21:38:00.000-06:00

I've been so much more diligent about keeping track of blogs these days. I want to share with you my top three reads so far for the year.

1. Something Monumental - I've been a pretty faithful reader of Mandy's blog for a few months now. A while back, she said she was going to be posting less but it seems to me she is posting more! I am not complaining. She's got cute tutorials, great photography, and cute creations.

2. Bird's Party - This one is a new find for me. Great tutorials, cute imagery, bright colors - you really can't miss it. I look forward to following their posts this year & see more of what they're about.

3. Vegan Baking - Enough said. I want to bake my way through their website.

And, with that, I'm going to go eat a raw brownie bar.

quinoa lumps

2011-01-12T10:00:00.000-06:00

I'm in the middle of a cleanse. Almost the worst time to be in the middle of a cleanse because we have homemade cookies & candies everywhere! I decided that I could enjoy cookies too if I made some very simple & healthy ones.

I've been eating quinoa by the handfuls since I've been on my cleanse. It is such a wonderful & diverse grain - you can have it for breakfast, lunch or dinner. It takes on the qualities of whatever you put in it, and it cooks quickly & stores well in the fridge! Toss it with some agave & cinnamon for breakfast, or onions, garlic, & spinach for a quick and easy dinner. You can also make these delicious cookies I adapted from Simple Spoonful.

Healthy Coconut Quinoa Lumps

1/2 cup almond butter
1/3 cup raw agave nectar
2 tbsp ground hemp seeds (I will try sunflower seeds next time)
2 cups cooked quinoa (let it cool a bit)
1 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup shredded coconut (flakes would make these even more interesting!)
1/4 cup raw cacao nibs (or, you could try using dark chocolate chips or carob chips)

1. Pre-heat oven to the lowest setting possible (mine starts at 150). Line cookie sheet with parchment/wax paper.
2. Mix together the almond butter, agave, and ground seeds.
3. Mix in quinoa, oats, and coconut. Gently fold in cacao nibs. (tips from simple spoonful - if your quinoa is on the wet side, they may not hold together - try tossing in more almond butter and/or seeds)
4. Grab a tablespoon full and make in to balls in your hands - make sure they're tightly formed - then place on baking sheet. Flatten with fingers. (your hands will get messy, which make the lumps hard to form well - rinse off after about every 6 cookies.)
5. Put in oven and let them set for about 1 to 1+1/2 hours.

I like these at just a bit warm to room temperature. Be sure to store in the refrigerator!

chairs

2011-01-11T15:42:00.002-06:00

Chairs. I love chairs. But, I live in a very small space. There is room for our one couch (twin bed, extra pillows), 4 dining chairs (used at the table & for stacking boxes on) and 1 work chair (at the crafty desk).

So, what's a girl to do without room for chairs? Window shop online, of course!

This round chair would look nice on my (imaginary) patio.

I can see myself sitting in the sun with the pups in my lap in this Artifort Chair by Geoffrey Harcourt.

Herman Miller/Eames Inspired Molded chairs one in each color, please.

This Collins Rocker looks nice for knitting in (as long as it's not in this color orange.)

One day, I'll have a collection of nice chairs, and tables, and lamps. For now, this will do!

365 project: week 1

2011-01-08T22:23:00.000-06:00

Here are my photos from the first week of January for the 365 Project. I'm pretty amazed I kept up with it! (I know, it's only a week - but that is a big deal!) Click the flickr box to the left to see full size images.

I'll try to share updates a couple of times a month! Especially when I do more exciting things than just everyday life.

first soup of the year!

2011-01-06T21:33:00.000-06:00

I had a chance to make my first soup of the year - the fifth day in! I love soup so much, even more when it's cold outside because a hot soup can fix even the chilliest of chills! This soup is completely vegan, although it does seem quite creamy due to the almond milk, and should cost under $2 per serving!

Creamy Curried Cauliflower Soup (adapted from the current Whole Foods circular)

1/4 cup raw sunflower seeds
3 1/2 cups unsweetened almond milk
5 tsp curry powder (use your favorite)
1 cup chopped yellow onion
3 cloves chopped garlic
5 cups (about 1 small head, or a little over half medium head) of cauliflower
sea salt (to taste)
agave nectar (to taste - about 4 tablespoons)

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. In a small bowl, toss sunflower seeds with 1 teaspoon of almond milk & 1 teaspoon curry powder. Spread out on a small parchment paper-line baking sheet and bake, tossing once or twice, for 6 to 8 minutes. Set aside.
3. Meanwhile, heat 1/2 cup almond milk in large pot over medium heat. Add garlic & onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft (about 10 minutes).
4. Add cauliflower, remaining 4 teaspoons of curry powder and almond milk. Bring to a boil.
5. Cover and turn down heat to a simmer until cauliflower is very tender, about 40 minutes.
6. Add salt & agave nectar to taste.
7. Working in batches, carefully puree soup in blender until smooth.
8. Transfer to bowls, and top with sunflower seeds!

happy new year!

2011-01-01T23:36:00.000-06:00

I hope that everyone had a safe & happy new years.

We spent a lovely night at home with two fabulous friends. We served vegan biscuits 'n gravy with a side of collard greens. Man, was that delicious! After dinner, we played scrabble sentences until the ball dropped, and then said our goodbyes. James & I took a quick stroll down to the Brass Ring to deliver leftovers & have a quick cocktail. After returning home, we sat down to write out some goals for 2011.

Among them are:

* move out of state
* spend more time interacting with the outside world (real life!)
* listen & see more music
* focus more on artwork
* eat well & at home more, and out less
* take one photo a day every day this year (Project 365)

I figure these are all completely do-able, so we should do them! Best wishes to you on your resolutions!

last show of the year!

2010-12-30T21:42:00.000-06:00

There was no better show to end the year than a Lemuria show. By far one of the best bands around right now (at least in my opinion). The perfect mixture of indie & punk, along with the vastly different vocal stylings of Sheena & Alex make them such a beautiful & memorable band. Their new album "Pebble" releases 1/11/11, and we got the chance to get one last night! Check them out if you haven't already, a few great tracks are "Pants", "Who Would Understand a Turtle?" and "Keep Quiet."

I didn't go to many smaller, local shows this year due in part to just being burnt out on the whole scene. Next year, I plan on getting back in to more live music. I think I've finally detoxed from my time spent at the Halloween House. And Austin is the perfect city to see lots of live music. :)

thanks to christmas....

2010-12-27T21:46:00.000-06:00

...and my receptive & generous family, we have saved up about $1000 already for a move to Austin (fingers crossed Austin, at least)! A big chunk was added due to my family passing on getting me gifts and donating money instead, all of them giving me their winning lottery tickets, having a spending limit on gifts for James, and working hard at knitting as much as possible for special orders.

We are visiting in just 3 short weeks - can NOT wait! We're ready to get out of the cold and in to little bit warmer temperatures. Ready to explore a new city, rent some bikes, stay in a fancy hotel, eat as much delicious as possible, and feel confident about moving.

Three places I am most excited about visiting (so far):

Paper Place - "...a delightful destination for special items such as: stationery, cardstock and envelopes, notepads, wrapping paper and gift bags, and paper plates and napkins."

Snap Kitchen - "...dedicated to bringing our customers flavorful, handcrafted food that supports our commitment to local, organic ingredients and healthy cooking. All of our menu items are portion controlled and labeled with the full nutritional content."

Sugar Mama's Bake Shop - "Our mission is to provide our guests with unparalleled customer service and the freshest, most delicious baked goods around. Your mission is to try them all. You'll find nothing but the highest quality ingredients in all of our from-scratch recipes. Ingredients like Nielsen-Massey extracts, Valrhona chocolate, and locally sourced cage-free eggs. No preservatives. No mixes. No shortening. No shortcuts. We're also doing our part to keep Austin green. Our cups are made from renewable, compostable materials."

If you've been to Austin, do you have any places you suggest we go?

vintage dresses

2010-12-26T09:00:00.000-06:00

I have a secret desire to own about 100 vintage (-style) dresses. I think if I can start with one, solid, stunning, quality dress I can move miles.

Some dresses I love (all courtesty of modcloth):

Blumengarten Dress


Double-Date Dress

The Archaeologist's Daugher

After all these lovely dresses, I decided on this one to be the beginning of a collection:


Afternoon Company Dress

I already know exactly "where" I will wear this. Thanks, mom & dad, for the Christmas money!

christmas dinner

2010-12-23T11:01:00.000-06:00

The Christmas tradition for the last 28 years of my life was to have Christmas dinner at either of my Grandparents house - sometimes both! Over the last few years, with everyone growing older - that tradition has fell to the wayside. My grandfather on my mother's side passed away quite a few years ago, and now my grandmother is in a nursing home, my other grandparents are getting older. Everyone's getting older, and there are no little kids running around (which I believe to be a big pre-requisite for Christmas traditions).

Last year, we still had dinner at my grandparents & visited my grandmother. This year, we're not having any sort of dinner - just snacks (which generally means shrimp cocktail and vegetable trays- blech! & boring). It's pretty sad - but my grandfather has trouble eating due to medications his doctor has him on. So to make things easier on him - snacks it is! We'll then go out to visit my grandmother & a few other family members. But there will be no conversation around the table, no passing of the mashed potatoes, failed dishes, second helpings.

If I had it my way - I'd cook dinner for everyone! This would be the menu:


Grandma's Deviled Eggs


Fruit & Cheese Tray

Hazlenut Cranberry Field Roast
Field Roast covered in puff pastry
stuffed with cranberrys, nuts, and
field roast sausage - the YUM!

Grilled Asparagus

Garlic Mashed Red Skin Potatoes


Bread Pudding

Maybe I'll have to try to make this dinner next week as a New Year's dinner - I have 3 days off! Perhaps this could also be a new tradition. I've got to figure something out because I expect last year was the last year.

Are you skipping any family traditions this year?

what i'm reading

2010-12-21T22:39:00.000-06:00

i'm never reading one book. and i never read one book quickly. here's what i'm reading currently - i can't wait for my THREE days off next week with no crafting planned to catch up on reading!

1. Eat.Shop Austin (for obvious reasons)
2. Please Feed Me (secret santa gift!)
3. Possum Living (to save even more money)
4. Body Ecology Diet (this book has been haunting me the past few days - i must need to learn something!)
5. Toolbox for Sustainable City Living (i plan on moving to a much more sustainable city with more resources)
6. Local Bounty (again, for obvious reasons)

Remember when I won the $100 amazon.com gift card from Real Zest? Well, books 1, 3, 5, and 6 are all results of that! I am so happy to have been able to receive such great books!

Do you ever use your holiday downtime to catch up on reading? Do you have any suggestions for me?

holiday!

2010-12-20T22:14:00.000-06:00

There are just 5 days left 'til Christmas. I have a lot of wrapping left to do, and a few present projects to finish up. I'll be sure to post a holiday wrap up when I get done (haha - wrap up! get it?)

We have a Christmas tree! Awesome ornaments from Bebito, Melissa Sue Stanley, Orange Fuzz Boutique, and Purple Hippo Stitches

My first fully completed gift - for my secret santa recipient! Featuring Cake Pops, a handmade batman pendant from Sunday Afternoon Housewife, and a handmade ornament.

Happy holidays from me, Mamus, and a heavy fucking fruitcake!

2010 in review.

2010-12-17T17:45:00.001-06:00

2010 in review via yarn. These scarves will be available only at the Handmade Promenade Last Minute Market tomorrow! They feature a lush blend of wool, alpaca, and cotton yarn.

Tomorrow, 5 - 9:30 at Pure Eatery!

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handmade promenade!

2010-12-11T18:28:00.000-06:00

The Handmade Promenade: Last Minute Market is next Saturday! Come support local artists & your community and find fabulous gifts for those loved ones you haven't yet bought for. Check out the Handmade Promenade blog to get a sneak peek at the artists participating & their wares. You'll be able to find anything for unique christmas ornaments to plush toys to ceramics.

I'll have knit goods & christmas ornaments, some photos from our nom nom nom! show, calendars from pinups for pets, some sweet treats (maybe), and mamus, of course.

pinups for pets

2010-12-09T11:15:00.001-06:00

Who doesn't love supporting a good cause & a local artist at the same time?

Check out PinUps for Pets to grab your $10 pinup calendar by local artist, Kirstin Hill. She's a wonderful photographer with a passion for animals. She has put together this fab calendar in record time with record talent to help support indyferal.org.

Her mission (from the site): "Every year animals in Indiana go hungry and suffer from poor living conditions, however local shelters help those in need. That’s where we come in, donating all proceeds to assist in these loving endeavors. This year’s beneficiary is IndyFeral, a non-profit organization caring for feral colonies and working to control populations through trap-neuter-release programs."

Preview Photos:

In an effort to help PinUps For Pets spread the love, I'll be selling calendars at our booth at the Handmade Promenade Last Minute Market on Saturday, December 18th at Pure Eatery. Stop by to pick yours up and help out our animal friends!

katherine fries & rebecca stockert

2010-12-08T23:14:00.002-06:00

I was fortunate enough to grab some Tidy Trays from Katherine Fries (Two-Thirds Studio) & work out a trade for an awesome wall pin-cushion (have you ever heard of such a thing!? It's a perfect wall piece for your sewing corner). Katherine is such a colorful person! Her items can be purchased from Two-Thirds studio in the Murphy Building on most First Fridays. Check her out (and Dany & Lauren, of course) if you get a chance!

We also got 5 magnets at Homespun over the weekend from artist Rebecca Stockert. Although she's been at a few craft fairs we've been at, we hadn't had a chance to grab anything.

Luckily, one of these magnets is a gift. So, that makes one gift I've taken care of for the holidays. Ugh, better get to it.

my new favorite (healthy) food

2010-12-06T13:00:00.000-06:00

I like food, that's no secret. I like food even more when it tastes good going down & is beneficial to my health! Enter Hidden Pond Farm's KimChi. Delicious & locally made, the raw fermented kimchi offers a nice dose of probiotics.

"Kimchi contains the bacterium called lactobacillus kimchii as well as other lactic acid bacteria that are beneficial to our gastrointestinal as well as immune systems. A typical kimchi made with Chinese cabbage, carrot, garlic, ginger, onion and pepper is also high in vitamin A, C, B1, B2, beta-carotene, calcium and iron. Animal studies also suggested that kimchi may be effective against the avian flu virus." excerpt from theconciouslife.com

Because of the presence of probiotics, kimchi is known to help reduce indigestion and gas and helps you feel less hunger. Some studies have shown that kimchi can actually shorten the duration of a cold. Other studies have shown that kimchi can help clear up yeast infections and urinary tract infections. (A healthy digestive tract and immune system function are closely linked.) The chili peppers and garlic are believed to help lower blood cholesterol and aid in blood-clotting.

So, next time your feeling a cold coming on or are craving something spicy & delicious to eat, try some KimChi!

nom nom nom!

2010-12-05T20:42:00.001-06:00

On Friday, Mamus & I finally utilized our studio at the Murphy Arts Center for First Friday. Our "show" was called "nom nom nom!" and essentially consisted of food related items.

I don't think I've mentioned here before, but I was way into photography much of my younger life. I took 2 years of photography in high school, and then proceeded to start at Herron School of Art & Design immediately after graduating. That didn't last long as I didn't agree with the way Herron was run. After quitting school, photography fell to the side. I've continued to enjoy it as a part-time hobby, but VERY part-time. I'm a bit old-school in thinking that photography consists of a camera & film - not a digital apparatus & computer.

So when I heard about a show that Renaissance Fine Art & Design in Carmel was having, I couldn't help but giggle. "Harry Sandler's Allusions of Reality features images from his frequent travels to various parts of the world. All the images are captured and processed using the IPhone 4 and the various applications available for the same." excerpt carmelchamberofcommerce.com

Don't get me wrong, I love all the applications available for smart phone photography. I think it's great to take a quick snapshot you weren't expecting and being able to give it a vintage feel, brighten it's colors, or catch action. But downloading a few applications doesn't necessarily call for a gallery show.

Anyways, I couldn't help but poke fun at it. I shot all photos with my HTC Droid Incredible phone.

I made delicious vegan chocolate cups to sell - which were fantastic & well received.

Mamus created these awesome food sculptures.

All in all, it was pretty fun. I drank some sweet wine, knit in public, talked to new people.

If you're interested in any of these pieces (sculptures or photos) let me know. All items are available! (Well, the baked potato sculpture may be called for)

vegan chocolate cups!

2010-12-02T23:53:00.000-06:00

After reading this post over on The Dainty Squid I realized it was once again that time of year. The time of year I always try to make candies but fail miserably. But, I always try and try again. This year = success! These vegan chocolate cups turned out marvelously, but I changed a few things around.

What you need:

chocolate cups:
1+1/4 c vegan chocolate chips
candy cup liners

fillings:
1 large spoonful of peanut butter + dash of salt + 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1 large spoonful of Suzannes RiceMellow
1 tbsp chopped crystallized ginger
(or whatever other yummy stuff you have in your pantry!)

What you do:

1. Melt chocolate chips over burner - use a double boiler if you have one or - heat water in large saucepan, melt chips in large bowl over saucepan. DO NOT boil water! Just heat water enough to melt chocolate chips - about medium heat will do.

2. When your chocolate is nice & melty, gently fill paper cups with thin layer of chocolate. I found the best way to do so is to use a teaspoon measure. Scoop warm chocolate out with measure and fill each cup with just a bit less than a spoonful. After filling about 20 cups, place in freezer on plate or pie pan for about 10 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, prepare your fillings. Heat the peanut butter over the "double-boiler" just until easy enough to work with, then add in salt and vanilla extract. Mix thoroughly. (At this point, if you've removed the chocolate bowl to heat the peanut butter, put that chocolate back over the warm water! You need it warmed again!) Fill a ziploc bag with the warm peanut butter mixture, then cut off the tube. (Alternatively, if you have pasty bags, use those!) Repeat process for RiceMellow.

4. Pull hardened chocolate cups out of freezer, and proceed to put fillings in. Squeeze small amount of peanut butter or RiceMellow in cups, or place a few pieces of chopped crystallized ginger. After filling all cups, pour just enough warmed chocolate on top to cover.

5. Stick filled cups back in freezer to harden tops. I suggest freezing at least 20 minutes more, overnight is even better. It's easy to use these as holiday candy gifts! Pop them in a clear plastic bag, tie a ribbon around the top - and voila!

Last but not least - check out what a cheap, easy, and handmade gift these can be! (ode to Lilly over at vegan on a budget)

1. Vegan Chocolate Chips - bags cost about $4 - $5 (depending on the brand). I went with bulk grain-sweetened chocolate chips from Georgetown Market for $7.29 per pound. About half a pound ($3.65) is all you need.

2. Peanut Butter - I don't usually keep peanut butter around, so I picked up some bulk peanut butter for $2.79 per pound (at Georgetown Market, of course). For one batch of 20 cups, you don't need much! Half a pound ($1.40) is more than enough for about 3 batches.

3. Salt - most of us have salt laying around. But, for fun, let's say I had to buy a small jar of sea salt for $1.99.

4. Vanilla Extract - again, most bakers have this laying around. But you can pick up a bottle of organic vanilla extract for about $5 - and this will last for way more chocolate cups than you could ever need.

5. Suzanne's RiceMellow - these 10oz jars cost around $5. You will have plenty of left to make peanut butter & ricemellow sammiches (just like grandma used to make)!

6. Crystallized Ginger - you can get ginger in bulk & packages - it's so cheap! Pick up what you need - it's no big deal having some extra lying around for when you have a tummy ache. A nice sized jar will cost you about $5.

So, if we add up the ingredients, we get $22.04. That's including buying all the ingredients from scratch. If you're like most people, lots of these ingredients are ones you already have. And you don't have to even use ricemellow or ginger! That takes the cost down to about $5 - that's only 25 cents per cup! You can give friends & family a delicious handmade gift for about $2!

Don't worry, I won't be giving EVERYONE these for Christmas. But I will if you ask...

austin, texas

2010-12-01T11:36:00.000-06:00

I've been scouring the internet for weeks for plane tickets to Austin, Texas. They went down by about $100 in price over the holiday weekend, but the times just weren't right. I waited too long, and now they're back up. Next time, I'll just bite the bullet.

Do you have any tips or tricks of finding cheap airline tickets?

today i am thankful for...

2010-11-26T01:42:00.000-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

crafty supermarket wrap-up

2010-11-22T21:44:00.000-06:00

What a crazy day! Waking up at 7am is no good for me. After slicing through the thickest fog I have EVER seen, we made it to Cincinnati around 10am. Walking in, there was a line already at the front door. It just kept getting longer and longer, and by the time it was time to open, it wrapped around the front of the building!

Mamus had a great day! It was his first time being able to take credit cards, thanks to Square, and it nearly doubled his sales. (We thank Sunday Afternoon Housewife for that tip!) The whole event had a great vibe about it. I think Crafty Supermarket is one of the best, most exciting, eclectic craft fairs I've ever been to.

I successfully purchased most items I set out to purchase, along with one bonus item for a baby shower gift!

Here's my loot:

From top left down:
1. Colette Paperie - http://www.colettepaperie.com/ - calendar & mini-journal
2. Owlette Collective - http://www.etsy.com/shop/owlettecollective - bib
3. One Pearl Button - http://www.onepearlbutton.com/ - postcard set
4. MorningLori - http://themorninglorivine.typepad.com/ - Petit, Caleb
5. The Littlest Bean - http://www.littlestbean.com/ - Barrettes

You'll notice the shoes are missing: one day....

Happy Monday! Hope you enjoy a short week thanks to Thanksgiving. (I sure don't get one, so enjoy it for me, too!)

Things I will buy at Crafty Supermarket

2010-11-19T21:02:00.001-06:00

Tomorrow is the day! Crafty Supermarket in Cincinnati!

I am lucky enough (well, that's all relative) to NOT be vending. I also am NOT working while in town, like I did during the Bloomington Handmade Market. I have plans to eat at Melt with my dear friend Greg Beale, help Mamus sell out of holiday ornaments & teeth, and buy stuff. Lots and lots of stuff. Well, hopefully not too much (I am trying to save money for school, you know). Here's a run down of what I plan (hope) to buy!

1. MorningLori Petit

I got my first plush from MorningLori (Lori Brown) last Christmas, and it's time to add another friend (or two). According to her blog, she has a "heap of new plush" she's bringing. I better go see her first thing so I get best choice.

2. Colette Paperie Calendar

No matter how terrible I am at using them, I love collecting calendars. This will be my first 2011 calendar purchase - and will be completely unlike your typical calendar or organizer!

3. Smartfish Shoes

I love these shoes. Everything about them is perfect. Shoes made using sustainable and local materials, without the use of any adhesives, and 100% vegan. It is not the season for flats, but I may have to take the plunge.

4. Hair Barrettes by The Littlest Bean

I have been in dire need of new hair barrettes for quite a while now. My hair hasn't been this long in over 15 years, and I can't wear it up in a ponytail any longer (too cold!). These are cute & colorful, and my favorite kind of clip! Having thick hair really limits my choice in barrettes.

5. Polaroids by One Pearl Button

I've been following this Alli's blog since last time we were in Cincinnati for Crafty Supermarket. This will be her first craft show, and I hope to help her have a positive experience. I have a certain special friend that loves polaroids & can't wait to see what surprise I can pick up for her from Alli.

Feel free to holler at me if you're there, I'll probably buy something from you too!

holiday ornaments

2010-11-16T23:19:00.000-06:00

I've been hard at work this past week on some holiday ornaments. Mamus is known for his little holiday monster ornaments, so needless to say, we have piles upon piles upon piles of glass bulbs lying around.

Last year's monster batch.

Feeling somewhat inspired after seeing this paper installation by Cathy of California - I decided it was high time I make some holiday ornaments. I love paper, I love working with paper, I love digging through piles of discarded scrapbooking paper nobody wants. Aside from my hex signs, I don't use my huge basketful of scrapbook paper quite enough. Enter my perfect opportunity.

May I present these beautiful, hand-crafted, paper ornaments. Glass bulbs covered with cut paper - somewhat reminiscent of a pinecone.

I'm trying to come up with a snazzy name for them. Any ideas?

too busy!

2010-11-14T22:24:00.000-06:00

I've been way too busy this week. Between work, visiting Cincinnati, and Ben Kweller, I haven't had time to think - write - relax.

On Thursday (my only day off during a 2-week period) we went to Fabricate in Cincinnati to drop off some artwork for the Microcosm show that Mamus is participating in. I also dropped off some men's knit bandanas for the shop. Fabricate just moved down the street next to Take the Cake, so it was great to get to check out their new digs. They've definitely moved up - lots more space! I'm excited to check it out again once they get everything together. I got a sweet pin.

Following our visit, we went and gorged ourselves at The Loving Hut - a vegan chain that's popping up everywhere. Within the last year, they've opened something like 160 locations! Crazy! It was pretty okay, but my favorite part was the pie - Raw Blueberry Cheesecake Pie (everything else tasted like basic chain fare, nothing to write home about, nothing better than what I could lazily put together at home).

Saturday, we took off to Bloomington after a crazy day at work to see the beautiful musical stylings of Ben Kweller. I can't get enough of this guy! What a weird show though - it was at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater so there were seats and no room to get up and move. It felt like most of the crowd wasn't interested in moving anyways, so I ended up seat dancing and singing-along mostly. It was a completely one-man show - it was Ben & his voice & guitar or piano. I can't wait to get to Austin so I don't have to wait 2 years between shows.

extreme craft weekend

2010-11-08T23:28:00.001-06:00

This weekend was Murphys Seasonal Bazaar & Bloomington Handmade Market. We also made a visit to Bloomingfoods (actually, 2!), Paper Crane, and Fountain Square Mall to visit Yarns Unlimited and Stefano's Ice Cafe. I was busy, and pooped by the end of it - to say the least.

The weekend began at the Murphys Seasonal Bazaar, where a bunch of us were crammed in the west hall offering a seemingly non-stop mile of art & crafty stuff (okay, a mile is a bit of an exaggeration). I loved how close in proximity we were to friends (like Martha of Sunday Afternoon Housewife and Michelle of Busty's Fun Bags) so we could actually chat! It was busy at times, but as with most first fridays, we had more lookers than buyers.

The next day we were up before the sun to head down for Bloomington Handmade Market. I wasn't vending, but Mamus was. I was running around town while he was slinging teeth & ornaments. I spent a few hours "working" at Bloomingfoods, and then picked us up some delicious lunch. I got to visit a favorite local yarn shop (even though I read many good reviews, it doesn't hold a candle to Mass Ave Knits) & we got coffee from our favorite Bloomington coffee shop, Stefano's Ice Cafe.

After wrapping up a pretty successful day, we headed over to Paper Crane for the after party (and to finally check out the space!). The space is beautiful - simple without being overwhelming. I'm excited to see where they go with things as they grow! We spent a while chatting with other tired folks like Mike Altman and Luke of Opera House Press before taking off for the hour long drive home.

And now I am 2 days into an extremely long work week - 6 days, 4 demos, and Georgetown Market's two-day anniversary sale. Not to mention the load of special orders I have to complete, and the men's scarves I'm making for Fabricate in Cincinnati. Whoa, I just got tired thinking about it!

Luckily there is a pot of gold at the end of this rainbow (week), and his name is Ben Kweller.

Have you ever seen a better tour poster? Once again, for the third time in under 2 weeks, I will return to Bloomington. If you know me, you know I don't like Bloomington. But, I think it's rubbing off on me. Any tips on where I should visit this weekend while I'm there?

Pomegranate Tattoo

2010-11-04T18:49:00.000-05:00

Well, I got it! I went with the beautiful bird with pomegranate branch illustration by Afsaneh (joojoo.com).

Thanks to Megan at metamorphosis for the amazing work.

Murphy's Seasonal Bazaar

2010-11-04T18:39:00.001-05:00

Join me at Murphys Seasonal Bazaar tomorrow, November 6th, from 6pm to 10pm, for part 2 out of 3 of my seasonal events!

I'll have more than enough warm, winter goods for you to wrap yourself in. And by the looks of things, you're going to need it. We've see a few rogue snowflakes today!

If you don't see anything you like tomorrow, I'm still taking custom orders! You can find the available styles & yarns over at nutritiousknitting.blogspot.com. Handmade gifts make great holiday gifts, and it's even better if it's customized to fit your preferences!

Saturday I'll be at the Bloomington Handmade Market with Mamus slinging his goods.

He'll have some of his ever popular monster balls, cute hair pins, new drawings, & these amazing little teeth.

See you soon (hopefully)!

great awesome giving aways!

2010-11-01T22:49:00.000-05:00

There are some pretty awesome giveaways going on around the internets right now, and I thought I should probably share them with you! Most of these giveaways require a simple comment, and extra entries are given for twitter follows & facebook "likes" - you get the drill. Check 'em out!

The Dainty Squid has teamed up with Boojiboo to giveaway one awesome handmade apron. You can enter until November 4th! (P.S. The Dainty Squid will be announcing a new giveaway each week - don't miss it!) I know, when you visit her site, you might be distracted by the bright colors & cute kitties - but please remember to enter!

The Long Thread is working with Sweet Pea Patterns to give away 5 super-cute baby shoe patterns to 5 super-lucky winners. You have until November 4th to enter. While you're over there, please peruse her site. The Long Thread is consistently posting things that are too cute for words - including tons of projects you can make yourself!

The Vegan Etsy Team is working with a number of their team members to do a fabulous prize pack giveaway to help celebrate World Vegan Day (that's today, November 1!). This contest runs through the end of the month, so enter now before you forget! This blog makes shopping vegan on etsy a little easier, I'll probably be shopping for the kids over on Indy Vegans according to the team members/contributors on this blog.

Love, Lizze is a new (to me) blog that I've recently stumbled upon. She's giving away her first set of Babushka Sisters she created. These little dolls are super cute and would be perfect for just about any size kid. You have until November 5th to enter, and can enter once each day. I want these for my dogs to cuddle with (they will ONLY be allowed to cuddle with them when they're sleeping). You can always bypass entering and just buy a set here.

Rawmazing is giving away a neat 2011 calendar with 13 months of recipe cards. The calendar is in a CD jewel case so it's a great desk calendar. (Have you seen these calendar templates popping up on the internet? Ali at One Pearl Button just made the cutest one out of photos she took of her friends greyhound.) Anyways, they're giving away 2 calendars - one for you and one for a friend. This contest is only taking entries until 10pm tomorrow!

Pink Dandy Chatter has teamed up with Orglamix to giveaway three colors of the different formulas (like eyeshadow, blush, foundation, etc. - details on the blog). There are a ton of ways to earn entries to win. Check it out! Mineral makeup is a great alternative to pore-clogging chemical laden cosmetics. Let your skin breath!

I hope I informed you about some giveaways you didn't know about yet. Good luck!

horror movies

2010-11-01T00:13:00.002-05:00

Well, October has come & gone. Halloween is over - but that is no reason to put away the horror movies. I used to try and watch one horror movie a day in the month of October (I don't have time for that anymore!) but this year I only managed to get a handful in. Here are three noteworthy (bad & good) horror/bloody/creepy films I came across this October.

1. The Human Centipede: I don't know whether to call it a horror film, science fiction, or just downright outrageously creepy. I was squeamish during the whole film - just thinking about the situation the characters were in. To be honest, the movie had a terrible start. If it weren't for the creep level, I probably I would have turned this off half-way through. I don't know if I'm happy about that or not. If you like creepy films - I recommend it!

2. The Death Factory: Bloodletting: Lots of blood & gore. This film totally bored me and couldn't really keep my attention. The story behind everything was okay, I guess, but I don't felt it was explored very well. I can't really say much more about it. If you like bloody messes, it might be for you.

3. I Think We're Alone Now: Okay, so not a typical "horror" film. This is actually a documentary about 2 obsessed Tiffany fans. If I were Tiffany, I would categorize this under "horror." The fans are completely out of their minds over Tiffany and have no clue how outrageous they are. Great film, interesting characters. If you like documentaries, and pop culture, watch it!

Did you catch any awesome horror (or not so horror) films this month?

etsy treasury

2010-10-26T23:34:00.000-05:00

I only seem to make Etsy treasuries around the holiday season. Perhaps it's because I'm looking for gifts to get for friends & family, or maybe it's so I have plenty of ideas on hand for my family.

Here's the first...of many I'm sure. And of course, it's all pomegranate - I can't stop thinking about them! I'll take one of each, please!

'pomegranate perfect'

//pomegranates - the most beautiful fruit on the planet & a perfect representation of femininity.//

Pomegranate printed bro... fawa $6.00	Tulle Flower Headband -... MaieDae $8.00	Pomegranate Ruby Black ... Artesserae $250.00
OOAK Vintage Dictionary... oliviamoon $12.00	Pomegranate print nottapixiepres... $15.00	Pomegranate branch (8.5... joojoo $25.00
Pomegranate tree cushio... roddyandginger $38.00	Pomegranate Giclee Prin... CindyLindgren $25.00	Yaroma - Pomegranate Ma... Sephyra $24.00
Pomegranate love tea co... IbsenLab $33.00	Pink Pomegranate Jar -L... StudioElan $48.00	Porcelain Pomegranate V... NewMoonStudio $38.00
Pomegranate Soap Smellitlikeiti... $5.00	pomegranate-hand carved... fawa $3.50	SALE Pomegranate Flower... circularaccess... $24.00

Generated using Treasury HTML code generator by Whale Shark Websites.

Have you made your first holiday treasury?

the crazy, yet oddly balanced day

2010-10-25T23:58:00.001-05:00

Luckily, a ton of different good things have not happened today. If they had, I would have probably ended up having a more negative day.

The pomegranate tattoo appointment fell through! Once I arrived at work, I received a text that the only appointment that was available was now between 1pm & 3pm. Bummer! Jessica still went, and got a little Indiana tattoo. I, on the other hand, now have that much more time to ponder upon exactly which design I want to go with!

These are the two finalists:

I'm leaning towards the first one for a few reasons. The pomegranate is beautiful, yet incredibly simple. I love the detail on the wing, as well as the little lace sort of pattern on the birds neck. The bird is also incredibly close to one of the designs that I use in my hex signs, which makes it even more special. While the second is a really beautiful illustration, I'm just not all that sure how well it would work as a tattoo.

I have a short shift at work tomorrow, and I think I'm going to utilize my afternoon to go speak with the good folks at Metamorphisis. I've been told I should speak with Matt or Megan, so here's hoping that one of them is there!

To balance out the sadness that was no tattoo, shortly after I received an e-mail from raw foods chef Audrey Barron letting me know that she can use my help this Friday for her class "Unbake: Breads, Crackers, & Cookies in the Raw!" being held at Perk Up Cafe in Broad Ripple. This should be an awesome time, and right up my alley. I am totally ready to start learning alternative cooking methods from professionals. There are a few spots still available if you're interested in coming to the event!

The other bad part of my day, I found my shower leaking. All over the floor, lots and lots of dirty water. The plumbing in my building is old & confusing. So, a lot of clogs happen. My boyfriend & the landlord had to tear out part of the wall. Eeek :/

It's alright, though, cause I won a $100 Amazon gift card for the awesome folks over at Real Zest! If you haven't checked out the website, I highly suggest doing so. It's run by a group of interesting and unique women with something to say, and say it! My favorite article so far is In defense of the Choice to be Childless - I couldn't have said things better myself.

I think the good far outweighed the bad today. I'll leave you with this, just in case your day wasn't so balanced, this should at least put a smile on your face!

pomegranate pie

2010-10-25T10:01:00.000-05:00

I've been obsessing over pomegranates ever since my lovely friend Sham taught me to to shuck/seed/whatever you want to call it, a pomegranate last week. So last night, I tried my hand at making a pomegranate pie. The crust was basically a fail, the insides turned out delicious! So head on over to nutritious knitting, my cooking/school fundraising blog, to check it out!

Keeping in the theme of pomegranate, I'm going to get a new tattoo today. A pomegranate tattoo. With my dear friend, Jessica, who is moving back to Hawaii tomorrow. She was the first person to ever share with me the deliciousness that is pomegranate. She wanted to get a tattoo before she left, and we tried to bounce ideas of one another. Then, just a few days ago, a pomegranate was suggested. Perfect! I've got lots of artwork I like, and only about 7 more hours to decide.

What do you think?

special orders galore.

2010-10-21T17:10:00.000-05:00

I've been absent again, I do apologize.

I am still "participating" in the blogging workshop, by reading & thinking about each prompt. Unfortunately, I haven't had the time to actually post entries! This is, in all actuality, not unfortunate. I've been incredibly busy trying to crank out special orders. Of the 10 (yes, ten) special orders I received in the past two weeks, I have gotten 4+3/4 pieces done. On top of a few items for the Murphy's Seasonal Bazaar, and a knit cap for the Santorini Benefit being held tonight at the Vollrath. My fingertips are sore and I've gone through yards & yards of yarn.

I'm not complaining, trust me!


Santorini Benefit Prize Pack featuring:

Knit bow & Cap by me!

Pendants & Ring by Sunday Afternoon Housewife

Hipster by Bustys Fun Bags

Small Wall Hanging & Belt Buckle by Mamus!

Gift Certificate courtesy of Homespun:Modern Handmade

handmade promenade!

2010-10-15T17:42:00.001-05:00

It's this weekend! I hope to make it (I have to work, like usual) to start my holiday shopping list! Alot of my favorite local artists will be there like Sunday Afternoon Housewife, Busty's Fun Bags, and Geek Soap. Rumor has it that the weather will be perfect, and the Promenade is held in conjunction with the Broad Ripple Music Fest - one of the best music fests Indianapolis has to offer.

These events really get my holiday juices flowing (I like to start formulating ideas earlier rather than later) so that I can be proactive about the holidays and make sure I can get everyone something unique & thoughtful. How early do you start your holiday shopping list? Any events that you can recommend for me to check out (in the midwest, of course!)?

schedule schmedule

2010-10-13T22:52:00.000-05:00

If it was a perfect world, I would spend my days knitting scarves & hats & toys, rolling in the grass with my dogs, cooking vegan food, and watching Tom Hanks films.

Unfortunately, that is not my life. I would like to work less - but work pays the bills. And work also provides money to buy supplies to knit into items that I can sell so that I can save money to go to school.

Luckily, my job is pretty "easy" for lack of a better term. I chat with folks all day - they ask silly questions, I answer them, and then get to chuckle about it later. Sometimes, I even get a few stitches in or a few paragraphs read. I'm a people person 9 to 5, (more like 12 to 8) so after work I love to curl up on the couch and knit and turn "off." I get alot of crafting done as I try to relax from work - luckily for me it's actually not relaxing to sit there and do nothing.

On a perfect day (and this is ....sometimes... what happens on my days off) I wake up at my regular time (9) and watch court TV shows while perusing the internet for anything I may have missed the night before. I drink my coffee, take a shower, then I put on a movie and knit. After that, I can do pretty much anything and the day is a solid win in my book since I was productive at the start of my day!

What does your schedule look like? How do you find time get all your crafting done?

blogging workshop: playing catch-up

2010-10-12T22:37:00.000-05:00

I've been completely & utterly consumed with knitting & new tasks at work these past few days. I haven't been doing the blogging workshop prompts, but I have been thinking about them. Am I procrastinating?

So this is me, playing catch-up. I have a brief moment in between knitting projects (which, by the way, you can see the new cap I made over at my nutritious knitting blog).

Our first prompt of the week was to write a book review! A book review?!? I haven't read a craft book in ages - I guess I like to learn most of my crafty knowledge by experience & through others. But, when we were in Cincinnati for crafty supermarket this past spring, we managed to pick up Grace Dobush's Crafty Superstar.

I whizzed through this book in just a couple of days - being a seasoned craft fair vendor/attendee, there wasn't a ton of knowledge for me to learn. Chapters 5 (Get Noticed) and 6 (Finding Balance) were more up my alley - but were a little bit further than where I was ready to go.

This book is CRUCIAL for crafters wanting a basic idea of what to expect and some great tips on how to get to their goal. It's written from a DIY perspective & is fun and interesting enough to keep anybody's attention. The whole end of the book (Appendix A-I) are probably the most helpful parts of any book I have.

And lastly, I will share a mission statement with you:
I am an artist, through and through. Knitting is an art, paper crafts are an art, even food is an art. To me, art & creativity are everywhere and in everything. I love sharing mine, and I love sharing yours.

five friday faves!

2010-10-08T22:24:00.001-05:00

i've got five favorite etsy plush artists to share with you!

1. Sleepy King

Who doesn't love woodland creatures? I don't think I would really want to know you if you didn't love these little creatures. Bears, bunnies, owl wings, even raccoons!

2. Steff Bomb

Steff Bomb is consistently coming out with clever plush items for those of us that love food. They're funny, they're cute, and they are serious top quality.

3. Cronopia6

You can find tons of cute & colorful plush items in the Cronopia6 shop.

4. Melissa Sue

Melissa Sue has an amazing talent for making slightly creepy, slightly cute plush items. Better knows as "soft sculptures," these creatures have an amazing amount of attention paid to little details. Melissa Sue recently moved across the sea to Zurich & while she was getting settled her shop was pretty sparse. I'm really excited to see some new items up!

5. Snaulkter

Seahorses are pretty freaking neat if you just sit back for a minute and think about it. Sea horses come in the chessman variety, soda-straw and plant-like shapes, and range in size from one to eleven inches. They can change colors to blend in with their surroundings and beat their dorsal fins nearly as fast as a hummingbird beats its wings. Seahorses live in long-term monogamous partnerships - and the male seahorse actually carries the young to term. This shop is full of my favorite sea creatures!

Do you have some etsy plush artists that you can recommend?

pro·cras·ti·na·tion

2010-10-07T21:40:00.000-05:00

who doesn't like to put things off every once in a while? i know i do, and once i start procrastinating, i really don't stop. it's like a snowball effect.

for me, the best and practically only way i stop procrastinating is by diving into a project that isn't too tedious. one that can be completed fairly quickly & easily. once that one is completed, that sense of accomplishment tends to keep me motivated (for the next few days, at least).

if i have a few larger projects looming in the distance, i try to break them up in to smaller pieces. do bit by bit instead of thinking about the final product. it's almost a surprise when everything comes together & is done.

do you have any tips to beat your procrastinating self?

higgins waterproof drawing ink

2010-10-06T22:16:00.001-05:00

(it's my fortieth post, and i think i've decided to actually start giving posts titles. interesting idea? i think so.)

today i'm going to tell you a little about higgins waterproof drawing ink. i've figured out that this is mamus' secret weapon - i swear, before i knew about this stuff, i couldn't paint.

but put a paintbrush in my hand now, ask me to do details - and, voila! after a quick warm-up i feel like i've been painting for days. this acrylic ink glides on smoothly to any sort of paper/paint surface like it just knows where to go.

do you have a favorite paint/ink? i'd love to know some more brands that i could try!

thirty-ninth

2010-10-05T21:16:00.000-05:00

for the third day of the october blogging workshop we have been asked to create an "about" page - clearly one of the things people hate writing about most! funny thing is, it never even crossed my mind that perhaps someone might want to know something "about me" without having to skim through all of my posts. so, if you want to know "about me", click that little link up in the left-hand corner. need to know anything else? please feel free to ask!

thirty-eighth

2010-10-04T09:05:00.003-05:00

happy monday! it's my first full week of the october blogging workshop run by sunday afternoon housewife. it only makes sense that we will be doing a recap of our crafty vendor/shopper weekend. this past first friday, i was a vendor at the indieana handicraft exchange mini fall even at the harrison center for the arts.

i split a table with mamus, as i wasn't sure in the beginning if i wanted to vend. and to be honest, i wish i hadn't bothered. the whole event was really terrible for me. it was great getting to see friends i haven't seen in a while, meeting a bunch of new people, and getting to see some new items from my favorite artists - but aside from that, meh.

i had a similar experience at the last handicraft exchange, so it's really forcing me to take a look at what i'm doing. during the summer event we were outside where the temperature was 90 degrees plus and a lot of the shoppers didn't even know we were part of the event. this time around the event was very poorly advertised in my opinion - no flyers, posters, and very minimal online advertising. after having conversations with past vendors and shoppers, it came to light that many people did not even know the event was happening. that's all fine and good, but i have to wonder, am i just making up excuses to make me feel better?

i can't really tell. i get a lot of good feedback from my items - "that's cute!" "how funny!" "this is beautiful" "how soft" - but i don't get a lot of sales. perhaps it was too soon for scarves, perhaps many of the shoppers did not plan on buying anything as it was a first friday event (where the majority of people aren't shopping), or perhaps i'm just missing....something.

i have one more event coming up on friday, november 5 - Murphys Seasonal Bazaar. i have higher hopes for this one - the murphy building's artists have put together this event, hopefully the first of many!

thirty-seventh

2010-10-03T23:30:00.002-05:00

i've taken on quite an ambitious cause (one of my own, so it's excusable).

head on over to nutritiousknitting.blogspot.com to see what's happening.

i hope you can take part! please, also, if you have any recommendations/criticism/helpful tips, do let me know!

thirty-sixth

2010-10-01T23:49:00.003-05:00

this marks the beginning of the October blogging workshop run by the amazingly fun martha of sunday afternoon housewife fame.

i've been wanting to write more & participate in a workshop, and when i saw her post that she was offering one the other day - i couldn't pass it up! so, here goes nothing!

our first prompt was to check out some new-to-me craft blogs on the interwebs and poke around them to find out what i like/didn't like. what's better than looking at new crafty goodness!?!

first up:
polka dot robot
the first thing that struck me was how well (& how many) photos were used - photos for everything! i love being about to see photos about what i'm reading about, instead of just imagining things. don't get me wrong - i love using my imagination - but seeing what someone is actually writing about is great! i am totally one of those people that wants to take a photo of everything to share it, but i forget to take the photograph! while i enjoyed the idea of having 4 different crafty ladies post on the blog, it did in part feel like i was reading 4 different blogs at once - which felt a bit confusing.

next:
loladee (actually was a click-through link from polka dot robot that i couldn't pass up reviewing!
i immediately was drawn to the simple, bubbly graphics. the first post was "5 things [i fell in love with] friday." i gotta tell ya, i love these things. i love seeing what other people love - because more often than not, they are truly love-able! this can actually lead to a endless chain of link-clicking and cuteness - i've lost days at a time by doing this. the design of this blog is so simple, yet everything pops so dramatically. i am definitely adding this one to my google reader!

last:
bakerella
the first thing i see on this site is a big beautiful red apple. i love food, food is fighting for my number 1 passion (along with creating things). any time you blog about food, you're a#1 in my book. when you attach incredible photos to that, you're golden. i could look at these photos for hours (i imagine a snack will be had after this post...) i love that this blog has minimal design, but plenty of content. simple colors and graphics lead to a simple, easy to navigate site. this site did have a negative for me - the corporate advertising. these ads felt ridiculously out of place and really ruined the vibe for me.

well, that looks like it for today! my next prompt is monday - can't wait!

thirty-fifth

2010-09-23T23:49:00.002-05:00

oh, hey blog world. where have you been?

upcoming fall events include:

october/1: indieana handicraft exchange fall mini
november/5: murphy's seasonal bazaar

new items should show in up bloomington at the paper crane gallery and in indianapolis at homespun: modern handmade.

there are new scarves, hex signs, and paintings to be seen!

here is the tiniest preview!

see you soon!

thirty-fourth

2010-08-07T09:38:00.002-05:00

puppies for sale!

thirty-fifth

2010-07-28T11:35:00.003-05:00

i had a birthday. i turned 29. that's only one year away from 30. i'm absolutely completely totally unsure how i feel about this.

but, these birthday cupcakes helped me make it through.

berry birthday cupcakes

3 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 1/4 cups sucanat
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, melted
1/4 cup coconut oil
2 large eggs
1 cup yogurt
1 cup whole milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoon grated lemon peel
1 1/4 cups fresh blueberries & strawberries, frozen for 4 hours (you can mix these together or keep them separate)

blueberry frosting

4 oz. cream cheese
1 cup powdered sugar
mashed blueberries (to taste)

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two 12-cup muffin pans with paper liners.
2. Sift flour into large bowl. Mix in sucanat, baking powder & soda, and salt.
3. Whisk melted butter and oil in medium bowl. Add eggs; whisk to blend. Whisk in yogurt, milk, vanilla extract, and lemon peel.
4. Add liquid mixture to dry ingredients; whisk just to blend. Stir in frozen berries. Divide batter among liners.
5. Bake cupcakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 20 minutes.
6. Process all frosting ingredients in food processor/blender.
6. After cupcakes are cooled, squeeze a dollop of frosting on top of cupcake. Place fresh berries in frosting.

thirty-fourth

2010-07-14T23:14:00.007-05:00

it's been a lazy summer. i think i forgot how to post blogs.

i created a website for james: blahmamus.com

we are working on creating items for first friday in august, cleverly titled "dogust." we happened across this website after coming up with the idea & decided it will be even more awesome to donate half of our sales to a local shelter (yet to be decided upon) so the dogs can celebrate their birthdays properly. there are a few other artists that may join us, we'll see. (if you're interested, shoot me an email!)

here's a little bit of a preview:

hopefully it will be pretty cute & eclectic, to say the least.

we are also looking for someone to share the studio space at the murphy. the space would comfortably fit 3 to 4 artists - so if you know anyone that needs space, please send them our way.

one last note; i've now got items for sale in homespun over in irvington. you ought to check it out if you haven't yet! the first of it's kind in indianapolis - it's full of local, handmade goodness.

thirty-third

2010-06-12T22:06:00.006-05:00

what you missed:

+ duck pond was popular and we had 5 grand prize winners!
+ i finally got some sun
+ watched my friends get married in the middle of everything
+ lots of great response to the bookmarks from my fellow crafters
+ free lunch
+ new people! and old friends :)

- tent blowing away due to crazy winds
- dropping james' keys in the sewer
- too hot to shop
- didn't get to see any of the booths inside
- sunburn
- forgetting my hex signs! (luckily, james scooted back to get them)

thirty-second

2010-05-22T23:09:00.005-05:00

did i ever mention i'd be vending at the indieana handicraft exchange? i don't think i did, but i am! it's just 3 weeks away now.

i'll be spending the day outside with mamus under a big tent.

the first 50 attendees get a free swag bag, if you're one of those lucky guests, you may just get a coupon from us!

thirty-first

2010-04-26T22:26:00.002-05:00

i love cakes. i love baked goods. i love cupcakes. i love sweet snacks. i love decorating things with icing. i love this blog.

cakewrecks.blogspot.com

i love the wrecks...

and i love that there are "sunday sweets"; beautifully tremendous perfect looking cakes.

thirtieth

2010-04-16T22:19:00.004-05:00

this week has made me feel almost like a new person.

my old stressful, downward-spiraling, hands-tied, under-appreciated job/position was done as of last friday.

this week a new, bustling, enjoyable, product-filled, slower-paced job/position began.

i find myself walking around with a bit of a smile on my face. i feel like seeing people, going out, being active more. i want to actually converse with people. this is a complete 180 from where i was just one measly week ago.

i've got goals, & i'm figuring out how to reach them. and i think this change of job was just the first step.

good things are happening, things are changing. awesome.

tomorrow is the crafty supermarket! road trip to cincinnati! (& to ikea for new blinds)

twenty-ninth

2010-04-08T22:46:00.009-05:00

take your business cards EVERYWHERE.

i don't know how many times i've been asked about this or that whenever i accessorize (if you will) with a handmade item. i've been referring the hell out of the bloomington handmade market, the indieana handicraft exchange, busty's fun bags, and mamus!

while my card doesn't refer people directly to them, it does refer them to my blog, and - voila! there are all the links!

aside from that, the handmade market was a great time! we failed to get any really good pictures due to some terrible lighting, but it was still fun. i've even ran into a few of my customers out in the real world this week...strange.

that's me & my craft fair buddy, kate. we obviously had a good time!

twenty-eighth

2010-04-02T22:23:00.006-05:00

my first batch of hex signs are done!

you can find full sized photos over at flickr.

they will be available TOMORROW, april 3, at the Bloomington Handmade Market in Bloomington, IN!

twenty-seventh

2010-03-13T16:50:00.005-06:00

Wow. What a crazy couple of weeks.

I've moved, and had every possible thing go wrong with my move - from the truck breaking down, to having to go shower-less for almost a week, to having a problem with most every utility - most noteably, at&t (no surprise there). I've had my purse stolen. I could hardly walk for 2 days due to carrying so many heavy items during the move (I'm turning in to my mom). I've had some super dramatic events happen at work. And, to top everything off, I was offered a position at Georgetown Market!

Now, I love my store...how could I not? I've been there for 5+ years. I've got great employees, great customers, and I get to be involved in a industry where I learn something new every single day. But the dramatics that have been happening as of late (to be honest, for the past 2 years, it's just gotten way out of control) have made me dread going in to open the store & see what's waiting for me. I made a goal for myself at the beginning of the year to find a new job. I'm positive that my changing jobs with give my store the kick in the ass it needs to shit or get off the pot, so to speak. And I'm sure that this new position at Georgetown will secure my future and ease my stress, while still allowing me to stick around the industry I love and be surrounded by interesting & unique people.

I'm happy.

So now, I'm getting settle in my new place, and getting ready to get settled in my new job (in a month). It's still hard to wrap my head around, but I'm so ready.

First up, Bloomington Handmade Market on Saturday, April 3. I'm working on a collection of pretty cool hex signs (if I may say so) to bring down to the event. I'll have a few other knit & sewn odds and ends as well. See ya there?

twenty-sixth

2010-02-26T09:37:00.006-06:00

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

2010-02-09T21:59:00.005-06:00

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

2010-02-02T10:51:00.005-06:00

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!

twenty-third

2010-01-16T23:34:00.002-06:00

When I'm not creating things with my hands, cooking/baking, or working....I'm thrifting.

James & I finally got our asses in gear and started our vintage etsy shop!

Take a peek!

twenty-second

2009-12-28T22:48:00.005-06:00

On December 27th, we finally made our Christmas Dinner!

It was too bad we didn't have any gifts left-over to unwrap after such a wonderful meal.

I couldn't find a field roast to cook, so I opted for a quorn turk'y roast. I've always had good experience with other quorn products, so I figured it was a pretty safe bet.

& I figured right. James said something to the effect that the quorn roast was the closest to the "real thing" that he has ever had.

Unfortunately, I didn't read the directions very well, and failed to notice I should get a roast bag so I could get all the delicious flavors in there. So, instead I just mixed up herbs & olive oil and poured it over top, after poking lots and lots of holes in the outer wrapping. It didn't turn out half bad!

We baked sweet potatoes!

& the best part: apple-cranberry-"sausage" stuffing & vegetarian gravy! The gravy even started getting that little film over top of it like the real stuff!

Easy 4-Ingredient Vegetarian Gravy (from vegweb.com)

Ingredients:

2 tbsp vegetable oil
2 tbsp flour
1 cup homemade (if possible) vegetable stock
whole herbs- sprigs of thyme, bay leaves, rosemary

Directions:

1. Heat oil over medium high heat. Sift in your flour evenly and stir. Cook the flour until a light tan color.
2. When your roux is a nice tan color, add your broth and spices. Cook, stirring constantly for 5-10 minutes or until thickened.
3. Remove your spices and season with salt and pepper.

Apple, Cranberry, Sausage Stuffing

Ingredients

3 cups cubed sourdough bread
10 ounces ground fake sausage (or, you can use real sausage?)
1/2 cup + 2 tbsp chopped onion
1/3 cup + 2 tbsp chopped celery
Fresh sage, rosemary, and thyme (enough for your liking)
1 Golden Delicious apple, cored and chopped
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup vegetable stock
3 tbsp unsalted butter, melted

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degree F (175 degree C). Spread the bread cubes in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Bake for 5 to 7 minutes in the preheated oven, or until evenly toasted. Transfer toasted bread cubes to a large bowl.
2. In a large skillet, cook the sausage and onions over medium heat, stirring until evenly browned. Add the celery, sage, rosemary, and thyme; cook, stirring, for 2 minutes to blend flavors.
3. Pour sausage mixture over bread in bowl. Mix in chopped apples & dried cranberries.
4. Pack dressing loosely in buttered baking dish. Drizzle with stock & melted butter. Bake for 40 minutes.
5. Take stuffing out and drizzle with a little more butter. Cook about 20 minutes more, until top is is crisp & golden.

Food is awesome!

twenty-first

2009-12-27T00:04:00.009-06:00

I've had a very etsy christmas!

James & I both purchased gifts on etsy, we've created some gifts & are in the processing of posting the extras on etsy, and finally, christmas night I created an etsy treasury list.

Am I a bit addicted? I think so...

I thought we needed more than just monster ornaments for the tree, so I bought a cute little wool bird from Melissa Sue.

For my boss, I bought this cute (nursing) necklace from Natural Kids Toys. Although she isn't pregnant or anything, I'm sure she'll love it & will probably end up pregnant again some day.

James got quite a few etsy gifts....a moped shot glass from Of Mine Design.

An elephant taxi from Bunny With a Toolbelt. (if you haven't checked her stuff out yet, you really should, like, right now!)

And finally some little monsters from Happycloud Thunderhead.

And I finally got my very own petit from Morning Lori (lori brown)! I've been eyeing these cute stuffed creatures for months now. I'm so stoked!

Finally, here's a link to the christmas night treasury list: midwest is best! (it's so true)

This christmas has been one of the best yet! Christmas dinners have consisted of mushroom ravioli, chinese food, and gumbo. We're making a "traditional" dinner tomorrow (stay tuned for how that turns out :\). I feel like I gave awesome gifts, received awesome gifts, and spent every penny (pretty) wisely. I'm happy that I made a few people's christmas' with handmade items. I pretty much had the best company ever (james & my girls).

I still have gifts to give out that I'm way excited about, and a christmas party to attend with my Origins girls. Cheers to the holiday not ending officially until January 3rd!

twentieth

2009-12-20T22:16:00.003-06:00

I'm feeling more holiday spirit this year than I have, well, ever.

I enjoyed searching out gifts, i enjoyed purchasing gifts, i enjoyed wrapping gifts! (much thanks to etsy for making this part most enjoyable! - although now I am hopelessly addicted to constantly checking the site to see what new things I can find.)

I wrote Christmas cards.

I'm excited to have a Christmas eve dinner planned with James including homemade apple stuffing, roasted veggies of some sort, and (hopefully) a field roast - which I keep hearing is the perfect thing for Christmas dinner.

I have a "tree" of sorts.

I even bought a Christmas ornament!

Are you feeling more holiday spirit this year than usual?

sixteenth

2009-12-10T21:57:00.007-06:00

I ran across this fantastic looking recipe over at bakingbites.com shortly after realizing I was in need of some way to use up some cream cheese. It was just sitting there in my fridge begging to be used, and there were no bagels in sight!

Cream Cheese-Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
3/4 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
1 cup butter, room temperature
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 large egg
2 tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups chocolate chips

Cream Cheese Filling

6-oz cream cheese, room temperature
2-oz white chocolate, melted and cooled
2 tbsp sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract

(Make the cookie dough:)
1. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt.

2. In a large bowl, cream together butter, sugar and brown sugar until light. Beat in egg, milk and vanilla extract. With the mixer on low speed or by hand, blend in the flour mixture, stirring only until no streaks of flour remain. Stir in chocolate chips.

3. Divide dough into two equal parts. Place each on a sheet of wax or parchment paper and shape into a log. Wrap in paper and chill logs for 1-2 hours, until firm.

(Make the cream cheese filling:)
1. Combine all filling ingredients in a medium bowl and mix at medium-high speed until smooth. Set aside.

(Assemble the cookies:)
1. Preheat oven to 350F. Spray baking sheet with canola oil.

2. Remove dough logs from the fridge. (I suggest working with one at a time! If it's your first batch, I would even cut the logs in half so as to be able to work at your own speed - the dough is so much easier to shape and seal when cool.) Using a sharp knife, divide each log into eight even slices (total of 16 big slices of cookie dough).

3. Working with one piece of cookie dough at a time, flatten the dough into a 3-4-inch wide oval-ish shape between your palms. Place about 1 tbsp cream cheese filling in the center of the dough, then pinch the sides of the dough together to seal (they'll look like tiny calzones!) Work carefully so all the filling is sealed inside. Place on the baking sheet. Repeat with remaining dough.

4. Bake for 18-20 minutes, until cookies are golden brown around the edges. Cool on the baking sheet for 2-3 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.

Makes 16 big cookies.

About halfway through the process, I came to realize I didn't have enough cream cheese to make the suggested amount of filling! Peanut butter to the rescue!

Fluffy Peanut Butter Filling

1/4 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1-2 tablespoons milk, or as needed
3/4 cups powdered sugar

Directions

1. Place the butter and peanut butter into a medium bowl, and beat with an electric mixer.

2. Gradually mix in the sugar, and when it starts to get thick, incorporate milk bit by bit until all of the sugar is mixed in and the frosting is light, fluffy, and a light tan color. (The best frosting is made by just tasting as you go)

fifteenth

2009-11-22T20:24:00.013-06:00

bloomington handmade market has now come and gone. there was a pretty nice turnout & a nice selection of products/artists - overall pretty successful for a first time craft show/fair. i didn't do as well as i had hoped, but still good!

here are a couple of shots of our "booth":

it was crazy sunny in there the first half of the day - probably the first day in a few months that i got my fill of vitamin d!

my poor scarves didn't sell as well as i had thought they would. but i've come to somewhat of a conclusion based on comments & whispers that i've heard - everyone believes a hand knit scarf is something that they can make themselves. james suggested that my knitting is "too good" and doesn't look hand knit (awww, isn't he sweet) so people are not so inclined to purchase such an item.

regardless, since most of my knitting patterns are based upon my own designs, i think having a pattern (or small pattern book?!?) available for sale may be the way to go. maybe even a kit...

james had tons of success with his monster balls:

aside from the fair itself, my car was trying to overheat the whole way down there - but we made it. we unfortunately drank some terrible coffee but then made up for it with some super delicious coffee (from stefanos cafe! we met some super nice people. some lovely friends drove down to meet us and eat fried pickles & greek food. and on the way home we stopped to get a thin mint blizzard!

next up, holiday hoopla - indieana handicraft exchange mini on friday, december 4th @ the chatham center. i'll basically be selling monster balls for james, a few scarves, and perhaps some of my own holiday items (handmade stockings? knit ornaments?). should be fun fun fun - terrible sleep pattern time in full effect!

fourteenth

2009-11-18T21:15:00.007-06:00

so what do you do to avoid finishing projects and getting things ready before craft fairs? (or, whatever responsibilities you may have pending)

apparently - i decided the thing to do is bake!

but first, i put james to work cutting out my tags/cards. (multi-tasking at it's finest?)

then i baked corn bread, blondies, and these yummy fruit jam strips!

Glazed Fruit Jam Strips

1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons coconut oil
2 tablespoons butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg yolk
1+1/2 cups Original Bisquick mix
**jam of your choice for filling (i opted for strawberry, organic apricot, & a delicious homemade grape given to me by a local farmer)

Glaze (optional)
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 to 2 teaspoons milk

1. Heat oven to 350°F.

2. In medium bowl, mix brown sugar, coconut oil, butter, vanilla and egg yolk until blended. Stir in Bisquick mix until well blended.

3. Divide dough into 4 equal parts. Roll each piece into an 8x1-inch (approximately) strip. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. With handle of wooden spoon or chopstick, make a slight indentation lengthwise in each strip. Fill each indentation with about 1 1/2 tablespoons fruit spread.

4. Bake 12 to 14 minutes or until edges are light brown. Cool slightly on cookie sheet.

5. In small bowl, mix glaze ingredients until smooth and thin enough to drizzle. Drizzle glaze over tops. Cut diagonally into 1-inch strips.

These little guys are reminiscent of fig newtons, but with a crunchier crust - almost like a short bread. The coconut oil lends just a tiny bit of coconut flavor. At least now we are going to have snacks for the Bloomington Handmade Market!

There's always tomorrow to finish everything up...right?

thirteenth

2009-11-15T20:24:00.003-06:00

here's a preview of items i'll have at the bloomington handmade market this upcoming weekend, November 21!

i'm not sure where exactly/how exactly this will be set up, but come find james (blahmamus.wordpress.com/) and i and we'll be sure to hook you up with some pretty awesome stuff. he's working on some pretty neat ornaments that you're probably going to need for this years christmas tree.

"The Bloomington Handmade Market is a contemporary art and craft fair that showcases modern handmade goods from 40 local and regional artists. The event will be held on Saturday, November 21 from 10am-4pm at the John Waldron Arts Center, located at 4th and College in downtown Bloomington, IN.

This will be a one-stop shop for all of your holiday gifts! Find everything from metalsmith jewelry, hand-bound journals, knitted hats and scarves, herbal bath products, silk screened shirts and ties, plush animals, hand-drawn coffee mugs, fine art for your walls, and so much more!

Admission is FREE and open to the public."

twelfth

2009-10-07T23:07:00.002-05:00

1. i'll be doing this!:

bloomingtonhandmademarket.blogspot.com
i'll be sharing space with my co-conspirator / lovely boyfriend. come buy creepy stuff from him and jewelry bits or hand knit items from me! we'll love you forever.

2. i'm getting flooded with requests for knit items from friends. weird! well, i guess not really. it always happens at this time of year. hats, gloves, baby caps, scarves, head bands. all of these requests come AFTER being accepted for the handmade market. ima be a busssy girl.

3. i have a for real interview this sunday!! for now, it's part time, entry level - which is not really what i'm looking for - but it is "very realistic that a full time position with a substantial pay rate increase" will be available soon! i'm so beyond stoked. even if i get a part time position and cut back the store to part time - life would be easier. less time at the store = less time for stressors to present themselves.
the best part - this company deals with natural + organic face + body care products - which fits right on in with what i already do an know. i should be 10 steps ahead of any other beginning associate.

4. holy crap it's october 7th! the holidays are so soon, and i haven't even given it a thought yet.

5. can someone PLEASE give me more free time?

eleventh

2009-09-20T23:23:00.003-05:00

1. franny's surgery - ouch!

2. submitted an application for bloomington handmade market

3. etsy favorites: version 1.

4. art vs art: next friday. please go vote: http://vote.artvsart.com/city/indianapolis/3913761503 - james (canvas #75)could use the cash to create more quality pieces for you!

5. i want to make a calendar of cute for holiday gifts. time to read up on book binding and the likes.

cupcake tour

2009-08-27T19:33:00.004-05:00

new york: burgers and cupcakes

boston/cambridge: sweets

indianapolis: the flying cupcake

sweets wins, so far. tour continues for the rest of my LIFE!

tenth

2009-07-16T20:15:00.003-05:00

i've been quiet here in blog world, not that i have really ever been loud.

anyways, i've been crafting it up - alot - and coming up with some new ideas. don't worry, you'll see soon enough...

amidst all this crafting, bike riding, baking, scrabble playing and puppy watching (this has been my summer, so far), i've been planning my east coast trip with james for my birthday! (which is in 11 days - 28 - ick!) i'm so beyond excited....this is my first trip since i was about 17 - and boy, do i need it!! we're going to get into a lot of food, shopping, exploring, and bike nerd stuff (naccc09boston.com/ - more him than me).

so, if you or anyone you know is looking for a hand knit item, a beautiful bird pendant or pin, or maybe a clutch (more, soon) please hop over to my etsy or zibbet shop.

and while you're at it, let me know which site you like better. so far, i've only had one sale and that doesn't give me much to go on.

etsy can be found here: ohcomeon.etsy.com
and zibbet is here: zibbet.com/ohcomeon

flickr

2009-07-12T10:29:00.004-05:00

my flickr pro account has expired.

i am unsure how i feel about this.
i have a decent computer that can now store my photos without crashing. hrmph.

i've read good things about picasa. perhaps that is worth a shot?

a decision will have to wait for at least the 24 days.

ninth

2009-06-19T23:21:00.000-05:00

etsy "help fund my east coast vacation" shop!

eigth

2009-06-15T08:13:00.003-05:00

having seen the indieana handicraft exchange in action, finally, i am totally going to apply for the fall show.