Saturday, April 30, 2011

In Depth With the Artist: Lilymoon


Lilymoon has been working on a new series of illustrations. Illustrations are (as is most of her work) fragments of imaginary stories, stories that follow her around and end up in her moleskine, where she lets them leave her and take a life of their own...

The prints are printed on heavy weight archival matte paper and her pins are hand painted with acrylic on solid wood. See more of her work at our market this month here and on the web below:






The Royal Wedding Watching



The excitement of the Royal Wedding caught up with me eventually as I was suffering yesterday after staying up late to watch the preparations, I should know better really!
But what fun we had watching this beautiful and meticuously planned event unfold yesterday in London and go without a hitch apart from the slight wedding ring potentially not fitting (always a good tip for a wedding planner to carry a handcream with them!)


We loved everything, the trees in the Abbey were a highlight for me (albeit lacking in fairy lights!) along with the abundance of lily of the valley. The dress was exactly as I imagined it, with the Grace Kelly style and I loved the sister's dress, it was to die for but then so was her figure.


I do think the Middleton girls need to give some style lessons though to the two princesses, what a mess they were, I thought one looked like an explosion in a paint shop and the other looked like a giant pretzel! Apart from this style disaster we loved the day :)

The 365 Knitting Clock


The 365 Knitting Clock is an amazing way to tell time.  Instead of the usual numbers or hands ticking by, the knitting clock knits a mesh/stitch every half hour, finishing an entire circle/row in one day, where at the end of the year an entire scarf has been knitted. Created by Siren Elise Wilhelmsen  (Via Ohdeedoh via Kickcan and Conkers).

Friday, April 29, 2011

Weekend Reading: T Design and Living


The summer issue of T Design and Living is out.  Loving the dream house in Majorca. Click here to view.  Photo's by Jason Schmidt.





In Depth With the Artist: A Quick Study



We love this new collection.  Longhand, a new line of paper goods from A Quick Study, is about making everyday things special through good design and interesting techniques. It's about making life a little more gracious and aesthetically pleasing, and making time to connect with each other and with ourselves.  Each card is hand-embroidered and inspired by a variety of stitch designs from around the world.  See more at Poppytalk Handmade this month or at the links below:







Show your love for Alabama and support the efforts of the American Red Cross to provide relief to those hit by the recent storms. $5 from your purchase will go directly to Alabama regional Red Cross chapters with the purchse of these cards.

Link Love



Top image: Forestbound via Free People
PIG Mag - check out page 95 (Sky to Sea) - the shoot by local photographer, Jennilee Marigomen took place in the mountains just north of Vancouver (via Old Faithful)
I want this book
A pretty desktop calendar for May.
Love this wooden bow!
East coast girls are hip
DIY Cinco de Mayo PiƱata Favors
Some lovely sketches
Two kisses!
Have a lovely weekend!

Thursday, April 28, 2011

DIY: The Mason Jar + Mother's Day


Last week I tweeted that I thought the mason jar was the craft product of the year, and even came across a whole category of collected ideas of them recently here. From spray painting to pendant lighting, these jars have become the base behind many a great craft project lately.  With Mother's Day upon us, a few more have been popping up on my radar like this pseudo frame idea for vintage photo's of mothers (an idea from a wedding reception as seen on Ruffled blog - photo by Blink Photography ). I love the idea of creating something like this for mother's day. It's basically zero cost, and yet is packed with sentiment.



Reader Steph Morgan of Modern Parents Messy Kids sent in another fun and simple idea (below), wrapping yarn to create an adorable vase for Mother's Day (or any day for that matter).  Visit her blog to see more DIY vase ideas for Mother's Day.


And what mother wouldn't love a mason jar terrarium handmade by their child or grandchild.  Seriously these are especially adorable. From Doodle Bird Imaginariums.  Click here for more mason jar inspiration.


Wednesday, April 27, 2011

In Depth With the Artist: Mr. Yen


Mr Yen was created in 2009 by Jonathan Chapman and is the name under which he creates customisable papercut artwork and professionally printed stationery products. With a passion for simplicity, practicality and beauty all products have been created with care and attention to detail.
The current Mr Yen stationery range consists of notebooks, notepads, note-cards, postcards and sketchbooks. The Mr Yen hand cut artwork range consists of customisable papercuts that make great personal gifts and presents and with each one being hand cut with a scalpel, no two are ever the same!
Mr Yen aims to make your life easier and simpler by giving you beautifully designed organisational products, with simplicity and practicality in mind. Visit his shop this month at Poppytalk Handmade.


No Crust Required: Crustless Broccoli & Feta Quiche

By Jeannette Ordas of Everybody likes Sandwiches


When I was growing up, my mom made Quiche Lorraine all the time. I didn't know who Lorraine was, but I was pretty smitten with the eggy pie loaded with ham and cheese baked into a tender crust. It was a dinner item and went well alongside a green salad. It wasn't until my adult years that I realized many people ate quiche as a brunch dish. It's versatility is just one of its treasures.


Needless to say, I love quiche, but I'm not a fan of making pie dough. It causes me stress and while I've had a few good runs, I'd rather skip the process if I can. However, that's not to say that I'll buy frozen pie dough. Nope, not me. I haven't found one that's as good as homemade. So when I spotted a recipe for a quiche last year that didn't require a crust - just a light dusting of bread crumbs, I was sold.


I liked this crustless quiche so much that I've made it several times of the course of the year. Often, its ingredients are based on what I've got in the fridge - it's a good fridge clean-up meal. This version has a load of broccoli and feta, but like I said, the joys of a quiche are in its versatility. Add diced cooked potatoes, crumbled cooked bacon and some grated swiss cheese. Or spinach and sauteed mushrooms. Or go for the old Quiche Lorraine standby. It's all good. And because there's no crust required, it's available on a whim and healthier to boot. Not a bad trade-off if you ask me.


Crustless Broccoli & Feta Quiche

butter, for greasing pie plate
2 tablespoons of bread crumbs

1 head of broccoli

3 large eggs
1/4 cup milk
a pinch of salt & good grind of black pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried dill
2 tablespoons of minced red onion

1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled

1. Preheat oven to 400F. Butter the bottom and sides of a pie plate and dust with bread crumbs. Set aside.

2. Break broccoli into florets and chop the stem into bits. Steam until tender-crisp and bright green, about 3 minutes. Drain.

3. In a medium-sized bowl, beat the eggs together, add in the milk salt and pepper and dill. Stir in the onions.

4. Pour egg mixture into the prepared pie plate and scatter the broccoli evenly over top. Do the same with the feta cheese. Bake for 25-35 minutes or until eggs are set. Cut into wedges. Serves 4 - or 2 hungry appetites.

A Cinco de Mayo Party Inspiration



Any excuse for a party and Cinco de Mayo is no exception with this gloriously brightly coloured Mexican theme to have fun with.


We found these lovely styling ideas on Celebrations using a riot of colours, margaritas in both forms, the daisies and of course the drink, chillis, a photo booth and lots of tasty Mexican food ideas so when we are all finished with the traditional Royal Wedding parties with our scones and tea, we can move on to the maracas!

A big thank you to one of my lovely couples this year for bringing me some official Royal Wedding tea to celebrate in style on Friday.

Cool Decorating Trick No. 6


A creative and economical way to build one of those coveted vertical gardens. Turn a pocket shoe organizer into a veggie patch! You may have read my post last year on the woolly pockets, so this idea of using a canvas pocket shoe organizer is a brilliant and much cheaper alternative! From intructables.com.

Inspiration: How Does Your Garden Grow?

That's so Potted Contest via Fresh Dirt - Sunset.com

I'm in such a gardening mood lately are you?  The weather is finally warming up and I think many have already started their gardens.  I'm a bit behind and am excited to visit our local nursery which I'm hoping to do later this week.  Until then, I grab inspiration.  What are you planting this year?


Cloth handbags planters from Paris-based az&mut (photo credit: morgane le gall)



Planted Vintage Tackle Box

Sunset Magazine - Photo by Bret Gum







Tuesday, April 26, 2011

New Shop Alert: The New Domestic


I like what I'm seeing cooking up in my own backyard. Local designer, Nerissa Coco of The New Domestic has just opened up a new online shop aptly named, The New Domestic Shop which is a homeware line designed for Domestic Living 2.0. Her first line of products are heavy weight recycled cotton canvas tote bags with screen printed patterns. All bags have a diagonal pattern on the back for a two-in-one look. If you read Nerissa's beautiful blog, you'll see she has an amazing eye.  As a newish mom she has decided to stay at home and focus on her family and now her own line of products. Wishing you all the best Nerissa!

The New Domestic Shop




In Depth With the Artist: Heather Smith Jones


Using blue spruce, bamboo and cedar wood scrap from her husband's building projects, Kansas-based artist, Heather Smith Jones printed these cards by hand on her 1930's era Vandercook proof press. The wood scraps were planed and altered by her husband for Heather's printing purposes, and the inks she hand mixed in some of her favorite bright colors. See more of Heather's work in our market this month here.

Heather Smith Jones is an artist, arts educator, and author. In her drawings, paintings, and prints she uses primarily graphite, watercolor, and letterpress. Her work is represented by galleries nationwide and part of public and private collections across the globe. Her first book "Water Paper Paint, Exploring Creativity with Watercolor and Mixed Media" by Quarry Books was released Jan. 1, 2011.

Etsy shop: letterpress and prints - http://www.etsy.com/shop/hrsmithjones
Gallery store: original unframed paintings - http://hrsmithjones.bigcartel.com/

Monday, April 25, 2011

How to Make a French Hand-Tied Bouquet Workshop This Weekend!


Would love to do this!  If you're in Portland this weekend, spend a morning with floral designer Chelsea Fuss of frolic!, at the gorgeous Bernadette Breu Antique Shop in Southeast Portland. You will learn how to make a French hand-tied bouquet from the freshest seasonal flowers. The basics of floral design will also be covered. Students will bring home their bouquet in a darling aqua pack (pictured). Tools and supplies are provided as well as yummy snacks! Class is limited to 15. April 30th from 11-2pm.  Click here for more info!