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I hate washing lettuce and try to avoid peeling potatoes, but certain kitchen tasks are really satisfying. For example, I love supremeing oranges. It's meditative and produces such beautiful results. These are destined for a fennel salad.
Check out this video for an excellent how to. You don't need the crazy-ass knife, but I love his idea for using the trimmings for candied orange peel.
I just bought this bag from my lovely friend T. She discovered that it made her sneeze and couldn't keep it. Luckily, her loss is my gain.
I'm guessing this bag is from the late 60s, but it could be older. It has the cutest lining and just look at the clasp! It's a little keyhole! I love it.
I'm sure the lady who carried this bag called it her pocketbook. I'm sure she kept a clean hankerchief in it at all times. I'm sure she stuffed it with paper when she put it away for the season. Just look at how pristine it is!
It's been a long and crazy week. I see a fuzzy blanket and tiny dog in my immediate future.
I have a deep love for the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I'm fairly certain it stems from a book of "rainy day" projects I was given as a child. It was full of all kinds of paper projects and interesting facts, including the story of William. I feel in love with him, even before I saw him in person on a school trip. There's just something wonderful about his stoical bright blue body. Though I have returned many times, I always forgot to bring home a William souvenir.
I solved this the last time I was in New York and brought him home to sit in my guest bedroom. He sits over my sewing table and serves as a source of inspiration while I work on projects.
Everyone has their "go-to" meals for crazy evenings when you're tempted to call for take-out. For me, it's pizza.
I freeze homemade pizza dough in single servings and then bake them up when I need them. The sauce is also frozen homemade. Just about anything will do for a topping. This one is fresh mozzarella and pesto.
I think that's the key to my cooking right now, frozen homemade. I have no illusions that it's just as good as fresh, but it's got to be better than cardboard frozen pizza with fake cheese. Plus, I have a new fridge with an actually grown-up sized freezer. It's like a food mansion in there!
There were so many amazing projects at the Maker Faire, but there was one booth that stood out for me. Nemo Gould is a Bay Area artist who makes wonderful robots out of bits and pieces of unexpected items. Each one has a quirky personality and kinetic beauty. I have to admit I fell in love with several of his creations; I would happily take one home to keep as a pet.
What do you feed an aluminum masterpiece with a mercury switch for a heart?
Check out this adorable little notepad that I whipped up at Maker Faire. I can't remember the vendor that was holding the workshop (I'll have to sift through all the cards I picked up). It's just a little stack of white paper (but you could use lined), a scrap of cardboard, decorative paper, part of a bamboo skewer and a hair tie.
Isn't that brilliant?
The hair tie wraps around the skewer and keeps everything together. It's so simple and elegant. These may be my holiday gifts this year, just check out that little owl.
Ooh, here's the vendor . . . Hambly Screen Prints. I'm going to need to pick up some of those rub-ons and I just love the woodgrain paper!
The Maker Faire was fabulous, how could it be anything less? If there was an unofficial theme, it was Steampunk. I didn't get a chance to see everything, but I did see some great gizmos and some amazing (but uncomfortable looking) costumes. There was also a great talk by Adam Savage, Combot robot fights, the glorious Swap-a-rama-rama, a ton of amazing vendors, Tesla coils, sculptures, gadgets . . . you get the idea. It was pretty much my idea of heaven.
What was my favorite? That's a whole 'nuther post.
I'm too excited about Maker Faire to post anything of use. Maybe I'll see you there?
I promise to have all kinds of lovely photos and stories next week.
