annaramma

Making a case

I was a little stumped on what to make for some little people in my life.  They just repainted their bedrooms and picked out wall decals, so I ultimately decided they could use some new pillowcases.  R loves marine mammals right now (orcas, dolphins and otters, oh my!) and F is absolutely obsessed with doggies and Nikita in particular.  

I picked out some lush sea prints with whales and dolphins and F has two adorable doggie prints.  I especially love the orange vintagey "Doggie Personalities" fabric.  By the way,  Hart's Fabrics is my local fabric store, but they are wonderful people who will ship whatever you need (free shipping once you spend $75).  They have great great stuff.  Just watch out for their Japanese imports, you will want them all.  

Anyway, a pillow case is just the easiest thing ever.  You need two pre-washed pieces of cozy cotton or cotton flannel 21" x 36".  Press right sides together, sew around three sides, press in a 5" hem on one short side and sew the hem.  If you like, you can add a monogram, Readymade has great instructions here.  Press the pillowcase one last time to make it beautiful for wrapping.  

The parties continue . . .

Just because Christmas is over, doesn't mean there aren't still parties to attend.  There's more cookie decorating (?!), White Elephant (Yankee swap) exchanges, and then of course, New Year's Eve.  If you've run out of hostess gifts and have scraped the bottom of the re-gifting barrel, then you might want to whip up a little homemade vanilla.

It only has two ingredients, vanilla beans and vodka.  The better the beans and the more decent the vodka, the tastier the vanilla will be.

Here are the steps:

1. Pop off the pour spout of the vodka bottle.

2. Split the vanilla beans and scrape the seeds into the bottle.

3. Drop the pod into the bottle.

4. Replace the pour spot, cap the bottle and shake daily.

5. Wait six weeks.

6. Decant the vanilla into 4 oz. bottles.

If you don't want to wait that long, you can make individual gifts that will need to age with the giftee. 

1. Fill the 4 oz bottle with 3.5 oz of vodka.

2. Split a single vanilla bean and scrape the seeds into the bottle.

3. Drop the pod into the bottle.

4. Replace the pour spot, cap the bottle and age for six weeks.

You can keep "feeding" your vanilla with additional vodka and pods.  Then you'll always have beautiful vanilla for flavoring your baking, coffee, homemade ice cream, etc.  Plus, you can also use it to scent lotions or soaps.  Everyone likes vanilla.

Merry Craftmas!

Sorry for the crummy photo.  We're having a very rainy, but cozy Christmas this year.  Nikita and I are ensconced on the couch enjoying "A Christmas Story" and by the look on her face, visions of doggie treats are dancing in her head.  

Hope you're just as cozy and contented.

Blocky

As you can see, I had a pretty productive afternoon.  I've been meaning to do a second printing of a fun little retro block and print up my New Year's cards for this year.  Next time I might try and rig up some kind of clothesline arrangement.

Chocolate for Breakfast

I am willing to support just about any kind of decadence at breakfast time.  Doughnuts, whipped cream on hot cocoa, pancakes with jam AND syrup, scrambled eggs with shaved truffle, 3 egg omelets . . . you get the idea.

So I'm sure you're not surprised to hear that I love these Dutch sprinkles for toast.  I didn't grow up with them, but I did have a grandmother who would shave chocolate over bread and butter for an afternoon snack.  So good with a cup of milky tea.  This just eliminates the need to chop up a perfectly good candy bar.  They come in dark and milk chocolate, with a third flavor I can only describe has "fruity pebbles."  The neon color and artificial flavor aren't my favorite, but they do look pretty on cupcakes. 

You can order them online or find them as stores with other German and Dutch foods.  This sampler box happened to come from a co-worker traveling abroad.  I think she was a little overwhelmed by my excited squeals when I saw the box.  But she did acknowledge that it's hard to argue with chocolate for breakfast.

Muggy

It's been years (and years!) since I was last at one of those paint-your-own pottery places.  After taking many ceramics classes and priding myself on doing things "from scratch," I have to admit I thought these places were kinda soulless.

So, when a friend had her birthday party at one, I was all set to scoff.  "Sponge painting, really?  REALLY?!"  But these places are amazing.  They're like crafty mood stabilizers.  I found the whole process so satisfying and soothing.  Ooh pretty colors, mmm . . . snacks, ironic Christmas music, girltalk and slightly delayed gratification.  I had a fabulous time and ended up with this ridiculous mug. 

I could easily be roped into doing this again.  I wonder what that means for my immortal soul?

Dip-a-licious

I love lemons.  Especially homegrown Meyer Lemons.  Did you know they're actually not really a purebred lemon?  They're actually crossed with a tangerine; that certainly explains their sweet perfume and juice.  They still have a lemony sourness, but their flesh is a bit orange and there's a sweet floral scent that you just don't get with other lemons.

I used this particular lemon (and the accompanying rosemary) in Mark Bittman's fabulous Rosemary-Lemon White Bean Dip.  A can of beans, a slug of olive oil, a sprig of rosemary, a squeezed lemon, salt and pepper and you've got a seriously yummy dip. 

If you're not in a dipping mood, you can try one of the LA Times' 100 things to do with a Meyer lemon.  And if you've got a good lemon connection (the trees can be quite prolific), you can always make lemon curd.  Oh Mama!

Little Robot's Automaton

Little Robot has just posted photos of her amazing automaton.  He is just brilliant (and so handsome!), but the clouds, waves and hand-crank are lovely too.  I'm in awe of him.  I'm going to remember how much I love the emerald greens and gold of the waves.  It's giving me ideas for my upcoming linoleum print project. 

I'm trying to decide what to buy something from her Etsy shop.  I can't afford her magical "paper theatre" entitled The Sleeper Dreams, but it's definitely my favorite piece.  In my price range, Tiny Winter gives me that cozy quiet snowstorm feeling. 

Which one is your favorite?

Little Robot has just posted photos of her amazing automaton.  He is just brilliant (and so handsome!), but the clouds, waves and hand-crank are lovely too.  I'm in awe of him.  I'm going to remember how much I love the emerald greens and gold of the waves.  It's giving me ideas for my upcoming linoleum print project. 

I'm trying to decide what to buy something from her Etsy shop.  I can't afford her magical "paper theatre" entitled The Sleeper Dreams, but it's definitely my favorite piece.  In my price range, Tiny Winter gives me that cozy quiet snowstorm feeling. 

Which one is your favorite?

Frugal Friday: You already own it

As much as I try to and resist my consumeristic urges, I love having new things.  They don't have to be new to me; I think shopping at the goodwill is just as satisfying as perusing department stores.  As virtuous as it makes me feel, it's still spending money and bringing home stuff I probably, technically, seriously don't need.

So in the spirit of avoiding the lure of retail therapy (no matter how thrifty), I dug through my closet and found all kinds of treasures.  Vintage dresses from high school, a prom dress, a great leopard print purse and a fabulous feather boa have all come out of hiding.  They're now "new" additions to my wardrobe and they didn't cost a cent.

Just look how cute my beloved Kermit the Frog looks in an odd corner of my living room.  He's the best free accessory I've found all week!

Hot and tasty

You know what you want right now?  Hot and fresh scones.  Maybe you didn't know it, but you want 'em now, don't you?

Are you ready for a ridiculously simple recipe?  Just use this recipe (by way of Adam Roberts, among others).  It's so easy, it's dangerous.

Too plain?  I added candied ginger.  How about currants, dried apricots, just about any dried fruit, pecans, slivered almonds, chives, or sharp cheddar cheese?  

Thought so.