Fun with Flickr

One feature I love about Flickr is collecting "favorites." It's great to tag photos from other users and have them somewhere to reference in the future. Kind of like tearing sheets out of a magazine. There are some fabulous artists and photographers with Flickr accounts. For example, here is one random photo of hair accessories that I tagged of Jen Causey's (check out my other favorites here):

Another thing I love are all the resources available through other members of the online community. For example, people who upload pictures of letters and numbers--you might remember this post from a few months back...

I recently stumbled on some other resources that I thought I'd share--some great old ephemera--vintage matchbox labels and other vintage packaging (found via How About Orange).

Trash Ties

Of all the million things we used trash ties for when playing around as kids, why didn't we think of using them in our hair? I'm glad somebody did. Upon the urging of somebody else, I finally broke down and bought a few last month and they arrived today. Here was my first go at using a long tie. Not quite yet spectacular, but I have to plug these ties for their strength--they are great wires, and so far are holding up well. Check out the colors, lengths and hairstyle ideas here.

Preserved Lemons

Someday I hope to be the lady who is always giving you a sack of lemons from her tree...but until our apartment days are over, I'll happily be the one accepting this fabulous gift. I love sweet, thin-skinned meyer lemons, but this recipe works well for eureka's too, and is great for that mongo sack of lemons that you don't quite know what to do with...

I've never made preserved lemons before, but got the idea while reading through the latest issue of Donna Hay (which hails from Australia, and is my favorite food magazine). The magazine is very inspirational, with great, seasonal-to-the-Southern-Hemisphere recipes. Some of the recipes are very detailed, and some are written in the spirit of "a little bit of this, a little bit of that." I enjoy this challenge most of the time, but wasn't exactly confident when it came to the lemons. When I think of preserving things, I'm always worried I'm going to kill someone, which is totally ridiculous, but a thought nonetheless. Turns out that this recipe is easier than pie, and I could have done it without the added research, but maybe some of you have a similar sack on your counter and can benefit from what I found in here.

Moroccan Preserved Lemons

lemons
kosher salt
glass jars with lids

Wash the lemons well. While holding them over a plate to catch the juice, make four deep longitudinal cuts, evenly spaced around the lemon, effectively dividing it into four sections attached at the ends. Don't make the cuts so long that the lemon separates into pieces; you want to keep the lemons whole. Pack the cuts generously with salt. Put a couple tablespoons of salt in the bottom of a jar and pack the lemons in layers, sprinkling a thin layer of salt between each layer of lemons. Push the lemons down firmly to pack them tightly and to help express some of their juice. Finish with a final layer of salt. Pour in any juices that collected on the plate. Cover the jar tightly. Leave at room temperature for a few days, monitoring the level of liquid in the jar. The lemons should be submerged in juice after a few days. If they are not, add more lemon juice. The lemons will be ready to eat in a few weeks and will keep for up to a year. It's best to store them in the fridge after opening...

As you can see, this photo is evening one of the "few days" mentioned above--I can't wait to see how they turn out. So what do you do with preserved lemons? After taking out the bitter flesh and rinsing the peel, you have a silky mellow lemon flavor. DH says they're great added to stuffing, in salads or served as a garnish for grilled poultry and fish.

Another image from the magazine--a feature article on citrus desserts.
(Click on photo to enlarge).

Urge to Sew?

This weekend I've had the urge to sew... maybe because I have so many knitting projects in the works that I'm craving some crafty variety. Or maybe because this new stuff is burning a hole in my stash. Anyway, I don't know what these are for... but since I felt like sewing, I made 2 of these panels. Pillows? Stretched like canvas and hung on the wall? I'm definitely going to applique or embroider some flowers on them too... I'll keep you posted on their progress!

Strings

I seem to have a lasting affinity for this baker's twine by Martha Stewart Crafts. I know that it's just string, but I really really like it. I've done many different things with it since discovering it this past summer...none of which has had to do with baking...yet!? My favorite use thus far is for gift wrapping...

Speaking of which, I have to name gift wrap as my best post-holiday shopping deal again this year. Only $2/roll at Michael's for this (and several other) MS Crafts wrapping papers. The designs are so cute that it makes me want to start gifting wrappings instead of actual gifts...kinda did it once already I guess...

I wish I wasn't so into wrappings--it's a bit of a waste (hence the reason good deals are so grand, and recycling the paper into cards and collages round out the deal)...but, I just am. I love it in France when the storekeepers don't bother to ask you if the thing you're buying is a gift or not. They wrap the trinket, or bottle of lotion or book up elaborately because they know you'll enjoy indulging yourself unwrapping it when you get home. I've noticed that a lot of Etsy and other online shopkeepers do the same. Above are some wrappings from Lotta Jansdotter and Shim + Sons...

Ode to Amy

I was so excited to get an email preview of Amy Butler's new fabric line: Midwest Modern, inspired by her new book of the same name. As I love that book, I wasn't suprised to love the new line (launching April) as well--especially the earthiness of design and warmth of color.

And, speaking of being excited about an upcoming Amy thing, today I reserved space at the Stitchin Post's Amy Butler Tea and Trunk Show on May 12. Saying I'm really looking forward to meeting Amy and having her talk about her fabrics, patterns, books and design is kind of an understatement! How fabulous is this? Is it May yet?

knit & purl

I love this book! Its been such fun to go through it and experiment with the various patterns it offers--some basic and traditional (like a knit1, purl1 rib or the moss stitch) and some really fresh (like some funky basketweaves and triangles) patterns.

I've loaded up my knitting basket with a variety of yummy blue sky alpalcas organic cotton (which you already know about from here) so I can fully experiment with the patterns in the knit & purl book.

So... I've got the book and I've got the yarn... What am I making? Different colored 4.5 inch squares in different patterns from the book above will (somehow--I haven't gotten this far ahead in my planning) come together to make a snuggly blankie for a May baby. As you know from this post, I've got my work cut out for me with so many babies on the horizon. In fact, my new little niece popped into the world earlier today! Welcome Aubrey Jean! I'm really looking forward to all of the tea parties we will undoubtedly enjoy together...

2nd star to the right & straight on 'til morning...

I'm still on my "yay for the pregnant ladies" kick--so hang with me through this nursery round-up...

Baby Girl Nursery by shop keeper, Laura, from Orange Beautiful.

Baby Girl Nursery by crafter, Hilary of Wee Wonderfuls.

Baby Boy Nursery by children's furniture designer Jennifer DeLonge.
(Found via Orange Beautiful)

Baby Girl Nursery (in Sweden) posted by Decor8.

Baby Girl Nursery from Mama Said Shop.

And for some really crazy rooms - check out the slideshow tours of the rooms linked to on the upper left hand side of Apartment Therapy - Baby.

Bolt Fabric Boutique

We spent a day in Portland on our way home from California. A day was too short for all of the stops on our list but we were anxious to head home nonetheless. I especially enjoyed my friend Danica's favorite fabric shop called Bolt--it was an adorable and inspiring treat.

They had all sorts of fabric for sewing, quilting and crafting, notions & patterns galore including a newly discovered line "ZaZu" by Tina Givens for FreeSpirit which I think is divine. I'm happy to say I've added some of this to my stash along with some green trim like this and a few great buttons. Any ideas on what I should make?

Crafty Wonderland

Remember drooling about the pictures and potential in this book? Well now I can say that the projects are incredible as well! Mama and I loved making these pincushions--the one on the left is from repo feedsacks and you'll probably recognize the right as various Flea Market Fancy and Katie Jump Rope prints.

Another simple but thrilling project in Last Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts is decorating moleskine cahier notebooks by sewing on scraps to the covers. What an adorable gift that is so fun to make!

Apples for Jam

Today I discovered the inspirational narrative and photography of Tessa Kiros--with so many friends of ours expecting at the moment, I find that I'm becoming more and more tuned in to this type of cooking/living with children thing...

So--Olivia, Kate, Danyelle, Jenny, Jen, Jeanne, Lauren, Jessamy, Jessica, Becky and Kyra--this Tessa quote is for you:

"Feeding a family is about stitching all the bits together on a steady thread--between the school cafeteria, your knowledge of nutrition, your own family's tastes, your capacity, and how much you can give--and still leaving some space for spontaneity and the will of nature. And all this should still have the grace and honesty of a daisy chain."

Home Again, Home Again...

So much to say! We had such a wonderfully rich SoCal visit and you've already heard about some of it from Courtney! What Sister Bear failed to mention was about all of the incredibly fun projects that Mama and I enjoyed crafting together which I'll reveal soon (I wanted to share the adorable birthday tag she made for me as well!). It was fabulous to visit family and friends but it is also great to be home again, loaded with love, goodies and fresh inspiration. We were a bit shocked however to wake up this morning to 4+ inches of snow after the lovely SoCal sunshine! Quite a change from the palm trees and ocean viewable from Mom & Dad's windows! Anyone for a patio picnic in Bend?

Pretty big contrast to this outdoor breakfast we enjoyed New Year's Day at Wade and Courtney's (the food, not surprisingly, was incredible!):