Rag'naz'id'nar

Can you spare a click?

2009-09-15T21:19:00.000-07:00

Originally I thought of making paper roses as a way to use up the huge box of paper I have leftover from making books. (C'mon, you can't just throw that stuff out!) Back in the Victorian era women made paper flowers for their homes during the months when fresh flowers weren't in season. I've used that idea to make flowers out of recycled papers- which I think is a great and everlasting alternative to fresh flowers in floral arrangements and bouquets.

A couple of weeks ago my wonderful Etsy friends talked me into entering my paper roses into the Martha Stewart DIY Wedding contest (that is happening in partnership with Etsy). The winner of the contest will be featured on her website and might have the opportunity to demonstrate their craft on her show. There are some great entries, including those of my friends and teammates. I encourage you to sign up for an account and vote/comment on your favorites. And, if you can spare a click check out my entry here where I've entered a bouquet of fuchsia roses I actually made for a recent wedding. Rumor has it that Martha Stewart will be taking into consideration the ratings and comments when choosing a winner.

Around the world and back...

2009-08-26T18:01:00.000-07:00

As an Etsy seller I think one of the coolest things I get to do is send mail all over the world. Each time I send a package overseas or to a town I've never heard of I always feel the need to share that information with everyone I know- and although it may sound just plain weird to them, I consider it an accomplishment to sell items to someone in Jerusalem or New York City. It just proves that Etsy is more far-reaching than I ever imagined it to be and I have a sense of pride knowing that right now things I made with my own two hands are literally all over the world!

I've decided that with my office being a "command center" of sorts it is only appropriate to track my progress on a map pinboard right above my desk. I will soon be sticking little red tipped pins in a world map for every sale I make to a location, with the goal to someday have sold to every US state and most major countries! (Tokyo, Seoul, Reno, Sao Paulo, and Hong Kong being towards the top of my wishlist!) Until that gets set up I've made a virtual version on Google Maps. You can check out the full version of it here

Look out world, here I come!

Tutorial: DIY Bubble Mailer

2009-08-18T14:39:00.000-07:00

One thing I have learned from being an Etsy buyer is that creative business people don't let their creativity stop with the items you buy. Rather, they use their creative potential to it's fullest by carefully packaging your purchases in a way that ties in with their online business persona. (Ok, maybe not everyone does, but I love getting these packages the most!) A great way to customize your packaging is to make your own and if you're using reclaimed materials you're probably saving yourself a pretty penny too.

I wanted to share an easy tutorial for making your own bubble mailers. This works great to tie your packaging in with your online business, or to simply make something cute to ship goodies to your friends. Getting mail (other than bills) is exciting, but it can be even more so when it looks exciting too!

For this project you will need:
- Heavy weight paper-heavy wrapping paper, scrapbook paper, or even recycled cereal boxes
- Bubble wrap -the standard kind, not the stuff with the giant bubbles
- White glue, or a heavy-duty glue stick.
- Clear tape
- Scissors or paper cutter
- Ruler
- Spray adhesive (optional)

Step One:
Take your piece of paper and cut it to be 11 x 9 inches.
Then, fold it following the graph below. (This is for an envelope that is 5x7, for a bigger envelope you need to double the width, add an inch for the "flap" on one side, allow .5 in on the bottom and 1.5 in on the top for flaps also)

Step Two:
Cut off the pieces marked in grey on the diagram

Step Three:
Leave your paper on the table right side down. Cut two pieces of bubble wrap that are approximately 4.5 x 6.5 inches, or 1/2 an inch smaller than your envelope size.
Glue your bubble wrap bubble side down (so the smooth part faces towards you) to the wrong side of the paper inside the two 5x7 inch pieces. Try to leave an equal amount of space around each side.
I usually glue mine with spray adhesive, but white glue will work ok for this. Be patient and let the glue dry and spread white glue thinly so the paper doesn't get wrinkles and warp from being too soggy. For added security, I also recommend using clear tape at the top of the bubble wrap to prevent it from peeling up when you fill the envelope.

Step Four:
Put glue on the bottom two flaps of the paper and fold the envelope together. Press the bottom flaps together firmly and allow to dry. These will be secure if you used good glue, but if you are worried you can tape this seam. Your envelope will be connected on the bottom, but open with a 1 inch flap on the right side, and a 1.5 inch flap on the top like this:

Step Five:
Put glue on the side flap, and fold over, securing it to the back of the envelope. For additional security, tape the flap as well. (This one likes to peel up otherwise!)

Now your envelope is done! Fill it and either glue or tape the top flap shut. If you have a dark color or busy pattern you will want to affix white mailing labels on the front to write your addresses on.
These work great for me when I am in a pinch and need some packaging. Recycle bubble wrap from packages you receive or if you know someone who recently moved you can usually inherit a ton of it for free!

Happy Mailing!

Rock the vote.

2009-07-27T19:11:00.000-07:00

Anyone else out there love to vote? Knowing that I shared my opinion, whether or not the outcome of a vote is to my liking, always leaves me with a great sense of accomplishment like my little voice has joined others to show that I care. It doesn't have to be a serious issue to be important either- who says voting can't be fun?

If you've been to my blog before you know that handmade is important to me so I am super excited to plug two different voting opportunities in the handmade community this week. First of
all, my lovely team (the Eastern Washington Etsy Team) is hosting a challenge and we need your vote to decide a winner. You also have the option of leaving a comment for the chance to win a prize. Hop on over to our blog for the current challenge and details.

And, for those of you that haven't been cruising the Etsy blog "The Storque" lately, they have a great feature called Voter that allows folks to vote for their favorite item weekly in a variety of themes. I am honored to once again be included in the Voter this time for back-to-school notebooks and journals. Check it out, and rock the vote here.

The Handmade Triumph

2009-07-15T21:22:00.000-07:00

As someone who has taken the handmade pledge, I make a good-faith attempt to gift handmade whenever possible. Although this is has been my habit for many years now, I still find myself holding my breath every time I hand over that little handmade treasure. Many people don't realize that handmade gifts are the highest of compliments because of the hard work and the massive amount of love that goes into each gift. For me, it is like giving the recipient a little piece of my heart and I anxiously wait to see if they will treasure it or trash it.

Most people who have children know that you can usually rely on them for an honest reaction. While adults will spare your feelings, a child will be brutally honest about whether or not they appreciate your efforts. So when I made the choice to craft a handmade gift for my niece that will be opened along with a mountain of other name-brand-mass-media-battery-operated gifts the anxiety was especially high. Will my week worth of creating be lost in a sea of Disney and plastic? I am happy to know that it wasn't- not by a long shot.

G, my niece, has developed a fascination with food and cooking which has grown since my parents have splurged on cable T.V. While most children will request cartoons, G squeals with delight at the sight of Food Network. She recites recipes and measurements rather than nursery rhymes and would be much more excited to meet Rachel Ray than Hannah Montana. So it seemed obvious to me to spend a solid week crafting her favorite foods out of eco-fi, a felt-like material made from recycled plastic bottles. (Greatest stuff ever, really)

I took on this project without realizing that it would provide endless entertainment for both myself, who laughed aloud while sewing a life-sized plush corndog, and my family. I would have gladly spent the time to make these had it just pleased the birthday girl, but seeing how people react to the food still has me tickled. Who knew that a felt sandwich looks real enough to accidentally pack for lunch (my husband did this before I told him it wasn't real!), or that the remedy to the Monday blues is a photo message of felt bacon and eggs? The party paused when she opened her picnic basket full of food as everyone fought to peek inside or give a felt apple slice a squeeze.

In case there was any doubt, handmade enjoyed a major triuph this week. A very happy 4 year old has been waking every morning and asking to cook with her new "sewing food" and has to be persuaded each night to put it away for bedtime. My niece loved the gift and my family has been talking about it ever since. I definitely see a sequel to this gift playing out at Christmas.

Battle of Wills

2009-06-18T10:18:00.000-07:00

Merit Badge (for rolling with the punches) by leemeszaros
Its no secret that the women in my family are incredibly stubborn. Last night was the ultimate showdown of stubborn-ness too- the battle of wills between the crafty chick and the shop-a-holic. (No, they aren't both me.) Here's how it all happened...

Yesterday evening I was at my mom's house using her sewing machine to finish up a birthday gift for my younger sister. I end up staying late and as I am gathering my stuff to leave my older sister, the shop-a-holic, mutters "Dang. I have to go back to the store for the 3rd time today. I forgot to get something for the potluck at G's school tomorrow." Because it is the last day of preschool for my niece there is a potluck, which my sister forgot about until 8:30 pm. This is where I come in.

"Why don't you just find something here to make and bring?"
"No, I was going to bring fruit. Even though a couple other moms are bringing fruit too."
"Then bring something different, don't go back to the store again."
"We have nothing in the house I can bring, trust me. I have to go to the store."

I don't think so. A crafty person can make anything for a potluck out of what's in the cupbboards. So I take G by the hand and we go looking in the pantry for a potluck item. "Ooh! how about we make this?" G was pointing to a huge container of breadcrumbs. Tempting, but no. These were sitting next to a box of graham crackers which looked much more promising. I handed the box of graham crackers off to G and kept looking. "Cover them with frosting and call it good" shouts my Mom from the dining room (Who, by-the-way, will eat frosting on anyting and everything- even carrots.)

With the graham crackers I can make a pie crust if only I can find a filling of some kind. Score! I find a cheesecake flavored pudding and hand it off to G. Meanwhile my sister is pacing the floor saying "This is never going to work. I am just going to the store." While she is busy debating whether to grab her car keys I throw the crackers into a gallon-sized freezer bag and hand G an ice-cream scoop and tell her to smash away. "Am I just like Food Network? I'm a cooker girl!" Yes, just like food network, only without the cameras or the ingredients.

As we're melting the butter for our pie crusts my sister informs me that the party is finger foods, so I might as well stop. Since pie is not finger food she has to go to the store anyway. Will the store hurry up and close already? Problem solved- I sent G to the cupbord to find me a muffin pan instead. Mini cheesecakes are great finger food dessert. An ancient muffin pan and no cupcake liners made things interesting, but with a little tin foil and scissors we called it good.

To make pudding into a pie filling, just add less milk when mixing it up. I also added whipped cream to the filling to make it fluffy and sliced some berries for the top. Mini cheesecakes all around! These rested in the refrigerator overnight and viola! The crafty will is stronger than the urge to hit the store for the 3rd time! The secret is that my craft conscience sounds a lot like Tim Gunn "Make it work," and while I don't sew that great I think he would be proud of both my mini cheesecakes and my pillows (for my younger sister's bday which is today!)

Bragging Alert!

2009-06-12T12:28:00.000-07:00

Can I just brag for a quick second... please? I just want to tell everyone how proud of my team I am! As the President of the Eastern Washington Etsy Team it makes me feel like a proud momma when the team excels and that is exactly what we are doing! We have some mighty talented folks in our bunch and Etsy is definitely taking notice.

As I said in my last post, 3 of our team members (including myself) are featured in this weeks Etsy Voter which ends on Monday. People nominate these folks (or they can nominate themselves) and Etsy Admin chooses a group of items to be voted on then featured. Studio Cherie, The Vintage Dresser, and myself are all featured for our rockin' cozies.

Today I also found that we have another 3 members featured in the Father's Day themed Weekend Deals Gift Guide. Studio Cherie (man, is she popular!), slidesideways, and myself all have some screamin' weekend deals for your handmade-lovin' dad. Team EWAET representing! (lol, ok. Maybe that one was a little much- even for me.)

We also have major treasury fever and your can find treasuries by some of our "superstar" treasury makers on both Treasury Main and Treasury West at any given time. Leanna of SeamsVictorian is really on fire with these and she is good! The ever-popular Cherie also has cornered the market on treasuries and is an expert since she is also on the Treasury Team.

All I can say is- Go Team! You make me proud!

Yard + Art= Yart Sale

2009-06-08T17:33:00.000-07:00

Really, who can avoid a really good yard sale? Even if you don't prefer digging through someone else's "junk" for a fabulous find, you can appreciate a great deal- right? I thought so. Just like everything else, this idea has been translated into the virtual world and Etsy is buzzing with excitement over the upcoming YART sale (yard + art, get it?) hosted by ESST. June 10th-June 14th sellers all over Etsy are slashing prices, offering free shipping, and including goodies with their purchases. This is virtual yard saling at it's finest people!

I was so excited to hear this huge event from last year is occurring again this year. I've been getting ready all week long for the 2nd annual Yart sale by adding new items to my shop like crazy. I am going to have a sale section in my shop with items discounted up to 40% off. I also am slipping a surprise goodie into packages with orders over $25. If you are a seller, check out this article on how to participate. If you are a yard-saler at heart and looking to find a great deal just search the term "Yart" or check Etsy's forums for people advertising their sale.

On a side note, I found out today from my wonderful friend Cherie that my made-to-order coffee cup cozies are featured in a voter on Etsy. People are encouraged to vote for their favorite cozie here. I'm not the only one from my team in there either- Cherie is entered with her eyeglasses case and The Vintage Dresser has drinking glass cozies. Go team!

Make it a double

2009-06-04T14:11:00.001-07:00

Its no secret that I love anything in multiples... little collections of vintage items, groupings of frames in the same color, repeating patterns. How about multiple giveaways!? Count me in! I told you about Rachel's giveaway yesterday that you can enter to win a fabulous necklace from her shop, so let me introduce you now to Lindsey.
Lindsey is an amazing designer (I checked out her killer portfolio) and she has a shop on Etsy called Lost And Fawned (which I love, BTW) that is full of lovelies that will make any soon-to-be bride or hopeless romantic swoon. I met Lindsey when I first started on Etsy a year ago and have recently started following her blog where she is hosting a great giveaway. $20 to her amazing shop is yours if you pop into her shop and leave a comment on her blog that tells her what your favorite item there is and why.
So go! Do it now... you can thank me later. ;)

Beautiful Jewelry

2009-06-03T16:08:00.000-07:00

I went out shopping with my sister-in-law (or soon to be SIL, anyway) yesterday at the mall and we had to stop into every jewelry store so she could oogle the diamonds. I have never considered myself a jewelry expert and I tend to keep it pretty simple on a day-to-day basis. My wedding ring is petite and simple and I like it that way. My SIL on the other hand carries her own jeweler's loop with her when she shops and inspects each pieces color, clarity, size, symmetry, etc. Let's just say the girl's got an appreciation for diamonds I don't usually see with people.
This has gotten me looking at everything with that same kind of eye- and one person who makes jewelry I know I can appreciate is Rachel. (Remember, I did an interview with her a while back?) And the only thing better than a gorgeous piece of jewelry is a FREE gorgeous piece of jewelry... which is just what you can get. She's hosting a June giveaway on her blog for an amazing necklace. And although I want to win it all for myself, I'm sharing the news with you because I love you too. Good luck!

Outdoor Entertaining 101, part 3

2009-05-22T12:47:00.000-07:00

I know, I said "tomorrow" and it is more like "next week" but with a party to prep I chose cleaning the house over blogging. Shame on me. I did make it up to you though- I have recipes! And photos of the recipes. (Seriously, am I the only one that only likes to make food I can see first? I also order the items off of the menu that have pictures. That's not weird, is it?)

So, lets kicks this off. This first salad is a great one visually because it is so colorful. My family also like the sweetness of it which really sets it apart from any other salad I've had. I think it is also a great way to sneak some veggies to kids. ;)

Sweet Veggie Pasta Salad
Ingredients:
1 16oz package of pasta (any kind, but I like farfalle aka bowtie pasta)
1 small head of broccoli, cut into bite-size pieces
1 small package of baby carrots, cut into bite size chunks
2 sweet bell peppers (I like doing red and yellow for color), cut into bite size pieces
Cilantro
Salt & Pepper
2 cups rice wine vinegar
2 cups sugar
2 cups light olive oil

Directions:
1. Cook your pasta according to package directions until it is al dente (slightly undercooked). Adding a splash of olive oil to the cooking water will keep your pasta from sticking together.

2. Toss your cooled pasta in a large bowl with broccoli, peppers, and carrots. Add cilantro and salt and pepper to taste.

3. In a small bowl wisk together equal parts rice wine vinegar, sugar, and olive oil. (Or, put in a martini shaker and shake it up) Pour this over your pasta until it is saturated and allow the salad to sit for at least an hour before serving. Keep the extra dressing in the refridgerator for leftovers to moisten dry salad. (Over time your pasta will soak up the dressing, leaving it feeling dry)

Ok, admittedly I don't eat this next salad (anymore) because it does have meat in it, but the men love it and there are some vegetarian substitutions I do use when it is just me and hubby.

Italian Pasta Salad
Ingredients:
1 16oz package of pasta (any kind works, or mix two smaller packages for a variety)
1 small package of pepperoni or little smokies, cut into small pieces
1 small package of cubbed ham
1 block of soft cheese, like gouda or mozzarella, cubbed
2 cups of shredded cheese, like chedder or pepper jack
1 small can of sliced olives
2 bottles of Italian salad dressing

Veggie Options:
To make this vegetarian, replace the meat with...
1 can of artichoke hearts
2 cups of button mushrooms, sliced

Directions:
1. Cook your pasta according to package directions until it is al dente (slightly undercooked). Adding a splash of olive oil to the cooking water will keep your pasta from sticking together.

2. In a large bowl, add together cooled pasta, cheese, meat, and olives. Toss until they are combined well.

3. Pour one bottle of Italian dressing over the salad until it is saturated and toss the salad together again. Keep the extra dressing in the refridgerator for leftovers to moisten dry salad. (Over time your pasta will soak up the dressing, leaving it feeling dry)

Easy enough, right? Both salads are simple to make and great hits at our BBQs. The great thing about them is that they can withstand the heat of a hot summer day without risking food poisioning. Although they are better chilled, I don't have to worry about Mayo or Eggs in anything getting too hot or sitting out.

Before I leave you today I am going to share a simple dessert recipe. I like to serve dessert at outdoor parties, and while s'mores are a favorite not everyone has a place to light a fire. In lieu of (or in addition to) s'mores I like to serve bite-sized finger food desserts. Here is a simple one to make, but oh-so-delicious.

Bite-Size Mini Cheesecakes
Ingredients:
1 box of brownie mix
1 box of no-bake cheesecake mix
1 carton of fresh berries or topping of your choice

Also need:
Mini muffin pans
Measuring spoon or melon baller
Pastry/Piping Bag (optional)
Mini muffin pan liners
Directions:
1. Prepare your brownie mix according to box directions. Spoon approximately 1 tablespoon of mix into muffin tins lined with paper liners.

2. Bake brownie cups at 350 F approximately 15 -20 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Don't burn or overcook these- they should be moist.

3. Press a measuring spoon or mellon baller into the center of brownie to create a sort of cup. Remove the papers from the brownies as soon as they are cool enough to handle. Waiting too long may make this difficult! Be gentle with them so you don't crush your cups. Set these aside.

4. Allow your muffin pans to cool and line with more papers.

5. Prepare crust mix for cheesecake according to package directions. Spoon 1-2 tablespoons of crust mixture into each paper and press with your fingers until you've created a mini pie shell in each cup.

6. Prepare cheesecake filling according to package directions. If you are using a pastry bag, spoon the filling into the bag and pipe it into the pie shells and brownie cups, otherwise spoon a generous dollop of filling into each cup.

7. Top with your choice of berry (or try bits of fun-size candybars, butterscotch chips, lemon filling, or candied pecans). Press gently into the cheesecake filling, but don't squash your berries!

8. Refridgerate at least one hour and peel papers off before serving. Caution: These are addictive!

Outdoor Entertaining 101, part 2

2009-05-15T10:36:00.000-07:00

Continuing on with my tips and tricks for your great outdoor parties this summer (Did I really just say that? Seriously, where has the time gone?) , here is edition #2 with some party prep ideas.

I have a huge family so one of my biggest challenges with outdoor entertaining is rounding up enough seating for the whole family. I think this is important because it is extremely difficult to stand and eat a meal at the same time, and although my patio table seats 6 that doesn't even cover my immediate family. The best way to deal with this is to send out an invitation- BYOC (Bring Your Own Chair) or thrift some odd chairs and benches to have handy for a large group. If you're really wanting something unique, spray paint mismatched chairs bright colors and pair with a card table covered with a vintage oilcloth table cover- kitschy fun and useful! Check out this dining room on Apartment Therapy's Re-Nest for ideas.

Especially on hot days, you're going to go through a lot of drinks. Keep your guests hydrated while keeping your sanity by prepping several pitchers of iced tea ahead of time and stashing them in the refridgerator. I love Liptons Cold Brew iced tea because when you're low on drinks, this stuff brews at lightning speed in the fridge. To sweeten your tea, ditch the sugar packets or messy loose sugar and prep some simple syrup ahead of time. (Boil equal parts sugar and water in a saucepan, and simmer on medium-low for 8 minutes. Cool and transfer to a container) I put mine into recycled glass bottles or oil and vinegar bottles from the dollar store. Get creative and flavor some of your syrups by adding mint, lemon, or fruit into the pan when your boil it. Be sure to strain it before adding to your shaker. Label them with a paper tag and ribbon.
Glass Oil Bottles by allJeweledup

If you are serving sodas or bottled drinks, make sure to keep your recycling bin in plain sight so your guests will recycle. It not only cuts down on the amount of garbage your throw out, but you're making less of an envioronmental impact that way. Remember that aluminum foil is recycleable too- so if you're using it on the grill rinse it well and stick in in with your cans. Check the recycling code on your plastic cups and party ware with your local waste management's approved recycleable items.

Nothing ruins a good party like food poisoning, so make sure you keep your foods cool. Large tin buckets are available and home improvement stores and can be filled with ice to place your drinks or salads in. And to drop the temp quickly on luke warm drinks or food, add some salt to your ice. It will react with the ice and make the ice water colder. Just be sure to have more ice on hand to replace what's in the bucket once it melts. You can even dress these up with vinyl decals on the outside or by sticking pinwheels in the ice.

That's it for today- I have some party planning and yardwork to do myself. Enjoy your parties, and see you tomorrow with more tips. Ciao.

Outdoor Entertaining 101, part 1

2009-05-14T10:44:00.000-07:00

Let me first start by explaining that you can blame my hiatus on my garden. You see, in Spokane (where I live) Spring is really just a combination of all the seasons- sometimes occurring in one day. So between the thunderstorms, heatwaves, frost-overs, and crisp breezy days I have had to make the most out of every yard work opportunity, and some not so opportune days as well. It has been worth it though, and I have a lovely new patio to show for it. Outdoor party here I come!

I think we are programmed as children to look forward to summer all year long, and the first glimmer of sunshine I put together our new 2 person hammock and made a big old pitcher of iced tea. With the forcast set to be in the 80's and two family birthdays this week it was the perfect excuse to host my first outdoor party of the year.

Ok, I have to admit that although I am calling this upcoming weekend my first outdoor party of the year, it really isn't. Last Saturday was so nice it seemed to be the day of impromptu drop ins. Well my mother raised me right (or tried to anyhow) and at the end of the evening when 6 people and an adorable pitbull/boxer mix (Gilbert!) remained I fired up the BBQ and sent my sister to the store for some last-minute salads and we had a lovely, although chilly, outdoor dinner.

But this weekend I am going all out with the party planning and I thought I would pass along my tips and recipes so you have some new ideas in your arsenal of outdoor entertainment. Memorial day weekend is just 9 days away- are you ready? To start out, I'm going to share my Etsy picks for the perfect outdoor party. Tune in over the next several days for my ideas on recipes - including vegetarian options for the BBQ- and hostess tips and tricks. So without further ado, your essential Etsy picks for outdoor entertainment:

P.S. I cannot leave without urging everyone in the Spokane/Cheney area to drop in to EWU's BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts) show that is up in their gallery right now. The paintings by Keshia Weaver-Wright will knock your socks off, and all the work in the show is for sale. If you want info on the show I'll gladly email it to you. Look for an artist interview and a feature on Keshia's work in the future.

I've Made The Front Page!

2009-04-30T10:44:00.000-07:00

Anyone who is addicted to Etsy like I am knows that the front page is equivalent to the Holy Grail for an Etsy shop owner. Either being featured as a shop or a curator of a treasury is the highest compliment possible. And today, I was just paid a major compliment. Thanks to friend and fellow teammate, Cherie of StudioCherie, I was included into a lovely treasury that was featured on the front page today!

So what's the big deal? Not only did I sell the item that was featured, I have 15 new shop hearts just this morning AND our team got some excellent exposure. I must have known it was going to be a good day- I woke up super early without being tired, got extra spiffed up and had a nice little breakfast all by myself. Now, if you don't mind, I'm stepping out for some errands and to have a nice visit with my sister to round off the day.

Happy Earth Day

2009-04-22T09:52:00.000-07:00

Eco-friendliness is near and dear to my heart, so I would like to pop in quickly and wish you a Happy Earth Day! (Which, coincidentally is also my wedding anniversary. 3 years strong!) Do something earthy today- for me it will be weeding my garden and starting veggie seedlings indoors. What will your earth day bring?

Spreading the wealth...

2009-04-20T19:10:00.000-07:00

I remember being in art school and trying to find an easy-to-understand tutorial on bookbinding so I could make my friend a journal for her birthday. The one I finally found was not only difficult to find, it was difficult to understand! Eventually I did learn, by pulling information from about 5 different sources and pooling them. It hit me a while back that if I had this much trouble finding a tutorial, others might as well. I did an Etsy search for "Coptic Binding" "Chain Stitch" "Bookbinding" and others and came up with no tutorials. So, I talked myself into making one.

It was an interesting process to write down on paper what my hands were so used to doing. I had to think hard to make it simple and specific at the same time. I think most people are afraid of Coptic binding because it looks or sounds complicated, but once you learn it is very easy! After coming up with written instructions, I got out my handy-dandy digital graphics tablet and created simple illustrations (which I find way more effective than photos) in Adobe CS2. I even created little arrows to show the motion of the thread. I tested this out on Hubby (who is not known for his craftiness) and he said he got it, so I have confidence you will too!

Today just felt like the right day to unveil this labor of love. It is now available in my Etsy shop for purchase, and coming soon I will have hardback, paperback, and advanced techniques to share. I'll also be grouping them together for a discounted price if you think you want to tackle all three.

Hope you all had a lovely Monday. (Perhaps so lovely that you want to learn a new skill?)

How Does Your Garden Grow?

2009-04-15T13:30:00.000-07:00

Do you remember that nursery rhyme? Mary, Mary, Quit Contrary. How does your garden grow? With silver bells and cockle shells and pretty maids all in a row. Well I have no idea what cockle shells are (I have yet to identify several packets of mystery seeds that came in my HUGE seed box) but I am starting quite the garden.

If you live in my area, you are probably wondering how I am gardening with this weather. I have spent a few days gardening in rain and hail (much to my neighbor's entertainment, I'm sure) and the rest of the time I've been starting seeds indoors inside egg cartons. I have so many left over from Easter eggs that I could plant my whole box of seeds in them!

The vegetable garden is my next big project to tackle and it's going to be a big one. The whole family is arguing at this point on how to set it up, but we have agreed to plant as much as possible to feed my household, my parents, and my sisters. What we can't eat, we'll can. Which will be a whole new adventure for me. I'm really channeling my grandpa here, because even in failing health in his 80s he still managed to tend the most amazing gardens. Hopefully he will be my garden angel and watch over my crops.

For those of you getting the gardening itch as well, I'd like to pass on some inspiration. Some "veggie dust" if you will. First, if you are limited on space you have to check out this post on Paula's blog. She is a fellow team member and has mastered the art of square foot gardening. It really is amazing! Even if you aren't strapped for space, the concept of growing 100lbs of potatoes in just 4 square feet is incredible. Find out how here on Apartment Therapy's sister site Re-Nest.

And now, on to Etsy to get you set up with all the goodies you want and need to get you in the digging mood.

Wear your food, and your faith

2009-04-06T16:38:00.000-07:00

I've officially launched my own MySoti shop where I will be periodically uploading my artwork so you can wear it.
For those of you that haven't heard of MySoti, it is a website where designers can upload their original art to be made in to tshirts and posters. It is DTG (diret to garment) printing so the quality is much better than a transfer and they have the ability to print over 16 million colors- something screen printing just can't offer. The tshirts are great quality and there are two style options so you can pick the fit you like best. Plus, I love that I still own my designs and can set my own pricing.

Here is my first design, What the French, Toast? If you share my sense of humor, this is probably the funniest saying ever! Inspired by the Orbitz (Clean up a dirty mouth) commercial I've turned this hillarious saying into a design complete with an adorable kawaii inspired french toast. Awwww. (Click the image to be taken to the design and see it bigger)

My other design, Faith, was created after some good friends of ours adopted the girl they'd always payed for. After having two wonderful boys this couple was no longer able to have children and were elated to find out they would be adopting a sweet little girl. Faith is her name and this design was made for her. After recieving such a positive response I've now turned it in to a design for everyone.

Thanks for letting me share my newest adventure. I'd love to hear your feedback, and please continue to check MySoti for more of my designs. :)

Artist Interview: Good4You

2009-04-03T11:00:00.000-07:00

I'm back with another artist interview with one of my new favorites on Etsy. While looking for some natural alternatives to the medications I quit taking a year ago I ran across a great shop that sells herbal teas, baths, and salves. She also makes great custom blends so you get everything you need in one tea. Jess from good4you has kindly agreed to answer a few questions.

Randi: How did you get started creating teas at home and what motivated you to open an Etsy shop?
Jess: I was inspired by a class I took 4 years ago at UMass Amherst. It was in a beautiful greenhouse. It all came together one night when my friend made me a remedy from whatever was in the kitchen cabinet. Then I started creating teas for my friends in the dorm I was living in. The process grew even larger when I introduced them at an Open Mic coffee house I ran. After graduating I naturally continued the process at my house. I opened an Etsy shop to live the dream of running a small business from my home. I also sell to local coops and natural foods stores.

Randi: You have some amazing custom blends, can you tell me a little about where your ideas come from and what the process is like making these blends?
Jess: My ideas flow naturally, like an herbal dance the plants lead me through. I usually mix them up like paint on a pallet. A little bit of this and yes a touch of this too to make a beautiful painting. The teas start with a base herb like green tea or chamomile. I then add on a ginseng for strength and/or a nourisher like nettles. Next, the medicinals come in for whatever the need of the tea may be. I then finish the tea with a sweetener like stevia, flower or spice.

Randi: Your product names are great! Which of these teas or other products are your favorites?
Jess: I love everything so much. Oh no! Please don't make me do this! Ok ok, you talked me into it. My favorites are (drumroll please) :

TEA: Natural Mystic and Pure Bliss Chai. I am in heaven with the hibiscus tartness and minty undertones of Natural Mystic. Pure Bliss Chai got me through the winter on those cold days. It warmed my heart with milk and honey.

TEA BATH: Rising Spirit. You'll feel like a goddess. Lemongrass, rosemary, lavender, sage, oats, and the spirit of mugwort! Amazing.

Rising Spirit Tea Bath

SALVE-ATION: is the best as well. I love the all-purpose salve I make. You can use it for anything. It has royal jelly in it too. Such greatness! I use it everyday, right now after some early gardening, for cuts, as a little shine to my face instead of makeup, and for dry dry skin. I love it! It took me 3 years to develop.

Randi: Anyone who visits my shop knows I am a huge wheatgrass freak, but I also love herbal teas. Can you explain the benefits of using your products, both on the body and the environment?
Jess: The teas I make complete me. Herbs are such a great way to feel full of life. They give us vitamins, minerals, medicine, completeness. I package these bundles of nourishing joy in 100% biodegradable and recycled packaging. I also use mason jars that can be reused. I try to keep in mind not creating waste, period. I print out all the labels myself with ink I get locally filled. I also use herbs from local farmers. I think it's important to keep the economy within the peoples hands and not big huge chain stores.

Randi: I see lots of new products coming in to your shop- any big plans for the future of good4you?
Jess: My plan is to educate and inspire as much as possible. I would love to see more successful artists, sustainable practices, a strengthened real people based economy and of course more love! Maybe a little box of tea can speak a thousand words? One day I will have a farm. New products will definitely come too with the inspiration. A huge flood just past full of them so I hope everyone dives in!

Randi: When you're not making herbal teas and baths, what can you be found doing?
Jess: Right now you will find me digging up a huge new garden in our backyard. Now is the time. I heard more people then ever are starting gardens this year. It's a good idea! I also sit in the forest alot. I'm also trying to be a Buddha Blossom, like my tea and see all that happens with love instead of fear. Love Is.

Randi: Describe what your workplace is like, where do you create and package your products?
Jess: My kitchen is an herbal haven. Jars of herbs galore. I pack tea in front of a window that over looks the forests of Mt. Toby. Bird seed and bread covers the sill to bring beautiful birds and squirrels in sight all day! I love being in touch with nature all hours. It shows me the inspiration!

Randi: 4 months shy of your 1 year Etsy birthday and you've managed a fabulous 300+ sales! Any advice for other Etsy sellers out there?
Jess: I have some really good hints actually. I say first and foremost look at what your favorite, most successful shops are doing. Follow their lead. It's good inspiration and motivation. Another hint is using the Renew option for your products frequently, even daily if you can. It will keep them listed up at the top of category searches. I know from personal shopping experience I usually look at the first few pages before moving on. Using Renew also saves the products hit counters from before so it's pretty sweet! It will cost 20 cents every time you Renew, I'd say it's a great investment. Etsy reaches a lot of people. Another hint is something I just started doing which is having a promotion every week. It keeps things interesting. Also, have really really good pictures. FInally, draw from the love and kindness you are!

Randi: Name 5 blogs you're following right now.
Jess: I probably follow 5 altogether, and from now on 6, which will be yours!!! This is so funny! It's going to show another side of me. I love fashion. Even though my style is totally earthcrunch grunge ninja hobo.
I follow Etsy seller Yokoo's blogs (very inspiring).
I love Leanne Marshall's clothing from project runway. She also has an Etsy shop LeAnimal. Seeing successful artists on the rise keeps me motivated.
I also check out the Style Bubble with Susie Bubble.
And with a touch of spiritual stuff, I try to follow the ACIM monk's blog. I was inspired by the Disappearance of the Universe by Gary Renard and then The Course in Miracles. The ACIM monk shows the love.
And finally shout outs to Etsy seller moonandsundries. I follow Karen's blog because she's a local motivation-inspiration as an artist. She organizes hip craft shows too attracting all sorts of people to the local artisan community/economy.

Randi: Name your top 5 favorite Etsy shops.
Jess: Yokoo, BodhiYarn, EmilyRyan, Idea2Lifestyle & ArmoursansAnguish

Randi: Thank you for giving us a peek inside what makes good4you great!
Jess: This was so fun. Much peace. Spread Love! Drink teA!

And now, some of my favorites from good4you:

Ultimate Green Drink (Wheat grass powder, barley grass powder, beet root powder, chlorella powder, spirulina powder & bee pollen)

Positive Vibrations Women's Tea (Nettle leaves, shatavari root, dandelion leaves and root, alfalfa leaves, gotu kola leaves, cinnamon, red raspberry leaves, red clover blossoms, rosemary leaves, vitex berries, dong quai root, stevia leaves, sage leaves and flowers.)

Remedy Sample Pack (3 tea bags each of 7 different remedy teas: Cheer Up, Natural Mystic, One Love Tea, Satisfy My Soul, Judge Not, Pure Bliss Chai & Sun Song Tea.)

Hippity Hop... the Easter Challenge is here!

2009-04-02T19:56:00.000-07:00

As you know, the Etsy team I'm on is hosting monthly challenges and up tomorrow at 5pm PST is the Easter Challenge. My talented teammates are crafting up some Easter themed goodies and we'd love for you to go vote for your favorite. If you're over 18 and living in the us you could also win one of these lovelies by leaving a comment for us.

I wasn't going to enter but I had a lightbulb go off last minute and I cut up some pages from an old shorthand dictionary and made a recycled paper calla lily bouquet. I dyed the paper with hibiscus tea and hit the edges with pink prismacolor art markers. I also learned how to wrap a bouquet bridal-style with wide satin ribbon and pearl pins. It was pretty fun and just the first of many paper flower bouquets that I'll be putting together. I've already got a lot of interest in the paper roses and am making a corsage for my friends gallery opening in 5 weeks. Weee!

I'll see you all tomorrow with a fabulous interview with one of my newest Etsy favorites, good4you.

Spring, Indeed!

2009-04-01T10:08:00.000-07:00

Seriously, is it really spring? I live in the "Banana Belt" of Spokane and have thankfully missed the snow showers this week but I am still ankle deep in hail most days. I've been sitting at the window patiently waiting for the tiniest ray of sun so I can get started on my yardwork. I have a 1/2 acre to rake, shovel, prune, and plant and this 30 degree weather is killing me! Can I go outside already.... please?

As if I wasn't excited enough, just look what I got yesterday. Since we met in art school I've always helped my friend Keshia stretch her canvas. Yesterday she not only showed up with 3 yards of canvas and 18 boxes to stretch them over, but she came bearing gifts. A friend of her family recently passed after a battle with cancer and she left everything in her greenhouse to Keshia and her mom. This gift was passed along to me and yesterday I inherited a 12 x 16 x7 inch box packed full of seeds! After I plant my own garden, I have enough to landscape the rest of my block!

You may not know this, but the gardening muscle has to be properly stretched before engaging in wildflower warfare on your neighborhood. So, I began a strict training program yesterday, starting with a moss terrarium. I found this little vintage pyrex coffee pot at the thrift store and it was beggin to be made into a planter... really, I heard it. This adorable terrarium will sit on my computer desk to help bring the outside in. Now all I need are ceramic mushrooms to go inside.

And, while I had gardening on the brain, I've decided to put all those book "guts" to good use and I'm expirimenting with templates to make paper flowers. I made this rose yesterday out of sheet music and just finished dying paper to make a calla lily bouquet for my team's Easter Challenge. You might possibly see these in my shop in the near future.

The strength of humility

2009-03-25T13:58:00.000-07:00

Hello all. I would love to stay and talk today, but since my shop seems to be selling out of eco-friendly coffee cuffs like crazy, it is my goal today to make at least 5 (and bake my poor husband those cookies he's been waiting a week for!). I just wanted to share something with you that really touched my heart today.

Our team, as you know, is holding monthly challenges and giveaways and our wonderful blogger-turned-cheerleader, Cherie, has decided to feature our contestants on her personal blog. Although her items are also entered into the challenge, she has decided to take the high road and graciously promote her peers and competitors. It takes more strength to be humble than to fight for the win and her words of encouragement meant a lot to me, not only as a competitor myself but also as a friend and teammate. I hope, because she chose humility for the good of the team, that it brings her success as well. Please take a look at her blog post and learn about the team, and when you're done with that you can vote in our challenge.

Spring everywhere!

2009-03-22T00:00:00.000-07:00

Spring is officially here. Mud puddles everywhere from the torrential downpour outside, patio furniture on sale (bought a 7 piece set AND a hammock this week!), and the Eastern Washington Etsy team has our Spring Challenge up. Check out our blog (www.ewateam.blogspot.com) to vote for you favorite item (hint: my journal is #4... j/k vote for any one of our super talented people!). If you cast your vote and leave a comment you could win the item that receives the most votes! Voting ends Friday, March 27th at 5pm PST so what are you waiting for? Go do it before its too late!

Reaching 100

2009-03-18T22:40:00.000-07:00

I noticed this afternoon that my Etsy shop is close to 100 sales, so I've decided to celebrate by offering the buyer of my 100th item sold on Etsy a freebie. I am keeping it a surprise to make it more fun, but I promise it will be a good one! If you've had your eye on something for a while, now would be a good time to snatch it up!
www.ragnazidnar.etsy.com
Leterpress Counting Poster by sweetbeets

**UPDATE** So sorry to everyone hoping to be number 100- I logged on this afternoon to a very hefty order placed by the wonderful miss Rachel of rachel323. She will be the winner of the 100 sales prize and I'll catch y'all at the next 100. :)

It isn't easy being green...

2009-03-17T14:38:00.000-07:00

I'm feeling rather un-festive (is that even a word!?) today. I never have really gotten in to St. Patty's day anyway, despite green being my favorite color and pinching people a secret guilty pleasure of mine. And, while I am sitting in my springy green loft on my green laptop sipping away at my "Green Goddess" wheatgrass shake I still can't shake these ho-hums.

So, what's the matter? I suppose it just feels no different than any other day to me. I see a lot of enthusiasm everywhere on the web for shamrocks, green, rainbows, and even a nice big pint of Guiness- Not my thing. Even tonight while my husband happily munches away on his corned beef I'll surely be eating a veggie casarole of some kind and completely happy with it. I feel that I should be baking green cookies and building leprechaun traps, but I feel more like the St. Patty's Day Grinch - unenthused but so big and green that nobody dares pinch me to get me in the spirit. (Haha, ok. Maybe that last bit way a bit dramatic.)

I came to the realization that all the "good" holidays have one of a few things: family, presents, or candy. (Food too, I supposed, but being a vegetarian I usually get the short end of the carrot stick during holiday meals in my family!) I am remedying this right now by buying a couple St. Patty's gifts for myself and my family. If you need a little shove in the festive direction, here are some other great Etsy picks to get you in the mood.

Spring Fever

2009-03-15T11:34:00.000-07:00

It feels like so long since I've been away from my blog. But I am coming back to you refreshed and with a touch of Spring fever. Although the weather in my neck of the woods has ranged from everything from rain, snow, sleet, and sideways hail these past couple of weeks that little green bud that is the beginning of Spring fever is beginning to grow.

This all started last week when, much to my delight, I found a dozen Crocus' growing around my recycling bin. To be honest, I wasn't sure at the time what they were but a quick call over to my greener-than-green-thumb mother revealed that those little white blooms were the beginning of a lovely springtime garden.

Feeling optimistic, I started the Spring cleaning as well. (Not all because of the Crocus', mind you, I did have a home appraisal to ready myself for.) The loft which will serve as my office and studio is 90% done and painted in the most appropriate shade of springy green. To see images of my house, jump on over to my flickr set. And, while I was cleaning I came up with the most eco-friendly way I could think of for that little pest problem near our windows with no screens. I hopped on over to My Carnivore and bought myself two lovely pitcher plants that are happily eating all the bugs as I type. Good plant.

So, to continue with the cheerful Spring attitude, regardless of the winter storm warning heading our way, I will busy myself today with some embroidery. I remember as a child clumsily stitching over the pencil lines my mother drew for me on scrap fabrics and I've picked it up again quite recently. Here is the latest in my coffee sleeves, proving how much I've enjoyed this re-learning process.

AND, if you're really in the springy mood, pop on over to the Eastern Washington Etsy Team's Blog on Friday, March 20th- the official first day of Spring- and vote in our first ever team challenge. Voting starts at 5 pm PST (8pm EST) and lasts exactly one week. If you do you'll be entered in a chance to win the item with the most votes.

Do You Feel Lucky?

2009-03-06T23:27:00.000-08:00

Well, do ya?

No, I've not suddenly lost it and turned into Clint Eastwood, I'm hosting a giveaway on the Handmade Showcase. If you're interesting in a $15 credit to my shop, pop on over to the blog and leave a comment to be entered into the drawing. The credit can be used for anything your little heart desires, as long as it's in my shop. I've been told to expect the posting sometime on March 7th or 8th.

I'd like to say that I've been a busy bee working to fill my shop for this wonderful opportunity, but unfortunately I've returned to you after a little hiatus after staying with my grandmother in the hospital. Grams is ok now, recovering nicely, but the experience left us all exhausted- both physically and emotionally. (Not going into details, but let's suffice it to say I woke up in the bathroom the night we got home not sure how long I was in there!) Thanks to everyone for their well-wishes.

I will now be diligently working to create brand new goodies for my shop, so enter your name and cross your fingers- I promise to make it worth your while. Goodbye and good luck!

Green Tea Cake Recipe

2009-02-19T22:40:00.001-08:00

Tuesday was my bff's birthday and to make it special I headed out to Cheney to surprise her in the painting studio with cake, flowers and gifts. She's got a huge painting review and a couple upcoming shows to get ready for so the break was a welcome relief. Because she's quirky and adventurous like me I always try unique recipes out on her. She loved this one and I'm sharing it with you to try out as well.

Here's what you'll need:

Ingredients

Cake:
2 C. All-purpose flour
1 Tsp. Baking Soda
1 Tsp. Salt
3 Eggs
4 Tsp. Matcha Green Tea Powder (Or comparable substitute)
1 1/4 C. White Granulated Sugar
1 C. Vegetable Oil
1 C. Plain Yogurt
1 1/2 Tsp. Vanilla Extract

Frosting:
2 1/2 C. Confectioner's Sugar (Powdered Sugar)
4 Tsp. Matcha Green Tea Powder (Or comparable substitute)
4 Tbsp. Butter (Softened)
8 oz Cream Cheese (Softened)
1 Tsp. Vanilla Extract
3 Tsp. Milk (In my case I use soymilk)

Also Needed: 2- 9 inch cake pans
Crisco or other means to grease pans
3 medium mixing bowls
Electric Beaters
Wire Cooling Rack
Spatula (for frosting cake)

Directions:

-- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

-- In a medium bowl sift together flour, baking soda, matcha green tea powder (I could not get this at my local grocer on short notice, so I went with Chai Green Tea instead. A slightly "spicier" taste than the matcha but also very good!) and salt. Set aside.

-- In a medium mixing bowl, beat together sugar, oil, and eggs until smooth. Stir in the vanilla, adding extra if you wish. Beat in the yogurt until incorporated, don't over mix.

-- Incorporate dry ingredients a little at a time, mixing on medium speed.

-- Grease and flour both 9 inch cake pans. I use springform pans, but you can use whichever you like- you may need to adjust your baking time depending on which type of pan you use. Pour the batter into both pans, being as equal as possible. (This is very hard to do one-handed while snapping photos that aren't blurry!)

-- Bake in the preheated oven for 30-40 minutes or until toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool on wire racks for 30 minutes before removing from pans. You may freeze the cakes after they are cool if you aren't going to use them right away.

-- For the frosting, sift together cofectioner's sugar and matcha green tea powder in a medium bowl. Add butter, cream cheese, vanilla, and milk.

-- Beat with an electric mixer until smooth. You can also add any food coloring, if you wish, at this point. (I added a bit of green to mine)

-- To assemble, wait until your cakes are completely cooled. Trim your cakes, if needed. Place one cake on a serving plate and spread a generous layer of your frosting on top. If you cake crumbs try dipping your spatula in hot water and using more frosting at once. Spread from the middle out.

-- Place your second cake on top. Frost the top and sides, decorate or sprinkle with matcha powder if desired. Serve either cool or at room temperature.

** Can also make one sheet cake if you do not choose to make a layerd round cake. Your baking time will need to be adjusted for this, so check your cake to prevent burning it or under-baking.

Hope you enjoy your cake as much as we did. Sorry, no pictures of it in action- candles lit in all it's glory but I can assure you it was spectacular. ;) Big hugs to the birthday girl. Good luck on your review and upcoming show, I'm so proud of you! (Me on the left, my bff Keshia on the right. People ask us all the time if we're sisters- we're not. We are just both super pale and have red hair.)

Gift Guides

2009-02-18T15:00:00.000-08:00

Gift Guides seems to be the phrase on people's lips lately. This section of Etsy suggests items to buyers looking for gifts in various categories or for certain people. Consider the gift guides as your one-stop shop when you're looking for items in a specific style or for a special person and you just aren't sure what to search for. These items are all hand-picked by Etsy staff members so, naturally, to be picked for one of these guides is quite flattering.

Some folks have found themselves wondering how to get included in one of these guides. One such person is my friend Cherie over at StudioCherie. One of the theories out there is to change up your photos so they are excellent shots and vibe well with the other picks already in the gift guides. Check out her blog and leave your opinion on what photo you think will earn her that well deserved place. Doing so will give you the chance to win one of 3 prizes!

After reading that I could win some awesome gift from her shop I had to put in my two cents, which brought me to the gift guides page to take one more look before casting my vote. To me, putting together a gift guide seems like a huge treasury, so I wanted to see which photo of hers compliments the other photos in the "baby" guide. I never got that far (yet! Cherie, I will be checking yours out after this, I promise!)

The reason I didn't get that far is, much to my surprise, I have been included in a gift guide myself! Woo Hoo!

Check out the "Writing It Down" guide to see my birds and bees journal in action. I'd love to provide you all with advice at this point on how I did it, but honestly it wasn't anything special. Recently I've improved my photographs and since then I've almost doubled my monthly sales, been included in more treasuries, been hearted more, and scored a spot in the gift guides. Proof, I suppose, that a picture truly is worth a thousand words.

Happy Valentines Day

2009-02-14T15:43:00.000-08:00

Just popping in to my much neglected blog to wish you all a Happy Valentines Day. Hope yours is filled with roses, romance and carefully aimed arrows. (Or whatever tickles your fancy)

So far mine has been spent catching up on emails and planning out some new items for my Etsy shop (keep a look out for some embroidered journals and coffee sleeves in several themes: woodland animals, matryoska dolls, and sushi!). My husband has spend most of the day bonding with Mr. Rooter and our ever faulty septic system. Love is in the air, or not. We seem to be notorious for un-romantic Valentines days as hard as we try. Haha. Oh well, humor is an integral part of a lasting relationship anyway.

Keep a look out for new items in my shop and an uncoming tutorial for a delicious and unique green tea cake.

Mannequin Kiss Card by WHIMSYlove

Egg People Tutorial

2009-02-02T12:14:00.000-08:00

Or, as my 3 yr old niece likes to call them- "people grass."

Last week we planned on having my niece over for a couple of days to spend the night at our new home. I had all sorts of activities planned for when she came over including making little egg people with grass hair and whipping up some homemade marshmallows. (Which were a disaster. I learned that letting a 3 yr old do all the stirring makes flat marshmallows and gelatin without flavoring is very stinky!) In case you want to make some of these cute little guys, I've made a mini tutorial for y'all.

Since wheatgrass grows so fast it is pretty instant gratification and fun for kids to plant. I made it a little more kid friendly by using eggshells with faces on them. The grass looks like crazy green hair and children love to play barber and trim it.

Materials Needed:
Eggs
Egg carton
Sharpie
Markers or paints
Soil (I use Miracle Grow water control)
Wheatgrass seeds (available here)

Directions:

1. Crack your eggs very carefully to remove just a small portion of the top. Sometimes this takes several tries so plan on making a quiche or something with lots of eggs. They do sell a fancy tool that cuts off the top, but if you don't own one use the lip of a bowl or glass and tap lightly all around. Empty the contents of the eggshell and rinse with water. Set aside to dry.

2. If you are using an egg carton to hold your egg person, cut out an individual cup for each egg and allow the children to decorate them with markers or paints. Remember if using markers not to get these wet or they will bleed! Other alternatives are to cut out feet from a piece of cardboard and hot glue them to the bottom of your egg, or cut a 1" strip of cardstock and make a "tube" for the little guy to sit in.

3. Using the help of an adult (especially for young children) lightly draw a face on your egg using a sharpie or other non-washable marker.

4. Fill your egg 2/3 full with soil using a teaspoon. Tap down lightly. At this point I also like to water the soil a bit so it is moist and I don't wash away the seeds by trying to water the top.

5. Sprinkle with an even coating of wheatgrass seeds, trying not to overfill or cause the seeds to overlap.

6. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil and moisten. Not too much- your soil underneath the seeds should already be moist as well. (A spray bottle works perfect for this!) Do not over fill or flood your egg.

7. Place the newest member of your family in a warm place and allow to sit for about 3 days, watering lightly only when the soil feels dry. Once the first little sprouts peek through the soil move locations to a windowsill or other sunny spot in your home. In a few days your egg will have wild hair! You can cut the hair or allow your pets to nibble on them. (I woke up to the cat sitting in my sink eating my wheatgrass!)

Enjoy your projects!

Cuteness Alert!

2009-01-28T11:43:00.000-08:00

I have to admit, I have somewhat of a paper addiction. In one of my college life drawing courses my professor brought in a sampler of paper for us see and feel and I fell in love. Its not just drawing paper, but wrapping paper, wallpaper, scrapbook paper and cardstocks of all kinds. My last trip to the craft store for one item (yeah, right, like that ever happens!) resulted in picking up a pack of the most adorable pack of woodlands themed paper. I have big plans for this stuff and my first creation is now up for sale in my Etsy shop. I don't usually brag, but I can't get over how cute the little things are that I've made with this. Here is a set of two journals just listed:

Can't get enough of woodland cuteness? Me neither. Here are some other great Etsy picks to tide you over until the others are listed in my shop. Have you hugged a deer today?

This is not Helvetica

2009-01-26T10:17:00.000-08:00

That would have been the title of my treasury last night had I paid enough attention to the time to get one! Darn. Maybe next time. I've grouped together a great collection of items with a typography theme- something I've gotten very interested since seeing the film "Helvetica." I'm not convinced this film is for everyone, but if you have an interest in typography, graphic design, or the like you should check it out. Here are some of my favorites from that roundup:

Other than checking all the Etsy listings for awesome typography items, I've been working my little fingers to the bone finishing up a bunch of fun custom orders and introducing some new products to my shop. After finishing my light box I started adding new items daily like these little guys- eco felt reusable coffee sleeves. I am so in love with these sleeves and am looking forward to making more. SO addictive.

Artist Interview: GudonyaToo

2009-01-22T01:03:00.000-08:00

Lets kick off the weekend with another artist interview, shall we? Today's interview is with one of my favorite Etsy sellers for beauty products. I ran across GudonyaToo, a husband and wife shop, when searching for a natural shampoo and I've been back several times. I've asked Tina to answer a few of my questions to help us get to know her and her great products. Here is what she had to say:

Randi: What motivated you to start creating bath and beauty products, and how do you come up with your ideas?
Tina: We used “handmade” soap and thought it was great! We did our research (the legal and government rule stuff too!), and massive amounts of testing and trials on family and friends, and then started selling. Our ideas come from all sorts of things…Like coffee shops, nature and from our customers. Doing custom orders for people gets the creativity level really high! The world is full of scents, good and bad, and the way people perceive them is even a bigger mystery! What one person might LOVE another might hate, so you do your best interpretation and hope it sells!

Randi: I've noticed that your shop is full of Vegan products (which I love), can you explain why you create them that way?
Tina: Our favorite ingredients fit well with the Vegan lifestyle. I think that renewable plant products are a better resource than animal products. Although we are not strict Vegans ourselves, we do respect the lifestyle and hope we can make products that EVERYONE can use and enjoy!

Randi: What is your favorite product that you carry? What is your favorite scent?
Tina: As of right now, the Mocha Razz Salty Dawg Shampoo
Randi: Oh, man I love this stuff! I use Salty Dawg and salon shampoos can't even come close to how bouncy and shiny my hair is with this. The scents are yummy too and I can't wait to try your new ones.

Randi: Any big plans for the Gudonya Shop?
Tina: Bunches of new scents (hopefully a Men’s line), some new products are being tested, and spinning off the hair care products (with new stuff being added) on a new Etsy shop!
Randi: Coming soon, check out Tina & Brian's new shop that will house their haircare line- including the awesome Salty Dawg Shampoo.

Randi:When you're not creating awesome beauty products, what can you be found doing?
Tina: Family time, and of course all of the daily work that is put off due to the business…Sometimes there is not enough hours in the day!

Randi: You've managed an amazing 11,000+ sales on Etsy. Any advice for other folks out there?
Tina: Unique products at GREAT prices! STAND OUT! It is the only way to sell!

Randi: Name 5 blogs that you're following right now.
Tina: I have to admit that the time is just not there to follow much of anything, sorry!
Randi: Oh, man. Ok, I'll cut you some slack considering you're a crazy busy gal and I'm new to blogs myself. :)

Randi: Name your top 5 favorite Etsy Shops.
Tina:
http://tiddlyinks.etsy.com
http://blackbriar.etsy.com
http://Rodeomau.etsy.com
http://rabbitholeonline.etsy.com
http://BeeDazzlesPendants.etsy.com

And now, some of my favorites from Tina and Brian's shop.

Half Round Bar Soap, Coconut Pineapple

"Baby Legs" Shaving Soap Rounds, Spa Fusion

Intense Hair Conditioner Wild Strawberry Fields

Let there be light(box) part 2

2009-01-21T23:45:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I shared how I've finally made my lightbox after a little inspiration from a commercial and a great online tutorial found here. Check out the post for all the info about what lead up to this project.

Once I finally had this thing built (which was super easy!) I was excited to take photographs. Right away I snapped a lot of pictures but found that the overhead lighting and my lack of blinds in our living room was interfering with my photos. As excited as I was to start using my lightbox I knew it would yield the best photos if I could wait until dark. That didn't solve all of my problems- I still had lots of expirimenting to do.

Here is my light box set up on the kitchen table with my reflector lamps off and the overhead lights on. The second image is what it looks like with the overhead lights off and the lamps on.

I followed these instructions to create a lightbox that is roughly 20x20 inches. Inside I've laid a piece of white bristol paper (although I also have a sheet of black, green, and a few pieces of patterned wrapping paper just in case). The lamps are professional photography reflectors that I bought in college and I am using 150 watt daylight spectrum bulbs.

Although a light box is a huge step in the right direction, using it without the correct camera settings is like using a video camera with the lens cap on. While I have a great camera, a Canon PowerShot Digital 8.0 mega pixel, the auto settings only produce mediocre photos that require a lot of work in photoshop. Not something I have time for! In order to create the best quality images I had to try several settings on my camera.

Using a manual setting on your camera is the best option when trying to fine tune the lighting and color in your photographs. Since each camera is different I won't go into a lot of detail here, but reference your user manual (or just start pushing buttons, whatever your style) and record on a scratch pad what each setting is as you snap away. It is important to review your photos on a computer screen- not only is it larger, but it is how your photos will eventually be viewed. This helps me compare the images as well so I can choose the best setting. Here are some examples of what my expiriments yielded:

Photo 1: "Auto" settings, no flash
Photo 2: "Daylight" manual setting, no flash

Photo 3: "Tungsten Light" manual setting, with flash, exposure at +2/3
Photo 4: "Tunsten Light" manual setting, without flash, exposure at +2/3

What is amazing is the last two photographs are basically the same setting only one uses flash and one does not. I should also mention that I use macro (looks like a little tulip) on all my photos to help pick up the details. Ideally I would also use a tripod and the timer setting so the camera can't move around a cause blurriness.

In order to pick the best photo, I set them up in photoshop so I can see several at once and minimize the worst ones until I have only one left. If needed I then enhance the sharpness and light balance using photoshop settings.

I ended up using the manual setting: tungsten light, no flash, macro, and +2/3 exposure. Here are some of the before and after shots I was able to achieve:

Let there be light(box)

2009-01-20T14:07:00.000-08:00

A light box has been on my to-do list for some time now. I've depended for a long time on good sunlight and comfortable weather to photograph items for my Etsy shop and with the recent downpouring of snow here in the Inland Northwest I have yet to photograph anything. With the shop makeover series on Etsy and Flickr this thought kept nagging at me, but the thing that really pushed me over the edge was a Taco Time commercial and an online tutorial. Don't laugh yet, just let me explain.
Light and Time Photograph by sevenbridges

Hubby and I were enjoying some time in front of the tube when this commercial comes on for Taco Time. They talk about how great of a deal this burrito is and when they finally show a shot of it you feel like you're playing a game of Where's Waldo. There is so much stuff in the shot that you hardly notice the tiny little burrito- the whole point of the commercial. This concept applies just as handily to Etsy. If I'm trying to sell something and I surround it with a bunch of other stuff that distracts people, how effective is my approach? Sometimes a background or artistic shot is great but it should enhance rather that detract from the item you're marketing.

Kitchen floors, bedsheets, or a computer desk piled with papers rarely accomplishes this, which is why a light box can be so handy. It not only produces nice photos, but it gives you a controlled background. You can use white or switch it up by placing colored or patterned paper inside as well. But these are expensive and bulky, right? Wrong. I went with this online tutorial because the cost was less than $10 and it flattens and tucks away easily!

Over the next couple of days I will be posting some info on using this handy little tool and giving some pointers on camera settings and technique. Until then I'll leave you with some photos showing the difference it made in my product photos for one of my journals. Enjoy.

Before:

After:

My biggest art project, ever.

2009-01-19T15:52:00.000-08:00

Boy meets girl. Boy marries girl. Boy and girl hate their apartment. Boy asks girl to get pre-approved for a home loan. Girl isn't interested. Boy and girl move in to girl's parent's house. Boy goes crazy. Girl finds home on Craigslist. Home is trashed. Boy and girl buy home. Girl paints and paints. Boy builds and builds. Boy and girl move in. Home sweet home. The end.

Home Sweet Home print by JennSki

That is the short version of what my husband and I have been through in the past couple of years. We fell in love with a little 1908 fixer-upper and have been working dilligently with my parents to fix this baby up like new. Yes, it was hard work. Yes, it was disgusting at times. (Bank repos are not usually left in pristine condition, if you know what I mean.) We've finally crested the home-improvement hill and are somewhere on the downward stride- finally!

This week my husband found our picture hanging supplies in a box marked "Miscellaneous." I was so excited that our bare (although freshly painted and lovely) walls could house our photos. I threw them up and realized I hated where I put all of them, and we are in some serious need of some artwork. Apparently a 900 sq. foot apartment doesn't house enough photos to fill the walls of a 1500 sq. foot home. Bummer.

Ok, ok. I admit, I was a little excited to see open wall space. I've spent all afternoon on Etsy looking for that perfect piece that my walls can't live without. I am now taking a break to address my long-neglected blog and share some of the little triumphs of our new home ownership before the gimme-gimmes kick in.

Two very scarey and very real "before" photos of our bedroom. Stained carpet, ugly boarder, unpainted drywall. Ick. (Oh, and check out the very yellow living room through the doorway!)

Two "after" shots. Ah, that's better. New blue paint, bamboo flooring, and new trim all around. The unfinished part on the second image is a soon-to-be wardrobe.

Laundry room before and after. Paint, bead board, trim, ceramic tile, and new appliances. Yay.

Before and after in the living/dining room. Gone is the yellow sponge paint and stained carpets. New bamboo floors, mocha paint, and white trim. Ignore the front door- its still the yellow from before until spring comes and I can take it outside to paint.

I'm so pleased with our progress this far, especially doing all the work ourselves. Now comes the fun part- decorating!

Artist Interview: My Little Sunshine aka Rachel 323

2009-01-14T18:26:00.000-08:00

I thought I'd mix things up a bit today and do a little interview with a friend, teammate, and fellow Etsian- Rachel from My Little Sunshine. I've always been in love with her great shop, and what's not to love? Eye-appealing photographs, darling jewelry, and awesome vegan lipbalms in the yummiest of flavors. It's no wonder that she reached her 1000th sale on Etsy today. Congratualtions Rachel!

Randi: I love the name for your shop, My Little Sunshine. Is there a story behind it?
Rachel: this will be a very special blog post when i reach 1000 sales as well. i grew up living with my grandma, and this is what she called me. i also have a mascot for it. it's a stuffed sunshine that plays the tune 'my little sunshine'. i have had him since i was one year old, he is overly loved, and now lanna my 4 year old sleeps with it every night. he has one eye and is completely matted. and he is still cute!

Randi: What is your working process like? How do you work, and where do you get your ideas?
Rachel: my working process comes in whenever i have the time. even if it's just 20 mn and i can get some lip balm base made or just a pair of earrings done, i will do it. my idea's come from various sources. for the lip balm, it's generally something i want or a scent that a friend suggests. the jewelry can be completely on a whim. i sit down and pile all of my bead containers in front of me and just go with it. I also might see something that i like on a website or in a store, and then turn it into something that i love.i have a very small house, so all of my jewelry supplies are in one corner of the living room. i cant tell you how much i love earrings.

Sugared Cranberry Earrings

Randi: Tell us some of your favorite materials to work with.
Rachel: hands down brass. its so beautiful, natural and what does it not go with?
i love glass. and it can't really get any better than vintage glass.

Randi: I am a huge fan of your vegan lip balms (seriously, they work great!). How did these come about, and why did you choose vegan?
Rachel: well, thank you. my lip balms love you too. i guess vegan chose me! i am not vegan or even vegetarian, but i can appreciate a great item with no animal products.
i do often think of the vegan population and really how hard it is to find various products. i really wish it was easier. so i am trying to do a very small part. i started off using beeswax and then later discovered that unrefined cocoa butter was hearty and would hold shape wonderfully with just a bit of candelilla wax. with the two combined i was able to eliminate the beeswax and add so much more healing properties and keep a creamy texture. (whipped butters are coming soon!)

Randi: When you're not crafting, what can you be found doing?
Rachel: besides having a wonderful husband and a hoot of a 4 year old, i have a full time job. i work at holy family hospital monday-friday. i am gone from 7am-5pm. it really is great there, but i would love to do this full time. my dream is to be featured in an ETSY aritcle 'quit your day job'.

Randi: What is the favorite item you have listed in your shop?
Rachel: that's hard and it can change daily. i like whatever is new. right now, i am in LOVE with the spring sprout earrings. they are my january giveaway at the moment.

Spring Sprout Earrings

Randi: Congratulations on almost reaching 1000 sales. Any advice you have for other Etsy folk?
Rachel: thank you! i reached it today!!!!
be active, list, re-list, refresh. an idle shop will remain idle. make sure your photos are bright, clear and appealing.
advertise! get yourself an add on facebook, follow lots of blogs, add your etsy shop & blog to the bottom of your emails. get a google adwords account. i have found that to be very helpful with getting the name out. do monthly giveaways, people love free stuff that that's what will keep them coming back for more. and...they will bring their friends back.

Randi: What are 5 blogs you're following right now?
Rachel: this is hard to narrow to 5. but i can only religiously read so many...
http://sweetpetula.blogspot.com/
http://home2k9.blogspot.com/
http://www.babyhoot.blogspot.com/
http://www.ragnazidnar.blogspot.com/
http://studiocherie.blogspot.com/
Randi: Wow, I'm seriously flattered to be on this list. Thanks for keeping up with my little corner of cyberspace.

Randi: Name your top 5 favorite Etsy shops.
Rachel: i have so many, i hate to leave people out, but i do actually shop these.
sweet petula : http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5540049 sidney ann designs: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=40356
spirit girl: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=59741&order=&section_id=&page=2
bead supplies: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5089950
patina queen: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5601913

And now, some of my favorites from Rachel's Shop. Also, be sure to check out her blog Always Sunny.

Raspberry Lemonade Vegan Lipbalm

Toffee Bracelet

The Sage. Necklace in silver

A Curious Classroom

2009-01-13T11:42:00.000-08:00

If you've read my blog post Reverse Craftology you probably already know that I'm hitting the sketchbook hard in '09. I've been having a lot of fun using the sketchbook rather than just making them all the time! I've been learning a lot along the way too, and from the most curious of classrooms: Etsy.
(Turquoise Sketch Roll by Beacon Hill Goods)

Now, I'm one of those people that feels that artistic inspiration can come from anywhere so I shouldn't be surprised by this. What I did find surprising is that Etsy is full of prime examples of what makes visual art successful and does a better job conveying that than most lesson books or lectures. Here are some of the things I've noticed, as taught by Etsy:

1. Perspective is key. Using close-ups and smart angles makes a more interesting visual than a static, face-on composition in almost all cases. In Etsy, this is your first image and those gracing the front page use smart perspective to catch our eyes. (See StudioCherie's blog post on this) In fine arts, this is also true- an interesting composition is half the battle.

2. Leave them wanting more.
The difference between someone looking at your work and someone really looking at it is how much you reveal at face value. If someone feels like they've seen everything at first glance they will move on quickly. With Etsy this is evident in the difference between "clickable" photos and those that aren't. I tend to click on interesting photos that leave me wondering what an object is, or what it is made from. A good piece of art stops someone in their tracks and holds them for that extra moment.

3. Find your voice.
The way to stand out above the crowd, whether it's artists or Etsy shops, is to find your own style. Maybe that means that you only make one type of item, or you have a central theme to your work. Whatever it is you do, give it your own twist. With Etsy and fine arts that means embracing your own style and licks that help identify work as yours.

4. Produce work often.
Its obvious that in order to sell a lot on Etsy, you have to have a lot to sell. Plus, keeping your shop full and updated keeps you at the top of the searches. The same principal applies to fine arts. Very few successful artists have small portfolios, plus, if you want a solo exhibition you have to have enough to fill a gallery, right?

5. Network, baby!
Sometimes it's not what you know, it's who you know. Develop strong relationships with others in your field. In Etsy this is done by joining teams, posting to the forums, hitting alchemy, and strong customer service. A personal interest in you helps direct people to your work. The same concept applies to fine arts- attending gallery openings and being seen can make the difference between a quiet career and an eventful one.

Don't turn in your student parking pass yet- any school is a great opportunity to meet people (network a little, won'tcha?) and learn a lot about yourself. Seeing other people in the working process through a shared studio is a priceless experience, but don't forget that the learning isn't over when you graduate. Sometimes the lessons keep cropping up in the most curious of places.

The Apple Never Falls Far...

2009-01-12T17:13:00.000-08:00

Apple Jacket by jaquelineknits

Today as we were leaving to run some errands I saw my mom's little silver Kia pull into the driveway. That's odd. She usually works on Mondays and hardly has time for a lunch break and here she is- no advance phone call or anything. I pulled on my paint-covered Crocs and ran out to meet her. Much to my surprise she's carrying two big bowls of what appeared to be potato soup- one with bacon for the Hubs and one without for me.

"Oh. Potato soup? Um, thanks." was about all I could say and she knew right away what the problem was.

"You just made soup, didn't you?" Yes, actually, that has been dinner two nights in a row. Must just be that kind of week, we agreed.

As I'm eating potato soup for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the next two weeks I'll be thinking of my mom and how much I'm turning into her. A thought that would have horrified my teenage self, but, surprisingly I'm ok with this now. Usually it's her little oddities that I find myself repeating, like her long drawn-out "hell-oooooo" when she leaves you a voicemail or her tenancy to talk to my dog like he's answering back, but occasionally it's the normal stuff like making the same dinner. Yup, I can live with that.

We Read Ingredients

2009-01-09T12:28:00.000-08:00

This is the catch phrase adorning the banner for Vegan Etsy- "we read ingredients." Since becoming a vegetarian I've learned that this statement is more true that most people realize. I've gone from being able to buy groceries in 20 minutes to having to hold up everyone in the supermarket while I read each item I buy. Just because you can't see the meat in a dish doesn't mean its vegetarian. Because of this I've become more aware of what's going into my meals but I've been surprised at how many people don't understand my eating habits.

Vintage Collage Bracelet by foundandmade

Yesterday at the supermarket I placed my purchases on the belt and the cashier's face went white. "How are you?" she asked. "Fine, thanks. How are you?" I said. "Um, I'm ok. I'm just am wondering what this stuff is." The stuff she was referring to was two jugs of Mega Greens juice. I explained to her that it was a mixture of fruit juices, wheatgrass and barley juices. Poor thing cringed and rushed us out of there before she lost her lunch. It was an amusing experience, although I don't think she'll ever be the same.

Pineapple Juice Notebook by ivylanedesigns

Not a Nugget Chick Necklace by julep115

Another wasn't as funny. Annoying is more like it. While remodeling our new home I went to Wendy's down the street to grab lunch for everyone helping out. Fast food is basically unheard of with a vegetarian diet, but it was close by. So I asked for one of their salads without the chicken. Two managers and a few dirty looks later I was told that my request wasn't possible. Instead I ordered the salad and ask for the chicken on the side. They reluctantly agreed but warned me that they wouldn't leave the piece of chicken whole- they were going to cut it up. What did I care- I wasn't going to eat it. Upon paying the gal at the counter said to me, "So, what? Are you a vegetarian or something?" Why, yes I am.

Reverse Craftology

2009-01-06T11:40:00.000-08:00

I have to admit that since graduating in June from EWU with a BA in painting and life drawing, I haven't done much to work on my personal artwork. (The image below is one of my paintings from college.) I've been SO excited about my Etsy shop that I haven't even sat down to sketch a stick figure unless, of course, it was for a custom order.

I started my Etsy shop after working on a mixed media project in a drawing class. Using a salvaged shorthand book as my drawing surface, I painted, sketched and stitched it into a great little commentary on the female identity. I became so enamored with thrifted books that I made one- "Kitchen Hints from Heloise" into my personal sketchbook. Then, they just kept coming- unique one-of-a-kind sketchbooks for one-of-a-kind artists.

Then, this week, while mentally organizing my soon-to-be craft room I realized I have an overabundance of book "guts." I have been using the covers up and have tons of paper leftover that I feel too guilty to dispose of. So, that's when I realized- if my art can inform my craft, why can't my craft inform my art? I am currently working on some ideas for some new paintings and couldn't be happier to now be combining my two loves. Bring on the "Reverse Craftology!"

I'll be sure to share the finished product, but until then I will leave you with some of my Etsy favorites for fine art.

Vanilla Carmel Corn Recipe

2008-12-31T19:10:00.000-08:00

One of my plans for this blog is to periodically post some of my favorite recipes, especially for Vegetarian-friendly dishes. I'm starting out the New Year with a rather indulgent treat, so those looking to loose those holiday pounds beware! Vanilla Carmel Corn is super easy to make and I've found that it is even popular amongst those that aren't usually partial to carmel.

So, lets get started...

Ingredients
1 C. Margarine (or Butter)
2 C. Brown Sugar
1/2 C. Karo Syrup
1 tsp. Salt
1 tsp. Baking Soda
1 tsp. Vanilla
10-15 C. Cups Popped Popcorn (I actually use 20+ Cups because I like more popcorn. For popcorn with a lot of carmel, use 10 cups, for less carmel use more popcorn)

Also Needed:
Popcorn Popper
Wax Paper
1 Large Pot

Directions:

-- Start by popping your popcorn. I use my vintage air popper and plain unpopped corn. This method takes only about 1 cup of unpopped corn to yeild the 10 cups needed for the recipe. As mentioned above, I used about 25 cups of popped corn rather than the recommended 10-15. You can also pop the corn on your stove, or use plain microwave popcorn (buttered popcorn does not work- it is too greasy for the carmel to stick. If you have to use microwave popcorn and cannot find plain popped corn, kettle corn or lightly salted are best.

-- Once the corn is popped, lay it out on the counter on top of sheets of wax paper. This will help you get an even coating of carmel. Try not to spread it too thick- a thinner layer allows carmel to coat each piece easier. At this time you may also choose to pick out any unpopped kernels and old maids (half-popped kernels) to avoid any unnecessary dental problems. Ouch!

-- Now, gather the ingredients you will need for the carmel. Be sure to use the largest pot possible for this. Although the ingredients don't look like much it will boil over if your pot is too small.

-- In your large pot, add the margarine, brown sugar, Karo syrup, and salt together and place over medium heat. Stir occasionally to prevent the sugar from burning. Be sure to scrape the bottom as well as the sides of your pot. Bring to a boil.

-- While stirring, allow the mixture to boil between 5 and 7 minutes. You will feel the mixture thicken the longer it boils. Once 5-7 minutes have passed, remove from heat and add the baking soda and vanilla. (If you like vanilla, like I do, it is ok to allow the vanilla to spill over the measuring spoon or add 2 tsp instead of the 1 that the recipe calls for!) The carmel will lighten in color and appear a bit "fizzy." Mix well.

-- At this point I transfer the carmel into a coffee mug to make it easier to drizzle over my popcorn (the pot is too heavy to hold with one hand!). Using my spoon to help the carmel along I drizzle the entire mixture over the popcorn I've already laid out on the wax paper. If you prefer a more thorough coating, skip the wax paper and fold the popcorn into the pot with the carmel, tossing lightly with a spoon.

-- Enjoy! You may want to store your treat in an airtight container or ziplock bag to prevent the popcorn from drying out (if it lasts that long!)

Some variations to this recipe:
- Add your favorite nut in with the popcorn for a sort of Cracker Jack effect. Plain peanuts work great, or liven it up with macadamia nuts, cashews, or pecans. Yum!

- For a great salty/sweet recipe lightly salt the popped corn before adding the carmel mixture to the batch.

- Looking for a unique spicy treat? Add Chili Powder into the mix in place of Vanilla for a kick!

Diet Season

2008-12-31T12:29:00.000-08:00

Tonight is New Years Eve which marks, for many people, the start of diet season. After months of binging on rich holiday treats we find ourselves straining to button our favorite jeans. So now we vow to loose those holiday love handles by religiously following the workout plans of our favorite celebrities.

Wait. Did I actually say we?! Don't get me wrong, I'm all for healthy living, the problem is that crash diets are the exact opposite of true healthy living. So, for the New Years I am saying goodbye to diet season and hello to some healthier goals for my body, life, and business. The two I have already started are:
1. Starting a blog
2. Growing a wheatgrass garden

As mentioned in my last post, the Hubs got me a great DIY wheatgrass kit off of Etsy and I've been amazed at how fast this stuff grows! Just to show you how fast this really does grow, I've taken a photo per day starting on day 3 when the first little sprout peeked out. At this point I've realized I was a little frugal with the seeds and should have dumped the whole pack in, but now have plenty left over for round two.

Aside from being a beautiful indoor garden, wheatgrass is excellent for your health. I plan on juicing mine when it's ready. It has added the little touch of green I needed in my home, especially since outside we're still buried in snow.

Those of you ditching diet season this year too will want to check back tomorrow for the recipe for a very non-diet-friendly treat- Vanilla Carmel Corn. Yum!

Think green thoughts...

2008-12-27T17:01:00.000-08:00

After spending the past few weeks watching snow lightly falling outside my windows, I am finally ready for this white mess to melt away and bring with it the green of springtime. I'm all for a white Christmas, but this is getting a little ridiculous! Our back yard is now holding over 35" of the white stuff in some places and I spent this afternoon at my parent's house watching their neighbor try to snow-blow his roof. C'mon people!

I've noticed cabin-fever setting in for those that are trapped inside and in order to quell the winter blues I have planted my own wheatgrass garden. (Courtesy of my husband who purchased it as a Christmas gift for me off of Etsy here) I'll keep you updated on it's progress, but while I am waiting for it to start sprouting I've scouted out my favorite green items available for purchase on Etsy.