We Are Off...

...to the hospital to get us one of these! Second generation "artwork"...courtesy of the daughter!

I've been inspired to cook again! Over the last several months, my passion for cooking cooled to a barely lukewarm ember. Lots of life situations all mixed together to dampen that love, but I feel like I'm on the upswing now.

The promise of a gourmet store opening just blocks from my house began to fan that little ember...so I began stalking the storefront, waiting for the "opening soon" sign to become the long-awaited "open now" sign, crossing my fingers that it would live up to it's promises. Well, it is here! And it was worth waiting for.

Walking in, I wasn't sure what would greet me. Several stores have opened in our area in the last year, all with the claims of being "gourmet" or "European bakery" or "high end." I would excitedly run to each one, only to be disappointed with their barely-more-than-the-corner-bakery offerings. But my new-found love was not any of that! It was all I had hoped for and more.

Beautiful lighting contributes to its decadent atmosphere. I found bins containing all manner of sea salt; beautiful, large chunks of Pink Himalayan sea salt glistened like rose quartz, black lava salt, salt from France, salt from New Zealand, Celtic sea salt...and several bins of lovely, delicious-smelling smoked salt. I grabbed some applewood smoked sea salt...it adds a really yummy depth to all the foods I've used it in. I thought it would be too smoky, but it is just right!

There are bins filled with at least 10 different kinds of orzo, hand-crafted artisan pasta, exotic (for the Midwest, anyway) grains like Bamboo rice - basmati rice soaked in bamboo juice - red/black quinoa, french green lentils...organic herbs, olive oils, balsamic vinegars, and the cheese...oh, I'm in heaven!

And to make the experience even more surprising, Savore has a beautiful kitchen with an eat-on bar/countertop where they will be conducting cooking classes. And...they serve food, dreamed up and cooked by actual "chefs!" with a menu that changes weekly. LOVE!

I went home with some amazing finds: burrata, a fresh mozzarella cheese with a cream center; truffle butter (cuz I'll have to make a lot more tips at the coffeeshop to get the real truffle oil at $42/bottle); bamboo rice, black and red quinoa mixture; tuscan herb blend; a really nice culinary rasp (since my son used mine for a tool and snapped it in half); and finally, a jar of beautiful clotted cream, the first time I've found it here, which will force me to make these cream scones just to have something to spread it on.

Now I'm really hungry! I hope cooking is like riding a bicycle...cuz I don't have all day to relearn how to cook! :) I'm off...

November Design Team Reveal

It's been so much fun to receive a package in the mail with lots of goodies to make things with. With some vintage Christmas items from Chocolate Letters and Sadie of Lollishops, I decided to plunge into Christmas. Here are the two items I've made...

I've really been trying to upcycle, recycle and re-use old and sometimes forgotten stuff. So I found this little plastic wreath floating around the house and grabbed it, embellished it with a reproduction diecut and various vintage ornaments. I thought it might be too green, so a bit of white spray paint took care of that!

And I can't forget ornaments...they are fun to make and don't take too much time if you try to be quick and don't think to hard about what goes where.

Pop on over to the Lollishops blog...I'm sure Sadie has something up her sleeve for anyone who stops by the blog. And don't forget, there are other design team reveals as well.

Our next reveal will be on December 1. It's been lots of fun making "stuff."
I'll be anxiously awaiting the next package!

And in the holiday spirit...leave a message here, before midnight on Friday (7th) on any subject that pops in to your mind, let me know which creation is more "you" and Saturday stop back to see if you have won either the wreath or the ornament!

Wishing You

Wishing You, originally uploaded by this good day.

A preview of coming attractions....lots of digital Christmas coming to my shops. I can't stop using this great shade of blue. LOVE it!!

Deliciously Distressed and Grungy

I never get tired of taking a white length of vintage seam binding and transforming it. Each time is like I've never dyed before...I love the surprise - like opening a gift - as I watch the change and see the end result. Each piece is like a snowflake, no two are ever the same, even from the same dye. I've made some for my shop if you are interested.

Wishing and Maybe Dreaming

The most mesmerizing shade of blue! I'm lost in the loveliness of it...

Gothic Chic Slipper

Many weeks ago, when I decided to join a bunch of swappers for a Vintage Halloween Ornament Swap, inspiration hit immediately. Usually my mind swirls with ideas and then goes completely blank. After a few different idea prototypes, which I loathe, I despair and have nightmares. The deadline looms, dark and dreadful, and suddenly, in a burst of energy, ala Edward Scissorhands, I frenetically
cut and paste and glitter... until...my little piece of swap magic is created. Sometimes I really like it, and sometimes I hate what I've made and wonder if I'll be allowed into any more swaps!!!

Not so this time! I knew right from the start. It had to be a bit dark,
a bit gothic and a bit Marie {as in Atoinette, of course!}
After a little searching for a shoe pattern,

I threw a couple of digital images together to form the sole of the shoe,
flocked and glittered them, glued on a little crepe paper and here it is:
the Gothic Chic Slipper. This is one I ended up really happy with.
My box of ornaments hasn't made it to Wisconsin yet.
But when it does, it will be a very Happy Halloween for me!