Wrapping with Burlap

I reused this awesome box that I got from Anthropologie. No need to wrap this beauty, it could stand alone. But, I thought I'd just add a little to take it to the next level. In comes the burlap.

I roughly cut some burlap and used the frayed strings to to tie it together. After weaving the burlap strings through to hold it, I weaved some red silk tread to add a little contrast and color.

Next, I topped it with a wisteria pod. I am enchanted with these pods at the moment! They are so cool. They look & actually feel like velvet.

I love to add a little nature whenever I can. Now I'm off to see what else I can create with these pods!

Nirmala's Kitchen- Web Design

I recently finished designing the website for Nirmala's Kitchen. Nirmala's site is a travel journal and excellent source of information on exotic spices, recipes & and place to buy unique spices, salts, and grains. Here are a few of the many mock-ups I made for the site.

 

This is the Home Page

Here is a sample of the wonderful spices!

About 90% of the site product photography was done by me.

Here are some travel pictures from Nirmala's travels. 

And lots of detailed information on the spices & their origin.

So, check out Nirmala's Kitchen, it a great source for all types of cooks!

{fyi the programmer is still working-out the kinks, but if you have any difficulties, please be patient and use their call center for orders}. Enjoy!

 

For the knitting enthusiast, here is a sock yarn to take you into the spring. It's soft and ligth-weight, but still has a little bit of wool to keep your toes toasty as the snow melts. The added bonus, it's variegated so it creates a lovely, effortless pattern with no thought at all. So, sit-back, relax & start knitting!

If you're in the Hudson Valley, stop by our local sustainable fiber shop- White Barn Farm Sheep & Wool to get your yarn. Each sock will be different so it adds a cool little twist. And, one ball of this yarn made 2 pairs of socks, one small adult & one med. child pair.

German Pancake

I thought this recipe was definately worth sharing!
Not only did the kids love the taste, it was fast, easy, and fun to watch it cooking!
It grows big and fluffy & then deflates like a balloon. I like that all of those eggs add a lot of protein, but for the kids it taste just like dessert.

Here is the recipe taken from the April 1, 2011 Woman's Day Magazine.

Winning with Waldorf Logo design

This is one of those "things that make you go hmm". I stumbled across this logo comp I designed for a Waldorf School fundraiser a few years ago. The logo would be used to advertise their Pro-Am Golf Tournament fundraiser. While I never thought I'd use Snell Roundhand for anything (let alone a logo), I kinda like it. But at the same time, I kinda don't. I guess that's why this is one of those "things that make me go hm-hmm-hmmm."

Bring in Spring!

After a winter storm with lots of wind & ice, my daughter found these broken branches on the ground at the park. We brought them home in hopes of forcing some blooms & after 2 weeks of waiting they are just about ready to pop! 

It is evidence that spring will be coming soon! Not only has it been fun to watch the process, but they look beautiful too {at all stages}.

Homemade Twix Bars

I came across this bolg, Not Without Salt, and saw an enticing photo of a homemade Twix Bar & thought this would be the perfect valentine's treat for my kids to share at school. While I'm an avid baker, I've always had this fear of candy making- so face that fear is what I did and the candy making began!

I followed the recipe {almost} exactly and ran into a challenge with the caramel.
The recipe says a key moment is when the sugar syrup turns a "golden brown". Well, I used organic sugar cane and by nature the color started as a "golden brown". Nervous, I watched intently until I got to 300°F. In the end, the caramel wasn't as "solid" as I think it should have been & the taste wasn't as smooth (it tasted a little over-done, but the texture was a little underdone?? I need more practice on this one).

The rice in the recipe was awesome. It added a nice crunch, definitely don't omit it.

The recipe calls for bittersweet chocolate, I used 1/2 milk chocolate, but it still tasted like dark chocolate. I think the next time I'll go all in on the milk chocolate.

In the end my taste-testers gave it a 2-thumbs up!