Dan’s mom, Diane, drove down from San Francisco this week to help us paint the back porch! And it looks AAAAmazing!!!! The walls are pink to match the rest of the outside of the house. The doors are super bright white. And the floor is a beautiful turquoise. It was a lot of hard work, but totally and completely worth it!! We went down the street to Pepe’s Furniture and picked out a beautiful mid century modern looking dresser to house some of the tools, nuts and bolts and garden supplies we use daily. And I stopped by Target and picked up a cute dark brown woven basket to organize some of the bigger, longer tools. A couple of red mats and some chairs painted to match, and VOILA!
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I got a wheel! I scoured CraigsList til I found one in my price range. I don’t know much about the different kinds of wheels. But, this one is great! It’s a Brent Roberts. It’s super small, fits perfectly on my back porch! I bought a few different sized buckets for the scraps and dirty water. I made a wedging board by stretching a piece of canvas over a scrap of particleboard.
And, I’ve already made a few bowls!
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Wanting to learn a few different techniques for decorating my pinch pots, I signed up for a Surface Decoration class at Xiem (the place where I fire my pinch pots)! The class is six weeks long, two hours one day a week. Personally, I think the class should be either four hours or two two hour sessions. But, I’m learning about slips and glazes! I’ve met some really amazing women. And, it just feels good to be around other people actively making and exploring.
I’ve only gotten a few things back so far. I should get tons of stuff on Friday! Here are a few photos of what I’ve made so far!
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January 5th, 2011 · Food
I found this recipe the other day and made it last night. Stir-Fry Sweet Potatoes! It’s such a sweet and simple recipe, I was worried it would be bland and boring… But it SO was not! The way the ginger and jalapeno and garlic mixed together made a special kind of simple deliciousness…
(I added a few cubed of fried tofu on top at the end, for a bit of protein, since this was the main dish for dinner.)
(photo by Andrew Scrivani for The New York Times)
Here’s the recipe:
4 scallions, trimmed and cut into one-inch pieces
2 garlic cloves
1 piece fresh ginger (an inch long), peeled
1 small fresh hot chili (like jalapeño or Thai), stem and seeds removed
1 1/2 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into one- to two-inch chunks
3 tablespoons peanut oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon soy sauce, more for serving.
1. Put scallions in food processor and pulse until finely chopped; remove. Add garlic, ginger and chili to the processor and pulse until minced; remove. Fit the processor with grating blade and grate sweet potatoes.
2. Put oil in a large nonstick or well-seasoned cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. When hot, add garlic-ginger-chili mixture and fry for 30 seconds. Add half the scallions and all the potatoes and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring or tossing, until the potatoes are lightly browned, about 10 minutes; the potatoes need not be fully tender.
3. Add soy sauce, toss once, and transfer potatoes to serving platter. Garnish with remaining scallions and serve immediately with additional soy sauce, if desired.
Yield: 4 servings.
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I found the cutest owl tutorial! They are super simple and the tutorial is easy to understand. They are adorable. Thanks, MoonStitches!
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December 19th, 2010 · Food
ya know, just a coupla guys, sittin’ around, watching the football game and making homemade lasagna… from scratch… !
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Here’s a look at my new pots! Happy Holidays.
the gang…
and now one at a time… (click on them for larger photos)
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A few more homemade gift ideas…
SnowGlobes!
Sweet Pillow (there’s no tutorial for this one, but if you know how to sew, this is inspiration!)
Here’s another idea for wrapping your gifts. Handmade paper Pompoms! (from Martha Stewart)
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I can’t stop laughing at this picture! Every time I look at this picture, I have to giggle a little bit. Why is it SO funny!!
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After spending all this time making something thoughtful and precious for your loved ones, don’t just wrap it in store bought paper! This is a great idea for wrapping your handmade gifts!
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Check out this little oil burner I found on Folksy (which is the etsy of England)! I’m going to have to try to make one!
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I love this idea! There’s no tutorial to go with it. Just paint some cute faces on some wooden spoons!
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Um, this is amazing!
Massive Citrine Crystal Specimen in Textured Silver Ring – Custom Made by Laura Treloar. Everything she makes is beautiful. Check out her etsy store here.
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Pinterest. Have you heard of it? NO! Go. And. Look. I can stare at it all day. It’s so amazing, fun and inspiring.
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Fujifilm INSTAX 210 Instant Photo Camera (the new polaroid! yes, please!)
Check out these great photos Rachel from Smile & Wave took with her Instax!!
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November 9th, 2010 · Food
Quinoa with Moroccan Winter Squash and Carrot Stew
(photo by: Pornchai Mittongtare)
I just made this for dinner tonight and it turned out so good that I have to share it! I changed it up a little because I didn’t have all the same ingredients. I substituted a pumpkin I got in Half Moon Bay at a pumpkin patch instead of the butternut squash, used red quinoa and I used regular paprika(which actually added a bit of spiciness) instead of Hungarian.
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I’m starting a new segment for the holiday season! Simple, easy, homemade gift ideas I’ve found around town. Enjoy! And send me photos if you end up making any!!
From DesignSponge: Ashley’s Vintage Tin Candles
From Eva Foreva: Embroidery Loop Dream Catcher
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