My New Toy!

I needed a short break from blogging and from crafting to recharge those creative batteries and reclaim those lost spaces of my home that occasionally get swamped in crafting mayhem. Those die-hard craft-a-holics out there know exactly what I'm referring to! While on that craft-less leave of absence, I made one of my first, real adult-like purchases - my first sewing machine! :)

After scouring customer reviews online, checking out Consumer's Reports, and getting helpful tips from a seasoned sewer in the aisles of Jo-Ann Fabrics, I finally settled on this Kenmore 15343 Model. At an affordable price (under $90!) and with many beginner and experienced crafters singing its praises in customer reviews, I couldn't resist the allure of this sleek machine. When you ease your foot onto its pedal, you can just hear this baby purr!

With summer finally here, I won't be posting as often as I did in June. But do check back often to see how I put my new toy to use! I'll also continue to post random recipes, sources of inspiration, and photos of my finished projects.

Keep this site bookmarked so you too can see just What A Joy you can have when you too let creativity take over!

Get Lost!: At the Farmer's Market

Gorgeous sunny days and enthralling summer thunderstorms mean only one thing: ideal weather for perfecting produce. And the best place to purchase the best local produce is at your local farmer's market.

You'd be surprised at the bounty of goods available at most farmer's markets. Sure, fresh fruits and veggies are expected, but anything from fresh baked goods to locally produced honey and honey-made products are usually available for purchase. Even gourmet dog treats and hand milled goats milk soap can be purchased at farmer's markets!

Although its a bit early in the season for most fruit and vegetable delights, check out PickYourOwn.org for harvest times in your area. My boyfriend can't wait for the local sweet bell pepper harvest to ripen. We're already collecting recipes to try out with the freshest local ingredients available. I encourage you to let the fruits and veggies of the season inspire your next menu. Not only is it cheaper to purchase produce when its in season, but you're also supporting the local economy and you're providing your family with a healthier, fresher option.

For some simply yummy recipe ideas, several reads are now on the market specifically written with the farmer's market shopper in mind. We've been going green and saving a little money by using some of the titles available at our local library. Better Homes and Gardens has a few older books available, but one book I'd love to get my hands on is "Fresh from the Farmer's Market" by Janet Fletcher. Some of the reviews on Amazon claim her recipes are a little too restrantry and sophisticated, but I'd love to read what shopping tips she provides.

Post Revisited: Thrift Store Candelabra

Not long ago my wonderful boyfriend made me a romantic dinner. Anybody can cook someone dinner, but it was the little touches that made it the ultimate, romantic meal for us. Not only did he set the table with our new dinnerware from Target by way of the thrift store, but he surprised me with a candlelit spread. And not just any candlelight, but rather candlelight provided by our beautiful thrift store candelabra. He hunted down the perfect red glass votive holders to complete the look. On top of all that, he rigged up a contaption to be able to hang this beautiful lamp over our table. What a lucky girl I am!


Check out the before and after pictures below!

Crafty Quick Fix: Ribbon Calla Lilies

One of my aunt's was kind enough to donate to my card making and crafting efforts, a Hefty bag full of dozens of spools of ribbon in all sizes, colors, and types. My challenge now is to find new was to utilize and incorporate ribbon into more and more projects. Craftster.com is a great source to find new and unique uses for ribbon. I found a simple but charming tutorial for making Calla Lilies (my sister's favorite!) out of ribbon from Posh N Pretty.


Modifying the tutorial provided there, I created this picture frame. Instead of using hot glue to secure the folds of the ribbon, I used a needle and thread to hand sew them together. It prevented me from burning myself on a hot glue gun and it allowed a little more adaptability! Ribbon accents stripe the wooden frame in coordinating colors and bring a feminine touch to a natural frame.


In contrast to the elegant ribbon version of the Calla Lilly, I used the exact same tutorial to make origami lilies out of paper for a sympathy card. Green ribbon was still utilized to make stems for these lilies. The stark purity of the white flowers against this black background visually evokes the same sentiment of the cards written message.


By changing the color of the card's elements, you could easily create a cards to celebrate almost any occasion. Pastels to celebrate a baby shower. Metallics in silver or gold to commemorate a wedding anniversary. Deep jewel tones to recognize a friend's birthday.

Friday's Feisty Feast: Grandma's Tropical Carrot Cake

Celebrating the June birthday of my boyfriend found me consulting my very talented Grandma for a recipe to make his favorite dessert - carrot cake. Her unique recipe uses the juiciness and sweetness of crushed pineapple to create a moist, delectable delight. Traditional cream cheese frosting swirled with walnuts presents a perfectly irresistible topping for this tangy, tropical treat. Be sure to refrigerate any leftovers.

Grandma's Tropical Carrot Cake

Ingredients:

1 c White Flour

1 c Whole Wheat Flour

1 c Brown Sugar

1 c Honey

2 tsp. Baking Soda

1 can of Crushed Pineapple with its juice

1 tsp Cinnamon

1/2 c Chopped Walnuts

4 slightly beaten Eggs

1 1/2 c Vegetable Oil

2 Grated Raw Carrots

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Lightly grease a 9 x 13 inch pan. Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl. Add eggs & oil, mixing well. Add carrots, honey, pineapple, and nuts. Thoroughly combine all ingredients. Pour mixture into the cake pan and bake 50-60 minutes. Allow cake to cool before frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting with Walnuts

Ingredients:

8 oz Cream Cheese, softened

1/2 c Butter, softened

1 tsp. Vanilla extract

1 lb. Powdered Sugar

3/4 c Walnuts, chopped

Directions:

Using a hand mixture, combine the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla. Slowly add the powdered sugar, a little at a time. Once all of the powdered sugar has been added and well combined, use a spatula to stir in the chopped walnuts. Once the walnuts are thoroughly distributed, proceed with frosting your cake.

Get Lost!: In the City

Great architecture and classic design share a distinctly unique relationship. They can play off of each other, influence each other, and inspire each other much to our aesthetic pleasure. For the cost of a bus fare, metro ride, or parking meter, you too can enjoy the hidden beauty which lies in any urban setting. Grab your camera and capture your favorite shapes, patterns, architectural elements, and design motifs. Challenge yourself to be inspired by them for your next craft project. Or better yet, take some artsy photos, blow them up and have them framed. Give them away as housewarming gifts to new neighbors or present them to old friends that move away so that they may have a lasting memory to cherish and admire.

Check out some of the shots I collected on a recent trek into the urban jungle!

Salvaged Parts: Deconstructed Jewelry

If you're looking for a quirky, low cost way to spice up your cards or add a little bling to your scrapbook pages, hit the thrift store, check out some rummage sales, or rifle through the closet of a family member. Old, unwanted, or broken jewelry can quickly and easily be salvaged for usable charms, chains, and beads. I especially love deconstructing vintage earrings - that way I can make two identical cards using the same design element!

Just look at the treasure trove of inspiring goodies I purchased this weekend from my aunt who sells vintage jewelry. Ideas are already swirling in my head on how to design cards and gift tags inspired by my salvaged parts. Stay tuned to see what I come up with!