Garden Inspiration: The garden quiz--what type are you?

1) On your birthday, would you rather …

(A) Round up the whole family for a day at the park?

(B) Throw a big party complete with a multi course meal?

(C) Schedule a date at a spa?

2) What’s your favorite sound?

(A) Children’s laughter

(B) Clinking glassware

(C) Whale calls

3) When you get home from work, you change immediately into …

(A) A pair of jeans and some sneakers

(B) A sundress and an apron

(C) A robe

4) Your favorite mid afternoon snack is …

(A) An ice cream sundae with lots of toppings

(B) Fresh mozzarella with local tomatoes, organic basil, and just a drizzle of olive oil, served to friends

(C) A cup of green tea

Which garden style are you?

If you answered mostly A, you’re playful.

If you answered mostly B, you’re social.

If you answered mostly C, you’re relaxed. {This is so me!}

Neat Things: Viva Terra Eco Living

enamel picnic ware $39-55

mandarin bamboo pajamas $27

suzani coffee table $625

reclaimed rainbow rug $39-119

FOUND HERE.

Travel List: Eureka, Nevada

eureka opera house

I've mentioned it a few times...we love to travel.  Some of our best trips have been not too far from home, and many are based upon exploring historical places.  Ghost-towns are a favorite for us and especially nice if there are surviving structures to photograph!

eureka hotel

newspaper office

eureka, nevada courthouse

A mid-19th century lead and silver mining center, Eureka is one of Nevada's best-preserved mining camps with dozen of historical sites.  The Eureka Opera House was built in 1880 and is now used as a convention center and cultural art center.  The original Eureka Courthouse, built in 1879, is still in use, and the Eureka Sentinel Museum and local cemeteries are both points of tourist interest.

eureka historical museum

We haven't explored Nevada yet but this town is one we're putting on our Travel List!

More info about Nevada, Eureka and the Pony Express area of Nevada.

Images from Pony Express Nevada website, 2009.

Happy Memorial Day

American flag, originally uploaded by k_d90805

DIY Project: Upcycled Hallway Console

before


after

How they did it:

Buy tables at a yard or garage sale, thrift store, Goodwill, off Craigslist or scavenge from a friend or family member.

1. Removed the drawer handles, lightly sanded all surfaces with sandpaper, and wiped with a damp cloth.

2. Applied one coat of primer and three coats of Benjamin Moore’s high-gloss Bunny Gray paint (2124-50), letting it dry between coats.

3. Painted the tabletops with a chevron pattern (or create your own design) using a stencil created from 1- and 2-in.-wide painter’s tape, applying two coats of high-gloss white paint (2-oz. sample jar).

4. Replaced the handles.

Time: 1 weekend

Cost: $38 for primer and paint

FOUND HERE.

Recipe: Rosy Strawberry Sorbet

This juicy sorbet contains rosewater, which combines nicely with strawberries so its flavor seems like an extension of the fruit. It gives the sorbet a delicate, aromatic sweetness.

Prep and Cook Time: 30 minutes, plus chilling and freezing time.

Notes: Rosewater is available at gourmet, Middle Eastern, and Indian markets. If you prefer, you can make the sorbet without the rosewater. Sunset recommends using it, since it really does add a special flavor. To save time, you can quickly cool the sugar syrup in step 1 by setting the pot in an ice bath and stirring until the mixture reaches room temperature, 2 to 5 minutes. You can also bypass chilling the mixture in the refrigerator in step 3 by setting the bowl in an ice bath and stirring until well chilled, about 12 minutes.

Yield
Makes 3 cups; 6 servings

Ingredients
1/3 cup plus 1 tbsp. sugar
1 pound fresh strawberries, hulled
1 1/2 tablespoons rosewater (see Notes)
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon salt

Preparation
1. In a small pot over medium-high heat, bring sugar and 1/2 cup water to a simmer. Stir to dissolve sugar, then remove pot from heat and cool to room temperature, about 20 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, purée strawberries in a blender. Pour purée through a fine-mesh sieve to remove seeds, pressing down with a spatula to extract liquid. Discard seeds.

3. In a medium bowl, combine sugar syrup, strawberry purée, rosewater, lemon juice, and salt. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until well chilled, at least 2 hours.

4. Stir mixture well, then freeze in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer's directions.

FOUND HERE

Etsy Profile: Diana Walden of Copper Inc.

Tell me a bit about yourself name, location, affiliations, personal stuff.
My name is Diana Waldon. I was born in Fort Smith, Arkansas (Yee-Haw!) and moved to Holyoke, Massachusetts a few years ago with a group of friends. We were young and thought that it would be awesome to move halfway across the country and try to make it out on our own. It's been fun and at times difficult, but I'm happy I did it. I am currently finishing up my BFA at Umass Amherst. I like cinnamon rolls and Chai tea.

a pile of letters print - $8

Apart from creating art, what do you do?

Browsing the book store has become a recent and expensive habit. Apart from spending money on books faster than I read them, I really like to cook. I love planning and preparing dinners with my boyfriend. Even more enjoyable, I love eating dinner. Delicious. When the weather warms up, I try to spend as much time as I possibly can at the beach. I'd be very happy if I could find a part-time job boogie boarding!

the martini lover print - $8

What first made you want to become an artist?

Just being exposed to art was probably the catalyst. The feeling of wonder you have while looking at something you consider beautiful and worthwhile has always been a mesmerizing motivator. If I see beauty, I want to create it too. Art is catching. If I had to pinpoint the first time I felt that way, it would be in elementary school when a boy in my class finished a drawing of a recorder. At the time, I thought the silly, little sketch was the most amazing thing ever created. I was floored and simultaneously hooked -- I fell in love with art.

gold leaf and gold leaves print - $20

Please describe your creative process how, when, materials, etc.
I like using acrylic paints, old books, and gold leaf. My process usually starts out with a half-formed direction and I just dive in, not really fully committed to achieving a perfect end result. I'll meander around until I eventually find a good stopping point. If I can use gold leaf, I'm happy.

top: it was black and cold, i put on a pot of coffee print - $15

bottom: a thin coating of ice print - $8

What artists have influenced you and inspire you to create?

There have been so many! Seeing the dedication and creativity of other Etsy artists always makes me want to push up my sleeves and get to work. Also encouraging are my friends and family, they are always so excited and interested in what I'm doing -- I'm very grateful. As for the artist-that-have-books-dedicated-to-their-work category, lately I've really been enjoying Gustav Klimt and John Singer Sargent.

candy, backwards print - $15

Where else can we find your work?

Well, I'm pretty new to the game so my Etsy shop, Copper Inc, is my only venue right now. It's new and growing and I plan to maintain it for as long as I can. Other than on Etsy you might be able to find some of my work, according to my wonderful customers, on various walls in their homes.

Images copyright Copper Inc, 2009.

Design Inspiration: Living space and hall gallery

Good People: Growing Gardens

Growing Gardens gets at the root of hunger right here in Portland, Oregon. The Portland Home Garden Project began in 1996. The organization's original focus was installing home gardens for low income households in Portland. The organization expanded its mission to build gardens in partnership with other organizations with the involvement of hundreds of community volunteers. The organization was renamed Growing Gardens in 1998. 

In 1999, Growing Gardens began offering workshops on topics such as basic gardening, composting, cooking and food preservation. An education and service-learning program for youth, called Youth Grow, began in 2000.

Organizing hundreds of volunteers, Growing Gardens builds organic, raised bed vegetable gardens in backyards, front yards, side yards and even on balconies. Supporting low income households for three years with seeds, plants, classes, mentors and more.  They offer Youth Grow after school garden clubs growing the next generation of veggie eaters and growers.  Through Learn & Grow workshops and work parties, they are teaching gardeners about growing, preparing and preserving healthful food while respecting the health of the environment.

Growing Gardens plants seeds for good food and healthy people by making sure low income people have the resources  they need to grow organic vegetables at home.  Through this work, community members meet over the backyard garden, through volunteering, by attending classes, and through sharing extra produce.

Portland Chickens!

A group of volunteers who seek to promote the joy of chickens and freedom to design and build small structures without permit requirements. The passion about Urban Chickens is for many reasons, here are a few: They bring us closer to the chain of life, they make great pets, fresh eggs, fertilizer for the garden, and they are Voracious Insect Eaters.

The Urban Chickens group has found a perfect match with non-profit Growing Gardens. Sign up for the Growing Gardens newsletter to receive information on Upcoming Portland Chicken Events.

For more info on Growing Gardens visit HERE.

Images copyright Growing Gardens & Jim Golden, 2009.

Etsy Treasury: G is for...Green

My thanks to Tatiana of Tatiana Rene Photography for adding my Pagoda image to her "G is for...GREEN" gorgeous Etsy Treasury!  What a lovely collection of items to be featured in.

Have a super weekend, everyone!

P.S.  If you haven't visited my *NEW* blog {which coincides so nicely with my *new* Etsy Vintage Shop--forrestina vintage} yet please come by and say "hi"...read, view, enjoy. And, of course, I would love to have you as a follower over there as well.  Thanks!

DIY Project: Mirror Headboard

Arrange small light weight mirrors grid-style for a glamorous regency-style look in the bedroom. I really like this idea for the glam factor and because it would bring extra light into any space.

Sorli mirrors available at Ikea - 4 pack/$4.99

Garden: Grow veggies in 2-4 square feet

For anyone that loves fresh veggies but is short on space or maybe you just doesn't want the upkeep...this might be just your ticket for a mini garden this summer.  

TOMATO
In a sunny 2-foot square bed, tuck a single plant. Prolific varieties include 'Sun Gold', a cherry type, or 'Early Girl', a medium slicer. 

+ BASIL
In a 3-foot square bed, grow three basils and a tomato plant.  Perfect for making pesto and for pairing with tomatoes and mozzarella in summer salads.

+ CHIVES & CUKES
In a 4-foot square bed, add a row of chives beyond the basil, then plant a single cucumber vine.

Discovered HERE.

Series: Photo and Art Display - Recycled CD case grid

Recycle your unused CD cases and create a quilt-like grid collection of landscape photos.

DIY instructions found HERE.

Neat Things: India Rose

jumbo pillar candles 18" $89 each

fabric lanterns $35-43

quilted throws 68" x 72" $150 each

Found HERE.

Artist Profile: Claudine Hellmuth

Tell me a bit about yourself..

I live in Washington DC in the U Street area with my husband Paul and our fur-children, cats Mabel and Stanely. Of course I can never resist posting photos of my babies to my blog, so you're sure to see tons of pet photos there!

I have been creating art as long as I can remember. When I was a little girl, my mom would spread paper across the kitchen floor and set me down in my diaper with finger paints and let me just go crazy. When I was in high school I took extensive after school art lessons totaling about 20 hours a week to prepare for art college. I first went to the Columbus College of Art and Design in Columbus Ohio where they had a very strong foundations program, drawing and painting the figure. After my second year there I transferred and finished my BFA at the Corcoran College of Art + Design in Washington DC.

After graduation in 1997, I took a short course in web site design from George Washington University on web site design (at the time I had never even used a computer with a mouse). I somehow learned to code web sites by hand-- possibly out of fear that I would never be able to get a job. I moved back to Orlando where I worked for a small web design company. When it closed its doors I signed on at Cox Interactive Media.

Even while I was working at these jobs I was building my art business on the side, hoping it would grow enough that I could make the leap to full time artist. In 2001, after the Internet bubble burst, I was laid off and got my chance to go for it. I have been a full time artist ever since!

Apart from creating art, what do you enjoy?

Reading, napping, snuggling with my pets, and watching movies.

What first made you want to become an artist?

I never had a moment of realization that I wanted to be an artist. I have made things as long as I can remember, always took extra art classes when I was young and when it came time to choose my college it was a given that I would go to an art school. I hope to expand further into illustration and also licensing more of my artwork in the gift industry. I really enjoy illustration because I love the challenge of working with a theme and combining my vision with the needs of the assignment. I would love to animate my artwork, more advanced animation than what I have done for my ecards. I have always wanted to illustrate children's books, so that is a goal that I hope is in my future.

Please describe your creative process how, when, materials, etc.

Right now my studio is the second bedroom of our apartment. It's a combined studio/office with a computer on one side and all my mess on the other! My process for creating a custom artwork order or an illustration is different from when I am creating artwork for myself. When I am creating something for a client I start with their idea and work my way towards what I think will work. When I am creating artwork for myself I am often inspired by a photo or a phrase so I use that as a jumping off point for the rest of the piece. Except for custom art pieces, I use my own family photos and also my friends family photos. When I run out of those or when they aren't suitable, I "create" my own photo heads by combining 3 or 4 photo images together to "make" my own people. For example, I'll purchase vintage photos from ebay and then combine a nose from one person with eyes of another and a hair style of another person until I arrive at the look I want. This has been a lot of fun and it's very useful because then I can make sure the photo image fits with the context of the artwork.

What artists have influenced you and inspire you to create?

I am inspired by so many varied artists and sources. Folk artists--I love folk art! I am also inspired by retro 40's and 50's magazines and I love all the domestic ads, they are so funny.

Where else can people find your work?

My web site, my blog, on Twitter, Facebook, and my Etsy shop!

*************************

Claudine is a nationally recognized collage artist, author and illustrator. She combines photos, paint, paper and pen into quirky, whimsical-retro collages that she calls Poppets®. Her artworks have been featured on The Martha Stewart Show, in Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion magazine, The New York Times, on HGTV's "I Want That!", on HGTV's Carol Duvall Show and on the DIY Network's program, "Craft Lab."

In addition to creating her artwork full-time, Claudine teaches collage workshops in the US & Canada, and she has written two books about her techniques, "Collage Discovery Workshop" and "Collage Discovery Workshop: Beyond the Unexpected." She has also produced three instructional DVD workshops and has a line of art supply products produced by Ranger Industries including paints, mediums and brushes.

Claudine Hellmuth Studio Products are for sale online at these locations: Somerset Shoppe, ScrapLovers, Joggles Online, Schmooze with Suze...and many more. Google for complete results.

All images are by and copyright of Claudine Hellmuth, 2009.

Recipe: Chicken and Roast Beef Muffulettas

I LOVE sandwiches! All kinds of sandwiches. Various breads, condiments and fillings--I honestly don't have one that's a favorite (okay, BLT is rather high on my list). Classic muffulettas include layers of ham, salami, and provolone cheese but this recipe claims that the olive salad is a hallmark of the real thing. It also recommends wrapping the sandwiches tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerating to help the flavors to meld.

Yield: 12 servings

Ingredients

Olive Salad:
1/2 cup kalamata olives, pitted
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
2 tablespoons capers, drained
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 (14-ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained and coarsely chopped
1 (7-ounce) bottle roasted red bell peppers, drained and chopped
1 garlic clove, minced

Muffuletta:
12 (1 1/2-ounce) French bread rolls
6 (1-ounce) slices Swiss cheese
12 (1-ounce) slices roasted breast of chicken
12 (1-ounce) slices deli roast beef
6 cups gourmet salad greens

Preparation
To prepare olive salad, combine first 8 ingredients in bowl of a food processor. Process 30 seconds or until finely chopped; chill.

To prepare muffuletta, cut rolls in half horizontally. Cut each cheese slice in half crosswise. Spread about 2 1/2 tablespoons olive mixture onto top half of each roll. Layer 1/2 cup greens, 1/2 cheese slice, 1 roast beef slice, and 1 chicken slice on each roll bottom; cover with top of roll. Wrap each sandwich tightly in plastic wrap. Chill up to 8 hours.

Cooking Light, March 2003 via here.

Etsy Treasury: Spring Showers

Thank you's are a bit overdue for three Etsy Treasuries our work was chosen for in the last few weeks...

Krista Malanowski of Photography by Krista for including our Antiques and Stuff image in her collection...

Thanks to Steve of Country Windows for selecting our Multnomah Falls and Lamp image...

And, last but not least, thank you to Silja of 5erg for choosing our When gas was cheap photo for her treasury!

It's always fun to be featured, isn't it?  We think so, too.