Aspiring Artistry

Chicken Feeders? Planters? What in the world?

So I picked these up at a local antique store recently. I was inspired by the Eddie Ross flea market mantra of snatching up what you love when you see it, I snapped these up, thinking they were really interesting.

Unfortunatly, I have no idea what they are! They're about eight inches long and maybe two inches wide, if even. They're currently living in my desk cubbies, holding office supplies, but I thought they might also look cool as planters for small paperwhite bulbs, or as a vase for some short-cut gerberas.

What in the world are they?

(Did you ever watch This Old House on PBS? They used to do a segment  where the host would present a bizarre, old tool of some sort, and the other guys would take turns guessing what it was. They always had such interesting ideas. I have a feeling that the answer to my query is simple ... and I'm just making it more complicated than necessary!)

Sea Glass Candy

What a hit! Literally - so much fun to whack at it with a rolling pin, hammer, or in my instance, a metal citrus press.

This was our make-it-as-a-family holiday food this year, although I found that I was in charge of the hot sugar melting on the stove and once it hardened, the kids were able to whack at it and brush the sparkle dust all over.

The recipe is found here, but I'm going to repeat it below for you, with some of my notes added in.

I found great glass-topped/magnetic-bottomed spice jars at Ikea, and they are a great size for this gift.

Ingredients

2 cups granulated sugar

3/4 cup water

3/4 cup corn syrup

1/4 – 1 tsp. flavoring oil (I used cinnamon & peppermint, and found I had to use much, more more than the recipe called for)

Icing sugar (to coat cooled candy)

 

Step One

Grease a cookie sheet or cake pan with butter.

Step Two

Measure ingredients.

Step Three

Pour granulated sugar, corn syrup and water in a medium saucepan. Place over medium heat and stir until sugar dissolves.

Step Four
Without stirring, boil the mixture until a candy thermometer reads between 300 and 310 degrees. (This will take about 30 minutes.) Drop a small amount into ice water. If it separates into brittle strands its ready. 

Step Five

Remove from heat and let boiling subside.

Step Six

Measure flavoring oil and pour into candy mixture. Also add food coloring if desired. Blend with a wooden spoon. (You’ll notice that it will get really steamy for a few seconds.) Actually, mine spat and sputtered and really intensified the scent. Crazy!

Step Seven

Pour onto greased cookie sheet or cake pan. Let cool. (I put mine in the fridge) Must refrigerate - don't waste the time waiting for it to cool. You're going to want the satisfaction of cracking into it!

 

Step Eight

Cover hardened candy with parchment paper and tap with a mallet to shatter candy into small pieces. I skipped the paper, and found I had no flying particles! As I said above, I ended up using a heavy metal citrus press to break it up, not having a mallet on hand!

Step Nine

Use a basting brush and coat candy pieces with icing sugar. I brushed the large pieces, then broke them down a little smaller and coated both sides and the exposed edges. Very fun. 

 Step Ten

Place into favor tins. (I lined the inside with a cupcake liner.) Tie with ribbon and adhere labels. My size tin called for an extra large cupcake liner, and then I used a 3" circle punch to cut out some decorative paper, which I inserted inside the lid. I then printed out a holiday message on cardstock, punched it out with the 3" circle, and taped it to the bottom of the tin. 

This was such a fun project to do, and the kids were able to take ownership of it also. 

Thanks, Intimate Weddings Blog, for the great idea!

 

Images of Late Fall

A weekend in the country a few weeks ago was visually spectacular. The rich colors of autumn were everywhere, and deep textures popped out around every bend.

Tis the Season

Wow, I didn't realize it had been an entire month since I'd posted, and much longer since I'd posted anything of any consequence. 

I've actually been busy with lots of crafty projects, and have documented them with my Nikon, but those photos haven't managed to make their way to this blog just yet!

As a little reminder to myself, I'll highlight in some future posts:

• The super-cute pants I made for my son from an Oliver & S pattern (my first!)
• Some new Christmas decorations, including a new wreath and paper-circle garlands for the fireplace
• Adventures in the kitchen, including a few new recipes from my new favorite Western Woman, Ree! Totally inspiring!

I've just finished up my goodies for Meg's Sew Liberated Holiday Traditions Exchange. It's off in the mail to Annika in Los Angeles. I hope she likes my Christmas package...I'll post photos once I'm sure it's gotten to her!

Floral Design with Thistle

Have you ever used these flowers (I think they are thistles of a sort?) in an arrangement? 

I'll admit it, I've always skipped by them in the grocery and in the flower shop, not knowing what the heck to do with them. They're rather intimidation in appearance, but the color - that subtle purple! - just can't be ignored! (And goes quite perfect with my house.)

When I saw this picture in my online meanderings, it grabbed my attention. I filed it away for "someday," not knowing when I might feel inspired.

Photo via: Saipua  Check out their beautiful arrangements!

I appreciate the stark angle of the arrangement, high to low. I'm not a huge fan of the white box as container, so I made a different choice.

I'm not sure what the trailing flower pictured above is exactly, perhaps some sort of sedum or berry? Obviously, I just used what I found in late fall in my backyard.

I think it turned out pretty well!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To Market We Go!

I'm off to browse showroom after showroom, building after building of fine (and some not-so-fine) furniture, accessories, art, lighting , and all things decor-related.

Ahhh, High Point, North Carolina, I've missed you so. For so many years you were a twice-annual inspiration filled, exausting week.

Now that I'm no longer officially in the retail world, my need to come to the market is null. Luckily, my former business partner still goes, and we make a good team on such trips.

I still do some small projects here and there with her, mostly marketing-focused. I enjoy these occasional trips back to market with her to keep my hand in the game. Because you never know what the next big idea could be...

For the next three days, I'll get to act as design assistant of sorts, helping her keep track of the schedule, enjoying as she selects and orders for various clients, visiting some of my favorite showrooms, snapping pics, and soaking it all up.

The Sweet Spot

It's a tricky spot. Everyone's got one. If you're lucky, you have dedicated container of sorts for all the stuff that accumulates.

These spots tend to be on the counter next to the stove, on a shelf above the stove, or maybe in a handy cabinet below the stove.  Most seem to have a few similar ingredients, like salt, pepper, and cooking spray, and then other ingredients based on your particular cooking style. Mine has cinnamon, red pepper, and usually a head of garlic.

When I came across this antique brass and walnut book rack at an antique sale, I knew exactly where it should live!

While it would certainly look lovely with books, it will be even more useful in the kitchen (next to the stove!) to corral all the bottles and jars.

I've set it up with a few of the things I love, knowing that soon it will be overflowing with other spices and sweets. For now, three of my favorite food-related books, a small painted horn bowl and spoon purchased on my most recent trip to Kenya, and a white sugar dish given by my mother.

Ahhhh ... beauty + organization = satisfaction.

Textures

Here and there, I've been gathering up things that seem to have a common theme ... texture. Whether real or illustrated, these beautiful treasures either feel distinct to the touch, or give the illusion of such touch.

Check out this beautiful French wire tray that I found at a  flea market last month. It's fairly small, just a bit shorter than an envelope, and I love it's gently curved sides and delicate, yet sturdy, wire frame.

In a local home furnishings store last week, I saw this remarkable paper on their walls. I immediately thought about the walls on which I'm contemplating grass cloth, and decided I had to have a sample to bring home. 

The multilayered paper is a combination of metallic finishes and cork products. It is fantastic! It's a Candice Olson branded paper, but I couldn't find the exact one on the website.

And last, but certainly not least, this super-cool faux-bois packing tape. I have no packages to send at present, but come Christmas, this will be decorating my kraft paper boxes. Or maybe some simply-wrapped gifts under the tree!

Coming Soon

I have so many good photographs to share with you, but have misplaced totally lost the USB cord for my camera and my card reader doesn't work on the new HD cards. I bought a new one from Target last night, but it's a piece of *@&^# and doesn't work, so I'm off to a real store today.

Hope to share some great pics of my flea market finds, some fantastic wallpaper that I'm slobbering over, and a pretty centerpiece I made for our recent dinner. Wish me luck!

A Perfect Saturday Morning

Breakfast out. (No coffee in the house).

A neighborhood yard sale and chance encounter with an old friend.

Gifts given to the little people.

Puttering around the house with no real plan.

Dad and little people off to activity.

Preparing for a small dinner party with dear friends and a new baby.

The neighborhood butcher shop. Beautiful and bright, and full of possibilities for dinner.

Finding great wines and buying more than I need.

A quiet house ... me and my chores. And a great new audio book.

Rearranging furniture. Just because.

Peeling pounds and pounds of butternut squash to make a favorite soup.

Sitting by the window, at my newly re-arranged desk, typing it all out.

Dreaming about a bath later this afternoon.