Archive for March, 2011
Customizable Mug Cozy from The Needle Nerd
Alright here we are the last day in March and although we are supposed to be going out like a lamb this feels more like a winter lion type day. It’s still in the 30′s. Enough with the winter already. I heard snow reports for parts of the US on the news this morning. I’m going to have a cup of coffee (unfortunately w/o one of these cute cozys from The Needle Nerd on Etsy and try to look ahead to April -tomorrow - yikes April Fool’s Day! what tricks do you have planned?
Here’s this week’s batch of new and colorful ACEO paintings. What is an ACEO? In short, it is an artist trading card that is for sale (not trade). Still confused? Read more here.
So, trading card sized art…why so small, Lauren?Because it’s easy, folks. Seriously. Thanks to friend, musician, and artist Kristie Stremel for my new tag line: You get it small or not at all.
It’s true – you either get it or you don’t. I make small art. It feels good to me and that’s what I do. There are a lot of benefits to small art; takes up little space, is very affordable, has the unique quality of drawing the viewer in for a close look, is extremely portable, gift-able, store-able, and most of all it is just plain cool. Small is cool – think cupcakes….mini golf….compact cars – all extremely cool, right? See, so are my small original watercolor paintings. Go see what’s in stock right now and ready for you to own here. Now, if owning an original is not really something you feel is necessary I have over a hundred small prints to choose from too.
I enjoy buying handmade/vintage items from Etsy.com and every now and then I feel the need to share some of the best purchases from unique and wonderful shops. This is one such post!
Yesterday I received my package of vintage clothing purchases from Lea’s Vintage, a beautiful store on Etsy. First of all, shopping in her store was easy because of her lovely photos, descriptions, and quick communication about shipping. Secondly, my items arrived quickly and in this beautiful packaging! I can just hear Julie Andrews singing…”Brown paper packages tied up with strings….” Indeed these are a few my MY favorite things. A nice note, individual wrapping – she had me at hello with this touch. Finally – the actual items were perfecto. They fit just like I had guessed based on the listing info – which is soooo key whe
n buying old clothing. It’s kind of a mystery figuring out sizes and if you really want to shop this way I do recommend investing in one of those tape measures you get from the sewing store and take accurate (non-wishful thinking) measurements of your body. As I was saying, I can’t say enough good things about Lea’s Vintage. I will happily shop with her again. In fact, I already have my eye on some boots. But if only I could somehow squeeze my size 9 hooves into these sweet lil’ sevens….
Last summer, a close friend of mine passed away. She was a brilliant person who had a knack for collecting unique things. Last week, her sister was cleaning out some of her books and asked that D and I come take some stuff if we want it. Although I never knew her too cook anything (like me she seemed an expert on buying bags of pretzels and heating frozen french fries) she had a slew of cook books. The one that really caught my attention was Betty Crocker’s Cookbook New and Revised Edition (subtitled with: “Including Microwave Recipes”) copyright 1980. This was like finding recipe GOLD for me because this is the actual cookbook my mom used when I was a kid. I was born in 81 so this book would have been my mom’s kitchen manual. Sure enough, I found my mom’s recipe for green beans, my favorite Christmas c
ookies, as well as some new things I am dying to try. Like pumpkin bread! My favorite thing about the book is that the photographs are hilariously bad. Have you ever watched a cooking show from before they invented Food Network? Thank god someone figured out that food photography is 90% of why we eat and cook certain things. Some of the photos in the book look downright disgusting. Still, it’s a fun read and something I will take care of forever. For you food-ooglers like me who enjoy some pretty literal eye-candy I recommend Eating is Art – a place I like to go and eat with my eyes.
I’m Lauren and I am 29. I married my husband, D, in 2006. We got a dog, Buffy, that same year. Life was good. But a little empty…. so in March 2010 we bought our first home. Then a week later we found out we would be adopting our daughter, T, who at the time was 7. That summer my stepdaughter, S, moved in from out of town to go to college. Then a few weeks later she got a dog I got a dog. So in less than one year my family has doubled. It’s a crazy-estrogen infused living situation but it definitely doesn’t feel “empty” anymore.
So, what’s with the new blog, Lauren? I mean, you’ve been blogging for years now. Why would you want to throw away the old and start all over again?
Well, it’s time for a change. I feel like a fresh start is imminent. Clean slate. I want to make a blog that is actually useful! I want to share my creative endeavors, successes, failures, and everything in-between. I would love to create a place for people to communicate and be inspired by one another because that may just be the secret; working together. So let’s work together folks! I am ready to start fresh 
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Today has shaped up beautifully so far; walked to the park with the dog and was so delighted to see things beginning to bloom everywhere. Saw these baby pink flowers getting ready to pop out and thought they were too cute to pass without taking a quick photo. Also this morning I decided to make something with won ton wrappers. Behold; mini quiches. I just put two won ton wrappers in a cupcake tin (tuck them in opposite each other for a fun flower like shape) and filled them with about half a scrambled egg plus some ham and cheese. Baked at 350 for about 20 mins. Dee-light-full.
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Any excuse to go to the market; today I am making my own marinara sauce. Why not, right? While at Whole Foods I found these HUGE strawberries that also happen to be big on taste. I am in love with strawberry right now; especially strawberry with cinnamin. Sprinkled on cereal, oats, or just by the handful, it’s a real good thing.
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1. Sunrise walks in relatively comfortable temps.
2. Odawalla Pomegranate Limeade juice (It’s what the gods most have drank).
3. Fully loaded (caffeinated) French Roast coffee with Truvia and skim milk. OH…Emm…GeeeEE
4. Irish Soda Bread; the kind with raisins and those weird seeds I usually pick out of pizza.
5. Justin Townes Earl’s Harlem River Blues.
More on #5 later. Maybe.
What are you obsessing over this week?
