A Closer Look at Ottoman

Weed Seeds and Tomatillo Skeletons

weeding the garden

tomatillo skeletons!

seeds trapped by their bones

I don't claim to be a poet, but these images prompted a haiku. While weeding the garden between storms yesterday, I happened upon these tomatillo skin skeletons. Trapped in them were seeds of what I believe are these crazy weeds that "spray" seeds everywhere when you pick them...one must be careful not to get them in the eyes or mouth when pulling these weeds...it's happened.

Mother's Day is coming up. Poppytalk has some lovely ideas (including Lichen Jar 3). Click here for inspiration.

Also, amazing work by Kathleen Hills is on decor8 today. She describes her work...

'“I have a passion for conceptual thinking and narrative. I’m interested in how relationships are formed with objects within our domestic spaces, my work explores products that may have inherited family tradition and domestic ritual.”'

Whoa! Here's some examples:

Sugar Lump Holder:

"This sugar lump holder is designed to hold Tate and Lyle sugar lumps. It is available in plain white or with the two patterns shown, blue rose or autumn leaves. Bone china."

Pin light

"This light has a free blown, lead crystal bowl containing steel or glass headed pins. The light bulb is burried in the loose pins and casts a spikey shadow when lit."

Creamer and sugar

"The creamer and sugar dish are decorated in a mix of vintage and contemporary prints which I have cut and arranged. They are available in any of the pattern designs shown on the plates section. Bone china."

It's rare that I find someone's work where the entirety resonates with me!

Found: Butterfly Gold

I mentioned before we left on our trip that I couldn't believe what I found on a quick thrifting trip...and here's what it was....

As you may know, I've been picking up this pattern when I see it, it's usually just a piece here and there...and usually tea cups. However, This pile of dinner plates, salad? plates (there are only seven of those, I'll have to look for one more) and saucers had just been put out that day. AND...I got the group for $7! Seriously, nothing is ever that cheap at Goodwill, I got lucky!

Then, I walked around the corner, and saw these....

Eight bowls (priced as usual) and....

This odd squat bowl that looks something like a cat food or dog food dish. If you have an idea of what this is, please share! But, maybe it's just a super shallow bowl. Hmmm.

It looks as though it may be sunny today (strike that, Jeff just said it's supposed to rain); it rained like crazy the night-before-last and most of yesterday. In the afternoon, after the rain, Boo and I went outside to save some earthworms that were stranded and put them in the garden. Then I started weeding the garden (the first thing I've done with it this year). My strawberries have flowers and the starts of fruit, some greens tower over Boo and are flowering, the chives are flowering, and our Halloween pumpkins (local) were put in the garden to, well, rot and I have three seedlings! I'm hoping to get out there again between rain today!

Muesli and Vegan Curried Sweet Potato Corn Chowder

I mentioned recently that we're trying to eat better around here. We certainly haven't perfected it by any means, but we're working on it.

I've been eating muesli with either rice or almond milk. This version doesn't have any nuts, I must have been out of them.

Basically, I've been getting thick rolled oats in the bulk bins wherever I happen to shop and whatever fruit and nuts/seeds are reasonably priced in the bins as well. This bowl has raisins and unsulphured Turkish apricots (I don't feel the need for my dried apricots to be the same color they were when fresh). Currently on my shelf, there's dates and in the freezer (where I store nuts and seeds), I have slivered almonds (I swear, those whole almonds will crack a tooth someday...especially after I eat them out of the freezer). 

Today, I made a vegan curried sweet potato and corn chowder. Boo recently put a sweet potato in the cart on a quick shopping trip while Jeff wasn't looking, not to be sneaky, but apparently he thought it was interesting. It's not the first time this has happened, at least Jeff didn't end up paying for something full of sugar, something we wouldn't eat, or something expensive. Anyway, It's rainy here today and I wanted to make soup.

I diced an onion and sautéed it in canola oil, added some yellow curry powder and vegetable bouillon (sans salt). Let that cook for about a minute, added some water and the sweet potato (diced). Let that cook until the sweet potato was softened, added a bag of frozen corn, some salt and pepper and that was it!  Yum! Ooh...I failed to mention...I used a potato masher to mash up the contents a bit so that the soup would be a thicker consistency; this method seems to help soups where dairy product isn't added for a "creamier" soup.

Have you cooked anything particularly yummy and healthy lately? I need more inspiration!

Faux Seams

I found some bottles with hand drawn seams this morning on Etsy and the simplicity of the bottles are lovely....

Bottle - Seam Series by taylorceramics)

This made me think of the seams that used to be in nylons. So, I recalled these....

Prints Charming tights by YesNatalie

Oh yes, by the way, Poppytalk is doing a giveaway for $150 worth of product for the current market; you get to pick what you want! Enter here (you have until Wednesday)!

Earth Day and Eco Market

Happy Earth Day, but for me, every day is Earth Day!

So, I went to the Poppytalk blog this morning and saw one of my Doily Paintings featured....

How lovely! Thanks Jan and Earl!

If you see something you like, click here to get to the post, since as mentioned above, the images are clickable!

New in the Shop: Moss Jar 7

I just listed another Moss Jar in the shop. It's with the unbleached muslin that I tea-stained. It's also the first one I've made that's with a wide mouth jar.

Moss Jar 7

I think this jar is so cute with it's 8 oz of squatness.

Found: Vintage Milk Glass Compote

Do you recall the treasury I made and posted awhile back which included this piece?

Well, I happened to see the very same piece at the Goodwill recently and I decided to pick it up.

I think this piece would be great for so many things, a bursting bouquet, a huge hot fudge sundae for 4-6, or just empty on a shelf. If you have fallen for this piece, it's still available here from stablemates.

Out-of-Place, but So-at-Home

I love the combination of two things that seem to be so different, but really are made for each other.

Like these, I found spotted them on Oh Joy! recently and I love things that are typically disposable made with something that is not...and really these are heirlooms....

They can be found here. 

Next. I saw these chairs awhile back, but was reminded of them by Design For Mankind (via)....

I'm in love with these chairs. They are by Johan Lindsten (yes, they are embroidered). I'm sure they are SUPER spendy (if for sale at all), but wouldn't it be nice to make them inexpensively as kits? How wonderful would it be to have a hand in making something by an incredible designer? Please, please, please, if you know of such a designer, let me know!

New Product Photos: Mushroom Pins

I decided it was time to re-do the product photos for my Mushroom Pins. Maybe it's because I'm really enjoying my washi tape and the repurposed tags I've been sewing buttons on.

Pair of Mushroom Pins (stuffed) - made to order

I like that I can layer the washi tape to look like layers of moss (or grass) and soil.

Three Mushroom Pins - made to order

Well, apparently I've had a lot to say today. I suppose there's a bit to catch up on since I've been back!

New Work: Lichen Jars

I listed a couple of jars in my shop last night.

Lichen Jar 2

The first, Lichen Jar 2, is filled with goodies. Notions and such, much of which are vintage.

Lichen Jar 2

It's made with the gray kona cotton fabric and the "lichen" is orange, yellow and sand. The items included in the 1/2 pint jar color-coordinate perfectly. Which include:

* 3.25 yards of orange chenille-like yarn (destash) on a vintage wooden spool.

* Unknown amount, but many yards of vintage lemon yellow crochet/tatting thread.

* Tan thread that seems to be waxed; unknown yardage...possibly vintage.

* 5 vintage yellow pins.

* 7 buttons (five of which may be vintage) from my stash.

The next jar does not include supplies and can be filled with all manner of items.

Lichen Jar 3

This jar is 1 pint (Kerr brand) and the optional pincushion top is made with the unbleached muslin that is tea-stained (by me).

Lichen Jar 3

The "lichen" on the top of this jar is pale yellow green, mint green, and silver.

Ahhh...it's a lovely sunny day today! Happy spring!