Living a Handmade Life

Some of my new artwork is inspired from the window boxes I see wandering around my city.

All these prints are available in my shop

Three ingredients :  fresh asparagus, sea salt, olive oil

Take the asparagus coat with olive oil and sprinkle sea salt. You can, grill, bake, or broil these.  Just cook until they look a little dehydrated and the ends are crispy. They are great with BBQ  or add them to you favorite dish like quiche.  Note:  Fresh Green Beans are great  this way too!

1. yumiyumi 2. AmyPerrotti 3. BlueClara 4. stephaniecorfee

1. leapinggazelle 2. Raceytay 3. heatherkingdesigns 4. maryvican

Giveaways are back …

As you might have noticed I have relaunched my shop with a different digital painting style.  So in order to win this 8×10 print of  Rose Trellis, please visit my shop here and then comment on your favorite print in my shop  (excluding the Sale Section).  You can also get an extra entries for following me on Twitter,or becoming a google friend just comment  on what you are following

Giveaway end 7/25 at midnight EST  and the winner will be announced on 7/26

I love Beets they are just an amazing superfood here is how I cook my beets from the Farmer’s Market

First I cut the  leaves and the tiny root bottom, and then gently wash the beet bulbs and put then in a casserole dish that has a cover.  Add water to the bottom just so it cover the bottom of the dish and then bake at 350 degrees.

 Depending on the size will depend on how long they need to bake usually at 15 to 20 min I take the beets out and poke with a fork if it is really easy to insert then they are done.  Take each beet wash under cool water and peel the top layer of the beet and then store the beets and liquid for fresh salads.

Here is an easy recipe I like to make with fresh ingredients from my farmer market

I have to first  say that I don’t usually measure things especially when I create my own recipes. So have fun with creating reciepes and go with your instincts

In this recipe I used farm fresh organic products: milk, eggs, asparagus, and goat milk cheddar cheese.

• Butter or oil the dish well  that you will use so that the egg mixture will not stick

 

• Eggs (this depends on how many you are feeding and the dish you plan to cook it in.  I used a small dish that was for two) I recommened 2 or three eggs per person

 

• Dash of milk ( enough to make the eggs milky white)

 

• pepper and salt to taste

 

• grate your favorite melting cheese ( I used about a half of a cup for two people and then melted some more cheese on top after it was almost done)

 

• favorite in season vegetable ( I had some aparagus that I made earlier so I added that ) recipe for my grilled aspargus to come.

 

Bake at 350 degrees until the  quiche seems solid and turn golden around the edges.  Then enjoy!

I would want to be a weeping willow tree

Here is a preview of some of my new paintings that will be added to my etsy shop as of July 5th

Here are just a few ways to add handmade to your life without giving up the technology we all love

• Shop at your local Farm or Farmer Market
• Buy organic or local grown or made products
• Try to make something you always wanted to ( going to the library and looking in the craft DIY section  usually has  a lot of books on different subjects it is a great place to start)
• Ask friends and family or even look in your favorite magazines for new recipes and then have fun in the kitchen
• Take a class at your local yarn, pottery, bead, or fabric store
• Shop at online handmade market place like Etsy
• Grow some herbs in a bright windowsill
• Grab a camera and start taking pictures of things that inspire you or least make you smile
• Visit local craft fairs, especially around the holiday season
• Restore /Repurpose  items found at flea and vintage markets
• Buy bread and baked goods from your local bakery

If you have any more ideas please post them in the comments

I have to say my favorite part of summer is the Farmer’s Market.

I encourage everyone to find their local farmer market, or local farm.  Here is a link to Local Harvest.org to find the closest  Farmer Market .

I will be posting some of my simple recipes I create with my farmer’s market purchases this summer and fall.