Sunday, March 29, 2009

March Showers????





Hello again
it's the weekend and here I am finally updating my blog again! It was a really nice weekend, beautiful weather yesterday. Today is rainy but that makes it PERFECT for shopping or crafting, or both. Which is exactly what I did. Helped friends paint a bedroom and rake the leaves at their new house. (So happy for them!) Then went shopping for a brand new swanky outfit for a Spring wedding that I am very much looking forward to! Always have good luck at Suzy Shier. I admit I love Le Chateau but I always leave there feeling broke and chunky. There clothes are for little people and I am not so little, not so big either but I am not meant for skinny girl clothes. I am o.k. with that...I may sound bitter, but that is not the tone I am trying to convey here :D
I also finished 2 identical rings today. Delightfully simple, sterling silver, concave rings!! One was to fill and order the other to list on Etsy.
Happy Spring everyone. I didn't do any cooking today, sorry for the lack of recipe...next week, I promise!

Sunday, March 22, 2009

crafting and cooking Sunday




I really like to update my blog on the weekends! It is refreshing for me to craft my little heart out then, post, post, post.
Today in about 2 hours time I completed my very first spinner ring. I used copper and a
sterling silver spin ring. I can say I'm really pleased with the results for a 1st try! I don't plan on listing this one though. Its too much fun to keep the practice model and sell the perfected pieces :)

Now I'm off to make an amazing vegetarian potato leek soup! mmmm simmer, simmer, bubble, bubble... here, enjoy the recipe and take care of some lunches for the week.


6 cups veggie stock
6 leeks (whites only)
1/2 cup onion
4 potatoes diced
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 cup light cream (or whole milk)
chives or parsley to garnish

Combine the 1st 6 ingredients. Bring to a boil. Simmer for 30 min. Run through blender. Return to pot. Stir in cream and heat through. Garnish with greens! Makes about 8 cups

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Soon to be Herb Garden



I am feeling especially creative in this beautiful weather! I am not blogging for long as I would love to go for a walk today! I just had to share my newest creation. I have been wire twisting for an couple hours now. I planted seeds yesterday, apart from the parsley, I cheated and bought that one. Soon hopefully I will have some lush greens and delightful smelling herbs! I just had to come up with a way to remember which is which. Buying labels would have been a bore!

Thursday, March 12, 2009

G o o d Vegetarian E a t s




I have been a vegetarian now for only 9 months, and am really falling deep into it just recently. Before I was just not eating meat. Period. Everything else the same, lazy vegetarian. I actually gained weight (too much bread, cheese and junk).
Now I am embracing delicious menu items that I NEVER thought I would actually enjoy. I truly love those menu items now :) I have not only cut out meat, I am beginning to think about where I shop, who I support in the food industry, where my food is grown, and what the hell is in it! Less dairy more food of the earth!!!!!!!!!!
Here is a wonderful recipe I would like to share with EVERYONE!!! I hope you love it!

LENTIL STEW/SOUP
freaking awesome! I did not like lentils before this recipe...

1 onion
2 celery stalks
2 carrots
1 tbsp evoo
1 cup lentils (recipe says green, I used orange...take that recipe *sticking my tongue out*)
3 cups veggie stock (1 carton) or water
1 28oz can diced tomatoes (or 5-8 fresh + 1/4 cup water)
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 potato
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 cup spinach ( i use a whole cup)
3 tbsp parsley (optional)
Saute onions, celery, and carrots in oil in large soup pot. Add everything else aside from spinach and parsley, bring to a boil and simmer for 30-45 min. Stir often. Stir in spinach and parsley, simmer another 5 min. Makes about 6 bowls.
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm so tasty!

The Owl pictures posted for your enjoyment is just an a.m walk discovery by my parents. They are avid bird watcher, nature loving walkers! Not only did they come to pick me up and take me to see the lovely owl, they made a phone call. That phone call was to the local "nature guy". He takes beautiful photographs and writes in the local newspaper about his adventures in nature, and spotting wildlife. The not so good of the 3 pictures are mine. The first and wonderful photo is the work of Drew Monkman

Monday, March 2, 2009

April Showers




Ok so it isn't April yet, but I'm ready for it!!!!!!!!!! I have been wanting to make this design for a while. I broke my drummel a while ago and haven't been able to drill or polish anything to my liking without it! So Back at it this weekend and now she's complete! My happy little rain cloud.

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Content Sunday





Today has been a wonderful day so far, so much so that I needed to write about it!
I woke up around 7:30 with the sun in my window! :) Good start, then coffee, second good thing mmmmmmmm coffee. Third good thing, head phones!!!!!!!! I rocked out to The Black Keys, New Chris Cornell and then a Pearl Jam Best of. All the while doing what I love, yup you guessed it, crafting. A little Craft Dinner for lunch... ok I ate Kraft Dinner. Then back to crafting. Hubby is in a video game frenzy so I'm happy to be occupied.

I've discovered that I love doing repairs for people. When you have a piece of jewellery that has been previously loved by yourself or friend, or relative, it's hard to let these pieces go. I have a few items that have lost luster, broken or simply need spiffing up. So I try to breath new life into vintage pieces. Of course some are left too long, and I am simply not qualified to handle the worst of the worst restoration projects. Someone gave old pearls to me that were on a rusty wire bracelet contraption. The rust was inside the pearl holes and impossible for me to get out. I managed to salvage a few pearls and make a pair of earrings but, was disapointed that I couldn't help more.
If you have a necklace, bracelet, earrings etc. that need a little TLC don't let them get beyond simple repair. Get in touch with someone like myself who can help!!!!!!!!!! There is sentimental value in the cheapest necklaces that have been around for a long time, some CAN be turned into heirlooms! Picture below is a recent repair for a friend... before tarnished and brittle. Now sterling silver, shiny, and fabulous!