Homemade Waffles

Mmmm.... Waffles!

I bought a waffle iron a while back because once in a while I really feel like having a home made waffle. They are such a nice treat after sleeping in on a Saturday morning!

Here's the recipe we use, adapted from Joy of Cooking

Ingredients
1 3/4 cups whole wheat flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp sea salt
3 eggs
7 Tbsp butter, melted
1 1/2 cups almond milk

Directions
Separate the eggs and beat the egg whites until they are the consistency of whipped cream and set aside
Mix all dry ingredients
Mix all wet ingredients (including the yolks but not the egg whites)
Mix the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients
Gently fold in the egg whites until just mixed
Cook on waffle iron

I love to serve them with frozen blueberries or mixed berries warmed on the stove with maple syrup.


Have a great long weekend!

♥ Andrea ♥

Stinky Old Sock Bunnies!

Our neighbors came over yesterday with a great idea for a spring craft. We transformed our stinky old socks into adorable bunnies!

Wouldn't your collection of odd socks be so much cuter if they were bunnies?



All you need are socks, dried beans, scissors, elastic bands, a hot glue gun and whatever craft supplies you've got lying around; buttons, pom poms, ribbon, googly eyes, felt, whatever!



Fill your socks with beans to the desired size, use two elastic bands to create the head and body, and then cut the top of your socks down to the top elastic. Use a hot glue gun or strong fabric glue to attach your features and you're done!

Nothing says happy spring like adorable stinky old sock bunnies!

♥ Andrea ♥

Whisky Helen

I came across these photos yesterday and realized that I have never shown them to anyone. This is the first doll I ever made!

I made her for my dear friend Helen, who I lovingly call Whisky Helen (she kindly took and sent me these images). Although I had learned how to sew several years before and had done some upholstery work, I wasn't confident that I could actually sew when I embarked upon this project. But I was determined to see what I could make. So I dusted off my sewing machine, crossed my fingers and did a search on marthastewart.com for a cute gift idea. Luckily, the pattern I stumbled upon was Emily Martin's Black Apple Doll. I added a few embellishments like her boots, scarf, poncho and little flask.

This doll represents a lot for me because until the moment I came across this doll pattern, I was completely unaware of Etsy and I had no idea that I was going to fall in love with my sewing machine. I certainly had no idea that I'd open a store for goodness sake! My life shifted very quickly in a brand new direction and I am so happy that it has!

After Helen adopted the name Whisky Helen, I decided that I needed a nickname that was just as bottom of the world sounding. Because every time I thought of Whiskey Helen I thought of the song, Bottom of the World by Tom Waits. Specifically, when I think about Whisky Helen, I think about her dining with "Scar-faced Ron on tilapia fish cakes and fried black swan" and, well, I want to be there too. So Helen was kind enough to come up with a name for me, Big Momma Deal. This name seems like just the right one for me to be "handcuffed to the Bishop and the barbershop liar... lost at the bottom of the world".

♥ Big Momma Deal ♥

Forest Friends

I went to bed with the kids last night because I was in much need of some extra sleep. We didn't set an alarm and they graciously let me sleep in. I used to sleep a lot and now I've swung the other way. What a difference sleep makes!

Look! We have a deer family that lives with us here in the forest. They are very good at staying hidden and they usually only come in the wee hours of the morning or after dusk, so it's been tricky for me to get good images of them.

This week, they came up very close to the house before twilight. I was able to go out and take a couple of photos from the the front porch. One of the young deer seemed to really like me! I'm so happy that they feel so comfortable with us and keep coming back. It's been really fun watching the fawn grow up over the past year.

This week marked the first days in the garden and the first meals outdoors!
Here's another little friend we found in the garden this week...

I love salamanders. I think they are so cute! My son thinks they are great too but my daughter is a little unsure about slimy things.

♥ Andrea ♥

Misako Mimoko

I am overflowing with delight today to write about one of my personal craft heroines, Eva Monleón. Isn't she adorable?

I came to know about Eva when I was first stumbling through the handmade craft bloggy world and I came upon this picture...

It was true love at first sight!

Since this day, I have been a regular reader of Eva's lovely blog, misako mimoko. Her crafts and her blog are a good source of smiles and giggles, important for the proper development of funny bones and a healthy warm heart.

I keep coming back to joy, again and again in this life. To inspire joy in another person's heart is just magic. And Eva does it with each and every craft she makes (and with her sweet personality).

Here are some of the fantastic things she has for sale in her shop right now...

For the one of a kind doll collector:

Doli Blackberry

This doli I am especially fond of because our house is surrounded by the most delicious blackberries I have ever tasted.

Orange Flavor Candy Girl

Isn't she is so sweet? 

Look at how precious they are all together!

For the artist who has everything...
Fake Watch Bracelet in Pink

These lazy artist watches just kill me! I've never really gotten into the habit of wearing a watch but if wearing one turned out to be anything like me and a cell phone or camera, the battery would be dead every time I needed to use it. So, why not skip the battery altogether? Who cares about the time anyway? Life's too short to be concerned with such inconsequential things, right? :)

And for those of you who are dying to get one of these amazing handmade creations to make you happy every day but you're short on cash, how about a paper puppet! You can buy just one or a set.

DIY Paper Puppet Set

I want the mermaid and the strong man to live on the wall in my new studio!!!
*all images c/o Eva Monleón*

Eva's crafts are inspired by vintage toys and materials. Her little works of wonder are so unique and genuine. Eva stopped making art for a time and like myself, it was her discovery of craft making that reinvigorated her creative spirit. And now her creations invigorate the spirits of people all over the planet! I am so thankful to her for inspiring me.

Eva is presently working on some retro styled wall hangers featuring stuffed animal heads for the Misako Mimoko shop. Her hope for the new hangers is to bring a little fun to walls; to make them feel pretty, because after all, walls need to feel pretty too :)

I also checked out the blog of Eva's husband, Gabriel Corbera.

Anyone who likes Kurt Vonnegut, the Beastie Boys and comics is a friend of mine! If you like these things too, you should check out Gabriel's blog. And here's his blog, joyville, devoted to his comic inspirations.

Hopes to you for a lovely week!

♥ Andrea ♥

Why My Son is My Creative Hero

He makes art with EVERYTHING!
And his characters are always original...

While he's got some ideas about what his favorite materials are...

He works with what ever medium happens to be lying around...

He never takes himself too seriously...

He's not afraid to get messy...

And everything he makes has a little bit of love in it and yet never looks contrived...

Thanks for all the inspiration little man!
Have a great weekend!
♥ Andrea ♥

Greek Salad

We love Greek salad.

We make it every so often but recently we've decided that this salad is once a week worthy. It's also a huge hit with the kids so a great way to get them eating lots of veggies.

Ingredients
1 can pitted black olives
1 large bell pepper chopped
1 pint of cherry tomatoes (or any other kind of tomato)
1/2 red onion chopped (or three scallions)
1 English cucumber chopped
1/2 tub of feta cheese chunked

Dressing
freshly squeezed lemon juice of three lemons
extra virgin olive oil (equal to the amount of lemon juice)
1 heaping tsp. dried oregano
2 tsp. chopped garlic
1 tsp maple syrup
sea salt to taste
freshly ground black pepper to taste

You can serve it right away if you're pressed for time but it tastes even better if you leave it in the fridge for an hour or so before you eat it.

♥ Andrea ♥

Eve

I think I've mentioned a few times before how much I LOVE making things for little people. Here is my latest commission for a young person, Eve from Wall-E!

She stands about 14" tall and has pose-able arms. I love her. And so does my son who insists that I make him one too :)



Have a great Wednesday!

♥ Andrea ♥

Spring Fling

I've been talking to myself lately (OK it's been happening for a while) but recently I've been saying, 'spring, where have you been?' It was spring here for a few days. My heart leaped, my whole being sighed and then, more snow! I've been carrying a bit of resentment around with me ever since. When spring did show up for a few days, we all got out into the woods and had a lovely time. Including Marvin who thoroughly enjoys a good hike! Here are some of my favorite images from those days.





I'm just aching to get back outside and enjoy some warm weather again!

♥ Andrea ♥

A New Charles Bierk Painting

I am absolutely crazy for this new Charles Bierk painting we got at last week's Paint Rocks fundraiser. I've hung it up in our front foyer so I can look at it as much as possible. Charles is a fantastic painter, as was his well known father David Bierk.

Here's Charles Bierk's website. Do check it out, his work is very impressive.

I am totally thrilled to add this piece to our collection!

♥ Andrea ♥

A Sasquatch Story

I want to tell you the story of another Sasquatch (AKA Big Foot) who I made recently for a little girl's birthday. Here he is all combed and on his best behaviour.

He was packed up with a little card signed from himself explaining that he will be living with the birthday girl from now on and gets lonesome at times so he needs cuddles. And then, to bring this whole birthday surprise to a whole new level of cuteness, her thoughtful mother is also including this book...

Big Foot
This is so very heartwarming. I feel so lucky to have been a part of such a lovely surprise.

I hope there is spring in the air wherever you are this weekend!

♥ Andrea ♥