days like these

I'm still working out the kinks on a productive work schedule for myself. Working on my own terms is very gratifying in the sense that I can dive into work for a few hours at a time moving from one project to another all while listening to Duke Ellington. Break for a long walk to the park, make dinner and eat while watching Carnivale and then back to work. No 30 minute commute each way, no office politics, no useless stress. And I feel like I'm actually learning new stuff everyday, something that doesn't often happen in an office setting. Photography lessons here, photoshop lessons there.

I've been working on some projects lately and hanging them on the wall as I finish them. Most recently the sculpey moth that I am calling ghost moth. The key is mounted on a sculpey plaque and the umbrella is a print idea that I've had in my head for awhile now. It reads "I've got you covered". I plan to work on more of these as prints for the opening of my etsy shop.



I've been a little obsessed with baking and food styling lately. I don't know where this curiosity will take me, but the learning process is really fun. Although I will say its very hard to bake all the time without having people to actually eat it. The whole thing makes losing weight very hard, hmph. Its true though, most of the time I want to bake and bake for hours, but I really would rather not have the stuff around for long after. Just let me photograph it first and sample a little bit and I'm okay to give it away. I joined the Daring Bakers (a group of bloggers who make and post about one baked item a month) recently to learn more techniques and to challenge myself more.



This is the banana bread that I've been nibbling on since yesterday. I had some very sad looking bananas in the kitchen that wanted to be baked into banana bread. The photo isn't too great, I just used my point and shoot to quickly get a picture before I ate it all. Thats how it goes around here.

snickerdoodles for a smooth transition

The weekend was really nice, yesterday I made some delicious snicker doodles (a highly underrated cookie by the way!) and then we went out to dinner and the movies.

I've made a big life change recently, I went from having a full time job at a non-profit to self-employment almost overnight. The range of emotions that I've experienced since this decision was made has ranged from scared, nervous, excited, anxious and hopeful. What I hope it means: more time to pursue my creative dreams. What I hope it doesn't mean: not being able to pay the bills. And that is where hard work comes and a lot of initiative on my part comes in.

It seems as though I'm shaking things up a lot in the life department lately, self-employment, a big move to the country very soon and getting married to my favorite person. I just don't have a lot of time to ponder my fears, in fact I believe that a change in attitude is one positive step towards achieving my goals. My thoughts have gone from "I think I can" to "I know I can" to "I must" pretty much overnight.

vanilla sky

It never occurred to me that I could make my own vanilla extract. I filed it away as something I buy, but certainly never make. Its too mysterious for me. I've always regarded the vanilla bean as a new level of seriousness in the kitchen. Serious bakers use vanilla beans!

Of course, all of these notions came crashing down when I realized just how easy they are to use and vanilla extract is simply...are you ready for this? Just vanilla beans and vodka (or bourbon.) And so I've become a girl on a mission to obtain vanilla beans in the masses and start putting vanilla beans in everything. This mission was temporarily cut short when I realized that at most stores two vanilla beans cost about ten dollars. After a few internet searches I quickly realized that I wasn't the only one looking for vanilla beans at a good price. Thanks to a little sourcing I am now the proud owner of ten 7' organic Tahitian vanilla beans and they smell delicious.

The vanilla extract recipe that I used is very simple: 1 cup vodka (probably should use top shelf) and 2 vanilla beans. Place them in a jar and tuck them away in your pantry for about a month and a half, giving them a shake every week or so.

Making time for tea

beautiful layers: a new chapter

Welcome to the new chapter of my blog! After much time, thought, debate and a little agonizing I decided to turn over a new leaf around here. Love you deer, has been sorely neglected for some time and I figured that this would be a good time to change gears starting with a new blog title. I chose Love you deer shortly after moving to NYC unsure of my direction and just wanted a place to randomly write. I don't feel as though the blog title and content truly reflect who I've become over the past (almost) two years and the new path I've started clearing for myself. And thats where the change comes in...

Beautiful Layers is about documenting life and discovers as I navigate my way through the creative world. Regardless if it is photography, cooking, design or art the learning process is an invaluable part of the journey.

Please book mark my new site and settle in, updates will be daily.

Thanks for stopping by! Lorrie