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Working from home means two things (well, much more, like expensive health care, but…) 1. flexibilty 2. time goes by extremely fast.
I don’t know what it is, but time slips away much faster working in my home than it ever did in any office. I’m getting tasks done, but often Friday rolls around and I’m thinking “really? already!?” Tuesday is here and I know I want some concrete results of my time spent.
Remember the photos from yesterday? Well, soon I will have some for the bedroom. I got in there and started sorting, sorting and more sorting yesterday. I have a lot of clothes. In fact, that closet caddy of mine was not built for such abuse. T-shirts, yoga pants, and tank tops all rolled tight and shoved together like sardines.
We took the closet doors down. Hallelujah! Those things were big and clunky, you have to slide both of them to one side just to see half of the closet. In came husband and down they went. Now, there is a big gaping closet in our room, but it’s not half-bad looking. But, I’m thinking of a curtain rod with pretty curtains. This decision will take awhile, I can feel it. I will debate pattern or solid? Neutrals or something fun?
Our room currently is sage. The previous owner was really into painting only two walls in a room. So the bedroom is two walls sage, two walls cream. The sage brings everything down. Don’t get me wrong it looks lovely with our stand-in black and white damask lamp shade, but it just feels so dark in there. We have one window which faces many pine trees and makes everything seem dark green.
I digress, was I talking about goals or the bedroom?
Goals it is!
1. So… with the bedroom thisclose to being sorted, I’m going to start working on “idea boards” with low-cost solutions to the bedroom. Painting will be involved. Goal: finish bedroom, photograph, create inspiration board and gather ideas.
2. I have a meeting tomorrow morning to talk about Hotel room books. My plan today is to gather lots of ideas and inspiration and have a system ready before said meeting. That means: get this done today!
3. Make croissants and photograph. I’ve made danish, but never croissants and I figure the hassle of leavening is still the same, especially done by hand. But, this time around I’m not in a tiny Brooklyn apartment and I have air conditioning.
4. Finish personal website. I’ve been building (with my husband) an online portfolio of sorts to house all of my projects and businesses. Jewelry, graphic design, catering, blogs, etsy shops etc. A place to showcase my work and a place for me to put it all together. I’m still working on an overall “look” for this website and would really like to have it presentable by the end of the week.
5. Get ready for jewelry party on Sunday. I’ve invited some local ladies (and a couple of guys) over for a jewelry home show/party gathering and I need to set the food/beverage budget and menu soon. I want to keep my costs low, but have something really presentable. I’m up for the challenge, sangria is always low-cost but really nice looking, I’ll start there.
6. Photograph jewelry for etsy shop. I have about 5 custom orders that I need to finish before Friday and I’d love to have all of my jewelry on the internet by then too. It’s a tricky balance to have jewelry online and have jewelry in person at shows, but it can be done.
7. Develop new line of wearables (lorrielizabeth, wearable art), this is on the DL for now, but I would like to debut the line Friday and again on Sunday.
8. Find a way to accept credit cards. Okay, this isn’t creative, but I need to figure out an affordable way to accept credit cards. I’d love to use paypal express, but I don’t always have access to wifi…
9. Work on jewelry displays. My displays are always changing and morphing and I have lots of new ideas on the horizon. I would like a display that is more creative and representative of the jewelry I make.
Now, where to start?
It’s been 6 weeks and 4 days since we closed on our first home. And we still have yet to get the bedroom put away and organized and my office/studio is in the same disarray. But, the living room, dining room and kitchen are all presentable.
Here are things currently…
The dining room which is actually just a space between the living room and kitchen. I love this space and the farm table is my favorite, a steal at $124. I saw it one day while driving down the road. I glanced over quickly and knew I’d be back to lay claim. Little did I know how perfect or affordable it was.
The red legs and yellow walls clash. So I debate, paint the walls or the legs, or both? I want to move the clock to the other wall and maybe do a series of shelves where the clock is for plates? The chairs at the table do not match, well two do, and I’m totally fine with that. It goes in a weird way.
Here is the entryway into the house.
My life-long friend Jasmine came to stay for a week and we set this area up which has made the living room feel more “together”. I find it really convenient for dropping keys, cardigans or purse. The table was purchased in Brooklyn at a stoop sale for $10. It was green on top with natural paint crackles which I loved and yellow legs. It took two whole years, maybe three, to paint it. The photos are an arrangement of black only frames with a random assortment of photographs. I think eventually I will change the photos around, but for now, I’m content with the set up. I like that there is room to grow on this wall. I’m still not sure about the arrangement on the table, with the bird cages and pitcher, but for now I like it. The basket is handy for dropping shoes.
This kitchen was and still is my favorite room. When the realtor first brought us in I fell in love with the cabinets (with many lazy Susans) and the light pendulum hanging above the sink. The window with a view of pine trees and matching chrome refrigerator and oven. I miss gas, but I like the heat control of this electric range. The dishwasher is amazing. Again, seriously thinking of just going all over white in here. I don’t hate the dark yellow, but we don’t get a lot of light in the house due to the trees and I think white would make everything just a little brighter. Also considering the replacement of the big box cabinets above the dishwasher with open shelves.
What I call the “drink cart” is actually an old microwave stand that belonged to my parents. I’ve been carrying this around since New York and finally decided to paint it all over gray. I should have sanded first, but
I was impatient and wanted it painted right then. I love the result. I covered the top for protection with a Liberty of London quilted pillow sham from Target. I got it in sale for about $4 and love look of it. When we have people over this is where the drinks go and I find it extremely handy for hiding away the crock pot and rice cooker behind the doors. I used magnetic hooks to hang my aprons and shopping bag.
This week my goal is to finish the bedroom and my studio space!
We recently moved in a new house (yay) and I’m finally getting my studio set up just how I want it. This includes a new-to-me jewelry bench which is simply an old desk with nice drawers that I got for $40. I needed something I wouldn’t feel bad for banging up a bit.
And with the new studio comes new jewelry! I just listed this necklace in the Oliver Jewelry shop, but there’s plenty to come.
The Tree Climber Necklace, $32
“I think that the world is what we see, what we feel and what we believe in. Reality is something that we design ourselves, regardless of how the material part of our life is. I know people that have everything and are not happy, that tells you that the material side of life doesn’t define you or how happy you are. Reality is something deeper, something personal. And at the same time it is the most universal thing.
On the other hand, developing our inner world is not about isolation but the opposite. It’s about opening ourselves up to what’s out there: people, nature, new experiences… The more open we are to exploring and learning, the more our own world/home will expand, providing us with a huge space where we will be able to move freely. It’s important not to isolate ourselves in the middle of crisis.
Building a strong inner world one brick at a time is in my opinion the most important way for us to overcome any obstacle. ”
Elsa Mora
I read this today on Elsa’s blog, it resonated with me and I thought I’d share.
This recipe has been on my mind for a week now and with the holiday baking marathon coming up I decided to get a head-start on things and bring this idea to life. Of course, I’m not the first to think “I love cheesecake! I love pecan pie! why not combine the two!? but here is my version.
This also happily goes along with the 20+oz. of cream cheese I bought during Thanksgiving week for $9. What was I thinking? I can’t pass-up a deal. It was Amish cream cheese!
The result? Creamy, gooey, nutty, and sweet. They don’t taste like cheese cake or pecan pie, but more like a happy marriage of the two. They blend together uniquely. The pecan pie sank to the bottom of the bar and met up with the crust making a gooey layer that is almost like caramel in taste. The next layer is full-on cream cheese with the flavor and happiness of pecan pie. The pecan’s stayed right on top to form a crust.
This recipe makes a lot, about 24 servings depending on how greedy you are. I fully intend to freeze most of them tonight as to avoid eating them for breakfast, lunch and dinner everyday this week. I’ll let you know how that goes.
The recipe:
Ingredients:
crust:
2 1/2 – 3 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/4 C melted butter
1 t pure vanilla extract
1 T brown sugar
1/2 t sea salt
cheesecake layer:
12 oz. cream cheese (room temp)
1 t vanilla extract
1/2 C sugar
1/4 C brown sugar
2 T half and half (you can use milk or cream)
1 egg + 1 egg yolk
pecan pie:
4 eggs
1 1/2 C corn syrup
1/2 C melted butter
1 t vanilla extract
1 C pecans
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9 x 13 inch pan with parchment paper.
Combine all crust ingredients and push into the the bottom of the pan with your hands. Bake for 6 minutes.
Beat cream cheese until smooth. Add eggs, half and half, and vanilla until smooth and there are no lumps. Add sugar and brown sugar until smooth.
Pour cream cheese batter onto a slightly cooled crust.
In another bowl, beat eggs. Add remaining ingredients and beat until smooth. Pour mixture slowly over cheesecake mixture. Tap the pan slightly.
Bake for 45-60 minutes until no longer giggly. Let cool for 30 minutes and refrigerate for at least one hour.
When I go thrift shopping my first stop is always the skirt section. For some reason the skirts that I’m looking for jump out at me quicker than the blouses or coats. I like these wool a-line skirts, they are substaintial and versitile.
I picked this one out because of the unique two-button closure on either side and the front pleating. Then I hand-stitched a lace bottom and added three small doilies. I love it. I imagine this with a shirt tucked in, high boots, a cardigan and a belt. Size 10 (approximately) and for sale in my Forgotten Finds shop!
Modeled so graciously by my new dress form which I recently picked up at the local antique shop. You know when you first see something in a shop and leave it, but then regret not buying it? She was splattered in lime green paint, but I knew I could fix her up. And that’s what I did. Cream colored acrylic touch-ups with a bit of antiquing to match her original fabric. From July of 1965, I wonder what her life has been like?
This is a week late, but as it goes I just uploaded these photos today. The holidays are in threes around here, but I only took pictures of the second one. Cooking had something to do with that.
I didn’t realize how much I liked to cook until I moved to Brooklyn. This had nothing to do with Brooklyn but more with my influences. As it turns out most creative bloggers are not only great with a paint brush or the sewing machine, but also masters of the kitchen. This inspired me and made me realize that cooking had less to do with frozen or convenience foods and more to do with passion and creativity.
And so I cooked and learned and documented the process. A process that is still evolving and growing and one that keeps me excited about the 1,176 meals (give or take) I consume each year.
Thanksgiving was the usual suspects: turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, rolls, mixed greens salad, broccoli, stuffing and pumpkin pie. The turkey was heritage and local. The broccoli and salad were local too. The stuffing had bacon, though good, needed to be more crispy. The potatoes and rolls were from the pioneer woman, of course, the master of comfort food. And the sweet potatoes and pie were from Josh’s mom and step-dad.
The blue dishes were my grandmother’s. It’s nice to have connectedness through them and as a little tradition with myself. I used them in Brooklyn when it was just me and Josh and again here in Virginia.
The other two Thanksgivings were great too. One in West Virginia with my family and some pretty hilarious antics going on this year with my aunt. And another with Josh’s dad with delicious roasted lamb and potatoes.
We fully did not intend on getting a bunny this weekend, or any time soon for that matter. But. They are so darn cute and this one in particular seemed to take a liking to Josh and somehow he ended up as our fourth pet.
Could you say no to this face?
Weekend, where did you go? It always seems that I spend most of my weekend having fun…going to the movies, going to dinner, thrift shopping, making jewelry…getting a bunny (!) that by the time Sunday rolls around I find myself needing another two days for responsible grown-up stuff like cooking or cleaning.
I recently got into jewelry making right before the Floyd craft show back at the beginning of October. It started out innocent enough with a couple pairs of simple wire and bead earrings and now I find myself frantically trying to find high quality silver wire for hammering.
I’ve been collecting images of other jewelers that I like and seem to have discovered the beginnings of my own style of jewelry making. I’ve got a long way to go, but I love the look of these first couple of bracelets.
To me, they seem funky and antiquey at the same time. I wanted them to have small details or unexpected elements that are hard to find in most mass-produced jewelry. They look really worn together too.
I struggled with what to name them and decided on movie characters that I like. There seems to be an endless and I went towards what I think the character might wear.
Here is the C. Baker bracelet:
And the Giselle bracelet:
Sunday chores are calling my name…
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