may 27, 2009 | lily-of-the-valley that my five-year-old picked
and try to "replant" on our adirondack chairs
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
wishlist | kitchen timers
bzzzzzz, time's up!... I often find myself more and more in need of a kitchen timer because of the many distractions I have as a mom of two young boys. Cooking now-and-days, isn't as simple as it used to be. I used to be able to concentrate on what I was actually making. Now, any given evening, as I attempt to cook dinner, my five-year-old asks me to help him craft a project and/or my three-year-old wants to tell me a story that demands my full attention. I am finding it easier and easier to lose my place in my recipe or cook time. So I have been on the hunt for the perfect kitchen timer and I found it at Pure Modern. The fetching retro design of their Kitchen Timer Retro Wall Clock comes in eight great colors (above, $29).
Monday, May 25, 2009
do-it-yourself | tiling
pining for tile... For around five years now, I have been swearing up and down that I am going to tile both my kitchen backsplash. I toyed with the idea of doing some recycled glass in soft sea glass blue tones for quite some time. But today I came across a website that could change my mind. Heath Ceramics offers some simply exquisite selections of tiles for your kitchen, bath and flooring. This company is one of the few mid-century American potteries still working today. Each tile is the product of a skilled craftsman. The Oval tiles from their Dimensional Collection (above) immediately stopped me in my tracks. The tiles are modern, yet not over bearing.
The colors available are endless and can complement any decor. The shot below epitomizes my perfect green for my kitchen.
$100 bucks and 60 minutes until a whole new kitchen... So, you're saying, sure this is great, but I can't afford or have the time to retile my entire kitchen. No problem at all. Simply grab $$100 bucks and an hour and head over to Pure Modern to pick up a couple of sets of their Mibo Tile Tattoos (shown below, $16-$18 per set of 6). I love Shanklin's pattern (below). In just a few minutes, I can apply these tattoos over my existing tile and totally revamp the feel of my kitchen. Best yet, they are easily removed with no trace of sticky glue.
Bembridge, left | Ventnor, right
Sunday, May 24, 2009
garden | memorial day seeding
memorial day weekend in Maine... This is the weekend gardeners across Maine patiently wait for after a long winter season. This is the first official weekend that is past the last frost date, meaning we can now plant out our peppers, tomatoes, squash, corn, and beans out safely. I spent all day yesterday transplanting my winter squash and pumpkins seedlings. I sowed my packets of gourds as well. I made a second pass of radish, carrot, and lettuce seeds. And I got my corn crop in (so excited to be growing popcorn this year as well).
No matter how many months I spend planning my gardens out each year, it seems the stuff I do spontaneously is what ends up giving my garden its personality. After planting all my seeds, I sat back in an Adirondack and took in my gardens. Then I spotted some old pea fences, shepard's hooks, and hanging baskets. I grabbed these items and used them to form soon-to-be tunnels and alcoves that will get covered by walls of Small Ornamental Gourds, Tennessee Dancing Gourds, and Lumina Pumpkins. I love the added element of architecture in a garden. I think trellises, barrels, fences and such can all add so much to a garden. The ground still looks quite barren and still, but I know that in just a mere few weeks, vines and leaves will be reaching out and tossing a tendril onto everything... I can't wait!!
chive blossom waiting to bloom | Cascade Shell Pea
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
wishlist | colorful living from company c
do you take American Express?... Yesterday was a great day at work. In lieu of our upcoming photoshoot, I spent the yesterday in Portland prop shopping. One of my favorite stores proved to be a perfect partnership for my styling dreams... Company C. The beautiful items shown here were all some of the looks pulled to partner with our furniture. I immediately saw the Nirvana Quilt in Sea Grass and said yes, I must have that (above top, $168 queen). The cornflower blue of the Chain Stitch Pillow (above, bottom left, $90) made me smile on the spot. Then I spied the Shanghai Throw in Wasabi (above, bottom right, $78). The greens used in the weave are simply eye-catching. But my favorite piece proved to be the Labyrinth runner rug in Kiwi (below, $390). I knew immediately that this was the piece I wanted to use as a wall hanging in one of the shots.
The colors and patterns of Company C simply sing off the shelves. Anything from this store immediately adds a much needed dose of personality into any home design.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
garden | peony
excuse me sir, but there is an ant on my peony... I remember reading once that you could snip off the unbloomed buds of your peony and store them in your refrigerator for a few weeks and then set them in water to bloom. So, many years ago, I cut several stalks, brought them inside and placed them momentarily on my kitchen counter. Within seconds my counter was swarming with ants. That's when I learned of the eons long relationship of the ant and the peony. Do peony buds need ants in order to bloom? No. The ants flock to the bud in search of tiny droplets of nectar that often lie in the folds of the soon-to-be blossom. The good news is that if you wait to cut until the flower is in full bloom, chances are that the ants will be long gone. If not, snip some stalks, place in some water and keep outside for a few hours prior to bringing inside to allow the ants a chance to depart.
Monday, May 18, 2009
recipe | italian-american meat sauce
heirloom tomato sauce... My mother did not raise me to harbor secrets, but she did raise me to protect our family's tomato sauce recipe. Never did a jar of Ragu grace our dinner table. No, my mother came from a strong, Italian family in Brooklyn where she grew up eating my grandmother's homemade sauce, as I then grew up savoring my mother's delicious sauce. Now it's my turn and my boys are being raised to take notice to the secret recipe of our sauce. Well, actually there is no one true recipe or secret ingredient... each generation has put their own personal spin on the verbally handed-down recipe. But I will say, should you look to follow a recipe that is close to my mom's most fabulous meat sauce, check out Lidia Bastianich's Italian-American Meat Sauce (Sugo di Carne).
Lidia Bastianich's Italian-American Meat Sauce
(makes 8 cups)
2 - 35oz. cans of Italian plum tomatoes (preferably San Marzano)
1/4c extra virgin olive oil
2 medium onions, diced
6-8 garlic cloves, chopped
5-6 meaty pork neck bones (I omit this and the sauce still tastes amazing)
1 lb. ground beef
1 lb. ground pork
salt to taste
4 bay leaves
1 1/2 t dried Oregano
3/4 c dry white wine
1/3 c tomato paste
3-4 c hot water (I omit this as well to gain a thicker sauce)
Puree or crush the tomatoes and set aside.
Heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onions and cook until golden. Add garlic and brown for 2 more minutes. Add pork bones and brown on all sides. Add the ground beef and pork, season with salt, and cook until brown and all liquid is absorbed. Add bay leaves, oregano, and wine. Bring to a boil and cook until all the wine is almost evaporated. Pour in tomatoes and tomato paste and stir. Season to taste. Bring to a boil, turn down to a steady simmer and cook for 2-3 hours.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
wishlist | alexander henry fabrics
What a hoot... around three months ago I saw the most fabulous owl print fabric ever. It was Alexander Henry's Spotted Owl fabric from the Fashionista line. I obviously was not the only one who immediately adored it, because it has been out-of-stock everywhere. But I just noticed that Hancocks-Paducah has it on backorder for shipping later this month. Why do I need this fabric? I have not a clue, I only know that I must have it.
One I got bitten by the Alexander Henry owl pattern, I knew if there was a print that cute, there must be others... and I was not wrong. Check out Entertaining Elephants, Traffic Jam and Fishy. Purl Soho, one of my favorite online fabric shops, carries a great selection of Alexander Henry fabrics. His home collection line is a must-see too!
from my window | woodland wildflowers
bluebead lily
tread lightly... This past fall I made the decision to keep a wider eye open to the nature in my own backyard. Now that Spring is in full bloom here, I am so happy I did. I am amazed at the variety of wildflowers that are growing just a few feet outside my front door. It is a cold and rainy morning, but I plopped on my Wellingtons and went out with my trusty camera to see what's new in the woods.
Hiding behind a pile of old, cut timber was a cluster these delicate, yellow, lily-like flowers. After a little research, I learned that these beauties are called Bluebead Lilies.
lily of the valley (left) and canada mayflower (right)
The first flowers of my Lily of the Valley have opened. Soon there will be enough to cut a small bouquet for my windowsill. I finally was able to find the name of this one wildflower that is quite the prolific bloomer in my woods. It is the Canada Mayflower.
starflower (left) and smooth solomon's seal (right)
Starflowers form a cheery blanket around the bases of our birch. A new discovery was that I have Smooth Solomon's Seal growing along on of our woodland pathways. This plant will always bring back memories of my parent's farmhouse. And what woodland wildflower surprise would be complete without the ethereal Pink Lady Slipper?
pink lady's slipper
Thursday, May 14, 2009
wishlist | pendant lighting
Illumination... I've been spending a lot of time lately looking around for some inspired lighting concepts for an upcoming photoshoot. I fell smitten with these gorgeous Meridian Deco Pendants (above, $114) I saw on Feel More Human. The shades are available in seven great designs that range from white to wood grain to wildflowers. I was also in the hunt for a real statement piece that I could use as a focal point for a dining shot. Then I found the Norm 03 Puzzle Light (below, $162.50). This funkified, ribboned shade arrives at your home with do-it-yourself instructions on how to assemble all 39 pieces into one coherent shade (and no tools or glue are needed.)
Monday, May 11, 2009
from my window | almost planting time
almost, but not yet... The leaves on the trees are just starting to unfurl and create the canopy of green that I look forward to each year. The shot above was taken from my deck yesterday. Even though we are itching at the seam to put our tomatoes and pepper plants into the ground, we hold off reservedly. It's still too early and last frost won't be for another week and a half. Heck, we even needed to start a fire this evening to take that cold, damp, nip out of the air. But it is time to start those cucumber, corn, squash, and melon seeds! Our ground is still too cold and wet for these warm weathered seedlings to germinate in, so it's best that we start them inside four weeks prior to transplanting (below is my five day old deBourbonne cucumber seedlings). They'll be ready just in time for the traditional Memorial Day weekend transplanting.
Friday, May 8, 2009
wishlist | velocity homewares
head full steam over to... Velocity. I stumbled across this site this week while surfing around for some cute pillow ideas. Check out these pillows from Paper Cloud (Onionpod and Sunflower, shown above, $82). The simple, clean lines of the sketches immediately captivated my eye and made me reach for my wallet (which is now under lock and key as a precautionary measure to my reaction to the cute product on this site). Especially after I noticed that they also sell these patterns in a lampshade.
One of my favorites has got to be these Simrin Botanical Napkins (above, $48 for a set of four). These 100% cotton napkins are hand woven in India. They are simply stunning.
Designer, Thomas Paul, also has some great wares on Velocity. Check out this Crab Blue Tote (bottom left, $36) and the Sea Life Dessert Plates (bottom right, $28 for a set of four).
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