Button It Up

I am convinced now that Susan Beal and myself should live in the same city. It's a shame we don't. When I started reading her blog I thought we had a lot in common. Now with all the books she has done, I KNOW we have a lot in common. With her recent release of the beautiful book, Button It Up: 80 Amazing Vintage Button Projects for Necklaces, Bracelets, Embellishments, Housewares & More, I am convinced we at least need to see each other more often. I have mentioned I am working on a button book here so of course there was a part of me that thought ugh oh. Well I just got her book in the mail today, signed and all and it is lovely. I think our books compliment each other very nicely. There are some amazing projects in there; some you may have seen on the blog circuit already. It really is hard to choose a favorite. As an avid button collector, I love the button collage project, the embellished button pillow is a cute spin on monograms, I love the napkin rings and the triple deck feedsack necklace just screams summer bling. If you haven't picked up your copy yet, what are you waiting for?

Diem Chau

Diem Chau, who participated in the Forget Me-Not show just started a new project via her blog which sounds really amazing. Here is what she has to say.

"I'm starting a side project, called "Food For Thought". In this economy many our communities are in dire need of help. I've been milling on the idea since this beginning of the year. I'm very lucky to be able to live the way I do, I can pay my bills and eat out occasionally. I usually don't have to think about food costs. I know many of us aren't as fortunate and that number will grow in months ahead. Food is a basic need and I'd like to help fulfill that need.

Once a month I will sell a piece of art through my emailing list/blog and 100% of the sale will go to Northwest Harvest. I will ship internationally as well, you can contact me for a shipping quote. I just started doing this so I'm sure there'll be a few kinks to iron out. The entire process will be documented on my blog."

This awesome "Parka Boy",Crayola crayon on wooden base, was sold in March.

Urban Craft Uprising- Summer Show

We are so excited to announce our first summer show for Urban Craft Uprising show. I am so excited to say we also have got some amazing authors coming for this summers show. Including Susan Beal, Diane Gilleland! This alone is so exciting and wait until you hear about all the other awesome stuff happening for this show. Stay tuned!

Tonight in Seattle

Cutesypoo Gnome Release

Out tomorrow are these adorable gnomes. Get one while they last. To purchase visit her online store

I know this is dorky

But I almost peed in my pants when I saw that the show Forget Me-Not that I curated was mentioned on Martha Stewart's blog. I officially have outed myself for being a big dork but I love Martha!

Birds of a Feather- Abby Glassenberg

Abby has new work going up at the Young Blood Gallery this Saturday. If you are in Atlanta, you'd be a fool not to go.

Here are a few things that will be featured. "Seventeen of my newest pieces will be there, including owls, roosters, wading birds, and my first ever collection of crows and gulls in flight"

Tweet.

I am really addicted to Twitter all of a sudden. I think it is a good tool for marketing. Anyways, here are some birds. Tweet.

From Lovely Duck



From BirdNerd



From Mamachee



From Lissa



From Blackbird Fashion

American Craft Council

Coming Soon:
The American Craft Council Show in Atlanta
website
Cobb Galleria Centre
March 13-15

The most distinctive fine craft show in America returns to Atlanta for the 20th year. Over two hundred of the nation's premier, jury-selected artists will present high-quality, handmade objects including jewelry, clothing, furniture, toys, home accessories, as well as sculptural and functional works of glass, ceramics, metal, wood, paper, and decorative fiber. It's a wonderful opportunity to meet the artists and to purchase one-of-a-kind craft to fit all price points.

Win an issue of Stuffed

Last week I was really excited to find an issue of Stuffed in my mailbox. This week I am even more excited to be able to give away 2 copies of Stuffed here. Leave a comment here with contact info and I will choose two lucky winners on...how about March 15th? The day your applications are due for this year's Plush You show.

I really am impressed with the magazine. It is full of great photos, the layout is really nice, there are some great articles, etc. I can't wait to see what they bring us this summer!

Soup Exchange 2009

A group of friends and I have a bunch of different theme parties. They have ranged to sushi making, wine tasting, blind beer tasting (ummm = totally wasted btw) and my annual soup exchange. I got this idea after reading about the idea from Megan. I thought it sounded so fun that I wanted to do my own. This is the second year I have done it and I have to say people really stepped it up this year! The winner was Mike, with an amazing Chocolate Soup. Not only was it Chocolate Soup but he gave each person a basket of raspberries, a bag of biscotti and a bag of mint. It was kinda insane. I was going to bring the recipe today and put it up but I forgot so I put this other AMAZING Soup made by Ali here. It's really really good!


winner

If you want to have your own soup exchange it's easy and everyone has a great time. Here is what I did:

Send out an evite to group so you have an idea of how many people are coming. Each person or couple is asked to bring 4 containers of already made soup. This year people really switched things up by mainly bringing their soup in glass jars. You can also bring it in plastic containers or bags. Presentation does seem to play into who wins so you might want to give some thoughts to this. Mike typed up the recipe really nice and bagged up all the garnishings and added a label to that. Once everyone arrives to your party you count how many different types of soup there are and then put that number in a hat for people to pick from. You have each person or couple pick a number which will decide who chooses first, etc. #1 begins by choosing their first soup and then you move down the line. Repeat process for 4 rounds until there is only one soup left. The first person whose soup goes wins and the last person's soup to go wins a prize. This year winner #1 got 4 vintage napkins, a donut keychain, food erasers and a environmental bag. Winner #2 got some food erasers, vintage cookbooks and this hilarious gag gift that I can't even explain it was so weird. Anyways, fun was had by all.

Here is the gag gift. This duck is meant for certain regions of your body.



Southwestern Pumpkin Soup

1/4 teaspoon cloves
2 teaspoons coriander seeds
2 teaspoons cumin seeds
1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns
2 teaspoons red chile powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
4 cups veg stock
2 cups cream
32 oz can pumpkin puree
1/2 cup maple syrup
kosher salt
grated cheddar cheese, toasted walnuts

1. Toast the cloves, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, and peppercorns in a small hot skillet. Let cool and grind together to a powder. Blend with the red chile powder, cinnamon, garlic powder, and nutmeg. Set aside.

2. Pour the stock and the cream into a soup pot over medium-high heat. Cover and heat until steaming.

3. Meanwhile, put the pumpkin in a large mixing bowl. Add the maple syrup, 1 teaspoon salt, and the combined spices. Whisk well to incorporate all the flavors.

4. When the stock and cream are simmering, slowly add a little of the pumpkin mixture. Whisk to break it up Add a little more. Repeat until all of the pumpkin is in the pot. Cover and let simmer until the soup thickens.

5. Garnish with grated cheddar cheese, toasted walnuts