new packaging

i love the art of packaging and am quite a nerd about it. i have finally found a sweet and simple way to package my pieces that i am happy with when i drop them in the mail.  i am hoping to find the little clear containers in a large size for necklaces.  i know i can get brown craft boxes as well that would work nicely……i’ll be on the hunt.  i always try to use recycled bubble wrap and bubble mailers that i have received when i purchase things online to try and reduce the amount of waste that’s floating in our little world.  i have been considering trying to stain our paper shred a color to use in the packaging of certain pieces.  i guess i could use it white…i have done that before,  but it’s not as nice if it were, let’s say, orange!!!

Posted in misc |

chocolate truffle ring & recipe

this new ring looks good enough to eat.  it reminds me of a chocolate truffle in all it’s fancy chocolate sprinkle or chocolate ganache lace piped glory.  the chocolate truffle is made out of polymer clay.  i am hoping to set aside some time to make one of these for my collection.  i will soon post it as a listing on my etsy page.

here is my favorite truffles ever:

dark chocolate rum truffles:

3 oz. bittersweet chocolate

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream…..i made these before i stopped eating dairy so if i tried to make this recipe now i would use coconut milk or soy creamer in place of the heavy whipping cream and see what happens.

3 T unsalted butter, softened and cut up………. now i would try margarine or soy butter and see if that works????  if anyone tries this modified vegan version let me know :O)

2 T kahlua or 1 T of instant coffee crystals

1/3 cup nuts (of choice) toasted and finely chopped

3 T unsweetened cocoa

in food processor with knife blade attached, blend chocolate until finely ground.

in saucepan, heat heavy cream to boiling over medium hight heat.  with food processor running, and hot cream, butter and kahlua and blend until smooth.

grease 9 x 5 metal loaf pan; line with plastic wrap.  pour chocolate mixture into pan–spread evenly.  refrigerate until smooth, and cool enough to cut (about 3 hours) or (freeze 1 hour)

remove chocolate mixture from pan, lifting edges of plastic, remove chocolate and discard plastic wrap.

cut into 32 pieces.

roll pieces, one at a time in nuts or cocoa.  store in tightly wrapped container, with waxed paper between layers in fridge.

these are so decadent and delicious…….my dear friend christine made these as our dessert of choice for our after wedding picnic party celebration.  sooooooo good!!!

Posted in good for the tum, new work |

another

pair of earrings in the lineup for the fall line.  this pair is for an order for gallery 360.  i hope to make a pair for myself before they leave.  they are super lightweight and fun to wear……..and go with everything…yippy!! the gallery owner ordered a few pair that were metal only, so that’s been a fun little experiment.  i love having subtle requests for things, sometimes i find myself liking those items the best.  it’s exciting when it creates another dimension, direction, or line in my work.

Posted in new work |

etsy front page love….

i just walked in the door from yoga and the post office to mail out all the earrings from the sale and a couple other things and checked etsy like i compulsively do and yippity…..i am on the front page with my little limpet ring.  thanks for showing me some etsy love long winter farm.

also, to all you earrings sale participants your earrings have been wisk off and are heading your way.  you should get them in two to three business days….thanks again for your support.  xoxo

Posted in etsy |

“little people in the city”

i have always been crazy obsessed with anything miniature. so i was so excited when chris ordered this book, “little people in the city” for me.  slinkacho is a london based artist who paints little people and leaves them in london in public places to possibly be discovered.  i would so love to walk upon one of his “mini art installations”. this book is a collection of all his little people work.  this is sure to make you smile and maybe make you watch where you’re walking….

Posted in i like you may like too |

“the ring show” at the georgia art museum

here’s a couple articles written about the ring show i am in at the georgia museum of art in athens.  click here and here to read about the show.  there is a very sweet story about a man proposing to his girlfriend at the opening of the ring show…….well done fella.

Posted in show update |

pumpkin chocolate chip cupcakes

bring on the fall colored leaves below our feet. is it time yet?? i know i am rushing, but i can’t wait til it cools a bit, we plant our fall garden, and we can spend some evenings out side with a long sleeved shirt.  okay, so, it’s almost fall.  and i will be celebrating that “almost” when i make these yummy pumpkin cupcakes.  i was one lucky girl when my gal pal trish and a plate full of these came knocking at my door.  these could very well be the best cupcakes i have ever eaten. i can’t wait to set aside some time and make these little babes.  i can’t stop thinking about them so i hope that time comes soon

here is the recipe….it’s from the cookbook “vegan cupcakes take over the world”

pumpkin chocolate chip cookies with cinnamon icing

ingredients for cupcakes…

1 cup canned pumpkin…trish used pumpkin pie filling, so i guess either would work

1/3 cup oil
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup soy milk or rice milk
1 tsp. vanilla…..trish omitted this and i would have been none the wiser  =)

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup chocolate chips

preheat oven to 350F.  line muffin tin with cupcake liners.

in medium bowl stir together pumpkin, oil, sugar, soy milk, and vanilla.  add dry ingredients thru the salt.  stir with fork only….not a beater, it will come out gummy.  once well combined add chocolate chips.

fill liners 2/3 full.  bake for 22-24 minutes.  transfer to wire rack and let cool completely before icing.

cinnamon icing:
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
2 T margarine, melted
1 T soy milk or rice milk
1/2 tsp vanilla

place sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.  add the margarine, soy milk, and vanilla and stir with a fork til smooth. keep at room remperature until ready to use.  the mixture should look opaque and honey brown.  if it’s glistening a lot or looks too liquid, add a little extra powdered sugar.

*seems like these would be good without the icing even or with a little powdered sugar dusting

Posted in good for the tum |

oh my….fuzzie wuzzie

this guy is irresistible.

i love his little pink nose and feet    =)

Posted in fuzzie wuzzies |

more new earrings….

sterling silver, fiber glass

sterling silver

sterling silver, low fire ceramic glaze

Posted in new work |

new earrings

this is the first of my new line of earrings for the fall.  the “stones” are vintage round buttons that i shaped to have a scalloped edge.  the scalloped buttons are my favorite but they are not that easy to come by…….so i shape away.

Posted in new work |